Writer on business, tech, cities and education for the Guardian and others. Occasional editor. Get in touch for commissions and story ideas – helen.alex.lock@gmail.com
Children With Disabilities 'Pushed out of Mainstream Schools' in UK
Children with special educational needs and disabilities are attending mainstream schools in fewer numbers the UK, research has shown.
Getting Your Freelance S**t Together
Freelancing can be an administrative nightmare. One moment you wonder if you’ve got enough to do, the next you’ve landed extra clients and got a full-to-the-brim schedule.
Here's some hard-won tips for how to sort it all out...
Which is the world's vainest city?
Is it a plastic surgery centre such as Seoul or Rio de Janeiro, or a hotbed of selfie-takers such as Manhattan? A data-driven deep dive in to the vainest cities in the world.
Which is the most hayfever-prone city – and is 'botanical sexism' to blame?
In 2016, Melbourne experienced a rare and extreme case of “thunderstorm asthma” that led to ten deaths and 8,500 people being admitted to hospital in one day. Ambulance dispatchers struggled to cope with 1,900 calls in the space of five hours, and one hospital ran out of Ventolin asthma inhalers.
Oslo: Europe's 2019 Green Capital is an Innovation Hub to Watch
Norway is reliant on oil and gas for its strong economy. But its business people know that will need to change in the future as the world moves towards renewable technologies.
Fight the fakes: how to beat the $200bn medicine counterfeiters
Armed with blockchain and AI, health workers and campaigners are battling the bogus business that kills thousands.
UK's Canals and Rivers Could be 'Plastic-Free in a Year' if Every Visitor Takes a Bit of Rubbish Away
Tips on how to keep our rivers and canals clear of plastic.
This New Bakery and Kitchen in Manchester Will Give Jobs to Homeless People
A feature about a project providing opportunities for homeless young people in Manchester.
7 Ways to Stop Wasting Food to Save Money and Save the Planet
Around a third of food is wasted globally. Here are some tips to cut down on waste.
The New Lancashire Cafe Tackling Food Poverty and Promoting Sustainably Sourced Produce
The cafe and food academy was launched with a mission to help people understand nutrition.
Where is the world's hardest-drinking city?
“Drinking is seen as a sign of masculinity in Kiev,” says Daria Meshcheryakova. “People don’t understand how a grown man could be sober in the evenings or on holiday – they would wonder what was wrong with them.”
Here come the girls: teenage tech founders on the future they want
From the freedom to fail to more gender-balanced offices, inventive Gen Z girls hope to transform the tech industry...,
Is ‘meanwhile use’ in London a lifeline for creatives or trojan horse for gentrification?
A feature exploring the temporary use of empty spaces for alternative purposes in London...
'Croydon, a suburban borough of south London might not have the arty image other parts of the capital benefit from, but helping to change that is a new gallery, research and studio space for artists right in its centre.... '
Can Blockchain Keep Refugees from becoming 'Invisible'?
A in-depth piece exploring the possibilities of blockchain technology in helping refugees and stateless people keep some form of authorised identity that isn't at risk of being lost or stolen. Examples include the Rohingya who are denied a nationality but can potentially use blockchain to store financial information that brings about financial inclusion.
How one insurer is prepping for a world of driverless cars
An interview exploring the pros and cons of telematics in car insurance and interview with an innovative start-up business leader, Penny Searles.