Business Diary: March 8

As we gear up for the long-awaited annual time change from GMT to BST, on March 27, it appears that workers are thoroughly fed up with the time switch and would rather we kept the clocks at the same time all year round.

As we gear up for the long-awaited annual time change from GMT to BST, on March 27, it appears that workers are thoroughly fed up with the time switch and would rather we kept the clocks at the same time all year round.

The survey, carried out by Bodet, specialist in clock systems, has shown that 73 per cent of workers said it took them up to 30 minutes of office time to change their clocks at work.

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In addition, eight out of 10 employees said that up to 30 per cent of their meetings are likely to be disrupted on Monday, March 29.

One bizarre finding is that, as a result of the time switch, men are more likely to be either late or early to work on the Monday – with six per cent of men turning up an hour late and eight per cent an hour early. Women proved to be considerably more organised and only three per cent are predicted to turn up late. Now far be it from Diary’s intention to suggest this is further evidence of female superiority, but it does make you wonder why men find it harder to get to work on time. C’mon gents! Get with the programme.

Deloitte name enters natural history books

A NEW species of frog has been named after Deloitte, in recognition of the professional services firm’s work helping to preserve a rainforest in Tanzania.

It is all part of Deloitte’s involvement with the Yorkshire-based charity, the United Bank of Carbon (UBoC), which it co-founded with Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate and the University of Leeds.

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Nectophrynoides deloittei was discovered in the Rubeho Forest, in 2005, and has been named by the African Rainforest Conservancy (ARC), an agency set up to conserve and restore Africa’s rainforests.

Deloitte is one of the founding members of UBoC, which brokers partnerships between individual businesses and rainforest conservation projects run by established NGOs.

Through this partnership, Deloitte identified a rainforest conservation project with ARC to provide an opportunity for its people to support an environmental cause through fundraising and volunteering.

The firm raised more than £200,000 to support the project to fund the on-going conservation of the entire mountain and forest range in the Rubeho region, an ecologically distinct area known as the “Galapagos of Africa”, and helping to ensure the local community can earn a living from the forest. Leeds-based Heather Hancock, managing partner for Innovation and Brand at Deloitte, said: “This project was a pioneering move by Deloitte. We wanted to demonstrate our commitment to the rainforest, to biodiversity and to the development needs of local people. And we wanted to learn more about how we could make a difference in remote and important parts of the world. It is a rare honour that ARC have chosen to name a newly discovered species from the Ruhebo region after our firm, and one we will cherish.”

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Jonathan Wild, the chairman of Bettys and Taylors, said: “The aim is to bring together companies in Yorkshire and beyond to tackle the biggest cause of climate change – deforestation.

“Deloitte has supported the initiative from inception, and the firm’s work in Tanzania is a great example of the crucial role UK businesses can play in empowering local people and helping them to preserve their natural heritage. It’s fantastic that the firm’s contribution will be remembered through the naming of this new species.”

Flipping bankers...

Bankers have been blamed for many things in recent years and today – Shrove Tuesday – they are coming under fire for pushing up the cost of pancakes. Anti-poverty campaigners The World Development Movement argue that bankers and hedge funds are helping to drive up the price of food to record levels through “reckless speculation” on basics such as wheat and sugar. Murray Worthy, policy officer at World Development Movement, said: “In the UK, the pleasure of Pancake Day will be a little less enjoyable as families feel the pinch of higher price for the key ingredients.”

He added: “These higher food prices are being fuelled by the greed of bankers who are speculating on essential foods to make a quick buck.”

Upper crust

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Meanwhile, directors at Meadowhall are taking their research very seriously ahead of construction on the shopping centre’s redeveloped food quarter.

They recently made it their mission to try every pie at one particular stall in the food court and score them out of 10.

And their favourite? “There was one with beef and stilton which particularly stood out for us, but they were all very good,” said a member of the management team diplomatically.

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