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Anneke Short and Jerome Robert are the husband-and-wife team behind the Camden Watch Company, which they co-founded together eight years ago.

What made you decide to go into business together?Anneke: I met Jerome when I was studying jewellery and watch design in Switzerland, and he was training to be a teacher. When we moved to London in 2010, I was interested in launching my own design studio but didnt want to do it alone. Jerome has lots of complementary skills, so I asked him to go into partnership with me and do all the things I didnt want to do. Luckily, he agreed!

Jerome: Anneke is the designer, but I was born and raised in La Chaux-de-Fonds (known as the watch valley of Switzerland), so I know a lot about watches too. The watch design studio did quite well, but it was hard to win new business because its a very secretive world and there are a lot of non-disclosure agreements. We decided to launch the Camden Watch Company to show off what we can do. We now have two stores in London and export internationally too.

How do you share responsibilities and communicate efficiently?Anneke: Its definitely evolved over time. I do all of the design work, the customer service, and most of the admin. Jerome does all of our social media, the photography, and a lot of the big picture stuff. We definitely have a constant flow of communication where were always talking about everything. But we also have to schedule meetings so that we can make sure were ticking things off our list. Were husband and wife, but were also co-founder and co-founder, so we need to make sure we put those hats on as well.

Jerome: I love the design part but Anneke is amazing on watches. Im always so impressed to see her designs. I also love spending time in the shops with our staff its fun to have direct contact with the clients and you soon realise that your employees are the heart and soul of the company. I try to spend time with them. In terms of communication, Anneke and I send a lot of WhatsApp messages!

How is ultrafast broadband vital for the success of your business?Anneke: We couldnt be the business that we are without it. We have to be incredibly reactive when people write to us, especially if its via social media.

Jerome: Reliability is so important. If the broadband is down, we cant send posts on social media, or use our point-of-sale terminal in the shops.

What are your tips for working together as co-founders?Anneke: Hold each other accountable and make sure youre doing what you said youd do. And dont be too precious if the other person challenges you. If I come to Jerome with a design that Im proud of but he doesnt think works, hell tell me.

Jerome: It helps if youre both passionate about the business, and if you want to spend a lot of time with your co-founder. The best thing about the Camden Watch Company for me is being able to work with my wife.

What made you decide to go into business together?Ed: We met at school when we were 16 and we became friends. I went to acting school in California and spent some time juggling theatre jobs with shift work. But eventually I decided I wanted to start a marketing agency and asked Tom if hed do it with me. I presented him with the worst business plan in the world but, amazingly, he said yes.

Tom: I studied management and was working as an offline media planner and buyer. It was a good time for Ed and I to do something SEO (search engine optimisation) was just taking off and Google was making big changes to how it organised its index.

How do you share responsibilities?Ed: We dont really! Pretty much every business adviser weve had has said Tom and I need to divvy up responsibilities, and that theres too much crossover. But we come at problems from completely different angles. Im a little bit more methodical, a bit more cautious, and we end up meeting somewhere in the middle.

Tom: Starting out, neither one of us wanted to chase invoices, so we both did it. Neither one of us wanted to make cold sales calls, so we both did it. Today, I can tell you whats on Eds to-do list and he can tell you whats on mine because theyre the same. But our roles are slightly different. We have a team of around 30, and if they have any issues, they tend to come to me. Whereas Eds the guy who loves to get stuck in if we have an awkward situation with a client. That split has happened quite naturally because of our personalities.

How is superfast broadband vital for the success of your business?Ed: Everything we do is cloud based our designers and developers are constantly downloading and uploading large files, our SEO team is trawling through millions of pages of data. The whole thing would break really quickly without good internet.

Tom: Were heavily reliant on video conferencing now, like everyone else. I think [good internet is] the minimum clients expect now.

What are your tips for working together as co-founders?Ed: Go into every conversation willing to compromise. If you believe that the best results are found in collaboration, then you will always get the best results. Tom challenges me on everything I do and that makes me better every day.

Tom: Have a sensitivity to whether your co-founder is up or down. Be ready to step up. Because youll be very grateful when they do the same for you.

Virgin Medias fastest ever Voom Gig1 business broadband is ideal for time-pressed small business owners. Whether youre in technology, hospitality or retail, Voom Fibre brings you closer to your team, your suppliers and your customers, leaving you free to focus on what you do.

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Working with my wife is the best thing: the joy of starting a business with your nearest and dearest - The Guardian

The futures digital, and thanks to the pandemic, that futures here sooner than many expected, leaving several industries struggling to catch up.

But when hiring costs can range from 50% of an employees salary for entry-level roles to as much as 150% for skilled workers and managers, investing in training existing workforces could pay dividends. Accredited online learning from world-class training provider, ILX, could help ease your workforces journey into the new dawn of digital.

The impact of Covid-19 on industryCovid-19 accelerated digital transformation, leaving customers and service end-users few options but digital engagement, and forcing businesses to adapt to survive. The pandemic impacted almost every facet of the working world, including:

And now, as the world gets back on its feet, organisations are facing staff shortages, supply chain disruption, inflation, and uncertainty.

But, with challenges come opportunities. And by training your workforce to adapt to the new world of industry, your business can face the future with confidence.

The most in-demand skills in 2022Dealing with the after-effects of the pandemic has forced many businesses to reprioritise the skills they look for in their workforce. The skills rated most highly by organisations are:

Given the unprecedented matrix of challenges businesses face, the demand for management and leadership should come as no surprise. Dealing with these crises requires having the right vision, setting effective strategies, making the right decisions, setting the right examples, and communicating the right messages at the right time.

Learning and Development is key to post-pandemic successNew ways of working and the adoption of remote-hybrid employment have been key drivers in an increased demand for learning and development.

With staff shortages affecting every industry, training is seen as a key differentiator (80%) in attracting top talent. And with the shift into hybrid and remote work models, and the increased uptake of AI technology, organisations are investing in training their IT and product development functions, as a priority.

Organisations must keep up with the pace of AI adoption

The capabilities of AI are already stretching beyond what many could have predicted. But taking advantage of the efficiencies and benefits it can offer is dependent on organisations and their workforces keeping up with the speed of advancement.

The reality is that artificial intelligence (AI) is at work already it impacts how we search, how we shop and even how we meet people. Here at ILX, we believe that demystifying AI is key. People have always feared what they dont understand, and this revolution is no different.

Timing will be a factor, but in all cases, making AI accessible is key to getting the workforce of the future engaged. Russell Kenrick, Managing Director of ILX Group,

AI to make some low-skilled roles redundantManaging Director of ILX Group, Russell Kenrick, explains how re-skilling professionals can help combat the AI skills gap, and allow room for lower-skill workers to upskill.

The upskilling (or reskilling) debate is about the roles that are leaving vs the roles that are needed for the future. The real elephant in the room, is the roles that are going (due to AI today) are largely lower-skill roles. Unfair I know, but were seeing AI replace shop workers, waiters, receptionists and office admin and its a long journey for some of those workers to fill the skill gaps like data scientists, digital marketing experts and IT professionals. But its possible.

Where it gets even scarier, is when we see more AI and automation within what we call professional roles, such as sales, customer services, and business support roles like HR, learning, finance, legal, IT Service desks, etc. Its the reskilling of these people that will drive growth in AI roles because the workflow is more complex.

He gives advice on which AI to opt for:

When implementing AI, we recommend the use of Agile methods to get the best results it requires rapid feedback loops and lots of experimentation.

Data science skills will help your workforce better understand its customersThe shift to online buying isnt just a challenge for organisations, its also a massive opportunity to gather data and use it to analyse and understand your customers like never before. Organisations that analyse data to better understand customer behaviour outperform their peers by 85%.

However, a national shortage of technical IT staff means that training is essential.

Digital MarketingKeeping your business competitive in a shifting global landscape requires acknowledging where skillsets need an update.

Managing Director of the ILX Group, Russell Kenrick, explains what it takes to create high-performing sales and marketing teams:

Sales and marketing are in transition, driven by technological advances and accelerated by the global pandemic. The traditional skills associated with sales and marketing no longer guarantee success. To be successful today, professionals in these functions need to marry traditional content and communication skills with data analytics, data-driven decision making, digital marketing skills, such as SEO, PPC, CRM and social, and perhaps most imortantly Agile project management. This last one is often overlooked, but more often than not, it is the difference between high-performance sales and marketing teams and the rest.

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Why the future isn't when, it's now | theHRD - The HR Director Magazine

Stimsons Syria Series, closed roundtables under Chatham House Rule for renowned regional and international experts, aims to unpack the complexity and enhance understanding of the policies and perceptions of players in the Syrian conflict.

As part of its roundtable activity Syria Series, Stimson Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Program held the second online edition entitled Regional Consequences of the Syrian Conflict on Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq on the 19th of September 2022, under Chatham House Rule.

The humanitarian, security and economic dynamics of Syria are interlinked with that of Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq after more than eleven years of a devastating war. The drowning of more than 77 Lebanese and Syrians among others after their boat heading to Europe sank off the Syrian shores on September 23 highlights the cross-border dimensions of the humanitarian misery for both countries.The security impact of the ongoing conflict in Syria has transformed from the movement of non-state-actors across borders to established networks for smuggling drugs to Jordan en transit to the Gulf. And the US-Iran confrontation is played out in both countries, making the US presence in Syria and Iraq increasingly interconnected.

To discuss the regional interconnections between Syria and its three neighbors Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq the Stimson MENA Program, gathered experts and policy makers from the EU, Germany, Iran, Russia, Switzerland, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, and the US to share insights on this important aspect of the Syrian crisis. The roundtable was moderated by Kawa Hassan, Executive Director Stimson Europe, Director MENA Program and Senior Fellow, and Abdulla Ibrahim, Non-resident Fellow, Stimson MENA Program.

The war in Ukraine has diverted the international communitys political, financial and media attention from Syria with two immediate consequences. First, it deprived Syria as well as the region from much needed material support in the middle of an unprecedented regional economic collapse: Syria and Lebanon with depended economic disaster, Jordan, and Lebanon with increased burden of the Syrian refugees, Jordan with the drugs and smuggling networks, and Iraq with the endemic corruption. These economic woes are interconnected to political challenges. Second, it left the Syrian conflict with no horizon for a political solution due to the polarization of global politics. The Russian preoccupation with Ukraine has also left a security vacuum that is filled by Turkey, Iran, ISIS, and many others. That has led to eroding the long-held stalemate in Syria, as one expert suggested. With dire consequences for Syria and the region, attention is urgently warranted, and a new, proactive policy is required.

With dire consequences for Syria and the region, attention is urgently warranted, and a new, proactive policy is required

Caring for the Syrian refugees in a failing Lebanese state is as hard as providing for Lebanese citizens. Lebanon has been hit by consecutive economic crises lately: covid-19 pandemic in 2020/2021, after the economic crisis in mid-2019. This has resulted in a drastic deterioration of the rights and living conditions of both Lebanese citizens and Syrian refugees. Lebanon has a poor record in treating refugees, and Syrians are no exception. Syrian refugees are treated as guests and denied basic rights like to employment and education. Around 80% of Syrians in Lebanon are not legal residents and are therefore vulnerable to political and economic abuses.Within Lebanon, there is an increasingly discriminatory discourse against Syrian refugees with a tendency to blame them for all the countrys failures, mentioned one of the experts

Despite the push factors to leave Lebanon, voluntary return to Syria has not increased. Since 2016, only 70.000out of 1.5 millionhas returned to Syria, with many of them coming back to Lebanon again. In 2021, there were only roughly about 5.000 returning Syrian refugees to Syria according to Human Rights Watch (HRW). The majority of Syrians in Lebanon are thus still opting to remain in Lebanon. Concerning Syrians that have opted to come back to Lebanon after returning to Syria, they were confronted with several grave human rights violations that included kidnapping, execution, and sexual assaults according to a study by HRW on returnees between 2017-2021.Refugees also spoke about the struggle to survive in Syria due to electricity cuts and a lack of food. In line with HRW findings, the Syrian Commission of Inquiry states that Syria continues to be unsafe to return.

Supporting the Syrian refugees in Lebanon cannot be effective without addressing the wider crisis in Lebanon.

Supporting the Syrian refugees in Lebanon cannot be effective without addressing the wider crisis in Lebanon. The Lebanese state is unable to support its own citizens and channeling more aid to Syrian refugees living next to poor Lebanese raises moral and political questions in addition to societal tensions. Experts warned that the confluence of the growing volatility on the ground and the increasing economic dire straits is very dangerous for Lebanon and beyond including Europe, and therefore there is a need for an out of the box thinking and approach by international players and donors. They suggested some ideas to address this immense challenge ranging from supporting the Lebanese state, devising solutions to grant access to education for Syrian refugees, improving the effectiveness of aid and assuring that it arrives to the right recipients, considering distinguishing between the Syrian refugees and economic migrants, and considering regional and global demographic burden sharing.

Jordan felt the shocks of the Syrian crisis on its security and economy since day one. The negative indirect impact affected the economy of the north of Jordan in terms of increased unemployment, reduced growth, and swollen poverty. The issue of refugees in Jordan is becoming routine, and it has become a new reality for Jordanian society, as one expert explained.The smuggling of drugs has now become a devastating factor not only to Jordans security but more importantly to its social fabric. The protraction of the unresolved Syrian crisis has increased the inefficiency of the whole Jordanian state institutions.

The issue of refugees in Jordan is becoming routine, and it has become a new reality for Jordanian society, as one expert explained.

When it comes to drug smuggling, historically, Jordan functioned as a transit hub between Syria and the Gulf. But now Jordan is becoming a hub for well-rooted networks of criminality that is pervasive into the Jordanian society structure. The fall of ISIS and the collapse of arms smuggling have given way to drugs to fill the vacuum. These arms-based networks turned into drugs-based networks and have penetrated the region and are on their way to becoming institutionalized across borders in the region. The lack of a political horizon and the unstoppable state collapse in Syria threatens a resurgence of a new kind of radicalism. The risk of ignoring drugs-smuggling and finding a political solution to the Syrian conflict potentially will lead to a potential marriage and unholy alliance between ISIS and criminal networks, which is a serious threat to regional security. The international community should introduce a cooperation model similar to the anti-ISIS coalition, which includes intelligence sharing and enhancement of border control techniques and capabilities. Improving rule of law in Syria is inevitable for any strategy to curb drug production and smuggling to devastate social structures on the regional level. This new strategy requires a political solution in Syria.

Jordan launched a political initiative for the conflict in 2021 when it realized that there is a need for a realpolitik vision in dealing with the war in Syria. This initiative reflects the shifting priorities of Jordan to focus on stability, as well as for other Arab countries like the UAE. Given the unprecedented challenges arising from the lack of vision to end the ongoing conflict in Syria, finding a solution is a part of Jordans national security. However, Jordan cannot go far alone without support from its allies and with cooperation from the Syrian government. Despite the Jordanian interest to see a solution in Syria, there is a lack of vision on what the future Syria should look like. It is worth noting that Jordans relationship with the Syrian government has been historically filled with rivalries and mired with ideological and political rivalries, and personal differences. But in the end, Jordan and Syria do share a border, and stability in Syria is of Jorans national interest. The lack of vision and active policies toward a political solution in Syria from the international community is alarming to Jordan, and that is the motive behind its 2021 initiative.

For Iraqis, Syria has been a source of instability for years since the Syrian Government used to allow its borders for terrorists to cross to Iraq to attack the US forces and Iraqi civilians. After 2011, the crisis in Syria brought multiple economic and security challenges to Iraq, especially for the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region and Mosul. These intertwined security and economic challenges have affected internal Iraqi politics, such as the dynamics between Iraqi Sunni-Shite groups. In addition, the fragmentation of Iraqi politics has led to fragmented policies toward Syria.The instability in Syria has reduced the Iraqi GDP by 1.2 Percentage Point according to a study by The World Bank in 2020, due to the negative effects on investment, tourism, and Syrian refugees.

For Iraqis, Syria has been a source of instability for years since the Syrian Government used to allow its borders for terrorists to cross to Iraq to attack the US forces and Iraqi civilians.

Apart from the national impact on Iraq as a whole, the war in Syria is affecting Iraqi regions differently. In the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), the Syrian crisis influences the relationship between Kurdish parties such as the PYD/KDP, and the KDP/PKK, which are also influenced by regional players, such as Turkey and Iran. Economically, Syrian oil and products are refined in Iraqi Kurdistan before being exported through Turkey. It is important to note that much of the aid that goes to Syria crosses through KRI, which is often dependent on the border crossings that could be closed due to disagreements between the Iraqi KDP and the Syrian PYD. More to the south in Iraq, the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and the Iraqi central government are key players, where the Iraqi non-state-armed groups have a presence on both sides of the borders. This is an issue of great contention between Iraq, Iran, and the US. Iraq has furthermore formed a bridge for Iranian aid to Syria. Therefore, the US and Iranian presence in both countries is a source of destabilization in Iraq, and events in either country affect the other drastically.

There is also the issue of the ISIS camps and prisons in the Northeast of Syria that hold a lot of Iraqi citizens. For example, the al-Hol camp holds more than 50.000 ISIS family members, one third of them are Iraqis, which is a big problem for Iraq, Syria, and the international community. For Iraqis, the camp is a ticking timebomb and Iraqi officials have avoided dealing with the issue altogether.The key question here is: what can the international community do to address this problem? An expert noted that most stakeholders are not truly trying to solve the issue because there is a lack of jurisdiction in dealing with those detained in al-Hol, and there is no agreed-upon solution to this thorny issue.For Iraqis, unofficially, it a taboo to speak about al-Hol. On the other hand, the unclarity of the situation inside the camps makes it difficult to find a solution.

Excerpt from:
Regional Consequences of the Syrian Conflict on Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq Stimson Center - Stimson Center

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The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, and Yemen:

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At the invitation of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the Foreign Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council member states, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Republic of Iraq, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and the Republic of Yemen, and the GCC Secretary General met in New York on September 23, 2022, to underscore the historic and enduring partnership among their countries and enhance joint cooperation in all fields.

Building upon the successful Jeddah Security and Development Summit in July 2022, the Secretary of State underscored the enduring U.S. commitment to the security and territorial defense of U.S. partners and taking all necessary measures to preserve the regions security and stability, and developing joint areas of cooperation and integration.

The Ministers underscored the historic, strategic, ambitious, and growing partnerships between the United States and the GCC, its member states, as well as Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, and Yemen, to promote peace, security, stability, and economic prosperity in the Middle East and address regional and global challenges, including humanitarian, food, health, and climate crises.

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Joint Statement Following the GCC, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, and Yemen Ministerial - United States Department of State - Department of State

BAGHDAD, 28 September 2022- UNICEF abhors and condemns the attack which impacted a school today in a refugee settlement in Koya, in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

At least two children were injured and one pregnant woman was killed, according to initial reports. UNICEF extends its sincere condolences to the families and friends of those killed and wishes the injured children a fast and complete recovery.

Attacks on children and their school facility are unacceptable and can be a grave violation of childrens rights. School facilities should always be a safe place for every child, where children can learn, play and grow to reach their full potential.

UNICEF reiterates its call on all parties to protect children from all forms of violence at all times and under all circumstances, and to respect the Safe Schools Declaration.

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UNICEF condemns attack on school in Koya, Kurdistan Region of Iraq and calls on all parties to respect the Safe Schools Declaration - UNICEF