Over one billion pounds has now been delivered to scale up small businesses through the government backed Start Up Loan scheme. Over one billion pounds has now been delivered to scale up small businesses through the government backed Start Up Loan scheme.
New recruits with skills in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are in high demand to harness the benefits of emerging technologies in the UK space sector, according to a new survey. The latest research into space skills across businesses, government and academia shows that nearly all space organisations experience some skills-related issues (95%), well over a third (37%) are missing expertise in software and data analysis, and nearly a quarter (21%) are expressing the need for AI and machine learning specifically, higher than any other technical area.
Up to 25,000 people will benefit from new employment support starting today as part of the Government's flagship Universal Support programme. New support starting today will help 25,000 out of work long-term sick and disabled people who face barriers to employment.
The Student Loans Company (SLC) is urging students to be aware of fraud and smishing scams as the new academic year starts. The Student Loans Company (SLC) has issued a smishing reminder to students as the academic year gets underway.
The Highland Council, with support from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, is inviting Highland businesses to apply for funding to support the costs of green skills training for their workforce. Cllr Ken Gowans, Chair of the Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee explained: "This Challenge Fund has been set up to support Highland businesses who wish to invest in their workforce and develop their green skills.
Scotland's electricity infrastructure urgently needs more capacity if national net zero targets are to be met. That is the view of a Holyrood Committee in a new report published today.
The number of vacancies in June to August 2023 was 989,000, a decrease of 64,000 from March to May 2023. Vacancy numbers fell on the quarter for the 14th consecutive period in June to August 2023, down by 6.0% from March to May 2023 with vacancies falling in 13 of the 18 industry sectors.
In May to July 2023, annual growth in regular pay (excluding bonuses) was 7.8%, the same as the previous three-month period and the highest regular annual growth rate since comparable records began in 2001. Annual growth in employees' average total pay (including bonuses) was 8.5% in May to July 2023; this total growth rate is affected by the NHS and civil service one-off payments made in June and July 2023.
May to July 2023 estimates show a decrease in the employment rate compared with the previous quarter (February to April 2023) while the unemployment and economic inactivity rates increased. The UK employment rate was estimated at 75.5%, 0.5 percentage points lower than the previous quarter and 1.1 percentage points lower than before the pandemic (December 2019 to February 2020).
The UK employment rate was estimated at 75.5% in May to July 2023, 0.5 percentage points lower than February to April 2023. The quarterly decrease in employment was mainly driven by full-time self-employed workers.
Early estimates for August 2023 indicate that median monthly pay was £2,260, an increase of 6.7% compared with the same period of the previous year. Following a general trend of increasing pay growth between mid-2015 and mid-2018, pay growth tended to fluctuate around 3.6%, until 2020 when it became negative.
Total public sector employment increased in June 2023 compared with the previous quarter and the previous year; central government is the main contributor to the rise with smaller increases in local government and public corporations. There were an estimated 5.87 million employees in the public sector in June 2023, which is 36,000 (0.6%) more than in March 2023 and 133,000 (2.3%) more than in June 2022.
Early estimates for August 2023 indicate that the number of payrolled employees rose by 1.5% compared with August 2022, a rise of 449,000 employees; the number of payrolled employees was up by 3.9% since February 2020, a rise of 1,120,000. Payrolled employment decreased by 1,000 employees (0.0%) in August 2023 when compared with July 2023, though this should be treated as a provisional estimate and is likely to be revised when more data are received next month.
DINGWALL., Dingwall and Highlands Marts Ltd., (September 11th) sold 3,406 ewe lambs and gimmers at the Highland Mule Breeders Association annual sale. Highland Mule gimmers (878) averaged £186.01 and sold to £250 gross for the 1st Prize pen from Mountrich Farm, Dingwall.
Businesses across Caithness, Sutherland and Orkney aiming to enter the rapidly expanding offshore renewable energy sector can apply to a regional Fit For Offshore Renewables (F4OR) programme for the first time today (Tuesday). The industry leading F4OR supply chain growth programme will be delivered by the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, and supported by £125,000 from offshore wind developer, the West of Orkney Windfarm.
The biggest employment fall (down 207,000) outside of a recession on record offers the clearest sign yet that rising interest rates are cooling the labour market, but the recent pay spike will cause a headache for the Government by increasing the cost of the Triple Lock, the Resolution Foundation said today (Tuesday). The latest labour market data showed a big fall in employment and further falls in job vacancies (now below a million for the first time in two years) alongside rising unemployment (up 159,000 on the quarter) and economic inactivity (up 62,000).
Today's official earnings growth announcement from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) could cement a second bumper state pension increase in a row in 2024. The ‘triple-lock' guarantees the state pension rises by the highest of average earnings growth, inflation or 2.5% each year.
There's been a fall in the number of ships queuing to use the drought-stricken Panama Canal. However, there are still restrictions on how many ships are allowed through the canal per day and how much vessels can carry.
An announcement by the Lord Advocate, that it would not be in the public interest for people using a pilot Safer Drug Consumption room to face prosecution for possession within the facility, has been welcomed by the Drugs and Alcohol Policy Minister Elena Whitham. Dorothy Bain KC's indication that she would issue a public statement of prosecution policy removes an obstacle to establishing the first official Safer Drug Consumption Facility in the UK.
