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David Sapsted

David Sapsted

Attracting overseas skills

Government Eyes Easing UK Visa Rules

Will liberalising immigration rules attract the overseas skills that the UK needs?

Chancellor Unveils Plan for 'Global Britain'

Can the 'mini-budget' "expand the supply side of the economy through tax incentives and reform"?

Former chief reporter at The Times and news editor and New York correspondent for The Telegraph among other journals, David Sapsted writes sharply observed news for Relocate.

David Sapsted

4 day week

Four-day week trial deemed a success

It's a thumbs-up for a 4 day week...

Energy Cap Time Limit Worrying Business

Business leaders in the UK give guarded welcome to government support package that will cap gas and electricity prices for all companies for six months from the start of October.

Certification for quality control, which ensures that the company product meets its standards On the virtual screen

Firms ignorant over 'right to work' changes

Research has uncovered widespread unawareness among UK employers over changes over the Right to Work verification rules for employees that come into effect at the end of this month.

Motion blurred abstract people walking to the airport terminal

Report exposes business travel stress

The extent that international business travel affects the wellbeing of those undertaking such journeys has been highlighted in survey of UK travellers.

Close up of help wanted sign during a job interview in the office with people in the background.

Still more UK jobs than there are jobless

The number of job vacancies in the UK declined marginally in August for the second month in a row, although the total of openings still exceeded the number of people registered as unemployed.

close up shot of a digital stock market tracking graph follwing a recent crash in prices

UK financial services spread beyond London

The UK's financial services sector has created a quarter of a million jobs in a decade - more than half of them outside London - according to a new report.

Hands holding tablet on blurred automation machine as background

'Devil in the detail' of business energy cap

Businesses have broadly welcomed the UK Government's promise of a scheme to lessen the financial pain of soaring energy prices, but complain that they are still in the dark about details of the rescue plan.

Close Up Of Woman Holding Smart Energy Meter In Kitchen Measuring Energy Efficiency

UK energy crisis package 'to limit recession'

The UK Government's package to reduce the effects of surging energy prices on businesses and households could limit the damage of any recession, according to economists.

xterior of UK government building office department for international trade

Truss urged to press ahead with trade deals

The UK's leading trade body for exporters has stressed the importance of “harnessing the opportunities provided through international trade” to new Prime Minister, Liz Truss.

Birmingham 'set to host new audit watchdog'

The UK government is to move hundreds more civil service jobs from London after choosing Birmingham as home for the nation's new audit regulator, according to a report in the Financial Times.

Number 10 Downing Street - the official office and residence of the British Prime Minister in London, UK

Businesses set out demands for new PM

Business leaders welcomed the election victory of Liz Truss as the UK's next Prime Minister, but warned that swift action was needed to tackle growing economic turmoil.

A sustainable green office or housing complex as seen from a living roof

UK housing market remains surprisingly buoyant

Worsening economic conditions across the globe have done little to temper the UK housing market, with prices recording a ten per cent, year-on-year rise during August.

Modern glass building high above Brussels city skyline at night with illuminated offices

Acute skills shortage 'felt across Europe'

A survey of thousands of companies across the UK and EU has highlighted the skills shortages being experienced across the continent.

4-day work week symbol

Bank declares four-day week a win-win

An app-based bank in the UK has declared its trial of a four-day working week to be a "huge success" both for its employees and for its business.

Pro and cons of new scale-up visas

Pro and cons of new scale-up visas

The UK's new Scale-Up Visa system came into effect on Monday, August 22, offering a cheaper, easier route to hire overseas talent, particularly for the tech sector.

UK industry hails first T-Level successes

UK industry hails first T-Level successes

Employers and educationists in the UK have welcomed the success of the first cohort completing T-levels, a new scheme aimed at preparing students for the skills industries so badly needs.

trade tariff uk

UK extends tariff breaks to developing world

The UK is to introduce a new system that will cut or even abolish import tariffs on hundreds of products from 65 developing nations in Africa, Asia, and Oceania.

visa overhaul

Visa overhaul ‘needed to tackle skills shortage’

Official labour market figures published on Tuesday have led to renewed calls from two of the UK's largest business organisations for further relaxations in immigration rules to help overcome the nation's skills shortage.

uk india trade deal on hold

Minister warned not to rush UK-India FTA

Professional and trade organisations in the UK are urging the government not to rush into a free trade agreement with India, saying the deal is far too important to hurry.

economic drawing

UK sees only marginal GDP slowdown

The UK economy shrank in the second quarter by much less than economists had been forecasting, according to official figures published on Thursday.

number 10 PM

Finance industry tells next PM what it needs

The trade body representing the UK's financial services industry has set out the 'manifesto' it wants the nation's new prime minister to adopt to "help regain our role as the world’s foremost international centre of finance".

rishi and liz

Exporters set out priorities for new PM

The UK's leading international trade body has set out a four-point plan it says the new prime minister must adopt if the vision of a 'Global Britain' is to be realised.

hr recruitment international

More firms eye foreign hirings, survey finds

Companies are increasingly turning to recruiting overseas staff in a bid to overcome the current skills shortage in the UK, according to a new survey.

hr shortage image

Now HR feels the skills shortage pinch

The professional recruiters' trade body is calling on the UK government to introduce an "internationally viable" visa system in a bid to overcome the nation's skills shortage.

uk recession

UK recession warning as rates rise

Business groups reacted with grim resignation on Thursday as the Bank of England raised the base interest rate by half a percentage point to 1.75%, representing the biggest rise in 27 years and the highest rate in the UK since 2008.

teachers teaching

UK teachers lead overseas job searches

The number of Britons eyeing jobs abroad has surged over the past year, according to new research.

david sapsted august images

David Sapsted Collected Articles - August 2022

Former chief reporter at The Times and news editor and New York correspondent for The Telegraph among other journals, David Sapsted writes sharply observed news for Relocate. These are his collected articles from June 2022 - on topics from the trial of a four-day week in the UK to the return of UK business confidence.

tech training

IBM chief says better tech training 'a must'

The head of IBM in the UK is urging government, industry and academia to work together to improve training for recruits and existing staff so that Europe's chronic shortage of tech skills can be overcome.

talent shortage

New agency ‘needed to tackle skills shortages’

The government is facing calls from business leaders for the creation of an independent agency with statutory powers to tackle the UK's current and future skills shortage.

Woman engineer in uniform and holding yellow safety helmet with standing and checking wind turbine power in construction site renewable energy

Green energy drive leads to hiring boom

Energy giant ScottishPower has launched its biggest ever recruitment drive after securing a record number of green energy projects in the first six months of this year.

Flags representing many countries.

Next government must focus on FTAs, says CBI

Global supply chains to British industry could be put at risk unless the UK succeeds in reaching more post-Brexit trade deals, the head of the nation's largest business organisation has warned.

More get jobs but vacancies rise, too

More get jobs but vacancies rise, too

Latest official figures show that the number of people in employment in the UK has jumped by more than 290,000 - about 120,000 more than economists had been predicting

Picture of person waiting with suitcase and passport in hand

Businesses urge easing of UK visa rules

One of the UK's largest business organisations is calling on the Government to make it easier for industries facing chronic staff shortages to get visas for overseas workers.

Image if UK currency notes and coins

UK economy 'rebounds' to unexpected growth

The UK economy defied expectations in May and "rebounded" to record a healthy 0.5 per cent increase in GDP, according to official figures published on Wednesday.

team workplace

Irish finance joins hunt for tech talent

Financial services in Ireland are now suffering a similar skills shortage to the one being felt by the industry in the UK, according to a new report.

uk expats

Expats rate Mexico as the world’s best

Mexico, Indonesia and Taiwan make up the top three destinations in this year's InterNations 'Expat Insider' survey of almost 12,000 expatriates across the globe.

Upskilling now finance firms’ priority

Upskilling now finance firms’ priority

UK financial services firms are encountering such problems recruiting the talent they need that almost three-quarters of them are making upskilling and retraining existing staff a top priority.

Businesses demand action after PM quits

Businesses demand action after PM quits

Business leaders and economists emphasised the need for new policies to reinvigorate the UK economy in the wake of the resignation of Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Housing market surprises with another record

Housing market surprises with another record

Despite the rising cost of living and increases in mortgage rates, average house prices across the UK hit another new record last month, according to the latest index from the Halifax.

India-UK trade deal ‘ready by autumn’

India-UK trade deal ‘ready by autumn’

A trade deal between India and the UK is on track to be concluded by the autumn, according to New Delhi's commerce minister.

indeed jobs

UK benefiting from overseas ‘brain gain’

The UK ranks as the third most attractive place to work in Europe among job-seekers searching for overseas posts, according to the largest analysis of its kind.

expat burn out

Expat stress levels ‘hit all-time high’

The traditional, global mobility lifestyle "might have changed forever" because of the pandemic, according to global health service company Cigna.

sapsted july images

David Sapsted Collected Articles - July 2022

Former chief reporter at The Times and news editor and New York correspondent for The Telegraph among other journals, David Sapsted writes sharply observed news for Relocate. These are his collected articles from June 2022 - on topics from the trial of a four-day week in the UK to the return of UK business confidence.

finanical trade

Financial services weather the COVID storm

The resilience of the UK's financial services in times of global uncertainty has been illustrated by a new report indicating year-on-year growth of 8% in 2021.

hong kong housing

Hong Kong still costliest for expats

For the second time in a month, a major survey of living costs in cities across the globe has identified Hong Kong as the most expensive location for employees sent abroad to live and work.

skills shortage open uni

Staff shortages ‘curbing UK business activity’

More than three-quarters of UK businesses are experiencing reduced output, profitability or growth because of skills shortages, according to a new survey.

rental housing

Global prime rents recover from COVID-19

Rents on prime properties in ten global cities have bounced back strongly after the sharp falls seen during the height of the pandemic, according to a new report from Knight Frank

hybrid working office working

Hybrid work booms - but is it here to stay?

More than three-quarters of UK employers are now offering staff hybrid working opportunities through a mix of formal and informal arrangements, according to a new survey.

uk trade deal

Now UK pursues trade deal with gulf states

The UK has opened negotiations in Riyadh aimed at reaching a free trade deal with the six states that comprise the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

visa cbi

‘Give migration experts visa powers’ - CBI Head

The panel of experts that advises the UK government on immigration matters should be given independent powers to relax visa requirements to solve current skills shortages, according to the head of the nation's largest business organisation.

west midlands

West Midlands emerges as investment magnet

The West Midlands appears to be emerging as a major winner among the UK's regions and devolved nations in the race to attract economic investment.

cost of living two

Businesses demand action on UK inflation

Business chiefs called on the government to take immediate steps to boost investment in the economy after official figures showed the UK inflation rate had reached a 40-year high of 9.1%.

US citizenship

More U.S expats eye renouncing citizenship

A quarter of American expats across the world are considering renouncing US citizenship because of the tax burden imposed on them by Washington, according to a new survey

ceo image

HR uncertain where next CEO will come from

Only 24% of HR and talent teams at UK companies have universally agreed plans for a succession policy should their chief executive abruptly resign, according to a new survey.

UK BRP (Biometrical Residence Permit) cards for Tier 2 work visa placed on top of UK Entry Clearance vignette sticker in the passport.

Call for new UK visas amid record vacancies

The latest UK jobs figures, showing the number of vacancies had hit another record high, have led to a chorus of calls from business groups for an overhaul of the immigration system to allow companies to hire the foreign skills they need.

cost of living expats

Expats still paying most in Hong Kong

Hong Kong has topped the ratings for the second year in a row as the most expensive city for expats to live in, according to the 2022 survey from ECA International.

interview

Survey finds more jobs but fewer candidates

A steep fall in the number of applicants for job vacancies last month resulted in UK employers being able to take on new staff at the slowest rate in more than a year.