A growing number of tradespeople are experiencing homeowners wanting to purchase their own building materials for property improvement projects, according to new research.   Nearly half (48%) of tradespeople that were interviewed for the Jewson Trade Trends 2023 report agreed that homeowners are now more likely to want to buy at least some materials and supplies themselves – up from 40% in 2022. However, only 5% of tradespeople are in favour of …

Starting a business requires plenty of thought, planning, and of course, money – without thinking of the bigger picture, you’re likely to run into problems that will limit your potential. But when you consider the future of your venture, are you considering an exit plan? It may not cross your mind, particularly if you’re a small business, and you may wonder whether you need one at all. Here, we explore …

Leading B2B comparison website Expert Market has conducted a new study into the causes and costs of rising Employee Absenteeism and has highlighted the most important ways to support employees and reduce workplace absences.  Here are the main statistical findings: 51% of employees feel disconnected or unstimulated by their work and are more likely to avoid going to the officeWorkplace stress and burnout cost US businesses around $500 billion every …

UK companies must become more productive in order to absorb the impact of the 10% jump in the minimum wage on April 1st, says INVERTO, the Boston Consulting Group subsidiary specializing in procurement and supply chain management. The UK National Living Wage will increase from £9.50 to £10.42 per hour, putting even more pressure on labour-intensive businesses’ margins. The rise in labour costs will hit these companies and their suppliers …

A quarter of fire and rescue services in England have received reports of racist, homophobic and misogynistic behaviour from employees… The post Bullying, racism and misogyny rife in fire services appeared first on Personnel Today.

By Joanna Powis & Alison Heaton of Reed Smith The idea of a four-day working week is gaining momentum in the UK. Last month, the not-for-profit organisation, 4 Day Week Global, reported the results of its six-month UK trial. With 92% of reporting companies confirming they will continue with the four-day week, the trial has been reported as a resounding success. In this article, we review where the four-day working …