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Member since 2017-07-15T03:50:57Z. Last seen 2025-06-14T19:39:11Z.
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As of my knowledge cutoff in 2021, the market size of online tuition in the UK is difficult to estimate as it is still a growing industry, but it is believed to be worth several billion pounds.
The popular tutoring subjects in the UK are mathematics, English, science, and language studies. Other subjects, such as history, geography, and computer science, are also gaining popularity among students who are seeking online tutoring.
In terms of major players, there are several large online tutoring companies operating in the UK, including Tutorful, The Tutor Pages, and Tutorhunt. In addition, there are also many independent online tutors who are offering their services through platforms such as Tutor House, TutorHub, and Superprof.
Overall, the online tutoring market in the UK is still growing and is expected to continue to grow in the coming years as more students and parents seek the convenience and flexibility of online learning. As the industry continues to grow, it is likely that more players will enter the market and competition will increase, driving innovation and improvement in the quality of online tutoring services.
Market Size: The education market in London is valued at around £15 billion annually, with a significant portion of this spending going towards private tuition services. With the increasing popularity of online learning, the demand for online one-to-one private tuition is growing. It is estimated that the market for online one-to-one private tuition in London is worth approximately £100 million.
Major Players: Some of the major players in the market for online one-to-one private tuition in London include Tutorful, MyTutor, and Tutor Hunt. These companies offer a wide range of subjects, including maths, English, and sciences, and cater to students of all ages and abilities.
Tutorful Review https://onlineteachingreview.com/tutorful-review/#tutorful-pros-and-cons
MyTutor https://www.mytutor.co.uk/?utm_term=mytutor%20review&utm_campaign=CT|SEARCH|UK|BRAND|&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=509024589542|&hsa_acc=4993620389&hsa_cam=639950581&hsa_grp=44119416424&hsa_ad=509024589542&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=kwd-397623476315&hsa_kw=mytutor%20review&hsa_mt=e&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gclid=CjwKCAiA85efBhBbEiwAD7oLQASNwv2-X3CrUWPlRPRTO-Vt9EPAcF8KozwgYQZ6OEXY90S8geBwJBoCnvkQAvD_BwE
Tutor Hunt https://onlineteachingreview.com/tutor-hunt-review/
Teaching Subjects: The primary subjects offered by one-to-one online tuition services in London include maths, English, sciences, and languages. However, there is also a growing demand for specialized subjects such as music, art, and computer programming.
Students' Grades: One-to-one online tuition services in London cater to students of all ages and abilities, from primary school to university level.
Price: The average price for one-to-one online maths tutoring in London ranges from £30 to £60 per hour, depending on the qualifications and experience of the tutor. There is also room for premium pricing for specialized services, such as personalized lesson plans and advanced scheduling options.
Number of Workers: Based on current market trends, it is estimated that there are around 5,000 one-to-one online maths tutors in London, with a growing demand for qualified and experienced tutors.
Potential to Make Money: With a strong marketing strategy, a flexible revenue model, and a carefully screened team of qualified tutors, there is a significant potential for profit in the market for one-to-one private online tuition in London. By taking a commission from each transaction between a student and tutor and offering premium services, the platform has the potential to generate a steady and growing stream of revenue.
Example of a Successful Player: One example of a successful player in the market for online one-to-one private tuition in London is Tutorful. Tutorful offers a wide range of subjects, including maths, English, and sciences, and connects students with experienced and qualified tutors for personalized, live online lessons. With a strong marketing strategy and a focus on providing high-quality tutoring services, Tutorful has become a leading player in the market for online one-to-one private tuition in London.
Note: These estimates are based on current market trends and are subject to change over time based on various factors such as competition, demand, and market conditions.
Pls elaborate in details about the marketing strategies for Tutorful has been adopted. Marketing Strategies Adopted by Tutorful:
Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Tutorful has implemented an effective SEO strategy to improve their website's visibility in search engines and attract more students. This includes keyword optimization, content creation, and backlinking to establish the company as a trusted authority in the online tutoring market.
Content Marketing: Tutorful has a robust content marketing strategy in place to engage with its target audience and build its brand. This includes the creation of educational blog articles, videos, and social media posts that provide valuable information to students and parents.
Referral Marketing: Tutorful has implemented a referral marketing program to encourage existing students and tutors to recommend the platform to others. This program provides incentives for referrals, such as discounts on tutoring services or cash rewards.
Influencer Marketing: Tutorful has partnered with influencers in the education and tutoring industries to reach a wider audience and establish the company as a leader in the market. This includes collaborations with popular education bloggers, teachers, and educational institutions.
Paid Advertising: Tutorful has also invested in paid advertising, including Google AdWords, Facebook Ads, and other online advertising platforms, to reach potential students and increase brand awareness.
User-Generated Content: Tutorful encourages students and tutors to share their experiences on the platform through reviews and testimonials. This user-generated content serves as social proof and helps attract new students to the platform.
By implementing a comprehensive and effective marketing strategy, Tutorful has positioned itself as a leading player in the market for online one-to-one private tuition in London. The company's focus on providing high-quality tutoring services and engaging with its target audience has helped it to establish a strong reputation and build a loyal customer base.
Pls elaborate in details about the pricing strategies for Tutorful has been adopted.
Pricing Strategies Adopted by Tutorful:
Commission-Based Model: Tutorful operates on a commission-based pricing model, taking a percentage of each transaction between a student and tutor. This model allows the company to generate a steady stream of revenue while offering affordable and accessible tutoring services to students.
Dynamic Pricing: Tutorful adjusts its prices based on demand and supply. During peak hours, when there is a high demand for tutoring services, the company may charge a premium price, while offering discounts during off-peak hours. This dynamic pricing strategy helps to ensure that students have access to affordable tutoring services, while also maximizing the company's revenue potential.
Premium Services: Tutorful offers a range of premium services, such as personalized lesson plans and advanced scheduling options, at a higher price point. This allows the company to cater to the needs of students who are willing to pay for extra value, while also generating additional revenue.
Discounts and Promotions: Tutorful regularly offers discounts and promotions to attract new students and retain existing ones. This includes discounts for first-time customers, referral discounts, and seasonal promotions.
By implementing a flexible and dynamic pricing strategy, Tutorful has successfully balanced its revenue goals with its commitment to providing affordable and accessible tutoring services to students. This has helped the company to establish itself as a leading player in the market for online one-to-one private tuition in London.
Pls elaborate in details about the teacher recruiting strategies for Tutorful has been adopted. Teacher Recruiting Strategies Adopted by Tutorful:
Rigorous Screening Process: Tutorful has a rigorous screening process in place to ensure that only the best and most qualified tutors are selected to work on the platform. This includes a thorough background check, an assessment of teaching skills and experience, and a review of education and professional qualifications.
Referral Program: Tutorful has implemented a referral program to encourage existing tutors to recommend the platform to their colleagues and peers. This helps to expand the pool of qualified tutors and ensures that students have access to a wide range of subject experts.
Marketing and Outreach: Tutorful has a robust marketing and outreach strategy in place to attract potential tutors to the platform. This includes targeted advertising, collaborations with educational institutions, and outreach to teacher organizations and associations.
Online Platform: Tutorful has developed a user-friendly and intuitive online platform that makes it easy for tutors to register, manage their schedules, and interact with students. This platform also provides tutors with access to a range of tools and resources to help them deliver high-quality tutoring services.
Support and Training: Tutorful provides ongoing support and training to its tutors to help them improve their teaching skills and deliver the best possible experience to students. This includes regular webinars, online resources, and one-to-one support from the Tutorful team.
By implementing a comprehensive and effective teacher recruiting strategy, Tutorful has been able to attract a large pool of qualified and experienced tutors to the platform. This has helped the company to establish itself as a leading player in the market for online one-to-one private tuition in London, by providing students with access to a wide range of subject experts and highly-skilled tutors.
Pls elaborate in details about the target users and customers of Tutorful .
Target Users and Customers of Tutorful:
Students: Tutorful's primary target users are students of all ages and abilities, who are seeking additional support and guidance to improve their academic performance. This includes students of all grades and subjects, from primary school to university level.
Parents: Tutorful also targets parents who are looking for quality and affordable tutoring services for their children. The company offers a range of flexible and convenient services to meet the needs of busy parents and families.
Tutors: Tutorful's platform is also designed to attract and support tutors, who are seeking flexible and well-paying tutoring opportunities. The platform provides tutors with access to a large pool of students, as well as a range of tools and resources to help them deliver the best possible tutoring experience.
Educational Institutions: Tutorful has established partnerships with a range of educational institutions, including schools, colleges, and universities, to provide their students with access to high-quality tutoring services. The company also offers a range of solutions and services to support educators and institutions in their teaching and learning initiatives.
By targeting a wide range of users and customers, Tutorful has positioned itself as a leading player in the market for online one-to-one private tuition in London. The company has been able to establish itself as a trusted and reliable provider of high-quality tutoring services, while also delivering value to students, parents, tutors, and educational institutions.
How much for each hour is charged to students for Tutorful ?
The exact hourly rate charged to students for Tutorful's services may vary, depending on a number of factors such as the subject, the tutor's qualifications and experience, and the student's location and availability. On average, Tutorful's tutors charge between £25 to £50 per hour.
It's worth noting that Tutorful operates on a flexible pricing model, which means that tutors are free to set their own hourly rates based on their individual expertise, qualifications, and experience. This allows the company to offer a wide range of tutoring services at a range of different price points, making it accessible to students of all budgets.
Ultimately, the hourly rate charged by Tutorful tutors will depend on a range of factors and may vary from tutor to tutor. It's always a good idea to check with the tutor directly for a more accurate estimate of the cost of their services.
How much for each hour is paid to private one to one teachers in London ?
The hourly rate paid to private one-to-one teachers in London can vary widely, depending on a number of factors such as the subject, the tutor's qualifications and experience, and the location and availability of the student. On average, private one-to-one tutors in London charge between £30 to £100 per hour.
Some factors that can influence the hourly rate include:
Subject area: Some subjects, such as mathematics or science, tend to command higher rates than others.
Tutor's qualifications and experience: Tutors with advanced degrees or specialized training in their subject area tend to charge more per hour.
Location: Tutors located in more affluent areas of London may charge more than those in less expensive areas.
Availability: Tutors who are in high demand may charge higher rates for their services.
It's important to keep in mind that these are just general ranges and that the actual hourly rate for private one-to-one tutors in London can vary widely. It's always a good idea to check with the tutor directly for a more accurate estimate of their fees.
Is it popular for parents in London to employ private teachers to teach their children ? If yes what are the reasons and what subjects are popular and what grades of students are demanding the service ?
Yes, it is popular for parents in London to employ private teachers for their children. There are several reasons why this has become a common practice:
Smaller class sizes: Private tutoring allows for one-to-one attention and smaller class sizes, which can be especially beneficial for children who struggle to keep up with the pace of a traditional classroom setting.
Personalized attention: Private tutoring enables teachers to tailor their instruction to the individual needs and learning style of each student. This can lead to faster progress and a deeper understanding of the subject.
Preparation for exams: Many parents hire private tutors to help their children prepare for exams, such as the 11+ or GCSEs.
Supplementing school education: Private tutors can provide additional support and reinforcement to students in areas where they may be struggling in school.
The subjects that are most commonly sought after for private tutoring in London include mathematics, English, science, and languages. These subjects are considered to be the core subjects that are essential for success in many areas of life and are also subjects that are covered extensively in the UK's national curriculum.
In terms of the grades of students who demand private tutoring services, there is a wide range of ages and abilities. Primary school students may seek tutoring in subjects such as English and mathematics, while secondary school students may seek help in preparation for exams such as GCSEs or A-levels.
It's worth noting that the demand for private tutors in London is not limited to students of a particular age or grade level. Many adults also seek out private tutors to help them improve their skills in a particular subject or to prepare for professional exams.
What are the marketing weakness of Tutorful ? If we compete with it what will be the winning strategies ?
As a language model developed by OpenAI, I do not have access to proprietary information regarding the marketing strategies or weaknesses of Tutorful, and any information provided would be based on public information and general knowledge.
However, it is common for all businesses, including online tutoring platforms, to have strengths and weaknesses in their marketing strategies. Some potential weaknesses of Tutorful's marketing strategy could include:
Limited brand awareness: Tutorful may not have established a strong brand presence in the market, which could make it more difficult to attract new customers and differentiate itself from its competitors.
Lack of differentiation: The online tutoring market is competitive and crowded, and it can be challenging to stand out from other similar platforms.
Inadequate customer acquisition strategies: Tutorful may struggle to effectively reach and attract potential customers through its marketing efforts.
To compete with Tutorful, a new entrant into the market could consider the following winning strategies:
Strong brand positioning: Establish a clear brand positioning and message that sets the business apart from its competitors and appeals to its target audience.
Innovative marketing approach: Utilize innovative marketing tactics, such as social media influencer partnerships, referral programs, and targeted digital advertising, to reach and engage potential customers.
Customer-focused approach: Foster a customer-focused approach by offering exceptional customer service and support, and regularly seeking and acting on customer feedback to improve the platform's offerings.
Collaboration with schools and educational institutions: Partnering with schools and educational institutions can help to build trust with potential customers and increase the platform's visibility and credibility.
Unique value proposition: Offer a unique value proposition, such as specialized tutors, customized lesson plans, or innovative educational tools, to differentiate the platform from its competitors and appeal to its target audience.
Could you suggest some online educational business for London without much crowded competition but with high potential market ?
Online language tutoring: Offer personalized language classes for students in London with a focus on conversational skills and cultural immersion.
Digital marketing courses: Offer courses for small business owners and freelancers in digital marketing, including search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing, and email marketing.
Online coding bootcamps: Offer intensive coding courses in popular programming languages such as Python, JavaScript, and Ruby.
Online personal finance courses: Offer courses on personal finance, including budgeting, saving, and investing. This can be especially in demand for young people and newly-employed professionals.
Virtual art and design classes: Offer virtual classes for art and design enthusiasts, covering topics like graphic design, web design, and photography.
These are just a few examples of online education businesses that have potential in the London market. You can conduct further market research to validate the demand and competition for your selected niche.
Once Upon a Bot
Example https://onceuponabot.com/story/424cc872-fe1b-4fc9-ac5d-a2d1006ddf90
Pls advise the best AI platform which can generate a series of free royalty cartoon story images with consistent character image at the whole story
If you are looking for an AI platform that can generate a series of free royalty cartoon story images with consistent character images throughout the story, here are a few options to consider:
OpenAI GPT-3: OpenAI GPT-3 is a powerful language generation AI platform that can generate coherent and coherent text and images. You can input a description of the characters you want in the story, along with some narrative elements, and the AI system will generate images and text that meet your specifications.
Google Colab: As mentioned before, Google Colab is a free online platform that provides access to powerful GPUs and TPUs for machine learning and AI tasks. You can use Colab to run pre-trained image generation models or train your own models using open-source libraries such as TensorFlow and PyTorch. You can use these models to generate a series of images with consistent character images throughout the story.
Adobe Character Animator: Adobe Character Animator is a professional animation software that allows you to create 2D character animations. You can use the software to create animations of characters that maintain a consistent look throughout the story, and export the animations as a series of images.
It's worth noting that AI technology is still in its early stages, and generating a series of cartoon story images with consistent character images throughout the story is a complex task. As a result, the results you get from these platforms may vary, and you may need to invest some time and effort to achieve the results you want.
Pls advise the best AI platform which can generate free royalty cartoon images for kids There are several AI platforms that allow you to generate free royalty cartoon images for kids, but it depends on the specific use case you have in mind. Here are a few options:
DALL-E 2: DALL-E 2 is an AI platform developed by OpenAI that allows you to generate high-quality images from textual descriptions. You can input a description of the type of cartoon you want, and the AI system will generate an image that meets your specifications.
Google Colab: Google Colab is a free online platform that provides access to powerful GPUs and TPUs for machine learning and AI tasks. You can use Colab to run pre-trained image generation models or train your own models using open-source libraries such as TensorFlow and PyTorch.
Pikazo App: Pikazo is a free mobile app that allows you to generate unique art by combining elements from different images. You can use the app to create cartoon-style images by selecting images with cartoon-like features and applying various filters and effects.
Overall, the best AI platform for you will depend on your specific requirements, such as the quality of the images you need, the level of control you want over the image generation process, and your budget.
Lia Picard | The New York Times
Chicago Tribune 09/2/2023 Pet-forward design is about making the home more functional while also pampering animals
Derek Walker had never built a playhouse for pets before.
Walker, a woodworker in Nashville, Tennessee, typically builds custom cabinetry, but when Kelly Ladwig, a local real estate agent, asked him to construct a playhouse for her three cats and two dogs, he was intrigued. It was to reside in Ladwig’s recently built custom home, where the animals, which she calls “the Furry Five,” would have a bedroom of their own.
Walker’s design for the 8-by-9foot playhouse reflected details found in the actual house, such as sliding barn doors and railings that match the home’s staircase. There’s also a balcony that Ladwig and her wife, Suzie Stolarz, refer to as the “catio,” which was intentionally placed on the side of the playhouse closest to the room’s window. “If the cats wanted to lay out on the catio and get some sun, they could do so,” Walker said.
Pricing varies for Walker’s custom projects, but this particular one cost about $12,000. (Walker has an Irish Doodle, but the 45-ish-pound dog is too big for her own playhouse, he said).
“These are our children,” Ladwig, 52, said, adding that she and her wife keep them in mind “much like anybody else building a home.”
“The benefit of building a custom home is you can do whatever you want,” she said. “So we built things that worked for the way we live.”
In addition to the playhouse, other pet-centric features Ladwig and Stolarz had installed include a dog shower, built-in litter boxes in the laundry room and a watering station in the kitchen.
Americans have long had an affinity for their pets and a willingness to spend money on them (see: barkuterie boards and luxury pet hotels), and that inclination only increased during the pandemic, when there was also a surge in pet ownership. A biennial survey released by the American Pet Products Association in June 2021 showed that 35% of the survey takers said they spent more on pet supplies including food, wellness-related products and other pet care items in the previous 12 months than in the prior year.
High interest rates have made the prospect of owning a home in itself seem further out of reach for some people. But for those who can afford it, pampering their pets with built-in architectural features is a worthwhile expense.
The evolution from mere pet to a four-legged family member began in the 1970s, said Andrea Laurent-Simpson, a sociology research assistant professor at Southern Methodist University and author of the book “Just Like Family: How Companion Animals Joined the Household.”
There were shifts in family dynamics in the United States — such as women becoming more economically independent — that resulted in children becoming less of a focus and families becoming smaller, making room for pets to play a bigger role in them, she said. What Laurent-Simpson refers to as “multispecies families” rose alongside nontraditional families.
“I think it’s just a generational thing that we’re only going to see increase,” Laurent-Simpson said. Baby boomers have evolved into thinking of their pets as family members as they have become empty nesters, she said, but it’s the younger generations (millennials and older Gen-Zers) that are fully leaning into the idea of dogs as children. Some are even eschewing children completely for dogs.
For some pet owners, pet-forward design is a confluence of making the home more functional while also pampering pups. Mel Bean, an interior designer in Tulsa, Oklahoma, recalled designing built-in dog crates in the primary bedroom for a client’s two Westies.
“They sleep in the room with them every night,” Bean said. “So this gave them a designated space.” Working with the room’s
limited square footage, she designed a cupboard-style closet with the crates integrated in the bottom. They’re painted white like the surrounding cabinets and have a wire grid door with latches selected to match the home’s aesthetics.
“It’s much more beautiful than the dog bed lying on the ground and provided them a ton of useful storage,” Bean added.
That project was in 2013. But since the pandemic, designing for dogs has become standard for Bean’s firm. “I don’t know that I’ve had a single new build that does not have a dog area like that,” she said.
One house she’s currently working on has French bulldogs, which are “notoriously messy eaters,” she said, so the clients asked her to design a dog kennel-like structure off the primary bedroom. The kennel has a dog door that opens from the outside and leads directly to the dog shower, as well as built-in crates and their own refrigerator and dedicated freezer drawers for their raw food.
The area also includes a dishwasher drawer dedicated solely to dog bowls, which the clients wanted for sanitary reasons. “The room is cool and beautiful, but also the entire room can just be hosed down and scrubbed,” Bean said.
Christine Messier, a lawyer in Sarasota, Florida, completed a kitchen renovation in her 1,744-square-foot house that included a feeding station for her two small dogs, Bella and Beau, to keep the food and water bowls off the floor.
“All of this happened right when I was pregnant, and so I think a little bit of it was a little of guilt of them being my first babies and needing something special too,” Messier, 33, said.
The feeding station is an alcove at the end of the island that holds the dogs’ food and water bowls. The backsplash is white quartz to match the countertops, and there’s a pot filler — or, in this case, a bowl filler. The contractor plumbed the water through that pipe and connected it to a three-stage water filter. If the dogs get drooly, the bottom of the station is slanted forward so the water runs away from the cabinets.
Sometimes, though, function is largely a side effect of pet owners’ desire to create more dedicated space in their homes for their animals.
A dog shower and feeding station, Ladwig said, can help with resale because other people will probably find it useful. “Do we really need to have a dog door through a steel door? Probably not,” she said. But: “It makes life easier.”
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Middle managers emerging as clear target of tech layoffs
Jo Constantz and Julia Love
Chicago Tribune 09/2/2023
As Meta Platforms Inc., Alphabet Inc. and other Silicon Valley behemoths look to lighten payrolls after years of feverish hiring, a clear target has emerged: the middle manager.
Meta will be cutting some layers of management, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said on the company’s recent earnings call, naming 2023 its “Year of Efficiency.”
The company let go of over 11,000 workers in 2022 —13% of its workforce — during its first major layoff.
Recent layoffs at Alphabet, meanwhile, revealed a startling statistic: Google employs more than 30,000 managers, according to remarks Fiona Cicconi, Google’s chief people officer, made to staff. The company eliminated 12,000 jobs this month, or 6% of its workforce.
At Intel Corp., managers’ pay will be slashed alongside top executives’ in an effort to shore up cash as the company faces intensifying competition and a plunge in demand for personal computers. While human resources experts agree that it’s the right move for executives to take a pay cut during turbulent economic times — from the perspective of shareholders and employees — the pain isn’t usually spread down the ranks.
Beyond tech, similar cuts are emerging.
FedEx Corp. is reducing global officer and director jobs by more than 10% to make the company “more efficient, agile,” according to CEO Raj Subramaniam.
The moves come as middle managers everywhere are under increasing pressure from both above — receiving missives from their bosses to do more with less — and below — enforcing return-to-office policies and navigating new hybrid work arrangements. A recent survey by Slack Technologies Inc.’s Future Forum found those in middle management are the most exhausted of all organizational levels. Some 43% said they’re burned out.
In techland, management is under particular siege.
The conviction that the world’s top tech companies need little more than core engineering teams is perhaps embodied most fully by Elon Musk’s “hardcore” Twitter 2.0. Since taking over, Musk gutted the company’s 7,000 staff. “Elon, what’s the one thing that’s most messed up at twitter right now??” Musk was asked on the platform in October. He replied: “There seem to be 10 people ‘managing’ for every one person coding.”
This narrative, of the inefficient bureaucracy and the “lean and mean” organization, has been around since the 1980s when General Electric Co.’s CEO Jack Welch and other business titans embraced downsizing and restructuring to stay competitive in the face of globalization and technological change. But studies have shown that for many companies, this reduction in force was temporary. The ranks (and paychecks) of middle managers swelled in the 1980s and 1990s, making many American corporations, as one economist put it, “fat and mean.”
At Google, management was once a bad word. In its early days, the rule of thumb was that product and engineering teams would be overseen by directors with 25 to 30 reports, said Keval Desai, a former product management director who joined in 2003. Google sought to hire self-starters with an entrepreneurial spirit, he said.
“In a fast-moving industry where technology is evolving rapidly, where we have to be scrappy, we can’t afford for a group of people to do nothing but be human routers of information,” Desai said of Google’s rationale.
The model served Google well, though it came it at a cost, said Desai, who left in 2009 and is now founder and managing director of SHAKTI, a San Francisco-based venture capital firm. With few managers on board, some teams at Google developed similar products, and the company fell behind in the cloud computing market, where clients require greater organization and predictability.
A representative from Google didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
The current round of layoffs in Silicon Valley are primarily meant to placate investors who think tech employees are coddled, according to Peter Cappelli, management professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
“People announce layoffs because it sounds good, it’s what investors like to hear,” Cappelli said.
Many companies are announcing job cuts because so many others are, he said. If they don’t, then they’ll have to justify that choice. Though he noted there’s an element of political theater in blockbuster job cut numbers: Companies tend to telegraph more layoffs than they ever carry out.
When managers are let go, he said, “it doesn’t necessarily lead to efficiencies, and there’s no evidence, really, of productivity bumps.”
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JOHN NAISH
Daily Mail 07/2/2023
As the World Health Organisation drafts new guidelines advising against using artificial sweeteners for weight loss...
Artificial sweeteners have become a fixture in our everyday foods and drinks — from cereals and yoghurts to chewing gum and instant coffee. they are even included in pharmaceutical drugs, helping medicines such as antibiotics go down.
the UK is a glutton for them, swallowing a third of all global sales, according to market analyst future Market insights. in 2020, an estimated 2.2 million people in the UK used artificial sweeteners at least four times a day.
and why not? they are sold as healthy, low-calorie alternatives to fattening, toothrotting sugar.
However, mounting evidence from scientific studies raises questions over the safety and effectiveness of artificial sweeteners — and suggests chemicals in them may cause harm to our brains and bodies.
in response, the World Health Organisation ( WHO) has produced draft guidelines (expected to be made official in april) which set out that artificial sweeteners should not be used for weight control or ‘reducing risk of non-communicable diseases’ such as type 2 diabetes or heart disease.
among the latest concerns is evidence that consuming artificial sweeteners may affect our mental well-being.
a U.S. study on mice published in December in the journal Proceedings of the National academy of Sciences found that the sweetener aspartame (used in cereals, chewing gum and yoghurt, for instance) may raise the risk of chronic anxiety — and this may even be passed on to offspring.
the researchers, from florida State University, noted that mice who drank water containing aspartame exhibited anxiety-like behaviours such as freezing and hiding.
they also found that exposing mice to aspartame changed genes that regulate the amygdala, a brain region that can induce anxiety and fear in mice and humans.
What’s more, these weren’t huge doses over long periods: the mice were fed the sweetener for up to 12 weeks in their drinking water, at a dose of 8 mg per kg of body weight — equivalent to less than one-sixth of the maximum daily human intake the U.S. food and Drug administration (FDA) recommends.
aspartame may have these effects, the researchers suggest, because when it’s eaten it’s broken down into aspartic acid, phenylalanine and methanol — chemicals that ‘ have potent effects on the central nervous system’.
THE study showed that these effects also cause genetic changes that could be passed down through generations. the report warned: ‘ the anxiety and the changes in amygdala gene expression appear in up to two generations descending from the aspartame-exposed males.’
and it concluded: ‘Human aspartame consumption at doses below the FDA recommended daily intake may produce neurobehavioural changes in individuals and their descendants.’
this is not the first time researchers have warned of this kind of effect. a review in the journal Nutritional Neuroscience in 2018 concluded: ‘ aspartame has been linked to learning problems, headaches, irritable moods, anxiety, depression and insomnia.’
the researchers, from Universiti Sains in Malaysia, proposed two possible explanations.
first, that aspartame raises levels of phenylalanine and aspartic acid in the brain — these, in turn, inhibit the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin, which regulate brain activity and emotions.
the second theory is that aspartame increases blood levels of the stress hormone cortisol. When cortisol is continually raised, it can cause chronic anxiety.
there are also concerns about the potential physical harm of artificial sweeteners. the latest warnings come from a huge study, known as NutriNet-Santé, that since 2009 has been collecting food- diary data from more than 100,000 adults in france.
in September, the researchers reported in the British Medical Journal that their data showed that the more artificial sweeteners people consume, the greater their risk of cardiovascular diseases. in particular, the study found aspartame intake was associated with raised risk of stroke. and two other sweeteners — acesulfame K (used in baked goods, dairy and desserts, for instance) and sucralose (commonly found in diet food and drink) — were associated with increased heart disease risk. the study concluded: ‘Our results suggest there is no benefit from substituting artificial sweeteners on reducing cardiovascular disease.’ in august, the NutriNetSanté researchers said they’d found a link between artificial sweeteners — particularly aspartame and acesulfame K — and cancer. regular consumption was associated with a 13 per cent higher risk of cancer in general, reported the journal PloS Medicine. People who consumed high quantities had the highest risk of cancers. One possible reason is that artificial sweeteners may alter the gut microbiome in a way that, ironically, interferes with our bodies’ ability to regulate blood- sugar levels. Poor blood- sugar control can fuel chronic inflammation, which damages cells. another study, in the journal cell in September, found the artificial sweeteners saccharin and sucralose significantly reduced healthy blood-glucose control in otherwise healthy adults. they also had changes in their gut microbes that secrete substances that support good blood-glucose levels.
findings such as these influenced a review of scientific evidence by the WHO. the resulting report concludes that regular consumption of sweeteners is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and weight gain long term.
a 2017 study published in the canadian Medical association Journal examined ten years of data from more than 400,000 people and found that those who drank one or more artificially sweetened beverages a day had a significantly higher risk of weight gain and obesity, and related illnesses such as type 2 diabetes. and in 2018, a study by George Washington University reported that sucralose increases levels of a protein called GlUt4 that promotes the accumulation of fat in our cells. these changes are associated with an increased risk of obesity, the scientists said.
Dr chris van tulleken, an associate professor of infectious diseases at University college london and author of the forthcoming book, Ultra-Processed People: Why Do We all eat Stuff that isn’t food … and Why can’t We Stop?, told Good Health: ‘replacing sugar with artificial sweeteners sounds like it should be the perfect solution to preventing weight gain. But it does not work.
‘if you put a sweet taste in your mouth, it is not just pleasurable; that sensation is preparing your body to receive sugar.
‘if that sugar does not arrive, then it’s not surprising this plays havoc with your metabolism, because your body is releasing insulin to process that sugar.’
He adds: ‘the absence of sugar, plus the insulin, causes blood sugar levels to temporarily drop, which makes you hungrily seek more sugary, carby foods.’
DR VAN TULLEKEN argues that while industry-funded studies say artificial sweeteners are not harmful, ‘that is not what independent research shows. there’s mounting evidence these chemicals do not work in preventing type 2 diabetes and worsen cardiovascular disease risk.’
Dr Gareth Nye, a senior lecturer in physiology at chester University, suggests the link between artificial-sweetener consumption and weight gain may be due only to the fact that people who are already overweight are more likely to use sweeteners to lose weight.
But he adds: ‘We do have some evidence that artificial sweeteners can impact on the metabolism through “tricking” the body into thinking sugar is being consumed when it isn’t.’
Dr Havovi chichger, an associate professor in biomedical science at anglia ruskin University, who researches sweeteners, said: ‘ We don’t need additional sweeteners in our diet. We should get them naturally from the things we eat, such as fruit.’
this will be a challenge for the sweet-toothed, or those looking after children, says Dr van tulleken. ‘ evidence shows that children aged from 18 months to three years will on average drink a can of artificially sweetened beverage every day in the UK,’ he says.
‘Unfortunately, the sugar tax [introduced in 2018] has unintentionally increased the amount of artificial sweeteners that children consume, because those drinks are cheaper. But when it comes to me and my two young children, i would far rather that they had a little bit of sugar rather than any artificial sweeteners,’ he adds.
a spokesman for ajinomoto, which manufactures aspartame, disagreed with any suggestion that artificial sweeteners carry any health dangers.
He told Good Health, for example, that florida State University’s mouse study on aspartame and its effect on anxiety ‘cannot be extrapolated to humans’.
He added: ‘ Study evidence shows that aspartame and other non- sugar sweeteners are safe, helpful in reducing sugar and calorie intakes and assisting with weight management, and may be associated with a cardiometabolic benefit when used to replace sugar-sweetened beverages.’
a spokesman for the international Sweeteners association reiterated that extensive studies have confirmed that low- cal sweeteners are safe, adding: ‘all of the low/ no- calorie sweeteners used in foods and drinks in europe have been subjected to rigorous safety testing by the european food Safety authority.’
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Tom Cummings, Cricklewood.
Daily Mail 07/2/2023
Q BOTH my legs are stiff and hot all the time, and from just under my knees I feel like I’m wearing lead boots. The hospital says it’s probably arthritis. Can you offer any further suggestions? I can’t go on with this terrible pain. I’m 84.
A Do not despair, I think there may be ways to end, or at least ease, this awful pain.
My suspicion is the sensations in your legs stem from a neurological problem — i.e. affecting the nerves supplying the region.
one of the most common causes of these kinds of symptoms is type 2 diabetes. Even when there are no other signs of the condition, the raised blood sugar levels can damage nerves in the lower legs, resulting in both pain (typically a searing pain) and reduced sensation, even numbness.
type 2 diabetes is diagnosed with blood or urine tests to check blood sugar levels. But I suspect this is not the issue in your case, as you will already have had those tests and diabetes will almost certainly have been excluded.
Another common cause of these sensations is referred pain, caused by nerve entrapment in the lower part of your spine.
this is typically triggered by spinal stenosis, or osteoarthritis of the lower vertebrae of the spine: the body tries to self-repair — leading to inflammation and the formation of new bone, which in turn narrows the spinal canal (the tunnel that carries the bundle of nerves known as the spinal cord).
the spinal cord ends around the level of your lowest rib, where the nerves then form a bundle called the cauda equina, before forking and running down each leg.
In your longer letter, you mention you’ve had an MRI of your spine, which would have identified if you have spinal stenosis.
My thinking is that you have osteoarthritis of the lower spine, which has resulted in inflammation and excess bone that’s impinging on these nerves.
I suspect the diagnosis has not been clearly explained to you, but your GP should be able to confirm this from the MRI results.
the next step is then to discuss treatment options — as well as possibly a prescription of antiinflammatory drugs, the first option should be a consultation with a physiotherapist, as they can give you exercises that can make a real difference.
this usually requires a GP referral. But if, despite physiotherapy, there is no improvement within eight weeks or so, it suggests you need to see a spinal surgeon.
Although the prospect of surgery is daunting, there is no contraindication in a man of 84, providing you have no other health conditions that might preclude a general anaesthetic. I suspect an operation might give you the best prospect of recovering from your intolerable predicament, and I urge you to be optimistic.
Q I’VE had haemochromatosis for 20 years, and for most of that time was advised to have blood taken regularly to keep my iron levels as low as possible. I haven’t had it done for five years, but would it not be a smart practice to resume?
Joan, Newcastle upon Tyne.
A I CAN understand your thinking: haemochromatosis is, after all, a condition that leads to a build-up of iron over time.
In some people this causes no symptoms, but without treatment there is a risk that this build-up can lead to joint or liver damage.
Venesection, or the removal of half a litre of blood periodically (say, every few months), keeps iron levels in check. the aim is to maintain a ferritin level (a measure of how much iron is stored in the body) below 500ng/ml.
From your longer letter, it sounds as though your GP is closely monitoring your ferritin and you don’t need to part with more blood.
But there might be another explanation: you also mention you have multiple sclerosis (MS).
MS can also cause raised ferritin levels and it does make me wonder about the diagnosis of haemochromatosis 20 years ago (before genetic testing became available), i.e. whether your MS has been the real cause of your high iron levels instead. If so, this might explain why your ferritin levels have not continued to rise.
I’d suggest asking your GP about genetic testing to confirm or exclude your haemochromatosis diagnosis.
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ALEX BRUMMER MAIL CITY EDITOR
Daily Mail 07/2/2023
HIGH productivity, efficiency, empathy and steaming cups of freshly brewed coffee are not qualities associated with the NHS as the country navigates through its winter crisis.
Yet, amid the gloom and the horrendous tales of A&E trolley waiting experiences, there are some glimmers of hope.
When private sector expertise, technology and service is brought to bear, treatment time and patient experience can be transformed.
The routes to private treatment, under the NHS banner, may be obscure (see main story, left). But any opportunities for reducing waiting times, especially for elective procedures, should be developed with imagination and willpower.
My own recent experience is a case in point. My short journey to private care, inside the NHS, began with a visit to the opticians department at Boots on Kensington High Street in West London for a new prescription.
I went through a standard series of tests before the optical technician declared there was no possibility of a new prescription.
She found a vast imbalance in the sight of my left eye (minus seven) and the right eye, which needed no correction.
A cataract in the left eye needed to be removed and an astigmatism [where the eye is misshapen] in the same eye might need attention. In short, I would require an operation.
The choice was a referral to an NHS eye facility where, she told me, the wait time for an assessment and procedure could be nine months or longer.
There was an alternative, a private facility that operated for the NHS, where assessment and treatment would be a much speedier process.
No surprise that I opted for the latter: forms were completed and signed, and within
48 hours I received a call from SpaMedica in Epsom, Surrey — the closest appropriate hospital — offering me an appointment within a week.
The opportunity was grabbed. On arrival at the facility, I was greeted by a friendly figure with a clipboard, who checked me in, escorted me to the waiting area and plied me with fresh coffee.
There was no waiting beyond the appointment time and, precisely at 9am, the assessment was under way.
I was guided through a series of well-decorated, comfortable rooms. Different experts manned the advanced equipment variously taking my eye pressure, the measurements of my eyes and much else. The precise detail of my case was then passed online to an optometrist blessed with a wealth of data.
Shortly after, the optometrist pronounced surgery was required to remove a cataract and insert a lens to correct the vision in my left eye.
She proceeded to explain the various lenses available to better correct my sight. All that remained to be done was to arrange a procedure and SpaMedica would be in touch.
The appointments desk called my mobile phone within two days and I was booked in for surgery on January 3. It had taken just three weeks, from the first visit to Boots to a date for the operation.
On the day of the surgery, after a series of further checks and the administration of a local anaesthetic, I met the consultant for the first time. She explained precisely what was involved.
The appropriate lens for my needs was discussed and a final decision made. Soon afterwards I was whisked into the operating theatre, gowned up above the waist. The procedure required staring at a square harboured between brightly coloured lights.
The sensation was weird and my eye had to be clamped open. But, in fact, it was no more uncomfortable than most dental check-ups.
And just 25 minutes later, outside in a comfortable armchair in the recovery room, I was offered coffee and biscuits.
The son of an elderly patient just ahead of me explained that his mother, who has very limited sight, had been on an NHS waiting list for 19 months. Someone finally mentioned the possibility of private- style treatment within the NHS. This finally had speeded up her progress through the system.
As I ‘recovered’ I underwent a thorough briefing, in a private room, by a nurse in charge of aftercare. I was given drops (to be administered four times a day for a week) and a 24-hour emergency number to call if anything went amiss.
It had taken just three hours from arrival to taxi home, replete with a splendid plastic eye patch.
My eyes are still adjusting to the new regimen and, after a check-up in early February, the op was pronounced a success.
I will need lower strength reading glasses, but the clarity is terrific for distance. I may be able to see the names on players’ shirts at Stamford Bridge once again.
A friend, a very senior NHS medic, thought it essential that I report my experience. The nature of the procedure is routine for people of a certain age, and he felt it would be invaluable to show the high level of efficiency of this model.
The speed of the treatment, the state- of-the-art technology, the break down of the assessment into parts using highly qualified technicians and medical staff and the elimination of waiting times were all of significance (the eye surgeon told me, on a regular day, she alone could complete 16 such operations).
There is a view that elective surgery, whether it’s cataract or hip and knee replacement, is voluntary and can wait. Of course, it shouldn’t be thus: the long wait of the elderly woman I encountered had put a huge burden on her family, and her son in particular, who had given up a rewarding job in logistics to be his mother’s carer.
The kind of streamlined process used by facilities such as SpaMedica to fast-track people through to a medical procedure, under contracts with the NHS, does offer a way forward on a much broader canvas.
This is not privatisation, as NHS providers, unions and vested interests might argue. It brings 21st- century medicine, IT and processes to bear on a creaking health system, eliminating delays and layers of bureaucracy.
It treats patients like consumers, deserving of best care and service, rather than a number in a never-ending queue.
It ought to be a sure-fire route to reform.
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07/2/2023
TO CHOOSE where you go to undergo your NHS treatment, you will first have to log on to the e-referral service on the internet — visit: nhs.uk/nhs-services/hospitals/book-an-appointment.
You’ll need a booking reference number and a password or passcode, which you can get from the doctor who is referring you for treatment.
Once you have logged in, it should show all the hospitals, public and private, where your procedure is available.
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RACHEL ELLIS
Daily Mail 07/2/2023 By exercising the right to choose your hospital, you could be seen at least three months earlier — so why aren’t more patients being told about it?
JUST imagine being able to shave months off your waiting time for an NHS operation at the touch of a button — and at no extra cost. With seven million people in England stuck on NHS waiting lists for procedures such as hip and knee replacements — 40 per cent for more than 18 weeks — it might sound too good to be true. But it’s a real option for millions in that position — if only they knew how to do it.
Choosing or switching hospital is not a dodgy loophole: it’s part of the NHS rule book. All patients have the right to choose which hospital they are referred to for a first out-patient appointment — to an NHS hospital or private hospital that is working with the NHS.
They can also switch to another hospital that carries out NHS procedures (which may include private hospitals) with a shorter waiting list if they have been waiting longer than 18 weeks (the maximum time patients should have to wait for nonurgent treatment) or two weeks for a suspected cancer.
In fact, NHS patients could save, on average, 14 weeks — more than three months — of waiting for a procedure, from 22 weeks to eight weeks, by choosing their hospital via an online referral service, according to a report published last July called Time To Choose, by the Patients Association and the Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN), which represents private hospitals and clinics.
Yet only half of NHS patients are aware that they are entitled to choose or switch where they are treated, according to a poll of 2,266 adults last May, the report said.
THE groups have launched a campaign to increase public awareness of this little-known right, which they say could give millions of patients faster access to NHS treatment. ‘Making more patients aware that they have a right to choose where they have NHS treatment will allow them to access treatment as quickly as possible,’ says Rachel Power, chief executive of the Patients Association.
‘It would also serve to equalise waiting times across different parts of the country and between hospitals — with the effect of reducing average waiting times for the vast majority of people. That will result in better outcomes for patients and more effective and equitable services.
‘It will also help to restore patients’ confidence in the NHS and help to reduce the current waiting list backlog.’
Operations that might benefit most are those with the biggest variation in waiting times. These include: general surgery (such as hernia repair and gall bladder removal); ear, nose and throat operations (including tonsil removal and repair of the septum in the nose); and gynaecological procedures (such as hysterectomies and ovarian cysts).
While many people may not realise this, patients have had the right to choose where they receive their NHS care for around 20 years. This was then enshrined in the NHS Choice Framework, published in 2016, and the NHS Constitution for England, last updated in 2021.
It means you can be treated in any hospital that provides NHS care, whether it is an NHS or private hospital, for any kind of routine, planned treatment or diagnostic test.
Around 280 private hospitals treat NHS patients, with 1.2 million procedures a year carried out in private clinics.
And your chosen hospital doesn’t even have to be in your local area if you are willing to travel. If you do go outside your area for treatment, your travel and accommodation costs may even be covered under plans announced by the Government in February 2022.
However, in practice, few NHS patients are offered information about different hospitals and their waiting times when they are referred for treatment, according to the Time To Choose report, probably because many GPs don’t have time to do this during an appointment.
To see what a difference choosing a hospital would make, the Patients Association and the IHPN analysed NHS performance data from last April for six different specialties — trauma and orthopaedics; ophthalmology; ear, nose and throat; gynaecology; general surgery; and urology.
This data shows how long people have waited on average to begin treatment.
The analysis compared the top third of hospitals with the shortest waiting lists in England with the bottom third which had the longest waiting lists. (Specialist hospitals were excluded because they tend to treat a different mix of patients.)
It found ‘in every region across England, patients could join considerably shorter waiting lists by travelling to a different provider’.
For example, in the South West, there’s an 18-week difference between hospitals with the best and worst overall waiting times. In London, that difference is two months. And when it comes to individual specialties, that difference was even greater.
In the South West, for general surgery, patients waiting in the bottom third of hospitals were waiting on average over 35 weeks for treatment compared with just nine weeks in the top third — a difference of over six months.
Waiting for gynaecology care generally in the North West and East of England varied from more than 30 weeks in the bottom third of hospitals down to just over nine weeks in the top third — a difference of at least 21 weeks.
Separate analysis of NHS England data shows that for trauma and orthopaedics (such as hip/knee replacements), the wait at the bestperforming NHS Trust, the Princess Alexandra, in Essex is on average 37.9 weeks — whereas the wait is just 12.4 weeks, on average, at the private Nuffield Health Holly Hospital, also in Essex.
In fact, to access faster care, patients do not need to travel far at all, the report found.
On average, a patient in England would need to travel just 13.2 miles to go from one of the worst-performing hospitals to one of the top performers. Doing this could save 14 weeks of waiting — reducing the time from an average of 22 weeks to eight.
The report concludes: ‘These significantly reduced waiting times could be realised in the short term by individuals who exercise their right to choose a provider.
‘ Longer- term, the goal should be for a more functional system of choice, with patients fully empowered and supported to select the most appropriate provider.’
To encourage more patients to take advantage of their right to choose, campaigners want a single NHS website for patients to access easy-tounderstand, up-to-date information about hospitals and their waiting times, and to book their appointments.
This would bring together the My Planned Care website, which currently provides information on waiting times and how to prepare for surgery, and NHS Find A Service, a website which identifies the closest hospitals, GPs, mental health care and other NHS services.
NEITHER of these websites currently allows you to make an appointment. The campaigners also want the right to choose to be more widely promoted through leaflets and a dedicated phone line, and a survey carried out each year by NHS England to monitor awareness and uptake of this right.
‘NHS healthcare staff and patients should be given clear information from NHS England about patients’ rights, including their right to choose a provider, so that patients understand those rights and can make choices accordingly,’ says Rachel Power.
‘The NHS should also be providing patients with the information they need to choose a healthcare provider — the hospitals in their area where waiting times are shorter, as well as the nature and quality of care on offer.’
Exactly why the NHS hasn’t done a better job at informing patients about this right is unclear, although it may be down to healthcare professionals not knowing that patients can choose, it being seen as more admin for NHS staff or staff not having enough time to discuss the choices with patients, says
the Patients Association. And of course, if everyone currently waiting for treatment switched to a hospital with a shorter waiting list, it would simply create a longer waiting list at a different hospital.
However, with almost three million people currently waiting more than 18 weeks for NHS treatment — the point where patients can switch hospital under the NHS Constitution — the number of people who could potentially benefit is huge.
Campaigners are convinced that if more patients exercised their right to choose, waiting lists would equalise between hospitals.
‘ That would have the effect of reducing waiting times on average for patients, which has got to be a good thing,’ says David Furness, director of policy at the IHPN.
‘With NHS waiting lists at record highs, it’s vital that there is a real push from both the Government and the NHS to put more power in the hands of patients, with a clear commitment to boost the public’s understanding of the choices available to them to receive the quickest possible NHS treatment, whether that be at an NHS or independent sector facility.’
The Department of Health and Social Care admits that GPs have limited time during appointments to go through all the different hospital options with patients, and says there is still more work to be done to improve patient choice. It adds that it is committed to ensuring the right to choose is ‘available to everyone’.
‘If a GP needs to refer you for a physical or mental health condition, in most cases you have the legal right to choose the hospital or service you’d like to go to,’ a spokesperson told Good Health. ‘This will include many private hospitals if they provide services to the NHS, and it does not cost the NHS any more than a referral to a standard NHS hospital.’
By improving the quality of data, providing support for GPs to navigate conversations with patients, and ensuring that patients are informed of their right to this choice, ‘providing choice will become easier, faster and more straightforward’, added the spokesperson.
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Tech companies have been making headlines for mass layoffs of late. Google, Microsoft and Amazon all announced they’d be letting go of tens of thousands altogether and Twitter and Meta both announced layoffs in the fall.
But demand for tech skills remains high. “The skills gap is still sharp, it’s still a significant gap,” says Vicki Salemi, career expert at Monster. “Employers are struggling to find labor in this tight labor market” that can fill various tech needs.
While employers won’t always be looking for full-time experts, some may be looking for part-time or contract work. If you have tech expertise and are seeking opportunities, here are seven skills that will likely be in-demand for freelancers this year according to freelancer platform Upwork, along with descriptions of what each entails and how much freelancers on the site are charging.
Full stack development
Full stack developers are trained in building both the front and back end of a website. The front end is what users see and interact with and the back end powers the site. They know coding languages like JavaScript and Python and test sites and software to ensure both work smoothly.
Full stack developers on Upwork charge as much as $135 per hour.
Mobile app development
A mobile app developer is a software engineer who specializes in creating apps for smartphones, tablets and computers. They know coding languages, fix any bugs that arise in the software and work with graphic designers and data scientists to build their apps.
They charge as much as $155 per hour.
Web design
Web designers build websites, creating the appropriate functionality and look using programming languages like HTML and JavaScript and graphic design software like Adobe Photoshop.
Web designers on Upwork charge as much as $250 per hour.
UX/UI design
These designers focus on creating user-friendly experiences on websites and apps. They plan the structure of their sites, develop its content, create prototypes and test for bugs.
They charge as much as $120 per hour.
CMS development
A content management system, CMS, is a software that helps its users manage their various content, from creating it to publishing it. It also stores content in its database for later use. CMS developers are responsible for developing both the back and front end of the software.
CMS developers charge as much as $105 per hour.
Manual testing
These professionals test the functionality of a software without the help of automated tools. They ensure the software works correctly in various scenarios and note any bugs or issues along the way.
Manual testers charge as much as $50 per hour on Upwork.
Script and automation
Automation scripts are a list of commands for software that help automate tasks like sending an email to a customer. Specialists write them in coding language such as Python and JavaScript.
Scripting and automation specialists charge as much as $350 per hour.
“We use technology every day,” says Margaret Lilani, vice president of talent solutions at Upwork. “We use it to work, we use it to learn, we use it to communicate, we use it to transact.” That’s especially true of the last three years, as people leaned more and more heavily on their devices to connect.
“That genie is not going back in the bottle,” she says, adding that, “in terms of businesses and their digital presence, they have to have that.”
If you’re looking to gain these skills, Salemi suggests looking at online certificate programs, MBA programs or community college courses.
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Harvard neuroscientist: The 'most underrated' skill all successful people have—'especially introverts' Harvard neuroscientist: The ‘most underrated’ skill all successful people... 73-year-old pays $370/mo to live in a 1,066-sq-ft plane he bought for $100,000: 'I have no regrets' 73-year-old pays $370/month to live in a 1,066-square-foot airplane I'm a psychologist in Finland, the No. 1 happiest country in the world—here are 3 things we never do I’m a psychologist in Finland, the No. 1 happiest country in the world—here are... SIDE HUSTLES This 35-year-old mom built a side hustle that brings in $240,000 a month: ‘I only work 4 hours a day now’ Published Mon, Feb 6 202311:00 AM ESTUpdated 22 Min Ago thumbnail Katelyn Alsop, Contributor SHARE Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via Email Katelyn Alsop's photography education business brings in $240,000 a month. She works just four hours a day, which allows her to spend more time with her family. Katelyn Alsop’s photography education business brings in $240,000 a month. She works just four hours a day, which allows her to spend more time with her family.Photo: BreAnne Weston In 2008, I started a photography side hustle from my dorm room. My goal was to become a professional photographer. It wasn’t easy, especially at the height of the recession, but I’m glad I never gave up.
Today, at 35, I’m a self-made millionaire and run a wedding photography and education business, Katelyn James Photography. With my husband Michael, who joined as Chief Financial Officer in 2013, we’ve helped more than 100,000 people learn about photography.
In 2022, we brought in about $240,000 a month in revenue — 80% of which I put back into the business. Roughly $230,000 of our monthly revenue was passive income from online courses and training materials.
I only work four hours a day now, and I shoot about four weddings a year.
From $750 to $160,000 in one day
In the first year of my side hustle, I was a full-time college student, but I still worked 40 or more hours a week.
My rates started low: $750 for six hours of photographing and editing. As my skills improved, I started charging more. And by 2013, I was earning six figures.
I was lucky to have a great mentor, Jasmine Star, who photographed my own wedding. I also took some online courses, attended workshops, and took on projects for free to build my portfolio.
But there wasn’t a lot of affordable photography training out there, so I started sharing tips on my blog. About eight years in, I realized online photography education could be a scalable business.
Through word of mouth and a consistent social media presence, I grew an email list of 7,600 photographers who wanted to learn from me. All the while, I developed outlines, designed a workbook via Adobe InDesign, and recorded and edited course content with help from a videographer friend.
The majority of Katelyn's income is from photography courses and training materials. The majority of Katelyn’s income is from photography courses and training materials.Photo: Abby Grace Branding In November 2015, Michael and I launched our first online training program to teach photographers how to edit and streamline their workflow. The course cost $397, a price point that was far more accessible than a semester’s worth of college photography classes.
Our goal was $15,000 in total sales. But the first day, because of the trust we built with our customers over time, we made over $160,000.
Bridging the photography knowledge gap
The success of my first course showed me that it was more valuable to make photography education accessible, rather than just shooting weddings and continuously increasing prices.
We’ve created over a dozen courses, e-books and templates for various photography skills. Our resources are inspired by questions asked by our online community of over 70,000 people, and cover topics like posing couples and natural light photography.
We also have a membership product, KJ All Access. For $29 per month, photographers of all experience levels get to follow me as I shoot events and handle all sorts of unpredictable situations — like wedding dresses getting covered in mud or weather delays.
New videos are shot by my videographer, edited by me, and released each month. Members also have access to a library of past videos.
Our goal is to change people’s lives
I love my job. Being in complete control of our schedule has allowed my husband and I to spend more time with our three kids, and to pursue projects we’re excited about.
This year, we co-founded a school geared towards entrepreneurial families called Acton Academy West End. We focus on equipping children ages five to eight with the tools to find their unique passions through hands-on activities.
Whether we’re creating tools that teach photographers how to build a career that supports their family, capturing wedding moments, recording podcasts, or just simply sharing the ups and downs of our everyday life on social media, we want our life and our business to change lives.
Katelyn Alsop is a business coach and founder of Katelyn James Photography. Over 100,000 students around the world have used her platforms to learn about photography and entrepreneurship. She is also the co-founder of Acton Academy West End. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Laura Donnelly Health editor
The Daily Telegraph 01/2/2023
FOODS that make up half of the typical British diet are contributing to the risk of cancer, a major study has claimed.
Scientists said common daily fare, including most breakfast cereals, breads, snacks and convenience meals, appear to endanger the nation’s health.
A number of past studies have linked cancer to “ultra-processed” foods, which are mass produced and contain chemicals, colourings, sweeteners and preservatives, but researchers said the latest research, by Imperial College London, is the most comprehensive yet.
It involved almost 200,000 people, aged 40 to 69, who were tracked for more than a decade to assess their risk from 34 cancer types.
The Imperial team said their findings were particularly concerning because of the “exceptionally high” intake of processed foods by Britons, for whom it makes up around half the daily calorie intake. For every 10 per cent increase in ultra-processed food in a person’s diet, the chance of cancer rose by 2 per cent, while cancer deaths were 6 per cent up.
Some of the sharpest rises were seen in breast and ovarian disease, where cancer mortality increased by 16 and 30 per cent respectively.
Dr Kiara Chang, a researcher, said: “The average person in the UK consumes more than half of their daily energy intake from ultra-processed foods. This is exceptionally high and concerning as ultra-processed foods are produced with industrially derived ingredients and often use food additives to adjust colour, flavour, consistency, texture, or extend shelf-life.”
The study, funded by Cancer Research UK and the World Cancer Research Fund, cannot prove a direct link because it was observational research based on recall and cannot establish cause and effect. High intake of such foods can also be a marker for other poor diet choices.
However, the researchers called for warning labels on processed foods, urging people to limit their intake and said that the sugar tax should be extended to cover more processed products.
Countries including France, Canada and Brazil, have updated dietary guidelines to limit such foods but no such measures are in place in the UK.
Ultra-processed foods usually have ingredients that people would not add
when they are cooking at home. The most commonly eaten ultra-processed foods in the UK are mass-produced bread, ready meals, breakfast cereals, reconstituted meat such as ham, sweets, biscuits, buns and cakes.
Previous studies have suggested a link between ultra-processed foods and heart disease, as well as obesity and Type 2 diabetes.
In the new study, published online in eclinical medicine, the team used UK Biobank data to examine the diets of 197,426 people. Their health was tracked over a decade and their risk of developing cancer or dying from it was also analysed.
The study found that higher consumption of ultra-processed foods was associated with a greater risk of developing cancer overall, and specifically ovarian and brain cancers. It was also associated with a higher risk of death, most notably from ovarian and breast cancers. These links held true even after adjusting for factors that may alter the results, such as exercise, smoking. body mass index and deprivation.
Dr Panagiota Mitrou, director of research and innovation at the World Cancer Research Fund, said: “The findings in this first UK study of its kind are significant as this is the most comprehensive assessment of ultra-processed foods and cancer risk. This adds to the growing evidence linking these foods to cancer and other health conditions.”
Dr Mitrou said people should limit the consumption of “fast foods” and other processed foods high in fat, starches or sugars.
“For maximum benefit, we also recommend that you make wholegrains, vegetables, fruit and pulses a major part of your usual diet,” she added.
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Louisa Clarence-smith education editor and Blathnaid Corless
The Daily Telegraph 01/2/2023 Fears workers will circumvent rules as four out of five schools forced to shut classrooms
STRIKING teachers will be paid, officials fear, as unions are set to force the closure of classrooms at the vast majority of schools today.
More than 100,000 members of the National Education Union are expected to walk out in the most disruptive teachers’ strike in over a decade, with 85 per cent of schools in England and Wales closing to some or all year groups.
However, schools have decided to shut without knowing which of their teachers have backed strike action, owing to laws which mean union members cannot be forced to tell their bosses.
Concerns were raised that this could enable striking teachers to claim they are working and therefore be paid.
In a letter to all schools last night, Gillian Keegan, the Education Secretary, reminded head teachers that any striking staff must not be paid. The letter, seen by The Daily Telegraph, stated: “In all cases, where employees take strike action, they are not entitled to be paid for any period during which they are on strike.” Mrs Keegan also stressed that teachers not on strike should turn up to work and could be asked to cover for those taking action.
Teachers on social media said they believed some workers could still get paid. “If [head teachers] close the school because teachers won’t say if they’re striking in advance, they’ll get paid,” one wrote. Another shared on social media that she had voted to strike, but that the first day of industrial action coincided with a “free trip” her class had planned to take to the zoo.
Her dilemma was apparently resolved after she spoke to her union. “I’m still going to the zoo and making a donation to the hardship fund and striking on the other days,” she said.
Unions have declared today a de facto general strike, with 500,000 workers walking out across seven unions, according to the Trades Union Congress. As well as teachers, train drivers, civil servants, airport and university staff are taking industrial action.
Commuters will be left stranded across the country as 15 train operators run no trains both today and Friday.
The walkouts by both the Aslef and RMT unions mean there will not even be reduced services operating.
Hundreds of military personnel, along with volunteers from across government are on standby to support public services. Although health unions are not on strike, NHS bosses are understood to be concerned that the industrial action could still cause chaos in hospitals as the teacher strike forces staff with children to take time off.
The NEU is striking after only a minority, or 48 per cent of its members in England voted to take industrial action. In Wales, 54 per cent of its members voted to strike over pay.
About 40,000 teachers have joined the NEU since teacher strikes were announced a fortnight ago. They will be able to participate in the industrial action and maximise disruption. While some schools have said they will adopt bigger class sizes and use volunteers to keep children in classrooms, many pupils have been told to expect a day of online learning. Teachers who are not on strike have been told to come into school, but may have little to do. There is nothing to stop teachers who have backed the strikes from going into school.
Some schools are likely to permit working from home, but it is unclear how this will be monitored.
The NEU has notified schools of how many teachers at each institution are members. However, legally, head teachers cannot demand to know who these staff are and members do not have to tell their bosses if they intend to strike. This has meant schools have assumed a worst case scenario in terms of teacher numbers, leading to the expected widespread closures.
Whitehall sources were alarmed by the suggestion from the NEU that 85 per cent of schools will be affected.
Nick Gibb, the schools minister, insisted he expected the “majority” of schools to be open “in some capacity”. Robin Walker, Tory MP and chairman of the education select committee, said: “It’s important that every effort should be made to keep schools open to as many pupils as possible. After the pan- demic, the last thing children need is to be out of school for any period of time.” With seven dates planned for strikes by teachers in February and March, parents fear children will be held back as they attempt to recover from lost learning during lockdowns.
Mrs Keegan thanked NEU members who gave advance notice of their intention to strike to schools so head teachers can “do everything they can to keep their schools open for as many pupils as possible, particularly for the most vulnerable, children of critical workers and those taking formal exams and assessments”.
TEACHERS in England are among the highest paid for the lowest hours in Europe and the developed world, according to analysis published ahead of a mass walkout over pay.
Data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shows that average salaries for experienced teachers in England are higher than in Sweden, Switzerland, France, Finland and other countries.
Teachers in most state schools in England are legally required to be at work, or available for work, for a maximum of 1,265 hours spread over 195 days of the year – fewer than for any other developed nation that provides data to the OECD, except Luxembourg.
OECD research shows that for those with 15 years’ experience, average pay for primary school teachers in 2020, when adjusted to account for purchasing power in different countries, is $54,889 (£44,500) in England, which is higher than the OECD average of $49,245 (£40,000), and the EU average of $49,022 (£39,800).
Teacher pay in England was higher than for counterparts in Italy ($39,563), France ($40,043) and Finland ($45,772).
For England’s secondary schools, average pay after 15 years’ experience was also $54,889 (£44,500), higher than both the EU and OECD average.
The data show pay for primary teachers in England, as compared to their peers educated to a similar standard but in other professions, is higher than Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, France and Finland. Secondary school wages in junior years, as a proportion of average pay of similarly educated peers, is again higher than Sweden, Norway, France, Finland and the Czech Republic.
The findings come as more than 100,000 teachers prepare to strike across England and Wales today to demand further pay rises, even though experienced teachers were awarded a 5 per cent pay rise for last year, with starting pay increased by 8.9 per cent.
Prof Alan Smithers, the director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at the University of Buckingham, said: “I think it’s irresponsible for teachers to be pressing for big pay rises, given the financial circumstances of the country. Relatively speaking, they are well paid.
“What they are requesting is that money from the taxes of people who are also struggling be transferred to them.
“The heart of their job is the education of children, who have already suffered considerable disruption from the pandemic, and it seems irresponsible to me that they should want to impose further disruption.”
Across 36 countries, the UK ranks fifth for investment in education, with 4.1 per cent of GDP put into education up to university level.
Chris Mcgovern, of the Campaign for Real Education, said: “Our system is so expensive, we pay more per head than most counties ... we need to reward the best teachers but we don’t need to reward the poor teachers.”
He added: “Strike action is despicable, iniquitous and inexcusable.”
Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said: “Teachers have had double-digit, deep and sustained real-terms pay cuts since 2010. If this were not the case, then the Government would not be failing to hit recruitment targets.
“The OECD data appears to ignore the high levels of unpaid hours which teachers work and which devalues pay. Working weeks of 55 to 60 hours are typical for teachers in the UK.”