// NEWS //
Government red tape risks blocking youth jobs as SMEs look to access apprenticeship scheme
reveals a warning sign: 43 % say navigating the apprenticeship system is too complex, threatening to deter them from hiring.
With 872,000 young people currently not in education, employment or training( NEET) – the highest level in over a decade – apprenticeships represent a proven solution, with 78 % of employers having experienced increased productivity through apprenticeships. However, for the UK’ s 5.7 million SMEs, the message is clear: financial support alone will not drive uptake if administrative hurdles remain.
The survey also highlights that the perception of entry level career paths has shifted, with 78 % of leaders holding a positive view of apprenticeships. The data suggests a blended talent model is emerging: 46 % of SMEs value apprenticeships and degrees equally, while 37 % now value the vocational route more, leaving only a small minority( 11 %) who view them as less valuable.
New research from Employment Hero, a global leader in HR, hiring and payroll software, shows 73 % of SME leaders are ready to take advantage of new support announced in last year’ s Autumn Budget. The same data also
“ Seventy-three percent of SMEs want to embrace the government’ s apprenticeship push. That’ s great news and highlights that the apprenticeship reform has the potential to help solve the youth employment challenge that currently exists in the UK economy,” said Kevin Fitzgerald, UK Managing Director, Employment Hero.
NEO PAY and CredibleX partner to empower SMEs with seamless financing access in the UAE
NEO PAY, a leading UAE digital payments and merchant solutions provider, has announced a strategic partnership with CredibleX – a pioneering licensed embedded financing lender – to enhance access to working capital for small and medium enterprises( SMEs) across the UAE.
This alliance marks another major milestone in NEO PAY’ s mission to unlock embedded financing for SMEs in the country. The collaboration integrates CredibleX’ s flexible financing solutions into NEO PAY’ s advanced payments ecosystem, enabling merchants to access financing directly through their Point of Sale and e-commerce transaction data.
By leveraging real-time revenue stream insights from NEO PAY’ s platform, the partnership simplifies credit assessment, accelerates approval timelines and provides seamless access to SMEs. This helps SMEs to manage cash flow, invest in inventory, fund growth and expand their businesses.
Vibhor Mundhada, CEO of NEO PAY, said:“ Our collaboration with CredibleX represents a leap toward shaping the future of SME financing in the UAE. By merging payments and lending into one intelligent ecosystem, we are redefining how businesses access capital, fostering innovation and driving sustainable growth across the region.”
Ahmad Malik, Co-founder of CredibleX, said:“ Our partnership with NEO PAY marks another milestone in our journey to make embedded SME financing more inclusive and accessible. By combining NEO PAY’ s robust payment infrastructure with CredibleX’ s lending platform, we’ re redefining how businesses access working capital, making financing faster, smarter and simpler.”
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