Portfolio

Samples from working on Indeed's International Career Guide campaign as a writer

https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/corrective-action-plan

https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/interview-questions-for-dsp

https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/work-individually

https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/jobs-in-wedding-industry

https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/find-people-looking-for-jobs

https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/coaching-in-organisations

https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/telesales-interview-questions

https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/starting-new-job/employee-departure-announcement

https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-extend-product-life-cycle

Samples from working on Indeed's International Career Guide campaign as a copy editor

https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/common-characteristics-of-millennials

https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/getting-feedback-from-your-team

https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/coming-up-with-business-ideas

https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/apprenticeships-in-blacksmithing

https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/quotes-for-small-business-owners

https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/cvs-cover-letters/how-many-references-should-i-have

https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/18-year-old-jobs

https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/orthodontist-vs-dentist

https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/types-of-archaeology-degrees

https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/battle-cards

https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/what-are-applied-sciences

https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/what-does-professional-dancer-do

https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/what-is-kanban-board

https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/what-does-corporate-investment-banker-do

https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/contractionary-fiscal-policies

https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/competitive-positioning

https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/how-to-become-metallurgist

https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-make-a-flowchart-in-word

Proposed hotel description - Artist Residence Bristol - for a travel publication

Situated within the arty St Paul’s community, this Georgian townhouse and old boot factory is a quirky, boutique hotel based in the heart of Bristol.

Minutes from the city centre: Located on Portland Square, a Grade I listed square in the creative and vibrant St Paul’s neighbourhood, Artist Residence Bristol is minutes away from the city centre and based in an area known for its strong sense of community and thriving shopping street.

Relaxed all-day dining and drinks: Downstairs is a cosy hangout, serving breakfast and drinks all day long. Known as the Library, this snug and eclectic space is an ideal escape after a long day of exploring Bristol. The main bar, café and kitchen will be opening in early 2022, which is a new, fun and friendly dining space with a cosy atmosphere and casual food and drink offering.

Comfortable, spacious and stylish rooms: With bedrooms set across 3 floors, Artist Residence Bristol offers a variety of comfortable bedrooms and spacious suites. Each stylish room contains hand-selected artwork and vintage furniture and boasts a handsome selection of amenities, such as smart TVs, organic bath and body products, a fully-stocked mini bar, complimentary Wi-Fi, a Roberts Radio and a Nespresso coffee machine.

Proposed homepage for fictional skip hire service - Ignite Skips

Us in a nutshell

Ignite Skips is a well-established, reliable and highly reputable skip hire service.

Based in Coventry, we provide a variety of waste removal services in the 15 miles surrounding the Coventry area at extremely competitive prices.

Recently acquired by new management, Ignite Skips has over 20 years of waste removal experience.

What we offer

Ignite Skips provides a full selection of waste removal services.

Our services include: domestic and commercial skip hire; mini digger and grab hire and man and van collection.

Ignite Skips provide skips for hire in a variety of sizes, allowing you to dispose of your waste materials for a number of projects.

Our 4 cubic yard skips are perfect for removing waste as a result of a bathroom refurbishment or clearance of your loft or garage. The maximum capacity for this skip is 30 bin bags.

If you are thinking about taking on a small garden project or a general domestic clearance then our 6 cubic yard skips are ideal. These skips can fit a maximum of 50 bin bags.

Perhaps you are looking at throwing out your old shed, a large amount of soil and rubble or disposing old fence panels? Then our 8 cubic yard skips are the ones for you. Our largest skips can hold up to 60 bin bags.

Why should you choose us?

We are a well-respected and trusted provider of waste removal services, with a strong focus on customer service. We have been around for a while so you can be assured we know what we’re talking about.

We strive to keep you informed of all developments concerning your skip hire or other waste collection service, so that you are always kept in the loop, and we aim to build lasting relationships with all of our clients so you come to us again for future waste removal needs.

We can offer outstanding skip hire and other waste management services at a highly competitive price, often cheaper than our rivals.

When you book with us we will help to advise you in selecting the right size skip, depending on your waste disposal needs. It’s super easy to book your skip hire. All you have to do is get in contact and leave the rest to us.

Thanks to our reliable vehicles, we always aim to deliver our skips as quickly as possible. We know you want to get rid of your waste as quickly as possible, so we never want to miss a deadline.

Overall, our primary concern is to help remove your waste as quickly and effortlessly as possible.

Prices and getting in contact

Our prices are highly competitive and we can supply you with a skip for hire quickly and easily. Get in touch for a quote now or if you want to find out more about our waste collection services. You can find our contact information below.

Proposed marketing email for Silver State Foundry (in US English)

Hi there,

Are you searching for a unique gift for a special someone or perhaps you want to treat yourself to a beautiful and distinctive piece of jewelry? Then look no further.

Here at Silver State Foundry, we handcraft coin rings from genuine, vintage silver and gold coins at our studio in Reno, Nevada.

We ship globally, only sending out pieces that we would be happy to wear with pride. We check the coin purity before forging, which means you get jewelry with historical significance that will stand the test of time.

Our rings come with free lifetime warranty and a satisfaction guarantee. That means free resizing, cleaning and polishing. Forever. And, if you’re not satisfied, you can return your ring within 60 days and get a full refund.

Visit silverstatefoundry.com to view our collections, see recent customer reviews, find out your ring size and place your orders. Details on how to get a 10% discount and a free ring sizer for first time buyers can be found there too.

In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, we’d love to hear from you.

Looking forward to receiving your orders and queries soon,

SSF

Vietnam offers the full package for travellers and holidaymakers

Vietnam is an ideal destination for explorers and tourists due to its stunning beaches and wildlife, vibrant cities, an impressive variety of tours and activities as well as budget and high end options for food, drink and accommodation.

I’m privileged enough to have visited a large number of countries, particularly in South East Asia, due to family members being based in China. Out of all those countries, the one that stands out for me is Vietnam.

Beaches are one of the first things that come to mind when I think of Vietnam. Large, sandy, outstanding beaches can be found in Mui Ne, Nha Trang and Hoi An. Visitors preferring vibrant urban centres will be pleased by the bustling cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, which are filled to the brim with motorbikes, pagodas and numerous historical sites.

Whilst not being as overdeveloped and touristy as some of its neighbours, Vietnam does have some crowded tourist hotspots but alongside this, it also has plenty of undiscovered regions. Getting lost on Vietnam’s backroads by motorbike or scooter is the best way of seeing the country’s segments of stunning, unspoiled scenery.

The country has a huge selection of tours and activities, ranging from: trekking and sampling local wine in Da Lat; exploring rice terraces in Sa Pa; swimming through pitch black, muddy caves in Phong Nha; snorkelling and diving off the coast in Nha Trang; thrashing dune buggies around on the beaches in Mui Ne; riding along the Hai Van Pass on a motorbike whilst walking through the well-preserved ancient town in Hoi An; visiting the Imperial City in Hue; canoeing in the Mekong Delta and crawling through the Cu Chi Tunnels just outside of Ho Chi Minh City to sailing between the thousands of beautiful islands that make up Ha Long Bay.

Vietnam boasts one of the finest cuisines in the region. Visitors can enjoy fresh, flavourful, healthy food options from street food vendors and high end restaurants. Those on a budget will be ecstatic as it is a difficult task to find a country with cheaper prices for food and drink. Alongside its food, Vietnam also offers a large variety of accommodation for both budget and high-spending guests.

I spent a month in Vietnam in 2014 and I would happily visit again and again as this beautiful country has the full package. It has beaches, culture, stunning wildlife, activities, cheap and excellent food and drink and an abundance of accommodation, both budget and high end, making it an ideal destination for both travellers and holiday-goers. Seven years later, it remains my favourite and most recommended travel destination.

Brave New World: an all time great and Huxley's finest work

Brave New World is a 20th century classic dystopian sci-fi novel written by Aldous Huxley. The book, which is Huxley’s fifth novel and first dystopian work, is set in a futuristic world state where the citizens are environmentally engineered into an intelligence-based social hierarchy. This world state is built upon the principles of Henry Ford’s assembly line and Ford himself is revered as the creator of their society. From birth, members of every class are indoctrinated by recorded voices repeating slogans while they sleep to believe their own is superior, but that the other classes perform needed functions. The novel anticipates huge leaps in science and technology that combine to form a dystopian society, which is challenged by the story’s protagonist.

Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four is often compared to Brave New World. Both books are versions of man-made hell. Whilst Orwell’s masterpiece concerns a hellish totalitarian state, Huxley’s work outlines a nightmarish hedonistic artificial paradise where everything is a consumer good and human beings are engineered to be happy.

Huxley sought to provide a frightening vision of the future in Brave New World. He used the setting and characters in his science fiction novel to express widely felt anxieties, particularly the fear of losing individual identity in the fast-paced world of the future.

The novel is a difficult read to start with, which could be seen as a necessity as Huxley tries to depict his dystopian future. The story begins to pick up the pace about half way through. At times one could argue there is a lack of character development and the change in protagonist may perplex some readers.

Brave New World explores the negatives of a successful world in which everyone appears to be content and satisfied, with excessive pleasures but in reality this stability is only achieved by sacrificing freedom in its true sense.

Huxley’s novel revolves around the notion of totalitarianism and is set in a futuristic world where science and pleasure combine to form a feudalistic society. This form of totalitarianism is formed through the use of hypnotism and test tube babies, which result in a pre-ordained caste system consisting of intelligent beings in the highest positions whilst servant-like humans are genetically programmed to carry out menial jobs. Soma, the hallucinogenic and antidepressant drug which causes artificial happiness, is used to keep this world together. Another form of control used is the system of forced promiscuity, which is brainwashed into the people at a very young age. Eugenics are the heart of this novel and despite the book being written several decades ago, its message still rings true today.

The book explores how developments in technology can get out of hand and transform world society. It makes the work highly relatable, as technology dominates our lives increasingly. Brave New World questions how far technology can advance without it becoming immoral. The book is a world where whilst everyone appears equal on the surface, the use of eugenics means there is much inequality and unfairness in reality.

Brave New World is an enduring masterpiece of speculation and not a work for people with tender minds or weak stomachs. It is a more astute guide to the future than any other 20th century work and it is impossible to read without being impressed by Huxley’s eerie glimpses into the present. Brave New World may be presented as fiction but it is slowly becoming fact. The novel is a grave warning, which is full of ingenious wit and is a thoroughly provoking, stimulating, shocking and dazzling read.

Huxley’s book is a well written, thought provoking and complex read that, like all great novels, leaves a lasting impression. It is a scary depiction of what could soon be our future. Huxley has demonstrated his masterly skill in this fine work, resulting in the most remarkable and accomplished novel that he has ever written and one of the greatest literary works of all time.

Cycle path revamp needed on Great Dover Street

Southwark Council is facing mounting pressure by local residents and businesses to revamp the cycle path on Great Dover Street after a series of accidents occurring in recent months.

A rainy summer, coupled with excess tree sap has led to slippery conditions for walkers and cyclists alike on a cobbled cycle path connecting Trinity Street to Great Dover Street just outside the Roebuck Pub in the Borough area.

A number of accidents involving cyclists have been on the increase during the summer of 2021, according to local residents. A serious accident, resulting in the need of an ambulance, took place on 12th July. Eleanor Barlow, 39, from Borough fell from her bike in the early evening. Staff from the Roebuck Pub provided first aid until the ambulance arrived.

Miss Barlow was asked to recall the accident and said: “It was awful. I lost control of my bike and hit my head pretty hard on the ground. Staff members from the nearby pub came out and waited with me until the ambulance came.

“I had to lie there in the rain for two hours. I was so embarrassed. The Council needs to do something about this so it doesn’t happen to anyone else.”

Since the incident the pub has put up signs to help prevent further accidents until the Council takes action. Michael Robinson, owner of The Roebuck Pub, has contacted Southwark Council and is advising his regular customers to do the same to put pressure on the Council. Mr Robinson said: “The Council needs to do something about this and fast. When it’s raining I see at least a handful of cyclists fall off their bikes and this latest accident shows how dangerous this cycle path now is.

“I have written to the Council asking them to put signage up to encourage cyclists to slow down as well as trimming back the trees in the area to prevent a build up of excess tree sap on the path. Until the Council does something about it I will be putting up my own signs.”

Tim Horsler, Chair of the Trinity Newington Residents’ Association (TNRA) has also contacted the council, asking them to replace the slippery cobbled path with a modern cycle path and to clean the area more frequently.

Mr Horsler said: “After speaking with Michael about the accident that occurred on 12th July I have asked the Council to consider installing a new cycle path with improved grip as I believe the current path is a serious safety issue for local residents.

“I’ve also asked them to consider cleaning the path and areas around it more regularly to prevent these slippery conditions.”

The Roebuck Monthly Chronicle 19.05.21

The Rose in New Cross: must-visit South London casual, modern British gastropub

Owned by an independent group of pubs, bars and restaurants spread across London, the Rose is a casual, modern British gastropub located a stone’s throw from New Cross gate station. This lively joint is family and pet friendly with a young, hip crowd frequenting its doors. The pub is incredibly accessible thanks to nearby overground, train and bus links.

It’s pricier than some of its rivals in the area but you get what you pay for. Stellar service is a given and the food is top notch. The menu changes seasonally and caters for everyone. Whether you’re after traditional pub grub, small plates, kids options or a Sunday roast, the Rose has got you covered. They also offer fantastic stone fired pizzas at a very reasonable price, which are highly recommended should you visit.

The drinks selection is impressive too. At the Rose guests can sip on local beers and spirits, as well as more well known ones. The Rose also offers an extensive range of wines (old and new world) and an impressive cocktail list for a pub.

Events and parties are currently on the back burner due to Covid but when normality starts to return the Rose will have lots to offer. The pub has two large rooms available for private hire and are currently taking party bookings for later in the year. Events are held frequently and range from quizzes to live sport and parties in the December period.

The pub is reopening on 12th April and booking is strongly advised as this venue is often busy. Due to government restrictions, guests will only be able to sit outside for the first few weeks until restrictions ease further. Good thing then that the Rose boasts one of south London’s best outside spaces. This huge beer garden is well covered and has heaters too for those cooler days. Can’t get a table booking or find walk-in space? No problem, the Rose also offers delivery options via Deliveroo & Uber Eats.

South Bermondsey crime levels increasing since pandemic began

Crime levels in the South Bermondsey area in London near Marcia Road have been increasing since the Covid-19 pandemic began. According to police.uk total reported crimes have increased from 104 in March 2020, when the first national lockdown in the UK took place, to 180 in December 2020.

Whilst crime levels haven’t increased every single month over the period between March 2020 to December 2020 overall crime levels have increased. Reported crimes in the South Bermondsey area near Marcia Road jumped from 104 in March 2020 to 182 in April 2020 and then 204 in May 2020 before falling to 158 in June 2020 and then increasing again to 220 in July 2020. Reported crimes then fell to 197 in August 2020 and then dropped further to 163 in September 2020 before increasing to 190 in October 2020 and then falling slightly to 181 in November 2020 and 180 in December 2020.

The majority of the crimes reported were bouts of anti-social behaviour, followed by sexual offences and violent incidents. The next largest crime categories were then related to drugs or public order offences. All other reported crimes fell into the ‘other’ category which includes a range of offences such as: theft, burglary, criminal damage, arson, robbery and weapon possession.

Concerns about an increase in anti-social behaviour and crime in the area has led to the establishment of neighbourhood watches as a preventative measure. South Bermondsey resident and creator of a neighbourhood watch on Marcia Road, Jacob Varnam, was asked to comment on the statistics: “Many of the houses on the road have become vacant since the pandemic started, as a result of people being out of work. This has contributed a great deal to the increase in crime and anti-social behaviour.

"It’s no surprise that criminals are targeting these vacant houses as it’s easier to commit crimes such as theft and burglary without being detected. That is why we have decided to set up this neighbourhood watch to prevent this from happening and make Marcia Road a safer place to live.”

Examples of criminal and anti-social behaviour witnessed and reported by the Marcia Road neighbourhood watch include: fly tipping by businesses and individuals, parcel theft, drug dealing, identity fraud, car and scooter theft, burglaries, gang violence and vandalism.

Lockdown 1.0-3.0: how I've spent my time

It’s no secret that Covid-19 has transformed the world. In the UK, a surge in cases and deaths has meant that we have gone into 3 national lockdowns in order to take the pressure off the National Health Service by bringing down hospital admissions. As a result many people, including myself, have been put on furlough due to the forced closures of businesses. In this piece I’ll be talking about how I have spent my time, having only worked 6 months in the last year.

The first few weeks on furlough leave I treated as if I was on holiday. A holiday that was long overdue after several months of working long hours in my full-time job as a general manager of a busy South London pub. I spent most of my time watching films and tv shows, reading and playing video games. Eventually the novelty wore off and I decided to be more productive. I had a few outstanding exams to complete for my Diploma in Journalism so the remaining weeks of the first lockdown were spent solidly preparing for and completing these. I was staying with my brother at the time so I treated the revision as a job, working during the day and having time to relax and unwind in the evening when my brother had also finished work.

I was put on furlough leave again during the month-long second lockdown. I had another exam to complete so I spent the majority of my time preparing for this as well as practising my shorthand skills. When I wasn’t studying I went for long walks both during the day and in the night so that I could test out my new camera. This has helped me improve my photography and video editing skills and will prove to be very useful when I complete certain components for my portfolio.

I had completed my written exams for my journalism qualification by the time the third national lockdown was announced. As a result I have been pursuing my interests more. Alongside continuously practising my shorthand, I’ve been reading a lot of books, practising Spanish and my housemate has been teaching me how to play the guitar. So far I’m really pleased with the progress that I’ve made on the guitar. I’ve gone from zero knowledge to a good knowledge of notes, chords and keeping rhythm. I’ve also used my free time to finally set up a website as a means of presenting my portfolio. At the moment I am in the process of planning and writing submissions for my e-portfolio element of my journalism qualification. Once I’ve completed these pieces I’ll upload them to the site, which I’m hoping will make me more attractive to prospective employers.

Like many other people, all 3 of the national lockdowns have caused me anguish both mentally and physically. I have tried to combat this through home body workouts and running as well as virtual interactions with my friends, outside of my household, in the form of quizzes, video calls and a book club. During the book club we’ve discussed Breakfast At Tiffany’s by Truman Capote and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. I’m hoping that we can do at least another 2 book club sessions before the end of the lockdown.

My housemates have played a key role in keeping me sane whilst in lockdown. To pass the time we’ve watched tv shows and films together. Alongside this we’ve played a variety of video games and board games and we’ve gone for walks around the local area and visited shops which are allowed to be open still. In particular we’ve gone to a few plant shops, which has allowed me to get more greenery in my bedroom at long last. We are a big fan of quiz shows in the house so one of the highlights has been when we have recreated these shows in our own way. It certainly helps when one of your housemates regularly writes and performs quizzes. So far we have done The Chase and Taskmaster and I’m looking forward to when we do more in the future.

The lockdowns have been both a blessing and a curse. On one hand it’s been great to have so much free time to pursue my interests, spend time with my housemates and to work on my journalism diploma. On the other hand I’m eager to return to work soon, especially as I miss contact with other people. In the meantime I intend to spend the rest of the lockdown period working on my shorthand skills, as I have the exam in April, and on my portfolio. As well as this I’m in the process of applying for new jobs in the journalism sector. I’m also hoping that by the end of the lockdown period I will be a lot more confident and proficient on the guitar to the point where I can play a few songs comfortably.

Budget 2021: what should be in it and what to expect

The highly anticipated 2021 Budget, which was set to take place in autumn last year, was delayed due to the pandemic and will now be taking place on 3rd March. This is the first budget to take place since the Covid-19 pandemic started. It is set to be one of the most significant for many years as Chancellor Rishi Sunak seeks to outline his plan to tackle the economic fallout from the pandemic and protect jobs.

Mr Sunak is under mounting pressure to begin paying off the huge debts which have been built up during the pandemic. Government borrowing has now reached more than £270bn, over £200bn more than the previous year, and it is estimated that borrowing could reach almost £400bn by the end of the financial year in March. The national debt is now over £2 trillion, which is almost the size of the whole UK economy, a level not seen since the early 1960s. Borrowing is at its highest level since monthly records began in 1993 with the overall government deficit heading to its highest in peacetime.

The Government could reduce this mountain of debt by increasing taxes but the Conservatives pledged not to increase income tax, National Insurance contributions or VAT in their 2019 manifesto. That being said, the pledge was before the pandemic and the chancellor could argue that a change in policy is justified due to the drastically changed circumstances. Whilst immediate tax rises could be justified they are not currently needed because the cost of borrowing is cheap and the economy is quite fragile. However, Mr Sunak could and should introduce some other taxes to help bear the costs such as a windfall tax on companies or sectors that have profited as a result of the crisis as well as a small increase in corporation tax.

The Budget will seek to introduce some small cuts to public expenditure whilst also providing support to those affected the most by the pandemic to ease the pressure on the Chancellor. This could include a mild cut in government spending, especially as Mr Sunak has already imposed a pay freeze on over a million public sector workers. It is likely that the Government will extend the £20 weekly increase to universal credit, which is acting as a lifeline to many low-income families during the pandemic. In order to support the housing sector, the Government will extend the stamp duty holiday in England and Northern Ireland and introduce a mortgage guarantee scheme to help those with small deposits get on the property ladder. The furlough scheme is set to be extended until government restrictions are hopefully eased in June. There are almost 5 million people currently on this scheme. If the scheme was not extended this would cause a huge rise in unemployment and damage the economy further.

Mr Sunak should seek to return the public finances to a more sustainable footing in the near future but that time is not now. It was the right thing to do to support livelihoods during this crisis and the Government should continue this support. It is not the time for tax increases but that time will come as the current levels of debt will already take decades to pay off and when inflation kicks in the debt mountain will soar ever higher. Balancing the books will not be at the top of the chancellor’s priorities for this Budget. Not when unemployment is still rising, businesses are struggling and families are experiencing hardship.

Law student case study, published by The Lawyer Portal

Blog post on why I chose to do a law conversion course, published by The Lawyer Portal

The Lawyer Portal Blog - 5 Things I Learnt on Legal Work Experience

Gaining work experience is essential to starting a career in any sector and this is especially so with regards to pursuing a career in law. It is equally important, however, to make the most out of any work experience opportunity. In this post I shall reflect on my various experiences of working in legal environments and state the 5 main things that I learnt from these opportunities that you should try and apply to any opportunities that you are presented with.

First of all, it is important to ooze enthusiasm. I have found that if you come across as a keen bean you are more likely to be given more interesting work, other than just completing mundane administrative tasks, and this will enable you to get more out of your legal work experience. It also never hurts to ask if you can get involved in any other work. You never know unless you ask.

Second, you should try to build solid working relationships during your legal work experience. Building such relationships will enable you to get good references when applying for graduate legal jobs and in my experience it has helped me to gain further opportunities in the future.

Third, write a diary on your work experience or a blog. This will help you to remember exactly what it is that you did. This will be a massive help during interviews, as it will help you to be able to talk about the experience in great detail and it will allow you to reflect on your experience and identify where you could improve in future. Remember to leave out any personal information about clients so that you don’t breach client confidentiality.

Another thing that I learnt during my legal work experiences is to do as much research as possible before you commence the experience. This will help to reduce nerves before you start, as you will be more confident on what it is that you will be doing. You will also come across better and this links back to my first point on being enthusiastic in that it may lead to you being involved in more exciting tasks during your work experience and potential opportunities beyond that.

Finally, you should ask for feedback at the end of your legal work experience. Whilst it is possible to be able to identify where it is you excelled and areas where you can improve yourself, it is much better to ask the people you worked with. You may find that they spot issues with your working style that you have never thought about. It is important to welcome criticism because it is the best way to improve and by working on improving your weaknesses this will allow you to become a better candidate for future employers.

If you’re reading this blog then it is likely that you have done exceptionally well in gaining legal work experience in what is a highly competitive job market so congratulations. If you want to make the most out of your experience and better your chances of gaining that dream legal job then be super keen, build strong working relationships, record your experience, conduct research beforehand and ask for feedback.

Serving up the best in sustainable and local produce - published on The Roebuck Green Team Blog (https://roebuckgreenteam.tumblr.com/)

Our meat and some of our vegetables come from Gill Wing Farm in Eridge, Sussex. They farm according to organic and biodynamic principles and are less than an hour away from the Roebuck. We thought it would be useful to send several members of our team down to the farm to find out more.

Andrew, who manages the farm, is incredibly passionate about nature and his animals. The farm is home to pigs (some of which are absolutely enormous), chickens and guinea fowl to name but a few. All of the animals had so much space to move around, we could genuinely feel that they were living happy lives. The animals are well fed; the majority of them are fed from feed that is produced from the land, thus helping to reduce waste and reduce food miles. Usually a lot of the carbon footprint of meat comes from the production and transportation of animal feed, at Gill Wing Farm the environmental impact is kept low.

The farm is also home to the charming Colin the Cockerel, who was found wandering the streets of Eridge, a llama, Oscar, and some rare breeds of sheep.

Gill Wing Farm also supplies us with some of the most delicious vegetables we have ever tasted, such as: cucumbers, courgettes, tomatoes, chillies and much, much more. It is very difficult to go back to eating veggies from the supermarket once you’ve tried some of these. We were particularly impressed by the farm’s irrigation system, which uses recycled rainwater.

Andrew very kindly gave us all a box of organically produced, free-range eggs from the farm just before we left, which makes a cracking omelette! All in all, everyone involved had a great day out and we can’t wait to tell our customers about how great Gill Wing Farm is.

BPP Student Blog - GDL Induction

In this post I shall be talking about my first few weeks as a full-time Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) student at BPP University in London. Before choosing to study the GDL I read history at Queen Mary, University of London. I enrolled on the course this September to fulfil my ambitions of becoming a solicitor.

The GDL is a one-year (or two years part-time) intensive course designed to convert any degree into a qualifying law degree. The course requires students to sit exams and complete coursework for seven modules, these are: criminal, contract, tort, land, equities and trusts, constitutional and administrative and EU law. Students also have the opportunity to study areas outside of these seven modules when completing the Independent Research Essay. The course requires students to take the English Legal System (ELS) test at the end of the induction period and Case Analysis and Statute Analysis tests at the end of the course.

So far I have completed the first two weeks of the course known as the induction period. During this time I had three lectures and tutorials on the English Legal System and the first two lectures for each substantive module. Everybody in my tutorial group is friendly and driven, some of which already have training contracts in place. All the lectures are uploaded to BPP’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), which is incredibly useful just in case you want to go over a lecture again. I would recommend attending the lectures live though (if you can) as the lecturers are extremely witty, which makes lectures highly enjoyable.

At the end of the induction period students have to complete the English Legal System (ELS) test. Now this sounds nerve-racking, considering that the course only started two weeks ago, but in reality it is a fairly straightforward assessment designed to ensure that you have acquired an understanding of the English Legal System. The test is multiple-choice and is done online via the VLE. Students have an hour to complete 50 questions on the following topics: English Legal System, Statutory Interpretation and the Doctrine of Precedent. I followed my tutor’s advice and completed the test on the day it was released, although you have up to two weeks to complete it, thus allowing me to focus on the substantive teaching modules. Before taking the test I read through my lecture and tutorial notes on each topic and completed the practice test. The test wasn’t particularly difficult, especially as you can refer to your notes if you need to, and I’m pretty confident that I passed.

Aside from the course BPP offers its students plenty of extra-curricular activities. I am currently enrolled on an eight-week Mandarin Beginners’ Course, which is free for GDL students. BPP also presents students with opportunities to participate in pro bono work, which is essentially voluntary legal work. Currently I am volunteering for the housing and family clinic at BPP Legal Advice Clinic. It is equally important for students to remain positive during the course and so BPP arranges social activities for students such as ‘tea with tutors’, which allows students to socialise with their personal tutor and other tutor groups. The careers service at BPP is also very useful. They regularly send me emails advertising training contracts, pupillages, paralegal jobs and internships/work placements as well as upcoming careers and employer talks.

On top of the work and extra-curricular activities I must find time to send off applications for vacation schemes and internships. Life for a GDL student is therefore a stressful one. The key is to treat the course like a job, getting up early and working solidly until the evening. Failure to do this will lead to regular late nights with little time for anything else. The course is by far the most intensive course I have ever studied on, managing your time well is therefore absolutely essential. Despite the heavy workload I am really enjoying the course. The subject matter is highly interesting and you will never be bored whilst studying the GDL!

BPP Student Blog - Reading week, events and careers

Assessment week, also known as reading week, came about quickly and I must say was a well-deserved rest after a busy few weeks. It wasn’t all fun and games though, as I decided to take advantage of this free time. BPP offers GDL Students optional lectures as part of GDL Extra. This gave me a chance to gain an insight into other areas of law, which are outside the scope of the course. I enrolled on the Law in the City course. This provided me with an insight into life as a lawyer in the City as well as an introduction to competition law, company law and mergers & acquisitions. The course has been particularly helpful with regards to filling out vacation schemes for commercial law firms as it allows me to demonstrate an interest in this area of law. Alongside this, I observed a case in the Old Bailey during reading week. The experience was a thoroughly interesting one and I believe, by gaining a greater understanding of the legal process, it will help me with my criminal law studies. The free time in reading week also gave me a chance to consolidate my tutorial and lecture notes and start planning my EU Project and Independent Research Essay.

Reading week also provided me with the opportunity to participate in events away from my studies. BPP regularly sends me emails about upcoming careers events and talks. After receiving such an email, I went to a talk at BPP involving a firm that I was interested in working for. The experience was a highly valuable one and I now feel confident that my application to the firm will be stronger as a result. I also attended an application form workshop for vacation scheme applications, which has helped to improve all of my applications.

BPP Student Blog - Christmas and this term

I spent much of the Christmas period concentrating on vacation scheme applications. Having identified the firms that I wished to apply to in November and conducted all the necessary research in advance, I managed to send off all my applications well before the deadline. Crucially, this meant that I could concentrate on my GDL studies when I returned to law school in January.

Right now my aim is to get back into the swing of things. That means studying regularly and pouring through my past notes to consolidate my knowledge. In the next few weeks I intend to begin working on my EU Project and revising for the EU MCT in March. After that I shall get stuck in to my Independent Research Essay and begin preparing my revision for the main exams in June.

I also have some voluntary work coming up in February and March, which involves shadowing a legal adviser during client interviews whilst taking notes. This should be an excellent experience and will give me something interesting to talk about should I get an interview for a vacation scheme. If I do I will have to squeeze preparation in to my schedule alongside tutorial preparation, revision and coursework. There are some busy yet exciting times ahead.

BPP Student Blog - Upcoming exams, assessments and an update on vacation scheme applications

Since my last blog post I have completed and handed in my EU essay well before the deadline in March. This has given me plenty of time to focus on revising for the EU Law Multiple Choice Test (MCT) at the end of assessment week. Having gone through the study notes several times, I am now in the process of shortening my notes to a few pages per topic in preparation for the knowledge-based questions on the MCT. During assessment week I will be doing practice papers on the VLE to prepare myself for the problem questions. After completing the assessment I will start working on my Independent Research Essay, which is due in April.

In my last blog post I stated that I had completed all my vacation scheme applications. Since then I have been invited to take numerous online assessments, including verbal reasoning tests, situational judgment tests and the Watson-Glaser test. I have prepared for these through online practice tests and I should be hearing back from firms in the next few weeks to see if I make it through to the telephone interview/interview/assessment centre stage.

I have signed up to the commercial awareness workshop during assessment week and I plan to attend the optional lectures on intellectual property law and company law as well. On top of this I have signed up to the optional courses after assessment week, which are designed to hone the skills that are essential in practice. All of this will give me something interesting to talk about should I reach the interview stages for my vacation scheme applications and will help me to stand out from other candidates.

BPP Legal Advice Clinic – Student Director Blog

I am currently one of the Student Directors at the BPP Legal Advice Clinic, which provides free legal advice to the local community on housing and family law issues. The position has complemented my legal studies by allowing me to experience work in a legal environment. During this experience I organise the rotas for the student assistants and assist in recruiting new assistants for the clinic. In the next few weeks I will begin arranging client appointments as well. I also act as a student assistant for the clinic. During this role I interview clients over the telephone and complete detailed and accurate client information sheets. I also provide administrative support and greet clients during the clinic hours.

Whilst volunteering at the clinic I have developed various skills. The experience has vastly improved my interviewing and analytical skills, which are essential for any budding lawyer. I have also grown to understand the challenges that people face when dealing with the legal system, which has enabled me to empathise easily with clients. Whilst at this post I also developed my organisational and communication skills, which have helped to improve my CV.

Finally, the experience has been highly satisfactory. It has allowed me to make a significant contribution towards a project that helps provide free legal advice to many people in the London area. Pro bono services have become increasingly important due to the increased cuts in legal aid. Therefore, without the services of the clinic many of our clients would not have access to such advice and so I am proud to have volunteered for such a worthwhile cause.

New consultation to increase court fees proposed by Ministry of Justice

On 22 July 2015 the Ministry of Justice revealed plans that could double court fees. The consultation, announced by justice minister Shailesh Vara, proposes that the maximum fee for money claims should rise from £10,000 to £20,000.

Court fees are currently payable on 5% of the value of a claim, up to a maximum fee of £10,000. Personal injury and clinical negligence claims are to be excluded from the higher cap whilst fee remissions for those of limited means will still apply. The fees would be introduced to property, tax and general regulatory chambers.

The Ministry of Justice is proposing court fees at low levels for the majority of applications in the property tribunal. Higher fees will be set for leasehold enfranchisement cases due to large sums of money being at stake. Under the new plans immigration and asylum chamber fees would double. There are exemptions in the proposals to protect the vulnerable. In the plans, there will be a 10% increase to a wide range of fees in civil proceedings.

These measures would generate an estimated £48m a year in additional income. Vara acknowledged that: "These increases in court fees will not be popular but the courts and tribunals must contribute towards reducing the deficit." Vara also said that only so much could be delivered through efficiency measures and that, despite these proposed fees, the courts would still "cost £1bn more a year to run than it received in income".

The Ministry of Justice stated that the fees for issuing a possession claim in the county court would increase from £280 to £355. Fees for general applications in civil proceedings would increase from £50 to £100, for an application by consent, and from £155 to £255 for a contested application. Injunctions, however, will be excluded from any increase. Fees for divorce proceedings will increase from £410 to £550 and fee remissions will be available for cases such as those involving women in low-wage households. The remissions scheme will be more generous by allowing those who need to pay a larger court fee to qualify for a remission. This scheme will apply across all courts and tribunals on which the ministry is consulting except immigration and asylum chambers, which have separate arrangements in place.

The consultation is due to close on 15 September 2015. Meanwhile, the justice committee opened an inquiry into: the court fees regime, various fees and charges introduced by the coalition government including employment tribunal fees, enhanced fees for civil proceedings and a mandatory charge imposed on convicted defendants. The select committee is seeking views on the impact of these fees and charges on the access to justice and on the competitiveness of the legal services market. The deadline for written submissions is 30 September 2015.

Lawyer2B Contribution - China’s stock market crash

Q: Why did China’s stock bubble burst?

The Chinese stock market has fallen by 30% after share prices more than doubled last year. The crash is a result of depressed commodity prices and a hiatus in global trade growth. There have been many theories behind the cause of China’s stock market crash. One of the main theories is that the China stock bubble was fuelled by speculation which was not based on strong economic fundamentals i.e. when investors buy assets for more than they think the assets are worth, because they believe that they'll be able to sell at an even higher price.

Q: What effect has the crash had on businesses and investors?

As a result of this slump, 940 companies have now suspended trading on China’s two main indices. Unlike the vast majority of stock markets, many of those trading on China’s stock markets are individual investors instead of banks and pension funds. In China, more than 80% of investors are individuals. These individuals entered the stock market to vary their methods of managing their money. Almost 90 million people in China hold shares and the average loss since the stock market crashed has been more than £43,000.

Q: What steps can businesses and investors take to mitigate the effects of the crash and how can lawyers assist?

There are few that think the measures that the government has introduced will be successful in combating the effects of the crash. Individuals should consider cutting their losses and selling their shares. Businesses should consider following their competitors and delisting from China’s stock exchanges to protect themselves from further crashes. Individuals can seek advice from their lawyer on how to do this alongside offering alternative investment methods.

Businesses will now need to find other ways of raising finance other than through equity finance such as IPO’s. Alternative finance could come from private equity or hedge funds, which in turn may lead to increased M&A when these lenders want to exit i.e. sell their stake in the business – law firms with particular strengths in M&A will directly benefit from this anticipated trend.

Link to publication (login required): http://l2b.thelawyer.com/home/insight/training-contract-interview-prep-the-hot-commercial-topics-to-read-up-on/3037837.article

Further reading:

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/jul/08/chinese-investors-despair-as-gains-wiped-out-in-tumbling-stock-market

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/china-business/11725236/The-really-worrying-financial-crisis-is-happening-in-China-not-Greece.html

http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-07-08/the-psychology-behind-china-s-stock-market-bubble

Online censorship blog post for Advocates for International Development (A4ID)

Researching what kind of lawyer you would like to be

It is vital to thoroughly research a law firm before making an application. It is simply not possible to land the training contract of your dreams without doing so. It is drilled into the majority of students that detailed research before making applications is important. However, many students are unsure where this information can be found. Outlined below is a guide to tackling such research and why it is so important.

Thorough research into legal practices is essential in order to convince legal recruiters to hire you. In order to land a training contract you need to demonstrate to future employers that you: understand the firm’s key practice areas; understand what a training contract with that particular firm involves; have specifically targeted the firm; and are prepared for and up to the challenge. It isn’t possible to demonstrate this without conducting detailed research into the law firm in question beforehand. Research is also important because it will allow you to identify which law firm is the best fit for you. It can sometimes be difficult to differentiate between law firms but all firms have subtle differences to their competitors in terms of their culture and the service that they offer to their clients. You will need to discover these differences and explain why such differences will make you a good fit in order to be successful in your application.

Now that you understand the importance of conducting this research, let’s focus on how to actually do it. Your first step in conducting this research should be the firms’ own websites, which you can find by simply doing a web search. The majority of information regarding a firm’s specialisations, culture, careers and geographical reach can be found here. The amount of career information can vary substantially, depending on the size of the law firm in question. However, most law firm’s websites will have a significant careers section and possibly even a mini-site devoted to recruiting trainee solicitors.

Alongside law firms’ websites, independent material on law firms can be found in publications such as The Training Contract & Pupillage Handbook (TCPH), Chambers UK Student Guide, Chambers UK Guide, Lex 100 and the Legal 500. These sources will provide you with: in-depth insight into law firms' areas of expertise; their ranking in different practice areas; recent cases and clients; and quotes from law firms’ clients and trainees. These publications contain different material so it is best to use all three together in order to get well-rounded research. The Training Contract & Pupillage Handbook can be obtained for free from law fairs and university careers services (as is Chambers UK Student Guide), and both Chambers UK Guide and the Legal 500 can be viewed online.

It is important to find out how firms are viewed in the legal profession. Looking for news reports in the legal press is a great way of doing this. You should look for articles on recent deals, turnover, retention rates for newly qualified lawyers, diversity and trainee deferrals for the law firm in question. Not only does this demonstrate that you know more about the firm than what is listed on the website, it also demonstrates your commercial awareness and this is a vital skill to demonstrate to a law firm if you have any hope of getting hired.

Social media also gives an insight into how law firms are viewed by the wider legal community. Twitter and Facebook are excellent places to get objective opinions on law firms, particularly on Twitter. Alongside the legal profession’s widespread use of Twitter, there is a large and committed group of regular bloggers that cover different areas of the legal sector. Reading legal blogs will provide you with viewpoints from all levels of the profession, ranging from legal journalists, trainees and magistrates to in-house and recently qualified lawyers. Research from social media and legal blogs can provide you with privileged information about law firms from people that are not afraid of voicing their opinions. Keeping up with Twitter and legal blogs is a fantastic way of following the legal profession as a whole and staying up-to-date with current affairs in the legal industry will help you find the law firm that is the correct fit for you.

Your research should not be entirely based upon looking at your computer screen. One of the most important and effective stages of good research is getting out there and actually meeting people that work at these law firms. A potential employer may seem fantastic on paper but it is impossible to tell if this is the right place for you to start your legal career until you meet its representatives. There are many ways of contacting law firms' representatives, such as: law fairs, presentations, open days and networking events. Prepare some questions in advance that you would like answering and with some luck you may even get noticed by the graduate recruitment teams. Having a contact at the law firm that you are applying for is an excellent way of getting your application closer to the top of the pile.

The above guide covers the basics of why and how to research law firms, for the purpose of applying for training contracts. If you follow everything that is outlined above you should have all the information required to make a successful application.

Can an employee make a successful claim for unfair dismissal if they refuse to accept a pay cut?

In Mr C Decker v Extra Personnel Logistics Ltd a recruiter, who resigned after refusing to accept a pay cut, has won £17,000 for unfair constructive dismissal at an employment tribunal after it was held that slashing pay and hours fundamentally breached his employment contract. The case was heard at Liverpool Civil and Family Court.

Mr C Decker had worked for Extra Personnel Logistics, a Merseyside-based driver recruitment agency, since 2008. From 2009 until he left in July 2017, he was involved in the everyday operations of the business, recruiting drivers of heavy and large goods vehicles.

Decker initially worked 40 hours a week but this was cut to 32 in 2015. In February 2017, Decker was asked by the company’s managing director, Brad Richardson, if he would reduce his working hours further from 32 to 16, blaming the agency’s loss of two contracts and a downturn in the industry. Under the proposed change, Decker would have lost £205 a week.

Decker replied that, after reviewing his current situation and financial commitments, he felt he could not afford any reduction in his current hours. At a meeting on 7^th March 2017, Decker said he would be willing to accept a reduction from 32 hours to 24 hours, but only if his daily rate was increased from £102.97 to £110.00.

Richardson emailed in May 2017, asking which working days would be best for Decker. He replied Monday to Wednesday at the revised daily rate and Richardson said he would have “this” for him by the following Monday. Decker had taken "this" to mean Richardson had accepted his proposals. However, on 1 June 2017, Richardson said the business was currently not in a position to offer a pay rise and offered a different contract, which now had to be signed. Decker said he had not agreed to another contract and believed the pay rise was not unreasonable given he had worked at the company for eight years.

The judgment stated that after this exchange, Decker did not feel valued as an employee and that he was being forced out after he asked for an additional £0.88 per hour. The recruiter handed in his resignation on 5 June 2017. The tribunal ruled that a reduction of this magnitude was a serious matter for Decker and that his employer had fundamentally breached his employment contract. It added that the enforced reduction in Decker’s hours and the consequential loss in pay were the reasons why he resigned.

It was also held that Richardson had failed to comply with the ACAS Code of Practice. In particular, he failed to adequately treat an email from Decker on 1 June 2017, laying out the issues he had with the company’s actions, as a grievance. The judge ruled that his response breached the ACAS code.

Mr Decker was awarded £16,852.12 for unfair constructive dismissal. This included a basic award of £4,942.92 for his eight years of continuous employment at the company and a compensatory award of £11,882.20, which increased by 10 per cent due to Extra Personnel Logistics’ breach of the ACAS code.

This case demonstrates the need to recognise the ACAS code as more than just guidance and that failure to correctly follow the code can lead to significant financial ramifications for employers. To avoid a successful claim, the employer needs to prove that there was a fair reason for the employee to be dismissed, which the court concluded was not present in this case. The level of the compensation awarded in this instance takes into account earnings lost alongside the employer’s failure to correctly comply with the ACAS code by failing to hold a meeting to discuss the employee’s grievance as soon as possible.

The impact of the proposed Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE) Bill in tackling forced marriage in the classroom

On 7^th July 2014 Green Party MP, Caroline Lucas, presented a private member’s bill to the House of Commons to require the Education Secretary, Nicky Morgan, to provide that Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE) be a statutory requirement for all state funded schools. The bill states that PSHE is to include Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) and education on ending violence against women and girls. The bill also seeks to provide for initial and continuing teacher education and guidance and best practice for delivering and inspecting PSHE and SRE education. This presentation is known as the first reading. The second reading in the House of Commons is expected on 27^th February 2015. It was originally due in October but was delayed after Members of Parliament (MPs) ran out of time on the day scheduled for the debate. In this post, I’ll be looking at the impact of the proposed PSHE Bill in tackling forced marriage in the classroom.

For those that don’t know, a bill is a proposal for a new law, or a proposal to change an existing law, presented for debate before Parliament. A bill can start in the Commons or the Lords and must be approved in the same form by both houses before becoming an Act of Parliament (law). Bills must successfully pass the following stages in both houses: first reading; second reading; committee stage and report stage. Amendments must then be considered before the bill can receive Royal Assent where it then becomes an Act of Parliament. The first reading is the first stage of a bill’s passage through the House of Commons. It is usually a formality and takes place without debate. The first reading of a bill can take place at any time in a parliamentary session. The short title of the bill is read out and is followed by an order for the bill to be printed. The bill is then published as a House of Commons paper for the first time. The next stage is the second reading, which is the first opportunity for MPs to debate the general principles and themes of the bill. The proposed PSHE Bill is in this stage.

Generally speaking, the PSHE Bill will have a positive impact on children in the classroom. Statutory status will guarantee high-quality PSHE provision over the long term by ensuring that every PSHE lesson is taught by a teacher who has been trained in the subject and given adequate curriculum time to meet pupils’ needs. Making the subject statutory will improve quality and enhance parents’ confidence by improving teacher training, assessments and inspection. It will ensure that all schools promote the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils. It will help to support academic learning and develop the capabilities children and young people need to flourish in life and at work. Making PSHE education statutory will also improve access for all by making it compulsory. Statutory status for PSHE is key because as long as PSHE remains a non-statutory subject with a low priority in the Ofsted framework there will be virtually no coverage of it in teacher training. The PSHE Bill will ensure that every child has access to education around sex, health and relationships as well as teaching on everything from life-saving CPR to how to be responsible with money. The bill will promote health, wellbeing and personal safety for children. It will provide children with the best possible opportunity to learn about consent and respect in relationships and to understand their rights and responsibilities. Such lessons will help to keep young people safe, healthy, happy and will aid employability.

This bill will have a striking impact on tackling forced marriage in the classroom. Schools have a crucial role to play in helping all young people to stay safe and in particular work to prevent violence against women and girls must become an integral part of education policy, delivered in every school as part of the statutory curriculum. Forced marriages and abuse is a huge problem in all communities and the root causes must be tackled by teaching children in all schools about sexual consent and respectful, non-abusive relationships. This bill makes education on ending violence against women and girls compulsory, which will go a long way towards tackling this.

The PSHE Bill is an opportunity to make a crucial difference to the health, safety and wellbeing of children. Parents and children across the country support this bill. Let us hope that the political parties can do the same in order to improve awareness of issues such as forced marriages in the classroom.

Sources:

http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2014-15/personalsocialhealthandeconomiceducationstatutoryrequirement.html

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/09/04/extremely-encouraging-support-by-justice-minister-on-pshe-bill-says-caroline-lucas/

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/09/04/we-have-the-opportunity-to-get-pshe-bill-through-says-labour-mp-diane-abbott/

http://greenparty.org.uk/news/2015/02/17/carolines-bill-education-committee-backs-statutory-pshe/

https://humanism.org.uk/2014/09/05/education-secretary-agrees-think-making-pshe-statutory/

http://www.ncb.org.uk/media/180230/110630_20ncb_20lords_20cmttee_20stage_20pshe_20briefing.pdf

http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/news-and-media/key-topics/curriculum/naht-welcomes-the-principles-in-the-pshe-bill/

http://www.sec-ed.co.uk/news/bills-call-for-statutory-pshe-and-sre-within-the-national-curriculum

https://pshe-association.org.uk/news_detail.aspx?ID=1408

http://www.carolinelucas.com/latest/pshe-debate-caroline-welcomes-cross-party-support-urges-action