Business

The government should introduce an apprenticeship guarantee for all 16 to 24-year-olds to help young people into work as the UK labour market continues to cool, according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

Responding to the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) labour market data, James Cockett, senior labour market economist at the CIPD, warned that rising employment costs — driven by higher National Insurance contributions and minimum wage increases — risk discouraging employers from hiring young workers.

Vacancies have fallen to their lowest level since early 2015, with notable declines in hospitality and retail over the past year. These sectors, Cockett said, are vital entry points for young people starting their careers.

“The government needs to go further than the youth guarantee and introduce an apprenticeship guarantee for all 16 to 24-year-olds, to provide valuable opportunities to both learn and earn,” Cockett said.

“Better training and employment opportunities will ensure young people start their working lives on the right foot while helping employers build future talent pipelines.”

The ONS data also shows that pay growth remains high, particularly in hospitality and retail — the same sectors most affected by rising employment costs. However, real wage growth has now fallen to its lowest level in two years, with inflation eroding much of the headline pay increases.

Cockett said an apprenticeship guarantee could support both sides of the labour market by offering young people stable employment and training, while giving employers access to a pipeline of skilled staff at a time when vacancies are shrinking.

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CIPD urges apprenticeship guarantee for young people as UK labour market cools

The government must act urgently to close the widening pensions gap between employees and self-employed workers or risk fuelling a future retirement crisis, the Social Market Foundation (SMF) has warned.

In a new report commissioned by digital bank Monzo, the think tank said the self-employed are “at most risk” of inadequate retirement provision and should be given targeted, personalised prompts to save – potentially delivered via HMRC and financial services firms.

The study, based on a survey of 1,000 self-employed people, found that only 20% contribute to a pension, compared to 78% of employees. Of those who do save, 31% contribute a fixed sum each month, unlike employees whose contributions rise automatically with earnings. Almost a third contribute less than once a month, and 10% less than once a year.

While affordability was the most cited reason for not saving regularly, SMF said lack of understanding and reluctance to “lock away” money were also significant factors. Nearly two-thirds of respondents admitted they “don’t really understand” or have only a “basic understanding” of pensions. Lower-income respondents were more likely to keep spare cash in instant access accounts than invest it for the long term.

The report highlights that the absence of an equivalent to workplace auto-enrolment for the self-employed has caused the savings gap to widen sharply since the policy was introduced for employees. Without intervention, SMF warns, the result will be rising pensioner poverty and greater pressure on public finances.

John Asthana Gibson, researcher at the Social Market Foundation, said: “It’s simply untenable for the government to continue to overlook this problem. We should build on the success of auto-enrolment for employees and ensure that people in this crucial but often forgotten part of the labour force are encouraged to sufficiently save for their retirement.”

Recommendations

SMF’s proposals balance maintaining self-employed workers’ financial autonomy with more effective policy nudges:
• Short term: Fast-track FCA approval for firms to provide “Targeted Support” to help people start investing.
• Medium term: Enable private sector providers to include opt-out interventions in customer engagement to boost participation.
• Long term: Work with HMRC and accounting software firms to embed prompts into self-assessment tax forms – potentially introducing an “active choice” or opt-out auto-enrolment mechanism for pension contributions.

Monzo’s group policy director James Shafe backed the proposals, noting that 70% of self-employed people in its survey did not believe they were saving enough for retirement.

“The 4 million self-employed workers in the UK are the backbone of our economy, yet they’re at most risk of being left behind when it comes to saving for retirement… We back the SMF’s calls for reforms that would allow financial institutions to champion better retirement savings habits.”

The government’s newly launched Pensions Commission is expected to address barriers in the current system, with self-employed workers identified as one of the groups most at risk of poor retirement outcomes.

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Government urged to tackle ‘self-employed pension crisis’ as report warns of widening savings gap

The UK labour market showed further signs of cooling in the three months to June, with wage growth slowing, vacancies falling and payroll numbers declining, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Average weekly earnings, including bonuses, rose 4.6% in Q2, down from 5% in the previous three-month period and slightly below economists’ forecasts. Private sector pay grew by 4.8% – the weakest rate since January 2022 – undershooting the Bank of England’s 5.2% forecast. Excluding bonuses, earnings rose 5%, unchanged from the previous quarter.

The slowdown comes as businesses face higher costs from the April increase in the National Living Wage and the rise in Employer National Insurance Contributions. Retail, leisure and hospitality firms have been among the most vocal about the impact on hiring.

The ONS reported that payroll employment fell by 8,000 in July, a smaller drop than the 18,000 expected, while June’s fall was revised from 41,000 to 26,000. The unemployment rate remained at 4.7%, its highest in four years, with the Bank forecasting a peak of 4.9% over the next 12 months.

Vacancies declined by 44,000 to 718,000 – the 37th consecutive monthly fall – with the ONS noting that “some firms may not be recruiting new workers or replacing workers who have left.”

Liz McKeown, ONS director of economic statistics, said the data “points to a continued cooling of the labour market,” with payroll declines “concentrated in hospitality and retail” and vacancies falling most sharply in those industries.

Isaac Stell, investment manager at Wealth Club, said the figures highlight “growing signs of economic strain and an absence of momentum,” adding that slowing wage growth signals “weakening employer confidence and reduced capacity to offer competitive compensation,” which could hit household spending power.

Alex Hall-Chen, principal policy advisor for employment at the Institute of Directors, warned that “policies which are increasing the cost and risk of employing staff” are undermining demand for labour. He cited the rise in employer NI, employment law reforms and above-inflation minimum wage increases as having “substantially weakened the business case for hiring.”

Hall-Chen urged ministers to “restore business confidence in hiring” by addressing employment costs and supporting amendments to the Employment Rights Bill, including reducing the proposed unfair dismissal qualifying period from day one to six months and reinstating the 50% voting threshold for industrial action.

The Monetary Policy Committee last week voted narrowly to cut interest rates to 4%, warning that inflation – currently above target at 2% – is set to rise to 4% later this year, driven by food and energy prices.

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UK jobs market cools as wage growth slows and vacancies fall amid higher business taxes

UK consumer spending rebounded in July as the “lipstick effect” and major entertainment events, including the Oasis reunion tour, encouraged shoppers to splash out on affordable luxuries, according to Barclays.

The bank, which tracks 40% of UK card transactions, reported that sales increased 1.4% year-on-year last month, recovering from a 0.1% decline in June. The rise was driven by entertainment, clothing, beauty and homewares, although it still lagged behind June’s inflation rate of 3.6%.

Entertainment spending was buoyed by Oasis concerts in Cardiff, Manchester and London, as well as strong ticket sales for other live events. July 10 marked the busiest day for entertainment purchases as fans snapped up seats for Lewis Capaldi’s 2025 tour.

Cinema transactions rose 1.6%, helped by the release of Jurassic World Rebirth, Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch, and Happy Gilmore 2. Subscription services also saw an 8% jump.

Clothing sales surged 4.2%, the fastest pace since September 2024, with unsettled summer weather prompting shoppers to refresh their wardrobes. A quarter of respondents to Barclays’ survey said the month’s mix of warm spells and rainy days encouraged clothing purchases.

Retail card transactions rose 1.9%, up from June’s 0.2%, with discretionary spending climbing 2.4% on the back of strong clothing demand. Spending on essentials fell 0.7%.

Barclays also noted an increase in small luxury beauty purchases — the so-called “lipstick effect” often seen in times of economic uncertainty — with pharmacy and health and beauty transactions up 9.8%. Furniture sales grew 6.7%, marking eight consecutive months of gains.

Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, said: “The summer sales, changeable weather and shoppers seeking the feelgood factor led to a strong July for retailers, particularly among beauty, clothing and furniture stores.”

Separate Barclays research found that 35% of UK adults have used AI tools such as ChatGPT or Google’s Gemini to help manage their finances. Among Gen Z – those aged 13 to 28 – usage rose to 69%.

The figures come against a backdrop of sluggish UK growth, with GDP down 0.3% in April and 0.1% in May amid weak consumer spending and high saving rates.

The Bank of England last week cut interest rates for the fifth time in a year to 4% from 4.25%, and investors expect at most one further reduction before the end of 2025. Lower rates on savings could encourage households to spend more in the months ahead.

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Oasis tour and ‘lipstick effect’ lift UK spending in July, says Barclays

HMRC has admitted for the first time that it uses artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor taxpayers’ social media accounts as part of criminal investigations into tax fraud.

The tax authority said AI tools are used alongside the department’s traditional checks to analyse online posts, including those about expensive holidays or large purchases, if they appear inconsistent with a person’s declared income. Officials insist the technology is deployed only in criminal cases, with “robust safeguards in place” and within the law.

The disclosure comes amid growing concerns in Westminster over the expanding role of AI in tax enforcement and fears it could be used more widely in future.

Senior Conservative MPs have warned that reliance on automated tools could lead to mistakes, with inadequate human oversight.

Bob Blackman MP said: “If they start taking legal action against individuals based on that, it seems draconian… Without a human check, you can see there’s going to be a problem.”

Sir John Hayes, former security minister and chair of the Common Sense Group of Tory MPs, drew parallels with the Post Office Horizon scandal: “The idea that a machine must always be right is what led to the Post Office scandal. I am a huge AI sceptic.”

The AI monitoring tools operate alongside Connect, HMRC’s data analytics system used for routine tax investigations. Connect, introduced more than a decade ago, cross-references billions of data points – from bank transactions to property records – to flag potential tax evasion.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has set a goal of recouping £7 billion of the UK’s £47 billion “tax gap”, with HMRC officials last month publishing a strategy that envisions AI being embedded into “everyday” tax processes.

The department is trialling AI-powered “assistants” to help the public complete tax returns and to support compliance officers in reviewing them. If patterns in a return suggest false information, the system could issue a warning that might later be used as evidence if fraud is proven.

Concerns about AI’s role in decision-making intensified after a tribunal ordered HMRC to reveal by 18 September whether AI was used in assessing claims for research and development tax credits. The ruling followed a Freedom of Information request from tax expert Tom Elsbury, who argued AI might already be determining the outcome of some claims.

Ministers maintain there is always a human “in the loop” for decisions affecting individuals, and HMRC insists humans retain the “final say” in enforcement actions.

The Department for Work and Pensions has also trialled AI tools, with 20,000 civil servants using the technology to draft documents and summarise meetings. A government source said HMRC has approached around a dozen tech firms for proposals on using AI to help close the £46.8 billion in unpaid tax – much of it linked to offshore accounts.

A HMRC spokesperson said: “Use of AI for social media monitoring is restricted to criminal investigations and subject to legal oversight. AI supports our processes but does not replace human decision-making. Greater use of AI will enable our staff to spend less time on admin and more time helping taxpayers, as well as better target fraud and evasion.”

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HMRC admits using AI to monitor taxpayers’ social media

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have signed a new multi-year film and television deal with Netflix, defying speculation earlier this year that the streaming giant would not renew its contract with the couple.

Harry and Meghan first agreed a five-year partnership with Netflix in 2020, reportedly worth $100 million (£78 million), after stepping back from their roles as senior working royals. The agreement gives Netflix “first look” rights on any projects produced by their company, Archewell Productions.

Recent media reports had suggested that the deal might not be extended after some of their projects struggled to attract large audiences. The duchess’s lifestyle series With Love, Meghan failed to break into Netflix’s top 300 shows in the first half of this year, while Harry’s sports documentary Polo ranked 3,346 out of 7,000 shows.

Despite this, the renewed deal will cover multiple genres and includes Netflix becoming a partner in the duchess’s lifestyle brand As Ever, launched alongside the first season of With Love, Meghan.

The duchess said: “We’re proud to extend our partnership with Netflix and expand our work together to include the As Ever brand. My husband and I feel inspired by our partners… to create thoughtful content across genres that resonates globally, and celebrates our shared vision.”

Upcoming projects include a second season of With Love, Meghan later this month, a Christmas special in December, and Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within, a documentary on orphaned children in Uganda’s Masaka region, still affected by the HIV/Aids crisis.

There is also “active development” on other Archewell projects, such as a planned feature adaptation of Carley Fortune’s bestselling romantic novel Meet Me At The Lake.

The couple’s content ventures have met with mixed success. In 2023, their $20 million podcast deal with Spotify ended after just 12 episodes, with the company’s head of podcast innovation, Bill Simmons, controversially referring to the pair as “grifters” on his own show. Reports suggested they had not met productivity targets needed to receive the full payout.

Harry also stepped down in March from Sentebale, the charity he co-founded to help children orphaned by Aids in Lesotho, following a boardroom dispute. A spokesperson said he is considering launching a new charitable organisation working “in the same space in the region.”

Netflix has not disclosed the financial terms of the renewed multi-year agreement.

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Harry and Meghan sign new multi-year Netflix deal

The Entertainer, the UK’s largest toy shop chain, is set to become employee-owned after founder Gary Grant announced plans to transfer 100% of the family business to its 1,900 staff by the end of September.

The retailer – which also owns the Early Learning Centre and Addo toy brands – will be placed into an employee ownership trust (EOT), with the Grant family to be paid over time from future profits. The valuation of the business has not been disclosed.

Employees will benefit from tax-free bonuses linked to company performance, while a newly created employee advisory board will help shape the group’s future direction.

The move comes despite a challenging year for the business. Pre-tax profits fell 18% to £6.7 million in the year to 27 January 2024, with sales down 3.7% to £238.3 million. However, the family still took its first dividend since 2019 – a payout of £15.6 million.

Founded in 1981 by Gary and Catherine Grant in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, The Entertainer has grown from a single store to 160 branches and more than 1,000 concessions in major retailers such as Tesco and Marks & Spencer. The business also trades online and overseas.

Grant, who stepped back from day-to-day operations in 2023 when former John Lewis executive Andrew Murphy became CEO, will stand down as chair in September when the deal completes. His two sons, who both work in the business, will also leave. Murphy’s experience with the UK’s largest employee-owned retailer is expected to help guide The Entertainer’s transition.

Grant said the decision was “significant” and “not taken lightly”: “It feels like only yesterday that my wife Catherine and I opened our first store. Over the last 44 years, we’ve invested our working lives into this business… It feels like the right time to transfer our entire shareholding into an employee ownership trust.”

He thanked staff for making The Entertainer “what it is today” and reaffirmed the brand’s focus on “children and community… creating memories, inspiring wonder and delivering outstanding service.”

The Entertainer will join other well-known UK businesses – including Richer Sounds and Riverford Organic Farmers – that have switched to employee ownership.

James de la Vingne, chief executive of the Employee Ownership Association, called the move “a bold and brilliant commitment to shared success” that could “futureproof beloved brands, root jobs in local communities and inject wealth into regional economies”.

“The future of the high street is employee ownership, and the future is already happening,” he added.

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The Entertainer to become employee-owned as founder hands over UK’s biggest toy shop chain to staff

Rajesh Nair, chief executive of Tata Steel UK, has been appointed as the new Chair of UK Steel, the trade association representing Britain’s steel sector. He will take on the position alongside his current role leading Tata Steel’s UK operations.

Nair brings more than 36 years of experience across the Tata Steel Group to the role. Since joining Tata Steel UK as chief operating officer in 2021 and becoming CEO in 2023, he has played a central part in reshaping the business, driving its transition to low-CO₂ steelmaking, and securing the future of domestic steel production in South Wales and beyond.

A graduate in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Nair has held senior operational and commercial posts across Tata Steel’s global operations, from managing the Cold Rolling Mill complex at Jamshedpur to helping integrate Corus Group into Tata Steel in 2007.

Commenting on his appointment, Nair said: “It is an honour to be appointed Chair of UK Steel at such a pivotal moment for the industry. This is a period of profound change – with significant challenges, but also real opportunities to strengthen the sector for the long term. I look forward to working with UK Steel members and stakeholders to help secure that future – working closely with Government on its Steel Strategy and addressing structural issues like uncompetitive energy costs and the growing threat of high-emission imports.”

UK Steel director-general Gareth Stace welcomed the appointment: “Rajesh will bring a wealth of experience across both the global and UK steel industry to this role. His appointment could not have come at a better time as our industry looks to modernise and grow as Government prepares to publish its Steel Strategy this autumn.”

In addition to his UK Steel role, Nair is a board member of Tata Steel UK and chairs Surahammars Bruks in Sweden. A Fulbright Scholar with advanced management training from Carnegie Mellon University and CEDEP-INSEAD, he is a recognised technical innovator with published research and patents in galvanised steel products. He has also served on industry committees and been an active member of the Indian Institute of Metals.

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Tata steel UK CEO Rajesh Nair appointed chair of UK Steel

Pasta Evangelists has unveiled ambitious plans to open 100 restaurants across the UK over the next five years, in a £30 million expansion drive that is expected to create up to 1,500 jobs.

The London-based fresh pasta brand, which began as a recipe kit delivery service before branching into dining, is seeking new sites and franchise partners across the South of England, the Midlands and Scotland. The company says it is also exploring a ‘Pasta Apprenticeship’ scheme to attract new talent and help current staff develop long-term careers in hospitality.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves hailed the announcement as “great news and another vote of confidence in the UK,” adding that it demonstrated “the dynamism and resilience of British businesses” as the government focuses on economic growth.

Co-founder and CEO Alessandro Savelli said the company’s goal is to become “the UK’s fastest-growing casual dining hotspot” for pasta lovers.

“The demand for our fresh, beautifully cooked artisan pasta is growing. We expect our plans to create up to 1,500 new jobs. We already employ 350 people and as part of our recruitment drive, we’re looking into options for a ‘Pasta Apprenticeship’ scheme to encourage young people into the workplace.”

Savelli said sustainable growth is key to the company’s strategy, noting that while the hospitality sector is under pressure, Pasta Evangelists has “bucked the trend” with five confirmed new openings in just three months.

The group recently opened its first restaurant outside London in Guildford and a new site in Farringdon. Three more London restaurants – in Fulham, Queensway and New Oxford Street – are due to launch in the coming weeks, bringing the total to 11.

Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer Finn Lagun credited the brand’s success to offering more than just dining: “A big part of our success is the experiential element, with our famous fresh pasta-making courses. Over 100,000 people have already learnt the art of pasta-making at our Pasta Academy, and with our growth plans, we could see over a million Britons learning from our chefs.”

The expansion marks the latest phase in the company’s evolution from an online food start-up into a multi-channel hospitality brand combining restaurants, experiential events, and its original pasta delivery business.

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Pasta Evangelists to open 100 UK restaurants creating up to 1,500 jobs

Poundland is closing 49 stores across the UK over the next five weeks, with 10 branches shutting their doors for good today, as part of a major restructuring under its new owners.

US investment firm Gordon Brothers, which bought the discount retailer from Polish parent Pepco Group in June for a nominal £1, is cutting almost 70 stores from Poundland’s 800-strong network by mid-October. Three locations have already closed, leaving 16 more to be confirmed later this year.

The closures begin today with stores in Ammanford, Birmingham Fort, Cardiff Valegate, Cramlington, Leicester, Long Eaton, Port Glasgow, Seaham, Shrewsbury and Tunbridge Wells. Fifteen more will shut on 17 August, followed by 12 on 24 August, and 11 on 31 August. The final of this wave – in Irvine, North Ayrshire – will close on 14 September.

Poundland retail director Darren MacDonald said the aim was to maintain a “sizeable” network of 650–700 stores, but acknowledged the closures would be “sincerely regrettable” for customers. Staff in affected stores are in consultation, with redeployment options being explored.

The restructuring plan includes rent negotiations at some locations, closure of the frozen and digital distribution centre in Darton, South Yorkshire, later this year, and the closure of the Bilston, West Midlands distribution hub by early 2026. Frozen products will be dropped entirely and chilled food ranges reduced.

Online sales will also end, while the retailer plans to expand its womenswear and seasonal product ranges. These changes still require High Court approval later this month.

Poundland has struggled with falling sales, posting a 6.5% drop in revenue to £830m in the six months to March. Pepco blamed “highly challenging trading conditions” across all categories.

Stores closing 17 August

Bedford, Bidston Moss, Broxburn, Craigavon, Dartmouth, East Dulwich, Falmouth, Hull St Andrews, Newtonabbey, Perth, Poole, Sunderland, Stafford, Thornaby and Worcester.

Stores closing 24 August

Brigg, Canterbury, Coventry, Newcastle, Kings Heath, Peterborough, Peterlee, Rainham, Salford, Sheldon, Wells and Whitechapel.

Stores closing 31 August

Blackburn, Cookstown, Erdington, Kimberley, Horsham, Hull Holderness, Kettering, Omagh, Shepherds Bush, Southport and Taunton.

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Poundland to close 49 more UK stores as new owners push ahead with restructuring