Latest news with #FederationofSmallBusiness
BBC News
17-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Firms to cut jobs ahead of rise in employment costs
Companies are planning to cut jobs or recruit fewer people ahead of rises to National Insurance payments and wages, according to a survey of UK questioned by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) also said they would raise their prices to cover increasing employment research conducted by the Federation of Small Business found in the final three months of last year confidence among small firms hit its lowest point for 10 years, not including the Covid Treasury said it was delivering the stability businesses need to invest and grow. Rises to National Insurance Contributions by employers as well as an increase in the National Minimum Wage, announced in October's Budget, will come into force in April. According to the CIPD survey, just over a third of the 2,000 firms it spoke to said they planned to reduce their headcount through redundancies or by recruiting fewer workers. More companies, some 42%, said they would lift prices while a quarter of those surveyed said "they are cancelling or scaling down plans for investing in or expanding their business".The findings come ahead of the latest official employment figures which are due to be published on Tuesday followed by inflation data on Wednesday. Peter Cheese, chief executive of the CIPD, said these were the "most significant downward changes in employer sentiment we've seen in the last 10 years, outside of the pandemic".He added: "Our data shows it's the everyday economy sectors, such as retail and hospitality, which employ large numbers of people, that will be particularly affected by impending increases to employment costs."In November, a group of the biggest retailers in the UK warned that High Street job losses were "inevitable", prices would rise and shops would close because of tax rises in the Budget and other rising Amazon, Greggs, Next and other chains called on the Treasury to reconsider some of the said the "cumulative burden" of the Budget changes and other policies already in the pipeline would add billions in costs to a sector with a slim profit Federation of Small Business said that, in terms of confidence, it was falling across a wide range of small business index, which measures levels of confidence among firms, found that a small firms "are braced for a contraction in the size of their business in the first three months of 2025".
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Companies welcome easing of apprenticeship rules
Plans to ditch a requirement for English and maths for apprentices has been welcomed by an East of England business leader. The government announced companies would have the power to decide if the qualifications should be part of a prescribed course when employing apprentices. Candy Richards of the region's Federation of Small Business (FSB) backed the idea but called for extra support for firms wanting to train people given the economic challenges many were facing. Former Conservative apprentices minister and ex-Harlow MP Robert Halfon said he was concerned about reducing skill levels but supported cutting bureaucracy. Labour's Peterborough MP Andy Pakes said: "Apprenticeships are the golden thread that runs through all of the ambitions to build new houses, create new jobs, fix the NHS and get towards net zero." The Department for Education (DfE) said a relaxation of the rules could mean 10,000 more apprentices are able to complete courses every year. At a special edition of BBC Politics East, filmed in Peterborough, Ms Richards said local businesses wanted to "get rid of red tape around apprenticeships". "Removing the requirements of apprentices to have Level 2 in maths and English is definitely going to help". She added: "Small businesses want some financial support... There are financial barriers and we need to get rid of these." Ms Richard said recent FSB research has found that "most small businesses are looking at reducing the headcount or keeping the same number of staff". Mr Halfon said: "There were a lot of changes when I was apprentices minister. "We brought in that the government - the taxpayer - would pay for all the training costs of 16-21-year-old apprentices. "I wish we had introduced a skills tax credit to encourage more SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) to have apprentices." But, he added: "I really worry about these functional skills. If you have maths and English, it sets you up for life." Peterborough College's director of apprenticeships James Whybrow said it was important to make apprenticeships "relevant for particular individuals", rather than "one size fits all". Mr Pakes said: "We have to find the mechanisms to support small businesses. "I think the growth in the skills levy (paid by firms) is a really important thing for business. "I speak to Peterborough employers and people support the levy because they see it pays back into their company for the next generation of apprentices. "The challenge now is not the money but how we make sure the money gets to the right places." Callum Mullis, an engineering student at Peterborough College, told BBC Politics East: "As I got older I realised engineering was something that I felt passionate about. "Apprenticeship seemed the better route to go down. "If I only went to sixth form to learn engineering I wouldn't necessarily be able to apply those skills. "Whereas through this apprenticeship I am able to apply it and learn it at the same time." Building apprentice at Peterborough College Tyler Macartney said: "I had run bars and restaurants before and had my child so I wanted a complete change in career and started working in the construction trade, self-employed at first and then for a firm. "My boss came to say it would be a great idea for me to advance my skills and go on and do an apprenticeship. "Nowadays they are building so many homes. You're always going to have work. There's a need for homes. Young people should be doing apprenticeships." BBC Politics East will be broadcast on Sunday, 16 February at 10:00 GMT on BBC One in the East of England, and will be available after broadcast on BBC iPlayer. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Apprentices vital for growth, say Essex businesses Apprentices rise through ranks at accountancy firm Maths and English skills ditched for adult apprentices Federation of Small Businesses
BBC News
16-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Businesses back scrapping red tape to boost apprenticeships
Plans to ditch a requirement for English and maths for apprentices has been welcomed by an East of England business government announced companies would have the power to decide if the qualifications should be part of a prescribed course when employing Richards of the region's Federation of Small Business (FSB) backed the idea but called for extra support for firms wanting to train people given the economic challenges many were Conservative apprentices minister and ex-Harlow MP Robert Halfon said he was concerned about reducing skill levels but supported cutting bureaucracy. Labour's Peterborough MP Andy Pakes said: "Apprenticeships are the golden thread that runs through all of the ambitions to build new houses, create new jobs, fix the NHS and get towards net zero."The Department for Education (DfE) said a relaxation of the rules could mean 10,000 more apprentices are able to complete courses every a special edition of BBC Politics East, filmed in Peterborough, Ms Richards said local businesses wanted to "get rid of red tape around apprenticeships"."Removing the requirements of apprentices to have Level 2 in maths and English is definitely going to help".She added: "Small businesses want some financial support... There are financial barriers and we need to get rid of these."Ms Richard said recent FSB research has found that "most small businesses are looking at reducing the headcount or keeping the same number of staff". Mr Halfon said: "There were a lot of changes when I was apprentices minister."We brought in that the government - the taxpayer - would pay for all the training costs of 16-21-year-old apprentices."I wish we had introduced a skills tax credit to encourage more SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) to have apprentices."But, he added: "I really worry about these functional skills. If you have maths and English, it sets you up for life."Peterborough College's director of apprenticeships James Whybrow said it was important to make apprenticeships "relevant for particular individuals", rather than "one size fits all". Mr Pakes said: "We have to find the mechanisms to support small businesses."I think the growth in the skills levy (paid by firms) is a really important thing for business. "I speak to Peterborough employers and people support the levy because they see it pays back into their company for the next generation of apprentices."The challenge now is not the money but how we make sure the money gets to the right places." Callum Mullis, an engineering student at Peterborough College, told BBC Politics East: "As I got older I realised engineering was something that I felt passionate about."Apprenticeship seemed the better route to go down. "If I only went to sixth form to learn engineering I wouldn't necessarily be able to apply those skills."Whereas through this apprenticeship I am able to apply it and learn it at the same time." Building apprentice at Peterborough College Tyler Macartney said: "I had run bars and restaurants before and had my child so I wanted a complete change in career and started working in the construction trade, self-employed at first and then for a firm. "My boss came to say it would be a great idea for me to advance my skills and go on and do an apprenticeship."Nowadays they are building so many homes. You're always going to have work. There's a need for homes. Young people should be doing apprenticeships." BBC Politics East will be broadcast on Sunday, 16 February at 10:00 GMT on BBC One in the East of England, and will be available after broadcast on BBC Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
