Business & Technology
Young workers overlook payroll as strategic career option
Research from Cezanne HR shows that only 3% of workers aged 18 to 24 view payroll as a strategic business function, suggesting a potential recruitment challenge for a role central to paying staff.
The survey found that just 13% would choose a career in payroll when offered graduate roles with equal pay and benefits. That put payroll behind technology roles at 27%, social media at 26% and marketing at 20%.
The findings suggest younger workers often view payroll narrowly. Nearly six in ten (59%) associated it mainly with accuracy and compliance, indicating that many see it as administrative rather than a broader business function.
That matters because payroll is a core operation in any organisation. Errors can damage staff trust, while compliance failures can create financial and legal risks.
Career Appeal
At the same time, younger workers are not wholly dismissing payroll. Some 41% said they would be interested in learning more about a career in the field, while another 24% felt neutral. That means 67% were at least somewhat open to it.
The gap between low first-choice appeal and broader openness suggests an awareness problem rather than outright rejection. Cezanne’s figures show payroll ranking poorly against more visible office roles, especially those linked to technology and digital media.
Creative and content-based roles attracted 44% of young workers, more than double the share interested in finance and operations roles such as payroll. The contrast shows how younger employees are weighing career options at the start of their working lives.
Impact ranked highest when respondents were asked what matters in a career, with 61% naming it as a priority. Creativity followed at 55%, while 48% pointed to stability.
Those preferences may seem at odds with payroll’s image, despite the function offering stable employment and direct influence over employee experience. The survey suggests that the link is not well understood among younger workers.
Lisa Hopper, Payroll and Services Director at Cezanne HR, said, “Payroll is one of those functions that is only truly noticed when something goes wrong, but when it works well it underpins trust, engagement and financial wellbeing across the entire workforce. The fact that so few young workers see it as a strategic business function shows we have a real perception problem to address.”
Her comments reflect a long-standing issue for payroll teams, which often operate in the background unless mistakes draw attention. That can make the profession harder to explain to school leavers, graduates and early-career workers when comparing roles across business functions.
Skills Risk
For employers, the concern is not only image but succession. If fewer younger workers enter the workforce, businesses may struggle to replace experienced practitioners as they retire.
That could put pressure on organisations trying to maintain pay accuracy, tax compliance and operational continuity. Payroll teams are also working in a more complex environment as employers navigate changing rules, digital systems and rising expectations around timely, accurate pay.
Hopper said, “Modern payroll is about far more than compliance. It sits at the intersection of technology, data, employee experience and business decision-making. If we want the next generation to consider payroll as a viable and rewarding career, we need to do a better job of showing the real impact the role has on people’s lives.”
The findings come as employers continue to digitise HR and payroll processes. That shift has changed the nature of payroll work, but the survey suggests younger workers’ perceptions have not kept pace.
Cezanne is based in London and also has an office in Glasgow. It provides HR and payroll software and offers managed payroll services to UK employers.
Hopper said, “If fewer young people are willing to pursue a career in payroll, the question becomes who will ensure the future workforce gets paid. Payroll is one of the most business-critical functions in any organisation, and we must do more to highlight the breadth, impact and long-term opportunities the profession offers.”
The owners of John Gowing Jewellers Ltd, a shop based at the iconic Oxford Covered Market in operation since 1946, has made clear that the business is not closing after it went into administration.
A spokesperson said: “The recent corporate change relates to the former operating company as part of our corporate re-structuring and does not represent the closure of John Gowing Jewellers.
“Our Covered Market store remains open and is trading as normal, with our existing team continuing to serve customers.”
READ MORE: Director of Oxfordshire bakery business speaks out amid liquidation
The shop is an independent, family-run jeweller and watch specialist that also offers valuations, diamond accessories and repairs.
As of July 28, administrators from Begbies Traynor have been appointed to the company with a notice to strike the business off having been published on Companies House.
The notice was dated for August 4 and said that unless an objection was raised the company would be struck off the register in two months.
In its latest accounts for the 12 months to June 13, 2025, it reported creditors falling within a year of £188,705 as well as an average number of four employees.
The spokesperson for the business added that the recent “corporate change” has come about following new owners being appointed.
Indeed, in June 2025 John and Ann Gowing resigned as directors of the company and were replaced by Prasanna Perera according to Companies House.
The spokesperson said: “There has been no interruption to our watch, jewellery, repair or valuation services.
“Under new ownership, additional investment is supporting the next stage of the business.
“Our focus is to preserve the heritage, expertise and trusted local service John Gowing has built in Oxford since 1946, while strengthening the brand and creating opportunities for future growth.”
That the shop is not closing will be a relief for the Covered Market, which is a tourist hotspot and first opened in 1774.
Other companies at the historic venue have struggled in recent times including The Oxford Cheese Company, which said it was in “survival mode” earlier this year.
A spokesperson for the Oxford Cheese Company explained: “We’ve survived Covid, the Jesus College conversion, which virtually closed access to Market Street from Cornmarket, (no apologies or any compensation from the college), and the pedestrianisation of Market Street just recently.
“All of the above were beyond our control and meant resilience from our staff and our customers.”
Four years ago John Gowing Jewellery celebrated 75 years in operation.
At the time Mr Gowing – who was running the shop with his wife – was 66 years old and was celebrating half a century in the business with no plans to retire.
In addition he was hopeful about the future prospects of the market.
Speaking in the months after the Covid-19 pandemic, he said: “I do feel that the city council (the landlord of the Covered Market) has its heart in the right place and wants it to do well.
READ MORE: Probe launched after break-in at Cotswolds ‘gem’ backed by Jeremy Clarkson
“There are a number of empty units but at the same time there are plans for those units to be filled – I think four new businesses are currently being lined up to take over different units.”
There have been several break-ins at the shop in recent times including in 2018 when thieves reportedly took several rings and earlier that year when a topless man stole a Rolex watch.
In addition one man was jailed for almost five years for his part in an attempted robbery at the jewellers in 2013. His accomplice died after he collapsed.
KAREN JOY BACUDO
Finance Editor
Brickflow and Together have launched an automated decision-in-principle feature for brokers. The tool gives an instant decision on selected Together products through the Brickflow platform.
Called AutoDIP, the feature applies to Together’s bridging loans and commercial term products. Brokers using Brickflow will see the option when Together appears among the shortlisted lenders for a deal, and can then request a decision directly through the system.
Once the required appraisal information has been submitted, Together returns a decision within seconds. This removes the need for manual handling at that stage of the application process and allows brokers to give clients an early indication of terms.
The launch follows months of technical work to deepen Together’s integration with Brickflow. Together was already on Brickflow’s lender panel, and the new arrangement adds an automated route for decisions in principle within the existing platform.
Brickflow operates a digital marketplace for commercial property finance in the UK. The platform connects brokers and borrowers with live rates and criteria from more than 160 specialist lenders, according to Brickflow.
Broker process
Brokers enter deal details into Brickflow and receive matching lender options. If Together is selected from that list, they can request an automated decision in principle without leaving the platform.
The change targets a stage of the lending process where delays can emerge, particularly in more complex cases. The companies pointed to market research showing that 16% of brokers cited the affordability assessment and decision-in-principle stage as a point where cases stall, while 32% of lenders identified faster decision-making as a priority for improvement.
The research was published by Nottingham Building Society and reported by The Intermediary. It highlights pressure on lenders and intermediaries to shorten response times while managing more detailed underwriting requirements.
For brokers, the appeal of an automated decision is not only speed but also less repeated data entry. By keeping the request within a single workflow, the system is designed to cut duplication and reduce the risk of manual errors as information passes between broker and lender.
The launch also reflects broader changes in specialist property finance, where lenders and broker platforms have invested in digital tools to simplify early-stage screening and improve certainty before a full application is submitted. Decisions in principle have long been a key checkpoint for borrowers seeking reassurance that a lender is likely to proceed on the stated terms.
Company comments
“This launch represents a meaningful step forward in modernising the broker application journey. By delivering instant DIPs through automation, we’re providing brokers with faster certainty, reducing friction, and helping them progress cases more efficiently for their clients,” Glenn Franklin-Jones, Director of Lender Relations at Brickflow, said.
Together is a specialist secured lender offering residential mortgages, short-term finance, buy-to-let, commercial and semi-commercial mortgages and loans, auction finance, and development funding across mainland UK. It has a loan book of GBP £8.4 billion and employs more than 900 people, according to the lender.
For Together, AutoDIP provides a more direct route to brokers using Brickflow for commercial property finance searches. For Brickflow, the tie-up adds another automated element to its platform as competition among intermediaries and lenders intensifies over turnaround times and borrower engagement at the start of a case.
“Working with Brickflow allows us to deliver faster, clearer outcomes for brokers at the very start of the lending journey. Instant automated DIPs help brokers move with confidence and provide borrowers with certainty sooner,” said Tanya Elmaz, Managing Director of Intermediary Sales at Together.
TS Travels Group, which began operating in 2015, describes itself as a “leading coach and minibus hire company”.
It provided “reliable and affordable transport solutions across the UK and Europe”.
UK travel company enters liquidation with no new trips
Now, after 11 years, TS Travels Group, based in West Yorkshire, is set to close.
The company’s website has been taken offline, and new bookings are no longer possible.
Laura Anne Walshe of Keywood Group Limited was appointed as liquidator on July 29, according to The Gazette.
On LinkedIn, the company said: “With years of industry experience, we have built a reputation for delivering exceptional service, catering to both private and corporate clients.
“Our diverse fleet ranges from small minibuses to large coaches, some of which are bespoke-built to our specifications to ensure maximum comfort.
“Through our trusted network of partner operators, we offer seamless nationwide coverage, making transport planning effortless for our clients.
“At TS Travels Group, no journey is too big or small.
“Whether it’s private hire, corporate travel, school transport, or airport transfers, we are committed to providing a flexible and stress-free travel experience.”
It comes just days after fellow UK travel company Ski Yodl Ltd entered liquidation, resulting in the cancellation of all holiday packages.
The company offered ski holiday packages to destinations including the French Alps.
Other UK travel companies that have closed in 2026
Several UK travel companies have also ceased trading or entered administration in 2026:
Several UK travel companies have also ceased trading or entered administration in 2026:
Four UK airlines have also fallen into administration or liquidation this year:
- Ascend Airways (liquidation)
- EcoJet Airlines (liquidation)
- Zenith Aviation Limited (administration)
- European Cargo (administration)
Have you booked any trips with TS Travels Group? Let us know in the comments.
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