Redundancies and skill shortages are top of the list of concerns for managers in the UK as we move into 2012, research by the Chartered Management Institute has revealed. More than half of the managers surveyed felt they would be unlikely to secure another job if they were to be made redundant in the next year, potentially as budget constraints encourage firms to seek part-time placements from organisations like http://www.interimpartners.com instead.

Rising energy prices, the instability of the euro and the restructuring of public finances were all cited as factors that will have a damaging effect on businesses this year, while 43 per cent of managers were not confident that their staff’s skills were sufficient to fulfil business objectives.

Christopher Kinsella, chief executive of the CMI, said 2011 was “one of the most difficult [years] UK managers have ever had to face”, and it is unsurprising that forecasts for 2012 are less than optimistic. “There are areas where organisations can continue to develop and we would urge managers to particularly focus on their people capabilities and ensuring their businesses have the right people, with the right skills set to fulfil their business objectives in the New Year,” he added.

Printers have come a long way since the dot-matrix days, and if you find yourself in need of a printer from a supplier like Misco, you might be surprised at the huge array of options available to you. Your main choice is between an inkjet or a laser printer, but the right choice depends what you plan to use it for.

In general, inkjet printers are best for printing colour photographs and other images – they’re certainly capable of printing text too, but less cost-efficiently in the long term than a laser model. If you’re mostly printing out documents, a simple black-and-white laser printer can be just as cheap as an inkjet and does the job far more effectively.

You should also consider whether you need scan, copy and even fax capabilities with your printer – many models offer this all-in-one functionality, which can be a great way to combine all your printing needs into a single machine. They are considerably more expensive than standalone printers, however, so make sure you are going to use the extra features before you invest in one.

Everyone knows fashion is cyclical and the 90s are back already as the casual, thrown-together grunge look takes over on the high street.

Build up several layers of loose fit shirts and hoodies over rock band print tshirts and heavily faded, torn denim jeans to recreate the dishevelled look. Chunky shoes, like combat style boots or Converse trainers were popular with 90s kids. Choose from a wide range of Converse trainers at BANK Fashion http://www.bankfashion.co.uk/men/brand/converse/

First born in Seattle and originally intended as a movement away from fashion, the messy swamps of unkempt straggled hair and ripped dirty jeans became all the rage, as the antithesis to the clean cut, power dressing style of the 80s.

Hugely oversized checked shirts could be teamed up with the baggy style of jeans made popular by hip-hop stars, as this was a la mode in the 90s. Outfits were based mainly on shades of greys and black, but muted deep indigo, green or red was used for check patterns and occasionally in dyed denims.

The only thing needed now is long hair, but you can’t grow it overnight. In the meantime, use plenty of sculpting product to create a scruffy, bedhead style to complete the grunge look.

Controversy has surrounded the “gateway hypothesis” – that is, the theory that argues that smoking can lead on to drug dependency down the line. However, a new study on the molecular biology of mice has claimed to uncover evidence in support of this hypothesis. If you are smoker and are worried about the impact cigarettes are making on your body, take advantage of the free advice available at online pharmacies, such as Lloyds Pharmacy. These pharmacies will also be able to point you in the right direction of affordable quit smoking medicines and treatments that may be of use to you.

The study, conducted by Denise Kandel, epidemiologist at Columbia University in New York and founder of the “gateway hypothesis”, her husband neurobiologist Eric Kandel and her colleagues at the institution, revealed that nicotine – the chemical found in the tobacco of cigarettes – caused changes in the gene regulation of the mice, which subsequently enhanced the brain’s response to cocaine.

Amir Levine, a member of the Columbia team, commented on the findings – which focused predominantly on the influence of nicotine in the progression from soft to hard drugs in teens – admitted that other factors might also be at play, but that “adolescence is a time when the brain is very malleable.”

He added: “We wondered if drug-induced brain alterations could have long-term molecular impacts.”

Before you decide to buy everything of your dreams from Bonmarche to refresh your wardrobe, ask yourself one thing: can you recycle your old clothes as part of a new outfit? Only a new report from La Moda believes you can and should, whatever your budget is.

“By this we don’t mean wear tattered Zara tops that have ‘charity bin’ written all over them,” it explained, but emphasised that even the most fashion-forward people can stay on trend. “Don’t be apologetic about wearing your two-season-old blazer to imbibe a retro feel to your on-the-pulse combo. Out of season doesn’t mean out of style – it’s up to you to make your purchases consistently wearable.”

La Moda went on to assert that people should keep trying new trends. “Fear is for the conservative,” it reasoned, noting that people never know what works for them unless they change their style from time to time. “There are so many new trends that come out every season and, while we’re sure not all of them will work for everyone, we’re confident at least one of them is bound to work for you,” it concluded.

Finally, consider documenting your style. By chronicling the fashions you’ve worn, you can see how your tastes evolve. Give it a try!

A new audio system in a church in Elwick, County Durham is expected to provide benefits to churchgoers who use hearing aids, like the kind available from www.amplifon.co.uk. The audio-frequency induction loop system at St Peter’s Church will also be used to project the voices of pupils from the nearby primary school, who regularly use the church, the Hartlepool Mail reports.

The £2,000 needed to install the audio system was raised through a variety of fundraising efforts, including raffles, coffee mornings and even a name-the-teddy competition, while the Benevolent Committee of Durham Freemasons also donated £500.

An audio-frequency industry loop system is a wire-free way to transmit sound to listeners with a hearing aid or suitable receiver, clearly and without any distracting noise.

“The system will make a huge difference to people, like myself, who use a hearing aid,” Ron Gray, church treasurer, told the newspaper.

“The church in Hart and several other churches have this system in place and it has proved extremely successful.”

An earlier article in Hartlepool Today suggested that nearly one in six people in the town have some form of hearing loss, based on official figures from the local authority, adding up to nearly 15,000 people in all.

Winter can be an expensive time for Landlords, with lots of maintenance problems potentially being caused by the weather. To save cash it’s important to make sure both you and your tenants are ready for the season ahead.

Last December, weather-related claims on house insurance stacked up to around £900 million, Think Money revealed. Reasons for pay-outs included burst pipes, problems with roofs and gutters and other damage caused by melting snow. To make sure you aren’t left counting the cost this year, it’s important firstly to make sure you have adequate landlord’s insurance in place, so see how yours compares to that of specialists such as http://www.simplelandlordsinsurance.com.

Taking preventative measures such as making sure the heating system is serviced and gutters are cleaned out will go a long way towards avoiding some disasters. The next step is to seek the help of your tenants. If they are planning to go away for a long period over the festive season, ask that they leave the heating on timer so that pipes do not freeze and burst in their absence. Also be aware of any clauses in your insurance that could mean the property is not properly insured if it is vacant for too long, security is also key over the winter months as burglaries can be common with thieves hoping to come across presents being stored in the home. With this in mind, make sure your tenants know how to use any security systems you have in place and set alarms before they vacate the property.

A new initiative involving a special orientation programme has been launched by Middlesex University in a bid to ease international students into London life.

Students from all around the world come to capital each year to study at Middlesex University, and many are drawn by the reputable undergraduate and postgraduate courses on offer such as http://www.mdx.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/accounting_and_finance/accounting-finance.aspx. Students in London experience one of the most exciting and diverse cities in the world, yet it is also the second most expensive city in the world. Therefore this prospect can be financially and generally daunting, especially for those studying away from their home countries.

In light of this, the Middlesex welcome programme aims to inform international students of all aspects of living in London and provides them with the necessary skills to make the most of their time as a student, such as opening a bank account.

International Student Liaison Manager Chrisy Savva commented: “The whole purpose of the programme is to take away the initial concerns students might have when they first arrive in the country and ease them into London life and their studies quickly.

“Students enjoy the orientation programme because not only does it help sort out their administration and logistics but they also make friends quickly through the various social events we organise. It means they feel part of the University and are less likely to feel homesick.”

Although many people find they spend more time at home in the winter months darker nights and absences from the home during the festive season can leave properties vulnerable and it’s therefore wise to be prepared. Here are a few simple steps you can take to make your home safer.

1)Fit good quality curtains or blinds to keep out peering eyes and give you extra privacy. You may want to choose blinds energy saving blinds available from specialists such as Direct Blinds helping you to keep warm too.

2)Carry out some maintenance.  This can be as simple as checking the frames on all of your doors and windows are not rotting or coming loose to installing double glazed windows or mortice locks on your doors. You should also make sure your alarm systems are in good working order.

3)Get in touch with your insurer. Many people do not realise that their insurance policy can include a clause that exempts you from cover if your property is vacated for an extended period, so if you are going away for a long break over the festive period you may want to check your cover.

Homeowners may be looking for a quick and easy way out of the property market through companies such as Tom Craven Property, if the latest statistics from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) are anything to go by.

In their latest lowdown regarding September gross mortgage lending, it was discovered that gross mortgage lending totalled around £12.9 billion in the month – a two per cent decrease from the £13.1 billion lent in August. Nonetheless, it still managed to be an additional four per cent higher than September 2010, the CML said, though was still careful not to celebrate.

That’s because following the market commentary, CML chief economist Bob Pannell said that both house purchase and remortgage lending seem to have fared well during the course of the month, yet it still works in contrast with the backdrop of subdued levels of housing market activity.

Looking to the future, things continued to seem less bright. Mr Pannell said: “However, short-term economic prospects for the UK are not favourable. The housing market is very sensitive to wider household confidence, and this seems likely to weaken over the coming months in response to the latest spike in consumer prices and headline unemployment figures.”