Monthly Archives: November 2020

Creative News, News

Very.co.uk’s new Christmas campaign celebrates every single moment this Christmas and humorously rejects Christmas day cliché

Very.co.uk has launched a heart-warming and funny new Christmas campaign, created by Grey London, which encourages us to embrace every single moment in the countdown to December 25th instead of focusing on the clichéd portrayal of Christmas day.

The charmingly honest film sends the message that the best thing about Christmas is not just Christmas day but the combination of all the wonderfully festive moments in the build up to Christmas, from Christmas lights and the all-important tree to Christmas jammies.

The TV ad, which is called ‘Jodie’ and was directed by Gary Freedman, opens with an implausibly perfect Christmas day celebration before the camera pans out to show that it’s a clichéd Christmas TV ad being watched by a family who are scoffing at it, with the dad exclaiming: “What a load of rubbish!” The mum then addresses the camera directly to say: “You know what Christmas moment I like? Every bloomin’ one of them!”

The music ‘Hot Love’ by T Rex kicks in as the mum, Jodie, goes on to list all her favourite festive moments, including the neighbour’s Christmas lights display zapping the National Grid, getting a 12ft tree into a 10ft room, terrible Christmas music like Crazy Frog’s version of Jingle Bells, and getting and giving presents to absolutely everyone, including the postwoman and the bin man, with help from the Very.co.uk app.

The 90 second spot ends with the line: ‘Christmas is full of amazing moments. Christmas is this Very moment’. The TV ad, which launches today in primetime during ITV’s Pride of Britain, will be supported by an out-of-home campaign, print and online ads. It will be followed by a 60 second version and shorter formats highlighting all those different festive moments in the run up to Christmas.

‘Christmas is this Very moment’ is the second campaign created by Grey London for Very.co.uk and follows the agency’s campaign for the online retailer in October which focused on celebrating all of life’s little moments of joy right now, with the tagline: ‘Life is this Very moment’.

Carly O’Brien, Chief Marketing Officer at The Very Group, which operates Very, said “It is great to see our new brand platform, ‘Life is this Very moment’, brought to life for Christmas with a truly uplifting campaign that we believe our customers can relate to. It’s honest, raw and captures what’s really special about the whole of the Christmas period, not just the day itself. It is a celebration of every single moment in the countdown to December 25th and it goes beyond the festive celebration, which we know might not be the same this year.”

Javier Campopiano, CCO Europe and Creative Chairman London at Grey, said: “We are thrilled to launch the newest and biggest instalment so far of the new creative platform, ‘Life is this Very moment’. It´s rare to see a pitch winner campaign coming to life, so this is a particularly special campaign for us as an agency. It also means the brand platform is so relevant that it can go through a pandemic and become even more meaningful”.

He added: “It’s a different Christmas message, a message that offers the unfiltered point of view of someone who truly loves everything about Christmas, every single bit that makes it such a magical season. Not only is it different to what the brand and its customers have seen before, but we’re confident it’ll resonate right now, when we’re facing the prospect of a very different festive period.”

News

New Rural Economy Toolkit to support “missed opportunity” around rural relevance to UK productivity and prosperity

The Institute of Economic Development (IED) and the Rural Services Network (RSN) have devised a new practitioner-focused toolkit which is intended as a guide for “anyone seeking to raise rural relevance in the economic agenda”.

The Rural Economy Toolkit, launched on 12th November – https://ied.co.uk/news_events/events_calendar/rural_toolkit_launch – is designed to ensure that rural areas are better recognised in economic strategies and to enable the identification of new opportunities to drive forward rural initiatives.

The IED and RSN collectively believe that rural economies present great opportunities for the UK and have been somewhat overlooked in recent economic policy, including in the development of the UK Industrial Strategy (and subsequent local versions) and the Government’s Plan for Jobs. A recent report from the RSN states that predominantly rural areas in England contributed £260 billion of Gross Value Added to the national economy during 2018, which accounts for almost a 16% share of England’s economic output. That rural share has reduced somewhat over time, from 16.4% in 2010 to 15.9% in 2018, as London has expanded further its share of the country’s activity.

Acknowledging that “the situation needs to be addressed”, with the UK required to better utilise its overall resource base, its existing built assets and infrastructure and the whole of its population through more even distribution of productive effort, the Rural Economy Toolkit:

• Uncovers the issues that are preventing rural economies from gaining full recognition.
• Reviews some of the policy drivers that are affecting rural economies.
• Outlines some of the ‘mega trends’ which will create change in rural economies but links these to opportunities.
• Provides a number of case studies of different rural economy initiatives as well as some examples of successful rural businesses.
• Identifies the steps that can be taken to ensure that rural economies remain in the economic narrative.
• Summarises the key measures that rural economies can address to answer “what looks good”.

Speaking ahead of the toolkit’s formal launch on Thursday, IED Chair Bev Hurley CBE and RSN CEO Graham Biggs MBE said: “Current economic strategies in the UK tend towards an urban narrative with the important rural agenda overlooked – despite the importance of resources, activities and people in these areas to the future economic strength of the country. Many drivers of change in the economy have an important rural dimension and create economic opportunities. The most important drivers in this report are identified as low carbon, digitisation, ageing and wealth creation. There are many examples of best practice, where rethinking a rural approach led to economic gains ignored by mainstream strategy. This toolkit approach encourages lateral thinking not standardisation. There is no such thing as ‘rural businesses’ – any business can thrive in a rural setting. The Rural Economy Toolkit provided sets out how rural areas can define themselves; find and present the relevant data; use comparators and time series data to identify strengths and weaknesses and then combine this with lived experience to seize the initiative in strategy.”

Rural economy ‘best practice’ featuring in the toolkit are the Borderlands Growth Deal, Broadband for the Rural North, National Innovation Centre for Ageing, South West Mutual and Transition Town Totnes. There is also a handy ‘top tips’ guide on the things that should be considered to deliver a successful economic strategy.

Case Studies and Partnerships, Finance and Banking, News

Its’ all about choice… Parsley Box turn to the TALL Group during COVID-19 lock down

“Great meals and service you can trust! …. According to the Parsley Box website, founders Adrienne and Gordon Macaulay were trying to find a range of ready meals for Gordon’s mum who was living on her own. Worried about her eating properly, they searched for delivered meal services but so concerned were they with the offerings available decided to create Parsley Box providing customers with cupboard stored tasty meals, ordered online and delivered fast to their door.

As the demand for home delivered meals using quality ingredients has grown so Parsley Box has seen its customer base expand since the company started back in 2017. TALL were first contacted by John Swan, Parsley Box CFO, following a recommendation by the Royal Bank of Scotland to provide a quotation for an entry level Banking Assistant solution.

Parsley Box at that time were receiving around 2,500 cheques per month. The number and use of cheques boosted by Parsley Box’s customer demographic. TALL’s Banking Assistant, a cheque imaging and tracking system that automatically captures the code line and amounts of cheques to be deposited, would provide a means of keeping a record of all items received in payment for the ready meals.

However, with the turn of the year and the advent of the COVID-19 epidemic, with the UK in lockdown, Parsley Box have seen a dramatic increase in the demand for its cupboard stored meals delivered straight to the customer’s door. This increase in demand has resulted in a near doubling of cheque receipts from 4,000 to 5,000 per month.

From the original enquiry, TALL provided further information to enable Parsley Box to cope with the up-turn in cheque receipts, and establish how the Banking Assistant application could be integrated into the Parsley Box operating systems. Having agreed the specifications for the system, the application went live in the middle of May 2020. However, due to COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in place, TALL were not able to visit the Parsley Box site. Therefore, TALL’s installation of the system was completed remotely, a major benefit to both organisations under the prevailing restrictions.

The TALL Group’s Banking Assistant provides a full audit trail of funds received into the business by cheques to speed up the banking process. Cheques are scanned onsite using a model TS240 state-of-the-art cheque scanner supplied as part of the Banking Assistant solution. The TS240 is a high-speed automatic feed cheque scanner. The integral automatic feed allows batches of cheques to be processed with all MICR code line and amount details captured. The scanner also reads both sides of the cheque to capture images of the front and rear, a feature which Parsley Box needed as they endorse the rear of each cheque which a series of codes that identify the processor. This feature also allows for faster resolution of customer enquiries using the comprehensive database and image search facility built into the system. An XML file export facility provides the option of transferring this comprehensive database into corporate accounting systems for added analysis.

An optional feature used by Parsley Box to speed up cheque processing involves Banking Assistant auto-populating fields in the database for subsequent customer payments. Once the first received cheque details are captured then further cheque receipts from that customer are recognised and their details automatically infilled in the system saving processing time.
John Swan said, “We have been impressed with the way in which the TALL Group have gone about the installation and commissioning of their Banking Assistant solution particularly as we were faced with lockdown restrictions. As we have witnessed incredible growth in our offerings during the crisis, so the background administration and processing of payments has also increased. Banking Assistant is going to provide us with the facility to manage our payment receipts as we move forward providing us with complete flexibility for the future.”

Martin Ruda, TALL Group Managing Director, commenting on the installation said, “Throughout the lockdown, the TALL Group has been providing products and services to our beleaguered customers from our three secure accredited sites in the UK as ‘key suppliers’ to the industry. I am delighted that our dedicated solution sales team, working in conjunction with the Group IT function, have managed to get ‘close’ to Parsley Box to facilitate this solution and we look forward to supporting them through their journey as their business grows and develops.”

For more details of the TALL Group’s Banking Assistant, please visit the TALL Group website at https://tallgroup.co.uk/tall-secure-print-payment-solutions/products-and-services/payment-solutions/cheque-imaging/

Charity & CSR, News

UK charity Astriid’s virtual event goes global and triples its fundraising target

An army of global supporters swam, cycled, walked, and ran the distance from London Bridge to the Eiffel Tower in Paris to raise over £75,000 for UK charity Astriid.

The 52 teams, which included people from across the UK, Europe, North America, South America and Asia, covered an individual distance of 196 miles in five days, to help Astriid smash its £25,000 target by 200%.

Astriid supports people with long-term health issues and their caregivers to find meaningful work, through its dynamic professional matchmaking platform.

“We were blown away not only by the amount raised, but also by the excitement and buzz generated by our virtual London to Paris event. It has really shone a spotlight on the charity and this much-needed money will be used to support our over 1,000 candidates throughout the whole journey to finding meaningful employment. From reviewing their CV and preparing for interviews to identifying the right opportunities and connecting them with employers,” says Steve Shutts, CEO of Astriid.

“For those living with a long-term health condition, employment is about more than just wages. Working can provide routine, normality and promote a positive mental attitude – as well as helping employers address the skills gap by providing them with highly skilled professionals”, adds Steve.

Joining the virtual event was Jill Sanger-Smith, a success director at global cloud-based software company Salesforce. As part of the ‘Swedish Zwift Riders’, Jill and her team covered over 400km in just one day and raised over £10,000 for the cause.

“I did the London to Paris event last year and I was due to do the physical event again this year”, Jill, an avid cyclist, explains. “When COVID halted that from happening, I really wanted to be involved again, particularly as I had personal experience of how chronic illness can negatively affect a person’s worth with my dad recently being diagnosed with prostate cancer. It brought to life the vulnerability that Astriid members must feel and I know from my dad how important working and having a sense of purpose is.

“During the 400km ride, people virtually joined me on legs of the trip to show their support – I found the whole experience very emotional but rewarding. It also made me extra committed to help Astriid and the important work they do. It is an invaluable platform for supporting people, allowing them to retain their sense of pride while helping match them to jobs that fit their skills.”

Arun Sharma, event director at The Fundraising Agency (TFA), managed the event. He said: “We all thought £25k would be a tall order, so we’re ecstatic by the support received. The success of this year’s virtual event has also meant that next year we’re planning a hybrid one. Anyone who cannot make it along to the physical London to Paris ride can still participate, but from the convenience of their own location. We have already seen the first signups for next year’s event, which is now open via https://www.astriid-l2p.org/.”

Astriid is a UK-based charity founded in 2018. It works with companies to support individuals living with long-term health issues find meaningful employment or volunteering opportunities. The charity has a talent pool of over 1,000 individuals, has partnered with some 230 companies, and it has enjoyed the support of over 100 volunteers since its inception.

To learn more, visit https://www.astriid.org.uk/s/

 

News

Which UK counties produce the most business with Royal Warrants?

The British monarchy has fascinated the public for hundreds of years, but behind the glamour there is a huge amount of domestic work that goes into running the royal households. Over 700 companies provide goods and services to the royals; luxury goods that one might expect such as Cartier, Aston Martin and Bollinger, but also more domestic companies have also been awarded Royal Warrants for supplying more ‘everyday’ items such as foodstuffs, fire alarms, IT services, dry cleaners and even toilet rolls!

The new research by Premier Inn has analysed the addresses of 723 companies who hold a Royal Warrant to reveal where in the UK makes the most of these royally approved goods. Its latest royal study looks into what products are used and approved by the monarchy – just like its own Hypnos mattresses – and which part of the UK is producing the most of these elite goods.

  • Greater London (195 Royal Warrant holders)
  • Norfolk (44 Royal Warrant holders)
  • Berkshire (33 Royal Warrant holders)
  • Aberdeenshire (29 Royal Warrant holders)
  • Hertfordshire (22 Royal Warrant holders)
  • Surrey (22 Royal Warrant holders)
  • Hampshire (21 Royal Warrant holders)
  • Buckinghamshire (19 Royal Warrant holders)
  • Kent (18 Royal Warrant holders)
  • Wiltshire (15 Royal Warrant holders)

A spokesperson from Premier Inn commented: “We are proud our mattresses are exclusively supplied by a Royal Warrant holder and it got us to thinking about all the products used by the royal household. The findings really highlight the fantastic businesses that are located all across the UK, not just in the major cities. This research highlights the quality businesses founded in more rural counties such as Norfolk and Aberdeenshire. It’s also fantastic to note that while there are many high-end luxury items which enjoy the royal seal of approval, you might find many more ‘everyday’ items in your own home also enjoy the prestigious recognition.”

Live like a royal

There are some well-known brands that many British nationals may use every day without knowing that they are Royal Warrant holders. It’s actually a lot easier to ‘live like a royal’ than one might think. Crown Paint, Gordon’s Gin, Schweppes tonic, Pimm’s, Cadbury’s, Ryvita, Twinings Tea and Hypnos™ are all examples of household name businesses which hold a Royal Warrant.

About the winning counties…

Greater London has an impressive 195 Royal Warrant holders. The Queen seems to be a fan of Elizabeth Arden and Clarins cosmetics that are based in the area, while Krug, Lanson, Moet & Chandon and Veuve Cliquot champagne suppliers also all make the list with head offices in the capital.

Norfolk, home to the Sandringham Estate, Her Majesty The Queen’s country retreat, has 44 companies boasting a royal seal. Royal Warrants have been granted to Norfolk-based companies such as Darby Nurseries for their garden plants, George Goddard Ltd for tailoring, Magpie Locksmiths for security services and Sandringham Apple Juice which is served at Buckingham Palace and Holyrood.

Berkshire has 37 Royal Warrants distributed amongst its businesses. As the home county of Windsor Castle, the Royal County of Berkshire was bound to feature highly on the list. Darvilles of Windsor have held a Royal Warrant to supply groceries to the Queen for more than 60 years, Montmartre create fine, hand-made patisseries for her Majesty, and So Chic luxury goods supplier are renowned for their stunning interior design services.

Aberdeenshire is home to 35 Royal Warrants holders from either HRH The Prince of Wales or HM The Queen and is home to the Balmoral, one of Her Majesty The Queen’s private residences. The companies vary from outdoor clothing store Braemer Mountain Sports, to organic butchery Wark Farm, and Cockers who supply award-winning roses.

Hertfordshire is home to 22 Royal Warrant businesses, including Autogym – car care suppliers to both the Queen and Prince of Wales. Charles Perry Restorations Ltd are able to help Her Majesty with any repairs needed to her antique furniture, and she feeds her beloved pets with produce from Gilbertson & Page Ltd in Welwyn Garden City.

Great Scot!

In terms of population size, the Scottish counties produce the most products for the royal family per head. Despite its small population, Glamorgan has six businesses with the royal seal of approval including Tom Smith Christmas crackers and Mitre Linen Ltd. East Lothian also has a high density of royal businesses considering its population, providing the Queen with floral displays from Judy Reid Flowers, and display cases from ClickNetherfield. Angus has four Royal Warrants across an interesting range of services, from M Lingard Gunmakers, who supply the household of The Prince of Wales to RR Spink & Sons, the official fishmongers to the Queen.

Proud to be British

Outside of London, The Queen uses Norfolk products and services the most, the Prince of Wales uses products and services from Gloucestershire the most, and the Duke of Edinburgh uses products and services from Nottinghamshire the most.

News

Builders merchant launches campaign to support South West businesses

With the pandemic having had a detrimental effect on local businesses across the region, RGB Building Supplies’ latest ‘Support Local’ initiative is giving away £500 worth of independent shop and venue vouchers every week until the end of January.

The new initiative kick-starts on Monday 2nd November, when 10 RGB customers will win a £50 voucher to spend at their local butcher. Then, every Monday until 25th January, RGB will launch a giveaway where prizes will include 10 £50 vouchers to spend at an independent high street store to help with the cost of Christmas presents, five £100 vouchers for use on a holiday cottage in the region, and 10 £50 local attraction vouchers.

Kevin Fenlon, CEO of RGB, commented:

“There are many businesses in our area which have been struggling to survive this year, so it’s vital we do what we can to support each other. In total, we’ll be purchasing and giving away £6,500 worth of vouchers to be used at independent shops, venues and attractions. As well as helping businesses, we hope our Support Local initiative highlights the fantastic array of local companies that are on our doorstep.”

All RGB customers who spend £25 at its branches across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset will have the chance to win a voucher. Full terms and conditions, and a full list of the vouchers that will be on offer each week, will be available on RGB’s website – www.rgbltd.co.uk.

Appointments, News

Workhuman names Lead Edge Capital Operating Partner Lorrie Norrington and Utmost CEO Annrai O’Toole to Board of Directors

Workhuman®, the world’s fastest-growing Social Recognition® and Continuous Performance Management platform, has announced the appointment of Lorrie Norrington, Operating Partner at Lead Edge Capital, and Annrai O’Toole, CEO at Utmost and former European CTO at Workday, as independent members of its board of directors, effective 16 September 2020.

“Workhuman is on an incredible growth trajectory as more enterprises commit to galvanise their workforces in the new normal that’s been created as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re proud to be attracting such accomplished humans to help us accelerate toward our mission and get to the next level as a company,” said Eric Mosley, Workhuman CEO. “Lorrie and Annrai bring a wealth of deep expertise and experience as seasoned executives that will help propel us along our journey and we are thrilled to welcome them to Workhuman.”

With more than 35 years of experience leading some of the biggest companies in e-commerce, Lorrie Norrington currently serves as an advisor and in an operating partner capacity for Lead Edge Capital, a growth equity firm. Prior to Lead Edge Capital, Ms. Norrington was the President of eBay, CEO of Shopping.com Inc., an Officer at Intuit, Inc., and led a variety of businesses at the General Electric Company over a 20-year period in a broad range of industries.

“The power of human connections delivered by the Workhuman® Cloud platform has transformed work environments during this incredibly difficult time,” said Ms. Norrington. “As we look ahead, human-centred workplaces will be the cornerstone of winning companies. I look forward to bringing my experience in scaling great companies to the board and working in tandem with the leadership team to usher the company into its next phase of accelerated growth.”

Annrai O’Toole is currently Founder and CEO of Utmost, the first extended workforce system. Prior to co-founding Utmost, Mr. O’Toole served as European CTO at Workday, where he also held several positions over his decade-long tenure. Mr. O’Toole was also instrumental in founding IONA Technologies in 1991, where he operated as Director and CTO, playing a key role in the organisation’s eventual IPO in 1997. He later became Co-Founder and CEO of Cape Clear Software, an integration middleware company, which Workday acquired in 2008.

“If this global pandemic has reinforced one thing, it’s that a company’s ability to pivot and thrive is tied directly to the resilience of its culture; leveraging technologies such as Workhuman to spur greater connection and performance is vital to success,” said Mr. O’Toole. “I am excited to work with Eric, my fellow board members, and the leadership team to build even more value in Workhuman as we continue to bring more humanity to workplaces worldwide.”

Key executives to propel growth

Workhuman has seen first-hand the power of Social Recognition throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. In April 2020, for example, the company saw a 40% increase in revenue from April 2019 as companies doubled down on their Social Recognition programs for employees that have been traumatised by what was – and still is – going on in the world. During the pandemic, customers have turned to Workhuman and Social Recognition to keep their employees connected, engaged, and motivated. Merck, for example, introduced its Social Recognition program INSPIRE several years ago to keep employees engaged in a virtual workplace. During the pandemic, the continued recognition moments between peers, rather than manager-down, supported employee engagement in these challenging times.

To further propel the company’s rapid growth and expansion globally, Workhuman has introduced Emily Miller as VP of sales EMEA and Dave Clark as VP of customer success. Emily comes to Workhuman from Gartner, where she was managing vice president for the sales and marketing practice and led a team of 70 leaders, account, and sales executives across Europe and APAC. Based in the U.K., Emily will be responsible for overseeing and expanding Workhuman’s sales team in the EMEA region. Dave, who will be overseeing all teams related to customer success and contributing to the company’s stellar retention and net expansion rates, joins Workhuman from Lavastrom Analytics, where he spent the last six years in executive customer success and support roles.

For more customer examples and information about Workhuman’s pioneering Social Recognition platform, visit https://www.workhuman.com/.

Cleaning & Facilities Management, COVID-19, News

Top five cleaning tips for Covid-secure workplaces

As the government changes its advice to ‘work from home if you can’ amidst a national increase in Covid-19 cases, good hygiene in the workplace has never mattered more – especially to keep the virus at bay and protect those who need to be in the workplace.

14forty, part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, provides integrated facilities management services including cleaning. It is working with businesses to ensure their cleaning protocols are sufficiently robust, especially with winter looming.

Mauro Ortelli, managing director of 14forty, said: “There has never been more focus than now on cleaning. Implementing increased cleaning protocols during a pandemic can present wide-ranging challenges for businesses of all kinds, in some instances without the correct resources and tools to ensure an area is cleaned to the highest standards possible.

“This is a standard of cleanliness that most businesses will never have had to adhere to before. However, it’s crucial that they put in place the most robust processes possible in order to safely operate in compliance with guidance from the Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England.”

Here are our top five tips for businesses faced with the daunting task of becoming and staying Covid-19 secure:

1. Consider new ways of working:
Before considering how a space is cleaned, first think about how it is used. Think about which spaces in the business have the most foot traffic and be creative in reimagining how they can be used in order to distribute people evenly, reducing the risk presented by clusters of employees.

Consider implementing a one-way system to help employees and visitors adhere to social distancing. Ensure this is easy to navigate and clearly signposted. Keep the windows open if possible and check there is a well-maintained air extraction system.

2. Use appropriate cleaning products:
Using suitable products and making sure staff know how to use them is vital. One example is Tersano Ozone, which we use across our sites.

The product attracts bacteria, germs and other contaminants, eliminating them and leaving only water and pure oxygen following the cleaning process. It is a natural product that is considered environmentally friendly and can be used on a wide range of surfaces including food preparation areas.

 

3. Update and review cleaning procedures regularly:
Divide surfaces into two categories: frequently touched points (e.g. rails, door handles, light switches, tabletops etc.) and minimally touched points (e.g. ceilings, floors and walls). Ensure these are cleaned regularly in line with use, i.e. the more frequently they are touched the more frequently they are cleaned.

Ensure surfaces are cleaned using the appropriate products and in accordance with manufacturer guidelines. Keep a record of all instances of cleaning and who is accountable – there are apps that can help with this.

Consider ‘deep cleaning’ offices or other premises regularly using third party professional contractors. Every building is different, but a deep clean should consist of everything from dusting walls and cleaning light switches to wiping down equipment and sanitising kitchen cabinets, appliances and furniture.

 

4. Ensure cleaning staff are visible and equipped with PPE:
Cleaners and the general workforce used to be like ships in the night, with only the early birds and night owls ever seeing cleaners in their workplace. Now, visible cleaning teams help to reassure employees and visitors to the building that cleaning is taking place throughout the day, not just when everyone else has left. Equipping cleaning staff with PPE and ensuring they are using it is fundamental to keep all staff safe and reassured.

 

5. Ensure changes are long-term, not temporary:
Unfortunately, Covid-19 is likely to continue to impact businesses in the coming months and even years. Therefore, ensure that all changes made are long-term, while easily adaptable to account for changing Covid-19 regulations, government guidance and recommended cleaning procedures.
Businesses are keen to protect employees who need to visit the premises to do their job – it is of utmost importance. A Covid-19 outbreak in a business that failed to put proper cleaning protocols in place or appoint an appropriate service provider could have serious consequences.

To learn more about 14forty, please visit 14forty.co.uk.

News

Cycle Solutions become first Velorim Centre in Wales

Swansea-based Cycle Solutions have become an early adopter of Velorim, the National Bicycle Tyre Recycling Scheme. As a Velorim Centre, Cycle Solutions will offer its customers and other cyclists the opportunity to recycle their inner tubes and tyres.

Velorim, founded in 2018, began rolling out the scheme to trial sites this year. Their aim is to get 85% of the UK’s bicycle tyres and tubes properly recycled. The official launch is due to be early 2021. Directors, Richard Lawrence and Russ Taylor, along with CEO, Dave Hawthorn identified the need for a proper facility to recycle tubes and tyres.

In the UK alone, 44,000 tonnes of waste tubes and tyres are discarded annually. The UK Government is currently working on the Environment Bill 2020 which will see scrapping bicycle tyres made illegal once passed.

Velorim director, Richard Lawrence is pleased the cycling industry have been so positive about the scheme; “We welcome organisations such as Cycle Solutions into the early days and beta testing phase of the collection scheme for bicycle tyres and inner tubes. These organisations are showing that they take the green credentials of cycling seriously.”

To take part in the scheme, people can visit Cycle Solutions bike shop in Swansea’s Uplands area, or the main Cycle Solutions head office in Fforestfach, to dispose of their tyres and tubes. There will be a charge of 20p per inner tube and 50p per tyre, this charge enables the scheme to run.

Talking about the recycling process, Richard added, “the tyres will be shredded and used for things like safety flooring or equestrian surfacing. We are in the process of testing the devulcanisation of the tyre rubber so that it can be fed back into the manufacturing process.”

Upon joining the scheme, Cycle Solutions Director, Steve Edgell said, “There is no doubt that cycling has huge positive impacts on the environment. But to maximise these benefits we need to ensure that the impact of the potentially harmful waste products put out by the bike industry are minimised. We have long sought a sustainable solution for the disposal of old tyres and inner tubes. Velorim provides just that solution and we are really pleased to support this initiative.”

News, Property

Three in five house sellers stung by unexpectedly large estate agency fees

The majority of UK homeowners are unprepared for the large estate agency fees when selling a house, a new study has revealed.

The research[1], conducted by free online estate agent, Strike, surveyed 1,000 people who have sold a house in the last decade and found that nearly three in five (58%) sellers had to pay more than they’d expected. Over a third (34%) were charged significantly higher fees than they had budgeted for.

These figures are higher for those who have sold their homes recently, with 62% hit by unexpected charges in 2019, compared to just 48% in 2010. This trend correlates with an increase in prices over the same period, with fees having risen by 42% from £3,035 in 2010 to £4,319 last year.

With average house asking prices reaching record highs this year[2], these figures will continue to grow, as most agency fees are calculated by taking a percentage of the property’s value.

Over the last decade, the average price paid by UK sellers to estate agents is £4,779, but many pay far more. More than one in ten (11%) Brits pay over £10,000 to move.

Interestingly, millennials pay far higher estate agency fees than other age groups. On average, 25-34 year olds are charged £6,421 when selling, with nearly a fifth (19%) paying over £10,000. This is more than double the amount paid by other generations, with 55-64s spending just £2,836.

Gender is another factor, with men paying 19% more than women. Male sellers pay an average of £5,226 to sell their home – £820 more than women (£4,406).

The most important variable, however, is location, with sellers in London paying by far the largest fees in the UK. With an average of £6,573, estate agencies in the English capital charge more than twice as much as those in other major cities, such as Cardiff (£3,255), Manchester (£3,265) and Glasgow (£3,273).

The cities with the largest estate agency fees are:

London – £6,573
Birmingham – £5,622
Southampton – £5,481
Bristol – £5,316
Belfast – £4,667
Norwich – £4,338
Liverpool – £4,221
Edinburgh – £3,690
Sheffield – £3,405
Glasgow – £3,273
Manchester – £3,265
Cardiff – £3,255
Newcastle – £3,167
Leeds – £3,000
Nottingham – £2,854

Despite such high fees, more than two in five (44%) UK sellers were unhappy with the service provided by their estate agents. Dissatisfaction was greatest in Belfast, where 58% said they were unimpressed. Homeowners in the Northern Irish capital were also the most likely to pay more than they expected (83%), suggesting a strong link between fees and overall selling experience.

Sam Mitchell, CEO at Strike, said: “Estate agent fees are often the most significant expense when moving house, especially with the current stamp duty relief, and it’s really interesting to see which factors affect how much people pay.

“At Strike, we help people sell their homes for free, which saves them thousands of pounds, no matter where they live. With no estate agency fees, you have more money to spend on the things that really matter, like your new home.”

For expert advice on how to save money when selling your home, visit: https://strike.co.uk/latest-news/how-much-does-uk-waste-estate-agent-fees