Industry News
FSA: The Food Standards Agency has switched to a new electronic tendering system for procurement. The first projects being advertised are a survey of campylobacter in chicken and the development of a method for dietary assessment.
Adverts for research & other procurement opportunities will no longer be published on their website. To receive notifications about future procurement opportunities at the FSA, suppliers must register on the new system.
Press release & links
HA: The Highways Agency has announced a new supplier recognition scheme, aimed at recognising efforts by suppliers who demonstrate leading performance in driving down costs & delivering even more efficient & effective customer services.
The annual recognition programme will highlight the important contribution made by the Agency’s suppliers, who play a vital role in supporting the Agency in operating, maintaining & improving the strategic road network in efficiently and effectively. Entries for this year will be invited from 1 September 2011.
Press release & links
MO: Financial services can make more informed decisions thanks to increased understanding of the El Niño and La Niña climate cycles, according to a Met Office report. Commissioned by the Lighthill Risk Network, the Global Impact of El Niño and La Niña Implications for Financial Services report states that there is a two-fold importance to the two cycles - which affect sea surface temperatures in the
Matt Huddleston, Met Office Principal Consultant and author of the report, said: "These cycles shift the risks of damaging hazards in recognisable ways and they can be predicted about six months in advance. Clearly the periodic reduction of risk offers economic and societal benefits that, if known in advance, could be exploited."
During the 2010/11 La Niña episode, the state of Queensland in Australia suffered losses estimated at $5.5bn, including devastation of the state's important sugar cane crop, disruption of coal mining and wheat transport, and extensive property damage.
Press release & links
WAG: Welsh Government backed pilot training package pioneered by Admiral Group to ensure job seekers have the specific skills they require has helped scores of unemployed people gain qualifications and find work.
The pilot is geared to meet the on-going recruitment needs of Admiral - the only FTSE100 listed company headquartered in
The pilot has exceeded it targets - 115 people completed the training; 97 achieved a Level 2 qualification in customer service; 84 achieved a Level 2 qualification in team leadership and to date more than half have already gained employment.
