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As what little summer we have had draws to a close (sob! Did those balmy days of May and June even happen?), it’s time to start looking ahead to the end of the year. We know that for so many businesses in the industrial sector that means a real ramp up in demand to prepare for their busiest season (don’t worry, we’re not going to mention the C word just yet ??). ?
With that in mind, let’s have a look at what’s been happening in the FMCG, manufacturing, warehousing, and employment sectors.
In FMCG....
First, a fun fact – did you know that British bakery giant Greggs sells 2.5 million sausage rolls every week?! The launch of the vegan option helped to propel sales when they were introduced in 2019, proving that regardless of diet we really are passionate about those tasty, flaky, golden parcels. ?
Egg prices remain high after another bout of price hikes, according to analysis of Assosia data conducted by?The Grocer. Of the 113 lines stocked at the big four, Waitrose, Aldi and Lidl, 76 have had price increases above 20% - and that’s no eggs-aggeration. “There are a number of pressures facing the egg industry including high costs of energy and animal feed, which have been exacerbated by the war in Ukraine,” said Andrew Opie, Director of Food and Sustainability for the British Retail Consortium. Read more about the current demands on the egg industry?here. ?
Ever wished you could top up your takeaway order with a few items from the weekly shop? Deliveroo users can expect an upgrade to their customer experience when the online delivery company launches a new app feature later in the year, allowing customers to add grocery items to their favourite Friday night dish. It’s been developed in response to customer demand, and means that as well as your usual choice of takeaway you will be able to place an order for standard groceries – perfect if you’ve run out of milk for your morning coffee! Chief business officer at Deliveroo, Carlo Mocci, said “we are passionate about creating the ultimate food experience for our customers and now, through our cutting-edge tech, they can create their perfect takeaway order.” You can read more about the venture?here. ?
Coca-Cola, Associated British Foods, and PepsiCpo are among the food and drink companies being called upon to address forced labour risks in their supply chain. The Business and Human Rights Resource Centre’s (BHRRC) latest Food and Beverage report found that out of the 60 largest companies in the sector, more than half scored less than 20 out of 100 when it came to tackling the risks associated with exploitation. Tesco came in at 2nd place just behind Australian retailer Woolworths Group, scoring 52 and 56 respectively – and were the only two companies to score over 50. And whilst the BHRRC commented that both still have “room to improve”, it did say that that they “provide better practice in addressing forced labour risks within the sector”. You can read the report in full?here.
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In manufacturing...
Did you know it’s been 60 years since the invention of the lava lamp – strongly associated with the hippy culture of the 60s and 70s, British entrepreneur Edward Craven Walker came up with the concept after watching a homemade egg timer, made from a cocktail shaker filled with liquids. Whilst they may have fallen out of favour a few times since then, they have had a number of comebacks dictated by cultural trends – most recently in 2021, where it’s thought lingering pandemic fears led to a desire for nostalgia and home comforts. ?
Despite some global economic instability, long-term growth projections for the industrial robot sector remain steady according to updated forecasts from Interact Analysis, with a market growth rate estimation of 5-7% until 2027 – higher than pre-Covid rates. It is thought that the pandemic helped to fuel demand for the robotics industry as companies turned to automation as a way of alleviating labour shortages; many companies are now capitalising on the current boom the industry is experiencing as a way to ensure workforce stability in the face of future crises. Read more?here. ?
The UK’s manufacturing sector has been amongst those worst hit by the growing skills gap, impacting business productivity and costing the economy billions. Labour shortages have been exacerbated by the dual challenges of the pandemic and Brexit, with companies struggling to fill vacancies and meet demand. The challenges can also be attributed to a rapid digitalisation in technology, and those businesses who fail to invest in suitable training will find themselves in deep water. The Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre (AMTC) are one organisation supporting the entry of new talent and upskilling existing staff. With the support of Lloyds Bank’s, the AMTC has so far trained more than 3,000 apprentices, graduates and engineers; a figure that’s expected to rise to more than 5,000 by 2030. Read more about what businesses can do to tackle the skills gap?here.
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In warehousing...
Sad news for British retailer Wilko, as hopes of saving the stricken firm are fading fast. After officially announcing its intention to bring in administrators at the beginning of August, administrators from PwC have confirmed talks had found no buyer for the whole group, which means it will likely be carved up in a bid to save at least some of the 12,500 jobs. In an open letter CEO Mark Jackson said “we left no stone unturned when it came to preserving this incredible business”. You can read the latest on what’s next for the retailer?here. ?
XPO, an innovative transportation solutions provider, has further enhanced its neurodiversity programme in an effort to ensure greater inclusivity in the workplace. The company has teamed up with The ADHD Foundation Neurodiversity Charity for the ‘Neurodiversity Umbrella Project’, a campaign which comprises a comprehensive neurodiversity awareness training suite commissioned by XPO. Lynn Brown, XPO’s Human Resources Director for the UK and Ireland said “we recognise the benefits of diversity across every element of our organisation. This richness creates a company where we make better decisions, individuals can perform optimally and realise their full potential”. Check out what XPO has got planned?here.
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In employment...
Nearly half of employers do not state they would like to hear from a diverse range of applicants in their job adverts. This is according to the results of a June 2023 survey conducted by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC). Whilst the number of hirers who review the wording of their job adverts to improve inclusion is up 6% on last year, nearly half of respondents reported they do not state their interest in hiring diverse candidates in their job adverts. There’s also been a backwards step in some practices, including the number of respondents who do not use name-blind CVs during selection (67%, up from 53%) as well as an increase in those who do not use diverse interview panels (56%, compared to 53% last year). REC CEO Neil Carberry said “It is disappointing to see so little action being taken by firms. While a slim majority of employers have reviewed the wording of their adverts, the overall picture suggests there is a lot still to do… Pressure to change must come from boards and executives, as well as government and sector and trade bodies.” ?
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Latest employment data...
UK employment rate dropped?by 0.1% to 75.7% (Jan?2023?- March?2023) due to full-time and self-employed workers. Payrolled employees increased, up 97,000 on the revised June 2023 figures, to 30.2?million. Unemployment rate increased increased by 0.3?percentage points on the quarter to 4.2%. The increase in unemployment was driven by people unemployed for up to 6?months. The economic inactivity rate decreased by 0.1?percentage points on the quarter, to 20.9% in April to June 2023. Looking at economic inactivity by reason, the quarterly decrease was largely driven by those inactive for other reasons and those looking after family or home. Meanwhile, those inactive because of long-term sickness increased to a record high. Vacancies fell by 66,000 on the quarter to 1,020,000. Vacancies fell on the quarter for the 13th consecutive period. Growth in regular pay (excluding bonuses) was 7.8% among employees in April to June 2023,?this is the highest regular annual growth rate we have seen since comparable records began in 2001.?Annual growth in employees’ average total pay (including bonuses) was 8.2%; this total growth rate is affected by the NHS one-off bonus payments made in June 2023.?Read the full June?ONS labour market report here.
Changes to EU Settlement Scheme
From September 2023 people with pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme will automatically have their status extended by 2 years before it expires if they have not obtained settled status. The process will be automated by the Home Office and reflected in the person’s digital status. They will be notified of the extension directly. This will ensure that nobody loses their immigration status if they do not apply to switch from pre-settled to settled status. Read more here.
Events and webinars
Live event: 7 Sept?2023 JMW?offices,?Manchester
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Live event: 26 Sep 2023 Shrewsbury Town Football Club, Montgomery Waters Meadow
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Live event: 11 Oct?2023? University of Liverpool School of Law & Social Justice
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