Latest news with #GarethFuller
South Wales Argus
6 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Large queues of holidaymakers and lorries at Port of Dover
Vehicles are moving slowly through Dover and down Jubilee Way towards the port in Kent. The Port of Dover Travel account on X has said there is a 50-minute processing time at the entrance on Saturday morning. P&O ferries traffic is now free flowing while DFDS and Irish Ferries have increased queues, the social media post said. A woman walks across the cliffs while holiday and freight traffic queue to use the Port of Dover (Gareth Fuller/PA) Doug Bannister, chief executive at the Port of Dover, said earlier this week his organisation has been 'preparing for a busy summer' and have brought in measures to 'minimise disruption'. He said: 'We know how vital it is to keep things moving, not just for holidaymakers but for our local community too. 'That's why we've boosted staff levels, strengthened traffic management, added welfare facilities and introduced AI-powered forecasting – all to minimise disruption and ensure both residents and travellers have the best possible experience during this busy season.' Port of Dover say they are expecting nearly 40,000 cars this weekend and more than 270,000 in the next six weeks.
Glasgow Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Large queues of holidaymakers and lorries at Port of Dover
Vehicles are moving slowly through Dover and down Jubilee Way towards the port in Kent. The Port of Dover Travel account on X has said there is a 50-minute processing time at the entrance on Saturday morning. P&O ferries traffic is now free flowing while DFDS and Irish Ferries have increased queues, the social media post said. A woman walks across the cliffs while holiday and freight traffic queue to use the Port of Dover (Gareth Fuller/PA) Doug Bannister, chief executive at the Port of Dover, said earlier this week his organisation has been 'preparing for a busy summer' and have brought in measures to 'minimise disruption'. He said: 'We know how vital it is to keep things moving, not just for holidaymakers but for our local community too. 'That's why we've boosted staff levels, strengthened traffic management, added welfare facilities and introduced AI-powered forecasting – all to minimise disruption and ensure both residents and travellers have the best possible experience during this busy season.' Port of Dover say they are expecting nearly 40,000 cars this weekend and more than 270,000 in the next six weeks.
Western Telegraph
6 days ago
- Business
- Western Telegraph
Large queues of holidaymakers and lorries at Port of Dover
Vehicles are moving slowly through Dover and down Jubilee Way towards the port in Kent. The Port of Dover Travel account on X has said there is a 50-minute processing time at the entrance on Saturday morning. P&O ferries traffic is now free flowing while DFDS and Irish Ferries have increased queues, the social media post said. A woman walks across the cliffs while holiday and freight traffic queue to use the Port of Dover (Gareth Fuller/PA) Doug Bannister, chief executive at the Port of Dover, said earlier this week his organisation has been 'preparing for a busy summer' and have brought in measures to 'minimise disruption'. He said: 'We know how vital it is to keep things moving, not just for holidaymakers but for our local community too. 'That's why we've boosted staff levels, strengthened traffic management, added welfare facilities and introduced AI-powered forecasting – all to minimise disruption and ensure both residents and travellers have the best possible experience during this busy season.' Port of Dover say they are expecting nearly 40,000 cars this weekend and more than 270,000 in the next six weeks.
BBC News
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Hackleton Primary School pupils perform Bruno Mars leavers song
Year six pupils who performed at their end-of-year assembly with the support of a professional vocal coach have been "inspired beyond belief", their head teacher children at Hackleton Primary School in Northampton had been working with Gareth Fuller, a choir director known for his appearance on Britain's Got Talent and involvement in Northants Sings pupils performed a rendition of Bruno Mars' Count on Me at their leavers' service on teacher Sally Gillam said the school was "so grateful" to Mr Fuller "for the opportunity he's given these children". She said the pupils had worked to "achieve something beyond their wildest dreams" while also helping them learn to "practice and persevere".Ms Gillam added that the confidence of performing had given the children "skills that will last a lifetime".The leavers' song had become a tradition at Hackleton Primary, with pupils selecting a track that reflected their shared memories and said this year's song captured the spirit of support and togetherness as the year six cohort prepared to move on to secondary school. Mr Fuller said he was "really influenced" by the music teachers he had and that he wanted to give something back."Music is so important in schools, it should really be pushed," he said. Ahead of the performance in front of parents and other students, the young singers took part in rehearsals, held at Fit Dog Studios in Gayton, Northamptonshire, which offered pupils the chance to step out of the classroom and into a professional recording space – many for the first 11, said it was "crazy, amazing experience", despite initially feeling intimidated by working with Mr Fuller."He's really nice," said Alex. "He taught us so many different ways to sing... to try different pitches, it was great."Marley, also 11, said "I'm very happy. When we've been to the recording studio, it's been an amazing experience." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Glasgow Times
21-07-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Labour revives Pensions Commission amid fears workers are saving too little
Experts have warned that people looking to retire in 2050 are on course to receive £800 per year less than current pensioners. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said 45% of working-age adults were putting nothing into their pensions. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said she was turning to the Pensions Commission, which last met in 2006, to 'tackle the barriers that stop too many saving in the first place'. Liz Kendall's decision to revive the Pensions Commission has been broadly welcomed by the pensions industry (Gareth Fuller/PA) The previous commission recommended automatically enrolling people in workplace pensions, which has seen the number of eligible employees saving rise from 55% in 2012 to 88%. DWP analysis suggested 15 million people were undersaving for retirement, with the self-employed, low paid and some ethnic minorities particularly affected. Around three million self-employed people are said to be saving nothing for their retirement, while only a quarter of people on low pay in the private sector and the same proportion from Pakistani or Bangladeshi backgrounds are saving. Women face a significant gender pensions gap, with those approaching retirement in line to receive barely half the income that men can expect. Pensions minister Torsten Bell said: 'The original Pensions Commission helped get pension saving up and pensioner poverty down. 'But if we carry on as we are, tomorrow's retirees risk being poorer than today's. So we are reviving the Pensions Commission to finish the job and give today's workers secure retirements to look forward to.' The commission will be led by Baroness Jeannie Drake, a member of the previous commission, and report in 2027 with proposals that stretch beyond the next election. Ms Kendall's decision to revive the Pensions Commission has been broadly welcomed by the pensions industry. Kate Smith, head of pensions at Aegon, urged the commission to make 'bold, brave and possibly unpalatable recommendations', including 'significant increases' to auto-enrolment contributions after 2029. She also called on the commission to look at wider issues, saying: 'Sources of inequality and affordability are often linked to the way the labour market works, the housing market and societal norms, such as women taking on most of the caring responsibilities. 'These are not issues that can be addressed by pensions policy alone.' AgeUK's Caroline Abrahams said the commission needed to address the state pension, which provides the bulk of retirement income for most pensioners. She said: 'If we're to avoid future generations of pensioners experiencing financial hardship, we need reforms that enable more people to build a decent standard of living, and we need them sooner rather than later to maximise the numbers who can be helped.' Ministers hope the Pensions Commission will build a consensus around changes, as its predecessor did, working with businesses and trade unions. Rain Newton-Smith, chief executive of the Confederation of British Industry, said the 'only route' to higher living standards in retirement was through 'higher growth, productivity and better savings'. She added: 'Taking the time to review the best pathway to achieve this, whilst pursuing broader measures to support growth, will be needed to make it affordable for employers and workers and crucial to the aim of rising living standards, now and in retirement.' Paul Nowak, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, said: 'Far too many people won't have enough pension for a decent retirement, and too many – especially women, BME (black and minority ethnic) and disabled workers and the self-employed – are shut out of the workplace pension system altogether. 'That's why this Pensions Commission – which will bring together unions, employers and independent experts – is a vital step forward.' But shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride accused Labour of pushing the issue 'into the long grass'. The MP said: 'The reality is they have piled up burdens on employers and workers, and that is why they have launched a pensions commission which will take years to report back and will only look at changes beyond the end of this decade. 'Conservatives in government introduced automatic enrolment which has revolutionised our pensions landscape. We should be building on that success, but now businesses and savers cannot afford to put more into pension pots thanks to Labour's reckless policies. 'Under Labour, pensioners are regarded as cash cows. Which is why it has come as little surprise that Rachel Reeves is looking to raise taxes on pensioners to plug the black hole she has dug herself.'
