Further Education (FE) colleges are under increasing pressure to manage their workforce effectively. Recruitment and retention remain significant challenges, particularly in high-demand areas such as construction, engineering, and digital skills – at the end of 2023/24, nearly 4% of teaching positions were vacant, and only around 40% of FE teachers remain after five years.

The Employment Rights Act 2025, which received Royal Assent in December 2025, will introduce the most significant overhaul of UK employment law in decades, including changes to flexible working, enhanced redundancy protections, and stricter rules around employment contracts. For colleges already managing stretched workforces, these changes increase compliance risk and demand swift action from HR and leadership teams.

A Changing Legal Landscape: Preparing FE Colleges for Workforce Challenges

The Act’s phased implementation runs through 2026 and 2027. Key changes HR teams need to know:

Changes Effective from 6 April 2026

• Statutory Sick Pay (SSP): Payable from the first day of absence, with no lower earnings limit.
• Day-One Rights: Paternity leave and unpaid parental leave are now available from the first day of employment.
• Collective Redundancy Consultation: The maximum protective award for failure to consult has doubled from 90 to 180 days’ pay per affected employee.

Changes Effective from October 2026

• Tribunal Time Limits: The time-limit for most employment tribunal claims increases from three to six...

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