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Telegraph
3 days ago
- Climate
- Telegraph
Take shorter showers, says boss at crisis-hit Thames Water
A boss at crisis-hit Thames Water has asked customers to take shorter showers. The UK's biggest water company, which is teetering on the brink of collapse, has also urged people to turn off the tap when brushing their teeth, reduce laundry loads and fix leaking lavatories. The advice is intended to help conserve water as England faces a summer drought after the driest spring since the reign of Queen Victoria. Andrew Tucker, the firm's water demand reduction manager, told the BBC: 'A couple of minutes off your shower could save a huge amount. 'The south east of England gets less annual average rainfall than Sydney, Rome and Lisbon and is feeling the impact of climate change and extreme weather events. 'The UK faces a shortage of water in 25 years and, whilst people are aware, behavioural change isn't coming through yet, as our latest data shows. Being water efficient is very easy – it's the simple things that make a difference.' Regions in drought status England has experienced its driest March, April and May since 1893. Five regions across the North were moved to drought status by the Environment Agency because reservoirs and rivers are at such low levels. A survey by Thames Water of 2,000 adults in its network area, conducted by Opinion Matters, found that the average person spends about eight minutes in the shower. The company said a person who shaved two minutes off their shower time could save £73 on water and energy bills a year and around 20 litres of water per person every day. The survey also found that 42 per cent of people say they keep the tap running while they brush their teeth. A running basin tap can use six litres of water a minute and people who turn off the tap 10 seconds sooner save over half a litre, the firm said. It also said that on average leaking lavatories on average waste 200-400 litres of water a day, and that doing two less weekly washes can save a person £46 on their water and energy bills. The advice comes as the utility giant struggles under a £20 billion debt pile and faces the risk of collapse into a government-supervised administration. The firm's attempt to secure its future suffered a major blow this week after a potential rescue deal collapsed. On Tuesday, the private equity firm KKR abandoned plans for a £4 billion bailout following a row over fines and executive bonuses. The firm was also hit with a record £123 million fine last week by Ofwat, the water industry regulator, for breaching rules over sewage spills and shareholder payouts.
Scotsman
30-04-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
'Don't sell us short': Poll reveals overwhelming support for Scottish fishing control
Opinion Matters carried out the poll asking questions about the control of Scottish fishing waters Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A poll has found strong support among the Scottish public for the UK control over its fishing waters, ahead of a trade summit with the EU in May. Fishing is expected to be one of the key topics at the talks with the bloc on May 19 . Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF) says fleets in the UK are not seeing enough in return for EU vessels accessing British waters. The poll has shown strong support for UK control of fishing waters. Picture: Getty Images The industry organisation argues that EU vessels catch up to £500 million worth of fish annually in UK waters, compared with £75 million caught by UK vessels in EU waters. Opinion Matters surveyed 1,010 adults in Scotland in early April this year. Some 87% said they agreed "the UK should control who fishes in UK waters", and 83% said any multi-year deal for access to UK waters should be paid for with something of benefit to Scottish fleets. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Meanwhile, 86% said any new arrangement with the UK and EU should put the Scottish fishing industry first. Elspeth Macdonald , chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, said: "These results send a strong signal to negotiators in Westminster and Brussels . "The Scottish public are crystal clear - our fishing industry must not be sold short again. "During the last negotiations, access to our waters was given away too freely and we saw precious little in return. That cannot happen again. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "This poll confirms that Scots understand the value of fishing to our economy, our coastal communities and our national food security - and they expect their governments to stand up for those interests." The SFF says the industry suffered particularly during the Brexit transition. Ms Macdonald added: "We've long argued that the EU must follow through on the Treaty that it signed in 2020 - that after 2026, access to waters becomes part of the annual negotiations on fisheries between the UK and EU. "Annual negotiations on access are the international norm, and SFF fully supports and favours this approach."
Daily Mirror
30-04-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Gardeners urged to stop one habit from tomorrow to help wildlife flourish
An annual campaign is encouraging homeowners to make a simple change to their gardens from this month onwards, in a bid to boost flowers and wildlife growth in their outdoor space As summer fast approaches, many of us will be looking to spruce up our gardens with blossoming flowers and a well-kept lawn as we spend more time outside. However, homeowners are being urged to rethink their garden plans in a bid to help wildlife thrive. A poll has revealed that many homeowners associate dandelions, thistles and buttercups as weeds, rather than wildflowers, leading to the flowers getting the chop as people upkeep their gardens. In a bid to prevent the destruction of colourful wildlife this summer, the conservation charity Plantlife has kicked off its annual campaign, "No Mow May". It encourages homeowners to leave their mowers in the shed for the month and into the summer to boost flowers and wildlife. It comes as a poll of more than 2,000 people by Opinion Matters for the charity found that more than half (56%) of those quizzed thought dandelions were a weed, while almost as many (52%) labelled thistles as weeds. A quarter of people (26%) also thought clover was a weed, while just over a fifth (21%) thought the same for buttercups and daisies. The revealing polling also shows people want to remove plants they consider to be weeds, with concerns that they spread too quickly, are unattractive, are signs of an unkempt, neglected garden, and compete with flowers and grass for space and nutrients. But a quarter of those quizzed think some weeds have beautiful flowers and can add to a garden's charm, while a fifth saw them as a vital source of pollen and nectar for pollinators. The polling also revealed just a third of people mowed their lawn every two to three weeks during May, with more than a fifth mowing once a week or more, just as many flowers are starting to bloom. That includes wildflowers commonly found in lawns and gardens such as dandelions, daisies, buttercups, clover and thistles, which provide food for pollinators and other wildlife. Plantlife says gardeners can help a range of species by relaxing their mowing regime and creating different zones such as functional short turf alongside perennial herbaceous borders and flowering lawn. Lawns with the highest number of wildflowers – from yellow rattle and white clover to selfheal, cowslips and even orchids – are those which have patches with grass of different lengths, the charity says. And longer grass will encourage species such as burnet moths, nursery web spiders and grasshoppers, while waxcap fungi including blackening waxcap or witches' hat can flourish in unfertilised, mossy lawns. Nicola Hutchinson, director of conservation at Plantlife, said: 'It's time to rethink wildflowers – they aren't weeds, they are unsung heroes of the natural world. 'Key to garden ecosystems, wildflowers support pollinators, insects and even birds, playing an important role in the food chains for wildlife. 'With over 23 million gardens in the UK, using no mow May as the starting point for relaxing mowing through the whole summer can deliver big wins for plants, pollinators, people and the planet.' Sarah Shuttleworth, specialist botanical adviser at Plantlife, added: 'If you struggle dealing with long grass, even a reduction in mowing to once a month throughout the summer can boost lawn biodiversity.' She said householders who do not have a garden could still transform yards or balconies into a 'mini haven' for plants and pollinators. Plantlife also campaigns for public spaces, such as parks and road verges, to be managed in wildlife-friendly ways, with Mark Schofield, road verges and green spaces adviser at Plantlife, saying: 'Changing the way we manage grassland creates space for nature, while still meeting community needs. 'It reimagines road verges as wildlife corridors, supporting biodiversity and helping to build climate resilience, while keeping roadsides safe.'
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Spain tops workplace productivity in Europe while unemployment rises
New research conducted by Opinion Matters for workplace experience and digital services company Ricoh Europe has revealed that Spain has the highest workplace productivity in Europe. The study surveyed 1,800 decision-makers and 7,000 workers across Europe. Italy came in at second place, followed by the Netherlands, France, Germany, UK and Ireland. Some 92% of Spanish employees reported high productivity, with the country having an unproductivity rate of only 4%. In contrast, 9% of UK and Irish employees were likely to consider themselves unproductive. Meanwhile, 22% of French business leaders and 27% of German business leaders also considered outdated technology as one of the key barriers to employee productivity. Similarly, 40% of surveyed European employees said that better document management software, which helps better collaboration on digital documents, would help their productivity. Some 37% of employees cited collaboration and communication tools as being key to enhanced productivity, whereas 36% wanted better automation software. Caroline Bright, chief strategy and commercial officer of Ricoh Europe, pointed out the importance of bridging the technology gap in the current uncertain economic climate, noting that 'the productivity gap across Europe should be a wake-up call for business leaders.' She added: 'As workplace dynamics evolve and businesses renew their focus on the office, it's more important than ever to provide employees with the tools they need to operate and collaborate effectively. 'The good news is that the solutions are within reach. Those who act now to modernise their workplace technology will be best positioned to close the productivity gap and empower their teams to perform at their best and thrive in a competitive market.' Related How investors can navigate European markets through uncertainty Gold's record rally stalls on hopes of easing global trade tensions However, despite this, the Spanish unemployment rate increased to 11.4% in the first quarter of this year, compared to 10.6% in the previous quarter, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE). This was ahead of analyst expectations of 10.7%, while also being the highest number in a year. The number of people without jobs rose by 193,700 to 2.8 million people in the first quarter of 2025, whereas employment dropped by 92,500 to 21.8 million. The working population also advanced by 101,200, touching 24.6 million. In the first three months of the year, there were 116,500 more women without jobs, along with 77,200 more unemployed men. The services sector lost 124,900 jobs, whereas 13,700 jobs were slashed in the construction sector. 21,100 industrial jobs were also reduced, along with 4,500 agricultural jobs. Spain's rising unemployment could point towards the country's heavy dependence on cyclical industries such as hospitality and tourism, as well as lingering caution among employers due to ongoing economic and geopolitical uncertainty. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Spain tops workplace productivity in Europe while unemployment rises
New research conducted by Opinion Matters for workplace experience and digital services company Ricoh Europe has revealed that Spain has the highest workplace productivity in Europe. The study surveyed 1,800 decision-makers and 7,000 workers across Europe. Italy came in at second place, followed by the Netherlands, France, Germany, UK and Ireland. Some 92% of Spanish employees reported high productivity, with the country having an unproductivity rate of only 4%. In contrast, 9% of UK and Irish employees were likely to consider themselves unproductive. Meanwhile, 22% of French business leaders and 27% of German business leaders also considered outdated technology as one of the key barriers to employee productivity. Similarly, 40% of surveyed European employees said that better document management software, which helps better collaboration on digital documents, would help their productivity. Some 37% of employees cited collaboration and communication tools as being key to enhanced productivity, whereas 36% wanted better automation software. Caroline Bright, chief strategy and commercial officer of Ricoh Europe, pointed out the importance of bridging the technology gap in the current uncertain economic climate, noting that 'the productivity gap across Europe should be a wake-up call for business leaders.' She added: 'As workplace dynamics evolve and businesses renew their focus on the office, it's more important than ever to provide employees with the tools they need to operate and collaborate effectively. 'The good news is that the solutions are within reach. Those who act now to modernise their workplace technology will be best positioned to close the productivity gap and empower their teams to perform at their best and thrive in a competitive market.' Related How investors can navigate European markets through uncertainty Gold's record rally stalls on hopes of easing global trade tensions However, despite this, the Spanish unemployment rate increased to 11.4% in the first quarter of this year, compared to 10.6% in the previous quarter, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE). This was ahead of analyst expectations of 10.7%, while also being the highest number in a year. The number of people without jobs rose by 193,700 to 2.8 million people in the first quarter of 2025, whereas employment dropped by 92,500 to 21.8 million. The working population also advanced by 101,200, touching 24.6 million. In the first three months of the year, there were 116,500 more women without jobs, along with 77,200 more unemployed men. The services sector lost 124,900 jobs, whereas 13,700 jobs were slashed in the construction sector. 21,100 industrial jobs were also reduced, along with 4,500 agricultural jobs. Spain's rising unemployment could point towards the country's heavy dependence on cyclical industries such as hospitality and tourism, as well as lingering caution among employers due to ongoing economic and geopolitical uncertainty.
