Self-employed ‘to be exempt from health and safety rules’

Promise to ‘root out needless bureaucracy’ following Lofstedt Review

Self-employed people should be exempt from health and safety regulations, while businesses should have the right to appeal to a new panel over decisions that affect them, a major review of health and safety for business has concluded.

The Lofstedt report which was published yesterday and has been adopted by the government as policy, also recommended a review of HSE approved codes of practice to make them more understandable and a ‘consolidation’ of regulations to lower the overall burden of red tape. Other proposals include the removal of strict liability’ for employers in some regulations, and for the HSE to be given more powers over local authority inspections to ensure a consistent approach.

Continue Reading »

Under-24s won’t work for firms where social media is banned- Employers out of touch with ‘Generation Facebook’ finds research

Almost half of under-24s say they would not work for a company where social media was banned, a survey has claimed.

The research by recruitment provider Hyphen, which surveyed 1,000 people, found that 48 per cent of people aged 16-24 reject the idea of a workplace where social networking tools were prohibited. Six out of ten (59 per cent) of the same group believe that using social media increases their effectiveness as an employee.

Continue Reading »

Nestlé starts talent academy and creates 300 jobs. Investment of £110m will grow site in Derbyshire

Nestlé is to create 300 new jobs in the UK and establish a talent academy for graduates and apprentices, the food manufacturer has announced today.

The additional roles will be available at the company’s coffee manufacturing site in Derbyshire, following a £110 million investment to extend the plant and treble production capacity.

Continue Reading »