Usdaw host annual ‘Respect for Shopworkers Week’ summit

Retail trade union Usdaw hosted a summit of retail employers and their representative bodies, looking at the continuing problem of violence, threats and abuse against shopworkers, along with wider issues related to retail crime.

The summit, in London, took place at the beginning of Usdaw’s annual Respect for Shopworkers Week and the union released new statistics to demonstrate the scale of a growing problem.

Usdaw response to Scottish Government consultation on New Year's Day trading for large retailers

The Christmas Day and New Year's Day Trading (Scotland) Act 2007 gives the Scottish Government the power to make an order by statutory instrument to close large shops on New Year's Day. Usdaw has called on the Scottish Government to apply the relevant section of the Act for the last 14 years and welcomed the decision of the Government to consult on this matter.

New Year's Day in Scotland is a special day, but this is not reflected in the experience of many retail workers, who are often required to work on this day. Usdaw surveyed 1,473 of its Scottish members on their experiences of working over New Year 2018/19, and the results were clear:

Usdaw urges MPs and the Government to support a new protection of shopworkers law

Retail trade union Usdaw is part of a coalition with major retail businesses that is urging MPs to back an amendment to a flagship Government crime bill, which would offer frontline workers greater protection and is expected to be debated in a House of Commons bill committee.

Usdaw, retailers, and trade bodies are standing together, calling on the Prime Minister to accept that legislation is needed to protect the UK’s three million retail workers. However, the Government is so far rejecting the calls and is being urged to change its mind by accepting an amendment to its Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which would deliver greater protection for all frontline shopworkers.

A petition launched by shopworkers’ trade union leader Paddy Lillis, which attracted 104,000 signatures and is backed by major retailers, was debated this month by MPs and received strong support from all sides of the House of Commons, but the Government was left unpersuaded.

Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “It has been a terrible time for our members, with almost 90% of shopworkers suffering abuse, two-thirds threatened and nearly one in ten assaulted. Retail workers, their friends, family and loved ones, are saying loud and clear that enough is enough, abuse should never be just a part of the job.

“Despite overwhelming evidence, the Government continues to refuse to support a specific law to protect shopworkers, which is backed by many retailers. So, we are pleased that a protection of shopworkers amendment to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill has been tabled and we hope it will be supported by MPs in the bill committee.

“Usdaw is looking for a simple stand-alone offence that is easily understood, not just by the legal profession, but by the criminals who are assaulting, threatening and terrifying shopworkers. A separate offence for assaulting a retail worker would encourage prosecutions and provide the deterrent effect that our members are desperately looking for.

“A clear message that violence against someone working to serve the public is not acceptable. When retail employers, leading retail bodies and the shopworkers’ trade union jointly call for legislation, it is time for the Government and MPs to listen.

“In Scotland, MSPs voted through a new ground-breaking law to give shopworkers the protection they deserve. We are now looking for MPs to support key workers across the retail sector and help turn around the UK Government’s opposition.”

Usdaw urges the Government not to weaken safety in stores and work with the union and employers on guidance

Retail trade union Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) has written to the Business Secretary calling on the Government to reverse their plans to end compulsory face coverings and social distancing in shops on 19 July.

Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “The Government should not be weakening safety measures in shops at the same time as opening up other venues. There is no reason why requirements to wear face coverings and maintain social distancing in busy public areas like shops cannot continue.

“Retailers may be able to attempt to enforce their own face covering policies, but in the absence of a legal requirement, as has already been highlighted by the British Retail Consortium, this is likely to result in further significant increases in abuse, threats and violence towards retail workers.

“Wearing a face covering in crowded public areas like shops is not merely a personal choice, it is an important measure to help protect workers who have no option but to interact with large numbers of people as a part of their job. We would welcome the opportunity to work with the Government and employers, as we did during the first lockdown, to develop comprehensive guidance for retail.

“Many retail workers are at a greater risk of catching the virus and bringing it home to their families. Supermarket workers and delivery drivers have worked throughout the pandemic to keep the country supplied with essentials. These key workers must be valued, respected and protected.”

Ushvani Spa to host Online ‘Garland Workshop’

People are set to join Ushvani Spa, in collaboration with Shilpa Reddy Flower Design, for a special online ‘Garland Workshop’ – a beautiful afternoon of festival-style flower garland making using handcrafted sustainable paper flowers. Perfect for crafty adults and children alike - a brilliant activity to fill the long school summer holidays!
 
Shilpa, the creative director of fashion-forward flower brand ‘Shilpa Reddy Flower Design’ will demonstrate how to create a stunning floral lei in her signature style. Those joining will have the chance to make their very own lei alongside her that will include flowers such as the Hibiscus, the national flower of Malaysia in a nod to Ushvani’s roots.
 
At a cost of £25 per kit (and £15 per additional Garland), participants will also receive a complimentary Ushvani Balm (rrp £35) – to help with the inevitable headache that craft related activities with children might create! A blend of pure essential oils and camphor crystals designed to soothe both mind and body, the balm is based on a traditional Asian ‘cure all’ aromatherapeutic remedy, containing healing oils of rosemary, thyme, eucalyptus and soothing menthol.
 
The workshop, on Saturday August 1, at 2pm, will take place online via Zoom allowing those taking part the chance to interact and share their creations. All materials required will be posted out prior to the workshop and it will also be recorded so participants can access and replay the content when required.
 
Maximum 20 bookings per class and 1 Ushvani balm per booking.

Uswitch launch ‘first of its kind’ green tariff accreditation

A third (33%) of households — nine million — now have a ‘green’ tariff from their energy supplier, but more than half (52%) are confused about what actually makes up these deals^[1], reveals new research by Uswitch.com, the comparison and switching service.

There are dozens of green energy tariffs available to consumers, and nine of the top deals are currently classed as ‘green’. In fact, three quarters of consumers (76%) say using energy from renewable sources is an important factor when choosing a deal. However, many consumers are confused about what ‘green’ really means. 17% of people don’t believe that wind power is green, while 7% wrongly consider that burning gas is — and more than a third of households (36%) are not sure if they are on a green tariff or not. 

Despite UK homes receiving the same energy mix (unless households are solar powered or connected directly to a generator) more than a quarter of households (29%) wrongly believe that a green tariff means the power supplied to their home is 100% renewable. A quarter of consumers (25%) also say ‘jargon’ and ‘confusing information’ stopped them from choosing a green deal last time they switched energy suppliers, while another 9% said they don’t believe that green tariffs are better for the environment.

To tackle the confusion and help consumers navigate easier between different tariffs classed as "green", Uswitch is launching a first of its kind, independently verified accreditation scheme for renewable tariffs. The Uswitch Green Accreditation will categorise tariffs into ‘bronze’, ‘silver’ and ‘gold’ — splitting the tariffs up depending on the level of renewable energy suppliers directly buy and the level of investment they are making to support the growth of renewable energy. 

Four Good Energy tariffs (SVT Electricity, Good to Fix Electricity, SVT Gas and Good to Fix Gas) have been named as the first tariffs to be classified as Gold, with more tariffs from other suppliers to be announced soon. A panel of independent experts has verified the criteria that the tariffs are being assessed against, and in particular is seeking to recognise standout examples of best practice from suppliers. The panel will review the criteria annually, to ensure it reflects current market conditions, making sure customers can always trust they are choosing a tariff that reflects best practice at the time.

Panel members include Maxine Frerk, an associate at the charity Sustainability First, Dr Jeff Hardy, a non-executive director at Public Power Solutions and senior research fellow at the Grantham Institute at Imperial College, and Rosie McGlynn, director at Mentone Energy Consultancy. Other members include Dr Matthew Hannon, a senior lecturer at the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship within the University of Stratchlyde's Business School whose research examines the policy and market conditions necessary to accelerate low-carbon energy technology, Chris Welby, trustee of Severn Wye Energy Agency, chaired by Uswitch.com’s head of regulation Richard Neudegg. 

What each classification means:

The Uswitch Green Accreditation will give consumers more transparency when they choose an energy tariff - and help them make more informed choices easier. 

Richard Neudegg, head of regulation at Uswitch.com, comments: “Green tariffs are increasingly in demand from those who want to do their bit for the environment, but it’s clear that there’s a vast gulf between the perception and the reality of what makes up these deals.

“Our accreditation system is an industry first, and will make it easier for consumers to make an informed choice when selecting a green energy deal, based on where the energy actually comes from and how much the tariff contributes towards renewable energy in future. It’s evident that confusion in the renewables space has been brewing for some time and we want to be on the front foot to help consumers identify the varying levels of green that are being presented to them.”

Utilita Energy to launch national ‘Public Service Announcement’ campaign in absence of a government one

From Monday (April 4), a new national advertising campaign will appear on television screens across Great Britain to help every household cut their energy costs by as much as £332 - cutting the average energy bill by nearly a fifth. The campaign has been launched after Utilita’s own research of 5,000 households revealed that any Government advice on cutting energy usage has failed to reach most households (84%).

Valerie Vaz MP Officially Opened Newly Refurbished Walsall Retirement Scheme

Midlands Housing Association Nehemiah Housing Association welcomed Walsall South MP Valerie Vaz to their newly refurbished and extended Nehemiah Court retirement scheme in Caldmore, Walsall, on Friday 1 October to celebrate the scheme’s transformation.

The newly extended and refurbished retirement scheme was officially opened by Valerie Vaz MP who unveiled a plaque to mark the scheme’s upgrade and planted a tree as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative and the ‘Plant A Tree For The Jubilee’ scheme. 

Vantage and NEOM McLaren Extreme E make a splash for ESG at the Finance Magnates London Summit 2022

International multi-asset broker, Vantage (also known as Vantage Markets), has announced its participation and sponsorship of the Finance Magnates London Summit for the second year running, with a renewed push for ESG. This year, Vantage was accompanied by their partner NEOM McLaren Extreme E to exhibit the fully electric SUV vehicle - named ODYSSEY 21 - at Old Billingsgate in London, next to the outdoor gazebo.

Vattenfall hosts seminar with UK renewable energy developers

Last week, leading energy company Vattenfall hosted a pivotal networking seminar to accelerate progress towards net zero.

Vector Consumer announces Dose & Co as its second acquisition

Vector Consumer Limited has taken a significant stride towards expanding its presence in the collagen market with its latest acquisition, Dose & Co.

VEE chair calls for joint Suffolk-Norfolk LVEP Bid at Annual Conference

Dr Andy Wood OBE DL told the conference at the John Innes Centre, Norwich, that visitor numbers to the two counties were now higher than pre-Covid levels and that now was the opportunity to work collaboratively to get national recognition as an accredited LVEP.

Viessmann acquires heat pump experts

German heating, industrial and refrigeration systems manufacturer Viessmann has bolstered its heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) expertise with the acquisition of Durham-based Pacifica Home Services Ltd (PHS) – with the support of Midlands law firm Shakespeare Martineau.

PHS is a specialist in both installation and maintenance of integrated HVAC solutions with a further specialisation in heat pumps, and is well-known to end customers under the brand 0800 Repair.

ViewSonic achieves SBTi Validation for Net-Zero Emissions by 2050

ViewSonic Corp., a leading global provider of visual solutions, have announced that its ambitious targets for achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

Viral Pakistani Chaiwala opens London Cafe

A Pakistani chaiwala who went viral for his blue eyes has now opened his own cafe in London.

Arshad Khan became an overnight sensation in 2016 when he was spotted selling tea from a small stall on a side road in Islamabad. His eyes led to Arshad attracting attention, particularly among women and he has now opened his own cafe, located on London’s Ilford Lane.

Virgin Atlantic will go under without aid – Branson warns

Virgin Atlantic boss, Sir Richard Branson has warned that his Virgin Atlantic airline needs support from the British Government in order that they survive.

The Virgin Group boss said tha the was not asking for any hand-out, but was looking for more in the way of a loan – which is said to be in the region of £500 million.

In an open letter to his staff, Sir Richard said: “Many of the airlines around the world are in need – and are looking for – their respective government’s support and many of them have received it”.

The plea from Branson came just as Virgin Atlantic, the second largest airline in the UK – face going into administration with aid.

Further developments revealed that Sir Richard pledged his luxury island resort in the Caribbean, as collateral to get a UK government bailout of his stricken airline.

In an open letter to staff, the billionaire Virgin Group boss made it clear that it was a commercial loan that he was looking for.

With the survival of his airline in doubt, he said, as well as his Necker Island home, they both could be mortgaged.

This has come at a crucial time for the Virgin Group as its airline in Australia is facing administration.

Virgin Galactic announces the start of commercial spaceflight service

Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPCE) (“the Company” or “Virgin Galactic”) have announced the start of commercial spaceline operations. The first commercial spaceflight, ‘Galactic 01’,is planned to fly between June 27 – June 30, 2023. The second commercial spaceflight, ‘Galactic 02,’will follow in early August 2023, with monthly spaceflights expected thereafter. 

Virgin Galactic’s team and vehicles are ready to fly the Company’s first customers to space, having successfully completed the Unity 25 spaceflight and subsequent routine analysis and vehicle inspections.

Virgin Media O2 funds climate projects for young people in Birmingham

Birmingham community groups are celebrating after receiving funding from Virgin Media O2 to run projects across the city which are encouraging young people and communities to get involved in conversations and positive action on climate change.

Following an application process, Kashmiri Arts & Heritage Foundation and Northfield Arts Forum have received grants from Virgin Media O2’s Together Fund to help run their respective ‘B10 Urban Farm’ and ‘Big Green Future’ projects.

Virgin Media puts people, the planet and communities at the heart of its new ‘Meaningful Connections Plan’

Virgin Media is today unveiling a comprehensive five year plan which sets out how the company will support and connect communities across the UK, reduce its impact on the environment and continue to become a more inclusive employer.

The ‘Meaningful Connections Plan’ is a bold and far-reaching strategy with ambitious five year goals spread across three key areas: people, planet and communities. As part of the strategy, Virgin Media will use its connectivity and presence in towns and cities nationwide to support projects which address loneliness and create greater community belonging. In addition, it will take steps to employ more people from underrepresented groups, and is committing to achieve net zero carbon operations (Scopes 1 and 2) and zero waste operations by the end of 2025. 

Virgin Media is also joining forces with the charity, Carers UK, for a five year strategic partnership which will use technology and innovation to address the loneliness experienced by eight out of ten unpaid carers, and will work together to connect more carers to each other and to their communities.

Lutz Schüler, Chief Executive Officer at Virgin Media, said: “With the country beginning to look towards recovering and rebuilding, we believe it’s vital to use this moment to bounce back in a better way. As a major UK employer and investor with a presence in communities across the country, we know that we can make a positive impact.

“Our Meaningful Connections Plan will use our purpose, people and products to create lasting change in the towns and cities we serve, drive greater diversity and inclusion into our business and see direct action taken to help tackle climate change. This plan spans across our whole business and is backed by bold and ambitious goals which set a benchmark and provide focus for what we want to achieve over the next five years, starting right now.”

The Meaningful Connections Plan

Virgin Media’s ‘Meaningful Connections Plan’ has been created following extensive research and insight from its customers, employees and experts around the role the company should play in society over the next five years. 

This highlighted that Virgin Media should use its purpose, people and products to bring communities together to address the issue of loneliness and the erosion of community belonging. This has been backed by further independent research of 5,000 people where more than two fifths of people said that the wellbeing of their community is more important to them following the pandemic. Almost two thirds say they feel lonely when they do not have time to connect with friends or family in person, while two fifths say they feel lonely when they do not have time to connect with their communities in person.

Virgin Media’s research has also found that more than one in five of its 5.6 million cable customers in the UK is an unpaid carer – the equivalent of around 1.2 million customers - with 58% saying they have felt lonely or isolated. An unpaid carer is someone who looks after a loved one, friend or neighbour who is older, disabled or seriously ill, offering practical, emotional support or hands-on care.

Virgin Media found that the issues of loneliness and isolation are exacerbated for the 6.5 million unpaid carers across the country – as they are seven times more likely to be lonely compared to non-carers. According to Carers UK, the pandemic has compounded these issues as carers now have little or no time for themselves or the opportunity to connect up with loved ones or their communities.

Communities: 1.5 million people more meaningfully connected

Virgin Media will use its people, brand and connectivity to help end the loneliness experienced by carers, and to bring communities closer together: its goal is to connect 1.5 million people to their communities and each other. Virgin Media will use digital technology, innovation and the power of its people to support carers and communities. This includes helping one million carers to access more digital services and platforms to build support networks and friendships; collaborating with community groups to provide skills, training or funding; and using Virgin Media’s network of local workers to support projects which create a greater sense of community belonging.

To ensure this goal is shared across the business, Virgin Media is boldly increasing the number of annual paid volunteering days for its people to five – the equivalent of around 450,000 hours per year across its 12,000 workforce. Employees will be encouraged to take time regularly to support projects – either in-person or digitally - which build meaningful connections in their own community, including micro-volunteering opportunities that have a more sustained impact on their local communities. 

Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said: “Carers UK’s new five year partnership with Virgin Media is exciting and transformative, enabling us to connect with many more unpaid carers and critically raise awareness of the issue.

“We know now more than ever millions of people are looking after someone and through this partnership we aim to reach them sooner and create better connections so that they are supported, leading to a reduction in loneliness and isolation. As Carers UK also embark on our new five-year strategy this partnership really underpins our ambitious plans to make life better for carers – we can’t wait to get started!”

Lutz Schüler continued: “We’re supporting communities with a long-term plan to tackle loneliness and isolation. We know that our connectivity, combined with the power of our people, can have a lasting impact and bring people together. 

“With our new partnership with Carers UK at the heart of our plan, we will use digital technology and innovation to make life better for one million unpaid carers, creating meaningful connections to each other and their communities.”

Planet: reducing impact

Virgin Media is stepping up action to tackle climate change – with a goal to achieve net zero carbon operations (Scopes 1 and 2) and zero waste operations by the end of 2025.

Virgin Media will continue to reduce its impact on the planet by becoming more energy efficient, cutting emissions, sourcing renewable power supply and reducing waste by increasing reuse of materials across its products and operations. By the end of 2025, Virgin Media aims to achieve:

Net zero carbon operations

·         Reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 25%, sourcing 100% renewable electricity and investing in carbon removal offsetting schemes for remaining emissions from 2025 onwards

·         Transition fleet to electric vehicles with full completion by 2030

Zero waste operations

·         Ensure 95% of all operational waste is reused or recycled and that customer products, such as set-top boxes or routers, contain at least 75% recycled plastic content or be a refurbished product, which is expected to save more than 5,000 tonnes of materials

·         Reuse or recycle 100% of all returned customer equipment and mobile handsets

·         Use 100% recyclable customer packaging with no single-use plastic

TV content

·         Virgin Media has signed up to the Media Climate Pact, an industry-wide initiative where it will use its TV platform to promote programming which highlights the effect of climate change to help educate and inform viewers

People: creating a culture of belonging

Virgin Media is continuing to take steps to become a more inclusive employer so that the company represents the communities it serves and creates a culture of belonging where all of its people – no matter their background – can be themselves at work and achieve their potential.

This includes creating hundreds more employment opportunities for people from underrepresented groups, and ensuring projects and products are equitable and are developed with all of its people and customers in mind. This builds on the existing measures Virgin Media has introduced to become a more inclusive employer, such as launching five employee networks representing underrepresented ethnicities, gender equality, disability, neurodiversity, and LGBTQ+ communities, as well as rolling out specialist equity training across the business.

Lutz Schüler concluded: “A diverse business is a better business. It’s critical to our growth that we have a culture where no-one is left behind and all of our people feel valued, heard and can be themselves. We’ve already taken action to create greater representation across Virgin Media, and will use this momentum to drive further positive change to become a more inclusive company.”

Virgin Money include fintech partner Expend in Marketplace – a new online service for small businesses

Virgin Money has launched a new online service called Marketplace where small business banking customers can access a number of different useful services offered by best-in-class digital providers.

Following on from the successful launch of M-Track* earlier this year, Marketplace is the next step in the ecosystem that Virgin Money is developing, offering digital services to help customers run their businesses successfully.