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Since its launch in 2017, property firm Carter Jonas's School Ambassadors Network has grown from just a single employee to 38 people out of its 1,000-strong staff. That may still [...]

British Land's HR director, general counsel and company secretary Brona McKeown tells Nic Paton how the property development business uses data to drive its EDI strategy Often credited to management [...]

The article focuses on exploring how the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) can enhance its efforts to achieve net zero by diversifying its investment approach. Topics include the importance of investing in energy efficiency alongside clean energy; the need for innovative strategies and global investment opportunities; and the challenge of balancing short-term returns with long-term climate goals.

The article discusses a roundtable discussion on the increasing interest of Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) funds in diversifying their portfolios through private debt investments. The participants highlighted the importance of considering environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in these investments and expressed interest in mitigating risk, choosing suitable managers, and navigating the current economic climate. Geographical diversification, particularly in strong European economies, was also seen as important. The panelists emphasized the need for managers to meet ESG requirements and discussed the challenges and opportunities of investing in private debt through pools. The article concludes by reflecting on the benefits and considerations of private debt investments and the alignment between asset managers and investors on ESG expectations. [Extracted from the article]

"Diverse and inclusive organisations just perform better at every level" Sue Brown, Real Estate Balance Asked if they felt diversity and inclusion had changed at their company over the past 12 months, more than one third (34%) of respondents to the sentiment survey felt things had stayed the same. Worryingly, the data showed there still seemed to be an element of complacency regarding EDI in the industry, not least among a significant minority of HR professionals - the very people who should be leading the EDI charge. Victoria Anthony, HR director at construction firm Hill Group, says: "Degree-level apprenticeships are massively important for our sector, because it is about changing that perception that construction is an outdated, old-fashioned, mucky job. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the UK government's aspiration for Local Government Pension Scheme funds to invest 5% of their assets into UK infrastructure. The roundtable discussion, sponsored by IFM Investors, explores the progress and challenges of achieving this goal. Participants highlight the need for collaboration between central government, local government, and asset managers, as well as the importance of generating returns for pension scheme members. Barriers to investment include bureaucracy, escalating costs, and unclear government guidance. The article concludes with reflections on the role of pension funds in long-term investments and the need for incentives and innovative solutions to support local investment. [Extracted from the article]

Shutterstock The government's long-awaited consultation into occupational health and how government and employers can reduce ill health-related job loss was published in July. As Nic Paton argues, it is a [...]

One speaker's very personal battle with alcohol and drug addiction was a highlight of the first FOHN conference From gaining the confidence to write publicly through to one speaker's personal [...]

Ahead of the government in July launching its long-awaited consultation into workplace and occupational health, the Society of Occupational Medicine argued in a report that the specialty also needs a [...]

Some nine months on from its launch, how is the newest organisation within the OH landscape, the Faculty of Occupational Health Nursing, doing? Nic Paton attended its inaugural annual conference [...]

The Association of Occupational Health Nurse Practitioners has rebranded as a more multidisciplinary occupational health membership body called 'iOH'. Nic Paton met iOH president Lucy Kenyon to find out what [...]

The quality and calibre of entries was high across the board, making it very hard to judge the entries for this year's Occupational Health & Wellbeing Awards. But our judges [...]

Three presentations at the Health and Wellbeing at Work conference in March posed intriguing questions about occupational health's current and future role, including arguing the case for a national, mandatory [...]

Shutterstock The Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM) has called for a new multi-disciplinary national 'Centre for Work and Health' to be established to act as a focal point and catalyst [...]

Many employers remain woefully ignorant about what occupational health can do, its value (versus its cost) and the benefits it can bring to the workplace, government analysis has suggested. And [...]

[unable to retrieve full-text content] Now making a full recovery following his heart operation before Christmas, Nic Paton's experience of being in hospital and post-operative... The post A return-to-work model [...]

LED (or light-emitting diode) lighting is transforming how we light our homes, workplaces and urban spaces. There is excitement it may help to create workplaces where we feel, and are, [...]

The future direction of occupational health was a central talking point - and the subject of a keynote panel discussion - at November's Royal College of Nursing and Society of [...]

British men continue to be in denial about their health, with nearly two-thirds admitting a problem would have to be 'severe' before they sought help.A poll of 1,874 adults aged [...]

A looming hospital operation has brought home to Nic Paton the need for the government's review of workplace health to address how the UK's growing army of self-employed workers and [...]

Peter Byrne/PA Wire/PA ImagesAn NHS England consultation on how to spend extra funding announced by the government last summer has cast a spotlight on the intense funding and capacity constraints [...]

October saw the launch of the new Faculty of Occupational Health Nursing. What exactly is it, how will it work and what will it cost to join? Equally importantly, how [...]

As the new academic year gets underway, shock new statistics have revealed that university occupational health courses are down by nearly half this year - 43% - compared with September [...]

Four million UK workers aged over 50 expect poor health and health problems to be the main reasons they stop working, research has suggested. https://www.aviva.com/newsroom/news-releases/2018/09/poor-health-prompts-retirement-4-million-over-50s-workers-expect-health-problems-to-be-the-main-reason-they-stop-working/ found two in five (37%) [...]

Peter Byrne/PA Wire/PA Images NHS occupational health services cannot be sustained against a backdrop of continuing annual reductions in funding, occupational medicine and occupational health practitioners have warned. In a [...]

A study into drivers working as part of the 'gig economy' has highlighted the importance of businesses treating the management of occupational road risk as a mainstream health and safety [...]

New Faculty of Occupational Health Nursing will be an advocate of OH nurses and their work around workplace health Next month (October) sees the launch of the new Faculty of [...]

A final question - more statement really - to minister Sarah Newton at June's http://www.occupationalhealthconferences.co.uk/index.html summed up much of the frustration felt within the occupational health community about the rise [...]

The article highlights the priority of resident experience in the digital transformation discussed at a roundtable in London, emphasizing its significance in both online and offline realms. Topics discussed include funding challenges hindering digital planning, skills shortages, and the necessity for councils to balance digital services with traditional channels due to inclusion and vulnerability concerns.

The results of a recent survey which were published in July 2010 show that employers in the United Kingdom are bracing themselves for record levels of graduate applications. Because of this, employers are using formal assessment more and more in order to sort candidates and cut down on the cost of face-to-face interviews.

The lunchbox category had a golden opportunity and squandered it. The recession saw consumers reaching for the Tupperware, busily preparing lunchboxes to take to work to save the pennies. Coffee [...]

Functional foods are at a crossroads. Next week the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), European Commission and industry reps meet to hammer out what is required for the health claims [...]

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Is someone making a quick buck at the expense of Joe Public? Last year the commodity price of rice skyrocketed after a succession of bad harvests. It opened [...]

These are challenging times for brands. Even Britain's 100 Biggest Grocery Brands which, through brand extension, SKU proliferation, premiumisation and cross-category migration, dominate the supermarket shelves more than ever. Shoppers [...]

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It speaks volumes for the market that the stellar growth of super-sugary cereals such as Coco Pops (up 9.9%), Cheerios (13.4%), Weetos (31.4%), Sugar Puffs (16.7%) and Crunchy [...]

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Perversely, the credit crunch could do the sauces and condiments category a favour. As Brits cut back on eating out and rediscover the art of scratch-cooking at home, [...]

The Wrigley Company's human resource (HR) operation is divided. The commercial side is headed by Helen Franklin, and the factory side is led by Lisa Birch. Although this arrangement can cause problems such as politicking and resource grabbing in some companies, Franklin and Birch make it work. Ways of maintaining a successful working relationship are also presented.

Shrek The Third and Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix may not seem the most obvious places to start a debate about the future of the dairy industry. [...]

It is believed that human resource teams that are unwilling to tackle the gender pay gap will experience some problems. The UK government's landmark equality bill is on track to be enacted in April 2010 assuming that its passage through Parliament keeps to schedule. The bill was criticized by the Pope because of its provisions for employment rights for gay and transsexual people.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Thank heavens for Activia. If it weren't for the phenomenal performance of the Danone yoghurt, volume and value sales in functional food and drink would have slumped last [...]

Employers used to spend most of their budget on occupational health services to avoid lawsuits, however, the costs associated with workplace absence have become the main reason for investing in such benefits. The CBI has reported that the costs for workplace absence amounted to more than 13 billion pounds sterling in 2006. The use of wellness programs to reduce absenteeism is also discussed.

Genetically modified foods have sparked much controversy in the UK over the past decade. Trial crops of GM potatoes have been destroyed by activists as recently as this year and [...]

The trends of the employment of ex-offenders by British businesses are described. The need for employers to shun prejudices while employing ex-offenders is discussed.

The article discusses highlights of a 2021 webinar hosted by the Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM). Topics explored include leadership development within the occupational health (OH) sector addressed by Maximus UK chief executive officer (CEO) Paul Williams, the importance of compassionate leadership in the OH sector according to Medigold Health CEO Alex Goldsmith, and the need for clinicians to take risks noted by Caroline Pearson of professional services firm RPS.

OH News, December, Public Health Lead By Nic Paton One in five UK workers is a sedentary 'desk potato', according to a study by health insurer and healthcare provider Bupa [...]

OH News, December, Page 5 Lead Exclusive By Nic Paton Decreasing government funding is leaving the Health and Safety Executive increasing overstretched, research by Occupational Health's sister resource XpertHR has [...]

OH News, December, Page 4 Lead By Nic Paton The UK lags behind key European rivals such as Poland, France and Romania when it comes to managing sickness absence, and [...]