September Issue PROFESSIONAL EDITION
Friendship Month
4
Job Seeking and Happiness - Fighting Back!
6
Social Anxiety Disorder
8
What is GDPR?
10
From Bradford To Hollywood
12
CPP Group - An Exclusive Interview
14
Photography Feature
18
Professional Insights:
20
: Accounting & Finance
22
: STEM
24
: Health & Social Sciences
28
: Law
32
: Humanities & Arts
36
: Business & Management
40
Movie Magic
42
Books You Should Read
44
Congratulation Gifts
46
Puzzles & Brainteasers
48
EDITOR’S LETTER Hello everybody! It gives us great pleasure to welcome you to the September Issue of the Careers UK Magazine. Our goal is to be your go-to place for career-related advice. Our aim is to guide you through each step of your career development and job-hunting journey. We intend to be the best career information hub with a great job-hunting platform and a great easy-to-read magazine that is freely available to everyone. We’d love to hear from you on social media if you have any feedback or enquiries.
EDITORIAL POLICY: The views, comments, statements and opinions are not necessarily those of Careers UK. Careers UK will accept no responsibility for any loss incurred by any person or organisation as a result of using any material from this publication.
AVERAGE CIRCULATION: Print: 30,150 Digital/Online: 1.4 million Telephone: 0800 865 4770
EDITORIAL:
Shareen Akhter & Ellie Smith
CIRCULATION: Kirti Patel
MARKETING:
Sham Tizora & Aiden Brocklehurst
DESIGN: Jess Griffiths
IT:
Sky Shazad & James Hall
@careersuk www.careersuk.org
Friendship Month is all about highlighting the importance of friendship and celebrating what it can do for us. It involves spending time with your friends and appreciating them, or reaching out to make new friends or get back in touch with old ones. You’re never too old to make friends.
History of Friendship Month It all started with the people at Oddfellows, who came up with the idea of Friendship Month to bring people together in an effort to beat loneliness by kicking off new friendships. It continues to thrive which is no surprise, when you consider just how important these social ties are to all of us. It has been going strong for 10 years now.
Tips on making friends • Make yourself available - if you want to make friends, you need to put yourself out there to meet people. • Join an organisation or club - this is a great way to find other people who have similar interests to you. • Volunteer - volunteering is a good way to meet others and give back to the community. By working together, you build bonds with people. • Connect with people you already know chances are, you already know a few people who you could make more of an effort with. It happens to all of us, life gets busy. Consider trying to get to know your co-workers, classmates, or even people in your social media network. • Make eye contact and smile - if you don’t come off as a friendly and welcoming person, people are less likely to approach you. Meeting new people can be overwhelming, but with a willingness to step outside your comfort zone you can easily make friends. Start by putting yourself out there and look for places to socialise. Once you meet someone new, take some time to get to know them and make sure you put the effort into keeping the friendship going. As they say, a stranger is a friend you haven’t met yet!
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FRIEN
MON
“A LOT OF THINGS BUT ONE THING TH ITS IMPORTANCE
DSHIP
NTH
S CHANGE IN LIFE, HAT NEVER LOSES E IS FRIENDSHIP ”
Special Features • Page 5
Job-Seeking and Happiness -
Fighting Back! Job-seekers are unhappy. They’ve been unhappy for a long time. Is it because of the uncertainty of their immediate financial future? Sure, but that’s not all; not even close. Is it the recruitment processes of employers, or the quality of service from recruiters? Yep. And the other traditional services for job-seekers – online job boards, CV writers, Career Coaches, the advertised marketplace? No doubt about it. Conflicting advice, wildly different levels of service, ineptitude, lack of professionalism; and perhaps most worryingly of all – declining levels of common courtesy. This is what I’ve been hearing from job-seekers since the mid-nineties. I am part of the problem; I am a Career Coach and Recruiter – more the former than the latter these days. I offer advice that is wildly different, which is easy to do because the mainstream standard of advice is pretty poor. Here’s an example: there’s a huge industry of CV Writers and LinkedIn Profile enhancers who will help you spend your money. Many of them will improve your CV and your LinkedIn profile, which is nice, but not many of them will increase your chances of being found in the first place.
specialising in job-seeking technique.) One of my old recruitment contacts was looking for his next job, and he said – in a friendly banter kind of way – “You’re too late Richard, I’ve already spent £400 on a new CV. I sighed – in an over-acting reciprocal way – and replied, “How much money have you spent on increasing the likelihood that more people will want to read your CV, or can even find it?”
Job-seeking doesn’t start with selling, it starts with marketing. Now I’m not suggesting that jobseeking service providers, by improving their standards, have the power to make you happy. You have to do that for yourself. Stress isn’t caused by events, it comes from your reaction to events. That’s good because you can assert degrees of control over your reactions; you have no control over service providers.
So why the title: Job-Seeking and Happiness – Fighting Back!?
You can’t impress people if they can’t find you.
I set up PimmCo to directly help and advocate for job-seekers. That was my favourite part of being a recruiter. Talking to employers about their silly semi-automated depersonalising recruitment processes…not so much! I like the feeling of reinvigorating job-seekers; taking them from a place of frustration, anxiety or even depression; and witnessing the emotional re-birth of their enthusiasm.
I remember when I left recruitment and became a full-time Career Coach. (That’s a generic title; I’m really more an Executive Job-Seeker Coach
One of my favourite calls was from a current client (as I write this) whom we’ll call Nick. In our first chat, a free consultation, he spoke of feeling old
I will.
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and unappreciated especially by his many younger colleagues. He also spoke of being unenthusiastic about his remaining five to ten years of his working life. More of the same was boring and he was too old to change. Within forty minutes he was bounding with enthusiasm about a new path. I didn’t tell him the answer, but I helped him find it from within. The upshot: he came back to me after acquiring the accreditations he needed, to embark on the job-seeking process for his new direction. His enthusiasm remains intact. He’s happier about the present and looking forward to the future. I recently wrote a LinkedIn post after hearing about happiness on a breakfast radio show, which prompted me to find my own definition of happiness: -
“Happiness is when your enthusiasm for the future joins forces with your contentment in the moment/present. Happiness is about those moments. The more such moments you have, the happier you are.”
It’s hard to imagine you can be happy in life if you’re not at least content in your work. Are you content in your work? In starting PimmCo – which I did to address my own contentment and happiness needs – I thought I’d just be teaching enhanced job-seeking technique to professionals. It turns out that I’m doing so much more. By understanding that job-seeking requires us to focus our attention
About the author Richard Pimm is a vastly experienced recruiter and job-seeker career coach specialising in jobseeking technique. He is also a former President of Tunbridge Wells Speakers, part of the global organisation Toastmasters. He has been helping job-seekers since the mid-nineties. He founded PimmCo through which he continues to help jobseekers obtain competitive advantage. Here’s a link to his own introduction video on the PimmCo website: www.pimmco.co.uk Richard Pimm Founder of PimmCo www.pimmco.co.uk richardpimm@live.com 07771370811 inwards first, we find questions that were lurking in the backs of our minds and have to bring them to the front – to answer them. Beyond the technicalities of job-seeking, we must factor in so much of what is important to us – how much money is enough; will more make me happier; can I do this; do I want to do this; how does this affect my family, my social standing, my friends? How does this effect my future? Will it make me happier? So, as it turns out, I also do life-coaching. I should probably start charging for it! Another client of mine struggled with identifying his Personality Profile, because he was caught between who he really was and who he thought he needed to be, to be successful in that line of work. In playing the game of job-seeking, you should be true
to yourself, but you can flex a little. Just don’t settle like so many people do. Don’t lower your expectations to rationalise staying in a job for the wrong reasons. One of my nearest and dearest spoke of being depressed about the prospect of remaining in her role until retirement, another seven years. Her rationalisation was that she had one of the last great final-salary pension schemes. I suggested that having slightly more money in her retirement wasn’t a good justification for abandoning all hope of enjoying the rest of her career. What if she didn’t even make it to that age? What if she did, but had bad health? Which brings us back to my definition. Happiness requires contentment (or better) in the now, plus enthusiasm for the future.
You’ve heard of the career ladder? Is it leaning on the right wall? Change usually requires effort and courage. I can’t do it for you, but I can show you the way. Job-seeking ability is a crucial element of happiness. Your career needs and preferences will change over time, so that’s why you need to be a good job-seeker – to improve continuity of your work-life, but also to nurture your motivation and your ability, to change jobs, when change is exactly what you need, to be happier.
Job Market • Page 7
General Data Protection Regulation Page 8 • www.careersuk.org
What is GDPR? The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a legal framework that sets guidelines for the collection and processing of personal information from individuals who live in the EU. It is the most fundamental change in data protection legislation for the past 20 years, and is the first attempt to create comprehensive and enforceable laws.
The 8 basic rights of GDPR: 1. The right to access: individuals have the
right to request access to their personal data and ask how their data is used by the company after it has been gathered. Companies must provide a copy of personal data, free of charge and in electronic format if requested.
2. The right to be forgotten: if clients are
no longer customers, or if they withdraw their consent from a company to use their personal data, then they have the right to have their data deleted.
“According to a survey conducted by the European Business Awards, about a third (30%) of European businesses are still not compliant with GDPR” Despite it being over a year since GDPR came into effect, only 57% of companies are confident that their business follows the rules, and 13% are unsure. A number of businesses have said they’ve found GDPR improves their operations, while 28% said the regulations make it more difficult to trade with firms outside of Europe. By proving to potential and existing customers that your organisation is compliant with new laws that protect the rights of citizens, you could bring in more business. No one want to have their data lost, stolen, misused, or shared without consent, and doing everything you can to protect your customers and grow their trust could be a unique selling point.
3. The right to data portability: individuals have a right to transfer their data from one service provider to another.
4. The right to be informed: individuals must be informed before data is gathered.
5. The right to have information corrected: individuals can have their data updated if it is incomplete or incorrect.
6. The right to restrict processing:
individuals can request that their data is not used for processing.
7. The right to object: individuals have the
right to request to stop the processing of their data for direct marketing. Any processing must stop as soon as the request is received.
8. The right to be notified: if there has been a data breach which compromises an individuals personal data, the individual has a right to be informed within 72 hours of first having become aware of the breach.
Thriving At Work • Page 9
Socia Anxiet Disorde Social anxiety disorder, also known as SAD or social phobia, is a long lasting and overwhelming fear of social situations. It can be very distressing and have a negative impact on your life, but there are ways to help you cope.
Symptoms of social anxiety Individuals with social anxiety may: • Dread everyday activities, such as meeting strangers, starting conversations, speaking on the phone, or going shopping • Worry a lot or avoid social activities such as parties, group conversations, or going out to eat • Always worry about doing something that may be humiliating or embarrassing • Have difficulty doing things when others are watching • Avoid eye contact, have low self-esteem and fear • Have panic attacks Page 10 • www.careersuk.org
Overcoming social anxiety Try the following tips to help overcome your social anxiety: • Attempt to understand more about your anxiety • Think about what goes through your mind and how you clearer idea of the problems you want to tackle.
Face your fears Many people with social anxiety tend to avoid their fears rather than facing up to them. Facing your fears is always difficult and requires a lot of bravery and determination, but if you want to help overcome your social anxiety, it is something you must do.
Practice relaxation techniques If you struggle to feel comfortable in social situations, meditation and exercises like yoga are techniques you can use to help you relax.
al ty er Practice breathing exercises Individuals with social anxiety often find themselves in situations where their panic gets the better of them and they have difficulty breathing. In this situation, one of the best ways to regain control and calm your mind is to just focus on your breathing.
Use positive affirmations Instead of engaging in negative thoughts, replace them with positive thoughts. It’s a good idea to see your GP if you think you have social anxiety, especially if it’s having a big impact on your life. Talking about it can be difficult but your GP is there to help. They will assess your needs and make suggestions - your appointment may include a series of questions, health checks to rule out any physical illness, and referrals to specialists or therapy services.
Helplines Anxiety Care UK www.anxietycare.org.uk Helps people to recover from anxiety disorders.
Anxiety UK www.anxietyuk.org.uk 03444 775 774 (Monday–Friday 9.30am–5.30pm) Advice and support for people living with anxiety.
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy www.bacp.co.uk 01455 883300 Provides information about counselling and therapy.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence www.nice.org.uk Information and clinical guidelines on recommended treatments for different conditions.
No More Panic www.nomorepanic.co.uk Provides information, support and advice for those with panic disorder, anxiety, phobias and OCD, including a forum and chat room.
No Panic www.nopanic.org.uk 08449 674848 (10am–10pm) Provides a helpline, step-by-step programmes, and support for those with anxiety disorders.
Mind www.mind.org.uk 0300 123 3393 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm) Promotes the views and needs of people with mental health problems.
Wellbeing • Page 11
FROM BRADFORD TO
Iki Ikram In the world of video games, one Visual Effects Artist, Mohammed Ikram (known in the industry as Iki Ikram), tells his story of how he went from being a level 1 noob to an MVP. When I was 10 years old, I vividly remember sitting in the middle of the front row at the Odeon 2 cinema in Bradford. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the cinema let alone the movie I was about to see. This was my first ever visit alone to the movies and it would make me fall in love with the magic of cinema forever and shape my future career. It was 1977 and the film I was there to see was Star Wars. After seeing the movie, I went home with a very clear idea of what my goal would be. I wanted to recreate those images and emotions. So here I am sitting at my work desk in 2019 in sunny Santa Monica, California. My career as a Visual Effects Artist spans as far back as when I was 14. This was the year that I bought my first basic home computer, the Dragon 32k. As soon as I got the computer, I started to play and make games. When I turned 18, I went to Bradford College where I studied Graphic Design. It was my first introduction to an Apple computer and Photoshop. After a further stretch of higher education at Southampton Institute of Higher Education, I landed my first job in the games industry. It was only at a small company in an out of town place, but it was the perfect
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springboard to launch me into Psygnosis which, at the time, was one of the most recognised and respected game companies in the world. Psygnosis was acquired by Sony Computer Entertainment and I remained an artist there for over 13 years. In the time I was there I worked on a handful of games, some never saw the light of day, others were released to some success, but one or two met huge critical and financial success. One of these success stories was when I was loaned out to Guerrilla Games in Amsterdam to work on a game called Killzone 2. The game drew a lot of attention and I started to get calls. I was approached by many companies but two of them really stood out. LucasArts and Naughty Dog. I flew into San Francisco to the LucasFilm campus. I was given a grand tour of all things Star Wars and all I could do was smile. Three months went by and I had heard nothing from LucasArts, but I was already on a plane to meet the people at Naughty Dog in Santa Monica. My interview at Naughty Dog was incredibly gruelling. I had to do a test before I was invited for an interview and when I got there, they tested me more. I really loved what they were doing, and I was very excited about their approach to developing games. They offered me the job at the end of the day, and I accepted it on the spot. I returned on Monday from Santa Monica to London and that is when I received an email from LucasArts
to say that they would like to make me an offer. The opportunity to work in the place I had always dreamed of since I was 10 years old was right at my fingertips. However, I turned the offer down as I felt like Naughty Dog was the place for me. This was one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life. I worked at Naughty Dog for just under a decade. In that time I had worked on two critically acclaimed games. I had also won, as part of a team, the Visual Effects Society’s award for Outstanding Visual Effects in a Real-Time Project. These games are regarded as the best games of all time in hundreds of publications and awards ceremonies. Today I work at Beyond-FX, a small but rapidly growing company. It is a Visual Effects studio that caters to Real-Time Visual Effects projects (video games, Installations and the movie industry). Our clients are based all around the world and range from small Indie developers to large AAA studios making blockbuster games. So the boy from Manningham who dreamt big finally made it happen. The truth is, I just kept striving and pushing wherever I was working. Whether it was a potwasher in a kitchen, sticking samples to magazines in a warehouse, selling suits in a department store or even a waiter/barman. I loved all of them because I knew my goal and where I wanted to be. Special Features • Page 13
AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW At Careers UK, we got the chance to interview the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of CPP Group, Oliver Laird. CPP Group is a worldwide financial company that provides bespoke products and solutions, helping their partners deliver outstanding customer experiences.
What is CPP?
CPP is a financial business service. We help business partners, banks and insurers find out what add-on products their customers want and need. We partner with businesses across the globe to offer their customers something extra. Something that gives a competitive edge, builds trust and creates customer loyalty. We design these additional products for the primary products and fashion institutions.
What is your company culture like?
We aim to create an environment that inspires and energises its people. Where our people have the freedom to challenge, collaborate and develop their own ideas and expand their roles in ways that fit their development. We also understand that quality of life and quality of work go hand in hand, so we do our best to offer flexible working arrangements to create a healthy worklife balance.
What is your recruitment process like?
What are your expectations of candidates wanting to join the business?
What makes CPP stand out from other employers and businesses? Page 14 • www.careersuk.org
We try to be more diverse and inclusive in our recruitment process. I deliberately tried to recruit more women to create balance and we’ve succeeded in doing so. For us, it is about finding the best person to get the job done.
Talent, curiosity and collaboration. That’s what we look for in CPP people. If you take real pride in everything you deliver and have what it takes to bring our values to life, even better.
We focus on results. We’ve had double digital growth in revenue. We are flexible and able to change and adapt. We are able to meet the needs of individuals who come into the organisation.
What is it like being the CFO of CPP?
Every day is different. The great thing is, I get to make decisions and help people grow. I get to help build a business. You can’t forget that people are relying on you. You have certain financial regulations that you must apply to and standards to uphold. Most importantly, you can’t forget that you have to build a business correctly. I’m not the most technical of accountants in the world, but I can get by and build a business as well as a team.
What does a typical day look like?
The day always starts off with emails - being an international business, other businesses have different time zones, so there’s always something to catch up with. As I go through the day, it’s filled with meetings and one-to-ones with employees. At the start of the week, we hold a senior management team meeting to discuss what the week ahead holds and what our focus for the week is.
What are your top tips for individuals just starting their career journey?
Don’t decide what you want to do too soon - you have to be sure. It is vital that you do something you are passionate about.
Taking you back a few years to look at the early days in your career and reflecting on the steps you took to get to your current position, what tips would you have for others? So, I would say, always have a reason for changing roles. That reason could either be for financial or personal development, but when you have a reason for changing you will grow as an individual. I would recommend working in a small business as it’s different to working for a large company - you need to understand the different dynamic with the board and individuals. You’ve got a few lessons to learn. I think your first step would be to remember that whatever the organisation, cash is king. Then the last thing I would say, is to have and show the same level of respect for everyone.
CHECK OUT OUR LATEST VIDEOS!
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PHOTO OF THE MONTH JAK MOORE Sheffield Photo taken at Cannon Brewery, Sheffield @jakmooree Enter for your chance to win £50 in Love2Shop vouchers by emailing competition@careersuk.org
Special Features • Page 19
Professional
Insights
into
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Accounting & Finance STEM Health & Social Sciences Law Humanities & Arts Business & Management
different
6
industries
Professional Insights • Page 21
Accounting & Finance
37% of asset finance brokers predict lender pricing increase PwC office in Bradford ‘will create up to 225 jobs’
Accountants concerned over poor management Almost 23% of UK accountants said poor management would drive them to quit their jobs. This is slightly below the national sector average (24%), according to a poll of almost 9,000 workers across the UK. The sector with the least confidence in their management was property and real estate, where 29% said they would consider leaving due to poor management, while tradesmen were on the other end of the spectrum (14%). Page 22 • www.careersuk.org
As part of the ongoing transformation of its operating model PwC, one of the largest professional services in the world, has taken the decision to open a new Assurance Centre in Bradford. The centre will help PwC continue to provide quality and exceptional client service in changing times, standardising work in key areas of their engagements to be able to use technology effectively through automation. PwC has taken over 9000 sq. ft of office space at 5 Godwin Street, Bradford and has already recruited 60 members of staff from the local area who will be based in Bradford with the potential to increase this number to 225 creating further job opportunities in the city over the next few years.
More than a third of brokers (37%) believe that there will be a lender pricing increase in the asset finance market within the next 12 months, according to the latest research. From a broker sentimental poll, it has been revealed that 14.5% of respondents thought that pricing in the asset finance sector was unsustainable. Other highlights from the research included: • 71% of asset finance brokers were content with current lender pricing • 14.5% believed that pricing was currently too high • 43% expected lender pricing to remain about the same over the next 12 months, while just 20% thought it would decrease High street banks were seen as the main competition, followed by other brokers, specialist lenders, businesses self-sourcing finance and vendor or sales.
ICAEW, ADGMA partner to support accountancy & finance professionals Abu Dhabi Global Market Academy (ADGMA) will support UAE nationals to successfully gain the ICAEW ACA, as well as the ICAEW Certificate in Finance, Accounting & Business (CFAB). The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) has partnered with the ADGMA to support the advancement of accountancy knowledge and professional development in the UAE. In a statement, the ADGM said that the partnership will help organisations identify their accounting and business training needs and enable employers to upskill their people to meet today’s business challenges. The globally recognised ICAEW qualification enables professionals to use the title ICAEW Chartered Accountant, valued by businesses worldwide. The qualification provides students with the combination of finance knowledge and accountancy skills.
Job vacancies drop due to no-deal Brexit fears Total job vacancies in Ireland have dropped over the last year due to uncertainties over a no-deal Brexit, according to a new report. While vacancies remain strong in construction and hotel and catering, there have been reductions in accounting and finance, banking, financial services and insurance. The report points to total job vacancies declining by 4% yearon-year and 2% quarter-onquarter, despite a healthy, growing economy. These reductions have been driven primarily by a group of knowledge-intensive sectors, says the report, particularly accounting and finance, and banking, financial services and insurance, which fell by 8% and 15% year-on-year, respectively. While other factors, including virtually full employment and sluggish European markets, are affecting hiring, recruitment has been made more difficult and uncertain by Brexit.
Brexit providing advisory opportunities for accountants 45% of accountancy firms indicated they are planning to offer more advisory services to support clients due to the Brexit uncertainty, including cash flow forecasting and recession planning. The accounting profession has had to become more flexible, with many accountants revealing that they have seen a notable increase in the number of clients turning to them for advice on the various risks posed by the UK’s planned exit from the EU. For some advisors, Brexit has already impacted business planning decisions. Many businesses are making less ambitious revenue forecasts, while others have held off on investments to focus on the risks posed by each potential outcome. Professional Insights • Page 23
STEM
Brexit bombshell: food and medicine supplies could be AIRLIFTED to UK after no deal exit
Fewest women accepted to maths in over a decade: Cambridge’s latest admissions numbers, broken down 35 female students were accepted to study maths at Cambridge, out of 234 accepted students - fewer than any year since before 2002. Some Cambridge STEM subjects are seeing proportionately few women and ethnic minorities accepted, statistics have shown. In Natural Sciences, the largest Cambridge subject with 430 accepted students in 2018, just three were black. Statistics have revealed a success rate for female maths applicants of 9.2%, 7 points lower than male students’ 16.3% success rate. Page 24 • www.careersuk.org
NO DEAL Brexit plans have been ramped up as trucks with vital supplies of food and medicine could be flown into the UK in a bid to avoid likely queues at Dover after the UK’s exit. Reports suggest that a no deal EU exit could see chaos at key ports such as Dover, where imports are usually bought in from Europe. According to The Sunday Telegraph, a new bombshell document shows the Department for Transport are demanding businesses supply planes in order to bring in important supplies. The Government wants a business to get “aircraft that be used for the provision of capacity for the transportation of freight vehicles” in place for October 31. On that date, the UK will leave the EU “with or without” a deal according to Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Flat pack self-watering plant pot designed by engineers An eco-friendly plant pot that self-waters has been designed by two engineers, Andrew Flynn and Martin Keane. The design is supposed to have a much lower carbon footprint than the flowerpots that usually hold flowers. All the materials are 100% recycled and the flat-pack design is supposed to benefit the delivery driver as it reduces the need to make several trips when being delivered by post. Creators of the self-watering plant pot, Andrew and Martin, have stated: “When a customer receives the product, they take it out the envelope and it’s lying flat and it’s basically net-shaped. “What we’ve integrated is a quick draw cotton cord - basically a draw string. The customer pulls both sides of that draw string. “The pot then pulls up around your plant.” Once it has all been assembled, one of the cords sits in the water drawing it upwards.
Fast-track Visa on the way to becoming a reality Britain’s scientific community are to work with the government on producing new fast-track visas that will “attract elite researchers and specialists in science, engineering and technology.” The Home Office and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy will be working side-by-side with the scientific community to create the new visa which is predicted to be released at the end of this year. Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has stated: “To ensure we continue to lead the way in the advancement of knowledge, we have to not only support the talent that we already have here, but also ensure our immigration system attracts the best minds from around the world. The fast-track immigration route will be designed to attract elite researchers and specialists in science, engineering and technology.” Proposals have been made to abolish the cap on numbers under the Tier 1 Exceptional Talent Visas, removing the need for people to have jobs before they come into the country and having universities and other research institutes to expand the number of candidates that they can endorse.
Switching to plantbased diet can help fight climate change Scientists and officials are calling for everyone to cut down on eating meat in order to help put a stop to global warming. A recent report on climate change has shown that the West’s meat and dairy consumption is too high and needs to be cut down drastically. The report had input from 107 scientists and was prepared specifically for the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The report stated that the carbon produced by humans could be stored on land if it was used more efficiently. Professor Pete Smith, an environmental scientist, told the BBC: “We’re not telling people to stop eating meat. In some places people have no other choice. But it’s obvious that in the West we’re eating far too much.” The IPCC have estimated that greenhouse emissions that are to do with food waste, are as high as 8-10% of all global emissions.
European-Russian Mars parachute mission has failed for a second time A Russian surface platform and a European rover is supposed to be launched to Mars in July 2020. However, another parachute fail could mean that the date will have to be pushed back. Named the ExoMars Project, its plan is for the rover to search for signs of past life on Mars. However, that won’t be happening if there is another failed attempt as the date could end up being pushed back to 2022. Nico Dettmann stated: “This doesn’t happen automatically. There are a number of programmatic questions to be clarified with the main stakeholders. The main stakeholders are not only our Russian partners, but also our member states. If we have to defer it will obviously cost some more money. This is something which is not yet under discussion because we are still optimistic that we can make the 2020 launch.” Professional Insights • Page 25
STEM
Engineering ethics under the spotlight of new consultation New technology to be used on healing wounds A new smart sensor is in development to help the NHS see how a wound is healing without taking off the bandage. Researchers at Heriot-Watt University are creating electronic sensors that can listen to the healing process underneath the patient’s bandages. Currently, wound care costs the NHS billions of pounds a year. This new smart sensor technology could help save money as so far, the principal way of checking on a wound is to take off the bandage and then replace it with a new one. Team leader, Dr Michael Crichton, told the BBC: “If we can put a sensor on the surface of the tissue around a wound or across a wound, can we actually measure what’s happening? If we can do that, that will tell us if a wound is likely to be going in one way or another. And if we can measure it over time, then we don’t need to keep on opening up a wound and saying, ‘is it getting better or is it getting worse?’.” Page 26 • www.careersuk.org
Engineering Ethics 2028 is aiming to establish a new ethical framework for the sector, as well as increase engagement with professional bodies and encourage sustainability. It’s estimated that just 15% of engineers in the UK are members of a professional body, with PEIs (Professional Engineering Institutions) and the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) seen as crucial touchpoints for ethical debate. “Engineers who are not members of a professional institution are not necessarily ignoring their ethical and professional responsibilities but being part of a professional body strengthens the likelihood that those obligations will be met,” said lead author Dr Jim Baxter, from Leeds University’s Inter-Disciplinary Ethics Applied Centre. “Engineers have the power to do tremendous good, but technology can also be harmful. The ethics vision, if the profession adopts it, will ensure they think about public opinion and the public good – and in some cases, they might have to say ‘no’ to a project.” A key driver behind the consultation is the rate at which new technologies are infiltrating society, such as artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles. Regulatory and ethical frameworks are essential if these advances are to evolve safely, and engineers will play a fundamental role in the direction they take. “Engineering Ethics 2028 has to be set against the context of rapid technological change, and that change will have an impact on all our lives,” said Baxter. “The people who are key to inventing, designing and building this technology are engineers. More than ever, they need to consider the interests of the public in the work that they do.” Engineering Ethics 2028 was drawn-up following discussion with leaders from across the profession, including RAEng, the Engineering Professors’ Council and Engineers Without Borders UK. The vision builds on work that started back in 2003 by the RAEng to define the ethical values underlying engineering work.
Health & Social Sciences
UK has lost its measles-free status
Dartmouth-led research team identifies new way to measure autism A new study into autism could help identify autism faster and easier using a non-verbal, neural marker. People with autism have been thought to have differences in preventing neural signals in the brain. This is so it can underpin symptoms in autism, such as hypersensitivity to sensory input. Caroline Robertson stated: “Autism is hard to screen for in children, when the first signs are present. A trained clinician may be able to detect autism at 18-months or even younger.” When the human brain is presented with two different images at the same time, the images switch between the right and left eye. Robertson had also led research into demonstrating that the autistic brain is slower in switching from one image to the next due to differences in inhibitory neural transmission in the brain. In the autistic brain, the neurotransmitter has difficulty filtering and regulating sensory signals including suppressing images. The research revealed that neural data can predict (with 87 percent accuracy) whether or not someone had autism. The findings were striking and tracked with clinical measures of autism: participants with a higher level of autism had a slower rate of binocular rivalry, where the brain was slower in switching from one image to the next. Page 28 • www.careersuk.org
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that the United Kingdom is no longer measles-free just three years after the virus was eliminated. A steady decline in the uptake of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine – the so-called MMR jab – has been witnessed in the European country over the last decade, which has led to an increase in the number of measles cases. In the first quarter of 2019, there were 231 cases of measles across the four nations of the United Kingdom. This appears to be on par with what was witnessed in 2018, when 970 tested cases of measles were reported. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is ordering urgent action to ensure that children and young people in Britain are protected against measles. The disease can be stopped through two doses of the MMR vaccine, but immunisation rates have been falling for a number of reasons. The prime minister announced that: • GPs are being asked to promote catch-up vaccinations for children who may have missed out on both doses • Social media companies are being urged to quash misleading anti-vaccine messages • The firms will be invited to a summit to explore how they can better promote accurate vaccination information • The government will also use the NHS website to address misleading claims about the safety of vaccines
Coffee can trigger migraines A new study has found that drinking more than 3 cups of coffee or beverages with high doses of caffeine a day can cause bad migraines. It has been found that women are more likely to suffer migraines caused by caffeine than men and that migraines affect 10% of the worldwide population. Lead investigator of the study, Elizabeth Mostofsky, and her team analysed 98 adults who experience episodic migraines. An episodic migraine is where a person can have upwards of 14 headaches days per month. The subjects wrote in a diary twice a day for six weeks detailing their caffeinated beverage intake, certain lifestyle factors and the timing and characteristics of any migraine attacks. The findings of the study suggest that caffeinated drinks have a risk of giving a person a migraine after 3 servings. Dr Julia Jones, a neurologist that was associated with the study, stated: “About 9% of men and 16% of women suffer from migraines and the tendency for migraines run in families.” “Everyday things can trigger migraine headaches, like certain foods or drinks, stress, too much or too little sleep hormones or even things like bright lights, hunger and smells.”
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) shortage creates panic Women having to go through menopause are struggling with getting access to HRT due to a national shortage in the UK. Nearly all prescribed forms of HRT are out of stock in a lot of pharmacies and it is not clear when they will be stocked again. The Department for Health and Social Care told the BBC that the shortage is down to “manufacturing delays” but that the government was working closely with suppliers to “maintain the overall flow of medicines to patients.” Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, has stated: “We know that there are the generic phrases like ‘supply issues’ and ‘manufacturing problems but because it’s commercially sensitive, nobody will be honest with the public and the NHS. So, it’s frustrating.’
Sociology is being removed from school’s curriculums Sociology within schools is on the decline as it is constantly falling out of favour with the managers of the school. It’s been said that this is due to not being able to measure students’ skills within the subject and because it encourages anti status-quo which makes people in power vulnerable. More marketable subjects such as Maths, English and sciences are being picked more often than social science subjects. Professional Insights • Page 29
Health & Social Sciences
Dental surgeons call for sugar-free schools
Lack of psychological support for injured players deemed ‘neglectful’
The government are being called to get schools to cut down on sugary foods due to the rising rates of tooth decay in children. Figures have shown that more than 40% of people under the age of 18 didn’t visit an NHS dentist last year. Dental surgeons are saying that it is vital that schools cut down on the amount of sugar they put into their food. Dentists have also stated that children need to be brushing their teeth in school so they can be supervised by their teachers. Tooth decay is currently the leading reason why children over the age of 5 are being admitted into hospital every year. 77% of children aged between one and two years old don’t go to the dentist. Dentists are advising that all children should be seeing dentists as soon as their teeth start showing through at least once a year. “It is incredibly worrying that levels of tooth decay among children in England remain so high especially when you consider that it is almost entirely preventable through simple steps, such as brushing twice a day with appropriate-strength fluoride toothpaste, visiting the dentist regularly and reducing sugar consumption,” stated Prof Michael Escudier, dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Mick Armstrong, the BDA Chairman said: “It’s a scandal that tooth decay remains the number one reason for child hospital admissions. We will not see real progress until ministers start going further and faster on prevention.”
Football clubs are being “deficient, neglectful and possibly negligent” because of inadequate psychological support for injured players, a study has found. Medical heads from 75 clubs were interviewed, including 14 from Premier League sides. Of these, only 37% said they employed staff who were trained in the psychology of injury, and less than 25% had a full-time sports psychologist. The report states that there is “overwhelming evidence” that injured players are more susceptible to serious mental health problems. Yet the duty of care clubs show to injured players is deemed to be “deficient, neglectful and possibly negligent”, with players left “vulnerable to experiencing problematic rehabilitations, problems with future performance, an increased risk of injury, not returning to competitive sport and triggering or uncovering mental health issues”. “A lack of support mechanisms may be explained by a lack of training of medical staff and a culture within football where psychological support is stigmatised and not understood,” the report adds. Without change, it was concluded that many players “will remain unprotected and vulnerable to the numerous negative psychological consequences of injury”. Even when clubs did screen for psychological issues, the majority looked for signs of anxiety, depression and fear of re-injury, when research had shown that a broader range of problems could be triggered by long-term injury.
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Law Brussels insists EU law ceases to apply to UK after no deal
Brexit UK faces months of veg shortages as food industry begs for law change The Food and Drink Federation wants a pause in regulations that bans firms from coordinating supplies with each other. Britain faces fresh food shortages for months if a chaotic no-deal Brexit leaves perishable produce rotting in lorries at ports, industry experts have warned. The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) have called on the government to pause competition laws to allow firms to co-ordinate and direct supplies with each other in the event of no deal. Doing so is illegal, as the law stands, and companies engaging in such practices risk being fined by the Competition and Markets Authority. The FDF said: “We asked for these reassurances at the end of last year, but we’re still waiting.” Retailers such as Tesco have warned that leaving the European Union on October 31 without a trade deal would be hugely problematic for the industry as much of the fresh produce is imported and warehouses are stocked full ahead of Christmas. Ahead of the original Brexit deadline of March 29, supermarkets and retailers worked with suppliers to increase stocks of dried goods including pasta, bottled water and toilet roll. But they have warned fresh fruit and vegetables, which have a short shelflife of only a few days, cannot be stored and that customs checks at Britain’s biggest port of Dover could lead to delays for arrivals. Page 32 • www.careersuk.org
Britain will be free from any European Union laws if the country leaves the trade bloc without a deal, the European Commission has confirmed. The Brussels-based executive announced all of the EU’s primary or secondary laws will cease to apply to Britain after October 31st in the event of a no deal Brexit. This prevents the controversial transition period, which locked Britain to the bloc’s rules, from being deployed by either side in the future. The news comes after Brexit Secretary, Stephen Barclay signed an order that will return law-making powers from Brussels by repealing the European Communities Act of 1972 when Britain leaves the European Union. In a boost to Brexiteers, Brussels also insisted a no deal Brexit would have a similar impact to its decision-making powers over Britain. A Commission spokeswoman said: “From our side, in a no deal scenario what that means is all primary and secondary EU law will cease to apply from that moment onwards and there would be no transition period as provided for in the withdrawal agreement.” This will scupper any Remainer dreams of reversing Brexit after October 31st, as the UK will be forced to start negotiations under the bloc’s Article 49 clause. Under the EU’s rules, Britain would have to open fresh negotiations to re-join the bloc – with member states likely blocking any of the current budgetary rebate or opt-outs. Mr Barclay said it was a “landmark moment” in the Brexit process as he signed the order to take back control from Brussels. He said: “This is a clear signal to the people of this country that there is no turning back - we are leaving the EU as promised on October 31st, whatever the circumstances - delivering on the instructions given to us in 2016. “The votes of 17.4 million people deciding to leave the EU is the greatest democratic mandate ever given to any UK Government. “Politicians cannot choose which public votes they wish to respect. Parliament has already voted to leave on October 31st. The signing of this legislation ensures that the EU Withdrawal Act will repeal the European Communities Act 1972 on exit day.”
Legal bid to stop Westminster shutdown goes to court A legal challenge to try to prevent Boris Johnson shutting down parliament to force through a nodeal Brexit has begun in a Scottish court. A group of MPs and peers wants the Court of Session in Edinburgh to rule that suspending parliament to make the UK leave the EU without a deal is “unlawful and unconstitutional”. The prime minister has repeatedly refused to rule out such a move. Lord Doherty agreed to hear arguments from both sides in September. However he refused to accelerate the case through the Scottish courts, with the petitioners voicing fears that they may run out of time before the UK is due to leave the EU on 31 October. The start of the legal action came as it emerged the UK government expects a group of MPs to try to block a no-deal Brexit by attempting to pass legislation when Parliament returns next month. A No 10 source said they expected the challenge to come in the second week of September, when MPs are due to debate a report on Northern Ireland. The source assumes the EU will wait until after that date before engaging in further negotiations.
Abortion laws are too ‘outdated’ for a modern country A recent study that included 14 abortion doctors has found that Britain’s abortion laws are “outdated” and are impeding on women’s care during the process before and after. If doctors do not comply with the correct procedures, they could be prosecuted which is turning a lot of doctors away from pursuing a career in this type of medicine. Abortion providers have been found to be highly critical of the laws that centre around abortion and believe it leads them to provide care “in a way that departs from clinical practice with a clear negative impact on women’s experience”. Abortion is actually still a criminal offence in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland under The Offences Against the Person Act 1861. However, it was changed slightly under the 1967 Abortion Act that allowed women to get abortions only if they meet certain grounds and if the procedure is signed off by two doctors.
Claudia’s law is set to help hundreds of families in the UK A new law will help families and guardians manage the financial affairs of their loved ones if they have gone missing. New legislation ‘Claudia’s law’ has been welcomed after statistics from the National Crime Agency show an 18% rise in the number of reported missing persons year-onyear. The new law, which came into effect on 31 July 2019, is named after Chef Claudia Lawrence who disappeared in North Yorkshire in 2009. Claudia’s law allows a guardian to be appointed to manage the financial affairs of a person who has been missing for at least 90 days. Claudia’s law will allow families to manage the missing person’s finances for the benefit of the individual by paying their mortgage, cancelling direct debits etc, which will no doubt help to reduce stress and some concerns in an already difficult situation. Professional Insights • Page 33
Humanities & Arts
UK workers who lose jobs to AI will be retrained
RSK adds archaeology firm Stormzy funding two more Cambridge University places Grime star Stormzy has announced that he will fund the university costs of two more Cambridge students. Stormzy will also continue to cover costs for the first two students to be supported by the scheme. The Stormzy Scholarship is aimed at supporting people from minority backgrounds who have earned a place at the university. The scheme is intended to help address the low number of black students who attend Oxbridge institutions. Stormy, who recently headlined Glastonbury, is paying the tuition fees of the four students. Page 34 • www.careersuk.org
RSK has acquired Headland Archaeology, the UK’s leading privately-owned provider of heritage services to the construction sector. Headland Archaeology is RSK’s 20th acquisition. Headland Archaeology’s 170-strong team provides commercial archaeology services to major construction projects. Founded in 1996, it works out of four regional offices in Luton, Hereford, Leeds and Edinburgh. Headland Archaeology’s current leadership team will join RSK and become part of RSK’s environment and planning division. The existing RSK archaeology and heritage business will merge with Headland Archaeology’s consultancy team. RSK now has more than 3,000 employees and an annual turnover of more than £200m.
Workers whose jobs might become obsolete as a result of automation are to receive help in retraining from a new national government scheme. Up to 20 million manufacturing jobs around the world could be replaced by robots by 2030, according to analysis firm Oxford Economics. The programme will be trialed initially in Liverpool. The scheme will support workers by helping them find a new career or gain more skills, should their jobs change. Education Secretary, Damian Hinds, said, “Technologies like AI and automation are transforming the way we live and work and bringing huge benefits to our economy. But it also means that jobs are evolving, and some roles will soon become a thing of the past. “The National Retraining Scheme will be pivotal in helping adults across the country, whose jobs are at risk of changing, to gain new skills and get on the path to a new, more rewarding career. This is a big and complex challenge, which is why we are starting small, learning as we go, and releasing each part of the scheme only when it’s ready to benefit its users.”
Theology could disappear from UK universities According to a new report, Theology is at risk of disappearing from UK universities. The report found that the number of students studying Theology and Religious Studies [TRS] degrees has fallen by a third since 2012, when higher tuition fees were introduced. This is in contrast to other humanities subjects, such as philosophy, which have recovered from similar drops in applications. While Theology and Religious Studies has been on a downward trend for the past six years, there has been an increase in students taking Philosophy courses over the same time period. Prof Diarmaid MacCulloch, an expert in church history at Oxford University and vice president of the British Academy, said the figures are “alarming”. “I am extremely concerned about the drop in such a short period, it is really very alarming,” he told the Daily Telegraph. Theology and Religious Studies has been on a downward trend in both applications and enrolment of undergraduate students, the report says. The British Academy, which promotes humanities and social sciences, said it will work with the Theology and Religious Studies community to “assess the vulnerability” of the subject and “ensure a sustainable future.”
Remains of giant penguin found in New Zealand The remains of a ‘human-sized’ penguin has been discovered in North Canterbury, New Zealand. The fossilised bones resemble that of a 1.6m tall penguin that is thought to have weighed up to 80kg. It is estimated to have lived between 56 and 66 million years ago. The animal has been given the nickname “monster penguin” by the Canterbury Museum who have added it to the list of extinct New Zealand birds alongside the moa, Haast’s eagles, giant parrots and the Hawkins’ rail. Paul Scofield, Canterbury Museum’s senior curator, has told the BBC: ““This is one of the largest penguin species ever found. It was specific to the waters of the Southern Hemisphere.” Scientists believe that penguins had grown really big because large marine reptiles had gone missing from the oceans which is also around the same period when dinosaurs started to go extinct. The Emperor Penguin, which is the largest living penguin in the world at this moment, can grow up to 1.2m tall which is significantly smaller than the giant penguin remains that have been found. It is believed to not exist anymore because of the competition between other marine animals. Although that is only a theory.
Media giants Viacom and CBS to merge in latest mega-deal Entertainment giants CBS and Viacom are to merge in the latest media mega-deal as broadcasters adapt to changing consumer demands. The new company will have $28bn in revenue and comprise brands like MTV, Comedy Central and Paramount Pictures. The deal would reunite the two firms, which were previously under the same corporate umbrella until a 2006 split. The move comes amid an increasingly competitive landscape dominated by Netflix, Disney-Fox and other rivals. There have been at least three attempts to re-combine the companies, but all failed due to clashes between executives and investors over who got the top jobs as well as the valuations of the business. The merged group will have a global reach, including in Britain, Argentina and Australia. Professional Insights • Page 35
Humanities & Arts
Fashion brands and textile mills receive £645k to support innovation Celebrities call for more creative education in schools Stars from the arts world have joined industry leaders in urging the UK government to make creative education accessible to all young people. Sir Lenny Henry and model Adwoa Aboah have co-signed a letter championing the value of creative subjects. “For the benefit of the whole of the UK, we urge the government to incentivise a broad and balanced curriculum within schools,” the letter reads. The letter’s release coincides with this year’s A-level results, which showed further decreases in the number of students taking drama and music. The letter from the Creative Industries Federation calls on the government to recognise the “critical” role of creative education for young people in the creative industries and the economy as a whole. It cites evidence saying there has been an 8% drop in the number of students taking GCSEs in creative subjects since 2014/15. It accuses England’s education system of “side-lining” creative subjects by excluding them from the English Baccalaureate. Subjects cited in the letter, which has more than 150 signatories, including drama, art, music and dance. The EBacc requires pupils to gain good GCSEs in two sciences, a language and either history or geography, as well as English and maths. The Department for Education spokesperson said the government was “providing nearly £500 million of funding from 2016 to 2020 for a diverse portfolio of music and arts education programmes designed to improve arts provision.” Page 36 • www.careersuk.org
Nine fashion and textile brands have been granted a total £645,000 in investment, as part of the Future Fashion Factory (FFF) programme. Run by the University of Leeds in partnership with the University of Huddersfield and Royal College of Art, FFF is a £5.4m project that supports research and development (R&D) in the fashion and textile industries. The following businesses had their projects approved in the first funding call: • Abraham Moon & Sons Ltd – a digital system for developing wool dyeing • Advanced Dyeing Solutions – to develop a new digital fabric evaluation system • AW Hainsworth / Yorkshire Textiles – to create a ‘new heritage’ fabric for electronic jacquard manufacture • Gieves & Hawkes – to develop a digital system that reduces the lead time on a UK made-to-measure suit from up to eight weeks to 48 hours • Joshua Ellis - market assessment of high-value recycled cashmere products manufactured in the UK • Laxtons – to develop augmented reality techniques for staff training in large-scale textile production • Whiteford Felt & Fillings – to use data analytics market research to develop new outerwear product lines • WT Johnson & Sons – to develop a digital tool that provides a link between the conditions used during fabric finishing and the resulting fabric handle • Deluxe Beds - to develop a specification and prototype for a new modular mattress product FFF forms part of the wider £80m Creative Industries Clusters Programme, which is led by the Arts and Humanities Research Council.
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Business & Management
More generous wages and holidays ‘could fix UK’s productivity crisis’ Productivity decline linked to poor employee financial wellness 98% of employers believe that their employees’ financial wellness has a direct impact on productivity and their business performance – especially concerning employee productivity (67%) and engagement (62%). This is according to a report, which surveyed 4,000 employees and 2,900 businesses to explore workers’ perceptions and attitudes towards traditional and emerging pay methods to address some of the biggest human capital management concerns. The report also claims that 79% of employees expect their employers to help them with their financial wellbeing, while 90 percent of millennials are willing to share at least some personal information such as spending habits, bank balances, and family and healthcare needs with their payroll provider to track finances in order to receive advice. While many organisations implement several workplace initiatives to boost productivity, employees’ expectations for financial wellness offerings at work are growing. Therefore, companies need to review the role they play in their employees’ financial wellbeing journey, which can take many forms. Businesses can support their employees by becoming financial wellbeing advocates and facilitators. By hosting money management workshops, employers can fight against workplace absence and attract and retain the best talent. Page 38 • www.careersuk.org
Increasing the minimum wage and statutory holiday pay could help solve the UK’s productivity crisis. A report by the New Economics Foundation (NEF) said raised pay and increased leisure time were closely linked to increased productivity and called on the government to speed up planned increases in the minimum wage and consider introducing annual increases to statutory holiday entitlement. It called for the creation of a working-time commission to increase holiday entitlements for workers, and a new mandate for the Low Pay Commission to recommend further sustainable minimum wages rises. The report said there were “myriad economic and social benefits” associated with reducing the overall amount of time spent working, including improvements to the physical and mental health of workers and the more equitable distribution of working hours to those who were under-employed or unemployed. The NEF also said increasing employee pay would help stimulate greater demand in the economy, potentially boosting growth. Alfie Stirling, head of economics at NEF, said: “Raising demand by putting more cash in the pockets of the UK’s poorest workers, while giving people more paid time off from work to spend it, should now be part of a radical mix of options for any government that is serious about increasing productivity in a way that works for people and society.”
HR professionals must embrace technology to improve processes Research has found that HR professionals are spending 366.6 hours a year manually checking, responding to and keeping up with multiple HR applications. The research highlighted that integrating new HR tools into current workplace technology is a key priority for 89% of HR professionals, as many struggle with processes that could be automated. One of the challenges though is that there’s a lack of unification and HR professionals can be forced to access multiple systems, with a quarter of companies saying they use eight or more different systems and apps every day for work. It doesn’t have to be this complicated and digital technology is available that can simplify processes in one system and transform how HR teams work. We still come across companies that are managing employee absence and holiday leave using bits of paper. This just isn’t efficient and can be a real headache for the HR team to keep on top of, not to mention costly for the business with wasted hours spent doing things manually. Technology is out there but HR professionals need to find the right system for their workplace.
£25 million to be spent on Medical Supplies Importation The UK government is aiming to spend £25 million on ensuring that important medical supplies get delivered by freight service on short notice, as part of its Brexit negotiations. A new contract has been set up to ensure that express freight service deliver supplies if they are needed urgently. The contract is supposed to help strengthen Brexit preparations and “deliver small parcels of medicines or medical products on a 24-hour basis, with additional provision to move larger pallet quantities on a 2- to 4-day basis. The service will be available to the whole of the UK,” the DHSC stated. Most of the supplies will be standard medicine but some of them will also be temperaturecontrolled. Chris Skidmore, the health minister stated: “I want to ensure that when we leave the EU at the end of October, all appropriate steps have been taken to ensure frontline services are fully prepared. That’s why we are stepping up preparations and strengthening our already extremely resilient contingency plans.”
Employers admit company culture causes stress at work According to a report, employers admit they need to do more to increase workplace resilience despite increased awareness of the impact of mental health issues in the workplace. The report claims nearly six out of ten employers admit they have to increase the focus on helping their staff to build resilience and 66% say organisational resilience has to be driven by the company’s leadership. But nearly a third of employers admit their company’s culture creates stress at work and employees questioned for the study say employers are not honest during recruitment about the demands on staff and the impact on stress. The report claims 57% of employers admit they have to increase the focus on helping staff build resilience and just 40% believe they are doing enough. 64% of employees say their firm now offers support. Increased awareness of the impact of mental health issues at work is driving positive change but employers need to do more to increase workplace resilience. Professional Insights • Page 39
Business & Management
Management consultants on expansion trail after NPIF investment Biramis Management Partners, a specialist management consultancy firm, has secured £35,000 from NPIF-BFS & MSIF Microfinance, a product managed by GC Business Finance and MSIF and part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF). Based on King Street, in Manchester city centre, Biramis provides consultancy services to help maximise the wealth creation opportunities for growing or maturing organisations. The firm works alongside business owners to implement strategies that will strengthen the value of their company. Biramis Management Partners is sector-agnostic, having worked in construction, wealth management, life sciences and technology companies and advises on systems and processes, brand positioning, repositioning, value proposition and business model strategy. The NPIF funding provided by GC Business Finance has allowed Biramis to employ three members of staff, bringing its total headcount to six. The loan has also been used to fund a marketing campaign with Yorkshire Bank, in which Biramis ran ‘Wealth Creation Clinics’ at the bank’s branch on Market Street, Manchester. Page 40 • www.careersuk.org
HR must support employees with job security fears, as concerns of a no-deal Brexit and UK recession grow People in the UK are more worried about losing their jobs today than they have been at any point over the past five and a half years. A report found that confidence in job security is low. It is crucial for HR to reassure and empower employees about their job security in the organisation. One way in which HR can do this is by advocating and implementing the communication of the business strategy on an ongoing basis. This helps to engage employees and gives them the foresight and confidence that the business has a robust plan in place for the short, medium and long term. There are several ways HR can support employee wellbeing and increase confidence in job security. One way is by facilitating an open management style within the business and two-way communication, in order to help prevent fear and unanswered questions. Listening to your staff empowers them, and if they feel that their point of view is being taken into consideration, they are far more likely to feel valued, secure and happy in their position. Creating the right culture is also key. A positive working culture is critical to success and culture is fundamental to motivation as well as overall satisfaction
Black boxes and telematic can reduce claims by £650 Black boxes otherwise known as telematics reduce car insurance claims by up to £650, reveals new research. Car insurance prices regularly climb in the UK and there are multiple factors which impact the overall final cost. New data from ITS – Telematics Solutions reveals that telematics technology reduces claims on average by 22%. According to the research, a total of over £1.79 billion could be saved each year by adopting black box technology. The typical cost of a motor insurance claim has risen to £2,936, the highest level on record, according to figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI). The research suggests that despite the continued fall in road traffic casualties claim volumes remain significantly higher than expected. Other types of claims such as ‘crash for cash’, and suspicious whiplash-associated injury claims reported to the Compensation Recovery Unit, have been on the rise.
Two-thirds of EU marketers considering leaving the UK because of Brexit The vast majority of those working in the marketing and creative industries in the UK are also worried about the negative impact of Brexit on their jobs. Two-thirds of EU nationals living and working in Britain in the marketing and creative industries are considering leaving the UK because of Brexit, according to a new survey conducted. 31% of respondents, say they will “definitely” or “probably” leave, while a further 31% are unsure whether they will stay or not. Just 38% say they will “definitely” or “probably” stay. 63% of respondents agree there “should be a second referendum”, compared to just 27% who disagree. And just 33% think “we just need to get on with Brexit”, with 53% disagreeing with that statement.
UK business travellers to EU face upheaval British workers travelling to the EU will be unable to carry out basic business tasks after a no-deal Brexit unless they navigate a complex web of work permits that could take weeks or even months to obtain, if the country leaves the European Union without an agreement. According to the consultancy, EY, British business travellers without the right authorisation could be turned away at EU borders and companies liable for fines if national immigration rules are strictly enforced. UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has vowed Britain will leave the EU by October 31st, with or without a deal. Professional Insights • Page 41
Careers UK present SCENE
DIRECTOR CAMERAMAN DATE
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The Art of Racing in the Rain A melodramatic take into the head of a golden retriever, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a heartfelt story narrated by the philosophical dog, Enzo. Denny Swift, Enzo’s owner, is an aspiring Formula One driver, through which Enzo has gained a lot of insight into the life of humans and how their lives are just like racetracks. Enzo tells the story of his life from the day he was bought by Denny until the day he struggles to get up due to old age. Watching a dog talking through the issues of his human companions makes for an interesting perspective. It gets the audience to think about the hardships of life in new perspectives. The film was very emotional and was a lovely way to show the bond between man and his furry companion, even though all the hardships they have to face. The film adds emphasis onto the fact that dogs are not just pets, they are family members. Although this kind of film is not original by any means, it is a wonderful movie to watch. Just remember to take the tissues!
ts: Movie Magic Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw Idris Elba plays a technology enhanced supervillain that is out to destroy the world with a virus called Snowflake. However, he is being hunted down by two secret agents, Hobbs & Shaw. The Rock and Statham both do a brilliant job of working together which is shown by how much chemistry they both have in the film. Their competitiveness along with hurling insults at each other actually made the film really funny and enjoyable to watch. The films creators specifically chose two actors that bat off of each other really well so that the film had personality to it. However, the Fast & Furious franchise is known for its ridiculous action scenes and impossible stunts and this film was full of them. For some people, stupid stunts are what they love but for others, it can be two hours of rolling their eyes at the screen. The action scenes are really impressive coupled with the amazing CGI but there is a lot of repetition with them. Most of the action scenes are punch, kick, camera angle change, hurl an insult, bad guy dead and repeat. At times, it does feel like a live-action cartoon because of how ridiculous it is. Overall, if you don’t like action films, then this one is probably not for you, but it is a really entertaining watch.
The Lion King A shot for shot remake of the original, The Lion King is mediocre at best. There doesn’t seem to be any personality or soul in the film. Instead, Disney has just tried to piggyback off of the original animated film but haven’t quite captured the personality from that either. Although the CGI does look amazing and the fur texture looks incredibly realistic, the expression in the faces of every animal does not change. Whether they are happy, sad, angry or confused, their faces looked like they would rather not be there. It is understandable that the CGI is supposed to be more similar to real animals rather than animated versions, but the emotionless expressions made it feel like the faces were unreadable. If it wasn’t for the amazing voice actors and the range of emotion in their voices, the audience would not be able to tell how the animals feel. Unfortunately, nostalgia sells, and Disney knows this so people will flock to the cinema every time a new Disney film is released. Whether it be good or bad. Overall, the film was filled with no emotion which is something that Disney don’t usually do in their films, so it was surprising that such an iconic film had none of it. The general consensus when everyone left the cinema was that “it was okay, but not as good as I thought it would be”.
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CONGRATULATION GIFTS Exams are finally over in the world of education and the results are in, so now is the time to buy your loved one a gift for all the hard work they have done over the past few years. Whether it’s a chocolate hamper or a getaway weekend, gifts are great for showing how proud you are of someone. Here’s a selection of some amazing presents that you could give to your loved ones for doing an excellent job over the past few years. You can also find these gifts on the Careers UK website (under the Gift Ideas tab.)
THE EVERYTHING CHOCOLATE HAMPER – £24.95 This hamper oozes with chocolatey goodness and is perfect for having a quick treat that doesn’t have to be shared with anyone! The product includes: • • • •
Rocky Road Slab Selector Chocolate Brownie Selector Salted Caramel Chocolate Puddles Duo of Eaton Mess and Pecan Praline
PERSONALISED TIN OF BISCUITS – £14.95 A beautifully designed biscuit tin with the chance to personalise it with your own little message. The front of the tin has “You are one smart cookie” printed on it, but there’s space on the back of it for a message of your choice. This product includes: • •
200g x chocolate biscuits 150g x shortbread
PERSONALISED ROSE GOLD BRACELET WITH CIRCULAR PENDANT – £29.99 This gorgeous rose gold bracelet would make the perfect gift for any jewellery-loving person. You can engrave a set of initials onto the circle pendant to make the piece more personal.
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PERSONALISED BLACK LEATHER WATCH - £79.95 This striking black watch with a classic face design allows the buyer to personalise it with a message. It also comes with a leather strap protector and gift box. The strap is made from genuine leather and features stainless steel. Personalisation: • • •
Message Line 1 and 5 - 8 Characters Message Line 2 and 4 - 10 Characters Message Line 3 - 13 Characters
ENGRAVED PEN AND CASE - £39.95 Get your loved one a personalised pen and case today! This beautiful, chrome-covered pen comes with its own pen case so that you won’t lose your pen ever again. It can also be engraved with a message of your choice in a lovely script font. Features of this product: •
Personalise the lid with a message of up to 78 characters
PERSONALISED NAME NECKLACE - £94.95 This wonderful piece of jewellery is definitely a statement piece. Just hand over a name and it will be turned into a necklace! Features of the product: • • •
9ct yellow gold 9ct rose gold Name on the necklace (max. 10 characters)
SUSHI MAKING WORKSHOP WITH YO! – £30 Learn to make mouth-watering sushi with YO! at one of their many restaurants. Sushi such as maki, nigiri and nori will no longer be just sushi you buy, now you can have the knowledge to make it yourself at home! What’s included? • • • • •
1.5-hour sushi making experience (maybe longer depending on class size) Introduction and briefing Sushi-making workshop run by an experienced YO! sushi chef, as part of a group All of the sushi you prepare is yours to enjoy Sushi rolling mat and ‘how to’ booklet is yours to take home
FOR MORE GIFT IDEAS, VISIT WWW.CAREERSUK.ORG/GIFTS
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PUZZLES & BRAINTEASERS RIDDLES 1. What is so fragile that saying its name breaks it? 2. What has hands but can not clap? 3. Which letter of the alphabet has the most water? 4. What word is spelled wrong in every dictionary? 5. What has a neck but no head? 6. I’m full of keys but I can’t open any door. What am I? 7. What is harder to catch the faster you run? 8. What's orange and sounds like a parrot? 9. People need me, but they always give me away. What am I? 10. What tastes better than it smells?
ZOOM IN FOR ANSWERS Riddles:
True or False:
1. An egg
6. A piano
11. True
16. True
2. A clock
7. Your breath
12. True
17. True
3. The C
8. A carrot
13. False
18. True
4. Wrong
9. Money
14. True
19. False
5. A bottle
10. Your tongue
15. False
20. True
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TRUE OR FALSE 11. There are more stars in space than grains of sand on every beach in the world. 12. Pirates wore eye patches so they could see better in the dark.
16. An octopus has three hearts. 17. There are more fake flamingos in the world than real ones.
13. Eating chocolate gives you spots.
18. Mammoths still walked the Earth when the Great Pyramid was being built.
14. It rains diamonds on Saturn and Jupiter.
19. No bird can fly backwards.
15. Going out with wet hair increases your chances of catching a cold.
20. New Zealand has more sheep than people.
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