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Cían McAlone is a communications and innovation specialist with experience in the UN Refugee Agency and arts higher education. He has worked as an advisor, writer, and editor on creativity and regeneration for Unearthodox.

Currently, he is the Innovation and Engagement Manager at UAL’s Social Purpose Lab, where he explores how participation, innovation, and storytelling can help organisations align with their purpose and drive meaningful change. His work includes leading community engagement on net zero and managing the Social Purpose Innovation Fund.

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The Environmental sustainability theme looks to create innovations and ideas to reduce carbon emissions and waste in London, and improve the quality of the city environment.

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The Responsible Technology theme explores developing and using emerging technologies and digital innovations to drive positive change with minimal negative impact.

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The Social Justice and Equality theme explores how to help balance the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges to make London a safer, healthier, happier and fairer place for all.

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https://sdgs.un.org/goals

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Dezeen - A Vibe Called Tech, Charlene Prempeh interview

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Dezeen - A Vibe Called Tech, Charlene Prempeh interview

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Link here: https://www.dezeen.com/2020/10/28/a-vibe-called-tech-charlene-prempeh-interview/

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Exposing and tackling racism in technology is one of the goals of UK initiative A Vibe Called Tech. Dezeen spoke to founder Charlene Prempeh about the responsibility companies have in protecting the black community on and offline.

Launched in 2018, A Vibe Called Tech explores the impact that technology has on black people in the UK. Prempeh's work spans across the various forms that technology takes, from social media platforms to artificial intelligence (AI) and biometric devices.
Black people aren't being considered when technologies are developed
The initiative aims to outline the myriad ways that technology reinforces racial inequalities, as well as how it can be harnessed as a form of empowerment.

"The ways in which tech is used as a tool of oppression are numerous," Prempeh told Dezeen. "We often talk about it like it's new, but technology's been coming for black people since the beginning."

"Even when you look back to the start of photography, in certain lights or with the flash on, you couldn't get a black face," she added.

"There has always been this sense that black people aren't being considered when technology is developed, and that has just persisted."

Modern-day examples of this include AI and facial recognition, which still struggle to recognise the faces of black people and often misidentify them.

A 2018 MIT study, for instance, found that commercial gender-recognition systems misclassify darker-skinned females at rates of up to 34 per cent, while error rates among lighter-skinned males are around 0.8 per cent.
"Black men are invisible, but black women might as well be dead"
At the root of most of these issues is algorithmic bias, explains Prempeh. Not only are datasets largely composed of white subjects, with black women being represented even less than black men, but they are also shaped by the prejudices of the people collecting the data.

"Black men are invisible, but black women might as well be dead," said the founder when commenting on the lack of diversity in datasets.

"If you go and apply for that credit card and you don't get it, you might not have any idea that that decision was based on where you live, and you live in a space that's majority black," she continued.

"There's all this information being fed by a person into a machine, and unfortunately there are racial biases in each of those layers. But because a machine spits it out, there's this feeling that the final decision wasn't made by a person and so it can't be racist. But, of course, this machine is not operating solo."

"Let's talk about diversity"

One of the most dangerous elements of this kind of technology, which is often used behind-the-scenes on social media platforms like Facebook, is that its users aren't aware of the fact that they're under attack, said Prempeh.

"There's that quote about guns; guns don't kill people, people do. And technology is exactly that. Even a machine gun can only kill a certain number of people, but the problem with tech is how ubiquitous it is."

"There is a general lack of education about what technology is doing, and I mean that in the broadest sense. People don't really understand what tech platforms are doing with our data, or how algorithms are working on social media," Prempeh said.

"But that's the 101 of control, right? To keep people uneducated and unaware, but also thinking that there's nothing that can be done about it."
"There are ways of designing products to make them less racist"
This unawareness not only comes from consumers, says Prempeh, but from senior workers managing the platforms too, who often specialise in business rather than technology.

"When these people are hit with questions around racism or bias, their go-to is just to try and make the company more 'diverse', when actually there are ways of designing the products to make them better," she explained.

This might be at the very beginning of the design process, when establishing who the user will be, or at the testing stage. A Vibe Called Tech offers consultancy services to aid companies in ensuring people of all colours are considered.

"On the one hand, people are designing things, and therefore there's racism in them. On the other, there are ways of designing products to make them less racist. So it's a case of addressing both of those things, and they're not mutually exclusive."

Prempeh also stresses the need for online companies to ensure they are creating a safe space for people of colour (POC). She gives the example of an Airbnb host rejecting a black woman's booking.

"These smaller, gentler micro-aggressions are equally problematic. Immediately you look at this and you think that the problem is the racist person who wouldn't allow someone to book. But, actually, what's the role of Airbnb in this?" said Prempeh.

"How can [these companies] design a platform that doesn't allow people to behave in that way? How can they monitor and engage with communications between different users on that platform to make sure that those interactions are civil?"

"They need to realise that they have a responsibility and a job to protect people of colour on these platforms, because you can't assume that everyone is going to behave themselves," she added.
Companies have a responsibility in protecting POC online
Prempeh aims to encourage people to harness technology as a tool of empowerment.

She is planning on launching an additional platform called A Vibe Called Tech Health Check, which will allow users to see the biases that exist in new technologies in sectors such as employment, urban design and healthcare.

While Prempeh hopes this will enable individuals to see the ways certain technology they use affects them, she also hopes it will prompt companies and online platforms to recognise the problems in their own industries, and make the necessary changes in response to this.

She also hopes the new initiative will play a role in "black storytelling" - making sure the perspectives of black people are a part of global narratives.

This aim is what drove A Vibe Called Tech's latest photography project titled We Are All They, which saw them work with Gucci and Manju Journal to redefine Gucci's genderless 1961 Jackie bag.

The project, which marks Gucci's first collaboration with an African-owned media platform, highlights the Ghanaian concept of gender fluidity as, in most dialects in the country, there is no word for "he" or "she", meaning everyone is referred to as "they".
"Black stories don't go away"
"For me, a key way of investing in black people is to allow them to tell their own stories, and the best way of doing that is to invest in black-owned media. So I approached Gucci with that," Prempeh said.

"And this is just the beginning. We're now going to be working with Gucci on an ongoing basis. And I think that's the point, isn't it? It's not this one off thing. You don't stop being black. Black stories don't go away. And for someone like Gucci to recognise that and want to build on those stories... I'm really proud to be working with them."

"I long for the day where suppressing my identity is no longer part of the job"

Prempeh founded A Vibe Called Tech in 2018, and has previously collaborated with the Tate, the Barbian and the Royal Academy to host talks and workshops on racism in technology.

Recently a number of organisations have formed to tackle racism in different industries, including Sound Advice, which focuses on improving racial diversity in the architecture industry, and United in Design, which aims to make the interiors industry more inclusive.

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"Technology's been coming for black people since the beginning" says Charlene Prempeh

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Exposing and tackling racism in technology is the goal of UK initiative A Vibe Called Tech. Dezeen spoke to founder Charlene Prempeh about the responsibility companies have in protecting the black community on and offline.

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https://carbonliteracy.com/

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Navigating the 1.5 Degrees Breach
Image credit: Photo by Pixabay. In 2023, the world witnessed an onslaught of extreme weather events, ranging from severe droughts and scorching heatwaves to devastating wildfires...

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Relevant climate change learning for everyone

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https://join.waterbear.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA8t2eBhDeARIsAAVEga132r1BJBEop5lEK6sQJrZxETQu0mthTslWN5nG7b50DyLnxaKoSEkaAvyNEALw_wcB

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WaterBear is the first interactive streaming platform dedicated to the future of our planet.

Enjoy award-winning documentaries, enlightening short films and impactful series. Find out more about exceptional organisations on a mission to save our planet by watching films with impact, for free.

Discover our global network of more than 100 NGO partners and join their communities directly through the platform, by taking action for the causes that you care about most.

Always free. No ads.

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The home of captivating films and thought-provoking series that empower you to lead a meaningful life. Always free. No ads. Sign up today.

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https://carboncopy.eco/copy-this?gclid=Cj0KCQiA8t2eBhDeARIsAAVEga3xwJkUB8OC2BXqQfif1mlMfcBG2c5uAsA0998NDihFx0taH8RYVzsaAh_YEALw_wcB

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Carbon Copy Podcast | UK Climate Action | Carbon Copy

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Carbon Copy’s podcast about big-thinking local climate action!

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Ideo Design Kit: The Human-Centered Design Toolkit

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Ideo Design Kit: The Human-Centered Design Toolkit

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https://www.ideo.com/post/design-kit

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Design Kit: The Human-Centered Design Toolkit | ideo.com

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https://kisstheground.com/our-programs/

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TAKE A COURSE

We offer a variety of courses catered for farmers and urban gardeners alike. In 2020 we created professionally produced courses that people can take through the Kajabi platform at their own pace to accommodate all learning styles. This allowed us to produce a scalable model while reducing the retail price and increasing accessibility.

Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of

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Kiss the Ground supports healthy soil through four programs: Farmland, Media, Policy, and Education. Learn more.

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https://www.energygarden.org.uk/projects

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Our Work: Community Energy, Gardens and Education in London — Energy Garden

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Learn more about the social impact programmes that Energy Garden delivers via the sale of community energy in London. Youth Training Programmes, Corporate Away Days and School Workshops are also included.

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https://ukcop26.org/

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This Page is [ARCHIVED CONTENT] and shows what the site page https://ukcop26.org/ looked like on 1 Apr 2023 at 05:49:04

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https://www.thersa.org/fellowship/festival/design-for-life

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The RSA is a unique global network of changemakers enabling people, places and the planet to flourish.

We were created by a similar group of people, with similar aims back in 1754, and now, as we approach our 270th anniversary, we are renewing that centuries-old mission.

Our new mission paper, Design for Life, and its accompanying programme of change, seeks to answer three questions. What if...

all children, from their early years, were given chances to nurture their creativity and build a greater connection to the natural world?

all entrepreneurs were given the support and connections they needed for their innovations to flourish and shape better futures?

all business leaders were supported to transform their organisations to do more good?

Join us on our new mission as we work to give people the confidence, skills, ideas and connections to make a positive impact. We will unlock the potential in human, social and natural capital to achieve a more resilient, rebalanced, and regenerative future for all.

Design for Life focuses on the people and places whose opportunities are currently most constrained, whether at school, work or in communities.

Some of the best examples of transformative thinking happen when the insights from different fields are combined and applied to one another. That's why the RSA focuses on uniting people and ideas.

By bringing together a diverse mix of people and expertise, we can transform the world's economic, social and environmental systems.

Discover more about Design for Life by downloading the short overview.

The Design for Life programme introduces seven pathways that will define the RSA's future change programme, these are:

Early years | Pupils | Students | Entrepreneurs | Places | Companies | Systems

You can find out more about these pathways by downloading the full Design for Life paper below.

This is a staging post paper. It will set out our overall mission for the RSA, however, we leave the detailed design and delivery of the pathways to a co-creative process working with Fellows and partners. In time, each of the pathways will have a designated space as part of the RSA's new digital platform to enable this co-creation.

At this point, we:

Welcome comments on the paper to inform this process

Welcome expressions of interest in participating in this co-creative process

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We are at the start of the latest chapter in the RSA's rich history as a social change organisation. Read and feedback on our new mission paper, Design for Life.

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https://therestartproject.org/

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https://climate-film.com/

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artslondon.padlet.org/TSE/CH23ES

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We're not just members of a local community; we're citizens of the global one and our decisions can have an impact on the wider world, not just on our local environment. Being ecoliterate means making environmentally solid, informed decisions and taking the right action. It entails understanding our connection to nature, ecologically and economically, and acknowledging both the local and more global impact of our decisions. Thankfully, it's never too late to become ecoliterate. It's not an attribute you're either born with or without. You can develop it. Here's how to do this, following approaches taken from principles for teaching ecoliteracy, developed by the Berkeley Center for Ecoliteracy; a superb resource on ecoliteracy.
Build empathy for all forms of life

Humans, animals, plants and other organisms share common needs: water, food, space and conditions that facilitate balance. Appreciation of this shifts the human perspective from one of being (or feeling) superior to other life forms to that of accepting ourselves as (equal) members of the natural world. Embracing this allows us to show consideration for other life forms, for their quality of life and their wellbeing. This creates scope to act accordingly in their interests.

View sustainability as a community practice

Life forms exist as part of something bigger, not in isolation, and are interdependent of each other. When we're able to see that, we can think about how they're all interconnected in their own communities. This concept takes on characteristics that fall outside of the common perception of 'community', but in doing so, it serves as a starting point to think in terms of whether practices serve the common good.

Appreciate that nature sustains life

Nature has taught us to survive century after century. We've learned from it. And we must continue to do so. Interconnectedness equals survival. Not only that, but organisms form part of systems that fit into other systems, from the micro to the macro. Each level sustains others. Our actions can disrupt this delicate balance, so we must learn to identify ways to avoid upsetting it.

Perhaps most important of all is the requirement of fulfilling our needs today while still supporting nature to sustain future life. We can't just abuse resources and, instead, should learn to take what we need, learning to adjust when the going is good or bad.

Anticipate consequences

Actions have consequences. Sometimes those consequences are predictable. Other times, not. When an action threatens to have consequences for the environment, and regardless of whether scientists have confirmed any sort of cause-effect relationships, you need to take precautions. Another approach is to solve problems by thinking about them in their individual components. This encourages you to examine the connections between these and the other components, making it possible to predict consequences.

See what you can't see

We've created a big problem in the form of climate change, but we don't really witness the impact from where we are. Elsewhere in the world, however, others are beginning to notice the damage while life goes on as normal for us. This must change. We must make ourselves aware of the impact. Tech, although it has its issues, can help us to realise the impact of products on our health, the environment and on social justice. The power of the internet allows us to transport ourselves virtually to other places on the planet and view remote landscapes. It's a capability we must make the most of to enhance our environmental literacy.

You don't have to be ecoliterate to make good decisions, however. By thinking about the companies we buy from and their values, we can make choices as consumers that also help us do what's right for the planet. One company that has built a reputation for implementing sustainable practices and initiatives is the Swedish furniture retailer IKEA. As well as selling good-quality low-cost furniture, the brand has displayed a more ethical and sustainable side that has helped it to become popular.

Protecting the environment and reversing damage to it is a big challenge, but every person who improves their own ecoliteracy helps us take a welcome step forward towards that. To learn more about ecoliteracy and about educating others in ecoliteracy, the website of the Center for Ecoliteracy, in Berkeley, California, is an excellent resource.

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A Basic Guide To Ecoliteracy And How To Develop It - Shout Out UK

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Ecoliteracy is the future of our planet. Learning how to live in sync with our environment is essential to protecting our future interests.

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Aspects of responsibility for people and organisations developing, contributing to and operating products, services, infrastructure and platforms using digital technologies.

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The business model and organisational structure should be appropriate for the tech in question, and the value given and received by different stakeholders should be reasonable. Organisations should be established in appropriate locations, and should of course follow local and international law, pay their taxes, etc.

2. Employment and working conditions

Everyone involved in producing tech should have fair pay and conditions, and work in environments free from exploitation. Workplaces should be inclusive in terms of gender, age, ethnicity, etc. CEO to worker pay ratios should be reasonable. All the above should apply to the supply chain, including subcontractors, hosting providers and so on, not just those directly creating or operating the tech in question.

3. Reward for contributions

Services that use people's labour or information should reward those people fairly for their contributions. (This could include anything from data analysis to microtasking to Google's "I'm not a robot" reCAPTCHA.) Rewards could take many forms - pay, shares, in kind benefits, discounts, etc. - but should be fair for the value generated by the information or effort contributed. Materials which are reused should be attributed appropriately.

4. Societal impact

Technology should add something to the world - or, at the very least, not take anything away. In addition to a product or service's actual function, organisations should consider contributing to public or commons infrastructure, and their impact on public services.

5. Unintended consequences

Not all risks can be avoided, but they should be anticipated, and actions to avoid them - or to mitigate their consequences - should be planned. During both design and maintenance, systems effects, side effects, and potential harms for different people, stakeholder groups or the wider environment should be considered. This should not be limited to what happens if things go wrong; plans should also include what happens if a product or service becomes overwhelmingly successful.

6. Maintenance, service and support

Responsible technology needs to work tomorrow as well as today. All products and systems should offer help and support to users, and offer service including access to necessary updates for a reasonable period, and graceful degradation when necessary. This means that at the design stage there should be consideration of what happens to customers if the product or service doesn't take off, or if the business fails, or if the business is acquired by someone else.

7. Understandability

People should be able to easily find out and understand how a product or service works. This includes clear, understandable terms and conditions, but goes beyond that; costs, service levels, and specifics such as data sourcing, storage, management and sharing, etc., should all be accessible and comprehensible. Users should understand how to raise concerns or complain about the service, and know what to expect if something goes wrong or changes.

8. Best practice

Responsible technology is useful technology, that interoperates with other things as far as possible and is designed for real people and situations. In whatever technology is being developed, appropriate standards and best practices should be used, and any particular technology-specific guidelines around ethics should be followed. To ensure the technology is useful, good design practices such as human-centric design and systems design should be used throughout development, testing and operations. Depending on the product or service, sustainability considerations may also be relevant - that might mean hardware designed for reuse, repair or recycling, or energy use. Reusing appropriately licensed code is also good practice!

9. Usability

Especially if a broad range of users are expected, or if people will be compelled to use a product or service, accessibility and support should be appropriate. This includes conventional accessibility considerations - for example, designing for screen readers - but goes much deeper. Does a product or service work for someone with mental health issues, or memory problems? Someone who relies on a carer? Someone who does not have access to a smartphone, or an old phone, or limited or filtered internet access? Enabling support staff to work around exceptional cases is key.

10. Context and environment

Nothing operates in isolation. The context technology operates in should be appropriately considered and addressed - including who may use or encounter it, and how it may be interpreted. A service that offers support and guidance should be clear that it's offering advice, not dictating choices; ambient home technology should consider what happens if it's used by children, guests, etc.

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Exploring what "responsible technology" means

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We'd like to see technology become more responsible - in terms of how it's developed, how it works for users, and how it affects society.

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Interesting extension of the double diamond model here:
nesta.org.uk/blog/using-design-principles-foster-innovation-policy

And here's a link to Design Council's double-diamond model :)

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This might also be useful to share with your Creative Hack team :)

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Personality test based on Jung and Briggs Myers typology

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Online test based on Jung and Briggs Myers typology provides your personality formula, the description of your type, list of occupations, and option to assess your compatibility against any soulmate

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This is a slightly different slant on 'personality tests' - Might be a good topic of discussion with your new team-mates :)

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Are you an Angel, a Teacher, or a Governor? Maybe you're a Guardian, a Judge or a Philosopher Welcome to MoralDNA! We make hundreds of decisions everyday. Decisions that not only impact us, but all

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https://phytology.org.uk/projects/

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https://slowfactory.earth/landfills-as-museums

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Landfills as Museums is an educational initiative that challenges us to recognize landfills as sites of cultural importance, showing how waste can be incorporated into the product design process from the beginning in order to build sustainable circular systems.

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https://sdgs.un.org/goals

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https://lewesdepot.org/film/the-nettle-dress

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Lewes Depot - Lewes Depot Cinema, Restaurant, Cafe and Bar

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Monday 6 Feb: the 12:00 performance is a Parent & Baby screening, exclusively for parents and their babies (under 12 months old) ONLY
Textile artist Allan Brown spends seven years making a dress by hand from foraged stinging nettles, all picked on the South Downs near Brighton. This is 'hedgerow couture', the greenest of slow fashion. It's also his medicine, the way he survives the death of his wife that left him and his four children bereft.

Beautifully filmed by award-winning documentary maker Dylan Howitt, The Nettle Dress follows Allan along the whole seven-year journey.

The challenge of making near zero carbon clothing sourced within a few miles of his home means re-learning ancient crafts and recalls Hans Christian Anderson's fairy tale 'Wild Swans'. From early experiments making nettle thread, through foraging, processing, spinning, weaving and cutting the cloth. Finally, a vision of the dress back in the woods where the nettles were picked, worn by one of his daughters.

'Grasping the Nettle' is at the heart of the film. Making a dress this way is a mad act of will and artistry but also devotional, with every nettle thread representing hours of mindful craft. Over seven years Allan is transformed by the process just as the nettles are. It's a kind of alchemy: transforming nettles into cloth, grief into beauty, protection and renewal. A labour of love, in the truest sense of the phrase, The Nettle Dress is a modern-day fairytale and hymn to the healing power of nature and slow craft.

"This is an exquisite film. Extremely beautiful and helpful for anyone suffering loss or grief. An inspiration" - Sir Mark Rylance

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Monday 6 Feb: the 12:00 performance is a Parent & Baby screening, exclusively for parents and their babies (under 12 months old) ONLY Textile artist Allan Brown spends seven years making a dress by hand from foraged stinging nettles, all picked on the South Downs near Brighton.

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https://www.ted.com/playlists/28/sustainability_by_design

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Humans are builders and creators-but how can we build thoughtfully, without waste? These talks explore sustainable design-both past and present-and its beautiful, inspiring results.

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Humans are builders and creators-but how can we build thoughtfully, without waste? These talks explore sustainable design-both past and present-and its beautiful, inspiring results.

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Ted Talks - Why climate change is a human rights issue

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Ted Talks - Why climate change is a human rights issue

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https://www.ted.com/playlists/493/why_climate_change_is_a_human

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You have JavaScript disabled

For the best experience, please turn JavaScript on. Here's how

Learn about the ways climate change is deeply altering how we live, where we live and the foods we eat - ultimately threatening some of our most basic human rights.

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TED Talks on why climate change is a human rights issue

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You have JavaScript disabled For the best experience, please turn JavaScript on. Here's how Learn about the ways climate change is deeply altering how we live, where we live and the foods we eat - ultimately threatening some of our most basic human rights.

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https://www.ted.com/playlists/740/reduce_reuse_recycle

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Discover the beauty in minimizing material goods, repurposing your most well-loved things and intentionally (and sustainably) reducing your carbon footprint.

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Artist Rachel Youn - Power of nature and utilising technology 

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Artist Rachel Youn - Power of nature and utilising technology 

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https://rachelyoun.com/?fbclid=PAAaaC7_i03ciVEkTl59gHnuTzjDS5FfKEwVVvEbf7gNvTvF8LKEwcmejb4es

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https://www.trustforlondon.org.uk/news/inequalities-and-disadvantage-london-focus-social-class/

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In this blog, we look at patterns in household income, wages and wealth by social class in London in the wake of the 2007/8 financial crisis and economic downturn. The blog is one of a series in recent months which have looked at different aspects of inequality and disadvantage in London.

The findings are drawn from our comprehensive report published last year, The Changing Anatomy of Economic Inequality in London (2007-2013), which provided a detailed picture of what happened to different population groups in London between 2007/8 and 2012/13.

The blog is being written following two major political changes that will affect the future of London: First, the election of Sadiq Khan as the new London Mayor on a platform of fairness, with commitments to a more equal London, the creation of a new economic fairness unit within the GLA and tackling low pay. Second, the referendum vote to leave the European Union, whilst London voted to remain.

As the country tries to process the results of the EU Referendum and its consequences, discussions about the uneven nature of the recovery from the 2007/8 crisis and downturn, and the ways in which austerity has impacted on different social groups, have moved up the political and media agenda. Here, we focus on patterns of inequality and disadvantage in the capital by social class. According to the most recent Social Attitudes Survey, 8 in 10 people think that the divide between social classes is wide or very wide, whilst public perceptions of how easy it is to move between social classes have worsened since the start of austerity measures.

Our operational measure distinguishes between eight occupational classes, based on ONS NS-Sec classifications. Although not identical to the concept of social class, NS-Sec is widely used official statistics and in research that focusses on patterns of stratification and differences in outcomes by socio-economic position. (There is more information about the classifications at the end of this blog.)

Figure 1 shows trends in average (median) weekly household income in the capital by occupational group. The figure shows the extent of the squeeze on household income for "typical" Londoners in the wake of the crisis and downturn within each occupational groups both before housing costs (BHC) and after housing costs (AHC). It highlights that the AHC falls - a common indicator of living standards - did not impact across the social spectrum equally, but were larger amongst households headed by someone from the small employers, semi-routine and routine occupational groups (with falls of between 20% and 23%) than for households headed by someone from class 1 - the higher managerial, administrative and professional, and large employers, occupational group (with a fall of 7%).

Additional breakdowns allow us to examine what happened to the least well-off households (at the 10 th percentile) withineach occupational group. Looking at AHC income in 2011/13, the data shows that the shockingly low levels of disposable income highlighted in our living standards blog were not limited to the least well-off households headed by someone who has never worked or is long-term unemployed (with AHC household weekly income of £47 for a couple). AHC weekly income was also notably low amongst the least well-off households headed by small employers and own account workers (£66), semi-routine occupations (£103), routine occupations (£109), intermediate occupations (£158) and lower supervisory and technical occupations (£129).

AHC income at the 10 th percentile also fell substantially amongst households headed by someone from the more advantaged occupational classes. Amongst the least well-off households headed by someone in the large employer and higher managerial/professional occupational group (class 1), there was a 15% fall. However, in absolute terms, AHC weekly income for this group remained substantially higher than for others (with a decline from £331 to £283).

Figure 1: Average household income by occupational group in London

Earnings, wages and patterns of employment

Downward pressure on earnings and wages and patterns of low pay, particularly amongst low to average skilled workers have been put forward as key factors underlying the Brexit vote. Our earlier blog showed that the capital was far from immune from such pressures. Amongst the poorest 10% of part-time male semi-routine workers in London, there was a 12% decline in gross weekly earnings between 2007/08 and 2012/13. There were also increases in the proportion earning less than the London Living Wage. Employees from routine occupational groups experienced the largest increase (14 percentage points) followed by those from lower supervisory and technical and intermediate occupations (10 and 12 percentage points respectively).

On changing patterns of employment, our main report found that increases in part-time work and self-employment were particularly pronounced in London over the period 2007/8 to 2012/13. Looking at participation in part-time work and self-employment in the capital by gender, the increase in part-time work was statistically significant for men in the capital, whilst the increase in self-employment was statistically significant amongst women. The expansion of part-time employment in London was particularly notable in semi and lower skilled jobs. Amongst the semi-routine and routine occupational groups, there were falls in full-time working of 5 and 9 percentage points respectively, whilst part-time working increased by 6 percentage points for both occupational groups.

Perhaps the greatest social class divides in London are observed in the context of wealth. Figure 2 shows that average (median) physical, property and financial wealth stood at around £300,000 amongst households headed by someone from the larger employers and higher managerial/professional occupational groups (Class 1) in 2010/12. This figure contrasts sharply with average total wealth of £144,800 amongst households headed by someone from the small employers and own account workers occupational group (Class 4), £109,100 amongst households headed by someone from the intermediate occupations (Class 3), and £25,000 and £15,100 amongst households headed by someone from the routine occupational group (Classes 6 and 7). Amongst households headed by someone from the "Never worked/long term unemployed" occupational group, average total household wealth was as low as £8,100. This is very low considering that this figure covers physical wealth (the value of physical assets such as computers, TVs and cars), property wealth (the value of property minus mortgages) and financial wealth (that is financial assets and liabilities such as savings, stocks and shares, borrowing, overdrafts and arrears) for everyone in the household.

Following the EU Referendum, part of the media discussion has focused on the disconnection and divides between London and the rest of the country. With the widespread characterization of London as the home of a privileged metropolitan elite, it is timely to remember the extent of poverty and inequality within the capital itself. The recent London Poverty Profile showed that after housing costs poverty is higher in the capital than the rest of England, whilst our main report showed that inequality in the capital is higher than elsewhere in England against a range of indicators.

Downward pressure on living standards, wages and earnings, changing patterns of employment, housing shortages and housing costs, as well as divergent fortunes by social class, geographical divides and the question of who has gained from globalization, and who has been left behind, are central to ongoing discussions about the current state of affairs.

What is critical is to ensure that any political or economic consequences of the decision to leave the European Union do not translate into greater poverty and inequality, or derail the much awaited plans to create a more equal London.

This is the last in the series of the Social Policy in a Cold Climate: focus on London blogs. Other blogs in the series have focused on low pay and the severe squeeze on the living standards of the poorest Londoners in the wake of the impact of the crisis and downturn. We have also examined social divides and the contrasting fortunes of different population groups by characteristics such as disability, ethnicity and religion or belief.

Summary of the NS-Sec classification:

The ONS NS-Sec scheme distinguishes between the following eight analytical classes:

1. Higher managerial, administrative and professional occupations
1.1 Large employers and higher managerial and administrative occupations 1.2 Higher professional occupations

2. Lower managerial, administrative and professional occupation

3. Intermediate occupations

4. Small employers and own account workers

5. Lower supervisory and technical occupations

6. Semi-routine occupations

7. Routine occupations

8. Never worked and long-term unemployed

Conceptually, the scheme makes a basic distinction between employers (who buy the labour of others and assume some degree of authority and control over them), the self-employed (who neither buy labour nor sell their labour to others) and employees (who sell their labour to employers). Further distinctions are made between large and small employers, so for example a self-employed builder would be in a different class to a builder with 25 employees, whilst employees are further differentiated according to the employment relations and conditions of different occupations taking account of different labour market and work situations such as sources of income, economic security, prospects for economic advancement, managerial and supervisory status and the degree of authority and control at work.

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Inequalities and disadvantage in London - Focus on social class | Trust for London

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In this blog, we look at patterns in household income, wages and wealth by social class in London in the wake of the 2007/8 financial crisis and economic downturn. The blog is one of a series in recent months which have looked at different aspects of inequality and disadvantage in London.

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How technology is driving a sustainable future

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How technology is driving a sustainable future

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https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2021/04/28/how-technology-is-driving-a-sustainable-future/?sh=238fc2741de0

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Ron Nersesian is Chairman and CEO of Keysight Technologies Ensuring Safety And Performance In Electric Vehicles .
More than ever, technology is driving exciting breakthroughs to help sustain our planet. Disruptive innovations in clean transportation, smart cities and renewable energy are enabling better resource management and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. But overcoming the engineering challenges of high performance, interoperability and security is critical to delivering next-generation solutions for decreasing emissions, minimizing waste and preventing pollution.

The automotive industry is accelerating the electric vehicle (EV) revolution. Governments around the world are offering incentives and establishing regulations to encourage businesses and consumers to invest in EVs. In fact, the EV market is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of more than 21% between 2019 and 2030. While this growth is promising, scaling the EV market brings new design and manufacturing challenges.

One challenge for the EV industry is managing interoperability between various manufacturers of vehicles and chargers. Organizations like the CharIN are working toward creating a global standard for EV charging by bringing together experts from automakers, charging station providers and energy suppliers. Establishing industry standards is a critical step for any technology rollout, but particularly for EVs, which have the potential to revolutionize our way of life. Standardization across key stakeholders will make EVs accessible and affordable while ensuring a positive experience for end users.
Reducing Resource Consumption With 5G-Enabled IoT
Another challenge for manufacturers is high-voltage, high-power batteries. EV systems are typically 300 volts or more, compared to a gas-powered car's 12-volt system. Going from low to high voltages brings additional costs and risks - from site preparation to safety requirements to high-power test equipment.

A key element of safe, efficient EV manufacturing is incorporating testing early in the product development life cycle. For example, proper testing helps engineers regenerate power efficiently and safely during EV design qualification and manufacturing while helping to save costs on energy consumption and cooling. While testing may seem like a small part of the EV ecosystem, it helps deliver on the promise of clean transportation by protecting both the devices powered by high-voltage batteries and the engineers working on them.
Maximizing The Power Of Solar Energy
5G's faster data speeds, lower latency and increased connectivity will play an important role in addressing environmental challenges. By accelerating the Internet of Things (IoT), 5G will power innovative use cases to conserve natural resources.

For example, a 5G-enabled IoT network allows smart cities to automatically monitor and manage utility systems, helping conserve water, combat pollution and reduce energy consumption. Smart cities will also enable dynamic traffic management systems that continuously collect and process data from thousands of vehicles to reduce traffic congestion and pollution. Additionally, smart agriculture will allow the industry to minimize their use of water, fertilizers and pesticides through a more precise application. This is a significant opportunity, as agriculture irrigation currently accounts for 70% of water use worldwide. Finally, 5G-enabled smart buildings and homes will be equipped with sensors that react to environmental conditions and occupancy to reduce energy consumption caused by lighting, heating and cooling.
Building A Better Planet With Technology Innovations
The renewable energy market has grown in recent years thanks to increased accessibility and affordability of alternative energy sources. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, "The cost to install solar has dropped by more than 70% over the last decade." Additionally, the solar energy market is forecasted to increase at a 20.5% CAGR from 2019 to 2026 - accounting for $223.3 billion by the end of 2026. As traditional energy companies continue to diversify into solar and other renewable energy sources, we'll see improvements in conserving our planet's natural resources, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and lowering our collective carbon footprint, getting closer to carbon neutrality.

In order to keep solar power's cost the same as (or lower than) the traditional electrical grid, performance is critical. Today, from what I've seen in the industry, the average solar panel operates at less than 19% efficiency. But R&D engineers are working hard to improve solar's output - just last year, a new solar technology reached 40% efficiency in a real-world environment, breaking a world record. We'll continue to see improvements in solar power, efficiency and reliability with innovative technologies that better capture the sun's rays.

In the coming years, companies across industries will continue to prioritize environmental issues and design, test and manufacture technologies that support them. As a result, we'll see first-to-market hardware and software solutions that conserve natural resources, reduce carbon emissions and minimize reliance on fossil fuels. By forging partnerships with industry leaders and investing in technologies that power electric vehicles, 5G-enabled IoT, solar energy and more, we can create the foundation for a more sustainable future together.

Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?

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Council Post: How Technology Is Driving A Sustainable Future

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Ron Nersesian is Chairman and CEO of Keysight Technologies Ensuring Safety And Performance In Electric Vehicles . More than ever, technology is driving exciting breakthroughs to help sustain our planet. Disruptive innovations in clean transportation, smart cities and renewable energy are enabling better resource management and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

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https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43681-021-00043-6

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How tech companies can commit to social justice authentically 

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How tech companies can commit to social justice authentically 

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https://builtin.com/diversity-inclusion/authentic-social-justice-commitment

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In the spring of 2020, following George Floyd's murder by police, the social justice movement in the United States resurfaced into the mainstream headlines and ignited calls to action for Americans to confront the country's history of racism and inequality. Part of the movement focused on education and schools - specifically teaching critical race theory and the study of racism's impact on history.

"When we saw what was going on with the turmoil around critical race theory in schools and legislators going out of their way to make things harder, we saw that our tech that we were building could help push back on that," said William Minton, CEO and founder of the edtech company, Canopy. "It was a pretty clear decision for us to try and be part of the movement to push back on those forces and try and make this easier to teach."

What is social justice?

Canopy launched a contest calling on educators to create lessons based on the 1619 Project that explored the origins and effects of systemic racism in America. More than 1,000 people expressed interest in the contest, and now Canopy is building a library on its platform of social justice lessons across subject areas that educators can incorporate into their teaching.

Kevin Dua, an award-winning public school teacher in the Boston area, helped spread the word about the contest and served as a judge. He focuses his teaching of U.S. history on helping students, no matter their age, look at the nation's history and how the institutions of slavery and racism are still embedded in today's society. A tweet that Dua sent promoting the contest caught the attention of Nikole Hannah-Jones, the developer of the 1619 Project, but it was flagged as having sensitive content.

"You always told me 'It takes time.' It's taken my father's time, my mother's time, my uncle's time, my brothers' and my sisters' time. How much time do you want for your progress?"

"Having your own house in order is important, but the forces that are trying to stop this are acting externally, and they have a lot of persistence." Minton said. "If organizations actually really care about being on the side of justice and equity with all of this, it's important to try and act external to the organization as well."

Dua encourages companies to reflect upon the values and social justice pledges they committed to earlier in 2020 and assess their progress in acting upon them. In doing so, he says to keep in mind a quote from the writer James Baldwin: "You always told me 'It takes time.' It's taken my father's time, my mother's time, my uncle's time, my brothers' and my sisters' time. How much time do you want for your progress?"

"For any schools or workplaces who are 'muddling,' who aren't fulfilling the vows that they say they want to do, my advice is remember the progress statement that you said you were going to do? If you haven't done it yet, remember what James Baldwin said, how much time do you feel we should wait in order for you to do the right thing?" Dua said.

Speaking up against injustices is one way companies can use their influence to advocate for equity and justice. Built In spoke with other tech companies about their commitments to social justice, and they shared their advice for committing to meaningful change.

More on Diversity and Inclusion What Does Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Mean in the Workplace?

Practice What You Preach

GEP, a global provider of procurement and supply chain software and services, is dedicated to supporting diversity, equity and inclusion not just internally within the company but also externally with its clients. The company has dedicated itself to leading conversations and taking actions to increase supplier diversity.

"It's not something just to [have] a stamp or a banner on your homepage that says you support diversity suppliers. What does it really mean to your business? If it doesn't have that level of support and that level of drive from the top down, it's not going to last," said Daryl Watkins, senior director at GEP. "It's just going to be lip service, and it's probably going to do more harm than good to your organization, so we hope to educate them on that process."

GEP educates its clients on the importance of working with diverse suppliers, along with helping them meet their pledges and find supplier partners.

"You're changing habits and years and years of cultural norms that have existed throughout the organization, so when you come about to actually trying to impose a change to this degree, it takes a lot of momentum, and it takes a lot of effort," Watkins said.

"It's just going to be lip service, and it's probably going to do more harm than good to your organization, so we hope to educate them on that process."

Internally, GEP is striving for gender parity with its 6,000 global employees and has invested in recruitment and employee resource groups for women, members of the LGBTQ+ community and people who identify with African ancestry. The company has partnered with three HBCUs to recruit diverse talent, and GEP rigorously vets the organizations it raises money for or volunteers with in support of social justice causes, like the Future Foundation in Atlanta, where employees not only mentored youth in underfunded schools, but the company also provided pro-bono consulting on the logistics of running programming in response to the pandemic.

"We looked at truly what organizations embody the values of GEP and what things we feel are going to be best served to meet the purposes of social justice," Watkins said.

Watkins stressed the importance of creating a work environment where people feel safe to have uncomfortable conversations around social justice and DEI.

"It can't be a taboo topic. It can't be something that is swept under the rug. It has to be an intentional discussion towards driving change," Watkins said. "We talk about diversity a lot. We talk about inclusion a lot, but we don't often get into why we changed the narrative from D and I to DEI to include that portion of equity. That's what we really have to think about when we're trying to level the playing field. That's all we're doing, giving people an equal opportunity to succeed."

Build Community Partnerships

Over the past five years, Ameresco, a cleantech company specializing in renewable energy and energy efficiency, has been working with the City of Chicago on a smart LED lighting overhaul, replacing 270,000 street lights throughout the city. This project prioritized upgrading lights in underserved communities first to provide enhanced safety - starting with South Chicago Avenue from 79th to 83rd Streets. Ameresco also took charge of the hiring - placing an emphasis on employing diverse, local talent.

"It's not just about posting a job and hoping that we get diverse prospects. That doesn't work. We refer to that as 'post and pray.' We don't do that," said Lauren Todd, senior vice president of human resources and operations at Ameresco. "We don't just post a position to hire. We form relationships and hope that something else comes out of that."

At least 50 percent of the work for the project was completed by Chicago residents - 10 percent of whom were from economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. Nearly half of the workers assessing the lights were graduates of career and technical programs at Chicago Public Schools or City Colleges of Chicago programs for construction technology training or for previously incarcerated individuals. There is 27 percent Minority Business Enterprise participation and 7 percent Women's Business Enterprise participation in the project, and 45 percent of the fixtures were assembled by a minority-owned firm in Chicago.

"We don't just post a position to hire. We form relationships and hope that something else comes out of that."

"Many of our projects here at the company have subcontracting requirements for women or minority-owned businesses. We are very committed to not just complying but really over-delivering - not just meeting the minimum because we have to but really striving to make that number better," Todd said. "What's exciting about subcontracting relationships is we now have a larger pool beyond just our employees where we're able to offer work."

Subcontractors who worked with Ameresco received on-the-job training, and at least 50 percent of new hires were sponsored for union apprenticeships. For other projects across North America, Ameresco partners with universities that have program specializations in cleantech like Northeastern University, as well as affinity organizations like the National Society of Black Engineers, to inspire diverse talent to pursue careers in the industry and provide training and preparation for jobs in the field.

"We don't just partner with these organizations just to post jobs. We partner with them to get to know them and really make a difference and provide education," Todd said. "You've got to make a lot of effort these days on diversity, equity, inclusion and justice efforts. They don't just happen by themselves overnight ... This is years of effort and relentless focus on finding organizations that we can genuinely partner with to be successful."

More on Diversity and Inclusion Types of Diversity in the Workplace You Need to Know

Provide Supportive Environments

It is challenging for people with criminal records to find employment after being released from prison - especially in the tech industry. Banyan Labs, a tech company that exclusively hires formerly incarcerated people as coders, provides six months of training and employment to recently released participants of in-prison coding training from the nonprofit Persevere. After six months at Banyan, the company then helps them find jobs or apprenticeships in the tech industry.

"They get to work in a company while they're going through the hell of coming back into society, but the company understands that," said Sean Hosman, founder of Banyan Labs and Persevere, as well as Vant4ge, a human services and predictive analytics technology company that specializes in correctional care and case management.

"I'll have 40 developers on a Zoom call, which is a company meeting for Banyan, and all of a sudden one of the guys on the video has a loud knock on their door, and it's their parole officer coming in to do an impromptu check. Everybody on the call gets that ... It's a really safe space to have that first six months of learning how to be in charge of your own life again."

Beyond providing training and employment opportunities to people with criminal records, Banyan also provides a supportive and understanding environment while they navigate reentry.

"I'll have 40 developers on a Zoom call, which is a company meeting for Banyan, and all of a sudden one of the guys on the video has a loud knock on their door, and it's their parole officer coming in to do an impromptu check," said Hosman, an ex-offender himself. "Everybody on the call gets that ... It's a really safe space to have that first six months of learning how to be in charge of your own life again."

Providing employment opportunities to people from marginalized communities like those who have been incarcerated not only provides opportunities for people to improve their lives, but it also provides societal benefits like lower recidivism rates. And companies who provide these opportunities can also benefit from loyal and hardworking employees.

"I would seek those communities out, understanding that there's a level of commitment, hard work, dedication and loyalty to a company because they've been without those opportunities," Hosman said. "I think in those communities, you can find unbelievable productive staff. Another piece of advice would be to consider, for all of us, that nobody should be known for the worst thing you've ever done, and that includes all of us, whether criminal justice-involved or not."

Companies that want to be committed to promoting social justice in meaningful ways should start by assessing their values and engaging their employees in these discussions. Then comes the work of evaluating ways they can change their practices to be more inclusive and justice-oriented, followed by creating concrete action plans to implement the changes.

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How Tech Companies Can Commit to Social Justice - Authentically

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From hiring diverse talent to speaking up about injustices, these companies show how to make change in meaningful ways.

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https://www.equalrightstrust.org/news/evidence-ai-and-algorithmic-discrimination

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The use of artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic decision-making is spreading and rapidly transforming our daily lives. These technologies are now deployed in a wide range of sectors and in many areas of public and private decision-making. As the use of these technologies continues to proliferate, our understanding of their impact on human rights is beginning to emerge and cohere. This is particularly so in respect of their impacts on the enjoyment of rights to equality and non-discrimination.

AI and algorithmic technologies can cause different forms of discrimination at different points in their development, implementation and operation. Discrimination can occur in a variety of ways, including because of biases or omissions in the data used to create or train an algorithm, the way in which an algorithm is coded, the operation of an algorithm when decisions are made, or because of other impacts resulting from the implementation or operation of these technologies.

These systems can cause, create and replicate discrimination on grounds including but not limited to sex, gender, race, ethnicity, disability, age and nationality, and at the intersection of grounds. They can and have produced directly and indirectly discriminatory results in areas including law enforcement, criminal justice, employment, education, healthcare, banking and loans, and online content moderation. Lack of transparency means that it can be difficult or even impossible to uncover whether or how these technologies have caused or perpetuated discrimination.

In response to the clear and growing evidence that these technologies are having discriminatory impacts, we are launching a global call for evidence of discrimination arising from the use of AI and algorithmic systems.

We are seeking information and evidence of cases or patterns of both actual and emerging, anticipated or potential discrimination arising from the use of AI and algorithmic systems. Cases or patterns may be relevant to any or multiple countries, but we are particularly interested in evidence from those working outside the Global North and West. Further information and an Annex with guidance on the evidence sought is available in Spanish: English and

The evidence we gather will contribute to a new initiative developed by the Equal Rights Trust in collaboration with Mary Kay Inc., which aims to shine a light on the discriminatory impacts of AI and algorithmic technologies and develop recommendations to ensure safeguards for the rights to equality and non-discrimination are integrated into global processes governing their development, deployment and use.

If you would like to receive any further guidance or discuss the examples you have in mind, please contact Ellie McDonald, Advocacy Officer at the Equal Rights Trust: ellie.mcdonald@equalrightstrust.org.

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Equal Rights Trust launches call for evidence of AI and algorithmic discrimination

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The use of artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic decision-making is spreading and rapidly transforming our daily lives. These technologies are now deployed in a wide range of sectors and in many areas of public and private decision-making. As the use of these technologies continues to proliferate, our understanding of their impact on human rights is beginning to emerge and cohere.

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City of London policies on equality and inclusion

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City of London policies on equality and inclusion

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https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/about-us/plans-policies/equality-inclusion

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Skip to content

Date updated: 12/12/2023

Public Sector Equality Duty

The Public Sector Equality Duty came in to force in April 2011 (s.149 of the Equality Act 2010) and public authorities are now required, in carrying out their functions, to have due regard to the need to:

eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under the Equality Act 2010

advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it

foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it

As set out in the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) Regulations 2011, the City of London Corporation is required to publish one or more specific and measurable Equality Objectives at least every four years.

Our Equality Objectives

1. Increase community engagement and improve cohesion within our communities so that people feel safe

2. Support the City's most disadvantaged groups and develop our understanding of our communities

3. Improve the way we listen to our communities and respond to their feedback to improve our services

4. Promote staff development and career progression to ensure equality of opportunity for promotion and the development of a workforce that reflects the make-up of our communities

The City Corporation is committed to delivering excellent customer service. We recognise the different needs of our customers and actively work to minimise potential issues of exclusion and discrimination. We aspire to be a leader in equality and inclusion, serving a wide range of communities including our staff, residents, businesses and the workforce of the Square Mile.

The City Corporation also aims to provide an inclusive, respectful and discrimination-free work environment for staff. We will use best practice in employment in accordance with legislation to ensure that employees feel respected and able to give their best. As far as possible, we would like our workforce to be broadly representative of all sections of society.

Equal Opportunities Statement

The City Corporation's vision is to build and support strong, sustainable and cohesive communities by ensuring our policies, processes and employment are inclusive.

Annual performance

The reports set out how we have worked to meet our obligations in service delivery and in employment under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Gender Identity

Supporting a anti-discriminatory, consistent and coherent approach across all our service areas.

Pay gaps

Please note, the gender pay gap is not the same as equal pay. The gender pay gap measures the differences between the average pay of male and female employees, irrespective of job role or seniority. Whereas equal pay concerns pay differences between male and female employees performing the same or similar work, or work of equal value.

The data captured informs HR strategy, Pay and Reward Strategy and HR policy and procedure.

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The City Corporation aims to provide an inclusive, respectful and discrimination-free work environment

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https://data.london.gov.uk/social-evidence-base/equality-2/

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The Mayor is committed to monitoring equality issues in London, including economic, health and social inequalities. This page brings together data and reports published by the GLA on these issues.

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The Mayor is committed to monitoring equality issues in London, including economic, health and social inequalities. This page brings together data and reports published by the GLA on these issues.

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Think Change - rights and freedoms, for Iranians and women around the world.

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Think Change - rights and freedoms, for Iranians and women around the world.

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https://odi.org/en/

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https://open.spotify.com/show/1BhrbuKdFOIBmlzGYAZyui?si=d9998108ffaf42a6&nd=1

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Heidi Safia Mirza: Ethnic inequalities in the UK, doing intersectional social research and decolonising British universities

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The ‘Pedagogies for Social Justice’ podcast is a platform for students and educators to share and co-produce knowledge about the current challenges facing higher education. Brought to you by a student-staff partnership at the University of Westminster, the podcast aims to centre discussions on topics such as anti-racism and decolonisation as a means of exchanging and generating pedagogical practices and remedies.

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https://madeby.tfl.gov.uk/2020/12/15/low-traffic-neighbourhoods/

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Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) have been in London since the 1970s and more were introduced in spring 2020. You might already live in a LTN or be near one! 📍

We've answered the what, why and where questions to tell you everything you need to know about London's LTNs. 👇

What are Low Traffic Neighbourhoods?

LTNs help to make streets around London easier to walk and cycle on by stopping cars, vans and other vehicles from using quiet roads as shortcuts. They're currently being introduced as part of temporary measures to create more space for walking and cycling to allow people to travel safely during the pandemic.

LTNs are also helping to deliver the Mayor of London's plan to make London a healthier, safer, more inclusive, cleaner and greener city - and make 80% of all trips by active or sustainable modes by 2041. 💚

How are Low Traffic Neighbourhoods funded?

Recent LTNs were created through funding from the Department of Transport. Many boroughs introduced trial LTNs in response to the pandemic.

Why are Low Traffic Neighbourhoods good?

They reduce traffic and road danger

Most side streets aren't designed for lots of fast-moving vehicles. There are fewer traffic lights to cross the road safely and not enough space for vehicles to pass each other, or for people cycling.

More than 80% of deaths on London's streets are people walking, cycling or on motorbikes and mopeds. If traffic keeps increasing without changes in neighbourhoods, streets will become more unsafe for people to walk and cycle on.

They encourage people to walk or cycle rather than travel by car

Being active improves both your mental and physical health. By encouraging people to walk or cycle instead of using the car, there will be more space for essential car trips, deliveries and for the emergency services both in and outside of LTNs.

"As a disabled person living in Lambeth, I have absolutely loved the new LTNs appearing all around me. I am lucky to have the option not only to drive but also to handcycle.

"Though I have been cycling for some time, my rides used to be limited to a few short trusted routes (mostly local, in and around Brixton/Herne Hill/Dulwich). I would generally fall back on using the car for longer trips because it was quicker and felt safer or because I did not have the confidence or time for complex route planning which might still find me having to negotiate a dangerous junction etc.

"Since the LTNs were put into place, I have been venturing much further afield, including into central London, Greenwich-way or over to the Wandle Trail in Sutton. I am able to connect much more easily to some of TfL's Cycleways which I knew existed but didn't know how to reach safely. I'm very happy that I can now cycle (and therefore exercise) so much more, thanks to quieter, safer streets to ride on."
Isabelle Clements, Director of Wheels for Wellbeing

They improve air quality

Traffic in London is a major contributor to our dangerous air quality and climate crisis. Places where traffic has been removed or reduced creates quieter streets with improved air quality where children play outside, neighbours catch up and walking and cycling are normal for everyday journeys. 🚶 🚴 🧑‍🦽

Hear what local residents think of Camden's Low Traffic Neighbourhood

Do Low Traffic Neighbourhoods affect the emergency services?

Each month, we meet with local authorities and London's emergency services to discuss road changes and any issues that they may be causing. This gives the emergency services awareness of the schemes and we review response time data to identify issues and adjust schemes if needed.

Do Low Traffic Neighbourhoods just push traffic elsewhere?

Any increases in traffic are unlikely to be permanent. We're paying close attention to changes in traffic levels and bus journey times in and around LTNs and comparing them with areas where LTNs haven't been introduced. We may make changes to help traffic adjust, including changing traffic light timings or adding more signage.

Evidence from a University of Westminster study, which analysed three years of data, shows that better conditions for walking and cycling encourages people to stop using their car so much. However, it takes time for people to adjust to new road layouts and ways of travelling. Where LTNs have already been introduced, evidence shows people adjust their routes, the times they travel and the way they travel.

Where are Low Traffic Neighbourhoods?

LTNs are in many areas across London - including Camden, Croydon, Ealing, Hounslow, Lambeth, Newham and Waltham Forest. They make great walking and cycling routes for everyone! 🚲

You can see all the LTNs on the Space to Move map. See 'Street closed to vehicles' and 'Restricted through traffic'. 📍

Share your feedback

We're working with London's boroughs to monitor feedback on LTNs and see how they impact people, local areas and the City as a whole.

Contact your local borough to share your feedback or let us know in the comments. 👇

Here is a photo of me + my new bicycle that I bought on Facebook marketplace for £75 (bargain!!!)

Never thought I would have cycled in London (this was on my 3rd ever trip) but the #LTNs and new #cyclelanes are helping a newbie #cyclist like me to feel safer and more confident! pic.twitter.com/GNNkXkKpmA
- Talia Berriman (@taliaberriman) November 25, 2020

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Low Traffic Neighbourhoods: what, why and where?

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Discover everything you need to know about London's Low Traffic Neighbourhoods.

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30 UK tech scaleups tackling climate change

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30 UK tech scaleups tackling climate change

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https://startupsmagazine.co.uk/article-30-uk-tech-scaleups-tackling-climate-change-watch

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In a new report , published today, Tech Nation found that the UK leads Europe for the number of Net Zero companies, at 323 compared to 207 in France (35% less) and 150 in Germany (53% less). Furthermore, 37% of UK Net Zero companies are at an early stage of growth, showing an impressive pipeline for the sector. 26% of UK Net Zero companies are late-stage, highlighting the growth already happening to meet emission targets. In 2019, the UK also led Europe for VC investment into Net Zero companies at £336mn in VC investment, 55% more than France which received £216mn, and 18% more than Germany with £283mn. VC investment in Net Zero in the UK has grown by 28% from 2018 to 2019.

The government-backed initiative is the first of its kind, designed to accelerate the growth of the UK's most promising Net Zero scaleups. Sessions will include quantifying sustainability, navigating the regulatory landscape, and how to internationalise a Net Zero business. The programme comes at a critical moment, with COVID-19 highlighting the key role played by technology in aiding a green recovery to the crisis and the importance of building a sustainable future.

In addition to the 30 companies joining the Net Zero cohort, four additional 'Fellows' will join the programme. The Fellows selected are net zero companies at a later stage of funding, or are alumni of Tech Nation growth programmes. The Fellows will have access to the Net Zero coaching sessions and peer-to-peer learning opportunities. The Fellows will also share their learnings and experience as net zero companies who already have experience scaling within this unique space.

Gerard Grech, Chief Executive, Tech Nation, commented: The UK's Net Zero sector already leads Europe for VC investment, at £336mn, and is home to 323 tech companies that are working hard to reduce carbon emissions globally. Scaling such businesses can be hard, which is why we are delighted to launch a new programme focused on businesses at this stage of growth from all over the UK, especially given the impact they will have on climate change and their drive towards a net zero economy."

Zheela Qaiser, Programme Lead, Net Zero Programme, commented:"All 149 applications we received for the Net Zero programme were excellent, showcasing the richness of solutions that small teams of innovators are working on to help us make monumental changes to the way our human world and systems impact our planet. I'm so impressed with our final cohort, and am looking forward to helping them work through the unique challenges that net zero companies face."

Mark Hodgson, Chief Business Officer, Cervest, Judge for the Net Zero programme, said: "I was hugely impressed by the high standard of submissions for Tech Nation's Net Zero Programme. These inspiring, growing companies are creating a more resilient economy and I look forward to working with them to drive the UK's Net Zero ambitions forward."

Susannah McClintock, Investment Director, Sustainable Ventures, Judge for the Net Zero programme, said: "It is fantastic to see how these exciting UK companies are contributing to the enormous challenge of achieving net zero; the applications showed the depth of innovation and talent in startups and early stage working to address climate change through commercial solutions."

Revannth N Murugesan, Co-founder and CEO, Antonym"Having been through Tech Nation Rising Stars in 2019, we are very aware of the huge scope of opportunities that came our way through Tech Nation. As a company, our vision is to accelerate the UK's low carbon economy by decarbonising transportation, and we are sure by being part of the Net Zero programme, we'll be able to achieve this effectively with the support from Tech Nation."

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The 30 UK tech scaleups tackling climate change to watch | Startups Magazine

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Tech Nation has announced the 30 scaleups that have been selected to join the new Net Zero programme. Announced in Alok Sharma's speech today at London Tech Week, the companies come from across the UK and across a range of sectors including construction, agriculture, and energy.

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https://www.gov.uk/guidance/make-your-technology-sustainable

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To meet point 12 of the Technology Code of Practice, your plans should include how you aim to increase the sustainability of your technology project or programme by meeting the outcomes defined in the Greening Government ICT and Digital Services Strategy.

Government departments should have support from a designated digital sustainability lead. If you need further support or more information, you can contact the cross-government Sustainable Technology Advice & Reporting (STAR) team by emailing STAR@defra.gov.uk. The STAR team coordinates cross-government reporting on sustainability. They also share advice and best practice with government organisations.

The benefits of increasing your project's sustainability include:

Consider sustainability from the start of your project

As well as short term planning for your project's requirements, you should aim to create a long term plan on how to increase the sustainability of your technology or service across its entire lifecycle.

At the start of your project, you should consider these questions:

1. What are your organisation's sustainability goals?

2. If the contract is more than £5 million per year, has the supplier committed to meet the government's net zero target, and published a Carbon Reduction Plan?

3. Can you include specific project objectives to meet your organisation's sustainability goals?

4. Have you identified potential benefits for meeting sustainability objectives, or risks that would stop you meeting those objectives?

5. Does your organisation have processes for recording and reporting on sustainability goals? For example, reporting on the targets for greenhouse gases, waste and water.

6. Do your project plans include user research to more clearly define requirements and reduce the chance of buying software and hardware you do not need?

7. Do you have a process or plan for recording the impact of future upgrades to software and hardware?

8. Are you able to recycle or repurpose any equipment you are replacing?

9. Are you able to use existing datasets for your project?

10. Are there any opportunities for minimising processing, transmission and storage?

11. Can you put in place processes which reduce printing and paper trails in back office systems and user facing services?

12. Have you assessed whether home working is a practical and more sustainable option for your project team?

Government's sustainability objectives

You should consider how your project or programme can work towards meeting the Greening Government ICT and Digital Services Strategy. To meet the Strategy's main objectives, you should:

reduce greenhouse gas emissions

improve management of resources and waste

procure sustainable technology and digital services

To help meet these objectives, from 30 September 2021 suppliers for new procurements worth more than £5 million per year must commit to reaching Net Zero by 2050, and publish a Carbon Reduction Plan. You can read more details in 'Procurement Policy Note 06/21: Taking account of Carbon Reduction Plans in the procurement of major government contracts'.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Your project's energy requirements will affect your project's sustainability. To improve this and significantly reduce your costs you should:

use public cloud - this can reduce emissions as cloud suppliers aim to use resources more efficiently and sometimes use a green energy provider

optimise your cloud use - by managing your cloud spending you will also use less energy

audit your data to check for duplicate data sets - this might be a separate project if you're dealing with a lot of data sets and find that some are legacy items

keep an audit of your live environments and switch off unnecessary environments when possible, such as unused test environments

decommission unnecessary systems your project might replace

If you're creating user facing services, you can design them to use less energy if you:

help people using your service succeed first time to reduce task repetition

use less multimedia, if user research identifies this possibility

choose multimedia formats that use less energy, such as standard definition rather than high definition videos

use the HTML publishing format instead of PDFs - along with accessibility issues, PDFs can use more energy as they're more likely to take longer to load and to use

avoid collecting information you do not need, to reduce the amount of server space your service uses

You should also consider how your project will measure, manage, and improve its sustainability during the project, and after it has become business as usual. Discuss with the STAR team and decide how you can:

maintain the service or system

optimise live systems so they use appropriate power and storage

identify new opportunities for making better use of data sharing and processing

report on your project's progress against the sustainability goals and include the results in your organisation's annual environmental report

Improve your management of resources and waste

Buying a service or managed service is usually the most sustainable option. If you have purchased physical equipment or infrastructure for your project, you should consider how to maintain and dispose of them. When assessing options for disposal, you should consider:

if sustainable disposal options are available, such as buy-back schemes

if other projects or programmes within government can reuse the ICT

if you can replace technology with remanufactured ICT

whether you can recycle non-reusable ICT

You can contact the STAR team by emailing STAR@defra.gov.uk for specific advice or help identifying opportunities for reusing physical technology.

Procuring sustainable technology and digital services

When you're buying physical equipment or infrastructure, you should consult with your organisation's commercial and sustainability leads to understand what sustainable procurement options are available. You can also contact the Crown Commercial Service to find out how to buy more sustainably.

When discovering your project or programmes requirements, consider if you can:

reduce how much cloud storage and data processing your project or programme uses

use remanufactured or recycled technology

maximise the lifespan of the equipment used by your system or service

optimise the energy usage of your project or programmes equipment or infrastructure

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Increase sustainability throughout the lifecycle of your technology.

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A documentary about the important things

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A documentary about the important things

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Co1Iptd4p4

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzK9pqm1KcQ

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Netflix's Seaspiracy Blows the Fishing Industry Our of the Water! Must Watch! Here's Why!

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artslondon.padlet.org/TSE/CH23RT

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BBC Doc: Is the Cloud Damaging the Planet (29 mins)

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BBC Doc: Is the Cloud Damaging the Planet (29 mins)

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Panorama reporter investigates the environmental cost of moving our lives online and into the Cloud

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Panorama - Is the Cloud Damaging the Planet?

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Panorama explores the environmental cost of moving our lives online and into the cloud.

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Watch Fire in Paradise | Netflix Official Site

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In this documentary, survivors recall the catastrophic 2018 Camp Fire, which razed the town of Paradise and became California's deadliest wildfire. Watch trailers & learn more.

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Listen to About Race with Reni Eddo-Lodge on Spotify.

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Listen to Flourish Systems Change on Spotify.

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Think this is based on Belbin team roles and the Big 5 personality test... Again, the value in these types of tests is that they provide a starting point for meaningful reflection and discussion when working with others.

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According to team roles theories there are specific different team roles. These roles can be functional, organizational, personal or even skillful. Each team should consist of different team roles, depending on the specific goals the team wants to achieve.

A team that does not have the ideal composition may run into problems. For example, a team consisting of only creative individuals will generate many ideas, but none of them will be implemented. A team consisting of only experts may lose sight of the big picture. A team will perform better if it is aware of the different roles required to reach a specific goal and is able to include those roles within the team. The last 30 years the interest in team composition has increased.

Essentially, roles are equal to 'persona' (masks) or specific competency profiles and have been mentioned explicitly since ancient Greek history. Not just only in working life but also the roles people play in life, family and military. The application of team roles however seems to be primarily directed at management teams nowadays.

This free team roles test of 123test ® is inspired by ideas on team roles theories, generalized competency frameworks and knowledge of the Big Five personality theory. It measures roles found in businesses and management teams throughout the world in many cultures.

Instructions team roles test

This test determines which team roles best suit you. For each pair of activities or qualities below, choose the one which best fits you. If both apply to you, you should choose the one that best fits your personality.

What is a Team Roles Test?

A Team Roles Test is a tool designed to help individuals and teams identify their strengths, weaknesses, and preferred roles in a group setting. It can be useful in improving team dynamics and productivity.

Why should I take a Team Roles Test?

Taking a Team Roles Test can provide valuable insights into your strengths and weaknesses as a team member. It helps you understand your preferred roles and how you can contribute effectively to a team's success.

How does the Team Roles Test work?

The specific details may vary, but generally, a Team Roles Test will present you with a series of questions or scenarios. You'll respond based on your preferences and behaviors. The results will identify the team roles that best match your responses.

What are the common team roles in these tests?

Team roles can vary, but some common roles include the Executive, Explorer, Innovator, Analyst, Driver, Chairperson, Completer, Team player and Expert. The test typically categorizes you into one or more of these roles.

How can I use the results of the Team Roles Test?

The results can help you understand your strengths and weaknesses in a team setting. You can use this knowledge to enhance collaboration, delegate tasks effectively, and improve communication within your team.

Is the Team Roles Test free to take on your website?

Yes, the Team Roles test of 123test is completely free of charge.

How long does it take to complete the Team Roles Test?

The duration of the test may vary, but it typically takes around 10-15 minutes to complete.

Can I retake the test if I want to see if my roles change over time?

Depending on the test, you may be able to retake it to track changes in your team roles and preferences.

Can I use the Team Roles Test for team-building activities or workshops?

Absolutely! Many organizations use team roles assessments to enhance team dynamics and effectiveness. The results can be valuable in team-building workshops.

Are the results of the Team Roles Test accurate?

The accuracy of the results can vary depending on the test and how honestly you respond to the questions. It's important to reflect on the results and consider how they align with your self-awareness.

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Team roles test (2023) | take this free team roles test online at 123test.com

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What team role suits you best? Take the reliable and free team roles test at 123test.com and enhance your career success and job satisfaction. Test yourself at https://www.123test.com/team-roles-test/

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artslondon.padlet.org/TSE/CH23SJE

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This website, from Essi Salonen (MA Communication Design at CSM alumnus), lists some core elements of collaboration, relates collaboration to the Design Council's double-diamond model, defines basic models of collaboration (open vs closed, flat vs hierarchical) and allows users to identify their collaboration profile, through responding to a series of statements.
PLEASE go to this site and click on / scroll down to 'plan your project' to complete this, and please bring a screenshot/photo of your results on Monday :)

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Designing Collaboration | How to structure, design and understand collaboration

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Collaborations vary enourmously depending on their goals, settings, teams and resources. Yet all collaborations are a human activity, and the following six elements play an imporant role in all of them. These elements also play an important role in the questions of the interactive structure tool.

Motivation

The driving force for collaboration is motivation. In order for a collaboration to succeed, everyone involved needs to feel that they gain something from the collaboration or feel that they are doing a meaningful thing and working towards a valuable end result.

Communication

In order to find the right people to collaborate with, the project needs to be communicated clearly. Giving information about the project and its goals helps people decide whether to participate or not.

Diversity

Collaboration benefits from a wide range of skills and expertise in the pool of participants. A diverse group of participants is often the best way to ensure that this is achieved.

Sharing

For a successful collaboration it is important to be flexible with the ownership of ideas. This does not mean that a team should not give credit to individuals where credit is due, but any issues of ownership of ideas or concepts need to be agreed at the onset.

Support

The support of the other collaborators in the process is important, especially at times of crisis or unforeseen difficulties. Even when no hardships are expected, the collaborative group needs to work on the basis of the trust that if someone were to need the support of others in the group, that support would be available.

Problem solving

The group must be able to solve problems together. High tolerance for uncertainty is needed when the project changes direction or something does not go as planned.

Design process

One of the many models for structuring the design process is Design Council's Double Diamond model. The model attempts to illustrate the changing scope of a project as it moves through the design process. The four stages, Discover, Define, Develop and Deliver form a framework for the designer to explore, test and innovate. The work can be multidisciplinary in all of the stages and involve team members from various professions. The different stages can feed back into each other.

2. Define

filtering and analysing the findings

brainstorming

visualisation

prototyping and testing

selecting ideas for development

4. Deliver

testing and refining

stakeholder approval / rejection

presenting or launching the product or looping back to an earlier stage

Collaboration Structure and Path

Collaboration adds complexity to a design project. A collaborative project can move through the design process in linear fashion, but the structure of the project may change from one stage to the next. One stage may call for a very open collaboration style to ensure motivation, while another stage may require a tigther control in order to meet the project deliverable. Therefore, a collaborative project can move through different modes of collaboration as it follows a design process, and this is best visualised in a quadrant.

The quadrant is based on the aspects of governance and the openness of the collaboration in the design process. Next we will look at these aspects in more detail.

Models of collaboration

Collaboration can be classified by its dimensions of openness and governance. In these the models of collaboration are open or closed, and flat or hierarchical. ( Pisano & Verganti)

Openness of the collaboration

Governance of the collaboration

Flat

all the participants can take part in the decision making process

all the participants share the challenges and make the decisions together

in order for the collaboration to succeed, all collaborators need to agree on the goals of the project

Hierarchical

a selected participant or organisation is in charge of the decision making

level of challenges and tasks of participants can be determined by the decision maker

participants can have their own goals within the hierarchy

The modes of collaboration in design projects

Combining the models offers different modes of structuring collaboration in the two dimensions: how open the collaboration is and how hierarchical it is.

Open & Hierarchical

Anyone can contribute but the person, company or organisation in charge of the project decides which ideas or solutions to develop.

Open & flat

There is not an authority who decides which innovations will be taken further because anyone can contribute in the process and use delivered results.

Closed & Hierarchical

The participants have been chosen by the authority who also decides which ideas will be chosen and developed.

Closed & Flat

The group of participants chosen by an authority share ideas and make the decisions and contributions together.

(more at Pisano & Verganti 2008)

About me and this research

This set of recommendations and the evaluative framework is the result of my final thesis for the MA Communication Design course at Central Saint Martins, London. A number of collaborative projects were studied for the research and the main ones, Rubbish Duck and TEDxCentralSaintMartins are treated in detail in my portfolio ( PDF download).

I am Essi Salonen, a designer interested in collaboration, engagement and motivation. Find my contact details below.

Case studies

The first TEDxCSM conference was held in March 2012. The event was organised to celebrate the new Central Saint Martins campus in King's Cross. Rubbish Duck is an environmental sculpture made out of plastic bottles collected from London's waterways. The project raises awareness of problems that rubbish causes in our waterways.

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Designing Collaboration | How to structure, design and understand collaboration

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This work is based on research on combining the design process and collaboration structure, both important to the work of a designer Based on research of various collaborative projects, this site equips you with a theory and a practical structure for your own collaborations by combining these theories of collaboration models and the design process.

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Steve Taylor has been coaching and training early-stage creative enterprises in business skills for the past two decades, and with UAL for the past five. In his own professional career Steve worked across a wide range of creative industries from branding to CGI, TV to magazine publishing, holding positions from senior executive in global creative networks to CEO of a small design studio, as well as working extensively as a freelance consultant. His coaching sessions and workshops focus on developing creative entrepreneurs' essential business skills and practices including financial management, business planning and strategy, productisation, branding and market positioning.

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Peter Ptashko FRSA is a social entrepreneur, funder and sustainability expert and CEO of Cambio: House of Social Change, a world-leading sustainability consultancy working with a range of clients across the Public and Private sectors. He holds a series of leadership and board-level positions across these two sectors.

He has 15 years of experience working in the field of Social Enterprise and Sustainability globally, having launched his first venture back in 2005 – raising £25,000 in only 7 hours. Since then he has worked for UnLtd: the UK foundation for social entrepreneurs, supporting thousands of social entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses across (in particular) the Youth and Education sectors, securing an investment of almost £10m for universities across England, in collaboration with the UK Government.

Website: https://cambioconsultancy.uk/2020/

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Former fashion stylist turned sustainability advocate and industry connector Lucy founded The WIP for the positive present and future of our Planet and People.

Lucy supports SME founders /Entrepreneurs/Side Hustlers grow their business in line with their values, through The WIP, via mentoring (ABM certified), workshops and speaking, as well as hosting and judging accelerators and incubators.

https://thewip.work/

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Kae is the founder of FibreLab, an innovative textile-recycling company that keeps textile waste local and valuable by turning it into new material. The FibreLab concept emerged from Kae’s research for her MA in Fashion Futures from London College of Fashion. Since then, she has won several awards for her work, including the ‘Mayor’s Entrepreneur Award for the Creative Industries’ from the Mayor of London, the ‘Better Lives Award’ from Proctor & Gamble and, most recently, an Innovate UK Fast Start Grant to fund FibreLab’s future innovations.

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Lee Curtis is a freelance creative consultant, designer and artist. He studied graphic design at Nottingham Trent University. For 15 years he was a creative leader for a team of designers at all levels, within the Selfridges creative department.

He directed, planned, designed and delivered more than 150 experiential campaigns and brand projects across digital and physical channels. Collaborating with other designers, artists, producers, photographers and directors – makers of culture from all over the creative industries, he ensured that the Selfridges brand, and experiences for customers, was synonymous with vibrancy and relevance within the fashion, beauty, food and lifestyle, retail space.

He has an ‘Accredited Advanced Diploma in Coach Training (AADCT)’ and uses his psychologically- minded style of coaching to work with established artists and designers, business start-ups, BA and MA students, not-for-profit arts organisations and charities as well as facilitation workshops for other coaches and coaching for consultants, leaders and managers from a range of sectors.

(Bio sourced from Freedom in the Arts- advisory group announcement)

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Lara Bazzoui is an entrepreneur, fashion journalist, and presenter with a passion for storytelling and innovation. As the founder of Bibi Bazz, she merges fashion and creativity, transforming unexpected materials - like discarded trainers - into statement handbags. Her brand’s ethos is all about reinvention, turning guilt into glamour and waste into wonder.

Beyond design, Lara has written for global publications like Mojeh Magazine and Gulf News, covering fashion, culture, and industry trends. She has interviewed acclaimed business founders, designers, and creatives, exploring the future of fashion, sustainability, and entrepreneurship. As a presenter, she has worked across digital and broadcast platforms, including radio, bringing industry stories to life.

A proud London College of Fashion alumna, Lara is dedicated to being part of shaping the industry through both creative and journalistic lenses.

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Kaitlin Zhang is the CEO of Oval Branding and an award-winning speaker. A Chinese-born Canadian British entrepreneur based in London, she founded Oval Branding in 2016, a full-service branding and marketing agency specialising in finance, tech, gaming, web3, and government sectors across the UK, USA, and China. The agency is renowned for building global brands for top PE and VC funds, earning a reputation as a leading cross-border branding firm in the financial industry.

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This image shows Kaitlin sitting at a desk with a pleasant smile, holding a hand to her face while looking at the camera. A document lies open in front of her. The background features a simple setup with green floral decorations and a ceramic cup on the table, creating a fresh and inviting atmosphere.

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Amos is the founder and Managing Director of the UK-based not-for-profit social enterprise, The Kusp. His organisation improves access for under-represented talent from ethnic minority, lower socio-economic, neurodivergent and disabled groups within the creative media industries - particularly film, television, fashion and print media - through talent development and talent sourcing.

On a mission to improve career confidence and representation, The Kusp collaborates, partners and works with a variety of organisations, academic institutions and industry specialists from companies like Puma, WePresent, Apple Beats, Sky Studios, Film & TV Charity, Somesuch, Eleven Film, University of the Arts London and many more, to create a lasting impact on underserved talent within the creative media industries.

https://www.thekusp.co.uk/

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Mirela Barbosa is a mentor and consultant with over 20 years’ experience in the fashion and beauty industries. Her work combines research, strategy, and cultural aspects to help develop meaningful brands. She is also the founder of Project M, an emotional branding consultancy aimed at startups and mid-sized companies, launched after completing her MA in Fashion Entrepreneurship and Innovation at LCF.

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Will is the Social Venture Development Coordinator at London Social Ventures, a Research England funded project supporting purpose-driven businesses emerging from London's universities. His role involves scouting for promising social ventures projects founded by academics and students, and running the project's venture programmes. He has worked in charity, social investment, and NHS settings, holding various roles supporting social entrepreneurs. Will enjoys the challenge of working with ventures that combine innovation, profit, and purpose.

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Carla Frith is a Buying and Product development specialist with 17 years of industry experience. Carla has worked with some of the fashion industry’s leading brands; H&M, COS, and Topshop. In her role as Buying Manager at COS, she directed and managed a team of buyers, designers and merchandisers to create forward-thinking collections.

Carla now works as a consultant for fashion start-up businesses helping them to take product visions into reality.
Her work includes supporting founders with trend research, responsible supply chain sourcing, funding through to range development and production.

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This image features Carla with long blonde hair smiling softly while looking slightly to the side. They are wearing a pair of elegant geometric gold earrings and a matching gold chain necklace. The background is simple and neutral, drawing attention to the person's calm and confident expression.

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Adam works with students and staff, from a range of courses and departments across UAL, to (co)design, (co)facilitate and (co)consult on sessions and projects related to communication, cultural awareness and sensitivity, collaboration, creative and critical inquiry, channeling curiosity, and challenging systemic/structural inequalities. In all of this, he encourages a "think-share-explore" approach, and advocates for a genuine recognition and appreciation of difference - strongly believing that we can and should all learn from each other (and ourselves) in all (learning) environments.

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Alyssa Becht, Incubation Manager and Greenhouse Programme Lead

Alyssa is a creative enterprise specialist with extensive experience running and supporting creative and technology-based start-up businesses.

Alyssa has designed and run creative entrepreneurship programmes; both in her current role and in her previous role at InnovationRCA, the Royal College of Art’s award-winning start-up incubator and centre for entrepreneurship. While at the RCA, she also managed the Royal College of Art’s angel investor network, AngelClubRCA.

As Chief Operating Officer (COO) of InnovationRCA start-up Olombria, Alyssa gained first-hand experience of the challenges and opportunities of early-stage entrepreneurship. Olombria is a multi-award-winning AgTech start-up tackling the issue of declining bee populations using embedded systems, semiochemicals and machine learning.

Alyssa Becht is Programme Lead for Greenhouse: New ideas for positive change - a 6-month start-up support programme for south-London based entrepreneurs and UAL graduates looking at physical and digital innovation. She also runs Greencoat Studios – low-cost art studios and workspace for recent Camberwell, Chelsea and Wimbledon College of Arts graduates.

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Samantha is the Graduate Employability Lead at CCW, and an advocate for ecological design thinking, social entrepreneurship, designing out waste, and creative jobs in a circular economy.

As part of her role at UAL Samantha oversees the CCW Diploma in Professional Studies, coordinates the CCW Climate Advocates and is the founder of the student-led Camberwell Repair Café. Samantha is a Director of Brighton Repair Café - a CIC which has been running since 2012.  Samantha is a steering group member for the Community Repair Network UK and has worked with many national and international organisations including: The Restart Project, Green Architecture Day, Emmaus homelessness charity and CC4D Uganda. Samantha has participated in panel discussions on material waste, and given master classes on Community Repair for BLUEPRINT to a Circular Economy, funded by the EU Interreg programme.

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Luminita is an experienced Graduate Futures Lead at the London College of Communication, University of the Arts London, specialised in designing and expanding innovative support programs that enhance graduate employability and entrepreneurial skills. Skilled in program management, strategy, stakeholder engagement, communication and new business development within the UK's creative higher education sector.

Before working in the UK Higher Education, Luminita founded and led a premier private events consultancy after leading the corporate events business unit for the largest Romanian travel and events agency.

She currently holds an MA in Innovation Management from Central Saint Martins, a BA in Human Geography from the University of Bucharest, and a PRINCE2® Agile Foundation Certificate in Project Management.

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Imogen Lawry is the Graduate Futures Manager at Camberwell, Chelsea and Wimbledon College of Arts (CCW) and is a creative business coach, with over a decade of experience leading and developing programmes focused on professional development and creative business support. Imogen also manages UAL: Launch, a 6-week enterprise programme for recent CCW graduates.

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NAME - Course college Year of graduation

why:

strengths:

fact:

weblink:

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Amir has over 15 years’ experience in financial services and impact investing and is currently leading a Research England funded project to grow the social venture ecosystem coming out of London universities working with a group of universities and corporate partners. Alongside this he is also advising Daring Capital which has been setup to connect investors to social ventures that are unable to take on investment capital from traditional commercial sources.

Prior to this he has worked in a variety of roles all of which have centred around investing into social purpose organisations looking to raise capital to further their growth and impact. He has worked at Macmillan Cancer Services on its pilot fund to invest into health-tech start-ups around cancer care; led Big Society's relationships with trusts and foundations and its work around partnerships and innovation, focusing on the development of early-stage impact funds; led Comic Relief’s social investment strategy and led a community housing investment fund for CAF Venturesome.

Alongside his job Amir is the Investment Committee Chair at SIS Ventures (the venture arm of Social Investment Scotland) sits on the Impact Advisory Board for the Growth Impact Fund and is an advisor to the Pathway Fund and Barking and Dagenham Giving. Prior to joining the social investment sector, Amir worked in the financial services sector in a variety of roles for BNP Paribas and Royal Bank of Scotland.

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NAME - Course college Year of graduation

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