NEWS
NATIONAL NEWS
Compiled by Hannah Monkcom
SICK OF THIS Employees working in leisure, culture and sport roles take more sick days than any other industry. Nationally those employed in this field scored highest (3.8 days) with workers in telecoms, marketing and education also featuring high in the sickliest professions. Teachers take above the national average at (3.17) days per year, while those working in the manufacturing industry or industrial labour take the fewest days off sick a year (1.59). The research, which was commissioned by family focussed insurance brand, ‘There’, found that UK workers in government or public services had taken the most sick days nationally in their working life, taking a huge 66 days. While those in environmental, recycling and sustainability roles had taken the least sick days across their career to date, racking up just 18 absences in their working years – almost half the national average (36 days). The average South Eastern employee takes just over two and a half sick days per year! So do us in the South East have a stronger work ethic? Or is there more pressure on us to succeed at our jobs? Most likely a combination of the two.
AMAZON FRESH LAUNCHES 1 HOUR DELIVERIES
Amazon launched its one-hour groceries online business ‘Amazon Fresh’ in Birmingham last month and this month we’ve seen it travel to our capital. However, the launch of Amazon Fresh 1 hour deliveries also paves the way for Amazon to introduce the ‘Internet of Things’ into Britain according to e-commerce fulfilment specialist Parcel Hero. But it warns “hard-pressed” supermarkets better watch out. David Jinks, a spokesman for Parcel Hero in London says: “As ground-breaking as the launch of the Amazon Fresh one hour delivery service is in the UK, it’s clearing the way for something
BRITAIN AND CHINA BUDDYING UP The latest manifestation of the close relationship that Britain is building with China is the announcement that the Chinese central bank plans to issue short-term debt in London, the first time that it’s doing so outside of China. The choice of the UK is no accident. Wooing China has been part of the UK’s strategy for some time. London dominates global foreign exchange trading but would find it hard to hold onto its position if the currency of the world’s second largest economy, and its biggest trader, wasn’t choosing the UK. For China, its currency is on the road towards becoming convertible. As part of its RMB (Renminbi, the official currency of China) internationalisation strategy, China intends to increase the use of its currency overseas and eventually emerge a global reserve currency.
even more significant in the long-term – the ‘Internet of Things’ service – Dash.” Dash, a wireless device for Amazon customers, will eventually enable your fridge to automatically order your milk or a pizza when you run out, or your coffee machine to know exactly when you need your next Espresso fix! Customers using the service are able to order deliveries through the Prime Now app, which commenced in Birmingham early this August.
“A bank is a place that will lend you money if you can prove that you don’t need it.” 20