About Neil Franklin

Neil Franklin is Insight's news editor

Posts by Neil Franklin:

Retention of EU workers no more difficult for many UK employers

Retention of EU workers no more difficult for many UK employers

More than half of UK companies say the referendum result hasn’t affected their ability to retain EU staff so far, according to  research from REED. Despite this positive news, the poll of nearly 500 UK senior professionals for its research revealed that a third singled out getting access to EU workers as the biggest issue for their organisation around Brexit. However, there is also strong support for getting access to the EU market (44 per cent) with 70 per cent of those asked wanting a close relationship with the EU when and if the UK leaves the EU. More →

“First ever” dedicated UK India tech hub opens at Royal Albert Dock London

“First ever” dedicated UK India tech hub opens at Royal Albert Dock London

A newly delivered building at Royal Albert Dock (RAD) in London has been launched as the UK India Tech Hub to provide a designated space for technology firms from India and the UK. It is claimed to be the first venture capital fund that has partnered with a business district to create a tech hub anywhere the world. Under the partnership agreement, developer ABP London and investors Pontaq will provide technology firms with work space while Pontaq’s tech fund will be invested in tech start-ups to assist them to develop and expand. India High Commissioner, Ruchi Ghanashyam, and Under Secretary of State at the Department for International Trade, Graham Stuart MP, along with Mayor of Newham Rokhsana Fiaz, witnessed the signing of an agreement between Royal Albert Dock developer ABP London and the venture capital firm Pontaq. More →

Workplace design in tech sector out of step with demands of modern work

Workplace design in tech sector out of step with demands of modern work

HOK has released the second volume of HOK Forward, its annual report exploring a crucial issue in workplace design. HOK Forward: Tech Workplace Takes Center Stage investigates the distinct threats and challenges facing the tech sector and explores how these same challenges are affecting all companies, regardless of the industry in which they operate. More →

Governments must do more to prepare people for the future of work

Governments must do more to prepare people for the future of work

Governments need to overhaul their approach to employment and jobs to reduce further social and economic tensions, according to a new report from the OECD which explores the future of work. Without rapid action, many people, particularly the low skilled, will be left behind in the fast-changing world of work. The OECD Employment Outlook 2019 is part of the OECD’s Future of Work initiative and the “I am the Future of Work” campaign, which aims to make the future of work better for all, helping to transform learning and social protection systems and reduce inequalities between people and across regions.

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Majority of organisations fail to offer menopause support

Majority of organisations fail to offer menopause support

Forth With Life, a company that provides blood sample analysis and bio-marker tracking to promote and support health and wellbeing, recently undertook a survey exploring the existence and effectiveness of menopause support options available in the workplace. Their sample group consisted of 1000 women, all over 45 years of age and in either full time or part time employment, from all around the UK. Of those women, 77 percent had already been through the menopause, or were currently experiencing symptoms.

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Government announces plans to to boost digital skills for adults

Government announces plans to to boost digital skills for adults

a group of people work together on laptopsThe UK Government has unveiled new qualifications which it claims will help to give adults the digital skills they need to succeed in the modern world. Free courses will be offered to thousands of people to help the 1 in 5 UK adults with no or low basic digital skills learn how to thrive in an increasingly digital world. The new qualifications, unveiled by Apprenticeship and Skills Minister Anne Milton, will be based on new national standards and will be available for free to anyone over the age of 19 from 2020. They have been designed to help adults learn the essential skills, such as sending emails, completing online forms or using a tablet, that many people take for granted. More →

Emerging megacities will outperform developed megacities by 2025

As urban world is moving towards the developing world, GlobalData, a data and analytics company, forecasts that 88 percent of the world megacities will be based in the developing economies of Asia, Europe & Central Asia, Latin America and Middle East & Africa by 2025. Out of 44 megacities in the developing world, GlobalData has identified 26 that will outperform developed cities by 2025. The company forecasts that the share of emerging cities to the world’s gross domestic product (GDP) will increase from 7.2 percent in 2018 to 8.3 percent in 2025 while the share of developed cities to the world GDP will decline from 8.1 percent to 6.8 percent during the period.

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Employers care more about saving costs than wellbeing, according to majority of workers

Employers care more about saving costs than wellbeing, according to majority of workers

Three of every five UK employees believe that their employer cares more about saving money than the wellbeing of their workforce, according to the latest research report from workspace efficiency company Cloudbooking. The Employee Evolution report (registration), which explores the attitudes of 1,000 employees, claims that there is a disconnect between what makes employees happy at work and what they are currently experiencing. Cloudbooking’s research also suggests that 88 percent of employees think that workplace wellbeing is one of the most critical elements in creating a positive experience for all workers, yet businesses are failing to address issues that are negatively impacting the experience and wellbeing of employees.

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Greater action still needed on workplace adjustments for disabled people

Greater action still needed on workplace adjustments for disabled people

Findings from a new and extensive survey on workplace adjustments will be announced today (25 April) at the Business Disability Forum’s annual conference in London. Based on the views of over 1,200 respondents, The Great Big Workplace Adjustments Survey provides a detailed and up-to-date picture of what is and isn’t working when it comes to making and managing adjustments; how effective  workplace adjustments are, and how far everyone who needs adjustments has them in place. More →

Flexible working seen as top workplace benefit by workers

Flexible working seen as top workplace benefit by workers

A survey of 1,000 UK workers by corporate gift suppliers Adler claims to identify the top benefits workers want to see offered as standard by their employer. Flexible working topped the list with half of respondents (48 percent) saying it should be offered as standard by UK companies.

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Women are less likely to negotiate terms of a job offer than men

Women are less likely to negotiate terms of a job offer than men

A survey commissioned by CV-Library claims that one of the most significant differences between men and women in the workplace is that men are generally less afraid to ask for what they want from an employer. The study of over 1,200 people claims that over half (55.1 percent) of men would negotiate on parts of a job offer, compared to just four in 10 (42.1 percent) women.  The study also claims that the terms women are willing to negotiate on also varies widely. The survey suggests that they are more likely to debate working hours (56.4 percent) than men (40.9 percent), whilst men are more likely to negotiate salary (83.1 percent) than women (73.1 percent). More →

Plans approved for “the biggest regeneration scheme in the UK”

Plans approved for “the biggest regeneration scheme in the UK”

Boots Island regeneration scheme illustrationOutline plans to regenerate the 40-acre former Boots Island site in Nottingham have been approved by Nottingham City Council planning committee. Conygar Investment Company PLC intends to transform the site, which has lain derelict for many years, into grade A office space, “creative market space”, homes a five-star hotel, retail units, a “linear’ park” and community space and student accommodation. More →