Monthly Archives: August 2020

Logistics, Logistics Tech, News, Retail

Quadient Announces New Compact Parcel Locker Solution Bringing Automated Pick-Up and Drop-Off to Shops of all Sizes

Quadient, a leader in helping businesses create meaningful customer connections through digital and physical channels, announced today the UK launch of new, compact and modular parcel lockers – Parcel Pending Lite™ – designed to facilitate roll-out and accelerate adoption of parcel locker delivery and automated pickup solutions in the retail and parcel carrier markets.

The need for practical, convenient and easy-to-install parcel lockers is particularly high in the retail and carrier pick-up points markets, as they face growing click-and-collect parcel volumes as a result of the continuous growth of e-commerce, and more recently with the COVID-19 crisis creating more traction for a greater range of reduced contact delivery solutions.

“The experience we have built in the past years, collaborating with key players in the retail and carrier markets, has enabled us to conceive and bring this innovation to market, and meet the high expectations of our customers in terms of cost, reliability and serviceability,” said Daniel Malouf, chief solution officer, Parcel Locker Solutions at Quadient. “Parcel Pending Lite by Quadient is the solution that disrupts the parcel delivery and collection landscape as we know it today, bringing the automated parcel pickup experience to retail stores of all sizes, even your favorite small store across the street.”

The scalable design supports retailers in starting with the exact number of boxes they need according to anticipated parcel volume and available space, with the ability to add further units as demand increases. The Parcel Pending Lite technology has also been designed to optimise the total cost of ownership, with an easy and quick set-up process as well as low maintenance costs.

The Lite technology is a market innovation that has already captured the interest of Yamato, Japan’s leader in logistics, with a commitment to deploy 3,000 units for its pick-up and drop-off sites that include convenience stores, train stations, supermarkets and drugstores. Roll-out is expected to start as soon as this summer and continue through 2023.

 

Marketing, PR and SEO, News

Cambridgeshire Based Start-Up Triples in Size During Lockdown

Cambridgeshire start-up Meet Hugo was founded just two years ago, in 2018, in which time they’ve grown significantly.

This growth skyrocketed during the three-month lockdown period, which has seen the company grow from a team of nine to 27. They have literally tripled in size and are continuing to create jobs for both the local area and abroad.

As businesses have turned to digital methods of communicating and generating leads during the pandemic, the demand for a service to streamline the sales process and provide more targeted prospects has increased. As such, Meet Hugo were presented with the opportunity to hire more talent to meet demand, increasing the number of staff they have and size of the business, along with both their bottom line and in turn their customers.

Ben Harper, Founder of Meet Hugo explains,

“For the most part, we’ve been really fortunate in that our platform is focused around lead generation, and is effectively a work from home tool, which means we’ve seen a higher demand than normal, and we’ve been kept very busy since the start of the pandemic. We’re growing, and there is plenty of work out there for businesses – we’ve had over £62m ($77m) of projects on our platform in the last three weeks alone for instance, so keeping up with the demand is the next challenge we face.”

To learn more, visit meethugo.com

News, Sport

Round-the-World Sailor uses Medallia Crowdsourcing Platform to Engage with Fans and Gather Advice Ahead of Solo World-Record Attempt

Medallia, Inc. (NYSE: MDLA), the global leader in experience management, today announced that British sailor Pip Hare is using its crowdsourcing platform – Medallia Crowdicity – to crowdsource ideas and advice from the sailing community and engage with fans as she attempts to become the fastest woman to sail solo around the world. Pip is using the Medallia platform to solicit inspirational ideas on how to stay mentally and physically fit – as well as how to maximise performance – as she competes in the 2020-2021 Vendée Globe.

The 24,000-mile Vendée Globe is the ultimate test of endurance. Pip will be on her own from when the race starts in early November 2020, until its expected finish in February 2021. One of Pip’s first challenges will be asking fellow sailors, fans, experts for advice on how to tackle more than 90 days on her own. During the run up to the race, she will issue further crowdsourcing ‘challenges’ to her new digital community and will share video feedback updates to illustrate their impact on her performance.

“The Vendée is the biggest challenge I’ve ever faced, not just because of the dangers and athletic demands of sailing single-handedly around the world, but because of the sheer amount of time I’ll be on my own,” said Pip Hare. “But isolation is something many people have learnt to cope with, be them fellow sailors, other athletes and even people shielding during lockdown, so I can’t wait to hear their inspiring ideas and insights.”

Hare continued, “The Medallia platform will also be a brilliant way for fans to see what I’m up to; both during preparations and during the race itself. Furthermore, I know it will be highly motivating for me to read all their suggestions and messages of support.”

Pip’s Crowdicity community launches ahead of the Royal Western Yacht Club’s (RWYC) ‘Lonely Rock Race’ 2020 starting on August 16, 2020, where she will compete in her newly renamed 60ft IMOCA class boat, ‘Medallia.’

To join Pip’s crowdsourcing community, leave an idea or comment on other people’s suggestions, please visit: https://medalliaxpiphare.crowdicity.com/.

In September, Pip will also start to use Medallia LivingLens, which allows her to upload video and audio footage for automatic analysis. LivingLens uses a machine learning algorithm to scrutinise numerous parameters – including facial expressions, tone of voice and keywords used. These videos will be available for all fans to view, while the analysis – along with data about Pip’s biometrics, the weather and the boat’s performance – will also be available during the Vendée Globe via a single dashboard.

Fans will also have the opportunity to record and upload their own videos with suggestions or motivational messages for Pip. More details will be provided on the Medallia x Pip Hare website in the coming months.

“Pip will be physically on her own when she competes in the gruelling Vendée Globe, but that doesn’t mean she can’t be a part of a vibrant online fan community in the run up to the race,” said Leslie Stretch, CEO, Medallia. “By tapping into the insights and knowledge of enthusiasts and experts all across the world, Pip can feel connected to her many fans, drawing on their support as she chases her dream. Our platform will also give Pip’s supporters an idea of what it’s like to take on such an incredible endeavour with video; and in round-the-world sailing, that’s something they wouldn’t usually get to see.”

Charity & CSR, South Wales

Lord’s Taverners pay tribute to former Wales Chair Ray Dyer

THE Lord’s Taverners in Wales have paid tribute to former chairman Ray Dyer, who has died at the age of 77.

The Cardiff businessman was a driving force behind the capital’s extremely successful Christmas lunches for a couple of decades, and was chair of the Taverners in Wales from 2000 to 2009.

Alan Crossley, who was secretary of the region during Ray’s time as chair, said: “Ray was very much a free-thinking entrepreneur, and the lunches were transformed from speaker-based events to extravaganzas featuring major entertainers from stage, TV and radio, coupled with opera and dance.

“They became so successful we once ran four Christmas Lunches in a single week at the Cardiff Marriott. He had a wonderful sense of humour and he never panicked – even as us group of volunteers organised four events in one week! The lunches remain a highlight of the Cardiff business calendar to this day, and much of that is thanks to Ray.

“He certainly raised the profile of the region, and I can’t begin to think how many buses and special sporting equipment were donated in his time as chair.”

Current Lord’s Taverners Wales chair Andrew Gibson said: “On behalf of all Taverners, I would like to pay tribute and say thanks for Ray’s tireless work on behalf of the charity. During his time, the Wales committee raised many tens of thousands of pounds for the causes we support. Thank you, Ray.

“I would like to give our condolences to Ray’s wife, Pam, and his children Nicola, Charlotte, Chloe and Charlie, and the wider family.”

Son Charlie said: “Fun, fairness, and kindness are the three words which best characterise Raymond Dyer. They were at the heart of everything he did whether at home as our beloved Dad, or in his professional life as Ray. This was equally true of his work with the Taverners where he achieved so much over many years as both a committee member and as Chairman.

“As a family we were fortunate enough to experience a great many Taverners events and have particularly fond memories of Dad’s work to develop the Christmas Lunch events which, from small beginnings, blossomed into one of the hottest tickets in town!

“One particularly poignant memory for me was of a visit to a school in Carmarthenshire with Dad, after they had recently taken receipt of a specially adapted minibus and I will always treasure the memory of experiencing at first hand the joy and the excitement of the young people and staff members and Dad, as I witnessed first-hand the impact of the work that the Taverners has on people’s lives and the pride with which Dad has for the Taverners work.

“Dad considered it a privilege to have been involved in this charitable work: he loved helping others in all he did and he often spoke of the pride he felt in having been involved in developing and leading of the Taverners in Wales.

“He absolutely loved life and always enjoyed his Taverners meetings with the likes of Ian Spratling who became one of Dad’s closest of friends. He would always have one for the plank with him and Richard Adler, Richard Jones and many, many more. They were the ‘good ole days’ he would say.”

Appointments, News

Bangarra Group appoints new Head of Sustainability & Community

Fund management and investment business The Bangarra Group has appointed Howard Jones as its new Head of Sustainability & Community.

Howard, who has had an outstanding career in corporate, public and philanthropic roles, has accepted the position alongside his existing role as Managing Director of St. Mellion Estate in Cornwall, UK. He will be responsible for co-ordinating all the group’s sustainability projects and embedding these projects into the group’s everyday work.

Jeff Chapman, Chairman of the Bangarra Group, said:

“Twenty years ago, the decision was made to put philanthropy and caring at the core of the culture and set of values of the group.  It felt like the right decision from the moment it was made and so it has proved over the years.

“Turn the clock forward and the culture and values base on which the Bangarra Group now operates is such a part of what the group does that it is strong enough to expand in purpose and impact to include sustainability and community as defined targets for our business activities.  The benefit of our experience and our evolution over these past twenty years ensures that this move is more than just business; these are family values that inform the way we live and work – we exist to build a human community that is healthier, more productive, socially inclusive and properly engaged with our vital role in sustaining peaceful co-existence with life on earth and the resources that support us all.

“For the group, in investment terms, the opportunity to supplement an economic return by the addition of a social or community benefit return is fast becoming a preferred investment model for individual and institutional investors around the world.  It is only necessary to look at the huge interest in, and support for, means of addressing climate change, to understand that tomorrow’s investors have a passion for achieving impacts that are reflected in the quality of human life and a positive return for the Earth.  For other businesses in the group, it is evident that our drive to do good through good business can take more shape, gain greater meaning and have wider impact by absorbing this approach, then reporting on it.

“In that context, I am delighted to announce that Howard Jones has accepted the additional role of Head of Sustainability & Community for the Bangarra Group.”

Howard’s key focuses will include evolving St Mellion Estate as a sustainable social business, demonstrating then reporting upon Sustainability and Community impacts both at St Mellion and across Bangarra Group, putting the practical lessons from this into a wider model for proper integration of sustainability measures in fund management.

Howard commented:

“This role comes at the perfect stage in my career and with timing that could not be improved upon.  Much of my life I have been working towards the aims and values that are represented by Bangarra Group.  This is the point at which I can translate all of my experience and knowledge, at scale, and in a practical way, within an organisation that is already performing very well, but that wants to share the approach with others, to make real change.  I am absolutely delighted with the opportunity.”

Marketing, PR and SEO, News

DMA research reveals signs of recovery, but jobs still at risk

The DMA’s latest Coronavirus survey reveals first signs of recovery, but redundancies still expected over the coming months

This week the Data & Marketing Association (DMA) published the results of its fifth ‘Coronavirus – The Impact on Business’ survey revealing the first signs of recovery. about job retention. But despite these early indications concerns about difficult staffing decisions in the coming months also see a significant increase.

Data and marketing professionals estimate their trading revenues improved from down 44% in June to down 34% in July. While being down by a third is still a long way from normal trading, it will be welcomed by many who responded voicing their concerns about the future of their businesses.

This increase in revenues is also reflective of the gradual, but continued, return of ‘Business as usual’ capacity many are seeing, now at 68% in July – up from 53% at the start of lockdown. Despite these very early signs of recovery, concerns about the impact on businesses has remained high and  the number of businesses applying for the UK Government’s ‘Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme’ has increased markedly i – up from 9% to 16% month-on-month. Additionally, 23% of companies believe they will only be able to continue trading for six months or less. 

“According to our barometer of data and marketing businesses, concerns remain high about the future. Despite early signs that revenues might be returning, this is still markedly down on pre-pandemic levels,” says Chris Combemale, CEO of the DMA. “In these difficult financial times for many businesses, these latest figures suggest difficult decisions for many in the coming months, particularly when it comes to staffing. So, it’s also encouraging to see many utilising the government schemes on offer to help avoid redundancies as much as possible.”

Difficult decisions ahead

Organisations surveyed in July reported a significant increase in those believing they definitely will or have already had to make staffing changes amid the pandemic. Businesses that have or expect to not retain freelance or short-term staff increased to 44%, from 33% in the previous phase from June.

More concerning is the rising number of organisations surveyed that have already or believe they’ll definitely need to make permanent staff redundant in the coming months. This has increased significantly from around a quarter of organisations (25% in June) to a third (32% in June).

Businesses are, however, still clearly trying to avoid this outcome, with many continuing to use the government’s Job Retention Scheme (58%) and one in four hoping take advantage of the recently announced Job Retention Bonus (25%). 

For full details on the DMA Coronavirus Survey, visit:
https://dma.org.uk/research/coronavirus-july-2020-the-impacts-on-business

COVID-19, Environmental News

Food industry expert fears Coronavirus pandemic is putting business owners” sustainability goals at risk

A leading food waste expert has raised concerns that the Coronavirus pandemic may hamper businesses from achieving their green goals.

Kevin Quigley, commercial director at food waste recycling and sustainability firm, Warrens Group, said that businesses have had to deal with the pandemic in a very practical way due to closures, staff reductions and loss of value. This has resulted in many putting investment on hold with regards energy-saving technology and innovative new ways of doing things.

Now lockdown is coming to an end, Kevin is concerned that business owners are in a hurry to get back to pre-Covid-19 performance and may choose to focus on quick-fix solutions, rather than looking at long-term sustainability goals.

He said: “The fear is that due to financial pressures, business owners could revert to old ways of doing things rather than invest in more innovative ideas.”

Kevin added that one of the unintended consequences of lockdown is that we’ve all had a taste of a world with cleaner air.

He said: “There’s a real incentive for us now to deal with the environmental situation better. Covid-19 has prompted us all to make changes to the way we do business. We must not lose sight of how we use energy, how we source it and whether that energy is derived from truly sustainable sources. This is a rare moment in our history where there is an opportunity to rebuild on a clean path of growth which will generate jobs to help achieve objectives around net zero.”

Kevin added that businesses need to ask themselves whether the waste they are generating is truly sustainable.

He said: “Business owners need to consider how they are using recycling to minimise their carbon footprint. Would investment put their business in a stronger position for example if they fully embraced a sustainable life cycle in their production activities?”

He believes that the Coronavirus pandemic has taught us all lessons about sustainability.

“Businesses have had to work smarter and more efficiently during lockdown. This is mainly down to a lack of full supply chain from across the world which has made businesses look for local suppliers, thereby reducing the length of supply chains. Home-working has become the new reality. Therefore, our impact with regards travelling to work, our energy consumption in the workplace and effects on the environment have resulted in lower global CO2 emissions. This has undoubtedly proved beneficial for our planet.

“Businesses need to review energy use and look for sustainable practices and energy sourcing and look for more sustainable working models for the waste generated in the business life cycle. The lockdown has shown us that we can reduce emissions, particularly when it comes to travel and logistics with regards components of production and delivery of finished goods. If we review our production techniques and systems, I’m certain we can lower impacts if we work collaboratively together. 

Kevin suggests that striking local partnerships might be key to shortening supply chains.

He said: “There have been many stories of manufacturing businesses adapting to the challenges raised and working in close proximity to supply the needs of the NHS. I can’t see why we can’t broaden this to a wider economy model and shorten supply chains to reduce environmental impact. Now is as good a time as any to reach out to neighbouring businesses like ours to find out how we can cooperate.

“At Warrens biogas plant, we are doing our bit to help as when these materials are anaerobically digested, the resulting nutrients found in digestate, an end product of the anaerobic digestion process, can be used to feed and nourish the soil. We need to rethink the traditional globalised view of how we have done business in the UK for the last few generations to become more sustainable. We also need to review where our products and markets are for the consumer to see if we can adapt and produce closer and more sustainably through new leaner technology.”

As part of Warrens Group’s ongoing efforts, it uses biomethane gas in its HGVs. This has increase vehicle longevity by four years and reduced carbon emissions by 84%, aligning with its wider corporate sustainability strategy.

The business has also installed a biomethane filling station, capable of fuelling 200 vehicles per day and it guarantees no losses in transmissions of gas from conversion to filling.

 

Awards, Healthcare News, News, NHS News

Churchill Group’s Mo:dus ‘Make Ready’ shortlisted for Best Public Sector Project at National Technology Awards

Soft service provider Churchill Group is delighted to announce that its Mo:dus ‘Make Ready’ system has been shortlisted for ‘Best Public Sector Project’ at the National Technology Awards 2020. The winners will be announced on 30th November 2020.

Make Ready is a system which sees ambulances prepared by a dedicated team of specialists who clean, restock and check the equipment on ambulances ahead of each shift. Currently Make Ready methods vary across the ambulance Trusts and are often performed by paramedics. This is a laborious process that can use up as much as two hours in a 12-hour shift, taking them away from their core job function.

The Mo:dus Make Ready app enables consistent high quality clinical care, reduces the risk to patients through increased vehicle safety, ensures all equipment and medicines are asset managed, and is fully auditable for total accountability. The data gleaned via the app can drive optimisation as it offers a unified view of assets, fleet, medicine, people and demand. It was first adopted by Trusts in July 2018, and since then others have used the app to great success.

James Bradley, director at the Churchill Group, commented: “For far too long, reduced visability through lack of quality technology has meant Trust’s miss out on meaningful optimsaitons across logistical and operational functions. The Mo:dus Make Ready app dramatically reduces lost hours, assists with compliance, simplifies job management and prioritisation, and provides Trusts with cost savings. Most importantly, it improves patient safety through higher operational productivity and performance of the Trusts. We’re delighted that this important system has been recognised by the National Technology Awards.”

The National Technology Awards are organised by National Technology News. Now in their fourth year, the awards celebrate the pioneers of technology and encourage excellence.

Business Investment, Business News, News

UK scaleups face £15bn growth capital gap

Urgent action is required to close the UK’s growth capital gap, according to a report released today by Innovate Finance, the ScaleUp Institute and Deloitte in collaboration with the Business Action Council (BAC), by accelerating, evolving and expanding existing initiatives under a national framework for growth.

The report, The Future of Growth Capital, stresses that closing the emerging £15bn gap will provide opportunities for aiding the UK’s economic recovery post-Covid, generating future prosperity and boosting regional economies, productivity, innovation and internationalism.

Growth capital refers to the financing that enables scaling innovative companies, both young and established, to reach maturity.

The gap — the difference between demand for and supply of growth capital — stood at £5bn-£10bn a year before the Covid-19 crisis. The pandemic has significantly exacerbated the issue and effectively doubled the gap, with it now reaching £15bn.

The report lays out five specific and practical recommendations to tackle the long-standing, structural problem of a lack of available capital for scaleup companies. The recommendations are:

  1. Create a ‘National Blueprint for Growth’ that delivers a strategic joined up approach to support and champion more consistent and effective economic growth across all regions and sectors
  2. Accelerate the unlocking of Institutional and Corporate Funding through changes in legislation and organisation that crowds in the existing significant private sector capital that can make inroads into closing the growth capital gap
  3. Expand and build upon the British Business Bank (BBB) by strengthening the regional presence of the BBB with empowered decision making deployed under a national framework, and continue the developments of its products along with Scottish Investment Bank (SIB), Development Bank of Wales and Invest NI
  4. Expand the role and scale of Innovate UK and its direct deployment of innovation capital to our most innovative, early stage and scaling businesses
  5. Create a “Future Opportunity Fund” to develop diverse sectors and impact investing potential that is focused on emerging, socially inclusive markets, including the carbon net-zero economy

There are a number of potential benefits from closing the growth-funding gap and laying to rest the long-term structural issues identified in the report. These include a 10-20% boost in business investment, doubling the number of scaleups in the UK and supporting levelling-up objectives delivered through strong growth across all regions.

The UK’s 33,860 scaleup businesses constitute a critical portion of UK small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and contribute £1 trillion to the UK economy annually. These scaleups represent 50% of the SME economy and are twice as likely to innovate and have international businesses than their peers.

The UK is the top destination in Europe for FinTech investment and has strong growth in sectors such as life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and media. Although it ranks third in the world for starting a business, it only ranks 13th when it comes to scaling them.

The report looks at what the UK can learn from the targeted support that many of the UK’s international peers have developed for scaleups. The five recommendations draw on lessons from what Germany, Canada and the USA are doing to deploy growth capital to scaleups in their own countries as a means to drive economic revival. This is often also in tandem with structured long-term business support measures.

Irene Graham OBE, CEO of ScaleUp Institute, commented: “Scaleup companies are key to economic recovery. They make a significant contribution across the country in every locality and sector. As this report highlights, even through the Covid-19 period, they remain highly innovative and are still investing in R&D and job creation. As we seek to build back better we must be bold in addressing our scaleup challenges and the widening gap in long term patient capital.

“We believe that the combination of approaches set out in this report can finally solve long standing growth capital issues and make significant inroads to the leveling up agenda. As this report emphasises, the public and private sector must work together in a collaborative effort to deliver the step change required.”

Charlotte Crosswell, CEO of Innovate Finance, commented: “As we reset our economy in the wake of Covid-19, this is the moment to address the growth and innovation-capital gap with long-term policy solutions. We accept that there is no silver bullet or single policy that can resolve a complex issue. That is why our recommendations spread across different areas and feed into a long-term solution.

“The problem is abundantly clear, and it’s now crucial we make the changes and address it. Areas of our growth economy such as the FinTech sector – which is full of scaling, innovative companies – are advancing at a rapid pace, and we risk losing an entire generation of vitally important businesses if we don’t make the necessary structural adjustments.”

Richard Kibble, UK Head of Banking at Deloitte, commented: “No one can deny the widespread disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. In the short and medium term, it’s vital that we find new ways to get the economy growing again. However, longer term it also represents a unique opportunity to reset some of the fundamental challenges the UK has faced for quite some time – regional levelling up, diversity, carbon emissions, unemployment – to name but a few.

“We believe therefore that Covid-19 should act as a catalyst for change. Now more than ever it is vital that businesses are encouraged to start and scale up to their full potential. After all, it could be a chance to create a positive and lasting legacy from the upheaval of this crisis.”

Download the report here: https://growthcapital.report

 

Jobs, Recruitment

NEBOSH begins search for ‘transformational’ Chief Executive

NEBOSH begins search for ‘transformational’ Chief Executive

NEBOSH, one of the world’s leading health, safety and environmental organisations, has begun recruitment for a new Chief Executive.

Over the past 40 years nearly half a million people in over 130 countries have studied for a NEBOSH qualification. It is now searching for a transformational and commercially astute Chief Executive who can continue its legacy in providing recognised, rigorous and respected qualifications that help to save the lives of people in workplaces around the world.

The charity, which employs over 110 people from its base in Leicester, embarked on a new strategy in 2019. Coupled with the challenges and opportunities presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, the new Chief Executive will drive a period of significant transformation that has already begun with the introduction of new technology for the delivery of its examinations.

Bill Nixon, NEBOSH Chair, says: “NEBOSH plays a key role in improving health, safety, wellbeing and the environment in workplaces worldwide. It is a cause very close to the hearts of our employees and our global network of learners, Learning Partners and employers so to join NEBOSH as our new leader will be to join a very passionate and worthwhile community.

“This global community expects the very best from NEBOSH so our Board of Trustees is searching for a very special Chief Executive; someone who has exceptional people skills and commercial acumen but also a drive to make the world a safer and healthier place for workers around the world. It’s a challenging prospect but we’re in the business of saving lives and that is incredibly rewarding indeed.”

Recruitment is being undertaken by Peridot Partners. Please visit https://www.peridotpartners.co.uk/jobs/nebosh-chief-executive/ for further details and to apply.