First 2 Recruit Ltd

20/07/2026

Who's the Most Stressed Generation?

Employers and workers can't seem to agree on who feels the most stress. According to recent research, GRiD found a significant difference in perspective. Employers believe Millennials, those born between 1981 and 1996, are the most stressed. They associate this stress with finances, home life, and work.

But younger workers say Gen Z is feeling the most pressure. Gen Z employees report the highest levels of stress related to work (28%), finances and debt (19%), and home life (17%).

Interestingly, Baby Boomers report the lowest levels of stress, while Generation X falls somewhere between the older and younger generations.

What does this mean for employers?

- Don't assume one group is more stressed
- Recognise that different generations face different challenges
- Offer a range of mental health support options that can help everyone

The key takeaway: Listen to your employees and tailor your wellbeing strategies to meet diverse needs.

For more insights on building a supportive workplace environment, visit https://first2recruit.co.uk.

Employers see Millennials as the generation under the greatest pressure, but Gen Z workers report the highest levels of stress.

16/07/2026

Interesting read from www.cipd.org...👑 Chris Bones: leaders can't manage AI risk from the side lines.

Learn more about the people profession – its wide-ranging roles and expertise, the standards we uphold, and the impact our profession makes.

16/07/2026

Big changes might be on the horizon for those planning on their retirement dates.

According to recent reports, millions of people could need to work an extra year before being eligible for the state pension. This possible shift, to reset the pension age at 68, could be implemented between 2037 and 2039, a hefty seven years earlier than previously scheduled.

For context, this change would impact around five million individuals currently aged between 49 and 55, I am one of them!

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) highlights that moving up the timetable would save the Treasury about £6 billion a year starting from 2037.

Employers, especially in the UK, need to factor in these potential changes. With the workforce potentially extending their careers, it's vital to reassess workforce planning and retention strategies. While nothing is set in stone yet - with a full review still ongoing - the speculation alone calls for preparation.

What do you think about this proposed change? How might it impact your plans or your organisation?



For more information, visit https://first2recruit.co.uk.

Around five million people could have to work for an extra year before claiming their state pension under plans to raise the pension age earlier than scheduled.

15/07/2026

Massive Congratulations to all of my contacts who passed this years ACCA exams.

ACCA has just published the pass rates for the June 2026 exams.

This season saw 119,662 students enter and 136,544 exams completed. Outstandingly, 4,690 students have now completed all their exams and will move to affiliate status 👏

Executive Director, Alan Hatfield of ACCA said "It is always pleasing to see so many students focus on their journey towards ACCA membership as demonstrated by this robust set of mid-year results"

Congratulations to all who are moving forward!

For more in-depth insights, visit https://first2recruit.co.uk.

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) has released the pass rates for its June 2026 exam sitting, with 119,662 students entering the session and 136,544 exams completed.

26/05/2026

Its here again....school holidays roll around so quickly. They are the most predictable pressure point of the working year and yet, they still create significant disruptions for employers and parents.

Personnel Today have a webinar coming up that I thought might be interesting to my network. Sharing is caring!!

💼 Join our upcoming webinar on Thursday 4 June 2026, at 2:00pm BST, hosted by Personnel Today in association with Bright Horizons Work and Family Solutions. It's a must-attend event exploring why recurring childcare gaps impact focus, productivity, and attendance.

📌 The session will include:
- ✅ How planned and emergency care options deliver measurable gains for parents and businesses
- ✅ Practical examples from Bright Horizons' clients' employees on effective family support
- ✅ Data from the latest research demonstrating the business case for employer-supported care

Our speakers, Rebecca Ormond from SMBC and Jennifer Liston-Smith from Bright Horizons, will provide practical insights, real experiences, and clear actions employers can take to safeguard productivity and support working parents during peak holiday periods.

Don't miss out on this free 60-minute webinar. Secure your spot now!

https://paiger.link/803628682

10/02/2026

Senior Insolvency Administrator
Liverpool
Apply Now https://paiger.link/259054197

09/01/2026

This is an interesting article to read. People Management Magazine - published 8th Jan 26

I agree that finding qualified talent was quite the challenge for many of us in 2025, but the survey by LinkedIn in the article found that a staggering 79% of recruiters in the UK found it tougher to identify skilled candidates in 2025, even though the number of applicants per role has more than doubled since 2022.

This, it suggests, is attributed to the rising application numbers driven by one-click applications and AI-assisted tools; more time is now spent filtering out less-suited candidates. This means less time engaging with those well-suited for the roles we are looking to fill.

Interestingly, the article suggests that many recruiters are turning to AI to help cope with these pressures.

Personally, I turn to AI to help me with administration processes to save time, but I would not rely on AI to filter CVs / applications for me.

What are your thoughts on the role of AI in recruitment? Let's discuss!

Or if you need help finding the right talent, get in touch with us at first2recruit.co.uk.

✅ Skilled candidate identification
✅ AI-assisted recruitment tools
✅ Balanced human and AI approach

LinkedIn survey shows businesses turning to AI as they struggle to identify skilled candidates, despite increasing applicant numbers

02/12/2025

🏭 AAT appoints Lucy Cohen, Mazuma entrepreneur and industry leader, as youngest ever President

https://paiger.link/1978839051