Monthly Archives: February 2023

Education, News

Why is learning Geography important?

Geography is an enthralling and diverse study that investigates the intricate interactions that exist in general between the planet, its natural properties, and its inhabitants. Nowadays, thanks to private geography tutors, you can broaden your understanding of the globe by examining its physical components. This discipline is extremely important and provides a lot of advantages because it can develop your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, but not only. It’s time to explore the importance of this matter in more detail in the next few paragraphs.

What is Geography?

Geography investigates the complex links between the planet, its physical aspects, and its population. It is more than just a study of maps and national capitals. It is a complete exploration of how different areas and locations are interrelated. This subject also increases your overall awareness by providing you with information on topics such as humans, the environment, politics, the economy, and on society globally.

The experts from the UK website Tutorextra.co.uk explain this subject as the study of locations and the interactions between humans and their surroundings. As such, it illuminates how the earth’s landscapes such as mountain ranges and bodies of water influence people’s behaviour and decision-making. It seeks to provide information about the effect of the earth’s characteristics on people’s history, as well as the relationships between humans and the locations and places in which they live.

Geography Classes

As was mentioned, this is a dynamic and multidisciplinary discipline that can teach you about the interactions between people, places, and the environment. It covers a wide variety of disciplines that can enrich your understanding and awareness of the globe, from researching physical elements of the planet to evaluating cultural, political, and economic systems.

While taking such types of lessons, students learn about the earth’s natural characteristics, such as landforms, climate, flora, and bodies of water, as well as how they impact human existence and behaviour. Also, they learn about subjects including population increase, migration, urbanisation, globalisation, and cultural diversity. These lessons show students how to utilise maps, satellite pictures, and other geographical tools to better comprehend and visualise the globe and its different components. This field is, in the fullest sense, a life and living education. This education, whether academic or experiential through travel, fieldwork, and expeditions, helps students become more socially and ecologically aware, better informed, and responsible citizens and employers.

Nowadays, different options give you the chance to learn this subject which varies from online private lessons to graduate programmes in universities or schools. No matter which one you choose, you will start with the fundamentals and gradually upgrade to the more advanced topics. If you are a beginner, or you want to prepare yourself for an exam or the application before university, having a private tutor is the best option for you. Having a teacher only for yourself will help you grasp the material faster because you will be acquainted with diverse education projects and activities specially designed for your needs.

5 reasons to make you learn geography

Here are the reasons why it is important to learn this matter:

1. Learn the Environment.

Geography teaches about the physical processes that shape our world, such as plate tectonics, ocean currents, and weather patterns. One can learn about the environment and the influence that human actions have on it. Also, learning this matter, you will have more comprehension of why natural disasters are happening such as earthquakes, hurricanes, etc.

2.  Knowledge of Cultures, Politics, and Economic Systems.

Geography teaches us about the cultures, political, and economic institutions that influence our civilisation in addition to the earthly features of the planet. You can learn also about other cultures, as well as human relationships and their traditions, beliefs, etc. This information is essential for developing a better grasp of the world and making sound judgments regarding the future.

3. Grow Essential Skills.

Another good side of Geography is that it can grow a variety of vital abilities, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, teamwork, project management, and decision-making. These skills are useful in both personal and professional contexts and will benefit them throughout their life.

4. Opportunities for Employment.

If you complete a degree in this field, you will have various skills and information that you may apply to several jobs and personal activities. Graduates can find employment in fields such as environmental management, planning, cartography, tourism, and international development. Furthermore, experts from the UK website Tutorextra.co.uk share that graduates in geography have valuable job prospects and greater salaries than graduates of numerous other fields.

5. Exciting Travel Possibilities.

Don’t forget about the travel possibilities. Diving deeper into this field may give you more acquaintance with the globe and the numerous cultures and landscapes that make it distinct by making you learn about the geography of other countries.

Overall, geography is an important component of education that provides students with numerous benefits and future opportunities. Also, they can broaden their knowledge and learn more about the world. Whether you want to learn more about geography for personal or professional reasons, the time has come to dive into this intriguing topic.

AV tech, News

How video walls can improve your business

To win the attention of potential customers, but also to engage employees and create a stable and trusting relationship with them, it is crucial not only to present yourself well but also to have a comfortable work environment equipped with modern technological solutions. These not only help to improve the appearance of one’s company but can be key factors in achieving business goals and increasing productivity and turnover.

LED walls, for example, are enjoying great success. As a matter of fact, these devices allow businesses to improve visual communication with employees and customers, making it more effective and engaging.

What an LED wall can do for your business

One of the main objectives that the use of a LED wall can achieve is to reinforce the brand image and convey its values. LED walls are highly customisable, making it possible to always find the best solution to integrate them perfectly with the existing structural environment and to make them adhere to the brand aesthetic. Moreover, thanks to high-quality images and videos, it is also possible to convey different types of communication, from institutional to commercial promotions.

In this regard, many major companies, such as Bulgari, Ikea, Missoni, Calvin Klein, and Mazda, just to name a few, have chosen led wall display Macropix for their communication campaigns.

Videowalls are also useful for communicating information and enhancing the user experience. This is the case, for example, in public places such as railway stations, airports, cinemas and hotels – all places where it is important to provide the relevant information at the right time. It should not be forgotten that companies can also use video walls to upsell products and services through engaging communication. LED screens are available in a wide range of sizes, shapes, and aspect ratios. This means that the applications of this technology are virtually limitless.

LED screens can also be used to enhance business meetings or educational events. Whatever the business, video walls can improve communication and provide effective, engaging, and interactive support. In a shop, on the other hand, LED walls can be used to capture attention, display products, and engage customers with interactive and immersive experiences.

Characteristics of LED walls

As mentioned above, LED screens can be customised, and several solutions are now possible. Very interesting, for example, are the large screens that can be designed to be fully integrated with structural elements, such as building facades, and transparent models as well as the possibility of using LED walls both indoors and outdoors, thanks to the optimal image reproduction in all weather conditions and even when exposed to direct sunlight. Think, for example, of LED walls in stadiums for sporting events or concerts, which allow a perfect view of the event even to those far from the stage.

Moreover, today it is also possible to rent LED displays for events and any other kind of application, such as TV studios, trade shows, temporary shops and so on.

 

 

Business Advice

Five Tips for young Startups to succeed

Every individual has a unique level of thinking and the capability of bringing up innovative ideas to the table. That’s when different startups were introduced to cope with up different needs of consumers in multiple fields. Through their immense talent and use of various technologies and development factors, entrepreneurs in their respective fields of interest are making a massive difference in problem-solving in other areas.

Young minds are the treasure of different ideas, and aligning them with a reliable source can help users gain successful results. This success boosts their confidence and makes them focus on the work even in a better way. That’s why potential startups invest most of their time in strong investors to cover up their financial difficulties.

New startups are showing their worth in this integrated market. New products with all those demanding features according to the changing environment are attracting their targeted audience in no time. Multiple startups have already shown their work in their area, and among them the most popular and user-friendly are the startups for software development.

Software development is a vast field to attract entrepreneurs to show their skills in this field and make it the hub of the startup. The software development field is constantly evolving, and startups should stay up-to-date with the latest technologies and trends to remain competitive. Different companies showing their services in this field include Diffco, eSparkBiz, Apptension, and SumatoSoft. Along with them, one of the best software development for startup is gaining the limelight, too, knowingly bekey.io.

Tips for startups:

Doing a startup is more challenging than it looks. It needs motivation, dedication, and effort at first. Those dedications and actions combine to make a possible startup for different tasks. By focusing on solving a specific problem or need, building a solid team, developing an MVP, prioritizing the user experience, utilizing Agile development methodologies, staying up-to-date with the latest technology, and testing and measuring success, software development startups can position themselves for success.

Here are five tips you can follow to make your startup popular.

1. Beginning with the small opportunity

Big markets are for experienced entrepreneurs, and the way to the big market of startups goes through the small, comfortable market. New beginners in this field must start their journey with the small market. However, Startups with small budgets face unique challenges when it comes to growing and scaling their business. It will allow them to understand that environment with complete focus.

Small markets need competition, technology and development, and a more user-friendly environment. Beginners can put their setup in that market and can expand it further. By being dynamic, adaptive to technology, focusing on low-cost marketing, seeking out free resources, and being flexible, startups with small budgets can still find ways to grow and scale their business.

After conquering that area, they can look forward to a bigger market, take more competition, and can handle more pressure easily.

2. Building up reliable plans

Before entering any market, you must prepare a robust and reliable plan regarding your product or services and your consumers. Also, to continue in those markets, you need to carry out the different and unique patterns of ideas with you for your startup. Another step is to have proper tactics and tools for implementing those ideas.

A well-defined plan provides a roadmap for the startup to follow and helps ensure everyone is working towards the same goals. The team must have to execute a bunch of different ideas time after time to be under the spotlight of the market. It’s okay if all your tactics and tricks will work in the first go. Sometimes it needs more than a single push.

Timely modifications of the tactics are needed to align you with the latest ongoing procedures of the markets. All you need is effort and dedication to put them in the right way, and they will facilitate you best. In the end, a solid plan helps the startup to stay organized and focused and to make data-driven decisions, which are all essential for the success of any startup.

3. Hiring of different employees

Startups can only be started and managed individually. It would be best if you had a workforce behind you to keep your startup in a working process. The hiring of employees is a relatively easy task. The more complex task is to hire the correct, reliable, and skillful employees per your startup’s needs. These employees’ skills, support, and expertise make you dependent on them. Right employees can extract powerful results through their knowledge and skills, but the wrong employee can make your startup work a burden for you.

The tip for finding the right employees is to find them, hire them, train them as per your needs and motivate them in your work. It’s a time-taking process, but it will flow results your way. After having the right employees, you must keep them happy and care for their needs. In return, they will turn your results into successful ones for you.

A business or a startup has multiple stages, and sometimes different stages need different teams having other skills. This results in a restructuring of the teams, and a successful employer always makes timely decisions for his team’s restructuring process.

4. Budget and its management

Starting a startup on a small budget and limited finances seems challenging, but it converts an ordinary entrepreneur into a successful one. You need to manage your finances as per the need of your startup and its operations.

Different stages of your startup need to have their budget; you need to manage it properly without creating extra costs. Prioritize your expenses by identifying which are essential for the business’s survival and which can be cut or delayed. Also, you must investigate your consideration to reach your desired objectives and achievements in that limited forecast. For these purposes, you need to perfect bookkeeping and accounting tools.

By managing your budget effectively, you can ensure that your startup has the resources it needs to grow and succeed.

5. Targeted customer

Customers are the main focus of all entrepreneurs. All the work and services are devised for them. A successful startup works more efficiently and effectively if the customers’ needs are catered to in the best way.

Some entrepreneurs, through their startup, target only a single group of customers who likes their product while it is not appreciated or is unpopular among other groups of customers. They also don’t make any necessary changes or modifications for the other group of customers, which sometimes makes their growth and progress slow.

Entrepreneurs can succeed in their respective fields if they are open to recommendations, suggestions, complaints, and feedback. These can be positive as well as negative too. Listening to them and making changes according to your customers’ needs can make your product more successful than you can’t even imagine.

6. Mentor

Young entrepreneurs must be more competent and have more knowledge or good skills to strive in their respective fields. A business and a startup need broad skills and expertise that young entrepreneurs and startup beginners do not yet have mastered. Instead of making challenging decisions, it is preferred that young entrepreneurs follow in the footsteps of a mentor.

Mentors can be invaluable resources for startups, as they can provide guidance, advice, and support based on their experience and knowledge. A mentor has various skills and a wide area of knowledge and expertise. Through the experience of their mentors, young startup owners can make effective, innovative, and best decisions needed for the business. A mentor can also help a startup navigate the challenges of building a business by providing practical advice and introducing the startup to potential partners, customers, and investors. Entrepreneurs can use different alumni networks, conferences, and other resources to reach out to the individual experience of a mentor.

Summary

Startups are always challenging tasks to handle. Young entrepreneurs and beginners in this field can still make their position at the top of the table by providing excellent products, work, and services and focusing on their consumers’ needs wherever necessary. Also, they must integrate their product and make modifications and changes to it according to the latest technology and development waves, which will attract their targeted audience. In addition, they need to carry on with the above advice and can make their success rates perfect in a limited time.

Cybersecurity, News

Xalient Secures ISO 20000 Certification in IT Service Management

Xalient, a rapidly growing specialist in networking and cybersecurity, has been awarded the ISO 20000 certification in IT Service Management for its commitment to providing the highest-quality IT services to its customers, following a rigorous review of its processes and procedures.

As an internationally recognised mark of quality and excellence, the certification awarded by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) demonstrates an organisation’s ability to efficiently and effectively align its service management processes in accordance with international best practices. This certification establishes credibility and trust among customers, stakeholders and other business partners by guaranteeing that the entity meets extremely high global standards of service and quality.

By achieving this accreditation, Xalient has demonstrated that its Managed and Professional Services business units are aligned with all requirements for the ISO 20000 standards. This further adds to Xalient’s international standards credentials, including its continued certification to Information Security Management (ISO27001), which was successfully obtained in December 2022.

 

Craig Ingham, Head of Governance and Compliance at Xalient, said: “For the last three years, Xalient has been committed to maturing its service management framework, which has involved aligning comprehensive controls, policies, documentation, and processes, as well as constant assessment of performance and continual improvement; all to industry best practice. We believe that this certification is testament to Xalient being a world-class service provider, always striving to give our customers the best level and quality of service. This achievement would not have been possible without the contributions, support and dedication of the Xalient team, and we all look forward to continuing to meet the needs of our global customer base, now and in the future.”

 

Further commenting on the certification, Sherry Vaswani, Group Chief Executive Officer at Xalient, adds: “We are proud to join a select group of companies worldwide that has taken the bold step to assure our customers that we have defined and implemented the best practices for IT service management. This ISO 20000 certification will serve as a distinguishing factor for us, highlighting Xalient’s commitment to our customers by demonstrating our vigilance in ensuring the IT services we provide are of the highest calibre and are measured against the only existing internationally recognised standard.”

 

Xalient has experienced rapid growth in recent years, receiving recognition from both the Sunday Times Hundred 2022 list of Britain’s fastest-growing private companies and the FEBE Growth 100 list, which champions Britain’s fastest-growing, founder-led private companies. This success is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the Xalient team. As Xalient looks to the future, it is committed to continued growth and success, building on its achievements and striving to be at the forefront of its industry.

To learn more about Xalient and its services, visit www.xalient.com

Absence Management, HR, HR Tech, Technology

edays Launches People Insights Tool to Upscale HR Analytics for Global Businesses

Also unveils Mobile App to enhance employee experience & absence and leave visibility

edays, the leading provider of absence and leave management software has announced the availability of edays People Insights, an innovative data reporting tool powered by machine learning, to help organisations of all sizes to access, interpret and present people data in an easy-to-use, customisable and visually compelling format.

edays People Insights is a practical solution for HR directors, people managers, finance and operations executives to understand and make better use of their people data and improve business effectiveness. The new tool complements the edays absence and leave management software suite.

At the same time, the company has unveiled the edays mobile application to offer a convenient way for employees to submit leave requests, log overtime, TOIL (time off in lieu) and manage records on the go. This will allow people managers to approve leave requests via the app, log sickness absences and view group calendars to see who is off and when.

Chris Moseley, Co-Founder and CTO of edays said: “The growth of home and hybrid working along with the challenges of employee wellbeing, sickness and burnout are just some of the hurdles faced by employees, HR professionals and business leaders today.  Our mobile app has been designed with convenience and greater efficiency in mind for both employees and their managers. With edays People Insights, executives can now easily build, interpret, and share insights to better support employee welfare and organisational productivity.”

He continued: “This latest addition to our product suite, with machine learning at its core, provides HR teams, finance and operations executives with the people analytics, metrics and trend insights to make better decisions, meet compliance targets and improve the overall employee experience.”

edays People Insights saves time by eliminating the need for manual report building. It offers key stats widgets for quick access to information, comparison tools for identifying trends and patterns, customisation for looking at data by individual, team, location or business function and automation to simplify complex calculations and comparisons.

In addition to office environments, edays People Insights and the edays mobile app are especially valuable for employees working in the field, or in outdoor sectors, such as manufacturing, construction and logistics, allowing for reporting on specific locations, teams and activities, including overtime and hours worked, leave types, sickness rates and holiday entitlement.

edays People Insights and the edays mobile app are available now.

More information can be found here: edays People Insights and edays mobile app.

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About edays:

Empowering HR teams at mid-sized firms and CHROs at enterprise organisations, edays is the world’s first and still most comprehensive provider of market-leading absence and leave management software and people analytics services. Founded in 2005, the UK-based company is recognised as the go-to solution for data and cloud-based HR support for absence and leave management that guarantees improved employee experience, greater organisational efficiency, and provides tools to support organisations with compliance both locally and globally. Used by global brands including AXA, Monster Energy, Barclays, and Renault to ‘make the complex easy,’ edays’ centralised and contextualised reporting and analytics covers everything from overtime to time off in lieu (TOIL), staff holiday booking to sickness tracking. This enables a personalised absence and leave management solution that helps everyone in the company, from frontline team members to the business owner to the C-Suite. The latest edays product suite innovation is a set of data science and machine learning solutions that provides HR teams with the people analytics, metrics and trends that will make it easier to manage and meet compliance targets, gives employees better experience, and enables the reduction of admin and paper-based HR processes. For more information, go to edays.

Business Advice, International News, News

Rebuilding Turkey will come with seismic risks for foreign investors, warn KCS Group Europe

KCS Group Europe says earthquakes have fractured Erdogan’s support base and President could pay the price at May’s elections – but only if they are held fairly

Leading strategic intelligence experts, KCS Group Europe, have warned that much-needed foreign investment to help rebuild Turkey following the recent earthquakes will be accompanied by a host of corporate security risks, amid growing economic and political uncertainty in the region.

KCS Group Europe’s analysis suggests that for President Reycep Tayyip Erdogan, whose support base lies in the worst hit southeastern towns and villages, the earthquakes may also prove to be a political, as well as ongoing humanitarian, disaster.

The president was a ‘no-show’ for 21 hours after the first quake but on a visit to Hatay, one of the worst hit spots on February 6th, was quoted as saying: “It was not possible to be prepared for a disaster this big.”

The death toll from the earthquakes in Turkey and Northern Syria has passed 46,000 and is expected to rise further with many still trapped in collapsed buildings. Blocks have been reduced to rubble and there is a pressing need for shelter, fresh water, medical supplies and economic aid for survivors.

Erdogan came to power following an earlier earthquake in 1999 in which 17,000 people were killed and thousands more displaced.

KCS Group Europe CEO Stuart Poole-Robb said: “The recent earthquakes have been utterly tragic, and they have exacerbated underlying problems with the economy which remains vulnerable to both external economic shocks and worsening economic expectations. As a result the risks for foreign companies are seismic.”

It’s estimated that the earthquakes may represent a loss of 1% of the country’s GDP. All this comes at a time when Turkey’s national budget deficit for 2022 reached an all-time high of $48.8billion. External cash inflows have offset foreign deficits to the tune of $24.2 billion, with much of this coming from Russia, and sanctioned Russian entities are already attempting to increase their footprint in Turkey.

Turkish inflation reached 83% in September last year, causing the country’s credit score to be downgraded to B. Going against the advice of economists to raise interest rates to combat inflation, President Erdogan lowered the interest rate to 12%.

 

Poole-Robb added: “Some very large companies have gone bust in the last year which highlight the difficulties of trading in Turkey at present. It’s likely that we will see more of Erdogan’s unorthodox economic, political and social policies in the coming weeks and months as he seeks to hang on to power, which will create further risks for foreign investors.

“As the value of the lira continues to fall, foreign lenders may refuse to renew their loans to the Turkish banks and ultimately there’s a risk that Turkey may default on its debt.”

Elections are due in May, and it remains to be seen whether they are delayed or held fairly.

But people across the country are demanding to know why the government failed to enforce modern building standards or prosecute violations which occurred on a widespread scale. Planners have highlighted a 2018 government amnesty that meant violations of the building code could be swept away with a fine, and left some six million buildings unmodified.

In the ten most severely affected cities in the south-east over 100,000 applications were made for an amnesty to the code, says Dr Pelin Pinar Giritlioglu of Istanbul University. There was also a high intensity of illegal construction.

Meanwhile, levies raised by the fines have disappeared into government coffers without any indication of what they have been used for, leading to widespread anger and accusations of corruption.

“Raycip Erdogan’s hopes of unifying the country ahead of the elections in May are likely to fall on deaf ears. It’s possible that he may seek to extend the current state of emergency or delay the elections to buy his party more time,” concludes Poole-Robb.

But after 20 years in power, the fault lines which run across Turkey may have fatally exposed Erdogan’s broken promises to the very people that have kept him in government.

 

News

Paleo raises €12M to bring the real taste of meat to plant-based foods

6 investors back Series A funding to unlock novel precision fermentation technology for meat and fish alternatives

Food company Paleo has closed a Series A funding of €12M to scale up production of key ingredients for plant-based meat and fish alternatives through precision fermentation technology. It also enables the move into commercial production.

Paleo is a Belgian precision fermentation company that allows food manufacturers to offer a “real taste” experience, by providing key ingredients for environmentally friendly and cruelty-free meat and fish alternatives. To scale and grow, Paleo raised 12M euro in a Series A funding round, led by DSM Venturing and Planet A Ventures, joined by Gimv, SFPIM Relaunch, Beyond Impact, and Siddhi Capital.

Conventional meat production has an immense environmental burden, from the production of greenhouse gases, energy and land use, to its heavy reliance on antibiotics, hormones, and water. Plant-based meat and fish alternatives are more sustainable, but for many consumers their taste and nutritional value are not convincing. Paleo developed a technology to produce ingredients that lift these obstacles.

 

Paleo’s groundbreaking food tech: bringing the real taste of meat to plant-based foods

“The market for plant-based meat and fish is ready to grow further, provided that consumers find the taste convincing. There’s only so much you can do with artificial coloring and additives. Adding our ingredients to plant-based meat alternatives is a game changer that brings the experience of ‘real’ meat. You can smell it, you can taste it, and you can see it because our ingredients provide that vibrant red color that transforms into caramelized brown when you grill it. And no animal is involved whatsoever defining our ingredients as vegan. It’s great that our venture round is joined by industry expert investors, who tasted our Paleo ingredients and are fully convinced of their potential.”, says Hermes Sanctorum, co-founder and CEO of Paleo.

 

Paleo focuses on myoglobin, a protein that makes plant-based foods look and taste like meat or fish in terms of color, smell, taste, and aromatic experience and provides added nutritional value. The meat and fish proteins of Paleo are 100% identical to animal proteins and 100% GMO-free. Globally, only a few companies are producing meat proteins through precision fermentation. Paleo is the only one to produce a final product that is considered GMO-free.

Currently, Paleo offers a protein portfolio of six different species (beef, chicken, pork, lamb, tuna, and even mammoth).

 

Jan Christoph Gras, Partner at Planet A Ventures said: “Transitioning to a plant-based diet is crucial for accomplishing our net-zero objectives. Animal agriculture accounts for nearly 15% of total global emissions, while also driving biodiversity loss, water consumption and nitrogen & phosphorus pollution. With its innovative precision fermentation technology, Paleo has broken down barriers to the widespread adoption of plant-based meat alternatives. Its realistic taste and highly functional protein make it an attractive option for even the most skeptical consumers of meat and fish substitutes.”

 

Scale, production and commercialization

This Series A venture round will enable Paleo to hit strategic milestones and commercial objectives. The first aim is scaling the technology and move towards commercial production. In parallel, Paleo will file for regulatory approval in key markets.

Andy de Jong, co-founder, and COO: “We think 2025 is a credible timeline to have plant-based food with Paleo ingredients on the market. We are happy to see keen interest from international, established food manufacturers in our ingredient portfolio. The food industry has barely scratched the surface of what is possible with precision fermentation, and Paleo will be at the forefront of this revolution in food production.”

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Background information: about precision fermentation

Precision fermentation has been called “the most important environmental technology humanity has ever developed” by ecologist and journalist George Monbiot. 

It is a proven, innovative technology that uses microorganisms such as yeast that are programmed to produce selected target proteins. The technology is versatile, scalable, and already used in many industries such as cheese production. 

 

About Paleo

Paleo is on a mission to create the ultimate meat and fish experience in plant-based alternatives. Paleo created a technology that finally makes it possible to bring plant-based products to the market that are as tasty and nutritious as conventional meat and fish. Paleo is the first precision fermentation manufacturer offering a portfolio of the most popular meat and fish tastes and a GMO-free product. https://www.paleo-taste.com

 

About DSM Venturing

DSM Venturing is the corporate venture arm of Royal DSM –a global, purpose-led company in Health, Nutrition & Bioscience, applying science to improve the health of people, animals, and the planet. DSM’s purpose is to create brighter lives for all. DSM’s products and solutions address some of the world’s biggest challenges while simultaneously creating economic, environmental, and societal value for all its stakeholders – customers, employees, shareholders, and society at large. The company was founded in 1902 and is listed on Euronext Amsterdam.

 

About Planet A Ventures

Planet A is an investment fund partnering with European green tech startups that have a significant positive impact on our planet while building scalable businesses globally. The venture capital firm’s mission is to contribute to an economy within the planetary boundaries. Planet A supports innovation in four key areas: climate mitigation, waste reduction, resource savings, and biodiversity protection. As the first European VC, Planet A offers scientific life cycle assessments to support investment decisions and empower founders to manage and improve their impact. Investments include traceless materials (sustainable plastics), Ineratec (e-fuels), C1 (green methanol), GA Drilling (geothermal energy), 44.01 (carbon storage) and Makersite (supply chain decarbonization).

 

About Gimv

Gimv is a European investment company, listed on Euronext Brussels. As a recognized market leader active for over 40 years, Gimv partners with entrepreneurial and innovative companies providing answers to the societal challenges of tomorrow such as electrification & energy efficiency, digitisation & automation, sustainable food & well-being and healthcare & socio-demographics. These companies are daring to look further ahead and set the bar high, keen to transform their sectors with their products and services and become market leaders. Gimv’s five investment platforms are Consumer, Healthcare, Life Sciences, Smart Industries and Sustainable Cities. Each platform works with an experienced team across Gimv’s home markets of Benelux, France and DACH, supported by an extended international network of experts.

 

About SFPIM Relaunch

SFPIM Relaunch is an affiliate of SFPIM, the Belgian federal investment company. SFPIM Relaunch, set up as a recovery fund after the Covid crisis, acts as a long-term capital provider for companies whose activity, in addition to a market-based financial return, makes an important contribution to a sustainable transition in terms of mobility, inclusion, productivity or digitization.

 

About Beyond Impact

Beyond Impact Advisors was created in 2017 to facilitate investment in products and services that are either inherently vegan in nature or are cruelty-free and remove mankind’s reliance on the raising of animals for slaughter. Beyond Impact seeks to accelerate our transition towards a compassionate, cleaner and more healthy world by investing in fast-growing, scalable businesses that facilitate and promote a vegan lifestyle, and in technologies that allow us to replace the products that have traditionally come from animals with new, cleaner versions that avoid animal suffering and reduce environmental damage and risks to health. These investments will have a positive impact for animals, people and the planet, but also present compelling investment opportunities as a result of rapidly increasing consumer demand for cruelty-free, more sustainable products and healthier and higher nutritional content plant-based food options.

 

About Siddhi Capital

Siddhi Capital is an operationally-focused food and beverage growth equity firm. Siddhi Capital invests in visionary entrepreneurs and companies dedicated to challenging conventions and reshaping a lasting global food supply chain. Combining the strength of Siddhi’s highly experienced in-house operating team and deep financial expertise, Siddhi Capital accelerates value creation for their partners and change the landscape of food and beverage for the better.

Home Improvements, Homeowner Advice, Property

4 Ways to Attract Potential Buyers

If you’re thinking about selling your home and moving into an exciting new property this year, you might be looking for quick and easy ways to attract potential buyers. We’re not talking about a complete home re-design (although you’re more than welcome to venture down that path if you want to), we’re talking about some simple DIY jobs that will have a big impact on the way your home looks and feels.

1 – Apply a fresh coat of paint

If you haven’t painted your home in a couple of years fresh lick of paint can make a real difference. Walls near high-traffic areas, like around doors and up the stairs, are notoriously dirty because people are constantly touching them. If you have children or pets, you might also notice that the lower levels of your walls have gained muddy paw prints and crayon scribbles that can’t be simply wiped away. Potential buyers are sure to notice this as they scrutinise the quality and cleanliness of your home, so it’s best to try and rectify the situation with a lick of paint – if you can.

Painting the rooms in your house can be a bit of an awkward job, especially if you have high ceilings. We’d highly recommend investing in a good quality step ladder to help you reach difficult areas. The best type of step ladder for painting and decorating is a platform step ladder. As the name suggests, these ladders come with a large platform at the top which allows you to keep all your equipment in one place while you’re working at height.

It might take a little bit of effort, but freshening up your walls is worthwhile if you want to sell your home quickly. We recommend opting for neutral colours, as these tend to appeal to the majority of potential buyers.

2 – Improve loft insulation

If your home lacks insulation, now might be a good time to consider rectifying that. With everyone thinking about the rising costs of energy and the environmental impact of their homes, taking the time to improve the efficiency of home will pay dividends when it goes to market.

Now, you could ring round a few local builders to get the job done for you, but you can probably tackle the insulation on your own and save a few pennies. Nowadays, you can purchase loft insulation in your local DIY shop, so you shouldn’t have any issue getting hold of the necessary materials.

When it comes to installing your new loft insulation, we’d highly recommend investing in a sturdy loft ladder – especially if you home doesn’t already have one. A sturdy loft ladder will help you make the insulation improvements in the loft, but it will also be a big asset for future owners. Once the new loft insulation is installed, you should keep a record of it so that you can notify potential buyers about the improvements you’ve made.

3 – Better curb appeal

The way your home looks from the curb is a huge influencing factor when potential buyers come to visit. That first impression is really important, because if you can make someone fall in love with your home before they’ve even stepped foot inside, then you’ve already won half the battle.

There are numerous different ways you can improve your home’s curb appeal, starting with a good jet wash. As much as we try to sweep and maintain our driveways, dirt will inevitably build up. Power washing the driveway, front of your home and pathways will instantly lift the appearance of your home. You could also consider panting the outside of your home, adding some potted plants, cutting the front lawn and cleaning the windows. All of these little jobs will give your home the facelift it needs to steal people’s hearts.

4 – Tidy up your garden space

If you’re feeling especially adventurous with your DIY skills, you could try your hand at some garden jobs to help improve the value of your home and attract potential buyers. If you don’t already have a garden shed or summer house, they can be a real asset to your garden space. A garden shed can be used to store all kinds of tools, including the lawn mower, freeing up space in the house/garage.

If you don’t want to add additional storage with a shed, you create a cosy outdoor seating area for the summer nights by adding a summer house. Nowadays, you can find everything you need to build your very own garden shed or summer house in your local hardware store.

Other thing you can do to attract potential buyers are; increasing the privacy of your garden, building an outdoor BBQ or dining area, or adding easy-to-maintain planters. Whatever improvements you make in your outdoor space are sure to capture the attention of potential buyers, especially if they have a young or growing family.

So there you have it, if you’ve been looking for a few ways to attract potential buyers, we hope you’ve found this blog useful.

 

Business Advice

What Type Of Business Should You Buy In 2023?

Thinking about buying a business in the UK? Here is everything you need to know about the types of business you should be investing in, in 2023.

Introduction

Are you one of the many people looking to buy a business in the UK in 2023?

With a thriving consumer market and an open, liberal economy, the business landscape in the UK is made up of world-class talent and complemented by a business-friendly regulatory environment. As a result, investing in a UK business is an intelligent decision.

The UK has one of the most accessible markets to set up, scale and grow a business. But what type of business should you buy in 2023? Read on to discover more information about thriving business sectors in the UK to make the best choice possible when you buy a business.

 

Sectors To Consider In 2023

Over the last couple of years, businesses and business owners have faced various obstacles that were difficult to keep up with. But, as always, there are many exciting trends for UK business investors to embrace as 2023 progresses.

Food and Hospitality

The food and hospitality industry faced many challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic. Ways in which businesses operated during this time had to shift and adapt to government regulations, staff health concerns, and a changing supplier and consumer landscape.

In the wake of the pandemic, as 2023 begins, even amid a cost of living crisis, the UK high street has seen a rapid increase in food and hospitality businesses finding success.

One of the more notable growth areas comes from cafes and coffee shops. There has been a vast increase in the number of successful coffee shops opening on UK highstreets, with 31% of new food and hospitality venues opening as coffee shops and cafes.

With ethically sound and responsibly sourced coffee easier to find, it is less challenging to source quality coffee and products for you to sell in your business. Combined with a welcome trend in consumers wanting to shop and eat more locally, small coffee shops and cafes are set to thrive in 2023.

 

Green Business

It is not just the food sector that has seen an increase in green businesses leading the way in economic growth. Consumers are becoming more aware of their shopping and consumption habits’ impact on the environment and the world around them.

Over half of the small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) invested in sustainability in 2022 and plan to do more in 2023. One of the most significant incentives for them to do this is changing consumer behaviour.

Consumers are increasingly choosing to live more sustainably and shifting to choosing brands that share their ethical and environmental values. This is especially the case regarding the products they often purchase, such as food, drink, clothing, household, and beauty products.

Business owners across the UK are shifting towards sustainability and waste reduction. Consumers increasingly choose durable products that can be repaired and reused rather than just recycled and are looking for responsibly sourced products.

Affordability can present an issue for consumers, though. As the cost-of-living crisis continues, consumers will increasingly seek more affordable, sustainable products and services.

Small businesses are well-placed to provide more sustainable options – from locally sourced, seasonal produce to trusted information and advice. Investing in a green business that can meet local customers’ needs is a sensible bet to guarantee success in the UK in 2023.

 

Non-Alcoholic Beverages

One of the most exciting trends in the UK market is the growth of the non-alcoholic beverage sector. With expected revenue growth of 39.8% in 2023-2024, shrinking alcohol consumption per capita, alongside growing health consciousness, is paving the way for a burgeoning new industry.

With sales of non-alcoholic beer growing while alcohol sales slumped during the pandemic, growing health consciousness in consumers boosted demand for non-alcoholic drinks. Large beer companies are trying to gain market share with well-known brands and craft breweries investing in non-alcoholic beverages.

It is an exciting time in the non-alcoholic beverage industry, for sure.

 

Conclusion

In conclusion, the UK currently boasts a thriving consumer market, which means investing in a UK business in 2023 can open up possibilities for expansion, trade, and further investment. With various sectors forecast to continue to enjoy growth throughout the year, taking the plunge and buying a business in the UK could be a worthwhile investment.

It’s also possible to invest in a business in the UK even if you require a small business grant. With flexible financing available, and a wealth of emerging and established businesses to choose from, 2023 really is the year to invest in buying a business.

News

Rugby stars and CEO unite to launch new media platform for Welsh sports

AN EXCITING and informative new print and digital media platform for Welsh sports launches today (Monday).

Wales rugby union teammates Gareth Anscombe and Alex Cuthbert alongside Welsh CEO and entrepreneur Dean Jones have unveiled Sportin Wales.

Offering a positive outlook on the country’s successful sports scene, the first issue features an exclusive interview with rugby legends Shane Williams, James Hook, Lee Byrne and Mike Phillips, who share memories of the Six Nations and some interesting tales about their favourite and least favourite opponents from their time in the tournament.

Dean, Alex, and Gareth plan to align Welsh brands and organisations in the private sector with monthly news and information from sports clubs and personalities across the nation, reinforced by regular podcasts and social media.

“We are thrilled to launch Sportin Wales and see it as a fantastic print and digital platform delivering exclusive stories and interviews in tandem with advertising opportunities and contributions from leading names in football, rugby and boxing to martial arts, tennis, golf, cricket, disability sports and more,” said Dean.

“We will provide our audience with bilingual digital content and a print publication that entertains, engages, and informs, which we hope is evident from the articles and information already released.”

Alex echoed those words and feels the launch could not have been timed better.

“The Six Nations brings the whole of Wales together in support of the rugby, so to have an exclusive interview with four of the best players we’ve ever produced at the heart of this edition is a great way to start things off,” he said.

Gareth added: “We want to engage with sports fans, businesses, and communities across Wales by delivering an accessible, informative monthly platform showcasing the very best of Welsh sport.

“This country has so many amazing and talented people playing sports at all levels, achieving great things at home and on the international stage – we look forward to sharing their stories.”

Thousands of copies of the magazine will be distributed monthly to key sites across Wales, including homes, fitness facilities, sports and leisure clubs, transport hubs and hospitality venues.

The monthly magazine will be hosted on the Sportin Wales website, which as well as the latest sports news and interviews includes online content includes special offers and competitions, health and wellbeing tips, lifestyle features, travel guides and food and nutrition advice.

You can read the February edition of Sportin Wales here: www.sportin.wales/Issues  

Businesses wanting to advertise with Sportin Wales or find out more about sponsorship and ‘influencer’ packages can contact the team via email: sales@sportin.wales.