News from the UK and around the world

Google Launches New $100 Million Investment Fund

Internet giant Google has launched a $100 million venture capital fund for the most innovative early-stage and start-up businesses. The fund, known as Google Ventures, will be fully owned by the search engine phenomenon, but operate as a separate entity. It will invest across a broad range of sectors including consumer internet, software, hardware, clean-tech, bio-tech and health care, and will look to support firms that are not only innovative and creative, but also have the potential to provide significant returns on any investment. Google Ventures will be run by fund managers Rich Miner and Bill Maris, who revealed in a joint statement: "We invest anywhere from seed to mezzanine stage and embrace the challenge of helping young companies grow from the garage to global relevance." The fund will focus primarily on companies seeking seed funding and early-stage support, and will have the ability to make investments ranging from tens of thousands to tens of millions of dollars. Companies interested in securing investment from the fund are asked to outline their case in no more than three pages and 20 slides by email to ventures@google.com

Places Available for Cambridge Entrepreneurship Diploma Programme

On behalf of Cambridge Worldwide Associates and Cambridge University Education without Borders (CUEWB), Sacoma is offering a 2 weeks Diploma in Entrepreneurship: The Cambridge Entrepreneurship and Leadership Seminar for intellectually driven Kenyan business people. Through stimulating company visits and fieldwork, participants will be exposed to the business world and meet and communicate with professionals and business leaders. They will learn about the latest assessments of Globalisation and consider with their tutors, the impact of Globalisation and recent trends in banking and credit fields on the World and National Economies. The programme is specially designed to develop deeper understandings of multinational business practice, diversities of business culture. They will be stimulated to think deeply about future requirements for human capital, and on an individual basis, explore with renewed insights, their own study and career plans. The programme will consist of a series of lectures delivered by prestigious Professors working at the Judge Business School and other Faculties and Departments in Cambridge and other leading Universities, together with field trips to Science parks and London, as well as the Cambridge area. The participants will have opportunities to extend and enrich knowledge and to hone professional skills in Finance, Management, Creative Thinking and Strategy and Enterprise. For more information and to book please contact Sacoma on Tel: 0208 554 9444 Mob: 07764 961489 Email: perez@sacoma.org.uk  Website: www.sacomacfe.com

Seeking Africans for African Diaspora Documentary

Century Films, an award winning TV company, is developing a new documentary about members of the African Diaspora who are returning to the Continent. If you are a currently living in the UK and are either thinking about or are in the process of re-locating then we would like to hear from you. For an informal chat about your plans for the future or to simply find out more about the documentary, please email Rob Miller: robert.miller@centuryfilmsltd.com

Stay-at-Home Mothers Returning to Work

Seven out of 10 stay-at-home mothers want to return to work because of money worries, with more than a third aiming to start immediately. Nearly 90% surveyed by Avon cosmetics are afraid there are not enough flexible jobs, with more than half worried about school and holidays.

AmeriCares and International Medical Corps Partner to Bring Lifesaving Aid to Chad

AmeriCares, a non-profit international relief organization, is sending an airlift carrying more than $1.4 million worth of lifesaving medicines and medical supplies to its partner, International Medical Corps, to help Darfur refugees in Chad. The medical aid will help people in the refugee camps who are suffering from serious injuries, infections, diarrhoea and chronic diseases, in addition to pre-natal vitamins for pregnant women. The airlift is part of AmeriCares and International Medical Corps' continued commitment to relieving suffering by improving access to medicines around the world, especially in areas like Darfur and neighbouring Chad. Since 2004, AmeriCares has delivered six shipments containing more than 50 tons of critical medicines and medical supplies to Chad that have been valued at nearly $3 million. AmeriCares has partnered with International Medical Corps over the last two years to provide donated medicines for their health programs serving refugees and other vulnerable populations in Chad, Cameroon, Kenya, Liberia, Lebanon and Iraq. In Chad, International Medical Corps currently serves a population of nearly 225,000, including approximately 75,000 refugees, and provides primary care to the camps, as well as health programs for hospitals.

Women Working in the City Paid 60% Less than Men

Women working in the City of London are being paid as much as 60% less than their male counterparts. Men in the sector are also receiving nearly 80% more in perks and bonuses, according to figures from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). Overall, women working in the financial services sector are paid more than £40,000 less each year, about twice the disparity that exists in the economy as a whole. Female fund managers, stock brokers and futures traders were found to be suffering from the biggest pay gap of about 60%. A dearth of women working in head offices, a relative lack of qualifications and their continuing domination of lower status roles were to blame, the research found.

Which US Industries Are Best for Black Women?

While Black female executives have come a long way in climbing the corporate ladder, in some industries they still have a long way to go. Among women in management nationally, white women still dominate the top-level positions, accounting for 28.7 percent of all senior managers, compared with 3.2 percent for Blacks, 2 percent for Latinas and 1.5 percent for Asians, reports the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. But despite the poor representation of Latinas and Black and Asian women in management, some industries and companies are the exception. As companies today look to hire the most productive talent, where can Latinas and Black and Asian women find the best career opportunities? DiversityInc has surveyed 352 participants in The 2008 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity® survey, looking at management levels and promotions, retention, work/life benefits and the demographics of the highest-paid employees. It found that the top industry overall for Black-women managers, the health-insurance industry, offers the greatest career-advancement opportunities. Compared to the most progressive organizations, the 2008 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity are gaining market share by recruiting and developing this underutilized talent. Among the DiversityInc Top 50, approximately 31 percent of women in management who received promotions in 2007 were Latina, Black or Asian. Nationally, 15 percent of women in senior management, CEOs and direct reports, were Latina, Black or Asian. Source: DiversityInc

Deloitte Survey Shows Global Bosses Fear Losing Top Talent in Recession

Nearly half of senior global company executives are worried about losing top talent during the recession while 30% saying they are looking to bring in more leaders. Four in 10 executives are trying to attract critical talent with 'hard to find' skills while 28% say they will increase the recruitment of ‘experienced hires', according to the survey of 326 multinational executives by Deloitte. The report, Managing Talent in a Turbulent Economy, also finds that senior executives remain pessimistic about the economic crisis and prospects for the future, with 30% believing the recession will deepen and only 5% thinking that the worst is behind them. More than two-thirds believe the operating environment will remain tough. Other findings from the survey showed that the top strategic issues for global companies are cutting costs, while the highest strategic issues for companies are reducing the workforce.

Tidjane Thiam Announced as Prudential Group Chief Executive

Prudential plc has announced that Tidjane Thiam, Chief Financial Officer, will succeed Mark Tucker as Group Chief Executive with effect from 1st October 2009. Tidjane Thiam joined Prudential in March 2008 from Aviva PLC, where he was an Executive Director and CEO of Aviva Europe. Tidjane worked for six years in core leadership roles including as Group Strategy and Development Director. A French national, Tidjane began his professional career with McKinsey & Company, working in both Paris and London, from 1986 to 1994, serving insurance companies and banks. Between 1994 and 1998, Tidjane returned to his birth place, the Ivory Coast, as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Bureau for Technical Studies and Development, reporting directly to the President and Prime Minister. He was then appointed as Minister of Planning and Development and left the country after the December 1999 military coup. He was elected as a partner of McKinsey & Company in 2000, where he worked until joining Aviva in 2002.

More Black US College Athletes Graduating

A new report shows that Black athletes are graduating from college at higher rates than in the past and at a higher rate than Black college students as a whole, The Associated Press (AP) reports. The NCAA measurement for graduation rates, called the Graduation Success Rate (GSR), rose 3 percent for Black athletes in the last three years, from 59 percent to 62 percent, according to The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida. Higher rates were seen for Black athletes in a variety of sports, with the GSR for football players rising 4 percent, while the rates for male and female basketball players rose 5 percent. Graduation rates for Black athletes are also surpassing those for other Black college students, according to federal statistics, which are lower than those of the NCAA because they do not account for athletes who transfer to a new college. According to federal statistics, the graduation rate for Black students as a whole was 45 percent for students entering college in 2001, compared to 53 percent for college athletes who matriculated in 2001. And while graduation rates are still higher for white athletes, the gap is closing, according to the most recent statistics. Source: DiversityInc.

Call for Entries to the World Habitat Awards 2009

The Building and Social Housing Foundation is currently seeking entries for the World Habitat Awards 2009 competition. The World Habitat Awards were initiated in 1985 and seek to identify practical, innovative and sustainable solutions to current housing issues faced by countries of the Global South as well as the North, which are capable of being transferred or adapted for use elsewhere. The competition is open to all individuals and organisations, including central and local governments, NGOs, community-based groups, research organisations and the private sector. Each year a panel of international judges assesses the projects entered for the competition and selects two winners. An award of £10,000 is presented to the winners at the annual United Nations global celebration of World Habitat Day. Across Africa we have seen examples that include community-led savings groups working to secure affordable land and shelter for low-income urban households in Namibia, the development and adaptive re-use of inner-city buildings in Johannesburg, South Africa and the development of vault and dome roofed housing and livelihood opportunities across the Sahel. Each example puts forward practical, innovative and sustainable approaches with the potential for adaptation and transfer. Further details of these and many other projects can be found on the World Habitat Awards website at www.worldhabitatawards.org. Stage I entries must be received by 1st June 2009.

Rutgers Launches Ethical Leadership Institute

The business school at Rutgers University has launched the Institute for Ethical Leadership, the university announced. The university says the institute will "address the continued need for ethical leadership in business, government and the nonprofit arena and at a time when many sectors of American society are facing new and continually emerging ethical challenges." Prudential and the Prudential Foundation awarded $2 million in funding to start the institute, which will offer educational programs, conduct basic and applied research and offer consulting and coaching services for top executives.

Elsevier Foundation Invites 2009 Proposals for Innovative Libraries and New Scholars Program

The Elsevier Foundation is seeking new grant proposals for its 2009 Innovative Libraries in Developing Countries and New Scholars programs. Sponsored by Elsevier, a leading global publisher of scientific, technical and medical information, the new Foundation proposals are due by August 1st, 2009. The grants for the two programs will be awarded in December 2009 and provide one, two and three year awards between US$5,000 to US$50,000 per year. The Innovative Libraries in Developing Countries program supports the efforts of libraries in developing countries to improve their ability to put scientific, technical and medical information to work for those who need it. Past projects have included: expanding library information resources through digitization and knowledge preservation; training and education programs for librarians and researchers; developed-developing world partnerships to provide longer term technical assistance and training. The New Scholars program supports academic and research communities in creating model programs to help scholars in the early stages of their careers balance childcare and family responsibilities with demanding academic careers in science, health and technology. Grants awarded in 2007-8 have promoted institutional research, advocacy, and policy development to retain, recruit and develop women in science, as well as enabling researchers to attend conferences critical to their careers, by assisting with childcare, mentorship and networking.

UK Skills Gap Casts Doubt over Future of Green Jobs

The British labour market lacks the skills needed to expand in renewable technologies and hopes that thousands of new jobs in renewable technologies will aid Britain’s recovery may be overly optimistic unless there is huge investment in skills, experts have said. The UK Government has pledged to create 400,000 green jobs over the next five years in the UK to help economic recovery and prepare for the future. But Matthew Lockwood, senior research fellow at the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), said that the labour market lacked the skills needed to expand in renewable technologies and as a result the UK could fail to reach its legally binding energy targets. Given the lengthy training period for the associated engineering and mechanical jobs – about eight years – urgent action was needed, he said. Hopes that large energy companies would take the lead in developing green technologies and jobs were dealt another blow recently when Shell and BP sharply cut back their investment in renewable energy. Meanwhile, a Spanish study has cast further doubt on the extent to which green jobs can boost an economy, claiming that the new jobs destroy positions in other sectors. The study into Spain’s renewable energy initiatives by an economics professor at the Rey Juan Carlos University in Madrid found that every green job created by the Spanish government destroyed an average of 2.2 other jobs, and that only one in 10 of the posts was permanent. Source: CIPD

Right to Request Flexible Working in UK Extended

From 6 April 2009 the right to request flexible working was extended to parents of all children under 17 years.

Big Boost for Third Sector

A major new programme has been launched to increase the capacity of charities, community groups and social enterprises in the North East of England. One North East’s £6 million Third Sector Capacity Fund aims to help not-for-profit groups play a leading role in delivering sustainable economic regeneration across the region. Over the next four years, it will provide grants worth up to £150,000 to promote closer collaborations across the sector, reduce organisational dependency on grants, enable groups to successfully bid for public service contracts, and provide activities to help the region emerge strongly from the recession. Funding is available for charities, community groups, social enterprises, cooperatives and mutuals. Two levels of support are on offer - tier one grants available over one year and worth a maximum of £50,000; and tier two grants ranging between £50,000 and £150,000 available over a three year period. Interested organisations will be asked to match fund an average of 33% of the project’s total costs. Applications are currently being invited for projects. A second application window is set to start in June, for which interested organisations will have to submit an expression of interest to determine eligibility prior to completing a full application for support. For further information about the Third Sector Capacity Fund, visit the Rocket Science website

£10 Million Fund Launched to Inspire Young People

A major new government fund has been launched to improve the educational aspirations of young people living in deprived areas. The £10 million Inspiring Communities scheme will provide grants for schools, local authorities and third sector groups to team up and carry out activities to boost youngsters' confidence and break cycles of "educational underachievement". Up to 15 neighbourhood partnerships will each receive up to £450,000 over the next two years to broaden young people's horizons, provide advice and inspiration to young people, raise parents' aspirations and self-confidence so that they can support their children to make positive, informed choices, and develop strong social networks in and beyond communities, raising local pride in young people and drawing out the best talents of the community to support people. These partnerships must be based in one of 64 qualifying local authority areas must include one local authority representative, one local secondary school, and one third sector group. Potential partners must submit their applications by 3 June, with up to 15 successful bids expected to start their activities later in the year. For further information about the Inspiring Communities scheme, visit the DCLG website

19% of Employers Said To Be Flouting Redundancy Laws

A report on redundancy released by Ipsos MORI on behalf of employment lawyers Russell Jones & Walker raises serious concerns employers could be flouting the law. The research suggests that almost one in five (19%) employers could be flouting the law by not involving either trade union or employee representatives. According to the law firm, few people are aware of their rights despite the legislation that has specifically been introduced to protect employees in these situations. There is a heavy emphasis on ensuring proper consultation is happening, and tribunals can come down very hard on those employers who flout the law. Their research also showed that 39% of London workers and 51% of City and Canary Wharf workers are concerned about losing their job; 43% of respondents work for a company that has carried out or announced redundancies in the last six months, while 55% of those work for companies that have made more than 20 people redundant. 25% of respondents believe that of those made redundant or at risk a disproportionate number were from minority or vulnerable groups, such as older workers, women and those with a visible ethnic origin.

Excell3 and Oxford University Launch new WISE Programme

Excell3 in collaboration with the University of Oxford recently launched a four year WISE programme aimed at encouraging less advantaged young people throughout the UK to apply to the University of Oxford. The programme involves academic support and mentoring for year 10 boys and girls and their parents, delivered by University staff and students and Excell3 Staff at St Anne's College, University of Oxford. According to the organisation, the programme is critical to overcome the fact that students from less advantaged backgrounds, even those who have the academic potential, are less likely to apply for top Universities such as Oxford. Excell3 and the University of Oxford are implementing this national four year programme of academic support and mentoring in an attempt to reverse these negative perceptions and prove that gaining a place at the University of Oxford really is achievable. For more information: www.excell3.com

Obama's Win Alters US Perceptions on Race, says Survey

Barack Obama's presidency seems to be altering the public perception of race relations in the United States. Two-thirds of Americans now say race relations are generally good, and the percentage of blacks who say so has doubled since last July, according to the latest New York Times/ CBS News poll. Despite that, half of blacks still say whites have a better chance of getting ahead in American society, the poll found. Black Americans remain among the president's staunchest supporters; 70% of black respondents now say the country is headed in the right direction, compared with 34% of whites. Americans seem to have high hopes for the president; 72 percent said they were optimistic about the next four years. By and large, Americans expect him to make significant progress in health care, energy and immigration policy, issues central to his ambitious domestic agenda. The nationwide telephone survey was conducted with 973 adults. Source: New York Times

Fourth Annual Index of Global Philanthropy and Remittances Shows Private Philanthropy, Remittances Provide Lifeline to Developing Countries during Recession

Despite the global recession, private giving and remittances are expected to be lifelines to help developing countries weather the economic storm, according to the new 2009 Index of Global Philanthropy and Remittances published by Hudson Institute's Center for Global Prosperity (CGP). The most comprehensive measurement of global private giving, this year's Index shows that philanthropy from all developed to developing countries increased to $49 billion in 2007 (latest available data). Despite the loss of assets in 2008, giving abroad by foundations, corporations, charities, churches, and individuals is not expected to take a sharp downward turn in 2009, according to Index analysis. Remittances - money sent from migrants living in developed countries back to their families and towns in the developing world - may be the most recession-resilient means to help alleviate poverty in underdeveloped countries. This $145 billion sent back home exceeds government aid from developed countries, which totals $103.5 billion. Even with the economic downturn, remittances grew 9 percent in 2008 and are expected to decline by less than 10 percent in 2009. The new Index, officially launching on April 27, shows Americans continued their generosity in 2007. Dr. Carol Adelman, Director of CGP, is presenting the findings at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, DC. U.S. private philanthropy, larger than ever, totaled $36.9 billion, over one and one-half times larger than official aid for this same period. When remittances are added to private philanthropy, the combined total - $115.9 billion - is more than five times official aid of $21.8 billion. The Index details the private philanthropy of U.S. foundations, corporations, private and voluntary organizations, volunteers, colleges and universities, and religious congregations. For the first time ever, the Index provides private-giving data by region and type of activity, showing that Africa receives the largest percent of corporations and charities' donations, while Latin America gets the bulk of giving by religious congregations.

http://www.global-prosperity.org.

US Women Still Earning Less than Men

More women are getting college degrees than men these days, but they still aren't being paid as much. In 2008, 29.4 million women and 28.4 million men ages 25 and older held bachelor's degrees or higher, according to just-released data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Women had a larger share of high-school diplomas, as well as associate and master's degrees. But these educational gains are not translating into pay equity for college-educated, full-time working women. According to Washington, D.C.-based women's-rights group American Association of University Women (AAUW), a typical college-educated woman 25 years and older working full time earns $50,600 a year (versus $70,800 for college-educated male workers 25 years and older). Working families in the United States lose about $200 billion of income annually to the gender-wage gap, reports AAUW. The narrowest wage gaps are found in the District of Columbia, Vermont and California; full-time female workers there earn about 85 percent as much as their male counterparts. The widest pay gaps are in Wyoming (women earn 62% of what men make), West Virginia (65%) and North Dakota (66%). Source: DiversityInc.

Taking the temperature on 'HR skills for survival'

In turbulent economic times, says a Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) poll, the top 'HR skill for survival' is 'effective change management'. Asked to choose three competencies they believed were most important to establishing the function’s effectiveness and credibility in the organisation, 46% of those taking part in mini poll - Heads of HR/heads of function, business partners, learning and development managers, HR managers, HR experts, HR officers and assistants and independent consultants- highlighted 'effective management of change'. This was closely followed by 'strategic thinking' (44%) and 'business knowledge' (36%). Seventy-eight of those taking part in our website poll were heads of HR/heads of function. For this group of respondents 'strategic thinking' was most commonly identified as crucial (55%) followed by 'effective management of change' (47%) and, reflecting their more senior role in the organisation, 'influencing and political skills' (40%). Areas where there are potentially opportunities for HR to make a difference (but which were less popular in the poll) included: 'creative practices/ability to do more with less' (18%), 'willingness to innovate' (11%) and 'organisational design skills' (3%). Source: CIPD

UK Aspiring Journalists Sought to Cover RSC's Artistic Programme

The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is looking for committed and aspiring arts journalists to regularly cover its productions and events over the next year (starting August 2009 - August 2010). The RSC is interested in hearing from upcoming journalists who have connections with youth, local, and minority ethnic media, be it print, broadcast, or online, and will provide bursaries to help you see its output in Stratford-upon- Avon. This is a great opportunity to interview leading directors, actors, and other theatre practitioners at the RSC; see fantastic plays; and develop an informal mentoring relationship with an arts critic at a leading publication. Previous graduates from the scheme have written for the Daily Telegraph, Time Out, and one was recently appointed Midlands’s theatre critic for whatsonstage.com. If you would like to learn more about the bursaries and hear about the experiences from participants on last year's scheme, then please do join us at this event in Stratford-Upon-Avon. Fiona Hughes, arts editor at London’s Evening Standard and Sophia Jackson, founder of Afridiziak website, will share their career tips at the event: June 13, 2009, RSC, 3 Chapel Lane, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. Cost: £5 (to be paid in advance). Deadline for registration is June 11. Deadlines for written applications is July 6, 2009. Got any questions? Call Uchenna Izundu on 07734 986 359. To book a place, please send an email to mediachisolutions@googlemail.com and assume that you have been registered unless you hear otherwise.

Top Companies in Europe Communicating on Diversity

76% of Europe's leading blue-chip companies mention "diversity" in their annual reports. A new survey, entitled "Survey on Diversity in Corporate Annual Reports of Stoxx 50 Companies," notes that "diversity is now a strategic success factor" that "leading companies can no longer overlook." The report, issued by European Diversity Research & Consulting, analyzed the annual reports of all Stoxx 50 companies looking for both the presence of diversity content and the depth and scope of the attention paid to diversity. The key areas of diversity focus parallel that of the United States, including mental or physical ability or disability, age, race/ethnicity, gender, beliefs/religion, sexual orientation, culture and work/life. Data indicates a 100 percent increase in the number of companies reporting on diversity in their annual reports. The report assessed diversity material according to region and industry and noted the trends. Looking at Europe by region, more than 50 percent of all regions include diversity in their annual reports. However, the United Kingdom sets the standard with 100 percent of all of its Stoxx 50 companies mentioning diversity.