The UK 50-plus employment rate has hit a record high August 15, 2015 Britain's workforce is being bolstered by a sea of older workers, with the number of people aged 50 and over in employment at a record high. Official data released earlier this week showed the number of people aged between 50 and 64 who have a job rose by 50,000 in the last quarter. And this [...]
Universities must work more closely with employers if today’s school leavers are going to flourish August 14, 2015 As another generation of young people receive their A level results, record numbers are expected to head to university next month. This is undoubtedly good news as it’s estimated that people with degrees earn around £200,000 more over their lifetime than those who did not attend university. However, it’s important that people embarking upon [...]
Migrant Advisory Committee warns government on changes to salary thresholds for skilled migrants August 13, 2015 The government should think twice before raising the minimum salary requirements for skilled migrant workers, an expert committee said today. The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), which advises the government on migration issues, published its "early advice" today on reforming so-called "Tier 2" visas for skilled workers. Sir David Metcalf, who chairs the committee, [...]
Work-life balance: There is no wealth but life – and work needs to fit in around that August 13, 2015 Work-life balance has become a common buzzphrase, especially with the ongoing Tube strikes, supposedly sparked by the changes the Night Tube will cause to Tube workers' home and social lives. Like all clichés, it has its roots in something really crucial – but it is my belief that the concept is becoming redundant. Simply [...]
Career boost: Why an MSc will help give you the edge – you’ll benefit from specialised electives and startup support August 13, 2015 In today's competitive climate, there has never been a better time to consider graduate study. A globalised market and grade inflation means that an undergraduate qualification may simply no longer be sufficient, says Mark Taylor, dean of Warwick Business School. In 2013, the Sutton Trust found that “there is a significant wage premium for those [...]
Ignoring A-Level results is not the best way to build a truly diverse workforce August 12, 2015 Today's A-Level results are a welcome release of tension for students, as many begin to contemplate university and their career paths. But are first-rate grades and university degrees still top of the wish list for businesses? A recent poll by KPMG revealed that 80 per cent of UK adults believe that success is driven by [...]
Your work-life balance is getting seriously out of hand: A million small business owners can’t afford to take a single day off work this summer August 12, 2015 Heard the one about work-life balance? You know, how you get to spend time with your friends and family and enjoy the summer while it lasts? Probably not if you're a small business owner or sole trader. A major new study of more than one million people found that a fifth of Britain's entrepreneurs [...]
These five charts show how Berkeley Group’s Tony Pidgley’s £23.2m salary compares to Wayne Rooney, Martin Sorrell – and you August 10, 2015 Tony Pidgley, founder and boss of Berkeley Group, got a £23.2m payout as the UK housebuilder’s profits soared. A total of £42m in bonuses were paid out to five top executives at Berkeley last year, to kick off payouts totalling up to £500m in the next six years, following a 42 per cent surge in [...]
Gender equality group to set pay target for female FTSE 100 execs August 10, 2015 The government-backed committee charged with promoting greater gender equality among UK companies is considering targeting earnings as its next campaign issue. The Davies Review is looking into ways to push the gender equality agenda forwards, after UK firms reached its original target of appointing women to 25 per cent of FTSE 100 board positions earlier [...]
Employers turn to graduates as skills shortages bite August 10, 2015 Businesses are turning more towards graduates and apprentices to fill their skills gaps, new survey figures reveal this morning. Apprentices are currently seen as the best way to fill skills gaps by 33 per cent of employers, according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). It marks a climb on spring 2014’s 22 [...]