PhonimWork
No. 01 — Autumn 2026The UK edition4 guides · 10 sources

Work,near home. A guide to pay, rights and jobs for workers in the UK

A field guide for people who want skilled work close to home. Your rights, your pay and the state of the job market — checked against GOV.UK, Acas and the ONS.

Cover story · Your rights

Is an unpaid trial shift legal in the UK?

No law names the trial shift. But government guidance draws a line, and a full unpaid day is usually on the wrong side of it.

  • Guidance says an unpaid trial of a few hours can be reasonable; one lasting more than a day is likely to need paying “other than in very exceptional circumstances”.
  • Acas suggests a trial of, for example, two hours or one shift, and says unpaid trials should usually last no more than a day.
  • Calling it a “test” or a “trial” doesn’t change your rights if you’re doing real work.
Read the guide · 3 min →

Also in this issue

Updated 25 September 2026
02

Pay

£12.71 an hour and 5.6 weeks off: pay and leave basics for 2026

The minimum wage rose again in April, and sick pay changed the same week. Here are the numbers that set the floor for every job.

2 min read →03

Jobs in demand

Fewer vacancies, more applicants: finding skilled work in 2026

The UK labour market has cooled since its 2022 peak. Here’s what the latest ONS figures say, and what to have ready for the trades Phonim covers.

2 min read →04

Starting out

New rights for new starters: the Employment Rights Act timeline

The Employment Rights Act 2025 is arriving in stages. Several changes matter most in your first months in a new job.

2 min read →

UK work, by the numbers

  • £12.71

    National Living Wage per hour for workers aged 21 and over, from April 2026.

    GOV.UK, 2026

  • 5.6

    Weeks of paid holiday a year for almost all workers: 28 days on a five-day week.

    GOV.UK, 2026

  • 702k

    UK vacancies in June–August 2026, the lowest since early 2021.

    Office for National Statistics, 2026

  • 2.5

    Unemployed people for every vacancy, May–July 2026.

    Office for National Statistics, 2026

Jobs in this edition

The roles Phonim covers in the UK

Phonim is starting in England: England. Scotland and Wales will follow later.

Transport & vehicles

  • HGV drivers
  • Vehicle technicians

Construction

  • Construction & site managers

Manufacturing & engineering

  • Manufacturing technicians
  • Skilled production operatives
  • Mechanical & electrical engineers
  • Quality engineers
  • Production planners & buyers

From the publisher

See the workplace before you say yes.

  1. 2hVisit a workplace near you for up to two hours before you decide.
  2. 3Look around, meet the team, ask your questions.
Coming soon

Phonim is launching in the UK soon.

Questions

About Phonim Work

Hiring in the UK? Read the employers’ page →

What is Phonim Work?

A practical guide for people looking for work near home in the UK: your rights on trial shifts, pay and leave, the jobs in demand and what to sort out before your first day. Every figure names its official source.

What is a Phonim workplace visit?

A visit lets you see a workplace for up to two hours before you decide on a job. You see where you would work, meet the team and ask questions. A visit is for looking and asking, not for working.

Which jobs does Phonim cover in the UK?

At launch: HGV drivers, Vehicle technicians, Construction & site managers, Manufacturing technicians, Skilled production operatives, Mechanical & electrical engineers, Quality engineers, Production planners & buyers.

Is this legal advice?

No. Our guides explain official guidance in plain English, but rules change and every situation is different. For free, impartial advice on your own situation, contact Acas.