News Desk

The latest tax, employment, business and economic news affecting firms and individuals alike. Updated each day.

Committee report sceptical of length of apprenticeships

18 May 12

MPs have criticised the length of apprenticeship programmes after a report found a fifth of apprenticeships lasted for six months or less.

Cameron: Continued austerity measures and increased credit for businesses

18 May 12

Prime Minister David Cameron has said the Government will refuse to back down on deficit reduction plans and pledged to boost credit for businesses and households, in a speech made yesterday on the UK's economy.

Businesses leaving employees in the dark about rewards and pay

17 May 12

Companies failing to communicate with employees about their remuneration package, including salaries and benefits, are 'wasting' their money and failing to reap the benefits, research carried out by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has claimed.

Millions set to retire on less than the minimum wage

17 May 12

More than six million of the UKs over 50s will live on less than the minimum wage in retirement, a new survey has found.

UK unemployment falls while part time workers are on the up

16 May 12

Unemployment in the UK has fallen by 45,000 between January and March, taking the total of unemployed individuals in the UK to 2.63 million, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).