HMRC’s app rises in popularity, businesses are encouraged to recruit via JobCentre Plus, and support to embrace AI in business
Good news for HMRC as their app becomes more widely used for tasks such as checking PAYE and viewing annual tax summaries, DWP campaign for employers to use JobCentre Plus to recruit new staff, and support for businesses to get to grips with utilising AI – all in today’s blog post.
HMRC App Usage on the Increase
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has reported that over 5.6 million people have accessed its app since the start of the current tax year (6 April 2025).
The app offers a range of features that can be useful in viewing and managing your tax and national insurance records.
What are people using the app for?
According to HMRC, the most accessed services include:
- Checking PAYE information, including pay before it reaches the bank – used by 4.14 million people.
- Viewing annual tax summaries – 1.94 million people.
- Accessing national insurance details, including contribution history and saving NI numbers – 1.79 million people.
- Checking State Pension forecasts – 1.49 million people.
- Viewing Self Assessment summaries and making payments – 1.19 million people.
If you’re using the app and want to make sure what the figures mean, or would like personalised guidance, please give us a call and we would be happy to help you!
See: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/lets-talk-about-tax-with-the-hmrc-app
Free Recruitment Support Available to UK Businesses Through Jobcentre Plus
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has launched a national campaign to offer UK businesses access to no-fee specialist recruitment support through Jobcentre Plus. The service is available to all businesses, regardless of size or sector.
Over the last year, only one in five businesses has used Jobcentre Plus services for support. This may be indicative of a lack of confidence in the service being able to locate suitable candidates.
At the same time, over half of employers in a recent DWP Employer Survey reported difficulties in finding suitable candidates. With the average cost of filling a vacancy estimated by CIPD at £6,125, it could be worth considering trying out the service.
Who Can Benefit?
The campaign is particularly focused on sectors with high vacancy rates, including:
- Manufacturing
- Logistics
- Retail
- Hospitality
- Health and social care
- Construction
However, the service is open to all employers, whether they’re recruiting for one role or many.
To find out more and access support, visit the Business.gov.uk website.
Skills England launches tools to help businesses upskill for the AI era
A new report from Skills England has indicated that many employers are struggling to keep pace with AI-related changes. Their ‘AI skills for the UK workforce’ report introduces three new tools that could help businesses build confidence and capability in using AI responsibly.
Sector-specific challenges
The report identifies sectors that face particular challenges. For instance:
- In Construction, opportunities such as drone surveying and augmented-reality training are emerging, but low digital literacy remains a barrier.
- Within the Creative Industries, freelancers and small firms are adopting AI tools for content creation but often without formal training, raising concerns about quality and originality.
- Advanced Manufacturing is already seeing benefits from automation and predictive maintenance but faces a growing skills gap as its workforce ages.
A consistent theme across all business sectors seems to be uncertainty over what is meant by “AI skills” and what staff need to learn.
Three new tools for employers
The three new tools are as follows:
- The AI Skills Framework – identifies the technical, responsible and non-technical skills needed across different job roles and levels.
- The AI Skills Adoption Pathway Model – shows how businesses typically progress from early awareness to strategic adoption of AI.
- The Employer AI Adoption Checklist – a practical tool to help businesses assess their AI skills readiness, identify workforce gaps and plan training.
These tools are designed to make AI more accessible to employers, particularly smaller businesses that often lack the dedicated HR or training teams of larger organisations.
Dr Ameen said, “AI is reshaping the world of work across sectors, but without the right skills, too many people and businesses risk being left behind.”
To find out more, the full AI Skills for the UK Workforce report and supporting tools are available through Skills England.