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LIVERPOOL LAW SOCIETY BALL RAISES OVER £18,000 FOR THE NSPCC’s SAFE
PLACE APPEAL
GUESTS at this
year’s Liverpool Law Society’s Ball raised in excess of a staggering
£18,000 for the local NSPCC’s Safe Place Appeal. The Safe
Place Appeal is the NSPCC’s dedicated local campaign that was
launched to build and run the pioneering NSPCC Hargreaves centre to
tackle child abuse on Merseyside.
300 guests enjoyed a bubbly reception at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, in
Liverpool on Saturday 17 May 2008. The host for the evening was
Garry Richardson, BBC Radio Four and Five Live presenter.
Guests were entertained during the evening by one of the UK’s finest
blues singers, Connie Lush and guests packed the dance floor to
dance to music by Last Resort. Another highlight of the ball was the
star studded charity auction. The range of fantastic things up for
auction included: Everton FC mascot package, a signed Liverpool FC
shirt and Anfield Experience Package, flying lessons for two people,
and six corporate hospitality tickets for the Liverpool
International Tennis Tournament with a signed Tim Henman shirt.
Anne Heseltine, President of the Liverpool Law Society, said:-
“We are very proud to be supporting the NSPCC’s Safe Place
Appeal. The NSPCC Hargreaves Centre is in our local community and
undertakes invaluable services to children and families. Liverpool
is where the NSPCC first started 125 years ago and every penny
raised for the Safe Place Appeal stays in Merseyside and benefits
local children and young people. We are delighted with the sum
raised, and I would like to thank all those who sponsored the event,
those who provided prizes and those who attended, enabling us to
raise such a fantastic total.”
Commenting on the money raised for the charity’s Safe Place Appeal,
Lizzie Pickup, NSPCC’s corporate fundraising manager for the North
West, said:- “I would like to thank everyone involved in the
Law Society Ball. From the organizers, to the guests and especially
the sponsors and donors, we are absolutely thrilled with the amount
raised on the evening. We’ve been inundated with comments from many
people who attended saying what a fantastic night they had. Every
penny raised from this ball will go directly to fund work at the
NSPCC Hargreaves centre. The centre opened in Everton last June and
this money will go a long way in helping us to provide these much
needed services.”
Sponsors of Liverpool Law Society’s Charity Summer Ball 2008:- Allied Irish Bank
(GB); DLA Piper UK LLP; DX; Elite Law Cost
Drafting; Laird Assessors
Limited; Landmark Information
Group; Landsowne Publishing
Partnership Limited; QPI Legal; Wesleyan For Lawyers
Red
Card to Commission's Proposals on Sport
THE EU began
its interference in the world of sport, with the European Parliament
asking the Commission to introduce EU-wide regulations.
The vote follows calls from FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, for the
implementation of a '6-plus-5 rule', in which no team in any
domestic league may start a match with fewer than 6 players from the
country where that team is based, and no more than 5 foreigners. Although the EU has assured it will not interfere with sports
governing bodies, the European Commission and many MEPs have already
attacked Blatter's plans, claiming they are discriminatory under
European law. Further Commission proposals in the White Paper
include a 'European police force for sport'.
Conservatives in the European Parliament have raised concerns that
the EU's interference in sport will harm the enjoyment of fans and
waste money through additional administrative burden. Commenting on
the White Paper, Sir Robert Atkins MEP and former Minister for Sport
said:- "Politicians should not be interfering in sport, but
the EU seems determined to add bureaucracy to anything it can. Sport
should be run by the people who know it best - leagues, clubs and
governing bodies - and certainly not by MEPs. Sport does have some
problems, but the solutions suggested by the Parliament are
misguided and far too prescriptive. This White Paper does nothing to address the problems
of amateur or professional football. Instead of criticising or
trying to regulate it, we should just enjoy the fantastic
entertainment that football provides. MEPs, and politicians in
general, should stick to watching sport instead of trying to
regulate it." |
Economic uncertainty: redundancies hit new high in North West as
salaries surge
FIGURES show
that redundancies amongst the UK’s executive population have hit
their highest peak since 2001, with data also revealing concerns for
the North West. However, reflecting the confused nature of the
current economic climate, data from a survey of 40,027 individuals
also reveals increases in earning power.
The 2008 National Management Salary Survey, published by the
Chartered Management Institute and CELRE, uncovers a redundancy rate
of 3% across the UK’s senior management teams. The figure has more
than doubled over the past 12 months (from 1.4%) and is at its
highest for 7 years, when senior redundancies reached 3.7% in 2001. In the North West, the redundancy rate is 3.2, up from 2.8%, last
year.
Now in its 35th year, the survey shows that redundancies are highest
amongst executives in East Anglia (12.1%) and those least affected
are based in Ireland (0.8%).
In terms of industry, manufacturing is
the most widely affected sector, with a reported redundancy rate of
7%. Yet despite this evidence of economic uncertainty, the
2008 Survey shows an average movement in earnings of 7.5% in the
North West, up from 6.9% in 2007.
Analysis of the data suggests that
junior executives are the biggest beneficiaries, receiving an
average increase in basic pay of 6.8%, compared to 3.7% for
directors and 5.3% for managers. At 7.9% the largest pay rise was
awarded to junior staff in East Anglia. The smallest (2.6%) was
given to directors in Scotland.
In real terms, the findings reveal an average basic salary of
£21,763 for junior executives across the North West. Top of the
‘basic
pay league table’ are those in the pharmaceutical sector. At
£27,168 their salary represents a 33.2% difference against the
lowest paid junior executives, in the transport & logistics sector
(£18,419).
Surprisingly, given the economic climate and increased earning
power, this year’s data also suggests that the UK’s executives are
willing to risk their job security. Resignations currently rest at
6.5%, representing the 2nd highest figure over the past decade. Across the North West, the figure is 6.4%. Employers in Scotland
face the largest retention problem, with a resignation rate of 8.5%. Employees in the South East are the most loyal, with just 4.2%
handing in their notice.
Asked why their employees leave, 75% blame competition from other
organisations or headhunting. 48% also recognise that they are
failing to provide adequate career opportunities or development
programmes. 1 in 10 admit that employees leave because of
frustrations with the working environment (9%). Similar proportions
cite ‘bureaucratic leadership styles’ (8%).
Jo Causon, director of marketing and corporate affairs at the
Chartered Management Institute, says:- “Increased levels of
pay are clearly not enough to retain employee loyalty despite the
uncertain economic climate.
Given the skills crisis, it is worrying
to see so many executives voting with their feet and this must
surely send a message to employers that, to retain the best talent,
they need to address working environments and long-term career
aspirations.”
Further analysis also shows that retention is not the only problem
confronting organisations. 80% of respondents continue to face
difficulties filling vacant roles.
Reasons given include a lack of
candidates with specialist skills (70%), the salaries on offer
(57%). Respondents also suggest that and the nature of
benefits packages available (12%) are a factor affecting recruitment
and retention. For example, the findings uncover a decline in the
proportion of organisations willing to pay ‘golden hellos’ to new
recruits (23%, down from 33%, last year). The number willing to make
‘referral payments’ to staff recommending potential new
recruits has also fallen (from 82% in 2007 to 73%, this year).
Mark Crail, managing editor at CELRE, says:- “This year’s
study reflects the uncertain economic climate as it shows employers
reacting to tougher times, but trying to find ways to retain key
personnel too. Remuneration packages have clearly changed, but they
must continue to evolve to meet the needs of the economy and
workforce.” |
