Good news of the week: Skills England set to ‘fire up’ training for British workers
In our weekly good news round-up, we feature three positive stories from across the week that showcase incredible innovation, significant breakthroughs, and exciting progress within the realms of healthcare, climate and sustainability, equity and inclusion, workplace wellbeing, social impact and more.
Here are our favourite positive stories of the week, 22 to 28 July, 2024.
1. ‘Skills England’ established to “fire up” training of more British workers
The Labour government is establishing a new body, Skills England, to bring together central and local government, businesses, trade unions and training providers, to identify areas of improvement and skills-gaps across the UK.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said that young people have been “let down” in this country by a lack of opportunity and a broken skills system. Speaking at the Farnborough International Airshow in Hampshire this week, he said that a failure to give young British people access to training and opportunities has “created an over-reliance in our economy on higher and higher levels of migration.”
The former Co-Operative Group chief executive Richard Pennycook has been appointed as Skills England’s interim chairman. Read more of the story here.
2. Gene discovery sparks hope for pancreatic cancer cure
Scientists are celebrating a potential breakthrough in the fight against one of the most deadliest forms of cancer; pancreatic.
Researchers from the UK and US have found that pancreatic cancer can “significantly shut down” a tumour-suppressing gene called HNF4A, which enables the cancer to grow and spread.
Pancreatic cancer is notoriously deadly, claiming nearly 10,000 lives annually in the UK alone, with fewer than 7% of patients living beyond five years after diagnosis. The disease has taken the lives of high-profile patients such as Steve Jobs, Alan Rickman, Sir John Hurt and Patrick Swayze. Read more of the story here.
WATCH: Cancer Research UK’s Michelle Mitchell on the pioneering work in cancer care
3. Fire officer thanks “superhuman” paramedics
A fire service officer has expressed his deep gratitude to the “superhuman” paramedics who saved his life after he experienced a cardiac arrest.
In 2019, Scott Saunders was out for a run with his then 9-year-old daughter, Poppy, when he suddenly collapsed. After a long and challenging recovery, the 54-year-old was finally able to meet and thank some of the ambulance crew who came to his aid.
Reflecting on his experience, Mr. Saunders said, “I am living proof of the crucial role CPR plays and I urge everyone to learn this life-saving skill.”
After his collapse, a bystander administered CPR under the guidance of emergency medical advisor Eleanor Smith. When paramedics arrived on the scene, they managed to revive Mr. Saunders and transported him to Eastbourne District General Hospital.
Since the incident, Scott has had a stent fitted, and an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator, which can reset the heart after a cardiac arrest. Read more of the story here.
