• Villa Art Exhibition in association with ArtworkX of Mann presents, On the Wild, Side, Villa Marina, Upper Circle. Until November 13.
• Svetlana Cameron, solo exhibition of classical portraits, Sayle Gallery, Douglas. Until November 30.
• ‘Little Island’ by Hollie Mills, 3D illustrations, Erin Arts Centre, Port Erin. Until November 30.
Bonfire Night passed by without any major incidents.
However, the fire and rescue service were called out to a garden shed fire in Bircham Avenue, Ramsey, during the evening.
It was fully engulfed in fire.
Fire fighting operations were hampered due to the fact that an amount of petrol had been stored in the shed which added to the ferocity of the fire.
Once extinguished the crew remained in attendance for aboutone hour to dampen down any hot spots then the incident was left in the hands of the police to investigate the cause further.
At 2.40am this morning Thursday) crews were called to an out-of-control bonfire at Stoney Mountain Quarry, Foxdale.
One pumping appliance was dispatched from Douglas station.
Advice was given to the owner of the site and the fire was left to burn out with supervision from the land owner.
Some fireworks displays and parties are expected to take place this weekend.
Douglas’s official display, for example, is due to take place tonight (Friday), with good views from the promenade.
There was lively audience participation at the last of the invite-only Big Debates.
More than 100 people were present at the Manx Museum lecture theatre on Tuesday night to vote on the big issues facing the island.
In the absence of Treasury Minister Eddie Teare MHK, Yvette Mellor, director of finance and performance at the Cabinet Office, gave a presentation alongside Minister for Policy and Reform Chris Robertshaw MHK.
More than 120 people, chosen at random from the electoral register, had accepted the invitation to attend.
But on the night a total of 108 turned up.
There was lively debate with plenty of audience feedback.
Once again, the public could vote on a series of questions using remote control devices.
There has been a lot of criticism that the questions have been too open-ended.
No dates have yet been set for next round of the Big Debates.
But Mr Robertshaw told the audience at the Manx Museum that the next events will all be open meetings with everybody welcome to attend.
The Isle of Man is braced for bad weather tonight.
Castletown bay, Douglas bay, Laxey bay and Ramsey bay are likely to experience large waves crashing over roads and sea walls this evening.
Gale Force winds with high tide tonight at 10.39pm.
Minor inner harbour flooding is likely to occur, predominantly in Douglas.
Flooding is likely on road and higher ground with debris from trees and blocked drains.
Leading Isle of Man-based law and professional services group Cains has been given the top Band 1 ranking in the prestigious Chambers UK Guide for 2015.
The UK Guide is published annually and is highly respected because of its total independence.
Its sought after rankings are based on in-depth interviews with lawyers and clients which are carried out by Chambers’ 150 full-time editors and researchers.
The Guide refers to Cains as a ‘well regarded adviser on a wide range of corporate and finance activities’ and adds that ‘clients include renowned financial institutions and corporates, with interests in insurance, pensions, aviation, property and capital markets’.
Comments listed from interviews with clients include: ‘They are quick to respond and take a practical approach to legal issues. They understand the business and tailor their advice to provide solutions’; and ‘I still think they are the pre-eminent firm on the island. They have a number of lawyers with expertise in the area’.
The Guide refers to examples of the work undertaken by Cains.
This includes the provision of advice to the Bank of Ireland, one of a consortium of lenders, on the restructuring of debts owed by BWG, and to Santander and Oaktree Capital Management in relation to the acquisition of the property portfolios of Eastburn Estates and Active Commercial Estates.
Among the other significant clients listed are Lamprell, Eros International, Aviva and Tullow Oil.
Richard Vanderplank, who leads the corporate team, is referred to by one commentator as giving ‘sound advice and you can always pick up the phone to him’.
Andrew Baker is described as being ‘well regarded for capital markets and mutual fund work’ while Mike Pinson, who has a general corporate practice and handles M&A activity, is referred to as being ‘noted for his sound advice’.
The Guide also describes managing director Andrew Corlett as an established expert on asset finance matters as well as those concerning mutual funds.
Manx Amateur Boxing Club is currently in the middle of a busy few weeks.
The Douglas club have three of their team in action tomorrow, Friday, in Corby, Northamptonshire.
Jamie Devine and Sam Gelling box top-level opponents as does experienced senior boxer Daniel Roberts.
This comes on the back of a busy weekend at the end of October when the club were in action on two fronts.
Novice juniors Callum Corlett and Danny Kenny boxed in support bouts on the Viking ABC show in Ramsey (see report above).
Callum came away with a good win while Danny lost on a close points decision.
The same night in Greater Manchester schoolboy boxer 10-year-old TJ Phair followed up his impressive debut at the recent Manx ABC dinner evening show with his second non-competitive skills bout on the Bridgewater Salford ABC show.
TJ showed good skill for one so young in an entertaining clash with Neal Birchall (Skerton ABC), the two young boxers receiving their trophies from Salford’s former British champion and world title challenger Steve ‘The Viking’ Foster.
Douglas’s Mathew Rennie, one of the top youth boxers in the UK for his age and weight, was in action against Connor Ward (Collyhurst & Moston), The latter is a tough come-forward fighter who piles on the pressure from the first bell to the last.
Style makes fights and this was the traditional bull and matador encounter.
Rennie spent most of the bout on the back foot, boxing beautifully for two rounds at long range as Ward struggled to get to grips with the elusive switch-hitting skills of the Manx boxer.
Ward’s frustration showed in the second round as he illegally pinned Rennie to the ropes using his forearm.
Ward was warned for his conduct and the bout continued in the same vain, with Rennie seeing out the round using his long reach to keep Ward at bay.
The combination of Ward’s constant pressure and Rennie’s fatigue made the final round the closest of the three as Ward was more successful and landed some right hands over the top of Rennie’s low guard.
Rennie, however, had done enough in the first two rounds to take the unanimous points decision.
Mathew’s good form has been recognised recently as he was invited to the headquarters of GB Boxing in Sheffield for an England/GB talent identification squad training session.
The Ballakermeen student obviously impressed the coaches as he has been asked to attend a second session after Christmas.
Two more of the thriving Manx ABC youth team have also been selected for the England GB talent squads.
Jamie Devine will travel to England for assessment later in November while Sam Gelling will attend his age group talent identification squad this weekend.
The club also have trips to Leeds later this month and Derbyshire in December.
John Cain
A film quiz night marks the start of the Peel Centenary Centre’s fundraising bid for a digital projector.
The centre – keen to improve the facilities – recognises screenings of live concerts and sports events is fast becoming popular.
The event, on Saturday from 8pm, takes place with its in-house cinema Films in Peel. The quiz consists of watching two vintage films about the island, and questions will be asked later. A free hot dog/vegetarian sausage will be served in the interval.
Tickets (£5)available from Celtic Gold, Peel; Peter Norris Music, Douglas; Shakti Man, Ramsey; Thompson Travel, Port Erin or www.centenarycentre.com
Guest speaker Ron Garan will be a rare coup when he appears as guest speaker for an island-based space commerce organisation.
NASA bans its astronauts from giving speeches and talks but because Colonel Garan has now retired he is free to entertain the guests at the fund raising dinner for the International Institute of Space Commerce on Tuesday.
The institute’s company secretary and finance director John Sheath said: ‘This is a rare opportunity for the public to meet an astronaut and for him to speak as well. It is a great opportunity for the island, perhaps not once in a lifetime but certainly rare.
‘His background is quite amazing, test and fighter pilot, astronaut who has completed lots of trips, space walked, lots of neat things, and he’s coming here.’
The occasion is the inaugural annual fundraising dinner for the International Institute of Space Commerce on November 11 at the Claremont Hotel in Douglas when Colonel Garan will talk about his life.
During his career he spent more than 178 days in space and completed four spacewalks which took a total of over 27 hours. He flew on both the US space shuttle and the Russian Soyuz spacecraft.
As we have already reported he will also speak at the TEDxDouglas event at the Youth Arts Centre on Kensington Road on Monday.
For more information see www.iisc.im.
Ramsey based FPS Group have won the Best Umbrella Service Provider Award at the Payroll World Awards 2014 against stiff competition from across the UK.
FPS Group staff travelled from the Isle of Man to represent the company at the Payroll World Autumn Conference and the annual awards ceremony at London’s Grange St Paul’s Hotel.
FPS Group employs 81 staff, based from its offices in Ramsey and is a major contributor to the local economy of the North of the island.
FPS Group were shortlisted for the Best Umbrella Service Provider Award alongside tough competition from other umbrella company administrators.
When selecting FPS Group as winners, the judges highlighted ‘strong efficiency focus and proactive commitment to legislative compliance’ as well as ‘exceptional and dedicated customer service’.
They were deemed ‘worthy winners’ by the judges.
FPS Group are proud to take home the first Payroll World Award for Best Umbrella Service Provider.
Matthew Huddleston, managing director for FPS Group, sais: ‘That the Payroll World awards are judged by subject matter experts (including representatives from HMRC) and that this makes it particularly pleasing that FPS was chosen as the Best Umbrella Service Provider 2014.’
Mr Huddleston added: ‘It is hugely rewarding that we have won an award in this category which is the first time it has been featured, and in the run up to our 20th anniversary of providing umbrella company administration services to the UK recruitment industry.
‘The FPS team attending were overjoyed when we were confirmed as the winner and for me personally, it has been the highlight of the past 12 months since it recognises formally the exceptional work everybody within the company has put in.’
FPS Group is a trading name of Freelance Professional Service Limited.
Established in 1994, FPS Group are a licensed corporate services provider administering umbrella company solutions to the UK recruitment industry. Umbrella companies are employment vehicles used extensively throughout the UK temporary recruitment market.
They employ a contract worker whilst that individual works on assignment at multiple end clients.
Full UK PAYE deductions are operated on all of the worker’s remuneration. The worker benefits from continuity of employment, a single source of income / tax code and the ability to claim eligible business expenses.
The end client and recruitment agencies benefit from dealing with a company rather than an individual and knowing that the worker’s tax liabilities are being correctly accounted for.
As umbrella services are entirely UK focused, FPS Group do not utilise their Isle of Man location in order to gain tax advantage for their clients. Most of their competitors are UK based, and the business works hard to counter negativity in the UK regarding perceived (but entirely incorrect in the case of FPS Group) issues of ‘offshore tax avoidance’. Instead the group promotes extensively the significant advantages of being based on the island.
About FPS
Established in 1994, FPS Group are a licensed Corporate Services Provider administering umbrella company solutions to the UK recruitment industry. Umbrella companies are employment vehicles used extensively throughout the UK temporary recruitment market. They employ a contract worker whilst that individual works on assignment at multiple end clients. Full UK PAYE deductions are operated on all of the worker’s remuneration. The worker benefits from continuity of employment, a single source of income / tax code and the ability to claim eligible business expenses. The end client and recruitment agencies benefit from dealing with a company rather than an individual and knowing that the worker’s tax liabilities are being correctly accounted for.
As umbrella services are entirely UK focused, FPS Group do not utilise their Isle of Man location in order to gain tax advantage for their clients. Most of their competitors are UK based, and the business works hard to counter negativity in the UK regarding perceived (but entirely incorrect in the case of FPS Group) issues of ‘offshore tax avoidance’. Instead the group promotes extensively the significant advantages of being based on the island.
“The ease at which experienced and customer service focused administrators can be recruited is a fantastic advantage” says Operations Manager, Marita McElhinney. She continues “We also have a fantastic relationship with the Isle of Man VAT office, receiving first class support for our services.”
The group has been highly successful, reinvesting profits, growing organically and evolving to meet changing legislation. They remain a family business without third party borrowings, equity or influence. They are the only Government regulated UK umbrella company provider and firmly believe that compliance and security are of paramount importance.
Join the Manx Wildlife Trust for an adventure in the Curraghs, in search of the elusive red-necked wallaby.
The Wallaby Walk takes place from the Wildlife Park car park on Saturday from 1pm to 3pm.
It costs £2 per person.
Places are limited to 15. The event is not suitable for children under the age of six. Participants are advised to wear sturdy footwear and outdoor clothing.
To book email Dawn at dawn@manxwt.org.uk
There are concerns about the impact of work in Castletown square on parking in town, said Kevin Weir at this week’s commissioners’ meeting, but he said up to 40 temporary on street spaces could be created.
The scheme (14/00373/B), approved last week, involves the creation of a plaza-style seating area on the castle side of the square and nine parking spaces will be retained on the other side of the square.
When an event is held and in the winter months, nine parking spaces in front of the castle will be reinstated
Mr Weir said he and town MHK Richard Ronan had identified 40 temporary parking spaces that could be used while work was being done.
He invited commissioners to see where they were and said it was ‘vital people knew (where the spaces were) when people asked’.
Mr Weir said the spaces would ‘alleviate or eradicate fears while the work is going on. There’s quite a bit we can do, we have to be proactive. Castletown will remain open throughout the work, we have got to make sure people know that.’
The authority is also creating new permanent spaces in car parks on Farrant’s Way and by the grammar school.
Chairman Richard McAleer said: ‘There’s a net gain. People still think we are losing car parking, we are not.’
Until there is confirmation that Tesco wants to try once more to open an Express store in Castletown, the authority will not discuss its stance on an alcohol licence.
Town commissioner Colin Leather raised the issue at this week’s meeting.
At their previous meeting on October 20, the authority considered an email from Callow’s Yard developer Roy Tilleard to commissioners’ chairman Richard McAleer asking for the board to support another alcohol licence application by Tesco at 17/19 Malew Street. Mr Tilleard wrote Tesco’s store acquisitions director ‘has confirmed that the firm still wished to open the store at Callow’s Yard but that it was still dependent on the grant of an alcohol licence.’ If Tesco opened, Poundland said it would like to open a Dealz Store there too.
Tesco has said an alcohol licence is required to make the store viable; they have failed to be granted a licence three times in the past because of the number of outlets already selling alcohol in town.
The authority replied to Mr Tilleard it wanted official notification Tesco planned to reapply for an alcohol licence.
Clerk Eddie Convery said a ‘contact’ at Tesco ‘had no knowledge of an application for an alcohol licence in Castletown’.
Mr McAleer said Mr Tilleard had emailed him again, ‘saying we have not answered his question. He asked could we discuss it again, but there has been no application, so we cannot discuss it.’
Mr Leather said: ‘We were asked one simple question, we did not answer it.
‘Would this board support it if Tesco applied for a licence, pure and simple. It only requires no or yes. I feel we owe it to the town. Everywhere I have been stopped by people who say: “Bring us Tesco, Castletown is dead”. What is all the fuss about? We’re arguing about bylaws, but the town is dead.’
‘We would welcome Tesco,’ said David Parnell. ‘Tesco did not get a licence so their choice was not to come. We changed our stance (from opposing an alcohol licence to neutral).’
Mr McAleer said: ‘The solution is to get Tesco round the table to discuss it.’
Mr Collister added: ‘Can I take the word “Tesco” out of the equation? We need someone in town with a name, like Costa, to pull people in – Tesco, Morrison’s anything … we need something in that area, regardless of what it is, to get people into town. We must make that clear to everybody.’
Mr Convery said: ‘We asked Mr Tilleard if he could facilitate a meeting with Tesco.’
PDMS Southern Nomads face Bowdon in the semi-final of the Cheshire Bowl at King William’s College on Saturday afternoon.
Nomads have been a dominant force in the Cheshire Plate for the last three seasons and this season they make the step up one level to play in the Bowl competition.
Bowdon play their rugby in South Lancs/Cheshire Division One along with Douglas and in fact they beat the Port-e-Chee outfit just under a month ago.
Despite that win, Bowdon have been struggling a little this season and have won just three from nine.
They currently occupy 10th place in the league standings and are far from safe with things looking very tight in the bottom half of the table.
Nomads will see this as a definite chance to add another big scalp to go alongside the one they took from Oswestry in the previous round.
Since that win, Nomads have enjoyed a good run in the Shimmin Wilson Manx Shield and while the fixtures haven’t quite gone how coach Casey Davies would have hoped, his side, under the leadership of skipper Chris Beaumont, are the only unbeaten team left in the Shield as they look to take the title back from Vagabonds B.
Nomads name a pretty much full strength side for this match which gets undeway at a very early 12pm.
SOUTHERN NOMADS SQUAD
Ally Kelly, Jack Sleight, Colin Kelly, David Walsh, Steve McHugh, Harry Wint, Chris Beaumont (c), Jonathan Crellin, Andy Lean, Dan Bridle, Adam Boyd, Gerard Landels, Harry Brereton, Harry Catlow and Tom Duggan.
Replacements, Tom Davies, James Parker, Mark Brew, Dave Prince, Tom Spencer, Ian Hargreaves and Fraser Veale.
l Douglas, Ramsey and the majority of the north west leagues take a week off to mark the start of the autumn internationals at Twickenham.
Saturday’s fixtures
South Lancashire/Cheshire Division Two
Vagabonds v Orrell @ Ballafletcher ko 1.30pm
Cheshire Bowl semi-final
PDMS Southern Nomads v Bowdon @ King William’s College ko 12pm
Shimmin Wilson Manx Shield
Vagabonds B v Douglas B @ Ballafletcher ko 2.15pm
PwC Mixed Premier
Bacchas A will be looking to extend their unbeaten record when they meet Canaccord Genuity Vikings A at the NSC on Saturday afternoon.
Jamie Brown’s Bacchas have been dominant so far this season conceding just one goal in five games and will be confident of continuing their good form here.
Opponents Vikings were defeated 6-0 by Bacchas when the two sides met earlier in the season and will be aiming for an improved performance this time around.
PwC Mixed Division One
Canaccord Genuity Vikings B will be hoping to return to winning ways when they meet Crowe Morgan Valkyrs B at QEII on Saturday afternoon.
Ian Perry’s side have been defeated in their last four games and currently sit bottom of the table.
In contrast Dave Hall’s Valkyrs have put aside a difficult start to the season and are now on a four-match unbeaten run.
If Vikings manage to field their strongest side they could sneak the win against the ever-improving Valkyrs.
PwC Mixed Division Two
Celton Manx Cammags will be looking to extend their lead at the top of the PwC Mixed Division Two when they meet Bacchas Colts at Castle Rushen on Saturday afternoon.
Dani Kelly’s Cammags have dropped just a single point so far this season and have a two-point advantage in the title race.
Opponents Bacchas were narrowly defeated the last time the two met and will be hoping to become the first side to claim victory over the Castletown side.
PwC Mixed Division Three
Canaccord Genuity Vikings D will be hoping to close the gap at the top of the table when they meet Harlequins B at QEII on Saturday afternoon.
Hayley Crowe’s Vikings currently lie two points behind the league leaders Harlequins Colts. Having been victorious in their last match Vikings will be aiming to build some momentum.
Helen Cave’s Harlequins have made a solid start to the season and will be looking to continue that with victory here.
PwC Mixed Under-16s
A top-of-the-table clash takes place between Bacchas A and LJ Ramsey Rogues and Rascals in Saturday’s late fixture at the NSC.
Ramsey currently lead the way, after defeat in their opening fixture they have put together a four-match winning run including victory over this week’s opponents.
Bacchas have also suffered just the one defeat at the hands of the northerners and will be aiming to make amends this time around.
Saturday’s fixtures
PwC Mixed Premier Division
Celton Manx Celts v Crowe Morgan Valkyrs A CRHS 2.05pm
Tim Leeming, David Quayle
LJ Ramsey Mixed A v Saracens Sabres RGS 2.05pm
Gary Corkhill
Canaccord Genuity Vikings Mixed A v Bacchas A NSC 2.05pm
Mark Entwisle, Jonathan Hull
PwC Mixed Division One
Bacchas B v LJ Ramsey Ravens NSC 12.35pm
Kirsty Bowley, Jonathan Hull
Bacchas C v Crowe Morgan Valkyrs C QEII 11.05am
John Harrison, Lindsay Riordan
Crowe Morgan Valkyrs B v Canaccord Genuity Vikings B QEII 2.05am
John Harrison, Iain Wrigley
PwC Mixed Division Two
Bacchas Colts v Celton Manx Cammags CRHS 3.35pm
Mike Taylor, Laurence Watterson
LJ Ramsey Rookies v Celton Manx Cushags RGS 11.05am
Unappointed Barry Powell
Canaccord Genuity Vikings Mixed C v Harlequins A RGS 3.35pm
Unappointed
PwC Mixed Division Three
Celton Manx Southerners v Harlequins Colts CRHS 12.35pm
Unappointed
Harlequins B v Canaccord Genuity Vikings D QEII 3.35pm
Unappointed
LJ Ramsey Robinsv Saracens Sharks RGS 12.35pm
Unappointed
Crowe Morgan Valkyrs D v Bacchas D QEII 12.35pm
Ken Carney Vic Ferns
PwC Mixed Under-16s’ League
Bacchas A v LJ Ramsey Rogues & Rascals NSC 3.35pm
Jamie Brown Louise Franklin
We are going to have to work longer to receive our full state pension in future.
Ci65’s report says the state pension is paid too early, too generously and to too many people - creating weak incentives for people to make private provision for retirement.
It recommends the state pension age is reviewed, linking it to life expectancy in the island. It doesn’t state what that age should be, only that you should be able to choose the time you take retirement.
The state retirement age has not increased for men since the state pension was first introduced. Currently the retirement age is 65 for men and 60 for women. That will be equalised to 65 for both men and women in 2018 but will rise in phases to 68 by the year 2044.
Ci65 says retirement should be flexible and not last more than 30 per cent of working life over the period to 2072.
The date of implementation should provide at least 15 years’ notice to those who will be affected.
Retirement benefits are by far the largest draw on the NI Fund. Ci65 says reform is needed to improve financial sustainability but is also required in the lights of increasing life expectancy and the motivation of many workers to work longer.
It suggests simplifying and enhancing the state pension on offer for future pensioners while protecting the rights of those already in retirement.
The current system of a basic pension topped up with supplements and earnings-based additions is ‘complex’, notes the report.
It proposes instead a single-tier state pension of a maximum of £180 per week, 25 per cent higher than the UK’s proposed £144 per week – and higher than the current basic state pension and Manx pension supplement, currently worth up to £166.85 a week.
Pensioners without additional pension entitlement would be better off by £684 per year under the proposed flat-rate system, representing an 8 per cent increase over the current rate of basic state pension and pension supplement.
Those who have accrued a state pension entitlement when the flat rate is introduced which is higher than the flat rate would have the difference protected so will not be worse off.
The report recommends the number of qualifying years for a full pension should increase to 45 years. It says the current 30 year requirement does not sufficiently reward individuals who work for longer. The average number of qualifying years among existing pensioners is 31.
Some 80 per cent of those retiring in the next five year would be expected to have 45 qualifying years on retirement and therefore many would not be adversely affected by the increase.
Ci65 recommends the Manx pension supplement is phased out over a 20 year period for new entrants, saying there is an imbalance between the qualification requirement of just 10 years and the contributions to the NI Fund.
The supplement will be used to protect pension rights in the transition period.
Current pensioners will see their state pension uprated in line with average earnings.
The report says increasing the state pension age will mean NI Fund income will peak at £1bn increase of £880m and pension outgo in the year 2072 will be £200m less.
Ci65 accepts the reforms will be accompanied by challenges – but none as large at that posed by an unsustainable NI Fund.
A ‘bold transformation’ is needed to tackle the island’s ‘out of date and broken’ welfare system.
That’s the conclusion of a long awaited 640-page report from consultants Ci65 which was published on Wednesday.
It says social security and National Insurance policies have not kept pace with the ageing population, are based on UK policies that may not be in the island’s best interests and have become unnecessarily complex.
Ci65’s report says that without change, the Manx National Insurance Fund, from which the state pension is paid, will be exhausted by 2047 – seven years earlier than previously expected.
Latest accounts, show the NI Fund had a £10.4m shortfall - the second year in a row that spending on state pensions and other benefits has exceeded NI contributions paid in.
Ci65’s report, commissioned by Treasury, recommends a package of reforms to extend the life of the Fund by making the system sustainable, simpler and more suited to the island’s social and economic conditions.
Breaking the link with UK policies could mean changing or replacing the reciprocal agreements on social security.
The recommended measures, which will go out to public consultation before proposals are presented to Tynwald next year, would leave existing pensioners largely unaffected.
Currently you need to make contributions for 30 qualifying years to receive the full basic state pension of £113.10 a week. The Manx pension supplement adds up to £53.75 extra.
Under Ci65’s proposals, the pension supplement will be phased out over 20 years for new entrants.
And starting in 2016, there will be a new flat-rate state pension set at £180 a week.
But you’ll have to work longer – 45 years – to qualify for your full state pension.
The island’s official rates of inflation have fallen.
Measured by the Consumer Prices Index, the annual rate dropped to 0.8 per cent in October from 1 per cent the month before.
The Retail Prices Index, which includes mortgage interest payments and household expenditure such as buildings insurance, dropped to 2.3 per cent from 2.6 per cent the month before.
The headline figures hide different rates of inflation for different goods.
For example, annual food inflation is currently running at 4.4 per cent, while clothing and footwear has actually got 0.9 per cent cheaper.
On average, something that cost £1 in October 2000 would cost £1.64 today.
The number of people out of work has risen slightly.
There were seven more people registered unemployed at the end of October compared with the month before.
The figure was 866, an unemployment rate of 1.9 per cent.
The UK’s unemployment rate is 6.2 per cent. The Republic of Ireland’s is 11 per cent.
Last month the Isle of Man Examiner reported that the Isle of Man had the lowest unemployment rate in Europe.
During October 216 people signed on while 209 signed off.
There were 509 vacancies notified to the Job Centre during the month, with 293 vacanices still on file at the end of the month.
However, many of the vacancies are in areas such as education, which need specialist skills.
Unemployment peaked during the last downturn in January this year, when 1,182 people were out of work. The trend since then has been down, with 198 fewer people unemployed in October 2014 than October 2013.
The lowest October figure in recent years was in 2001, when 165 people were out of work. In 1985 the figure was 2,271.
As I sit here and write this piece I’m still trying to get my brain in gear to report on how much of an honour it was to be part of The Big Beat For Hospice main event that took place at The Villa Marina last weekend.
Along with the core team members, the event saw huge numbers of veteran and beginner drummers join the team in playing to backing tracks solidly for morethan 51 hours.
The amount raised over the weekend will be broadcast soon but I’m very happy to report that it is already well in excess of £13,000.
There are discussions taking place already for the next event, so I’ll keep you posted on any developments as I receive them.
The justgiving site will be open for the remainder of the year and for anyone wishing to donate online the address is www.justgiving.com/bbfh.
Further information regarding any events relating to The Big Beat For Hospice can also be found at www.facebook.com/TheBigBeatForHospice
Last Saturday also the start of the annual Battle of the Bands competition that took place at Amber, in Douglas.
Taking part in Heat One were Abrasive Melody, The Fletcher Christian Mutiny and The Water Is Rising.
The Water Is Rising grabbed the winning slot with second place going to Abrasive Melody, who also go through to the final which takes place on November 29.
This Saturday sees Heat Two of Battle of the Bands taking place with Deady Long Legs, Eoin Molyneux, Leadvein, The Clowns Call For War and Trevor John Shimmin all stepping up to try and bag a place in the final.
The event kicks off at 8.45pm and it’s free entry.
Any bands out there wishing me to review their work or if you have any gossip or news related to the Manx music scene, please drop me an email to leachsteve@hotmail.com
----------------
Steve Leach brings the latest rumblings, murmurings, news and views on forthcoming events in and around the island’s music scene. Help support the scene by emailing leachsteve@hotmail.com
There are just two fixtures taking place in JCK Division Two this weekend as the season approaches its halfway point.
The majority of teams in the second division have already played half of their 24 league games, with a handful playing catch-up so only two rearranged games go ahead on Saturday.
The pick of the two is arguably at the Nivison Stadium where Onchan host Colby, with the visitors knowing that a win would take them into the top three of the current standings.
The Moonlighters travel to the Nivison in better form than their hosts, having won their last three successive games whereas the Os have won two and lost the other.
Both sides had to work hard to secure the three points in their previous outing, with Onchan seeing off a plucky Governor’s Athletic by the odd goal in seven while Colby edged past Castletown 2-1 at the Stadium.
A close game could be in store but Colby may just have enough about them to claim the victory.
In the other game on Saturday, the aforementioned Governor’s Athletic make the trip to Clagh Vane to take on Malew.
The hosts have endured a somewhat hit-and-miss season so far, having only won one game in two months, but this weekend’s contest should give them the ideal opportunity to get back to winning ways to kickstart their season.