During the COVID-19 pandemic the UK Courts have been faced with a significant amount of divorce applications due to the pressure of family life during lockdown. The new digital divorce process, which is due to come into effect from 13 September, is set to speed up divorce applications whereby individuals can now use an online portal where the Court will acknowledge and process applications far more quickly.

The online process is more straightforward and avoids technical language and legal jargon which in effect simplifies the divorce process, meaning a more stress-free divorce.

Young van drivers today are more health-conscious than ever before, new survey finds. The Vansdirect survey of 250 UK van drivers discovered that fewer than 20 per cent of young van drivers (aged 18-24) choose a fry up for breakfast, with the majority opting instead for healthier options, like breakfast bars, smoothies, and fruit.

Overall, only 26 per cent of van drivers today consume a full English while on the road. Surprisingly, just 4 per cent of van drivers skip breakfast entirely.

City of Wolverhampton’s Shopmobility service will reopen to customers on Tuesday, 7 September.

Located in the City Centre Market, the service will initially be open on market days - Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, from 10am to 2pm, with plans to offer longer opening hours and additional days in the near future.

Severn Trent and Octopus Energy Group, the fastest growing energy supplier in the UK, have pledged to develop together renewable energy projects across the Midlands. It is the first time two major utility companies in the UK are teaming up to produce renewable power generation.

The two companies have agreed to explore potential opportunities to generate clean, green energy at Severn Trent sites and other third-party locations throughout the region. The collaboration agreement will support Severn Trent’s triple carbon pledge of reaching net zero carbon emissions using 100 per cent renewable energy and transitioning to a fleet of vehicles that are entirely electric by 2030.

The Shadow Secretary of Health and Social Care the Rt Hon Jonathan Ashworth MP is to speak at a University conference aimed at helping people improve their health and wellbeing in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Member of Parliament for Leicester South is the keynote speaker at the Intelligent Behaviour Analytics (IBA) Global Leadership Conference 2021 organised and hosted by Birmingham City University, to be held at the University’s Royal Birmingham Conservatoire on Wednesday September 8.

The title for this year’s conference is ‘IBA Global Leadership Conference; the road to resilience in a COVID-19 World’ and the event will explore individual experiences of the pandemic and the influence that effective Leadership can have in such pressured situations.

The following changes to the city council’s cabinet have today been announced:

• Councillor Sharon Thompson becomes Cabinet Member for Vulnerable Children and Families.
• Cllr Shabrana Hussain joins the cabinet as Cabinet Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods
• Cllr John Cotton, Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion, Community Safety and Equalities, will now take on the responsibility for Bereavement Services and Registrar Services.