Leadership
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MHFA England opens consultation on workplace mental health standards
MHFA England launches consultation on workplace standards. Mental Health First Aid England has opened a public consultation on new standards to guide best practice for embedding mental health support in the workplace — aiming to reduce economic inactivity and improve wellbeing across UK businesses.
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JLR shutdown exposes supply chain to personal risk
Jaguar Land Rover’s production pause has disrupted the UK automotive supply chain. Directors seeking emergency funding are being urged to check their exposure to personal guarantees, as rising finance pressures put smaller suppliers at risk.
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Leadership on trial: the new reality of independent workplace investigations
Independent workplace investigations are now central to leadership accountability. Daniel Stander, an international employment lawyer in the London office of Vedder Price LLP, explains why UK employers must prepare for NDA reforms and ensure credible, well-scoped probes to safeguard reputation, culture, and compliance when allegations arise.
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SME growth strategies from the frontline
SME confidence rises slightly but pressures remain acute. The Vistage CEO Confidence Index for Q2 2025 shows optimism among UK and Irish SMEs edging higher, yet Rebecca Drew, Managing Director of Vistage UK, warns leaders still face tariffs, cost pressures and talent shortages requiring significant strategic adjustments.
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Spotify founder Daniel Ek to step down as CEO
Daniel Ek is stepping down as Spotify CEO. From January 2026, co-presidents Gustav Söderström and Alex Norström will serve as co-chief executives, while Ek becomes executive chairman focused on strategy and long-term priorities. Spotify shares fell after the announcement as investors assessed the leadership shift.
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Heriot-Watt launches online academy for professionals
Heriot-Watt University launches a global Professional Academy. The online platform offers more than 50 stackable, university-credited courses designed to help professionals upskill rapidly while building towards postgraduate qualifications. Courses span business, psychology, sustainability, and specialist sectors, with content co-developed alongside leading industry partners.
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UK workers demand flexibility as hybrid rules shift
UK employees want flexibility at work, rejecting rigid office rules. A new report from Owl Labs shows 86% demand flexible hours, with a four-day week and work-to-rule tactics becoming mainstream. The findings highlight the growing expectation for autonomy, fluid schedules, and supportive technology.
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UK to ease visa path for global talent, Reeves says
Britain will ease high-skilled worker visas to attract global talent. UK finance minister Rachel Reeves said the plan would counter new U.S. restrictions, with potential cuts to fees under review as London courts displaced workers.
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C-Suite misalignment hampers HR-led transformation
Four in ten leaders call for stronger C-Suite alignment. New research finds that CEOs back HR chiefs as equal partners in transformation, but finance and operations leaders remain sceptical of their influence.
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Reeves faces £18bn risk over productivity targets
Reeves faces £18bn shortfall if public sector gains fail. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has warned that the government’s budget strategy rests on historically ambitious assumptions for productivity growth, with potential consequences for spending, taxation, and public services if efficiencies do not materialise.