Economists were expecting manufacturing to grow in October; therefore, it was an unwelcome surprise when it fell. Manufacturers’ output fell by nearly one per cent, which is a very sharp drop considering that output rose 0.6 per cent in September.

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The figures for total industrial production fell in September, and in October they fell even more – a significant 1.3 per cent. This is the biggest production fall since August 2013. What is going on? Is the economy in freefall?

There is no need to panic – yet. The main reason for the fall in October was that one of our largest oilfields was temporarily shut down. The Buzzard field in the North Sea has been out of operation due to ongoing maintenance. This also affected industrial production – the biggest output drop was in oil and gas, which went down by a very significant 10.8 per cent, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

GDP numbers will be hit

Commentators highlighted that the fall in industrial production affected the UK’s GDP growth prospects in the final quarter of the year. Howard Archer, chief UK and European economist at IHS Global Insight, commented that retail sales looked good in October, and recent surveys also gave good results; therefore, analysts were hoping that the final quarter would be as good as the third quarter.

Instead, a 1.3 per cent fall in industrial production will undermine growth prospects because the sector will probably now shrink in the fourth quarter. When the Buzzard field comes back on stream, the oil and gas numbers will improve markedly; however, this will not be enough to pull the whole sector back into growth.

Industrial output has a smaller share of the economy than in the past (14.6 per cent), but an outright contraction in this sector would nevertheless be bad news. Electrical control components manufacturers, for example, might find that themselves affected if there is a downturn, although regional component manufacturers with good reputations, such as http://www.osmelectrical.com/, will continue to find themselves busy.

Service sector driving growth

Growth has recently been fuelled almost completely by the broader service sector, which in turn has been boosted by very healthy consumer spending; however, inflation caused by the pound’s fall against other currencies will start feeding through to households in 2017-18 and purchasing power will drop substantially.

Guys and St Thomas’s are issuing frontline security workers with body cameras after a shocking increase in both the scale and seriousness of assaults on members of their workforce over the past year. Statistics have backed up what hospital staff have experienced on the ground: 850 assaults were recorded last year across the Trust. This is 27 per cent up on the previous year. Over the last six months, there were 75 arrests, which was a huge increase from just 30 during the same period last year. Twenty-six patients were excluded from the Trust, compared with just seven last year.

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Rapid response

The new initiative is a swift and proactive response to a steeply escalating levels of violence against NHS staff. Nurses are usually the targets, although doctors, healthcare assistants and security staff have also been assaulted. Dame Eileen Sills, the Trust’s chief nurse, spoke out against the rise in violent incidents, explaining that the introduction of body worn cameras will deter incidents like these from occurring. See The Standard, for more details.

It is hoped that the presence of cameras will prevent people from acting in an abusive manner for fear of being convicted. The Metropolitan police have recently adopted the use of body worn cameras for similar reasons. Security staff at NHS Trusts in Coventry and Warwickshire have been wearing cameras since March, and the same initiative has been rolled out in Scunthorpe and Grimsby.

Security staff who already wear the gear have commented that when guards mention they are wearing a camera, abusers usually back down and the situation is de- escalated. In the few instances where they did not, the footage was used to convict them. There is legislation regarding how and when body cameras can be used and how footage can be used to make a conviction in an instance of assault. See http://www.pinnacleresponse.com/body-cameras-and-the-law/ for a detailed explanation of the law.

Wider initiatives

The campaign to end violence against NHS staff is not restricted to the use of body cameras. Staff are to be trained in conflict resolution, and lone workers like health visitors will receive specialist training from the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, which conducts personal safely training courses in schools, workplaces and charities with the aim of reducing the levels of violence and aggression in society.

Forming the heart of every business, sales and marketing are challenging and rewarding. High-quality and effective sales and marketing requires you to capture the attention of your target audience without bombarding them with information.

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Standing out from the crowd

We all need access to basic goods and services because we are all customers, which means we know exactly what it is like to experience a constant stream of marketing messages. As CBS reports, we now see almost ten times the amount of advertising messages each day that we would have just four decades ago.

Engaging with customers in innovative and exciting ways is more important than ever if you want your business to make a positive impression and consistently increase its reach. Virtual reality is perhaps one of the most interesting new technological innovations, and it’s an exciting tool for sales and marketing teams across a variety of sectors.

The power of VR

When Thomas Cook used virtual reality technology to promote its tours in New York City, its revenue increased by an enormous 80 per cent. This is because VR offers a complete experience, which creates an enhanced connection between individuals and content on an emotional level. What you’re seeing feels real, even if it isn’t, and it delivers a more comprehensive understanding of something than the inherent disconnect that exists between you and the words on a page or images on a screen.

A high-quality brand and strategy innovation agency, such as www.lightbulbinnovation.com/, will understand the value of virtual reality and will work with sales and marketing departments to deliver VR experiences to customers that will allow them to deeply engage with a product or service and provide an experience that won’t be forgotten. When virtual reality is executed correctly, many individuals will seek out the experience, which will result in a positive ROI for your business.

Many forms of advertising rely on the creation of an emotional connection to communicate core messages and values to potential customers. Virtual reality facilitates this type of communication effectively and is adaptable to many different industries, from travel and tourism to estate agencies. If you want to make a big impact, VR can help you establish a strong relationship with your core audience, delivering positive experiences and useful information to them in innovative ways.

So you’ve pranged your beloved vehicle and it’s off to the body shop for some repairs. Ever wonder what an auto body repairer does? They turn our bumps into beauty again so that we can be on our way with a shiny, smooth car body. A technician will repair, restore, replace and refinish car bodies, windscreens, frames and glass. They will patch up your old faithful and get her motoring again.

An auto body repairer will look at a damage report and then produce a estimated cost  and make a plan for the work to be done. The bashed up bits will be removed and these could include items like grills, bumpers, trim, doors and bonnets. The frame and chassis will be realigned to sort out structural damage. A panel beater will then hammer out dents or fix them up and take care of all body damage. For Car Body Repairs Swansea, visit http://www.lmvrepairs.co.uk/.

Replacement parts will be fixed or welded onto the vehicle and windows will be replaced if needed. The repaired surfaces will then be sanded down to make them nice and smooth before the paint shop get to work, covering up the repairs.

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Repairs can be made on almost all minor everyday collision and there are many tools available to achieve this work. Pneumatic tools are employed to remove parts such as bumpers, door panels and so are metal-cutting guns and plasma cutters. Hydraulic jacks can be used for realigning frames and a variety of hand tools can be used for the repair to the car’s body work, such as pliers, hammers, wrenches and screwdrivers.

Body shops can be noisy places and also have to be well ventilated due to the dust and paint fumes that need to be dispersed. It is a demanding role and an auto repair technician works in a physical environment that can be cramped and difficult.

It might be that you need to take your car to a specialist repair shop as there are repair shops that specialize in things like brakes, exhausts, transmissions, air conditioning, glass repairs and wheel alignment. Some shops only work on certain brands of vehicle and some prefer to specialise in customisation or modification of vehicles.

To become a vehicle technician, there are many qualifications available in vehicle maintenance and repair. You will need the ability to handle a wide range of tools, work methodically and with great attention to detail. You will need to be good at communicating with people and following instructions on the work that needs to be completed. Working on your own and working with your hands, you will also need to be reasonably physically fit and agile. Once in the job there are further awards to aim for including the Automotive Technician Accreditation from the Institute of the Motor Industry.

A paint sprayer in the body shop will be responsible for mixing paint by eye or using technology to create the closest colour match to the existing car’s paintwork. The paint spraying equipment needs to be set up and areas not to be painted are taped up. Primer is applied, then paint and then a finishing substance. A good eye for detail, hand-to-eye co-ordination and normal colour vision are all requirements of the role.

An enchanted land of fairytales, myths and legends. Dramatic landscapes and scenic adventures await you in Northern Ireland. Perhaps not a destination that has been given enough attention due to it’s turbulent history but Northern Ireland offers a rugged, natural and warm-hearted experience that is sure to delight visitors and have them return time and again. Continue reading Land of Giants →