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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.
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UK pension schemes face scrutiny to improve value and service. New proposals require schemes to publish performance data, aiming to enhance transparency and compel underperformers to improve or consolidate, ensuring savers receive better value for their retirement funds.
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Nearly half of UK business owners report increased risk appetite. New research from ECI Partners suggests optimism is returning across sectors, with technology and HR leading the way. While cost pressures persist, the findings point to strong interest in private equity and international expansion.
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UK finance leaders are regaining confidence in AI. Deloitte’s latest UK CFO Survey shows 59% of CFOs more optimistic about AI’s potential to boost performance, up from 39% last quarter. Risk appetite remains subdued, but digital investment and productivity expectations are strengthening into 2026.
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Impax Asset Management appoints Stuart White to a new role. The former HSBC Asset Management UK CEO will oversee strategy and business development at Impax, focusing on client partnerships and systematic equities. White will report to CEO Ian Simm.
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Ofcom contacts xAI over Grok’s image-generation capabilities. The UK regulator is investigating claims that the AI tool can create sexualised images of children and non-consensual explicit images of women, potentially breaching the UK’s Online Safety Act.
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UK unveils £210m Cyber Action Plan to enhance digital security. The initiative aims to safeguard critical public services from increasing cyber threats, overseen by a new Government Cyber Unit to coordinate defences and enforce accountability across departments.
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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.
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Claire’s and TOFS face administration, risking 2,500 jobs. Both retailers, owned by Modella Capital, are entering insolvency proceedings due to unprofitable trading conditions. Administration will impact 1,355 Claire’s and 1,220 TOFS employees.
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Thirty global HR leaders outline a new people agenda. Their insights form the foundation of workplace expert David Liddle’s new book, People and Culture: A Practical Guide for HR Professionals and Leaders, published this week by Kogan Page.