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PEOPLE WASTE AN AVERAGE OF 2 TO 3 HOURS A DAY ‘FAFFING’
NEW research into how the average
person in the North West spends their time by the Learning and
Skills Council to celebrate Skills and Apprenticeships, reveals the
huge amount of time, an average of 40 days a year, which is wasted
by people in the North West.
Today’s research reveals that 84% of people in the North West admit
to wasting time, with just under half estimating that they faff for
as much as 2-3 hours each day. The survey also shows that 74% were
annoyed at the amount of time they wasted in a day, with 77% stating
that they would like to make better use of their time.
The LSC’s top 10 time wasting activities in the North West include:-
1. Clearing up after other people – 14%
2. Waiting for other people (children, colleagues, partners) – 14%
3. Gossiping – 13%
4. Queuing – 12%
5. Being kept on hold while on the phone – 11%
6. Traffic jams – 10%
7. Shopping for unessential bits and pieces – 9%
8. Waiting for public transport – 7%
9. Chasing up people on jobs – 5%
10. Waiting for the bathroom – 3%
Interestingly, when it came to identifying the main causes of wasted
time, the results show that the 2 main reasons that respondents
cited were clearing up after other people (14%) and waiting for
other people such as children and colleagues (14%). Gossiping (13%)
and queuing (12%) closely followed. Conversely, expected excuses
like public transport, waiting for the bathroom and chasing up on
people finished lower down in the LSC’s top 10 North West
time-wasters.
When asked what they might do to put their time to better use, 57%
of respondents said they would rather use the time they waste
learning a new skill, with 70% of those surveyed stating that they
thought gaining a new skill or qualification could help them to
further their careers.
Mark Forster, author and time management guru, says that not only is
it essential for people to maximise their use of time but also
manage their time better, all of which could benefit them in the
long run. He says:- “As a time management expert I am
committed to making people understand the benefits of making the
most of their own time. We live in a busy world. We’re working
harder and juggling more than we used to – and, clearly, the nation
is also spending more time ‘faffing’ than they should! The
only problem is that there’s only ever a finite amount of time in
the day. Of course, we’ve all been heard saying ‘I just don’t have
time’, but today’s research from the Learning and Skills Council
shows that we can all make the time if we manage ourselves more
efficiently. It also goes to show that there is no excuse for the
third of Brits who cite a lack of time as being the main barrier to
them learning a new skill.”
Chris Banks, Chairman of the LSC, says:- “It’s clear that
people waste a lot of time, but it’s also clear that people are
willing to make better use of their time. If we all spent two and a
half hours a day learning something new, we’d all benefit hugely. Modern learning comes in all shapes and sizes, and with flexible
courses on offer there is something out there for everyone. There
are also various funding options available to help you get on your
way. Learning a new skill can be a step in the right direction
towards a career change, a foot up the career ladder or even a way
to earn more money.” He continues:- “There is
also a global aspect - 2 out of 3 jobs in the future will require a
higher level of skills and better qualifications. Indeed, in less
than 10 years, there will be very few unskilled jobs, so why not be
the 1st to safeguard your future by learning a new skill?”
The Learning and Skills Council has a wide variety of training and
funding advice available for people who are interested in updating
their skills or obtaining a new qualification. With so much support
available, what’s stopping you from updating your skills? To find
out more about training and whether there are any funding options
available for the course you've chosen, talk to your employer or
visit
lsc.gov.uk/inourhands. |
24
YOUNG PEOPLE WIN PLACES ON THE NETWORK SCHEME AT EDINBURGH TV
FESTIVAL
24 young people from
the North West area are among the 150 delegates to be hand-picked
from 2,000 applicants to attend The Network, the prestigious free
five day course held alongside the Edinburgh TV Festival this August
bank holiday.
The scheme is aimed at helping talented individuals
with a passion for TV gain a foothold in the notoriously competitive
television industry.
The Network programme of masterclasses, workshops and careers advice
gives delegates a comprehensive overview of the different aspects of
the television industry - including production, directing, channel
management, commissioning, PR and writing - and access to some of
the top talent working in TV today.
Delegates from the
North West include:
Jill Archbold – Hartlepool
Ben Blakey – Stockton-on-Tees
Sabrina Collins – Middleton St. George
Kay Donnelly – Boldon Colliery
Philip John Kramarczyk - Middlesborough
Thomas Reynolds – Stockton-on-Tees
Charles Rogers – Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Sean Bradbury – Liverpool
Christiana Brockbank - Bolton
Jack Doyle - Stockport
Colette Flynn - Cheshire
Melissa Hussey - Cheshire
Tone Iversen - Salford
Marina King - Blackburn
Amie Laing - Formby
Ian Martindale – Congleton
Harry Matthews - Chorley
Emily Ryder – Bolton
Katherine Sharkey - Merseyside
Chris Smith - Blackpool
Colette Talbot - Cheshire
Jonathan Williams – Wrexham
Anna Berrington - Liverpool
Harry Garne – Manchester
Jay Hunt, Controller
of BBC1, Julian Bellamy, Head of Programmes at Channel 4, and Paul
Jackson, Director of Entertainment and Comedy at ITV are just a few
of the broadcasting luminaries delivering masterclasses this year. Key industry professionals from teams including Coronation Street,
MTV and Sky News will run workshops, enabling delegates to gain
hands-on experience to create their own films, scripts and
programmes.
The Network has helped to launch hundreds of TV careers and past
delegates now work across the industry in a variety of roles on
shows including The Apprentice, Newsnight, Emmerdale, Big Brother
and Blue Peter.
Past delegate Kathleen Beedles , Drama Producer at ITV says:-
“Since working in the industry, I have realised that it’s both “who
you know” and “what you know” that count, and this is why
initiatives such as The Network are invaluable for young new talent
starting out. When I attended The Network it was the first time I’d
met any industry professionals and I came away with the belief that
ordinary people like me could get into TV. It also taught me both
practicalities and gave me an ‘in’ with industry professionals. I
had got that all important ‘foot in the door’ and now years later I
can see the benefit of the initiative from a professional stand
point, as a way of discovering exciting new talent.”
Thousands of applicants each year are whittled down to a lucky 150
delegates who get the chance to attend the FREE event, which this
year takes place between 21 and 25 August 2008.
Delegates who have attended The Network
are also given the opportunity to apply for a 6 month paid work
placement at some of the most prestigious TV companies in the UK
through the The Network at Work programme.
Applications for this year’s event are now closed, but it is possible
to register interest for next year via the website
www.mgeitf.co.uk/thenetwork. |
