THE HOT STORY

Royal Mail-owned courier faces tribunal over drivers' rights

Dozens of eCourier drivers are pursuing legal action against the Royal Mail-owned service, claiming they are misclassified as self-employed. The 46 drivers argue that their work conditions indicate they should be classified as workers, which would grant them rights such as minimum wage and holiday pay. Mandy Bhattal, an employment partner at law firm Leigh Day, said the firm "is of the opinion that eCourier is misclassifying their drivers as self-employed, when in reality the drivers are able to point to various factors that indicate they are workers." The claim is supported by the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain.

The Guardian

WORKFORCE

Net zero migration 'would require major tax rises'

The National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) warns that achieving net zero migration could harm the UK economy. It predicts slower employment growth and a smaller workforce, leading to a £37bn funding gap. NIESR's report states that without significant tax rises, net zero migration is not fiscally sustainable. Stephen Millard, NIESR's deputy director for macroeconomics, said: "Our analysis clearly shows that net zero migration would put pressure on the public finances."

The Independent

ECONOMY

Manufacturers cut jobs for fifteenth month in a row

UK manufacturing is experiencing growth, with the purchasing managers' index (PMI) from S&P Global rising to 51.8 in January, marking a 17-month high. However, this recovery has not translated into job creation, as firms continued to cut staff for the fifteenth consecutive month. Experts warn that rising costs, including electricity prices and National Insurance hikes, are forcing manufacturers to reduce headcount despite increased production driven by export demand. Fhaheen Khan, senior economist at industry body Make UK, said: "Make no mistake this will be one of the most expensive years ever to run a business in the UK."

Daily Mail

STRATEGY

GSK to cut 350 jobs globally

GSK plans to eliminate up to 350 research and development (R&D) jobs in the US and UK as part of a restructuring effort. This includes approximately 50 positions at the company's R&D hub in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. The total number of job losses in the UK remains unconfirmed.

The Independent

Aston Martin plans to reduce global workforce

Aston Martin plans to reduce its global workforce by up to 20% due to the ongoing impact of US tariffs. The luxury car manufacturer is reviewing its organisational structure, affecting back office and engineering roles. Unite, the union representing staff, is in discussions with the company to minimise job losses. Most affected employees are expected to leave by April.

BBC News

TECHNOLOGY

Barnsley is named the UK's first tech town

Barnsley has been designated as the UK’s first "tech town" to explore how artificial intelligence can enhance local services. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall announced partnerships with Microsoft, Google, Cisco, and Adobe to implement AI in schools, hospitals, and businesses. She said: "Barnsley's ambitions are crucial, because if we can show that AI helps young people learn, supports local businesses to be more productive, and improves public services, then we can show what's possible for the whole country." Sir Stephen Houghton, leader of Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, noted the town's prior adoption of AI in social care and logistics. He commented: "This is the biggest opportunity we have had since then," as he highlighted the potential for economic revitalisation.

The Standard

The Guardian

REGULATION

ICO investigates Grok over explicit content

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has launched an investigation into the Grok AI system, owned by Elon Musk's Internet Unlimited Company and X.AI, amid concerns over its generation of explicit sexualised content, including images of children. William Malcolm, the ICO's executive director of regulatory risk and innovation, said reports about Grok "raise deeply troubling questions about how people's personal data has been used." The ICO can impose fines of up to £17.5m or 4% of an organisation's annual worldwide turnover. UK media regulator Ofcom last month opened a formal investigation into X - the social media platform into which Grok is integrated - to determine whether the firm is complying with its duties to protect people from illegal content under the UK's Online Safety Act.

Sky News

The Guardian

POLICY

Fortnightly talks agreed with the EU over Brexit ‘reset’

UK and EU officials are intensifying negotiations over a Brexit reset deal. While ministers aim to finalise a deal by the end of May, discussions have stalled on topics including genetically modified food and the role of European courts. Nick Thomas-Symonds, the UK's Minister for European Union Relations, and his EU counterpart, Maros Sefcovic, have agreed to hold fortnightly discussions in a bid to drive progress on the talks and address key areas of difference between the two sides. Mr Thomas-Symonds said: "We want to step the political engagement up even further to iron out issues." He added that the government is taking a "ruthlessly pragmatic approach" to the negotiations, with a focus on what could deliver tangible benefits for the UK.

The Times

INTERNATIONAL

Global consultancies test China boundaries

Reuters reports that top consulting firms including KPMG, EY and Bain & Co are doing business in China in ways that some industry and legal experts say test the boundaries of Western sanctions. Interviews by Reuters with 10 current and former industry figures and a review of engagement agreements and company communications are said to demonstrate how the consultancies have sought to manoeuvre around evolving constraints.

Reuters

Ramadan can act as a workday reset, HR experts say

HR leaders say Ramadan can act as a reset as workers become more deliberate about how they structure their workday. They say that the first few days can be challenging, but reduced work hours during Ramadan can make employees work more efficiently and deliberately. “The first four to five days of Ramadan are often the most difficult, as the body adjusts to new eating, hydration, and sleep patterns. Once this adjustment phase passes, many people report a more stable and sustained level of energy throughout the day,” says Ussama Khan, Assistant Professor of Organisational Behaviour at the London Business School. He advocates supportive workplace policies in order to make this “adjustment period” less demanding,

Khaleej Times Online

OTHER

UK launches plan to tackle 'forever chemicals'

The UK is to increase testing for so-called "forever chemicals" (PFAS) as part of a national plan to tackle the substances. The plan has three key aims: increasing knowledge of where the most harmful PFAS are turning up; how their use in everyday products can be reduced; and working with industry to look for alternatives. "Forever chemicals are "one of the most pressing chemical challenges of our time," Environment Minister Emma Hardy said as she launched the plan. "It's crucial that we protect both public health and the environment for future generations . . . Through our PFAS Plan, we will act decisively to reduce their harmful effects while transitioning to safer alternatives."

BBC News

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