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UK Edition
31st July 2026
 
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THE HOT STORY

BP cuts 700 jobs to simplify company

BP is cutting 700 "non-frontline" jobs as part of its restructuring under new CEO Meg O'Neill. The reductions would impact around 8% of ⁠the 8,500 such roles that historically were part of the company's production ​and operations business. "If your role is affected, that could mean that it does not ​exist in the new organisation, changes materially, or moves into a different ​part of the organisation," an internal email said. “We are building ​a simpler, ⁠stronger, more valuable BP. As part of this process, we are proposing changes that would result in a reduction in roles," a BP spokesperson told Reuters.
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LEGAL

Santander faces legal action over TSB office policy

Santander could face legal action after announcing that TSB staff must return to the office three days a week starting April 2027. The change follows Santander's acquisition of TSB for £2.9bn. Representatives at the TBU Union are preparing to take their case to the Employment Tribunal over concerns staff won’t be able to change their circumstances due to personal and medical reasons. TSB said: "We have made it clear that there will be exceptions and policy put in place for those who require flexibility."
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STRATEGY

JLR to cut hundreds of jobs

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) plans to cut hundreds of jobs following last year’s devastating cyber-attack. JLR’s profit before tax slumped by 99% to £14m from £2.5bn last year because of the attack. The company said it planned to cut about £1.7bn in costs over the coming years to help towards its recovery. Job losses will affect salaried and management roles and not production line staff, according to reports.
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TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

Apprentices are 'too complex' to hire, Screwfix boss says

Screwfix chief executive John Mewett has warned that bureaucracy and rising employment costs are deterring businesses from hiring young workers through apprenticeships. In a letter to the Times, he said many employers, including sole traders, wanted to train the next generation but were dismissing apprenticeship schemes because the process had become "too complex." Mewett wrote: "They want to take on apprentices, but they tell us that each stage of the process is too complicated, from the paperwork, to hiring, to managing apprentice workload . . . Too often, this puts them off."
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WORKFORCE

Number of young adult carers rises by 100,000

The number of informal carers aged 16 to 24 in the UK has increased by 100,000 over the past decade to at least 300,000, although experts believe the true figure is much higher. About 23% are not in education, employment or training, compared with 5% of young people without caring responsibilities. They are also more likely to struggle academically and miss school. Campaigners are calling for earlier identification, dedicated young-carer leads in schools, and better coordination between social care, healthcare and education. The government says its £2.5bn youth employment package will help young people access jobs, training and work experience.

Louise Hanson is named new REC chief

Louise Hanson has been appointed as the new chief executive of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), succeeding Neil Carberry, who departs in September. Hanson, who is currently the executive director for membership and external affairs at the Law Society, said: “It will be a privilege to build on the work of Neil and the team, ensuring REC stays as the most powerful and influential voice of an industry that shapes the labour market and supports business across the UK. With the current pace of political and business change, REC's work to support members and its commitment to high standards feels more important than ever.”
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HEALTH & WELLBEING

World risks HIV resurgence amid funding decline, UNAIDS says

UNAIDS has warned that global funding cuts, growing inequality and setbacks to human rights are threatening decades of progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS. “The ⁠international community has entered a period of profound political and financial upheaval that threatens decades ​of hard-won gains against HIV," the U.N. body fighting AIDS said in its 60-page report released at the start of ​an International AIDS conference in Brazil. "Without renewed commitment and action, the world risks a resurgence of the HIV epidemic."
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INTERNATIONAL

KPMG Australia has made no decision on possible job cuts

KPMG Australia says it has made no decision on possible job cuts after the Australian Financial Review reported that ​the firm plans to eliminate about 1,000 positions or 10% ‌of its workforce in the wake of an audit misconduct scandal, with details of the roles to be eliminated being shared with selected partners this week. "We are reviewing our operating model, ⁠cost base and workforce needs. It is important to note that ​no decisions have been made regarding any specific measures or potential impact ​on roles," said a KPMG spokesperson, who added the firm was continuing to evaluate "a range of options to ensure the firm remains well positioned for the challenges ahead."

Romanian healthcare workers go on indefinite strike

Thousands of doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers in Romania have gone on a nationwide general strike against a planned wage bill that is key for the country to access European Union funds. The strike was in large part precipitated by the public sector wage bill seeking to unify the pay system across state institutions and eliminate dozens of bonuses and allowances ​from 2027. Unions say that the wage bill would reduce the overall income of ​healthcare and education workers. “At this moment, we don’t have a credible and trustworthy negotiating partner because the interim government has no power to promise us any changes,” Iulian Pope, a leader of the Sanitas union, said.

WestJet flight attendants issue 72-hour strike notice

Flight attendants at Calgary-based carrier WestJet Airlines have given a 72-hour notice of a strike if talks fail to produce ​an agreement in a dispute over unpaid work. Cabin crew at Canada's second-largest carrier could strike as early as August 2 at 12:01 a.m. Mountain Time (0601 GMT) if a last-minute deal is not reached, said the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which wants cabin crew to be paid from the time ⁠they check in to when they clock out, which is not currently ​the case.

Germany's sick-note crackdown 'isn't treating the underlying illness'

Germany's proposed changes to sick-note regulations may overlook the root causes of rising absenteeism, researchers warn. In 2024, German workers averaged 22 days of sick leave - among the highest levels internationally. Factors such as chronic understaffing and low pay are contributing to mental health issues, leading to increased absences, says researchers who study sickness, mental health and labour markets. They increasingly point to deeper problems in professions where absenteeism ​is high, including nursing, care work and teaching. Under plans agreed by Chancellor Friedrich Merz's coalition, telephone sick notes would be scrapped and employers could require medical certificates from the first day of absence.
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OTHER

No air conditioning in a third of schools

Freedom of information data obtained by Tes shows that more than a third (35%) of schools in England do not have any air conditioning. Tes requested all the data from the Department for Education’s Condition Data Collection 2 programme (CDC2), which surveyed all state-funded schools and colleges between 2021 and 2026. The data collected by CDC2 showed whether an air-conditioning unit is present in a school. Wayne Bates, national negotiating official for the NASUWT teaching union, is calling for a national strategy to help schools contend with the changing climate. He said: “This must involve a range of mitigations, including the installation of air conditioning where appropriate, investment in greater ventilation, insulation, shaded areas around school sites and flood defences in and around schools.”

 
Tes
 
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