|
|
A circular economy is an economic system that aims to limit the consumption of resources and materials and avoid landfilling waste. At Zhaga, the global lighting-industry consortium with the mission of standardising the interfaces of components of LED luminaires, we call this market framework ‘circularity lighting’.
“Circularity lighting encompasses products and systems that support the aims of the circular economy through enhanced serviceability,” says Armin Konrad, Senior Director at LEDVANCE GmbH.
According to Konrad, serviceability means LED luminaires and light management systems that are repairable, upgradable, replaceable and durable. “To be serviceable, these products and systems must be designed in a modular way and use component interfaces that are based on standardised and widely recognised specifications,” he adds.
 This is where Zhaga comes in.
Since 2010, Zhaga has been developing and standardising specifications for LED modules, intelligent sensors, communication modules and control gear for lighting manufacturers, specifiers and operators to apply in LED luminaires. Zhaga’s specifications, called Books, are book defining the interface of one or more components of an LED luminaire.
Together, interface specifications established by Zhaga Books enable an interoperable ecosystem of luminaires and components. Zhaga and its members contribute to ‘closing the loop’ as outlined by the Ellen McArthur Foundation’s butterfly diagram.
The Ellen McArthur butterfly diagram visualises the circular economy by showing the continuous flow of materials within a circular economy. The right-hand side of the diagram represents the technical cycle, which is relevant for products that are used rather than consumed, such as lighting products and components.
By specifying the interface properties of serviceable luminaires, all 26 Zhaga Books contribute to the ‘maintaining’ and ‘remanufacturing’ categories of the butterfly diagram, thus helping keep products in use and out of the landfill.
Simplifying Maintenance, Expanding the Lifecycle
While all Zhaga Books are directly tied to ‘closing the loop’, not every Book is needed all the time. The recipe for creating a circularity outdoor luminaire using Zhaga standards can involve a mix of Books 13, 18 and 19.
Zhaga Book 13 relates to LED drivers. Although not specific to outdoor luminaires, it plays a non-negotiable role in ensuring serviceability by defining what interface specifications of LED drivers can be used in combination with a wide range of luminaires.
Specific to outdoor luminaires is Book 18, which standardises control devices that can be installed onto streetlights. By specifying power and communication aspects, in addition to the mechanical fit system, the specification allows any certified control device to operate with any certified luminaire.
Also relevant to outdoor luminaires is Zhaga Book 19, which defines interface specifications, including keep-out volumes, for LED modules and lens plates enabling IP protection. The resulting ecosystem of LED modules and lens plates makes it possible to refurbish luminaires during their lifetime with new module-lens plate combinations, thus extending their use and fostering the circular economy.
“This makes field-repairability and field-replacement easy and extends the luminaire’s economic life,” remarks Creusen.
Lifecycle Data Enables Easy Repairs and Upgrades
Two other Zhaga Books that are relevant to the serviceability of outdoor luminaires are Books 24 and 25, both of which deal with Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. The extremely short-range wireless communication standard allows manufacturers to configure such lighting components as LED drivers to their specifications, both before and after installation.
NFC also lets you manage data over the luminaire’s entire lifecycle, from production to installation, maintenance, replacement and repair.
Luminaire manufacturers, installers, system integrators, and utility companies now have the option to select a single physical programming tool that will work with all field-maintenance applications from all vendors implementing Book 25 and all NFC-programmable devices implementing Book 24. 
Whereas Book 24 is geared towards luminaire manufactures, Book 25 defines a Bluetooth Low Energy communication protocol for communication between the field-maintenance application on a smart device and the NFC reader. In doing so, it enables maintenance and replaceability with a cross vendor harmonised method of NFC programming for in-field use.
According to Konrad, using Book 25 creates an enormous advantage in the field. “If an LED module is replaced by a more energy efficient LED module, Book 25 ensures that new operating parameters can be set wirelessly on the driver,” he says.
Zhaga Delivers Circularity Outdoor Lighting
The road to resource-efficient, circularity lighting starts with standardisation – exactly what Zhaga delivers. “By ensuring that luminaires and components can be repaired, upgraded, replaced or serviced, Zhaga is futureproofing outdoor lighting and promoting a circular economy,” says Creusen.
To enhance Zhaga’s global reach and impact on the circular economy, Zhaga Books are being transferred to the International Electrotechnical Commission.
To find out more how Zhaga addresses Sustainability and Circular Economy, please visit www.zhagastandard.org/circularitylighting.
Coming to the Smart City Expo, 7-9 Nov in Barcelona? Visit the Zhaga booth in Hall 2 #54.
- Study reveals focusing litter interventions on hotspots at junctions, slip roads and roundabouts by combining bins and signage could save time and money
- Hubbub calls for a more joined-up approach to tackling litter nationwide
Litter surveys on the roads surrounding Cardiff and Glasgow today reveal ground-breaking insights that could help local authorities and agencies across the country tackle litter more strategically and save time and money in the process.
Using advanced image capturing and AI data-processing technology, scientists from Ellipsis Earth worked with environmental charity Hubbub to create a detailed map of the locations and types of litter dropped. Vehicle cameras were used to survey motorways, A-roads and B-roads including their respective service stations, junctions and slip roads to give the most accurate and detailed roadside litter survey to date.
 Signage in Cardiff The data collected suggests that authorities should be focusing on stretches of roads where vehicles drive at a slower speed or stop, such as traffic lights, junctions, slip roads and roundabouts, and after the exit points of fast-food outlets at junctions as that is where the litter is accumulating. In Cardiff for example, junctions were identified as litter hotspots with 20% of litter concentrated on just 2% of the land. 68% of litter in South Wales is found on roadside verges and junctions, with junctions showing 25 times higher rates of littering than open road verges, particularly on A roads.
The survey in Cardiff also revealed relatively low levels of litter on motorways (an item every 23 metres) compared to twice as much on A roads and five times as much litter on B roads. A total of 146,662 items were detected on Cardiff’s roads, an average of a piece of litter every 1.22 metres, with higher littering levels evident on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Another finding, this time from the Glasgow survey, found that litter from food and drinks packaging is twice as high in out-of-town sites than in the city centre, particularly in the evenings.
The surveys also showed that paper, cigarette butts and plastic fragments — often broken down from food and drink litter, are the top three types of roadside litter.1
The intelligence gathered was then used to inform the placement of litter-busting interventions in key hotspots. Interventions included displaying new signage around litter hotspots, asking road users to ‘Keep it ‘til you bin it’; engaging drivers to do a 2-minute tidy of their cars; trialing brighter bins with messaging at motorway services and retail parks, and running a radio and social media campaign.
 The surveys were then repeated to measure changes in litter levels and the impact of the interventions. The data provided the following key insights:
Putting bins in targeted locations/litter hotpots is 4-5 times more effective than putting them in random locations
-
- Combining signage and bins together results in a 25% greater reduction in nearby littering than the reductions from just a bin, or sign alone
- Placing multiple signage at junctions reduces accumulation rate on slip roads
- The combination of billboards, signage and rewrapped bins together significantly reduces littering at motorway services
- Isolated signage has limited impact on roadside littering
Following the research and testing of litter prevention measures, Hubbub has developed the following key recommendations to help local authorities and businesses to effectively tackle roadside litter:
- Focus clean-ups and litter reduction interventions near junctions, slip roads and roundabouts where cars slow down
- Make it easy for drivers to bin rubbish, by providing bins where drivers stop, ensuring they are visible and easy to access. Encourage binning rubbish before getting on the road again
- Combine bins and messaging together for greater effectiveness
- Work collaboratively – an effective approach is for highway agencies, councils, and businesses to work together to target litter across the road network with consistent messaging and bins at retail points
Gavin Ellis, Co-founder and Director of Hubbub said: “These surveys showed litter is dropped every 3 seconds on the roads in Cardiff and Glasgow which creates a significant burden on local services.
 Signs on Paisley Road West “The data we collected suggests the way that litter is tackled on our roads across the country could be much more joined-up and effective – we need to be less piecemeal in our approach, using existing data and insight to ensure that the right sort of measures are introduced in the right places. We believe the findings from this study could save local authorities, highway agencies and other stakeholders both time and money in the future, as well as reducing the blight of roadside litter.
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “Roadside litter is not just unsightly, it is costly and dangerous to remove. We are pleased to be involved in this campaign which is a positive step towards tackling roadside litter in Wales. The litter survey provides us with fascinating insight into where litter is being dropped and when across the region, with robust data clearly identifying those locations with highest litter levels, such as junctions and slip roads. This will help us and all those working to tackle roadside litter to focus their efforts and introduce the right measures in the right places.”
A Glasgow City Council spokeswoman said: “We were delighted to work with Hubbub on the Tidy Roadsides campaign. Anything which encourages more people to bin their litter responsibly is welcome – as is data and insight into nudge theory techniques which encourage positive behavioural change and which enable resources to be targeted where they’ll be most used.
“Litter is entirely preventable if people simply took their rubbish home with them or put it into one of the thousands of public bins across the city. Money which the council has to spend clearing it up, could then be used more constructively.”
Hubbub will present key findings and recommendations from the study in a webinar on 16 November for local authorities, businesses, highways agencies and other stakeholders. For more information and to sign up, visit www.hubbub.org.uk/Tidy-Roadsides
How Matrix and Haringey Works continue to satisfy the London Borough’s temporary staffing resource needs, while relieving the burden of local unemployment.
The challenge
The standard and reach of the services local authorities provide to their citizens is heavily dependent on the quality and availability of their workforce. Like many councils across the UK, Haringey faces a major challenge filling key vacancies, which is having an impact on the care and support it delivers.
To address the problem, in February 2022, Haringey Works, which helps borough residents back into employment, partnered with Matrix with the aim of identifying the best possible candidates from the local area for the growing number of temporary vacancies to both relieve the council’s human resource burden and ease unemployment in the borough.
“For temporary employees, it’s important to find people who can hit the ground running and be pro-active in their roles, so careful screening is necessary each candidate to ensure drive successful placements,” explains Aarti Chhatwal Senior Resident Engagement Advisor for Haringey Works.
The solution
Working with Matrix, a campaign was launched across the borough spreading awareness of the temporary opportunities at the council and encouraging residents to register quickly and easily via a QR code. The myths of temporary work were busted through an informative flyer, pointing out how successful candidates would gain the opportunity to:
- Explore different roles
- Gain valuable work experience
- Work flexibly
- Enjoy a shorter commute and lower travel costs
- Earn London Living Wage
To engage more closely with local residents, regular live events were held across Haringey providing more detailed information and advice, and driving registrations for temporary work. The details of applicants were held and processed on the Matrix database. Job criteria for various roles were set by the local authorities hiring managers and programmed into the Matrix system. Appropriate candidates were then automatically selected and shared with the Haringey Works team for further screening. This saved valuable time and resources.
The outcome
The partnership between Matrix and Haringey Works has significantly increased the number of local residents taking up temporary placements with the council. This means that many will go on to apply for permanent roles within the council after their temporary roles. Those for whom the flexibility of temporary contracts is more desirable will remain in temporary roles.
From April 2022 to March 2023, 465 local residents expressed an interest in temporary work through the campaign, with 269 people registering. From this pool of candidates, the most appropriate were selected by Matrix and referred to Haringey Works. This resulted in 100 vacancies being filled by local people, with the majority of placements proving successful.
“Many local residents who secured temporary work have remained in their jobs or have progressed to different roles,” said Julian Panter at Matrix. “What’s really encouraging is that at least 12 have secured permanent roles, showing the benefits of the scheme. Not only was the originally aim of filling vacancies in administration, health and social care and manual labour achieved, but suitable candidates were also identified for other Haringey departments, including HR, housing and more, relieving resource issues across the local authority.”
For further information on Matrix Workforce Management please visit teammatrix.com/
 CZUR M3000 V2 – Pro Professional Book Scanner ScannX software will add new, breakthrough functions to CZUR’s overhead scanner to offer affordable book scanners designed for UK libraries.
D&H General Trading Ltd, a leader in the distribution and support of CZUR overhead scanners in the UK and thirteen European countries; and ScannX, Inc., a leading US software developer of document capture, delivery and cloud services, today announced a new distribution partnership of ScannX software in the UK and Europe.
This is the first time ScannX’s market-leading software technology and capabilities will be available outside of the US. What’s more, this partnership will extend the functionality of the CZUR scanners for UK library customers and staff. The scanner models supported by this new software include models ET18, ET24, ET25 and M3000 Pro series.
Murray Dennis, president of ScannX, says: “D&H General Trading is synonymous with quality and reliability in this industry, so it is the perfect partnership for us. The CZUR Pro series of overhead scanners, integrated with GDPR compliant ScannX software, will offer digital services not previously affordable to most UK libraries.
To date, ScannX has shipped over 3,500 book scanning systems powered by ScannX software to academic, public, law, and school libraries in the US. What’s more, in excess of 220 million pages have been scanned using its scanners and software.
ScannX is proud to say that the US community of librarians, LibraryWorks, has recognised ScannX’s software technology for its customer satisfaction ratings for the last nine consecutive years.
The partnership with D&H General Trading will ensure the UK company provides marketing, sales and support for ScannX’s award winning software effective immediately.
“Offering our overhead book and document scanners with the ScannX software enables us to introduce innovative, easy-to-use scanning to libraries that are looking for an alternative to the more expensive overhead scanners,” said Hao Zhou, General Manager of D&H General Trading.
“One study showed that a CZUR M3000 scanner, integrated with ScannX software, produced comparable excellent image quality results, with many more processing options than overhead book scanners that are more than twice its price”.
Libraries that want to build on their existing investment in CZUR Pro Series scanners can also now upgrade to ScannX software and cloud services. Bringing this new software and hardware together is a huge win for libraries who want the best technology available, but need to stick to tight budgets.
The ScannX software expands the use of CZUR book scanners from digitisation productivity tools to cognitive language services such as translation into over 100 languages and handwriting recognition; breakthrough technology at an affordable price.
For more information please visit: www.scannx.com
 Procurement organisation and social enterprise Fusion21 has announced the fourth generation of its national Heating, Renewables and Electrical Framework worth up to £820 million over four years and is now inviting bids from interested contractors of any size, providing local, regional or national coverage.
This framework is being setup to help the owners of domestic and non-domestic buildings to ensure they are safe and compliant in respect of heating and electrical installations and to support their journey to carbon net zero.
Alongside traditional heating installations and electrical testing/works it also covers innovative technologies dedicated to sustainable heating solutions (including ground source and air source heating) and quality assurance audits. The framework is specifically designed to support public sector organisations, including housing, education, and healthcare providers.
Split into a total of ten lots, the structure is:
- Lot 1 Domestic Heating (Combustibles)
- Lot 2 Domestic Heating (Electric)
- Lot 3 Domestic Heating – Air source heat pump (ASHP)
- Lot 4 Domestic Heating – Ground source heat pump (GSHP)
- Lot 5 Commercial Heating (GSHP)
- Lot 6 Commercial Heating (All)
- Lot 7 Electrical Testing
- Lot 8 Electrical Works
- Lot 9 Solar PV & Battery Storage
- Lot 10 Quality Assurance Audits
Peter Francis, Executive Director of Operations at Fusion21 said: “Due to launch in January 2024 and developed in response to member and supply chain feedback, we’ve streamlined previous lots to create a new generation of the framework which combines a full heating offer, renewable technology, quality assurance audits and two electrical lots. We welcome bids from all organisations, large or small, to provide specialist services for our members.
“Fusion21 members can access a compliant, efficient, and quality framework, whilst benefitting from greater cost efficiencies, flexible call-off options, including direct award, and geographical coverage across the UK down to a regional and local level. As with all of Fusion21’s frameworks, the Heating, Renewables and Electrical Framework will also support members to deliver social value they can see in communities, aligned with their organisational priorities.”
Tender applications are welcome from interested organisations that meet the criteria set out in the tender documentation, now available on the Delta e-Sourcing Portal via the following link:
hubs.li/Q023Yv0m0
The submission deadline is Monday 30 October 2023.
Finance sector and Northern Ireland lead the wellbeing reward league
A new study auditing more than 5,500 jobs posted online in July 2023 has revealed that despite UK workers taking more sick days than ever before, employment packages fall short when it comes to incentives that support good health and wellbeing at work.
Undertaken by pathology testing platform Plasma by Medichecks, the research encompassed roles within the education, finance, government and public sector, healthcare, hospitality and HR and recruitment industries. It found that only 12% of the positions listed health-related perks such as private healthcare, wellbeing perks or life insurance as part of the employment package.
Even fewer roles advertised healthy lifestyle options and wellbeing rewards like access to the government’s Bike2Work scheme (10%), use of free gym classes or discounted gym memberships, shopping and cinema vouchers (5%) and a birthday day off (2%).
Workers in the finance sector are more likely to have bosses who prioritise employee health, with 41% of roles featuring healthcare and wellbeing perks, while government and public sector positions ranked bottom, with just 7% of jobs listing such incentives.
Reviewing the UK as a whole, Northern Ireland jobseekers were best off, with nearly one third (31%) of job packages citing healthcare and wellbeing benefits, followed by North East England (15%), Yorkshire and the Humber (15%) and the North West (15%). The areas listing the least health perks were Wales (4%) and Scotland (6%). A total of 17% of fully remote positions promoted health initiatives in the job ads.
Dr Natasha Fernando, head of clinical excellence at Plasma by Medichecks, explains: “Since the pandemic, the narrative around employment has massively changed, with a noticeable shift in employees being encouraged to have better work life balance and to prioritise their mental and physical health.
“Yet this study proves that in many cases that’s just rhetoric. In fact, ONS data released earlier this year found sickness absence in the UK labour market reached a record high in 2022 – accounting for an estimated 185.6 million working days lost.
“The lack of employee benefits which support improved health and wellbeing therefore seems incredibly low. And although budgets may be tight for many businesses, it is in the interests of employers – both commercially and ethically – to do all they can to keep their teams healthy, happy and productive at work.”
As a diagnostics partner for everyone from digital health companies and private healthcare providers to public sector organisations such as the police force and ambulance service, Plasma by Medichecks has witnessed a surge in demand for blood testing services.
Natasha continues: “The strain on NHS services means that many people want to take more ownership of their own health by understanding, through personalised testing, how their body is performing and what improvements they can make to their diet and lifestyle to safeguard their health for the future. As a result, workers are calling on their employers to offer up rewards that actually make a difference.
“It’s encouraging to see how the finance sector has taken stock, particularly in an industry renowned for its fast pace and staff burnout. It’s important that more business leaders recognise what an important role they could play in keeping Britain healthy, too.”
For more information visit: plasma.medichecks.io/good-health-at-work-campaign
 Sascha Giese By Sascha Giese, SolarWinds
Earlier this year, NHS England — the largest of the four public health providers in the UK — merged with NHS Digital to become the sole custodian of NHS data and technology.
The move is designed to bring responsibility for NHS data and technology expertise all under one roof to create a more streamlined and efficient organisation.
Those behind the merger maintain it’s an essential next phase in the NHS’ ongoing digital transformation. But in an organisation that is awash with data, one of the biggest headaches for those now in charge is how best to manage data safely and responsibly.
Automating tools are key
Clearly, automation plays a pivotal role in that data management. Without such tools, streamlined data collection — via the integration of various sources such as electronic health records and diagnostic equipment — would be impossible.
In fact, wherever you look, automated tools are critical to the processing and analysis of large volumes of data.
This includes rectifying inconsistencies, duplications, and errors to improve data quality — something that is crucial if clinicians want to identify trends, patterns, and insights that can inform clinical research and improve public health.
Continuing to address the need to replace outdated legacy systems
But this is just the start. For an organisation like the NHS — which celebrated its 75th anniversary this year – the issue of legacy systems is a constant reminder of its long heritage.
Systems that were once ‘cutting edge’ are now past their sell-by date but continue to underpin key services. 
There are plenty of reasons why legacy systems need to be replaced, such as obsolescence and higher running costs.
However, two issues — data sharing and providing real-time access to data — have gained extra traction recently, exposing the shortcomings of legacy systems with regard to artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML).
Investment into new technologies such as AI and ML
The UK government has made no secret of its eagerness to harness AI and ML in areas such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, mental health, and neurological disorders.
But for this to happen, it needs ready access to good-quality data to train AI models. In one sense, that is good news for the NHS. The data already exists.
However, the issue of legacy means that a lot of that data is not necessarily primed for use by the latest AI tools. For example, data in legacy systems can be stored in a huge range of formats that are not necessarily compatible with each other.
Perhaps more important is the issue of security. Of course, any automation or AI project should be implemented carefully to ensure data security, privacy, and ethical considerations. However weaknesses in legacy environments can make it difficult to fully integrate them with modern systems.
These issues can be overcome. For example, the training phase of AI projects could be done ‘behind closed doors’ in offline networks before a full roll-out using real-time data to ensure that security has been properly implemented.
Simplifying compliance through SIEM tools
Another approach would be to leverage enterprise-wide security information and event management (SIEM) tools.
SIEM tools monitor threats round the clock by gathering logs from apps and systems — located across hybrid environments in a centralised location — and issuing immediate alerts when an issue is discovered.
This approach can also take pre-emptive steps to quarantine risk or shut down processes or devices without the need for manual intervention.
With so much going on, technical teams need to be able to see what’s happening across all platforms and systems. This can be achieved via observability, an approach that provides all-important valuable insights into the inner workings of complex systems.
Putting the right tools in place
Ultimately, the challenges facing the NHS touch on all these areas as it looks to manage and secure growing volumes of data in a more and more distributed IT landscape.
What’s clear is that throwing people at it won’t solve the problem. The NHS needs to put the right tools and processes in place to achieve the visibility required to stay ahead of cyber threats, fraud, and compliance requirements — efficiently, effectively, and at scale.
While automation offers numerous benefits, it should be implemented carefully to ensure the highest standards of security, privacy, and ethics.
By Sascha Giese, Solarwinds
Rishi Sunak spoke recently about his ambitions to make the UK an AI superpower. Opening London Tech Week the Prime Minister said the UK was an island of innovation in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, synthetic biology, and semiconductors.
But he acknowledged the UK’s position as a tech leader should not be taken for granted.
“We must act – and act quickly – if we want not only to retain our position as one of the world’s tech capitals but to go even further and make this the best country in the world to start, grow, and invest in tech businesses,” he told delegates in London.
He made a direct link between innovation and economic growth—something would, no doubt, have chimed with his audience eager to invest now to reap the benefits in the future.
After all, Mr Sunak made it clear, “if our goal is to make this country the best place in the world for tech, AI is surely one of the greatest opportunities before us.”
But can the UK make the most of its AI opportunity? And, perhaps more importantly, do the Government’s actions match its ambitions?
Investment, skills, and pro-innovation legislation are key to AI success
There is no doubt the U has plenty of things going for it when it comes to AI. The country has a strong financial sector, a skilled workforce, and an openness to technology among citizens and policymakers that is more prominent than in some of its European neighbours.
And the Government is taking steps to build on these advantages. At London Tech Week Sunak also explained how the UK government is creating a “pro-investment tax regime…increasing public R&D investment to record levels…” and making the UK’s visa system for international talent “one of the most competitive in the world”.
One of the thornier issues is the need to strike a balance between innovation and legislation. On this matter, at least, the UK appears to prefer a ‘light touch’ compared to its neighbours in the EU.
In June, the European Parliament gave the green light to its approach to AI governance which follows a “risk-based approach” to protect EU citizens.
The UK, on the other hand, has made it clear it prefers a “pro-innovation” approach as it looks to become an “AI superpower” — a claim made by Michelle Donelan MP, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology in the introduction to the government’s AI policy paper earlier this year.
With so many countries busy looking at AI, it’s impossible to say with any certainty which approach will deliver the most benefits with the right level of safeguards. But it is also unclear what an AI-augmented world might look like.
Data and AI could help drive change in the NHS
One area that might provide a glimpse of the future is healthcare – another area where the UK potentially has an in-built advantage as a proving ground for AI innovation.
The UK government has already invested £123 million into 86 AI technologies supporting stroke diagnosis, screening, cardiovascular monitoring, and managing conditions at home.
And just recently, the government announced the creation of a new £21m AI Diagnostic Fund which it hopes will “accelerate the deployment of the most promising AI imaging and decision support tools to help diagnose patients more quickly for conditions such as cancers, strokes and heart conditions.”
Of course, while any funding is to be welcomed, in reality, £21m won’t go far. It may help kickstart a pilot project or proof of concept — but little else. But at this stage, perhaps that’s all that’s needed.
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) recently compiled 10 recent examples of research on AI-based technology could support the NHS in areas including detecting heart disease, diagnosing lung cancer and reducing pressures on accident and emergency (A&E) services
The NIHR acknowledged that research of this depth and quality needs to be conducted to “deepen our understanding of how these tools could work in routine clinical practice, their long-term effect on patient outcomes, and their overall value for money.”
In other words, more work needs to be done to identify exactly what progress can be made now while planning for the future. But it’s clear there is already an appetite for AI.
In an interview with Sky News recently, Professor Naeem Soomro from the Royal College of Surgeons explained how technology could be harnessed to free up staff and improve efficiency.
“The biggest problem we face right now is access to care,” he said, “and robotics, data, and artificial intelligence will help the NHS respond to those challenges.”
I couldn’t agree more. If the UK is to match its ambitions as set out by Rishi Sunak then the NHS is one area where the country can take a lead and become an AI superpower. The groundwork is already being done. It’s up to those with vision — not just from within government and the NHS, but from the tech sector as well — to join forces to make this happen.
 West Lindsey District Council’s enforcement officers have today served an Enforcement Notice and a Stop Notice to the Home Office, which calls for all work to cease at RAF Scampton.
It means that all activity using the site as accommodation for asylum seekers must stop, pursuant to section 172 and 183 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) in respect of RAF Scampton.
As previously reported, the Home Office is working on locating 2,000 asylum seekers on the former RAF site at Scampton, with a view to having the site at full capacity by December 2023.
The Council, which is the local planning authority, has raised concerns about the work taking place and first issued a Temporary Stop Notice on September 8. The Council considered that there has been a breach of planning control relating specifically to the Listed Buildings and archaeology on the site.
This notice was followed up with a site visit on Thursday 14 September. During the site visit, it was clear to officers that there has been a breach of planning control.
The breach of planning control is described as without planning permission:
- The making of a material change of use of the site to accommodate asylum seekers.
- The carrying out of operational development including the siting of Portakabins to house asylum seekers and significant invasive grounds.
The Council considers it to be in the public interest to take immediate action and therefore the Stop Notice takes place with immediate effect.
Sally Grindrod-Smith, Director of Planning Regeneration and Communities at West Lindsey District Council, said: “At the Site visit last week, officers observed significant works on site that were not considered as part of the Home Office’s Environmental Impact Assessment Screening Request. This means that the impact of the development has not been properly assessed.
“Emergency permitted development rights (pursuant to Schedule 2 Part 19 Class Q of the Town and Country (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2010 (as amended) are only available to the government in a genuine emergency, which has not been proven and when a negative environmental impact assessment screening decision is in place. Additionally, it is clear from the scale of works on Site that this development is not limited to a temporary period of 12 months.”
The Enforcement Notice and the Stop Notice requires that the Home Office:
- Ceases using the Site as accommodation for asylum seekers.
- Removes any asylum seekers residing on the Site.
- Ceases operational development works to Site Portakabins on the site and ancillary works associated with the siting of the Portakabins such as utility connections, any hard standing, fencing to enclose the Portakabins.
- Ceases all intrusive groundworks on the Site; and
- Restores the Site to its original condition.
Cllr Trevor Young, Leader of West Lindsey District Council emphasised the point that it is an offence to fail to comply with a Stop Notice.
He said: “From the moment the decision to use RAF Scampton as an asylum accommodation centre was made, the Council have been clear that this is not an appropriate site for this purpose.
“Use of the Site for asylum accommodation puts at risk the £300million investment proposal.
“It is incredibly disappointing that despite repeated assurances that the Site would be safe, legal and compliant, the Home Office has failed to secure appropriate planning permission or to adequately assess the impact of their proposals.
“It is an offence to contravene the Stop Notice and I urge the Home Office to cease all works in line with this legal action.”
A high court date has now been confirmed for West Lindsey District Council’s judicial review, which will take place on 31 October and 1 November.
 National auction house John Pye & Sons Limited has secured a four-year nationwide framework worth up to £50,000,000 to oversee the disposal and auction of end-of-life emergency service or “Blue Light” vehicles.
The ‘Framework for the Provision of Auction and Disposal of End-of-Life Vehicles and Items’ was awarded by BlueLight Commercial, an organisation established by the Home Office in 2020.
John Pye will oversee the disposal and auction of emergency vehicles that are no longer fit for purpose, such as police cars and fire engines. The framework includes managing vehicles that must be scrapped or recycled with components made available for the ‘green parts’ market and redistributing other premium vehicles that are suitable for resale.
The auction specialist’s Government and Vehicles departments will work closely with garages, second-hand vehicle traders and the primary target of end-consumers across its network of UK suppliers to ensure all premium, decommissioned vehicles generate a healthy interest.
Zoe Wright, Director at John Pye, said: “We are thrilled to be appointed to this highly prestigious framework. As the leading full-service specialist for vehicle auctioning and recycling, we’re proud to provide a sales solution for emergency vehicle disposal.
“We understand that the resale and disposal of ex-emergency vehicles is highly sensitive, and we place our operations under intense scrutiny, carefully balancing income generation for the Authority with supporting sustainability and the environment and protecting the Authority’s reputation against unwanted reputational risk.
“We are looking forward to this new opportunity to build on our excellent reputation with the emergency services and broadcast our excellent service offering to a wider audience.”
To find out more about John Pye Auctions and the comprehensive services it offers, please visit: www.johnpye.co.uk
Leading public sector and professional services organisations look to shared services model to improve core business functions, data compatibility and real-time analytics
Unit4, a leader in enterprise cloud applications for people-centric organisations, today highlighted key trends in shared services adoption among public sector and professional services organisations (PSO), drawing on data from the 2023 State of the Digital Nation and Pierre Audoin Consultants (PAC) Study: Professional Services – A Benchmark for 2023, both commissioned by Unit4.
The studies reveal there is already widespread acceptance of shared services among both PSOs and public sector bodies. However, it suggests that there is a clear focus on using shared services not only to drive cost savings but to improve operational performance, decision-making and agility, in order to achieve organisational resilience.
Moving beyond cost saving to shared resilience
Internationally, around half of the PSOs in the PAC Study say they have centralised project management, customer services, and sales and marketing, which indicates that shared services can be effective in streamlining key customer facing business processes. One fifth of PSO firms say that in the next three years they will focus on aligning core project, contract and resource management processes, which is similar in the UK. This could be in response to the impact of remote working, as well as PSOs recognising the  potential to develop global delivery models, which require critical functions to be simplified and co-ordinated across borders. Across all the markets, almost a quarter (24%) say they will centralise Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) in the next three years, but this is a lower priority in the UK (15%), which is possibly because 60% say they have already centralized finance and accounting. This demonstrates that PSOs plan to capitalise on the benefits they have achieved to-date with shared services, in order to create a single view of company-wide data using FP&A tools. It also reflects the understanding that the benefits of a shared services approach are not limited to removing costs, but also include the development of greater agility in responding to opportunities using real-time insights.
“PSOs are adapting quickly and they understand that shared services can help to build resilience against market uncertainty, which is critical if they are to remain competitive,” said Mike Ettling, CEO, Unit4. “During the pandemic, PSOs experimented with global delivery models and, for ambitious mid-market firms, this can act as a way to differentiate. To be successful, though, requires streamlined and aligned internal and external business processes. It is clear that the shared services model offers a more effective way to establish the right foundations for global delivery strategies.”
Belgian PSOs (37%) are ahead of the global average, intending to move finance and accounting functions to a shared services model in the next three years, compared to 25% in the Nordics and globally 38% of IT Services firms. The DACH region clearly illustrates the benefits of moving to a shared services model, as 77% of PSOs have already moved their project management teams to this way of working and they outperform their peers in terms of delivering projects on time. This can, in part, be attributed to having a holistic view of all the data within their organisations on project management.
Public Sector
There has been significant growth in the adoption of central and shared services, which has gone from 0% in 2021 to 33% in 2023, according to the State of the Digital Nation study. For those already using central and shared services, growing its footprint has been one of the top three changes that public sector organisations have seen in the last 24 months.
Canadian respondents place the greatest emphasis on it, but it drops out of the top three for UK respondents. In contrast, it is a top three priority for central government and healthcare bodies, but falls just outside for state/local/municipal authorities.
“There is an urgency to look at the shared services model in the public sector, not just because of budget constraints but because it is understood that service providers must collaborate to deliver services effectively to citizens,” Mike Ettling, CEO, Unit4. “Shared services are going through a perception change in that they are no longer just seen as a means of cutting costs, but as a strategic means to resolve fundamental challenges around legacy systems, data compatibility and delivering real-time analytics. The model has the potential to deliver on ambitious transformation goals to make the public sector fit-for-purpose in the 21st Century.”
In 2023, 29% of respondents say there is a need for wholesale improvement in data compatibility, while 34% say large improvements are needed. Canada has the highest percentage (41%) demanding wholesale change compared to UK (35%) and Sweden (17%). Central government respondents (43%) are most likely to say this issue requires wholesale improvement, compared to state/ local/ municipal bodies (29%) and healthcare providers (16%). Finance decision makers also say that accessing real-time data has become harder (54%), compared to the previous study in 2021 (40%). All these indications underline the importance of having centralised services where public sector bodies can streamline and integrate all sources of data within their organisations to form an accurate picture of priorities and respond with greater agility to optimise performance.
boxxe, a York-based IT solutions company, has today announced a successful partnering with Dell Technologies to secure a place on the SSSNA framework as trusted providers of hardware solutions to Higher Education institutions.
SSSNA is an IT purchasing framework agreement enabling all universities, Higher Education and Further Education establishments to purchase tech provision in a hugely rewarding time-efficient, cost-effective way. Through this agreement, institutions don’t need to go through individual EU tenders each time they wish to procure servers, storage and solutions, including converged infrastructure and end to end solutions.*
 boxxe now represents Dell as trusted, responsible suppliers for Lot 1 – Servers and Lot 3 – Converged, Hyper-converged and Solutions. An incredible achievement for boxxe, as they join a select handful of valued Dell services resellers to, HE establishments.
boxxe secured their partnership after proving exceptional technical reach, capabilities and specialist knowledge within their Dell Technologies portfolio. They gave evidence of their Sales & Technical reach, quality customer experience and depth of understanding inside Higher Education in a bid to demonstrate their value and commitment as full end-to-end HE digital transformation specialists.
Their expansive knowledge of Dell’s Server and Storage portfolio, alongside excellent capabilities to sell, build, support and design the technologies positioned them as strong contenders for the framework partnership. It is boxxe’s strategic planning and focus on Dell products and services – the full APEX portfolio – including the PowerStore, PowerScale & Powerflex, Dell Financial Services and SecureWorks, that cinched their claim as Dell Technologies SSSNA Framework partners.
Steve Scholey, Partner Account Manager at Dell Technologies said, “A huge well done to boxxe for bolstering their goal to become a leading VAR in the Dell Higher Education space, this time by securing a place on the SSSNA framework.
“As a nominated reseller on both Lots 1&3 of the framework , boxxe intend to leverage the key relationships they have to maximise utilisation of the SSSNA framework to deliver best of breed solutions into Higher Education. Dell nominated resellers are chosen for their business development activity and infrastructure services and skills.”
Full end-to-end digital transformation
With time, money and effort at stake, students are expecting more, and better, services from their educational institutes, who now face fierce competition in their efforts to recruit them. The time is nigh to step up and provide them with the best educational experience possible, which means incorporating sustainability into every aspect of their operations. boxxe also notes that the SSSNA framework encourages suppliers to operate and promote sustainable practices, and are delighted that their own values align with this mission.
“Educational institutions are standing on the precipice of an extraordinary era of digital transformation” explains Mark Smith, Technology Lead for Infrastructure Solutions at boxxe. “With customer experience, data services and cybersecurity identified as top priorities, this is a fantastic time for boxxe to be joining the SSSNA framework. Our deep expertise, commitment to sustainability, practical know-how and focus on meaningful relationships allows us to harness tech’s ability to change lives and transform businesses.
This partnership with Dell on the framework is a huge step on our mission to making tech human. It represents another strong commitment to provide value to our customers along each and every step of their digital transformation journey. We’d like to thank Dell for their unwavering faith in boxxe as outstanding tech solution suppliers, and we’re looking forward to furthering our decade long partnership as trusted Dell Technologies specialists.
It’s an exciting time in the Public Sector as a whole, and we’re proud to have the relevant accreditations and a place in the frameworks that are guiding its invaluable and highly lucrative digital transformation.”
For more information please visit: boxxe.com
Blackhawk Network(BHN), the global market leader in payments, rewards and incentives, has been awarded a place on ESPO’s Staff Benefits Framework (319_23).
- Lot 1 Managed Services Platform for Benefit Schemes
- Lot 2 Cycle to Work Salary Sacrifice Schemes
- Lot 4 Technology Products Schemes
Joining the ESPO Staff Benefits Framework will allow public sector organisations to onboard employees to BHN’s employee benefits platform, BHN Extras, with the assurance that BHN meets the procurement criteria.
BHN Extras is a leading, cost-effective, employee engagement and benefits platform. It’s a simple, straightforward, no-hassle way to offer employees a comprehensive range of flexible, personalised workplace benefits that support their mental, physical and financial wellbeing. Benefits include leading Cycle To Work solution, Cyclescheme, Techscheme, Byond cashback card, MyGymDiscounts and Health Assured’s EAP.
According to our research, 68% of employers received requests for financial support from their employee, indicating the importance of employee benefits in the current financial climate.
Over three quarters (76%) of employees we surveyed said they were looking at ways to save more money and the majority of employees surveyed think their employer could do more to support them through the cost-of-living crisis (53%).
Chris Ronald, VP EMEA B2B – Incentives, Rewards & Benefits , BHN, said:
“The insight from our data is clear. Staff are demanding more from their employer and rightly so, as the everyday costs remain high, and the cost-of-living crisis endures. The good news is our range of voluntary benefits through BHN Extras can help people save money on the things that matter to them. From commuting costs to supermarket shops, home appliances, tech, and much more. A flexible choice of benefits can help public sector organisations attract and keep the best people, contribute towards employee health and wellbeing, and encourage positive values. “In the public and third sector alone, 60 local authorities and 52 NHS Trusts across the UK already partner with BHN for employee benefits.
Social enterprise Fusion21 has announced the renewal of its national Building Improvements Framework worth up to £346 million over four years and is now inviting bids from interested contractors of any size, providing local, regional or national coverage.
Developed to support public sector organisations, including housing, education, and healthcare providers, the framework offers a wide range of internal and external improvement works from the installation of kitchens, bathrooms, windows and doors to roofing work. It has been enhanced to include four new dedicated lots covering damp and mould, external environmental improvements (such as fencing, driveways, walls, hard and soft landscaping), insulation, and aids and adaptations.
Split into a total of nine lots, the structure is:
- Lot 1 Kitchens and Bathrooms
- Lot 2 Windows and Doors
- Lot 3 Pitched Roofing
- Lot 4 Flat Roofing
- Lot 5 Insulation
- Lot 6 External Environmental Improvements
- Lot 7 Aids and Adaptations
- Lot 8 Damp and Mould
- Lot 9 Internal and external general repair and improvement works
Peter Francis, Executive Director of Operations at Fusion21 said: “Set to launch in January 2024, this framework has  been renewed in line with the proposed Decent Homes Standard updates and now covers even more aspects of building improvement. We’ve listened to member and supply chain feedback and enhanced the framework in several ways, including the introduction of four new lots and making it easier for contractors to apply by creating dedicated lots for specific building improvements. There is also a specific lot for organisations that can offer both internal and external general repair and improvement works.
“Fusion21 members can access a renewed framework which has been updated to include potential changes in current and future member requirements. Additional benefits for Fusion21 members include accessing a compliant and efficient route to market, while being supported to deliver social value they can see in communities, aligned with their organisational objectives.”
Fusion21’s Building Improvements Framework offers flexible call-off options including direct award and geographical coverage across the UK, down to a regional and local level.
Tender applications are welcome from interested organisations that meet the criteria set out in the tender documentation, now available on the Delta e-Sourcing Portal via the following link HERE.
The submission deadline is Thursday 5 October 2023.
Matrix steps forward as a strategic partner for National Interview Week, a ground-breaking education initiative aimed at bridging the gap between education and career
 Tim Campbell Matrix, one of the UK’s leading Workforce Management companies, is proud to announce its strategic partnership with National Interview Week, a pioneering education and early career initiative set to launch on December 4th, 2023.
This partnership underscores Matrix’s commitment to its social value strategy and its dedication to closing the widening divide between education and career. By aligning with this innovative project, Matrix is able to demonstrate its unique position as a representative of both workers and employers, making the initiative a natural fit for the company’s ethos.
Recent statistics have highlighted critical gaps in the career development of students across the UK:
- 38% of state-school students have not participated in any career-related activities.
- 37% of state-school senior leaders lack sufficient funding for comprehensive careers guidance.
- 36% of secondary school students lack confidence in navigating the next steps of their education and training.
- An increase of £4,600 in annual earnings is associated with young people possessing better essential skills.
In response to these pressing issues, National Interview Week has been conceived to empower students. The initiative provides 5,000 free interview coaching sessions during the upcoming Autumn Term, targeting students in Year 12 and above from state schools and colleges. The programme aims to build students’ interview confidence and connect them with mentors to enhance their personal development.
Siobhan Goss, Matrix’s social value manager comments, “We understand the importance of giving these vital life skills to young people and this opportunity allows us to do it on a much greater scale. It aligns perfectly with our current social value strategy and our wider purpose of connecting people to work. We are excited to be working with Tim Campbell and supporting National Interview Week and look forward to seeing how the project develops over the next couple of years, culminating in not just 5000 students being helped but 50,000”
 Mark Inskip – Matrix National Interview Week is a joint effort between YourGamePlan and Oppidan Education. YourGamePlan’s extensive reach in the education sector, offering accredited training to schools and colleges across the UK, complements Oppidan Education’s experience in delivering personal development programs. Together, they aim to equip students with the skills needed for a successful transition from education to independence.
Renowned entrepreneur and former star of The Apprentice, Tim Campbell, is spearheading National Interview Week. Commenting on the initiative, he remarked, “I remember the feeling at school of not knowing what I wanted to do when I left. That uncertainty was made worse by the fact that I had no idea what my next steps should be and absolutely no interview practice – those first interviews are a pretty alien process to a young person. My career has put me through some tough selection processes (with The Apprentice being one of them!) and I really feel that more needs to be done to prep students who are looking to get that crucial first job.”
Mark Inskip, CEO at Matrix, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “Our collaboration with National Interview Week reflects Matrix’s dedication to nurturing the future workforce. By supporting this initiative, we are contributing to the development of essential skills that will empower young individuals to make confident and informed career choices.”
Registration for schools opens on September 5th. To learn more and sign up, please visit yourgameplan.co.uk/events/national-interview-week.
 Blackhawk Network(BHN), the global market leader in payments, rewards and incentives, has been awarded a third Crown Commercial Service Framework. Cyclescheme, a wholly owned subsidiary of BHN, has been approved to join the (CCS) RM6273 Employee Benefits & Services Framework.
With Cyclescheme, the UK’s leading Cycle to Work provider, employees can save up to 42% on a new bike, e-bike or cycling accessories by spreading the cost of their purchases through salary sacrifice. The salary sacrifice is taken from employees’ gross salary before tax, so it’s cost-positive for the employer.
Joining the framework will allow public sector organisations to offer their employees Cyclescheme; with a choice of 2,600 retailers, and a way to save on commuting costs, whilst getting fitter and reducing their carbon footprint via a CCS approved procurement supplier.
Insights from BHN’s recent employee research showed that over three quarters (76%) of employees are looking at ways to save more money, and the majority of employees surveyed thought their employer could do more to support them through the cost-of-living crisis (53%).
Chris Ronald, VP EMEA, B2B – Incentives, Rewards & Benefits, BHN, said: “As the leading Cycle to Work provider we are proud to have been selected to support public sector employees to save money and keep fit. BHN has over 30 years’ experience in benefits and employee engagement, supporting organisations to engage and create loyal, inclusive and energised workforces. From our research, we know that the UK is still suffering the effects of the cost-of-living crisis, which is why we are passionate about what we do and encourage all employers to introduce ways to support employee’s financial wellbeing and encourage participation. Joining the CCS Employee Benefits & Services Framework forms part of our continued commitment to serve the public and third sectors.”
The appointment came after a competitive tender process undertaken by CCS and will be in place for an initial three years. CCS plays a vital role supporting the UK public sector save money when buying common goods and services.
To find out more please visit www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/agreements/RM6273
- Multi-million-pound fund for charity sector to carry out crucial work – alongside the NHS – to save lives and tackle tragedy of suicide
- Government calls on charities across England to apply for funding to continue supporting tens of thousands of people experiencing suicidal thoughts
- Comes alongside expected £13.6 billion this year to transform the country’s mental health services so millions of people can quickly access NHS support
Tens of thousands of people experiencing suicidal thoughts or approaching a mental health crisis will receive vital support, as the government relaunches a £10 million fund so charities can work with the NHS to provide life-saving suicide prevention services.
 Charities in communities across England can now apply for the latest round of funding from the Suicide Prevention Grant Fund which will ensure as many people as possible can access the support and prevention services they need, when they need it. Funding will also help prevent people reaching crisis point and reduce future demand for these services across both the charity sector and the NHS.
A previous fund of £5.4 million in 2021-22 supported over 100 organisations within the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector. The results of the fund were overwhelmingly positive, with virtually every single successful bidder saying it helped meet increased demand after the pandemic, improved access to services for people in need, and helped identify those experiencing suicidal thoughts quicker.
Previous grant recipients included:
- James’ Place Charity which used £283,968 to provide innovative and free suicide prevention therapy to men over the age of 18 in Merseyside and London
- The Caribbean and African Health Network in Manchester which was awarded £41,599 for work to tackle taboos around suicide in Black communities
- Papyrus which was awarded £151,815 to provide confidential support and advice specifically to young people and anyone worried about a young person through their HOPELINE247
The funding comes alongside a projected £13.6 billion investment by the NHS this year to continue to provide, expand and transform mental health services in England including NHS talking therapies, children and young people’s mental health services and eating disorder services.
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:
“Too many lives are sadly lost to suicide and my sympathy goes out to those affected by its truly devastating impacts.
“We’re already urgently investing record sums of money to transform and expand NHS mental health services, but the voluntary suicide prevention sector is such an important part of the support on offer and this multi-million pound fund recognises the work it carries out alongside the NHS.
“I encourage charities to apply for this funding so they can continue to save lives, tackle taboos, and make a real difference to so many people.”
PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide chief executive Ged Flynn said:
“Funding is vital if we are to continue giving hope to children and young people who are struggling with life, and we welcome the government’s contribution which will go some way to help.
“The services we offer are underpinned by voluntary income; kind donations, fundraising and public support. That generosity funds our confidential HOPELINE247 service which allows our professional suicide prevention advisers to keep young people safe.
“We also rely on voluntary income to help us engage with local communities on suicide prevention initiatives across the UK, offer training to groups and individual and support a network of volunteers who have lived experience of suicide.”
Suicide is sadly the biggest cause of death in both men and women under the age of 35 in the UK, and there has been a noticeable increase in the last decade in the number of tragic suicides among women under the age of 25.
NHS crisis lines receive 200,000 calls per month and the Samaritans report receiving over 10,000 calls per day on average.
This latest round of government funding, however, could be used by the VCSE sector to boost capacity in crisis helplines – both for those struggling and for those who are concerned about a loved one – provide signposting to services, launch campaigns targeted at specific at-risk groups like young men, and also support families who have experienced the tragedy of losing a loved one by suicide.
Minister for Mental Health Maria Caulfield said:
“Every single suicide is a tragedy – one which still affects too many people in England. Heartbreakingly, it is still the biggest killer of men under 35.
“But we’re taking action. This £10 million fund for the voluntary and charity sector will help people nationwide receive crucial mental health support and builds on the success of previous funds, which supported tens of thousands of people approaching a crisis.
“We’re already investing £57 million into suicide prevention schemes through the NHS Long-Term Plan, and all local areas now have suicide prevention plans to address the specific needs of their populations.”
While this funding will help fund a range of preventative and innovative activity up and down the country, the government is committed to doing all it can to prevent deaths by suicide. Later this year, it will publish a new National Suicide Prevention Strategy that will set out further actions and commitments to deliver this.
Professor Sir Louis Appleby National Advisor on the Suicide Prevention Strategy said:
“Charities play a critical role in preventing suicide and today’s launch of the grant fund will support their vital work. Given the pressures facing the sector, I hope all eligible organisations will consider bidding for funding.”
The government is investing at least £2.3 billion of additional funding a year by March 2024 to expand and transform NHS mental health services, so an extra two million people can get the mental health support they need.
Over £400 million is also going into improving mental health facilities, including by giving patients the privacy of their own bedroom and eradicating shared dorms.
The mental health workforce is also growing. In December 2022, we saw almost 9,000 more mental health staff working than the previous year. The NHS Long Term Workforce plan sets out ambitions to grow the mental health workforce further.
Professor Subodh Dave, Dean of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said:
“We welcome this funding for suicide prevention. We strongly back the roll out of evidence-based programmes to support those at risk of suicide, most of whom are not in contact with mental health services.”
Clinicians and healthcare workers across Ireland to benefit from increased security and significant time savings that can be redirected towards providing excellent patient care
Imprivata®, the digital identity company for life-and mission-critical industries, announced that together with regional partner, PFH Technology Group, it has won a national framework contract with Health Service Executive (HSE) to deliver Imprivata OneSign®, an Enterprise Access Management solution, to healthcare organisations across Ireland. The framework competition was conducted by Tallaght University Hospital on behalf of the HSE. Health staff will be able to instantly access clinical systems by entering their password once per shift and reauthenticating with just the tap of their ID badge, reducing the reliance on remembering complex passwords and associated stress for stretched clinicians, while improving security of sensitive patient data.
In a pilot study conducted by Tallaght University Hospital, Imprivata’s Enterprise Access Management solution has shown to save up to 50 minutes per shift for busy clinical staff; time that can be redirected to patient care. The Imprivata solution is part of the eHealth National Single Sign-on project and will be made available across the Irish public health and social care system to provide a digital workplace. The initial roll-out will involve:
- Tallaght University Hospital
- Beaumont Hospital
- Rotunda Hospital
- Galway University Hospital
- Cork University Maternity Hospitals
- National Forensic Mental Health Service Hospital
- National Rehabilitation Hospital
Supporting Quotes:
Daniel Johnston, MRes, RN, Sr Clinical Workflow Specialist & UK NHS Clinical Safety Officer at Imprivata said, “Connecting care systems through digital transformation can improve efficiency and satisfaction, making the day-to-day experiences of clinicians easier and more fulfilling. Breaking down the barriers to accessing technology with solutions such as single sign-on is a significant step forward for clinicians on the frontline.”
Cathal Collier, eHealth Programme Manager at HSE said, “This contract awarded to Imprivata and PFH Technology Group is part of a number of national Programmes and Strategies that have been initiated to harness technology, which is enabling HSE to make significant strides towards delivering digital health systems across Ireland.”
David Wall Chief Information Officer, Tallaght University Hospital stated, “Imprivata OneSign will enable clinical staff that need to access patient records electronically to move between computer systems without the need to log into solutions more than once. Clinical staff will be able to move seamlessly between systems staying with the same patient, which provides the infrastructure to support effective clinical decision making. “
Commenting on the project, Paul Silke, Client Director at PFH Technology Group said; “This is a clear example of a digital transformation solution that ultimately provides tangible benefits to patients. The Imprivata Single Sign On (SSO) solution is simple and clever allowing healthcare professionals to save valuable time and to help them to focus on the key tasks at work.”
About Imprivata
Imprivata is the digital identity company for life- and mission-critical industries, redefining how organisations solve complex workflow, security, and compliance challenges with solutions that protect critical data and applications without workflow disruption. Its platform of interoperable identity, authentication, and access management solutions enable organisations in over 45 countries to fully manage and secure all enterprise and third-party digital identities by establishing trust between people, technology, and information.
For more information please visit: www.imprivata.co.uk
 Jakub Lewandowski By Jakub Lewandowski, Global Data Governance Officer at Commvault
It can’t have escaped your notice that there’s a lot of heated debate around AI at the moment, most specifically around the emergence of generative AI algorithms and Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, Google Bard, Dolly, and others.
The rapid uptake of this technology has had a significant impact on just about every aspect of life: stimulating conversations around whether AI will take over human jobs, when and how it is ethically appropriate to use LLM tools, and how best to address the potential privacy and data security risks associated with using these tools.
Ethical and philosophical debates aside, organisations looking to deploy LLM-powered solutions to streamline and automate processes, or summarise and generate intelligence gained from massive data sets, will need to give due consideration to the risks involved.
Alongside creating internal policies and guidelines on how and when employees can use these tools, and for what, awareness of the current legal and regulatory landscape within which this technology currently operates will be key.
LLM – what is it, and how does it work?
LLM is a type of AI algorithm that uses deep learning techniques and large data sets to understand, summarise, generate, and predict new content.
Unlocking new possibilities in a range of fields, the potential applications for LLMs are infinite, encompassing everything from customer service chatbots through to anomaly detection and fraud analysis in financial services. It is also being used to speed up software development, generate complex legal summaries, provide insights for investment decisions, and create models that generate new insights on molecules, proteins, and DNA for pharmaceutical and life sciences researchers.
Clearly, LLMs are already proving to be a game-changer for multiple industry sectors and have a strong appeal for any organisation looking to increase efficiency and productivity. But there are a number of well-documented challenges that come with using the technology. These include dealing with issues like fabricated or inaccurate answers, model and output bias, intellectual property and copyright infringements, as well as data protection concerns.
Considering the risks
In terms of risk assessment and due diligence activities, some key questions will need to be asked around the sources from which data is taken to train and power LLM models, the licensing arrangements relating to that data, and how the data is sourced. Let’s take a look at why this is important.
LLMs can collect, store, and process any kind of data, including personal and other confidential data, at an unprecedented scale. This opens organisations up to some key challenges that arise from determining who is responsible for the legitimacy and quality of data used to train generative products.
Without knowing this, organisations could face significant legal or regulatory penalties if their models utilise personal data that has not been obtained using appropriate permissions. For example, personal information disclosed to LLMs could subsequently be used in additional ways that violate the expectations, or permissions, given by the people to whom this information explicitly relates.
 Secondly, how does an organisation prevent or guardrail against the generation of problematic content such as observed biases, deep fakes, or outright discrimination? The responsibility of solution providers and organisations in terms of who is accountable for prevention, monitoring, and response needs to be clearly understood and documented.
When it comes to automated decision making or other outputs, who or what will gain access to the data or results generated by LLMs, and what are the implications of these systems in relation to cybersecurity risks?
Finally, organisations intending to use AI will need to think carefully about how they address privacy related obligations such as responding to the requests from data subjects to access or delete their data.
Regulatory compliance
LLMs are subject to the same regulatory and compliance frameworks as other AI technologies, but the speed at which they are becoming ubiquitous highlights some challenges in relation to compliance with existing data privacy and protection frameworks.
Let’s take a look at the key overarching legislation that organisations will need to be mindful of.
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
Encapsulating the crucial principles of data sovereignty – that digital data is subject to the laws and regulations of a country in which it is physically located, that the government has jurisdiction over it, and can enforce its data protection policies – GDPR sets out a number of key requirements and principles in relation to the processing of personal data. These include:
- Consent – data subjects have a number of rights regarding their personal data, including the right to access, amend, or delete their data. How users exercise these rights in practice with relation to LLMs is a challenging proposition.
- The right of individuals not to be subject to decisions that produce legal effects for the individual or significantly affects the individual based on automated processing. This means that while certain decisions may be supported by LLM, the final say will typically require human judgement.
Data regulators in Italy, France, Germany, and Ireland have already voiced concerns about whether large LLM models are compliant with GDPR rules. Earlier this year Italy’s data regulator took a stand, preventing ChatGPT from harnessing the personal information of millions of Italians for its training data (though access was reinstated within a month, after OpenAI successfully “addressed or clarified” the issues).
The UK Data Protection and Digital Information Bill (DPDI Bill)
Currently under review by the House of Commons, the DPDI Bill aims to provide new clarity in relation to automated decision making and the safeguards that organisations will need to put in place when implementing AI. These include respecting the right of individuals to be informed about and to consent to such decisions, and to request and obtain human intervention in relation to such decisions. All of which is very much in line with current GDPR requirements.
Upcoming legislation and enforcement trends
European data protection authorities are already preparing to tackle complaints about GDPR violations resulting from the use of LLMs, ahead of the EU’s planned review of the effectiveness of GDPR in response to the rise of AI.
In France, the data protection watchdog, CNIL, has set out an action plan in relation to the deployment of generative AI systems, a move that could shape how other European regulators approach these technologies. Similarly, the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) has launched a task force that is focusing on enabling parity between the EU’s new AI Act and GDPR.
The EU’s AI Act, which was approved by the European Parliament in June 2023, sets out to regulate AI based on its potential to cause harm and is likely to put stricter obligations on the foundation models upon which LLM solutions are built. The regulation has already proposed a ban on certain AI uses, such as social scoring, and outlines the safeguards that will be needed for today’s rapidly evolving tech environment.
Meanwhile, the UK government has recently published its own AI whitepaper that sets out guidance on the use of AI that is designed to drive responsible innovation while maintaining public trust in this technology. The likelihood is that this will spawn further new legislation and regulation in the years ahead.
Evidently, the current flurry of data privacy and AI regulations means that organisations intending to deploy AI will need to navigate an increasingly complex legislative and regulatory landscape in the months to come and will need to ensure they stay fully abreast with developments. For the moment, however, the focus should be on ensuring compliance measures are in place so that data is collected and processed in line with current legal and regulatory requirements.
Local Authorities are facing greater cuts in their budget allocations, cuts that are amongst the largest in living memory. In one case, one county council has been asked to find £70 MILLION of budget savings.
As a result, products, services, and solutions that are budget friendly are more important than ever. However, it’s not only 2023’s budgets that local authorities will have their eye on, but also 2024, ’25, ‘26 and beyond.
Indeed, long-term solutions steeped in cost-effectiveness are becoming the holy grail for local authorities who continue to battle against seemingly ever decreasing budget allocations, creating a knock on effect for every service that they provide.
 Maintaining highways is a constant challenge for governments and local authorities, and one of the most significant issues they face is ensuring the sustainability, durability and longevity of their infrastructure. That’s why products like SHIMPAC®’s ROADSHIMS® ironwork seating solutions are so important. In a closely linked additional challenge, the environmental impact of solutions is another huge focus for Local Authorities, as councils come under more and more pressure to meet CO2 reduction targets.
The ROADSHIMS® range from SHIMPAC® is a durable and cost-effective way to install ironwork seating. The product is designed to withstand the test of time, and some of the first installations of ROADSHIMS® are still in the ground without failing after over 30 years. This longevity is incredibly important in the world of highways, where long-term solutions are essential for budget savings – not only now, but for future budget savings too. Faced with tightening budgets, local authorities are taking notice.
When you factor in products that tick the box of vital environmental concerns along with being budget friendly, the field starts to narrow.
Highway infrastructure must be built to last, and this is where SHIMPAC® comes in. By providing a reliable and long-lasting solution, this product can help to reduce the cost of maintenance and repairs in the long term, freeing up budget for other projects and initiatives.
One of the main benefits of ROADSHIMS® is ease of installation. The product can be installed quickly and easily, which means that highways can be up and running in no time. This can help to minimise disruptions and keep traffic flowing smoothly.
Another benefit is durability. The product is designed to withstand heavy loads and harsh weather conditions, making it ideal for use in high-traffic areas. This durability ensures that the infrastructure remains safe and reliable for years to come, reducing the risk of accidents, damage to vehicles, and subsequently – damage claims against already cash strapped councils.
The installation and durability benefits in turn contribute to the meeting of key environmental and sustainability targets. Less vehicles needed on site upon installation, no need for year-on-year repair and a dramatic reduction in materials are all key results of utilising ROADSHIMS® for ironwork seating.
ROADSHIMS® are incredibly cost-effective. The products are designed to be low maintenance, which means that it can help to reduce the overall cost of maintaining highway infrastructure both in the short and long term. By reducing the need for repairs and maintenance, the product can help to save money in the long term, which is essential for budget-controlled authorities.
Short-term, the cost of a SHIMPAC® installation is 40% lower than an alternative ironwork seating option, yet also bucks the trend of a lower priced solution resulting in lower quality. Technical compliance and with numerous 35-year installation sites around the UK still intact and performing, it’s undoubtedly the case that this isn’t a pocket friendly option that will result in regret.
Barry Andrews, Technical Lead at SHIMPAC® told us:
It’s about a long-term approach, yet our system also has the all-important low installation cost.
“Rightly or wrongly, we know there will be a certain percentage of those looking for a solution will decide based purely on cost. So, to make sure we provide cost-effectiveness is vital, and we’re proud to say using SHIMPAC® Systems saves a minimum of 40% for the same ironwork seating installation using other compliant products.
“Additionally, SHIMPAC® Systems products are the only materials that have consistently been used to gain product assurance certification (HAPAS/PAS) covering ironwork installations.
“As our councils face more and more pressing budget issues, it’s systems like ours that can come to the rescue in the short-term, and keep more budgets intact for other local authority issues longer term, when our products are still performing.”
|
NEED AN UP TO DATE DATABASE? 
|
This is where Zhaga comes in.
Recent Comments