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UK Edition
15th December 2025
 
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THE HOT STORY

PwC gives Gen Z graduates resilience training

PwC is introducing resilience and communication training for its graduate recruits to strengthen confidence and the human skills needed for management consulting. Chief people officer Phillippa O’Connor said that while graduates meet academic and cognitive standards, many lack resilience and the ability to handle pressure, feedback and challenging work situations - an issue she links partly to the post-pandemic education experience. The firm has expanded training in graduates’ first six months and launched debate clubs to build communication and confidence, particularly for those without prior exposure to such activities. PwC, which saw graduate applications increase by 35% to 47,000 this year, has reduced UK graduate roles from 1,500 to 1,300 due to a slowdown in consulting demand and increased automation. 
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CYBERSECURITY

Workers’ payroll data stolen in JLR attack

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has confirmed that a major cyber attack in August not only shut down production for weeks, but also led to the theft of personal data from thousands of current and former employees. The stolen information includes payroll and benefits-related data, potentially exposing staff to identity fraud, although JLR says there is no evidence the data has been misused or made public. The company, which employs over 38,000 people, has warned affected individuals to watch for suspicious activity and is offering two years of credit and identity monitoring. The breach has been reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office, and JLR says it is working with regulators.
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TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

Half of graduates would earn more via apprenticeships

A report from the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) argues that the UK is overly focused on university degrees, often to the detriment of students and the economy. It finds that around half of graduates would earn more if they had chosen a higher-level apprenticeship instead of going to university. Five years after qualifying, level-4 apprentices earn about £37,300 on average, roughly £5,000 more than the median graduate salary (£32,100), while avoiding the £53,000 average student debt carried by graduates. The lowest-earning quarter of graduates earn just £24,800, far below apprenticeship earnings. The report also highlights that the UK has far more graduates than vocationally trained workers compared with countries like Germany, and 37% of workers are overqualified.
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LEGAL

Equality chief expects people to 'follow the rules' on single-sex spaces

Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson, chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), has said everyone should "follow the rules" when guidance on single-sex spaces is released. In her first interview in her new role, Dr Stephenson said "things could be sorted out if there is goodwill and recognition that everybody has rights." The guidance, for businesses and services, was drawn up after a unanimous Supreme Court ruling in April that legally a woman should be defined by biological sex for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010. "Nobody is expecting there to be a toilet police. But equally if there are situations where there are complaints about regular problems, then people might need to . . . improve signage, improve explanations, or make sure they have got alternative provision," Dr Stephenson said.

Equal pay settlement 'a great day for women workers'

Thousands of female workers at Birmingham City Council and Birmingham Children's Trust are set to receive over £250m in an equal pay settlement, concluding a 13-year dispute. The case, launched by Unison and GMB, highlighted the pay disparity between women working as teaching assistants, catering staff and care workers and male counterparts in other roles. The women had also been denied bonuses given to staff in traditionally male-dominated roles. The settlement follows a Supreme Court ruling in 2012 and a framework agreement reached in December 2024. "It's been a long road but we're finding some light at the end of the tunnel. It was a great day for the women workers of Birmingham," said teaching assistant Pamela Whatley.

Record backlog for employment tribunals

The UK's employment tribunal backlog reached a record 515,000 open claims in Q3, according to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). Unresolved individual claims surged by 33% to 52,000, breaking previous records set during the pandemic. New claims also rose by 33%, while resolved cases fell by 10%. This backlog comes ahead of the Employment Rights Bill, which aims to enhance workers' rights but has faced criticism for potentially increasing tribunal claims. 
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LEADERSHIP

CFOs take the helm in FTSE 100

In 2025, five of the nine new FTSE 100 chief executives were previously chief financial officers, according to Spencer Stuart's annual UK Board Index. The trend reflects a "flight to experience" amid economic uncertainty, as companies prefer familiar faces over untested leaders. Rowen Bainbridge, from executive search and leadership consulting firm Spencer Stuart, observes that the CFO-to-CEO pathway is becoming more common, especially in financial services.

Oxfam CEO ousted amid bullying claims

Halima Begum has been removed as CEO of Oxfam following allegations of bullying and the creation of a "climate of fear." Nearly 70 staff members signed a letter urging trustees to investigate her conduct. An external review found "serious issues" in her leadership, including breaches of organisational processes. Oxfam said: "There is an irretrievable breakdown in trust and confidence in Dr Begum’s ability." Staff expressed concerns about a restructuring process that led to widespread animosity and fear of retribution.
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REMUNERATION

Investment Association warns on executive pay

The Investment Association (IA) has urged UK companies to avoid using "benchmarking" to justify executive pay increases. The IA, representing members managing £10tn in assets, said that such practices can lead to a ratchet effect in remuneration. It expects remuneration committees to provide well-substantiated reasons for pay rises, rather than generic justifications. Andrew Speke from the High Pay Centre welcomed the IA's warning but noted that benchmarking is deeply entrenched in the FTSE 350. He emphasised the need for stronger investor powers to challenge inappropriate pay practices.
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INTERNATIONAL

General strike against Portugal's plan to overhaul labour laws

Portugal experienced its first general strike in over a decade on Thursday, led by the CGTP and UGT unions. The strike led to the halting of train services, the cancellation of hundreds of flights, and the closure of schools in protest against proposed labour reforms. The minority government aims to amend over 100 articles of the labour code to enhance productivity, but unions argue the proposed amendments undermines workers' rights. Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said: "The government respects the right to strike . . . but it will not give up on being reformist."

VW offers early exits to India plant workers amid restructuring

Volkswagen is offering early retirement to all of its 2,300 workers at its two factories in India's western Maharashtra state, as the automaker launches a restructuring effort in a bid to to overcome obstacles to local growth. After more more than two decades of operations, Volkswagen still has only 2% market share in India. The early retirement scheme for blue-collar workers is designed to "rationalise the manpower and align it with current needs." Volkswagen wants to ensure it can continue to pay competitive wages and that the plants would continue to operate, a source said.

Starbucks strike expands as union escalates push for first labor contract

More than 3,800 Starbucks baristas across 180 stores in 130 US cities have joined a month-long strike, marking the longest work stoppage in the company’s history as Starbucks Workers United presses for a first labour agreement. The union is demanding better pay, staffing, and scheduling, while Starbucks says fewer than 1% of its 17,000 US locations have been affected and is prepared to resume talks. The strike began during the company’s Red Cup Day on November 13th and follows stalled negotiations and the rejection of a previous pay proposal.
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OTHER

Parents face pressure to fund schools

A survey of 6,000 parents in England has found that 41% have been asked to help fund their child’s school. Requests were more common among affluent families, grammar schools and London parents. The research, conducted by Public First on behalf of the Parent Voice Project, found that funding cuts, pupil behaviour and mobile phone use were seen as the biggest challenges facing schools. While most parents believe their child receives a high-quality education, confidence declines as children get older. Uniform costs remain a concern, with many families struggling. Parents prioritise location and reputation over Ofsted ratings when choosing schools, express strong concerns about children’s mental health, and nearly half say they would choose private education if affordable.
 
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