All Labour crisis articles
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Comment & OpinionImmigration is a toxic issue but food & drink must face it
Many in the food and drink industry – and indeed beyond it into the NHS and the care sector – would argue that we simply don’t have enough available workers to fill all the jobs that need to be done, says Ian Wright, partner at Acuti Associates
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Analysis & FeaturesHow can the food & drink industry tackle youth unemployment?
Young people today face a challenging jobs market. But many food and drink companies are helping them get their foot in the door with apprenticeships, graduate schemes and qualifications
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NewsHome Office should not control seasonal labour scheme, ex-Defra secretary says
The scheme, which is run by both the Home Office and Defra, has been mired in controversy after a scheme operator failed to sue the Home Office for wrongful suspension
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NewsSysco pledges £500k to help SMEs access apprenticeship training
The commitment looks to support long-term workforce resilience, with an aim of helping businesses respond to evolving customer needs, new technologies, and ongoing labour shortages
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NewsLabour provider ‘ruined’ after seasonal worker legal wrangle
MD Gareth Hughes said he had been forced to “completely restructure and refinance my business just to stay afloat”, following a protracted legal battle with the Home Office after it had suspended Ethero as a seaonal worker scheme operator in April 2024
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Promotional FeaturesRedefining recruitment: can humans and tech really work in harmony?
Recruitment and retention has long been a challenge in the food and drink manufacturing sector, so how can businesses future-proof their workforces and ensure that humans can really work in harmony with ever-evolving technology?
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NewsModern Milkman slashes operating losses for second year in a row
The DTC business has cut its operating loss by 42% to £6m compared to £10.5m in 2023, as part of a continuation of the group’s profitability improvement plan
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Comment & OpinionCan Minette Batters’ farming review push Defra into action?
Just as MPs were packing up for the festive period, Defra published Batters’ much anticipated Farming Profitability Review – something that had been sat on Emma Reynolds’ desk since October
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NewsABP workers vote to strike at Craigavon site
Unite, which represents over 150 meat packers, trimmers, distribution, kill line and boning workers, is seeking a fair pair increase for its members who are paid a piece rate
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Promotional FeaturesFour areas retailers can optimise with accurate warehouse data
The retail sector is at a pivotal moment. Technology adoption is accelerating, customer expectations are higher than ever, and economic pressures continue to mount. Winning in this environment does not begin with the latest AI tool or an expensive new platform. It begins with data accuracy, says Dexory.
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Comment & OpinionSecuring our future food & drink workforce will take huge cross-industry effort
Only by working together can we create a food and drink workforce with the skills and capabilities necessary, says Sarah McCarthy, head of employability programmes at IGD
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NewsSeasonal Worker scheme operator slams government in fresh legal challenge
Ethero, a former Seasonal Worker scheme operator, has requested permission to appeal its challenge to the government following its loss in the High Court regarding the suspension of its operator licence in April 2024
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Comment & OpinionTalking to politicians is hassle. But we must use our voice
For most of the industry there has rarely been a time when policy formulation or the response to geopolitical events has been so potentially important, says Ian Wright, partner at Acuti Associates
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NewsLabour shortage threatens food security, Arla warns
The dairy giant has said that urgent action is needed to meet the scale of the challenge
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NewsUK companies cut back on hiring over tax and labour costs
The Bank of England is watching the jobs market closely as it weighs up further rate cuts
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NewsUK food industry faces ‘ticking workforce timebomb’, IGD warns
Labour shortages and skills gaps are creating significant workforce challenges for the UK food and drink industry
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NewsPolicy changes making recruitment ‘very difficult’ for meat sector
Last month the government changed the rules so all workers coming into the UK on the Skilled Worker visa had to be at RQF 6 (graduate level)
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NewsChanges to seasonal labour model ‘would cost industry £43m per year’
Implementing the Employer Pays Principle in the UK horticulture sector would further impact food security, a study has warned
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Analysis & FeaturesHow Jersey Royal potatoes are seeking a ‘Coca-Cola moment’
Potato giant Albert Bartlett acquired The Jersey Royal Company last year. It’s now looking to reverse declining consumption with a £3m campaign to rival Coke’s Christmas truck
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Analysis & FeaturesHow retailers are giving prisoners a second chance
An Iceland in HMP Oakwood is helping to prepare prisoners for retail jobs on the outside. It’s part of a growing effort to employ offenders in the food sector