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With over 900 franchise brands and 44,000 operations, it's fair to say the UK high street is buzzing with franchise activity. Often unbeknown to the public. Most of us recognise McDonald’s as a global franchise, but Dominos, Costa and many more sing from the same hymn sheet. In the past ten years the franchise sector's contribution to the economy has grown by 46 per cent, bringing in £15.1 billion last year. For Brits who want more independence over their career it is...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor A Huge NHS contract valued at £750 million, which collapsed only eight months later, had been signed off, even though there were major doubts about its chances of success. An investigation has been launched into why the contract, arranged by the strategic projects team – often referred to as the NHS’s privatisation arm – was given the go ahead. The contract was supposed to combine mental health services hospital and community care for adults and...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor Sussex Police have released video footage of a pedestrian who was victim of a shocking hit-and-run crash in Brighton. The victim was hit in the Kemptown area of Brighton, at 3.40pm on Thursday 14th January,  by a Fiat 500, while trying to cross the road. The man was flung into the air like a rag-doll and the driver left the scene without stopping to help the injured pedestrian. The victim, who has not been named,...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor Under the Freedom of Information act Mind have obtained data from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) shows that there is a wide gap between the number of sanctions imposed on people suffering with mental health problems, who are not currently able to take up employment. Forty thousand people suffering from mental health issues were told they may have their Employment Support Allowance (ESA) taken from them in 2014/15. Worryingly, 73 per cent -...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor Shockingly at least 40 people have died as they drown near some Greek islands. Their boats sunk taking down 17 children, who were part of the group. This has made January the deadliest on record for the death of refugees and migrants trying to make their way to Europe via boat. The boats went down overnight in the Aegean sea, off two small island. The major death toll came from a wooden sailboat that sank...

By Fabian French, Chief Executive UK Community Foundation Blow, winds and crack your cheeks! Rage! Blow!* Recurring flooding shows that we need to have high quality plans in place to deal with natural disasters. UK Community Foundations need to take the lead in crisis planning for our communities rather than playing catch-up. Community Foundations in flood areas have demonstrated how quickly their adaptable and flexible procedures can be executed so that immediate and effective responses are made to alleviate the worst...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor GDP could grow in Europe due to migration through long-term boost to jobs market and greater state spending, says IMF report. It also claims that any negative effects will be short lived and won’t negatively impact on native workers in the long-term. The IMF believe the recent refugee arrivals will raise economic growth a small degree in the short-term – especially in Austria, Germany and Sweden. Also if they are integrated into the job market...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor The Home Secretary plans to cut the influx of skilled non-EU migrants by 20 per cent a year and is planning to charge firms' employing these people a £1,000 levy, as part of her proposal. It is claimed the scheme could hit the teaching and nursing professions hard. The levy would be introduced per each migrant they employ from outside Europe, costing the organisation involved £1k a time. The levy plan is part of a...

The price of petrol is likely to drop further in 2016 following the Iran nuclear deal that freed the country of sanctions. The International Energy Agency has predicted that “unless something changes, the oil market could drown in over-supply” in 2016. Over supply of crude has already resulted in prices dropping to around the $28 a barrel mark, but it could fall further. The IEA expect that higher production from Iran will lead to the market being drowned in oil, with production set to...