Civil servants are invited to apply for the latest round of the Civil Service AI and Data Challenge, with £50,000 in support available for the winning idea. Applications open today for new ideas to use AI and data to transform how the government works, from tackling benefit fraud to speeding up doctor’s appointments and accelerating net zero.
The estimated number of vacancies in the UK fell by 10,000 (1.4%) on the quarter, to 728,000 in June to August 2025. This is the 38th consecutive period where vacancy numbers have dropped compared with the previous three months, with vacancies decreasing in half of the 18 industry sectors.
Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is inviting fishers, merchants, exporters and processors to help shape changes to the Fish Export Service (FES) to keep seafood exports flowing to Europe from next January. MMO is especially keen to gather insights and ideas right now from businesses involved in processing seafood in the UK to assist with designing changes to the documentation for that key link in the supply chain.
Annualised inflation came in at 3.8% in August, in line with the 3.8% reported in July. Annualised inflation was forecast to come in at 3.8% Core Inflation came in at 3.6% in the 12 months to August, down from the 3.8% in July and in line with forecast.
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Minister for Mental Wellbeing Tom Arthur says a fall in the number of probable suicides last year makes him more determined to continue expanding and improving prevention work. Official statistics from National Records of Scotland show the number of probable suicides in 2024 was 704 – a decrease of 11% compared to 2023 and the lowest number since 2017.
The latest quarterly Scottish Government Workforce Information statistics have been published today by Scotland’s Chief Statistician. These statistics cover the numbers of workers, staff sickness rates, and the diversity of staff up to the most recent quarter ending June 2025.
Business confidence is on the rise across the Highlands and Islands, according to the latest survey commissioned by Scotland’s development agency for the region. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) commissioned the survey in partnership with South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE).
Funding will help businesses and academia develop real-life technology that reduces carbon emissions from shipping. government announces £448 million at London International Shipping Week to slash emissions from shipping, cementing the UK as a clean energy superpower and breaking down barriers to opportunity in coastal communities, as part of the Plan for Change.
Deliveroo, Uber, and similar “platform economy” businesses are right in the crosshairs of the Employment Rights Bill. Here’s how the main provisions could affect them.
After Angela Rayner’s departure, the ministerial responsibility for the Workers’ Rights / Employment Rights Bill now lies with Peter Kyle, who is the Secretary of State for Business and Trade. Employment Rights Bill returns to the Commons, marking another step towards transformation of workers’ rights.
In a report yesterday the Commons Business and Trade Committee says President Trump’s State Visit is the moment to maximise pressure on the United States to agree final terms of a full Economic Prosperity Deal that will end sectoral uncertainty, secure critical supply chains and drive investment into the UK. UK must leverage its partnership with the US to ensure Western technological supremacy over China Government must drive forward negotiations to de-risk the threat of future tariffs, match preferential EU terms, lock in agreed tariff reductions and expand co-operation.
The UK will contribute Typhoons to NATO's Eastern Sentry mission, after Russian drones violated Polish airspace. British fighter jets will fly air defence missions over Poland to counter aerial threats from Russia, including drones, as part of NATO’s Eastern Sentry mission.
Several UK-based companies are actively using Anthropic’s Claude AI, and its deployment is already reshaping certain job categories—especially those involving repetitive, automatable tasks. Claude’s London-based EMEA hub has also attracted dozens of startups and consultancies, especially in finance, law, and tech, where compliance and precision are critical.
Early estimates for August 2025 indicate that the number of payrolled employees was 30.3 million, which is a fall of 0.4% from August 2024; this is equivalent to 127,000 fewer employees. The largest increase was in the health and social work sector, with a rise of 80,000 employees; the largest decrease was in the accommodation and food service activities sector, with a fall of 90,000 employees.
President Trump’s second state visit to the UK (September 17–18) is being billed as an unprecedented moment of pomp and diplomacy, hosted by King Charles and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. But the timing couldn’t be more delicate.
The September 2025 edition of the Labour Market in the Regions of the UK report, published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), offers a granular view of employment, unemployment, and economic inactivity across the UK’s constituent nations, English regions, and parliamentary constituencies. As the country continues to navigate post-pandemic recovery, inflationary pressures, and technological transformation, this report reveals both encouraging signs and persistent challenges in regional labour markets.
Google officially announced its £5 billion investment in the UK—including the opening of its new data center in Waltham Cross—on September 16, 2025. The announcement was made during a high-profile event attended by UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves, and it coincided with a state visit by U.S.
The Food and Drink Federation (FDF), which represents the UK’s largest manufacturing sector, has recently issued strong warnings about the continued rise in food and drink prices. According to the FDF, inflation within the industry is set to climb to around 5.7% by the end of 2025—higher than the earlier forecast of 4.8%.
New design makes the British Transport Police’s 61016 number clearer plus additional funding for CCTV at railway stations. ‘See it.
