Romesh Ranganathan's show 'The Ranganation' returns to - BBC 2

Romesh Ranganathan’s show
‘The Ranganation’ returns to
BBC 2
Romesh Ranganathan’s topical comedy show, The Ranganation,
returns to BBC Two for a second series. However, as the
current climate dictates, Romesh will be broadcasting from his
new studio at home – his garage!

The Ranganation (Romesh’s hand-picked focus group) and two
special guests – all of them in lockdown – will be beamed into
Romesh’s makeshift studio to mull over the lighter end of the
news spectrum from the comfort of their own homes. Special
guests scheduled to appear on the series include Danny Dyer,
Aisling Bea, Freddie Flintoff, Mel Giedroyc, and Jon
Richardson.

Representing a wide cross section of modern Britain, The
Ranganation, including Romesh’s mum, ‘Privileged’, ‘Small Town
Girl’, ‘Never Voted’ and ‘Wheeler Dealer’, will share real and
entertaining insights from their life in lockdown. Past
discussions with The Ranganation have covered such disparate
areas as smartphone addiction, whether alien life exists,
artificial intelligence and the divisive subject of whether or
not you should wash your legs in the shower.

With a cast of loveable characters chewing over the lighter
elements of the week’s news, The Ranganation aims to offer
some funny, optimistic entertainment during these uncertain
times.

Green energy investor takes
the top spot in India UK
Tracker report
Green energy investor EESL has taken the top spot in the
seventh annual edition of the Grant Thornton India meets
Britain Tracker report. The 2020 report, published by leading
business and financial adviser Grant Thornton UK LLP in
collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII),
analyses data from almost 850 UK-incorporated limited
companies owned or controlled by Indian interests and provides
a complete view of the landscape of Indian investment into the
UK.

Key findings include:

     Total number of Indian companies in the UK: 842 in 2020
     and 842 in 2019
     These companies have a total turnover of £41.2 billion,
     compared to £48 billion in 2019*
     Indian companies employ 110,793 employees (increased
     from 104,783 in 2019)
     Together they paid almost £462 million in corporation
     tax compared with £684 million in 2019 and £360 million
     in 2018

Anuj Chande, Partner and Head of South Asia Group at Grant
Thornton UK LLP, commented:

“The past year has brought significant international and
domestic challenges for both India and the UK. Yet as the
global economy slows, the economic connection between the two
countries is as strong as ever.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has diverted attention from the UK’s
ambition to negotiate a trade deal with India. Nevertheless, a

deal is still very much a priority for the UK post-Brexit. The
UK government has named India as one of its top targets for a
free trade agreement. Reflecting this, Mumbai was among 18
cities targeted by a new GREAT ‘Ready to Trade’ campaign,
which the UK government launched the day after the UK’s formal
departure from the European Union.

“While a UK-India trade deal will take time to negotiate and
the full opportunities will not emerge for some time, the UK
will continue to provide an excellent environment for
international businesses and offer many benefits to Indian
investors, not least access to a diverse, multicultural talent
pool and strong cultural connections through the Indian
diaspora. In addition, the depreciation of the pound continues
to make the    UK   a   particularly   favourable   investment
destination.

“As we rebuild the UK economy in the months to come, Indian
owned businesses already operating here will continue to play
an important role. We anticipate new Indian investments as
both the UK and Indian economies start to re-emerge from the
shadow of this pandemic. The most successful Indian businesses
look at their UK investments from a long-term perspective and
not for short-term gains.”

The 2020 India meets Britain report also provides a tracker of
the fastest growing Indian companies in the UK, as measured by
those with turnover of more than £5 million, year-on-year
revenue growth of at least 10% and a minimum two-year track-
record in the UK.

This year, 72 companies met the qualifying criteria and
feature in the 2020 Tracker, achieving an average growth rate
of 40%, compared with 36.83% in 2019.

Green energy investor takes the top spot

The fastest-growing Indian company in the UK in this year’s
Tracker is from the energy sector. Energy Efficiency Services

Ltd (EESL) was set up by the Indian Government’s Ministry of
Power to create and sustain markets for energy efficiency in
India. The company is committed to investing £100 million in
the UK over three years to promote and implement low-carbon,
energy-efficient, renewable energy solutions. EESL EnergyPro
Assets Ltd, a JV founded by the company, made several
acquisitions in 2019 resulting in a growth rate of 715%.

Technology and telecoms companies dominate the top ten

Technology and telecoms companies have dominated the Tracker
since 2014. This year was no different. Companies from this
sector account for 38% of Tracker companies and took five of
the top ten places. Route Mobile UK (number 2 with 202%
growth), Dhoot Transmission (UK) Ltd (number 3 with 186%) and
Incessant Technologies (number 9 with 81%) have all featured
in the Tracker before. Newcomers in this year’s top ten are
Evolutionary Systems Co Ltd (number 4 with 142%) and Rategain
Technologies Ltd (number 7 with 105%).

The report anticipates that technology and telecoms companies
will continue to dominate the Tracker for a number of years,
with the next wave of Indian technology companies, such as
ride-sharing company Olacabs and Brilliant Basics, a design
technology business, stepping in to join the traditional
Indian IT service providers.

Over half of Tracker companies located in London

London remained the dominant region for Tracker companies in
2020, a position the capital has held since 2015. 54% of
Tracker companies are based in London, with the number
choosing the capital as their base growing for the sixth
consecutive year.

The North improved its showing in 2020 with 14%, up from 11%
in 2019 and 2018. This may be evidence of the UK’s efforts to
develop a ‘Northern Powerhouse’ starting to bear fruit.

Minister for Investment, Gerry Grimstone, said:

“The report showcases the continued strength of UK-India trade
and the importance of India as one of our most critical
bilateral investors and job creators, supporting over 100,000
jobs, with half of them outside London.

“More trade is essential if the UK is to overcome the
unprecedented economic challenge posed by Coronavirus. The
crisis has shown us the importance of keeping trade flowing
and building diverse supply chains that are robust in a
crisis.

“Investment will be key to ensuring a strong economy in the
years to come, boosting productivity and creating jobs, and it
is our strong trade relationships with partners like India
that will support this.”

The Former High Commissioner of India to the UK, Mrs. Ruchi
Ghanashyam, said:

“I am delighted to note that Indian investment into the UK
remains robust and it continues to generate record jobs for
the UK. The overall numbers of Indian contribution if you
include the Indian diaspora contribution is significant and I
can only foresee this rising in the years to come.”

Mr Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, Confederation of
Indian Industry (CII), said:

“These are unprecedented times for us as Indian industry,
globally. As we navigate through the challenges posed by this
sudden disruption caused by the pandemic, it is a useful
reminder to note and underscore the valuable contribution of
the Indian industry in the UK economy.”

Lakshmi Kaul, Head & Representative – UK, Confederation of
Indian Industry (CII), added:

“The India Meets Britain tracker is a reminder of the value

that Indian companies add locally, not just in investment
terms but more importantly in jobs terms. In the recent weeks,
one has seen how India has stepped in and stepped up, beyond
its usual business remit to support on ground in dealing with
the pandemic. Whilst the urgent need has now become to address
the pandemic, Indian industry will continue to be UK’s ally in
navigating its way past Brexit.”

Click here to download a copy of the GT CII India meets
Britain Tracker 2020

About Grant Thornton UK LLP

Grant Thornton is one of the world’s leading organisations of
independent assurance, tax and advisory firms. Proactive teams
use insights, experience and instinct to understand complex
issues for privately owned, publicly listed and public sector
clients – helping them to find sustainable solutions. More
than 56,000 Grant Thornton people across 140 countries are
focused on making a difference to clients, colleagues and the
communities in which we live and work. We’ve got scale,
combined with local market understanding. That means we’re
everywhere our clients are, as well as where they want to be.
The UK Grant Thornton member firm is led by 190 partners and
employs over 4,500 of the profession’s brightest minds. We are
a business adviser that helps organisations navigate today’s
volatile markets, has a strong focus on quality and delivers
insights to succeed.

Find out more at www.grantthornton.co.uk

 *The decline in combined turnover is attributable to the late
filing of accounts for one company. If 2018 figures were used,
                 combined turnover would rise to £47.1 billion

ONS stats show BAME people
are 4x more likely to die of
COVID-19
New analysis released today (7th May 2020) by the Office of
National Statistics (ONS) confirms that BAME groups are 4x
more likely to die of COVID-19. The analysis has shown that
the risk of death involving the coronavirus (COVID-19) among
some ethnic groups is significantly higher than that of those
of White ethnicity. When taking into account age in the
analysis, Black males are 4.2 times more likely to die from a
COVID-19-related death and Black females are 4.3 times more
likely than White ethnicity males and females. People of
Bangladeshi and Pakistani, Indian, and Mixed ethnicities also
had statistically significant raised risk of death involving
COVID-19 compared with those of White ethnicity.

After taking account of age        and other socio-demographic
characteristics and measures       of self-reported health and
disability at the 2011 Census,    the risk of a COVID-19-related
death for males and females of    Black ethnicity reduced to 1.9
times more likely than those of   White ethnicity.

Similarly, males in the Bangladeshi and Pakistani ethnic group
were 1.8 times more likely to have a COVID-19-related death
than White males when age and other socio-demographic
characteristics and measures of self-reported health and
disability were taken into account; for females, the figure
was 1.6 times more likely.

These results show that the difference between ethnic groups
in COVID-19 mortality is partly a result of socio-economic
disadvantage and other circumstances, but a remaining part of
the difference has not yet been explained.

Reacting to the ONS stats,         Equality and Human Rights

Commission Chief Executive, Rebecca Hilsenrath, said: “These
statistics reveal the true impact coronavirus is having on
ethnic minority people. Behind every number is a person, with
a family left devastated and looking for answers. While the
ONS has revealed the numbers, the reasons are less clear. Race
inequality is persistent across Britain, with people from
ethnic minorities facing disadvantage in their living
conditions, access to healthcare and economic opportunities,
among other areas, which could be contributing factors. It is
this perspective that we are seeking to bring through our
participation in the NHS England and Public Health England
study into this critical issue.”

The Analysis

The ONS analysis includes deaths involving COVID-19 that
occurred between 2 March and 10 April 2020, registered by 17
April.

Ethnicity is not recorded on the death certificate. To enable
us to undertake this analysis, deaths involving COVID-19 have
been linked to the 2011 Census, which allowed us to ascertain
the self-reported ethnicity of the deceased and other
demographic factors. Analysis included those aged nine years
and above. More details on the data used can be found in
Section 7 and in the Technical appendix.

The breakdown of ethnicity we have used in this publication
was guided by the number of deaths available for use in
analyses and its distribution across ethnic groups. Table 1
shows the breakdown of ethnic groups used. We will repeat this
analysis in the future as more data become available; this
will include age-standardised mortality rates of deaths
involving COVID-19 and, where possible, more detailed
breakdowns.

Table 2 shows the number of deaths involving the coronavirus
(COVID-19) and their percentage distribution across ethnic
groups among the study population. For comparison, figures of
hospital deaths involving COVID-19 by ethnicity (Excel, 131KB)
published by NHS England, updated up to 21 April, not taking
account of more recent updates are also shown. It is important
to note that our data differ from NHS England’s as we report
deaths for both England and Wales, include deaths outside of
hospital, and include both confirmed and suspected cases of
COVID-19.

Despite these differences in the data, the results are very
similar. In the ONS data, the proportion of deaths occurring
among those of White ethnicity was 83.8%, while the largest
minority ethnic group was Black with 6.0%. Of those for whom
ethnicity could be established in the NHS England data,
approximately 82.7% were of White ethnicity, and those with
Black ethnicity made up 5.7%. The only large difference
between the two sources occurs in the category “Other Ethnic
Group”.

Differences in the risk of dying from COVID-19 across ethnic
groups may be related to demographic and socio-economic
factors as well as to a person’s past health profile.
Differences in these characteristics and what they may imply
for current circumstances may also be associated with the
probability of being infected or the risk of death once
infected.

The similarity between these two independent sets of figures
supports the reliability of the findings.

Risk of death

The risk of death generally, and specifically death from
COVID-19, is closely related to age. After adjusting for age
(Panel A), men and women from all ethnic minority groups
(except females with Chinese ethnicity) are at greater risk of
dying from COVID-19 compared with those of White ethnicity.
Black males are 4.2 times more likely to die from COVID-19
than White males, while Black females are 4.3 times more

likely to die from COVID-19 than White females. People of
Bangladeshi and Pakistani, Indian, and Mixed ethnicities also
had statistically significantly raised odds of death compared
with those of White ethnicity. For the Chinese ethnic group,
we find a raised risk among males but not females. Odds ratios
together with their confidence intervals are available in the
accompanying data tables.

To ensure that a broad range of factors were taken into
account, we also adjusted for region, rural and urban
classification, area deprivation, household composition,
socio-economic position, highest qualification held, household
tenure, and health or disability in the 2011 Census (Panel B).
Therefore, the fully adjusted results show differences in risk
between ethnic groups that are specific to those ethnic groups
and are not caused by any of the factors listed on which
members of the groups might differ.

Adjusting for these factors substantially reduces the odds of
a death involving COVID-19 relative to those of White
ethnicity for all ethnic groups. More information on how the
odds ratios change when adjusting for different sets of
characteristics can be found in the Technical appendix. Model

diagnostics are also available. In the fully adjusted model
(Panel B), Black males and females are 1.9 times more likely
to die from COVID-19 than the White ethnic group. Males of
Bangladeshi and Pakistani ethnicity are 1.8 times more likely
to die; for females, odds of death are reduced to 1.6 times
more likely. Individuals from the Chinese and Mixed ethnic
group have similar risks to those with White ethnicity.

Analysis of COVID-19 deaths by ethnicity in England and Wales

These analyses are based on a new dataset developed by the
Office for National Statistics (ONS) that links 2011 Census
records to deaths that occurred between 2 March and 10 April
2020 registered by death registrations up to 17 April 2020,
with deaths being added on a weekly basis. This represents a
large dataset with which to examine mortality variations by
ethnicity during a short time frame, benefiting from
assignment of ethnicity at a census and then following
individuals for death events occurring during the coronavirus
(COVID-19) pandemic. Such a dataset reduces the risk of
introducing numerator and denominator biases that can be
problematic in analyses using unlinked data. More details on
how the census and deaths records were linked can be found in
the Technical appendix.

Deaths were defined using the International Classification of
Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10). Deaths involving COVID-19
include those with an underlying cause, or any mention, of
ICD-10 codes U07.1 (COVID-19, virus identified) or U07.2
(COVID-19, virus not identified).

To view the full analysis visit https://www.ons.gov.uk

Reckoning needed on BAME
COVID-19 deaths says Unite
A ‘reckoning’ is needed on disproportionate Covid-19 deaths
amongst black, Pakistani and Bangladeshi heritage people said
Unite national officer for equalities, Harish Patel. “The ONS
figures showing that black people and those of Pakistani and
Bangladeshi heritage are more likely to die from Covid-19 is
disturbing in the extreme.

“As a country we cannot ignore the structures of inequality
that still plague many ethnic minority communities and that
have had a major part to play in the disproportionate amount
of suffering people of colour have experienced during the
pandemic.

“Discrimination and inequalities, whether that’s through
overcrowded housing, greater risk of health vulnerabilities or
economic disadvantage, are a fact of life for black, Asian,
and minority ethnic (BAME) people in modern Britain.

“Every weapon in the government’s armoury must be used to
ensure that BAME communities are shielded from further tragedy
during the pandemic.

“That goes for employers as well – far too many BAME members
of the Unite family, including London bus drivers and NHS
staff, have died while serving their country. Meanwhile those
continuing to serve remain at a greater risk than their white
colleagues.

“When we do emerge from the crisis, there must be a reckoning
and it will be incumbent on politicians, employers, and the UK
as a whole, to find a way to rid the scourge of racial
inequality from our society for good.”

On 4th May 2020, Health and Social Care Secretary, Matt

Hancock announced a Public Review saying:

“Every death from this virus is a tragedy and behind each
statistic is a name, a loss and a family that will never be
the same again.

As part of our continued effort to understand even more about
COVID-19, we have commissioned work from PHE to consider the
impact of various factors such as ethnicity, obesity, age,
gender and geographical location and how these may have an
impact on someone’s susceptibility to the virus.

The more we know about this virus and its impact, the more we
will be able protect lives and limit the spread.”

The review will help provide insight into emerging evidence to
suggest COVID-19 may be having a disproportionate impact on
different groups and examine the potential effects of other
factors such as ethnicity, level of obesity or gender.
Professor Kevin Fenton, Public Health Director for London will
lead the review, supported by a wide group including Trevor
Phillips, OBE.

About Unite

Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest union with members
working across all sectors of the economy.

‘Race and Covid-19’ – a BBC
Local Radio special
As striking data reveals that coronavirus is having a
disproportionate impact on Black, Asian and other ethnic
minority groups, all 39 BBC local radio stations across

England joined forces in a one-hour special to find out why,
to explore what is being done and to hear the powerful human
stories behind the figures. Presenters Karen Gabay (BBC Radio
Manchester), Summaya Mughal (BBC Radio Leicester), and Dotun
Adebayo (BBC Radio London) broadcast a live programme from
three different locations across 39 local radio stations as
well as linking in with local community radio stations in each
area.

Is it our genetic make-up, the way we live, or the jobs that
we do?

Race and Covid-19 looked at the facts and discuss what more
can be done about it, including inviting listeners to get
involved by sharing their own views and personal experiences.

The data is striking and prompted the government to announce a
review into the impact that Coronavirus is having on ethnic
minorities:

Only 14 percent of people in England and Wales are from ethnic
minority backgrounds, according to the 2011 census; however,
the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre found
that 34 percent of more than 3,000 critically ill coronavirus
patients identified as black, Asian or minority ethnic*

Black people account for six percent of coronavirus deaths in
hospitals in England, but only around three and a half percent
of the population, according to BBC analysis **

BBC News analysis of 135 healthcare workers, whose deaths have
been publicly announced, found 84 were from ethnic minority
backgrounds ***

Karen Gabay says: “Covid-19 has directly impacted on my
family, friends and listeners on a daily basis. I am not alone
in this situation and I believe that this special gives a
platform for us to share our stories; hopefully it will help
us to feel supported, and push for solutions to help us

overcome how we are disproportionately affected in this
pandemic.”

Summaya Mughal says: “As a broadcaster, based in one of the
most diverse cities in the UK, I feel a responsibility to my
community to try to understand why Covid-19 seems to be
disproportionately affecting us. On a personal level, the
programme is important to me because this issue concerns my
neighbours, friends and, being British-Pakistani, my family
also. The programme is for them, and my community.”

Dotun Adebayo said: “Every lockdown story tells a story that
tells a story. This important story raises some fundamental
questions about equal rights and justice in our society.”

The idea for the programme grew from a recent broadcast on BBC
Radio Manchester that was also aired on Legacy 90.1 – a
community station in Moss Side.

BBC Radio Manchester Editor, Kate Squire, says: “Across BBC
Local radio we have fantastic presenters from communities
disproportionately affected by Covid-19, and I’m so pleased
we’re able to come together as a network to be able to debate
and discuss this significant issue further. It’s vital we give
people a voice and debate this issue on our 39 local stations
as well as community stations in all our areas.”

The BBC recently signed a new Memorandum of Understanding with
the Community Media Association (CMA), an umbrella
organisation for 300 community radio stations, which means
they will be able to take BBC local radio content – including
this special programme – for free during the crisis.

Race and Covid-19 – a BBC local radio special aired on
Wednesday 6 May 2020, 7pm-8pm across all BBC Local Radio
stations and on BBC Sounds and is now available on BBC Sounds,
click here.

Ranil    Jayawardena MP
appointed as a UK Trade
Minister
Ranil Jayawardena MP, was appointed as Parliamentary Under-
Secretary of State for Trade Policy at the Department for
International Trade it was announced on 5th May 2020. The
Department for International Trade is responsible for:

     bringing together policy, promotion and financial
     expertise to break down barriers to trade and
     investment, and help businesses succeed
     delivering a new trade policy framework for the UK as we
     leave the EU
     promoting British trade and investment across the world
     building the global appetite for British goods and
     services

Mr Jayawardena who is a former Lloyds corporate banker whose
father emigrated to the UK from Sri Lanka in 1978, was first
elected the Member of Parliament for North East Hampshire in
May 2015. He was previously a local Councillor, serving as
Deputy Leader of The Borough of Basingstoke and Deane until
his election to Parliament.

After his election in 2015, Ranil was quickly elected by
fellow MPs to the Home Affairs Committee, which is responsible
for closely examining the expenditure, administration, and
policy of the Home Office and its associated public bodies.
Further, as our country leaves the European Union, Ranil was
elected to the International Trade Committee also, where he
focused on how to get the best deal for British businesses and
make the case for more free trade with countries across the

world.

Following the 2017 election, he chose not to seek re-election
to the Home Affairs Committee, instead seeking only to serve
on the International Trade Committee, to which he was re-
elected. He has been appointed to the Procedure Committee and
the Committees on Arms Export Controls also. In addition,
Ranil serves as the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Sri Lanka.
A constituency focus remains front of mind, however, so he is
an active member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on
Hampshire and the Isle of Wight where has been elected once
again by County colleagues to continue as Chairman.

Having grown up in Hook, Ranil went to the local schools in
Hook, Odiham and Alton, after which he won a place at the
London School of Economics. Ranil’s subsequent commercial
experience involved working for one of Britain’s biggest
financial institutions – Lloyds Banking Group plc – in the
City of London. He now lives in Bramley, in the north of the
constituency, with his wife Alison, and two little daughters,
Daisy and Violet.

Major    Coalition    of   UK
Business Organisations formed
The UK’s leading entrepreneurship organisations have united in
an unprecedented manner as part of an emergency response to
the COVID-19 pandemic to establish the Business Action Council
(BAC) – a coalition that will streamline the voices of more
than 500,000 businesses across every sector and region within
the United Kingdom.

In the wake of the Prime Minister’s call to build the biggest

possible consensus from business in its response to the
COVID-19 pandemic, the formation of the BAC marks the first
occasion that business organisations have joined together at
such a scale in the spirit of collective action.

The BAC’s primary mission is to act as an instrument that
provides Government with a more coherent perspective from
business. It is developing well-evidenced policy proposals
that balance the competing demands of the wide range of
businesses represented and provide expert, holistic advice to
protect business resilience and restore confidence.

At a time of significant economic upheaval brought on by the
spread of COVID-19, the Council brings together leaders from
the most significant institutions that represent the UK’s
business community to build consensus, allowing them to
respond quickly and collectively to Government. Its founding
members include the largest such organisations – the
Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the Institute of
Directors (IoD), the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), and
the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).

The BAC’s work is currently informed by six specialist working
groups, which are developing high-quality policy proposals and
analysis to guide the Government’s response to the pandemic,
which are endorsed by the entire Council. Policy proposals in
five of the following areas have already been submitted to
Government. The below lists all six working groups and more
are being added:

Future of Finance: Providing assessment of the immediate
impact on entrepreneurial businesses of COVID-19, and
available remedies; assessment of the role finance will play
in a post-COVID-19 ecosystem for such businesses; and
strategic solutions in support of our entrepreneurs and their
businesses in the medium to longer term

Employee Retention: Fine-tuning the government’s furlough

scheme with the aim of protecting employment and enabling
employees to return to work safely

Peer support: Providing solutions for how entrepreneurs pool
experience to support one another through the COVID crisis and
beyond

SME Tax: Creating a tax framework that puts SMEs at the heart
of the recovery
Supporting High Growth Start Ups: Applying international best
practice in supporting the early stages businesses that will
play a leading role in the recovery to the UK context

Real Estate Reform: Protecting landlords, tenants and
construction firms throughout business disruption and help
them safely exit the lockdown

The lifespan of the BAC and its working groups will be
determined by the progress made on addressing the policy
requirements. The BAC is chaired by Maurice Ostro OBE.

The members of the BAC and its representatives include:

B-Lab UK – Chris Turner, Executive Director
British Chambers of Commerce – Baroness Ruby Mcgregor-Smith,
President
Business in the Community (BITC) – Amanda Mackenzie OBE, CEO
Can Do Scotland – Rachel Brown, Chair
Centre for Entrepreneurs – Matt Smith, Director
Confederation of British Industry (CBI) – Lord Karan
Bilimoria, Vice President
Creative England & Creative Industries Federation – Caroline
Norburry MBE, CEO
E2Exchange – Shalini Khemka, Founder
Entrepreneurial Giving – Shaughan Dolan, Campaign Director
Enterprise Trust – Elizabeth Slee, Director
Entrepreneurial Scotland – Sandy Kennedy, CEO
Entrepreneurs Network – Sam Dumituru, Director of Research
Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) – James Burchell, Strategy

Lead
Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) – Craig Beaumont,
Director, External Affairs and Advocacy
Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE) –
Andrew Chamberlain, Director of Policy
Innovate Finance – Charlotte Crosswell, CEO
Institute of Directors (IoD) – Tej Parikh, Chief Economist
Make UK – Andrew Tuscher, Head of External Affairs
ScaleUp Institute – Irene Graham OBE, CEO
Tech Nation – Liz Stevenson, Director
The Entrepreneurs Network – Philip Salter, Director
The Industrial Strategy Council – Andy Haldane, Chair
United Nations Global Compact – Stephen Kenzie, UK CEO
YPO UK Leadership Council – Maurice Ostro OBE, Chair

Lord Bilimoria, Vice President of the CBI, said: “It is a
historic moment to see organisations that sometimes see each
other as competitors put aside differences and unite in the
national interest. There are no simple answers to the myriad
problems that the pandemic has created: entrepreneurship
organisations will need to work together over the coming
months to develop the bold and imaginative solutions necessary
to help us recover as quickly as possible.”

Tej Parikh, Chief Economist, Institute of Directors, said:
“Supporting enterprise will be crucial in the months and years
ahead, as we respond to the pandemic and seek to amplify our
recovery from it. This mission is written into the IoD’s Royal
Charter, and we are pleased to work constructively with other
groups to serve this purpose.”

Baroness Ruby McGregor-Smith, President of British Chambers of
Commerce, said: “We will meet this unprecedented challenge
with a collaborative effort to ensure the survival and future
prosperity of business communities across the UK. As the
government prepares to gradually reopen the economy, this
coordinated approach will help restore, strengthen and rebuild
our economy. Chambers of Commerce stand ready to work

constructively towards this goal, bringing         real-world
experiences from businesses on the ground.”

Shalini Khemka, CEO of E2E, said: “E2E are pleased to be
working actively with The Business Action Council to
collectively provide a crucial link between SMEs and our
government during this time of crisis and unity. We are
determined to ensure our economy can emerge with a foundation
that allows it to be vibrant and innovative, so supporting our
national recovery. My sub-committee members and I welcome the
opportunity to have constructive conversations with the Prime
Minister’s team on the employee retention support packages.
Small and medium sized businesses are vital for the success of
our economy whether as employers, through the provision of
goods and services or being the major enterprises of the
future.”

For further information about Innovate        Finance,   visit
https://www.innovatefinance.com/

The Mono Box launches ‘The
Monologues Library’
Hampstead Theatre’s Associate Company, The Mono Box, is
delighted to announce the launch of The Monologue Library,
audio recordings of renowned artists performing their
favourite theatrical speeches. The Library features over 100
speeches by artists such as Sir Derek Jacobi, Denise Gough,
Riz Ahmed, Sheila Atim, Gina McKee, Prasanna Puwanarajah and
Sir Simon Russell Beale. It has been created during COVID-19
as a free, creative resource for theatre lovers and artists
alike and is available from today.

The Monologue Library will include brand new recordings
performed by artists in lockdown such as Vanessa Kirby,
Youssef Kerkour, Marion Bailey, Paapa Essiedu, Siobhan Redmond
and Gwilym Lee who were all due to perform at Hampstead
Theatre this spring as part of The Mono Box’s Speech Share
Live events.

Speech Share is hosted by The Mono Box co-founders, Polly
Bennett and Joan Iyiola and is an in-depth and engrossing
podcast series with some of the UK’s most admired artists,
discussing their experience of working within the theatre
industry and a production that they have worked on. Each
podcast ends with the artist performing their favourite
monologue. Some of the recordings in the library were
originally performed as part of Speech Share.

Over 100 recordings will feature in The Monologue Library on
The Mono Box’s website, leading with a poem read by Riz Ahmed
honouring the mood of the time, Sarah Niles’s tribute to
frontline workers using the words of Winsome Pinnock, a speech
from Thalissa Teixieira from a production which was forced to
close when COVID-19 hit, a roar from Clare Perkins to inspire
us, and classical greats from Josh O’Connor and Sope Dirisu to
remind us of how this is all just history repeating.

The full list of artists performing in The Monologue Library
are:

Ronke Adekoluejo, Stefan Adegbola, Riz Ahmed, Thomas Aldridge,
Adjoa Andoh, Gethin Anthony, Sheila Atim, Alex Austin, Marion
Bailey, Joe Bannister, Ben Batt, Sir Simon Russell Beale, Max
Bennett, Leanne Best, Leo Bill, Nicholas Bishop, Kirsty
Bushell, Fiona Button, Richard Cant, Claire Cartwright,
Pandora Colin, Alistair Cope, Emma Corrin, Kenneth Cranham,
Dona Croll, Liz Crowther, John Dagleish, Les Dennis, Sope
Dirisu, Phil Dunster, Laura Elphinstone, Alfred Enoch, Paapa
Essiedu, Gershwyn Eustache Jnr, Jake Fairbrother, Patsy
Ferran, Dino Fetscher, Denise Gough, Rob Heaps, Georgie

Henley, Sarah Hoare, Hazel Holder, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith,
Rebecca Humphries, Siu Hun Li, Joan Iyiola, Sir Derek Jacobi,
Valene Kane, Youssef Kerkour, Yolanda Kettle, Vanessa Kirby,
Danny Kirrane, Natalie Klamar, Joe Kloska, Gwilym Lee, Lauren
Lyle, Pearl Mackie, Simon Manyonda, Joseph Marcell, Sam Marks,
Joshua McGuire, Gina McKee, Harry Melling, Justine Mitchell,
Amy Morgan, Deirdre Mullins, Joseph Mydell, Mimi Ndiweni, Luke
Newberry, Arian Nik, Sarah Niles, Pamela Nomvete, James
Norton, Josh O’Connor, Theo Ogundipe, Enyi Okoronkwo, Ciarán
Owens, Clare Perkins, Martha Plimpton, Imogen Poots, Prasanna
Puwanarajah, Karl Queensborough, Siobhan Redmond, Kirsty
Rider, Sule Rimi, Rhys Rusbatch, Jenna Russell, Sirine Saba,
Sid Sagar, Cherrelle Skeete, Leo Suter, Sam Swann, Thalissa
Teixeira, Paul Tinto, Annie Tyson, Olivia Vinall, Anthony
Welsh, Susan Wokoma, Gabby Wong, Daniel York and Shane Zaza.

Roxana Silbert, Artistic Director of Hampstead Theatre said:

“The Speech Share Live podcasts at Hampstead Theatre have been
an inspiration to our audiences. We miss them. The collective
experience of live performance can’t be replaced but The Mono
Box has created a wonderful asset with an extraordinary
ensemble of artists performing some of the world’s greatest
speeches. Their combined generosity is a real audio treat for
any theatre lover.”

An audio love letter to the theatre community

The Mono Box, co-founders Polly Bennett and Joan Iyiola, said:

“Like many in the entertainment industry these last few weeks,
our working lives have rapidly changed and have been left
wondering – what now?

We are aware how hard it is to replace the experience of
theatre however we still want to connect with people in the
way we know how. The creation of our Monologue Library seems
like the perfect way to celebrate beautiful writing and
performance whilst also hopefully offering some escapism,

humour and inspiration during this period of isolation.

We think of it as a big audio love-letter to the theatre
community – please jump in and enjoy!”

About The Mono Box

The Mono Box is a drama training hub and support network for
emerging theatre talent, founded by Polly Bennett and Joan
Iyiola in 2013. It provides access to unique workshops, new
writing opportunities, inspirational live professional events
in the UK and digital content to reach artists across the
world. It has also created a unique collection of 4,000 plays
donated by professional actors, directors and writers working
in the theatre industry.

The Mono Box has been an Associate Company of Hampstead
Theatre since 2019.

About The Hampstead Theatre

Hampstead Theatre was born in a humble hut over sixty years
ago. Its simple mission was to create original theatre without
creative restriction. It quickly attracted a generation of
talent that helped to redefine British Theatre. That not only
entertained but propelled the art form forwards.
Hampstead Theatre left the hut a long time ago and now
occupies one of London’s state-of-the-art theatres. Purpose-
built for the 21st century to allow our writers, actors,
directors and producers maximum creative flexibility.

Hampstead Theatre closed its building following UK Government
advice on Monday 16 March 2020. It is currently presenting
#HampsteadTheatreAtHome, a free, digital streaming series
launched to support audiences in isolation. In partnership
with The Guardian, it is currently streaming #AIWW: The Arrest
of Ai Weiwei (2013), the story of the controversial arrest and
imprisonment of Chinese Artist Ai Weiwei in 2011. The
production will stream until Sunday 3 May, 10pm (BST). Based

on conversations between Ai Weiwei and journalist/writer
Barnaby Martin (Hanging Man: The Arrest of Ai Weiwei), this
production is directed by James Macdonald.

DFID: Improving the lives of
women and girls overseas
The Department for International Development’s (DFID) 2018
Strategic Vision for Gender Equality is ambitious and well-
researched but DFID needs to improve its management of the
Vision’s implementation if it is to achieve its intended
impact, according to the National Audit Office (NAO).

DFID’s Vision is wide-ranging, building on and extending the
scope of its earlier work on improving the lives of women and
girls. It consulted widely both internally and externally with
experts in gender equality and gathered evidence of what works
in achieving change.

However, the NAO found that there is currently no overall
long-term implementation plan for the Vision, nor has DFID
published a thorough assessment of its progress to date, other
than limited information in its annual reports and accounts
and the Single Departmental Plan.

Gender inequality is prevalent across all aspects of life

Gender inequality is prevalent across all aspects of life – in
the workplace, in civic engagement, in health and in
education. Worldwide, 63 million girls are out of school;
women make up just 24.3% of representatives in national
parliaments; and one in three women will be beaten or sexually
abused in their lifetime. In 2018, globally, around 48.5% of

women participated in the labour force, 26.5% behind men’s
participation. And women spent three times longer on unpaid
care work preventing them from engaging in paid work, facing
lower wages where they do obtain paid work, and facing other
social and legal barriers.

In 2018 the Department for International Development (DFID)
spent £4.2 billion of bilateral aid (66% of its total
bilateral spend) on programmes that targeted gender equality
as a policy objective – 71% more money than in 2011. In March
2018, DFID launched its 2018–2030 Strategic Vision for Gender
Equality (2018 Strategic Vision). This set out what it
describes as a ‘call to action’ asking more of itself and of
the UK government, and its multilateral and civil society
partners, to help empower women and girls, recognising that
gender equality is fundamental to achieving the Sustainable
Development Goals by 2030.

However, DFID needs to improve the quality of this estimate as
there is a high chance that it is currently inaccurate. The
NAO’s analysis shows that it classified 33% of its bilateral
spending for 2018 incorrectly in respect of programmes with a
gender equality focus.

“Mainstreaming” gender, so that it is considered across all of
DFID’s work, is integral to the Vision, but DFID has found
this difficult so far. Barriers include a lack of buy-in from
some staff, insufficient guidance and training before 2019,
and some weaknesses in its quality assurance processes. DFID
is currently improving how it assesses programmes’
consideration of gender.

According to DFID, tackling social norms, such as negative
attitudes within communities to girls attending school, will
have the most long-term impact on tackling gender equality.
But it has recognised that it does not do enough of this in
its programmes. Influencing is also key to DFID’s approach,
but it faces challenges assessing and claiming the impact from

its influencing efforts.

DFID’s most recent assessment of progress to date and the
prospects for achieving the Vision is mixed. In September
2019, DFID identified strong performance so far in four of its
seven calls to action.3 However, its assessment of likely
performance over the next six months was less positive, with
five of its seven calls to action not on track to meet its
aims as a result of the changes in its internal priorities and
the external environment.

The NAO recommends that DFID should develop a plan for
implementing the 2018 Strategic Vision and publish a short
report setting out its progress every two years. It should
also assess if it is focusing sufficiently on interventions
which tackle social norms.

 “DFID’s commitment to tackling gender inequality is ambitious
 and wide-ranging. Two years into the Department’s twelve-year
 vision, individual interventions are already improving the
 lives of women and girls overseas.”

 “However, if DFID is to achieve its ambitious aims, it needs
 to develop a clearer long-term plan for implementing its
 vision and continue to take steps to improve the accuracy and
 transparency of its performance information.”

 Gareth Davies, Head of the NAO

Key facts

2018
year the Department for International Development (DFID)
introduced its Strategic Vision for Gender Equality

£4.2bn
estimate of DFID’s bilateral spending in 2018 (calendar year)
on programmes with a gender equality focus 2030 target date
for delivery of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development
Goals

5
number of interlinked areas of gender equality on which DFID’s
2018 Strategic Vision focuses: eliminating violence against
women and girls, and supporting sexual and reproductive health
and rights, girls’ education, women’s economic empowerment,
and women’s political empowerment

66%
percentage of DFID’s total bilateral spending in 2018 on
programmes with a gender equality focus (up 12 percentage
points from 2014)

33%
National Audit Office assessment of the percentage of DFID’s
bilateral spending which was incorrectly classified against
the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development’s
Development Assistance Committee’s gender equality policy
marker in 2018.

87%
percentage of programmes with a gender equality focus that met
or exceeded DFID’s performance expectations.

DFID’s 7 Calls to Action

The seven calls to action are:

   1. challenge and change unequal power relations
   2. build the inter-linked foundations which will have a
      transformational effect for girls and women
   3. Protect and empower girls and women in conflict,
      protracted crises and humanitarian emergencies
   4. Leave no girl or woman behind, including those with

disabilities
   5. Incorporate gender equality in all our work across the
      board and track delivery through to results
   6. Work across girls and women’s lifecycles and on multiple
      areas simultaneously, such as adolescence
   7. Build evidence and disaggregate data by sex, age and
      disability.

Click to download:

Report – Improving the lives of women and girls overseas (pdf
– 569.13 KB)

Summary – Improving the lives of women and girls overseas (pdf
– 109.30 KB)

Yusuf ‘Cat’ Stevens leads
spiritual reflections on the
BBC
Legendary singer-songwriter Yusuf ‘Cat’ Stevens will lead a
series of spiritual reflections on BBC Sounds and Local Radio.
The London-born musician, whose hits include Peace Train and
Morning Has Broken, reads from the Quran and other holy text
such as the Bible, explores his own philosophy and performs
songs – all as Muslims observe Ramadan in lockdown.

The first of the four reflections will be broadcast on
selected BBC Local Radio stations and BBC Sounds on Friday
morning. The BBC is broadcasting Christian services and
reflections from other religions while usual places of worship

are closed.

Stevens, 71, has been performing for more than five decades.
He has been a practising Muslim since 1977, spurred by a near
death experience which he will talk about in the reflections.

On Friday’s broadcast, the man who this year celebrates 50
years of his album Tea For the Tillerman with hits such as
Father and Son and Wild World, says:

“The Universe itself can be considered an open book from God,
with the signs and miracles all around us happening every day.
Like the glorious rising and setting of the sun; the mystical
moon, the deep night sky full of galaxies boasting billions of
stars each with its own name and unique space in the universe;
down to our very own Earth; the passing of night and day,
seasons, oceans, life; creatures of all kinds and sizes; snow
top mountains; green carpeted fields: not to mention the
miracle of us being born through the love bond of male and
female, from something the size of almost an invisible atom of
dust.”

The four spiritual reflections ‘Signs on the Divine Path’ by
Yusuf/Cat Stevens, also known as Yusuf Islam, will be
available on BBC Sounds each Friday.

They are part of a series of weekly Muslim reflections being
broadcast each Friday at 5.50am on 14 BBC Local Radio
stations: Leeds, Sheffield, Lancashire, Manchester, WM,
Leicester, Stoke, Derby, Nottingham, Coventry and
Warwickshire, Three Counties, London, Merseyside and
Berkshire.

A full Christian service is broadcast each Sunday at 8am, led
by a different denomination each week. Each weekend also sees
reflections from Sikhs and Hindus.

LIFF pays tribute to the late
Irrfan Khan and Rishi Kapoor
The Bagri Foundation London Indian Film Festival (LIFF) has
paid tribute to the late Irrfan Khan and Rishi Kapoor who both
passed away last week. Cary Sawhney MBE, Director of LIFF said
“Irrfan Khan had graced our humble festival a couple of times
and lit up the screen with remarkable on screen performances
in LIFF premieres of his films such as Pan Singh Tomar, Doob,
No Bed of Roses and Song of Scorpions. Irrfan also gave an
incredibly memorable on stage talk at LIFF back in 2013, where
we reunited him on stage with the director of The Warrior,
Asif Kapadia (Maradonna, Senna). The two men rekindled their
friendship, which led to a deep and incisive conversation
about Irrfan’s career, and working in both Indian and Western
cinema.”

“During Irrfan Khan’s visit to the festival in 2013, we also
held a premiere screening of D Day distributed by Yash Raj
films, and we are sad to see that Rishi Kapoor, who was in the
film with Irrfan, has passed away today. It is indeed a sad
time for Indian cinema.

In 2018, we presented Irrfan with our coveted LIFF ICON Award.
He was in London at the time and starting treatment for
cancer. We discreetly went to the apartment where he was
staying in St John’s Wood and presented him the award. He was
clearly delighted and as a mark of the humbleness and
sweetness of the man he insisted on making us all tea himself.
His unique style of acting and diverse portrayal of the common
man will live on in his movies.”

Irrfan Khan with Amit Kumar and Cary Sawhney

About Irrfan Khan

Irrfan Khan was an Indian actor who worked in Hindi cinema as
well as in British and American films. Cited in the media as
one of the finest actors in Indian cinema,Khan’s career
spanned over 30 years and earned him numerous accolades,
including a National Film Award, an Asian Film Award, and four
Filmfare Awards. In 2011, he was awarded the Padma Shri,
India’s fourth highest civilian honour.

Khan made his film debut with a small role in Salaam Bombay!
(1988), which was followed by years of struggle. After
starring in the British film The Warrior (2001), he had his
breakthrough with starring roles in the dramas Haasil (2003)
and Maqbool (2004). He went on to gain critical acclaim for
his roles in The Namesake (2006), Life in a… Metro (2007), and
Paan Singh Tomar (2011). For portraying the title character in
the last of these, he won the National Film Award for Best
Actor.

Further success came for his starring roles in The Lunchbox
(2013), Piku (2015), and Talvar (2015) and he had supporting
roles in the Hollywood films The Amazing Spider-Man (2012),
Life of Pi (2012), Jurassic World (2015), and Inferno (2016).
His other notable roles were in Slumdog Millionaire (2008),
New York (2009), Haider (2014), and Gunday (2014), and the
television series In Treatment (2010). His highest-grossing
Hindi film release came with the comedy-drama Hindi Medium
(2017), which won him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor, and
his final film appearance was in its sequel Angrezi Medium
(2020).

As of 2017, his films had grossed $3.6 billion at the
worldwide box office. In 2018, Khan was diagnosed with a
neuroendocrine tumour. He died at the age of 53 on 29 April
2020. He leaves behind a wife and two children.

About Rishi Kapoor

Rishi Raj Kapoor was an Indian actor known as one of the most
successful actors in the history of Bollywood. Born into the
legendary Kapoor family, he made his debut, as an adolescent,
in his father Raj Kapoor’s film Mera Naam Joker (1970), for
which he won the National Film Award for Best Child Artist.

As an adult, his first lead role was opposite Dimple Kapadia
in the teen romance Bobby (1973), which won him the Filmfare
Award for Best Actor. Between 1973 and 2000, Kapoor starred as
the romantic lead in 92 films. Some of his notable films
during this period include Khel Khel Mein (1975), Kabhi Kabhie
(1976), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Karz (1980), and Chandni
(1989). Since the 2000s, he played character roles to critical
acclaim in such films as Love Aaj Kal (2009), Agneepath
(2012), and Mulk (2018). For his performance in Do Dooni Chaar
(2010), he won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor, and
for his role in Kapoor & Sons (2016), he won the Filmfare
Award for Best Supporting Actor. He was honoured with the
Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. His final film

appearance was in The Body (2019).

Kapoor often collaborated with his wife, actress Neetu Singh,
with whom he had two children, including Ranbir Kapoor. He
died of leukemia on 30 April 2020, aged 67.

One Family delivers                                 care
boxes   to frontline                                 NHS
workers
UK-registered charity One Family launched its Emergency Care
Fund earlier this month, with its ‘Frontline Care Boxes’ being
distributed across London hospitals this week. The care boxes,
conceptualised by junior doctor Marissa Lewis, have been
carefully assembled to provide all the essentials hospital
staff need while on gruelling shifts. The contents include a
new pair of socks, an eye mask, earplugs, lip balm, hand
moisturiser, mouthwash sachets, glucose tablets and an
assortment of refreshments.

The idea came to Dr Lewis while on the phone with a colleague,
who had experienced a particularly difficult A&E shift. She
created the thoughtful care box as a way of expressing her
understanding and solidarity and was soon inundated with
requests for more by colleagues.

“After hearing Dr Lewis’ story, we were moved by her spirit of
generosity at such a trying time,” said Sharif Banna MBE,
Chairman of One Family. He continued: “Our mission is to
inspire a love for humanity that unites everyone, and
Marissa’s care boxes do just that. As part of our Emergency
Care Fund for COVID-19, we are delighted to partner with Dr

Lewis to create these in order to provide a little respite to
our brilliant medical staff, who are working tirelessly every
day to save lives.”

The charity has partnered with brands including RB’s E45 and
SwishToGo to ensure only the best quality products are
reaching frontline staff. Dr Lewis expressed her delight at
receiving an initial batch of the boxes at Darent Valley
Hospital in Dartford, Kent. “[The care boxes] are so fantastic
and I’m thrilled to hear they are reaching other hospitals.”

One Family’s ‘Frontline Care Boxes’ have been delivered to
Chelsea and Westminster, Queen’s Hospital in Romford and
Northwick Park – one of London’s worst-hit hospitals. The
charity aims to roll out the scheme nationwide over the coming
weeks, with more boxes being delivered to hospitals across
London this week.

“Our Emergency Care Fund was created to provide support where
it’s really needed,” said One Family Chairman, Sharif Banna
MBE. “In our insight gathering phase, we wanted to mobilise
our vast network to provide specific solutions for the issues
being faced by communities during this unprecedented time.”

As well as the ‘Frontline Care Boxes’, One Family’s Emergency
Care Fund has developed ‘Food & Grocery’ packs for the most
vulnerable and partnered with organisations to provide tablets
to care homes across the country, as well as facilitate 3D
printing of essential Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
supplies.

For         further          information               visit:
www.onefamily.org.uk/emergency-care-fund.

Ramadan during coronavirus a
time for ‘compassion and
mercy’
Muslims should not feel guilty about struggling to observe
Ramadan during the coronavirus crisis, a senior Muslim
academic has said. Speaking at the start of Ramadan,
University of Edinburgh scholar Mona Siddiqui said the
pandemic was instead a chance to practice “compassion and
mercy” and help others “spiritually as well as physically and
emotionally“.

Speaking on a broadcast on BBC Local Radio, Ms Siddiqui said:
“It shouldn’t surprise us then that there will be Muslims who
would normally observe Ramadan but this year may not be able
to cope with the demands of fasting when so much of normal
life has been suspended.

“With work and family tensions amplified, in these times,
helping one another spiritually is helping people as they
struggle, as they live out their faith as best they can.

“Let’s make sure we don’t judge anyone for what they can and
can’t do, that we don’t frighten people with God, that we show
compassion and mercy.”

Ramadan is traditionally a communal time with group meals – or
Iftar – and praying.

With places of worship closed the BBC is broadcasting weekly
Christian services and Muslim reflections on Local Radio
stations. They are also available on BBC Sounds.

Speaking on this morning’s broadcast, Ms Siddiqui said
lockdown forced us to “rethink the rhythm of religious
rituals”.