Features - Page 14

On Monday 9 January, the UK Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra), in partnership with the Scottish and Welsh Governments and the Forestry Commission, published the Plant Biosecurity Strategy for Great Britain.

The Leaders Council recently held a series of roundtable discussions with leaders from the care sector to address the ongoing challenges and pressures they face in their profession.

Enlisting the help of RVA Surveyors, Lower Swell Chemicals Limited successfully reduced its business rates liability in 2022, resulting in a total saving of £5,000 backdated to early 2017.

DJE Construction Ltd's David Evans calls on employers and the education sector to work more closely together to rationalise qualifications and deliver the skills that will cater to the needs of industry and the future economy.

ARC Coachworks' managing director Gary Clark responds warmly to the ambition of government to reform the skills system, but warns that crucial gaps remain which still need to be filled.

Scion Mastery's Inga Neaves writes that altering young people's negative perceptions of technical job roles must start at home with the influence of parents and guardians.

Business secretary Grant Shapps has said that the government’s new plans to mitigate the impact of industrial action will provide a “minimum safety level” and “restore the balance between those seeking to strike and protecting the public from disproportionate disruption”.

TOBS Consultancy's Adwoa Owusu-Banahene sees the government's recent skills and education legislation as a huge opportunity, but highlights that an integrated approach will be needed to deliver the most effective outcomes.

Marketing agency Delivered Social has launched a new initiative known as Recession Rebellion to help business through the cost-of-living crisis.

In his first speech of the New Year, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has set out his priorities for government that would deliver a “decade of national renewal” should his party be successful at the next general election.

In a wide-ranging speech, prime minister Rishi Sunak has set out five key pledges to deliver for the British public ahead of the next general election.

Tradeforce Gas & Heating founder Michael Charalambous says that more concerted efforts must be made to change young people's attitudes toward industry if the UK skills gap is to be addressed.

Dave Radley, owner and founder of DMR Training & Consultancy, analyses government plans for Local Skills Improvement Plans [LSIPs] and warns that a robust accountability framework will be vital for their enforcement.

In a letter leaked online by the News Agents podcast, culture secretary Michelle Donelan has advised prime minister Rishi Sunak against privatising Channel 4.