News

More than half of van drivers admitted to making calls behind the wheel without using a hands-free device, according to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ research.

Van drivers spend an average of 35 minutes on the phone each day in their vehicles, making an average of seven calls a day. One in 10 spend two hours on the phone while driving during the working day.

The results of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ investigation comes two years on from tougher laws governing the use of mobile phones. Since March 2017, driving while using a device – including making calls, texting, taking selfies or posting on social media – has carried a fine of £200 and a six penalty point endorsement on your licence. Being caught twice is enough to have your licence revoked.

With less than 1% of UK plumbers being female, WaterSafe is calling for more women to take up the tools.

Despite plumbing being a great career choice that combines instant job satisfaction, a decent wage and skills that are always in demand, the number of women in the trade remains very low.

WaterSafe, the national register for approved plumbers, is calling for more women to help protect public health by pursuing a fulfilling and important career as a qualified plumber.

WaterSafe’s Get Girls Plumbing campaign encourages women not to be put off by the out-dated stereotype that plumbing is a job better suited to men. 

As efforts to stamp out money laundering and the financing of terrorist activity are stepped up throughout the UK, tax preparation specialist David Redfern, managing director of DSR Tax Claims Ltd, has issued his guidance to small businesses and sole traders who have business activities which may be at risk of money laundering. Redfern's well-timed guidance follows a recent HMRC crackdown on a number of estate agents across England who have been suspected of money laundering activities or failing to comply with current legislation.

A leading provider to major construction and utilities firms, Develop Training Limited (DTL), says too few businesses are making a commitment to apprenticeships despite government initiatives to promote them.

DTL, which has centres in Linlithgow near Edinburgh, Romford, York, Derby, Bolton, Swindon and Lisburn, Northern Ireland, highlighted the issue while giving its backing to National Apprenticeship Week 2019, which runs from 4 to 9 March.

In the run up to the week, the government launched a new promotional campaign, Blaze A Trail, to convince more individuals, families and employers to embrace apprenticeships. Previous initiatives have included Trailblazer Apprenticeships in England and the controversial Apprenticeship Levy.