Lord Blunkett: ‘Give young people a hand up, not a hand out’

24/06/2026

The government needs to give young people a ‘hand up, not a hand out’, according to former work and pensions secretary Lord Blunkett. Speaking at the Social Mobility Commission’s annual symposium yesterday (23 June), the former Labour cabinet minister called…

AI law firm wins case as lawyers call for guidance

24/06/2026

An AI-driven law firm has successfully sued a hospitality business over unpaid fees to a freelance HR consultant. Garfield AI, which became the first AI law firm to be approved by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) last year, was instructed…

Pay awards remain stable but employers cautious for future

23/06/2026

Businesses are keeping a tight hold on pay budgets amid ongoing concerns about political uncertainty and inflation, according to the latest predictions from Brightmine. The median basic pay award for the three months to May and year to May was…

Industrial action: All ‘detriments’ to be prohibited

23/06/2026

The government has announced that any ‘detriment’ suffered by striking workers will be prohibited under reforms in the Employment Rights Act 2025, rather than ministers creating a prescribed list of prohibited disadvantages. The Department for Business and Trade has now…

What would Andy Burnham as PM mean for employers?

23/06/2026

After Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation as Labour Party leader, and an expectation that Andy Burnham’s will be prime minister within weeks, what would a government led by the former mayor of Manchester mean for employers? With Wes Streeting now backing…

Shifting the blame for the skills crisis achieves nothing

23/06/2026

Four in 10 employers provide no training. Rather than blaming universities for not producing work-ready graduates, should businesses reconsider their own role in skilling up the workforce, asks Dr Fadime Sahin? As universities face relentless pressure over graduate employability, the…