cityam--2020-07-12--An open letter to the PM: Britain must build Sizewell C — nuclear sits at the heart of a green recov

An open letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson , business secretary Alok Sharma , and chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak We are writing as engineers , nuclear experts , scientists and concerned citizens to applaud your commitment to fighting climate change through energy policy , in particular the commitment to proceed with new nuclear construction at the same time as focusing innovation on an exciting new advanced reactor programme .
Boris Johnson has said that “ it is time for a nuclear renaissance and I believe passionately that nuclear must be part of our energy mix ” .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a former Extinction Rebellion activist : Fellow environmentalists , join me in embracing nuclear power Although renewable energy is expanding rapidly in the coastal and agricultural ecosystems of Britain , because of its seasonally variable energy output and heavy environmental burden , it is not clear at what point their low-carbon energy can be counted on for future decarbonization and green recovery .
Fortunately , nuclear energy is extremely compact and works year-round , and thus provides a superb way to eliminate carbon emissions while protecting the environment .
Nuclear also provides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operation , and thus has become an important part of the government ’ s green recovery proposals .
As an illustration , consider that the recently-proposed Cleve Hill solar farm project in Kent was opposed by both the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and Greenpeace on environmental grounds .
The UK is not a sunny country , and 75 Cleve Hills would be needed to replace just one plant like the one proposed for Sizewell C , covering 74,000 acres with solar panels .
Doubtless Greenpeace will oppose that too .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the UK , as the first commercial electricity from nuclear energy was produced in this country .
The Sizewell nuclear site in Suffolk is already home to Sizewell B and two decommissioned reactors at Sizewell A. Hinkley Point C is proceeding well , on schedule after four years , and new-builds are also envisaged at Moorside and possibly Wylfa in Anglesey .
We urge the government to ensure that financing and other support arrangements are in place for all these projects to proceed urgently .
In light of the decision by the EU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of green recovery , and the decision by France to start closing its nuclear plants prematurely and without offering its reactors for sale on the continent , the UK has a chance to become the leader in Europe on nuclear — because of , rather than in spite of , Brexit .
While Germany is quietly focusing Europe ’ s green recovery around Russian natural gas , the UK stands in a position of key leadership to the other nations of Europe such as Poland and the Netherlands , which have urged Germany @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the green recovery .
The approval of support for the Sizewell C project , an exact copy of Somerset ’ s Hinkley Point C , could with a single stroke provide Britain with just over half the energy each year as Germany ’ s approximately €100bn solar panel fleet .
With Sizewell C lasting up to a century ( solar farms last just a quarter of that ) and operating day and night all year long , that ’ s a deal of exceptional value .
By building Hinkley Point C , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
By building Sizewell C , nuclear in Britain will be secured for a decade .
By then building Moorside using the same model , nuclear will be secured for a generation .
That is the foundation that will allow us to invent a first-of-kind small modular reactor ( SMR ) programme .
The UK version of the European Pressurised Reactor ( EPR ) is ready to build today , and fortunately the builders are , as we speak , learning every step of the process at Hinkley Point C. But without a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sizewell C , those hard-won engineering skills and experience will evaporate .
History shows that keeping the people who know how to build reactors employed makes nuclear cheaper .
It also shows that nuclear ends up belonging to the nation that builds the most and the most recent — and the single delayed EPR project in France does not outweigh the two on-schedule EPRs at Hinkley Point C. We implore the government to learn the lessons of both successful and failed nuclear programmes of the past , and keep the growing skills and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Only this way will there be a future for commercial SMRs in the country .
Otherwise the SMR market will be dominated by the countries which confidently and rapidly build existing nuclear : Russia and China .
The energy company EDF does not have any EPR projects going ahead besides those in Britain .
This means that if Britain keeps the UK ’ s EPR version alive , it will become the new global standard — with UK sales people , engineers , builders , technicians , and factories .
That ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three-quarters British , with increasingly complex and important components coming from newly established British suppliers .
This all ends if Sizewell does not go ahead .
If Sizewell and Moorside are completed , Britain takes a front-running position around the world as the only effective alternative to Russian and Chinese large light-water reactors .
No country in the world is building more than two EPRs .
If Britain builds Sizewell C and Moorside , we will have six .
Britain will also be able to meet its emissions reduction goals , while becoming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technology .
The future of nuclear is British — if we want it .
Zion Lights MSc , Director of Environmental Progress UK Dr Simon Albright , PhD Nuclear Physics Professor Wade Allison , Department of Physics and Keble College , University of Oxford Professor Anton van der Merwe , School of Pathology , University of Oxford Paul Cosgrove , Nuclear Engineering PhD student , University of Cambridge Mark Lynas , climate author and campaigner Dr Simon Middleburgh , Sêr Cymru Reader in Nuclear Materials , Bangor University , Wales Dr Eugene Shwageraus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , University of Cambridge Dr Adam J. Plowman , Department of Materials , University of Manchester Mark Norris MIET UK Nuclear Power Engineer [ Retired ] Dr Giovanni Giustini , Imperial College London Mark Yelland , GreensForNuclear.Energy Dr Nicholas Owen , Microelectronic Engineer , Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Nathaniel Read , Postdoctoral Researcher , Department of Engineering , University of Cambridge Lindsay Broadwell , Councillor for Western Ward , Leicester City Council Aniket Joshi , Department of Materials ( E & I ) , The Open University Richard Ollington , MEng University of Cambridge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Physics ) , MSci , MSc , MIPEM Dr Maria S. Yankova , Department of Mechanical , Aerospace and Civil Engineering , University of Manchester Dr Ben Britton , Imperial College London Malcolm Grimston , Imperial College , London Andrew Kay , mechanical engineer , founder Atomic Advocates UK Dino Rosati , Electrical Eng , Founder of Fortress Technology Inc , Toronto CA , Banbury UK Professor Michael Preuss , University of Manchester Dr. Pratheek Shanthraj , University of Manchester James Bird , PhD student , University of Manchester Arun Khuttan , Magnox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Founder of Nuclear Ireland , Ireland Kirsty Gogan , Cofounder , Director , Energy for Humanity David Watson , CPhys , Generation Atomic Sarah Sherry , Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. Dr Benjamin Gray , University of Southampton .
Tomiwa Oyebadejo , CEng , Chemical Engineer Callum Hodson , MEng , Magnox Marie Zabell , MEng , Mums for Nuclear UK Rehana Jalil , PhD , University of Manchester Callum Hunt , University of Manchester Bob Pearson , BSc CEng Retired Will Roney , MEng MSc , WR Technical Limited / Nuclear Project Manager @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Energy Robert M Schneider , CEO RMSchneider Limited , Edinburgh Oliver Buxton .
PhD Student , University of Manchester Dr Alex Leide , DPhil , University of Bristol Thomas Paul Davis , Nuclear Engineering Consultant , University of Oxford DPhil Dominic Carless , Founder of UKPNPG John Stumbles , BSc , retired engineer Colin Megson , retired engineer Thomas Richter , PhD physics Thomas Nicholas , PhD student , University of York & UK Atomic Energy Authority Omkar Myatra , PhD student , University of York & UK Atomic Energy Authority John Lindberg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s College London and Dept .
of Surgery and Cancer at Imperial College Kathryn Yates , PhD Student in the Centre for Nuclear Engineering , Imperial College London George Morrison C.Eng MIMechE MIMarEst , Engineer Adam Danilowicz , Physics student at the University of Warwick Benjamin Roland Reade , BEng ( Hons ) Mechanical Engineering , Tobermory Martin Donohue MEng , Nuclear Engineer , Atkins SNC-Lavalin Matthew Rogers , MSci , PhD student in Nuclear Materials , University of Manchester Eoin O ’ Cionna , Mechanical Engineer , London Samuel Ward , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bence Kasza , MEng , University of Cambridge Nicholas W Moore MIoD Peter Havercan , MSc Luke Everitt , Investor Timothy Rickman Steven Stringer Colin Nicholls Greg Lusted Signatories outside of the UK Dr James E. Hansen , Climate Scientist , former director of NASA ’ s Goddard Institute for Space Studies Francois-Marie Breon , Climate Scientist , Lead Author of 5th IPCC report Kerry Emanuel , Professor of Atmospheric Science , Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge , MA USA Steven Pinker , Harvard University , author of Better Angels of Our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ author of The Making of the Atomic Bomb Danijel Levičar , Physicist , Vice President Chamber of Commerce and industry of Slovenia , Slovenia Chris Keefer MD Emergency Medicine , Lecturer , University of Toronto , Canada Tom Wigley , Climate and Energy Scientist , National Center for Atmospheric Research , Boulder , Colorado Ned Blagojevic , Senior Research Scientist , ANSTO , Member of Australian Nuclear Association ( ANA ) and Women in Nuclear , Australia ( WiN ) Sean Wagner , MSc .
CEO of Alberta Nuclear Nucleus Ltd , Alberta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Engineering , United States of America Professor Leon Cizelj , Head , Reactor Engineering Division , Jožef Stefan Institute , Slovenia André Wakker , PhD .
Independent energy expert ; ex-nuclear & renewables business developer Lenny R. Coelembier , MSc Electrotechnical Engineering – Automation , Licensed Reactor Operator , Belgium Joris van Dorp , MSc .
Mechanical engineering , Stichting Ecomodernisme , the Netherlands Michiel Hoogmoed , MSc .
Applied Physics , Delft University of Technology , the Netherlands Albert van der Wijk , PhD , Nuclear and Radiation Physicist , the Netherlands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Germany Simon Wakter , MSc .
Eng .
Nuclear Energy Engineering , Sweden Nick Touran , PhD , PE , USA Marcus Eriksson , PhD , President Swedish Nuclear Society , Sweden Rahul Saxena , Director , CoBot Systems , India Léonard Freyssinet , BSc .
Physicist , EPFL , Switzerland Amardeo Sarma , Electrical Engineer ( IIT Delhi , TU Darmstadt ) , Board Member , German Ecomodernist Society , Germany Josep Rey , Electric Engineer , member of the Youth Nuclear Generation , Spain Leonardo Prasetyo , MSc , Financial Mathematics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ USA Vincent Paglioni , BS Nuclear Engineering ; PhD student in Reliability Engineering ; University of Maryland , USA Dan Sideen , Professional Engineer , Ontario , Canada Take Aanstoot , Chair Swedish Ecomodernists , Sweden Ethan Bodnaruk , MS Nuclear Engineering , MS Ecological Engineering , USA MM1 Thomas Hyder , US Navy ( Nuclear Machinist Mate 1st class ) Materials Specialist Nashville , TN USA Mathijs Beckers , Author of Climate Zero Hour , the Netherlands Joris Lippens , MSc Nuclear Science and Engineering , the Netherlands Canon Bryan , Chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johannes Güntert , Entrepreneur/Business IT , Board Member of German Ecomodernist Society , Germany Adam Błażowski , Cleantech Engineer , FOTA4Climate , Poland Daniel See , PE , MSc Civil Engineering , Lecturer , California Polytechnic State University , San Luis Obispo , USA Kurt Celie , licensed reactor operator at Doel , Belgium Kundan Srivastav , Power Electronics Engineer , Renesas Electronics , Milpitas , USA , Indian Rod Adams , MS Systems Technology .
Publisher , Atomic Insights .
Managing Member , Nucleation Capital , LP Eric Meyer , Executive Director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Partner , Nucleation Capital , LP Ed Pheil , Elysium Industries USA , Chief Technology Officer & Founder , Elysium Industries USA , Poseidon Atomic , Chief Technology Officer & Founder , Fisonic Energy Systems Advisor Andrew Jaremko , BSc Physics retired , Calgary , Alberta , Canada Dr Azrudi Mustapha , Imperial College London/Yayasan Khazanah Nasional Malaysia Keith Schue , Electrical Engineer , New York Energy & Climate Advocates , Advisor , USA Alan G. Smith , Bach .
of Sciences ( Forestry ) , Canada Dietmar Detering , PhD , Nuclear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , NY , USA Alan Medsker , EE , Nuclear Advocate , Chicago , IL , USA Ray Sundby , Electrical Engineer , CA , USA Dr Benjamin Heard , Founder , Bright New World , Australia Jonathan Sutanto , BEng ( electrical ) , BSc ( physics ) MBA , Australia Chris R. Melville , PhD , Chemist , USA Jean-Denis Lefeuvre , ISEP Engineer , France Clayton Silva , BSc Chemical Engineering , USA Rainer Klute , Computer Scientist , Chairman Nuklearia e. V. , Germany Herbert Rensch , Electrical Engineer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Belgium Benji Leenders , MSc .
Eng .
Nuclear Energy Engineering , PhD student SCK CEN ( Belgium ) , the Netherlands Raul Valdes , MS Strategic Foresight , BS Civil Engineer , PMP , Senior Field Service , Gas Turbine District Manager CFE México Myrto Tripathi , BSc Industrial Engineering , president and founder of the Voices of Nuclear , France Bernard Lenail , ECP engineer , Former Vice President of French Nuclear Companies Philippe Hansen , Editor of Energie-Crise , France L. V. Giddings , Ph.D. ( Maryland , USA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Physicist retired from CNRS France Laurent Doré , MSc , Director of Engineering , France Richard Phillips , retired AERE Harwell Vincent Van der Heyden , MSc Electromechanical Engineering , Belgium Kim Ahlberg , MSc.CSE , CTO Kärnfull Energi , Washington , USA Thomas Andersen , PhD , physics .
Ontario , Canada Francisco José Ramírez Ferrer , Industrial Engineer , MSc Nuclear Engineering , Nuclear Operations Instructor , Spain .
John Ahlberg , MSc.BA , CMO & founder Kärnfull Energi , Sweden Kors Bos , PhD Nuclear Physics , THMSR Foundation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CEO & founder Kärnfull Energi , Sweden Matías Verdú , MSc Environmental Science , Freelance Consultant , Argentina Logan Smith , MScEng Nuclear Engineering , Going Fission Podcast , Australia Kathryn D. Huff , Assistant Professor , University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , USA Sylvia Barlag , PhD physics , THMSR Foundation , the Netherlands Todd Allen , Professor and Chair , Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences , University of Michigan , USA Mike Pachan , Cannabis Industry , Denver , CO Carsten Grötzinger , PhD , Biochemist , Germany Rauli @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Atom Jarret Adams , founder and CEO , Full On Communications , USA Richard Ivens , former Head of BNFL Brussels Office and Institutional Affairs Director FORATOM Stephen A. Boyd , PhD , NY , USA Diogo Soares da Silva , PhD candidate , Wageningen University & Research , the Netherlands Kristin Zaitz , Professional Civil Engineer and Co-founder , Mothers for Nuclear , USA Heather Matteson , Materials Engineer and Co-founder , Mothers for Nuclear , USA Troels Halken , engineer , former CCO of Seaborg Technologies , DK Pierre Dumont , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Data Engineer , USA Pratik Lokhande , PhD Researcher , Nuclear Chemistry and Materials , Chalmers University of Technology , Sweden Gary Kahanak , BS Natural Resources , environmental and nuclear advocacy , USA Paul Lindsey , MS Mechanical Engineering , retired US Navy Nuclear Propulsion Officer , USA Stephen Williams , Senior Software Engineer , USA Chase Roycroft , B.S .
Physics and Mathematics , UNC Chapel Hill , USA Nathan Dubois , Junior Software Engineer , France David Dudgeon , Chair Professor of Ecology & Biodiversity , School of Biological Sciences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ S. Goldstein , Professor Emeritus , International Relations , American University Andrew Klein , Past President , American Nuclear Society Steve Kirsch , CEO , Token David Lea , Professor , Earth Science , University of California Nick Maiorino , Former president of the West Hollywood Tree Preservation Society ( WHTPS ) , studied Mathematics and Physics/Astrophysics at UC Berkeley

An open letter to the PM: Britain must build Sizewell C — nuclear sits at the heart of a green recovery
Nuclear energy has a long history in the UK — the first commercial electricity from nuclear energy was produced in this country
An open letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, business secretary Alok Sharma, and chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak
We are writing as engineers, nuclear experts, scientists and concerned citizens to applaud your commitment to fighting climate change through energy policy, in particular the commitment to proceed with new nuclear construction at the same time as focusing innovation on an exciting new advanced reactor programme.
Boris Johnson has said that “it is time for a nuclear renaissance and I believe passionately that nuclear must be part of our energy mix”. We agree.
Although renewable energy is expanding rapidly in the coastal and agricultural ecosystems of Britain, because of its seasonally variable energy output and heavy environmental burden, it is not clear at what point their low-carbon energy can be counted on for future decarbonization and green recovery.
Fortunately, nuclear energy is extremely compact and works year-round, and thus provides a superb way to eliminate carbon emissions while protecting the environment. Nuclear also provides abundant jobs both in construction and long-term operation, and thus has become an important part of the government’s green recovery proposals.
As an illustration, consider that the recently-proposed Cleve Hill solar farm project in Kent was opposed by both the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and Greenpeace on environmental grounds. The UK is not a sunny country, and 75 Cleve Hills would be needed to replace just one plant like the one proposed for Sizewell C, covering 74,000 acres with solar panels. Doubtless Greenpeace will oppose that too.
Nuclear energy has a long history in the UK, as the first commercial electricity from nuclear energy was produced in this country.
The Sizewell nuclear site in Suffolk is already home to Sizewell B and two decommissioned reactors at Sizewell A. Hinkley Point C is proceeding well, on schedule after four years, and new-builds are also envisaged at Moorside and possibly Wylfa in Anglesey.
We urge the government to ensure that financing and other support arrangements are in place for all these projects to proceed urgently.
In light of the decision by the EU to ban investment in nuclear as part of green recovery, and the decision by France to start closing its nuclear plants prematurely and without offering its reactors for sale on the continent, the UK has a chance to become the leader in Europe on nuclear — because of, rather than in spite of, Brexit. While Germany is quietly focusing Europe’s green recovery around Russian natural gas, the UK stands in a position of key leadership to the other nations of Europe such as Poland and the Netherlands, which have urged Germany to reconsider its obstructive stance on nuclear in the green recovery.
The approval of support for the Sizewell C project, an exact copy of Somerset’s Hinkley Point C, could with a single stroke provide Britain with just over half the energy each year as Germany’s approximately €100bn solar panel fleet. With Sizewell C lasting up to a century (solar farms last just a quarter of that) and operating day and night all year long, that’s a deal of exceptional value.
By building Hinkley Point C, Britain has restarted its dormant nuclear industry. By building Sizewell C, nuclear in Britain will be secured for a decade. By then building Moorside using the same model, nuclear will be secured for a generation. That is the foundation that will allow us to invent a first-of-kind small modular reactor (SMR) programme.
The UK version of the European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) is ready to build today, and fortunately the builders are, as we speak, learning every step of the process at Hinkley Point C. But without a second plant for them to build at Sizewell C, those hard-won engineering skills and experience will evaporate.
History shows that keeping the people who know how to build reactors employed makes nuclear cheaper. It also shows that nuclear ends up belonging to the nation that builds the most and the most recent — and the single delayed EPR project in France does not outweigh the two on-schedule EPRs at Hinkley Point C.
We implore the government to learn the lessons of both successful and failed nuclear programmes of the past, and keep the growing skills and confidence from Hinkley alive at Sizewell. Only this way will there be a future for commercial SMRs in the country. Otherwise the SMR market will be dominated by the countries which confidently and rapidly build existing nuclear: Russia and China.
The energy company EDF does not have any EPR projects going ahead besides those in Britain. This means that if Britain keeps the UK’s EPR version alive, it will become the new global standard — with UK sales people, engineers, builders, technicians, and factories. That’s because Sizewell C is already more than three-quarters British, with increasingly complex and important components coming from newly established British suppliers.
This all ends if Sizewell does not go ahead.
If Sizewell and Moorside are completed, Britain takes a front-running position around the world as the only effective alternative to Russian and Chinese large light-water reactors.
No country in the world is building more than two EPRs. If Britain builds Sizewell C and Moorside, we will have six. Britain will also be able to meet its emissions reduction goals, while becoming a world-leader in a new and essential technology.
The future of nuclear is British — if we want it.
Signatories:
Zion Lights MSc, Director of Environmental Progress UK
Dr Simon Albright, PhD Nuclear Physics
Professor Wade Allison, Department of Physics and Keble College, University of Oxford
Professor Anton van der Merwe, School of Pathology, University of Oxford
Paul Cosgrove, Nuclear Engineering PhD student, University of Cambridge
Mark Lynas, climate author and campaigner
Dr Simon Middleburgh, Sêr Cymru Reader in Nuclear Materials, Bangor University, Wales
Dr Eugene Shwageraus, Senior Lecturer, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge
Dr Adam J. Plowman, Department of Materials, University of Manchester
Mark Norris MIET UK Nuclear Power Engineer [Retired]
Dr Giovanni Giustini, Imperial College London
Mark Yelland, GreensForNuclear.Energy
Dr Nicholas Owen, Microelectronic Engineer, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
Nathaniel Read, Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge
Lindsay Broadwell, Councillor for Western Ward, Leicester City Council
Aniket Joshi, Department of Materials (E&I), The Open University
Richard Ollington, MEng University of Cambridge
Karen Whitfield, Clinical Scientist (Medical Physics), MSci, MSc, MIPEM
Dr Maria S. Yankova, Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, University of Manchester
Dr Ben Britton, Imperial College London
Malcolm Grimston, Imperial College, London
Andrew Kay, mechanical engineer, founder Atomic Advocates UK
Dino Rosati, Electrical Eng, Founder of Fortress Technology Inc, Toronto CA, Banbury UK
Professor Michael Preuss, University of Manchester
Dr. Pratheek Shanthraj, University of Manchester
James Bird, PhD student, University of Manchester
Arun Khuttan, Magnox Ltd
Denis Duff, C Eng, Founder of Nuclear Ireland, Ireland
Kirsty Gogan, Cofounder, Director, Energy for Humanity
David Watson, CPhys, Generation Atomic
Sarah Sherry, Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.
Dr Benjamin Gray, University of Southampton.
Tomiwa Oyebadejo, CEng, Chemical Engineer
Callum Hodson, MEng, Magnox
Marie Zabell, MEng, Mums for Nuclear UK
Rehana Jalil, PhD, University of Manchester
Callum Hunt, University of Manchester
Bob Pearson, BSc CEng Retired
Will Roney, MEng MSc, WR Technical Limited / Nuclear Project Manager
Jeremy Gordon, Director, Fluent in Energy
Robert M Schneider, CEO RMSchneider Limited, Edinburgh
Oliver Buxton. PhD Student, University of Manchester
Dr Alex Leide, DPhil, University of Bristol
Thomas Paul Davis, Nuclear Engineering Consultant, University of Oxford DPhil
Dominic Carless, Founder of UKPNPG
John Stumbles, BSc, retired engineer
Colin Megson, retired engineer
Thomas Richter, PhD physics
Thomas Nicholas, PhD student, University of York & UK Atomic Energy Authority
Omkar Myatra, PhD student, University of York & UK Atomic Energy Authority
John Lindberg, Dept. of Geography at King’s College London and Dept. of Surgery and Cancer at Imperial College
Kathryn Yates, PhD Student in the Centre for Nuclear Engineering, Imperial College London
George Morrison C.Eng MIMechE MIMarEst, Engineer
Adam Danilowicz, Physics student at the University of Warwick
Benjamin Roland Reade, BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering, Tobermory
Martin Donohue MEng, Nuclear Engineer, Atkins SNC-Lavalin
Matthew Rogers, MSci, PhD student in Nuclear Materials, University of Manchester
Eoin O’Cionna, Mechanical Engineer, London
Samuel Ward, PhD student, University of York/ITER organization
Bence Kasza, MEng, University of Cambridge
Nicholas W Moore MIoD
Peter Havercan, MSc
Luke Everitt, Investor
Timothy Rickman
Steven Stringer
Colin Nicholls
Greg Lusted
Signatories outside of the UK
Dr James E. Hansen, Climate Scientist, former director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies
Francois-Marie Breon, Climate Scientist, Lead Author of 5th IPCC report
Kerry Emanuel, Professor of Atmospheric Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA USA
Steven Pinker, Harvard University, author of Better Angels of Our Nature
Richard Rhodes, Pulitzer Prize winning author of The Making of the Atomic Bomb
Danijel Levičar, Physicist, Vice President Chamber of Commerce and industry of Slovenia, Slovenia
Chris Keefer MD Emergency Medicine, Lecturer, University of Toronto, Canada
Tom Wigley, Climate and Energy Scientist, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado
Ned Blagojevic, Senior Research Scientist, ANSTO, Member of Australian Nuclear Association (ANA) and Women in Nuclear, Australia (WiN)
Sean Wagner, MSc. CEO of Alberta Nuclear Nucleus Ltd, Alberta, Canada
Janak Das, BS Mechanical Engineering, United States of America
Professor Leon Cizelj, Head, Reactor Engineering Division, Jožef Stefan Institute, Slovenia
André Wakker, PhD. Independent energy expert; ex-nuclear & renewables business developer
Lenny R. Coelembier, MSc Electrotechnical Engineering – Automation, Licensed Reactor Operator, Belgium
Joris van Dorp, MSc. Mechanical engineering, Stichting Ecomodernisme, the Netherlands
Michiel Hoogmoed, MSc. Applied Physics, Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands
Albert van der Wijk, PhD, Nuclear and Radiation Physicist, the Netherlands
Stefan Stenzel, Senior DSP Engineer, Germany
Simon Wakter, MSc. Eng. Nuclear Energy Engineering, Sweden
Nick Touran, PhD, PE, USA
Marcus Eriksson, PhD, President Swedish Nuclear Society, Sweden
Rahul Saxena, Director, CoBot Systems, India
Léonard Freyssinet, BSc. Physicist, EPFL, Switzerland
Amardeo Sarma, Electrical Engineer (IIT Delhi, TU Darmstadt), Board Member, German Ecomodernist Society, Germany
Josep Rey, Electric Engineer, member of the Youth Nuclear Generation, Spain
Leonardo Prasetyo, MSc, Financial Mathematics, University of Chicago, IL, USA
Vincent Paglioni, BS Nuclear Engineering; PhD student in Reliability Engineering; University of Maryland, USA
Dan Sideen, Professional Engineer, Ontario, Canada
Take Aanstoot, Chair Swedish Ecomodernists, Sweden
Ethan Bodnaruk, MS Nuclear Engineering, MS Ecological Engineering, USA
MM1 Thomas Hyder, US Navy (Nuclear Machinist Mate 1st class) Materials Specialist Nashville, TN USA
Mathijs Beckers, Author of Climate Zero Hour, the Netherlands
Joris Lippens, MSc Nuclear Science and Engineering, the Netherlands
Canon Bryan, Chief Financial Officer, Terrestrial Energy, Canada
Johannes Güntert, Entrepreneur/Business IT, Board Member of German Ecomodernist Society, Germany
Adam Błażowski, Cleantech Engineer, FOTA4Climate, Poland
Daniel See, PE, MSc Civil Engineering, Lecturer, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, USA
Kurt Celie, licensed reactor operator at Doel, Belgium
Kundan Srivastav, Power Electronics Engineer, Renesas Electronics, Milpitas, USA, Indian
Rod Adams, MS Systems Technology. Publisher, Atomic Insights. Managing Member, Nucleation Capital, LP
Eric Meyer, Executive Director, Generation Atomic
Valerie Gardner, Managing Partner, Nucleation Capital, LP
Ed Pheil, Elysium Industries USA, Chief Technology Officer & Founder, Elysium Industries USA, Poseidon Atomic, Chief Technology Officer & Founder, Fisonic Energy Systems Advisor
Andrew Jaremko, BSc Physics retired, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Dr Azrudi Mustapha, Imperial College London/Yayasan Khazanah Nasional Malaysia
Keith Schue, Electrical Engineer, New York Energy & Climate Advocates, Advisor, USA
Alan G. Smith, Bach. of Sciences (Forestry), Canada
Dietmar Detering, PhD, Nuclear New York, USA
Alexander Cannara PhD, NY, USA
Alan Medsker, EE, Nuclear Advocate, Chicago, IL, USA
Ray Sundby, Electrical Engineer, CA, USA
Dr Benjamin Heard, Founder, Bright New World, Australia
Jonathan Sutanto, BEng (electrical), BSc (physics) MBA, Australia
Chris R. Melville, PhD, Chemist, USA
Jean-Denis Lefeuvre, ISEP Engineer, France
Clayton Silva, BSc Chemical Engineering, USA
Rainer Klute, Computer Scientist, Chairman Nuklearia e. V., Germany
Herbert Rensch, Electrical Engineer, Germany
Thomas Rotthier, Co-Founder Ecomodernism, Belgium
Benji Leenders, MSc. Eng. Nuclear Energy Engineering, PhD student SCK CEN (Belgium), the Netherlands
Raul Valdes, MS Strategic Foresight, BS Civil Engineer, PMP, Senior Field Service, Gas Turbine District Manager CFE México
Myrto Tripathi, BSc Industrial Engineering, president and founder of the Voices of Nuclear, France
Bernard Lenail, ECP engineer, Former Vice President of French Nuclear Companies
Philippe Hansen, Editor of Energie-Crise, France
L. V. Giddings, Ph.D. (Maryland, USA)
John Carr, PhD, Research Physicist retired from CNRS France
Laurent Doré, MSc, Director of Engineering, France
Richard Phillips, retired AERE Harwell
Vincent Van der Heyden, MSc Electromechanical Engineering, Belgium
Kim Ahlberg, MSc.CSE, CTO Kärnfull Energi, Washington, USA
Thomas Andersen, PhD, physics. Ontario, Canada
Francisco José Ramírez Ferrer, Industrial Engineer, MSc Nuclear Engineering, Nuclear Operations Instructor, Spain.
John Ahlberg, MSc.BA, CMO & founder Kärnfull Energi, Sweden
Kors Bos, PhD Nuclear Physics, THMSR Foundation, the Netherlands
Christian Sjölander, MSc.Finance, CEO & founder Kärnfull Energi, Sweden
Matías Verdú, MSc Environmental Science, Freelance Consultant, Argentina
Logan Smith, MScEng Nuclear Engineering, Going Fission Podcast, Australia
Kathryn D. Huff, Assistant Professor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA
Sylvia Barlag, PhD physics, THMSR Foundation, the Netherlands
Todd Allen, Professor and Chair, Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences, University of Michigan, USA
Mike Pachan, Cannabis Industry, Denver, CO
Carsten Grötzinger, PhD, Biochemist, Germany
Rauli Partanen, CEO and Co-Founder of Think Atom
Jarret Adams, founder and CEO, Full On Communications, USA
Richard Ivens, former Head of BNFL Brussels Office and Institutional Affairs Director FORATOM
Stephen A. Boyd, PhD, NY, USA
Diogo Soares da Silva, PhD candidate, Wageningen University & Research, the Netherlands
Kristin Zaitz, Professional Civil Engineer and Co-founder, Mothers for Nuclear, USA
Heather Matteson, Materials Engineer and Co-founder, Mothers for Nuclear, USA
Troels Halken, engineer, former CCO of Seaborg Technologies, DK
Pierre Dumont, electrical engineer, France
Elias Chedid, Data Engineer, USA
Pratik Lokhande, PhD Researcher, Nuclear Chemistry and Materials, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
Gary Kahanak, BS Natural Resources, environmental and nuclear advocacy, USA
Paul Lindsey, MS Mechanical Engineering, retired US Navy Nuclear Propulsion Officer, USA
Stephen Williams, Senior Software Engineer, USA
Chase Roycroft, B.S. Physics and Mathematics, UNC Chapel Hill, USA
Nathan Dubois, Junior Software Engineer, France
David Dudgeon, Chair Professor of Ecology & Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong
Joshua S. Goldstein, Professor Emeritus, International Relations, American University
Andrew Klein, Past President, American Nuclear Society
Steve Kirsch, CEO, Token
David Lea, Professor, Earth Science, University of California
Nick Maiorino, Former president of the West Hollywood Tree Preservation Society (WHTPS), studied Mathematics and Physics/Astrophysics at UC Berkeley
Michael Shellenberger, Founder and President of Environmental Progress USA
Main image credit: Getty


cityam--2020-07-12--The City View: With Stefan Boscia

The City View: With Stefan Boscia

In today ’ s podcast , Andy Silvester is joined by City A.M. ’ s political reporter Stefan Boscia as we review the Sunday papers in light of the summer statement – and look ahead to tax rises , deficits and the political ramifications .
Andy also discusses the Facebook boycott , Primark ’ s decision not to take advantage of the furlough scheme and a Virgin Atlantic rescue deal .
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The City View: With Stefan Boscia
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In today’s podcast, Andy Silvester is joined by City A.M.’s political reporter Stefan Boscia as we review the Sunday papers in light of the summer statement – and look ahead to tax rises, deficits and the political ramifications.
Andy also discusses the Facebook boycott, Primark’s decision not to take advantage of the furlough scheme and a Virgin Atlantic rescue deal.
In association with ETX Capital
ETX Capital is one of the UK’s leading spread betting and CFD trading providers, offering services to retail, institutional, professional and high net worth customers via an award-winning trading platform. With over 50 years of experience in the financial markets, customers and service are always put first at ETX, and the company prides itself in offering a tailor-made trading experience to every customer. The multi-device TraderPro platform delivers a fully customisable, award-winning trading technology with customisable charts, instant execution and over 5,000 markets to trade.
Disclaimer: Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76% of retail investor accounts lose money when spread betting or trading CFDs with ETX. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets or CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority with Financial Services register number 124721. ETX Capital provides an execution-only service and therefore any market analysis, opinion, commentary or other information provided during this webinar is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a personal recommendation or construed as advice. ETX Capital and the presenter are not financial or investment advisors and do not recommend any instrument of any kind. Any instruments that are mentioned throughout are cited only for illustrative and educational purposes.


cityam--2020-07-12--Liberal Democrats secure coronavirus briefing with Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey

Liberal Democrat MPs will get a briefing from Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey on Thursday in order to get a more “ realistic ” view of the British economy .
The closed door meeting will give the party ’ s 11 MPs a chance to quiz the Bank of England boss about the UK ’ s economic recovery prospects and the effectiveness of the government ’ s current plans .
Read more : Moody ’ s : UK to suffer worst crash of any big economy It comes after Moody ’ s said on Friday that it expected the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy by the coronavirus crisis .
The ratings agency is predicting the nation ’ s GDP to shrink by 10.1 per cent this year .
The Liberal Democrats requested a meeting with Bailey , after it was reported last week that Labour and the 1922 committee of Tory backbenchers would get their own briefings .
A Liberal Democrat source said they hoped the Bank of England “ can give us a realistic economic perspective ” .
Before the Open newsletter : Start your day with the City View podcast and key market data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failed to be express clarity on how they plan to take us through phase three [ of its coronavirus recovery plan ] and therefore we demanded a closed door briefing , as did other opposition parties.
” Liberal Democrat leadership challenger Layla Moran also wrote her own letter to Bailey to ask him to “ explain the Bank ’ s current analysis on the economic impact of Covid-19 and listen to our views ” .
Chancellor Rishi Sunak laid out the next phase of the government ’ s coronavirus recovery plans on Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort to protect jobs and stoke economic growth .
Among the announcements was a temporary cut in VAT for the tourism and hospitality sectors , an increase in the stamp duty threshold to £500,000 and a “ eat out to help out scheme ” that sees the government partly subsidise meals out between Monday and Wednesday .
Sunak also announced a £2bn youth unemployment programme and a “ furlough bonus scheme ” where employers will receive £1000 for every furloughed employee they bring back until January .
Public borrowing this year is now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be 18 per cent of GDP – double that of the UK ’ s borrowing levels after the 2008 financial crash .

Liberal Democrats secure coronavirus briefing with Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey
Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey poses for a photograph on the first day of his new role at the central bank in London on March 16, 2020
Liberal Democrat MPs will get a briefing from Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey on Thursday in order to get a more “realistic” view of the British economy.
The closed door meeting will give the party’s 11 MPs a chance to quiz the Bank of England boss about the UK’s economic recovery prospects and the effectiveness of the government’s current plans.
It comes after Moody’s said on Friday that it expected the UK to be the worst affected major economy by the coronavirus crisis.
The ratings agency is predicting the nation’s GDP to shrink by 10.1 per cent this year.
The Liberal Democrats requested a meeting with Bailey, after it was reported last week that Labour and the 1922 committee of Tory backbenchers would get their own briefings.
A Liberal Democrat source said they hoped the Bank of England “can give us a realistic economic perspective”.
Before the Open newsletter: Start your day with the City View podcast and key market data
They added: “The government has failed to be express clarity on how they plan to take us through phase three [of its coronavirus recovery plan] and therefore we demanded a closed door briefing, as did other opposition parties.”
Liberal Democrat leadership challenger Layla Moran also wrote her own letter to Bailey to ask him to “explain the Bank’s current analysis on the economic impact of Covid-19 and listen to our views”.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak laid out the next phase of the government’s coronavirus recovery plans on Wednesday, announcing £30bn of spending in an effort to protect jobs and stoke economic growth.
Among the announcements was a temporary cut in VAT for the tourism and hospitality sectors, an increase in the stamp duty threshold to £500,000 and a “eat out to help out scheme” that sees the government partly subsidise meals out between Monday and Wednesday.
Sunak also announced a £2bn youth unemployment programme and a “furlough bonus scheme” where employers will receive £1000 for every furloughed employee they bring back until January.
Public borrowing this year is now set to hit £350bn, which would be 18 per cent of GDP – double that of the UK’s borrowing levels after the 2008 financial crash.


cityam--2020-07-13--China retaliates with sanctions in US row over Uighur Muslims

China will levy “ corresponding sanctions ” against the US , it said today , after Washington penalised senior Chinese officials over the treatment of minority Uighur Muslims .
The sanctions targeted US senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio , US representative Chris Smith , ambassador at large for international religious freedom Sam Brownback and the US Congressional-Executive Commission on China .
Rubio and Cruz have both supported legislation that would punish China ’ s actions in Xinjiang .
Smith has been an outspoken critic of China on a host of issues .
Read more : Europe is no longer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to China Relations between the two economic powerhouses have soured over disagreements on matters such as coronavirus , trade , telecoms giant Huawei and a sweeping national security law imposed on Hong Kong .
“ The US actions seriously interfere in China ’ s internal affairs , seriously violate the basic norms of international relations and seriously damage Sino-US relations , ” Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters .
“ China will make further responses based on how the situation develops.
” UN experts and activists say at least 1m ethnic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detention centres in Xinjiang .
Read more : Hong Kong : All the tech firms pausing activity after China ’ s security law China describes the sites as training centres to help stamp out terrorism and extremism in the country , and give people new skills .
Meanwhile Washington ’ s measures against Chinese officials to date have involved freezing US assets , US travel bans and prohibiting US firms from doing business with them .

China retaliates with sanctions in US row over Uighur Muslims
Republicans are divided on what to say about Trump’s election fraud claims.
China will levy “corresponding sanctions” against the US, it said today, after Washington penalised senior Chinese officials over the treatment of minority Uighur Muslims.
The sanctions targeted US senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, US representative Chris Smith, ambassador at large for international religious freedom Sam Brownback and the US Congressional-Executive Commission on China.
Rubio and Cruz have both supported legislation that would punish China’s actions in Xinjiang. Smith has been an outspoken critic of China on a host of issues.
Relations between the two economic powerhouses have soured over disagreements on matters such as coronavirus, trade, telecoms giant Huawei and a sweeping national security law imposed on Hong Kong.
“The US actions seriously interfere in China’s internal affairs, seriously violate the basic norms of international relations and seriously damage Sino-US relations,” Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters.
“China will make further responses based on how the situation develops.”
UN experts and activists say at least 1m ethnic Uighurs and other Muslims are held in detention centres in Xinjiang.
China describes the sites as training centres to help stamp out terrorism and extremism in the country, and give people new skills.
Meanwhile Washington’s measures against Chinese officials to date have involved freezing US assets, US travel bans and prohibiting US firms from doing business with them.


cityam--2020-07-13--Outsourcing giant G4S to cut 1,150 jobs in restructuring

Outsourcing giant G4S will cut more than 1,000 jobs as part of a restructuring of its cash solutions division , the firm today announced .
In total the firm will get rid of 1,150 roles , with most of these expected to fall in the cash handling division .
Read more : G4S shares surge as it revises up earnings forecast The redundancies , which were first revealed by union GMB , were confirmed by a spokesperson for G4S .
In a statement , Paul van der Knaap , managing director of G4S cash solutions UK said : “ Following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ footprint in the UK , we are proposing to reshape the business to better align it with the changing needs of our customers .
“ Regrettably this will result in a reduction in headcount , and today we have entered into a period of consultation with affected staff .
“ We are working closely with unions and individuals to offer opportunities for redeployment within the group.
” The news comes after the firm this morning said that its underlying earnings for the first six months of the year would be significantly ahead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to “ a resilient trading performance during June ” and said that it will bring forward publication of its first-half results to next week .
Before the Open newsletter : Start your day with the City View podcast and key market data However , the short update made no mention of the job cuts , which it is understood were announced internally .
GMB said it was in talks with the FTSE 250 firm to try and save as many jobs as possible .
National officer Roger Jenkins said : “ These cuts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ families .
GMB will fight to the end for every single job .
Read more : Mitie snaps up Interserve facilities arm to create outsourcing giant “ They are also another worrying step towards a cashless society the cash industry really is on a knife edge .
“ The collapse of cash industry could have a terrible impact on the elderly and most vulnerable and wreak havoc on small and medium enterprises which rely on cash transactions .

Outsourcing giant G4S to cut 1,150 jobs in restructuring
Outsourcing giant G4S will cut more than 1,000 jobs as part of a restructuring of its cash solutions division, the firm today announced.
In total the firm will get rid of 1,150 roles, with most of these expected to fall in the cash handling division.
The redundancies, which were first revealed by union GMB, were confirmed by a spokesperson for G4S.
In a statement, Paul van der Knaap, managing director of G4S cash solutions UK said:
“Following a review of our cash solutions operational footprint in the UK, we are proposing to reshape the business to better align it with the changing needs of our customers.
“Regrettably this will result in a reduction in headcount, and today we have entered into a period of consultation with affected staff.
“We are working closely with unions and individuals to offer opportunities for redeployment within the group.”
The news comes after the firm this morning said that its underlying earnings for the first six months of the year would be significantly ahead of market expectations.
G4S put this down to “a resilient trading performance during June” and said that it will bring forward publication of its first-half results to next week.
Before the Open newsletter: Start your day with the City View podcast and key market data
However, the short update made no mention of the job cuts, which it is understood were announced internally.
GMB said it was in talks with the FTSE 250 firm to try and save as many jobs as possible.
National officer Roger Jenkins said: “These cuts are devastating for our members and their families. GMB will fight to the end for every single job.
“They are also another worrying step towards a cashless society the cash industry really is on a knife edge.
“The collapse of cash industry could have a terrible impact on the elderly and most vulnerable and wreak havoc on small and medium enterprises which rely on cash transactions.
More to follow.


cityam--2020-07-13--NIBC agrees to reduced takeover offer by Blackstone

Dutch bank NIBC has agreed to a proposed bid by Blackstone despite the private equity firm lowering its bid amid the pandemic .
The takeover values the bank at just over €1bn compared to €1.3bn previously .
The US private equity firm cut its original bid to around €7 per share in May after it said the coronavirus crisis threatened to derail the bid entirely .
The two parties obtained unconditional approval from the European Commission .
“ As a result all competition clearances required to close the offer have been obtained , ” NIBC and Blackstone said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ February to acquire NIBC but flagged “ substantial uncertainty ” in April due to the outbreak of Covid-19 .
NIBC said its board unanimously recommended the new offer , as it still offered the best option .
Majority shareholders JC Flowers and Reggeborgh , which together hold about 75 per cent of the bank ’ s shares , have promised to tender their shares at the newly agreed price .
NIBC and Blackstone intend to terminate the listing of the shares on Euronext Amsterdam as soon as possible , they said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the parties said they “ believe the sustainable and long-term success of NIBC will be enhanced under private ownership ” .
They also said they “ acknowledge the importance of acquiring 100 per cent of the shares and achieving a delisting in order to execute on NIBC ’ s long term strategy.
” Read more : Blackstone to buy UK student housing group IQ from Goldman Sachs for £4.7bn Blackstone has agreed to pay liquidated damages of €46m if the offer is not made or not declared unconditional .
This also includes “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obtained in certain instances.
” The payments consist of a payment of €4m to NIBC and a payment of €42m to all NIBC shareholders pro rata to their respective shareholding in NIBC .

NIBC agrees to reduced takeover offer by Blackstone
Dutch bank NIBC has agreed to a proposed bid by Blackstone despite the private equity firm lowering its bid amid the pandemic.
The takeover values the bank at just over €1bn compared to €1.3bn previously. The US private equity firm cut its original bid to around €7 per share in May after it said the coronavirus crisis threatened to derail the bid entirely.
The two parties obtained unconditional approval from the European Commission. “As a result all competition clearances required to close the offer have been obtained,” NIBC and Blackstone said in a statement.
The buyout firm agreed in February to acquire NIBC but flagged “substantial uncertainty” in April due to the outbreak of Covid-19.
NIBC said its board unanimously recommended the new offer, as it still offered the best option. Majority shareholders JC Flowers and Reggeborgh, which together hold about 75 per cent of the bank’s shares, have promised to tender their shares at the newly agreed price.
NIBC and Blackstone intend to terminate the listing of the shares on Euronext Amsterdam as soon as possible, they said in a statement today.
In a statement today the parties said they “believe the sustainable and long-term success of NIBC will be enhanced under private ownership”. They also said they “acknowledge the importance of acquiring 100 per cent of the shares and achieving a delisting in order to execute on NIBC’s long term strategy.”
Blackstone has agreed to pay liquidated damages of €46m if the offer is not made or not declared unconditional. This also includes “if the required regulatory clearances are not obtained in certain instances.”
The payments consist of a payment of €4m to NIBC and a payment of €42m to all NIBC shareholders pro rata to their respective shareholding in NIBC.


cityam--2020-07-13--Boris Johnson: People should wear face masks in shops

The Prime Minister has said people should wear face masks in shops and will decide whether to make them mandatory in the next few days .
Last week Boris Johnson indicated the government was looking at toughening up the rules and went further today to say a decision “ in the next few days.
” Read more : Michael Gove : Face coverings will not be mandatory in shops Speaking to Sky News , Johnson said : “ They have a great deal of value in confined spaces when you ’ re coming into contact with people you on ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scientific evaluation of face coverings and their importance in stopping aerosol droplets , that ’ s been growing , so I do think in shops it is very important to wear a face covering if you ’ re going to be in a confined space and you want to protect other people and receive protection in return.
” Over the weekend , Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said face coverings will not be made mandatory but it is “ basic good manners ” to wear one .
Pressure is mounting on the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coverings , after a number of studies showed their effectiveness in stopping the spread of coronavirus .
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has been a vocal supporter of making masks mandatory in shops .
Scotland has already made face masks mandatory in shops .
In England face coverings have been required on public transport since 12 June .
Labour has said it could support making them mandatory with shadow business minister Lucy Powell saying the government needs some clarity .
Read more : Face coverings mandatory for all England hospital visitors from 15 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people to return to work .
He said employers are working to make sure workplaces are safe and employees should talk to them about coming back to work in a safe way .
The Sunday Telegraph reported that the government was preparing to ease advice against using public transport to encourage people to return to work and use reopened shops , pubs and restaurants .

Boris Johnson: People should wear face masks in shops
(Photo by Ben Stansall-WPA Pool/Getty Images)
The Prime Minister has said people should wear face masks in shops and will decide whether to make them mandatory in the next few days.
Last week Boris Johnson indicated the government was looking at toughening up the rules and went further today to say a decision “in the next few days.”
Speaking to Sky News, Johnson said: “They have a great deal of value in confined spaces when you’re coming into contact with people you on’t normally meet”.
“The scientific evaluation of face coverings and their importance in stopping aerosol droplets, that’s been growing, so I do think in shops it is very important to wear a face covering if you’re going to be in a confined space and you want to protect other people and receive protection in return.”
Over the weekend, Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said face coverings will not be made mandatory but it is “basic good manners” to wear one.
Pressure is mounting on the government to take a harder stance with face coverings, after a number of studies showed their effectiveness in stopping the spread of coronavirus.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has been a vocal supporter of making masks mandatory in shops.
Scotland has already made face masks mandatory in shops. In England face coverings have been required on public transport since 12 June. Labour has said it could support making them mandatory with shadow business minister Lucy Powell saying the government needs some clarity.
Today Johnson seemed to push for people to return to work. He said employers are working to make sure workplaces are safe and employees should talk to them about coming back to work in a safe way.
The Sunday Telegraph reported that the government was preparing to ease advice against using public transport to encourage people to return to work and use reopened shops, pubs and restaurants.


cityam--2020-07-13--Google to invest $10bn in India

Google to invest $10bn in India

Google said today it will spend around $ 10bn in India over the next five to seven years through equity investments and tie-ups , marking its biggest commitment to a key growth market .
The investments will be done through a so-called digitisation fund , highlighting Google ’ s focus on the rapid pace of growth of apps and software platforms in India , one of the world ’ s biggest internet services markets .
“ We ’ ll do this through a mix of equity investments , partnerships , and operational , infrastructure and ecosystem investments , ” Sundar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alphabet .
“ This is a reflection of our confidence in the future of India and its digital economy.
” Read more : Tiktok denies giving data to China over India ban Google has already made some direct and indirect investments in Indian startups such as local delivery app Dunzo .
Beyond investments via the fund , Google would also focus on areas such as artificial intelligence and education in India , Pichai told Reuters in an interview .
Indian-born Pichai joined Google in 2004 , and is widely credited for making the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Larry Page as chief executive of Alphabet last year .
Read more : Google ’ s Android 10 adopted faster than any earlier version “ Sundar Pichai , who is heading Google , is a very powerful symbol of the creative potential of India ’ s human resource , ” India ’ s technology minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said at the event .
The US tech group , whose Android mobile operating system powers a bulk of India ’ s roughly 500m smartphones , will continue to work with manufacturers to build low-cost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can access the internet , another Google executive said .

Google to invest $10bn in India
Google said today it will spend around $10bn in India over the next five to seven years through equity investments and tie-ups, marking its biggest commitment to a key growth market.
The investments will be done through a so-called digitisation fund, highlighting Google’s focus on the rapid pace of growth of apps and software platforms in India, one of the world’s biggest internet services markets.
“We’ll do this through a mix of equity investments, partnerships, and operational, infrastructure and ecosystem investments,” Sundar Pichai, chief executive of parent firm Alphabet.
“This is a reflection of our confidence in the future of India and its digital economy.”
Google has already made some direct and indirect investments in Indian startups such as local delivery app Dunzo.
Beyond investments via the fund, Google would also focus on areas such as artificial intelligence and education in India, Pichai told Reuters in an interview.
Indian-born Pichai joined Google in 2004, and is widely credited for making the Chrome browser. He replaced company co-founder Larry Page as chief executive of Alphabet last year.
“Sundar Pichai, who is heading Google, is a very powerful symbol of the creative potential of India’s human resource,” India’s technology minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said at the event.
The US tech group, whose Android mobile operating system powers a bulk of India’s roughly 500m smartphones, will continue to work with manufacturers to build low-cost devices so that more and more people can access the internet, another Google executive said.


cityam--2020-07-13--Workplaces should be a lifeline for those suffering domestic abuse

At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic , we asked people to stay at home to protect themselves and others from the virus .
The home should be a safe haven .
But for victims of domestic abuse , it can be a very dangerous place to be .
National abuse helpline Refuge reported a 25 per cent increase in calls during lockdown , as survivors were forced to spend more time indoors with their abusers .
Now , more than ever , it is important for us to do everything in our power to support all of those suffering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ £76m to help support the most vulnerable , including domestic abuse survivors .
And we have introduced a new Domestic Abuse Bill which will provide better support and protections for victims and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice .
But we want go further — which is why we have launched a review of support in the workplace for survivors of domestic abuse .
While domestic abuse may occur in the home , its impact stretches into every aspect of survivors ’ lives , with one in five needing to take time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same time , having a job and spending time away from abusers can offer a degree of independence and financial self-sufficiency , which is vital for those suffering from abuse .
Crucially , it provides them with a network outside of the home that they can draw on for support , and the workplace can often be one of the few places in which many survivors feel safe to speak out about their experiences .
Ultimately , workplaces can provide vital support for those who have faced or continue to face domestic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are already doing a great deal to support survivors , ensuring they can report abuse and receive the help they need from their place of work .
But this must be standard practice across the board .
This review will look at what new measures could be put in place in the workplace by the government or employers to help those experiencing domestic abuse .
It will consider the availability of flexible working and unplanned leave for survivors , who often need the flexibility to deal with issues arising from domestic abuse , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after their mental health .
And it will also explore how employers can help tackle economic abuse , which is the exploitative practice by an abuser over the victim ’ s financial resources , stripping them of their independence .
Options could include paying wages to a different bank account or making emergency salary payments available for those in real financial hardship .
We are hosting our first roundtable and discussing these very issues today , with representatives from campaign groups , employer bodies , businesses and elsewhere , all with a major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the support they need .
Many workplaces are already leading the way on this .
For example , in Northumbria , the Workplace Domestic Violence Champion scheme has seen around 400 public and private employers nominate “ employee champions ” in their team .
This will encourage abuse victims or survivors to speak to a designated colleague if they feel unable or uncomfortable raising the issue with their manager or employer .
It is this kind of innovative , employer-led intervention that our review aims to draw on and promote .
As business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like this become par for the course in workplaces of all sizes across the UK .
To help us reach that goal , I am urging businesses , campaigners and survivors themselves to get involved in the Domestic Abuse Employment Review and tell us what changes they would like to see .
Britain ’ s workplaces have the potential to be a lifeline for those facing an unimaginable ordeal .
Working together , we will build gold-standard employment practices that will ensure that all domestic abuse survivors have access to the support they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to share their views by visiting the consultation page here .

Workplaces should be a lifeline for those suffering domestic abuse
National abuse helpline Refuge reported a 25 per cent increase in calls during lockdown
At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, we asked people to stay at home to protect themselves and others from the virus.
The home should be a safe haven. But for victims of domestic abuse, it can be a very dangerous place to be.
National abuse helpline Refuge reported a 25 per cent increase in calls during lockdown, as survivors were forced to spend more time indoors with their abusers.
Now, more than ever, it is important for us to do everything in our power to support all of those suffering domestic abuse.
The government has announced £76m to help support the most vulnerable, including domestic abuse survivors. And we have introduced a new Domestic Abuse Bill which will provide better support and protections for victims and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.
But we want go further — which is why we have launched a review of support in the workplace for survivors of domestic abuse.
While domestic abuse may occur in the home, its impact stretches into every aspect of survivors’ lives, with one in five needing to take time off work as a result.
And the same time, having a job and spending time away from abusers can offer a degree of independence and financial self-sufficiency, which is vital for those suffering from abuse. Crucially, it provides them with a network outside of the home that they can draw on for support, and the workplace can often be one of the few places in which many survivors feel safe to speak out about their experiences.
Ultimately, workplaces can provide vital support for those who have faced or continue to face domestic abuse.
Many employers across the UK are already doing a great deal to support survivors, ensuring they can report abuse and receive the help they need from their place of work. But this must be standard practice across the board.
This review will look at what new measures could be put in place in the workplace by the government or employers to help those experiencing domestic abuse. It will consider the availability of flexible working and unplanned leave for survivors, who often need the flexibility to deal with issues arising from domestic abuse, such as attending court hearings or looking after their mental health.
And it will also explore how employers can help tackle economic abuse, which is the exploitative practice by an abuser over the victim’s financial resources, stripping them of their independence.
Options could include paying wages to a different bank account or making emergency salary payments available for those in real financial hardship.
We are hosting our first roundtable and discussing these very issues today, with representatives from campaign groups, employer bodies, businesses and elsewhere, all with a major stake in ensuring that abuse survivors get the support they need.
Many workplaces are already leading the way on this. For example, in Northumbria, the Workplace Domestic Violence Champion scheme has seen around 400 public and private employers nominate “employee champions” in their team. This will encourage abuse victims or survivors to speak to a designated colleague if they feel unable or uncomfortable raising the issue with their manager or employer.
It is this kind of innovative, employer-led intervention that our review aims to draw on and promote.
As business minister, I want to see schemes like this become par for the course in workplaces of all sizes across the UK. To help us reach that goal, I am urging businesses, campaigners and survivors themselves to get involved in the Domestic Abuse Employment Review and tell us what changes they would like to see.
Britain’s workplaces have the potential to be a lifeline for those facing an unimaginable ordeal. Working together, we will build gold-standard employment practices that will ensure that all domestic abuse survivors have access to the support they need at work.
People are encouraged to share their views by visiting the consultation page here.
Main image credit: UK Government


cityam--2020-07-13--UK airports renew business rates relief calls as job losses loom

The UK ’ s airports have renewed their calls for the government to scrap business rates as the near-complete collapse in passenger numbers due to the coronavirus pandemic continued .
The Airport Operators Association ( AOA ) today appealed to ministers to give airports a year of business rates relief in line with those received by members of the hospitality , retail and leisure sectors .
Although Scottish and Northern Irish airports have already had these payments waived , the Treasury is yet to extend the relief to their counterparts in England and Wales .
In a survey conducted last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jobs were at risk at airport operators unless urgent financial protection was provided .
When the impact on local business communities is included , it warned that the figure could grow to 110,000 employees .
Each year the UK ’ s airports pay around £210m in business rates , a third of which has been paid since the crisis began in March .
This morning Heathrow Airport called on the government to act faster to support the aviation industry , revealing that passenger numbers in June had fallen 95 per cent year on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Start your day with the City View podcast and key market data It also criticised the government ’ s quarantine policy , despite the fact that in recent days the blanket 14-day isolation requirements have been lifted for travellers from nearly 60 countries .
In a statement , it said that “ further pace was needed to move past quarantine ” and urged the government to take a lead in developing common international standards for safe travel .
The airport has begun to consult on redundancies due to the continued slump in passenger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called on the government to do “ much more ” to protect an industry which had suffered the “ worst four months in its history ” .
Read more : Heathrow Airport to begin job cuts as passenger numbers flatline “ Whilst many businesses have benefited from business rates relief , airports in England and Wales have been forgotten and this is constraining their ability to survive through continued restrictions imposed on their operations and to help power the economic recovery of the country ” , she said .
“ That our airports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every day during the lockdown reflects that the Government simply has not grasped the severity of the challenge and threat that the pandemic has posed and continues to pose to our sector ” .

UK airports renew business rates relief calls as job losses loom
The UK’s airports have renewed their calls for the government to scrap business rates as the near-complete collapse in passenger numbers due to the coronavirus pandemic continued.
The Airport Operators Association (AOA) today appealed to ministers to give airports a year of business rates relief in line with those received by members of the hospitality, retail and leisure sectors.
Although Scottish and Northern Irish airports have already had these payments waived, the Treasury is yet to extend the relief to their counterparts in England and Wales.
In a survey conducted last month, the AOA said that 20,000 jobs were at risk at airport operators unless urgent financial protection was provided.
When the impact on local business communities is included, it warned that the figure could grow to 110,000 employees.
Each year the UK’s airports pay around £210m in business rates, a third of which has been paid since the crisis began in March.
This morning Heathrow Airport called on the government to act faster to support the aviation industry, revealing that passenger numbers in June had fallen 95 per cent year on year.
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It also criticised the government’s quarantine policy, despite the fact that in recent days the blanket 14-day isolation requirements have been lifted for travellers from nearly 60 countries.
In a statement, it said that “further pace was needed to move past quarantine” and urged the government to take a lead in developing common international standards for safe travel.
The airport has begun to consult on redundancies due to the continued slump in passenger numbers.
AOA chief executive Karen Dee called on the government to do “much more” to protect an industry which had suffered the “worst four months in its history”.
“Whilst many businesses have benefited from business rates relief, airports in England and Wales have been forgotten and this is constraining their ability to survive through continued restrictions imposed on their operations and to help power the economic recovery of the country”, she said.
“That our airports have been paying £500,000 in business rates every day during the lockdown reflects that the Government simply has not grasped the severity of the challenge and threat that the pandemic has posed and continues to pose to our sector”.


cityam--2020-07-13--Priti Patel to scrap freedom of movement in new immigration rules

Home Secretary Priti Patel will today set out a post-Brexit immigration system for the UK , which will see freedom of movement scrapped in favour of a points-based scheme and a crackdown on illegal Channel crossings .
A new 130-page document to be presented in the House of Commons today will abolish the freedom of movement into the UK for unskilled migrants for a new system that awards points to applicants that speak English , have skilled job offers , and meet minimum salary requirements .
The move , which formed a key part of Boris Johnson ’ s election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hire British workers and to end the UK ’ s reliance on cheap , low-skilled migrants .
Skilled EU and non-EU migrants must earn 70 points to be eligible to work in the UK under the new system .
50 of those points must come from having a skilled job offer from an approved employer and from speaking English .
The remaining 20 points can come from a variety of extracurricular categories , where qualifications can be “ traded ” for points to meet the required 70 .
The new immigration rules , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ January , will also ban foreign criminals sentenced to more than a year in jail from entering the country .
Immigration officials will be able to turn away migrants found guilty of serious harm , even if they have been sentenced to less than a year in jail .
Patel is expected to announce that the new rules will replace 2004 EU legislation , which MPs believe is insufficient in barring foreign criminals from entering the country , as it only excludes convicted criminals if they are found to present “ a genuine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the fundamental interests of society ” .
Patel said the changes would “ restore trust in the immigration system and deliver a new fairer , firmer , skills-led system from 1 January 2021.
” The home secretary has also agreed to form a “ joint intelligence cell ” with France to tackle the number of migrants crossing the Channel .
It comes after French and British police yesterday stopped a total of almost 200 migrants from crossing the Channel from either after coast guard officials responded to several incidents .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 180 for the number of migrants to reach to the UK after crossing the Channel , according to figures released this morning .
Patel said that “ despite all of the action taken by law enforcement to date — intercepting the boats , making arrests , returning people to France and putting the criminals responsible behind bars — the numbers continue to increase ” .
Read more : Brexit : A quarter of British businesses ready for end of transition period She added : “ This simply can not be allowed to go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreement with the French to create a joint intelligence cell which will crack down on the gangs behind this vile people-smuggling .
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” A Home Office spokesman said : “ The security of UK citizens is our top priority .
We regularly review the criminality framework rules to ensure we deliver against that priority .
We have been clear that all migrants will need to comply with the UK ’ s strict criminality rules.
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Priti Patel scraps freedom of movement in new immigration rules
Home Secretary Priti Patel today unveiled plans for a post-Brexit immigration system for the UK, which will see freedom of movement scrapped in favour of a points-based scheme and a crackdown on illegal Channel crossings.
A new 130-page document presented by Patel in the House of Commons today abolishes the freedom of movement into the UK for unskilled migrants in favour of a new system that awards points to applicants that speak English, have skilled job offers, and meet minimum salary requirements.
The move, which formed a key part of Boris Johnson’s election manifesto, aims to persuade businesses to hire British workers and to end the UK’s reliance on cheap, low-skilled migrants.
In a written statement, Patel said: “At a time where an increased number of people across the UK are looking for work, the new points-based system will encourage employers to invest in the domestic UK workforce, rather than simply relying on labour from abroad.”
However, the home secretary assured that the new system would also allow British businesses to “attract the best and brightest from around the world” to “complement the skills we already have”.
Skilled EU and non-EU migrants must earn 70 points to be eligible to work in the UK under the new immigration system.
50 of those points must come from having a skilled job offer from an approved employer and from speaking English. The remaining 20 points can come from a variety of extracurricular categories, where qualifications can be “traded” for points to meet the required 70.
Non-UK citizens with job offers in “shortage occupations” such as nursing and civil engineering will also be able to earn extra points under the system.
The new immigration rules, which will come into effect from 1 January, will also ban foreign criminals sentenced to more than a year in jail from entering the country. Immigration officials will be able to turn away migrants found guilty of serious harm, even if they have been sentenced to less than a year in jail.
Patel is expected to announce that the new rules will replace 2004 EU legislation, which MPs believe is insufficient in barring foreign criminals from entering the country, as it only excludes convicted criminals if they are found to present “a genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat affecting one of the fundamental interests of society”.
Patel said the changes would “restore trust in the immigration system and deliver a new fairer, firmer, skills-led system from 1 January 2021.”
The home secretary has also agreed to form a “joint intelligence cell” with France to tackle the number of migrants crossing the Channel.
It comes after French and British police yesterday stopped a total of almost 400 migrants from crossing the Channel from either end after coast guard officials responded to several incidents.
Yesterday set a new daily record of 180 migrants trying to reach to the UK after crossing the Channel, according to figures released this morning.
Patel said that “despite all of the action taken by law enforcement to date — intercepting the boats, making arrests, returning people to France and putting the criminals responsible behind bars — the numbers continue to increase”.
She added: “This simply cannot be allowed to go on. Today I have signed an agreement with the French to create a joint intelligence cell which will crack down on the gangs behind this vile people-smuggling . . .”
A Home Office spokesman said: “The security of UK citizens is our top priority. We regularly review the criminality framework rules to ensure we deliver against that priority. We have been clear that all migrants will need to comply with the UK’s strict criminality rules.”
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cityam--2020-07-13--UK launches Brexit awareness ad blitz for tourists and businesses

The government today has launched a £93m advertising blitz to prepare businesses and tourists for the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December .
Advertising will focus on incoming changes to travel insurance and passport requirements for tourists heading to the EU , while also highlighting new trading regulations with Europe .
Read more : Brexit : A quarter of British businesses ready for end of transition period Titled “ the UK ’ s new start : let ’ s get going ” , the campaign will see billboards plastered around the UK with the message : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign will also trumpet the “ significant opportunities ” Brexit will bring for British businesses .
The UK is negotiating with Brussels to secure a free trade deal in time for the end of the transition period when Britain will leave the EU ’ s single market and customs union .
There will be necessary changes to the UK ’ s relationship with the EU , regardless of whether a deal is struck in time .
The “ check , change , go ” message will encourage business owners to check whether they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the EU by registering with relevant customs authorities and procuring a EU EORI number .
A new Institute of Directors survey showed just under a quarter of company directors were prepared for Brexit , while Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said last month he was “ concerned ” at how few businesses were ready .
Speaking about the new campaign , Gove said : “ While we have already made great progress in getting ready for this moment , there are actions that businesses and citizens must take now to ensure we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fully independent United Kingdom .
“ This is a new start for everyone in the UK – British and European citizens alike – so let ’ s get going.
” The campaign will also alert Britons to likely increases in travel insurance as UK passport holders will no longer have access to free EU healthcare , after the transition period ends .
Passports will also need to have at least six months until they expire , while roaming mobile charges will also be affected by Brexit .
Gove also announced yesterday that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country ’ s borders for next year .
Read more : ‘ Limited time ’ left for details of post-Brexit regional funding schemes , says IFS The funding is being spent on 500 new border guards , IT systems and essential infrastructure at Dover and other ports of entry as the UK prepares for the end of the post-Brexit transition period on 31 December .
The UK is set to have its border checks fully operational by next July , after the coronavirus crisis forced a six-month delay of plans .

UK launches Brexit awareness ad blitz for tourists and businesses
The government today has launched a £93m advertising blitz to prepare businesses and tourists for the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December.
Advertising will focus on incoming changes to travel insurance and passport requirements for tourists heading to the EU, while also highlighting new trading regulations with Europe.
Titled “the UK’s new start: let’s get going”, the campaign will see billboards plastered around the UK with the message: “Check, Change, Go.”
The campaign will also trumpet the “significant opportunities” Brexit will bring for British businesses.
The UK is negotiating with Brussels to secure a free trade deal in time for the end of the transition period when Britain will leave the EU’s single market and customs union.
There will be necessary changes to the UK’s relationship with the EU, regardless of whether a deal is struck in time.
The “check, change, go” message will encourage business owners to check whether they are ready to export and import with the EU by registering with relevant customs authorities and procuring a EU EORI number.
A new Institute of Directors survey showed just under a quarter of company directors were prepared for Brexit, while Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said last month he was “concerned” at how few businesses were ready.
Speaking about the new campaign, Gove said: “While we have already made great progress in getting ready for this moment, there are actions that businesses and citizens must take now to ensure we are ready to hit the ground running as a fully independent United Kingdom.
“This is a new start for everyone in the UK – British and European citizens alike – so let’s get going.”
The campaign will also alert Britons to likely increases in travel insurance as UK passport holders will no longer have access to free EU healthcare, after the transition period ends.
Passports will also need to have at least six months until they expire, while roaming mobile charges will also be affected by Brexit.
Gove also announced yesterday that the government would spend £700m on preparing the country’s borders for next year.
The funding is being spent on 500 new border guards, IT systems and essential infrastructure at Dover and other ports of entry as the UK prepares for the end of the post-Brexit transition period on 31 December.
The UK is set to have its border checks fully operational by next July, after the coronavirus crisis forced a six-month delay of plans.


cityam--2020-07-13--Quiz suspends supplier after Leicester factory exploitation claims

Fashion brand Quiz has suspended one of its suppliers after reports that the supplier was failing to pay workers at a factory in Leicester the minimum wage .
Over the weekend , an investigation by the Times found that the supplier had offered employees just £3 an hour to make clothes for the brand .
The minimum wage for people over 25 years old in £8.72 per hour .
Shares in the firm fell 5.6 per cent this morning after markets opened .
In a statement this morning , Quiz said that it was investigating the allegations and had suspended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ From our initial review , we believe that one of Quiz ’ s suppliers based in Leicester has used a sub-contractor in direct contravention of a previous instruction from Quiz ” .
The firm added that it would conduct a fuller review of its supplier auditing processes to ensure that they complied with its ethical code of practice .
Before the Open newsletter : Start your day with the City View podcast and key market data Chief executive Tarak Ramzan said : “ We are extremely concerned and disappointed to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Living Wage requirements in a factory making Quiz products .
“ The alleged breaches to both the law and Quiz ’ s ethical code of practice are totally unacceptable .
“ We are thoroughly investigating this incident and will also conduct a fuller review of our supplier auditing processes to ensure that they are robust .
We will update our stakeholders in due course.
” Read more : Boohoo launches independent review of supply chain after Leicester factory claims Quiz is the latest fashion brand to be accused of paying staff illegal wages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at fast fashion brand Boohoo ’ s Leicester factory had been offered as little as £3.50 an hour .
The scandal knocked off over a quarter of Boohoo ’ s share price and saw major investors such as Standard Life Aberdeen pull its stake in the company .

Quiz suspends supplier after Leicester factory exploitation claims
Fashion brand Quiz has suspended one of its suppliers after reports that the supplier was failing to pay workers at a factory in Leicester the minimum wage.
Over the weekend, an investigation by the Times found that the supplier had offered employees just £3 an hour to make clothes for the brand.
The minimum wage for people over 25 years old in £8.72 per hour.
Shares in the firm fell 5.6 per cent this morning after markets opened.
In a statement this morning, Quiz said that it was investigating the allegations and had suspended the supplier in question.
It said: “From our initial review, we believe that one of Quiz’s suppliers based in Leicester has used a sub-contractor in direct contravention of a previous instruction from Quiz”.
The firm added that it would conduct a fuller review of its supplier auditing processes to ensure that they complied with its ethical code of practice.
Before the Open newsletter: Start your day with the City View podcast and key market data
Chief executive Tarak Ramzan said: “We are extremely concerned and disappointed to be informed of the alleged breach of National Living Wage requirements in a factory making Quiz products.
“The alleged breaches to both the law and Quiz’s ethical code of practice are totally unacceptable.
“We are thoroughly investigating this incident and will also conduct a fuller review of our supplier auditing processes to ensure that they are robust. We will update our stakeholders in due course.”
Quiz is the latest fashion brand to be accused of paying staff illegal wages. Last week it emerged that workers at fast fashion brand Boohoo’s Leicester factory had been offered as little as £3.50 an hour.
The scandal knocked off over a quarter of Boohoo’s share price and saw major investors such as Standard Life Aberdeen pull its stake in the company.


cityam--2020-07-13--Government dragging its feet on audit reform, says business committee

The business , energy and industrial strategy ( BEIS ) committee has accused the government of dragging its feet on proposed audit reforms .
The government has today published its response to the committee ’ s inquiry into the collapse of Thomas Cook last year .
In the original findings from the inquiry last October , the committee expressed disappointment that the government had not moved forward with audit reforms .
It called for the government to bring forward legislation to replace the Financial Reporting Council ( FRC ) with the Audit , Reporting and Governance Authority ( Arga ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ creation of this new body “ will follow as soon as Parliamentary time allows.
” Committee chair Darren Jones said : “ Recent audit scandals highlight the need for the Government to tackle this issue as a matter of urgency .
At a time when businesses are facing tough trading conditions and when their balance sheets are under significant pressure , it ’ s important investors and other stakeholders can have confidence in audits.
” Auditors have come under increased regulatory scrutiny in recent years , with corporate failures at Carillion , BHS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ role in the high-profile collapse of German payments firm Wirecard , with the firm being accused of failing to carry out a standard audit procedure .
Earlier this month the FRC ordered the Big Four accounting firms to separate their audit units from the rest of their businesses by 2024. Business secretary Alok Sharma , who appeared in front of the committee last week , failed to give a date for when legislation on audit reform would be brought forward .
“ While the Government has a series of priorities at the moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fact the Department already has a raft of practical audit measures sitting on its desk gathering dust , we should expect the Business department to show far more urgency to help drive through the reforms needed on audit and on corporate governance , ” Jones said .
Get the news as it happens by following City A.M. on Twitter .

Government dragging its feet on audit reform, says business committee
The business, energy and industrial strategy (BEIS) committee has accused the government of dragging its feet on proposed audit reforms.
The government has today published its response to the committee’s inquiry into the collapse of Thomas Cook last year.
In the original findings from the inquiry last October, the committee expressed disappointment that the government had not moved forward with audit reforms.
It called for the government to bring forward legislation to replace the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) with the Audit, Reporting and Governance Authority (Arga).
Today the government has said the creation of this new body “will follow as soon as Parliamentary time allows.”
Committee chair Darren Jones said: “Recent audit scandals highlight the need for the Government to tackle this issue as a matter of urgency. At a time when businesses are facing tough trading conditions and when their balance sheets are under significant pressure, it’s important investors and other stakeholders can have confidence in audits.”
Auditors have come under increased regulatory scrutiny in recent years, with corporate failures at Carillion, BHS and Patisserie Valerie. EY’s role in the high-profile collapse of German payments firm Wirecard, with the firm being accused of failing to carry out a standard audit procedure.
Earlier this month the FRC ordered the Big Four accounting firms to separate their audit units from the rest of their businesses by 2024.
Business secretary Alok Sharma, who appeared in front of the committee last week, failed to give a date for when legislation on audit reform would be brought forward.
“While the Government has a series of priorities at the moment, given the importance of audit and the fact the Department already has a raft of practical audit measures sitting on its desk gathering dust, we should expect the Business department to show far more urgency to help drive through the reforms needed on audit and on corporate governance,” Jones said.
Get the news as it happens by following City A.M. on Twitter.


cityam--2020-07-13--The City View: Miles Roberts on the packaging business

In today ’ s episode – the first recorded from City AM ’ s offices – Andy is joined by Miles Roberts , CEO of FTSE-100 packaging firm DS Smith .
Miles and Andy discuss the impact of lockdown on packaging , what innovation looks like when it comes to cardboard , and post-Brexit goods regimes .
They even talk about when Crystal Palace fans might be back on the terraces – and whether fans are good for business .
Andy also looks at more troubles for Boohoo , the UK Government ’ s ‘ Check Change Go ’ Brexit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investment in India .
ETX Capital is one of the UK ’ s leading spread betting and CFD trading providers , offering services to retail , institutional , professional and high net worth customers via an award-winning trading platform .
With over 50 years of experience in the financial markets , customers and service are always put first at ETX , and the company prides itself in offering a tailor-made trading experience to every customer .
The multi-device TraderPro platform delivers a fully customisable , award-winning trading technology with customisable charts , instant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Disclaimer : Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage .
76 % of retail investor accounts lose money when spread betting or trading CFDs with ETX .
You should consider whether you understand how spread bets or CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money .
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority with Financial Services register number 124721 .
ETX Capital provides an execution-only service and therefore any market @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information provided during this webinar is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a personal recommendation or construed as advice .
ETX Capital and the presenter are not financial or investment advisors and do not recommend any instrument of any kind .
Any instruments that are mentioned throughout are cited only for illustrative and educational purposes .

The City View: Miles Roberts on the packaging business
Subscribe to The City View Podcast: Apple / Google / Spotify / RSS
In today’s episode – the first recorded from City AM’s offices – Andy is joined by Miles Roberts, CEO of FTSE-100 packaging firm DS Smith. Miles and Andy discuss the impact of lockdown on packaging, what innovation looks like when it comes to cardboard, and post-Brexit goods regimes. They even talk about when Crystal Palace fans might be back on the terraces – and whether fans are good for business.
Andy also looks at more troubles for Boohoo, the UK Government’s ‘Check Change Go’ Brexit campaign, and Google’s hefty investment in India.
In association with ETX Capital
ETX Capital is one of the UK’s leading spread betting and CFD trading providers, offering services to retail, institutional, professional and high net worth customers via an award-winning trading platform. With over 50 years of experience in the financial markets, customers and service are always put first at ETX, and the company prides itself in offering a tailor-made trading experience to every customer. The multi-device TraderPro platform delivers a fully customisable, award-winning trading technology with customisable charts, instant execution and over 5,000 markets to trade.
Disclaimer: Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76% of retail investor accounts lose money when spread betting or trading CFDs with ETX. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets or CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority with Financial Services register number 124721. ETX Capital provides an execution-only service and therefore any market analysis, opinion, commentary or other information provided during this webinar is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a personal recommendation or construed as advice. ETX Capital and the presenter are not financial or investment advisors and do not recommend any instrument of any kind. Any instruments that are mentioned throughout are cited only for illustrative and educational purposes.