Simon Collyer
Chelmsford High On Economic Activity
Chelmsford has been praised for its high economic activity after recent figures released by the Department of Work & Pensions reveals that the city has one of the lowest rates of people claiming out-of-work benefits in Essex.
The number of people claiming these benefits, such as Job Seekers Allowance, has dropped from 1,210 to 1,190 - meaning that only 1.1 per cent of people living in Chelmsford are claiming out-of-work benefits.
Image: Chelmsford from the air.
Low Interest Rates Are Transfering Money To The Rich
40,000 houses in London are owned by by shell companies and many houses are empty. Houses are bought for speculation. Ordinary Londoners are being driven out of London. Low interest rates are transfering wealth from the poor to the rich. The London housing market is driven by 'dirty money' says this video.
Leaving the EU will see a fall in regulation and things will get worse.
Employment Tribunal Cases Expected to Rise Following Abolished Fees
The Supreme Court has rule that Employment Tribunal fees are illegal. A case had been brought by the Trade Union Unison. The charges to bring a case to an Emplyment Tribunal ranged from £390 to £1,200. Prior to 2013 it was free. The Government will have to refund up to £32 million to the thousands of people charged for taking claims to tribunal since July 2013, when fees were introduced by Chris Grayling, the then Lord Chancellor.
Cases taken to Tribunal had fallen by 70%.
If you are in dispute with a company and the company will not address your grievance the best approach is to contact ACAS. You should always use your organisation's appeals or grievance procedure, if they have one, to try to resolve the dispute. It is important to remember, however, that there are time limits for making a claim to the employment tribunal. Early Conciliation (EC) - an opportunity to avoid the cost and stress of a Tribunal and help you to explore options to resolve the matter.
Cases to Employment Tribunals are expected to increse substantially.
To contact ACAS click here:
Unemployment Statistics – ‘They Are All in It Together'
Mr Clegg of the ONS kindly responds.
Mr Collyer,
Thanks for your e-mail. Your linked piece asks about the international definition of unemployment, which we use in our labour market statistics. These are specified by the International Labour Organisation. The guidelines are followed by most countries including all EU member states and the United States. This ensures that unemployment statistics are internationally comparable. These guidelines specify that jobless people who are not seeking work and/or not available to work should not be included in unemployment statistics.
Richard Clegg
Head of Statistical Reporting & Labour Disputes Branch
Labour Market & Households Division
Office for National Statistics
HMRC List of Companies Failing to Pay Minimum Wages
HMRC have been busy. The naming and shaming scheme was revised in October 2013 to make it simpler to name and shame employers that do not comply with minimum wage rules. The 197 cases named today (11 August 2016) were thoroughly investigated by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
Employers have a duty to be aware of the different legal rates for the National Minimum Wage. The current minimum wage rates are:
National Living Wage (25 years and over) - £7.20 per hour
- adult rate of National Minimum Wage (21 years and over) - £6.70 per hour
- 18 to 20-year olds - £5.30 per hour
- 16 to 17-year olds - £3.87 per hour
- apprentice rate - £3.30 per hour
The apprentice rate applies to apprentices aged 16 to 18 years and those aged 19 years and over who are in their first year. All other apprentices are entitled to the National Minimum Wage rate for their age.
The government is committed to increasing compliance with minimum wage legislation and effective enforcement of it. Everyone who is entitled to the minimum wage should receive it. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) scheme to name employers who break minimum wage law came into effect on 1 January 2011. The scheme is one of a range of tools at the government’s disposal to tackle this issue. Employers who pay workers less than the minimum wage not only have to pay back arrears of wages at current minimum wage rates but also face financial penalties of up to £20,000 per worker. In the most serious cases employers can be prosecuted.
From 1 October 2013 the government revised the naming scheme to make it simpler to name and shame employers who break the law. Under this scheme the government will name all employers that have been issued with a Notice of Underpayment (NoU) unless employers meet one of the exceptional criteria or have arrears of £100 or less. All 197 cases named today (11 August 2016) failed to pay the National Minimum Wage and owed arrears of at least £100.
Employers have 28 days to appeal to HMRC against the NoU (this notice sets out the owed wages to be paid by the employer together with the penalty for not complying with minimum wage law). If the employer does not appeal or unsuccessfully appeals against this NoU, BEIS will consider them for naming. The employer then has 14 days to make representations to BEISoutlining whether they meet any of the exceptional criteria:
- naming by BEIS carries a risk of personal harm to an individual or their family
- there are national security risks associated with naming in this instance
- other factors which suggest that it would not be in the public interest to name the employer
If BEIS does not receive any representations or the representations received are unsuccessful, the employer will be named via a BEIS press release under this scheme.
For further advice on the National Minimum Wage, contact Acas
On 1 April 2016 the government’s new National Living Wage became law. Workers aged 25 years or over who are not in the first year of an apprenticeship are legally entitled to at least £7.20 per hour. Employers will be responsible for ensuring they are paying their staff correctly. The National Living Wage will be enforced in the same way as the current National Minimum Wage.
The 197 employers named today (11 August 2016) are:
- San Lorenzo Ltd, Wimbledon, London, owed £99,541.98 to 30 workers
- Premier Recruitment Ltd, Derby, owed £34,797.33 to 424 workers
- Regis UK Ltd, Coventry, owed £25,712.19 to 604 workers
- RD Resourcing Ltd, Eastleigh, Hampshire, owed £14,350.00 to 122 workers
- TM West Plumbing Services Ltd, Leeds, owed £12,617.76 to 2 workers
- Mr Ronald McConnachie, trading as Bay Newsagents, Weymss Bay, Renfrewshire, owed £12,527.97 to 3 workers
- SLW Ltd, trading as Sycamore Care Centre, Sunderland, owed £10,212.05 to 98 workers
- Kushi Care Ltd, Leicester, owed £9,726.23 to 46 workers
- Busy Bee Nursery (Newport-on-Tay) Ltd, trading as Little Beehive Nursery, Fife, owed £9,065.14 to 7 workers
- Omega Proteins Ltd, Halifax, owed £8,977.51 to 5 workers
- Mr Moo’s Family Butchers Ltd, Billingham, Cleveland, owed £7,371.25 to 4 workers
- Rice Chamberlains Estate Agents Ltd, Birmingham, owed £6,580.63 to 3 workers
- Black Swan (Yorkshire) Ltd trading as The Black Swan Hotel, Hemsley, Yorkshire, owed £5,836.66 to 10 workers
- Michael Holmes, trading as Fitzroy Builders, Newtownards, County Down, owed £5,371.76 to 2 workers
- Voyage 1 Ltd, Lichfield, Staffordshire, owed £5,337.73 to 3 workers
- Minee Monkeys Ltd (previously Mini Monkeys Ltd), Oldbury, owed £5,209.96 to 1 worker
- Haven Care Ltd, Ilford, owed £4,695.89 to 101 workers
- Mr Ray Macfarlane, trading as Rays Auto Custom Services, Blackburn, owed £4,396.74 to 2 workers
- Catering Academy Ltd, Tamworth, Staffordshire, owed £4,220.48 to 1 worker
- A & G Precision & Sons Ltd, Poulton Le Fylde, Lancashire, owed £3,723.24 to 1 worker
- Azafran Ltd trading as Bluebird Care (Coleraine), Coleraine, owed £3,707.92 to 67 workers
- Woods Hair Ltd, trading as Chapters Hair Design, Witney, Oxfordshire, owed £3,676.87 to 1 worker
- Mr Keith Smith & Mrs Lynda Smith, trading as KLS Electrical Contracting, Goole, East Yorkshire, owed £3,619.70 to 1 worker
- SPRIM V.P.I Limited, London, SW1V, owed £3,543.44 to 1 worker
- Mr Prakas Kitto, trading as Kash’s Off Licence, Spennymoor, County Durham, owed £3,445.88 to 1 worker
- Topstaff Employment Ltd, Glasgow, owed £3,355.25 to 20 workers
- Playdays Daycare Nursery Ltd, Bolton, owed £3,277.04 to 1 worker
- Mr Ben Wilkins and Mr Harry Williamson, trading as BHW Property Solutions, Bedford, owed £2,933.48 to 1 worker
- Castle Carpets Ltd, Shrewsbury, owed £2,898.12 to 1 worker
- Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club Limited, Brighton, owed £2,861.64 to 1 worker
- KAB Development & Construction Ltd, Sandbach, Cheshire, owed £2,815.51 to 1 worker
- Mr Nicholas & Mrs Christina Winstone-Partridge, trading as Wholesale Autoparts, Kidlington, Oxfordshire, owed £2,691.73 to 1 worker
- Pine View Care Homes Ltd, trading as Royal Manor Nursing Home, Derby, owed £2,620.45 to 1 worker
- Silverdale Care Homes Ltd, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, owed £2,590.99 to 1 worker
- Mrs Margaret Pink, trading as Gems Childcare, Croydon, owed £2,558.80 to 4 workers
- UK Education Providers Ltd, Romford, owed £2,494.83 to 2 workers
- Ro-Ro Restaurants Ltd, trading as Oldfields Noted Eating House, Durham, owed £2,463.98 to 3 workers
- Betterstaff Industrial & Commercial Recruitment Limited, Sidcup, Kent, owed £2,441.92 to 23 workers
- Bambinos Ltd, Plymouth, owed £2,381.97 to 58 workers
- Prestwood Motors Ltd, Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, owed £2,375.00 to 1 worker
- G C Motors Ltd, Harrogate, owed £2,328.83 to 2 workers
- Flavourfresh Salads Ltd, Southport, Merseyside, owed £2,154.94 to 3 workers
- Mr Chi Kin Cheng, trading as The Modern Chinese Takeaway, Derby, owed £2,124.58 to 1 worker
- Macdonalds Hotels & Resorts Ltd, Bathgate, West Lothian, owed £2,123.10 to 6 workers
- Paper Innovation Ltd, Preston, owed £2,024.82 to 4 workers
- Hairstopper Limited, Ayr, owed £2,021.07 to 2 workers
- Ms Susanna Ross, trading as Susanna’s Hair & Beauty, Ayr, owed £2,013.22 to 1 worker
- Messrs Robert Goodwin & Paul Coxhead, trading as Instant Services (Domestic Appliances), Rochester, Kent, owed £1,978.68 to 1 worker
- K Construction (Scotland) Ltd, Edinburgh, owed £1,916.61 to 2 workers
- The Buck Project Ltd, Chalgrove, Oxfordshire, owed £1,915.15 to 1 worker
- Philips Hair Salons Ltd, Wakefield, owed £1,904.00 to 4 workers
- The Hobbs Hairdressing Partnership Ltd, trading as Hobbs Hairdressing, Bristol, owed £1,883.90 to 2 workers
- Mr Snippers Ltd, Kings Lynn, Norfolk, owed £1,867.54 to 1 worker
- Newlay Civil Engineering Ltd, Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, owed £1,860.60 to 1 worker
- Mr Ronald Archibald Mutton and Mrs Sandra Anne Mutton, trading as A1 Plumbing & Heating, Oxford, owed £1,834.13 to 1 worker
- Cheasty Ltd, trading as Papa Johns, Edinburgh, EH8, owed £1,811.33 to 19 workers
- Mr Darren Harding & Mrs Amy Harding, trading as The Wheatsheaf, Titchmarsh, Northamptonshire, owed £1,792.69 to 2 workers
- Mrs Elizabeth Richardson, trading as Poppies, Durham, owed £1,772.13 to 23 workers
- Mrs Sheena Lyttel, trading as Pamela Clair, Derby, owed, £1,699.01 to 1 worker
- AA Dispatch (UK) Ltd, Thetford, Norfolk, owed £1,669.41 to 1 worker
- Mrs Jeanette Mullen, trading as Fleetcare, Bristol, owed £1,665.38 to 1 worker
- Mr Carl Smith, trading as Nottingham & District Gun Club, Oxton, Nottinghamshire, owed £1,635.03 to 2 workers
- Gwynedd Electrical Contractors Ltd, Anglesey, owed £1,625.92 to 1 worker
- McLeod Hotels Ltd, trading as Beechwood Close Hotel, York, owed £1,526.20 to 13 workers
- Small Talk Nurseries Ltd, Birmingham, owed £1,499.30 to 10 workers
- Preston Flowers Limited, Preston, owed £1,493.40 to 1 worker
- A1 Independent British 4x4 Specialists Ltd, Bury, Lancashire, owed £1,422.44 to 1 worker
- High Peak Hospicecare, Chapel en le Frith, Derbyshire, owed £1,363.13 to 1 worker
- Avanti Express Ltd, Hyde, Greater Manchester, owed £1,300.16 to 1 worker
- Mr Mark Leicester & Mrs Elizabeth Leicester, trading as Yorkshire Chimney Supplies, Harrogate, owed £1,264.76 to 1 worker
- Mr Thomas Till and Mrs Pauline Till, trading as Misters of Stafford, owed £1,254.76 to 1 worker
- Huddlebuy Ltd, London, EC4V, owed £1,236.88 to 1 worker
- Mitie Property Services (UK) Ltd, Bristol, owed £1,226.37 to 1 worker
- Airspeed Tyres & Exhaust Ltd, Ipswich, owed £1,198.75 to 1 worker
- The Dinner Bell Ltd, trading as The Chequers, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, owed £1,190.68 to 1 workers
- Mobile Buddy Ltd, Swansea, owed £1,162.77 to 1 worker
- Mrs Rebecca Hodges & Mr Rob Hodges, trading as Flame Hair Studios, Towcester, Northamptonshire, owed £1,146.46 to 2 workers
- Miss Olivia Smith, trading as The Cutting Rooms, Wetherby, West Yorkshire, owed £1,132.65 to 1 worker
- Crown Care II LLP, North Shields, owed £1,129.74 to 60 workers
- Mr Richard Harris and Mrs Myrtle Harris, trading as Honiton Garage, Honiton, Devon, owed £1,121.55 to 1 worker
- Universal Care Services (UK) Ltd, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, owed £1,085.93 to 7 workers
- Sunnybank Day Nursery Ltd, Leeds, owed £1,083.45 to 2 workers
- Formby Hall Golf Club Ltd, trading as Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa, Formby, Merseyside, owed £1,047.00 to 1 worker
- Sine Hair & Beauty Salon Ltd, Glasgow, owed £1,027.65 to 1 worker
- JR’s Hairdressing Ltd, Glasgow, owed £1,000.16 to 2 workers
- Ms Lorna Bainbridge, trading as Passion 4 Hair and Beauty, Stockton-on-Tees, owed £997.45 to 2 workers
- Three Points Limited, Bristol, owed £972.64 to 1 worker
- Mrs Rosemary Wight, trading as AJ’S Hair & Beauty Salon, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, owed £972.41 to 1 worker
- Ryce Limited, Fife, owed £935.96 to 1 worker
- Sanctuary Home Care Ltd, Worcester, owed £918.65 to 1 worker
- Interserve FS (UK) Ltd, Dudley, owed £894.03 to 4 workers
- Forest Gate (Corby) Ltd, Corby, Northamptonshire, owed £878.57 to 4 workers
- William Priestley Salon Ltd, Halifax, owed £830.69 to 1 worker
- SGUK Limited, Wolverhampton, owed £809.66 to 1 worker
- Mr Steven Jenkins, trading as Rock Salt Café & Brasserie, Plymouth, owed £779.00 to 2 workers
- Edward Marshall LLP, Chelmsford, Essex, owed £776.50 to 1 worker
- Lifestyle (Abbey Care) Ltd, Richmond, North Yorkshire, owed £775.12 to 1 worker
- Automaster (South Wales) Ltd, Pontyclun, Mid Glamorgan, owed £770.56 to 1 worker
- Thomson ID Ltd, trading as Austen Thomson Hair, Edinburgh, owed £759.32 to 1 worker
- Mead Medical Services Ltd, trading as Lydiafield Care Home, Annan, owed £741.67 to 13 workers
- Ms Sue Newton, trading as Play 2 Learn Day Nursery, Northampton, owed £735.48 to 1 worker
- Brick Peers Ltd, Wells, Somerset, owed £735.25 to 1 worker
- McKinlays Lettings Crewkerne Ltd, Crewkerne, Somerset, owed £713.18 to 1 worker
- Temple Doors Ltd, Stockport, Cheshire, owed £674.98 to 1 worker
- Mr Harpinder Singh Dhamu, trading as Holloway Dental Practice, London, N7, owed £671.37 to 1 worker
- Mr David Curran and Mrs Deborah Curran, trading as Gazeley Stud, Newmarket, Suffolk, owed £646.20 to 1 worker
- Devon Dogs Ltd, Okehampton, Devon, owed £638.49 to 1 worker
- Legal Claimline Ltd, Manchester, owed £612.49 to 1 worker
- Fisher & Donaldson (St Andrews), Cupar, Fife, owed £574.32 to 6 workers
- U K P Leisure Club, Sittingbourne, Kent, owed £566.62 to 1 worker
- Olyness Ltd, trading as The New Westmere Day Nursery, Blackpool, owed £561.96 to 1 worker
- Ms Alison Vallance, trading as Vallance Hair & Beauty, Edinburgh, owed £547.20 to 1 worker
- Murdock Ltd, London, WC2H, owed £546.00 to 1 worker
- Krystal Dry Cleaners Ltd, London, SW16, owed £544.46 to 1 worker
- Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, owed £517.88 to 1 worker
- Mr Alex Okolidoh & Mrs Victoria Okolidoh, trading as Elite Property Solutions, Norwich, owed £511.20 to 1 worker
- Crown Care IV Ltd, North Shields, owed £505.86 to 25 workers
- 247 Home Rescue Ltd (Named changed to 123 SRS Limited), Accrington, Lancashire, owed £493.05 to 1 worker
- Collective Apparel Ltd, Kingston-upon-Thames, owed £487.34 to 1 worker
- Mr Robert Louis Craig, trading as Craigs Courier Services, Falkirk, owed £484.90 to 1 worker
- Shiners Property Services Ltd, London, E14, owed £481.36 to 1 worker
- Earn Extra 139 Ltd, Brighouse, West Yorkshire, owed £453.48 to 1 worker
- Morleigh Ltd, trading as Tregertha Court Residential Care Home, Looe, Cornwall, owed £447.98 to 1 worker
- Ebina Ltd, trading as Ebi Sushi, Derby, owed £447.97 to 4 workers
- Dove’s Nest Ltd, Manchester, owed £439.37 to 19 workers
- Zeus Enterprise Ltd, trading as Yieldify, London, EC3R, owed £421.93 to 1 worker
- Ms Tina Hamlin, trading as Mad Hatters, Orpington, Kent, owed £418.73 to 3 workers
- Elite Complete Property Services Ltd, Plymouth, owed £414.85 to 1 worker
- M. J. Electrical. Services. Ltd., Swansea, owed £410.00 to 1 worker
- Toni Saade Ltd, trading as Toni Saade Hair Salon, Newmarket, Suffolk, owe £404.64 to 1 worker
- Salim Uddin Khan, trading as Top Tread Tyres, Exhaust & MOT Centre, High Wycombe, owed £402.25 to 1 worker
- Music Junkie Ltd, Leicester, owed £396.85 to 1 worker
- Mr Kevin Boyd, trading as Billion Hair, Wigan, owed £396.07 to 1 worker
- Scope, London, N7, owed £394.28 to 1 worker
- Legends (Redditch) Ltd, trading as Legends Hair & Beauty Salon, Worcester owed £393.14 to 3 workers
- Suzy Mcs Corporate Catering Ltd, Coventry, owed £392.18 to 1 worker
- Simply Auto Enrolment Solutions Ltd, Bury, Lancashire, owed £390.00 to 1 worker
- Care and Support Shop Ltd, London, E13, owed £389.74 to 28 workers
- Contact Industrial Recruitment Ltd, Urmston, Manchester, owed £378.77 to 64 workers
- Mr Stephen Wallace, trading as The Lunatic Fringe, Canterbury, owed £377.48 to 1 worker
- Pasture Wood Fisheries Ltd, Barton-on-Humber, Lincolnshire, owed £373.95 to 3 workers
- Hollywood Plant Services Ltd, Walsall, owed £372.41 to 1 worker
- Terracotta Foods Ltd, trading as Freddy’s Chicken & Pizza, Northampton, owed £370.80 to 1 worker
- Your Electrical Supplies Services & Solutions (A) Ltd, Normanton, West Yorkshire, owed £369.88 to 2 workers
- SLRS Ltd, trading as Stealth Security, Southampton, owed £366.26 to 1 worker
- Industrial Medical Agency Ltd, Bradford, owed £365.37 to 1 worker
- Le Nantais Bistro (Hove) Ltd, Brighton, owed £362.44 to 1 worker
- Trident Design and Build Ltd, Warwick, owed £360.35 to 2 workers
- Jackson Dairies Ltd, Stockport, owed £355.90 to 3 workers
- Stephen Johnstone & Son Funeral Directors, Chester, owed £347.05 to 1 worker
- Motorbody Accident Repair Centre Ltd, Ambleside, Cumbria, owed £338.27 to 1 worker
- Beezy Beez Day Nursery Ltd, Leicester, owed £334.26 to 1 worker
- Manchester Super Store (Rusholme) Ltd, Manchester, owed £315.50 to 1 worker
- Lakhani Holdings Ltd, trading as Munro Pharmacy, London, E13, owed £312.00 to 1 worker
- The Personnel People Ltd, Norwich, owed £298.58 to 15 workers
- Smart Cool Ltd, Hull, owed £294.71 to 1 worker
- Kent Coach Travel Ltd, Sheerness, owed £294.51 to 1 worker
- Arcadia Care Ltd, Birmingham, owed, £286.00 to 1 worker
- B2B Engage Ltd, Bracknell, owed £282.00 to 1 worker
- Sollertia Limited, Newton Le Willows, Merseyside, owed £271.95 to 1 worker
- Mrs Ruth Elizabeth Goff & Mrs Enid Elizabeth Butt, trading as Cotswold Equine Training, Burford, Oxfordshire, owed £268.72 to 1 worker
- Benkaz Ltd, Shotts, Lanarkshire, owed £266.71 to 1 worker
- Kinza Beauty Lounge Ltd, Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, owed £258.30 to 1 worker
- Care 4 U Services (Lincs) Ltd, Lincoln, owed £257.27 to 1 worker
- Mr Anthony Shields, trading as 2CV City, Bradford, owed £252.46 to 1 worker
- Purple Pig Middlesbrough Ltd, Middlesbrough, owed £226.00 to 1 worker
- Fury Murry’s (Paisley) Ltd, Paisley, owed £216.14 to 1 worker
- Greene King Retail Services Ltd, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, owed £211.89 to 1 worker
- Consummate Care UK Ltd, Coventry, owed £201.36 to 1 worker
- Professional Print Finishing Services Limited, London, N18, owed £198.25 to 1 worker
- Supreme (UK) Ltd, Woking, owed £197.41 to 1 worker
- Dimples Riverside Day Nursery Ltd, Middlesbrough, owed £195.23 to 5 workers
- Poundstretcher Ltd, Huddersfield, owed £182.94 to 2 workers
- Wood & Co (Leicester) Ltd, Leicester, owed £179.17 to 1 worker
- Pomodoro 1 Ltd, Bewdley, Worcestershire, owed £177.64 to 2 workers
- Mr Isni Balija, trading as Letchworth Hand Car Wash, Letchworth Garden City, owed £173.33 to 1 worker
- Euro Dental Laboratory Services Ltd, Chorley, owed £173.00 to 1 worker
- Plum Buffets Ltd, Coventry, owed £156.00 to 1 worker
- Safe Night Security Ltd, Sunderland, owed £156.00 to 1 worker
- Miss Alison Margaret Smith, trading as AMS Hair & Beauty, Edinburgh, owed £150.00 to 2 workers
- Food n Tipple Ltd, Bolton, owed £148.28 to 1 worker
- Biton System Consultants Ltd, Chelmsford, Essex, owed £145.00 to 1 worker
- Shepherdess Café Ltd, London, EC14, owed £141.70 to 1 worker
- Beau Visage Beauty Ltd, Manchester, owed £141.00 to 1 worker
- Assist Homecare (Scotland) Ltd, Stevenston, Ayrshire, owed £134.21 to 1 worker
- TS Developments Ltd, trading as Imperial Workforce, Darlington, owed £130.30 to 12 workers
- Lifeline Homecare Ltd, Frome, Somerset, owed £130.02 to 3 workers
- IPizza UK Ltd, trading as IPizza, London, W3, owed £130.00 to 1 worker
- Nu U 2 Ltd, Sittingbourne, Kent, owed £125.57 to 1 worker
- Quest Cleaning Services Ltd, Staverton, Wiltshire, owed £125.13 to 1 worker
- My Home Choice (Essex) Ltd, trading as Bluebird Care Colchester, Colchester, owed £120.53 to 1 worker
- L M Bubble Tea Ltd, trading as Mooboo, Liverpool, owed £117.19 to 1 worker
- Newline Care Home Ltd, Bradford, owed £116.31 to 1 worker
- Peppermint UK Foods Ltd, trading as Subway, Brentwood, owed £107.20 to 1 worker
- Miss Despina Glykeriou and Mrs Jane Waldrum, trading as P W W Ice Cream Supplies, St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, owed £106.72 to 1 worker
- Micro Fitness Ltd, Cumbernauld, Glasgow, owed £104.93 to 1 worker
- Silenster Building Services Ltd, Thetford, Norfolk, owed £103.48 to 1 worker
The Public Said To Be Losing Confidence In The Unemployment Statistics
There is a lot of talk going on about the Unemployment Statistics.
Real unemployment is being claimed as more than four times the official figures. Around 21.5% of all working-age people (defined as ages 16 to 64) are without jobs, or 8.83 million people, according to the Office for National Statistics.
The Tories are very quiet about how well it is going. That is rather odd? We are told we are at full employment, yet anyone who tries to get a job soon learns how hard it is?
The narrative just does not fit?
'Are, you might say; these statistics are compiled to international standards'. Could it be that everyone else in the European Union, and governments internationally all have the same agenda...that is, to hide from their citizens the true state of employment in the developed world?
The Tories want people to think the unemployed are workshy so they can cut welfare, even more than the third they are doing already.
The Rt Hon Damian Green MP the Work & Pensions Minister has certainly kept a low profile compared to Iain Duncan Smith.
We think that the ONS could add some clarity to this issue? Who sets these 'international standards' and why are the public being fed a totally unrealistic picture of the job market? Or are they?
As we say here at the ABC, ‘90% of people are not sure if they believe in statistics, the other 10% don’t know’ (boom, boom).
What do you think about the Unemployment statistics?
Perhaps Mr Clegg can shed more light on the situation?
Image: Richard Clegg, ONS statistician
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Telephone : +44 (0)1633 455400
Latest ONS Unemployment Statistics Welcome News
The proportion of economically active people aged 16 and over who are out of work and seeking work is known as the unemployment rate. As shown at Figure 11 (which shows unemployment rates for people, men and women), the lowest unemployment rate for people recorded since comparable records began in 1971 was 3.4% in late 1973 to early 1974 and the highest rate, 11.9%, was recorded in 1984 during the downturn of the early 1980s. The unemployment rate for people for the latest time period, April to June 2017, at 4.4%, was the lowest since 1975.
For April to June 2017:
- the unemployment rate for people was 4.4%; it has not been lower since April to June 1975
- the unemployment rate for men was 4.6%; it has not been lower since August to October 1975
- the unemployment rate for women was 4.2%; the joint lowest since comparable records began in 1971
- For April to June 2017, there were:
- 1.48 million unemployed people, 57,000 fewer than for January to March 2017 and 157,000 fewer than for a year earlier
- 818,000 unemployed men, 34,000 fewer than for January to March 2017 and 74,000 fewer than for a year earlier
- 666,000 unemployed women, 23,000 fewer than for January to March 2017 and 83,000 fewer than for a year earlier
- Looking at unemployment by how long people have been out of work and seeking work, for April to June 2017, there were:
- 876,000 people who had been unemployed for up to 6 months, 81,000 fewer than for a year earlier
- 234,000 people who had been unemployed for between 6 and 12 months, little changed compared with a year earlier
- 374,000 people who had been unemployed for over 12 months, 74,000 fewer than for a year earlier
Welsh Families See Family Fund Budget Cut
Plaid Cymru has warned that up to 3,700 families in Wales have lost out on support after the Labour Welsh Government cut the Family Fund budget.
The fund, which distributes grants to families with ill and disabled children, helped 1,686 families last year (2016/17), down from 5,429 families helped in 2015/16.
The fund operates across the UK, but is funded by each government. Only in Wales has there been cuts to the budget provided to the fund.
In a Plaid Cymru debate in March 2017, Labour AMs voted against a Plaid Cymru motion to reverse the cuts. At the time, the Deputy Minister for Social Services responded to the debate by saying “It’s neither accurate nor fair to suggest that there has been a cut in support for disabled families”. However, figures show that the support has been cut.
Plaid Cymru Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health, Rhun ap Iorwerth said:
“The Family Fund offers financial support to families with ill and disabled children to buy equipment that they need but because of Labour’s decision to cut the fund, 3,700 fewer of these families have been helped this year compared to last. This is the heartbreaking effect of Labour’s cuts.
“What makes it worse is Labour’s refusal to accept that there has been a cut in support. The entire sector had warned that changes to the way the Family Fund was to be financed would mean thousands of the poorest families with disabled children would lose out. Yet Labour ignored these warnings and not only went ahead with the cuts, but refused to acknowledge making the mistake when Plaid Cymru tried to make them see sense.
“I want to see these cuts reversed. I refuse to believe that the government would deliberately want to make over 3,700 poor families with disabled children poorer. This has always been about the unintended consequences of changes to funding mechanisms. So now we know for sure the extent to which the changes have harmed these families, I cannot see why the cuts can’t be reversed.
“I hope that the government will see sense.”
HM Revenue and Customs Give Scottish Parents a Warning
Parents across Scotland have been warned that child benefit and child tax credits will stop if they don't tell the taxman of their child's educational status by the end of this month.
HM Revenue and Customs says that parents must let them know by August 31 if any of their children aged 16 or above are continuing in full-time education or are undertaking an apprenticeship.
Alternatively, if a young person leaves education or training - for example to start full-time work, or because their course has ended - claimants must report this change straight away to prevent the build-up of overpayments, which they will have to pay back.
Angela MacDonald, Director General of Customer Services, said: “Congratulations to students getting their results. Once parents or guardians know what their child has decided to do it’s really important they let us know as soon as possible, so they continue to get the right benefits and credits."
Parents can use the Personal Tax Account (PTA) service online to update both their Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit information online in a few minutes. The PTA service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
To access your PTA for the first time on a PC, tablet or smartphone, you'll need your national insurance number, a recent payslip or P60, and a phone to receive a security access code.
To get started go to gov.uk/personal-tax-account and click ‘start now’.
Falling Moral At the DWP
Public sector workers have been complaining about low pay. The take-home pay of senior civil servants had fallen by 23% in real terms since 2010. The Senior Salaries Review Body that recommends pay increases for senior Whitehall roles has warned that the continuing 1% pay cap was increasing recruitment and retention problems.
One DWP official has commented:
I hope this does not reflect on lower grade civil servants who work on the front line, we are struggling to continue working on the salaries we are on and are paid a lower salary than many who work for the private sector. Over the last few years so many of my colleague have taken VES packages or early retirement or just left the DWP to work in the private sector for better pay, in my years working for the department I have never know so many colleagues desperate to get out of the department and find another job. It's getting really tuff and staff are demoralised and tired and because of staff cuts they are doing more for less. It's really sad that the ministers don’t appreciate or comprehend that without our commitment to the job and care and compassion for the public the new welfare reform implementation would not come to fruition.
Executives
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Simon Collyer
Position: Founder & Director
Simon Collyer hails from Brightlingsea in Essex, a small town on the coast between Colchester & Clacton. Simon worked very successfully in the leisure marine industry in the UK and in Australia. Later in London Simon worked in the web development and publishing fields, founding a below-the-line sales promotion agency in the early nineties and then later a software company Red Banner in South Africa (2002-06). Here in South Africa, Simon became interested in the Third Sector and starting his own organisation.
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Christopher Johnson
Position: Bookkeeping and Administration
Chris lived in Oxford for twenty years, having been educated at Magdalen College School. Chris sought a career with British Rail and spent twenty years in railway retail management ending with Virgin Trains at Euston Station. Christopher retrained in bookkeeping and accounts in 2000 and now works for Chelmsford Community Transport.
A strong, enthusiastic team player with a meticulous eye for detail, Christopher brings a range of skills to the ABC.
Team
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Frances Rimmer
Position: Researcher
When not charming snakes Frances is a Modern History student at the University of Essex, focusing specifically on social history. The lives and experiences of the ordinary person rather than on politics or the military. Outside of her studies, Frances enjoys film and writing. As a keen roller skater who plays roller derby with the Kent Roller Girls, Frances secret wish would be to become a skating instructor and open her own rink, as she has always wanted to help people in some way, and feels it would be great to do so while also sharing her passion with like-minded people.
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Stuart Meyers
Position: Researcher
Stuart Meyer, is a final year American Studies student at the University of Essex. Stuart focussed his academic life on global justice and the rights of migrants. Additionally Stuart has a passion for writing, both creatively and with the aim of providing accessible information to those who need it most Stuart has made a great contribution to our library of Advice Guides demonstrating his versatility by writing intelligently on a wide range of topics.
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Louis Jones
Position: Film Maker
Louis is a 19 year old TV and film student studying at Colchester Institute. Along with hand-picked fellow students, Louis made the ‘Membership’ video that can be seen on the ABC website. Louis volunteers at, Hospital Radio Colchester, as a football commentator. A true fan of the ‘Great Game’ Louis insights have been sought after on occasions by key local media, the Colchester Daily Gazette & even BBC Essex.
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Marcus Pierpont
Position: Film Director
Talented student film maker, Marcus Pierpoint, directed the ABC 'Membership' film which can be seen on the organizations website. Marcus has recently graduated from a BTEC course, studying Creative Media Production at Colchester Institute and he claims a true passion for films and filmmaking. Marcus also enjoys radio work and volunteers at the local hospital radio station, producing and presenting his own show. Marcus is enrolled at the University of Greenwich, and dreams of a career in the media industry.
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Shane Mitchell
Position: Film Maker
Shane Mitchell, is another Colchester Institute Film and TV student that aspirers to be a Director of Photography in the future. Shane was the camera operator for the ABC Membership video, fun to make says Shane but it is also work he is very proud of. Shane loves all things ‘film’ and he makes videos even in his spare time.
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Joe Corlett
Position: Film Director
Ex-student script writer/director, Joe Corlett, directed the ABC's corporate video (About Us) which is now viewable on the main website. Joe graduated from the Colchester Institute with a BTEC diploma in the field of media. Joe is passionate towards film making and hopes to continue making more that are constructed form his own material. On the side he's loves being out jogging in all terrains and when not out side he's writing scripts for future projects. Joe is now out in the world ready to start his life goal of working in the Media industry.
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Jon Taylor
Position: Film Maker
Jonathan Taylor has been working in the media sector for 3 years and for our filming projects he worked as the production manager. John worked on graphical elements of our film, About Us for example, rendering images and making them look good on screen.
Jon is also experienced in animation and he made the logo and animation sequences in the ABC corporate videos.
Part of Jon’s brief was to also organise the administration side of filming, known collectively to admin experts the world over as ‘the paperwork’.
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Thomas Hearn
Position: Film Maker
Thomas Hearn, has been involved in media, for about three years. Tom likes to work a lot at a computer, particularly the editing suite. For the ABC project, Tom worked on the edit itself; created and pieced together both the footage and the music, Tom created the visual elements of the ABC ‘About Us’ video and put most of the visual effects on the video.
I think we can agree that along with the rest of our youthful student team; Tom has done a very fine job indeed.
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Max Gillard
Position: Film Maker
The last of our film team Max Gillard has recently finished college studying Creative Media Level 3 and Max hopes to continue the course on to University to someday gain a job in the media industry.
We wish Max the best of luck.
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Harry
Position: Film Maker
My name is Harry Genge and I am an aspiring film maker. I have skills in the majority of film orientated jobs, though I am most interested in the creative roles such: Directing, Director of Photography and Writing. In my spare time I make short films, write, read, draw/paint and take the dog out for long walks.
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Ned
Position: Producers
My name is Ned Woodcraft and I’m an aspiring Producer. As well as completing a diploma in media production I have also had a number of jobs in the professional market. I’m also a keen sailor and water sport enthusiast.
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Brandon
Position: Producer
My name is Brandon and I’m an aspiring producer and actor. I enjoy bringing a production together with planning and preparations to create a great finished product. My hobbies also include street magic and bass playing.
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Callum
Position: Writer and Director
My name is Callum Olive and I’m an aspiring writer and director. I’m always looking for a new project and love writing new stories and screenplays at home and on the move. My hobbies include playing the piano and street magic.
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Joanie DeMuro
Joanie joined ABC team in early 2017. She was one of six student volunteers from the University of Essex in that cohort. The student team focused on a range of projects, including creation of Wikipedia page,‘training manual’ and most importantly, researching and adding entries to the website directory of organisations that assist the unwaged, or those on low incomes. “This placement was very helpful - thanks for the opportunity Simon.”
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Cherry Lam
Cherry Lam has been volunteering for ABC for one month. Although it is a short period of time, she knows a lot more about the running of a charity organisation. Cherry is responsible for adding directories to the organisation website according to categories. Joining this placement helped her improving skills and gaining new experiences. Cherry says is extremely appreciative of the support she has received from ABC which allowed her to improve skills.
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