Features - Page 140

In the September of 2019, Skender Perpepa, founder of building and contracting firm SA Builders and Contractors, spoke of his concerns about the impact of Brexit on the import of materials for the construction sector and how the supply chain may be affected. Following reports already this year that post-Brexit red tape has hit the haulage industry, with supply trucks stranded across the continent, Perpepa’s fears and those of many other business leaders who rely on free trade with Europe may well be realised without the appropriate intervention.

Specialist financial services consulting firm Sionic has announced the appointment of Mark Humphries as its new Chairman.

Johnson Controls offers a complete portfolio of products and services around fire safety and building safety. The company is concerned that UK certification bodies will not be ready in time to approve the UK CA mark by 2022.

Across a long, seasoned career in Scottish education, The General Teaching Council for Scotland’s chief executive, Ken Muir, has seen more than most. He has been actively involved as a teacher, Principal Teacher, Education Adviser, HMI and Strategic Director in numerous national developments. Looking back and reflecting on 2020, a year unlike any other for education and indeed society, Muir believes that to thrive in a new post-Covid world which will have compassion, equality and sustainability at its heart, the sector must be prepared to learn the lessons of the past and change the status quo for the better.

Total QSR, have announced that they are sponsoring Taulupe Faletau of Bath Rugby, Wales and the British & Irish Lions.

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic in the UK, London based online market research agency FlyResearch had been issuing weekly polls to its research panel of over 3000 people, in order to project how the outbreak and the implementing of social distancing and various other restrictions has impacted the daily life of UK citizens.

Andrew Clowes,headteacher of Hey With Zion primary school located in Oldham, Lancashire, speaks about his experiences of dealing with the latest lockdown and how the DfE keeps moving the goalposts.

Public health and safety organisation NSF International has recently announced the acquisition of Global Trust Certification Ltd, an Irish company specialising in seafood certification, in an undisclosed deal.

With 2021 only its first full week it seems that the overriding sense of chaos from 2020 isn’t going anywhere. With the UK dealing with the fallout of a 3rd national lockdown, adapting to Brexit and the announcement that all travellers to the UK will need have a negative Covid test before arrival. It is a good thing that we are no longer constrained by print column inches otherwise there would have been no room left to look at the ongoing crisis of democracy in the USA. It is only fitting that we hear from our leaders from both sides of the Atlantic as we move into the 2nd week of January.

While many businesses will be relieved by chancellor Rishi Sunak’s announcement of further financial support this week, the hospitality industry has warned that more action is needed to ensure longer-term viability.

Our latest leadership round-up brings news of an OBE for a BAME business leader, a string of organisational changes at Medical Engineering Technologies to improve customer service, and a financial planner disgruntled by the government’s decision to implement a third national lockdown in England.

Paul Turner, director of the company whose innovative research into electrical vehicle integration with light weighting technologies paved the way for the modern electric London taxi, has called on the government to do more to support the nation’s innovators.

In a week where England’s third national lockdown of the Covid-19 pandemic came into force, it should not be forgotten that, while blighting society as a whole, the virus has adversely affected some communities more than others and revealed deep-rooted inequalities within British society.

Claire Dimpfl, owner and head teacher of Tadpoles Nursery, in south-west London has called on the government to include early years providers in the priority group for the Covid-19 vaccine, as nurseries across the country remain open despite the new national lockdown.