Gender pay gap narrows
Women's earnings have risen twice as fast as men's over the past five years, according to new research by Halifax. Women's earnings increased by 8% between 2009 and 2014, compared to 4% for men. However, on average men in full time employment still earn 32% more than women. The average salary for a man in full time employment was £37,028 in 2014, compared to £27,991 paid to female full-time staff.
Global Entrepreneurship Week
Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) takes place in the week of 16-20 November. The event is intended to support and inspire entrepreneurs and innovators around the world. In the UK, there are a host of events, including the Biggest Ever StartUp Saturday event in London. Host Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation, said: "The session aims to help people understand and recognise what makes them exceptional and then how to develop a globally sustainable business, with a clear vision of where they want to be and how they are going to get there."
New scheme for firms with CCTV
Tony Porter, the surveillance camera commissioner for England and Wales, has launched a third party certification scheme. Certification enables businesses to demonstrate that they comply with the surveillance camera code of practice. Porter said: "Certification enables organisations to demonstrate to communities that they use their CCTV systems transparently, effectively and proportionately. It shows they comply with the surveillance camera code of practice and indicates they follow best practice."
Stuck in the middle?
The Government is to put more focus on supporting the UK's medium-sized businesses. Speaking at the Telegraph Festival of Business, business secretary Sajid Javid said: "For too long, governments have focused on the massive multinationals and the plucky little start-ups." He said that when he first asked his department what support was provided for mid-sized businesses, he was told there were "policies in place for large business and small businesses and for small large and large small businesses". That Yes Minister-worthy response has prompted Javid to pledge to do more for mid-sized firms, which he described as "the beating heart of the economy".