To reduce carbon emissions, significant changes are necessary in how our industries operate, how they draw power from the grid and how we heat our homes. Hydrogen emerges as a pivotal element in achieving net zero (NZ) emission goals. It serves as a low-carbon fuel, facilitating our transition toward a more sustainable future. Developing a hydrogen economy holds the key to unlocking future investments, generating employment opportunities and enhancing supply chains ...
Liverpool’s impressive Spine building was the backdrop for the North West Hydrogen Alliance’s conference focussed on delivering the hydrogen economy. Appropriately, for an event with such an ambitious title, the occasion drew participants and presenters from various segments of the value chain. On the production side, BP and Cadent announced plans for a new 250MW plant ...
It is broadly accepted that hydrogen has an important part to play in our net zero future -the shape and the extent of that role, however, is widely debated. Low carbon mobility is one of those areas. Most analysis has focussed on the commanding position held by battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in personal mobility, and some of the advantages which hydrogen fuel cells have in heavy duty or return-to-base applications like buses[1], waste vehicles[2] and heavy haulage ...
On 17 August 2021, the UK Government presented its Hydrogen Strategy (the “Strategy”) to Parliament. The 120-page document set out the Government’s ambition to develop a thriving hydrogen sector in the UK and to place it at the forefront of hydrogen technology. What does it say and how might hydrogen feature in the future? Throughout this article, we will be referring to different colours of hydrogen (primarily blue and green) ...
In the second of our HR Improve articles we consider the importance of effective workforce planning and the options available to employers to help meet the current challenges in recruitment and building a workforce with the right skills for the future. Effective workforce planning enables employers to align their staffing requirements with their strategic direction for the business. In other words, it involves planning ahead to make sure you have the right people in place when you need them ...
In the latest edition of our HR Improve series, we set out the key matters that employers should consider when external circumstances mean that changes need to be made within the organisation. Six of one, half a dozen of the other, some might say. In any event, none of these are words that are gladly welcomed when they’re included in any corporate announcement, and referring to any of them will cause concern amongst the workforce ...
Our latest article in the HR Improve series is focused on workplace investigations, and the steps which employers can take to conduct an effective investigation process. Fairness One of the key steps to ensuring that a fair process is followed during a grievance or disciplinary procedure, is carrying out a reasonable investigation to establish all of the relevant facts of the case and whether further action is required ...
Continuing with the HR Improve series for this year, this month we focus on effective performance management. Performance management is key to the success of individual employees and the organisations they work for. So why is it so hard to get it right? Performance management is a process between a manager and their direct reports to ensure the expected level of performance is achieved and maintained ...
In the latest edition of our HR Improve series, we consider the steps employers can take to improve diversity, equity and inclusion within the workplace ...
In the fourth of our HR Improve articles, we consider the importance of effective absence management and what steps employers should take to support employees whilst minimising the impact of sickness absence on the organisation. All organisations will experience employees taking sickness absence at one time or another. The Office for National Statistics found that 149 million days of work were lost in 2021 due to sickness absence ...
Watch the webinar video and study the key takeaway points from our latest seminar focused on organisational design programmes. Our 2023 webinar programme is focused on supporting HR teams to improve the effectiveness and productivity of the organisations they work for, equipping them to best handle key issues and improve their business through reducing their risk, developing their talent and future proofing their organisation #HRImprove ...
It’s 2023 and in the first of our HR Improve articles for this year we focus on three key areas for employers to consider when bringing new talent into their business. Permission to work in the United Kingdom Making sure that any new starter has the right to work in the UK is essential and this should be checked prior to the first day of employment to make sure that they can start as planned ...
Employees have a right under data protection law to access their personal data processed by their employer. But what is essential and best practice for an employer to consider when responding to such request? There has been a noticeable trend of an upward increase in employee DSARs over the last few years, mainly stemming from employee disputes in the workplace such as grievances and tribunal proceedings ...
Watch the webinar video and study our key takeaway points from our latest seminar focused on Employee relations. Our 2023 webinar programme is focused on supporting HR teams to improve the effectiveness and productivity of the organisations they work for, equipping them to best handle key issues and improve their business through reducing their risk, developing their talent and future proofing their organisation #HRImprove ...
Industrial action is happening on the largest scale we have seen for decades and across multiple sectors at the same time. Maintaining positive employee relations is more crucial than ever, given the cost of living crisis and geopolitical climate ...
Watch the webinar video and study our key takeaway points from our latest seminar focused on attendance. Our 2023 webinar programme is focused on supporting HR teams to improve the effectiveness and productivity of the organisations they work for, equipping them to best handle key issues and improve their business through reducing their risk, developing their talent and future proofing their organisation #HRImprove ...
As we await a formal announcement about how the UK COVID-19 Inquiry will be structured, we compare the different approaches that have been adopted by other public inquiries. Introduction Public inquiries are an important and increasingly utilised vehicle for change in society, but they are sometimes criticised for delay, for inefficiency and for providing recommendations that are not ultimately implemented ...
The government’s push to drive down net migration figures has been well documented. 2024 will see a raft of changes aimed at reducing this figure from the 745,000 that was recorded for 2022. Whilst there is no doubt that the changes will result in reduced migration, it will also make things more difficult for sectors that rely on the sponsorship system to fill vacancies in areas where there are skills shortages in the resident labour market ...
In the final instalment of our “future of work” series, we look at the potential ways advancements in technology have changed and continue to change the way we work. Keeping us connected Technology has been used in workplaces for many years and has been at the forefront of the move away from traditional employment models – the advent of mobile apps to support the gig economy being a prime example ...
At the end of this month, court fees are increasing. The change is the result of a consultation led by the Ministry of Justice earlier in the year which considered whether court fees should be increased by inflation. The full consultation can be accessed here. From 30 September 2021, the cost of a divorce will rise from £550 to £593. At the moment, where the divorce is based on adultery, behaviour or desertion i.e ...
Are you concerned about the impact of Brexit on your IP lifecycle? We’ve prepared the following guidance as the introduction to our new Brexit and IP five-part info series where we detail the impacts of Brexit on the various stages of the IP lifecycle. 1 ...
Where is my order? I’m sure most of us have asked this question many times and probably more so recently as the recent postal strikes have left customers waiting for delayed Christmas gifts to arrive. The postal strikes have undoubtedly had a huge impact on businesses in the lead up to Christmas, especially given the dramatic increase in online sales, costing businesses money and time in navigating through customer queries, complaints and providing solutions ...
A recent decision by the UK’s Data Protection Authority, the ICO, throws some interesting light on the regulatory mood around enforcement of the rules governing how businesses can use their customer lists for marketing emails. It’s worth thinking about how easily an over-enthusiastic approach can go wrong. On 6 September 2022, Halfords were fined £30,000 by the ICO for sending around half a million unsolicited marketing emails ...
In the latest article in our Tricky Issues series, we consider the need for follow-up right to work checks, the steps employers should take to carry out such checks and the legal position when dismissal is a consideration. “Why is a follow up check needed if I have already done a right to work check?” Employers in the UK must carry out right to work checks with all employees before they start their employment ...
It is not unusual for an employee to raise a grievance during their employment. However, this can become the default position, often when the working relationship breaks down. We consider some practical steps for employers to take when this occurs. What is a grievance? The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) defines a grievance widely as any complaint, concern or problem that an employee wishes to raise with their employer ...
