Friday, 2 December 2011
Breakfast With A Chef
A monthly feature profile on top chefs in and around the London area...
Interviews with Ramon Farthing, Brian Turner, Andre Alemany, Andrew Dargue, Ray Neve, Anna Hansen, Thomas Cherian, Steve Drake, Kingshuk Dey and many more.
Interviews with Ramon Farthing, Brian Turner, Andre Alemany, Andrew Dargue, Ray Neve, Anna Hansen, Thomas Cherian, Steve Drake, Kingshuk Dey and many more.
Thursday, 1 December 2011
Rivmixx Rising: Cosmo Jarvis
Chatting in a bar before his set at the Notting Hill Arts Club, Cosmo Jarvis is at once solemn and deep in thought about every word he says; then the next he's enigmatically streaming out weird, quickly spat ideas or stories. This guy is seriously clever...
Delphic: Ambiguous
Mancunian trio, Delphic, flew blind from the ashes of a previous band, Snowfight In The City Centre. They were looking for some way to fit. Some way of finding a peace after finishing uni, apparently. Luckily they found more electronics and flew into the arms of the Berlin-based dance music producing daddy, Ewan Pearson...
Elbow and The Halle: A Seldom Seen Pairing
Composed of Elbow songs – expanded and some-part adapted to include The Halle – and conducted by the Reader in Music at Salford University, Joe Duddell, the Elbow/Halle Orchestra shows, shown over two dates (July 8&9) at the 2,000-capiticy Bridgewater Hall, were designed as a love letter to the city that spawned two of Manchester's favourite sons...
Moby: Truly Independent
Richard Melville Hall, Moby, is one of those people everyone loves to hate. But for no good reason. Apart from, maybe, that he's been truly successful; holds himself in a controlled meditating yogi-style manner – despite rumours of drug abuse and sexual overtness; and is also something of an enigma...
Beardyman: New Ableton Live Template For Studio
When Rivmixx caught up with Beardyman he'd just come out of a “weird conference” where he had to dress in a suit and pretend to be a very boring professor. It was for the end of some pharmaceutical company's two day conference....
Rivmixx Rising: Nneka
Nneka Egbuna might have only just burst into our mainstream ears recently with that Chase & Status remix of 'Heartbeat', but the Nigerian born singer songwriter is actually onto her third album. She'd performed with The Roots, Femi Kuti, Lenny Kravitz, Gnarls Barkley and, earlier this year, beat off Amadou & Mariam and that 'I'm So Special' funkster Movado to with Best African Act at the MOBOs.
Tuesday, 29 November 2011
Ninja Tune XX
The London-based, independent record label that is Ninja Tune has, somehow, managed to remain consistently cutting edge. It's added the well respected Big Dada, Counter Records and Ninja Tuna to its family. And now, with twenty years in the bag, it's celebrating with re-releases, merch' and more every week until those gigs, book and box set get dropped...
Rivmixx Rising: Florence and the Machine
That enigmatic image of a pretty, if somewhat crazy, glittery redhead that's been rolling around the UK is set to crystallize when Florence & The Machine hits the BRIT Awards stage to collect her Critics' Choice Award...
Rivmixx Rising: Emmy The Great
You may have already hard Emmy The Great's cute little voice singing her nursery-rhyme-like tales – easily digestible jingles with an underlying darkness in their frank look at life. Tracks like 'We Almost Had A Baby' and 'MIA' have started to hit the radio but she's been gigging for three years prior to her debut album 'First Love'.
Bombay Bicycle Club: Q&A
The so-called indie rock band, Bombay Bicycle Club, burst into our ears early last year with their Island Records critically acclaimed debut, 'I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose'. Those sounds won them Best New Band at the 2010 NME Awards, beating off competition from The XX, The Big Pink, La Roux, The Olivers and Mumford and Sons.
Brody Dalle: Spinnerette
Best Known as the Kick-ass frontwoman of punk rockers The Distillers, Brody Dalle looks set to bring some ghetto girl action back into the male-dominated world of rock. With a super new sound and a supergroup band, Sinnerette – as well as being married to QOTSA frontman's squeeze – she's got some serious punk priestess credentials.
Luminar sales set to increase
A leisure company, with several units in the West Midlands, has raised £75m by selling off some of its venues in a management buy-out.
(Commerce Birmingham)
(Commerce Birmingham)
Rivmixx Rising: Nneka
Nneka Egbuna might have only just burst into our mainstream ears recently with that Chase & Status remix of 'Heartbeat', but the Nigerian born singer songwriter is actually onto her third album. She's performed with The Roots, Femi Kuti, Lenny Kravitz, Gnarls Barkley and, earlier this year, beat off Amadou & Mariam and that 'I'm So Special' funkster Movado to with Best African Act at the MOBOs.
Mary Anne Hobbs: The Mother of Dubstep
From launching the iconic Loaded magazine with James Brown through to helping Xfm get the licence it deserved, Mary Anne Hobbs is known for her cutting edge take on things. One of those things, years ago now, was called 'dubstep'...
Lou Rhodes: One Good Thing
Her debut, 'Beloved One', was shortlisted for the 2006 Mercury Music Prize and follow up album, 'Bloom', released in 2007, only proved to extend her following. It was during this rise to solo success, however, that Rhodes encountered some seriously challenging personal times. Times that hindered her growing status, but which also helped her grow and change as a person...
Hurts: Q&A
Monochrome electro duo, Hurts, came fourth in the BBC's Sound of 2010 Poll. But they've only released one track since then. And have performed very little. They're only just starting to venture out now, in fact. One little juxtaposed love vs. despair track at a time...
Foreign Beggars: Part Deviants
Despite being one of the most consistently inventive noises out of the UK hip hop scene, boundary-prodding London-based crew, Foreign Beggars, have now taken a confident stride away from their sonic roots – as shown on their ambitiously eclectic third album, 'United Colours of Baggattron'...
Salt n Pepa: Q&A
Salt n Pepa sold more than 15 million records worldwide, changed the face of hip hop and feminism, and spawned a whole generation of female pop acts – Lauryn Hill, Missy Elliot and Beyonce included. The trio are still the biggest selling female rap act but haven't had quite the same success since disbanding in 2002. Now they're back though – with a new album due later this year – and the musical world is waiting to see exactly how they're gonna do it...
Underground Overground: TfL Commissioner, Peter Hendy
Peter Hendy has been the TfL Commissioner since 2006. He started his transport career in 1975 as a London Transport Graduate trainee and has risen up through the ranks into his current position. In this interview the commissioner talks to Roisin Kiernan about his views on transport in South London...
Rusko: Q&A
Leeds born Rusko, AKA Chris Mercer, first landed on our London-based ears with his Fabric residency alongside Caspa. His 'Fabric Live' mix CD is regarded as the first commercially available dubstep mix, in fact. But that seems all too easily boxed right now.
Monday, 28 November 2011
TUC conference addresses dangers to workers and stresses union involvement
As published on FE News.co.uk
http://www.fenews.co.uk/fe-news/tuc-conference-addresses-dangers-to-workers-and-stresses-union-involvement
Migrant workers are subject to exploitation, dangerous working conditions and jobs far below their skill levels, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) warned yesterday.
Deputy General Secretary Frances O" Grady addressed the TUC conference in London, focusing on fairness for migrant workers. Organised to encourage unions and agencies to work together to help migrant workers get fairer treatment at work and in everyday life, the TUC called for trade union organisation, enforcement of the law and stronger rights.
She said: "Migrant workers make a massive contribution to our economy, public services and national life. Some have a positive experience of working in Britain, but the day-to-day reality many face is exploitation, dangerous working conditions, and employment far below their skill level".
"The migrant worker horror stories are sadly all too familiar, but that doesn"t make them any less shocking. Like the two Filipino women being paid £75 for an 80-hour week at a Norfolk care home; the Portuguese man and his pregnant wife working on a farm in Lancashire, sharing a house with 17 others, and left with just £6 a week to live on after deductions".
"This is not some Dickensian nightmare - this is happening here and now, in Britain, in 2006. The best protection migrant workers can have is the protection of a trade union".
The TUC has been active in promoting the case of migrant workers, winning a pivotal commitment from the UK and Polish governments in closing a tax loophole, and developing strong links with community groups.
She added: "One way of tackling exploitation of migrant workers would be for the UK Government to introduce a social agreement on migration between ministers, employers and the unions".
"This has at its heart support for an open labour market, but is accompanied by stronger enforcement of employment rights and tougher penalties for rogue bosses who exploit vulnerable workers".
http://www.fenews.co.uk/fe-news/tuc-conference-addresses-dangers-to-workers-and-stresses-union-involvement
Migrant workers are subject to exploitation, dangerous working conditions and jobs far below their skill levels, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) warned yesterday.
Deputy General Secretary Frances O" Grady addressed the TUC conference in London, focusing on fairness for migrant workers. Organised to encourage unions and agencies to work together to help migrant workers get fairer treatment at work and in everyday life, the TUC called for trade union organisation, enforcement of the law and stronger rights.
She said: "Migrant workers make a massive contribution to our economy, public services and national life. Some have a positive experience of working in Britain, but the day-to-day reality many face is exploitation, dangerous working conditions, and employment far below their skill level".
"The migrant worker horror stories are sadly all too familiar, but that doesn"t make them any less shocking. Like the two Filipino women being paid £75 for an 80-hour week at a Norfolk care home; the Portuguese man and his pregnant wife working on a farm in Lancashire, sharing a house with 17 others, and left with just £6 a week to live on after deductions".
"This is not some Dickensian nightmare - this is happening here and now, in Britain, in 2006. The best protection migrant workers can have is the protection of a trade union".
The TUC has been active in promoting the case of migrant workers, winning a pivotal commitment from the UK and Polish governments in closing a tax loophole, and developing strong links with community groups.
She added: "One way of tackling exploitation of migrant workers would be for the UK Government to introduce a social agreement on migration between ministers, employers and the unions".
"This has at its heart support for an open labour market, but is accompanied by stronger enforcement of employment rights and tougher penalties for rogue bosses who exploit vulnerable workers".
Contract logistics arm of company rewarded by training accolade
As published on FE News.co.uk
http://www.fenews.co.uk/fe-news/contract-logistics-arm-of-company-rewarded-by-training-accolade
An international courier company was awarded with one of the "highest accolades" at the National Training Awards held last week in Nottingham.
Rewarded for their Effective Manager training programme, DHL Exel Supply Chain was among three others presented with a National Training Award by GMTV presenter and former British tennis number one, Andrew Castle, during last week's ceremony at Nottingham's East Midlands Centre.
Guy Elliot, CEO, Consumer and Food Retail UK of DHL Exel Supply Chain, said: "This is a tremendous achievement and we"re delighted that our success has been recognised nationally".
The prestigious National Training Awards - supported by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and managed by Skills UK - are the UK's number one accolade for businesses, organisations and individuals who have achieved lasting excellence and success through training and learning.
DHL teamed up with Ashorne Hill Management College, the Residential Training Provider and Conference Centre, to produce the Effective Manager programme, designed to meet the company's need for service consistency. It aimed at developing good leadership and management skills through specific modules: leadership styles; simple psychology; self-organisation, and improved decision taking, planning and communication skills.
Mr Elliot continued: "Our investment in training has reaped real and tangible benefits and cost savings across the business. We"ve seen improved staff retention, increased efficiency and productivity, a significant fall in absenteeism and a dramatic improvement in management skills development".
"Our consistency in approach achieved through the programme ultimately has a positive impact for our customers too, so everyone's a winner".
DHL has now trained 1,700 employees across the business from line manager to Board level and the programme counts towards the Diploma in Management qualification.
UK Skills Chief Executive, Jacqui Henderson, said: "The UK needs people who are committed to training as much now as it did when the National Training Awards began twenty years ago. Training methods may have changed in that time but the need for training has not".
"It's tempting for businesses to cut training budgets when times are hard but training is one tool that can bring tangible benefits. Many finalists have seen business productivity boosted, market share increased and staff turnover reduced. Others have discovered that training increases personal satisfaction and commitment", she added.
http://www.fenews.co.uk/fe-news/contract-logistics-arm-of-company-rewarded-by-training-accolade
An international courier company was awarded with one of the "highest accolades" at the National Training Awards held last week in Nottingham.
Rewarded for their Effective Manager training programme, DHL Exel Supply Chain was among three others presented with a National Training Award by GMTV presenter and former British tennis number one, Andrew Castle, during last week's ceremony at Nottingham's East Midlands Centre.
Guy Elliot, CEO, Consumer and Food Retail UK of DHL Exel Supply Chain, said: "This is a tremendous achievement and we"re delighted that our success has been recognised nationally".
The prestigious National Training Awards - supported by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and managed by Skills UK - are the UK's number one accolade for businesses, organisations and individuals who have achieved lasting excellence and success through training and learning.
DHL teamed up with Ashorne Hill Management College, the Residential Training Provider and Conference Centre, to produce the Effective Manager programme, designed to meet the company's need for service consistency. It aimed at developing good leadership and management skills through specific modules: leadership styles; simple psychology; self-organisation, and improved decision taking, planning and communication skills.
Mr Elliot continued: "Our investment in training has reaped real and tangible benefits and cost savings across the business. We"ve seen improved staff retention, increased efficiency and productivity, a significant fall in absenteeism and a dramatic improvement in management skills development".
"Our consistency in approach achieved through the programme ultimately has a positive impact for our customers too, so everyone's a winner".
DHL has now trained 1,700 employees across the business from line manager to Board level and the programme counts towards the Diploma in Management qualification.
UK Skills Chief Executive, Jacqui Henderson, said: "The UK needs people who are committed to training as much now as it did when the National Training Awards began twenty years ago. Training methods may have changed in that time but the need for training has not".
"It's tempting for businesses to cut training budgets when times are hard but training is one tool that can bring tangible benefits. Many finalists have seen business productivity boosted, market share increased and staff turnover reduced. Others have discovered that training increases personal satisfaction and commitment", she added.
Union in Train to Gain link-up with employers
As published on FE News.co.uk
http://www.fenews.co.uk/fe-news/union-in-train-to-gain-link-up-with-employers
Government ministers yesterday joined forces with union officials to help propagate the new Train to Gain programme.
An array of influential speakers joined the conference at Ipswich Football Club "“ organised by unionlearn, the Trades Union Congress" (TUC) learning and skills organisation - to advise union full-time officers and union learning representatives on how to promote the new Train to Gain scheme.
Barry Francis, Southern and Eastern Manager for unionlearn said: "This is an exciting new service designed to help businesses, and trade union members employed by them, to get the training they need to succeed".
unionlearn, in the Eastern region, now has over 1,000 union learning reps helping their colleagues at work onto courses such as literacy, numeracy, IT, and English language.
Developed by national and regional Learning and Skills Council (LSC) employees with TUC representatives, the Train to Gain scheme builds upon the successful Employer Training Pilots, as a new way of working with employers offering them access to a range of flexible, high quality training solutions to their skills needs, decided through an independent and impartial brokerage system.
It will cost the government £230 million in its first year, plus £68 million to cover the cost of brokerage and learners wage costs. Employers will agree the training they require with independent skills brokers, and then select which providers they wish to use.
The LSC states that Train to gain is critically important because if businesses are to be successful they need to compete, and to compete they need to train their employees.
Bill Rammell, Harlow MP and Minister of State for Lifelong Learning said: "This Government is strongly committed to working with our partners to ensure the success of our national employer status, Train to Gain".
http://www.fenews.co.uk/fe-news/union-in-train-to-gain-link-up-with-employers
Government ministers yesterday joined forces with union officials to help propagate the new Train to Gain programme.
An array of influential speakers joined the conference at Ipswich Football Club "“ organised by unionlearn, the Trades Union Congress" (TUC) learning and skills organisation - to advise union full-time officers and union learning representatives on how to promote the new Train to Gain scheme.
Barry Francis, Southern and Eastern Manager for unionlearn said: "This is an exciting new service designed to help businesses, and trade union members employed by them, to get the training they need to succeed".
unionlearn, in the Eastern region, now has over 1,000 union learning reps helping their colleagues at work onto courses such as literacy, numeracy, IT, and English language.
Developed by national and regional Learning and Skills Council (LSC) employees with TUC representatives, the Train to Gain scheme builds upon the successful Employer Training Pilots, as a new way of working with employers offering them access to a range of flexible, high quality training solutions to their skills needs, decided through an independent and impartial brokerage system.
It will cost the government £230 million in its first year, plus £68 million to cover the cost of brokerage and learners wage costs. Employers will agree the training they require with independent skills brokers, and then select which providers they wish to use.
The LSC states that Train to gain is critically important because if businesses are to be successful they need to compete, and to compete they need to train their employees.
Bill Rammell, Harlow MP and Minister of State for Lifelong Learning said: "This Government is strongly committed to working with our partners to ensure the success of our national employer status, Train to Gain".
Academy issues warning for future
As published on FE News
http://www.fenews.co.uk/fe-news/academy-issues-warning-for-future
The UK's ability to compete internationally and to promote social cohesion will be severely damaged if "urgent action" is not taken on language learning, a body has warned.
The British Academy has last week urged a return to compulsory GCSE foreign language study in response to Lord Dearing's report, saying that without such, foreign language learning and teaching will be seriously damaged, which will have a far-reaching impact on society and the economy.
Onora O"Neill, President of the British Academy said: "A prompt return to mandatory study of foreign languages at GCSE is crucial, since otherwise schools will not have the complement of staff to teach any languages to a reasonable standard".
The numbers of students pursuing the study of a foreign language to GCSE have fallen massively, especially since the removal of the requirement at Key Stage 4. And the Academy believes this has the potential to seriously undermine the nation's capacity to compete internationally.
At present, the numbers taking A-level, first degree, postgraduate and teacher training qualifications in languages are insufficient to meet the UK's current need for qualified linguists. These difficulties will become even more extreme if languages cease to be a requirement form 14 to 16.
To rectify the issue, the British Academy call for a return to compulsion at GCSE or at least that schools give strong incentives to encourage foreign language study among 14-16 year olds.
The Academy also believes that longer-term measures are needed to incentivise foreign language study and to improve teaching and learning opportunities.
Robin Jackson, the Academy's Chief Executive added: "The decline in school level language learning results in damage to language-based degree study and also to the many other university subjects that involve linguistic skills, with further malign effects upon the standard of UK research in these fields".
Established by Royal Charter in 1902, the British Academy is the National Academy for the Humanities and Social Sciences. It is composed of Fellows elected in recognition of their distinction as scholars in the humanities and social sciences.
http://www.fenews.co.uk/fe-news/academy-issues-warning-for-future
The UK's ability to compete internationally and to promote social cohesion will be severely damaged if "urgent action" is not taken on language learning, a body has warned.
The British Academy has last week urged a return to compulsory GCSE foreign language study in response to Lord Dearing's report, saying that without such, foreign language learning and teaching will be seriously damaged, which will have a far-reaching impact on society and the economy.
Onora O"Neill, President of the British Academy said: "A prompt return to mandatory study of foreign languages at GCSE is crucial, since otherwise schools will not have the complement of staff to teach any languages to a reasonable standard".
The numbers of students pursuing the study of a foreign language to GCSE have fallen massively, especially since the removal of the requirement at Key Stage 4. And the Academy believes this has the potential to seriously undermine the nation's capacity to compete internationally.
At present, the numbers taking A-level, first degree, postgraduate and teacher training qualifications in languages are insufficient to meet the UK's current need for qualified linguists. These difficulties will become even more extreme if languages cease to be a requirement form 14 to 16.
To rectify the issue, the British Academy call for a return to compulsion at GCSE or at least that schools give strong incentives to encourage foreign language study among 14-16 year olds.
The Academy also believes that longer-term measures are needed to incentivise foreign language study and to improve teaching and learning opportunities.
Robin Jackson, the Academy's Chief Executive added: "The decline in school level language learning results in damage to language-based degree study and also to the many other university subjects that involve linguistic skills, with further malign effects upon the standard of UK research in these fields".
Established by Royal Charter in 1902, the British Academy is the National Academy for the Humanities and Social Sciences. It is composed of Fellows elected in recognition of their distinction as scholars in the humanities and social sciences.
New legal duties said to "enable not disable"
As published on FE News
http://www.fenews.co.uk/fe-news/new-legal-duties-said-to-enable-not-disable
Legal duties introduced yesterday could "greatly improve" the prospects of disabled people working or hoping to work in colleges and universities across the country.
The University and College Union (UCU) announced that the "Disability Equality Duty" introduced yesterday was a "breakthrough", with the union proposing practical guidance for implementation.
UCU National Official Roger Kline noted: "The new Equality Duty is a great breakthrough, and UCU is proposing practical things we can do in partnership with managers to ensure that every college and university has a welcoming, positive attitude towards disabled staff and students".
The new equality duty requires public sector bodies, including colleges and universities, to prevent and tackle disability discrimination and to actively promote equality for disabled people. Colleges and universities also have a duty to involve disabled people in developing good practice, and are advised to consult staff unions.
Further, the UCU has created a guide entitled "Enabling not Disabling" to inform members on the rights of disabled staff, and contains a check-list so that the union's branches can see how their institutions measure up to their new obligations.
Mr Kline added: "The lack of a disability-sensitive culture in many colleges and universities can make disabled staff less likely to take up training or seek promotion. This could explain the vast under-representation of disabled people in positions which they could occupy".
"Reasonable adjustments" will be made to accommodate existing disabled staff, with a further push to realign recruitment practices so that "suitable disabled candidates are not excluded from consideration".
Paul Brown, Director with the University of Dundee and part of the UCU's Disability Members" Group added: "The duty is a landmark in disabled peoples" struggle for fully comprehensive and enforceable civil rights".
http://www.fenews.co.uk/fe-news/new-legal-duties-said-to-enable-not-disable
Legal duties introduced yesterday could "greatly improve" the prospects of disabled people working or hoping to work in colleges and universities across the country.
The University and College Union (UCU) announced that the "Disability Equality Duty" introduced yesterday was a "breakthrough", with the union proposing practical guidance for implementation.
UCU National Official Roger Kline noted: "The new Equality Duty is a great breakthrough, and UCU is proposing practical things we can do in partnership with managers to ensure that every college and university has a welcoming, positive attitude towards disabled staff and students".
The new equality duty requires public sector bodies, including colleges and universities, to prevent and tackle disability discrimination and to actively promote equality for disabled people. Colleges and universities also have a duty to involve disabled people in developing good practice, and are advised to consult staff unions.
Further, the UCU has created a guide entitled "Enabling not Disabling" to inform members on the rights of disabled staff, and contains a check-list so that the union's branches can see how their institutions measure up to their new obligations.
Mr Kline added: "The lack of a disability-sensitive culture in many colleges and universities can make disabled staff less likely to take up training or seek promotion. This could explain the vast under-representation of disabled people in positions which they could occupy".
"Reasonable adjustments" will be made to accommodate existing disabled staff, with a further push to realign recruitment practices so that "suitable disabled candidates are not excluded from consideration".
Paul Brown, Director with the University of Dundee and part of the UCU's Disability Members" Group added: "The duty is a landmark in disabled peoples" struggle for fully comprehensive and enforceable civil rights".
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