Michael Bunting | fifebusinessjournal.co.uk

Janet Skinner, a victim of the Post Office Horizon IT scandal, is pursuing legal action against the government-owned organization in her quest for full compensation for her wrongful conviction. Janet Skinner, a former subpostmistress, is one of the few victims to take the Post Office to court. Despite her conviction being overturned in 2021, she has not yet received a final payment and has only been offered an insufficient interim sum. Her lawyer, Simon Goldberg, stated that she has been «forced» to sue the Post Office after facing delays and inadequate offers. Janet Skinner’s legal action aims to bring closure to her long-standing fight for justice. Janet Skinner seeks justice from Post Office for wrongful conviction

Dic 17, 2025 Michael Bunting

A victim of the Post Office Horizon IT scandal is taking legal action against the government-owned organisation as she seeks full redress for her wrongful conviction. Janet Skinner is believed…

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Pic: House of Commons/PA Archive 2022 CEO of Channel 4 since 2017, Alex Mahon has a background in media and technology, having previously worked for companies such as Shine Group, Talkback Thames, and AOL Europe.She has been credited with revitalizing Channel 4’s digital strategy and overseeing major shows like The Great British Bake Off and Gogglebox.Under her leadership, Channel 4 has won numerous awards, including the BAFTA for Best Soap and Continuing Drama for Hollyoaks.Erica Berger Image: Erica Berger. Pic: House of Commons/PA Archive 2025 Erica Berger is the founder and CEO of multimedia company Oceanic Global, which focuses on ocean conservation and sustainability.She previously worked as the director of digital content for the BBC and has experience in journalism, content creation, and digital strategy.Berger has been recognized for her work in environmental activism and was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2023.Tom Mockridge Image: Tom Mockridge. Pic: House of Commons/PA Archive 2025 Tom Mockridge is the CEO of Virgin Media O2 and has previously held leadership positions at Sky Italia, News International, and the Australian Associated Press.He is known for his experience in media and telecommunications, as well as his track record of leading major companies through periods of change and growth.Mockridge has received numerous awards for his contributions to the industry, including being named Media Executive of the Year by the International Media Awards in 2014.Sharon White Image: Sharon White. Pic: House of Commons/PA Archive 2025 Sharon White is the chair of John Lewis Partnership and has previously served as chief executive of Ofcom and as a senior civil servant in the Treasury.She has extensive experience in regulation, governance, and leadership, and has been recognized for her work in promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace.White has been a vocal advocate for the importance of public service broadcasting and the role of the BBC in providing high-quality, independent journalism. Other potential candidates include Charlotte Moore, who previously held the role of chief content officer at the BBC before moving to Channel 4 as CEO.Moore has extensive experience in the broadcasting industry, having worked at the BBC for many years in various roles, including controller of BBC One and commissioning editor for documentaries.She is well-respected in the industry and has a proven track record of success in producing high-quality content.Another candidate could be Lord Tony Hall, who served as director-general of the BBC from 2013 to 2020.Hall oversaw a period of significant change and innovation at the BBC, including the launch of the iPlayer and the expansion of the BBC’s digital presence.He is highly respected within the organization and the industry as a whole, and his experience and leadership skills could make him a strong candidate for the role.Other potential candidates could include Tim Hincks, former president of Endemol Shine Group, and David Abraham, former CEO of Channel 4.Both have extensive experience in the media industry and a proven track record of success in leading major broadcasting organizations.Overall, there are several strong candidates who could replace Tim Davie as BBC director-general, each bringing their own unique skills and experience to the role. Possible replacements for BBC director-general Tim Davie

Nov 10, 2025 Michael Bunting

Following Tim Davie’s resignation announcement just a day ago, speculation is mounting about who could succeed him in the highest-profile position in British broadcasting. The director-general role at the BBC…

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AI has taken £120,000 from Joe Turner. The 38-year-old writer lost 70% of his clients to chatbots in two years.His is one of 40 job roles that AI is rapidly replacing, according to discussions the Money team had with industry experts, researchers, and affected workers. Turner, who used to earn six figures as a freelancer, feels betrayed by the rise of generative AI.Around 85% of the tasks involved in Turner’s job could be done by AI, according to research published by Microsoft in July. The tech giant’s analysis of 200,000 conversations with its Co-Pilot chatbot revealed that it could complete at least 90% of the work carried out by historians and coders, 80% of salespeople and journalists, and 75% of DJs and data scientists.Jobs most at risk of being replaced by AI include customer service assistants (72%), financial advisers (69%), and product promoters (62%). On the other hand, there are 40 jobs that AI cannot touch. These jobs require a human touch or involve high levels of judgment.Experts are skeptical of Microsoft’s claim that AI chatbots are meant to enhance job categories rather than replace them entirely. An AI consultant with over a decade of experience in deploying AI in various companies believes that many jobs are likely to be replaced by AI in the next few years, except for those that are relationship-driven or require high levels of judgment.Major companies have already announced job cuts due to investments in AI. Klarna reduced its headcount by 40%, while Microsoft and Amazon have also made significant changes to their workforce due to AI implementations.While AI is expected to take over many jobs in the future, macroeconomic factors such as increases in employer national insurance and energy costs are also contributing to job cuts. However, the rise of AI spending and automation in businesses indicates that AI may play a significant role in reshaping the job market in the coming years.Freelancers like Turner may be the first to feel the impact of AI on the job market. Demand for writing and coding gigs has already decreased significantly since the release of AI tools like ChatGPT. Turner’s experience of losing clients to AI chatbots highlights the ongoing shift towards automation in various industries. The 40 jobs ‘most at risk of AI’ – and 40 it can’t touchOvernight, £30,000 was wiped from his annual income.»I went on their website and I realised they had started using AI instead of me,» he says.One by one, most of his other clients followed suit.»It was just a complete desert,» he says of the job landscape.If you listen to the heads of some leading AI companies, you’d be forgiven for thinking this desert is just one apocalyptic vista at the end of the working world as we know it.Dario Amodei, chief executive of Anthropic, has warned AI could «wipe out half of all entry-level white-collar jobs», while OpenAI boss Sam Altman said entire job categories would be «totally, totally gone».»They want to glorify the models,» says Dr Fabian Stephany, a Labour economist at the University of Oxford and fellow at Microsoft’s independent AI Economy Institute.Impersonating a big tech boss, he continues: «‘Oh wow, look, if we can automate away 50,000 people, then that technology must be really tremendous – so you should be investing in our company!'»I would advocate to have a bit of more of a cooled down, pragmatic approach.»Think about it as a technology and look at how technology has been interacting with the labour market in the past.»Inventions that revolutionised the workplaceTake Richard Arkwright’s invention of the Spinning Jenny in 1769, which churned out huge quantities of yarn to make cloth in some of the first factories at the start of the industrial revolution.While putting home weavers out of a job, it increased the need for mill workers hundreds of times over, says Stephany.Henry Ford’s invention of the assembly line in 1913 had a similar impact when it reduced the time taken to make a car from 12.5 hours to 1.5 hours.Speed lowered production costs and forecourt prices, increasing demand, sales and the number of staff hired to fulfil them.For the same reason, the invention of the ATM in 1967 led to more bank teller jobs despite automating one of their key functions – something Microsoft was keen to point out.»Our research shows that AI supports many tasks, particularly those involving research, writing and communication, but does not indicate it can fully perform any single occupation,» Microsoft’s Tomlinson says.Indeed, the study shows 40 jobs where AI can perform just 10% or fewer tasks.Tradespeople feature heavily, like painter-decorators (4%), cleaners (3%) and roofers (2%).Surgical assistants (3%), ship engineers (5%) and nursing assistants (7%) also make the list.But history also includes a list of the losers of technological innovation.Replacing horses with tractors wiped 3.4 billion man hours from American farmwork annually by 1960, according to research by economic historian Professor Alan Olmstead.Spare a thought, too, for the pinsetters once responsible for stacking bowling alleys, who were more or less eliminated by the Automatic Pinspotter unveiled in 1946.Quantity does not mean quality, either: Arkwright’s millers faced exhausting and repetitive 13-hour shifts in extreme noise, heat and dust.How fulfilling would working with an AI be?»Sterile and just not interesting, uniform and bleak and surface-level and hollow» is how Turner described its work after trying AI at the request of a client.»Cars were a solution – a car was a horse that never got tired. The 40 jobs most vulnerable to AI – and 40 it can’t replace | Money NewsMore human work, not less?That’s not the purpose of AI, according to the AI consultant. They believe that AI is not capable of coming up with original ideas for creative writing authors. However, AI is efficient at quickly generating a first draft based on an author’s idea. This can lead to more work opportunities rather than fewer, as seen in examples of companies using AI to enhance their services and save time and resources.The ‘losers of technological change’Audio producer Christian Allen has seen AI take away opportunities from him, leading to lost gigs and potential clients. Despite the positive outlook on AI creating more work, Allen is concerned about the impact on his profession. He fears that AI could eventually replace human voice actors and production houses, making their skills redundant. The cost-effectiveness of AI solutions also poses a threat to traditional job roles in industries like audio production.Shifting sands forming another job desert?Oxford’s Labour economist Fabian Stephany challenges the idea of a bleak future where AI replaces entire professions. While some jobs may be at risk, Stephany believes that complex roles involving creativity and expertise are less likely to be fully automated by AI. However, professionals like Allen are still apprehensive about AI’s potential to disrupt their industry. AI tools that can assist with tasks like mixing audio could lead to a decrease in demand for human talent in certain fields.It is essential for the government to address the potential impact of AI on the workforce and provide support and guidance for both employers and employees. Training programs and initiatives to upskill workers in AI technologies can help mitigate job losses and create new opportunities in emerging sectors. Collaboration between the government and tech firms is crucial in preparing the workforce for the AI-driven economy of the future. The 40 jobs most at risk of AI and 40 it can’t touch – Money News

Oct 11, 2025 Michael Bunting

AI has taken £120,000 from Joe Turner. Joe Turner, a 38-year-old writer, lost 70% of his clients to chatbots in a span of two years. His story is just one…

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French air traffic controllers call off strike, avoiding disruption for travelers

Oct 4, 2025 Michael Bunting

French air traffic controllers have called off their upcoming strikes, sparing travellers across Europe from disruption. The SNCTA (syndicat majoritaire des controleurs aeriens) union said it was halting its forthcoming…

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Two men sentenced for stealing £4.75m gold toilet from Blenheim Palace

Jun 13, 2025 Michael Bunting

Two men have been jailed for their roles in the theft of a £4.75m gold toilet from Blenheim Palace. James Sheen, 40, and Michael Jones, 39, were part of the…

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London congestion charge may increase to £18 a day in 2026 under new proposals

May 27, 2025 Michael Bunting

London’s congestion charge could potentially increase by 20% next year as part of new proposals, marking the first hike since 2020. Transport for London (TfL) has initiated a consultation on…

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Scottish athlete sports new social media site

Feb 3, 2015 Michael Bunting

A new multi-platform social networking site has been launched by former Scottish athlete Brian Whittle. Developed in Scotland by CEO and co-founder Whittle, who formerly competed in the Olympic and…

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60 Seconds with… Startup Grind’s Phin Mpofu

Nov 11, 2014 Michael Bunting

Lessons learned from some of Scotland’s leading and most inspiring entrepreneurs NOT only is Phin Mpofu the founder of a pre-revenue-stage start-up which looks set to revolutionise the property market,…

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International trade riskier but rewards potentially greater, says specialist

Oct 20, 2014 Michael Bunting

UK businesses need to de-risk their international growth. That’s the message from Smart Currency Business, an international payment specialist which has recently expanded into the east of Scotland. Director Carl…

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Dads – want to take more time off to look after the baby?

Ago 15, 2014 Michael Bunting

THE world’s changing. From having no rights to spend time with their newborns a few years ago, dads now have significant rights to take time off work and get a…

French air traffic controllers call off strike, avoiding disruption for travelers

Two men sentenced for stealing £4.75m gold toilet from Blenheim Palace

London congestion charge may increase to £18 a day in 2026 under new proposals

Scottish athlete sports new social media site

60 Seconds with… Startup Grind’s Phin Mpofu

International trade riskier but rewards potentially greater, says specialist

Dads – want to take more time off to look after the baby?

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