Leadership – British SME

Pen-and-ink illustration of a UK small business owner reviewing entry-level job applications, with a small Union Jack as the only coloured element

Entry-level jobs squeeze: what small employers should watch as hiring gets tougher

by Alistair Cowen-Page
26 May 2026

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…

Pen-and-ink illustration of a UK small employer planning rotas while staff balance multiple jobs, with a small Union Jack as the only coloured element

Multi-job workforce: what small employers should watch as staff juggle roles

by Alistair Cowen-Page
25 May 2026

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…

Pen-and-ink illustration of a small business owner handling invoices and cashflow, with the only coloured element being a subtle Union Jack flag.

Late payments are still squeezing UK SMEs – and the Small Business Commissioner wants to change that

by Alistair Cowen-Page
12 March 202612 March 2026

A new webinar series from the Small Business Commissioner puts prompt payment and cashflow discipline back in the spotlight.