In a week when tens of thousands of postal workers are out on strike, we reflect back 25 years to the UK government of the time actively crushing the coal mining sector nearly out of all existence. Reportedly, it would have cost around £1bn to save the industry back then. What small beer in the wake of the UK’s present government bailing out British banks with sums far greater than that?
Last month, UK Coal plc – one of the remnants of the old coal industry – announced a new fundraising round of £100m. Fully modernised and – with the advent of ‘clean coal’ power stations – in relatively rude health, the economics of coal have turned full circle. No public investment then, but substantial private investment now…
Perhaps it goes to show that investments spent on improvement and stimulating real strategic value are the best investments. Sinking money into high operating costs cannot be sustainable, whatever industry you are in. In the IT department, the people are the value – but they need the systems to help them show it.
Tags: investment, OPEX, Postal Strike, UK Coal plc
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