Tag Archives: ONS

Data & Analytics, News

Virgin Media O2 Business partners with the Office for National Statistics to support the UK Government with mobility insights

London, 3 April 2024:  Virgin Media O2 Business has been selected by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) as a strategic partner to provide mobility data.  The anonymised data will be used to support UK Government work at national and local levels, providing insights that reveal population dynamics, travel patterns, and other movement trends.

From today, mobile network insights from Virgin Media O2 Business’ anonymised and aggregated data service, O2 Motion, will be available on the Integrated Data Service (IDS). The IDS is a cloud-based cross-government data sharing service delivered by ONS, to enable faster and more efficient decision-making across key policy areas.

The IDS is the first data sharing platform of its kind, acting as a collaborative service that enables co-ordinated data analysis to better inform policy decisions made at local and national levels.  Accredited researchers can access O2 mobility findings on the IDS, eliminating the need for additional data agreements and providing a more cost-effective solution for government users.  Integration of O2 Motion mobility insights into the IDS will allow users to harness the power of data to address complex societal challenges facing public health, regional growth, climate change, jobs and skills.

Beyond the IDS platform, O2 Motion data will also be integrated with ONS surveys and administrative data sources to create a series of future publications covering topics like small area population estimates. These will be accessible on the ONS website as part of a regular release, which will be publicly available. With access to topical publications and weekly movement data updates, the IDS will empower policymakers, researchers, and the public to make informed decisions that drive positive outcomes across various domains, contributing to a smarter, more connected future for the UK.

Currently operating in public beta, the IDS platform and data releases will scale at pace over the coming months with a planned pipeline of additional and transformational capability, data, projects and users onboarded. The O2 Motion data is already available on the platform and will be updated on a weekly basis to enable real time analysis. To find out more or request access, visit the IDS website: https://integrateddataservice.gov.uk/.

Geoff Wappett, Head of AI and Data Insights at Virgin Media O2 Business, said: “We are proud to extend our partnership with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and to integrate our aggregated and anonymised O2 Motion data into their Integrated Data Service (IDS).  Generated from billions of daily network events, our mobile data will provide governmental organisations and officials with reliable information to inform their work addressing major societal challenges at pace. Beyond numbers, the IDS platform and our wider work with ONS will ensure quality insights are easily accessible to support data-driven decision making.”

News

Record-breaking payroll figures highlight a need for more efficient processes

With statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealing that the estimated number of payrolled employees in June increased by 31,000 month-on-month, reaching a record 29.6 million, leading global employee pay provider, CloudPay, has warned that payroll processes need to adapt to meet the added demand.

CloudPay CEO, Paul Bartlett, commented:

“With headcount increases being noted across the board in the UK, payroll professionals will be facing additional pressures and additional workloads. When we consider that many payroll teams are themselves, under-resourced, these record-breaking figures present a slight concern. We can’t overlook that payroll processes haven’t evolved at the same pace as wider corporate digital transformation has. Yes, automation has streamlined a lot of repetitive tasks, but overall a significant proportion of the function’s role hasn’t changed. Treasury functions, for example, are still reliant on legacy infrastructure and the complex banking system, with the way transactions are made and how employees receive their wages the same as it has always been.”

“If payroll teams are to keep up with the level of demand, greater efficiency through innovative technology adoption is needed. That includes using tech to enable employees to have greater control over their wage access. Pay On-Demand and Pay to Card solutions – which we’ve recently launched in partnership with Visa Direct – allow staff to instantly access their earned wages when they need them, via a mobile app, all without additional work from payroll teams. Tapping into these tools can reduce the need for supplemental runs, automate processes further and, perhaps more importantly, create a more efficient process for payroll teams.”

“It’s understandable to question why processes that on the surface are working need to be adapted. But as the pandemic clearly demonstrated, it is almost impossible to predict what the future holds. In this environment, questioning how efficiencies can be delivered will be the best means of ensuring payroll processes can match the demand of an ever-changing landscape.”

News, Recruitment News

Firm urges employers to consider a global hiring approach as talent shortages worsen, but warns of complexities

With a record 1.3 million job vacancies across the UK as talent shortages remain rife, businesses are urged to consider expanding their talent pools by hiring globally. That’s according to specialist background screening and identity services firm, Sterling.

Recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal that for the first time ever, there are now more vacancies than unemployed people in the UK – with the number of jobs continuing to grow across all sectors. In this economy, organisations are being left with no choice but to think outside of the box, which for some businesses may include hiring globally to attract and secure top talent. However, in a recent webinar, Sterling highlighted that while this may be a necessary step for businesses in today’s competitive hiring landscape, global hiring can come with a plethora of complexities – especially for those with no previous experience in global hiring/post Brexit hiring.

Tim Stokes, Head of Sales EMEA, explained:

“With skills shortages rife across the UK, it may feel like there is simply no talent out there, and while it’s certainly become a lot more challenging for many organisations to find the right candidates in the UK, there are plenty of qualified individuals around the world. Consequently, those businesses looking to get ahead in what is a very challenging hiring climate may benefit from hiring on a global scale.

“While those businesses that look beyond borders to broaden their pools will certainly have better chances of solving their skills shortages, companies must be aware of global compliance rules when opening up across borders, such as local labour laws, recruitment immigration risks, and cultural confidentiality differences.

“Time is of the essence for many organisations looking to recruit at the moment, however, employers mustn’t simply dive into global hiring as there are a number of compliance-related risks that come with recruiting internationally. It’s important to remember that hiring rules and regulations are country-specific, and while this may seem daunting, those businesses that work with experts and consultants will be the ones to overcome global hiring hurdles, ultimately broadening their talent pools and minimising long-term time-to-hire.”

Brexit, News

Improving trade with non-EU nations to boost British exporters

Written by Mr. Kunal Sawhney, CEO, Kalkine Media

The cross-border trade to and from the United Kingdom has been a victim of multiple adversities including the ever-evolving problems due to the coronavirus pandemic and its aftermath, supply side disruptions, shortage of hauliers and the induction of new trade arrangement between the UK and European Union post termination of the Brexit transition period.

The present calendar year has been quite volatile for international trade as the domestic exporters felt the double distress in January-February period with the Downing Street announcing the third national lockdown and the businesses adjusting their operations according to the administerial modifications in the ongoing processes following the zero tariff and zero quota agreement with the bloc.

Since the last couple of years, the government of the UK has been increasingly trying to magnify the proportion of exports and imports linked to the non-EU countries, especially the nations where the penetration of UK-based goods is relatively low.

Augmenting the broken trade ties with countries outside the Euro Area will certainly diversify the so-called dependence on a handful of international markets and, at the same, British exporters can offset the potential losses incurred in the recent past by increasing the trade volumes, effectively helping the administration to narrow the gap trade deficit.

According to the latest trade data publicised by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the net trade deficit in the three months to August of 2021 rose to £6.6 billion, registering an increase of £4.5 billion as compared to the preceding three-month period. During the corresponding stretch, the quantum of exports reduced by £0.8 billion to £144.8 billion, while imports surged by £3.7 billion to £151.4 billion.

Marginal improvement in the exports volumes and the frequency of partners looking for British-made goods is not going to help the trade deficit to narrow in the upcoming months as the businesses continue to face the industry-wide operational challenges due to the extended course of Covid-19 and regional troubles in various international markets. In the month of August itself, the total exports shrank by £1.3 billion.

Considerable increase in the number of export orders, more countries willing to import British-made goods, and friendly cross-border arrangement for the domestic traders remain the primary driving factors that can collectively ameliorate the net exports from the UK to EU, as well as non-EU regions, productively helping to reduce the burdening trade deficit.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has recently clinched a free-trade agreement with the New Zealand counterpart PM Jcinda Ardern, fulfilling the broader objective of increasing the potential number of international trading partners other than the countries under the umbrella of the European Union.

The all-inclusive trade arrangement and the newly agreed terms between the UK and New Zealand will help reduce red tape for the domestic enterprises involved in exports of goods, at a time when it will become easier for UK professionals to live and work in New Zealand. Alongside this, the technology and services corporations will be better equipped for creating thousands of new opportunities, effectively complementing the down-trodden employment landscape as a result of the acute limitedness of the workforce.

With the UK and New Zealand agreeing to cut red tape and tariffs on the goods exchanged, the domestic exporters and a plethora of small-to-medium scale businesses stand to benefit greatly in terms of volume and overall profitability. Led by the negotiators of the Department for International Trade for 16 months, British PM Johnson and New Zealand PM Ardern agreed on the terms that are highly likely to enhance trading volumes for both the nations.

In 2020, the total trade between the UK and New Zealand stood at £2.3 billion. Subsequent to the new trading arrangement, the quantum of trade will improve in the upcoming quarters as domestic businesses from both the nations are looking forward to maximising the benefit of tariff-free trade, at a time when the largest economies struggle with reciprocatory trade practices.

With the deeper cooperation on climate change and digital trade, there will be a number of opportunities for the UK citizens to live and work in New Zealand with the help of the new trade deal. Furthermore, the trading arrangement will make it easier for the smaller corporations to reach out to potential international customers in the New Zealand market.

Both the nations have a mutual admiration for each other’s traditional products as the local consumers in the United Kingdom will be able to enjoy Manuka honey, exotic fruits including kiwi and Sauvignon Blanc wine at a much cheaper price as compared to the previous market prices.

On the other hand, the British exporters will be able to capitalise on the removal of 10% tariff as the volume of products from buses to bulldozers, ships to excavators and clothing to footwear can be increased as New Zealand market remains a major consumer of branded products sourced from various international partners as it is poised to grow nearly 30% by the end of 2030.

Not only this, both the nations have committed to explore the possibilities of deepening the people-to-people links across the nations as UK-based workers will benefit from the improved business travel arrangements.

Professionals including lawyers and architects will be equipped to work in New Zealand more easily as compared to the working conditions now as the UK companies will be allowed to set up shop and bring the best talent with them. For instance, the insurance and financial services corporations based out of Edinburgh will have wider access to New Zealand’s market following the easing of business travel and digital trade.

Automobile corporations situated in Wales will materially benefit from the tariff-free exports as they exported nearly £3.4 million worth of road vehicles to New Zealand in the Covid-laden 2020. The vehicle sales across the world is on track of improvement and will see a sharp spike in the first quarter and forthcoming period of 2022, the countries manage to contain the coronavirus activity, while increasing the proportion of immunised citizens.

The manufacturing companies including K-form and Zip-Clip will also benefit from the removal of 5% tariff on construction products and metal goods as construction activity remains a key driver for many nation’s overall economic output. With Covid-19 witnessing a substantial fallback and New Zealand’s supremely protective stance against the pandemic, the construction orders are expected to go up in the near term.