Business leaders across Greater Manchester are being urged to spend a night under the stars for charity next month.
CEO Sleepout is back in Manchester for the sixth time next month, and is calling on local business leaders, owners, and executives to get involved by volunteering to give up their beds and sleep outside for one night.
It’s part of a national initiative aimed at raising vital funds to combat homelessness across the UK.
64 leading local figures have already stuck their name down for the next CEO Sleepout happening at Old Trafford Cricket Ground on Monday 24 October, which means there’s still 16 places left for those looking to take part.
An impressive £30,000 and counting has already been raised for charity through previous CEO Sleepout events in Manchester.
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Event organisers say that those who volunteer to take part in next month’s sleepout will get to “gain a deeper understanding of some of the bigger issues” and also discover “the power you have in business to lead change”.
“Anyone who has walked down Piccadilly has seen the huge number of people surviving rough on the streets,” explained Chief Executive Bianca Robin.
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“There are over 6,700 households estimated to be homeless in Manchester and that’s an extremely worrying figure, especially as the cost of living begins to bite [as] it will undoubtedly force families out of private rental, leaving them at a real risk of homelessness this winter.”
One charity set to benefit from the funds raised during next month’s CEO Sleepout is Walking With The Wounded.
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It’s a national military charity that supports veterans and their families who have landed on hard times.
She adds that the sleepout will be an “interesting and enlightening” night where you’ll get to rub shoulders with some of the leading lights of Manchester’s business world and hear from people who have overcome homelessness too.
“We know rough sleeping can be solved,” Bianca added.
“And by making a stand, our business participants can lead by example, showing what a compassionate city Manchester can be, while reflecting on their role and the power they have to create lasting social value.”
Find out more information and sign up to take part in next month’s CEO Sleepout here.
One in 10 Brits are fired or disciplined after their work’s Christmas party, new survey finds
Emily Sergeant
We’re in peak office Christmas party season right about now.
With just under two weeks to go until the big day itself is here, many businesses across the UK are treating their staff to night out to celebrate both the festive season and all of the hard work they have been putting in throughout the year… and as you can expect, these are usually quite eventful gatherings, shall we say.
But now, a survey by has shed light on just how ‘eventful’ they actually are, as a new survey has revealed that, apparently, one in ten Brits face some sort of disciplinary action or dismissal due to their behaviour at Christmas parties.
The study was conducted by After Drink, and included more than 2,000 participants.
During the research, it was highlighted that 89% of employees admitted to drinking alcohol at these events, Lad Bible reports – with 65% of these confessing that they drank “excessively”.
There are a multitude of incidents which could lead to disciplinary action in the workplace nowadays, but according to the survey, some of the common reasons following festive celebrations with colleagues included inappropriate comments (23%) and even getting into fights (21%).
16% of these incidents were because of drug use during the event, while inappropriate interactions with colleagues accounted for 14%.
Some of the legal reasons you can be fired from your place of work after a Christmas party include gross misconduct, drunken behaviour, and fighting of any kind.
Despite all these risks, however, Christmas parties still remain as popular as always, and a whopping 79% of respondents said they are planning to attend theirs this year.
Clearly, the moral of the story here is , enjoy yourself… but just not too much.
Featured Image – The OurWhiskey Company (via Pexels)
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Half of Mancs don’t know how to cook Christmas dinner, new survey reveals
Emily Sergeant
Christmas dinner is one of the key parts of any festive celebration.
No matter whether you choose to tuck into a traditional roast with all the trimmings and lashings of gravy, or you prefer to go for something a little different like a curry or a Chinese instead, your Christmas dinner is a chance to gather round with your loved ones and enjoy one of the heartiest meals you’ll likely have all year.
However, some shocking new figures have revealed that half of Manchester residents have no clue how to even cook a Christmas dinner.
Through a major study by the UK’s leading electrical retailer, AO.com, it was revealed that the majority of our city’s residents are “losing confidence” in preparing even the simplest of British dishes – with a traditional roast or Christmas dinner being one of them.
A new survey has revealed that half of Mancs don’t know how to cook Christmas dinner / Credit: Freepik | GoodFon
As part of its new campaign to get Brits back into the kitchen, AO found that just 57% of respondents reckon they would be able to make a roast dinner, 52% could whip up a classic shepherd’s pie, 58% could cook bangers and mash, merely 61% could prepare a full English breakfast, and again, only 57% could tackle fish and chips.
Classic desserts are clearly a struggle for us Mancs too, according to the survey, as only 19% of respondents said they’d feel confident cooking a Christmas pudding.
The survey also found that nationwide, it was Gen Z – those between the age of 16 and 27 – that are the least confident in their ability to cook great British classics, while on the other end of the spectrum, Baby Boomers are the most capable, proving that culinary confidence increases with age.
Our region’s residents are apparently ‘losing confidence’ at cooking simple British classics / Credit: Freepik
Commenting on the results, Jay Lockton, oven expert at AO.com, said: “Kitchens should be a place of creativity and joy, but our data shows that a lot of people in Manchester are losing confidence in preparing even the simplest of British dishes.
“Based on our findings, many younger people may be opting for convenience foods or takeaways due to their busy schedules and the perception that cooking from scratch is time-consuming or difficult.