NEARLY half of UK professionals (46%) are concerned about their employers’ ability to retain staff in 2025, according to the latest findings from Robert Walters’ Salary Survey. This concern comes amid rising inflation, cost-of-living pressures, and tax hikes, adding to an already tense employment market.

Job seeking on the rise

Despite these challenges, 65% of professionals plan to actively apply for and interview for new roles in 2025, with an additional 28% remaining alert to potential opportunities. Interestingly, while 48% of professionals lack confidence in the job opportunities within their sectors, 76% still intend to pursue new positions this year.

Chris Eldridge, CEO of Robert Walters UK & Ireland, stated: “Employers should take note that professionals are actively pursuing new job opportunities despite their confidence in the market being low. If employees don’t feel secure with their current employer, they’ll respond with their feet.”

Eldridge warned of a “double-edged sword” for businesses: “Companies that adapt and remain agile have the chance to attract top talent from competitors, while those failing to pivot risk losing key team members.”

Confidence at a low

The survey also revealed broader concerns about professional rewards and growth prospects. While 44% of professionals anticipated year-end bonuses for 2024, 45% will not receive any. This shortfall has added to doubts about their employers’ growth, with only 27% of professionals confident in their company’s 2025 projections.

Eldridge added: “Living costs, reduced bonuses, and ongoing economic instability have delivered blow after blow to both business and employee confidence. Employers must take action to reassure their teams and strengthen relationships to retain top talent.”

Budget constraints dominate employer concerns

On the employer side, 37% of UK businesses identified ‘budget constraints’ as their primary hiring challenge for the year. However, the survey suggests that retention efforts do not always require financial investments alone. Workplace culture and benefits are becoming increasingly important, with 65% of professionals prioritizing company values when evaluating new roles.

Top workplace benefits

The survey highlighted the top three workplace benefits that professionals value:

• Private health insurance (80%)
• Bonus schemes (77%)
• Pension contributions (69%)

Eldridge emphasized: “In challenging markets, businesses must focus on retaining high-performing employees. Ensuring bonuses are paid to key contributors and ramping up workplace benefits, while aligning with social values and core company principles, will make the difference between thriving and diving in 2025.”

Investing in employee experience

With employee confidence wavering, businesses must prioritize the employee experience to safeguard their workforce and attract top talent. Eldridge concluded: “Companies that prioritize growth opportunities and align their operations with clear values will ensure they remain competitive, even in difficult times.”

ONCE synonymous with oil and gas, Milford Haven is now poised to lead Wales into a cleaner, greener future—powered by hydrogen.

Green energy pioneer Haush Ltd has chosen Milford Haven as the location for its new UK headquarters, marking a significant step towards establishing the area as a hub for hydrogen innovation. The company’s ambitious plans aim to decarbonise land, sea, and air transport, while also exporting green hydrogen to Europe.

Backed by the Welsh Government through the HYBRID SBRI Hydrogen Port Re-Fuelling Project (HyPR), Haush’s initiative will kick off immediately. The HyPR project supports trials to accelerate hydrogen production and create refuelling solutions for both onshore and offshore vessels. A key part of this effort is designing a permanent hydrogen refuelling infrastructure at the Port of Milford Haven, unlocking its potential as a green energy leader.

For over 65 years, Milford Haven has been a cornerstone of the UK’s oil and gas sector, processing 20% of the nation’s oil and gas. Now, this latest investment signals the beginning of a transformative shift toward renewable energy.

Welsh Government Economy, Energy, and Planning Cabinet Secretary, Rebecca Evans, welcomed the move, saying:
“Jobs and green growth are a priority for this Welsh Government, so I am delighted that Haush has chosen Milford Haven as the base for its new UK headquarters. The company’s ambitious growth plans align perfectly with our aspirations to see Wales become a global leader in renewable energy generation.”

Milford Haven’s journey from oil and gas to hydrogen innovation could set a blueprint for green energy transformation in the UK and beyond.

THE WALES TOURISM ALLIANCE has submitted its formal response to the Welsh Government’s Visitor Levy Bill. The response, delivered to the Finance and the Legislation, Justice, and Constitution Committees, outlines several key concerns about the proposed legislation.

Key issues raised by the WTA

1. The Welsh Government’s own Explanatory Memorandum and Economic Impact Assessment suggest the policy’s administrative costs will outweigh the revenue generated.
2. The Bill extends beyond tourism visits, encompassing stays of less than 31 days for purposes such as work or education.
3. Local authorities will retain sole control over any net revenue, with no obligation to allocate funds to tourism-related initiatives.
4. The data underpinning the policy and its assumptions are unreliable and raise significant concerns.
5. Industry input, including that from Wales’s own tourism forum chairs, has been inadequately considered.
6. The policy fails to account for the pressures already impacting Welsh tourism over the past five years.

Industry reaction

WTA Chair Rowland Rees-Evans voiced disappointment over the proposal, which the Welsh Government’s own Economic Impact Assessment predicts could lead to net job losses.

“The WTA has engaged with the Welsh Government since the Visitor Levy was proposed, and we are disappointed they are pursuing a policy their own analysis suggests will have a negative impact on employment,” Rees-Evans stated.

“The tourism industry in Wales is still recovering from the devastating effects of Covid-19, grappling with the 182-day rule on holiday lets, and facing ongoing challenges from the cost-of-living crisis. Additionally, businesses are contending with a 40% rise in the living wage since 2020 and increased national insurance contributions starting this April.

“To impose another burden on a fragile sector, which employs over 20% of the workforce in some parts of Wales, is not in the best interest of the country.”

Rees-Evans emphasized the broader implications of the levy, stating:
“We must also dispel the notion that this is solely a Tourist Tax. It is a Visitor Levy that will affect everyone in Wales – from children on overnight school trips to patients requiring overnight stays before early NHS admissions.”

Pictured: Rowland Rees-Evans, Chair of the Wales Tourism Alliance