Monthly Archives: March 2022

News

Former Welsh rugby player to launch fitness space at Space2B at The Maltings

An innovative partnership between Cardiff-based health and wellness provider The ION Group and Space2B at The Maltings, will see the launch of an onsite 300sq m ION class-based fitness facility at the historic location.

Founded by former Wales and Cardiff Blues Rugby player Robin Sowden-Taylor, The ION Group will deliver an exciting timetable of functional fitness circuit sessions, with a range of other health and wellness support packages also available to Space2B’s office members.

With an increased focus on businesses’ care of their teams’ health and wellness, Space2B have pledged to deliver unrivalled support for office members and co-working partners.

Sophie Mear, Office Manager at Space2B said: “We are fully committed to providing the very best service and environment for our office members, and what is more important than health and wellness?

“This partnership will compliment and greatly enhance our current offering of contemporary offices and co-working spaces in a thriving business ecosystem.”

Director and Founder of the ION Group, Robin Sowden-Taylor is no stranger to the health and fitness world, heading up Cardiff Blues’ strength and conditioning programme for 8 years after his retirement as a player.

Speaking on the new partnership he said: “The Space2B team are as committed to improving health and wellness in the corporate space as we are. We share the same philosophy around health and wellness for all.

“To partner with Space2B in launching the ION@Space2B facility, alongside other services, is a very exciting and innovative opportunity for us all.”

News

Moonpig launches pet pawsome pet translator feauture

In response to the lockdown pet boom, Moonpig’s new feature in its app will record and translate your beloved pets’ messages into greeting cards

London, 31st March, 2022: Barking mad about your pet and want to know what they’re thinking? Moonpig is here to make the impawsible pawsible with its new pet translator feature. YES, this really is fur-real you will soon be able to translate your pets bark or meow, meaning they can now put paw to microphone and record a message to their owner.

Launching in April 2022 exclusively on the app, the innovators at Moonpig have developed the new Moonpets feature working alongside a pet psychologist to help decode the hidden meaning behind those attention seeking cries. Whether it’s a high-pitched howl or sharp and sweet cry, Moonpig’s pet psychologist has managed to translate their sounds so that their loving messages can now be transferred  into a large selection of cards ‘From the Pet’. Whether it’s a birthday, Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, these cards from your four-legged friends will be more personal than ever before.

 

The new app feature launched after Moonpig has seen a pawsome 260% increase in card orders ‘From the Pet’ in the last two years, with data analysts at Moonpig citing lockdown and the increase in pet ownership as a reason for the dramatic rise in card sales in this sector.

 

Peter Donlon Chief Technology Officer at Moonpig commented: “We knew that it was going to be a woof ride trying to create the technology to decode the meaning behind our pets’ cries, however after seeing such high sales in the from the pet cards sector we were determined to take up this opp-pawtunity and revolutionise the way we communicate with our furry friends. 


The new pawsome feature is a mutt-umental move for the Moonpig app and we hope our four-legged customers will enjoy letting their owners know how they feel. We’re confident that this new app will have a paw-sitive impact on the way our humans and pets interact with each other – we just hope there’s no argument over who picks up the bill at the end of the order.”

 

The new Moonpets feature will launch on the app in April (date tbc) with a new advertising campaign set to roll out in May featuring Walter , a Moonpig employee’s dog, who will be the star of the latest series of Moonpig adverts, sharing lots of tips and tricks for pets on what to write to their owner in their card.

For more information on the latest Moonpets app please visit www.moonpig.com

 

 About Moonpig

At Moonpig, we’re all about celebrating those heartfelt life moments. You know the ones we mean… the big birthdays, new arrivals, surprise engagements and the just becauses. Big or small, we love them all. And we’re so proud to be the ones helping you connect to the people you care about most.

With our ever-growing range of cards, thoughtful gifts and bright, beautiful bouquets, we’ve got just the thing to make their day. Combine this with top-notch tech and an app full of fun features, and it’s never been easier to send a card from the palm of your hand and share some love wherever you are.

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FInance, News

MarketFinance rides embedded lending wave to boosted revenue and profitability

  • MarketFinance announces a year of profitability with revenues increasing 133% in 2021
  • Growth was boosted by product development and its role as delivery partners for the British Business Bank lending schemes, CBILS and RLS, alongside strategic partnerships with Barclays and other fintechs
  • MarketFinance’s fintech platform offers the fastest credit decisions in market, with 100% of applications processed in under 24 hours
  • To build on this growth, MarketFinance is developing lending APIs and investing significantly in embedded finance models, as it targets unicorn status

London, UK – 31st March 2022 – MarketFinance, the leading fintech payments and credit provider, today announced an increase of 133% in revenue, which saw the business hit profitability in 2021, as it invests further in its embedded finance products and digital lending APIs.

MarketFinance’s growth is driven by a surge in demand for working capital over the pandemic from SME borrowers, facilitated by the fintech’s successful roll out of the government-backed Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) loans and its accreditation as a delivery partner of the Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS). Both schemes saw the company handle over £2.1bn in digital applications with the fastest speed of decision in the market – currently 100% of applicants hear back in less than 24 hours. This growth has been achieved in tandem with the company’s moves to double down on existing strategic partnerships with Barclays Bank UK Plc and international cash management experts Ebury. MarketFinance is also launching new strategic partnerships with Azets, the largest Top 10 regional SME Accountancy and Business Advisory firm, and FTSE 250 enterprise merchants across various sectors.

The fintech saw a close to ten-fold increase in monthly borrowing applications since the pandemic and was able to provide businesses with the quickest ‘time to yes’ on the market via their digital application process. 2019’s £20m-30m volume in submitted monthly applications leapt to an average of £300m per month through 2021, reaching £725m in one month at its peak. Last year MarketFinance advanced over half a billion pounds across its product offering that spans invoice finance, business loans and flex loans, and approved credit limits worth £286m.

MarketFinance has been focused on providing frictionless finance to B2B businesses, in partnership with blue chips, start-ups and public bodies alike for over a decade. The company has benefited greatly from its strong track record of successfully embedding lending services on a cross-sector basis, where MarketFinance’s lending product is integrated within Barclays Online Banking, enabling hundreds of millions of pounds in funds loaned to businesses through the partnership since 2018.

Looking ahead, MarketFinance is building on this growth by developing its lending APIs and investing further in embedded finance models through integrations with software platforms, accountancy platforms, digital banks and B2B marketplaces, as it targets unicorn status. In Q2 2022, MarketFinance will debut its latest digital payments and credit offering for businesses and B2B marketplaces as the next step in its embedded finance strategy.

Anil Stocker, CEO at MarketFinance, commented: “In a market where profits often come second to growth, we are extremely proud to say we have reached this important profitability milestone. Our track record as a B2B credit provider over the last decade, together with our focus on refining our lending APIs, and working towards launching more payment and credit options for B2B marketplaces, stands us in good stead to build a much larger company. We’re still very early in our long-term journey.

“MarketFinance is focused on leading the B2B embedded finance market and transforming it in the same way that Klarna has transformed consumer payments and credit. We will reach our ambitious target through the continued development of pioneering new products, hiring great people to our mission, and maintaining partnerships, such as the one we hold with Barclays, to serve as many businesses with finance as we can.”

Entertainment, Gambling, Gaming

What are the most popular casino games you can play online in the UK

If you have such an experience with online gambling, you are probably aware of how popular these internet sites are becoming in the last few years. With the global coronavirus pandemic affecting every aspect of our lives, we could see that restrictions on movement have been imposed. As a result, it should come as no surprise that more people are playing games on these websites.

The United Kingdom is without a doubt one of the countries with the highest proportion of players. With all that in mind, is there anything wrong with assuming that some games are more prevalent than others? In fact, online gambling in the UK is considered by some as one of the best ideas to make money. Sports betting is, without a doubt, the most prevalent.   

However, while you can win big money, its important to keep perspective as you can lose as well as win, so you should only gamble what you can comfortably afford.

 

The UK and online gambling

In the United Kingdom, online gambling is currently legal and controlled by the Gambling Commission, which had been established as a consequence of the Gambling Act of 2005. 

The Gambling Commission has control over a wide range of games, including poker, bingo, sports betting, and other prominent casino games. This is why any corporate enterprise wishing to provide these types of services to UK citizens must first obtain a gambling commission license.

However, we’d like to concentrate on traditional casino games as well as their popularity on these UK-based sites. Let’s look at a few of them.

 

  • Blackjack on the Internet

Online blackjack is extremely popular in the best online casino UK, as its popularity grows year after year. Its enduring popularity is largely due to such a simple yet engrossing pace and the opportunity to win big. High payments, skill elements, a diverse range of combinations, and other factors all contributed to the game capturing the attention of online players. 

The sport also allows for side bets as well as provides a lot of fun and entertainment. Online casinos’ advertisements and deals, such as free play mode, joining benefits, and other perks, aided the game’s popularity.

 

  • Slot Machines Online

Online slots are prevalent on both mobile phones and desktop computers. One of the primary reasons that people are drawn to it is the broad range of slot machines with various types of reels and pay lines. 

There are lots of online slots to choose from. And software developers work hard to create new and exciting titles with improved sound effects and graphics, as well as numerous pay lines and lucrative bonus payments. It’s no surprise they’ve remained a UK favourite.

 

  • Poker

With so many variations, it’s best described as a game classification. Poker games now account for nearly 21% of all online table game time. Electronic poker, video poker, as well as live poker are the three types of online poker games available. Some sports also offer fantastic prizes, including the chance to win a progressive jackpot.

 

  • Baccarat

The powerful card game is widely thought to have been devised in the 15th century as well as remains a popular preference for players who prefer to play with a touch of complexity. 

Online baccarat, which is played between a dealer and one or more players, requires a level of skill and deftness that other games do not, as well as a combination of luck as well as ability to win. For these purposes, baccarat remains a popular game among UK players.

 

  • Roulette 

Roulette provides players with an excellent gameplay experience as well as higher payouts. Most online casinos offer a variety of roulette games, with players having the option of playing against the house or a live dealer. 

Gamers frequently use creative wagering strategies to try to outwit the machine. Most online roulette games provide a variety of betting options, such as corner bets, street bets, split bets, and much more.

 

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, when selecting the best online casino to play these popular online games, consider their licensing, player safety, data protection, as well as account security policies. 

The success of the aforementioned games has become critical to the growth of the UK online gambling industry. So, what are you holding out for?  If you enjoyed it, why not check out more content from the author, Jordan Carry.

News, Tech

Visibility is vital if we are to improve safety and trust in open source software

When it comes to securing open source software, visibility and transparency are vital, writes Vivian Dufour, CEO of Meterian, and when a vulnerability is discovered the ability to respond quickly saves time, resource – and reputations.

Recent high profile cyber security incidents have reinforced the importance of cleaning up the open-source software supply chain. From Heartbleed to the Apache Software Foundation’s Log4j vulnerability, these highly publicised incidents have exposed the threats associated open-source software.

They have galvanised a range of responses at national and international level – even prompted the White House to convene an Open Source Software Security Summit in January, attended by leaders from global technology companies including Google, Meta, Apple, and Cisco.

The gathering may have been precipitated by the Log4Shell vulnerability, but the wider context was clear. How do we ensure source code, build, and distribution integrity to achieve effective open-source security management?

Open source under the microscope

Technology companies have been using open source for years. It speeds up innovation and time to market but it also has unique security challenges. The responsibility of ongoing security maintenance is carried out by a community of dedicated volunteers. Yet these security incidents have demonstrated that the use of open source is so ubiquitous that no company can blindly continue in the mode of business as usual.

Apache Log4J software is an example.  Used in software developments and security applications across the world, the zero-day vulnerability in the software sent shockwaves across organisations as security teams scrambled to patch the flaw.  If left unfixed, it meant potential attackers could break into systems, causing untold damage, not least to brand reputations.

Improving safety and trust when speed is of the essence

However, how do you quickly patch what you don’t know you have? If we are to increase safety and trust in software, we must improve transparency and visibility across the entire software supply chain.

Companies should have the ability to automatically identify open-source components in order to monitor and manage security risk from publicly disclosed vulnerabilities. A software bill of materials (SBOM) should be a minimum for any project or development. Without such visibility of all component parts, security teams cannot manage risk and will be unaware, and potentially exposed, to dangers lurking in their software.

Innovating securely

Organisations can and should take advantage of the many benefits that open-source software can deliver, but they must not do so blindly.

Now is the time for organisations to implement integrated and automated tooling to gain comprehensive risk control of components in their open-source software supply chain. Only by increasing visibility, coverage of known unknowns and transparency can companies stay one step ahead.

Click here to find out more or to read the full article

 

 

 

Food & Drink, News

The dinosaur holding back innovation in F&B

By Richard Horwell, owner of Brand Relations

It is my opinion that innovation and growth in the UK’s food and beverage sector is being held back by our Novel Foods legislation and a dinosaur in the form of the Food Standards Agency (FSA), which regulates the use of novel foods in this country.  Let’s review at the issues that could be affecting your F&B business.

What makes an ingredient a Novel Foods?

This is food that hasn’t had a significant history of human consumption or has been produced by a previously unknown method in the EU before May 15, 1997 when the first regulations for novel foods came into force. We inherited the regulations from the EU and it was meant to protect consumers from using ingredients in food and drink that could potentially cause harm if its safety is not proven.

Recent trends for hemp, CBD and cannabinoids, baobab, chia seeds, Krill oil, noni-fruit juice and dried mushroom including Turkey Tails and Lion’s Mane mean there’s an insatiable demand for these perceived healthy plant-based foods. But currently, they’re all waiting (and waiting) for the green light from the FSA which requires that they have to be tested as safe, and properly labelled and cannot be legally sold until authorised. This might make sense if millions of people in the UK weren’t already consuming these products freely in the form of supplements.

When the UK left the EU we hoped that this nonsense would come to an end. But sadly, we are still in the hands of bureaucrats who are making a mockery of the situation.

Why add novel ingredients?

Convenience is part of it and since the pandemic there’s been a significant increase in demand for healthy food and plant-based products. Many people come through my door wanting to use natural health foods in their products. But I have to tell them it’s not allowed until they have gathered and submitted extensive evidence to the FSA which is a very expensive and lengthy process. For example, in March 2021 only 210 applications from several thousand products were considered viable for further consideration.

Of course, we should be cautious about what goes into our food. But I have known cases where producers have gone somewhere else with their idea and a more unethical company has agreed to take the product on with a disclaimer for responsibility. They will find a way, but it just pushes the problem down to the FSA.

In most cases these health products have already been tested. For example, Canada has approved more than 90 Novel Foods including canola, corn, cotton seed and flax. Our laws say everything new has to be tested but if it is already tested (elsewhere or in different products, say supplements) and it’s not making anyone sick, what’s the problem? We need to free ourselves from the bureaucrats.

Which Novel Foods are currently available on the market?
Chia seeds, when first introduced, were only allowed to be sold as single ingredients but due to the increase in dietary intake in recent years and an extensive literature search by the European Food Standards Agency the product is now widely added to chocolate, fruit spreads, yoghurts and non-alcoholic beverages.

Cholesterol reducing spreads have also been approved with the addition of phytosterols and phytostanols and are gathering huge commercial success. The appetite for CBD in food and drink is currently booming although consumers might be surprised to learn this hasn’t yet been approved by the FSA.  Major retailers Boots and Holland & Barrrett reported an increase of 65 % in revenue in November 2021 from CBD products and they are set to pull in £690 million in 2021 – an increase of £314 million since 2019. Big names like heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua are behind the CBD brand Love Hemp and many CBD companies have joined forces to push CBD on to the market. But nothing’s certain for them yet and this hugely successful product which has already gone through rigorous testing in other parts of the world could still have the rug pulled from underneath it.

What’s the cost of launching a Novel Food?

It’s huge. You can expect to spend at least five or six figures for the research and testing. What small business can afford that?  Currently we’re in a position where some products are on the market without approval because there’s financial clout behind them. For the time being some producers are getting away with it. We need a fairer and a streamlined system to support innovation in F&B.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Richard Horwell is the owner of Brand Relations, a specialist food and drink marketing and branding company based in London. Over the last 13 years, Brand Relations has been behind the launch and development of over 100 brands in the UK. Richard has also built up and sold companies of his own in the Food and Beverage sector. He has over 30 years’ experience in marketing FMCG brands around the world, having lived and worked in the UK, USA, Australia and the Middle East.

News

Kids Industries completes 360 degree rebrand project with iSpace Wellbeing

Family-focused marketing agency Kids Industries (KI) has completed a 360 degree rebranding and design project with mental health and wellbeing curriculum provider, iSpace Wellbeing. The culmination of the project sees the business launch a digital wellbeing product that serves children of all ages and creates a safe place for them to go for support.

With an exciting whole-school approach to mental health, iSpace Wellbeing designs educational curriculums across an age-appropriate framework. It provides teachers with information on who and how to ask for help, and a common language – encouraging conversations about mental, emotional, social and physical health, to become part of everyday school and home life.

Paula Talman, Founder at iSpace Wellbeing said: “No-one understands the kids’ market more than the Kids Industries team and with their insight-led approach they’ve created a friendly and welcoming tone, ensuring those interacting with our brand instantly feel they are in a safe space.  Our new brand identity is also strong enough to stand out in a large industry and be relevant for a wide range of ages, ensuring that those engaging with us know that they can talk freely, in a trusted atmosphere and learn about their own mental health.”

For the qualitative research, Kids Industries spoke to parents, teachers and children/student (from both primary and secondary schools) across the UK, and with participants who had experience of mental health challenges, to dig deeper into what support they wanted.

Gary Pope, CEO and Co-Founder at Kids Industries, said: “Right from the project outset it was clear from our own research that consumer need was high. 18 percent of UK parents said their child’s mental health had gotten worse over the past 12 months and one in four parents had no idea where to access mental health support materials for their children. 

“Our research framed the direction iSpace needed to go in – to really drive change at a point of entry primary-age level where a parent-led product could really add meaning, value and support.” 

The Kids Industries team defined a clear set of brand values and created a concept and style based on these – making it relevant to its audience. A new logo was produced with each letter in the name iSpace representing a full sentence: “I Stop Pause And Calm Everything”. Coloured shapes were also used to represent a wide range of emotions and moods that can be experienced in mental health and wellbeing.

The brand concept was to ensure it was gentle and spacious, but also engaging. A comprehensive style guide was created complete with brand elements and templates for use across multiple platforms. A new website was designed and launched, too – with a teacher-led UX journey focusing on optimised navigation and underpinned by a content management system that captured data on key trends to help understand user needs.

‍Pope concluded: “iSpace Wellbeing’s work is essential in response to the growing need for greater mental health support, but it’s also forward-thinking in preparing children for the future. With this new look, feel and function, the business is promoting positive mental health and making it more accessible and uplifting to talk and learn about – and we have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of their journey.”

News

Hootsuite re-imagines London office at LABS 90 High Holborn for future of work

People-led approach sees new office prioritise collaboration and employee wellbeing

Hootsuite, the global leader in social media management, today announced the opening of its re-imagined London Nest (office space). Alongside one of London’s leading flexible workspace providers, LABS, Hootsuite’s redesigned Holborn-based office space puts workforce preferences, employee wellbeing and the future of work front of mind.

Hootsuite puts people first, so it listened to its people – or ‘Owls’ – about what they wanted in their workspace today. An internal survey found that 62% of its 105 London Owls would prefer to go into the office 1-3 days a week and 30% would prefer to head in just a couple times a month. It also became clear that mental health had been greatly impacted by pandemic-related isolation, and that people were looking for spaces that supported collaboration and opportunities for connection. The majority of Owls were looking for connectedness while still having the ability to work from home and design their own work style.

“Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, Hootsuite has taken the approach of an employee-led distributed workforce strategy. Now that people are returning to the office, we wanted to ensure these spaces are designed for the return to work and that our employees feel comfortable and are able to be the best version of themselves in the workplace,” said Karen Chapman, EMEA Office Manager, Hootsuite. “The LABS team have been superb as we collaborate with them to customise the space to accommodate future ways of working that best support our Owls.”

Hootsuite’s London office has been situated at LABS 90 High Holborn since 2019. The space’s natural light, large open plan design, spacious shared kitchen area and LABS amenities were among the many attractions of the space. The plan for the London office’s redesign was finalised towards the end of June 2021 and the refurbishment was fully completed in January 2022. After closing its doors throughout government-mandated lockdowns during the pandemic, Hootsuite welcomed back its London Owls on 14th February 2022, operating at a limited capacity with COVID-19 safety guidelines in mind.

“Our focus was to collaborate with the Hootsuite team on the redesign of their space to move away from an uninspiring sea of desks. The result is a fun, intuitive and innovative environment that meets Hootsuite’s needs, while also suiting the demands of the modern worker,” said Matt Watts, Chief Commercial Officer at LABS. “Listening to our client’s needs is an essential part of our business, so that we can use our expertise to turn their aspirations into a reality.”

Prior to the refurbishment, Hootsuite had 126 assigned desks in the space. There are now 80 unassigned desks, all of which are bookable in advance via the Robin app, which is also used to manage Hootsuite meeting room bookings. Over 50 traditional workstations were removed from the workspace to make room for more community and wellbeing-focused areas.

Other new points of interest include additional collaborative and relaxed soft-seating areas, 16 sit-stand desks, two under-desk treadmills and two under-desk bikes, a dedicated wellness room, biophilia across the whole space, art and whiteboards in most meeting rooms, a dedicated quiet Focus Zone complete with an acoustic screen, and day-use lockers. All of the existing furniture was repurposed and reused—all of the excess IT equipment was donated to charity via Green Standards to a school in Ghana, Africa.

“The additional collaborative areas have already received huge amounts of positive feedback, and our Owls have also responded well to the added biophilia,” added Chapman. “It’s a well-known fact that being in close proximity to nature can have huge benefits on one’s mental health, so the addition of plants into the workspace was a very strategic design decision.”

Hootsuite’s London office is situated within 8,390 sq ft on the sixth floor of LABS 90 High Holborn, a landmark building located in London’s Knowledge Quarter and near to the West End. The design aesthetic of LABS spaces is premium, classic and understated, using neutral colours and tones and natural materials, to deliver calm and comfortable environments that can easily be customised to suit a brand’s needs and identity.

In addition to this, LABS works with a variety of high-end partners to provide unrivalled amenities and experiences across its network of buildings, including gyms and multi-purpose wellness suites, members breakfasts, members social events, pilates, yoga and more. Its hospitality offering includes the recently opened Aperitivo bar Americano (LABS Victoria House & Hawley Wharf) and a number of unique food and drink destinations that are also open to the public.

“Hootsuite was one of our first clients at LABS 90 High Holborn, whose move-in coincided with the opening of the building. We’re delighted that they’ve chosen to extend their lease term, and we thoroughly enjoyed working with them to reimagine their office for the next phase of their business, which will respond to the rapidly-changing world of work,” added Watts. 

The re-imagining of the London office follows Hootsuite’s Vancouver HQ redesign. Looking ahead, Hootsuite is examining each of its workspaces to see how it can make changes to ensure they are more inclusive and prioritise employee wellness. Collaborative areas, wellness rooms, the Robin app and added biophilia are just some of the features that are planned for other Hootsuite workspaces.

About Hootsuite

Hootsuite is the global leader in social media management with approximately two-hundred thousand paid accounts and millions of users, spanning brands and organisations of all sizes from the smallest SMBs to the largest Enterprise, in every corner of the world.

Hootsuite’s unparalleled expertise in social selling, social customer care and social media management empowers organisations to strategically grow their brand, businesses, and customer relationships with social.

Hootsuite Academy, the industry-leading online learning platform, empowers growth through social media certifications and has delivered over one million courses to over half a million people worldwide.

To learn more, visit www.hootsuite.com.

 

About LABS

LABS is one of London’s leading flexible workspace brands with a mission to create office environments that feed productivity and support success through thoughtful design and unrivalled amenities. Founded in 2017 by property investment company LabTech, LABS now provides office space solutions to 6,000 members across its ten locations in Holborn and Camden.

From entrepreneurs and creatives to mid-sized companies and enterprises, LABS supports members and businesses of all sizes, tailoring spaces to suit every need from fit out to full service.

Every LABS space is designed with health and wellbeing at the fore, so that members feel at home, while providing a stage to connect, collaborate and thrive.

Holborn: LABS Victoria House, LABS 90 High Holborn, LABS Hogarth House, LABS Southampton Place, LABS House, LABS Herbrand Street

Camden: LABS Lockside, LABS Triangle, LABS Atrium, LABS Hawley Wharf (LABS Hawley Lock), LABS Lower Lock, LABS Upper Lock.

International: LABS Tel Aviv

Labs.com

Food & Drink, News

Brewery launches new beer to mark the beginning of spring

Black Sheep Brewery has announced the launch of its latest seasonal cask beer, Refresher – a brand new addition to their range available exclusively in April.

Described as a ‘fresh’ take on the classic British Blonde Ale, Black Sheep’s newest beer combines a blend of British hops to provide a sessionable, lightly-floral pint with a clean finish.

At 3.9%, Refresher offers cask beer lovers a light, fruity pint with layers of pulsating hop character. Complimented by radiant notes of citrus that breaks through the smooth, silky head of the pint, Refresher is truly the perfect embodiment of spring.

Refresher is the third beer to be launched as part of Black Sheep’s 2022 Seasonal Cask Beer Range – its biggest range yet – to mark the brewery’s upcoming 30th anniversary in September.

Jack Scott Paul, Brand & Communications Manager at Black Sheep Brewery, says: “We’re really excited to launch Refresher, just in time for the spring season. Refresher is our own, fresh take on the classic British blonde ale, and we know this one will be popular with both cask beer lovers and those looking to try a new kind of pint.”

“As the name suggests, it’s sure to offer perfect refreshment and judging by the recent weather, there’s no better time of year to launch this new beer.”

Back in March, Black Sheep relaunched its popular Black Sheep IPA for the first time in cask format, a beer inspired by their founder Paul Theakston as well as the pioneering brewers of USA who have made a bold stance against bland beer with the invention of daring, exciting IPA flavour combinations.

Despite cask beer being the ‘original craft beer’, the category has experienced a steady decline for several years due to changing consumer habits, the growth of other drinks categories, and pub closures as a result of Covid-19 restrictions.

In response to this, Black Sheep Brewery recently launched its Drink Cask Beer campaign to grow the category as a whole and to encourage young people to move past misconceptions surrounding cask beer.

Jack continued: “We recently embarked on a mission at Black Sheep Brewery with a clear message for young people: Drink Cask Beer.

“We hope with the launch of Refresher, people will be encouraged to try cask, and enjoy one of our lighter, fruiter pints without hesitation. Who knows, it may even change your life.”

The Yorkshire brewery has committed to launching a new cask beer each month, as well as bringing back old favourites, available to on-trade customers in pubs across the country.

Energy, News

How crucial is nuclear power for energy security?

Written by Kunal Sawhney, CEO, Kalkine

Amid the gruelling energy crisis, the government has announced its intention to take a 20 per cent stake in Sizewell C nuclear power plant in Suffolk. The planned project is to construct a 3,200 Megawatts electric (Mwe) nuclear power station. The ambitious power project is estimated to generate low-carbon electricity sufficient to supply six million homes; not only that, but it will also create thousands of local jobs and support around 70,000 jobs.

The current nuclear power situation in the country

Nuclear power constitutes a major portion of the UK’s power need. At present, around 16 per cent of the nation’s electricity comes from nuclear power plants. This nuclear power is generated from 13 nuclear reactors at six plants. The government has been reiterating its resolve that nuclear power is an integral part of meeting its carbon reduction target. Also, different other sites like Bradwell, Hartlepool, Wylfa, Heysham, Oldbury, and Sellafield have been identified for new power stations.

An independent body established under the amended Climate Change Act 2008, Climate Change Committee (CCC) advises the government on meeting its carbon reduction targets. In 2020, CCC had stated that if the UK is to meet its net-zero goal by 2050, nuclear power will be needed as renewables and another low-carbon generation source of energy.

Government initiatives

The government, in October last year had, introduced a new finance model that would help reduce the cost of new nuclear power projects in Britain. The new model known as the Regulated Asset Base (RAB) is expected to cut the cost of financing and the ultimate cost to consumers of over £30 billion on each new large-scale station by attracting a wider range of private investment into new nuclear power projects. The model is also said to be a step forward for self-reliance by enlarging the pool of private investors and reducing the dependence on overseas developers.

The government had committed £210 million to develop small modular reactors in the UK, one of the world’s first small modular reactors (SMR). The Rolls-Royce SMR would be matched with funding of over £250 million from Rolls-Royce Group, BNF Resources UK Limited, and Exelon Generation Limited. SMRs are set to be less expensive to build compared to old-style nuclear power plants, as they are small in size.

A final investment decision for a large-scale nuclear project investment of £1.7 billion was announced in the Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021. An investment of £385 million was also announced for advanced nuclear research and development.

Energy security is the prime concern

The UK is presently going through the worst energy crisis it has ever seen. Soon after the pandemic, when the world was struggling with the supply chain constraint that disturbed all the economic activities, including energy supply, the Russian invasion of Ukraine destabilized the whole energy equation between the UK and its energy suppliers. Reliance on foreign oil and gas imports has made the government and the people think again about the issues of energy security.

The current energy crisis and high cost of energy bills have forced the government to take all possible initiatives to minimize the woes of the households at the earliest. The decision to acquire 20 per cent stake with an equal stake taken by French developer EDF is anticipated to encourage infrastructure investors and pension funds to take the remaining stake in the long-delayed Sizewell C nuclear power.

It has become imperative as the nuclear power capacity in the UK is likely to decline in short to medium term. Around half of the UK’s current nuclear capacity is due to be decommissioned by 2025, which would make the task of meeting the net-zero goal by 2050 difficult. The UK’s high reliance on other countries for its energy needs calls for immediate action. The government had earlier made a contribution of £100 million to the project’s development now its acquisition of a 20 per cent stake will surely boost the morale of the investors, side by side it will create lots of local jobs.