Monthly Archives: November 2020

Brexit, News, Software News

Brexit Provides New Opportunities For UK Software Company

Yorkshire-based software company Despatch Cloud has seen a notable increase in demand for their services in the wake of Brexit. While Brexit looks set to impact all sorts of businesses in notable new ways, Despatch Cloud is also optimistic about the opportunities which this event presents for companies who can adapt to the challenges.

“The anticipation of new custom regulations is driving UK export business to upgrade their existing software,” says founder and technical director Matthew Dunne. “We’ve increased our UK headcount by 20% in the last six months, enabling us to support our new customers.”

As the UK looks ahead to leaving its transition period with the EU on the 31st December, Despatch Cloud wants companies to remember this will accompany a whole host of new rules and regulations. Pertinently, it is highly likely new customs forms will now be required for all exports to the EU. As the UK is currently part of the Single Market, this is not a requirement until the break with the European Union becomes final.

While there has been much criticism of UK firms in their unpreparedness for this eventuality, Matthew disagrees. “This has not been our experience. In fact, export-oriented companies know what is coming, and they are working hard to ensure that their exports will have minimal disruption.”

However, Matthew does note that the government should still be focusing on raising awareness. “Brexit is a major disruption. Every business should be aware of the impact it will have, to help make the UK as resilient as possible.”

Looking to the future, Despatch Cloud is primed to adapt to Brexit’s changes, boosting the company’s presence internationally in both Europe and the United States. “A trade deal which opens up the US market for UK services would be a game changer,” adds Matthew. “Politicians need to focus on the strengths the country has. There’s a lot of talent here, and we need to make sure that talent is built to become world-beating. A great example to look at is Apple. While it is an international company, the product designer hails from Essex. We’re hardly short of talent in the UK, and now is the time for that talent to really come into its own and shine on the world stage.”

Events, Food & Drink, News

CRAVE, a whole new kind of food and drink festival launches May 2021

CRAVE is a brand new food and drink festival launching in two locations across the UK in May 2021. CRAVE Hampshire will kick off the spring season at Avington Park, Winchester over the bank holiday weekend of 1st – 2nd May 2021. CRAVE Midlands will be held within the grounds of Lamport Hall, Northampton, during the weekend of 15th -16th May 2021.

The CRAVE festival concept has been conceived by event management group Marque II Media, whose ethos and vision is to create memorable lifestyle events which bring communities together to celebrate their passions.

The inspiration for the new ‘destination’ food festival stems from a deep desire to create a diverse and immersive gastronomic experience, for all ages, within the grounds of some of Britain’s most beautiful and exclusive country homes.

CRAVE will celebrate the country’s biggest culinary names and the best and brightest food talent. The first headlining chef appearing at CRAVE is Jean- Christophe Novelli, with further industry-leading names to be announced.

CRAVE will appeal to anyone who’s enthusiastic about the creation, enjoyment and experience of food.

Marque II Media Executive Director Paul Mathers said “Having experienced and managed a number of events around the globe, we had long been wanting to create new kind of food festival that would bring like-minded foodies together to celebrate their love of cooking in a stunning outdoor setting.

“CRAVE is all about the passion and delight of food, from farm to fork, paddock to plate and everything in between; rearing and farming, making, tasting, eating, enjoying and sharing. It will be a sensory delight where food is king,”

The team are committed to showcasing the very best of locally grown, nurtured and created food and drink produce from a range of artisans, producers, chefs, restaurants, wineries, brewers and distillers in a COVID safe setting.

Mathers said “We’re thrilled to have an incredible line up of globally renowned and much-admired chefs on board with us, starting with Jean-Christophe Novelli, along with an exciting range of independent pop-ups, restaurants, food producers and drinks brands.

“We hope that people will come away from their CRAVE experience with new ideas and exuberance, learned from the experts and local talent alike. There will be energy at CRAVE like no other.”

The variety of experiences on offer for festival-goers at CRAVE will include a wide range of food demo’s and hand’s on cooking workshops, headline chef Masterclasses, pop up restaurants and bars, street food experiences, interactive workshops, kid’s classes, mixology sessions and tastings, an outdoor cinema and group dining in the on-site Banquet Marquees.

Mathers continues “Now, in these times, more than ever people are seeing food as solace and a source of togetherness and creativity. We’re passionate about bringing invention and innovation to our events and at CRAVE this will be demonstrated through the implementation of new technologies, and curated and memorable experiences.”

Exhibiting at CRAVE

Mathers and his team are keen to attract a culturally diverse range of businesses of all sizes to exhibit active in the food, beverage, restaurant, pub, bar, produce, agriculture, sustainability, cooking and healthy lifestyle categories.

Exhibitor sites include produce and retail stand space, pop up food and experience sites, brand activation sites, marquee’s, trader tables and space only sites. All will come complete with a free data collection package, allowing brands to capture and track leads post-events. Space only sites start from just £30/sqm.

Mathers adds “Key to CRAVE’s ethos is our partner’s success, which is also our success. We know how tough it’s been for the whole industry and continues to be. To that end, we’ve produced a range of tailor-made, cost-efficient and fully supported commercial packages to provide the brands that join in our CRAVE journey with the best possible deliverables and return on investment.”

Entry to CRAVE will start from £20 with Masterclasses from £20 and VIP experiences from £95

To learn more visit: https://www.whatdoyoucrave.co.uk/

 

Apprenticeships, Awards, News, North of England, Tech

Resolve wins Apprenticeship Award at The Yorkshire Post Excellence in Business Awards

Sheffield based IT support company Resolve proudly celebrates their recent Apprenticeship Award win following the virtual awards ceremony that took place on Thursday 4th November 2020.

The Yorkshire Post Excellence in Business Awards recognises and celebrates inspirational businesses whom bring jobs and investment to the Yorkshire region, especially during a period of uncertainty as we have seen in 2020.

Despite the pandemic, this year’s awards attracted more than 180 quality entries from across the country. Shortlisted against four other fantastic local businesses, Resolve were absolutely delighted to bring home the Apprenticeship Award following the YP’s first ever virtual awards ceremony.

The award win played true testimony towards Resolve’s continued commitment to investing in apprentices, especially throughout the course of this year.

Resolve introduced their first apprentice to the business in May 2010, and their most recent apprentice is due to join them at the end of November 2020. Resolve has always placed apprenticeships at the heart of its business growth plans, with 21% of Resolve’s workforce made up of both past and present apprentices.

The announcement of Resolve’s Apprenticeship Award win was made by Yorkshire icon and expert host for the evening, BBC’s Look North legend Harry Gration via Zoom. Upon receiving the award, Resolve’s Managing Director and Founder Andrew Seaton said:

“I’m just so pleased for the team, we’ve worked really hard to invest in young people in our region. Jared who is Resolve’s Technical Team Leader, spends a lot of time mentoring our young people so it’s great to win this award, the team will be so thrilled.”

Responding to Gration’s question as to whether it is more important now more than ever to invest in the future, Seaton answered:
“Absolutely, we’ve all seen some of the slightly gimmer readings around jobs and what the future looks like for young people, but we’ve always seen the benefit in investing in young people. IT is a fast moving, high paced environment and so to have young people working in our organisation, who then train up future apprentices is great. Some of our most Senior Engineers started out as apprentices and so I’m extremely proud of everyone in the team.”

The first of its kind virtual awards ceremony ran seamlessly, albeit for all the award winners, it wasn’t quite the same having to celebrate remotely. On the positive side though, a dance round the kitchen table in your PJ’s is a lot comfier than hitting the dancefloor in ballgowns and bow ties.

Entertainment, News

TV Then and Now: How Britain’s TV habits, programming, and technology has evolved over time

Televisions have been through an incredible transformation since their first creation, but have our viewing habits and the industry changed as much as technology has developed?

Currys PC World conducted a study into the evolution of television to investigate just how much the world of TV has changed and adapted over time. Here are a few of the key takeaways:

  • Broadcast TV is on the decline, but the British public are embracing a multitude of new ways to watch
  • 1 in 4 Brits now prefer watching subscription video on-demand (SVOD) services instead of broadcast TV
  • Men are twice as likely to watch TV in the bathroom than women
  • The Welsh watch the most broadcast TV, East Midlanders love SVODs and Londoners are the most likely to watch TV on a non-TV device

With huge cultural and technological shifts, you’d expect TV habits to adapt with the times. Today, not only can TV be watched on various different devices (TV, laptop, smartphone, tablet), but there’s also a wealth of content available on numerous platforms (broadcast TV, pay-TV (Sky, Virgin, etc), SVODs (Netflix, Amazon, etc)).

But, while 84% of Brits still prefer to watch on a television set, two in five 16-24-year-olds say they’d rather watch on a non-TV device. What’s more, over 15 million households now have at least one SVOD (subscription video on demand) service and 6% less Brits describe watching TV as “family time” now than 10 years ago.

In terms of the content itself, genres have shifted in popularity over time. Based on the top-rated programmes of each year, entertainment was the leading TV genre in the 60s, with programmes such as the Eurovision Song Contest and The Mike Yarwood Christmas Show stealing the show. Today we prefer reality TV, such as the Great British Bake Off, which topped the most-watched list on two different years in the 2010s.

It’s leisure that has seen the biggest growth in demand though, demonstrating a huge 870% increase in broadcast hours between 2012-2019.

  • The UK turned to TV as a key source of lockdown entertainment
  • The average Brit watched 3,270 minutes of TV during lockdown
  • One in five Brits said they watched more comedy than usual over lockdown
  • 1 in 5 Brits describe TV as a form of escapism
  • The Prime Minister’s statement about “a conditional plan” for easing lockdown attracted 27.5 million viewers across Britain

With a national lockdown confining us to our homes, many people sought solace in TV.

During the peak lockdown period (April), the British public watched 34 minutes more live broadcast TV and 37 minutes more of subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) content a day than they did at the same time the year before. And, as well as watching more TV during this time, they also reported watching it at different times of the day. 1 in 10 Brits confessed to being more likely to watch TV in the middle of the day than pre-lockdown and 4% more people watched late into the night.

The type of content being watched also differed, with over a quarter reporting watching more news (28%) and drama (27%), and a fifth turning to comedy (21%) and documentaries (18%) more often.

  • The rise of subscription services has led to TV revenue coming from new places
  • TV advertising revenue has fallen, but subscription services are bringing increased revenue to the industry
  • During the UK lockdown, TV advertisers pulled £1.1bn in spend
  • Based on average wages, in the 1960s, it would have taken approximately 35 weeks of saving to afford a TV. Today, it would take just two weeks

All sorts of factors can impact the TV industry’s revenue, including technological advancements and world events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and consequential economic recession.

TV advertising has been one of the largest sources of revenue for the UK TV industry since its debut in 1955. While it has taken a huge hit over recent months – as many advertisers chose to cut their spend in uncertain times – TV advertising was already on the decline before this. Revenue was £4.3 billion in 2015, before dropping to £3.7 billion in 2019.

In terms of the cost of TV sets themselves, they have become a much more affordable commodity. With inflation considered, TVs in the 1960s were worth the equivalent of £6,000 or more. Today, this figure is closer to the £1,000 mark.

  • Some minority groups remain underrepresented in the UK TV industry
  • People with disabilities make up 18% of the UK workforce, but only 5% of off-screen TV jobs and 8% of on-screen TV roles
  • ‘Over 50s’ make up 31% of the UK workforce, but only 21% of off-screen TV jobs and 25% of on-screen TV roles
  • Minority ethnic people make up 12% of the UK workforce, but only 9% of senior TV jobs
  • Women make up 46% of the UK workforce, but only 26% of senior TV roles

Historically, minority groups have been underrepresented both on-screen and behind the scenes in the UK TV industry. Unfortunately, today, some groups remain underrepresented or are not offered the same opportunities as others.

Thankfully, largely in response to the recent Black Lives Matter movement and other inclusivity campaigns, UK broadcasters have pledged to take action to diversify their content and workforces.

The BBC, for example, has committed £1 million to produce “diverse and inclusive content”. Meanwhile, ITV has set a target that 15% of managers and staff should be from a minority ethnic background by 2022. Sky claims to have “exceeded” its target for 20% minority ethnic representation in the workforce and Viacom (owner of Channel 5 and MTV) also has a relatively strong record on diversity, with 20% of staff coming from a BAME background. Channel 4 also launched a strategy in 2018 called “4 All The UK” to ensure that their content serves the whole of the UK in a representative way.

Healthcare News, News, Wellbeing

Programme launches to prevent workplace addiction crisis

The UK’s leading addiction treatment specialists UKAT have launched a new Addiction Awareness programme for businesses across the country.

The programme is set to support employers and employees from all business types as the Government is encouraging those who can, to work from home during the current Coronavirus crisis, during which it is revealed that more people are seeking treatment for drug and alcohol misuse than ever before.

Experts at UKAT warn any dependencies to drugs or alcohol developed during the Covid-crisis could well be exacerbated as society faces uncertainty over their job security.

Eventually, this in turn could result in rising sickness and absence rates once employees are back in the workplace.

One particular substance widely associated with workplace stress is alcohol.

UKAT has revealed that between April and August this year, they’ve admitted more clients for alcohol addiction than they have in the same time period of previous years.

Between April and August 2020, a staggering 79% of all admissions were for alcohol addiction. This is compared to during the same four months of 2017, where only 56% of all admissions were for alcohol addiction.

This, they say, could present real problems for employers trying to support their staff during this difficult time. People could turn to using alcohol heavily in order to cope with the stresses derived from the recent Coronavirus crisis. Added pressure from job security and the potential fear of redundancy could turn people to alcohol as a coping strategy.

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) says that all organisations – large and small – can benefit from agreed policies on drug and alcohol misuse and they recommend that employers identify if there is a problem and then take measurable action to protect their staff.

This is where the UK Addiction Treatment Group Addiction Awareness Programme can help.

The programme is free, delivered by a Certified Drug and Alcohol Therapist on site or virtually and engages and educates staff on the signs, symptoms, and local support services available.

UKAT’s Head of Treatment, Nuno Albuquerque, explains the importance of taking preventative action in order to protect staff;

“Looking after staff’s mental wellbeing is not just beneficial for them, it’s beneficial for the business too. Employees who feel supported by management will always find it easier to stay in work or return quicker after any absences, which ultimately saves the business money.

“Those who are uncomfortable in opening up about addiction are likely to suffer in silence, which could lead to them being unable to carry out their duties, increasing the possibility of a health and safety risk.

“We understand that this is a sensitive subject and one that should be discussed with experts. That’s what we’re here to do. Together, we can help your employees and in turn, help you and your business thrive during these difficult times.”

It’s not only UKAT’s figures which suggest proactive steps need to be taken.

A survey by DrugScope and Alcohol Concern found that 27% of employers said that drug misuse was a problem at work and that 60% have experienced problems due to staff drinking alcohol.

Nuno concludes;

“We are a country of hard workers, and the Coronavirus crisis has had to change everyone’s routines and normality. During these unprecedented times, some will struggle and some will turn to substances like alcohol to cope with the fear and uncertainty brought about by the pandemic. Addiction does not discriminate and can hit anyone at anytime.

“What is important is that employers who care about the mental health and wellbeing of their employees take proactive steps to mitigate their own crisis further down the line.”

To book your free slot on the Addiction Awareness Programme, visit www.ukat.co.uk/business-addiction-awareness-programme/v55/

 

Fashion, Logistics, News

Missguided ramp up contact-free collection service with InPost locker takeover

Leading online fast fashion retailer Missguided has today announced a UK ‘locker takeover’ in collaboration with locker delivery brand InPost. The collaboration will see 180 of InPost’s lockers around the UK fully branded with eye-catching Missguided visuals in the run up to Christmas and beyond.

The aim of the takeover is to raise awareness of this safe and contact-free delivery and returns option that’s available to Missguided customers. As well as 24/7 access and ultra-convenience, InPost’s lockers offer a low-risk way to collect and return goods over the busy peak period.

“Our customers don’t just love our cutting-edge fashion; they also prize the convenience and ease we offer when it comes to delivery and returns. We also know that this year’s Black Friday and Christmas is going to be different for everyone, with many preferring to avoid post offices and busy collection points.

“That’s why we’re collaborating with InPost and taking our brand right to the heart of our customers’ communities. It’s a great way to remind our customers that they can collect their Missguided orders safely and securely on their own watch and at their preferred collection point.” Nick Bamber Chief Growth Officer – Marketing & eCommerce Trading at Missguided

Jason Tavaria, CEO at InPost added: “Our parcel lockers are easy to use, contact-free and located in accessible and convenient locations. With the bigger focus on covid-safe and contact-free delivery, customers can pick up and drop off their Missguided parcels – along with those of other InPost partner retailers – at any time that suits them. We’re excited to be bringing the Missguided brand to our lockers to help raise awareness of this great delivery option.”

Climate, News

Why a step by step process to Net Zero is not enough

Oliver Forster, head of business development at ClimateCare

It’s encouraging to see an ever-increasing number of corporates committing to achieve Net Zero status. However, amidst the rush to publicly declare this intention, there remains some debate and discussion about what constitutes a robust and practical corporate strategy for achieving Net Zero.

When talking to clients, they often say that they are working hard to measure their footprint and set reduction targets, but admit that they are waiting to get this right before they take action to reduce and compensate for their emissions. And certainly, whilst these provisional steps are much needed, setting these long-term targets does little for the environmental damage being done right now. Companies need to take full responsibility for all their emissions produced both today and tomorrow. Our advice therefore is to drive actions simultaneously and at pace, and then modify and adjust moving forward. Put simply, we are up against a deadline to tackle climate change, and there isn’t time to take things one step at a time. Ultimately, it is today’s emissions that are causing tomorrow’s climate change and we need organisations to take full responsibility for their carbon emissions right now.

We need to more than halve emissions by 2030; this is equivalent to reducing the current emissions of China, India, the EU and the US combined. To make this happen, we need to use every tool in the box and do it quickly. And whilst this may seem daunting for many corporates, we cannot stress enough that this is achievable. Not only that, if they do get this right, they could well find themselves at a competitive advantage.

First off, companies will need to understand their current emissions. There are multiple ways to do this and third party companies such as The Carbon Trust can be a great help in getting this detail. Ultimately understanding the footprint is the first step in driving change and by doing this upfront work, companies are raising awareness of the issue internally.

After this these companies can then set targets for reduction that are based on science. The SBTi (Science Based Targets initiative) can help a company set appropriate targets. However, this can take time. And it’s time, that sadly, we just don’t have.

As such, during this time, companies should identify and action quick wins too. For instance, they might put an internal price on carbon to focus minds and drive innovation. They might also source as much of their energy as possible from renewable sources, and they might engage their whole team in making immediate reductions and in developing plans for systematic change to reach their reduction targets. All of these are great mechanisms to drive change and raise awareness.

In addition, companies can also consider developing low carbon products or business models. These can help turn climate change from a risk into a competitive business strategy. A recent survey by B Lab UK and ReGenerate revealed that 72% of the UK population believe business have a legal responsibility to the planet and people, alongside maximising profits. As such, we can be sure that it does make real business sense to do this and can make the difference between a consumer buying from a brand or not. And actually, it can also make the difference between a great candidate deciding to work for a company and a firm retaining great talent.

We would contend that offsetting shouldn’t be the final tick on the checklist. Instead we would suggest that firms can take responsibility right away by offsetting their current carbon emissions, whilst they put plans in place for reduction.

For companies to go Climate Neutral by offsetting all emissions through high quality, independently verified carbon reduction (avoidance and removal) projects, is an important component in the journey to Net Zero. It’s something every business can do today. And it’s the only way a company can take full responsibility for its current carbon footprint. This is because going Climate Neutral today compensates for a company’s existing carbon footprint immediately. This status should then be maintained whilst the firm takes steps to reduce its emissions as close to zero as possible, in line with a SBT. In time the size of that company’s footprint will reduce and the amount they need to compensate for will reduce. The organisation will become Net Zero when it reaches its science-based carbon reduction target and compensates for all its remaining emissions. They could then even go as far to work towards becoming carbon negative and take even more of a competitive share.

In going Climate Neutral today, companies can take immediate action right now, whilst they set themselves on course to meet their longer-term Net Zero target. Avoiding the climate catastrophe is not a step by step process, rather it’s a whole host of actions that need to be taken both simultaneously and immediately.

Marketing, PR and SEO, News

Nature’s Bounty Appoints Initials for UK Re-launch

Initials, the independent creative agency, announces its appointment by global vitamin and supplement leader, Nature’s Bounty®, to handle the brand’s UK re-launch.

Initially launched in the UK in 2017, the brand is a relative newcomer to the local market and is looking to build on the success that it has enjoyed for decades across the globe. Initials has been tasked with driving awareness of the Nature’s Bounty brand in the UK through aligning with their founding purpose of ‘simplified and accessible nutrition’.

Initials will be developing a new strategic approach for the brand, specifically, to increase brand awareness and drive brand affinity, which will come to life via the creation of a product agnostic through-the-line brand campaign. Nature’s Bounty products are now available in Boots and Sainsbury’s, along with Amazon and other e-Commerce retailers becoming key marketplaces.
The agency will also be working closely with Nature’s Bounty on New Product Development launches, tactical product campaigns and seasonal focuses. The brand campaign will launch early in the 2021.

Initials was selected as part of a competitive pitch, coordinated by Pete Davis MD of getmemedia.com, who comments: “Initials were chosen from five very capable agencies. Their team knowledge, insight-driven enthusiasm and creative expertise delivered a truly memorable pitch.”

Jamie Matthews CEO at Initials says: “This is an exciting new client win for the agency and it’s always great to be part of a successful pitch process, especially in the current climate. The UK & Ireland re-launch is a big step for the brand, so we’re particularly looking forward to working with the Nature’s Bounty team to help continue and develop their leading position in the global health and wellness category.”

Antonia Jinks, Marketing Director UK&I at Nature’s Bounty adds: “On a global scale, we set the challenge of building and growing upon the Nature’s Bounty legacy – it’s one that I’m up for and I have no doubt the Initials team are ready for as well. During the pitch process, their understanding of the task that lies ahead, especially in terms of the target audience, was spot on. They managed to come up with a positioning that provides the perfect balance of humour and sincerity. I’m really looking forward to seeing where this relationship will take us.”

Appointments, News

Vungle appoints Jeremy Bondy as CEO

Vungle, a leading mobile ad and in-app monetisation platform, announced the appointment of Jeremy Bondy as CEO. Bondy, previously Vungle’s COO, succeeds Rick Tallman, who moves to the role of strategic advisor for Vungle.

Tallman joined the company as COO in 2015 and was appointed CEO in 2017. Under Tallman’s vision and leadership, Vungle has experienced substantial growth and is positioned as a leading player in the in-app mobile marketing space. He steered the company through its 2019 successful acquisition by Blackstone, as well as its recent purchase of machine-learning-based marketing optimisation pioneer, AlgoLift.

Bondy, who joined Vungle in 2014, has held a number of senior sales and operational roles at the company, most recently as COO. During his tenure, Bondy has been responsible for setting up and scaling Vungle’s global commercial organisation, establishing seasoned and tenured teams in Berlin, London, Beijing, Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo, New York and Los Angeles.

“For many years, Jeremy has been a key contributor to Vungle’s success, and it is my honour to pass over the reins to him,” said Rick Tallman, outgoing CEO at Vungle. “His work spearheading the company’s global expansion, together with his unmatched understanding of Vungle’s business, customers, people and culture, make him the ideal person to lead the company into its next chapter.”

“I am honoured to assume the role of CEO. Vungle has many exciting future growth opportunities, and I look forward to guiding our world-class team in creating the industry’s leading suite of tools to help mobile app developers maximise the value of their businesses,” said Jeremy Bondy, Vungle’s new CEO. “On behalf of the entire Vungle organisation, I want to express my gratitude to Rick for his invaluable contributions to the company’s historical success and, personally, for his mentorship in preparing me for this role. I look forward to his continued partnership with the company and wish him all the best.”

Charity & CSR, News

Homeless Charity Emmaus Announces Partnership with Hermes UK

National homelessness charity Emmaus has announced that Hermes UK, the leading consumer delivery company, has become a corporate partner, supporting its aim to give its companions a home, meaningful work and a sense of belonging.

The funds raised by Hermes will be used across the UK to expand the services the charity is able to offer. Unlike many homelessness charities, Emmaus provides a home for as long as it is needed, along with the stability and self-esteem that comes from having meaningful work to do every day. With support from Hermes, Emmaus hopes to increase the number of people they can support in the UK and improve training and development opportunities that companions can access.

Hermes will aim to raise a minimum of £100k for the charity through fundraising activities with clients and employees. The business is also exploring other ways to support the charity, including providing valuable work experience and work placements, running technology and interview training workshops and donating items for companions.

Simon Grange, CEO at Emmaus, said: “The issue of homelessness was already extremely challenging before Covid-19 and we can only see this situation getting worse as more and more people face an uncertain future. The virus and lockdown have presented many challenges for us, not only affecting our income from our shops and social enterprises, but also taking away the meaningful work that is such an important part of supporting our companions. This partnership comes at a great time as we work to overcome the challenges presented by the virus. We are extremely excited to be working with Hermes and look forward building a true partnership that both organisations can benefit from.”

Martijn de Lange, CEO at Hermes UK, said: “We’re seeing the impact of the pandemic first hand when it comes to the volume of people looking for work and applying for roles, and unfortunately a severe consequence of rising unemployment is that the UK’s homelessness crisis is being further exacerbated. There is an additional financial strain on local services, which makes charities such as Emmaus even more important now. We’re pleased to be able to support this crucial cause by giving people the tools to help them succeed, both now and in the future.”