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Historic Environment Scotland has awarded £188,000 to help secure future of Dunblane’s Leighton Library. The category A-listed building, near Dunblane Cathedral, dates from the 17th century, and was commissioned through the will of Robert Leighton, a former Principal of Edinburgh University, Bishop of Dunblane, and Archbishop of Glasgow, who died in 1684. In bequeathing a sum for a building to house his books, Robert Leighton gave his collection to the clergy of the Cathedral of Dunblane. The oldest book dates from 1504. Beyond the Bishop’s personal collection, the Trustees added to the collection from 1701 with many important books from the Age of Enlightenment. The building and collection has remained in use as a library and, unusually, the books and many of the original library fixtures survive intact, including six Jacobean chairs and the original book presses that line one wall. The HES funding will go towards a programme of restoration that includes repairs to the walls, stonework, chimneys, and roof to ensure the collection of rare and antique books can remain housed in their original building. Central to the project is work to remove modern cement-based harling and replace it with a lime-based material, closer to that used on the original 17th-century exterior. The project will also restore the marble cartouche ordered by the Bishop’s executors, his sister and her son, a wealthy City of London brewer. The restoration project, started earlier this year, has already unearthed some unexpected finds. A fireplace and press, still with its original lime plaster, were discovered after the removal of harling applied around 1990. One notable find was a finely carved stone with the initials ‘MGK’ which had been reused to bolster a chimney, identified as those of a Dean of Dunblane in the 1680s. One replaced crow-step stone was found to have carving beneath it suggesting it was reused from another building nearby, possibly the (then) ruined Cathedral or Bishop’s Palace. Dr Susan O’Connor, Head of Grants at Historic Environment Scotland, said, “We’re thrilled to award funding to this project and to play a part in the incredible history of the Leighton Library and, by extension, Scotland’s world-renowned history of libraries and learning." “Not only does this project conserve a historic building, but, through the care and patience of those involved in the work, we now know more about the library’s history and have a further insight into the centuries of change witnessed by this building.” Alastair MacDonald, Restoration Lead from the Leighton Library Trust said, “We are very grateful for the significant support HES has given to our wonderful library. The restoration work has revealed that the repairs we have now been able to undertake are in the nick of time, as the fabric had deteriorated badly over the years. This grant, and other generous donations, have made a significant difference to the project. There’s still a long way to go to ensure the collection and its unique building are saved for future generations.” The Leighton Library Trust hopes that, following repair works, the library will offer increased opportunities for tourists and locals alike to visit and experience the remarkable building and collection for themselves.

A new nationwide poll reveals that Brits have a taste for top-notch pizza toppings with pizza customisation at home sweeping the nation and giving rise to a new breed of pizza 'super toppers' too. Every year, the UK sees a massive GBP 5 billion spent on pizzas, and while 80% of these are typically purchased from restaurants and takeaways, the landscape is evolving. This shift has led to a growing appetite for homemade pizzas and shop-bought alternatives that can be personalised and enjoyed in the comfort of one's own home. Cooks&Co , the award-winning range of store cupboard ingredients, is at the forefront of this pizza revolution, witnessing first-hand the surging demand for its quality ingredients as pizza toppings. Its Green Frenk Chillies is now the no.1 best seller and its Sweety Drop Peppers has entered the top 10 best sellers list . In response, the brand recently conducted an extensive nationwide study to delve into the pizza-topping preferences of Brits, revealing a nation of astute pizza enthusiasts who relish the opportunity to become culinary pizza artists, experimenting with a diverse range of favourite toppings and flavours. DIY Pizza Customisation Sweeps The Nation On average, pizza-loving Brits across the UK tastefully embellish their pizzas with just under 3 distinct toppings. However, there's an extraordinary league of pizza enthusiasts - 2.7 million strong - known as the "super toppers," who take culinary creativity to new heights by piling on an impressive 6 or more toppings. The art of pizza customization isn’t just reserved for home-made pizzas either, nearly half (47%) of Brits admit to pimping up their shop-bought pizzas with extra toppings. Surprisingly, nearly a fifth (19%) of Brits admit to going one step further and stripping away toppings from store-bought pizzas and replacing them with their own favourites. The 25-34 age group takes the reins in this picky topping transformation, with a third (33%) of them doing it. Northern Ireland residents proudly claim the title of champions in the customization arena, with a quarter (25%) confessing to taking part in this flavourful makeover. Beloved Ingredients, Taste Divisions And Trending Ingredients In the world of pizza toppings, the preferences are crystal clear. The top five favourites include extra cheese, shredded or chopped chicken, pepperoni, onions, and mushrooms. Conversely, the list of least-liked toppings comprises figs, jackfruit, aubergine, broccoli, artichoke, and seafood. The ever-controversial pineapple is a topic of fierce debate, with nearly half (48%) embracing its sweet tang, just over 2 in 5 (43%) staunchly refusing it, and 1 in 12 (9%) remaining undecided. The popularity of pizza toppings like sweet peppers, chillies/jalapeños, and sundried tomatoes mirrors broader culinary trends. These flavours offer bold and unique taste experiences, aligning with the growing interest in Mediterranean and Latin American cuisines, where these ingredients frequently shine. Paired with other ingredients they help elevate pizzas to new heights of flavour and excitement, making them increasingly popular among pizza enthusiasts in the UK. Katie Atkin, Brand Manager, Cooks&Co, comments, "In Britain, we are a nation of pizza lovers who value quality ingredients and enjoy experimenting with different toppings and flavours. The findings shed light on the ever-evolving world of pizza, where customisation knows no bounds, and the quest for the perfect slice is a culinary adventure." “Our commitment to providing premium ingredients for the pizza-loving community and other dishes aligns perfectly with the creativity and passion we see in Brits' pizza-making endeavours and we're thrilled to be part of this flavourful journey.” The research was conducted by Censuswide with 2,000 UK General Consumers (National-Representation) between 11.09.23 to 13.09.23. Censuswide abide by and employ members of the Market Research Society which is based on the ESOMAR principles and are members of The British Polling Council.

Leicestershire CCC is delighted to announce the return of Ben Mike on a three-year contract. The Academy graduate will rejoin the Foxes after reaching an agreement with Yorkshire to sanction an early release from his deal at Headingley. Mike made 86 appearances across five seasons during his first spell at Uptonsteel County Ground, before departing for the White Rose at the end of the 2022 campaign. He featured on 18 occasions for Yorkshire, although only two appearances came in the County Championship, with the desire to play more red-ball cricket cited as the main reason behind Mike’s desire to return home to Leicestershire. After signing his first professional deal in August 2018, the all-rounder made an instant impact on debut at Sussex the following month, claiming his career-best match figures of 9/94, before ending the campaign with 19 wickets at 20.26 from four matches. Mike went on to establish himself as an integral component of the side across all formats, registering 78 first-class wickets at 36.68 apiece, while amassing 1,178 runs at an average of 23.56. The 25-year-old has also developed a reputation as both an effectual strike bowler and a big-hitter at the death in T20 cricket, taking 43 wickets at 26.76 and scoring 567 runs striking at just under 150. Discussing his decision to return to the Club, Mike said: “I’m very thankful for my time at Yorkshire. I had some honest conversations with the management and whilst they wanted me to stay, it just felt right for my career to make the move back. It’s a really exciting time to be at Leicestershire, as we saw at the end of last season with the achievements the Club made. It was great to see close friends do so well, and my aim is to help add to that in the seasons ahead." “I think I’ll really thrive under Alfonso [Thomas]. I spent a short time with him in 2022, but I’m looking forward to linking back up with him. Naturally I’m very excited to work with James Taylor too. His addition last year was a massive boost, and the guys I’ve spoken to couldn’t speak highly enough of him. I’ve learned a lot in my year away. I want to provide exciting moments and be a match-winner, but now is time for me to step up and put those performances in more consistently.” Director of Cricket, Claude Henderson, said: “We’re delighted to share the fantastic news that Ben is coming back to Leicestershire." “He brings an x-factor with both bat and ball in all three formats, which makes our squad really exciting for the coming seasons. He’s the final jigsaw piece in our puzzle.” Mike is the third new arrival at Uptonsteel County Ground this winter, following the arrivals of Ben Cox and Liam Trevaskis.

Project Speedbird – a joint partnership between Nova Pangaea Technologies (NPT), LanzaJet and British Airways (BA) – has secured new funding totalling £9 million from the Government’s Advanced Fuels Fund (AFF) competition. NPT, a Teesside-based cleantech company developing advanced biofuels used to produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), was awarded £7.5 million as part of the partnership, and LanzaJet, the world’s leading ethanol to SAF technology company and sustainable fuels producer, will receive £1.5 million. It is hoped that the funding will help establish the UK as a world-leader in SAF production and the decarbonisation of aviation. It follows the multi-million-pound investments from International Airlines Group (IAG) and British Airways earlier this year into NPT and Project Speedbird, respectively. IAG – British Airways’ parent company – is also a founding investor and shareholder of LanzaJet dating back to 2021. Technological Innovation The SAF will be developed using a combination of NPT’s innovative technology, which converts agricultural waste and wood residue feedstocks into second-generation biofuels such as ethanol, and LanzaJet’s proprietary technology that converts ethanol into SAF. The NPT ethanol will be initially processed into SAF using LanzaJet’s Alcohol to Jet (ATJ) plant in Georgia, USA - the first of its kind in the world - prior to Project Speedbird’s own larger ATJ facility, planned to be built in the UK by 2027. British Airways is intending to purchase all the SAF produced through Project Speedbird to help power some of its flights. Project Speedbird will produce 102 million litres of SAF per year, which will reduce CO2 emissions, on a net lifecycle basis, by 230,000 tonnes per year, the equivalent of approximately 26,000 British Airways domestic flights. Project Speedbird will produce SAF at full capacity by 2028, supporting progress towards the UK’s SAF mandate which will require at least 10% of jet fuel used by airlines to be made from sustainable feedstocks by 2030. Sarah Ellerby, Chief Executive of Nova Pangaea Technologies, said: “Nova Pangaea Technologies are delighted to have secured this multi-million-pound investment. With support from the Government, and in partnership with British Airways and LanzaJet, we can now accelerate our next phase of development and the commercialisation of our technology, to help take the UK one step closer to becoming a global leader in SAF." “Our first commercial-scale production facility will be the first of its kind in the UK, and will use wood residues and non-food derived agricultural waste as its feedstocks. Our partnership, Project Speedbird, will play a transformational role in decarbonising the aviation sector, as well as providing local employment opportunities in the North East.” Carrie Harris, Director of Sustainability at British Airways, said: “Sustainable aviation fuel will play a critical role in meeting our net zero targets and is currently the only realistic low carbon solution for long-haul flights, so it is vital that we continue to invest and develop SAF technology in order to create enough supply. We welcome the government's investment and continued support in Project Speedbird which represents landmark new technology for UK SAF supply." "The UK has the potential to become a leader in the production of SAF, and this pioneering project is one step closer to this becoming a reality and a big moment for British Airways and UK SAF production more generally." Jimmy Samartzis, Chief Executive Officer at LanzaJet, said: “The aviation industry has set ambitious and necessary targets to address the urgency of climate change, and this next generation of sustainable aviation fuels will be critical to meeting the industry’s goals. Project Speedbird is a tremendous example of what it takes to scale the industry and meet this moment. Government support like this is critical in facilitating that growth and we’re thrilled to be working with exceptional partners like Nova Pangaea Technologies and British Airways – making sure these goals become reality.”

The team at a garden centre in Bingley is making it fun for families this Christmas by introducing special festive events for the first time. Bingley Garden Centre, formerly Stephen H Smith’s, was acquired by Yorkshire Garden Centres in July last year and the team is looking forward to celebrating Christmas with a host of family activities, including Breakfast with Santa, Christmas Crafternoons, a singing reindeer and a Christmas treasure hunt throughout the centre. Marc Salama, Centre Manager is looking forward to the festive season adding: “We’re excited to bring our Christmas experiences to our new centre at Bingley. People travel for miles to experience Christmas at our sister centre at Tong and we want to replicate the magic of Tong, but with a Bingley stamp." November 25 sees the launch of the festive experiences with a free family fun day with a princess singalong, elftastic fun with the cheeky elves , a Christmas treasure hunt, Rudy the singing reindeer, free Elfie Selfies in a giant bauble and the opening of Santa’s magical post box, with proceeds going to Yorkshire Air Ambulance. They’ve also got donkey rides from November 26, Christmas Crafternoons for children every Monday from November 27, Meet and Greet Santa on December 2 and 3 and Breakfast with Santa on December 2, 3 and 23. For the grown-ups, seasonal dishes are being served in Hattie’s Kitchen from November 13 and festive afternoon teas from December 5. “The centre is full of inspirational festive looks and there’s a great range of gift ideas for all the family. It feels very special, and we can’t wait to share the magic with our visitors young and old this festive season.” Breakfast with Santa costs £19.95 for children and includes a set breakfast, juice, a cracker plus a toy and a visit from Santa. The Christmas Crafternoons are suitable for children aged three to 10 and cost £5.95. Each child receives a craft kit packed with two crafts to create, festive colouring sheets and a beaker to take home. Booking for both events is online . Bingley Garden Centre is part of the Yorkshire Garden Centres family with Tong, Tingley and Otley Garden Centres.

The team at a garden centre in Otley is broadening its family appeal by introducing special festive events, including a special Grotto launch weekend on 25th and 26th November. Otley Garden Centre, formerly Stephen H Smith’s, was acquired by Yorkshire Garden Centres in July last year and the team is looking forward to celebrating Christmas with a variety of family activities, including Santa’s Grotto, breakfast with Santa, donkey rides, Santa’s magical post box, singing princesses and elf antics. Andy Bradley, Centre Manager is excited about the launch and the forthcoming festive season, adding: “We’re excited to bring our Christmas experiences to our new centre at Otley. The grotto at Tong Garden Centre is always hugely successful, with visitors saying how much they love the professional performers taking them on a magical journey." The Grotto launch weekend will be full of fun and starts with Santa’s arrival and Grotto opening at 10am on Saturday, 25th November. The fun continues with cheeky elves, who will be painting Rudolph red noses, singing, dancing and teaching Christmas sign language, and Mrs Claus who will be sharing heart-warming stories and spreading festive cheer. At 1pm on Sunday, 26th they will be welcoming singing princesses to Otley for a seasonal sing-a-long and selfies. As Andy concludes: “The centre is full of inspirational festive looks and there’s an impressive range of gift ideas for all the family. It feels very special, and we can’t wait to share the magic with our visitors young and old this festive season.” Tickets for the Grotto cost £20.95 per child and are free for up to two accompanying adults. Breakfast with Santa starts on 16th December, costs £19.95 for children and includes a set breakfast, juice, a cracker plus a toy and a visit from Santa. Book online here. Otley Garden Centre is part of the Yorkshire Garden Centres family with Tong, Tingley and Bingley Garden Centres.

Latest research from The Social Mobility Foundation has identified that professionals from working-class backgrounds are paid over £6k less per year than more privileged peers in the same occupation. In fact, the research confirms that they are paid an average of £6,291 – or 12 per cent – less per year than those from professional-managerial backgrounds, despite them working in the same occupational groups. Professional workers from professional-managerial origins receive an average salary of £51,728 compared to an average salary of £45,437 for employees from working-class backgrounds, research into the Class Pay Gap found. That means that Class Pay Gap Day – when those from working-class backgrounds in professional occupations effectively stop getting paid – happens on 17th November this year. It means professionals from working-class backgrounds are effectively working one in eight days for free. Workers in the private sector face a larger Class Pay Gap than those in other sectors. Those from working-class backgrounds who are in a professional occupation in the private sector are paid £7,575 less per year than those from professional-managerial origins. Whilst in the ‘other’ sectors there is still a Class Pay Gap of £4,750, it is less pronounced than in the private sector. Latest figures show that the private sector employs 82% of the UK’s workforce. When it comes to gender, professional women from working-class backgrounds are hit with a double disadvantage. There is a Class Pay Gap of £7,042 between women from working class and professional-managerial origins in the same occupation. Separate polling of 1,280 young people (aged 16-18) carried out in Summer 2023, found that nearly three in four young people (72%) said the Class Pay Gap put them off applying for a job in elite professions such as law and finance. Nearly 9 in 10 (89%) said that they would be more enthusiastic about working for an employer who prioritised tackling social mobility/socioeconomic diversity. Rt. Hon Alan Milburn, Chair, Social Mobility Foundation, said: “A fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work is the least anyone should expect. But too many of Britain’s workplaces share a shameful secret. It cannot be right that professionals from working-class backgrounds are paid significantly less than their peers in the same occupation." “Some pioneering employers are measuring their Class Pay Gap – as a precursor to closing it. But it will take action from Government to see the step-change that’s needed. As they did with Gender Pay Gap reporting, it is time to mandate the reporting of socioeconomic background data. What gets measured, gets done. Without government action, millions of people will continue to be undervalued and underpaid.” Kevin Ellis, Senior Partner at PwC UK, said: “The gap in pay between professionals from a lower socioeconomic background and their more privileged peers, is not only a societal issue but an issue for business and the economy. Businesses need diversity of talent and thought. We’ve seen the benefits of improving the diversity of our workforce – you can't measure this without collecting socioeconomic background data. Gathering data helps you understand what interventions to make because these changes don’t happen naturally. We always strive to do more – so it’s positive to see other employers now starting to collect data and making efforts to close their socioeconomic background pay gaps.” Shirine Khoury-Haq, CEO at the Co-operative Group, said: “The evidence is compelling, for children born in the UK today socioeconomic background remains a strong predictor of life chances and opportunities. Employers, including the Co-op, have a responsibility to step up and address the inequalities that persist in our society. We strive to lead by example, taking action to identify where unfairness holds our people back. That's why we will publish our first socioeconomic pay gap report in 2024 and why we’ll be encouraging our partners and suppliers to do the same.” Shanice Katana, aged 24, Project Assistant (Consultancy) at Mace said: “In the workplace, equity is as important as equality. Closing the Class Pay Gap will benefit any employer as it will foster unity and create a working culture with a sense of togetherness." In my early career journey, I looked out for employers' attitudes to improving social mobility and their Class Pay Gap as a key measure to the possibility of me working there. Employers that are public and intentional about trying to improve, make me feel valued and hopeful." "It’s important for me that they value having a range of people from different backgrounds and encourage cultural diversity. When deciding whether to work for an employer, I gauge how willing they are to improve in this area, and sometimes we may need to be the change we don’t see.”

A charity hospice shop has become the latest to complete work on its shop front thanks to funding from Wakefield Council who are investing £1.1 million in improving local shops and businesses in the district. The Prince of Wales Hospice shop, in South Elmsall, received funding from the Shop Improvement Grant Scheme that was set up to enhance the look of shops and businesses in local high streets and encourage people to shop and visit the town centres. Nearly £110,000 worth of grants have been allocated so far to eligible business owners in South Elmsall, South Kirkby and Moorthorpe. In total, £876,000 is being spent on shop improvements and an additional £229,000 has been made available for owners who want to upgrade their existing security measures, under the Shop Security Grant Scheme. Cllr Michael Graham, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Growth, said: “The Council is committed to doing all it can to support local shops that have been on our high streets for many years. Our aim is to deliver quality regeneration projects that will inspire and encourage new investment into our towns and the surrounding areas." “Our Shop Improvement Grant scheme is one of the ways we are helping them by investing in the appearance and vibrancy of local high street shops. We want the district’s town centres to be attractive destinations for residents and visitors alike, to boost our local economies." “I’m looking forward to seeing more shops undergoing a revamp and as grants are still available in many areas of the district, I would encourage businesses to get in touch.” Jackie Jones, Retail Manager at The Prince of Wales Hospice, said: “It’s been more than ten years since our South Elmsall charity shop was last refurbished. Customers were telling us that although they loved our little shop, it was looking rather tired, uninspiring, and dated." “The Shop Improvement Grant from Wakefield Council gave us the opportunity to enhance the shop's front appearance, making it more appealing to customers." “After reopening, customers have been incredibly positive, praising the new designs, improved lighting, and customer-friendly layouts. This upgrade brings a fresh and vibrant shopping experience for customers while supporting the Hospice’s mission to provide specialist care for people with life-limiting illness and their families.” The Shop Improvement Grant scheme is still open to new enquiries in South Elmsall, South Kirkby and Moorthorpe, with plans to include Hemsworth in the upcoming months. Further information on the Hemsworth scheme will be made available shortly. The money can be spent on improvements to the outside of the premises, such as repairing or restoring façades and new or improved canopies and signage. New tenants can also apply for funding if they are occupying a vacant property. The Shop Security Grant scheme is also still open to new enquiries in Castleford and Wakefield with phase two recently launched.

Thousands of pounds have been netted for a charity following a female-only event which combined networking with fundraising for a paw-some cause. Sheffield-based Support Dogs held its inaugural charity netball tournament at the city’s Canon Medical Arena, with more than 100 people in attendance. The day raised a fantastic £4,500 for Support Dogs, a national charity which trains and provides assistance dogs to help autistic children and adults with epilepsy or physical disability to live safer, more independent lives. Teams from local businesses Irwin Mitchell, Mott Macdonald, Taylor Emmet, CMS, Sheffield Forgemasters, Westfield Health and Bond Bryan, which were also headline sponsor, took part. They battled it out during the three-and-a-half hour event, which also included a presentation, raffle and network opportunities. There was even motivation provided by doggy cheerleaders support dogs Derek, Burnsie, Millie and puppy Walt. The final was hotly contested by law firms Irwin Mitchell and CMS, with Irwin Mitchell emerging as the winners. Chris Daykin, Support Dogs’ corporate partnerships manager, said: “I have always loved taking part in sporting and corporate days, including football and golf events, but feel they have always been very male-focused. “A lot of our corporate partners are led by female decision-makers and we wanted to create a sporting networking charity event aimed at women, while raising money for a fantastic cause.” He said some of the women – who hadn’t played netball since school – are planning to join or form teams and added: “We rely heavily on donations and the money raised will make a huge difference to the charity. There was a really fantastic spirit throughout the day and we’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who helped make it such a success.” Jon Rigby, associate director at Bond Bryan, said: “We were delighted to support this event, for such a wonderful cause at the recently-completed Canon Medical Arena, which we were lucky enough to be involved in designing. It felt really special to us and is something really close to our hearts. “Our team had such a brilliant time, the event was wonderfully run and it was clear how much fun and enjoyment all the teams had throughout the day.” Gemma Allchin, head of community and workforce engagement at Sheffield Forgemasters, added: “This was a great opportunity for women from across Sheffield Forgemasters to get together, learn a new sport and participate in a fantastic event for charity and women in business. “Our team thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Not only did we meet new women from within our business but it gave us the opportunity to network with other women across Sheffield at the event. We are looking forward to the next tournament as we had so much fun!” Alex Styan, director of Arena Netball, a Community Interest Company, was the netball tournament host and donated her time to running the netball side of the event, including arranging for umpires from DNC Netball to support it. She said: “It was important to me to support a corporate event for females that fit with the aims we have at the arena to engage more people in netball and reduce barriers to taking part.” Support Dogs thanked sponsors Bond Bryan, Meadowhall and Pricecheck, as well as Canon Medical for providing the amazing facilities at the Canon Park Community Arena, all the teams which took part, special guest Fran Duffy, captain of the Netball Ireland, for handing out prizes and DNC Netball and Arena Netball for helping the day run so seamlessly. To find out more about Support Dogs, visit here .

Full-service marketing and communications agency, Big Bamboo, has been appointed by Apollo Capital, one of the UK’s leading finance brokers specialising in luxury, classic, super and hyper car finance. The agency is made up of 17 strategists, brand specialists, content writers, PR experts and designers – will support the company as it continues its growth journey. It will assist with PR, social media strategy and implementation as well as brand, design and community positioning work. Founded in 2020 by Andy King, CEO and David Moss, Managing Director, who have worked at the very top level in their industry for over 25 years, Apollo already has a very strong track record for delivering customers funding requirements ranging from £50,000 up to multimillion pound cars. Since inception, with their expertise, it's already seen impressive results, delighting thousands of clients with car finance services across the length and breadth of the UK. Nicola Stamford, Founding Director of The Big Bamboo Agency, comments: “We are thrilled to have been appointed by Apollo Capital, which is a leading player in its field." “The company’s story is an impressive one, led by a very passionate and inspirational CEO, Managing Director and wider team – all of whom we look forward to working with.” Andy adds: “Nicola presented to us recently outlining how she and the rest of the Big Bamboo team could support us, in the next stage of our growth ambition." “We wanted experienced marketing and communications support, and the fit was perfect for us. We’re already enjoying working with Nicola and the team, showcasing Apollo's services so more successful clients and businesses can benefit, reinforcing our position in the marketplace.”

As tensions continue to rise in the Middle East over Gaza and disorder and uncertainty gets closer to home, an HR expert has pleaded with UK SMEs and employers to ensure they consider the impact of the conflict on their employees. As twice published author and founder of DOHR, Donna Obstfeld explains: "The UK has wonderfully diverse workplaces but right now, tensions are high and people on both sides of the situation are incredibly worried." ‘It is critical to remember that as a UK employer, you have a number of legal responsibilities and these should be delivered with communication, understanding and support for all of your employees, regardless of their religion, lack of religion, or political views.’ Donna’s comments come as Suella Braverman was sacked by prime minister Rishi Sunak following a controversial article on the Met Police, which some have suggested stoked further disorder in the capital over the weekend. "This is a really difficult time and opinions will be voiced by a wide range of people as we have seen in Whitehall over the last few weeks. However, politics aside, employers must keep in mind that they have a duty to protect their staff and to create an environment which is safe both physically and psychologically." "I am getting a lot of messages from employers who aren’t sure how best to handle the situation which is perfectly understandable. The first thing is to speak to your staff and ensure that they know you care about each of them personally." ‘If they are personally impacted through family and friends, ask them what support they need from the business. Be flexible and creative if necessary. Make sure your managers are aligned with your approach." "You then need to balance the freedom of speech and freedom of belief with the right not to be bullied, harassed or discriminated against at work based on beliefs, religion or nationality." "I urge you to use your disciplinary policy and processes with extreme caution. If an employee physically attacks another employee, then this is far more clear-cut than expressed feelings or beliefs." "Finally, try to bring people together. Find ways to focus on shared beliefs and values. Find ways to support each other. Share food together. Friendship must be stronger than hatred and you need your team to work together."

Almost three-quarters (72%) of UK Chief Technology Officers (CTOs) believe there is a lack of quality developers available to hire, according to a new report - State of Development Landscape and Trends for 2024 - from curated developer marketplace platform Deazy. It's an issue on the minds of CTOs, with one-third of respondents saying that this lack of tech talent kept them awake at night. The main reasons for this dearth of tech talent were the UK education system not producing sufficient quality candidates and tech moving so fast that it is difficult for candidates and their skills to keep pace – both were cited by half of respondents. Other factors for the lack of quality tech talent given were people being put off by the prospect of AI doing much of their work (36%), the industry putting off diverse candidates (35%), and Brexit shrinking the talent pool (35%). “A lack of tech talent has been an issue for years, but it feels like we could now be approaching crisis point,” commented Andy Peddar, CEO, Deazy. “A combination of Brexit, GenAI, the lightning pace of tech, a lack of industry diversity and long-term issues around the education system’s ability to create strong candidates have created a perfect storm. CTOs need to put in place measures that address this in the longer term, but also plug gaps in the short-term to ensure projects don’t suffer.” The main challenges that CTOs found when recruiting were a combination of internal and external factors. 37% of respondents said their organisation lacked the budget for the packages needed to recruit the best candidates, while 31% said they lacked the time and resources to source candidates effectively. External factors cited by CTOs included a lack of expertise and skills in the areas required (43%) and a general lack of quality candidates (35%). The current economic uncertainty was also a factor, with 31% of CTOs saying candidates are more reluctant to switch roles. The most important benefits to offer when recruiting quality tech candidates, according to CTOs, are the opportunity to progress and develop (53%) and a competitive salary (50%). However, just one in four CTOs felt that being a purpose-driven organisation was most important, a finding that goes against popular perceptions of what candidates themselves seek in a package. “The role of CTO is pressured at the best of times, but the current recruitment challenges and dearth of tech talent are making it even harder,” continued Andy Peddar. “Attention must be paid to becoming a purpose-driven company and creating a culture that engages people and attracts talent. They must look beyond their own organisation to plug the technology talent gaps they are facing and also look at longer-term measures such as academies and training camps to ensure their digital skillsets are current and that they have enough people to carry out the work.”