
Digital profiles help remote teams build trust faster, new academic research shows. A study from Nyenrode Business University finds that sharing trusted online references, such as LinkedIn profiles, plays a larger role in early trust-building than cultural background in newly formed virtual teams.

SMEs back apprenticeships, but bureaucracy threatens youth hiring across Britain. New research shows strong employer appetite following the Autumn Budget, alongside growing concern that complex Government systems could limit uptake and slow job creation.

NatWest plans major expansion of its UK Accelerator entrepreneur community. The bank aims to grow membership to 50,000 by 2026, a five-fold increase on its 2025 ambition, following a year in which participation exceeded the total supported across the previous decade combined.

Large enterprises overestimate payroll readiness despite automation, AI, and integration ambitions. New research from CloudPay shows budget constraints, legacy systems, and governance barriers are slowing real-world deployment across enterprise payroll operations.

Flexible working hours and pay are now the top drivers of job satisfaction. A new Avilio study of UK workers finds flexibility on when people work matters more than hybrid working arrangements.

Young adults are spending to reclaim control of their time. New data shows 25–34-year-olds are twice as likely as older generations to pay for convenience — outsourcing routine chores to protect rest, hobbies, and social time. The shift marks a broader effort to ease burnout and restore balance.

Employment growth among UK small businesses rose just 0.5%. Employment Hero’s latest Jobs Report reveals year-on-year growth fell from 7.8% to 2.5%, as retail and hospitality employment declined amid post-Budget uncertainty and muted seasonal hiring.

IWG is expanding its West Yorkshire presence with a new Regus workspace. The flexible office provider will open at 1 Godwin Street, Bradford, in partnership with Nice Leisure, as demand for hybrid and platform working models continues to accelerate across the region.

Artificial intelligence has moved from potential to practice in recruitment. Two-thirds of UK recruitment companies are now using or testing AI tools, according to APSCo UK, with automation saving up to 17 hours a week and redefining how recruiters deliver value.

Only one in ten UK employees prioritise the office party. New research from Moonpig for Business finds that most employees would prefer time off or thoughtful gifts over festive celebrations, with one in five admitting that workplace gift swaps often lead to awkward or inappropriate moments.