Nick Child

Forex Brokers in the UK

Until the late 20th century, Forex trading was only accessible to institutions. Today, large banks and corporations exchange currencies alongside individuals. Retail traders in the UK monitor finance trends and make profitable decisions with assistance from local brokers. These intermediaries do not only give access to the market but also

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The Hireman Gives advice on dust in the workplace

We see dust on a daily basis and for the most part, most of us assume that dust isn’t intrinsically dangerous – but this actually couldn’t be further from the truth. Here The Hireman London explains all about the problem and what employers can do to help fix the problem.

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Latest Issue
Issue 334 : Nov 2025

Nick Child

Forex Brokers in the UK

Until the late 20th century, Forex trading was only accessible to institutions. Today, large banks and corporations exchange currencies alongside individuals. Retail traders in the UK monitor finance trends and make profitable decisions with assistance from local brokers. These intermediaries do not only give access to the market but also educate clients on the most viable Forex trading strategies. Dozens of companies are advertising brokerage services online. Due to the incredible popularity of Forex trading around the world, the existence of scam sites is not surprising. Since brokers handle their clients’ financial operations, it is vital to make the right choice. This article will help you identify reliable operators in your country. Crucial Selection Criteria Use the following list of factors to weed out scammers. See if you can answer these questions. 1.   Does the company comply with UK regulations? What regulatory body is it monitored by? The company must have a licence to conduct business in the United Kingdom. This information should be clearly stated on their website, as it is a sign of credibility. Check the list of regulating bodies carefully. After all, your financial flows will go through the broker. 2.   Do client reviews look genuine? Online feedback can hardly be perceived as a reliable source of opinions. However, when reviews are fake or paid, this may be deduced from the language. Look at specialized platforms with comparisons of Forex operators. 3.   How much are the transaction costs? The spreads (i.e., the difference between the Ask and Bid values) determine the broker’s commission for every transaction. Although it is natural to seek the lowest fees, remember that these must look realistic. 4.   Are there any hidden fees? Unscrupulous providers may use deceptive passages in their Terms and Conditions. Reliable brokers, on the other hand, make all the conditions transparent. 5.   How much is the minimum deposit? This usually depends on the type of account you open. Can you afford to start trading with this broker? 6.   Are their deposit and withdrawal methods convenient? This determines your ability to make transfers using the accepted methods. 7.   Does the broker offer comprehensive guidance? Renowned Forex providers supply clients with tonnes of educational material. Demo accounts should be available, so you can practice trades with zero risks. You should also be able to reach the support centre around the clock, at least on weekdays. Example: Trading with FXTM Established in 2011, this brand is now truly global. With 2+ million clients in 150 countries, it boasts impressive geographical coverage. In the UK, the company is subject to regulation by the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority). The mission of this entity is to protect consumers, enhance market integrity and promote competition in the finance field. Over the years, FXTM has collected over 25 industry awards. The firm is usually included in annual forex broker reviews. Importantly, all client funds are kept separate from corporate assets. This adds another degree of protection. Other competitive advantages include: Other UK Brokers Here are a few other brokers with positive trust ratings. All of them are regulated by FCA. Check the companies’ sites for exact terms and conditions of trading.

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Different Types Of House Constructions – Which Category Does Yours Fit Into?

Properties in the UK fit into one of two categories: Traditional Construction Most houses, bungalows and low-rise flats are brick or block wall construction. They generally have a sloping roof and will either have solid or cavity walls, depending on the era they were built.  Non-traditional Construction Anything other than a brick or block wall construction is defined as ‘non-traditional’. These include metal framed, pre-cast concrete, in-situ concrete and timber framed properties. The reason they’re split into categories is so that buyers and mortgage lenders are aware of any potential risks with the property. Mortgage lenders will want to know that a property is suitable collateral for their loan. Buyers will want to be sure that they won’t have to pay too much for repairs over time and that they will be able to sell their house fast should they decide to move.  Now, let’s look in more detail at each of the constructions and what to be aware of if you’re looking at a property without much additional information.  Metal Framed There are around 140,000 metal framed houses in the UK and a number of aluminium framed ones. The majority were built after WWII when rapid re-building was required due to bomb damage. They are, however, made to look like standard houses with finishes of brick, render or imitation brick and many of them are so convincing that a specialist eye would be needed in order to confirm whether they are actually metal framed or not.  One way to find out if the house is metal framed is to look in the roof space. There will usually be unlined sheathed metal framing or metal stud framing, lined with plasterboard.  Pre-cast Concrete Around 284,000 houses in the UK have concrete panels as their main wall structure. These were built throughout the 1920s, then again in the ‘50s and ‘60s. There are two types of pre-cast concrete houses – panel and pre-cast.  Panel systems are created in a factory before being transported to a building site for construction. If they are used as external walls then they will either look like concrete, or will have brick or tile affixed to them, imitating a traditional house. Pre-cast concrete systems are concrete frames with in-fill panels. The panels will be slotted into the frame and can mostly be found in two-storey properties. In-situ Concrete Introduced during the two great wars in the UK, in-situ walling was intended to keep costs low and construction time down. However, they ended up being more costly than traditional builds. The most well-known buildings with in-situ concrete were the Wimpey homes built between the 1940s and 1970s.  Timber Framed Houses with timber frames will usually have cladding on the outside that protects the property from the elements, as well as making them look more appealing. From around 1920 to the late ‘70s approximately 108,000 timber framed houses were built in the UK. During the ‘80s brick and block constructions became more popular, until the ‘90s when timber frames made a slight come-back again. Recognising whether your property is timber framed or not depends on when it was built. Pre-WWII houses were mostly clad with timber as well as the structure being built from it. However, post-war constructions were clad with bricks that made them more traditional in appearance. There will usually be indicators somewhere within the property as to whether it is a timber frame or not and a specialist will be able to work this out. Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) More recently there has been an increased need for housing, at the same time as there is a lack of skilled workers. Therefore, the Government is now encouraging property developers to use MMC to fulfil demand. Methods such as using Aircrete blocks, thin joint systems and structural insulated panels are helping to evolve more traditional masonry and timber frame constructions.  Similarly, steel frame systems have developed, along with in-situ concrete techniques which has led to insulated concrete forms becoming a more popular choice.  The point of MMC is to find ways of reducing construction time on site, whilst increasing the number of properties built. The quality of the properties isn’t compromised and developers are able to more accurately forecast costs and turnaround. 

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The Hireman Gives advice on dust in the workplace

We see dust on a daily basis and for the most part, most of us assume that dust isn’t intrinsically dangerous – but this actually couldn’t be further from the truth. Here The Hireman London explains all about the problem and what employers can do to help fix the problem. Excess dust in the workplace can be extremely dangerous on for a variety of different reasons. Even though this type of thing is rare, concentrated dust clouds can be potentially combustible and have catastrophic repercussions – so it’s absolutely imperative to keep a work environment relatively dust-free. Naturally, combustible dust clouds are rare, but far more common are dust-related illnesses which are a leading cause of death in the UK when it comes to occupational health.  Workplace environments where dust thrives The average joe working in an office may not be susceptible to dust-related illnesses as much as other occupations – in some industries, dust-related illnesses can be far more prevalent. These include: Mines & Quarries – dust from flint, silica and coal Construction sites – dust from asbestos and cement Carpentry – dust from wood Bakeries – dust from flour Textiles – dust from materials Farming – dust from grain The illnesses Dust is a nasty piece of work when it comes to dishing out illness and therefore can lead to a plethora of health issues. Illnesses and conditions encompass eye and nose damage, skin conditions, silicosis, mesothelioma and lung related illnesses such as cancer. Pneumoconiosis, which is the generic name given to any condition which affect the lungs causing inflammation or scarring of the lung tissue is majorly common with people that have been working with the likes of asbestos and silica – and these can prove to more often than not – be fatal.  How to prevent dust build up and keep work environments safe There are a number of government legislations that cover the provisions to minimise the risk from dust within a workplace. These include the Factories Act of 1961, healthy and safety at work act 1974 and control of substances hazardous to health regulations of 1988. There are also industry specific regulations (such as coal mining) where there is a real risk of contracting illness through the workplace. From an employers perspective, they need to doall that they can to eliminate or at the very least, ensure that there are low levels of dust for their workers to work in. Something like an exhaust ventilation system will remove dust from a particular site and furthermore a dilution ventilation system can help disperse the dust evenly throughout a particular area as opposed to allowing the dust to build up. Employers should be constantly vigilant about respirators, protective clothing and ensuring its workers have a safe environment of which to operate in. The Hireman, also provides a wide range of tools that come with dust extraction aids – of which you can find a full catalogue here. What to do in the event you think you’ve caught a dust related illness If you think that your health has been adversely impacted by dust in the workplace you can of course be entitled to some form of compensation (especially if it’s proven that your condition has come about as a direct consequence of working in the environment you’re in). The Hireman suggests that you seek immediate medical aid and persue legal options should your health be affected by poor working environments.

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