England’s 1am World Cup kick-off has left many UK employers deciding whether to allow late starts, changed shifts or short-notice leave. For SMEs, the best answer is a practical one: be fair, be clear, and protect service levels.
The latest Keep Britain Working update points towards clearer expectations on sickness absence, return-to-work plans and workplace health data. Small employers should start with simple, repeatable processes rather than wait for formal standards.
The CMA has opened a market study into childcare in England. Small nurseries and childminders should watch how the review handles funding, costs, local capacity and provider sustainability.
A new 3,000 pound grant for employers hiring eligible young people launches on 30 June. Small firms should check the rules, cash-flow timing and training plan before applying.
UKHSA has extended red heat-health alerts across several English regions. Small employers should review working conditions, rotas, travel plans and customer-facing operations while the warning is in force.
The government has announced a new concierge-style support service for high-growth companies, alongside plans for visa fee reimbursement for selected scale-ups in digital and tech, life sciences and clean energy. For smaller firms with serious…
The government has announced more than £200 million of support for AI adoption and skills. Small firms should watch for practical routes into training, assurance and sector support rather than buying tools in a rush.
The government has announced 300,000 new work experience and training placements for young people, creating a fresh reason for small employers to look again at entry-level hiring, local skills pipelines and the practical support available…
Next chief executive Lord Wolfson has warned of a “dramatic fall” in entry-level job opportunities in the UK, saying the retailer is now seeing far more applicants for each shop role than it did two…
More than a million people in the UK now have second jobs, according to BBC reporting on the rise of the multi-job workforce. For small employers, that is not just a labour-market curiosity. It can…