Monthly Archives: March 2022

News, South East

London revealed as the top capital for hybrid roles

As the world’s workforce starts to move back into the office for at least one or two days a week, a more hybrid way of working is on the rise -part remote, part in-house. Small Business Prices set out to discover which countries and capitals are most attractive for hybrid roles, taking into account metrics such as average commute price, available jobs and working hours per week.

London revealed as the top capital for hybrid roles

Rank Country Capital Livability score No. of hybrid jobs per country No. of hybrid jobs in capital Av. commute price (£) Av. working hours per week Av. salary after tax (£) No. of co-working spaces
1 United Kingdom London 98.53 60,617 16,000 10.40 36.3 31,91.32 309
2 United States Washington 95.71 176,813 11,102 8.80 35 4,286.58 67
3 Germany Berlin 98.39 10,530 2,000 10.00 39.5 2,482.90 133
4 Netherlands Amsterdam 93.85 3,487 1,639 10.68 40 2,826.24 101
5 Switzerland Bern 88.38 903 87 12.76 42 4,110.21 9
6 Japan Tokyo 95.26 1,616 1,422 5.36 42 2,505.36 187
7 Sweden Stockholm 90.95 1,280 685 11.96 40 2,573.17 53
8 South Korea Seoul 91.58 196 179 3.08 55 1,869.43 86
9 Singapore Singapore 87.08 2,155 2,150 3.92 44 3,027.53 124
10 France Paris 94.87 1,787 866 6.36 39 2,317.49 134
11 Ireland Dublin 83.69 3,673 2,868 10.00 40 2,573.88 47
12 Canada Ottawa 98.28 15,558 1,400 8.32 35 2,264.68 25
13 Denmark Copenhagen 89.96 627 441 10.76 37 2,836.78 26
14 Norway Oslo 83.66 347 239 12.48 37.5 2,817.32 34
15 UAE Abu Dhabi 90.86 344 74 1.60 48 2,422.76 33

With well over 60 thousand hybrid roles nationwide and 16,000 in the capital alone, the United Kingdom takes first place as the best country for pursuing a hybrid working career. Commuters in London that will be coming into their offices twice a week can expect to pay £10.40 per week on average on their way to one of 309 co-working spaces across the city, taking home an average salary of £3191.32.

Coming in as the second-best capital for hybrid working is Washington DC in the United States of America. This city isn’t just home to the White House, but also to 11,102 jobs that offer the flexibility of hybrid working. Those commuting twice a week in DC pay an average of £8.80 a week whilst taking home an average of £4,286.58.

The East-German city of Berlin offers two thousand hybrid working roles at the time of writing, and 10,530 jobs nationwide. The average take-home pay for Germans comes down to £2,482.90.

London has the highest number of co-working spaces

Rank Country Capital Livability score No. of hybrid jobs per country No. of hybrid jobs in capital Av. commute price (£) Av. working hours per week Av. salary after tax (£) No. of co-working spaces
1 United Kingdom London 98.53 60,617 16,000 10.40 36.3 3,191.32 309
2 Japan Tokyo 95.26 1,616 1,422 5.36 42 2,505.36 187
3 India New Delhi 78.83 20,696 924 1.36 54 481.23 168
4 Mexico Mexico City 78.66 1,674 301 0.88 48 482.63 138
5 France Paris 94.87 1,787 866 6.36 39 2,317.49 134
6 Germany Berlin 98.39 10,530 2,000 10.00 39.5 2,482.90 133
7 Spain Madrid 86.49 2,652 1,005 5.00 40 1,501.63 130
8 Singapore Singapore 87.08 2,155 2,150 3.92 44 3,027.53 124
9 Thailand Bangkok 71.98 258 231 4.04 40 518.64 123
10 Netherlands Amsterdam 93.85 3,487 1,639 10.68 40 2,826.24 101

The conventional office where we work nine to five, five days a week, isn’t the standard any more. Those that don’t work from home full time, can enjoy the perks of an office space in one of the many co-working spaces that can often be booked by the day in many capital cities across the globe.

The one city that offers the most co-working spaces is London. This great-British capital has a staggering 309 hybrid offices available to laptop warriors city-wide.

Tokyo, Japan has the second-largest number of flexible offices on offer, at 187. Followed suit by India’s capital New Delhi where you can find 168 co-working spaces.

South Koreans work most hours per week

Rank Country Capital Livability score No. of hybrid jobs per country No. of hybrid jobs in capital Av. commute price (£) Av. working hours per week Av. salary after tax (£) No. of co-working spaces
1 South Korea Seoul 91.58 196 179 3.08 55 1,869.43 86
2 India New Delhi 78.83 20,696 924 1.36 54 481.23 168
3 Philippines Manila 77.53 1,736 1,657 1.56 49.5 325.77 33
4 Mexico Mexico City 78.66 1,674 301 0.88 48 482.63 138
5 United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi 90.86 344 74 1.60 48 2,422.76 33
6 Costa Rica San José 75.32 314 104 2.16 48 629.69 18
7 Saudi Arabia Riyadh 82.71 181 127 3.12 48 1,492.06 50
8 Vietnam Hanoi 81.27 154 46 0.92 47.5 341.84 58
9 Turkey Ankara 78.27 469 73 0.96 45 314.82 9
10 Iceland Reykjavík 72.44 5 4 11.60 44.4 2,522.42 9

Many Asian countries are notorious for their long working weeks and high pressure working culture. It therefore comes as no surprise that many of the countries working the most hours per week are located in this continent.

Workers in South Korea put in the most hours at an average of 55 hours per week, followed by nearby India where people work an average of 54 hours per week. Filipinos too aren’t far behind, they work 49 and a half hours per week on average.

Americans and Canadians enjoy the shortest average working week

Rank Country Capital Livability score No. of hybrid jobs per country No. of hybrid jobs in capital Av. commute price (£) Av. working hours per week Av. salary after tax (£) No. of co-working spaces
1 United States Washington 95.71 176,813 11,102 8.80 35 4,286.58 67
2 Canada Ottawa 98.28 15,558 1,400 8.32 35 2,264.68 25
3 Kuwait Kuwait City 78.79 26 2 2.92 35 1,204.40 4
4 Italy Rome 78.99 1,243 285 5.00 36 1,231.19 49
5 United Kingdom London 98.53 60,617 16,000 10.40 36.3 3191.32 309
6 Russia Moscow 87.35 256 37 1.92 36.8 762.24 52
7 Denmark Copenhagen 89.96 627 441 10.76 37 2,836.78 26
8 Australia Canberra 83.80 6,447 307 9.52 37.5 2,835.68 16
9 Finland Helsinki 85.32 695 418 9.36 37.5 2,125.63 20
10 Norway Oslo 83.66 347 239 12.48 37.5 2,817.32 34

The United States may not be known for the most amount of annual leave or other working benefits, but their average working weeks are some of the shortest. Both Americans, Canadians and those employed in the Middle-Eastern country of Kuwait work just 35 hours per week on average.

For working 35 hours per week, Americans take home an average of £4,286.58per month. Canadians on the other hand have a much lower take home pay of £2,264.68 per month. Those working in Kuwait get deposited an average of £1,204.40 after tax each month.

Methodology

In an effort to determine the best countries and capitals for hybrid roles, Small Business Prices collected data from career platform LinkedIn, indexing the number of hybrid jobs listed per country and their capital.

Additionally, the average price of commuting was based off of 2 trips to the office per week;  average price of 1 way ticket on public transport multiplied by 4.

Sources

News, Tech

Nebuli launches new innovation-as-a-service solution, ClientLab

Nebuli®, the world’s first Augmented Intelligence Studio, has launched its newest solution, ClientLab®, an innovation-as-a-service solution providing customers with a dedicated research and development (R&D) service informed by Nebuli’s leading innovation strategy.

Corporate innovation and R&D is vital for organisations to get ahead of the competition, so much so that research has found that 87% of senior business leaders say digitalisation is a priority, and 97% of businesses are engaged in some form of digital initiative. But while some organisations rely on establishing their own entrepreneurial schemes and VC funds, they can struggle to sustain the momentum needed for innovation.

Nebuli has developed ClientLab to provide organisations with access to expertise, including panels of scientists, business development experts, designers, and engineers. This new service will provide partners with the innovation support needed to create technologies that shift the mindset of their customers, leading to a strong market impact.

With data privacy, ethics, and integrity more important than ever, Nebuli places these at the heart of its ClientLab solution. Unlike other offerings, ClientLab respects customers’ and users’ privacy, will never harvest customers’ data unless it is critically important and if the full consent of customers and users is agreed, and will never store the original copies of any customer or user material uploaded to its system. In addition, the service provides the flexibility and intellectual property protection customers need.

Bringing together Nebuli’s current services, including its Datastack® framework, R&D panels, engineering, and BehaviorLink™, ClientLab has already helped teams, decision-makers, and communities across several markets achieve actionable and data-driven innovation strategies. The solution has empowered them to focus on what matters, make better decisions and achieve faster results.

 

Tim El-Sheikh, CEO and Chief Architect at Nebuli, comments:

“The global pandemic has shown all of us that modernisation is key to staying ahead, with digital-first businesses who were already set up for the new normal faring a lot better than those who were not.

“For many firms, these last few years have been a wake-up call. However, knowing you need to innovate is one thing, but actually innovating is another. Finding the right data scientists, getting enough budget and tapping into the right questions – there are plenty of challenges facing internal research teams.

“With ClientLab’s innovation-as-a-service, these issues can be mitigated, and organisations can access the right minds and resources to conduct research and find the developments they need to keep ahead of the curve. Through ClientLab, we are offering a highly flexible, yet powerful innovation framework for our customers and partners.”

 

To discover more about Nebuli’s ClientLab, visit: https://nebuli.com/solutions/clientlab/

News

RSK welcomes leading specialist engineering company to expanding portfolio

Leading environmental, engineering and technical services business RSK Group Ltd is pleased to announce it has added specialist engineering company Richard Allitt Associates (RAA) to its thriving portfolio.

Operating across the UK from two offices in Staplefield, West Sussex, and Altrincham, Greater Manchester, RAA is a specialist provider of hydraulic modelling, surface water management and flood risk consultancy for the urban drainage industry, delivering innovative solutions for the complex needs of its customers.

Established in 1996 by Richard and Kathryn Allitt, the company has almost three decades of experience resolving flooding problems in the urban environment and a long track record in the provision of flood risk consultancy services.

These include hydraulic modelling, urban flood forecasting, catchment planning, hydrology, surface water and drainage assessments and flood risk management.

Alongside these hydraulic modelling and flood risk management services, the company also operates Remote Aerial Surveys (RAS), a specialist drone survey division offering high-quality mapping and state-of-the-art aerial surveys.

In joining forces with RSK, this latest acquisition will complement the skills of existing water service providers within the RSK group, including Binnies, MWH Treatment, WRc and Nicholas O’Dwyer, to offer a wider suite of services to meet the scope of client demands.

The company will join RSK’s Binnies division, led by Divisional Director Gary Young. As part of the transition, current Managing Director Richard Allitt will step down but will continue with the business for the next year as a part-time consultant. Meanwhile, Martin Allitt will take over the role of Managing Director, supported by John Hilson, who will remain as Northern Director. Kathryn Allitt will be retiring in April.

The strategic acquisition supports RSK’s ambitious diversification strategy that has seen the group expand rapidly in recent years to provide clients with practical solutions to some of the greatest challenges societies have ever faced.

Alan Ryder, founder and Chief Executive Officer of RSK, said: “We are delighted to welcome Richard Allitt Associates into our group. Working across a range of clients, from water companies to government agencies and Lead Local Flood Authorities, as well as in the private sector, the company has grown into a leading specialist provider of hydraulic modelling, flood risk management and surface water management and is highly regarded in the industry for using state-of-the-art hydraulic modelling techniques.

“I am particularly excited that RAA will bring a dedicated, specialist wastewater network modelling business to the group, enabling us to respond to the forecast increase in this growing market, driven by the new Environment Bill. RAA will also add a variety of complementary capabilities to the existing water services within the group, aligning well with the skills of Binnies, MWH Treatment, WRc and Nicholas O’Dwyer.

“I am very pleased to welcome the company into the RSK group.”

Commenting on the acquisition, founder and current Managing Director Richard Allitt said: “Having spent nearly three decades building this business into a specialised and highly regarded engineering firm within the industry, it was key for us to find the right partner to help us carry on the high level of work that we have provided to our clients over the years.

“Equally as important was for us to ensure that our employees would be able to continue to provide the same quality of work as they have been and for them to see a clear career progression, job satisfaction and challenging opportunities going forward.”

Martin Allitt, Director and incoming Managing Director, added: “The acquisition of our company by RSK marks an exciting change for our business that will see our employees and activities continuing as normal under the RAA brand while taking advantage of the support of the well-respected organisation that is the RSK group and the associated benefits of being able to complement and leverage the existing skills of partner companies within the group.

“This acquisition represents a fantastic opportunity for us as a business, enabling us to continue to serve our existing clients with leading-edge solutions and giving us the chance to grow with the support of outstanding businesses in our sector.”

 

About RSK

RSK (www.rskgroup.com) is a global leader in environmental, engineering and sustainability solutions. The business has grown organically and through strategic acquisition since it was established in 1989. Today, the RSK group is made up of more than 130 companies that are aligned to deliver end-to-end solutions to help organisations to achieve their goals in a sustainable manner. With its head office in Helsby, Cheshire, UK, RSK employs over 8000 specialists worldwide and is known for providing practical solutions to global challenges.

 

RSK has a diverse client base but mainly services key accounts for clients in the energy, water, property, manufacturing, government and transport sectors.

 

The company is certified to the ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 international standards for quality, environmental management and health and safety management.

 

For more information, please contact

Name: Carmella De Lucia

Job title: Senior Press Officer

Email: cdelucia@rsk.co.uk

  1. About Richard Allitt Associates

Richard Allitt Associates Ltd was established in 1996, with a head office in Staplefield, Haywards Heath. The company is a leading provider of hydraulic modelling and flood risk consultancy for the urban drainage industry. It operates nationally and specialises in hydraulic modelling, drainage design and flood mitigation services for a range of sectors, including water companies, the property sector, local authorities, regulators and the legal profession.

The company’s aim is to resolve flooding problems in the urban environment using the latest analytical techniques. Its innovative approach led it to develop an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) remote aerial survey service for a range of uses, to deliver environmental monitoring and mapping of the highest quality. The company has used its industry expertise to develop these UAV services for flood management and other water industry requirements. www.raaltd.co.uk www.remoteaerialsurveys.co.uk.

 

 

Electric Vehicles, News

Simple EV charging solution set to revolutionise new-build industry

AN INNOVATIVE new electric car charge point is set to revolutionise the house building industry, saving time and money for developers.

With the UK Government due to make it a requirement to introduce mandatory charge points in new homes and commercial buildings in England, the BriXcell is a simple, compact solution which can be easily installed during the construction phase of any new build.

Developed by a team of industry experts, it contains the entire EV charging point infrastructure within a brick-sized construction pack which can be fitted as part of the existing building process.

BriXcell is being launched in partnership with Scottish-based solutions firm Eco Group, as part of its EcoGoZero range of products aimed at helping businesses, homeowners and the UK achieve net zero targets. Eco has exclusive UK distribution of the product, which will lead its Eco V range of electric vehicle solutions.

The BriXcell construction pack is built into an external wall during the construction process, with the internal cabling contained within the infrastructure of the property. 

The electrical connection system is wired at the first fix stage, with a decorative cover fitted. The decorative cover is swapped for a charge point when it’s needed by the new homeowner, ensuring the warranty begins at the point of requirement.

Tim Gardner, who is part of the four-strong team behind the BriXcell, said: “We see this product as a game changer for the new-build industry. 

“What started as a sketch on a piece of paper almost three years ago has developed into a fit-for-purpose product which we can now take to the market.

“Traditionally these types of products have been surface mounted but we challenged ourselves to restrict it to the size and shape of a standard brick so it can form part of the construction process.

“The BriXcell has been through a rigorous testing process and the feedback we have received so far from the industry has been extremely positive.

“The main advantage of the BriXcell to a house builder or developer is that they don’t need to change any of their existing processes to install it, which saves money and time. It really is as simple as laying a brick.

“And when the homeowner moves into the property, the charge point is ready for them to use.

“We’ve been told that it’s so simple yet so cleverly designed that it could be ground-breaking for the industry.”

Eco Group’s EcoGoZero portfolio of products focus on decarbonised travel, decentralised energy and infrastructure innovation. 

The firm, which is based in Annan in Dumfries and Galloway, has a proven track record of creating and delivering solutions for businesses across the UK.

Eddie Black, Managing Director of Eco, said the BriXcell had the potential to play a key role in the electric car charging industry. 

He said: “The BriXcell is an excellent example of what can be achieved when a great concept, design and technology comes together to create a simple yet innovative solution.

“We believe it can make a big difference in the move towards a more sustainable future, and we are excited to be collaborating with the BriXcell team to bring it to market.”

Tim brings more than 30 years of experience in the new-build industry to the BriXcell team, which also includes Jonathan McFarlane, who is Managing Director of plastic injection moulding company Plastic Engineering Solutions; Nick Glover who is Managing Director of electronics firm Cursey Technology; and James Glover who is a director of Viridian EV which specialises in electric car charging products. They are all based around Cirencester in Gloucestershire.

Tim said the strength of the team lay in the knowledge and experience each member brought to the project.

He said: “We are all running busy and successful businesses and have put this momentum into establishing the BriXcell product. From the point of concept, we all believed 100 per cent in this project and, by bringing together our joint expertise, we were able to make it a reality.”

The team’s in-depth understanding of their specialist sectors has influenced the design features of the BriXcell which include 32 amp (7Kw) fast charging; flame retardant polymers (UL94-VO) which meet Glow Wire test 960; either type 1 or type 2 plug holder for the charge cable when not in use; and IP54 water and dust resistance. It also includes an LED halo for charger status; luminosity for night time charging; security features; and a cable tidy.

Plans requiring new homes in England to have an electric car charging point were announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson in November as part of efforts to help the UK reach net zero.

Under the plans, new-build homes will need at least one charging point per dwelling with associated parking. The new regulations would also apply to new-build supermarkets, workplaces and buildings undergoing major renovations. 

The measures aim to support the growing uptake of electric vehicles, with new petrol and diesel car sales banned from 2030.

Around 10 per cent of cars sold in 2020 were electric, up from 2.5 per cent in 2018.

To find out more about the BriXcell visit www.ecogozero.co.uk or email hello@ecogozero.co.uk

News

Alcumus launches new supply chain compliance solution to deliver control across the safety, ethical and financial risks within modern supply chains

Market-leading Health, Safety and ESG risk management provider Alcumus, today launches a new solution for organisations needing to manage sustainability risks across their supply chain.

Designed to maximise supply chain compliance and visibility, the new solution is an expansion of the flagship Alcumus SafeContractorTM solution. By increasing the range of supplier types and associated risk categories, organisations seeking comprehensive supply chain risk management now have a one-stop-shop from the most trusted name in the industry.

Alcumus research conducted in December 2021[1], revealed more than three quarters of businesses have encountered instances where supplier performance has adversely affected their own business in the past. In this context, ESG factors, such as sustainability and modern slavery, are of increasing concern at board level.

This intensifies the pressure for businesses to enhance the visibility of their supply chains and therefore to improve pre-qualification and verification processes across the supplier universe.  That same pressure is felt by the suppliers themselves, the increasing demand to evidence that they are a responsible organisation, can win or lose them contracts.

The new Alcumus solution, enables tailored assessments by the Alcumus in-house audit team to verify suppliers against key policies. With over 20 years of experience in supplier risk management, Alcumus can now accredit and verify across the full breadth of health and safety, sustainability, modern slavery, data privacy, insurances, quality, and financial status for organisations in the UK.

This brings greater visibility and control to Alcumus clients, connecting globally operating enterprises to a trusted community of verified suppliers and contractors. The combined community counts just under 40,000 members internationally, with contractors and suppliers across a range of sectors and trades, supplying organisations in areas with different degrees of risks.

For suppliers, the solution allows them to evidence their business credibility, demonstrating that they have the processes and documentation in place to comply with current regulation and legislation enabling Alcumus’ Enterprise clients to fully trust the standards of its supply chain.

 

Alyn Franklin, CEO Alcumus, says: “Without an effective supplier management verification process in place, companies invite risk, additional cost, brand damage and disruption into their business. It is fundamental companies know in advance which suppliers they can trust.  We have delivered this transparency and insight through SafeContractor for over 20 years and I’m now delighted to expand our reach to encompass all supplier categories.” 

 

For Alcumus Enterprise clients the management solution is Alcumus Supply Chain Compliance. For suppliers, the verification scheme is SafeSupplier. Both are immediately available in the UK, with North America following.

1Source: Alcumus Supply Chain Compliance & Resilience Research, December 2021

[1] Source: Alcumus Supply Chain Compliance & Resilience Research, December 2021

News

The MEF SMS SenderID Protection Registry launches in Spain – significantly reducing the impact of Smishing & Spoofing by SMS

The UK-based Mobile Ecosystem Forum’s SMS Sender ID Protection Registry has formally launched in Spain.

The announcement was made at the Future of Mobile summit hosted by MEF at MWC Barcelona. After a soft trial started in December 2021, the MEF SMS SenderID Protection Registry is now up and running in Spain, with partners including three major network operators and seven financial brands, and multiple business messaging solutions providers.

The MEF SMS SenderID Protection Registry, which was developed in the UK, is an ecosystem-wide anti-fraud solution that significantly reduces the impact of Smishing & Spoofing by SMS.

“Globally the threat of phishing by SMS is becoming more concerning. Consumers and business are finding that their savings are at risk from people impersonating trusted financial agencies via text messages. It is a vile crime that often impacts vulnerable people both financially and emotionally.” Dario Betti, CEO of MEF, comments.

“We are happy to see that the industry in Spain is pro-actively building a platform to react to these threats. While we are not able to name the companies involved in this pilot for security reasons, MEF is very grateful to the large support we have encountered in the market.”

What is it?

It reduces the ability for fraudsters to send messages impersonating a brand in the message header, by checking whether the sender using that sender ID is authorised by the merchant/brand. If not, messages from this route are blocked as fraudulent, ensuring SMS remains a trusted communication channel for brands and consumers alike.

At times, fraudsters can also be made Sender IDs that are made up of misspellings and special characters that can differentiate form the brand but are unnoticed by users. The Registry actively monitors and blocks these via a ‘denied list’ circulated to partners.

Text messaging scams, which trick consumers into sending money or sharing their account details with fraudsters, are known as ‘Smishing’ (or phishing by SMS). Criminals send bogus texts which appear to come from a trusted sender.

How does it work?

The MEF SMS Sender ID Protection Registry was established to automate cross-stakeholder processes, allowing reliable and fast sharing of information to facilitate an orchestrated blocking system.

The online Registry platform helps identify and block fraudulent SMS texts, protecting consumers, legitimate businesses and organisations falling victim to text messaging scams.

It enables organisations to register the sender IDs/message headers used when sending text messages to their customers. This limits the ability of fraudsters to impersonate a brand, as the Registry automatically checks whether the sender is the genuine authorised party.

Sometimes fraudsters create an exact copy or ‘spoof’ of a genuine merchant sender ID. These messages, when received by consumers, can be placed into existing message threads or conversations from the same target merchant on the customers smartphone – giving more credibility to the fraudulent message. The MEF SMS Sender ID Protection Registry works to reduce spoofing by registering the legitimate and authorised message sources.

These fake texts can also spread harmful malware, which once downloaded, gives the fraudster access to sensitive information on your device.

The consumer?

With the MEF SMS Sender ID Protection Registry, everything stays the same for the consumer – all that changes is the reduction on Smishing texts. There are no additional steps for consumers to take, however consumers are strongly advised to stay vigilant and to react only to texts if they are expecting to be contacted, for example, you’ve just requested a one-time-PIN.

Consumers should be particularly wary of clicking on embedded links within texts and should contact their bank/merchant via the contact number on the back of their card if they are in any doubt before reacting to a text request.

Whilst the brands suffer adverse PR, the Banking groups often bear the brunt of the financial losses experienced by consumers, as well as the adverse PR. Hence by reducing smishing the Registry provides benefits for many merchants, as well as consumers.

For example?

In the UK, where the Registry has been live for over a year, many major banks and Government brands are currently being protected with 352 trusted Sender IDs registered to date. Over 1500 unauthorised variants are being blocked on an ever-growing list, including 300 Sender IDs relating to the Government’s Coronavirus campaign. There has been a significant drop in fraudulent messages being sent to the UK consumers of the participating merchants.

Following the success in the UK, the MEF SMS SenderID Protection Registry is being launched in Spain with the support of three Mobile Network Operators and seven financial brands.

“There are millions of faked SMS sent by fraudsters trying to steal passwords every day. We need to help Spanish consumers and organisations fight back. Thanks to the collective efforts of the mobile industry MEF has managed to show a way: a Registry for SMS short-code names. The fight against fraudsters is a relentless one, it will never stop. But we are happy to celebrate one successful tool, created in the UK, and to bring that tool to Spain.” said Dario Betti, CEO of the Mobile Ecosystem Forum.

ABOUT MEF

MEF (Mobile Ecosystem Forum) is a global trade body established in 2000 and headquartered in the UK with members across the world. As the voice of the mobile ecosystem, it focuses on cross-industry best practices, anti-fraud and monetisation. The Forum provides its members with global and cross-sector platforms for networking, collaboration and advancing industry solutions.

Web: https://mobileecosystemforum.com/

Awards, News

Women of the Year announces Business Woman of the Year finalists ahead of 40th anniversary awards

The Women of the Year Luncheon & Awards has unveiled its shortlist of eight inspiring women for the Business Woman of the Year award, as the prestigious ceremony prepares to return for its 40th anniversary year.

One of the UK’s longest running annual awards, the esteemed organisation celebrates the achievements of exceptional women, and highlights individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to their business, sector or wider community.

The Business Woman of the Year award is designed to celebrate the success of an individual making transformational changes within their organisation or sector.

The winner will be announced at the 40th anniversary of the annual awards ceremony, taking place on Friday 1 April 2022 at Hilton Birmingham Metropole, after a couple of years of absence due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Women of the Year Luncheon & Awards 2022 is set to welcome over 650 professionals from the private and public sectors.

This year’s impressive shortlist of eight finalists includes business leaders inspired by their own personal experiences and those dedicated to supporting and uplifting others to achieve their ambition. In light of the unprecedented challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, the achievements of this year’s finalists are testament to their ongoing commitment and drive.

The 2022 Business Woman of the Year finalists are:

  • Carmel McKinney OBE – Chairperson / Non-Executive Director – N.I. Fire and Rescue Service: the first ever female Chairperson of the Fire and Rescue Service of Northern Ireland, with a purpose to protect the local community
  • Codilia Gapare – CEO – Nakawo Ltd: a company revolutionising the beauty industry, creating bespoke products tailor-made for cancer and alopecia patients
  • Elizabeth Lawal – Founder – More Than A Moment Group: a partnership promoting investment into the Black creative workforce, enabling under-represented communities to engage with arts and culture
  • Leanne Bonner-Cooke – Founder / CEO – e-Bate Limited: a game-changing software solution allowing procurement and finance teams to streamline their processes and drive efficiency
  • Dr Mary Hardwick – Founding Director – Inspire2tri Community Interest Company: a sports, fitness and rehabilitation business serving local residents, clubs and community groups to help them realise their sporting and fitness goals
  • Noor Kimit – Owner – Seaworthy Consulting Ltd: providing expert solutions for the maritime industry with a decade of experience in international maritime recruitment
  • Stephnie Judge – Managing Director – Victorian Plumbing: the UK’s leading online specialist bathroom brand by revenue, offering a one-stop solution for B2C and trade customers
  • Suzanne Linton – CEO – Freestyle Interactive: a digital product studio which designs and builds digital applications, tools, websites and mobile apps, and places employee development and well-being at the heart of the business

The final shortlist was put forward by the Women of the Year Board, which includes the organisation’s newly appointed board directors Dr Sharon Redrobe OBE, Jennie Johnson MBE and Fleur Sexton DL.

Dr Sharon Redrobe OBE, CEO of Twycross Zoo and WOTY director, said: “We are delighted to announce the shortlist for the Business Woman of the Year award, one of our most prestigious accolades. This year’s finalists are women of huge talent, skill and determination – who are not only motivated by their own personal goals, but also by championing and inspiring their employees, local communities and fellow business leaders – even in the midst of a global pandemic. By building up others we can all achieve great success and this year’s finalists are a wonderful testament to that.”

Women of the Year Luncheon & Awards was established in 1982 as a ladies’ luncheon to raise vital funds for charitable causes and to highlight and celebrate the many and varied achievements of women.

Since then, the annual awards have gone from strength to strength both as an event and as a movement to promote women’s achievements. Over the last four decades, winners have included Baroness Karren Brady CBE, Katie Piper, Dame Asha Khemka DBE (Principal and CEO of West Nottinghamshire College) and British Paralympian, Martine Wright MBE.

Zalena Vandrewala, chair of the Awards, added: “After two years of absence due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and as we mark our 40th anniversary, this year’s awards ceremony will feel particularly poignant. We are so excited to celebrate the incredible achievements of women, to share their stories and to inspire others to follow their lead.”

All proceeds from this year’s Women of the Year Luncheon & Awards will go directly to charity, with just under £600,000 raised to date. For 2022, the event will support The Prince’s Trust: Women Supporting Women Initiative, a passionate group of supporters who are committed to changing the lives of young women, and NHS Charities Together which continues to support our NHS in the life saving work that they do.

To purchase tickets and for more information, please visit www.womenoftheyear.org.uk.

Construction News, News

Launch of Versarien Lunar 3D printed lifestyle pods

Advanced material pioneer unveils 3D printed concrete construction using Cementene™

Versarien plc, an advanced engineering materials group and provider of graphene-enhanced cement admixture, today announces the launch of its “Lunar” lifestyle pods designed with sustainability and innovation at the core. Lunar is Versarien’s first 3D printed concrete product made with Cementene™, Versarien’s graphene-enhanced cement.

The launch will see Neill Ricketts, CEO of Versarien, unveil a building printed with Cementene™, at the Company’s production facilities in Longhope, Gloucestershire. Known as Versarien Lunar, this is a milestone project for a 3D-concrete printed product with a graphene additive. The versatile pods can be used as an office, studio, gym, or leisure room. The pod’s wall design shows the level of detail, flexibility and precision that can be achieved with 3D-concrete printing. Versarien’s lead designer has encompassed the concept of light and access to the outdoors by incorporating full-height glazed doors and windows into the pod’s design.

The launch of Lunar comes at a time where sustainability in construction has never been more scrutinised. The industry accounts for around 8% of global CO2 emissions and would be third for emissions in the world if it were a country, overtaken by only the US and China. Since fewer materials are needed to achieve the same structural performance as ordinary concrete, incorporating graphene into concrete can enable faster completion of buildings, reducing costs and the carbon footprint.

Neill Ricketts, CEO of Versarien commented, “This launch represents the first application of a technology that has the potential to change the way the world views construction and property renovation. Lunar doesn’t just provide convenience for homeowners, it is also a beacon of hope for those who don’t have access to basic amenities like shelter. Our 3D printed concrete can build pods for those suffering hardship, whilst creating a circular economy for houses, giving individuals in more developed countries the opportunity to chop and change and ‘lift and shift’ their homes. Versarien is driving this innovation and we look forward to seeing the impact this technology can have in the world around us.”

Following the launch, Versarien will be holding an event on 9 March 2022 to showcase a prototype Lunar unit, showing attendees around the features and specifications before anyone else.

For more details, visit: https://www.versarienproducts.co.uk/

*For more details on the performance of Cementene™ please see here: https://www.versarien.com/files/5716/3050/8952/White_Paper_-_Graphene_for_the_construction_sector_-_final_version.pdf

News, Property News, Proptech News

European investment platform Estateguru launches in the UK

Today, Estateguru Marketplace Limited, the property investment and financing platform, announces its first office opening in Manchester. It plans to start facilitating loans once fully FCA approved.

Following final approval from the FCA, the technology firm will facilitate property-backed loans for SMEs and present investment opportunities for both retail and institutional investors looking to get a return on their capital through real estate and development projects.

Estateguru Group was founded in Tallinn, Estonia in 2013 and has funded over €500 million in loans to 3,000 development projects and business plans across Europe since then. It hit the €100 million lending mark in 2019 and has grown exponentially since, breaking half a billion in loans in January of this year.

Estateguru Marketplace Limited will begin its operations in Manchester, funding property and development projects across the North West region before expanding its services across the country, with a London office in the pipeline.

The Estateguru Marketplace Limited office opening closely follows the Estateguru new office opening in Berlin, Germany, and is evidence of its mission to become the largest real estate investment platform in Europe by 2025.

Ross Gandy, Managing Director of Estateguru Marketplace Ltd, comments:

“Estateguru Group has an outstanding track record across Europe and one I am confident we can replicate here in the UK. Our offering is two-fold – not only do we offer an accessible route into real estate for retail investors, and a reliable source of investment for large institutions, but our ability to provide competitive alternative finance options to SME borrowers is absolutely crucial in supporting innovative development projects that ultimately have a positive impact on the region and the local people.”

Marek Pärtel, Co-founder and Chairman of Estateguru Group, comments:

“Reaching the significant milestone of €500 million lent was the perfect way to start 2022, and set the tone for the year ahead. We have seen the demand for financing grow throughout Europe and especially from SME companies who are looking for professional, reliable financing partners with expertise in the sector. As such, Estateguru Marketplace Limited office opening in the UK market has came at a perfect time and is another huge step towards reaching Estateguru Group mission to becoming the largest real estate investment platform in Europe by 2025. We are excited to see the difference that Estateguru Marketplace Limited can make to the UK property and investment spaces.”

Awards, News

Global Financial and BPO providers make the ActiveOps Awards shortlist for 2022

Management Process Automation provider, ActiveOps PLC has announced the shortlist for its annual customer awards. The awards mark the first of the company’s face to face events to go ahead this year, with many top Finance and BPO service providers up for recognition.

Open to ControliQ, WorkiQ and Workware Customers, finalists were primarily on the basis of OpsIndex.  OpsIndex is the industry’s first operational benchmarking for financial services and BPOs on the basis of operational Agility, Control, Effectiveness, Efficiency and Focus. The finalists take into account the OpsIndex results for the calendar year, 2021, along with self-nominations from customer outcomes by utilizing solutions and methodology to improve operational effectiveness.

The honours will be awarded for ‘Excellence in Running Operations’ with names such as Nedbank, AIB, DXC, SS&C and Allianz on the shortlist for the awards.

Held throughout the course of March 2022, the ActiveOps awards are a series of hybrid events around the world with the London event being the first face to face ceremony in 2022.

This event for European and UK customers takes place in London on 10th March at the Shangri-La Hotel. This will be followed by virtual awards ceremonies celebrating customers in the Asia Pacific and North America regions accordingly, with awards for each of the three core sectors including recognition in banking and insurance.

Richard Jeffery, CEO and founder of ActiveOps will be presenting the awards.

Richard Jeffery commented: “We know the pandemic period has been an exceptionally challenging time for everyone, but since the start we have worked harder than ever to support our partners and customers. Witnessing amazing resiliency from our customers motivates us to celebrate our customers’ results.”

Jeffery continued: “Hosting awards such as this is a fantastic endorsement of the great people who work tirelessly to make operations management a success. We look forward to continuing to build on our already strong relationship with our customers throughout 2022.”

Stuart Pugh, CCO of ActiveOps said, “It is exciting to be launching the first ActiveOps awards this year. We are hosting the awards in celebration of customer success, especially in the face of what our customers have had to face during the global pandemic. Our customers have delivered some fantastic results using ActiveOps products. And the awards are a chance to recognise that best in class performance. Both the awards and the event provide an opportunity to learn from each other in best practices that make a difference, which is a wonderful opportunity.”