Partnership

Since the beginning of the first lockdown, what has become painfully, obviously, clear was that while we might all be in the same storm, we are in very different boats – and some have sprung a leak.

Circumstances are right for meaningful and fundamental change in the world of work. But what will that change look like – and what role will HR play in it? The People Space and The Open University Business School are partnering throughout 2021 to highlight the issues and suggest how HR can help work to become radically better. Siân Harrington and Katie Jacobs report

The new officers will combine their practical police officer training course with studying for their Bachelor of Science honours degree in Professional Police Practice, graduating in three years’ time.

The government aims to extend the new pension freedoms to those who have previously bought an annuity by allowing pensioners to sell their annuities from April 2017. However an independent study published by The Open University Business School, suggests there are fundamental barriers to effective competition for secondary annuities that are likely to prevent pensioners getting a fair deal, and that current government proposals appear insufficient to address this.

Learners will now be able to use its massive open online courses (MOOCs) to earn academic course credits towards degrees and an MBA, professional qualifications and formal CPD accreditation.

Sharon Collard, Professor of Personal Finance Capability at the OUBS looks at the work being carried out by the True Potential PUFin, to help improve the UK’s personal finance capability through the development of online courses for the general public.

The OU is developing the UK’s first community based website that will allow people in Milton Keynes to have greater control of their energy needs. Through the use of interactive data analytics and information from local energy suppliers, individuals or groups can more effectively use the resources available.

The OU has been awarded £1.36m of funding over 19 months from the Police Knowledge Fund, a joint initiative between The College of Policing, HEFCE and the Home Office.