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Drivers who stay too long on council owned car parks are to get a 10 minute leeway before being fined, the government has announced… Expected to take effect later this month, the new leeway will apply to free and paid-for-parking spaces on both streets and off-street car parks. The 10 minute...

The combination of a sight and hearing impairment (deafblindness) is a disability with little understanding.  In the UK alone, there are currently around 250,000 deafblind people, yet public awareness of what deafblindness is can be low. Deafblindness affects a person’s ability to communicate, to access all kinds of information, and to get around. Deafblindness...

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM2015) received Parliamentary approval on 29th January 2015, and will come into force on 6th April 2015; the question must be asked of large and small construction client organisations and the persons such as facilities managers, are you ready? On Friday, 9th January 2015, the...

Safe behaviour in a workplace is critical in order for an organisation to run effectible and efficiently. Research by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has shown that up to 80% of work related accidents are caused by employees’ behaviour.  Behavioural safety is a tool that aims...

New guidance from health experts has suggested that plumbers and heating engineers should join GPs in tackling problems caused by cold homes…. The latest guidance by The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that health and social care providers, as well as those working in the heating, plumbing...

Steve Cole, Policy Leader at the National Housing Federation discusses whether the Green Deal has helped to improve energy efficiency in UK housing stock… Green Deal, the government’s flagship policy to improve the energy efficiency of the UK’s housing stock, has been much debated over the last few years. With...

£15bn of investment is needed for a Transport for London style body to revitalise transport links in the north of England, a think tank has said… The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has urged the Chancellor, George Osborne to include investment in his 18 March budget to help make...

New funding for book clubs in primary schools to improve reading standards has been announced by the government… The action plan is part of the government’s plan to raise reading standards in schools, so that every child has the skills necessary to succeed in life. Figures show that at least one...

A new report has highlighted the national and regional picture of under-funding of homecare services for older people across the UK… The report published by the UK Homecare Association (UKHCA) exposes the level of risk that councils in Great Britain place on a systems intended to support older people. The findings...

It’s a constant message: improve efficiency and effectiveness. This directive continues to dominate the world of public services. But why does it appear to be a struggle? When we are in contact with our public service customers they cite 3 key reasons why senior management have (yet) to embrace continuous...

In a interview with AG, Dr Victoria Showunmi of UCL Institute of Education in London, sheds light of what an effective leader is, and why they are integral to the education system… The school system has undergone vast reform over the last few years. The advent of academies, the overhaul...

Over 103,000 new homes could be built on unused public sector land that has been released, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles announced today… The amount of land sold by the government surpasses the original commitment set by the Prime Minister, and is expected to rise again by the end of March. Following...

The government has today announced an agreement has been reached for the sale of its entire interest in Eurostar International Limited (“Eurostar”)… The Chancellor George Osborne, and the Chief Secretary, Danny Alexander announced the sale, which would be for £757.1m for the government’s 40 per cent stake. A consortium comprising Caisse...

The government has today launched a new fuel poverty strategy which sets out a revolutionary approach to identifying and targeting England’s energy efficient homes… For the first time, future governments will be required by law to tackle fuel poverty by making the coldest, leakiest homes in England more energy inefficient. This...

A new quality mark for new houses has been launched that will transform the way consumers choose their homes to buy and rent… Leading building science centre, BRE has introduced a new national 5 star rating system – Home Quality Mark – that will give home buyers a clear indication...

A new report published today shows that a coordinated EU environment policy has delivered substantial benefits for citizens over the past five years… The report – ‘The European Environment – State and Outlook 2015 (SOER) prepared by the European Environment Agency – has revealed that European’s enjoy cleaner air and...

Wolverhampton City Council has reached a 3 year target to help and support troubled families within the area… The Families in Focus programme has helped more than 800 “troubled families” in the City to turn their lives around 3 months ahead of schedule. Launched in 2012 as part of the government’s...

Buckinghamshire County Council are prioritising vulnerable children and their families with a new initiative launched last week… A major new training scheme for social workers aims to improve services to help vulnerable children and their families. The Social Work Academy is a partnership between Buckinghamshire County Council and Buckinghamshire New University. The...

For use during tactical operations. Holmatro launches a new product for protection against sharp edges on objects you need to climb over, like walls and fences: The Sharp Edge Protection Blanket SEP 2.5 ST. Instead of having to remove glass fragments, razor wire and the like before proceeding with your...

Deirdre Glenn, Manufacturing, Engineering and Energy Research Commercialisation Manager at Enterprise Ireland speaks to AG about how the organisation is supporting innovation throughout the country… Ireland is one of, if not the, leading Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) countries in Europe, offering key commercial environments for companies to develop their research...