Images_Digital_Edition_March_2020

INDUSTRY NEWS www.images-magazine.com 22 images MARCH 2020 Rowlinson Knitwear joins the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter Rowlinson Knitwear has become one of the first six organisations in Greater Manchester to become a member of the Good Employment Charter. Aimed at improving wages and employment standards, the Good Employment Charter is a voluntary scheme designed to help deliver good jobs with opportunities for people to progress and develop. As a member of the Charter, employee-owned Rowlinson has pledged to pay all staff the real living wage, offer flexible working and provide security of work. Nicola Ryan, director of colleague support at Rowlinson, said: “We’re really proud to be one of the first members of the Good Employment Charter as we’re incredibly passionate about everything it stands for. “Being members of the Charter gives us the opportunity to demonstrate a solid commitment to our colleagues, to continuously strive for improvement in our culture and people practices, and to share knowledge and best practice with other companies who are committed to being good employers.” www.rowlinson-knitwear.com [Third from left] Nicola Ryan, director of colleague support at Rowlinson, at the official launch of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter UK interest rates maintained as economy shows signs of improvement The Bank of England announced at the end of January that it had held the UK interest rates at 0.75%, amid early signs that the UK and global economies are picking up. At a meeting on 29 January 2020, the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted by a majority of 7-2 to maintain the interest rate at its current rate. The MPC said it will closely monitor the extent to which early indications of “an improved outlook are sustained and follow through to the hard data on domestic activity in coming months”. The Bank of England said the most recent indicators suggest that global growth has stabilised, and that global business confidence and other manufacturing indicators have generally picked up. In the UK, near-term uncertainties facing businesses and households are said to have receded. Surveys of business activity have picked up, investment intentions appear to have recovered, and consumer confidence has slightly increased, added the Bank. The unemployment rate has also remained low and stable, and employment growth has picked up. www.bankofengland.co.uk International Coatings fundraises for pet charities at Impressions Long Beach Expo 2020 International Coatings raised more than $500 at Impressions Long Beach Expo 2020 for animal rescue charities by printing T-shirts designed by mosaic artist Jolino Beserra. At the event, the company offered visitors a meet-and-greet with Jolino, who signed T-shirts printed with his one-of-a-kind mosaic, animal rescue design for a charity donation. International Coatings transposed and printed the design onto 300 ringspun cotton T-shirts donated by Cotton Heritage, using its new FX Gel Gloss Clear ink to highlight part of the design, as featured in February’s Anatomy of a Print feature in Images . Initial funds raised at the event were donated to the Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary, with any additional fundraising to be given to two other US-based pet rescue organisations: Harley’s Dream and Flying Fur. The T-shirts are available to purchase at www.davidedwardbyrdposters. bigcartel.com. www.iccink.com International Coatings collaborated with mosaic artist Jolino Beserra to create the charity T-shirt The Bank of England has announced it has held the UK interest rates at 0.75%