The government has unveiled a youth employment drive that aims to create 200,000 jobs for young people and reform apprenticeships.

It comes as apprenticeship starts amongst young people are down 40% in the last decade and almost one million young people are not earning or learning.

There is also a new Youth Jobs Grant, through which businesses will receive £3,000 for every young person they hire who is aged 18-24 and has been on Universal Credit and looking for work for six months.

It is also expanding the Jobs Guarantee to a wider age range, from 18-21 to 18-24, which it says will create more than 35,000 extra subsidised jobs.

In addition, there is an Apprenticeship Incentive of £2,000 for each new employee aged 16-24 taken on by an SME.

Lizzie Crowley, Skills Adviser for the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD), said:

‘We welcome the Government’s focus on tackling youth unemployment and supporting more young people into work, particularly through new incentives to help employers create entry-level jobs and apprenticeships.

‘Many of these measures reflect changes we have been calling for, including stronger support for employers to create high-quality opportunities and more flexible routes into work for young people.

‘With the number of young people not in education, employment, or training rising significantly in recent years, rebuilding clear pathways into work must be a priority.

‘However, different incentive schemes have been tried in the past with varying degrees of success. It is important that meaningful jobs are created which also support skills development, and that the process for claiming the incentives are simple and clearly communicated.’

Internet link: GOV.UK CIPD

It is vital that taxpayers and small businesses use reputable tax advisers with professional qualifications, warns the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT).

Currently, anyone in the UK can refer to themselves as a tax adviser, regardless of whether they are professionally qualified.

However, tax advisers who are members of relevant tax or accountancy related professional bodies, such as the CIOT and the Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT) will have gained a qualification through passing stringent exams.

Chartered Tax Advisers are required to meet high professional standards, undertake continuing professional development and follow the profession’s code of conduct.

The CIOT encourages anyone seeking help with their tax affairs to use its online guidance for help on how to find and work with qualified advisers.

Nichola Ross Martin, President of the CIOT, said:

‘Dealing with our own taxes should not be confusing or stressful.

‘We want to give taxpayers greater knowledge and understanding of taxes and help point them to trustworthy help. The right advice can protect you and your finances.

‘Rogue agents who are not properly qualified can put taxpayers at risk – whether through poor advice, incorrect filings or even fraudulent claims made in a taxpayer’s name. Choosing a professionally qualified adviser provides reassurance that they are bound by ethical standards and subject to professional oversight.’

Internet link: CIOT

Renters, flat owners, homeowners without driveways and businesses will be able to save up to £500 when installing electric vehicle (EV) charge points, the government has announced.

The 40% uplift in the chargepoint grant will cover almost half the cost of a typical charge point installation until March 2027, says the government.

It says this will help drivers access cheaper domestic electricity rates at home or work to power their car for as little as 2p per mile.

The latest government figures show EV drivers can save up to £1,400 on running costs versus a comparable petrol car when accessing cheaper domestic rates.

The move comes as the government aims to tackle two of the biggest barriers to driving electric – upfront costs and worries about finding somewhere to charge.

Keir Mather. Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Minister, said:

‘We’re taking action to make EV ownership the affordable choice for everyone – not just those with driveways. Bigger grants mean families, flat owners, renters and small businesses can now install a charger for almost half the usual cost, with home charging costing as little as 2p a mile.

‘Combined with our Electric Car Grant which has saved over 55,000 drivers thousands off the price of a new EV whilst boosting sales for carmakers, and record funding for our national public charging network, we’re backing the EV revolution for drivers, businesses, and industry.’

Internet link: GOV.UK

HMRC has taken in over £137 million from late payment interest so far for 2023/24, a freedom of information request from investment platform AJ Bell shows.

The tax authority has charged 1.3 million taxpayers late payment interest for the last tax year with the average interest payment standing at just over £100.

The figures only count taxpayers once the interest accrued or late filing penalty has been paid, meaning the figures for the 2023/24 tax year will likely be significantly higher than they are now.

This can be evidenced by looking back to 2022/23, where the total amount paid has jumped by over 30% in the last year to just over £200 million.

The sums have risen since HMRC hiked late payment interest rate to 4% above the Bank of England base rate from 6 April 2025.

Charlene Young, senior pensions and savings expert at AJ Bell, said:

‘These latest figures suggest that taxpayers still face difficulty navigating the UK’s complex tax system and HMRC are cashing in as a result.

‘Millions have paid late payment interest in recent tax years, despite moves to relax the rules on who must file a self-assessment return.

‘Taxpayers can become unstuck if they find the systems and deadlines difficult to navigate, and others potentially face higher interest and penalties when it comes to mistakes and not paying on time.’

Almost 400 employers from across the UK have been named for failing to pay the minimum wage to tens of thousands of workers, says the government.

Around 60,000 workers were found to have been underpaid, collectively missing out on £7.3 million in pay.

The findings come alongside enforcement action against businesses failing to pay their staff the legal National Minimum Wage.

In addition to repaying the underpaid £7.3 million penalties totalling £12.6 million have now been issued to businesses that failed to pay staff correctly.

The Department for Trade and Industry says this makes it clear that ‘workers won’t be made to pay for the mistakes or negligence of those they work for, regardless of how big or well-known they are’.

The announcement also comes ahead of further increases to the minimum wage, which will see the lowest earners over 21 years old receive an annual pay boost of £900 for those working full time.

Business Secretary Peter Kyle said:

‘The vast majority of businesses in this country do the right thing by paying their staff properly and playing by the rules. It’s not fair on them when others are able to get ahead by not paying the wages their workers are owed.

‘A good employer doesn’t build their business on the back of unpaid wages, and I look forward to working with the new Fair Work Agency to ensure its powers are used to crack down on those who think the rules don’t apply to them.’

Internet link: GOV.UK