Balthane industrial estate is half way through a new street lighting scheme which should be completed by the end of this month.

Malew Commissioners decided to introduce lighting because there were concerns about safety said commissioners’ clerk Barry Powell.

He said at times during the winter months, commissioners’ staff would have to empty bins in the dark.

The 26 lighting columns cost just under £90,000.

The improvement is part of a growing area of non-industrial businesses opening in the estate.

‘There are more diverse businesses there now,’ he said. ‘There is a dog grooming salon, a gym, a new plumbing supplies shop, Karl Berrie’s Christmas pudding business. It has been brought about by the building of new units. Lighting is what you’d expect. They (the new businesses) are attracting people to the premises. Five to 10 years ago it was engineering, they did not attract customers, now there is a slight retail element. Lighting is what you’d expect.’

Malew war memorial will stay where it is.

The local authority was concerned over the safety of the memorial – a Celtic cross near the Poacher’s Pocket development in Ballasalla – which had developed cracks.

Moving the cross from its current position by a busy road was unlikely, so if a replacement was required, they investigated a more suitable location.

But the news alarmed residents including Orry Mitchell, who said the memorial, erected in 1923, should ‘stay where our predecessors erected it’.

Commissioners’ clerk Barry Powell said a report showed the cracks could be repaired. ‘The commissioners’ main concern was the safety of people. We want to put an additional handrail in to make it a little bit more accessible. It will stay in its current location, which is where the commissioners wanted it in the first instance. No one can be upset if it stays where it is, it’s not the most ideal location but that’s where it has been for the last 90 years and where it will remain.’

Teachers have represented the Isle of Man as part of a cultural exchange in China.

They went to Shanghai as part of a programme to encourage understanding of Chinese culture and the teaching of Mandarin in schools.

Jan Gimbert, school improvement adviser with the Department of Education and Children, Rob Sellors, headteacher of Cronk-y-Berry Primary School and Rob Coole, headteacher of Anagh Coar Primary Schoo visited China from October 25 to 31 as guests of the Confucius Institute in Beijing, the headquarters of the Chinese National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language.

The group was part of a Crown Dependencies contingency that included government representatives and headteachers from Jersey and Guernsey.

They attended a briefing on education in Shanghai and visited three primary and two secondary schools, where they observed lessons.

Mrs Gimbert said: ‘Looking at aspects of culture and language from another country helps children to reflect on their own experiences as they are growing up.’

In July, Shen Yang, Minister Counsellor for Education at the Chinese Embassy in London, opened an independent Confucius Classroom at Ballakermeen High School. The classroom will offer lessons in Mandarin and Chinese culture to schoolchildren and the wider community.

While in Beijing, the delegates had a chance meeting with Ballakermeen students, who were on an exchange visit with their partner school.

Mrs Gimbert said: ‘This was astounding when you consider we were 5,000 miles away from home and in a city of 21 million people. The Ballakermeen students were enjoying their experiences in China and were fantastic representatives of both the Isle of Man and their school.’

A scheme inspiring schoolchildren to fulfil their potential is inviting women in the workplace to participate in its latest initiative.

Inspiring the Future – which connects students with the world of work – is holding Inspiring Women Week on the island from March 21 to 25, 2016.

Inspiring the Future launched the Inspiring Women campaign in 2013 and it has already connected up 17,000 women with schools across the British Isles.

Politicians, TV personalities, authors and journalists, pop stars and sports personalities have all taken part. It’s hoped to have 20,000 women involved by next year.

Ramsey Grammar School will host a speed dating-style event on Wednesday, March 23, at which women from a wide variety of workplaces will circulate, speaking with boys and girls in Year 9 who are choosing their exam options.

Other local primary and secondary schools will hold events as part of the initiative.

Annette Baker, headteacher of Ramsey Grammar School, is the local organiser of Inspiring the Future.

She said: ‘Inspiring the Future helps schools forge partnerships with employers who provide students with the motivation, knowledge, skills and opportunities they need to help them achieve their potential and contribute to the economy.

‘The Inspiring Women campaign invites women to speak with students about what they do, why they do it, any barriers they have overcome and the rewards they reap.

‘The aim is to challenge workplace stereotyping and encourage girls to consider careers in a wide variety of areas.

‘We hope women from all walks of life in the island, whether a company chief executive officer or an 18-year-old apprentice, will support our event and /or work with their local school to offer their unique insight into the world of work.’

Mrs Baker continued: ‘So often, students make a career choice after meeting someone who inspires them. It’s hoped that boys, too, will be further motivated to success by meeting inspirational women and that schools will develop lasting partnerships with women in the workplace.’

Clare Christian, President of Tynwald, who was a guest of honour at last year’s local launch of Inspiring the Future, has agreed to support the March event.

To sign up for the event and/or to link up with local schools www.inspiringthefuture.org/regional-partners/, email headteacher@rgs.sch.im or ring 811100.

Attorney General Stephen Harding has lost a high court bid to halt disciplinary proceedings against him.

In a judgment handed down on Tuesday, Deemster Rosen concluded on the grounds of Crown immunity that the Douglas high court does not have jurisdiction to rule on the claimant’s claim or his application for an interim injunction.

Mr Harding faces 14 charges of misconduct and former high court judge Sir John Royce has been appointed to head up the disciplinary tribunal.

It is three years since Mr Harding was charged with perjury and perverting the course of justice. He was formally found not guilty on both counts in February last year after the jury failed to reach a verdict at his trial and subsequent retrial.

Mr Harding remains suspended on full pay from his £160,000-a-year post.

He issued proceedings for ‘injunctive relief from unlawful disciplinary proceedings’ against Lieutenant Governor Adam Wood, the position of Attorney General being a Crown appointment rather than a government post.

But Deemster Rosen rejected the claim, saying the court had no jurisdiction to entertain the claim.

He said if the court were to have jurisdiction, he would decline to exercise it in favour of allowing the disciplinary proceedings to continue.

He said it was for Sir John Royce to consider such issues and has provisionally indicated he would be available for a medical and abuse of process hearing to consider the claimant’s claims on November 23-24.

The court heard last month that Mr Harding has no wish to return to his post and the threat of disciplinary proceedings had had a debilitating effect on his health.

His advocate Rob Long argued in court that the disciplinary action was unlawful as it was a breach of his client’s terms of employment, and he had been cleared of the same allegations at his criminal trial.

A government spokesman said it would be for the tribunal chairman to decide if the disciplinary case will be heard in public or private.

A talk on Astronomy from Mann will be given by Howard Parkin in Castletown Civic Centre at 7pm on Friday, November 27.

Howard, who is former chairman of the Isle of Man Astronomical Society and now gives presentations internationally promoting stargazing in the island, will look at the astronomical heritage of the island, our dark skies and the island’s role in space exploration.

Keeils of the Island….Andrew Johnson….October 21.

This was a wonderful evening in more ways than one. Personally, I was delighted to be able to act as chairman, again, after my exciting time in Liverpool for a surprise triple by-pass.

Andrew is one of out most sought after speakers. No surprise to see the crowd of people streaming into the Centenary Centre. The hardest part was encouraging people to leave but still continuing their discussions on the pavement.

The title of the talk was, ‘ A Reassessment of the Physical Remains of Medieval Chapels on the Isle of Man’. It was soon clear that Andrew has and continues to play a very important part in this important, ongoing work.

The earliest keeils, perhaps from the 6th c. onwards were probably made of wattle and daub. These do not survive. However, 30 to 40 stone examples from a possible total of about 200 chapels exist above ground and may be clearly seen. This represents virtually one keeil for each square mile of the island! Early Christian priests, arriving largely from Ireland, constructed these simple structures measuring about 4 x 3 metres, usually with an entrance at the west end and the altar, as is still the custom in churches, at the east end. A small window opening was usually present.

The priests continued in their lives of worship and prayer in parallel with monasteries and the emerging system of parishes. Graves surround the keeills together with a variety of artefacts showing that the priests served a local population although services of more than a few would have to be outside. Oh for such commitment and piety, today! Presumably, the priest must have had help in quarrying the stone and then with the building. Roofs were, probably, thatched.

No centrally heated, lit vicarage or rectory – just a simple cell providing some degree of shelter from the elements. Given that the keeils were deliberately constructed in isolated places, with little or no protection, one can only marvel at the physical, mental and emotional strength of these priests, imbued with divine, spiritual power.

The earliest photograph we saw was one taken in 1861 of a keeil at Ballakilley, Malew. However, it has been long demolished. This is a fate enjoyed by so many before their value was recognised.

Philip Kermode, the first director of the Manx Museum, now Manx National Heritage, threw himself into a Manx archaeological survey.

We were able to see a whole succession of pictures from all over the island. Lintel graves from the sites were of great interest. These stone coffins provide absolute protection for the skeleton and any artefacts that have been placed by the remains for the after life. I wonder how many people, these days, are buried with their mobile phone!

By the way, one keeil you won’t see is Keeil Vael. This was, apparently, blown up when the reservoir was constructed!

We looked at a plan from 1907 and of a 1909 excavation. These were largely in the hands of enthusiastic amateurs so lacked the detail we now expect from modern scientific methods. Andrew did a lot of rescue work in the 1990s. Amongst other artefacts, 10 crosses have been found and are on display, I believe, at Maughold.

Many will remember the Channel 4, Time Team excavation at Mount Murray, when Andrew was very much in action. This is still of great significance as the remains of a person from 1400 years ago still had hair on the head. This has never been seen before, anywhere.

The fine workmanship, often in gold, of beautiful jewellery makes us realise that our early ancestors were much more sophisticated and skilful than one might expect. The carved, stone slab depicting the crucifixion from the Calf of Man shows a similar level of craftsmanship. How fortunate we are to have Andrew to open our eyes to this world of long ago.

Our next meeting is a special event in the Centenary Centre on November 18 at 7.30pm. The Wandering Players are treating us to ‘Them Oul’ Times’.

To contribute news to Isle of Man Newspapers, email newsdesk@newsiom.co.im. Whenever you email us, please include a daytime phone number.

A free willow lantern making workshop at Peel Cathedral is all day on Saturday from 10.30am till 4pm. People can drop in at any time.

Organisers say participants should wear old clothes and bring secateurs and a torch.

A proposed 50 per cent hike in the sewerage rate is unpalatable but necessary says the chairman of the Manx Utilities Authority.

Tynwald will be asked this month to approve a hike in the sewerage rate.

The sewerage rate was introduced in April this year to replace the £50 flat rate toilet tax, deemed by many to be inequitable, with even Chief Minister Allan Bell accepting it was unfair.

For 2015-16 the rate was set at 62p in the pound, raising the equivalent sum to the toilet tax if it had been increased to £100 as planned.

But Manx Utilities Authority chairman Alfred Cannan MHK will seek Tynwald approval next week to increase the sewerage rate by a further 30p to 92p in the pound for 2016-17.

The MUA said the increase is in line with its 20-year financial plan and reflects the continuing scheduled withdrawal of the Treasury subsidy.

Mr Cannan said the increase was necessary if the MUA was to maintain operations and its ‘fiscal integrity’ amid the progressive withdrawal of Treasury funding of £1.5m a year up to a total of £9m.

He said: ‘Our sewerage operation can’t make up that sort of shortfall. I certainly don’t welcome bringing this charge forward. It’s not palatable and I accept the cost of living is rising for many people.

‘When this charge was announced it was made clear by the government at the time that the charge was going to rise.’

Mr Cannan said the rate was like to rise again the following year but his personal view was that it was ‘probably getting towards the top level’.

He said a report commissioned by the authority showed that the charge was £100 lower than the average set in England and Wales and even with the proposed increase would be £50 lower than the average across.

Lib Van said it will oppose the increase when it comes to Tynwald. The party has two MHKs.

It said the hike would disproportionately impact people on middle and lower incomes and pointed out that the MUA made a £2.1m surplus in 2014-15.

Lawrie Hooper, Lib Van spokesperson for finance, said: ‘If the increase is coming about as a result of government reducing financial support to the recently merged MUA then this increase should be rejected until government as a whole can present a case as to why it is necessary to target the MUA versus other less important expenditure elsewhere.’

Mr Cannan said the MUA could not forecast it would come in ahead of target again and not increase the sewerage rate could ‘potentially store up problems for next year’.

He said ‘just because it’s election year’, it would be ‘wrong to kid the electorate’ about the authority’s financial position.

He said government was running a £75m deficit and rebalancing of public finances may be handled in a slightly different way under the next administration.

Shares in Manx Telecom have risen by 27 per cent since last March and the business looks ‘extremely solid’ says Midas, the investment column in the Mail On Sunday.

Investments editor Joanne Hart, says the breadth and growth of the Manx economy has helped the phone provider to do ‘rather well’ since floating on AIM in Febriary 2014.

When first floated shares were 142p. By March, when Midas recommended the shares, they had already risen to 161 p and by lunchtime today (Wednesday) the price had risen to 213.40p

Gary Lamb took over as chief executive from Mike Dee during the summer.

As finance director Mr Lamb oversaw the flotation and intends to retain the strategy of steady growth from the core telecoms and broadband business and exciting prospects from data centres and so-called ‘global solutions.’

Midas says analysts expect decent growth over the coming years and recommends those who bought shares last year should hold.

Direct flights between Ronaldsway and Stansted are ending in March - just one year after the service launched.

The last flight will be on March 26.

Up to three flights a day had operated on the route, which launched on March 15 this year.

Elaine Heselton found out about the withdrawal of the Stansted service only when her daughter Julie tried to book flights to the island.

She said: ‘She lives in London and is getting married in June and was going to bring over her father-in-law for a weekend at TT. It’s quite convenient going from Stansted. She tried to book last night but couldn’t understand why there were no flights after March 26. We’re really cheesed off.’

Flybe unveiled its summer timetable on Tuesday.

Paul Simmons, Flybe’s chief commercial officer, said: ‘We have a disciplined approach to the routes we operate, which means we continually review our network. This is done not only to monitor where we can offer increased regularity on a given route but also where passenger numbers make a flight environmentally, as well as economically, harder to justify.

‘As part of such a review, we have decided to cease operating the above route with effect from the end of the 2015-16 winter season. The last Flybe flight will operate on Saturday, March 26 2016.

‘For 2016 Summer Flybe will continue operating to and from the Isle of Man, daily flights Birmingham, up to four flights a day to Liverpool with early morning flights departing 0705, and up to five flights a day to our Manchester hub.’

In September, Flybe announced it had signed a deal with Stobart Air to operate a number of flights out of Ronaldsway, including all scheduled services on the Stansted route.

Isleof Man based SMP Partners Group has announced it has entered into a purchase and sale agreement to acquire RBC’s trust, custody and fund administration businesses in the Caribbean.

‘This acquisition will establish our presence in the Caribbean region and further extend our global network,’ said Steve McGowan, SMP Partners Group chairman.

‘Our Group has established an international reputation as leaders in trust, fund and corporate administration and we look forward to continuing the delivery of the high standard of service provided by the RBC team.’

The independent SMP Partners Group is wholly owned by its management and headquartered in the Isle of Man. It is dedicated to providing trust, fund and corporate administration with offices in the Isle of Man, Switzerland, Hong Kong and Dubai.

It has a global client base, solutions spanning more than 60 different jurisdictions and extensive experience in trust and company management, fund administration, tax, corporate law and accounting.

Mr McGowan added: ‘We will work closely with RBC to ensure a smooth transition of the businesses.

‘The SMP Partners Group is known for investing time to build long term relationships with clients and applying our collective expertise and experience to build and manage tailored solutions that fit precisely with the requirements of our clients.

‘This agreement is an opportunity to grow the Caribbean trust, fund and corporate administration operations as part of the SMP Group, further enhancing the services and opportunities for clients and staff.’

In 2014 RBC announced that it was building a more focused and scalable wealth management business.

Stuart Rutledge, head RBC Wealth Management-International, said: ‘Finding a good fit for our employees and clients was our focus in ensuring the long-term success of our Caribbean wealth management businesses.

‘We believe we have found this in the SMP Partners Group.

‘The Caribbean remains a key part of our overall RBC strategy through our other Caribbean-based businesses, including retail and commercial banking and our RBC Dominion Securities investment business.’

The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions and is expected to close in a few months. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The Isle of Man Darts Organisation’s first qualifier competition of the season will take place this Saturday, November 14 at The Heron, Douglas commencing 7.30pm.

The points earned at qualifier will determine selection to represent the Isle of Man in various off-island competitions.

It hoped the Isle of Man will be included in next year’s Europe Cup in Holland.

Players will also have the chance to play in the prestigious World Winmau/World Championship play-off competitions.

The usual trips to the Welsh and Northern Ireland Opens will also hopefully be able to take place.

All players are welcome to join Isle of Man Darts Organisation and take part in men’s and women’s qualifier events.

Ciaran McNulty has been named as the Canada Life Player of the Month for October.

The St George’s striker has enjoyed a scintillating start to the 2015-16 season and has raced to the top of the Golden Boot standings with 21 goals, 10 of which were scored within October alone.

As such, the former Gymns man impressed Eric Clague’s ratings panel to garner a total of 11.5 points which was more than enough to see him land the monthly accolade and, as such, increase his lead at the top of the overall seasonal standings.

His nearest challenger last month was Peel defender Dominic McGreevy who finished two points in arrears on 9.5. The dominant centre-back enjoyed a fine few weeks for the westerners as they, like Geordies, won every single match to maintain their push for the league title.

Half a point behind him in the monthly rankings is McNulty’s Glencrutchery Road team-mate and fellow Isle of Man cap Chris Bass Jr. The wing wizard seems to have put his recent injury problems behind him and is getting back to his best, helping the Saints continue their unbeaten start to the season as they aim to successfully defend their league title.

Just behind him and completing the top five are DHSOB’s Karl Clark and Michael Hooper as well as Rushen United’s Jamie Johnston on 8.5 and 8 points respectively.

Clark is enjoying a fine season in defence for the Blackberry Lane outfit since his summer switch from St Mary’s, while Hooper grabbed his first Premier League goal during Old Boys’ 4-1 victory at RYCOB at the start of the month.

Picking up the Young Player of the Month award for October is St George’s starlet Joey Morling who has cemented his place in the defending champions’ starting XI thanks to a series of standout performances.

The former Union Mills talent shone throughout the month and collected a total of 6.5 points to clinch the accolade.

Monthly ratings for October: 1, Ciaran McNulty (St George’s) 11.5 points; 2, Dominic McGreevy (Peel) 9.5; 3, Chris Bass Jr (St George’s) 9; 4, Karl Clark (DHSOB) 8.5; 5=, Michael Hooper (DHSOB) and Jamie Johnston 8; 7=, Christian Cellamare (Union Mills), Conor Doyle (St George’s) and Lee Gale (Peel) 7.5; 10=, Furo Davies (Rushen), Frank Jones (St George’s) and Jack Saxon (Rushen) 7; 13=, Kerron Christian (Peel), Alex Guy (Rushen), Joey Morling (St George’s) and Danny Oram (Corinthians) 6.5; 17, Sam Ingham (St John’s); 18=, Michael Baker (Rushen), Andrew Ball (RYCOB), Daniel Bell (Peel), Andy Crennell (Peel), Calum Morrissey (St George’s), Max Murley (Laxey) and Ashley Webster (Peel) 5.5.

Overall player ratings: 1, Ciaran McNulty (St George’s) 23.5 points; 2, Karl Clark (DHSOB) 17; 3=, Chris Bass Jr (St George’s) and Ashley Webster (Peel) 16; 5=, Furo Davies (Rushen Utd) and Conor Doyle (St George’s) 13.5; 7, Lee Gale (Peel) 12.5; 8=, Daniel Bell (Peel), Christian Cellamare (Union Mills), Frank Jones (St George’s), Johnny Myers (St George’s) and Danny Oram (Corinthians) 12; 13, Michael Hooper (DHSOB) 11; 14=, Daniel Kelly (Ayre Utd), Dominic McGreevy (Peel), Matthew McQuarrie (Marown) and Gary Quirk (DHSOB) 10.5; 18=, Chris Duggan (Ramsey), Max Murley (Laxey) and Tom Smith (Laxey) 10; 21=, Shaun Kelly Ayre Utd), Jack McVey (St George’s) and Calum Morrissey (St George’s); 24=, Kerron Christian (Peel), Liam Cowin (Rushen), Ronan McDonnell (Union Mills), Steven Priestnal (St Mary’s), Kane Ridings (Corinthians) and Jack Saxon (Rushen) 9.

MHKs have overwhelmingly rejected a call for a independent health regulator.

Lib Van leader Kate Beecroft (Douglas South) told the House of Keys that she believed a health regulator was necessary to provide oversight, quality assurance and ensure best practice is maintained.

But she failed to secure leave to introduce her private member’s Bill by five votes to 14, with other members, including Health Minister Howard Quayle, suggesting such a move was premature, given that the West Midlands inspection team was still carrying out its review of island health services.

Mrs Beecroft insisted it was about the principle as much as anything. ‘Let’s get the principle agreed and then work on the detail,’ she said.

Chief Minister Allan Bell said the health department was already facing huge pressures with various reviews underway at considerable cost, and if Mrs Beecroft’s motion was to go through it would mean a further financial burden on the Health Service that would have to be funded from somewhere.

Mr Quayle said it was important to wait until the West Midlands team had completed their work.

He told MHKs: ‘When we know what the problems are and we’ve had the recommendations back then we can build, if it’s required, a regulation inspection system relevant for the Isle of Man based on the findings of years of inspection. If we go ahead and draft something now when we don’t know what’s going to be found then we would be wasting legislative drafting time and we might have come up with something that’s totally irrelevant to what we require.’

New member for Glenfaba, Geoffrey Boot, in his maiden speech, agreed the move was premature. He said that a low cost shared regulator may be appropriate in future but bearing in mind current cost constraints we didn’t need another layer of expenditure.

Police have warned of the latest three scams doing the rounds.

One involves a caller from a fictitious burglar alarm company offering to ‘reactivate’ the victim’s burglar alarm. In another, the recipient receives an email demanding payment or their details, which have supposedly been hacked from the Ashley Madison website, may be revealed. The third scam involves someone claiming to be able to produce ‘authentic’ bank notes.

An Office of Fair Trading spokesman said: ‘Most of us feel we wouldn’t fall for a scam but the skill of the scammer is to build trust, create a false sense of security and avoid raising suspicion, in order to obtain money or personal information.’

People should look out for the following warning signs. Was the contact made out of the blue? Are you being asked to buy something, claim a prize or make a payment to release a larger sum of money? Are you being pressurised or scared into acting quickly? Are you being asked for bank, credit or personal details?

Chief Minister and Ramsey MHK Allan Bell has welcomed the start of work on the northern regional sewage treatment plant.

Mr Bell said he believed the £6m project could pave the way for Ramsey’s expansion.

Construction work began last week on the new treatment works at Balladoole that will mean raw sewage no longer being pumped into the sea off the northern coast.

The scheme will provide sewage treatment for Ramsey via a new pipeline and pumping station at the Vollan in Ramsey, and for Andreas via a refurbished pumping station and a new transmission pipeline.

Currently, Ramsey and Andreas have no sewage treatment facilities and untreated sewage is discharged directly into the sea through a sea outfall near to Mooragh Park.

When the new sewage treatment works at Balladoole is completed, treated effluent will be discharged from the existing Mooragh Promenade outfall, while the Smeale sewage outfall in Andreas will be taken out of service.

Mr Bell said: ‘I strongly welcome that work has started on the construction of the new northern sewage treatment plant. The £6m project will be finished in about 18 months.

‘It is of major importance to Ramsey particularly for its further expansion and growth. Concerns have been expressed by commissioners in particular that growth will be inhibited by a lack of capacity in the current system.’

He added: ‘It is also a major step forward in resolving a long-standing issue of raw sewage being pumped into Ramsey bay by the old Grand Island site.’

Planning consent for the Balladoole works was secured in April this year. A planning application has been submitted for the replacement pumping station at the Vollan (15/01140/B).

The project aims to achieve EU standards for the bathing water.

Alex Day has joined Junior Achievement as marketing and events intern.

A former King William’s College student and graduate of Trinity College Dublin with a first-class BA honours degree in business and economics, Alex is now studying for a Masters in entrepreneurship at the Isle of Man College.

Alex, who was involved in youth work in the Isle of Man during her gap year, said: ‘I was attracted to the intern position because it combines my interest in marketing with an opportunity to work with young people.

‘I also see the role as a means to identify more clearly what specialist areas I might pursue in my future career.’

During her internship she will be working on two projects: recruitment of volunteers and measuring the impact of Junior Achievement’s programmes.

‘I’ll be examining why people volunteer and how we can attract more volunteers.

‘Alongside this I will also be evaluating the impact of Junior Achievement programmes which will provide the intelligence needed for future marketing to potential sponsors and volunteers and, importantly, to ensure students are benefiting from the programmes.

‘It’s a great team to be working with and already I’ve been surprised by just how broad the scope of Junior Achievement is and the practical skills it develops in young people.

‘I’m also looking forward to getting an inside perspective into how events are managed, which I know are vital for raising funds.

‘To come out of the academic world and be part of the “real world” at Junior Achievement is a great opportunity and I’m really enjoying the experience.’

Junior Achievement chief executive Sue Cook said: ‘Our intern scheme is yet another way we support and prepare young adults for the world outside of academia.

‘Alex is showing tremendous enthusiasm for and commitment to the work we do and is very much a valued member of the team.’

To find out more about the internship scheme and the work of Junior Achievement, contact Sue Cook, 666266, sue.cook@jaiom.im

There are record numbers of vacancies at the Job Centre.

Vacancies reached the highest level ever reported in September this year with more than 900 notified. Of these more than 500 remained on file at the end of the month, the highest month-end total since 2008.

Chief Minister Allan Bell said this reflected a buoyant economy but also raised questions as to why there are still more than 700 registered unemployed.

With so many jobs available significant numbers of people had left the unemployment register – nearly 2,500 over the past year – but there were still shortages in certain sectors including retail, catering and healthcare as well as ICT and engineering.

Mr Bell said: ‘The record level of job vacancies indicates the economy is holding up strongly and the island has very buoyant employment currently.

‘But with one 700 registered unemployed there has to be a question as to why we are not making more inroads into that figure. Long-term unemployment is coming down.’

Tynwald heard last month that fitness to work assessments on long-term incapacity benefit claimants had resulted in more than half - 200 out of 391 - being considered capable of doing a job, while a further 41 had ‘dropped out of the system’ before they were assessed.

This month has also seen significant cuts to levels of Job Seekers Allowance paid out to long-term claimants.

Mr Bell said this may encourage more people to be in employment.

But he insisted there was help for those who genuinely find themselves in difficulty as a result of unemployment and benefit cuts.

He said: ‘There is advice at the benefits office and there is a one to one support mechanism in the Job Centre itself. Government will do its utmost to make sure that they are assisted into an appropriate level of work or review whether other benefits might be appropriate.

‘We are not setting out to penalise that who find themselves in difficulty. Our aim is to protect the vulnerable – not trample on them.’

He said the current environment of high job vacancies is a favourable backdrop for the government’s policy of supporting people to move off benefits and into employment, which he pointed out is much better for the individuals concerned as well as for the economy, society and the public finances.

Mr Bell said that with high levels of vacancies in retail, catering and healthcare which could be deemed to be semi-skilled, there could be opportunities for jobseekers to retrain to fill these posts.

He added: ‘We have to find people to fill these vacancies - otherwise the economy will not perform as efficiently as it might do. It could lead to the closure of some of these businesses through shortage of labour.

The Chief Minister said that the strong relative demand for labour had to be good news for local workers and local wages, as employers should be incentivised to offer decent terms and conditions in order to attract staff.

He said the statistics are also a reminder of the pressing need to grow the island’s working population, not just to meet current demand for labour but to secure a level of economic momentum strong enough to sustain jobs and public services into the future.

A series of reductions to some elements of Jobseekers’ Allowance took effect from November 1. These include incremental reductions in rates paid for those signing on for more than six months, up to a maximum 40 per cent reduction for those who have been on JSA for more than a year.

But some claimants who don’t pay housing costs or who work part-time on zero hours contracts are facing cuts of more than 56 per cent.

A man will appear in court today charged with burgling two properties in Douglas.

The crimes allegedly happened on Tuesday/Wednesday in Falcon Cliff Terrace.

Police say the properties in question were unlocked.