As scientists issue a final warning on the climate crisis, every country and every sector has been urged to fast-track efforts to tackle it before it is too late.

Guest blog by Rob Powell, Strategic Director of Resources at Warwickshire County Council

Over the years, HM Treasury has been a department fermenting the decisions that shape our country. I saw that directly with my own first Ministerial role, as Economic Secretary to the Treasury in 2010.

Today’s Budget saw the Government pledge to introduce 30 hours free childcare as well as an end to additional payments for those using prepayment energy, both key recommendations in the Purpose Coalition’s recent Cost-of-Living Action Plan.

Co-op will be working with Barnardo’s, the UK’s largest children’s charity, to support 750,000 young people aged 10-25 years old to help improve their mental wellbeing, confidence and self-esteem, as well as helping young people and their families to meet basic needs.

Many now believe that the five-day working week pattern is no longer fit for purpose and that a more flexible approach is needed.

The Purpose Coalition has renewed its call to the Chancellor to include childcare reform in next week’s budget as a key element in tackling the cost-of-living crisis and building financial resilience.

Former Education and Skills Ministers call on Chancellor for an ‘Apprenticeship Levy 2.0’ to Level Up Britain

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, and all that’s undoubtedly been achieved so far, it is still truly shocking to hear that a young woman starting work today at 18 years old will not see pay equality in her working lifetime, if progress towards gender equality at work continues at its historical rate.

The cost-of-living crisis, alongside daily tales of missed meals and cold homes, has exposed a further harsh reality. Many people have little or no savings to fall back on when times get tough.

Employers should automatically enrol workers into a government-backed ‘rainy-day’ savings scheme to protect against future cost-of-living shocks, a report from a leading group of progressive businesses will recommend today.

Themes, slogans and pledges can come and go for any political opposition, but what Sir Keir Starmer did in setting out his five missions for Britain today was different.

Bob Dylan wasn’t primarily known for being a political pundit but he was closer than he realised when he said ‘the times they are a changing’ and “you better start swimming, or you sink like a stone”. It’s great advice for any political party. Especially today’s Conservative Party.

Like most other health indicators, the issue of obesity impacts disadvantaged communities the most. Poor life expectancy, a higher incidence of serious diseases, poor neonatal health and maternal outcomes are just some of the other ways in which health inequality impedes access to opportunity for those who live there.

With perfect timing, coinciding with National Apprenticeship Week, the Government has announced the creation of four new government departments, recalibrating its commitment to a programme of growth and technological advance, driven by innovation and research.

Food, heating, hot water, decent housing - basic needs that are now at risk as the cost of living crisis undermines the things many of us took for granted. Students are probably some of its least visible casualties.

Exciting new opportunities are opening up in the utilities sector as UK Power Networks launches a new Digital Academy.

Inclusivity is key to a fairer, more equal society where everyone, whatever their background, can access opportunity and have the chance of a better life. That extends to financial inclusion too.

£600 million wasted in Apprenticeship Levy funding, despite rising demand for paid training among young people

A visit to Northumbria University by Justine Greening, Chair of the Purpose Coalition and former Education Secretary, confirmed its position as a modern university which has embedded quality research at the centre of everything it does, alongside a clear social mobility mission.