Scandi offices: What British firms can learn from their Nordic counterparts September 6, 2015 Swedish companies are well-known as excellent places to work. This is partly a result of a unique Scandinavian business culture, characterised by collaboration, respect and personal responsibility. There is much that UK firms can learn from Swedish business customs. Here are a few examples that could help improve team spirit and make for happier employees. [...]
Back to work: Pause before doing away with your annual appraisals September 4, 2015 As the new term kicks off one rather large organisation, Accenture, won’t be carrying out any more annual appraisals. Managers and junior employees alike must have extra springs in their steps as they, gleefully, head through the revolving doors and into work. The case against is strong. The annual appraisal system is time-consuming, regimented (often [...]
Skills gap is bigger threat than Brexit: Talent shortages to hit UK economic growth, warn finance chiefs September 4, 2015 Top UK finance chiefs are more unnerved by their lack of access to talented labour than they are by the threat of Britain leaving the EU, the Bank of England hiking borrowing costs or even the abrupt slowdown in China that has sent shockwaves throughout global financial markets. Fear over dwindling access to skilled [...]
Blame lack of reform for Eurozone unemployment remaining so high September 3, 2015 We received good news on European unemployment this week. The total number unemployed in the Eurozone and across the EU has continued to fall. The Eurozone unemployment rate has dropped below 11 per cent for the first time since early 2012. And the overall EU jobless rate is down to 9.5 per cent, its [...]
The UK’s skills shortage is getting worse: It’s time for a shake up in the classroom and the boardroom September 3, 2015 There’s an elephant in the boardroom. According to a survey of the finance directors of many of the UK’s largest companies, it casts a greater shadow than China or Brexit or the hacking horrors of cyber attacks. It’s the new number one at the top of Britain's risk registers – the difficulty of recruiting [...]
Pizza Express bows to pressure on tips September 3, 2015 Pizza Express has bowed to growing pressure over its tipping system and agreed to remove the eight per cent administration fee it charges for customers paying their bill with card. The move, which workers and unions have been calling for over the last few months, means staff will receive the full amount left for [...]
UK economy: As the UK emerges from recession, the country’s small businesses are flexing their muscles September 3, 2015 There are now 4.5 million SMEs in the UK. They’re the beating heart of the country’s economy, and they have the potential to build a truly sustainable recovery. That’s a fact that’s in evidence today. Our latest research shows a 90 per cent increase since 2010 in the number of small businesses tapping into a [...]
Britain’s skills shortage: Train your temps – it’s a win-win for both business and employee September 3, 2015 A flexible workforce is key to 21st century businesses success. The UK economy has evolved since the recession and we have seen a new dynamism emerge emphasising employee flexibility. In fact, there has been a more than 20 per cent increase in the number of temporary workers in the past five years. Businesses know success [...]
Business sticks up for rise in zero-hour contracts September 3, 2015 Business groups have defended zero-hours contracts after official figures showed that the number of people on contracts with no guarantee of a minimum number of hours has increased by almost 20 per cent in the last year. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the number of people on zero-hours contracts as their [...]
Living wage is set to boost women’s pay September 3, 2015 Three in every 10 female employees in the country are set to receive pay rises due to the new minimum wage for over-25s, according to a report out today by independent think-tank the Resolution Foundation. The measure, announced in July’s Budget, will initially be set at £7.20, 50p above the National Minimum Wage which [...]