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UK job vacancies reach record high

Data showed job vacancies reached 953,000 in the three months to July.

The Manc The Manc - 17th August 2021

There were more job vacancies on record in Britain this summer than ever before.

Official data shows the number of available roles had risen to an unprecedented figure of 953,000 in May to July this year.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), vacancies grew by 43.8% (290,000) compared to the previous quarter, with “strong growth” across a number of industries.

The number of job vacancies in May to July 2021 was 21.4% (168,000) above pre-pandemic levels, and in the same period there were a record 3.2 vacancies for every 100 employee jobs.

Data also showed that unemployment fell to 4.7% in the three months leading up to June, whilst the average pay packet rose by 7.4%.

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ONS deputy statistician Jonathan Athow said the data showed the world of work was continuing to “rebound robustly from the effects of the pandemic”.

Atlow stated: “As large parts of the economy started to reopen in recent months, the number of hours worked went past one billion a week for the first time since the onset of the pandemic.

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“There were no sign of redundancies starting to pick up in our survey data ahead of the furlough scheme beginning to wind down, and Insolvency Service figures for July suggest the same.”

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said the figures reflected the fact that the government’s plan for jobs was proving effective.

He stated: “I know there could still be bumps in the road but the data is promising.

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“There are now more employees on payrolls than at any point since March 2020 and the number of people on furlough is the lowest since the scheme launched.”

Featured image: Scott Graham / Unsplash

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Tribute paid to husband and wife whose car plunged into Greater Manchester reservoir

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Tribute paid to husband and wife whose car plunged into Greater Manchester reservoir

The couple who died after their car plunged into a reservoir in Greater Manchester have been named, as their family pays tribute.

John and Marilyn Saxon, both 78, were pulled from the water at Crook Gate Reservoir in Saddleworth last weekend.

Emergency services had been called to reports of a collision on Huddersfield Road, with one vehicle entering the reservoir.

The collision occurred shortly after 10am on Saturday 15 March.

Tragically, both John and Marilyn died in the incident.

Their family said: “The family of John and Marilyn want to pay tribute to a kind, caring and generous husband and wife who sadly passed away following an incident at the reservoir on Saturday.

“The family ask for privacy during this difficult time.” 

Greater Manchester Police are investigating the incident and into how the vehicle entered the water.

A statement released last weekend said: “At around 10.10am Saturday 15 March 2025, we were called to reports of a road traffic collision at Crook Gate Reservoir on Huddersfield Road in Denshaw.

“Officers attended the scene and following investigations, it is believed that a vehicle has entered the Reservoir.

“Sadly, the bodies of a man and a woman in their 70s were recovered. Their next of kin have been contacted and are being supported by specialist officers.

“A scene remains in place and an investigation is continuing in relation to how the vehicle ended up in the body of water. The family ask for privacy at this time.”

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information is asked to contact police via 101 or gmp.police.uk, quoting log 851 of 15/03/25.

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Featured image: Google Maps

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Local Adolescence actor urges everyone to watch Netflix hit after ‘overwhelming’ reaction

Danny Jones Danny Jones Oldham actor Jo Hartley Adolescence Netflix reaction

One of the actors from Netflix’s new smash hit, Adolescence, is a Greater Manchester-born and bred talent and has now taken time to reflect on the “overwhelming” response the show has seen thus far.

You’ll recognise her from countless roles in British films and TV over the years, including multiple Shane Meadows projects, but Jo Hartley is one of several stars to have impressed audiences across the globe with her performance in the incredible new drama.

Topping the streaming giant’s charts after just four days, Adolescence is one of the biggest shows of the year and most streamed UK exports in some time, receiving rave reviews across the board, as well as serious plaudits for how it tackles some seriously tough subject matter.

With most having now made it through all four extremely heavy episodes, the local actor from Oldham hopped on social media not only to express her gratitude for having been part of the project, but also the incredible reaction it received and why so many feel it’s an important watch.

Sharing a lengthier response spotlighting episode two, when we first meet her character, on Instagram, Hartley wrote: “Overwhelmed by all the generous messages we are getting so far. Being part of such a groundbreaking project has given me deep joy.

“Seeing people respond so abundantly is very moving and feels quite wonderful. These kids are epic! They smashed it. Cast and crew too. I loved our downtime, we’d all hang out and play games, chat and laugh, we became a family. What a team of talented artists and creators.”

Speaking more broadly in an earlier post, she said of the early reviews: “I’ve been so overwhelmed by such powerful messages over the last few days. THANK YOU. Thank YOU!!! It’s been wonderful to see this show make such an impact on the world.

“Adolescence asks questions… It presents us with a fatal situation caused by one unconscious act of violence – actions have consequences. Over the four ‘one shot’ episodes we see how it devastates not only a family but a whole community. If Adolescence saves one life, it will have worked.”

Before the limited drama had even dropped, she described it as a “life-changing experience” as an actor and, from a viewer’s perspective, nothing short of a “heart-wrenching and powerful one-shot drama that’ll blow your mind and take your breath away.” We can only echo her words.

As well as Oldham‘s finest being celebrated for her extremely believable, accurate and nuanced performance as teacher Mrs Fenumore, audiences are hailing not only the impressive talent of Owen Cooper, who plays the lead role of Jamie Miller but also the sublime Stephen Graham as his father.

Graham, who also shared the screen with Hartley in This Is England, has been praised for numerous roles in recent years – including director Philip Barantini’s equally talked about Boiling Point (2023) – but many viewers are saying he has officially cemented himself as “one of Britain’s greatest-ever actors.”

If you’ve still not seen anything about it, we won’t dare spoil a morsel more but we will sincerely recommend that you join the millions of others in watching it – though we’ll warn you, Adolescence is by no means easy-going.

You can see the trailer down below:

The Greater Manchester actor is one of numerous show-stealers in Adolescence.

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Featured Images — British Film Institute (screenshot via YouTube)/Netflix

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