Grant McKnight Blog

Ark Media’s film to air on BBC2 A film worked on by production company Ark Media will be aired as part of BBC2’s Festival of Funny Shorts this weekend. Ark Media – whose managing director Phil Arkinstall is president of the Sutton Coldfield Chamber of Commerce - were commissioned by 104 Films, the UK’s leading production company focusing on disability, to collaborate on the edit of a film entitled ‘Verisimilitude’.  The film is about an unemployed disabled actress who is frustrated at how all the disabled acting jobs go to able bodied actors. Out of work, she is engaged as an advisor to a spoilt up and coming British film star, showing him how to be disabled for his latest role.  Verisimilitude has already been screened at 10 BAFTA qualifying film festivals including Slamdance, Palm Springs and London Short Film Festival.  On Sunday, it will premiere on BB2.  The impressive cast includes Ruth Madeley, star of BBC’s Terry Pratchett adaptation The Watch; Esther Smith star of Apple TV’s T

  Here are some key takeouts from Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s economic plan to help the UK's recovery from the COVID pandemic: For businesses and employers An extension of the Coronavirus Job Retention Support Scheme (CJRS) to September 2021 across the UK.  The scheme will remain unchanged until July when the government will ask businesses to provide a 10% contribution to employees’ pay, which will rise to 20% in August and September. Small and medium-sized employers in the UK will continue to be able to reclaim up to two weeks of eligible Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) costs per employee from the Government. An extension of the UK-wide Self Employment Income Support scheme (SEISS) to September 2021.  This will include a fourth grant for three months support at 80% of average profits, continuing until April – then 50% commencing from May onwards, for businesses where turnover has fallen by 30% or more. Businesses, where turnover has fallen less than 30% will receive a 30% grant. The rate of