The publication of the government’s Young People and Work Report, led by Alan Milburn, should be a wake-up call for every employer, recruiter and policymaker in the UK. Our CEO, Jane Wylie-Roberts, joined a discussion on BBC Radio Scotland with Stephen Jardine to discuss what young people can do to stand out.

Artificial Intelligence is transforming recruitment at pace. From CV screening to candidate sourcing, automation is helping employers move faster and more efficiently than ever before. But one development that is proving far more controversial is AI-led interviews.

The way organisations hire is undergoing a fundamental shift. In 2026, employers are moving away from traditional hiring models built around job titles, degrees, and years of experience, and towards a more agile, effective approach: skills-based hiring. This isn’t just a trend. It’s a response to a changing world of work, where adaptability, capability, and potential are becoming more valuable than ever.

April 2026 marks one of the most significant shifts in UK employment law in recent years. Driven by the Employment Rights Act 2025, these reforms form part of the government’s wider “Make Work Pay” agenda, designed to strengthen employee protections and modernise workplace practices.

In luxury hospitality, recruitment isn’t about ticking boxes. It’s about finding people who understand standards, culture, and what it really takes to lead in a 4 or 5-star environment. When the stakes are high, getting it wrong is costly — for teams, guests, and the brand you’ve worked so hard to build. That’s exactly why Scott’s approach to headhunting stands out.

Most hiring managers will recognise it instantly: a candidate vanishes halfway through the process; an interview goes well.. then silence or an offer is made, chased, and eventually ignored. The instinctive reaction is frustration. Unprofessional. Disrespectful. A waste of time. But here’s the uncomfortable truth most businesses don’t want to hear: Candidates rarely ghost out of nowhere. More often than not, they feel ghosted first.

Every February, we’re reminded that “perfect” doesn’t exist. Rom-coms end, Valentine’s chocolates vanish, and most of us accept that relationships, and great hires, require compromise, patience, and investment. Yet somehow hiring briefs still read like fantasy fiction: 10 years’ experience in a 3-year-old technology Senior leadership skills on a junior salary Someone who can “do it all” Unfortunately, unicorn candidates belong in fairy tales, not your talent pipeline.

The festive season is often the busiest, and most unpredictable, time of the year for many businesses. From retail to logistics, hospitality to customer service, the surge in demand can put pressure on permanent teams. Many businesses find themselves asking the same question: how do we keep up without stretching our permanent staff too thin?

At the beginning of April 2025, Stafffinders delighted to be awarded the ERS Bronze Award by the Armed Forces Covenant (AFC) at their annual Business Breakfast for Forces-friendly employers and members of the Lowland Defence Community. The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise “that together we acknowledge and understand that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, including the bereaved, should be treated with fairness and respect in the communit