Facebook Instagram Twitter Youtube
Home Blog Page 271

Who Fixes What in Rented Properties?

By
Alessandro Des Dorides
-

Millennials are almost defined by the fact that they usually rent their homes rather than owning them. The British housing market is making it harder and harder for younger people to get on the property ladder compared to decades before — one in three millennials will never own a home.

But when things go wrong, who is responsible for fixing the issues? There is an inherent battle between landlord and tenant responsibility, with many tenants unsure of their rights and incentivised not to complain from fear of eviction. On the other hand, landlords don’t always have a legal obligation to fix a problem. Appliances such as refrigerators are usually the tenants responsibility and so you are best to source a company in your area, searching for example, Refrigerator Repair Sacramento. We’ll take a look at a number of common issues to help you understand who is responsible for fixing it: tenants or landlords?

Who Should Fix the Damp?

Damp is one of the more common issues that plague the rental sector. Often people are unsure if they’re liable due to the exact cause — damp is a by-product of activity by the tenant in the property where steam is produced. So if the property isn’t sufficiently ventilated or heated throughout, this is the tenant’s responsibility for not ‘acting in a tenant like manner’.

The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 provides power for tenants to request action from landlords if damp areas are caused by a repair or design problem that affects your health and safety. If a tenant reports damp to their landlord and they don’t attend the issue in reasonable time, tenants have rights to take action and contact their local council’s Environmental Health department, who can enforce action.

If you’re unsure what is causing the damp, your landlord will need to bring in an expert to survey the property and identify the problem. They can then give advice on how to fix it. Some landlords would rather evict tenants asking for repairs than fix the problem, so make sure you research into revenge eviction and how to protect against it.

Who Should Fix Boiler Breakdowns?

There’s nothing more inconvenient and blood-boilingly annoying than a broken boiler — no heating and no hot water. If this happens in winter, you might as well live in the Stone Age.

Firstly, if the boiler is broken, don’t try to repair anything yourself as the tenant. This can be dangerous to both yourself, and the boiler. You could even void the boiler’s warranty, leaving you with avoidable extra charges.

The Landlord and Tenant Act (1985) states that the landlord is legally obliged to provide a safe and habitable environment for the tenant including water, gas, electricity, and space and water heating. It is, however, the tenant’s responsibility to keep the heating running when necessary, for example in winter to avoid pipes splitting, as well as reporting issues when they happen.

Tenants have the right to expect the landlord to arrange repairs in ‘reasonable time’. This may be ambiguous, however if you have no heating or hot water, this is considered an emergency and should be fixed in up to 24 hours. If your landlord doesn’t respond to requests after a written letter restating the problem, you can contact your local council to enforce action. The Environmental Health department can service the repairs and bill your landlord afterwards.

Who Should Fix Flooding Damages?

The tenant is responsible for fixing damages to a property if their negligence caused the flooding. This can include broken appliances and equipment, carpets, furniture, doors, floors, and anything else damaged by the water. Causes by the tenant can include blockages and split pipes from carelessness.

In the event of a natural disaster or flooding from a neighbouring house, the landlord is responsible for repairs. Tenants can request that their rent be reduced or suspended if the property cannot be lived in or while repairments are made. If repairments aren’t made within a given period of time, this can trigger a break clause where the lease can be ended.

Who Should Fix Blocked Drains?

The landlord is sure that the tenant has been putting wipes down the toilet, yet the tenant’s convinced that the blockage is from next door. It’s important that the landlord carries out a pipework audit to figure out the cause of the blockage to avoid heated tensions.

When the blocked drain has been caused internally or in the property boundary, it’s the tenant’s responsibility to deal with repairs. This type of blockage may be caused by food and grease down the kitchen sink that has solidified, or anything other than the three Ps down the toilet (pee, poo, paper). One shot drain cleaner is effective in tackling grease, soap, and paper towels jammed down the pipes. The tenant must report blockages to the landlord — if the blockage is the toilet, you may need specialist help to avoid permanently damaging the pipework or flooding the house with stagnant, foul water.

If the blockage is outside of the property, the landlord should contact the utility company who is responsible for maintaining drainage.

These are just some of the most common disputes between tenants and landlords. This article is intended as a guide. If any of these issues are affecting you, you should take the information and research further. If you’re having problems with your tenant or landlord, we recommend seeking legal advice.

Sources

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2018/apr/17/one-in-three-uk-millennials-will-never-own-a-home-report

https://www.simplybusiness.co.uk/knowledge/articles/2018/03/landlord-boiler-service-and-maintenance/

https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/information/winter-proof-rental-properties

https://www.thetenantsvoice.co.uk/advice_from_us/what-you-can-do-about-damp/#when_is_the_tenant_responsible_for_damp

https://www.thetenantsvoice.co.uk/your_home/what-are-my-tenant-rights-in-case-of-a-flooding/

https://wedlakebell.com/flooding-who-is-responsible-for-the-damage-2/

Can the UK infrastructure cope with extreme weather?

By
Roger Bishop
-

According to recent reports, the UK will have to prepare for more frequent extreme weather events as a result of climate change. After the intensity of Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis which buffeted the UK with rain, winds of over 90mph and flooding, it’s hard to know what to expect next.

Minister at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Rebecca Pow, said that such extreme weather is ‘something that we’re going to have to adapt to’. This sets a worrying tone for the safety and security of people living in the UK, and as the effects of climate change become increasingly apparent, our infrastructure has to be prepared to handle it. But is Britain equipped to handle the extreme weather, or do we need to be better prepared?

Stormy winters

Considering the recent bout of storms and snowy weather, we need to make sure that our infrastructure is prepared. During the harsh winters of recent years, the UK transport system has faced extreme difficulties. From icy roads to exposed direct current indicators and flashover faults, the cold weather can cause severe damage.

In response to this, a cold weather plan was established in order to outline what to expect and how best to prepare over the increasingly cold winters. Local authorities are now better equipped than ever to grit roads and prevent black ice as a result of this. For the transport sector, forward planning is key. Transport planning advice plays a major part in ensuring that infrastructure schemes take into account all environmental considerations at the design stage to help to mitigate risks.

Scorching summers

Heatwaves in the UK are usually a rarity, but over the past two summers Brits have suffered in temperatures exceeding 40°C. The temperature has been on the rise and these pockets of sun seem more common. Although we love the opportunity to get outside, the hot and dry weather actually has a damaging effect on our infrastructure.

Dry weather is a major contributor to cracks and potholes in roads, which can cause serious problems for drivers. In addition, heatwaves can cause railway systems to overheat, as the temperature of steel rails can reach 20 degrees higher than the air around them. Therefore, consistent temperatures of 30 or even 40 degrees could lead to extreme over-heating of rail tracks. As a result, the metal on the tracks will expand, which puts them at risk of buckling. In extreme circumstances, this could derail trains.

Another issue caused by hot weather is the expanding and sagging of electrical lines. This is yet another factor that could cause serious disruptions to train services, and the lines might even be pulled down. The only way that the rail systems can combat these dangers is to impose more severe speed restrictions. Although this may cause delays over hot periods, it is the safest way for the transport system to operate.

Flash flooding

As has been proven time and time again in recent years, there are many areas in the UK that are not well equipped to cope with flooding. Another direct result of global warming, floods are becoming more and more common in the UK, and the Environmental Agency has told flood planners to “prepare for the worst”. In a recent consultation on flood strategy, the agency claimed that “for every person who suffers flooding, about 16 more are affected by loss of services such as power, transport and telecommunications.” Evidently, the UK’s infrastructure needs to keep improving, as floods are only going to worsen in the future.

In relation to this, the Environmental Agency advised that all public infrastructures need to be made flood-resilient by 2050. We also need to start considering the long-term rather than the immediate future. As part of this advice, they encouraged people to start considering potential flooding while building new homes, rather than just reacting to the damage when it occurs. When constructing something new, whether in the public or private sector, a flood risk assessment should always be carried out. These assessments identify flood mitigation measures and provide advice on what actions should be taken in the event of a flood.

Things to Expect from Alessandro Des Dorides

By
Alessandro Des Dorides
-

Nowadays, every business needs a consultant for its improvement and being efficient. The decision to hire a business consultant is much difficult one. It is because hiring such consultant who can fulfil the hopes and expectations of business cannot be found in the broad community. Sometimes, inexperienced consultants ruin the concerns of business.

But, there are some experienced business consultants like Alessandro Des Dorides, who can fulfil all your business needs and expectations. Following are eight things that you can expect from Alessandro Des Dorides:

Serve Experience in Your Business

Different business consultants have different strengths. When you are trying to find a consultant, assure yourself to choose one that has extensive knowledge of what you do. The consultant must be able to know the specific challenges you are facing while running the business.

Denise Lee Yawn quoted that, “Customer experience and employee experience are now two of the driving forces of business.” So, to run a business under expectations, you need every working person experienced in your business.

Better Know Your Business

Beyond a working knowledge of your business, the business consultant you hire should know your business inside and out. It is often done through informal discussion and often, various assessments.

A great business consultant will be helpful to analyze the results of assessments and can provide you with a list of strengths and cover some weak areas for proper growth of the business.

Have Passion and Enthusiastic

Assure that the consultant you select should be passionate about your business just like you. Don’t admit being reflected just “another “customer or business. Barbara Corcoran quote, “You cannot fake passion.” So, have passion means no joke with work. Your consultant needs to be enthusiastic about your mission like you.

Develop Your Leadership Skills

Your business consultant must have the skill to bring out the most beneficial in your leadership skills. A talented consultant will not merely tell you what to do but will guide you to make the best decisions using your strengths combined with his or her expertise.

A skilled business consultant also feels when it is time to offer support or lead you to a better result through some questions and statements.

Develop plans to improve your business

Based on your figures, assessment, and other considerations, your Business Consultant should be able to develop strategic plans. He must be able to present a plan of action to grow your business. Measurable, tangible goals should be included to help observe improvement.

Provide Results as expected

A competent business consultant should have the ability to produce assessable, positive results according to their goals for the business. As no one expects late success, it should be obvious that you are heading in the right direction.

Final Words:

The expectations that a business consultant can fulfil for business are non-coverable in a shortlist. The above list is of the primary necessities that must be fulfilled by the business consultant.

If your business consultant is not able to reflect even that list, then it’s time to stop here and look for another consultant who can fulfil your needs and expectations.

How is the Retail Sector Helping People to Become Employed?

By
Alessandro Des Dorides
-

Unemployment is always a pressing issue for the government. Less people out of work means fewer people claiming job seekers allowance and a rise in overall disposable income, both advantages for the state of the economy. With the closure of high street stores set to continue in 2019, and retail workers facing the highest levels of unemployment, it’s important that successful retailers do what they can do reduce unemployment in the industry — but how?

Employment and disability

In order to reduce the amount of people who are out of work down to a disability, The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work launched a campaign in 2018 which retailers can voluntarily opt in to. It is called the “Disability Confident” employer scheme which provides employers with the skills, examples and confidence to recruit and develop disabled employees.

The government aims to see one million more disabled people in work by 2027 and this is a great opportunity for retailers who are doing well in the industry to expand their workforce. By looking at the Disability Confident list of employers that have signed up, we can see that branches of big names such as Asda, Barclays, and B&M Bargains are all committed.

Encouraging a diverse workforce

In 2017 it was reported that retail companies in the FTSE 100 are ahead of other industries when it comes to gender diversity. Retailers should focus on broadening their selection process when it comes to the recruitment process. This can ensure that those who’ve lost a job in a retail position face equal opportunity when it comes to finding a new role.

Encouraging diversity in gender and cultural background when hiring is not only beneficial for employees, but also for the business itself. Ultimately, when a workforce is representative of a customer base, it can lead to a better understanding of the target market and an improvement in business performance.

Charity collaboration

Another way to reduce unemployment levels is to collaborate with charities who are there to help those who are struggling to find work.

Partnering with a disabled or mental health charity for example can help you reach those who are out of work because of a disability or health issue and encourage them to apply.

One example of this is polo shirts retailer, CT Shirts. This company has a long-standing partnership with the Prince’s Trust which involves fundraising and a mutually beneficial relationship. This charity works closely with vulnerable young people who need a helping hand to get their lives back on track.

Like many retailers that The Trust works with, CT Shirts took advantage of one of their “Get Hired” days — a day of greetings and interviews with young people who have been through The Prince’s Trust Programmes to get to know some potential employees.

Cross-discipline training

It’s true that for many retailers, while the jobs of their in-store employees may be at risk, often recruitment in their digital marketing and e-commerce teams are still growing. Therefore, an important consideration to make is whether retail employees should be trained in other areas of the business too. Or at least should their knowledge of the company and its products or services be valued so that their given the opportunity to progress in another area of the business after redundancy?

There are advantages and disadvantages to this idea, but it’s certainly something for retailers to think about before making mass redundancies across the business. Cross-discipline training can also encourage more loyal employees and therefore those who are more invested in the performance of the retail business as a whole.

As we can see, there are a range of considerations that retailers are currently making or should think about when it comes to reducing unemployment. As some companies pave the way, it’s down to other industry players to make big changes too.

Sources

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/feb/27/retail-workers-facing-high-unemployment-thinktank-finds

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/jan/21/over-23000-shops-and-175000-high-street-jobs-predicted-to-go-in-2019

https://www.burton-sweet.co.uk/retailers-encouraged-to-employ-more-disabled-workers/

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disability-confident-employers-that-have-signed-up

https://www.ctshirts.com/uk/princes-trust-interview.html

Preparation helps Fintech weather the Coronavirus

By
Roger Bishop
-
alt=

“When the wind of change blows, some build walls, others build windmills.” Chinese proverb.

Do you know who’s powering along during the Covid-19 ‘crisis’? Fintech company B4B Payments is, and here’s how.

Thursday evening; a dreaded text

B4B CEO Paul Swinton was notified that one of his team had been exposed to the Coronavirus.

Fortunately, the company had a Crisis Plan in place. One they’d wisely updated when Covid-19 first hit the headlines.

Advance preparations included making sure all the team had access to well-configured technology designed for remote working. Including securely held systems on the Cloud.

An email had already been sent to clients and other contacts saying B4B Payments was ready and well prepared to keep operational if the worst did happen.

So, B4B was already equipped to offer ‘Business as Usual’ when the virus got too close.

Thursday evening part 2; so it begins

With a click, Paul activated well-considered protocols. All staff were told to start working from home with immediate effect. The Tech team responded by setting up a Whatsapp group to provide them with support and advice, and a way to ask for help.

Friday; getting things into perspective

By 9 am the whole company was self-isolated at home, ready for action and online. They were also displaying their strong sense of unity and community in this challenging time.

Paul Swinton, B4B Payments CEO said: “Most importantly, robust steps had been taken to control the potential spread of the virus and to protect our valued staff members and their families. Our second priority that day was to underpin services offered to clients.”

One week later; windmills all working

The team, using a selection of tools including Slack, Trello, internal VOIP telephony, and Signal encrypted chat software is now a true ‘digital workplace’, connected online and powering along as efficiently and effectively as ever.

That’s been achieved without compromising any of the comradery and team spirit that makes B4B Payments a first-class employer. Instead of banter around the coffee machine, the team now communicate, collaborate and just ‘chat’ in the virtual realm.

Clearly, fully adhering to the self-isolation and social distancing advice from the Government and NHS.

All proving the power of preparation, positive thinking and being agile.

Which brings us to another insightful quote: “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.” Charles Darwin

What will Mother’s Day bring in these uncertain times?

By
Roger Bishop
-
Alt=

This Sunday marks a unique Mother’s Day in an environment which encourages families to keep their distance and avoid social contact – the antithesis of the day’s intended purpose. This time can be taken as an opportunity to be even more mindful of making an effort to show you care through the simple outlet of exchanging stories this Mother’s Day.

StoryTerrace, a company that matches everyday people with professional ghost-writers so that they can document their life stories in the form of full-length biographies, has commissioned nationally representative research which reveals just how little we actually know about the women who raised us:

·         Nearly half (46%) of people in the UK say that their mothers have made life-changing sacrifices to provide them with life-changing opportunities

·         Over one third (37%) of people in the UK learn more about their mothers from discovering pictures and family possessions from the past, overhearing conversations, or speaking with other family members, rather than directly from our mothers themselves

·         3 in 10 (30%) Brits say that despite truly admiring what their mothers have achieved, they have minimal understanding as to how they got there

·         17% of Brits have not spoken to their mum in the past month

·         Almost 1 in 4 (23%) people in the UK say that, despite their mothers being the most important people in their life, they give them the least amount of time

·         Over one third (37%) of people in the UK do not know anything about their mother before they became a parent

It is clear that many people hold great admiration for their mothers and their efforts to provide as many opportunities for their families as possible. However, it is a great shame that a large proportion of us are so out of touch with who our mothers really are, and as a result are likely missing out on the chance to develop deeper relationships with those closest to us, and to learn invaluable life lessons and advice from those who came before us. 

In response to this this research, StoryTerrace is keen to encourage everyone over Mother’s Day to spend more time with their mothers, dig a little deeper and ask them about their most treasured memories and experiences that define their life-stories. 

StoryTerrace aims to highlight mothers who are also innovators, revolutionists and stride-makers, whose life stories have remained buried within families – until now. One such woman is Janet Balaskas, who utilised her own pregnancy experience to improve birthing rights for women everywhere by destigmatizing natural birth and advocating for a woman’s right to choose how they give birth. She is a true pioneer of women’s birthing rights across the world and made significant contributions to the advancement of birthing practices for women everywhere.

The Founder of the Active Birth Movement and one of the first natural birth pioneers in the UK

Janet was born in South Africa; her father was Harold Hanson, one of Nelson Mandela’s top defence attorneys in the Rivonia trial. As a teenager, she once served Mandela tea and biscuits at her father’s house. As an adult she came to live in the UK, but when she had her first child, Janet already knew instinctively that she didn’t want the medicalised birth that she saw on offer in England.

She returned to South Africa to give birth in a small clinic. However, right at the end, the doctor performed an unnecessary intervention without Janet asking, leaving her feeling betrayed and out of control of the situation. This event planted a seed in her mind that would eventually lead to the Active Birth Movement: she trained to be an antenatal teacher, introducing yoga-based exercises in her classes. This was the beginning of pregnancy yoga, which is today a worldwide phenomenon.

Years later, in the late 1970s/early 1980s, Janet met her second husband, Arthur, who introduced her to yoga and shared her interest in natural birth. Together they made a film and wrote a book called Newlife , which found a publisher and gained a lot of publicity. Janet organised and spoke at two huge conferences in Wembley. In 1982, she officially founded the Active Birth Movement, and published the Active Birth Manifesto, which laid out the research evidence in favour of remaining active in labour and birth. The movement quickly gathered momentum and, on 4th April, Janet organised the now-famous Birthrights Rally on Hampstead Heath, demanding the restoration of support for active births, together with famous childbirth author Sheila Kitzinger and organisations such as the Association for Improvements in Maternity Services, Radical Midwives and the NCT.

Driven by the success of the rally, Janet organised the first International Conference on Active Birth later in 1982. Speakers included some famous names from the field, such as Sheila Kitzinger, R.D. Laing, Michel Odent and Yehudi Gordon. Her second book, Active Birth, followed in 1983, and in 1986 she opened the Active Birth Centre in North London, which to this day runs classes, workshops and training in pregnancy yoga and natural birth. In 1989, Janet co-wrote The Encyclopedia of Pregnancy and Birth with Yehudi Gordon. Around this time she also became very interested in water birth, and published a book on the subject. Since the book’s release, 80% of NHS hospitals in the UK have been supplied with birth pools.

Now, Janet has written many books on pregnancy and birth which have been translated into 11 languages, and remains very active in the field. She is one of the true pioneers of natural birth and her influence continues to spread internationally.

Rutger Bruining, CEO and Founder of StoryTerrace, comments on the importance of sharing experiences and memories with your mother and the advantages of documenting life stories for future generations:

“As we approach Mother’s Day on Sunday, thousands of people across the nation will be preparing to visit or call their mothers and will be looking to make the most of being around the ones they love. We are clearly a nation of people that have the utmost respect for our mothers – however, three in ten of us have little to no understanding of the work our mothers put in to provide for us, or what she accomplished before we were born. Especially with the health crisis at hand, many of us are concerned for our parents’ wellbeing. Sharing stories and expressing interest can be one of the most therapeutic ways for us to show our support for our mothers in this difficult time.

It’s stories like that of Janet Balaskas that document a mother’s journey to from personal discovery to innovation. We want to encourage everyone to reach out to their mums and to listen to their tales and memories. By documenting and recording the stories of your mother’s life, not only can you preserve their legacy, but you can achieve a better understanding of the person that you are in the world today through who you come from.”

About StoryTerrace

StoryTerrace is a company which connects everyday people with professional ghost-writers, meaning that everyone can have their life story, or the life stories of their loved ones, documented in a professionally curated autobiography, biography or series of memoirs. They have a network of 600 professional writers worldwide, many of whom are critically acclaimed, and provide a range of packages to suit each individual life story.

Home Working Surrounded by the Family – Tips for Survival.

By
Roger Bishop
-
alt=

As more of us turn to self-isolation, the burden of work and home schooling is becoming a scary reality. We explore some coping strategies to help home workers cope with what might be the most challenging period of life so far.

In Norway parents have been told to home school their kids for 2 months. They have a set workload to teach and submissions must be submitted each day at 2pm. It might not come to that, but how do you even begin to cope with work pressure and home-schooling deadlines like that?

“Our kids were off school yesterday both with dry coughs, therefore we are in self-isolation for the near future from today. The reality of home schooling whilst trying to keep on working is very daunting indeed”, explains Jonathan Ratcliffe of Offices.co.uk

Working from home is tough. Home schooling is very tough. So, if you must combine the two for a long period of time, how are you going to cope?

You are going to have to plan well, get organised and work to a strict timetable if you want to get everything done. Equally, you’ll need to have a proper split between work, school, fun and rest.

“The first thing you need to do is lower your expectations of what you are going to achieve, both with work and schooling. If you try to do too much the experience is going to be highly stressful”, Ratcliffe adds.

  • Lower your expectations of what you will achieve with work
  • Simplify your day into a set routine
  • Don’t try and achieve too much
  • Pause and try and appreciate moments with your kids

Here are 11 tips on how to survive:

START EARLY AT THE SAME TIME EACH DAY: Routine is important for good sleep and mental health, for both you and your kids. School starts at a set time, so make sure you are ready and stick to the timetable.

GET DRESSED PROPERLY LIKE TEACHER AND STUDENT: Getting showered and dressed is important to divide sleep and school.

CREATE SPACES FOR DIFFERENT ACTVITIES: You might set up a teaching room (kitchen), quiet room (spare bedroom) and a play area (living room)

STRUCTURE YOUR DAY LIKE A SCHOOL DAY: Teaching time, activity time, play time and lunch time – just like their normal school routine

MAKE A PLAN WITH YOUR KIDS: At the start of the day ask them what they want to do (within reason) so they feel involved

TURN OFF YOUR PHONE: How are your kids meant to feel involved if you are checking emails?

SET ASIDE BREAKS FOR TV, IPAD AND EXERCISE: Use these times to schedule work emails or calls

TAKE EXERCISE: Depending on where you live, if you have a garden or not – try and get some fresh air, this also allows you some headspace

FINISH AT A SET TIME, BEDTIME AT A SET TIME: By getting a routine drilled in early on, you can try and get the kids to sleep at a sensible time, thereby giving yourself some space to work if you need to

DON’T BE TEMPTED TO HIT THE WINE: If you can, evening time will be the only real time you can realistically work. If you drink your concentration will be poor, sleep poor and you’ll wake in a grumpy mood. Try and keep drinking to a minimum.

USE TECHNOLOGY: modern online homeschooling tools will benefit both you and your kids by saving your time and making the learning process more enjoyable and stimulating

“We are heading into unchartered territory here and no one knows what life will look like at the end. It’s important to realise that time with your kids is a gift, don’t try and do too much – hopefully we can all stay relatively positive through this difficult time”, concludes Ratcliffe.

Buying sustainably costs 87 percent more than traditional shopping

By
Roger Bishop
-
alt=Young male shop assistant with laptop serving an attractive woman in a zero waste shop.

The Sustainable Living Calculator analyses the costs of 20 everyday household items including apples, pasta, shampoo and toilet roll.

To buy every item on the list in the ‘greenest’ possible way would cost a family of four £5,915 over a year.

But the equivalent shop, based on non-organic items, or cheaper plastic-wrapped goods than fresh alternatives, would cost the same family just £3,151.

This makes green shopping 87 per cent more expensive – or almost £2,000 – over the course of the year.

A bag of standard carrots costs an average of 75p from Tesco, with their organic equivalent adding nearly a fifth of the price, up to 95p. 

Similarly, a pack of supermarket-own brand bacon normally costs just £1.95 – with rurally-raised bacon from online retailer ‘Perfick Pork’ selling for as much as £4.99.

The Sustainable Living Calculator, developed by money.co.uk, also looked at other expenses such as energy and holidays.

Salman Haqqi, personal finance expert at money.co.uk, said: “There are certainly more pros than cons when buying green.

“As with all things you should always budget for your outgoings and on occasion you might be spending a little more money to be more sustainable, but the overall impact you can have by making small changes is surely worth it. 

“By avoiding products wrapped in plastic, eating seasonally, and avoiding items or travel that has a large carbon footprint, consumers can really have a positive impact on our planet’s future.” 

Separate research by money.co.uk revealed 43 per cent of adults are happy to spend more on eco-friendly choices if it lessens their impact on the environment. 

Thirty per cent try to buy local produce, and four in 10 do their best to avoid plastic packaging where they can. 

And more than six in 10 of the population now use a reusable cup whenever they buy a coffee from a café. 

But four in 10 would make more of an effort to be eco-friendly if it didn’t end up costing them more.

However, 42 per cent admitted they worry about the impact their current personal shopping choices have on the environment.

More than half of Brits think it is important that their energy is from a renewable source.

But just 26 per cent said they’d opt for a renewable energy supplier if it cost more.

Matthew Agarwala, environmental economist at the Bennett Institute of Public Policy at the University of Cambridge who helped develop the calculator, said: “I have a lot of sympathy for consumers who want to do the right thing but just don’t know how their shopping choices affect the environment.

“That’s why tools like these can be so useful when they are backed by sound scientific evidence.

“Sometimes what looks like a quick and easy bargain today often comes at someone else’s expense because it imposes much bigger costs – environmental, social, health – on others.

“For instance, ‘cheap food’ is a myth. Whether it’s the consumer, the planet, or the farmer, someone always pays. 

“But there’s loads of reasons to be optimistic. It is so encouraging to see Britons taking the environment seriously.

“From school strikes, to a climate change leader’s debate, to the Attenborough effect, the British people are tuned in and engaged.

“Tools like this can help us make better day to day choices, and together we can demand the kinds of policies that make going green easier and more affordable.” 

The new Sustainable Living Calculator can be found at: https://www.money.co.uk/content/sustainable-living

THE COST OF GROCERIES – ‘GREEN’ vs ‘NON-GREEN – PRICED FROM TESCO.COM AND OTHER RETAILERS

ITEM                                         ‘NON GREEN’ COST ‘GREEN COST’

Bread                                         £1.05                         £1.50

Cereal                                        £1.39                        £3.42

Rice                                            £1.80                         £2.97

Pasta                                          £1.26                         £2.30

Chocolate                                   £1.50                         £2.57

Apples                                         £1.75                         £2.35

Bananas                                      £1.50                         £1.10

Oranges                                      £1.50                         £2.43

Carrots *1kg                                £0.75                         £0.95

Onions *1kg                                £0.95                         £1.65

Peppers (3 pack)                         £1.20                         £3.00

Bacon                                          £1.95                         £4.99

Chicken *2kg                              £3.70                         £7.46

Beef *1kg                                    £5.95                         £11.23

Sausages *6 Pack                      £2.00                         £3.00

Eggs *6 pack                              £1.00                         £1.80

Milk *1 Pint Semi Skimmed        £0.50                         £0.95

Cheese                                       £2.25                         £3.70

Coffee *200G                              £2.14                         £3.85

Yogurt                                         £0.90                         £1.50

Sanitary Products                       £1.90                         £3.49

Shampoo                                    £3.30                         £8.00

Soap                                           £0.80                         £4.95

Deodorant                                   £1.80                         £9.95

Butter                                          £1.50                         £2.00

Olive oil                                       £3.00                         £3.25

Multi-surface cleaner                   £2.50                         £2.20

Fish                                             £2.80                         £3.50

Toilet Roll *9 roll                           £3.35                         £4.99

Ice Cream                                   £2.00                         £3.89

The best advice for starting a franchise in an unknown environment.

By
Roger Bishop
-
alt = Marketing branding retail franchise License. strategy concept. Franchise

Say the word ‘franchise’ and all manner of responses spring to mind. For many, the term ‘business in a box’ has become synonymous with franchising. This stems from the idea that a franchise model offers would-be entrepreneurs the opportunity to follow a fail-safe business plan that is bound to guarantee success.

Unfortunately, this approach isn’t as cut and dried as it sounds. Whilst it’s entirely possible to successfully start and operate a franchise in a sector you are completely unfamiliar with, there’s no alternative to good old-fashioned hard work and determination. So, as long as you bring the will and dedication, any quality franchisor can support you in running a franchise even if you lack experience of the sector.

David Mathie, UK General manager at Just Cuts, is here to offer his three top tips for franchisees looking to start a new venture in virtually unknown territory.

1. Do your research

Any astute entrepreneur will understand the basic principle of supply and demand. If there’s a need for a particular service or product in your area, then it stands to reason someone should fulfil that demand. That someone could be – should be – you.

Establishing the long-term scope for growth of a franchise is a fundamental component of any business plan. The service or product you’re investing in needs to fulfil a need that is going to stand the test of time, not just a solution to a short-term problem. A great example of this is the rather unpredictable British weather. Investing in an air-conditioning business is bound to see you make a killing during a two-week long heatwave in August, but is there still money to be made during the other 50 weeks of the year? Probably not unless there is a wider range of heating and cooling products in the mix.

There’s always a certain level of risk involved when starting any sort of business but, by doing your research, you’re determining the long-term demand of your service and whether the risk of going into something completely new is viable.

2. Find the perfect franchise fit

Now you’ve established the need, you can find the perfect franchisor to support you in your endeavour. And the right guidance is paramount. Unless you’re extremely experienced or knowledgeable in that field, before long you could find yourself up the proverbial creek, without a paddle.

This is where the support from a franchisor comes in – what you don’t know, they will teach you. This is true for all franchisors but the key to success is finding the franchisor who does more than handing you a toolkit and sending you on your merry way. Opt for a brand that continuously refreshes and updates their training programmes or goes above and beyond to equip their franchisees with everything needed to succeed.

At Just Cuts, we put a great deal of emphasis on setting our franchisees up with all the tools for success. We equip them with an online dashboard, which allows them to check in on their salon from wherever they are – they can even message stylists or check inventory. This essentially allows them to work from wherever they are and, because most employ a salon manager to handle operations, many of our Franchise Owners have never even worked in the hairdressing sector before.

3. Keep your eye on the ball

They say that nothing worth having comes easy and that is so true in the case of franchising. To build a strong, profitable and scalable business, you must be willing to work hard. If you didn’t know anything about the sector before you entered it, then this is the time to roll your sleeves up and learn.

In theory, if you are following the model and processes of your franchise correctly, you stand a great chance of developing an exceptional business. But don’t become complacent by solely relying on the guidance from your franchisor. Use your initiative, keep an eye on the numbers and implement innovative strategies where needed.

Our Franchise Owners can really vouch for the liberating opportunities that come hand in hand with taking a leap of faith and trying something completely new. Following these steps will guarantee you’ve made the right decision, whether you choose to opt for a new challenge in franchising, or two new challenges in franchising and a completely new sector.

For more information about franchise opportunities with Just Cuts, visit www.justcuts.co.uk

Will most household chores become automated by 2040?

By
Roger Bishop
-

A new report predicts 90 per cent of common household tasks – including dusting, doing the laundry and cleaning dishes – will be taken out of human hands in the next two decades.

Some tasks will become the work of robots, like changing bedsheets, or smart drones that can water plants.

The study, written by leading futurists and academics including King’s College Professor Mischa Dohler and futurist Dr Ian Pearson, demonstrates the time and cost benefits of automation.

Known as the ‘Life More Automated Report’, the document published by comparethemarket.com details how some jobs have already become part-automated through inventions like timed washing machines and dishwashers.

And research suggests when these jobs finally become completely hands-free, people will save almost two hours a day – more than 15 hours a week or the equivalent of more than 33 days a year.

Kristin Sonfield, expert in automation at comparethemarket.com, said: “Automation has changed our lives for the better in so many ways, and soon some household tasks will be totally obsolete.

“The list of chores to do on a day-to-day basis can seem endless and little things like changing energy supplier or searching for car insurance can often be the worst.  

“Our automated services can help people automate life admin to save time and money, while our Simples Lab gives people tips on automation to make everyday life simpler.”

Among the innovations which will hit stores around the world within the next 10 to 20 years are house robots.

They will be sophisticated enough to fold the laundry and will move furniture in seconds due to it being around 15 times stronger than the average human.

Multi-function drones will be commonplace in the 2030s, almost insect-sized and priced around £1 each.

Some will walk, some will fly and some will be used for dusting, picking up specks of dirt and cleaning surfaces, with variations also able to water plants and monitor security around the home.

Others will shine an infrared beam at a room’s occupant to warm them as they move around the house.

AI butlers will be the norm by then – extremely advanced versions of Siri or Alexa that take control of all routine life admin like paying bills, managing subscriptions, doing your shopping.

Reverse microwaves will cool things down in seconds rather than heat food and drink quickly, while self-plumping pillows will automate the process of plumping your pillow to ensure a good night’s sleep.

Washing balls will be tennis-ball sized ultrasonic panelled devices that use ultrasound to clean, and when placed inside a pile or bucket of clothing will clean clothes without the need for a bulky washing machine.

Super smart fridges will learn what you eat and reorder when stocks are low and even recommend recipes based on the contents and expiry dates of the fridge’s contents.

While virtual chefs will render recipe books and video tutorials a thing of the past within 20 years as they appear as holograms on the worktop to help us cook every step of the way.

The report comes after research of 1,000 British homeowners or renters found automation couldn’t come soon enough when it comes to cleaning the toilet, which was the named as the worst chore (34 per cent).

This was followed by ironing (27 per cent), changing the bedsheets (24 per cent), dusting and cleaning surfaces (23 per cent) and washing dishes (20 per cent).

Brits were also asked which inventions they’d most like to see in their future homes, with 26 per cent selecting ‘house robots’.

Another quarter want to see drones patrolling their household sorting out spot cleaning, and a tenth are intrigued by ‘washing balls’, which clean laundry by ultrasound.

Academic Mischa Dohler, who worked on the report, said: “Automation is already so commonplace in today’s households – from washing machines to dishwashers – that we don’t even really think of it as automation.

“But the Life More Automated Report examines how automation is the key to an easy home life as it’s gradually helping us do less of the tasks we find more tedious, from sorting bills to washing dishes.”

THE TOP 10 WORST HOUSEHOLD CHORES:

1. Cleaning the toilet (34 per cent)

2. Ironing (27 per cent)

3. Changing bedsheets (24 per cent)

4. Dusting and cleaning surfaces (23 per cent)

5. Washing dishes (20 per cent)

6. Vacuuming (15 per cent)

7. Cleaning windows (15 per cent)

8. Taking out the rubbish (13 per cent)

9. Paying bills (13 per cent)

10. Cleaning the fridge (13 per cent)

1...270271272...276Page 271 of 276

Latest Articles

UniverseNewsNetwork is an online news platform that has a team of dedicated journalists writing about the latest news stories within a wide range of important industries.
Contact us: editor@universenewsnetwork.com
© UniverseNewsNetwork | 2021