For reservists, having to tell their boss they have been called up for an 11-month tour of duty can be almost as tough as the assignment itself.

For professionals working in HR, handling difficult conversations is a vital skill.

While pay freezes were still part of the economic picture for a third of staff at the end of 2009, some pay increases continued to be awarded.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has pledged to support the creation of an extra 1,500 apprenticeships on top of the 9,000 places already announced to come on-stream in the next three years.

Most adults in the UK are unable to name one living female role model in science or other STEM subjects, according to research carried out by YouGov for lobbying group ScienceGrrl.

NCG, a provider of education, training and employability, has launched a concept to support job seekers struggling to find work.