EDITION 1054
27 JANUARY 2025

On this day in 1945, Auschwitz, a major Nazi death camp in Poland, was liberated by Soviet troops. Keir Starmer visited the memorial site last week ahead of the 80th anniversary of its liberation and vowed to fight rising anti-Semitism around the world, while King Charles and some Holocaust survivors will attend a ceremony today.

So, as another week passes into the annals of history, here are 10 things which caught my attention and may have escaped yours. Please feel free to share on social media and forward to your colleagues and friends so they can also subscribe, learn and engage. I would be very grateful if you did.

Just before you dive in, remember our POTENTIAL workbook [see below] is on offer for only £99. This unique workbook will help guide your organisation to its highest potential. Contact us today to start your transformation.

William Montgomery
Editor and CEO of TEN

1. How to turn employees into advocates. Turning employees into advocates is a powerful way to build your company’s reputation and drive growth. When employees genuinely believe in the company, its values, and its mission, they naturally become strong advocates, both internally and externally. READ MORE

2. UK consumer confidence falls sharply in January. Rise in government borrowing costs and warnings of job cuts take their toll on economic sentiment. UK consumer confidence fell sharply in January to the lowest level in more than a year as a rise in government borrowing costs and warnings of job cuts took a toll on economic sentiment. The GfK consumer confidence index - a measure of how people view their personal finances and broader economic prospects - fell 5 points to minus 22, the lowest reading since the end of 2023, according to new data. The month-on-month drop in the GfK consumer confidence index was the largest since September 2024, when consumers were concerned about potential tax rises in October’s Budget. Financial Times

3. Tech giants most valuable firms. Technology companies have once again dominated a ranking of the world's most valuable companies. Three out of the top five companies on Brand Finance's Global 500 report are tech firms. Apple took first place with a brand value of $574.5bn (€551.3bn; £465.9bn), while Microsoft took second, Google took third and Amazon came fourth. Other tech companies to make it into the top 10 included Samsung, TikTok, Facebook and Nvidia, while non-tech firms included Walmart and State Grid Corporation of China. Euronews

4. Employers prefer AI to new graduates. Employers would rather hire a robot or artificial intelligence (AI) than a recent graduate, new US research shows. Instead of hiring a new grad, leaders would rather recruit a freelancer (45%), a retired former employee (45%), have a robot/AI do their job (37%), or leave the position unfilled (30%). Nine in ten said they avoid hiring recent graduates. The top reasons: they don't have real-world experience; they lack a global mindset; and don't know how to work well on a team. In total, 800 HR leaders and 800 recent graduates at US organisations were surveyed. Newsweek

5. What would you ban if you could? President Trump made headlines early in his presidency by signing a record 200 executive orders within his first two days in office. Some of his proposals, like renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, were clearly unrealistic. Others, like the threat of steep tariffs on foreign nations, could have far-reaching consequences. His order to end birthright citizenship has already been challenged by 22 states, arguing it violates the 14th Amendment, which guarantees US citizenship to any child born on American soil, regardless of their parents’ immigration status. Looking at his list of executive actions, it’s clear many were driven by personal pet peeves. And let’s be honest, we all have a few things that get under our skin. If I had the power, my first executive order would be to ban that infuriating “See it, say it, sorted” announcement. So, what would you ban if you could? Please share your thoughts in our latest poll. VOTE HERE

6. Work-life balance is top priority. Work-life balance is the main motivator for workers, a new global survey finds. It's the first time in the history of the annual Randstad Workmonitor that work-life balance (83%) has overtaken compensation (82%) as the chief incentive for staff. The gap is most significant for Gen Z, with 74% ranking work-life balance over pay (68%). The findings, based on a survey of 26,000 people across 35 markets, show that while compensation is still important, "talent today have multifaceted expectations", said the CEO of Randstad. The Guardian

7. UK electorate dissatisfied with politicians. More than 60% of the British public believe the country is heading in the wrong direction, according to a survey by Ipsos – almost the same level as before the general election. Satisfaction with both Labour and Keir Starmer has fallen sharply since July, with half of the 1,139 adults surveyed this month reporting an unfavourable view of the party, and 52% saying the same of the prime minister. A spokesperson for Ipsos said the results revealed "a complex and challenging political landscape". London Evening Standard

8. Edinburgh voted leading cultural city destination. Any traveller who’s planned a trip to Europe knows one of the biggest struggles is plotting out which cities and small towns to explore. There are countless places to check off the list - from the ancient ruins in Rome and the snow-capped Swiss Alps to Portugal’s tiny seaside villages and the always-chic South of France. Only one destination, however, was recently named the Leading Cultural City Destination in the World Travel Awards. Edinburgh received the category’s top honours, overtaking fellow nominees like Athens, Paris, London, Lisbon, and Venice to reach the number one spot. If you’ve ever ventured to the Scottish capital, this shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise; Edinburgh bats well above average across several cultural components. Travel and Leisure

9. The 97th Academy Awards. The 2025 Oscar nominations have been announced. Emilia Pérez – a wacky musical about a mobster-turned-trans woman philanthropist – leads the field with 13 nominations, including best picture. Other frontrunners for best picture include The Brutalist, an historical epic starring Adrien Brody, the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown, and Wicked. Anora, Conclave, Dune: Part Two, I’m Still Here, Nickel Boys, and The Substance complete the shortlist. Editor

10. The bottom line. If you’re looking to declutter this year, Vinted is an online marketplace with no seller fees. Buyers pay for postage and a protection fee, and earnings below £1,000 are tax free. The Times