9 FEB 2024
Big stories this week: National Apprenticeship Week, Electric cars, Chatty Colleagues and more...
National Apprenticeship Week has dominated the FE sector this week. Here are a selection of noteworthy stories you may have missed.
National Apprenticeship Week 2024: Sector Response
NAW is a week-long celebration of everything Apprenticeships, from entry level to Degree Apprenticeships and is an opportunity for the education and skills sector to celebrate the achievements of apprentices around the country and the positive impact they make to communities, businesses, raising productivity to increasing social mobility. Our friends at FE News have been covering NAW in depth all week. Here is their excellent round up article with response for key figures in the industry. View article.
DfE promises to ‘streamline’ high-end principal salary sign-offs
Ministers have vowed to streamline the arduous process of approving high-end principal salaries, as colleges fume over “unacceptable” lengthy delays impacting the recruitment of leaders. Bosses have slammed the bureaucracy involved in applying for government permission to hire senior staff with a pay package of £150,000 or more through a process which is causing waiting times of up to five months. View article.
Electric car charging grants for colleges rise to £2,500
The government has increased a grant offered to schools and colleges to install electric car charging points to £2,500, and said settings could use them to generate revenue. Under the scheme, state-funded schools, colleges and nurseries could previously apply for up to £350 towards the cost of installing charge points. View article.
New rules you may not have noticed: an employer's guide to holiday pay reform
As changes to the regulations for irregular hours and part-year workers come into effect, there are some going under the radar. View article.
UK Job Postings Failed To Deliver the Usual Bounce in January
Job postings usually follow a familiar pattern around the turn of the year, slowing sharply as the holidays approach and then rebounding strongly into January as employers ramp up their hiring plans for the year. But that pattern hasn’t materialised at the start of 2024. View article.
Are you a guilty co-worker? Chatty colleagues are the biggest productivity killer, study reveals
In a new study, by computing accessories and tech retailer Currys, more than a fifth of desk workers agreed that talkative colleagues are the biggest distraction in the workplace. - "Productivity suffers when there’s too many calls, emails and meetings". View article.
Effective strategies for employee retention in 2024
A great workforce is the backbone of any successful organisation. As an HR professional, employee retention should be high on your list of priorities. When surveyed, 82% of global leaders agreed that HR has a pivotal role in creating a ‘people-focused’ workplace culture. So, how do you achieve this in 2024? View article.
Job Exodus: Majority of UK Employees on the Hunt for New Opportunities
Nearly three-quarters (73%) of UK employees are seeking a new job in 2024 and 90% have concerns about their current employment. Research from BHN (Blackhawk Network) found that 2 out of 10 of UK employees are thriving and enjoying their current role, whilst an additional 12% are completely burnt out. View article.