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 [...]
National living wage: All businesses will end up paying it – but time is running out to reap the rewards of good publicity September 2, 2015 Another big name has increased pay and got the press coverage that it deserves. Oliver Bonas is the first high street retailer to commit paying its employees and third-party contractors the Living Wage. This is an optional rate (£9.15 an hour in London and £7.85 an hour elsewhere) set by the Living Wage Foundation. [...]
From average salary and a monthly travelcard to a meal for two: Here’s what it’s like to work in global financial centres London, New York, Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo September 2, 2015 London may be oft-cited as the world's top financial centre – but how what's it actually like to work in? And how does it compare with rival finance sectors? We've looked at the basic costs of city (or City) life – from the price of a monthly train ticket to rent; from the price of [...]
Eurozone unemployment drops to three-year low September 1, 2015 Eurozone unemployment has fallen to a three-year low, surprising economists by dropping as low as 10.9 per cent in July. Unemployment figures were forecast to remain static at 11.1 per cent, but Eurozone recovery has given job growth a bigger push than expected, according to new figures released by statistics agency Eurostat today. Some 213,000 [...]
Strong UK economy lifts profit at Hays as higher wages aid fees August 28, 2015 PROFESSIONAL recruiter Hays saw a 17 per cent increase in its profit in the year ended 30 June compared with the previous 12 months, the company said yesterday. Pre-tax profit came in at £161.1m despite a £9.4m dent due to unfavourable exchange rates, notably a weaker euro. It saw a 74 per cent surge in [...]
Is your MBA returning on investment? Average salary growth post-MBA may be a crude measure, but it’s still a useful one August 27, 2015 How does the cost of an MBA stack up against other major life expenses? At a top UK business school, a one year course will set you back between £40,000 and £50,000 in tuition fees alone. Add on living expenses and the opportunity cost of not working for a year, and you’ll be [...]
Is a specialist MBA a sensible option? Funding may be easier to secure but you’ll end up tied down August 27, 2015 From aviation and shipping to CSR and music, MBA students are no longer limited to choosing unspecialised programmes which lack technical depth and insight. Long favoured in countries like India, where booming industries like healthcare had to recruit capable managers quickly, specialist MBAs have grown in popularity in recent years. So are they the [...]