AGP Executive Report

AI & Hiring: Lloyds research says AI has created new jobs in 54% of UK firms, while 58% plan to invest more to upskill staff—amid wider worries about entry-level roles. Labour Market Watch: ONS data shows UK vacancies at a five-year low (707,000, May–July), with smaller businesses pausing hiring due to labour and operating costs. Workplace Confidence Gap: A survey of 1,000 frontline workers finds only 48% believe customer-abuse reports lead to meaningful action, with many reporting poor follow-up. Redundancies & Restructuring: Unite is considering talks with Government and employers after NatWest plans 32 redundancies, with redeployment options currently only in the UK. Employee Ownership: Yorkshire bed retailer Time4Sleep is moving to an Employee Ownership Trust, transferring a majority stake to a trust for employees. Retail Job Losses: Sayers the Bakers plans to close 19 shops, putting about 100 jobs at risk. HR Operations Under Pressure: A case study highlights delivering 600 disciplinary processes in two weeks using a rapid team of HR consultants. Community Energy Skills: A new toolkit backs council-community partnerships to scale community solar, aiming to unlock local jobs and training.

AI and jobs in the UK: A Lloyds survey says 54% of UK employers believe AI has created jobs, with a quarter hiring for AI skills and a fifth creating AI-specific roles, while firms warn they need better skills and confidence to use AI effectively. Regional AI hiring push: North East and North West businesses report AI is already creating roles and plan more investment to upskill staff, but cite barriers like internal expertise and access to skills. AI adoption drive: The CBI and Oliver Wyman urge government to make the next decade an “adoption decade,” warning of an “execution divide” between firms scaling AI and those stuck in pilots. Transport support for disabled people: England will lift time limits on disabled bus passes from 1 April 2027, enabling free 24/7 travel nationwide. Legal aid access gap: New research finds 14.49m people in England and Wales live in legal aid deserts, with housing the biggest shortage area. Charities under strain: A Rathbones study says 96% of charities have restricted services due to funding pressure and rising demand, with closures and major cutbacks looming.

AI and employment claims: England’s employment tribunals presidents say AI is driving more complex claims, longer hearings and rising backlogs, with examples of huge jumps in interim relief applications. WFH and unfair dismissal: A Bristol employment tribunal dismissed an unfair dismissal claim from a WFH finance manager who moved to France after being told not to, despite warnings she’d lose her job. Youth jobs and apprenticeships: The BRC backs “Saturday jobs” as a vital first step for young people, warning retail entry-level roles are under pressure as job numbers fall. Welfare reform politics: Reform UK published detailed plans to overhaul PIP and health-related Universal Credit, including a new Health Security Allowance and Disability Support Accounts, while also promising major benefit cuts if in government. Benefits timing: Universal Credit and several other benefits will be paid early ahead of the late-August bank holiday. Tax and reporting: HMRC’s Making Tax Digital push is expanding for self-employment/property income, raising questions for sole traders about whether quarterly reporting replaces annual returns. Water bans and livelihoods: Whitehall is preparing possible “reasonable worst case” drought restrictions that could hit small firms and self-employed people, including limits on non-essential water use.

Police Data Breach: A misconfigured public portal at West Yorkshire Police’s Police National Legal Database exposed names, employers and work emails for 100,000+ police and criminal justice staff, with no sign passwords were taken. Welfare Reform Shock: Reform UK says a future government would ban foreign nationals (including EU citizens with settled status) from almost all benefits, aiming to cut the welfare bill by £50bn and claiming £21bn savings by year five—sparking warnings it could hit disabled people and force Brexit renegotiation. Jobs Market Stalls: CIPD reports the UK jobs market has “largely stopped moving” as employment costs weigh on hiring; only 57% of private employers plan to hire in the next three months. Summer Hiring Picks Up: REC data shows seasonal hiring is rebounding, especially in hospitality and tourism, helped by hot weather and major events—though entry-level opportunities still aren’t fully back. Digital Compliance for Waste: From October 2026, mandatory digital waste tracking will require firms to record waste movements across the supply chain, pushing compliance into sustainability and efficiency. Enterprise Tech Push: Vodafone Business and TCS partner to drive AI-led digital transformation for UK enterprises, citing secure cloud, cyber and talent development. Administration Threats: Whitbread plans to exit branded restaurants like Brewers Fayre, closing sites and shifting focus to Premier Inn—raising job-loss concerns. Skills & Work: LinkedIn and WEF research points to rising demand for leadership, communication and analytical thinking as AI changes what employers pay for.

Welfare Shake-Up: Reform UK says it would scrap PIP for working-age people, with 2.89m claims removed or changed, replacing support with a tighter “Health Security Allowance” for the most severe cases and shifting more sickness risk onto employers via “Return to Work Cover.” Retail Jobs at Risk: River Island plans further high-street closures, including an Oxford Street Swansea site due to shut Sept 12, 2026, as it restructures to avoid administration. Employment Rights & Gig Work: Labour-linked groups urge Andy Burnham to crack down on “bogus” self-employment that leaves up to 4m gig workers without key rights, calling for Fair Work Agency prosecutions. Workplace Safety in Focus: New figures highlighted rising deaths in agriculture, with 33 fatalities in 2025/26, renewing calls for stronger hazard checks and training. Public Sector & Compliance: The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into Al-Khair Foundation over allegations of links to Hamas, after a staff member was charged in the UK and extradited to the US. Heat Pressure on Services: Greater Manchester police report record public contacts and arrests during extreme hot weather, adding strain to policing and the criminal justice system.

Welfare & Work Policy: Reform UK has unveiled a £50bn welfare overhaul, including scrapping PIP and the health element of Universal Credit for working-age adults, plus a new “Return to Work Cover” model that would make employers insure the first two years after sick leave. Youth Employment: Chancellor John Healey says one million NEETs (16–24) should be lined up for vacancies as migration falls, arguing it’s “huge waste” not to use young people’s potential. Cost of Living Support: Ofgem is warning households to check eligibility for help with energy bills, highlighting the Warm Home Discount worth £150 and due to reopen for winter 2026/27 in October. Employment & Skills Pipeline: The government is pushing AI boot camps to tackle youth unemployment, with new programmes aimed at getting teens job-ready. Workplace Health & Safety: A Lemsip factory worker in Hull is suing Reckitt Benckiser for up to £100,000, claiming exposure on production lines triggered asthma and disrupted sleep. Hiring & Fair Access: Cambridge professor Jason Arday’s death after plagiarism allegations has sparked calls for reflection on academic hiring and diversity pressures.

University Scrutiny Fallout: Cambridge sociologist Jason Arday, who resigned amid plagiarism allegations, was found dead in south London; PM Andy Burnham urged “reflection” and police said the death was unexpected but not suspicious, while Cambridge and other universities face renewed questions about how academic disputes are handled. Redundancies & Digitisation: RBS International plans about 50 redundancies across Jersey, Guernsey, Gibraltar and the Isle of Man as it “simplifies” and centralises operations for a more digital model. Workplace Safety & Health: Campaigners renewed calls to ban engineered quartz worktops after more silicosis cases linked to silica dust exposure among stonemasons. Visa & Skills: The UK opened 2026/27 Commonwealth Fellowship applications for Nigerians (deadline Aug 25), and guidance continues for Skilled Worker visa applicants to avoid costly errors. Entry Jobs Debate: Retailers and the BRC argue “Saturday jobs” remain a vital first step into work and warn reforms could reduce youth opportunities. Tax Relief Reminder: HMRC urges workers to check for unclaimed PAYE refunds after 730,000 people missed average £855 repayments.

AI Skills & Youth Unemployment: The UK Government is rolling out AI summer boot camps for 16–21-year-olds, with a North West pilot recruiting up to 70 young people for three weeks of AI and workplace skills, with possible routes into apprenticeships. Zero-Emission Car Policy: A consultation on the zero-emission vehicle mandate could “water down” the 2030 target for zero-emission new car sales, with ministers citing energy costs and global competition. Workplace Rights & Migration: Migrant hospitality workers on zero-hours contracts say visa sponsorship ties them to employers and limits their ability to refuse shifts or challenge deductions, as a crackdown consultation nears its final stretch. Jobs & Skills in Practice: A major logistics and jobs push is underway in the UK, including new depot openings and recruitment drives, while employers face ongoing pressure from skills shortages and rising costs. Health & Care Workforce Pressure: Heatwave conditions are worsening strain on health services and workers, adding to the wider challenge of staffing and rural service access. Higher-Profile Disruption: Cambridge’s youngest Black professor, Jason Arday, has died after resigning amid plagiarism allegations and intense media scrutiny.

AI Skills & Work: Up to 70 unemployed teens aged 16–21 in the North West are starting a three-week “AI bootcamp” to help them stay ahead of job disruption from bots, backed by the DCMS TechFirst AI Apprenticeship Pathway. Health Sector Pay & Roles: RCN Scotland, Unison and Unite have issued formal notice of action over a job evaluation dispute at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, with staff planning action short of strike. Construction Jobs at Risk: Blencowe Scaffolding, founded in 1964, has collapsed into administration with 100+ workers facing uncertainty across depots in Salisbury, Basingstoke and Eastleigh. Autonomous Transport: Uber will deploy 2,000 Pony.ai robotaxis across the UK, France and the Netherlands from 2026, moving from testing toward driverless operations. EV Costs & Charging: Andy Burnham’s government confirms a £1,400 home-charging running-cost saving claim and a £500 boost for households with driveways, alongside £600m for more charge points. Workplace Rights Clarity: A guide explains when service charges are compulsory versus discretionary under UK consumer law. Disabled Support: A new report argues disability benefits are “not fit for purpose,” calling for reform beyond just extra cash. Skills & Mobility Tech: iMocha partners with Lightcast to power skills and work intelligence using a shared skills taxonomy. Corporate Reshuffle: Lactalis has agreed to buy Saputo’s UK dairy business for about £988m, employing around 1,300 people.

AI Skills for Youth Unemployment: England’s TechFirst AI Apprenticeship Pathway is launching AI “boot camps” in the North West, offering 3 weeks of training for 16–21s who are out of work or at risk, with local employers like Heinz and JD Sports aiming to move participants into apprenticeships. Local Business Support & Jobs: Prime Minister Andy Burnham continues a small-business listening tour, telling firms “I’ve got your back” and linking hospitality and business rates relief to youth employment and growth in every postcode. Youth Results & Next Steps: Northern Ireland A-level/AS/BTEC results show 30.7% A+ grades, with schools and colleges urging students to plan pathways into university, training or work. Employment & Skills Pipeline: Hull’s Ron Dearing UTC reports record A-level and technical outcomes (50% A/A*), and says it’s expanding with a new Sixth Form Centre. Economic Pressure on SMEs: UK Q2 growth is up 0.4%, but chambers warn rising costs and softer trading conditions are squeezing small and medium-sized firms. Workplace Heat & Wellbeing: Reports highlight the strain on key workers during extreme temperatures, with calls for stronger workplace temperature limits. Hiring & Recruitment Friction: A new report finds many small businesses struggle to recruit people from economically inactive groups due to barriers like childcare, transport, health issues, and a lack of joined-up support.

A-level results and next steps: UCAS says more than 262,000 18-year-olds have secured university or college places, with top grades rising for a third year. Right-to-work checks: The UK government clarified which foreign nationals employers don’t need to check before hiring, easing compliance for certain groups. DWP support for claimants: New guidance and workshops are planned for PIP claimants, while a £150 Warm Home Discount one-off is set for eligible households. Employment law pressure: Small firms say rising employment costs are already cutting training, and business groups warn zero-hours reforms could deter hiring. Heatwave hits workplaces: Nurses report collapses and extreme conditions in hospitals and care homes as temperatures push past 30C. Jobs and skills in food: Arla warns skills gaps in farming are threatening “food resilience,” with long recruitment times for engineers. Business and jobs: EasyJet union leaders vow to protect jobs after Apollo’s £5.7bn takeover. Economy: UK GDP grew 0.4% in Q2, led by services, despite ongoing disruption.

Heatwave at work: The Royal College of Nursing says nurses are collapsing and even having seizures in “inhumane” hospital and care-home heat, with wards lacking air-con, fans or openable windows as temperatures are forecast to hit 36C+ and another amber warning looms. Zero-hours backlash: Retail and hospitality groups warn Labour’s proposed zero-hours reforms could be a “hammer blow” to young people, with government analysis putting the annual employer cost of a ban at up to £3bn. Asylum hotel exits: The Home Office says 13 more asylum hotels have closed and been handed back to communities, with fewer than 160 still in use and more reliance on larger basic accommodation. AI and biosecurity: UK ministers are planning safeguards for gene synthesis, including possible screening of DNA orders and tighter rules on how AI firms work with genome-data institutions, to reduce misuse for biological weapons. Jobs and skills: E.ON reports strong youth interest in green careers, with many preferring apprenticeships and citing debt and faster workplace skills as key drivers. NHS staffing pressure: The GMC says many doctors struggle to provide sufficient weekly care, with workload pressures pushing some toward leaving the profession. Workplace health-risk data: A UK workforce health-risk intelligence platform pitches “actionable” risk insights for employers and insurers, not just wellness tracking.

Digital Skills & Jobs: Made Smarter-backed WAWWA (Manchester) has tripled turnover and workforce, creating 20 jobs after investing £120,000 in digital design and production upgrades. AI Governance & Work: Coleman Technologies (Greater Vancouver) launched a Strategic AI Officer advisory practice aimed at helping leaders adopt AI with governance and security first. AI & Social Impact: KAIST will unveil AI-LOVI on Aug 18, a loneliness measurement framework meant to make “companion AI” regulation more enforceable. Recruitment Trends: Michael Page research says tech employers are moving faster to skills-based hiring (85% vs 66% across UK), as candidate shortages bite. Labour Market Pressure: Ulster Bank’s tracker shows Northern Ireland private sector growth returning in July, with some firms looking to expand staffing but still struggling to find the right workers. Cost of Living & Benefits Enforcement: The DWP plans tougher recovery powers for benefit debt, including potential driving licence suspensions. Business Restructuring: Claire’s Accessories UK collapsed into administration with debts near £20m, ending 154 store closures and 1,300 jobs. Workplace Safety & Climate: A Verdant analysis puts UK heatwave output losses at £4.4bn, urging protections for workers in extreme heat.

Apprenticeship Push: Skills England is urging employers to ramp up apprenticeship recruitment and offer T Level industry placements ahead of A-level and T-level results day, arguing apprenticeships can deliver major productivity gains. Engineering Talent Pipeline: Cummins’ Daventry site keeps Gold status for its engineering apprenticeship programme for a third year, with accreditation focused on apprentice feedback and structured support. Local Jobs & Skills: Teesside’s Tioxide plant is advertising 60 roles across operations, engineering, maintenance, technical and business support as it moves toward a restart. Cyber & Work Risks: An IT consultant linked to Soho House has been ordered to repay £50,000 after alleged threats to leak personal data of 50,000 members. AI in the Workplace: Ryanair says it will roll out Google’s Gemini and DeepMind tools across its operations to improve crew scheduling and reduce disruption. Immigration Housing Impact: The Home Office says 13 migrant hotels are closing to return to communities, but Warrington’s two sites will stay in use. Health & Careers: A Gateshead peer mental health group is seeking expansion after new funding for 1-2-1 support.

Employment Rights Clash (Northern Ireland): Sinn Féin MLA Jemma Dolan accused the DUP of “ignoring vulnerable workers” and delaying a Good Jobs Bill aimed at strengthening employment protections, including neonatal care leave and carers’ support. Cost of Living Support (DWP): The DWP confirmed a £300 Winter Fuel Payment for state pensioners aged 80+ from November, with letters going out from October. High Street Planning Crackdown (UK): Andy Burnham announced new planning rules that would require councils to approve new vape shops and adult gaming centres, giving local areas more power to block openings. Job Cuts (Gaming): UK studio Supermassive Games started a redundancy consultation that could lead to up to 75 layoffs, its third round in two years. NHS Workforce Pressure (England): Blackpool Victoria Hospital managers face demotion and pay cuts as part of emergency savings, with a 30-day consultation running to August 30. Retail Outsourcing (Asda): Asda plans to transfer cleaning roles for about 3,500 workers to Bidvest (north/Scotland) and NIC Services (south) under TUPE, with the change due by October 1. Skills & Careers (Apprenticeships): A survey found over 90% of young people would consider apprenticeships over degrees, with 71% of parents encouraging the route.

Defence Jobs Boost: BAE Systems wins a £135m Royal Navy torpedo repair and maintenance contract, supporting 315 UK jobs (150 at BAE, plus 165 via the supply chain) from July 2026 to June 2029. Graduate Hiring Signal: New research finds 77% of UK employers say university graduates are essential to their future workforce, valuing problem-solving, transferable skills and fast learning. Manufacturing Clean-Energy Upside: E.ON modelling says UK manufacturers could unlock £2bn+ in clean energy savings by 2035 by cutting gas use and scaling onsite renewables, smart energy and waste-heat recovery. High Street Employment Pressure: Retailers warn that rising taxes and employment costs are hurting investment as July high-street sales rise just 1.3% year-on-year, with non-food down. Local Control Over Shops: Andy Burnham’s crackdown would tighten planning rules for vape shops and adult gaming centres and strengthen councils’ enforcement powers to protect town centres. Workplace Recognition: Broadcast opens entries for the 2027 Best Places to Work in TV, with winners revealed in January 2027. Public Health & Testing: NHS figures say England has treated 100,000+ people for hepatitis C since 2015, with officials saying the country is “on the cusp” of elimination. Digital Risk for SMEs: A reminder for UK small firms: key staff leaving can strand critical campaign files on personal devices or private clouds, creating costly operational delays.