On 9 December this year, the FCAs Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SMCR) for consumer credit firms including motor finance sellers comes into effect.

The FCA sees SMCR as a catalyst for change, encouraging greater accountability for individuals responsible for selling consumer finance products, and setting a new standard for personal conduct.

The SMCR introduces a new level of accountability for finance professionals, a holistic approach through which knowledge, skills and education are considered critically important.

It marks a step change in how senior managers should approach their role. They shouldnt simply view their position as a fixed, unchanging job, with their skillset preserved in aspic for the full length of their career. Instead, finance selling should be seen as an evolving and dynamic profession which requires continuous personal development and an ever-deepening knowledge of how the industry operates.

Indeed, the fast-paced nature of our industry means that F&I professionals have a duty to keep abreast of consumer trends, existing and new regulations, and other macroeconomic factors.

This new accountability regime promotes the idea that those responsible for the sale of consumer finance need to understand more about the industry and ensure best practice in sales, rather than simply knowing what each product is. Theoretical knowledge is not enough anymore.

Sales specialists need to be able to practically demonstrate their expertise in their dealings with customers. In a recent interview for the Inside FCA Podcast, Jonathan Davidson, executive director of supervision for Retail and Authorisations, said that financial misconduct is not necessarily a result of negative intent by the sales person, but rather of lack of competence.

The SMCR covers all vehicle finance sales professionals to an extent, whether they work for a broker, lender or dealership. With a greater focus on individual accountability, it therefore means individuals must continue to learn and develop to ensure they remain at the top of their game. And working with organisations like the Finance and Leasing Association (FLA) and the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) can help professionals achieve this on an ongoing basis.

The IMIs Finance & Insurance accreditation programme, for instance, is a prime example of a qualification where professionals are assessed on their knowledge in a robust and practical manner. In order for individuals to retain their accreditation over the long-term, a minimum amount of annual CPD is required.

On top of that, the accreditation needs to be retaken every three years, ensuring specialists continue to develop and enhance their skills and knowledge. Alphera Financial Services has been vocal in its support of this programme, and believes accreditation and other courses available through the IMI and FLA (e.g. the Specialist Automotive Finance Advanced qualification) hold the answer to compliant finance sales.

With motor dealers and finance brokers under more scrutiny than ever by the regulator, accountability and professional development have never been more important. Education and knowledge lies at the heart of a fully-compliant sales process.

Davidsons added: What I hope it leads to is a culture where people think about their jobs almost as a profession; they have a continuing professional development approach to their careers, they need to stay up, they need to stay competent.

By making professionals personally accountable and encouraging them to stay competent through continuous professional development, the FCAs SMCR will help sellers ensure positive customer outcomes with every sale. For sellers and brokers of vehicle finance, the programmes such as the IMIs accreditation scheme can help them achieve this.

Gerry Kouris, marketing manager, ALPHERA Financial Services.

See original here:
F&I professionals have duty to 'stay competent' says Alphera - Motor Trader

School of Computing, Engineering and Physical Sciences in Partnership with Littles Chauffeur Drive Ltd

Job Title: Intelligent Systems Analyst - KTP Associate Campus: Company BasedReq No: REQ000842Salary Scale: 28,500 to 33,500 per annum plus 4,000 personal development budgetFull-time: 37.5 hours per weekFixed Term: 24 Months

An exciting opportunity for a KTP associate in intelligent system with ML/AI applications has become available to work full time on a 24 month Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP). The aim of the project is to deploy and embed emerging capabilities in big data analytics, automation and AI in the next generation of Little's software platform.

Littles provide a fully liveried five-star chauffeur driven car service in luxury vehicles across the world from their operating bases in Glasgow and Edinburgh and have over 100 channel partners in most major global locations. The KTP Associate will support Littles Limited in achieving its strategic goal to better engage international channel partners, key clients and individual customers in a way that facilitates improved communication, streamlined bookings and enhanced customer experience in an environment which is increasingly mobile and instantaneous.

The successful candidate will get the opportunity to register free of charge for a Higher Degree (Masters or Ph.D.), receive training in Chartered Management Institute (level 5), work with senior company management to realise benefits to the business and apply their degree and lead their own project in a business environment.

Find out more by visiting: https://littles.co.uk/

About KTP:This position forms part of the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) funded by Innovate UK. Its essential you understand how KTP works with business and the University, and the vital role you will play if you successfully secure a KTP Associate position. Please visit: https://www.uws.ac.uk/business/knowledge-expertise/knowledge-transfer-partnerships/ or contact Stuart McKay (stuart.mckay@uws.ac.uk)

The successful candidate must possess:Minimum 2.1 in BSc honours in Computer Science/Data Science or a relevant degree in the areas of Software Engineering/Development and Information Technology.

Application requirements:

Essential skills we require as a minimum:

If you have questions about this vacancy contact: Professor Keshav Dahal (Keshav.dahal@uws.ac.uk), Dr Carolyn Begg (carolyn.begg@:uws.ac.uk), Kenneth Good (Kenneth@littles.co.uk)

Further information, including details of how to apply is available at http://www.uws.ac.uk/about-uws/jobs

Closing date: Sunday 13th October 2019Interviews to be held: Wednesday 6th November 2019

UWS is committed to equality and diversity and welcomes applications from underrepresented groups.

UWS is a Disability Confident employer.

University of the West of Scotland is a registered Scottish charity, no. SC002520

Original post:
Intelligent Systems Analyst - KTP Associate job with UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND | 180082 - Times Higher Education (THE)

Just what is a career coach? These practitioners have been compared to personal trainers for your life, your champion, cheerleader, advocate, partner and sounding board. Coaches have helped untold numbers of individuals get their careers on track and live their passions.

If youre wondering whether a coach could help with your career issues, ask yourself:

If youre not where you want to be, a coach can help.

Coaches can help define goals, while supporting, motivating and encouraging their clients. They can help you identify your skills and strengths, a process that builds confidence. A coach can also help to pinpoint barriers and obstacles standing in the way of your success. On Addgene blog, Joanne Kamens suggests that hiring a coach will inspire you to take the job searching process more seriously.

Complicating the issue of hiring a coach to work with is the fact that there is no single, best type of coach or unique set of training and credentials to consider. Many certifications are available in the career-coaching space. Some coaches also have no certification and simply declare themselves coaches. In most states, career coaching is unlicensed and unregulated. While certification standards vary, coaches with some kind of certification may be better than those with none because they show a commitment to a certain quality level. A background in psychology or counseling, along with training in career development and career theory, are desirable. Kamen suggests asking for referrals. Are there scientists you know who have had a successful coaching experience? she asks. Some university career offices, postdoc offices or professional organizations can provide referrals.

Some coaches guide clients through the entire career-planning and job-search process; others specialize in certain aspects, such as interviewing, networking, branding, or social media. Still others focus on a specific field or discipline, including life science. Life sciences companies generally take on more risk, notes Craig Martin, Master Certified Coach and CEO of Martin Global Leaders, Inc., and there is pressure to innovate within a limited time frame, influenced by availability of capital, regulatory agencies, and intense competition. Thus, there is a high degree of pressure and stress that the coach must often address for life sciences leaders.Martin explains that specializing in the field allows the coach to understand he or she is working with generally highly educated scientific and technical professionals whose focus is to innovate new products.

The volatility and constantly changing nature of the biotech and pharma industries play a role in the need for specialized life sciences career coaches, says Jackie Bandish, head of life sciences recruiting and operations at The Bandish Group. It is fast-paced and ever changing, with mergers, acquisitions, and rightsizings. Many people will say they are afraid of the smaller start-ups and feel safe working for big pharma; yet they, too, will experience the same uncertainties, she says.

Insider knowledge from specialized coaches positions job-seekers well. Career coaches who focus on life sciences professionals know the trends and key players in the industry far better than generalists can, points out Chris Pohalski, career strategist for STEM professionals, at the Career & Personal Development Institute in San Francisco. They alsounderstand the skills sets, experience levels and career pathways in what can be an otherwise bewildering thicket of job titles and roles. Career coaches specializing in the life sciences also tend to have a network of contacts and former clients in those industry sectors, Pohalski says.

Life sciences professionals, Bandish notes, can benefit from career-coaching to navigate their career and be on top of their game in case of a job loss. A coach can guide them through strategic career planning. Martin asserts that life sciences professionals must learn to lead in a way that may not come easily to them given their head oriented work and rigorous academic path. He cites development of emotional intelligence as crucial because life scientists must succeed in an environment that on the surface devalues it, but which is crucially necessary to build strong teamwork and cultures to achieve ground-breaking results.Pohalski observes that hefrequently encounters life sciences professionals who have deep expertise, but struggle to tell a concise, compelling story aboutthemselves ortheir work, whether in their resumes, in their professional intros and LinkedIn profiles or during interviews. Pohalski teaches clients tell a good story that is relevant an audience that includes recruiters, managers, other scientists, and non-scientists.

If you choose to work with a coach, be sure both of you set expectations for the process know whats expected from the coaching and whats required to achieve those expectations. Be sure to ask questions and dont proceed until youre satisfied with the answers. Ask the prospective coach for references. Most coaches also offer a free sample coaching session; take advantage of that offer to check for coach-client fit.

Read more from the original source:
Should You Work with a Coach to Enhance Your Life Sciences Career? - BioSpace

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "The Pharma Mini MBA" conference has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

A three-day accelerated management programme to give you the high-performance management skills of an MBA, designed specifically for pharmaceutical/biotechnology professionals and also applicable to medical device/animal health industries.

Course Overview

Working in the highly competitive pharmaceutical industry, with ever-increasing change and pressure, is probably one of the most challenging managerial roles of any industry today. This course has been specially designed to help you transcend these challenges by training you to become equipped to see the bigger picture in all aspects of your role. It will help you build your management skills for the future and prepare you to fulfill your ambitions.

The Pharma Mini MBA accelerated management programme is a distillation of the most valuable parts of an MBA, as applied to the pharmaceutical industry. It will provide you with practical management tools to apply in the workplace, as well as giving a real taste of an MBA course with the pharmaceutical case studies from business schools.

Pharmaceutical industry context - business school pharmaceutical case studies on each module.

This intensive course will help you to translate your learning into new behaviours and improvements in your capability and performance and will work through live issues impacting on the industry and on you directly. The individual and group exercises will focus on pharmaceutical/biotech/generic MBA case studies, and also on your own challenges and examples. The business school case studies will help give the feel' of a full MBA and help you understand more about the strategies used in today's pharmaceutical and associated industries.

The Pharma Mini MBA is also an invaluable guide to all that is best and most practical on an MBA course - with a specific focus on the pharmaceutical sector. It is also of value either to gain the most useful aspects of an MBA or as an MBA taster, providing a foundation of the essential MBA elements to apply directly to your role. The pharmaceutical industry requires employees within the industry to focus on successful leadership and business management skills, which this programme is designed to give you.

The skills you will improve include:

Key Benefits of Attending

MBA learning style of the programme

The Pharma Mini MBA learning style is 'hands-on' rather than academic. The programme is very practical, without being too theoretical, with industry-relevant case studies drawn from business school cases. This intensive three-day course covers the key areas of an MBA and applies these MBA tools and concepts to the pharmaceutical industry, providing you with a firm foundation of the essential MBA thinking and terminology. Three modules will be covered in just three days of interactive workshops to enhance the value of the course and, to minimise your time away from the office, there is also optional pre- and post-course work set by the programme director.

Who Should Attend?

A 'must-attend' for professionals in the pharmaceutical/biotech/medical device industries wishing to develop their business management skills for more senior levels and beyond mere technical skills. It will also help anyone thinking of studying for an MBA who would like an idea of what is involved. It is particularly beneficial to attend with a colleague to maximise the practical learning.

Agenda

Introduction, welcome and key objectives of the course

Programme Day Two

Commercial management and leadership in the pharma industry

- What are the core competencies of effective leaders in pharma?

- Leadership vs management

- Leadership style and approaches in the pharma industry

Managing innovation in the pharma industry

Programme Day Three

Leading and implementing pharma strategy and change

Leading successful change

- Diagnosis around change

- How to create the conditions for successful change

- Why people resist change and how to manage this

- Change management including leading a structural reorganisation

- Creating a team, department and organisation relevant to today's pharma business needs

- Team formation and development

Implementing strategy and change, essentials of planning and managing projects

- Project management tools and techniques to use in implementing pharma projects

- Applying key project management techniques to pharma projects

- Understanding of cultural awareness to work more effectively with pharma colleagues

Hot topics in market access strategy

Practical application/review

For more information about this conference visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/jkj3jl

The rest is here:
The Pharma Mini MBA: 3-Day Hands-on Programme (London, United Kingdom - May 13-15, 2020) - ResearchAndMarkets.com - Business Wire

Article by: Richard Hilton | Published: 20 September 2019

Richard Hilton20 September 2019

As the UK emerges from another major political shake-up, leadership and the qualities required to reach the top have understandably shifted to the forefront of the public consciousness. In the world of business, we tend to know an effective leader when we see one, but what exactly is it in their character and behaviour that has enabled them to rise through the ranks and flourish in their position of authority? Contributor Richard Hilton, MD EMEA Miller Heiman Group

Leadership qualities can be elusive, and its not always easy to pinpoint what it is that marks someone out from the pack. People often over-intellectualise the notion of leadership and place too much focus and pressure on carving out a clear trajectory to top. Instead, aspiring leaders would do better to concentrate on inward reflection and uphold a simple but focused ethos towards ones work and work relationships. Here are a few considerations drawing on my own experience:

Dont showboat: While many people think they need to be constantly on the radar of the leadership team, this isnt always the best way to get ahead. Its not about being the loudest person in the room. Instead, you should be showcasing what you do well and, as they say, your reputation will take care of itself. Balance emotional intelligence with pragmatism: A good leader is one that has empathy but doesnt let it get in the way of doing what needs to be done: setting out clear instructions and expectations for team members. Balancing assertiveness with ensuring that colleagues feel emotionally supported can be a delicate art. Its essential to know how your team members tick; understanding what drives them and how to then best communicate and motivate them accordingly.

Have humility: While, for many, confidence and leadership go hand in hand and they often do individuals should make sure to keep their ego in check. As the saying goes, you should never be a legend in your own lunch hour do your job to the best of your ability, stay professional and let your success speak for itself. The inability to stay grounded will warp your perspective on things and ultimately could cause your work to suffer.

Give team members space: Any good leader should always have a leading by example mantra for instilling a top-down work ethos. However, this should not be a call for employees to play copycat. Leading is not about producing mini mes workers should be allowed to breathe and be who they are. Successful teams thrive on diversity of views and methodology, therefore respecting an individual and allowing them to play to their strengths is vital for the success of everyone. You should never assume that your particular approach will work best for everyone. Its about inspiration, not suffocation.

Roll with the punches: Its pretty rare to go through your working life without experiencing a career low. There will likely be a point, or even several, where youve been knocked back. It could be that youve just landed the job of your dreams but when you get there, the nirvana role you were sold is really all smoke and mirrors and resigning is the only option. Or, it could be that you lose out on a big promotion opportunity to a colleague. Regardless of the setback, its key to not lose faith. Remember: dustyourselfdown, rebuildyour confidence and focus on whats next.

Know your business: The more a person can understand the business, the better they are at their job and the easier it becomes to be noticed by your peers and the people in charge of career progression. Its therefore vital to understand aspects of the company beyond your core role such as the impact of brand, profit and loss, andemployee engagement. A true leader is one who goes above and beyond in living and breathing the values of their organisation.

Never stop working on yourself: As we see across the board, not just in business but also from great sports people or entertainers, its important to keep developing your skillset to get to the top of your game. Never presume that youre at your best. There is always room for further personal development and there is never nothing left to learn. This is especially true when the rules of the game are constantly changing due to myriad factors, whether they be technological, economic or social.

Rising to the position of leader and performing the role successfully requires the ability to prioritise where to expend your energy. You should never lose sight of the ultimate goal of always delivering to the best of your ability and upholding the utmost respect for colleagues.

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Rising through the ranks to become a successful leader | theHRD - The HR Director Magazine

Thirty-five students received their qualification certificates at the Misco summer graduation ceremony. The graduates successfully completed Level 5 Awards in one of the five study programmes accredited by the National Commission for Further Education.

Two in every three students in this course cycle were women, continuing an emerging trend in higher education. Participants came from a range of fields in the public and private sectors with backgrounds in human resources, financial services, manufacturing, and social work among others. The mix of perspectives complemented the wealth of insight, knowledge and expertise offered by Misco tutors.

Director Lawrence Zammit congratulated the graduates on their success and thanked them for the trust they placed in Misco. He said that the organisation built its reputation for quality and practical training on the trust of the students themselves.

It is more important than ever before that we keep updating our skills and knowledge throughout our careers, Zammit told the graduates. My encouragement to you is to continue seeking lifelong learning qualifications.

Francesca Cassar Parry, who delivered the graduation address, revealed that it was the first time she was giving a speech and explained how the training in HR and personal development helped her overcome her fears.

The experience made an instant impact on both my professional and private life, said the new graduate.

This was another busy term for Misco, running industry-oriented awards in leadership and management, human resources management, personal development and training and development, as well as a joint award in leadership with the Institute of Leadership and Management.

See more here:
Summer graduation ceremony at Misco - Times of Malta

DEFIB DELIVERY: Left to right is Sarah Hicks (Hairology), Johnny Joyce, Shirley Tomlinson, Shop Manager& Mayoress of Margate and Christine Appleton, Charity Shop SupervisorLeague of Friends of the QEQM Hospital

The League of Friends of the QEQM Hospital are seeking applications for a volunteer manager(ess) from someone with retail management experience to manage their shop/tea bar & ward trolley service. Approx. 10 hours per week (could be job share). Any queries please ring their 24-hour answerphone on (01843) 234507 leaving a message & your contact details. Please send your CV with covering letter to The Chairman, League of Friends, QEQM Hospital, St. Peters Road, Margate, CT9 4AN. Closing date: October 9.

Thanets camera club started the new season with members showing photos taken during the summer break, followed by an excellent talk by Russell Miles on the subject of Seals, Seascapes and Coastal Wildlife. On September 16, Premier Judge Andy Smith gave a detailed critique of over 75 images submitted by members. As well as tips on possible improvements, Andy pointed out everything that was good and his comments will really help members to develop their skills.

The clubs first quarterly print competition of the season is on September 30, when we look forward to welcoming Helen Taylor as our judge for the evening.

Club members are also preparing for our annual print exhibition at York Street Gallery, Ramsgate which will run from October 16-23. We welcome visitors to this free exhibition.

Full details about membership and the programme are on our re-designed website at http://www.isleofthanetphotographicsociety.co.uk and now you can also find us on Facebook.

Age UK Thanet want to say a great big thank you to Johnny Joyce from Thanet CFR at Secamb for working together to supply a defibrillator to be placed at the Age UK Thanets charity shop at 13/15 High Street, Margate.

Shirley Tomlinson, Mayoress of Margate who runs the shop, gathered together support from the surrounding shops (Hairology, Dorys and the Joke Shop) to buy the case required to keep the Defibrillator safe and accessible to anyone who may need it. A sad story of a person becoming ill with a heart difficulty in a neighbours shop led Shirley to strive to access this important equipment to potentially save a persons life.

The Rotary Club of Margate raised more than 60,000 funds with support from other Rotary clubs, including the Rotary Club of Isle of Thanet Sunrise, Thanet, Helston Lizard, Lille Sud (France) Colombo (Sri Lanka), and The Rotary Foundation for the funding of a bus for a college in the tea estate area of Sri Lanka. The bus is used for getting students, particularly girls, to the college in a safe and economic way.

The Tea Leaf Vision Centre college provides further education in English language, IT and business studies to assist local students develop careers rather than work on the tea estates. The students are generally from the poorest section of the Sri Lankan community.

The bus is also used during the school day, to visit 12 local primary schools staffed with second year students, to assist in the teaching of English to the young children. More than 112 school visits were made in the first 5 months. A total of 1,840 beneficial contacts were made in this period with school children learning to read and speak English.

The bus was purchased in early 2018 with a formal presentation by members of the Rotary Clubs of Margate and Colombo In November 2018.

Part of the funds raised were allocated for necessary equipment and also professional development in their English language teaching. That teacher has now gained her CELTA qualification (Certificate of English Language Teaching for Adults run by The British Council) which was funded from this project, led by the Rotary Club of Margate. We congratulate her on this achievement which will benefit not only her, but the students of the Tea Leaf Vision Centre.

Artist visit

Well-known, local artist and furniture maker, Zoe Murphy, came to our club meeting, and joined in our barbecue, to tell us about her project for the Margate Now Festival, (running alongside the Turner Prize this autumn/winter) and to ask for our help.

Her project, Here you are home, is to create some public art, that the people who live in Margate could see for free, by asking two simple questions and printing the results onto big flags to fly around the town:

What do you love about living in Margate?

What do you think Margate loves about you living here?

The responses will be drawn and then printed in bright colours in an abstract way onto the flags. https://www.margatefestival.org/events/zoe-murphy-here-you-are-home

We were the first community group she had approached and members and guests were happy to get involved. Zoe was really pleased with the number of responses she received.

A tuberculosis (TB) nurse has won a national award for helping homeless people and for dedication to her profession.

Rebecca Pitt, a TB nurse with Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT), was given a Cavell Nurses Trust Star Award for going the extra mile. The judging panel heard how Rebecca had scoured the streets on cold nights to find one particular homeless man she was concerned about, gave him her own money for food and hot drinks and worked tirelessly with other agencies to get him into hospital.

The new national awards programme is for nurses, midwives nursing associates and healthcare assistants who shine bright and show exceptional care to either patients, their families or colleagues.

Rebecca, 49, works in Canterbury and Thanet. She was nominated for the award by her manager Marianne Stoneman, a lead specialist nurse for TB at KCHFT.

Marianne said: I truly believe that without Becky, this man would not be alive today.

Becky has always given everything to make sure her patients receive the best possible care. There have been many occasions where I believe she has really gone beyond the call of duty, working very early in the morning and late at night to make sure patients are safe.

During the past year, however, Becky has really gone one step further in providing truly inspirational care and dedication and that is what prompted me to nominate her.

Rebecca has been a nurse for 22 years and a specialist TB nurse for the past 10 years.

The mother-of-two, from Broadstairs, said: It was a wonderful surprise to find out I had been nominated and to win the award. I find TB fascinating, as its a very clever disease, which can sit dormant for so long, but its curable and by giving treatment we can make a difference.

I work with homeless people a lot and worked with this particular homeless man last year. He was sleeping rough and taking drugs and we knew he had stopped taking his medication for TB and that he was very ill. Working with other agencies, we managed to track him down. Im pleased to say we eventually got him into hospital and following treatment, he was recently discharged.

Myself and other members of the team often give food and clothes to help homeless people, we do it as were in a caring profession and dont really see it as going beyond the call of duty, other people would probably do the same.

Our first meeting of the new season will be held in the Ballroom at theWalpole Bay Hotel, Fifth Avenue, Cliftonville onThursday, October 3 at 7.30pm attendees arerequested to be seated by 7.15pm.

The meetingwill start with our Annual General Meeting, followed byMembers Notices, after which our guest speaker, Amber Butchart(fashion historian and author working across cultural heritage, broadcasting and academia) will begiving an illustrated talk entitledNautical Chic: High Style on the High Seaswhich will be followed by an opportunity for any questions.Amber specialises in the historical intersections between dress, politics and culture and presents documentaries for the BBC on our sartorial past.

As always during the evening, raffletickets will be on sale(1 per strip or 6 for 5)with the draw taking place at the end of the evening, followed by refreshments.

All are welcome nominal entrance fee is 4.50 for non-Members.

If you are interested in joining Margate Civic Society visit http://www.margatecivicsociety.org.uk

A primary school in Birchington has won an award for providing great care to children and young people with Type 1 diabetes.

Birchington Church of England Primary School has been chosen for the Diabetes UK Good Diabetes Care in School Award because of the support it provides to students with the condition, the help it offers to manage their diabetes safely, and the care it takes to include them in all school activities.

Type 1 diabetes is a serious, lifelong condition where blood glucose levels are too high because the body cant make a hormone called insulin. No one knows exactly what causes it, but its not to do with being overweight and it isnt currently preventable. It is treated by daily insulin doses taken either by injections or via an insulin pump.

People with Type 1 diabetes need to check their blood glucose levels using a blood glucose testing device several times a day. This is important because over a long period of time, high glucose levels in the blood can lead to the development of complications. But with the right treatment and care, the long-term effects of diabetes and high glucose levels can be managed.

The recognition scheme aims to raise awareness of the vital role good diabetes care in school plays in keeping students safe, supporting them to achieve full academic potential and promoting their personal development.

Kath Barham, Head Teacher at Birchington CE Primary School, said: We are delighted to receive this award its not only recognition of how seriously we take Type 1 diabetes in our school, but also of our commitment to ensure all children and young people have access to the same opportunities, no matter if they have a long-term health condition or not.

We work very closely with the parents, school staff and the students themselves to make sure that the right care is in place so that they can participate in all activities and reach their full academic potential.

Jill Steaton, Regional Head in the South East at Diabetes UK, said: Congratulations to Birchington CE Primary School for doing a fantastic job of supporting students with Type 1 diabetes. We urge all schools in Kent to follow their example so that children and young people stay healthy and get the best from their education. Every child and young person with diabetes deserves to have the same opportunities as their friends. And their parents should be confident theyre looked after properly in school.

All Saints Parish Church, Birchingtonwill be holding a fantasticcraft faironSaturday, September 28in Church House, Kent Gardens, Birchington from 10am until 2.30pm. There will be many craft stalls as well as a tombola, cake stall and delicious refreshments. The brand new parish recipe book will be on sale for the first time!

The RNLI will have a dog safety stand at Dumpton Gap on October 6 from 9am until noon.

There will be advise on how to keep yourself and your dog safe on the coast.

Theres a rare chance to see a unique film about the life and death struggle for the future of the NHS on Sunday, October 6.

Called Groundswell A Grassroots Battle For The NHS the documentary film follows a group of campaigners as they lobby politicians to save the NHS from cuts and privatisation.

Charting the campaigners frustrations, ups and downs, failures and successes, the film highlights the importance of people power in bringing about change.

It begins in 2014, during the setting up of the 999 Call for the NHS campaign, and culminates with campaigners achieving a great lobbying breakthrough at the Labour Party conference in 2017.

The screening, which is sponsored by Save Our NHS In Kent (SONIK), will be followed by a question and answer session with the film-maker John Furse.

SONIK chair, Jon Flaig, said that Groundswell is required viewing for anyone worried about the health of the NHS.

Mr Flaig said: Here in Thanet locally and in Kent as a whole we face a threat to our stroke services and the downgrading of our hospitals and the local NHS establishment wants to portray it all as a done deal. But what Groundswell shows is that done deals can be undone. If we get together we can make a difference. We have to take the lesson and fight to save our services here in Thanet and Kent.

The screening is the first in a series of films about the NHS SONIK is planning to show in Kent in the coming months, more to be announced shortly.

Groundswell will be screened at 4pm on Sunday, October 6 at the Palace Cinema, Harbour St, Broadstairs. Tickets are 5 in advance from Eventbrite or SONIK stalls, or 6 on the door.

More than 750 wasraised for local charities at The BroadstairsLit party night which launchedThe Big Five O, the new novel by Jane Wenham-Jones, that is set in Thanet. The funds, from a raffle,auction and collecting tins, were shared between the Broadstairs Town Shed and Thanet Good Neighbour Scheme.

These are important local causes that do a great deal to help the lonely and elderly, said BroadstairsLit director, Denise Martin-Harker.We were so pleased to be able to support them.

Two hundred guests, including the Mayor and Mayoress of Broadstairs, filledthe pavilion to enjoy this free community event, which included music by The Hot Rats Duo and Alison Moyna, a poetry reading by award-winning poet Maggie Harris, adisplay of local arts and crafts and a chance to get a preview copyof The Big Five O, published by Harper Collins.It was lovely to see so many people, said Jane Wenham-Jones.We even sold out of books!

The Big Five O is available at Waterstones, Westwood Cross. For details of future events and to join the BroadstairsLit mailing list visitwww.broadstairslit.co.uk

A start-up social media marketing business, Social Fireworks Ltd, is a finalist in three Kent-wide award categories, the maximum number of categories a business can be in.

Social Fireworks Ltd was founded by ex-Clarendon House Pupil, Kizzie Nicholson, who attended the University of Creative Arts, Canterbury, to build her marketing and creative knowledge.

The business awards event, the Independent Business Awards Kent will be held at the Mercure Great Danes Hotel, Maidstone on October 10 at 7pm. The awards evening has business finalists from across the county of Kent. There are 14 award categories.

The Independent Business Awards Kent is held annually. After the nominations, an independent panel of judges reviews the nominees and selects them as finalists. The finalists will discover on the evening of the awards if they have won.

Social Fireworks Ltd director Kizzie said: Its an absolute honour to be nominated for an award! To get through to the finals and be in three categories is wonderful. Id like to think I have come this far due to the success my clients have got, thanks to the social media marketing solutions that Social Fireworks has given them. Im very grateful to all who choose to work with us.

Social Fireworks Ltd is a social media and marketing registered in Westgate-On-Sea.

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TSA Security Checkpoint lines, like this one at Denver International Airport can be the source of great frustration for travelers. But new facial recognition technology, though controversial, could greatly reduce cue times. (Robert Alexander/Getty

Imagine breezing through airport security, past the airport gate check, onto your plane then off again at the end of your flight, and if flying internationally, escaping the customs and immigration check point in only a minute or two all without every showing your ticket, a boarding pass, ID or even your passport.

Dont laugh. Its not only technically possible, if the World Travel & Tourism Council has its way, it could be a reality for a large majority of domestic and international travelers around the globe by the middle of the next decade. While no one suggests that youll ever be able to travel without your ID or, internationally, without your passport on you, the day is approaching quickly when you rarely, if ever, will have to show those pieces of identification to anyone during your travels. Instead, your face will become you ID, or your passport.

The WTTC also foresees a time when you potentially will check into your hotel by simply stepping to the counter, having your face scanned discretely by unobtrusive cameras and your room key handed to you in a process measured in seconds, not minutes.

A form of that presumably better travel experience already is available to tens of thousands of U.S. domestic air travelers a day. Since late 2017 U.S. officials have been experimenting with such a system at a few selected airports and just over a year ago began rolling it out in phases at the busiest airports. And by 2023 it is expected to be standard for 97% of all domestic U.S. airline passengers.

The WTTC, which seeks to promote a unified agenda for the multi-pronged and often fractious global travel industry, is turning up the volume on its campaign to spread the good news of biometric-based travel security and travel service processing. More specifically, it is launching a global public relations effort aimed both at creating greater consumer awareness and acceptance of the concept and, simultaneously, gently countering the worries of, and resistance from individuals and groups concerned that the use of biometrics will endanger individuals privacy and personal data.

In a new report, Gloria Guevara, the WTTCs president, says that WTTC researchers have found that on average about 80% of Americans are okay with biometrics being used to speed up and improve the air travel experience, especially at airports.

Eight out of 10 Americans boarding domestic or international flights say theyre willing to submit this information to make their travel experience better, she said. And younger travelers seem to be most comfortable with the new approach.

Of those between the ages of 25 and 34 in our survey, 87% are either willing or very willing to share their photos in order to speed up and improve their travel experience, said Guevara, a former executive with SABRE, the big travel data management and sales system used by airlines and travel agencies, who in 2010 was named Minister of Tourism in her native Mexico.

Those results are very similar to the (researchs) international numbers, where roughly 80% of travelers are okay with it, she added.

More specifically, what that 80% of travelers supposedly are okay with is the use of their faces to effectively replace their IDs, their boarding passes and even their passports in the process of gaining passage through various checkpoints in the travel process. That, obviously, means that some organization will be keeping in its database the photos of millions of travelers for at least some limited (or limitless) amount of time. And those photos also will be linked to data about where those individuals are from, to where theyre traveling, and, potentially what theyll be doing and how theyll be paying for it.

Thus, a travelers face rather than their drivers license, passport, social security or credit card numbers will become the key that unlocks the door to their personal information. Guevara calls it using your face as your boarding pass, and, when traveling internationally using your face as your passport.

For those most interested in speeding up and removing as much hassle as possible from the often tedious and frustrating air travel experience the introduction of facial recognition technology its already available in some or all portions of about two dozen U.S. airports appears to be a godsend. Having to pull out travel documents and ID repeatedly all along ones travel path can be annoying. And, depending on how many bags and other items one is toting, or how many children a traveler is wrangling it can also be quite a hassle.

But to those skeptics worried about privacy rights and identity security, the idea is anathema.An umbrella activist group called Fight for the Future, which opposes a number of tech-driven security, social media, and commercial practices that the group says threaten privacy rights and personal data security, has made facial recognition technology one of its big targets.

Opponents of the use of facial recognition in the travel space and in other contexts fret that the compilation of huge data bases containing information about consumers personal and financial affairs (which underlies any facial recognition system) is ripe for exploitation by those companies or by third parties. Alternatively, they also warn that that such data bases maintained by government agencies present potential Big Brother scenarios in which government will have broad surveillance capabilities to track and, in theory, limit the activities of private citizens.

The WTTC, however, now seeks to promote what it sees as the enormous economic and personal benefits of global or near-global adoption of facial recognition technology across the broad spectrum of the travel industry: airlines, national aviation security agencies and foreign ministry departments that issue passports and VISAs; hotels, ground transportation providers, and a number of other travel service providers.

Guevara, and the travel interests she represents, also see the smart use of facial recognition technology as the only practical way for the travel industry keep the relentless growth of air travel around the world in the next from being strangled by unprecedented levels of travel demand.

The International Air Transport Association projects that the number of air passengers will grow by nearly 80% over the next 18 years, from 4.6 billion this year to 8.2 billion in 2037. Airport facilities, meanwhile, almost certainly wont be expanded nearly enough to accommodate such an increase in human traffic, especially through current choke points like security screening stations and airport gates unless we come up with big changes to the way travelers are processed through those locations.

Biometrics, the WTTC argues, is the only answer that anyone has come up with that will work. And while iris scans and fingerprint readers can do the same job as facial recognition technology, both are slower and less flexible for use in broader contexts. Facial recognition requires only that a traveler stop for a moment in front of a camera or camera-like device to have their face scanned and then compared with one or more photos on file. His or her fingerprints or iris print wont have to be recorded initially and then kept on file forever.

Assuming theres a match, the traveler whose face is quickly scanned can be waved through whatever checkpoint they are at without any additional questions or close examination of their possessions. Their progress through a terminal on either end of their journey can be tracked and their faces repeatedly compared with the file photos through the use of strategically placed cameras throughout terminals. In the near future flight attendants, fed the information via portable devices, would be able to call the traveler by name the moment they step aboard the plane and provide them with any special services the traveler has requested in advance.

In any case the use of biometrics would greatly reduce the long lines at security checkpoints and gates and upon landing, in customs and immigration clearance lines. Or so the theory goes.

Currently some travelers use the Transportation Securitys PreCheck service or the services of CLEAR, a private company that offers rapid passage through security checkpoints for those who pay for a membership and provide background information in advance of traveling. Those programs, use known traveler data bases and, in some instances, iris scans or fingerprinting to identify and clear travelers quickly through checkpoints. Facial recognition technology, deployed for use by all travelers, is touted as being even faster and more accurate. And because it eventually would be used by nearly all travelers it would, in theory, greatly reduce the time we all spend in security checkpoint lines and other cues. (Travelers, in theory would retain the right to not have their faces scanned and to request that they be cleared through checkpoints using the manual methods now in widespread use.

Adoption of facial recognition technology does mean that the system will need to have a photo of a traveler even before that traveler shows up at the security checkpoint. That, in theory, would come from the airline, which already prepares a paper (and computerized) manifest for every flight that contains the name and some formation about each passenger on each flight. On international flights including a small percentage of flights from the U.S. to certain destinations today a passengers passport photo is captured by a scanning machine upon flight check in, then is compared with the persons face to make sure they are who they claim to be. And travelers today sometimes have the option of submitting photos of themselves when they buy their tickets online, just as they traditionally have submitted other identifying information upon ticket purchase.

In Europe, Guevara said, the comparison is made on a 1-to-1 basis; comparing the face of the person standing there to just one photo on file. In the U.S. the standard is 1-to-many, meaning the face of the traveler standing there is compared to multiple photos at least if multiple photos are available.

Currently the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol is the primary driver behind the new facial recognition system being rolled out in U.S. Airports. In less than two years of limited testing and early roll out it already has helped authorities nab nearly 200 people trying to travel using someone elses identity. And it reportedly has enabled the identification of several thousand foreign nationals who over-stayed their U.S. VISAs. The system actually fulfills a Congressional mandate to use biometrics to screen air travelers that has been on the books since Congress passed a law way back in 1996. The technology wasnt really ready back then and since then there had been little money and less political will to push for development and deployment of the technology until President Trump signed an executive order early in his presidency to make it happen.

Currently, unless Customs and Border Patrol has a solid legal reason to do otherwise it is supposed to delete citizens photos after about two weeks. But it keeps a database, including photos when available, of suspected travelers provided to it by the TSA, Homeland Security, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies. Right now those law enforcement agencies in most cases do not have full access to the Customs and Border Patrols data base. But thats where critics of use of facial recognition technology in the travel world are most concerned. If those agencies, or the airlines or other travel service providers, collect or have easy access to multiple photos and lots of specific information about individuals, including where they travel and how they spend their money, the fear is that government would able to monitor the movements and activities of free people more than it has a right to do.

Guevara and the WTTC counter that the human and economic benefits of facial recognition technology more than outweigh such concerns, in large part because the vast majority of travelers are, in fact, trustworthy, and those that arent already are on various watch lists for known or suspected bad actors. Theyre also counting on the enforcement of rules and laws blocking the improper use by governments of such data. That, in turn, should support, and even encourage growth in travel demand around the world. And the economic impact of such growth will be hugely significant, she said.

Biometrics, Guevara argues will both reduce friction in the airport for individual travelers, and ease gridlock in the airports in a way that will drive economic growth and create lots and lots of jobs, Guevara said.

We think the use of biometrics, particularly facial recognition, will lead to the creation of at least one million more jobs in the travel and tourism industry, she added. That would be driven by the sheer growth in travel demand that it would help enable. Without it the lines and congestion and trouble of travel would discourage many and cause future demand to be far less than currently is expected.

Were talking very good-paying jobs in the industry; not just pilots and airline employee, but hotel employees, food service workers, aircraft manufactures, taxi drivers and more.

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Your Face Is Your Passport: Biometrics Could Enable Explosive Travel Growth, But Critics Fret About Privacy Loss - Forbes

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These four behaviours are not rocket science, yet are frequently not applied with rigour, skill or diplomacy. The principles apply as much across businesses operating along the red meat supply chain, as they do in other business sectors:

Solving problems effectively.

As McKinsey point out, this is deceptively difficult to get right, yet it is a key input into decision-making for major issues as well as daily ones (such as how to handle a team dispute).

Operating with a strong results orientation.

Leaders with a strong results orientation tend to emphasise the importance of efficiency and productivity and to prioritise the highest-value work.

Seeking different perspectives.

This trait is very noticeable in managers who monitor trends,encourage employees to contribute ideas that could improve performance, and perhaps most importantly, accurately differentiate between important and unimportant issues.

Supporting others.

Leaders who are supportive understand and sense how other people feel. They build trust and inspire and help colleagues to overcome challenges.

How well does your leadership team apply these four behaviours?

A good management newsletter that is worth subscribing to:Decoding leadership: What really matters.By Claudio Feser, Fernanda Mayol, and Ramesh Srinivasan (McKinsey Quarterly, Jan 2015)

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Recruitment: Four behaviours that define effective leadership - Sheep Central

Speaker of the House Halson Moultrie. Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

By KHRISNA RUSSELL

Deputy Chief Reporter

krussell@tribunemedia.net

HOUSE Speaker Halson Moultrie yesterday recommended to a Peoples Republic of China delegation that its country consider developing the southeast region of the Bahamas to shift the population concentration from the northwest Bahamas.

It was also his suggestion that China help this country with relocating the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services from New Providence to Little Inagua.

Speaker Moultrie made the recommendations during a courtesy call with Dr Cai Dafend, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress of China.

Dr Dafend and a 14-member delegation held brief discussions in the Senate with the Speaker, his deputy Donald Saunders and Chief Clerk David Forbes Friday.

At the time, the Chinese official announced his government would give an additional $500,000US to the Bahamas for Hurricane Dorian relief efforts.

Following the visit, Speaker Moultrie explained that the intent was to seek mutually beneficial opportunities to advance the people of the Bahamas and citizens of China.

There has been a concentration of our population in the northwest Bahamas (and) Dorian has interrupted that development, the Nassau Village MP told reporters yesterday. Abaco is the fastest growing island in the Bahamas and, of course, Grand Bahama has always been considered the second city.

Well, two of the three major population centres in the Bahamas have been affected by Hurricane Dorian and so I for one believe in the concept in looking for the good in even the worst situation in the midst of all of our sorrow and mourning as a result of Hurricane Dorian.

He continued: We see opportunities for the remainder of the archipelago to develop as we restore and redevelop Grand Bahama and Great Abaco so that it could be a greater population distribution and the southeast Bahamas is the port of entry to the Bahamas from the south.

That is why I gave my personal recommendations to the Chinese that perhaps one of the considerations as we move forward in a joint development of both nations to look at the possibility of developing the southeast Bahamas and making another economic centre in the southeast Bahamas so that we can get a better distribution of our population throughout the archipelago. We think that will auger well not only for the Bahamas but for the entire region.

I also recommended that we should take a look at removing the correctional facilities out of the capital and putting it in one of the remote places in the Bahamas and I suggested Little Inagua of course because that is strategically positioned at the gateway to the Bahamas from the south.

We seem to have more problems coming from the south with respect to illegal immigration and with respect to poaching of our Bahamian waters. So we believe that if we put the proper facilities at that gateway we can better protect ourselves and our sovereignty.

In prepared remarks during the courtesy call, Speaker Moultrie welcomed the Chinese delegation.

Over the years, the Bahamas has enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship with China. Our foreign policies evinces mutual respect through the recognition of exclusive jurisdiction and sovereignty. Both nations honour the rule of law and pursue international relations that are in the best interest for the advancement of our people and the development of our nations. The Bahamas is supportive of the One-China principle.

Accordingly, the Bahamas remains open for business with China and we invite the world to our shores and to our archipelago of more than seven hundred islands and cays, the Speaker said.

As he thanked China for whatever assistance it could provide as the country seeks to rebuild after Dorian, Speaker Moultrie said the Bahamas could benefit from scientific research on the impact of global warming; research on the development of marine industries, educational grants, cultural exchanges and technical assistance; industrial development of the southeast Bahamas; infrastructural development throughout the country especially a deep water harbour; a maximum security correctional facility.

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Speaker: China should consider developing southeast Bahamas - Bahamas Tribune