<p>IT&rsquo;S HAPPENING. Spring has officially sprung, the clocks have gone forward, and if you&rsquo;ve already powered through your emergency stash of Mini Eggs &ndash; we&rsquo;re not judging. It&rsquo;s the perfect time to shake off the winter chill and gear up for the months ahead. And with Q2 already well underway, now&rsquo;s the time to shift focus and plan for what&rsquo;s next.</p>
<p>So, whether you're counting down to the next bank holiday weekend, or just counting pallets, we&rsquo;ve got the latest from the employment, FMCG, manufacturing, warehousing, and waste and recycling sectors to keep you in the loop. Grab a brew, take five, and let&rsquo;s dive in.</p>
<h3><span style="color: #3598db;">Employment</span></h3>
<p>Universal is bringing the magic to the UK with its first European theme park, set to open near Bedford in 2031. The project will create 28,000 jobs across construction, hospitality, and the creative industries, with 80% of roles expected to go to local workers. Alongside the rides and attractions, the site will include a 500-room hotel and retail complex. With planning set to be submitted soon and construction kicking off next year, this is set to be a game-changer for the region - and a huge lift for the UK job market. <a href="https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/universal-theme-park-jobs/">Read more here.</a></p>
<h3><span style="color: #3598db;">FMCG</span></h3>
<p>Following President Trump&rsquo;s announcement of a 10% tariff on UK imports to the US, industries including grocery, agriculture, and alcohol are bracing for the impact. Supermarkets might not face direct challenges, but rising global costs could create ripple effects. Even M&amp;S&rsquo;s beloved Percy Pigs aren&rsquo;t safe. After the iconic product landed in the US on 30 March, their American shelf life could be short-lived as tariffs threaten to push up prices and send them packing. With global growth forecasts downgraded, businesses are being urged to stay proactive in managing the uncertainties caused by the tariffs. <a href="https://www.grocerygazette.co.uk/2025/04/09/trumps-tariffs-grocery-sector/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read about the impacts here.</a></p>
<p>Unless you&rsquo;ve been living under a rock (or avoiding social media), you&rsquo;ve probably caught wind of the Dubai chocolate craze. Created by British-Egyptian Sarah Hamouda in 2021, the pistachio and tahini-filled bar exploded in popularity at the end of last year, after a single TikTok video racked up over a whopping&nbsp;<em>120 million</em> views. Now, it&rsquo;s available everywhere from Lidl to Waitrose, with luxury brands like Lindt even jumping on the bandwagon. But viral success has a downside - turns out the world really did go nuts for it. A poor US harvest, limited shell-free supply, and a buying spree from chocolatiers have pushed pistachio prices up, with Iran increasing exports to the UAE by 40% to meet demand. Some shops are even rationing the bar - all thanks to the treat that broke the internet&hellip;and cracked the supply chain too! <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/dubai-chocolate-bar-tiktok-pistachio-shortage-b2736654.html">Read more about it here.</a></p>
<h3><span style="color: #3598db;">Warehousing and logistics</span></h3>
<p>M&amp;S is making moves in its supply chain with a massive new 390,000 sq. ft. distribution centre in Avonmouth, set to open in 2026. Nestled between its existing Bristol and Portbury sites, the depot will help keep shelves stocked across the Midlands, South West, and South Wales. It&rsquo;s also M&amp;S&rsquo;s greenest food depot yet, complete with solar panels and EV infrastructure. The investment is all part of a bigger plan to streamline logistics, cut costs, and future-proof operations. <a href="https://corporate.marksandspencer.com/media/press-releases/food-supply-chain-modernisation-programme-new-bristol-depot" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read more here.</a></p>
<h3><span style="color: #3598db;">Manufacturing</span></h3>
<p>Nova Tissue is on a roll after a &pound;1m machinery upgrade that&rsquo;s already boosted production by 25% and improved efficiency across the board. The Oldham-based firm, which makes 68 million toilet and kitchen rolls a year for retailers, wholesalers, and even local foodbanks, has brought in a new OM1 Bundler and Rewinder Line to streamline output. The kit&rsquo;s not only speeding things up - it&rsquo;s also improving product quality and reducing packaging use. With capacity up, they&rsquo;ve secured more business from a major UK supermarket, hired five new staff, and are targeting a &pound;2m jump in turnover this year. To find out more, <a href="https://corporate.marksandspencer.com/media/press-releases/food-supply-chain-modernisation-programme-new-bristol-depot" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here.</a></p>
<p>In an extraordinary move, the UK government has stepped in to take control of British Steel&rsquo;s Scunthorpe site after emergency legislation was rushed through Parliament. The move prevents owners Jingye from shutting down its blast furnaces - something that would have ended primary steelmaking in the UK. With 2,700 jobs on the line, nationalisation now looks likely, as ministers say the intervention is about protecting critical infrastructure and securing the UK&rsquo;s ability to produce its own steel - though critics have questioned why similar action wasn&rsquo;t taken when Port Talbot Steelworks closed last year, or as Grangemouth Oil refinery heads for shutdown this summer. <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg17g39x41o" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Click to read more.</a></p>
<h3><span style="color: #3598db;">Waste and recycling</span></h3>
<p>Last month, the first phase of the government&rsquo;s 'simpler recycling' reforms came into effect for businesses in England. From now on, workplaces with 10 or more employees must separate food waste, non-recyclables, and dry recyclables such as plastics, metal, glass, paper, and card. While the aim is to streamline recycling and improve rates across the UK, some waste specialists are concerned that businesses haven&rsquo;t been given enough information about the new rules. With further reforms coming in 2026 and 2027, including requirements for household waste and micro-firms, the government is pushing for a greener, more circular economy. But as the rules take effect, there&rsquo;s still some confusion about how businesses should comply and what penalties they might face for getting it wrong. <a href="https://www.mrw.co.uk/news/simpler-recycling-reforms-come-into-force-for-workplaces-31-03-2025/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Learn more here.</a></p>
<p>DS Smith, the fibre-based packaging solutions provider, has partnered with Prim&eacute;ale, a subsidiary of the French agricultural and food processing group Agrial, to develop plastic-free, fully recyclable packaging for their &lsquo;Vegetable Kit&rsquo; range. The new punnets, made from corrugated cardboard with a transparent cellulose hydrate lid, are designed to protect fresh produce while offering excellent visibility on supermarket shelves. The packaging is fully recyclable and includes a moisture barrier for direct contact with fresh food. This innovation supports both companies' commitment to sustainable packaging solutions and responds to growing consumer demand for eco-friendly, plastic-free options in food packaging. <a href="https://www.themanufacturer.com/articles/plastic-free-packaging-for-vegetable-kit-range/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read more about this here.</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3 data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Stay ahead with the latest industry insights!</h3>
<p>Get exclusive trends, expert analysis, and key updates delivered straight to your inbox every month.&nbsp;<a href="http://eepurl.com/hpfLJD">Sign up for our newsletter today!</a></p>
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<h3 data-pm-slice="1 1 []">We'd love to hear from you!</h3>
<p>gap Insight is for you. We care you find it useful so if you have any suggestions around what you'd like to read, or if you have any questions for our team,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:hello@gap-personnel.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">please let us know.</a></p>
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Trump’s tariffs incoming: why UK industries are bracing for a price surge

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #242c52;">There&rsquo;s no getting around it - costs are rising across the board. The cost of employing a full-time National Living Wage worker has increased by 7.1% in real terms due to the latest minimum wage and employer National Insurance hikes. And for businesses like yours these aren&rsquo;t just isolated figures; they have a direct impact on profit margins, operational efficiency, and supply chain resilience.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #242c52;">As these financial pressures mount, now is the perfect time to assess your supply chain from end to end - from materials and logistics to outsourced services like recruitment. Are your current suppliers providing the best possible value, or are there opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance reliability?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; color: #242c52;">Getting real value from your recruitment provider</span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #242c52;">Recruitment costs are often a primary focus in reviews, but too often, the emphasis is placed on price alone, overlooking the broader value and enhanced cost savings a strong recruitment partner can bring. With the rising cost of employment, a recruitment provider that delivers reliability, flexibility, and long-term efficiency can be the difference between a smooth operation and unnecessary expense &ndash; offering real savings that far outweigh a marginal reduction in the hourly management fee.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #242c52;">At gap personnel we focus on delivering a recruitment service that works for you &ndash; no hidden fees, no surprises, just transparency and efficiency. Like you, we are also facing these rising employment costs, and while we adapt to these changes, we remain committed to <a style="color: #242c52;" href="https://www.gap-personnel.com/employers-news/right-to-work-compliance-a-critical-check-for-your-business/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">helping our clients navigate these challenges compliantly </a>and cost-effectively. We follow the Association of Labour Providers&rsquo; charge rate guidance, ensuring complete clarity on costs. But beyond price, we prioritise flexibility, responsiveness, and proactive problem-solving to keep your workforce running smoothly.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #242c52;"><strong>Time for a recruitment partner health check?</strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #242c52;">Now is the right moment to ask whether your recruitment provider is truly supporting your business:</span></p>
<ul>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: #242c52;"><span style="color: #242c52;">Was the recent rate increase handled transparently and in a timely manner?</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: #242c52;"><span style="color: #242c52;">Is your provider actively helping you manage costs and workforce challenges?</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: #242c52;"><span style="color: #242c52;">Are they offering real flexibility and strategic support?</span></li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #242c52;">If any of these raise concerns, it may be time to explore alternatives. The reality is that while cost matters, a recruitment partner&rsquo;s ability to provide reliability, agility, and forward-thinking solutions is <a style="color: #242c52;" href="https://www.gap-personnel.com/employers-news/the-power-of-transparent-pricing-in-recruitment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">critical to long-term savings</a>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #242c52;"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></span></p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; color: #242c52;">A seamless switch to stress free staffing</span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #242c52;">Reviewing your recruitment provider doesn&rsquo;t have to be a complicated process. At gap personnel we make the transition process a seamless one, ensuring minimal disruption while maximising long-term benefits. Our stress-free staffing approach takes the hassle out of hiring, helping you maintain (and improve!) efficiencies and <a style="color: #242c52;" href="https://www.gap-personnel.com/employers-news/the-power-of-transparent-pricing-in-recruitment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">control costs.</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #242c52;">With the new financial year underway, there&rsquo;s no better time to assess your supply chain and recruitment strategy.<a style="color: #242c52;" href="https://www.gap-personnel.com/recruit-staff/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Let&rsquo;s get the conversation started</a> - how can we <a style="color: #242c52;" href="https://www.gap-personnel.com/lets-get-started/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">help your business</a> navigate these cost challenges?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p>

Rising workforce costs – is it time to rethink your supply chain?

<p><span style="color: #242c52;">Welcome to your March edition of <em>gap insight</em> - your favourite recruitment newsletter! As March winds down, we&rsquo;re bidding farewell to Ramadan - Eid Mubarak for the coming weekend, to all who celebrate! Easter is still a few weeks away, so if you&rsquo;re sticking to your Lent sacrifices, stay strong. We&rsquo;re here to see you through the final stretch of the month with the latest from the employment, FMCG, manufacturing, warehousing, and waste and recycling sectors. So grab a brew and <em>whatever Lent-friendly snack is getting you through</em>, and let us regale you with the latest tales from the industry.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><span style="color: #3598db;">In employment...</span></h3>
<p><span style="color: #242c52;">Big changes are coming to disability and sickness benefits, with the government aiming to get more people back into work. From cuts to the health top-up on Universal Credit for new claimants to a &pound;1bn investment in work programmes, the focus is shifting towards employment. By 2028, the work capability assessment will be scrapped, and jobseekers who&rsquo;ve paid in could get higher unemployment support. There&rsquo;s also a push for more face-to-face assessments and a &ldquo;right to try&rdquo; scheme, letting disabled people test working without risking their benefits. While ministers insist this will reduce long-term unemployment, charities warn it could push more people into poverty</span>. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/mar/18/key-changes-uk-benefits-cuts-disability-pip-labour" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read more here.</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><span style="color: #3598db;">Latest employment data...</span></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><span style="color: #242c52;">Estimates for payrolled employees increased by 9,000 ( 0.0% ) between December 2024 and January 2025 and rose by 44,000 (0.1%) between January 2024 and January 2025. The early estimate of payrolled employees for February 2025 increased by 21,000 (0.1%) on the month and increased by 66,000 (0.2% ) on the year to 30.4 million.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #242c52;">The UK employment rate for people aged 16 to 64 years was estimated at 75% in November 2024 to January 2025. This is above estimates of a year ago, and up in the latest quarter. The unemployment rate for those aged 16 years and over stood at 4.4% during the same period, an increase from a year earlier and the previous quarter. The UK Claimant Count for February 2025 increased on the month and is up on the year, at 1.775 million.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #242c52;">Economic inactivity among people aged 16 to 64 years was estimated at 21.5% in November 2024 to January 2025. Job vacancies in the UK in December 2024 to February 2025 was 816,000. Vacancies are broadly unchanged on the quarter (with early estimates suggesting a small increase of just 1,000) and are still above pre-coronavirus (COVID-19 ) pandemic levels.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #242c52;">Annual growth in employees' average regular earnings (excluding bonuses) was 5.9%, while total earnings (including bonuses) grew by 5.8% from November 2024 to January 2025. RTI pay data showed a similar growth rate compared to Average Weekly Earnings (AWE) including arrears. When adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers' housing costs (CPIH), real-term growth was 2.2% for regular pay and 2.1% for total pay during the same period. In January , 50,000 working days were lost to labour disputes.&nbsp;For more details</span>,&nbsp;<a tabindex="-1" href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/bulletins/uklabourmarket/latest" target="_blank" rel="noopener">read the full ONS labour market report.</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>
<h3><img src="https://www.canva.com/design/DAFG8LmaX2E/HRg_f4Mcks9LMffJ1K3-Kw/view?utm_content=DAFG8LmaX2E&amp;utm_campaign=designshare&amp;utm_medium=link2&amp;utm_source=uniquelinks&amp;utlId=hc662d950f5" alt=""><span style="color: #3598db;">In FMCG...</span></h3>
<p><span style="color: #242c52;">Activia is stirring things up with new flavours and formats in its Kefir and Fibre ranges, all in the name of better gut health. The latest launches include a larger Activia Kefir Natural and a new Peach Passion flavour, now available at Tesco and Ocado. The Fibre range is also getting a boost with Activia Fibre Berries and Cereals, hitting Tesco shelves on 31st March. With demand for gut-friendly foods on the rise, Activia is making it easier (and tastier) to give your digestion a little&nbsp;<em>culture</em>. Read more about Activia&rsquo;s latest gut-friendly innovations and where to find them</span> <a href="https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/news/activia-expands-kefir-and-fibre-ranges-with-new-flavours-and-formats/701965.article" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here.&nbsp;</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #242c52;">Lipton Ice Tea sent fans into a frenzy this week after announcing it was axing its beloved Peach flavour - only to backtrack less than 24 hours later, calling it a premature April Fools&rsquo; joke. While it grabbed headlines, marketing experts are divided. Some say it was a savvy move that reignited interest in a classic drink, whilst others argue it risked alienating loyal customers by making them feel duped. Compared to Duolingo&rsquo;s recent viral mascot &lsquo;death,&rsquo; Lipton&rsquo;s stunt felt rushed and lacking in engagement, ultimately falling flat when it could have brewed up something bigger. Discover the full story behind Lipton&rsquo;s Peach flavour controversy and why experts are divided - read more</span> <a href="https://www.grocerygazette.co.uk/2025/03/20/lipton-tea-refreshing-risky/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3><span style="color: #3598db;">In manufacturing...</span></h3>
<p><span style="color: #242c52;">Made in Britain has launched&nbsp;<em>UnPacked</em>, a new video series celebrating the leaders behind UK-made products - from tennis balls to tea towels. Hosted by journalist Matthew Stadlen, the series dives into the challenges and triumphs of British manufacturers, revealing what drives their success. With new episodes dropping weekly on the Made in Britain website, it&rsquo;s a must-watch for anyone passionate about UK industry.</span> <a href="https://uk-manufacturing-online.co.uk/made-in-britain-shines-a-light-on-british-made-goods-in-new-campaign/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Discover the stories behind UK-made products and the innovators driving British manufacturing in the new <em data-start="108" data-end="118">UnPacked</em> series.</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="color: #242c52;">New British electric vehicle brand Perseus is making its debut with a premium compact SUV, set to launch in Europe by late 2027. Instead of building everything from scratch, they&rsquo;re teaming up with leading automotive manufacturers, an Italian design house, and a European contract manufacturer to speed things up. The SUV will run on a cutting-edge licensed EV platform, packed with AI tech, and sold directly to consumers. With a leadership team consisting of JLR, Lotus, and Bentley alum, as well as talent from INEOS Automotive, Perseus is aiming for high-end design and performance - without the luxury price tag.</span> <a href="https://www.themanufacturer.com/articles/all-new-premium-british-electric-vehicle-brand-perseus-launches/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Find out more here.</a></p>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3><span style="color: #3598db;">In warehousing...</span></h3>
<p><span style="color: #242c52;">LogiMAT 2025, one of the biggest trade shows for intralogistics and supply chain management, has revealed its best product winners, highlighting the latest game-changers in warehouse automation. This year&rsquo;s top innovations include KNAPP&rsquo;s AeroBot, a smart storage system where self-driving robots move in all directions to store and retrieve items quickly and efficiently. Also making waves is Kathrein Solutions' RFID Reader Gen4, which tracks pallets using radio signals instead of barcodes, instantly updating stock levels without the need for manual scanning. Rounding off the winners, PSI Software&rsquo;s PSIwms AI takes warehouse management to the next level by creating a virtual version of the warehouse to test and improve processes, reducing unnecessary movement and making operations much faster. Big wins for tech that make warehouses faster, smarter,&nbsp;<em>and</em> easier to run.</span><a href="https://warehousenews.co.uk/2025/03/best-product-award-presented-at-logimat-2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="color: #242c52;"> </span>Find out more about LogiMAT 2025&rsquo;s top innovations here.</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><span style="color: #3598db;">In waste...</span></h3>
<p><span style="color: #242c52;">A new Biffa survey reveals that while 93% of manufacturers have or plan to implement a sustainability strategy, 99% say they need more support - especially with Simpler Recycling laws coming in March 2025. The biggest barrier? Cost, with nearly half saying tight budgets are holding them back. Biffa&rsquo;s latest whitepaper,&nbsp;<em>What iff you could unlock value from manufacturing waste?</em>, breaks down how to make sustainability pay. From smarter material choices to turning waste into a revenue stream, it&rsquo;s all about making green work&nbsp;<em>for</em> your business, not against it. From smarter material choices to turning waste into a revenue stream, it&rsquo;s all about making green work for your business, not against it.</span><a href="https://uk-manufacturing-online.co.uk/99-of-industrial-manufacturers-say-they-need-more-support-to-be-sustainable-finds-biffa-survey/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Explore Biffa&rsquo;s findings and solutions here.</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3 data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><span style="color: #242c52;">Stay ahead with the latest industry insights!</span></h3>
<p><span style="color: #242c52;">Get exclusive trends, expert analysis, and key updates delivered straight to your inbox every month. <a href="http://eepurl.com/hpfLJD">Sign up for our newsletter today!</a></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3 data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><span style="color: #242c52;">We'd love to hear from you!</span></h3>
<p><span style="color: #242c52;">gap Insight is for you. We care you find it useful so if you have any suggestions around what you'd like to read, or if you have any questions for our team,</span> <a href="mailto:hello@gap-personnel.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">please let us know.</a></p>
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Are umbrella companies on their last legs? Here's what you need to know

Recent articles

Trump’s tariffs incoming: why UK industries are bracing for a price surge

Rising workforce costs – is it time to rethink your supply chain?

Work push or setback? The Government’s big benefits overhaul