HR & Recruitment 13 July 2026
Recruitment Challenges Continue to Stall Hiring
Less than a quarter (23%) of firms are expecting to increase the size of their workforce over the coming months, according to the latest data from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).
The BCC’s Quarterly Recruitment Outlook shows most businesses (66%) are planning to keep with their existing staffing numbers, while 11% of firms are planning to cut staff.
Economic Growth 13 July 2026
UK housing market remains sluggish as buyers wait and see
The housing market has entered a holding phase. The long-term trajectory of interest rates remains unclear, leading many potential buyers to hold off on purchasing until the economic outlook becomes clearer. Prices are yet to pick up at any great rate this year, with the Halifax House Price recording only a 0.6% year-on-year rise in June. A monthly rise of 0.2% reflects a market that is stable but lacking any real momentum.
Local Skills Improvement Plan, Next Generation, Skills Development 13 July 2026
Refreshed Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) to power Cambridgeshire and Peterborough’s growth over next three years
Cambridge, 10 July 2026: The Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) have today published a three-year plan to deliver the skills and training needed to achieve the region’s ambition to double – and ultimately treble – the size of its economy by 2050.
The refreshed Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) 2026–2029 is built on one of the most extensive local evidence bases in the country, with 341 employer survey responses, 70 in-depth interviews and continuous labour market intelligence gathered since 2023.
Local Skills Improvement Plan 13 July 2026
Skills Planning Vital To Engage Gen Z
A pioneering scheme for business-led skills planning in England has been given the green light for another three years by the government, today.
Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) have been running for four years and have engaged thousands of people and employers in the training and education that firms desperately need.
Economic Growth 8 July 2026
New research: Most wealth will still be passed on after death despite widespread inheritance disputes reported
New research* undertaken by YouGov for leading UK wealth management and employee benefits firm Mattioli Woods reveals that that most over-55s continue to favour passing on wealth after death, despite widespread experience of family conflict caused by inheritance.
Economic Growth 7 July 2026
Business Investment Plans Hit Post-Pandemic Low
The proportion of firms planning to increase investment has fallen to its lowest level since the pandemic, according to the latest British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Quarterly Economic Survey. The UK’s largest independent business sentiment survey also shows confidence weakened in Q2, with fewer firms increasing sales and inflation re-emerging as the leading concern.
Construction & Property 7 July 2026
Hegarty enhances Commercial Property expertise with expanded specialist team
Hegarty has enhanced its Commercial Property offering, bringing together an expanded team of specialists to support businesses, developers, investors and landowners across Peterborough, Stamford, Rutland, Lincolnshire and the wider region.
The department combines more than 80 years of collective commercial property experience across a broad range of specialist areas, including development land, agricultural property, commercial leasing, investment portfolios, secured lending and business acquisitions involving property.
Awards, Construction & Property 7 July 2026
Princebuild celebrates double award success!
Princebuild is celebrating significant success at the National Family Business of the Year Awards 2026, where the company was named East & East Anglia Family Business of the Year, alongside winning East & East Anglia People’s Choice Family Business of the Year.
Last month, Mark Asplin, Director, Tom Duerden, Director and Carly Dadge, Group Brand & Marketing Manager represented Princebuild in London at the awards ceremony, held by Family Business United, which brings together leading family businesses from across the UK to recognise excellence, innovation and long-term contribution to the sector.
Next Generation, Skills Development 6 July 2026
Local recruitment expert advises businesses reframe marketing to overcome recruitment challenges
According to a recent report, 32% of local businesses struggle with recruitment due to a lack of candidates – something that recruitment marketing firm, crooton, finds surprising.
Stephen Anderson, CEO of Cambridgeshire-based businesses crooton, says that many traditional recruitment tools ignore ‘passive candidates’ and therefore ignore 73% of the potential candidate pool – which could explain why so many local businesses are struggling with recruitment.
The Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce Skills Survey 2026 cited that 52% of local businesses are finding recruitment challenging. 39% of these shared that applicants lack the required skills and 32% said that challenges were due to a simple ‘lack of candidates’.