Dear All,
Detailed below is the Weekly News for 23rd October.
Have a good week.
Gordon Polson – Director
Economic News
Barclays Economic Report: The headline unemployment rate remained stable at multi decade lows of 4.3% in aug’17as compared to jul’17. The number of unemployed people continued to decline for the tenth consecutive month by 52k (3m⁄3m), in line with the average pace of decline since the start of 2017. The drop was driven by the older categories (aged 50 and over), while in previous months younger workers had dominated in terms of unemployment decline. In terms of regions, unemployment rate in England declined slightly, 0.1% to 4.3%. Northern Ireland and Wales declined 0.6% and 0.3%, respectively, to 4.7% and 4.0%. However, Scotland experienced a marginal increase to 4.1% from 3.8%. Claimant count for the month of aug’17 declined by 0.2k, suggesting that the unemployment rate is likely to remain low over the coming months.
Headline and core average weekly earnings stood higher than expected but remain relatively subdued at 2.2% and 2.1% (3m⁄y) in aug’17. The services sector and in particular the finance sector were the main drivers for both core and headline earnings growth, although manufacturing experienced some acceleration in earnings as well. While the KPMG?REC survey suggest some pick up in real wages (report shows growth in permanent starting salaries accelerating at the fastest pace since oct’15), the BOE agents survey points to wages growth largely unchanged in the coming months. With CPI increasing to 2.9%(y⁄y) in aug’17, real core average weekly earnings reported fifth consecutive negative figures. Real core average weekly earnings growth is expected to remain in negative territory for the rest of 2017, weighing on consumption.
Other News
Food statistics pocketbook published: Defra has published its Food statistics pocketbook 2017. It provides a selection of information covering the economic, social and environmental aspects of the food industry. Data comes from surveys run by Defra and the Office for National Statistics and from a wide range of other sources including government departments, agencies and commercial organisations. It shows that total consumer expenditure on food, drink and catering in 2016 was £203bn and the value of food and drink exports was £20.1bn. Summary figures are available at this link https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/food-statistics-pocketbook-2017/food-statistics-in-your-pocket-2017-summary
An Acrylamide in Food– Regulatory and Industry Update Symposium will be held on 16 November 2017 from 9:30-17:00, in Reading. Details are available on the link provided below.
Speakers will present acrylamide updates under the following headings:
- Regulatory
- Industry
- Academia
- Analysis
Q & A session with Expert panel
http://www.rsc.org/events/detail/28727/acrylamide-regulatory-and-industry-update-symposium
HSE: Managing Health Risks in Manufacturing: An HSE and EFF Master Class 2nd November: How a business manages health risks is increasingly under the spotlight and HSE are placing greater emphasis on the management of health risks to drive improvements.
The new HSE health strategy sets out a proactive approach that will see inspectors increasing their focus on of the management of health risks.
Guest speakers at the Master Class, held at ETC Venues, Marble Arch, Garfield House, London, include Sayeed Khan, Chief Medical Adviser for EEF and Clare Forshaw, Head of Centre for Health, HSL: HSE’s Health & Safety Laboratory.
Hear directly from HSE to find out what they will be looking for and how you can demonstrate that you are actively managing the health risks in your business.
You will also leave with practical tools to identify and prioritise risk and benchmark your current performance against others using a new and innovative health maturity tool.
Book your place on the course now
For further dates and additional information email training@hsl.gsi.gov.uk or contact the Training & Conferences Unit at HSL directly on 01298 218806.
HSL Course: Workplace Healthy Lungs Summit 2017 22 November 2017
HSL is to run a 1 day course on Workplace Healthy Lungs Summit 2017. QEII Centre, Broad Sanctuary, Westminster, London, SW1P 3EE
Lung disease remains a serious problem in the workplace. This Summit will describe what HSE is doing about it, what you can do about it, and what science and evidence can tell us.
Benefits of Attending
- Hear about HSE’s position on occupational lung disease – what the regulator is going to be doing and what they expect others to do
- Get a better understanding of how to achieve effective control of exposure in practice
- Understand the business case for improved control of risk and hear directly about the human consequences of failure
- Engage with others facing the same challenges – learning from those within your sector and from other sectors regarding good practice and how to engage others for behaviour and attitude change
Who Should Attend
- Employers
- Health and safety professionals, occupational health advisors and consultants.
- Trade and sector bodies, unions, manufacturers of respiratory risk solutions and services.
- Key industry sectors – construction, manufacturing (including stone-working, ceramics, and bakeries) and quarries.
- Academics and professionals working on workplace lung disease.
Conference Fee: From 22nd September the standard registration rate is £425pp.
Location: Queen Elizabeth II Centre, Broad Sanctuary, Westminster, London, SW1P 3EE
Contact: HSE Training and Conferences on +44 (0) 203 028 3704 or HealthyLungs@hsl.gsi.gov.uk
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