Graduate hiring squeeze: UK graduate job vacancies have fallen 46% year-on-year to the lowest level in a decade, with employers citing higher costs and a shift toward AI and automation. Apprenticeships and pathways: Morrisons is rolling out a two-year “Proper Jobs: Fresh Start” programme combining paid store work, a 12-month apprenticeship, and leadership training to help 18–24s move out of NEET status. Skills and local jobs: Barbour plans to create 40 machinist roles at its South Shields factory after “unprecedented” global demand, backed by an on-site training academy. Tourism investment: Herefordshire’s visitor economy body is asking businesses to back a tourism funding plan through 2032, citing growth to £830m and nearly 8,000 jobs. Business rates pressure: Travel and retail leaders want the business rates review for pubs and hotels to also protect high-street travel firms from unfair charges. Family visa rules: The UK confirms couples can combine incomes for the £29,000 minimum income requirement, and can also use cash savings as an alternative. Northern Ireland business strain: BTG data shows Northern Ireland is the only UK region with year-on-year falls in both critical and significant business distress, though pressure remains in sectors like sport/health clubs and media.