In 2019, China represented an export market worth £30.7bn to the UK and an import market worth £49bn, these record holding figures come after years of consecutive growth spurred on by huge infrastructure projects.

In addition to lively important and export markets, state owned and private Chinese run corporations also hold significant interests in British infrastructure and own majority stakes of several nuclear plants as well as having significant stakes in Thames Water and Heathrow airport. They have invested billions into acquiring UK businesses such as British Steel and carmaker Geely and many other businesses, saving thousands of jobs and helping to modernise industries in the UK.

Chinese technology companies like Huawei have also been heavily investing in the UK since the early noughties and are heavily involved in the countries basic telecoms infrastructure, inextricably linking the economic interests of the UK and China. The recent announcement that Huawei will no longer be involved in rolling out 5G technology in the UK has caused some strain to the relationship between the countries, but it’s unlikely to have a negative or lasting impact on the strong trade relationship between the nations.

Chinese students also make up a significant portion of the student body of universities in the UK, with many reliant on the revenue they earn from the tuition fees that they bring in. With China’s emerging market continuing to grow, many experts are predicting that the trend of increasing trade between the countries will continue and the UK will no doubt see yet more records for Chinese imports and exports.

The post The economic relationship between the UK and China appeared first on British Journal.

The technology could potentially save customers £162 million in network upgrade costs between now and 2050. The technology is designed to help network providers use the existing network more intelligently as helps them more efficiently use the current capacity of existing substations and infrastructure. The trial plans to test new ways of pooling spare capacity from multiple substation and will allow rapid chargers to operate without the need for extensive network upgrades and reinforcement.

The technology has great potential for inner-city areas where upgrades can be made difficult by a lack of available space for increasing and improving infrastructure.

The Somerset trial will draw power from a number of local substation to power 15 rapid chargers, including a number of chargers which are capable of recharging electric cars in as little as thirty minutes.

The project planning is currently underway with building work set to commence throughout 2021 and the rapid chargers expected to be available by 2022. Throughout the trial, electric car users will be able to charge their vehicles for free. The trial is expected to help with the uptake of low carbon emission vehicles like electric cars and if successful could be an important step forward for the UK, and a big money saver for the country.

The post UK invests in EV technology project appeared first on British Journal.

New security laws in the country have many Chinese citizens worrying for their freedom and a number of companies, includigng Tik Tok and Facebook are stepping away from the country.

The Chinese government is saying that new laws aimed at restoring order in Hong Kong will only be used against a small number of people but many Hong Kong citizens are now looking to leave and many of them are coming to the UK. In recent months many social media ads have begun targeting Hong Kong users, encouraging them emigrate or to make international real estate investments – with many of them promoting moves to the UK, Australia and New Zealand.

There is a lot of interest being generated in the UK with statements being promoted that the country may grant up to 3 million Hong Kong immigrants citizenship. China has rebuffed the statement from the UK, calling it interference into the internal affairs of China.

Investment firms based in the UK have seen growth in interest from people in Hong Kong interested in investing in UK properties. Many investment firms are also seeing more interest in properties so that people can move to the country, with many asking about lifestyle, housing and immigration options.

The post Uncertainty over international real estate investments appeared first on British Journal.

The technology sector is likely to continue to see growth in the future now that many companies have seen improvements in efficiency following the move to remote work. The digital transformation that many businesses have experienced in the last year will see new software and technology advanced at a much faster pace.

The sector is well funded and many businesses have been able to drive their goals forward over the last year without needing to access loans or emergency fund channels. Though not all have been unscathed in 2020, many tech companies have shown that they have good cash reserves available to keep business afloat even during a crisis.

Robotics is expected to be an important area of growth for the tech industry moving forward, especially the field of medical technology and robotics. In the wake of recent global events, contact free technology is also expected to play and increasingly important role in daily life and so it’s expected that new products and technology will be developed to assist. Moving forward many tech companies will also likely use more diverse and localised suppliers to ensure they are not overly reliant on overseas markets or suppliers. Government investment into tech infrastructure such as the 5G network are expected to be accelerated and predictive technology is likely to be on the agenda for many tech companies in future years.

The post What’s next for tech in the UK? appeared first on British Journal.

The widespread closures during coronavirus have been devastating for many arts and culture venues throughout the UK and have pushed many to the brink financially. In Northern Ireland all theatres, galleries and music venues have been closed since the middle of March. Most staff have been stood down from their jobs for the time being as part of the governments retention program. However, the industry is heavily reliant on freelancers and self-employed artists, musicians and actors who are now out of work and don’t qualify for income support. When social distancing measures being to ease, most venues will likely still face restrictions on their capacity. Some predict that concerts and major festivals are not likely to resume until 2021.

The governments funding packages include loans and grants with the loans including generous terms. Heritage sites and independent cinemas will be eligible to apply for funding and loans. The funding represents some of the most significant investment the UK government has ever made in the arts and culture sector and is for the purpose of helping venues to survive whilst they are not allowed to open or welcome in the public. It has not yet been discussed how the funding will be spent and nothing has yet been said of whether the UK government will offer support to struggling artists who have lost work as a result of the closures.

The post £33m arts support package for Northern Ireland appeared first on British Journal.

She was elected as the MP of Maidenhead in 1997 and served as a chair woman to the Conservative Party between 2002 and 2003.

In 2010 she was given the role of Home Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities but gave up the role after two years before being appointed in 2015. During her time as the Home Secretary of the UK she worked on reforming the Police Federation, introduced more hard line drug policy and added more immigration restrictions.

In 2016 Theresa May was elected as the second female prime minister in the UK, replacing David Cameron as the leader of the Conservative Party. During her tenure she started the process of withdrawing the UK from the EU. In order to push Brexit negotiations forward she ordered general elections which lead to a hung parliament after Conservative seats fell from 330 to 317. Theresa May remained Prime Minister after a first vote of no confidence in 2018 failed to remove her and was not removed after a second vote in 2019 was table but she eventually stepped down and allow former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson to step into her role.

During her time as Prime Minister Theresa May also saw a major funding increase to the NHS and launched a new 25 years climate change plan, unemployment rates also fell to record lows during her time as the UK’s leader.

Theresa May is known for her no nonsense approach to policy and for striving to improve female representation in British politics.

The post Theresa May, the UK’s second female prime minister appeared first on British Journal.

Below are the answers to a few questions we asked about WOLF watch winders.

For those unfamiliar with watch winders, how do they work?

A quality watch winder keeps an automatic watch turning, just as if you were wearing it, and therefore keeps the winder spring-loaded and all the other moving parts in operation. In fact, one of the key moving parts of an automatic watch is the main spring that stores power to keep the mechanism moving. If this winder spring is left loose for too long, it will become less efficient and eventually fail to result in an inaccurate watch followed by an expensive repair bill. What’s more, once the mainspring runs out of tension, the rest of the watch’s moving parts will stop, which is also considered bad for a luxury watch.

To be more clear, a quality watch winder keeps the watch wound to the same stored power level, so when you take your watch out of the winder, it should be wound to roughly the same level as when you put it in. Usually, a completely unwound watch will require approximately 30-40 standard winds to load the mainspring completely. During the day, depending on your level of activity, your watch should stay wound at the right level for optimal performance. A watch winder will keep the watch running at that level, avoiding too many extra winds of the crown.

So, by using a watch winder your watch will remain accurate for longer, the main spring and internal movement will last longer, and of course, the watch will be at the right time and date, next time, when you want to wear it.

Why do watch winders make great gifts?

The market of watch winders is increasing in the last years because their usefulness is now indisputable for owners of expensive luxury automatic watches. WOLF products are handmade with stylish vegan leather, perfect to put on a bedside table, and they are perfect even to complete any style of living room, from a contemporary style to a more classic one. Moreover, WOLF is the most reliable manufacturer for watch winders.

What are some of the exciting or unique features of the WOLF range?

WOLF is a highly regarded British family business, established since 1834. WOLF invested countless years developing the ultimate rotation system which accurately simulates real-life wrist action. This innovative system is patented by WOLF, making it unique in the market.

Consequently, not all watch winders are made equal. There are two potential problems with a cheap or poor-quality watch winder, over winding and magnetism.

1) Working with clever algorithms and state-of-the-art technology, WOLF watch winders feature counting turns-per-day, an intermittent rotation, with pause and sleep phases, and the option to pre-programme both the amount and the direction of the turns.

There is a common misconception that watches winders actually wind a watch. That is not entirely accurate. A watch winder will keep the watch wound to the same stored power level, so when you take your watch out of the winder, it should be wound to roughly the same level as when you put it in. Usually, a completely unwound watch will require approximately 30-40 standard winds to load the mainspring completely. During the day, depending on your level of activity, your watch should stay wound at the right level for optimal performance. A watch winder will keep the watch running at that level, avoiding too many extra winds of the crown.

Not only that, every WOLF Watch Winders has been designed to not overwind your automatic watch. Most of luxury automatic watches have a slip-clutch that stops over-winding. However, constant engagement with this slip-clutch could cause serious harm. So, with WOLF you have additional security that your watch will have the right amount turns-per-day, so there is no unnecessary pressure on the slip-clutch, and your automatic watch will last for many decades at top performances.

2) Regarding the second issue, the magnet in the electric motor used in the majority of watch winders can generate a magnetic field that can cause the hairspring in your watch to become magnetised and therefore sticky. This, in turn, can affect the whole watch mechanism, which will result in a loss of accuracy. WOLF through their R&D and engineering program, and in cooperation with the Japanese company Mabuchi, developed a patented process to insulate their watch winder motors against electrical emissions keeping a watch free of magnetic damage. This insulation technique, combined with high-quality nylon gears which do not grind, also ensures WOLF watch winders are silent running so they can even be kept by your bedside.

You can read more about these problems in our article: https://www.burtonblake.co.uk/blogs/news/is-a-watch-winder-good-for-a-watch

What kind of customers are most suited to a WOLF watch winder?

Owners of Rolex, an Omega, or a Tag Heuer, Patek Philippe automatic watches. So, any owner of expensive automatic watches in general. They are in greater demand by men, but many women now buy them to treat themselves (WOLF is producing collections with pastel colours suitable for a female audience) or to gift them to a loved one or partner.

Your range of WOLF watch winders is extensive, which particular models stand out?

Cub is the best seller but, Axis, Roadster and Heritage stand out as well.

Why is it advantageous to purchase from Burton Blake rather than another stockist?

We are WOLF official stockist and best sellers in the UK. We guarantee one of the widest ranges of WOLF products (not just Watch Winders, but Jewellery Boxes and Watch Boxes -not winding-) in Europe, our Customers value our service 4.9/5, offering a highly-trained customer service, always ready to advise customers, before, during and after the purchase. We always have products in stock, free express shipping for orders over £25, delivered in 1-2 days. In addition, we offer a 30-day return policy, one of the most customer-centric in the market, extended to 60 days during the Christmas Season.

Are there any special offers or promotions customers can take advantage of?

We offer one of the most attractive welcome offers on the luxury goods market, the customer can discover it by visiting Burton Blake website.

The post UK Bestsellers Burton Blake Talks About Their Range of Premium-Quality WOLF Watch Winders appeared first on British Journal.

The perfect gift to get that special someone could be a WOLF watch winder. WOLF is the leading brand in premium-quality watch winders and has remained a family-run business since 1834.

In case you didn’t know, a watch winder is a device that automatically turns watches placed in it in such a way that it imitates the natural movements of someone wearing them. Automatic watches work best when there are being worn and not allowed to lay motionless where they become less efficient and can eventually become inaccurate, meaning repairs will be required (which can be quite expensive).

A luxury automatic watch is a significant investment. A watch winder provides a way to protect that investment by keeping it in good working order.

WOLF watch winders are not only top-notch when it comes to their meticulous design and functionality, but they also look fantastic as well. Handmade with stylish vegan leather, WOLF watch winders are absolutely outstanding as a means of displaying one or multiple watches.

While watch display cases exist already – they don’t turn the watch. Why not go for something that turns the watch, keeps it secure, and looks great doing it?

WOLF watch winders make the perfect gift for anyone you know who likes to collect, or simply has multiple automatic watches. Their ease-of-use means that anyone you buy one for will actually start using it and it will become a gift they really cherish.

The leading UK stockist for WOLF watch winders is undoubtedly Burton Blake, and you can browse their collection of WOLF Watch Winders.

The post A Luxury Watch Winder from WOLF Might be The Perfect Christmas Gift This Year appeared first on British Journal.

The CEO of Laura Ashley has confirmed that some jobs will be lost but has said that she is hopeful that buyer for the company will be found and that the brand will see a turnaround in the future so that it can continue on as a beloved British brand.

Nationwide Laure Ashley has 2,700 employees and first filed for administration in March after it could not secure £15 million in emergency funding to stay afloat.

The retailer is among many British fashion brands suffering in the wake of closures due to the pandemic. British retailer Burberry has announced a 30 percent in sales and has closed more than half of its outlets in Europe whilst retailers like Browns and MATCHESFASHIon have also shut down their stores for an unspecified amount of time.

Retailers were already struggling, with increasing online shopping forcing many to close over recent years and it is likely that many fashion brands will be forced into administration similar to Laura Ashley over the coming years.

For now the brand is hoping for a buyer as a lifeline to the brand and their staff.

The post Laura Ashley closes 70 stores in the UK appeared first on British Journal.

Black Lives Matter activist, Bianca Ali, stated that the statistics from the past decade made her feel like police tactics had no changed at all.

Amidst these discussions from the public, the Welsh Government mentioned that they would be inviting leaders to discuss proposals on moving forward.  A crime commissioner and Welsh Police officer stated that more BAME officers are being recruited in his department but there is definitely more that needs to be done for diversity and representation awareness.

The manifesto has 8 points that discusses BAME citizens’ assembly, heritage, cultural integration, prisons and policing, public servant training, funding, government reviews and education.

In Wales, black individuals are 6 and a half times more likely to be stopped by officers compared to white individuals. These figures come from a United Kingdom government figure source. Additionally black individuals are 4 and a half times more likely to be arrested.

Bianca Ali, a 28 year old mixed Italian, Jamaican, Bangladeshi, Arab, Maltese and Welsh background told the BBC radio of Wales that she has not seen any changes within the police force over the past 5 years.

She told the station that she believes there is a lot more that can be done within organisations and communities. The Black Lives Matter movement is a great example where people can find real changes that would actually help and find the ways to implement them.

Ms Ali also mentioned that the statistics for tasering and stop and search of BAME individuals was so disproportionate that she believes that the police should have black representation within the higher ups.

The post Police urged to changed amidst Black Lives Matter manifesto appeared first on British Journal.