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New tracker identifies weekly consumer sentiment as economic climate worsens

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  • Vypr’s new weekly cost-of-living tracker identifies current consumer concerns.
  • 72% of people remain concerned about energy costs.
  • 48% of consumers have reduced spending overall, with 51% worried about grocery bills.
  • 32% of consumers drive less, with 27% walking more – 56% worried about rising fuel costs.
  • 27% of consumers have switched to discounts, and 28% visit more than one store.

Manchester, 10 October 2022 – A new cost-of-living tracker with publicly available week-on-week data has been launched to help brands understand consumer sentiment and behaviour.

The tracker, named Vybe, has been built by the product intelligence platform Vypr. It asks a nationally-representative sample of consumers from Vypr’s 65,000 strong community key questions across four categories. These span food and drink, spending habits, travel and socialising.

The latest data (6 October 2022) shows that 49% of consumers are now spending less. 40% of shoppers are looking for more offers, and 31% are buying more value ranges. 27% of consumers only buy essentials as the cost-of-living crisis heightens.

Kevin Baldwin, Vypr CEO, comments: “The Vybe tracker allows a snapshot of consumer behaviour with the ability to compare previous sentiments. As financial volatility continues, brand owners need to be able to closely monitor how people are feeling and behaving. The interactive interface offers a ‘quick-glance’ of those weekly micro-changes.”

He adds: “As more data becomes available, the tracker will provide a timeline to help understand market trends. For example, the latest data shows that around a third of people maintain their social habits. Vybe will track how such trends change as the economic landscape evolves through autumn and winter.”

By applying the latest research technologies, Vypr constantly refines its tools to provide robust intelligence that is statistically and scientifically sound.

Find out more at vybetracker.com

GP Bullhound invests in Connex One in GBP93M Series C fundraising

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GP Bullhound announces its participation in a £93m Series C fundraising into Connex One, a leading cloud-based Customer Engagement Platform. The investment will enable the company to continue to scale its global operations and further establish its position as a market leader.

Founded in Manchester in 2013 by brothers Nick Mealey and Richard Mealey, Connex One has developed a multi-award-winning AI-powered customer engagement platform that provides omnichannel communication and business automation. The platform is used by many of the world’s leading brands, powering customer journeys, increasing revenue, and optimising the efficiency of workforces.

In recent years, the firm has rapidly expanded its product and machine learning teams and launched a range of next-generation AI customer engagement features, enabling the business to achieve consecutive years of triple digit-growth of Enterprise clients and ARR. To support the growing demand from global enterprises, the firm has expanded operations in the UK and internationally. With new offices opened in Miami, Barcelona, and Melbourne already in 2022, Connex One is currently expanding its global workforce to 1,000 people.

Nick Mealey, CEO and Co-founder of Connex One, commented: “I am delighted to be able to announce the successful completion of our Series C fundraising from leading technology investors. Connex One’s growth rate has been phenomenal; it is a testament to our high-calibre global team and the value that our award-winning platform has created for our customers. I am very much looking forward to the next phase of our journey.”

Per Roman, Co-founder and Managing Partner, and Alon Kuperman, Partner at GP Bullhound, commented: “After being fascinated with the power of their software, we are thrilled to be partnering with Connex One as they disrupt and take over the industry. We are firm believers of the efficiency that end-to-end cloud-based software solutions bring to businesses of all kinds, and Connex One has the perfect product and team to serve the contact centre industry.”

Latium Tech, the investment vehicle owned by Brian Kennedy, took a majority shareholding in Connex One back in 2016, along with Sir Terry Leahy and The William Currie Group. The legal advisor to Connex One was DWF, led by Frank Shephard.

GP Bullhound invested through Fund V. Other recent investments include Typeform, causaLens, HackerOne, Whoop, Patreon, DuckDuckGo, Discord, Revolut, and Klarna, among many others.

THE HALLÉ AND THE BRIDGEWATER HALL ANNOUNCE RUSH HOUR – A ONE-HOUR CONCERT FROM JUST £10!

Manchester’s world-famous orchestra has just announced a completely new concert entitled RUSH HOUR at 6.30pm on Thursday 10 November in The Bridgewater Hall.

This concert offers everyone the chance to hear the power of a full symphony orchestra for an hour or so, for just £10 or £2* performed by one of the world’s best orchestras in one of the world’s best concert halls.

This special event will feature the talents of two young Finnish stars: Tarmo Peltokoski is on an astronomical rise and will conduct and present the concerts; fellow countryman Anton Mejias will take to the piano to perform a work for piano soloist and orchestra. Both artists are tipped to reach the very top of their profession.

Musically the event features two pieces – Prokofiev’s brilliant and at times breath-taking Second Piano Concerto and Sibelius’s theatrical Fifth Symphony. Perhaps the Finnish composer’s best-known work, it ends with one of the greatest finales of all time, it’s ‘Swan Hymn’ ringing out in life-affirming glory.

Hallé Chief Executive David Butcher said:

This new Rush Hour concert is a great way for people on their way home (or on their way out), to stop by and experience the full power of a symphony orchestra – and all for a tenner or £2 if you’re in full-time education. Starting at 6.30pm and lasting just over an hour, people can hear world-class musicians and soloists in one of the world’s best concert halls performing fabulous music, all in an informal setting. Whether regular Hallé attenders or people who have never been to a concert before, we hope everyone will be inspired by the music and the unique sound of an orchestra. We’re grateful to our friends at The Bridgewater Hall for helping support this special event.”

Tickets are on sale now for only £10 or £2 (*full time education) with no booking fees from www.halle.co.uk or 0161 907 9000.

Simpson Millar names new Head of Abuse Law Team

Consumer law firm promotes Liam Goggin to lead its national team of abuse law experts

Simpson Millar has promoted Liam Goggin to Head of Abuse Law in a move that further bolsters the Public Law Division’s senior management leadership team.

Based out of the firm’s Manchester office, and specialising in child abuse claims against public bodies, including schools, religious or charitable organisations, social services and the police, Liam brings nine years’ experience to the role.

A member of the Association of Child Abuse Lawyers, the promotion sees him officially take on the role of leading the 10-strong national team, having recently acted as Interim Head of Department.

During this time Liam has overseen a large number of procedural and cultural changes within the team, which also handles civil cases against individuals who have been criminally convicted of abuse, including representing clients in group actions, and pursuing Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) claims.

He has also represented clients in a number of high-profile cases against football clubs such as Crewe Alexandra and Manchester City FC, as well as representing clients in the national inquiry in London, and to claim for compensation as part of the Lambeth redress scheme.

Commenting on his promotion Imogen Jolley, Head of Public Law at Simpson Millar, said he brings with him ‘unrivalled insight’ into complex areas of abuse law, and that his passion for securing justice on behalf of his clients ‘resonated throughout the department’.

She added: “Liam’s expertise and insight into some of the more complex aspects of bringing a claim against public bodies, and particularly under the CICA, has secured justice on behalf of hundreds of clients.

“Likewise, his passion and dedication for the work that he does has put him front and centre of some of the highest profile abuse cases in recent years, and his passion has truly resonated throughout the team during his time as interim head of department.

“We are therefore delighted to announce his promotion and delighted to welcome him as a permanent member of the senior management team within the public law department.”

Commenting on his new role Liam said: “I am proud and privileged to have been named as head of abuse law at Simpson Millar, and to have the opportunity to continue to lead such a talented and dedicated team of legal experts.

“Collectively we are focused on securing access to justice on behalf of clients who have been let down by the very people who should have been there to protect them. This commitment to opening up the law, and to making sure that they are on hand to help anyone in need of legal support, is what makes this role so rewarding.”

How To Start an Ecommerce Business in UK

Congratulations if you have decided to start an ecommerce business in the UK, as it means you can have a stable income. It is one of the most profitable ways of earning money and people from all over the world try their best to be in Ecommerce field.

Ecommerce is not the future of the business, but it is the present. Nowadays people love purchasing everything through online platforms and they need more and more improved experience. 

If you are a beginner in the topic, then this article will help you to improve your knowledge and do the maximum that you can to build your Ecommerce business and succeed. 

The Capital and The Potential for You Ecommerce Business

Investments from companies in exchange for participation in business management. Venture capital firms invest in businesses with the potential for significant returns: you need to demonstrate a unique offering, innovation, or a strong competitive advantage. Investments are usually made in rounds, increasing as the business scales and profits increase.

Business loan

Suitable for large long-term purchases, such as investments in vehicles or equipment. To get a bank loan, you need to prove that the company will be profitable and you can pay off the debt along with interest.

Individual entrepreneur

Suitable for those who independently conduct business, selling their goods or services. It can be dropshipping, house cleaning, dog walking, product delivery, custom cake baking, massages, photography, and more. In this case, you are solely responsible for the debts of your business. If you have decided to have a delivery option in your product, then it means you have the responsibility to do it in the best way. You can try using Circuit Route Planner to add hours to your day and enjoy the possibility of planning the routes in an easy and flexible way. 

Partnership for Success

A way for two or more people to run a business together and share personal responsibility:

  • pay tax on their share of the profits;
  • personally liable for debts and other obligations;
  • jointly buy equipment, shares, etc.

A partnership could be a great way of starting your E-commerce business as you can have support and resources rather than your own. However those resources will not make sense if your partner is not a reliable person.

Our recommendation is whenever you choose a partner, pick them for their value and quality not just for having some help. If you will need help for your everyday tasks, then hire VA from Virtalent and they will do all the work for you. Virtual assistants will help you with the tasks that you need and they will save your time and money. It is better to have a virtual assistant for help rather than a strange partnership just for having extra support and resources. 

Another Essential for Ecommerce Business

Insurance

Insurance will protect against possible risks, such as property damage or legal costs. There are mandatory types such as:

insurance to cover the cost of compensating workers who are injured or ill at work (if you are an employer);

car insurance (if the business uses vehicles);

insurance for certain types of professions.

Other types of business insurance are optional, such as:

commercial real estate insurance;

liability insurance (will cover damages for damages and legal costs if you have claims from clients, investors or shareholders).

The types of policies required and their cost depend on many factors: the specifics of the business, annual turnover, and the number of employees.

Open a bank account in UK

To facilitate financial transactions, it is better to have an account in a British bank. The requirements of different financial institutions for opening an account by non-residents may differ. Consider the three largest banks and the conditions they offer:

It might have some difficulties and other details to open a bank account in the UK but if you do your best you can solve all the issues and open a bank account. However if you are a citizen of the UK, then you do not need to worry about this and you can just go to the bank and start opening the type of account that you need for your Ecommerce business.

Website Measures and Some Tips

Of course the success  of your website comes from high-quality websites and you should strive to get one. But still there are other features that you need to consider in order to have a better experience. Do not be afraid if it is your first time as an E-commerce business person. Just follow the simple metrics and you will succeed.

The website should have all the essential measures for the good websites and you can find the measures if you speak with an SEO specialist. You need to take care of search engine optimizations as they will help you to rank on Google and have success. 

The technical parts of the website should be managed well and have all the measures. Your website should have live chat, so the customers will have an opportunity to ask their direct questions. The most successful websites provide 24/7 service for this. For the very beginning you can settle for 8 hours working graphics. However, still make sure that you have this live option as you will have higher chances of deals. 

Nowadays Practices and Potentials

Today, more and more entrepreneurs are interested in legal business abroad, which at the same time allows them not to pay taxes. We are talking about a European offshore company in the UK. Such non-resident companies are exempt from paying taxes and at the same time can fully operate in Europe and the world, receiving a good income. The financial part will be served remotely by modern payment companies and systems, as well as a merchant account.

There are eligible financial instruments that are tuned for development and are designed for long-term cooperation. The company is engaged in accepting and processing online payments, opening current accounts for business, financing activities and private banking services.

The presented payment financial platform should not be confused with a bank. This is a financial institution operating under a license and providing various banking services. But, unlike banks, the system does not use customer funds and does not issue loans using these funds.

E-commerce platform attracts

  • Transaction speed.
  • Quality level of service.
  • The convenience of registration. 
  • Filling out the questionnaire and submitting documents is carried out online.

Having opened a company and an account in the payment system, you also need to choose a reliable payment network that will provide online payment services.

We recommend entrusting your financial transactions to an electronic service registered in the USA. In other words, it is a payment gateway – an indispensable element of any e-commerce operation. In other words the big markets are complicated but at the same time the most effective ways for E-commerce businesses are in those countries. The UK is a perfect place for E-commerce if you know the regulations, policies and you are ready to write a killer business plan with profound and relevant research.

Final Points To Conclude 

We are waiting for your success and you can surely start your E-commerce business in the UK and succeed. Do not be afraid to be bold and do all the unusual practices as those are the ones who can bring you great deals. The UK market is huge and you will need complete market analysis and research, thus if you do it, then you have an assurance of succeeding in your future endeavors. 

You are all set now, as you have the potential of becoming an E-commerce industry pro. Everything starts from a simple Google research and as we can see you have started it so far. Then keep it going and share your experience with others who might be interested to support you. 

How to create your own event management website?

An event management website is an essential aspect of event organization and management that would make the process much easier and faster. Therefore having a user-friendly website would become the main management component to achieve set goals. Hence, in this article, you will find information about some tools and strategies to help you to create a convenient website to manage your event. You will find the answers to questions such as:

  1. What is event management, and why do you need it?
  2. Why is managing an event so important?
  3. Why do you need a website for managing events?
  4. How to create an event management website?
  5. Common mistakes in creating an event management website.

What is event management, and why do you need it? 

Event management is the process of planning and maintaining a small or large-scale event; thus, it is also known as event planning. Events can be crucial in a comprehensive marketing strategy in any field. Therefore its role is irreplaceable, and the event manager professional is responsible for a number of key aspects of the event, such as:

  • Planning of the event
  • Designing and production
  • Promotion and future profitability of an event

Why is managing an event so important?

Event management is the key to business success. It is an integral part of business development, as it can damage or maintain the reputation of a company. An adequately organized event allows a business to advertise its products and services to a targeted audience and demonstrate the company’s advantages, therefore making new profitable connections.

Occasional events managed professionally can increase engagement and interaction, which will later add credibility and higher reputation status to a business or company.

Why do you need a website for managing events?

In this age of globalization, with the introduction of the internet and media, the organizer has the opportunity to create a website for event management that will make the process much easier and more profitable at the same time. Also,nowadays  there is a chance to conduct not only physical events but virtual platforms as well while using event management software. The main benefits of managing a website are:

  • Easy to connect and share: An event-managing website will become the primary source of information for customers. It will share every detail needed, such as dates, speakers, sessions, and themes. For controlling the dates for maximal elimination of chaos, you can add to your website an event calendar plugin. Doing all this in one place, instead of being required to reach up to every attendant individually, will save a lot of time and money.
  • No information confusion: Even though every company most probably has its own separate website, posting about every event would get lost in other consent of the site. Therefore having a specific event website where the specialists would post only the information about the event will eliminate confusion.
  • Brand awareness: Branding is critical to your company’s development and growth. A creative design and layout of the website will give the company a chance to come up with a unique brand for sponsors and attendants to memorize.

How to create an event management website?

Starting a website may seem complicated at first sight, but following several vital steps will assist you in creating a professional platform. Let’s start with things you surely need on your website.

First and foremost, installing WordPress event plugin will make the process of management and organization of the event more effortless as it will help to sell the tickets and control attendees without any problem.

A well-organized website needs an easy and functional interface that should include a Home Page, an About Page, a Service Page, and a Contact Page. What are these?

  • Home page: It is the introductory page of your website, which provides a brief introduction to the company or organization to which it belongs.
  • About Page: This section offers details about the person or organization in charge of the website issue, typically explaining the site’s origins and goals.
  • Service Page: This page provides customers with information about their products and encourages them to purchase, which later helps the business to gather data about customers.
  • Contact Page: As the name suggests, this section is created for the customers to contact the organization via the official website.

Do not spend too much time choosing the name, as people most probably would search your business name if they needed to find your website. Be concise and include its original name.

Having a responsive design is one of the most crucial tools that will help you in creating a successful website. Creating an interface that will effectively work on mobile devices as well as increase the number of website visitors, therefore, benefiting the trafficking.

Your website should have comprehensively set goals for the particular event to be able to have a clear understanding of success measurements.  

Including relevant content is one of the key components of a successful website. It will ensure that it resonates with your customers and provides them with the information they require, consequently increasing trafficking.

Common mistakes in creating an event management website

  • Too many keywords: Keywords are used to make searching more efficient. However, sometimes adding a lot of keywords here and there without a specific need in the context will make the website look unprofessional.
  • Annoying call-to-actions: Call-to-action is a very common advertising step; nevertheless, putting it in too many places would make it look annoying. Your website should not look like an advertisement but rather an information source.
  • Too much information and text: Indeed, your website should convey information about the event; nevertheless, placing too much content would make the reader get easily lost in long texts and unimportant information. 

To sum up.

Organizing a professional event can have a substantial positive impact on the company’s reputation. Creating a website to manage the event is an easy and convenient way to attract visitors and share information about the event.  

Advantages of automated storage and retrieval systems

There are several advantages of automated storage and retrieval systems. In this article we will discuss those advantages and provide you with some bonus tips which will help you to have a better experience.

Whether you are new in the topic or you have some background information you can still get essential information from the article. Thus stay tuned and use your maximum capabilities to enjoy the process. Do not be afraid to implement all the strategies right away and share your own practices in the comments section. 

Let’s get started with some informational parts and then discuss examples of them for a better experience.

Interaction between automated storage system and production process.

Modern information technologies have revolutionized the technical equipment of an industrial enterprise, which has significantly affected the entire technological chain of production, including logistics and warehouse systems. Labor-intensive processes are giving way to automation and robotization with a minimal presence of the human factor, and sometimes with its complete absence.

Computer-controlled warehouse automation systems are today an essential part of the production process at every stage of the production process, which allows you to increase production volumes and gross margins of the company while reducing costs. Unfortunately, automation came to the warehouse of the enterprise relatively recently.

At the same time, given the number of software applications used, as well as the possible amount of profit that an enterprise can ultimately receive, today there is a significant increase in the number of companies that are implementing modern storage automation technologies in their warehouses.

There is a Modula HC, which brings a new level of performance, reliability and safety to high-speed picking operations where ceiling height is limited. The benefit is that it is fast and easy, useful for all the types of performance. 

Now let’s discuss an example of  automation and retrieval systems.

Implementation of the principle “Cargo to the person”

The basis for the creation of automated storage systems is the principle of “Cargo to the person”. In other words, in such storage systems, the goods move towards the person, and not vice versa. As a result, the loading time of the warehouse, as well as the search for cargo, are significantly reduced, since more demanded products are placed closer to the delivery window by the computer system. 

When servicing the system, the operator is located at the issuing window and does not move around the warehouse area, and the shelves with the necessary goods are automatically fed to the issuing window at his request, which significantly reduces the risk of dangerous situations.

Generally, nowadays software is more useful and for all the types of the regulations, it is better to use software rather than hiring some professionals for it. Do not be afraid to subscribe to the software, as they can save your time and money. If you need accounting services, think about having an accounting software rather than hiring an accountant. As the softwares has better customer support and is always ready to have a customer well-being approach and innovative techniques. 

The main types for the Security Measures

Personnel safety

In automated systems, the required storage unit is fed to a convenient height for the operator. Access to stored goods is provided without additional physical effort on the part of the warehouse employee. Also, the set of equipment for automated storage systems includes safety light barriers. All this eliminates the possibility of injury to operators even when working with heavy loads.

Storage security

Providing maximum protection of products from the effects of external adverse conditions, automated storage systems prevent damage or theft of stored products. Access to goods within the system is carried out after authorization of the personnel by entering an access code into the warehouse system control panel. Each warehouse operation and actions of operators are recorded by the system.

Integration into the customer’s accounting system

To ensure optimal efficiency and throughput when using an automated storage system, it must be integrated with the warehouse management system of the enterprise. The indisputable advantage of our storage systems is easy and convenient integration into the customer’s accounting system. These systems can be combined into one and manage inventory from one computer.

QA Testing for Having Professional Experience

To have a professional experience you need to have QA testing and skipping this step can be a tragedy for you. As QA helps you assure the quality and to qualify the measures that you are currently using.

Investing in the quality of your product will give you long term positive consequences and help you to have better user experience, which means views, leads and eventually sales. 

The product line of modern warehouse equipment designed and manufactured by good software includes the following types of systems:

– automated storage systems of elevator type in open and closed versions;

— automated rack-type storage system;

— automated storage systems of fan type;

— automated storage system of horizontal type.

Automated Storage Systems in Other Terms

This type of automated warehouse system provides for a movable cell structure for storing goods. The racks are divided into sections, each of which has its own electric drive and control. Each vertical rack or horizontal row has a special place for unloading goods.

If it is necessary to pick up the load, the electric drive is turned on, and the cells begin to move around inside the rack in a circle using a chain mechanism. As soon as the required package arrives at the unloading point, it is pushed out and transported further automatically or with the help of a forklift.

The main disadvantage of such a system is the inability to change the cell size. Therefore, such systems are often used in production warehouses with guaranteed package sizes.

In rooms with low ceilings, the carousel can be designed horizontally. In this case, this will be represented by single-level deep racks. One of the options for a horizontal carousel is mechanized hangers in clothing warehouses.

Lift storage system

Automated warehouse storage systems for goods of the elevator type are built according to the type of classic racks. To move goods along them, a special lifting and transport device (shuttle) is used, moving along the shelves along the guides.

The advantage of lift racks is their modular nature, which means that they can be quickly scaled in length and height. The cell size and capture mechanism can also be changed by simple upgrades or even programming.

Concluding Points 

Automated warehouse systems are especially effective for standard container sizes and a small assortment of goods, so they are rarely used in retail. However, already in building stores with a high rental rate, their use may be justified. 

If you are new in this topic, we hope you got the most answers of your questions and now you feel more certain about what you should follow.

This topic needs more attention and of course you need to read more about it if you want to develop your own way of organizing and thinking strategies. Tend to be productive and always maximize the capability of learning. 

PUBLIC PRACTICE DELIVERS LARGEST COHORT OF PLACEMENTS AS IT EXPANDS INTO THE NORTH WEST TO HELP EASE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SKILLS CRISIS

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RECORD INTAKE OF PLACEMAKING PROFESSIONALS COMES AFTER LOCAL AUTHORITIES RECEIVE £8BN FROM LEVELLING UP FUND AND TOWNS FUND BUT SAY ATTRACTING SKILLED STAFF IS THEIR LARGEST RECRUITMENT ISSUE

Public Practice has launched its largest ever cohort of placements and its first in the North of England as part of a geographic expansion to help ease the local government skills crisis.

The expansion into the north means the social enterprise has secured employment for 41 experienced place professionals in the public sector this autumn including a total of seven placements across the North West covering Manchester, Warrington, St Helens, Rochdale and Cumbria.

Out of the 41 placements, 25 stated it was a brand new role within the Authority, and 14 will be working on roles in Urban Design.

The geographic growth comes after local authorities across England have received more than £8bn of investment from the Government’s Towns Fund (£3.6bn) and Levelling Up Fund (£4.8bn) to create better places for people to live, work and visit.

The expansion of Public Practice has been funded by a £200,000 investment by Homes England supported by the Department of Levelling Up, Homes and Communities (DLUHC).

However, Public Practice’s survey revealed that four-fifths (79%) of local authorities said attracting skilled staff is their largest recruitment issue.

The Local Authority Resourcing and Skills Survey was designed by Public Practice to help understand the skills gaps and the impact that a lack of resources has on council officers and their teams across England.

Over the past decade the number of full-time employees in councils across the North West has fallen by almost a quarter (24%) from 190,100 full-time employees in 2012 to 144,900 in 2022.

Over the past five years Public Practice has attracted more than 2,500 professionals to apply to its placement programme, 92% of which have come from people currently working outside of the public sector. 73% of applicants have never worked in the public sector and 53% of applicants have never previously applied for a job in the public sector.

The not-for-profit social enterprise has a mission to rebuild skills and capacity in the public sector to help improve places and communities across England.

To date, Public Practice has had 264 place professionals in 73 public sector bodies across England.

Public Practice’s programme has resulted in a long-term transfer of talent and expertise into the public sector. Nine-tenths of Public Practice Associates have chosen to continue working in the public sector following the conclusion of the year-long programme.

 

Pooja Agrawal, CEO of Public Practice said: “We are proud to welcome our largest ever cohort of built environment professionals to new placements in local government. Our expansion into the North West comes at a very exciting time. Since 2019 councils across England have been able to start bidding for funding from the Towns Fund and Levelling Up Fund – a combined pot worth more than £8bn.

“This has created exceptionally interesting opportunities for placemaking professionals who now have a chance to help build better places and shape the future of towns and cities across England for generations.

“However, it is clear that local authorities have substantial skills gaps and are understandably concerned about delivering these projects on the ground amidst growing political and economic uncertainty. Our Resourcing and Skills Survey, shows that the biggest recruitment barrier councils face is attracting the right people with the right skills to meet their ambitions.

“Public Practice can help to fill that gap by bringing private sector placemaking expertise into the public sector. People who want to come in and make a difference to places local to them and towns and cities across England. More than nine-tenths of Public Practice associates stay in local government after their initial placement ends.”

 

Anna Rose, Director of Public Practice said: “These are exciting times for Public Practice, not only is this our largest cohort since launching in 2017 it is also the first time we have expanded our reach into the North West of England.

“These are also exciting times for placemaking professionals with more than 200 projects granted money through either the Levelling Up Fund or Towns Fund, unlocking new regeneration opportunities for places across the North West.

“However, councils are facing a crisis of funding and resourcing. Public Practice gives public sector bodies the chance to tap into private sector placemaking expertise on a time limited placement. We help councils to build capacity, benefit from new skills and find new local government champions from among our associates, the vast majority of whom go on to move from the private to the public sector.”

£1.5M awarded for Early Years training courses in Greater Manchester

STAFF working in Greater Manchester’s Early Years industry are being offered fully-funded training opportunities to help children achieve their potential.

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has awarded a £1.5m contract to Acorn Training to deliver Early Years training. The training aims to ensure that those working within the Early Years sector have access to high quality continued professional development, as part of the Skills for Growth programme, funded through the European Social Fund.

Costs are often cited as the biggest barrier to development in the Early Years sector and the industry has identified a number of skills gaps. The new free courses will be a fantastic opportunity to combat this and improve outcomes as well as social mobility for young children and their families.

Acorn Training will focus on upskilling individuals who work with children from birth to age five to better understand and support early development and learning. They are committed to developing teaching and deepening learning, so that teachers and practitioners can make a difference to every child.

The programme aims to connect those working in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) settings with Early Years teams so that everyone can benefit from their experience, knowledge, and passion to inform understanding of how children learn and develop. It also offers the option to work with employers and employees to create bespoke training bundles suited to individual needs.

Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, Greater Manchester’s Lead for Education, Work, Skills, Apprenticeships and Digital, said:

“Our greatest resource is our children, and we need to invest in their Early Years education by giving teachers and the workforce the resources they need to inspire those young minds.

“To realise our ambitions the sector must have the right skills and the best training available to help our children reach their true potential, improve their outcomes, raise social mobility and empower our businesses with an ever-growing talent pool.

“We look forward to the launch of the Acorn Training programmes, as we endeavour to inspire the next generation to bigger and better things.”

Councillor Mark Hunter, Greater Manchester’s Lead for Young People, said:

“We know the sector is suffering from a significant skills shortage.  It’s fantastic to hear GMCA, with investment from the European Social Fund, is partnering with Acorn Early Years Training Programme to address that shortage.

“This is an important initiative aimed at attracting new talent to the sector and providing them with the skills and qualifications needed, to pursue a rewarding career shaping the futures of our children.”

Gareth Saldanha-Fallows, Managing Director at Acorn Training, said:

“We are delighted to be bringing our Early Years training expertise to Greater Manchester.

“We will work in partnership with local employers in the Early Years Sector to understand their business needs and offer bespoke training bundles. Our training is designed to support the business objectives, development and ensure they can continue to provide a high-quality care offering to children under five within their provisions.

“The learners are at the heart of everything we do, and our talented team of trainer assessors and tutors ensure that learners are well-equipped with the skills and knowledge that they need to aspire, make good choices and succeed in their chosen career within the Early Years Sector.”

The programme will benefit:

  • Individuals working in Primary Schools
  • Maintained Nursery Schools
  • Private, voluntary or independent sector Early Years Settings
  • Those working as childminders

Training sessions available include:

  • Improving Knowledge & Understanding
  • Developmental Milestones
  • Developmental Concerns
  • Teamwork around Children
  • Safeguarding, Health & Wellbeing
  • People Management
  • Safer Recruitment & Selection
  • Leading Practice
  • Vocational, Education & Training

The Skills for Growth programme is available as a result of GMCA securing funding from the European Social Fund to deliver a three-year programme, working in partnership with businesses and training providers to create new learning opportunities for employed residents in the city-region.

Throughout the programme, GMCA will gather intelligence from businesses, which will be used to shape new training programmes. This unique and truly employer-led approach means that GMCA create a solution that is fit for purpose.

To apply for Early Years training please visit: Skills for Growth – Early Years – Acorn Training Ltd

For more information about the training opportunities available in different sectors across Greater Manchester, head to our ‘live training programmes’ page: www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/skillsforgrowth

Sale Sharks joins LooseHeadz mission with new mental health lead

Sale Sharks to become the first Premiership club to officially partner with LooseHeadz

Sale Sharks Foundation Mental Wellbeing Manager Eddie Owen takes the new role

Sharks will also support LooseHeadz’ ambition to put a mental health lead into every rugby club

Sale Sharks has appointed its first club-wide mental health lead as it becomes the first Gallagher Premiership club to officially partner up with mental health movement LooseHeadz.

Eddie Owen, who works as Mental Wellbeing Manager at the club’s charity partner, the Sale Sharks Foundation, will take up the role, which will see him support the club’s players and staff.

The partnership will also see Sale Sharks support Wilmslow-based LooseHeadz with their mission to tackle the stigma around mental health, and place a mental-health lead – known as a ‘LooseHead’ – in every rugby club worldwide.

And that will start with a special event in November where Sharks will introduce LooseHeadz to its ‘100 Clubs’ network of rugby clubs all over the North West.

Sale Sharks CEO Sid Sutton said: “We know that the mental health and wellbeing of our players and staff is every bit as important as their physical condition when it comes to making sure they are ready to perform at their very best on and off the pitch.

“But more importantly than that, we want to create an environment where our players and staff become better people during their time here, and feel supported in every aspect of their lives.

“We want to be so much more than a rugby club and the partnership with LooseHeadz is a perfect way to make an impact both at home and further afield in our communities.

“The LooseHeadz team has ambitious targets and we’re really excited to see how we can support them to make as big an impact as possible in rugby clubs and beyond.”

Sale Sharks players Manu Tuilagi, Sam James and Luke James are already ambassadors for LooseHeadz, and they’ll be joined in that role by Sharks Women’s co-captains Lauren Delany and Georgie Perris-Redding.

The club is also committed to rolling out LooseHeadz’ mental health toolkit to all junior academy and Centre of Excellence players and participants in the Sale Sharks Foundation rugby camps.

Sharks’ new LooseHeadz mental health lead Eddie said: “LooseHeadz is doing some amazing work and I’m honoured to have the chance to support that within our club. Our player and staff all have mental health and we all need to check in with each other and support other.”

Rob Shotton, Co-founder of LooseHeadz, said “We’re delighted to be partnering with Sale Sharks to tackle the stigma of mental health together.

“LooseHeadz was born out of a conversation right here in the North West of England so we’re delighted to be working with the club to further our mission of placing a mental health lead at every rugby club.

“The three co-founders of LooseHeadz are all Sale Sharks supporters so this is partnership is a special one and we can’t wait to get started!”