8 July 2025
Employment Rights Bill to increase bereavement leave for families who face pregnancy loss
Families who experience pregnancy loss before 24 weeks are set to become entitled to protected bereavement leave, under new amendments to the Employment Rights Bill announced.
These amendments form part of the biggest uplift to workers' rights in a generation, set to benefit half of all UK workers. Hundreds of thousands of employees are impacted by pregnancy loss per year - one estimate for example suggests that there are around 250,000 pregnancy losses caused by miscarriages alone in the UK each year with a further 12,000 impacted by loss due to ectopic pregnancies.
The measures announced will give those experiencing pregnancy loss at any stage the legal right to take time off work to grieve, giving them much needed support at a difficult time.
New Blog: Planning for a Busy Summer: Extra Time for Salon Owners During the Women's Euros, Wimbledon and Festival Season
Large national events can cause a spike in unplanned absences. Whether it’s catching a football match, a Wimbledon final or recovering from a weekend at Glastonbury, employees might be tempted to call in sick.
Estimates during previous tournaments suggest one in seven men and one in 20 women called in sick. That figure is likely to rise with more events running across the summer.
Top apprenticeship employers celebrated for 2025
Businesses of all sizes including NHBF Members have been recognised by the government for their outstanding commitment to apprenticeships.
The Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers and Top 50 SME Apprenticeship Employers tables for 2025 showcase the very best apprenticeship programmes over the past 12 months.
The Department for Education has partnered with RateMyApprenticeship to deliver the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2025 rankings. The 2025 rankings recognise and celebrate England's leading apprenticeship employers for their overall commitment to employing apprentices, the diversity of their apprentices, whether their apprentices achieve and for the first time in 2025 - the apprentices' own feedback on their employer's programme.
NHBF Members who have been recognised, include:
- Less Than Zero Barbers
- Collinge & Co.
- George's Hairdressing
- Exceed Training Company