In the runup to Small Business Saturday last week, a new Disability Finance Code was launched. Research indicates that if opportunities were improved for disabled founders, it could unlock an additional £230 billion for the UK economy in growth and jobs. Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds and NatWest have all signed up to this new scheme to help more disabled entrepreneurs get access to finance and support to start their own business.

The Transport Secretary has revealed that South Western Railway’s services will be the first to transfer into public ownership in May 2025. C2C will be transferred in July 2025, with Greater Anglia following in autumn 2025. The Department for Transport expects to transfer all passenger services that are currently being operated under contracts to public ownership within the next 3 years.

The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) reported last week that its scientists and engineers along with the University of Bristol have successfully created the world’s first carbon-14 diamond battery. A battery of this type has the potential to provide power for thousands of years, making it a very convenient and long-lasting energy source.

In a survey of 1,025 employees carried out by ACAS, 9 in 10 said they thought it was important for mental health to be prioritised at work. As a result, ACAS is encouraging employers to have empathetic conversations with their staff to ensure mental wellbeing is supported in the workplace. Many do not like to talk about mental health and not everyone will show obvious signs of poor mental health.

The government has unveiled some significant reforms to employment support, underpinned by a £240 million investment. The measures aim to address deep-rooted issues of unemployment, economic inactivity, and barriers to work, as detailed in the newly published Get Britain Working White Paper.

5,000 additional construction apprenticeship places are to be made available annually as part of a £140 million initiative aimed at addressing workforce shortages and meeting housebuilding targets. Central to this plan is the establishment of 32 new Homebuilding Skills Hubs, which are designed to accelerate training.