New research released today by Citrus Connect, a specialist direct sales recruitment consultancy, reveals that the UK has become a hugely ‘overqualified nation’, with millions of highly educated workers trapped in roles that neither require nor reward their academic achievement. As a result, it is predicted that 40-45% of UK workers could be in roles below their qualifications by 2035 if current trends continue. Drawing on 2025/26 data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), OECD and The Sutton Trust, the Overqualified Nation Study shows a labour market defined not by a lack of education – but by too much of it in the…
Author: sme-admin
For many UK SMEs, the price of goods rarely reflects just the cost of manufacturing. Increasingly, it also reflects the cost of navigating an unpredictable global supply chain. With geopolitical tensions rising again in key energy-producing regions, logistics experts are warning that businesses may soon face another wave of higher transport costs. According to Geoff Yates, Commercial Director at international freight forwarder, Espace Global Freight, renewed pressure on global energy markets and shipping corridors could quickly translate into higher delivered prices for UK companies. “Transport costs are closely tied to energy markets,” says Yates. “When geopolitical tensions affect oil supply or…
By Nafeesa Hussain, Corporate Solicitor at WSP Solicitors Recent reports reveal that 37% of family business owners are now considering relocating their companies overseas, and other SMEs are following suit. According to Rathbones one in eight small and medium size business owners are actively planning a move, while the wealth manager and investment firm also says the number having exited the UK already has hit 6,000 over the last two years alone. The current tax burden is cited as a key driver behind this shift, with Ireland emerging as the most popular destination (26%), followed by Dubai (21%) and the…
New research from leading independent consultancy Barnett Waddingham (BW), part of Howden, reveals a widening retirement confidence crisis across the UK workforce, as a third (32%) of workers do not feel confident that they will retire with a comfortable income. Concerningly, this lack of certainty is most prominent among those closest to retirement. Almost half (48%) of workers aged 45-54 and 40% of those aged 55+ report a significant lack of confidence in their financial future. A similar study from Barnett Waddingham in 20242 found that 42% of those aged 45-54, and 37% of those aged 55+ were not confident that…
With the first wave of the new Employment Rights Act coming in to force next month, and many SME leaders grappling with conflicting advice and expensive solutions, people management expert Charlotte Dean, founder and managing director of P3 People Management, offers advice for SME leaders. “One of the most common concerns I hear from small business leaders is that preparing for the Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA) will be expensive and disruptive. In most cases, it doesn’t need to be either and there is a genuine opportunity here to turn ERA compliance into building a stronger, more profitable business. “Every people management…
With the Middle East conflict kicking off in recent weeks, following on from the infamous Autumn Budget and previous geopolitical tensions across the ocean, it’s no surprise that 26% of working Brits revealed they have stayed in their role for longer than they would like due to economic conditions, even if they’re unhappy with their current position or workplace, according to Reward Gateway | Edenred’s latest research. Stability and a livelihood is an essential for many people, with 26% of working Brits revealing they have stayed in their role for longer than they would like due to economic conditions, even…
While STEM fields have historically been male-dominated, women are steadily increasing their presence across science, engineering and technology roles. Today, women hold over a quarter of all STEM jobs in the UK yet pay parity and access to opportunity still vary widely by location. To uncover where women in STEM have the strongest career prospects, CoworkingCafe analysed 95 of the UK’s largest cities and towns. We evaluated 10 key metrics across three categories: workforce strength, earnings and affordability, to identify the UK’s STEM hotspots for women. Here are the key findings: Cambridge ranks first overall, with the highest concentration of STEM jobs (19.4%) and the strongest STEM…
Nearly 80% of HR and L&D professionals see the importance of cultural intelligence (CQ) to their organisations’ success, with 93% emphasising its role in boosting engagement and teamwork.1 In light of this, Chris Crosby, CEO at Country Navigator, a cultural intelligence training platform, explains how leaders can better develop cultural intelligence in their workplaces to help their teams reach the next level. Why is cultural intelligence important for leaders? Managing performance: A leader’s primary role is to drive team performance, understand potential, and motivate, develop, and encourage the team. Programs may promise development, but they don’t always deliver the expected results. Cognitive…
With Neurodiversity Celebration Week taking place this week, Dan Kentley, Head of Assessment and Specialist Clinical Services at Onebright, discusses the benefits of embracing neurodiversity, common challenges neurodivergent individuals face in the workplace and practical workplace adjustments. Many companies have a talented workforce consisting of individuals with remarkable skills and insights, yet some may face challenges navigating the traditional working environment. It’s estimated that one in seven people in the UK are neurodivergent, meaning they may learn or process information differently to those who are neurotypical. A neurodiverse workforce includes individuals with unique strengths and traits, including those with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder…
As the 5 April tax year deadline approaches, Penfold warns that last-minute errors are quietly costing UK savers thousands. With the tax year ending on 5 April, Penfold, a leading UK workplace pension provider, is urging savers not to leave pension contributions to the last minute. Every year, many people miss out on allowances they are entitled to, mistime contributions that fail to process or overlook relief they could have claimed. Chris Eastwood, CEO and Co-Founder of Penfold said: “We see the same money mistakes come up time and time again at this point in the tax year. Most of them…