Features - Page 139

Reports indicate that a post-Brexit trade deal could be struck between the UK and EU before the end of year after prime minister Boris Johnson agreed to a major concession on competition rules.

The vast majority of 2020 has seen much of the world and our very ways of life firmly in the grip of Covid-19, leaving the worldwide population and global industry with little alternative but to adapt to a raft of new risks and challenges. Much of this adapting has been seen within the healthcare industry, which has been at the sharp end of the battle to quell the virus that has been responsible for such unprecedented change.

Our latest leadership roundup brings news of two awards for a specialist driller, a technology partnership that is proving invaluable for people working from home, and a huge boost for British home improvements.

Emily Aklan is the founder and chief executive of Serenity Welfare, a uniquely integrated organisation that works with UK-wide local authorities, children’s charities, schools, alternative education provisions, youth offending services and other healthcare professionals to offer a fully comprehensive 24/7 welfare service for children and young people, including those in care.

Despite much of the focus of 2020 being on the Covid-19 pandemic and the challenges that it has thrust upon the world, the health crisis has come as a stark reminder that climate change remains a significant threat to humanity. This is especially relevant to the agriculture sector, where the changing climates are presenting new problems to farmers in terms of ensuring that crops can survive long periods of adverse weather, as well as withstand the pests that are allowed to thrive under such conditions.

Following the decision to award Allison Kemp an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2020 for services to transport and logistics, The Leaders Council felt it was the right time to shine a spotlight on the managing director of AIM Commercial Services and her extraordinary career to date.

IncomeMax will receive £125,000 to scale up a new digital solution to help people recover financially post Covid. Nesta’s £3 million challenge is supported by the Department for Work and Pensions, the Money and Pensions Service and JPMorgan Chase.

As non-essential retail reopened its doors following the full autumn lockdown in England, it came as a huge relief for both retailers and the wholesalers supplying shops across the UK. Orders were beginning to come in again, providing a much-needed revenue boost ahead of the festive season. Yet, for those retailers and wholesalers who import products to the UK, an unprecedented rise in shipping costs - which could continue until as late as June 2022 - is threatening to quell any hope of a swift post-pandemic recovery.

Denroy Plastics has been recognised by the British Chambers of Commerce as UK Business Heroes for its continued work throughout the pandemic to help support the NHS by providing PPE to frontline workers and other key personnel.

Homeless people in London will be offered a fortnight’s stay in a hotel over Christmas, with three meals provided per day alongside a virtual appearance on Christmas Day from celebrity guests.

WillisPalmer has long been concerned about the plight of vulnerable children during lockdown but fears were heightened when Ofsted stated in its annual report that child abuse could be going undetected.

In this leadership round-up we hear that the Yogscast have now raised over £1.5million since starting their annual Christmas charity drive, that Jo Chidley of Beauty Kitchens commits to lowering the impact of packaging on the environment and climate change could see a snow free England by 2040.

As we look to the end of a challenging 2020 organisations MENTA, SIONIC and TuVida are helping leaders prepare for the new year. This year has changed the face of leadership and learning those lessons will be integral to the economic recovery of the UK.

As the recent national lockdown in England came to an end and a new tiered system of restrictions came into place, non-essential independent retailers have once more been allowed to open their doors to the public. With a recent survey from the British Independent Retailers Association [BIRA] and Starling Bank suggesting that 66 per cent of shoppers will look to purchase festive gifts from local and family-run businesses, such retailers could be set for a huge boost ahead of the festive season.