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UK Edition
6th October 2025
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THE HOT STORY

UK mothers lose average £65,000 in pay after having first child

Women in the UK take a lasting earnings hit when they become mothers, losing an average of more than £65,000 over five years following the birth of their first child, according to new findings from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). In the first dataset of its kind, the ONS looked at the earnings and employment status of mums after having a first, second and third child over an eight-year period from April 2014 to December 2022. Rachel Grocott, chief executive of campaign group Pregnant Then Screwed, described the findings as "completely abhorrent" and said the impact of the motherhood penalty is "not just unfair - it's avoidable."
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TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

Stereotypes limit children's career choices

Research from the Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC) reveals that children as young as six face career limitations due to gender stereotypes. The three-year study involved nearly 1,400 primary schools and aimed to challenge these stereotypes. John Yarham, interim chief executive of the CEC, said: "This pilot has shown what's possible when schools, employers and communities come together to inspire children about their futures from an early age." The findings highlight the importance of early careers education in fostering belief in diverse career paths for all children.

New V-level qualifications on the horizon

The government is developing new 'V-level' qualifications to complement A-levels and T-levels. The initiative aims to provide vocational options for students who may not wish to pursue T-levels, which are equivalent to three A-levels. The move follows a decade of changes in the further education sector, including the introduction of T-levels and the planned phase-out of BTECs. Popular BTEC subjects will be removed by 2026, raising concerns about the educational choices available. FE Week reported that V-levels will likely feature in the upcoming white paper on post-16 education and skills.
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DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

Currys boss is proud of gender equity push

The Sunday Times looks at how Currys is boosting gender equity in its workforce, with initiatives such as IVF support, paid leave after premature births or miscarriages, and menopause training for male managers. Currys CEO Alex Baldock says a gender-balanced culture has improved employee engagement and customer satisfaction, contributing to better business performance. The Women in Work campaign's latest report shows 121 of the UK's largest companies are meeting gender equality benchmarks. However, 75% of UK firms still lack female representation in leadership roles. 
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CYBERSECURITY

Tech talent in high demand for UK banks

UK banks and financial services companies are increasingly hiring nonexecutive directors with technology expertise, according to a report by EY. The study reveals that 52% of new board directors appointed in the past year have tech backgrounds, up from 36% the previous year. The shift follows recent cyber-attacks on major companies which have prompted regulators to emphasise the need for tech knowledge in boardrooms. Preetham Peddanagari, EY's UK financial services technology head, said: "Technology has moved from a back-office enabler to a boardroom capability."

JLR to restart some production after cyber-attack

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is set to restart some production this week following a cyber-attack that forced the carmaker to shut factories and send workers home. Manufacturing will resume first at JLR's engine factory in Wolverhampton, although it is expected to be several weeks before all operations are running at full capacity. As well as JLR's UK sites in Solihull, Halewood and Wolverhampton, the carmaker's factories in Slovakia, China and India have also been affected by the shutdown.
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ECONOMY

UK services sector hits five-month low

Business activity in the UK services sector fell to a five-month low in September, with the S&P UK Services Purchasing Managers Index Business Activity dropping to 50.8 from 54.2 in August. Tim Moore, economics director at S&P Global Market Intelligence, noted that "elevated political and economic uncertainty" is hindering performance. The report highlighted sluggish demand and rising staff costs as key issues. Many businesses are deferring spending decisions until after the autumn Budget, while households were also hesitant about major purchases.
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HIRING

Sainsbury's and Argos launch seasonal hiring spree

Sainsbury's and Argos are recruiting 19,000 seasonal staff to manage increased customer demand during the festive season. The roles include customer service, deliveries, and shelf replenishment. Sainsbury's is offering 17,000 positions, while Argos has 2,000 available. Pay rates range from £12.60 to £15.35 per hour, depending on the role and location. Tracey Clements, chief retail, logistics and supply chain officer at Sainsbury's, said: "Christmas is when customers count on us most and our colleagues play a vital role in making it truly special." The company will also provide free food during shifts and discounts for employees.
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STRATEGY

Brewdog announces job cuts

Scottish beer giant Brewdog has announced job cuts across the business after posting a £37m loss last year. Brewdog has not confirmed how many jobs will go. Staff were informed about the cuts in an email from chief executive James Taylor. The announcement comes after the departure of Brewdog co-founder Martin Dickie and the closure of 10 bars across the UK earlier this year. Taylor told staff that a difficult decision had been made to "right-size" parts of the business.
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INTERNATIONAL

Ford investigates vulgar anti-return-to-office message

Ford Motor is investigating the display of a vulgar anti-return-to-office message at the automaker's Dearborn corporate buildings. An image of the face of Ford CEO Jim Farley with a red prohibition symbol over it appeared on monitors in conference rooms around 9 a.m. on Thursday. "[Expletive] RTO," the display read. "We're aware of the an inappropriate use of Ford's IT technology and are investigating it," Ford spokesperson Dave Tovar said. In June, Ford announced that it was calling the majority of its salaried workforce back to the office four days a week. “Many of our employees have been in the office three or more days per week for some time now. We believe working together in person on a day-to-day basis will help accelerate Ford's transformation into a higher growth, higher margin, less cyclical and more dynamic company," a Ford spokesperson said at the time. The updated policy took effect September 1.

Germany rewards working pensioners with tax breaks

Germany plans to introduce tax breaks for pensioners who continue working past the age of 66. The new law, known as aktivrente, allows individuals to earn an additional €24,000 (£21,000) annually tax-free. The initiative aims to address the country's skills shortage and is expected to take effect from January 1. Susanna Adelhardt, chair of the German Actuarial Association, said: "We have demographic change . . . We need the workers during this period."

Mass protests and strikes in Madagascar

Protests in Madagascar have intensified as thousands demand President Andry Rajoelina's resignation. Demonstrators staged strikes and marches, citing misgovernance and ongoing water and power cuts. Police clashed with protesters in Antananarivo, where around 10,000 people had gathered. At least 22 people have died amid the unrest, according to the UN.
 
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