The United Kingdom is a sovereign state located off the north-western coast of continental Europe. The United Kingdom is made up of four countries – England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. With a total area of approximately 244,376 square kilometres (94,354 sq mi), the UK occupies the major part of the British Isles archipelago and includes the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern one-sixth of the island of Ireland and many smaller surrounding islands. It is the world's 7th largest island country. The mainland areas lie between latitudes 49°N and 59°N, and longitudes 8°W to 2°E. The Royal Observatory, Greenwich, in south-east London, is the defining point of the Prime Meridian.
The Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) was responsible for electricity generation, transmission and bulk sales in England and Wales from 1958 until privatisation of the electricity industry in the 1990s.
In the railway system of Great Britain, a train operating company (TOC) is a railway undertaking operating passenger trains under the collective National Rail brand. TOCs have existed since the privatisation of the network under the Railways Act 1993.
The economic geography of the United Kingdom reflects its high position in the current economic league tables, as well as reflecting its long history as a trading nation and as an imperial power. This in turn was built on exploitation of natural resources such as coal and iron ore.
The British Electricity Authority (BEA) was established as the central British electricity authority in 1948 under the nationalisation of Great Britain's electricity supply industry enacted by the Electricity Act 1947. The BEA was responsible for the generation, transmission and sale of electricity to area electricity boards, and the development and maintenance of an efficient, coordinated and economical system of electricity supply.
England comprises most of the central and southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain, in addition to a number of small islands of which the largest is the Isle of Wight. England is bordered to the north by Scotland and to the west by Wales. It is closer to continental Europe than any other part of mainland Britain, divided from France only by a 33 km (21 mi) sea gap, the English Channel. The 50 km (31 mi) Channel Tunnel, near Folkestone, directly links England to mainland Europe. The English/French border is halfway along the tunnel.
Public electricity suppliers (PES) were the fourteen electricity companies created in Great Britain when the electricity market in the United Kingdom was privatised following the Electricity Act 1989. The Utilities Act 2000 subsequently split these companies between distribution network operators and separate supply companies.
Trevor John Sorbie MBE was a Scottish celebrity hairdresser and businessman. He is credited as the creator of the wedge haircut and was a four-time winner of British Hairdresser of the Year.
The New Year Honours 2008 for the Commonwealth realms were announced on 29 December 2007, to celebrate the year passed and mark the beginning of 2008.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to England:
The winter of 2009–10 in the United Kingdom was a meteorological event that started on 16 December 2009, as part of the severe winter weather in Europe. January 2010 was provisionally the coldest January since 1987 in the UK. A persistent pattern of cold northerly and easterly winds brought cold, moist air to the United Kingdom with many snow showers, fronts and polar lows bringing snowy weather with it.
The National Hairdressers' Federation is a trade industry group representing hairdressing salon owners in the United Kingdom.
The New Year Honours 2012 were announced on 31 December 2011 in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Belize, Saint Christopher and Nevis, The Solomon Islands, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and The Cook Islands, to celebrate the year passed and mark the beginning of 2012.
Errol Douglas MBE is a Guyanese-British hair stylist. He was presented with an MBE by the Queen for services to hairdressing in 2008. In 1998 Douglas opened his own salon in Belgravia, London.
Great Britain has numerous intercity services traversing the country, however, unlike in other countries, these are not clearly defined. Most of these trains are high speed, and some operate into France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Daniel William Joseph Galvin, OBE is a British hairdresser and businessman. He is particularly known for his expertise as a hair colourist.
Justin Smith is a British milliner based in London, who creates bespoke millinery under the J Smith Esquire brand for private clients and films. Smith's hats have appeared in exhibits and been acquired by the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. He has been a visiting lecturer at London's Royal College of Art and has conducted seminars and teaching workshops for the British Council.
Charlotte Mensah is a British/Ghanaian hairstylist. She is the founder and creative director of Hair Lounge, on London's Portobello Road. In November 2018 she became the first black woman to be inducted into the British Hairdressing Hall of Fame.
