online research jobs in london

King's College London

Job id: 089906 . Salary: £43,205 - £50,585 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance .

Posted: 21 May 2024 . Closing date: 16 June 2024 .

Business unit: Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sci . Department: Physics .

Contact details: Sergi Garcia-Manyes . [email protected]

Location: Strand Campus . Category: Research .

Back to job search

King’s College London has one of the UK’s best Physics Departments with the QS World University Rankings placing us in the top 10 universities in the country.

Our research-intensive department houses internationally renowned scientists working across diverse and interdisciplinary fields, including biological physics and soft matter, photonics and nanotechnology, the theory and simulation of condensed matter, theoretical particle physics and cosmology; and experimental particle and astroparticle physics.

About the role

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced researcher, holding a PhD in biophysics, biochemistry  or related disciplines that has experience and is interested in different aspects of single molecule mechanobiology. The candidate will work with single molecule AFM and magnetic tweezers to study the nanomechanical properties of cell-cell junction proteins.

The project is funded by a BBSRC sLOLA programme. The project will be developed between the Francis Crick Institute and the Department of Physics at King’s College London.

Within King’s, you will be part of the department of Physics, which belongs to the Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences (NMES). Supporting our staff is important to us and we offer a range of provision including flexible working, caring support, and training opportunities. The university is making significant investment in the Faculty and both student and staff numbers are growing. Our staff come from over 45 countries and around 56% of our students are from outside the UK.

Further details are available at www.kcl.ac.uk/nms

Further information may be found at: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/physics  

Key responsibilities

• Develop high quality research in the field of mechanobiology   
• Contribute to publications arising from this project
• Contribute fully to developing and enhancing the research profile of the Department, Faculty, and University, including establishing a track record of high-quality publications
• Use new research techniques and methods
• Identify areas for research, develop new research methods and extend the research portfolio

This is a full time post (35 hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed-term contract from 01/08/2024 (subject to lab refurbishment completion) until 31/03/2026

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

1.       Hold a PhD in Biophysics, Physical Chemistry, Cell/Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Bioengineering or equivalent

2.       Extensive demonstrable experience with single molecule AFM/Magnetic Tweezers/Optical Tweezers nanomechanical experiments.  

3.       Research experience, laboratory skills & ability to use/manage lab instrumentation.   

4.       Experience in student supervision, grant writing and project design 

5.       Strong track record in the biophysics field according to experience

Desirable criteria

1.       Experience in protein design, cloning, expression and purification

2.       Programming skills

3.       Experience with confocal/spinning disk microscopy

4.       Experience with cell mechanics (AFM, Cell Magnetic tweezers, cyclic stretching, microfluidics, etc) experiments; Experience in Mass spectrometry characterization of proteins 

* Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.

Further Information

We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community. We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King's. 

Benefits of working at King’s College London. KCL provides an extensive and varied range of career-focussed training and on-the-job learning as follows:   

• We support staff to maintain a work/life balance  
• Flexible working, parental leave opportunities, and subsidised childcare costs.
• Reduced membership rates for staff at gyms at three of our campuses  
• Employee Assistance Programme provides free, confidential advice on both home and work concerns 
• 30 days annual leave (plus UK bank holidays and four additional concessionary closure days over Christmas)  
• Occupational pension scheme with generous employer contributions, and opt-in additional personal contributions  
• Season ticket loans and  cycle-to-work scheme  
• Membership of My King’s Discounts offering preferential rates to a wide range of groceries, holidays, entertainment, home, health, beauty and fashion

Full information on staff benefits: Staff Benefits - King's College London (kcl.ac.uk)

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet each essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible. 

To find out how our managers review your application, please take a look at our ‘ How we Recruit ’ pages.

This role does meet the requirements of the Home Office and therefore we are able to offer sponsorship for candidates who require the right to work in the UK. 

Skip to job results

Skip to refine results

• Skip to main menu
• Skip to user menu

Visit timeshighereducation.com

University & Academic Jobs in London (Greater)

• Refine results

Refine your search

• Senior Management & Heads of Department   14
• Academic Posts   22
• Research Related   20
• Professional Services   65
• Arts & Humanities   6
• Business & Economics   3
• Clinical, Pre-clinical & Health   5
• Engineering & Technology   4
• Life sciences   3
• Physical Sciences   3
• Social Sciences   8
• London (Central)   37
• London (South)   24
• UK Pounds   98
• Permanent   70
• Fixed Term   40
• Maternity Cover   3
• Direct Employer   113
• Full Time   106
• Part Time   8

Found 117 jobs

Lecturer in music (education & research).

• London (Greater) (GB)
• KINGS COLLEGE LONDON

About Us The King’s Music Department, situated at the heart of London, is known worldwide for its innovative research across the sub-disciplines of...

View details Lecturer in Music (Education & Research)

• Save Lecturer in Music (Education & Research) You need to sign in or create an account to save

Sales Development Representative

• London (Greater) (GB) / Hybrid
• £28,000 - £30,000
• TIMES HIGHER EDUCATION

As a result of our incredible success and growth, we are looking for a Sales Development Representative on an initial 6 months FTC to join us.

View details Sales Development Representative

• Save Sales Development Representative You need to sign in or create an account to save

Product Marketing Manager

• £60,000 - £65,000

We are looking for a talented and driven Product Marketing Manager to join our growing team and take our offering to the next level.

View details Product Marketing Manager

• Save Product Marketing Manager You need to sign in or create an account to save

Lecturer in History

• Greenwich, United Kingdom
• £37,099 to £42,978 plus £4069 London weighting per annum
• UNIVERSITY OF GREENWICH

We are seeking a proactive, enthusiastic individual who is committed to excellence in teaching, research and student support.

View details Lecturer in History

• Save Lecturer in History You need to sign in or create an account to save

Deputy Head of School - Management & Marketing

• £56,021 to £64,914 per annum

You will provide strong academic leadership and vision for your School, driven by a commitment to Teaching and Student ...

View details Deputy Head of School - Management & Marketing

• Save Deputy Head of School - Management & Marketing You need to sign in or create an account to save

Technical Manager (Operations)

The Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences (NMES) is a vibrant faculty based in the heart of London with a long tradition of world...

View details Technical Manager (Operations)

• Save Technical Manager (Operations) You need to sign in or create an account to save

Senior Lecturer in Engineering

As part of the growth of the Department of Engineering, we are seeking candidates with research and/or experience in complex systems, particularly ...

View details Senior Lecturer in Engineering

• Save Senior Lecturer in Engineering You need to sign in or create an account to save

Senior Conference Producer

• £45,000 - £50,000

We are hiring for an experienced Senior Conference Producer to join the Times Higher Education events team to develop our global events.

View details Senior Conference Producer

• Save Senior Conference Producer You need to sign in or create an account to save

Professor of Marketing

• £66,857 to £79,795 plus £4069 London weighting per annum

We are seeking a dynamic an emerging research leader to join us as Professor of Marketing in Greenwich Business School.

View details Professor of Marketing

• Save Professor of Marketing You need to sign in or create an account to save

Senior Audio Visual Engineer

• Stratford, United Kingdom
• £44,577 per annum inclusive of London Weighting
• UNIVERSITY OF EAST LONDON

We are looking for a hardworking, versatile individual, with a proven track record in advance support of an agile Audio-Visual service.

View details Senior Audio Visual Engineer

• Save Senior Audio Visual Engineer You need to sign in or create an account to save

Create a job alert and receive personalised job recommendations straight to your inbox:

Knowledge Exchange Development Manager

• Docklands, United Kingdom
• £44,577 to £49,641 Starting from £44,577 per annum inclusive of London Weighting

We are seeking to appoint a Knowledge Exchange Development Manager to join the Research and Development Support (ReDS) ...

View details Knowledge Exchange Development Manager

• Save Knowledge Exchange Development Manager You need to sign in or create an account to save

Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Clinical/Counselling Psychology - Academic Tutor

• £55,008 per annum, pro rata, inclusive of London Weighting

We are looking for Academic Tutors to join the enthusiastic and committed programme team. Our well-established programme is characterised ...

View details Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Clinical/Counselling Psychology - Academic Tutor

• 7 days left
• Save Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Clinical/Counselling Psychology - Academic Tutor You need to sign in or create an account to save

Research Assistant in the Department of Social, Genetic & Dev Psychiatry

• £37,332 - £37,982 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance

About us: About the Faculty The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN) is dedicated to discovering what causes mental illness...

View details Research Assistant in the Department of Social, Genetic & Dev Psychiatry

• 6 days left
• Save Research Assistant in the Department of Social, Genetic & Dev Psychiatry You need to sign in or create an account to save

Postdoctoral Research Associate and Teaching Fellow in Population Mental Health

• £43,205 - £46,732 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance

About us In April 2024, IoPPN, King’s College London established a national Population Health Improvement Cluster (PHIC) with a focus on mental hea...

View details Postdoctoral Research Associate and Teaching Fellow in Population Mental Health

• Save Postdoctoral Research Associate and Teaching Fellow in Population Mental Health You need to sign in or create an account to save

Postdoctoral Research Associate

The Nott group is looking for a skilled and motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate with a strong background in structural biology, cell biology,...

View details Postdoctoral Research Associate

• Save Postdoctoral Research Associate You need to sign in or create an account to save

​​Clinical Trials Feasibility Associate​

• London (Central), London (Greater)
• £43,205 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance

As a pivotal university wide role, you will work closely with academic, clinical and other staff, at all levels and across the partner organisations.

View details ​​Clinical Trials Feasibility Associate​

• Save ​​Clinical Trials Feasibility Associate​ You need to sign in or create an account to save

Student Experience Officer

• £37,332 - £42,099 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance

​Our mission is to support a diverse group of learners to achieve their potential at King’s.

View details Student Experience Officer

• Save Student Experience Officer You need to sign in or create an account to save

Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Societal Impacts of Extreme Heat Events in a Warming Climate

To work on the UK Research and Innovation Future Leader’s Fellowship: Reducing Global Catastrophic Risks from Unseen Climate Extremes.

View details Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Societal Impacts of Extreme Heat Events in a Warming Climate

• Save Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Societal Impacts of Extreme Heat Events in a Warming Climate You need to sign in or create an account to save

Senior Technician

• 37,332 - £42,099 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance

About us: King’s College London, School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences (SCMMS) provides an outstanding multi-disciplinary envi...

View details Senior Technician

• Save Senior Technician You need to sign in or create an account to save

Research Assistant in the Department of Psychological Medicine

• £37,332 - £42,099 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance.

About us: The Department of Psychological Medicine focuses on the interface between psychiatry and medicine, psychiatry and occupation, psychiatry ...

View details Research Assistant in the Department of Psychological Medicine

• Save Research Assistant in the Department of Psychological Medicine You need to sign in or create an account to save

QUICK LINKS

Degrees and programs powered by experience

Undergraduate

NEWS, DISCOVERY, AND ANALYSIS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Explore our global campuses

Find unique opportunities for experience-powered learning and discovery.

Our hub for research and graduate education at the intersection of technology, security, and policy

Explore Arlington

Massachusetts

Established in 1898, our first campus is a comprehensive hub for learning, discovery, and urban engagement

Explore Boston

Home to world-class national security and defense research and a magnet for science-based startups

Explore Burlington

North Carolina

An engine for professional education in the life and health sciences

Explore Charlotte

Our hub in Europe, with undergraduate and postgraduate degrees—including a U.S./U.K. double degree—and world-leading network science research

Explore London

Graduate education and entrepreneurship programming to support the rapidly transforming finance and tech economies

Explore Miami

A vibrant center for coastal sustainability research and innovation

Explore Nahant

Our West Coast undergraduate campus offering unique entrepreneurship and social impact programming, and home to the Mills Institute

Explore Oakland

An engine for economic development with graduate degrees and research in technology, and home to the Roux Institute

Explore Portland

Graduate degrees and research focused on the region’s booming tech industry, and undergraduate summer programs

Explore Seattle

Graduate education for high-tech fields in the heart of California’s Big Tech region

Explore Silicon Valley

Preparing professionals to thrive in high-demand fields in North America’s third-largest tech market

Explore Toronto

Professional education aligned with British Columbia’s rising startup and high-tech ecosystem

Explore Vancouver

#LikeAHusky

Plenty of room to do your own thing. Many ways to feel like a Husky.

17 Division I teams, including varsity esports. 55 intramural sports, and 64 club teams. And a packed DogHouse on game nights. Go, Huskies! 

Take Action

Quick Links

Campus Locations

Today, a vanguard of donors is driving Northeastern’s historic $1.3 billion fundraising campaign. With initiatives that span the globe, accelerating outcomes, we’re creating a better world right now. Learn more about our mission

Copyright 2024 Northeastern University

Money latest: Popular restaurant chain launches legal bid over cockney rhyming slang for curry

Dishoom has launched a legal battle over the cockney rhyming slang for curry. Read this and the rest of today's consumer and personal finance news - and leave a comment - below.

Tuesday 21 May 2024 13:46, UK

• UK economy heading for 'soft landing' but mistakes have been made, says IMF
• Good news for drivers as oil prices hit two-month low
• Dishoom launches legal battle over the cockney rhyming slang for curry
• Two big moments this week - here's what's happening 

Essential reads

• Easiest countries for Britons to retire
• Britons should treat tea more like wine, expert says - as some secrets of improving flavour revealed
• Money Problem : 'My second-hand Ford is being written off with a known issue - but no one is taking responsibility'
• How to sell your home without an estate agent
• Basically... What is the FTSE
• Best of the Money blog - an archive

Ask a question or make a comment

Dishoom has launched a legal battle over the cockney rhyming slang for curry. 

The restaurant chain, which can be found in London, Manchester, Edinburgh and Birmingham, has asked for the term Ruby Murray to be freed up by the Intellectual Property Office. 

At the moment, a man named Tariq Aziz has the rights to the name for food and drink uses, with an IPO filing showing he registered the trademark in 2019. 

A search of the IPO site shows an application to revoke the trademark registration on the grounds that it has never been used was filed on 15 May by Dishoom Limited. 

Mr Aziz now has until 15 July to indicate whether he will offer a defence.

If he fails to do so, the trademark will be revoked and removed from the register. 

A Dishoom spokesperson told the Money team it doesn't believe the trademark's owner has ever used it. 

"There is a principle of 'use or lose it' in trademark law and we have therefore asked the UK IPO to remove the Ruby Murray mark from the register," they said. 

"Dishoom is not seeking to apply to register Ruby Murray in its own name; it wishes to remove the 'monopoly' on the use of Ruby Murray so it can be used freely by anyone when referring to curry." 

Dishoom does have a chicken ruby on its menu and in its cookbook and the Money team are big, big fans.

The International Monetary Fund has said the UK economy is heading for a "soft landing", but reiterated its message to Jeremy Hunt that he should not have cut National Insurance at the last two fiscal events.

In its annual check-up on the state of Britain's economy, the Washington-based Fund raised its forecast for gross domestic product growth this year from 0.5% to 0.7%, saying: "The UK economy is approaching a soft landing, with a recovery in growth expected in 2024, strengthening in 2025."

The Fund now expects inflation to come down to close to 2% in the coming months, and the Bank of England to cut interest rates by as much as three quarters of a percent this year, and then another percentage point next year.

The chancellor welcomed the Fund's Article IV report, saying: "Today's report clearly shows that independent international economists agree that the UK economy has turned a corner and is on course for a soft landing.

"The IMF have upgraded our growth for this year and forecast we will grow faster than any other large European country over the next six years - so it is time to shake off some of the unjustified pessimism about our prospects."

Government 'won't meet its debt target'

However, the IMF, which has warned the government explicitly in the past not to cut taxes too fast, in the face of rising spending projections in future, said the two 2p National Insurance contribution cuts at the last two fiscal events were a mistake.

"In light of the medium-term fiscal challenge", the report said, "staff would have recommended against the NIC rate cuts, given their significant cost."

The Fund's staff also believes the government is not on track to meet its main fiscal rule, which commits it to cutting the national debt in five years' time.

It believes net debt will carry on rising towards 97% of GDP in the following years, instead of falling back to 93% of GDP, as the Office for Budget Responsibility has forecast.

The Fund's double-edged report comes amid improving news for the UK.

Data released two weeks ago showed the country ended its short-lived recession with faster than expected growth in the first quarter of the year.

The Office for National Statistics is expected to announce tomorrow that inflation dropped close to the Bank of England's 2% target in April. That may enable the Bank to begin cutting interest rates from their 5.25% level in June or August.

Bank should speak more

The Fund's report contained a number of other recommendations for economic policy in the UK, including that the Bank of England should commit to more news conferences to explain its decisions, and that the government should consider imposing road charges to replace the revenue lost from fuel duty as electric cars become more predominant on UK roads.

For many Britons, retirement means moving somewhere new.

New analysis from relocation experts Property Guides has found the easiest locations for retirees, taking into account culture, visa requirements, cost and more. 

Landing in the number one spot is Ireland, with a lack of visa requirements, English-speaking residents and relatively "safe and happy" environment.

Spain, Portugal and Cyprus claim the next three spots on the list.

However, Spain is high on the minimum annual income requirement.

"Spain's is one of the most expensive. It is currently around €27,000 (£23,000) per year for the first applicant. Just over the border in Portugal, it is less than €8,500 per year. Turkey's is the cheapest, working out at a little over £5,000, while Italy requires over €30,000," Property Guides says.

Turkey also came out well for the low cost of living - unlike New Zealand.

European countries in general offer visas aimed specifically at those receiving pensions or investment incomes, according to Property Guides.

Commonwealth countries such as Australia and Canada, however, actively restrict those over 55 from moving there, even if they have a high passive income (income such as pensions, that doesn't require a job). 

It becomes easier if retirees have children who are already legal residents.

"Golden visas", which encourage wealthy people to invest in a country, are becoming less common. 

"Most countries are now cancelling their residential investment option, including Cyprus and Portugal, and Spain will soon be closing its own. However, for now, you can still get one in Spain, Greece and Turkey, for as little as a €250,000 property, and these we have judged the easiest to retire to."

Property Guides also looked at health services. They took rankings from a Legatum Prosperity Index. 

"Top scorers were Germany, Italy and France, in that order. Bottom of the pile was the USA."

The research noted that state pensions are not uprated for retirees in Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

It also factored in "sunshine hours", with the top three being Cyprus, Portugal and the US. Ireland came last here.

By Sarah Taaffe-Maguire , business reporter 

Good news for motorists: oil prices are at a more than two-month low at $83.08 for a barrel of Brent crude oil.

Lower prices will likely filter down to the pumps in about 10 days.

But it's not such good news for those in the Brixham area.

The parent company of South West Water - who supplies the Devon area - said 15% don't have normal service.

Shares in Pennon Group, which also owns Bournemouth Water and Bristol Water, fell 6.7% after it reported flat pre-tax profit - £16.8m was recorded for the 2023-24 financial year, the same as 2022-23.

That's despite shareholders being in line for a higher payout of 44.37p  a share.

Drug maker AstraZeneca is one of the best-performing stocks on the FTSE 100 index of most valuable London-listed companies today.

After it announced it aims to double revenues by 2030, the share price rose 0.53%. 

If you're buying dollars, you can get $1.27 for your pound or €1.17. 

By James Sillars , business reporter 

Grocery inflation has eased to its lowest level since October 2021, according to industry data released before official figures tipped to show a big dent in the overall pace of price increases in the economy.

Kantar Worldpanel - which tracks supermarket till prices, sales and market share - said its measure of grocery inflation slowed to 2.4% in the four weeks to 12 May from 3.2% the previous month.

The measure showed there is still upward pressure on the cost of items such as chilled fruit juices, drinks, sugar confectionery and chocolate confectionery - the latter a consequence of poor cocoa harvests.

Prices were still falling fastest in toilet tissues, butter and milk, the report said. It has previously pointed to wider assistance in falling costs from a price war among supermarkets.

Fraser McKevitt, Kantar's head of retail and consumer insight, said: "Grocery price inflation is gradually returning to what we would consider more normal levels. It's now sitting only 0.8 percentage points higher than the 10-year average of 1.6% between 2012 and 2021, which is just before prices began to climb.

"However, after nearly two and a half years of rapidly rising prices, it could take a bit longer for shoppers to unwind the habits they have learnt to help them manage the cost of living crisis."

Read more on this story below ...

Airbnb has the highest percentage of scam-related reviews, according to new data.

8.5% of comments left on the holiday-let site warned about scams, travel payment website PayFasto said.

Trivago came in second with 7.5%, Hotels.com third with 6.5%,  Myholidays in fourth with 6.1% and Booking.com fifth with 5.8%.

PayFasto says it is essential to do your research before booking a holiday online.

"Sometimes, if a deal looks way too good to be true, it often is," the company said. 

"Make sure you do research on the site and make sure they have legitimate ways to contact them if you were in the position where you needed to. If the site has no contact options, then this is certainly a red flag. "

It also warned holiday-goers to look for the ATOL (Air Travel Organisers' Licensing) scheme on websites, which guarantees customers protection separate from insurance when booking a package holiday that includes a flight. 

Sky News has contacted Airbnb for comment.

Basically, the FTSE (short for Financial Times Stock Exchange) is an index of the 100 largest companies by market capitalisation listed on the London Stock Exchange.

The index, operated by a division of the London Stock Exchange Group, is often referred to by its nickname "Footsie" and was created in 1984.

Among the companies in it are BP, HSBC, Barclays, Glencore and AstraZeneca.

Figures are reviewed every quarter. At each review some companies will exit and others will enter. Promotion and relegation, just like in league football for example, depends on performance.

The value figure presented in the evening is the closing value of the FTSE 100 for that day - representing the combined value of the top 100 companies.

How to invest in FTSE 100

You can buy individual shares of FTSE 100 companies via a share dealing platform.

There is stamp duty of 0.5% to pay on UK share purchases.

Once you've bought shares, you will need to keep track of the markets. If the shares you buy go up in value, you'll make a profit when you sell them subject to any fees.

Losses are only crystallised if you sell below the purchase price.

Tracker funds (open-ended investment companies or exchange-traded funds) provide the easiest way of investing in the FTSE 100.

Trading hours are Monday to Friday from 8am- 4.30pm.

You may have read about the FTSE reaching record highs in recent weeks - but the London-based index is actually a relative laggard this year compared with rivals in the US, Japan and Germany.

Membership arguably doesn't hold the prestige it once did - and an increasing number of major companies are citing the fact they could be valued higher as a reason for snubbing London.

Shell last month indicted it could abandon the city for New York for this reason.

Is it the top British companies?

The index is chock-full of companies that have little or nothing to do with the UK - such as Fresnillo, a Mexican gold and silver miner; Antofagasta, a Chilean copper and gold miner; and Ashtead Group, a plant and tool hire company which derives £90 in every £100 it earns from the US.

Even companies thought of as British, such as BP, Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, Shell and Diageo, the world's biggest scotch whisky and tequila producer, derive the vast majority of their earnings outside the UK. In fact, of the 20 biggest companies in the Footsie, only one - the Lloyds Banking Group - can be said to make most of its income in the UK.

For a better gauge of how corporate Britain is doing, investors are better off looking at the FTSE 250, the next biggest 250 listed companies on the London Stock Exchange and home to household names such as Bellway, Games Workshop and ITV.

Read other entries in our Basically... series:

Britons will, on average, pay £182.40 more a year for broadband and £94.80 for mobile after last month's hikes, according to research by Uswitch.

Price hikes in April mean monthly broadband bills have increased by an average £15.20 and mobile bills by £7.90, with customers who have stayed with their provider for more than five years being hit hardest. 

Mobile customers across both pay-monthly and SIM only contracts who have stayed with their provider for eight to nine years paid an extra £13.20 on their mobile bill last month - a huge rise in comparison with the national average price increase of £7.90, Uswitch reports.

Those who switched their provider less than one year ago were the best off, with their increases averaging out at £6.70.

Similarly, broadband customers who stayed with their provider for seven to eight years paid an extra £22.10 this month - significantly more than the national average price rise of £15.20.

Those who switched less than one year ago paid 23% lower than the national average.

This Uswitch chart illustrates the numbers...

"Customers seeing these price rises can still take action," says Sabrina Hoque, telecoms expert at Uswitch.

"Your provider will let you know when your contract is about to end, so don't be tempted to ignore these emails when they come through. Run a comparison or ring your provider up and negotiate a better deal."

We are a nation of tea drinkers – we drink around 100 million cups a day and 70% of us say we'd choose tea over alcohol.

But, on International Tea Day, experts have told Sky News that Britons should be treating tea more like wine.

One key thing not enough of us are doing is checking the back of the packet to see which country our tea is coming from.

Tea is grown in more than 60 countries, with the UK getting most of its supply from East Africa. All tea comes from the same plant – the Camellia sinensis – but where it is grown can really affect its flavour.

Let us know your tea tips, or how you make yours, in the comments section

"The black tea that we tend to drink here are blends, so you could have tea from seven different origins in one bag," the chief executive of the UK Tea and Infusions Association, Dr Sharon Hall, told the Money blog.

"You might have Kenyan tea in there for that really good colour but you might also have teas from Assam in there to give it that really malty flavour which we as consumers love in the UK.

"Depending on where that tea bush is grown, whether it's up high in the Himalayas or down low, the tea leaves off that will really have a different flavour profile. It's just like wines," she added.

If you look on the packet, it should tell you the origins of the tea you are consuming.

According to the Teabackyard website , the following regions have these flavour profiles...

Assam . Assam tea grows in tropical lowlands in the Assam region in India, near the Brahmaputra River. This produces a malty, chocolatey flavour. 

Ceylon . Ceylon tea is cultivated in Sri Lanka. Some tea plants are grown at up to 6,000 feet. The flavour is said to be spicy, chocolatey, and citrusy.

Kenyan . Kenya's black tea plants grow in lush green plantations located in lowland regions. This tea is often used in tea blends to provide a robust base because it is strong and full-bodied. It is a tea that almost needs milk to tame down its "bite".

Keemun . Keemun tea is grown only in the Anhui province of China. Some in China claim this was the first breakfast tea - and it is now used in tea blends too. It is a lighter-bodied black tea with a more delicate taste and isn't usually used as a base tea. Hints of smoky maltiness come through in flavour, with a subtle floral aroma.

Two teabags?

Dr Hall said two teabags was quite typical of the UK's habits, with the majority of Britons preferring a strong brew.

Despite this, data from the UKTIA shows only 7% of people brew their tea for the optimal 3-4 minutes suggested by many black tea brands, and nearly a fifth only leave the bag in for less than a minute.

Dr Hall insists tea hasn't become weaker, so if you are using two tea bags, it might be time to check the packet to see what your recommended brew time is and giving that a go to get the "optimal flavour". 

"Really in terms of the flavour you get out of those blends, they are very brand specific, like a stronger black tea you might find a brand that delivers that. But in terms of strength, that is really to do with brew time and how you prepare your tea," she explained,

She said that for green tea, she might brew the bag for slightly less time, but she likes to leave her black tea for a good five minutes.

If you are still struggling to make the perfect cup of tea, Dr Hall suggests a key ingredient could be how you boil your water.

One element that she emphasised in particular is using a "smart boil" system to make your tea – basically, measure out the amount of water you need and only boil that amount.

Not only does it save you money, it also means there is more oxygen in your water which "excites the flavours out of the leaves", meaning it could help to make your tea more flavourful, she said.

Your favourite mug, adding the milk after the water, and taking five minutes to relax are also key, she said.

UKTIA has released its latest UK "tea census" today - here are some of the key findings:

• 70% of Britons are choosing tea over booze;
• The age group most likely to choose a cuppa over alcohol are 30-44-year-olds (81%);
• 18-29-year-olds are more likely (72%) than 45-59-year-olds (64%) to pass up alcohol in favour of tea;
• Sweet biscuits are the most popular snack pairing (48%), followed by a chocolate biscuit, cake, a sandwich and chocolate;
• Britons' preferred types of tea are black tea (84%), green tea (60%), peppermint (46%), ginger (43%), chamomile (37%), lemon balm (22%) and spearmint (20%);
• Around 40% of people say putting on the kettle helps to encourage someone to open up, according to the UKTIA.

HMRC is reportedly using AI to recruit staff , with some not speaking to a human until their first day.

The hiring process for some junior roles - including customer service adviser - are being done virtually with candidates asked to send a CV and 1,000-word statement to an email address and then answer six questions from a pre-recorded video, according to The Sunday Times .

One current HMRC employee who went through the process told the newspaper it was "so daft and the questions themselves were waffle".

HMRC said that for entry-level roles, recruitment processes were automated to manage the higher level of applicants it received.

Ryanair has reported another year of record profits and passenger numbers.

At the same time, the average fare at the airline, which is Europe's largest by passenger numbers, was 21% more expensive than 12 months earlier, its annual results showed.

But the company suggested a cut in ticket prices could be on the way after this summer when prices will either be the same or more expensive than last year.

Annual profits reached €1.92bn (£1.64bn), surpassing the previous record of €1.45bn (£1.26bn) made in the year ending March 2018.

Read the full story here ...

Business flights to and from the UK have decreased by nearly a third  since the COVID pandemic.

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and examined by the New Economics Foundation found there were 29%  fewer trips in 2023 than in 2019.

In total, businesses shelled out around £2.9bn less on air travel in 2023, a 22% decrease from four years earlier, according to City AM.

"Business use of air travel peaked in 2007 and has fallen further since the pandemic. Today, growth causes major damage to our climate while benefiting only a tiny group of airport owners and wealthy frequent flyers," Alex Chapman, senior economist at the New Economics Foundation, told the newspaper.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

Assumptions of AI hiring and their impact on job seekers

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become increasingly common in job recruitment, offering automated online interviews and skill-assessment games. These tools promise efficiency and bias reduction but raise concerns about their validity, reliability and ethical implications. Research by Evgeni Aizenberg, Matthew J. Dennis and Jeroen van den Hoven sheds light on the assumptions underpinning AI hiring assessments.

A study by Evgeni Aizenberg (University of Twente & formerly TU Delft), Matthew J. Dennis (TU Eindhoven), and Jeroen van den Hoven (TU Delft) has examined the assumptions underlying AI hiring assessments and their significant impact on job seekers. The researchers highlight a crucial aspect often overlooked in the discourse: job seekers' autonomy over self-representation.

Watch the animation video about this research:

Assumptions of AI hiring and their impact on job seekers | TU Delft

AI hiring assessments rely on the assumption that a person’s skill has a meaning that is stable over time and different contexts. Furthermore, they assume that this skill can be measured and expressed as a number. The research challenges the assumption that skills are static and measurable, arguing that many skills are dynamic and context-dependent.

For example, the way a person expresses teamwork or creativity varies across different situations. Meanings of such skills are a product of a person’s interaction with other people in a specific work setting and socio-cultural context. To assess such skills, the assessment process needs to offer space for the job seeker and the employer to explore contextual meanings, for example through conversation. 

Therefore, in many contexts algorithmic assessments' reductionist approach falls short in capturing individual candidates' subtle complexities. AI algorithms aim to streamline the recruitment process by standardizing evaluation criteria, but they inadvertently strip away the candidates' ability to narrate their own stories—their identity, experiences, and aspirations. This erodes autonomy and undermines the dignity of job seekers. 

This research has also important implications for other domains where AI algorithms are applied to profile people, for example policing and welfare. When assumptions behind profiling algorithms are incompatible with contextual meanings of personal attributes they attempt to measure, they undermine people’s autonomy over self-representation. The researchers argue that this issue deserves as much attention within AI ethics as the more prominent topics of non-discrimination (fairness), explainability, and privacy.

The study suggests bringing together job seekers, hiring managers, and other professionals and researchers to collectively reflect on assessment processes suited for specific job contexts and cautions against presuming AI's necessity in assessments. Prioritizing job seekers' autonomy and dignity can create a more inclusive and empathetic hiring environment, where technologies serve as tools rather than judges of human potential.

Full research article

Evgeni aizenberg, share this page:.