Reforming zero-hour contracts – what do employers think of the forthcoming changes?
In our recent webinar, we explored the UK Government’s proposed reforms aimed at banning ‘exploitative zero-hour contracts’. We examined the potential impact these employment law changes could have on an employer’s ability to recruit and retain staff, while also considering how businesses can remain agile and flexible within the new legal framework. Using our regular […]
General Election and Employment: Apprenticeships
In our latest ‘General Election 2024 Insights’ news article, we consider the value of apprentices to SMEs. Political Party Commitments As all political parties continue with their campaigning for the July 4 General Election, we are hearing about how each one is committing to apprenticeships, should they win. The Conservatives, for instance, have pledged 100,000 […]
Recruiting Ex-Offenders: An Opportunity for Employers
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has published guidance on recruiting, employing and retaining people with convictions. This guidance comes at a time when the government and KPMG are urging employers to consider recruiting ex-offenders to reduce reoffending rates and stimulate economic growth. KPMG’s Initiative in Recruiting Ex-Offenders KPMG has piloted a scheme […]
Apprenticeships: A solution to your recruitment challenges
Is your organisation struggling to recruit? Are you struggling to find qualified candidates to fill your open positions? Or are you looking for a way to upskill your existing workforce? In this month’s Hot Topic we explore the benefits of apprenticeships in detail and how they can help you address your current recruitment challenges. We […]
How difficult is it to recruit right now?
SMEs continue to find it challenging to recruit. The data shows us in our most recent SME Business Survey 2022/23, which was published earlier this year, that recruitment was in the top 3 of major challenges facing businesses. 50% of respondents also acknowledged that recruitment was one area of the business that they would consider outsourcing. To understand […]
Identifying Leadership Potential
There is no single definition of “leadership”, which means different things to different people. These include “getting others to follow”, or “getting people to do things willingly” or simply “inspiring and influencing” other people. Some people are ‘born leaders’ whilst for others this skill needs to be nurtured and developed (although even those with innate leadership […]
National Minimum Wage to Increase in 2022
National Minimum Wage Increases for 2022 The Government has announced the National Minimum Wage (NMW) increases for next year. The top band, known as the National Living Wage, will increase from £8.91 to £9.50 per hour from April 2022. This band applies to those aged 23 and over and is an increase of 6.6 per […]
UK employers facing staffing squeeze as number of vacancies hit record high
Employers face the worst candidate shortage on record as Brexit, and a post-lockdown surge in the economy are impacting recruitment. The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) reveals that employers are growing increasingly frustrated as vacancies reach 1.66 million, with that figure expected to rise in the next few months. The staffing squeeze has been made […]
9 QUESTIONS ON NEW UK RIGHT TO WORK CHECKS
From 1 July 2021, new Right to Work checks must take place for businesses in the UK. The departure of the UK from the European Union and the ending of the free movement of people has led to significant changes to how we recruit in the UK. This article looks at these changes and reviews […]
Right to work checks and key recruitment changes in June
Update on the COVID-19 emergency right to work checks In March 2020, the UK Government introduced emergency legislation on how to deal with right to work checks during the pandemic. We reported last month that these checks would be extended until 20 June 2021 given the continuation of lockdown measures for many businesses. It has now been […]
Points Based Immigration System
Summary The free movement of people within the EU to the UK will ended on 31 December 2020 and from 1 January 2021 a new points based immigration system was introduced, which will treat EU and non-EU citizens equally in terms of working in the UK. This article explains how the new system. What is […]
Skilled Worker Visa
From 1 January 2021, under the new points-based immigration system, EU and non-EU nationals wishing to work in the UK will require a visa (unless they already have pre-settled or settled status). There are several ways in which to gain the legal right to work within the UK, this article looks specifically at the skilled worker route, […]
Brexit: Impact on Unemployment and Recruitment
We have officially left the EU and are in a transition period, but it is this transition period which is key phase as it will result in how the UK and EU conduct future trade. Negotiations are currently ongoing to determine the future relationship between the UK and EU. The agreement will be vital in determining how Brexit impacts on the […]
Running a Successful Recruitment Campaign
In times of uncertainty, such as during global crises or economic downturns, recruitment may be paused for many businesses. Likewise, employees may choose to stay with their current organisations rather than exploring new opportunities. When the job market picks up again, businesses will be competing to secure top talent, and candidates will be seeking out […]
How talent acquisition is transforming traditional recruitment
At a time when businesses in the UK are desperately looking for talented staff to hit the ground running, industries are facing a chronic skills gap. Research from the Inclusionary Leadership Group predicts that the nationwide talent shortage will reach 23 million workers by 2020. To survive in the modern market place, businesses need to […]
HR challenges and opportunities for SMEs
The 5.9 million small to medium sized enterprises (SME) in the UK, face challenges including managing cash flow, generating new business, creating an effective marketing strategy and effectively managing HR issues. Current concerns about the Brexit transition, a national skills shortage and uncertainty over employee status are all added pressures for small business owners and […]
Strategic HR planning
The most valuable asset an organisation has is its human resources – its employees. Their skills and knowledge and their relationships with key partners and customers are often irreplaceable and strategic HR planning can play a key role in determining the organisation’s success. Strategic HR planning has become an integral part of many organisations’ strategies. […]
Recruitment: digital technology set to transform talent acquisition
Digital technology is quickly becoming a priority for many UK businesses. With changing customer behaviours and digital disruption, a growing number of businesses are looking for new ways to maintain their competitive edge. Every stage of the digital transformation process sees the requirements for talent and skills change and for many businesses this creates challenges […]
UK businesses lose £195 million on job-hopping workers
Half of British workers are looking to change jobs in the next year, leading to employers finding themselves significantly out of pocket as they face the reality of managing an unproductive workforce. Research by UK job board Totaljobs and employer brand specialists Universum has revealed that the cost to businesses of workers hunting for new […]
5 ways to reduce your recruitment costs
Up to 70% of UK businesses expect to reduce hiring over the next year in a bid to cut costs, according to a nationwide CFO survey by Deloitte. With Brexit on the horizon, an increasing number of businesses are focused on cost reduction as the continued uncertainty around the country’s EU exit takes its toll. […]
