t2 business solutions blog

Work past retirement age to boost health

An interesting article on the ILM website explains that working past the statutory retirement age could boost health!

According to the article, remaining in work allows people to keep mentally and physically active. It has also been recommended that employers should give those coming up to retirement age the option to stay in work.

It also explains that earlier this week, a number of peers from all parties expressed support for an end to the default retirement age during a debate in the House of Lords.

To read the full article, click here.

2011 Census Form To Include 'Welsh'

Wales Online published an article today announcing that a 'Welsh' tick-box will be included in the 2011 census, the Office for National Statistics confirmed yesterday.

In the 2001 census, people were able to define themselves as Irish or Scottish on the official government survey, but there was no option to tick Welsh.

This sparked widespread protests, and the Western Mail led a campaign for the form to be changed.

Peter Benton, the deputy director of the 2011 census yesterday said: “There has been a very strong demand for people to be able to state their own identity, especially to say they were Welsh. We looked for the best way for people to express this.”

In other changes, each Welsh household will receive a bilingual copy of the census form. People will also be able to complete the form online for the first time.

To read the full article, click here.

Success of Business Could Lie With Training

According to an article on the ILM website, studies have shown that it is vital for businesses to offer adequate training to employees. The Learning and Skills Council have advised that training can improve not only the productivity and efficiency of workers, but also staff retention rates.

Jaine Clarke, director of communications at the Learning and Skills Council, claimed that "progressive" companies are able to understand the importance of training staff, which can help them to outstrip their rivals in the marketplace and survive economic difficulties.

"Training is key if businesses are to prosper and grow - whatever the economic circumstances," she remarked.

Statistics from Evaluation of Train to Gain showed that 43% of workers received pay rises as a result of training, while 42% of employers claimed it boosted their productivity and profitability, Ms Clarke added.

Learning strategy director Kevin Lowell wrote for Personnel Today last month that companies should not cut back on their training budgets as a result of the credit crunch.

More Recycling Needed For UK

An interesting article on the ILM website looks into how the Local Government Association has said that the UK needs to do more about recycling, even though rates are moving in the right direction.

Apparently, figures have shown that household recycling and composting rates have risen from 30.9% in 2006-07 to 34.5% in 2007-08, but the UK is still behind the rest of Europe.

Paul Bettison, Chairman of the LGA Environment Board said "Britain is still the dustbin of Europe, throwing more waste into landfill than any other country in the EU."

While recycling has increased, other countries on the continent recycle twice as much. Local authorities and council tax payers face fines totaling £3 billion if landfill waste is not reduced.

Mr Bettison added that for this reason new ways of improving recycling levels must be investigated and the LGA has called for the law to be strengthened so councils can punish people who throw rubbish from cars.

Wales' New Hi-Tech Rugby Kit Launched!

WalesOnline today announced that Wale's new rugby kit has been launched and is now on sale! Nearly a year in the making, the kit was put to the test by Warren Gatland’s men trying to rip it off each other’s backs, and it is claimed that the Welsh rugby team’s new kit  could be the most technologically advanced in the world.

The kit features slinky, “anti-grab” material and in-built sun protection, to team socks with added charcoal to stop them smelling, its creators say it is a genuine feat of engineering. The jersey, which was created by up to 100 people, is made from polyester and nylon and contains several features to help finely tune performance.

The home shirt has anti-microbial properties and an ultraviolet protection factor to guard against the sun’s harmful rays. The shirt – which will get its debut against South Africa on November 8 – is designed to keep the players’ core body temperature at the optimal level, and to keep them dry. Its tightness helps remove sweat in seconds.

It also features “dragon scale grippy” technology on the inside of the sleeves and to the side of the chest for enhanced ball-handling ability and can even withstand being pulled in different directions.

Its durability was put to the test when Wales coach Warren Gatland told his team to try and rip the shirts off each other’s backs during a training session.

The company behind the new kit is US firm Under Armour, the flagship sportswear provider for American football and basketball, which has also provided equipment for soldiers on the frontline. Its bosses admit they had considered designing kit for other nations, but chose Wales because of its passion for the sport.

Under Armour’s representative in the UK, Mike Dods said: "If the kit makes a 0.1% difference, like semi-fitted shorts, that might help Shane Williams not get caught a metre from the line, that’s when we know we’ve done our job.”

Throughout production, Under Armour also visited rugby clubs and schools across Wales to get into the mindset of the average Welsh fan and what they wanted.

The new kit is on sale now from £70 for the professional jersey and £40 for the fans’ shirt. It will also be sold online at www.wru.co.uk

Olympic Heroes Return to Cardiff

icWales reported today on the massive welcome for our Olympic Heroes! Nine Welsh athletes, including four medal winners, were today given an open-top bus tour through the streets of Cardiff Bay before arriving to hundreds of cheering and screaming supporters.

Crowds lined the route to applaud the members of Team GB including gold medal winners Nicole Cooke, Tom James and Geraint Thomas, and silver medal winner David Davies. They were greeted on the steps of the Senedd building by First Minister Rhodri Morgan and Welsh Sports Minister Alun Ffred Jones, in front of a sea of Welsh flags – and a solitary Union Jack.

Cyclist Nicole Cooke said: “It still feels just as good as it did the moment I crossed the finish line. I think it was one of the best emotions of my life. To be an Olympic winner right at the top of my sport has been a dream.”

Congratulations to all nine Welsh Olympic Heroes, and a massive congratulations to the four Welsh medal winners! Da Iawn! Well Done!

Garden Chair Flying - The Latest Craze

An article on the Metro tells how Kent Couch rigged 150 giant balloons to a garden chair and took off, drifting 380km (235 miles) on his flying machine.

After nine hours in the air, the g­arage owner used a BB gun to pop enough balloons to land safely in a tiny town across the state border. He rallied dozens of helpers, filled 1.5m wide balloons and tied them to his chair. The ambitious pilot, from Oregon, got sponsors to pay for his £3,000 rig. For ballast, Mr Couch used canisters filled with fizzy drink and took chocolate and boiled eggs to eat.

This is not, however, the first time that man has flown with balloons! Larry Walters flew with balloon power in 1982 – and got fined £750 for breaking air traffic rules.

New Mona Lisa Smaller Than 1/4 Size of Postage Stamp

According to an interesting article on Orange News today, an artist from Hampshire has painted the worlds smallest Mona Lisa, which stands at a mere 11mm high and 7mm wide.

Andrew Nicholls, 44, decided to attempt the piece after reading about the previous world record on a hobby craft website.

In order to break the record, Mr Nicholls created the entire piece whilst looking through a magnifying glass and used a tiny 0000 gauge paintbrush. The previous record stood at 13mm high and 9mm wide and was held by Yves Gerard, from Luxembourg, whose work is at the Musee de la Miniature in Drome, France.

£100 billion a year spent on sick notes

An interesting article on Training Zone explains how £100 billion a year is being spent on sick notes in Britain - which is more than the entire budget of the NHS.

This study is the first ever review into the health of the working population and is has led to a call for urgent reform and a new approach to health and work.

Dame Carol Black, Director for health and work and publisher of the review Working for a Healthier Tomorrow, discusses out the challenges, including insufficient access to good work-related health support in the early stages of sickness.

Is your company losing out because of sick notes - are you part of the £100 billion costs lost every year? Have a look at the article to see what has been suggested to tackle these issues.

Teapot Worshipping Anyone?

  A Malaysian woman has been jailed for following a cult surrounding a giant teapot! An article on Metro tells how she was jailed one week ago after announcing herself as an apostate.

She was arrested in 2005 with 57 other followers of the cult and the teapot, which apparently symbolised water's purity and 'love pouring from heaven', was demolished by the government at the time of the arrests.

She has been jailed for two years for apostasy without willingness to repent - however, this is not the strangest part of all. She was previously imprisoned in 1992 for her teapot following ways!

Maybe it's time to follow something new...