The start of 2011/2012 academic year is well underway along with the changes the government is proposing for education. The introduction of the ‘Free Schools’ system is looking to give fewer restrictions to schools and, just this week, we have now learnt of the plan to give heads the power to fire teachers who are struggling to meet standards, within a month. Understandably, some are upset by these proposed changes and it can be a daunting fact for prospective teachers. Especially as the government plans to change the National Curriculum by 2014 and give the new ‘Free Schools’ the option to...

The Big Lunch is a national event which has taken place for the past four years. This year, it is due to be held during the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations for the Queen, and so all over the country, towns are organising their very own Big Jubilee Lunch. Buckingham Palace announced that this special lunch will be included as part of the official programme of events for the four day celebratory event in June of this year. Because the Diamond Jubilee is being held over such a long weekend, there’s plenty of time for people to get everything organised and enjoy a leisurely lunch on Sunday the 3rd of June,...

Stress in the workplace is a common cause of decreased productivity. According to Luton-Today, studies have found that    ’13 million working days are lost each year because of stress at a cost to the UK economy of £3.7 billion.’ In this difficult economical situation, it is common for employees to find it hard to cope with the stress experienced in the workplace. Regardless of a person’s salary, seniority or occupation, people are still spending more of their time at work feeling drained, rather than relaxed and alert. The terms ‘budget cuts’ and ‘layoffs’ have become more...

Not too long ago, the Guardian printed an article on time management, along with all of the typical excuses that are made when things don’t get done in the office. Things like difficult bosses, too much to do in too little time and unexpected projects are just some of the things that seem to prevent professionals from staying on track at work.  There are, however, plenty of things that one can do to stay focused and organised when it seems like everything’s being thrown at you at once. Prioritizing the day in advance is one way to ensure things stay simple and organised. The key is to plan your...

There’s no doubt that attending conferences can be beneficial for one’s career. In the blog qmjobsblog.com, the writer outlines some of the many advantages of conference attendance, including keeping up to speed with the current trends in one’s sector, networking opportunities and showing your employer that you have a genuine passion for your work. Getting to speak to the leaders in your profession is not something that happens every day and can be highly educational. So how can professionals make the most out of the opportunities presented to them at conferences? Well there are a few basic...

Many professionals today spend several weeks of the year away on business trips. Whether it’s for a meeting or a conference, staying in contact whilst travelling used to be quite a challenge.  Staying in touch with colleagues, supervisors and family is not the laborious task it once was, however; today we have so much technology at our disposal, that there’s no excuse not to keep in contact when travelling. Some companies are taking the initiative, to ensure communications are continuous, even when staff are travelling on a business trip. On the website BusinessTravellerMe.com, it was announced...

Michelle Rodger, a columnist for the Scotsman, recently wrote about the importance of technology in attracting new talent to the workplace. Those who have just recently graduated are comfortable with using multiple gadgets on a daily basis, and if companies aren’t up to speed with such developments, it can be off-putting to potential employees.   A lack of technology in the workplace may suggest a stagnant and overly traditional company, which will most likely not appeal to younger recruits. So how do businesses find a balance between having the latest technology and their actual needs? The first...

The British Cycling association recently wrote a guide for those cycling to work, giving handy little tips for keeping warm as we enter the colder season.* These days, it’s becoming more and more common for people who live relatively close to their workplace to either walk or cycle to the office. It’s a great way to keep fit and of course, it saves people a bundle on train fares and petrol. However, every form of travel has its limitations; both cycling and walking can become more challenging in the frostier months of the year.  If you don’t prepare for the inevitable downpours and dropping...

Richmond News has announced that office parties during the festive season are now making a comeback, after the last few years of economic troubles. Whilst this is considered to be good news by most professionals, employers can be left feeling a bit overwhelmed by the organisational aspects of a Christmas party. Here are a few tips to ensure that this year’s party goes as smoothly as possible. The venue is the first thing that must be organised. If the office space is limited, then consider hiring a hotel meeting or function room, which will offer plenty of space. Make sure that the room is large...

Since the dawn of the internet, we as a society have been leaning more and more towards a paperless existence; nowadays, people pay their bills online and emails often replace paper letters. However, there are still many different transactions and situations which require the good old pen and paper combination. Documents and contracts need hand written signatures. The problem lies in the fact that the simple pen can actually have a very significant impact on the environment. In 2005, the famous pen manufacturer, Bic made the announcement that it had just sold its 100 billionth pen. All of these...