davepickering – Page 1743 – The NEN

£4.5m to help central Scotland get gigabit speed broadband

More than 5,300 homes and businesses across central Scotland to get much faster gigabit broadband.
Includes premises in Ayrshire, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Fife, Stirlingshire, Greater Glasgow and Lothian.

More than 5,300 homes and businesses in Ayrshire, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Fife, Stirlingshire, Greater Glasgow and Lothian will get access to gigabit speeds thanks to the first £4.5 million to be awarded from the UK government’s nationwide gigabit programme.

These premises currently have slow speeds and were already due to benefit from superfast broadband through the Scottish Government’s Reaching 100 (R100) programme, which is scheduled to invest £83 million in central Scotland.

But now, thanks to an agreement between the UK and Scottish governments the properties will get gigabit-capable full fibre broadband built directly to their doorsteps.

While superfast provides minimum speeds of 30 megabits per second, gigabit broadband delivers lightning-fast speeds capable of reaching 1,000 megabits per second.

The move will future-proof people’s internet connections in these areas for the next thirty to forty years and allow them to take full advantage of cutting-edge technologies such as 8K TV and virtual reality streaming.

Matt Warman, UK Minister for Digital Infrastructure said: “The first pound to be spent from our £5 billion pot for gigabit broadband will be in Scotland.

“That’s because it is our mission to deliver lightning-fast next-generation internet connections to all parts of the UK as we build back better from the pandemic.

“And this is just the start. Other areas of Scotland and the rest of the UK will benefit from our record investment in this national broadband upgrade and we’ll announce more regions shortly.”

Scotland’s Connectivity Minister Paul Wheelhouse said: “The past year has demonstrated beyond doubt just how vital digital connectivity is across all areas of our lives – from health, wellbeing and education to social and economic recovery.

“That’s why the Scottish Government is investing £579 million in funding towards the £600 million cost of our Reaching 100% programme, building the infrastructure which, together with commercially-driven work, will ensure access to superfast broadband speeds to 100% of homes and businesses across Scotland.

The vast majority of connections being delivered to more than 120,000 premises through our investment in the three R100 area contracts – 100% in South, 86% in North and, now, 95% in Central – will be through fibre directly to the premises, delivering gigabit capability, providing connection speeds 30 times faster than our superfast commitment, and resilient, future-proofed connectivity for decades to come.”

UK Government Minister for Scotland, Iain Stewart said: “It’s great news that Central Scotland has been announced as the first area to benefit from the UK Gigabit Programme, and pleasing to see the UK and Scottish governments working together in partnership to level up communities.

“The UK Government will spend more than £5 billion to help those in areas that need improved connectivity most. This will help us to build back better from coronavirus and create new jobs and economic opportunities.”

The Scottish Government’s R100 programme is in the process of ensuring that all homes and businesses across Scotland can access superfast broadband. The vast majority of connections will be gigabit-capable and delivered via full fibre cables built directly to premises – known as Fibre to the Premise (FTTP).

In Central Scotland there are some premises which were set to be delivered via Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC) technology.

The UK Government has committed to delivering nationwide coverage of gigabit capable broadband through its £5 billion UK Gigabit Programme, with a minimum target of 85% coverage by 2025. The £5 billion will be used to subsidise building in hard-to-reach areas that aren’t set to benefit from planned industry rollout.

On the basis that the UK Gigabit Programme would have to revisit these 5,368 premises at some point in the future to convert them to FTTP, the Scottish and UK Governments have agreed a technology ‘flip’ from FTTC to FTTP. This offers the chance to reduce build costs, enabling delivery of the connections earlier and at greater value for money.

The UK government will shortly be announcing further areas of the UK that will be the first to receive a share of the £5 billion and be connected through the UK Gigabit Programme.

Free training courses for community councillors

The Improvement Service and the Open University (OU) in Scotland are working together to offer all community council volunteers the opportunity to upskill and reskill using OU courses.

Throughout the pandemic the Improvement Service’s Community Councils (CCs) project supported by Scottish Government has been trying to find ways to support CCs as they adapt to new ways of working and the OU was one of the organisations we reached out to and asked how they could help.

We asked Scotland’s CCs what skills they would find helpful to have or improve on and we are delighted to present these free online courses which the OU have tailored to suit the needs of Scottish CCs.

Many CCs have fully embraced the digital journey during the pandemic and there are courses here to help you continue that journey such as using Microsoft Teams and succeeding in a digital world. In addition to digital skills there are also courses on a range of other topics that community councillors have suggested including finance, fundraising, community and business skills.

These courses are totally free – all community councillors have to do is register for a free account and then you can begin your learning journey with the OU.

The OU has many courses to choose from but if you would like to suggest additional topics for training not covered that would benefit CCs in Scotland please let us know by e-mail: scottishccs@improvementservice.org.uk

So what are you waiting for? Brush up on your skills or learn some brand new ones with the OU, just click on the link below to begin your journey:

https://www.open.edu/openlearn/skills-supportOU-CC

EXCLUDED UK: Please sign our Open Letter to the Chancellor

We need your signature please!

Deadline Monday 1 March, 5pm

In our efforts to make as much noise as possible ahead of the Budget, we’ve drafted an open letter to send to the Chancellor urging him to do the right thing and provide support to those who have thus far been excluded from support through no fault of their own.

Please help us and sign this letter and share! The letter can be found at this link:

The letter can be found at this link:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oo0zKEWqxxD8rmTsQg7LY8O-UhgiCq4Ij0fZqQSm4H0/edit?usp=sharing

You can simply add your name to the end of the letter by typing directly into it.

Please keep your signature to one line with your name and if you wish you can add profession/ organisation/ affiliation/ business name/ category for exclusion.

The letter will be published tomorrow evening.

Thank you!

Best wishes from the ExcludedUK Team.

#relentless #wearenotgoingaway #franticfebruary

PS: This is for anyone excluded from UK Government Covid-19 support OR wishing to show support … please sign!

Join our facebook community: www.facebook.com/groups/excludeduk

If you’re on Twitter – share our tweets here:@ExcludedUK

GMB seeks assurances as care home visiting resumes

Precarious balance between compassion and safety ahead of care home visit re-start, as GMB asks for worker assurances

Speaking ahead of the re-start of indoor visits to care homes across Scotland today (Monday 1 March), Rhea Wolfson of GMB Scotland’s Women’s Campaign Unit said: “The balance between compassion and safety is precarious at this moment. Confidence is fragile among care home workers and there can be no room for complacency.

“That’s why ahead of the return to care home visits GMB has asked the Scottish Government to ensure the delivery of three basic provisions:

Safe levels of staffing provision in homes.
A whistleblowing facility for worker safety.
Stringent enforcement of government safety guidelines.

“Everyone wants to see families reunited but government and employers owe a great debt to these key workers after the last year, and it’s important their voices are now being heard.”

The Scottish Government has published new guidance for care homes on visiting during the pandemic plus tools and resources on visiting and supporting residents in homes with COVID-19.

You can access this here: http://bit.ly/3fY3MFq

The guidance supports adult care home residents to resume meaningful contact with loved ones. This begins with up to two designated visitors, and a total of two visits a week.This will become normal practice in all but exceptional circumstances, such as a COVID-19 outbreak.

It is hoped to gradually increase the frequency and the number of people who can visit.

COVID: Brazilian strain reaches Scotland

Three cases of a COVID-19 Variant of Concern first identified in Manaus, Brazil, have been identified in Scotland.

Following their return to North East Scotland from Brazil, via Paris and London, three Scottish residents entered self-isolation and then subsequently tested positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19). These individuals then self-isolated for the required period of 10 days.

The tests were completed in early February and passed to the UK’s advanced sequencing capabilities programme which detected this new variant. Due to the potential concerns around this variant other passengers on the flight used by the three individuals from London to Aberdeen are being contacted. These three cases are not connected to three cases also identified in England.

Health protection teams, including local clinicians, have assessed each case and their contacts, and are arranging protective measures for this small number of potentially exposed individuals.

To provide an extra layer of safety, teams are ensuring people who could have been infected by these first line contacts are also isolated and tested. This is to ensure all possible precautions are taken as we learn more about this particular variant.

Clinical and trial data continues to be assessed to examine how this new variant may respond to current COVID-19 vaccines.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “The identification of this new variant is a concern but we are taking every possible precaution. We have identified these cases thanks to our use of advanced sequencing capabilities which means we are finding more variants and mutations than many other countries and are therefore able to take action quickly.

“This new variant demonstrates how serious Covid is and reinforces the need to minimise the spread of the virus. We would encourage everyone across the country to adhere to the necessary public health restrictions by staying at home except for essential purposes as this is the single best way of staying safe and stopping the spread of this virus. It is now also illegal for anyone to travel to or from Scotland unless it is for an essential reason.

“The Covid vaccination programme is one of three key ways we are working to beat this virus, along with our expanded testing programme to identify cases and break chains of transmission, and the important lockdown restrictions everyone in Scotland must follow.

“These three strands – following expert advice and guidance to suppress the virus, using our expanded testing programme to identify cases and break chains of transmission and rolling out vaccination as fast as supplies allow – are the three critical actions that will see us move, step by step, to protect the public, save lives and a brighter year ahead.”

As a precautionary measure and to provide further insights, samples from any passenger on the London to Aberdeen flight who subsequently tested positive or was symptomatic are being urgently sequenced to determine whether any had acquired the new variant. Those on the flight from London to Aberdeen will be contacted.

Public Health England has also identified three cases of the variant in England but these are not linked to the three cases in Scotland. Scotland and England are working together to ensure that a consistent UK approach is taken to managing such incidents.

This variant has been designated ‘of concern’ as it shares some important mutations with the variant first identified in South Africa (B.1.351), such as E484K and N501Y. There is some data to suggest that this variant may be more likely to cause Covid-19 infections in people who have been vaccinated or who had been infected with one of the earlier strains of “wild-type” Covid-19.

The P1 “Brazilian” variant is a descendent of B.1.1.28 and was first detected in Japan but is most closely associated with the second wave epidemic in Manauas, Brazil. This variant has been designated ‘of concern’ as it shares some important mutations with the variant first identified in South Africa (B.1.351), such as E484K and N501Y.

It is possible that this variant may respond less well to current vaccines but at this time there is a high degree of uncertainty and we await clinical and trial data is awaited to understand this better.

Genomic sequencing of Scottish samples is undertaken as part of a UK programme. This programme continues to develop ensure faster turnaround times.

Dr Susan Hopkins, PHE strategic response director for COVID-19 and NHS Test and Trace Medical Advisor, said: “We have identified these cases thanks to the UK’s advanced sequencing capabilities which means we are finding more variants and mutations than many other countries and are therefore able to take action quickly.

“The important thing to remember is that COVID-19, no matter what variant it is, spreads in the same way. That means the measures to stop it spreading do not change. Stay at home and if you do need to go out for essential reasons, cover your nose and mouth, wash your hands thoroughly and keep your distance.”

Barclays and HSBC customers unwittingly funding companies linked to deforestation

“Barclays and HSBC customers will be shocked that their savings are being invested in companies implicated in the destruction of the Amazon and Cerrado”

Barclays and HSBC are in the top three banks in Europe investing in companies at high risk of being linked to the deforestation of the Amazon and Cerrado for cattle and soya production to feed factory farmed animals globally, according to a new report by World Animal Protection. International bank BNP Paribas was ranked number one.

The report, Big Meat. Big Bucks. Bigger Harm, found that Barclays and HSBC have financed and invested US$26.5bn (£19bn) to companies connected to the supply chains of beef and soy for animal feed in Brazil, meaning consumers are unknowingly fueling these unethical and carbon-intensive business practices with their savings and pensions.

For Barclays and HSBC, financial relationships were identified with 25 of the 60 researched high-risk companies. The main recipient is US food company Cargill – its loans total US$4.7bn (£3.3bn) plus underwritings totaling US$634m (£455m). The Brazilian meat processing company JBS follows with loans totaling $US3.3bn (£2.3bn) plus US$920m (£660m) in underwritings and US$3m (£2.1m) in stockholdings.

NatWest, Standard Chartered and Schroders also performed poorly with US$7.3bn (£5.2bn) of investments and relationships with 15 of the 60 researched high-risk companies, the main recipient being Cargill.

Lindsay Duncan, World Animal Protection farming campaign manager said:
“Customers of Barclays and HSBC will be devastated to learn that their pensions and savings are being invested in companies implicated in the destruction of the Amazon and Cerrado regions in Brazil.

“With the UK hosting COP26 this year UK banks should stop funding cruel factory farming and its dependence on unsustainable and carbon-intensive animal feed imports. They should do the right thing and support humane and sustainable food systems and help ensure factory farming becomes a thing of the past.”

Alarmingly, these financial institutions may be linked to the clearance of irreplaceable rainforest, which in some cases is even illegal and unregulated.

The Amazon, while being a major producer of the world’s oxygen, is also home to millions of species of sentient animals that suffer when their habitat is lost. An area the size of a football pitch is lost every single minute to agricultural uses.^[1]

Soya is planted in huge swathes in destroyed habitats before being exported to feed factory farmed animals around the world, completing the cycle of cruelty. Right now, more than 70 billion animals are globally farmed for food each year – two-thirds on factory farms in conditions that mean they can’t move freely or live naturally.

Cattle kept on deforested land are often taken to slaughter in dire conditions and many are not even guaranteed a humane death. They face overcrowding, extreme heat, a lack of food and water and are often transported miles across rugged terrain to be slaughtered – all contributing to unimaginable cruelty. These animals are treated as mere commodities without even the most basic of needs met.

While this is a major animal welfare and conservation concern, even many of the cattle and soya farmers themselves are exploited – worked hard, paid poorly, granted minimal rights – making this a human rights issue too.

World Animal Protection is calling on financial institutions to right this wrong, ensuring they have policies and systems in place such as:

Traceability to the point of origin within the supply chain, zero tolerance for deforestation, screening and engaging companies, excluding clear offenders and demonstrating transparency
Supporting the transition to a humane and sustainable food system by implementing FARMS farm animal welfare standards as a minimum, halving investments in animal protein by 2040, and phasing out support for monocrops like soya as feed for farm animals.

People can also help by eating higher welfare and less meat and calling on their banks to adopt strong and meaningful policies that protect animals and the environment.

Workers give over 1,000 unpaid hours a year to their employers

On average, we spend 42 days a year working outside their contracted hours

Workers will sacrifice five years over their working life by starting early and finishing late

Millions of British workers give up more than a month of time each year by working additional unpaid hours, totalling five years over their working life, new research has revealed.

In a poll conducted by Hitachi Personal Finance for this year’s National Work Life Week, data reveals exactly how much time Brits are spending working past their contracted hours and what else the nation could be doing with this time.

In total, the figures show that Brits are working a whopping 1,834 days – or five years – unpaid across their working life, just by starting work early and finishing late. That’s an extra 42 days each year.

The research revealed that nearly half (49%) of British people start work early each day and 48% admit to working late every day.

Looking more closely at those who are commencing work before their official start time, a third (32%) are working an extra 147 days in their lifetime by getting to the office or logging on at home 20 minutes early each day.

Additionally, 15% of Brits are working an extra 330 days – that’s nearly a whole year – by regularly starting work 45 minutes before their shift starts.

What’s more, 2% are tallying up a huge one year and two months’ worth of overtime by starting work an hour earlier than they are contracted to. In total, this means that collectively Brits are losing 917 days on unpaid work across their working lifetime, just by beginning their working day prematurely on a regular basis.

And for those working after their shift ends, three in ten Brits (30%) are spending a further 147 days undertaking work in their lifetime, finishing late by 20 minutes each day, and 14% are working an extra 330 days in their lifetime by concluding work 45 minutes after they’re supposed to.

Even more shockingly, 5% of Brits rack up an extra one year two months overtime in their lifetime by logging off an hour or more after they should be finishing work. Overall, this means that Brits are putting in an extra two and a half years work in their lifetime, just by continuing to work outside of their contracted hours.

More than three in five (61%) admit they would rather have a better work/life balance, which is being achieved in some respects, with increased home working meaning commuting time is being reduced or completely removed.

However, this balance is still being compromised with so many putting in longer hours than they’re contracted to even while working at home, perhaps unaware of the cumulative amount of time they’re losing from their personal lives.

So, what else could Brits be doing with this time? Experts at Hitachi Personal Finance offer five alternative activities UK workers could be doing instead of working outside their contracted hours:

Learn a new language

If learning a new language is of interest, research shows that it takes 480 hours to reach basic fluency³. Meaning in the six weeks spent on overtime each year, you could learn at least one new language, maybe even two.

Gain a new habit

It has also been widely reported that it takes just 21 days to form a habit⁴, so in the same time you spend working overtime each year, you could be making two new habits part of a daily routine that could have a positive impact on your life, such as exercising, quitting smoking or meditation.

3. Earn a degree

If you’ve ever wanted to study a degree or add another one to your belt, it could be doable if you skip the extra hours in the office or working from home. You can complete a 3-year degree in 108 hours at the Open University⁶, meaning you could easily get a degree or two under your belt by sacrificing the extra time sat behind a desk.

4. Binge watch a box set

If getting your teeth into a good boxset is more your thing and you’re a Game of Thrones fan, you could binge-watch all eight series instead of putting in the extra graft behind their desk at home or in the office; it would take three days and 16 minutes to watch from start to finish⁷.

Marvel films more your thing? It would take just over two days to watch all 23 movies⁸, so in the six weeks you’d otherwise be spending working overtime in a year, you could sit down and watch the entire superhero franchise 20 times.

Commenting on the findings, Vincent Reboul, Managing Director of Hitachi Capital Consumer Finance says: “It’s very interesting to see the sheer amount of people in Britain who are working way past their contracted hours.

“If 2020 has taught us anything it’s that we need to value the time and experiences we have with each other and our loved ones, as well as making sure we’re dedicating time to ourselves.

“Putting in the extra hours during the working day can sometimes be inevitable, but we wanted to highlight just how much this adds up to over time. This is particularly relevant as home working has become the norm for many, which appears to have blurred the lines between work mode and home mode.

“Hopefully these findings help workers to realise how much time they do have available to them once they start paying attention to their work/life balance.”

To find out more, please visit: https://www.hitachipersonalfinance.co.uk/latest-posts/money/5-things-you-could-be-doing-instead-of-working-unpaid-overtime/

Rogue electricians risk the lives of Scottish homeowners

New safety measures are needed to protect Scottish homeowners from electrocution and electrical fires, lawyers have warned.

“Currently anyone can set up as an electrician in Scotland,” said Gordon Dalyell a Scottish spokesman for APIL, an organisation which is dedicated to the rights of needlessly injured people.

“There is no requirement to have any skills, qualifications, or expertise in electrical work before setting up a business as an electrician in Scotland. Homeowners must be protected from substandard electrical work, which could lead to injuries or even deaths from electric shocks or electrical fires.”

In response to a Scottish government consultation, APIL has called for a system similar to the widely recognised Gas Safety Register to be implemented to ensure all electricians are qualified for the work they carry out.

“A mandatory safety register for electricians would give people the confidence of knowing their electrician is fully qualified to carry out the work,” said Mr Dalyell.

“Electricians would be unable to join the register without proper qualifications and training. No one would make the decision to use an unqualified gas company. Electricity safety should be taken just as seriously.”

Until proper regulation and specific qualification requirements are in place, Scots looking for a safe, qualified expert to carry out work should look out for electricians or electrical businesses which have voluntarily registered with the regulatory systems listed below:

Scottish Joint Industry Board
SELECT (Electrical Contractors’ Association of Scotland) is a trade association for the electrical contracting industry in Scotland.
NICEIC (the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting) is a registration body that provides assessment and certification services for contractors.
NAPIT (National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers) operates an accredited membership scheme in the building services and fabric sector.

UK Budget ‘must match Scotland’s ambition’

Finance Secretary Kate Forbes has written to Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak ahead of the delayed UK Budget, calling on him to provide essential support as Scotland prepares to ease lockdown measures.

In the letter, Ms Forbes urges the UK Government to avoid a sudden cliff-edge withdrawal of support by extending the Job Retention Scheme beyond the end of April and making the £20 uplift for Universal Credit and Working Tax Credits permanent.

She also calls for a commitment that the NHS will receive what it needs in terms of financial support and for confirmation of Scotland’s share of unallocated coronavirus (COVID-19) funding to allow the Scottish Government to effectively develop its ongoing response to the pandemic.

Ms Forbes said: “The Scottish Government has extended Non Domestic Rates relief as one measure to continue supporting business, and it is vital that we have the appropriate funding and fiscal levers to deliver economic support.

“There are a number of additional measures the UK Government should take in the UK Budget to support recovery, bolster the economy and support the most vulnerable.

“This includes ensuring the NHS receives what it needs in terms of financial support, extending the furlough scheme beyond April and supporting business and households by providing meaningful and effective long-term support as the effects of the pandemic continue to be felt.”

Amey marks Scottish Apprenticeship Week with apprenticeship pledge

To mark the launch of Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2021 (1st – 5th March) leading infrastructure company Amey, has pledged that 5% of its overall workforce will be made up of apprentices.

In order to achieve this goal, 22 new apprenticeships, including degree-level roles, are being offered this year on Amey’s Scottish contracts.

Amey’s Transport Infrastructure business in Scotland already employs 10 Modern Apprentices, 2 Graduate Apprentices and supports around 34 Foundation Apprentices.

Foundation Apprenticeships are a work-based learning qualification for secondary school students providing them with a stepping stone into a career and a full-time Modern or Graduate Apprenticeship with an employer.

Four of these apprenticeships are in North Lanarkshire, with a further thirty in Dumfries & Galloway.

Kenny Kerr, Business Director of Amey’s Transport Infrastructure accounts in Scotland and Northern Ireland, said: “Providing apprenticeship opportunities are a core part of our future growth, and essential to increasing diversity and the adoption of new skills across our business.

“Our continued support for Scottish Apprenticeship Week demonstrates our commitment to the entire apprenticeship family. We currently support Foundation, Modern and Graduate apprenticeships within our accounts, working closely with key partners such as Skills Development Scotland, colleges and universities and the Scottish Government.

“We have learned the value of apprenticeships, as they allow our existing workforce to pass on their knowledge and experience to a future generation of skilled employees. Amey apprentices can obtain a range of practical, transferable skills that will stand them in good stead throughout their career.

“Our investment in apprenticeships helps us meet the objectives of our clients, which include Transport Scotland and North Lanarkshire Council, by providing jobs, training and learning opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds. With hopeful signs of a recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and a return to economic growth, continued support for apprenticeships will ensure our company continues to develop and thrive.”

Amey’s Transport and Infrastructure division looks after some of the most iconic and economically vital routes across Scotland, including the M8/M73/M74 network, North Lanarkshire roads and lighting and the Scottish South-West Trunk Road Network.

Amey’s Apprenticeship Programme involves candidates completing both a technical certificate in their chosen area as well as a Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) and incorporates the Duke of Edinburgh’s Business Award as a core part of the programme.

To find out more about apprenticeship opportunities with Amey visit: https://www.amey.co.uk/your-career/early-careers/apprentices/

Amey training and work experience learning in 2020/21 is delivered virtually in accordance with Scottish Government guidance on social distancing and hygiene due to the coronavirus pandemic.