Monthly Archives: March 2023

News

Talented students lauded at college higher education ceremony

TALENTED students received academic awards at a special higher education ceremony held at Coleg Cambria.

The college’s Northop Business School hosted an event for 40 learners, their families, and the community.

They were welcomed by Emma Hurst, Dean of Higher Education and Access to Higher Education, who said: “Thank you to all of the students and all our guests and staff for the support they have shown to each other, and to Cambria.

“It has been a pleasure to welcome you all here and we congratulate you on your accomplishments.”

Award recipients achieved qualifications for programmes including the ILM Level 4 Diploma in Leadership and Management; AAT Professional Diploma in Accounting; CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management; ILM Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management, and the Level 5 HND in Animal Management.

The ceremony also included a speech by former HE Student of the Year Melissa Molyneux, who secured an Applied Business Management degree at Cambria before her current role at Airbus, where she is an Operations Controller and Wing Engineering Outsourcing Manager.

“I gained valuable experience at Airbus as a commercial apprentice on a work scheme while studying for the degree; I’ve always been a hands-on person so for me gaining a degree apprenticeship was the right blend of real-life experience with the qualification I wanted,” said Melissa.

“I enjoyed every aspect of my time at Coleg Cambria, and the degree will stand me in good stead with my future development. I studied a range of subjects as part of the degree which I was able to apply to my working environment.”

She added: “The development journey I’ve been on in a relatively short space of time is phenomenal and I credit a lot of this to Cambria. I thank the support network I had here, especially my professional and academic mentors.

“I’ve now been with Airbus for more than four years and it’s safe to say time flies when you’re having fun – no pun intended!”

Principal Sue Price thanked everyone who attended on the day and said: “Congratulations on your success and a big thank you to your family and friends who have supported you on the first step of your journey.

“You have all worked so hard and this was the perfect way to help you celebrate your achievements.”

For more on Cambria University Centre, visit www.cambria.ac.uk/cambria-university-centre.

Visit www.cambria.ac.uk for the latest news and information from the college.

Agriculture, Technology

Enhancing Field Productivity With The Help Of Crop Rotation

What is a crop rotation? It is an agricultural practice involving growing different crops systematically in a given area over a certain period. It is one of the most ancient practices in agriculture. The first civilizations of the Middle East applied it to keep the soil fertile. 

Farmers use this sustainable method to improve soil fertility. It also enables growers to deal with the main threats to the crop: diseases and harmful insects. Increasing the natural stability of the soil and changing plants also helps to reduce the consumption of pesticides, which can pose a threat to the environment. Furthermore, with the help of this practice, the depletion of certain nutrients can be prevented and the balance maintained. Moreover, the effectiveness of this agricultural practice is increasing thanks to different modern technological solutions, including the classification of crops using satellite technology. 

 

Crop Rotation Pros

This sustainable practice has many benefits. It helps to increase fertility and enhance soil health, which are crucial steps to better yields. The development of healthy plants in the fields depends a lot on the structure of the soil, as it affects how the roots will expand in the ground and how they will receive water, nutrients and air. The poor structure of the earth causes plants to fail to develop healthy roots. Subsequently, this can lead to erosion and crop loss. Growing crops with different root systems can help to solve this problem and prevent adverse effects.

Crop rotation maintains the water-retaining function of the soil. It is essential to ensure rapid and complete absorption of water. This natural ability enables plants to absorb some of the incoming fluid instantly. Some remain deeper for absorption by the root system during periods of drought, when water may not be enough. Thus, this practice saves water by reducing the need for irrigation. Soil acts like a sponge to prevent flooding, erosion, and nutrient leaching.

Alternating plants helps to interrupt the life cycle of pests and their habitat. It can help to avoid infecting plants with the same pathogens year after year. Infection usually occurs during a specific season, so farmers can choose a crop rotation chart to plant a host crop when the risk of infestation is low. This practice reduces the risk of infection and the consumption of pesticides to reduce the negative environmental impact.

 

Types Of Crop Rotation

There are several types of plant rotation systems. The growers can select the most suitable one depending on their needs. Traditionally, it assumes that other crops will be grown in the same fields in the established sequence for several years.

A three-field method application includes dividing the field into three sections between which farmers rotate crops yearly. When using the intercropping method, growers can choose two or more types of crops to plant in the same field. One of the most common crop rotation examples involves the combination of cereals and legumes in one area. 

As part of crop rotation practices, different types of manure can also be used for additional benefits. For example, using green manure, farmers can combine it with planting cover crops. Animal manure or compost can also be used as a natural fertilizer rich in valuable elements to keep the soil healthy.

 

Crop Type Classification for Yield Prediction and Management

Classifying crop types is a fairly common task in farming. The main goal is to create images or maps where each dot will display a class of what is growing there. Many ways exist to solve this problem, but remote sensing technologies are the most effective. Classifying field crops is an essential part of agribusiness, and traditional methods for completing this task can be complicated.

EOS Data Analytics is a satellite imagery analytics provider with deep experience and expertise, developing its technology solutions and software products for many industries, including agriculture. The company offers a simple and fast way to classify crop types by applying its profound knowledge of precision farming and remote sensing in combination with AI-based algorithms.

Combining optical images with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data allows a class to be assigned to each crop type. The trained neural network recognizes crops in any area of interest. A crop-type map can then be built according to the client’s needs.

EOSDA deep learning algorithms perform pixel-based segmentation that enables getting more data quickly. In addition, crop classification can be done faster with complete and accurate ground data for the area of interest. The EOS SAT satellite constellation, which will have seven optical satellites in orbit soon, will help EOS Data Analytics complete tasks even faster.

 

How Satellite Technology Improves Crop Rotation

Farmers can maintain and even increase soil fertility and reduce the risks, including diseases and pests, by knowing what crop rotation is. This practice positively affects the soil’s condition and the crop’s quality.

Satellite technology makes this method even more efficient. Remote sensing helps to stay informed of all events in the field. Change analysis ensures the timely detection of crop problems. Tracking weather data, combined with satellite data analytics, helps to make effective decisions to ensure crop and soil health, grow a particular crop, or switch to crop rotation. 

Based on remote sensing data, farmers can develop a sustainable farming strategy. With access to historical data, growers can implement precision farming practices that consider climatic patterns and other factors influencing productivity. 

 

Diversity & Inclusion, HR, HR News, Neurodiversity, News

Alludo Survey: Neurodivergent Workers Significantly Enrich Companies’ Capacity for Innovation, Problem-Solving, Yet Remain Overlooked by Employers

51% of neurodivergent workers have quit or are willing to quit their job because they don’t feel supported by their employer  

Alludo, a global technology company helping people work better and live better, announces today the results of its Neurodiversity at Work survey highlighting how the traditional workplace is missing out on top talent by failing to support the needs of neurodiverse employees. These workers can bring exceptional skills and much needed strengths to businesses, with the survey highlighting that over 50% of neurodivergent employees can increase workplace flexibility, creativity, and bring diverse ways of thinking that allow them to tackle challenges in unique ways.

Up to 20% of the global population is neurodivergent. That means they perceive and interact with the world differently than the neurotypical majority, and have one or more neurological differences that may include ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, and others.

“It’s clear that even within organizations that have improved representation across certain groups, there’s a dimension that remains continually overlooked, under-valued, and underdiscussed: neurodiversity,” said Becca Chambers, SVP of Global Brand and Communications at Alludo. “In supported environments, neurodivergent individuals thrive and offer a wealth of strengths and abilities that allow them to make exciting discoveries and challenge the status quo. These exceptionalities are especially valuable now as businesses are struggling to find and retain talent. Embracing neurodiversity in the workforce is not only the right thing to do; it’s smart business.”

The survey polled 902 non-managers, managers, directors, VPs, and C-Level office workers between the ages of 18-65 living in the US and UK. Data reveals that neurodiverse workers can add exceptional value to a business through:

 

  • Strong observational skills and attention to detail 40%
  • Ability to stay focused for long periods of time 36.7%
  • Excellent ability to recognize patterns 34.6%
  • Excellent math skills 34.4%

 

However, the traditional workplace continues to function for the neurotypical majority, alienating and further stigmatizing neurodiverse talent. According to the survey, this disconnect has resulted in 51% of neurodivergent workers thinking about quitting or having left their job because they do not feel their employer is doing enough to support their needs. When different age groups were asked if they have quit or would consider quitting, younger employees were most likely to look for jobs elsewhere:

 

  • Aged 18-24: 52%
  • Aged 25-34: 54.5%
  • Aged 35-44: 48.8%
  • Aged 45-54: 35.8%
  • Aged 55-64: 27.9%

 

While neurodiversity is often invisible, it is undoubtedly present throughout all organizations. Business leaders should see this as an opportunity to redesign outdated work processes to be more inclusive and accessible, while also creating a culture of psychological safety where all their employees—neurodiverse or not—can thrive. Not only does this benefit those who identify as neurodivergent but also makes room for more diverse ways of thinking, which is vital for continuous innovation and change.

“The need for innovative thinking will only become more important with the widespread adoption of sophisticated AI in the workplace,” said Chambers. “As conventional work gets automated, the ability to innovate, think outside the box, and approach problems with entirely different frameworks will become significantly more valuable.”

 

Alludo’s Neurodiversity at Work Survey was fielded in February 2023 with data from 902 respondents working across 25 industries in the US and UK. To see the full results of Alludo’s Neurodiversity at Work Survey Report, click here.

To learn how Alludo’s professional caliber graphics, virtualization, and productivity solutions are finely tuned for the digital remote workforce delivering the freedom to work when, where, and how you want, click here.

 

About Alludo

Alludo™ is a global technology company helping people work better and live better. We’re the people behind award-winning, globally recognizable brands including Parallels®, Corel®, MindManager®, and WinZip®.

Our professional-caliber graphics, virtualization, and productivity solutions are finely tuned for the digital remote workforce delivering the freedom to work when, where, and how you want.

With a 35+ year legacy of innovation, Alludo empowers all you do, helping more than 2.5 million paying customers to enable, ideate, create, and share on any device, anywhere. To learn more, visit www.alludo.com.

© 2023 Cascade Parent Limited trading as Alludo. All rights reserved. Alludo, and the Alludo logo are trademarks of Cascade Parent Limited in Canada, the United States and/or elsewhere. Corel, CorelDRAW, MindManager, and WinZip are trademarks or registered trademarks of Corel Corporation. Parallels is a trademark or registered trademark of Parallels International GmbH. All other company, product and service names, logos, brands and any registered or unregistered trademarks mentioned are used for identification purposes only and remain the exclusive property of their respective owners. For all notices and legal information please visit www.alludo.com/en/legal, www.corel.com/en/legal-information/ and www.parallels.com/about/legal/

 

Climate, Climate Action, News

Leading Intelligence Provider Says Lack Of Preparation For Climate Change Is Threat To UK And Global Security

KCS Group Europe Warns Critical Supply Chains At Risk From Extreme Climate Events

KCS Group Europe (KCSGE) says a failure to prepare for the full impact of climate change in the UK is a risk to national security, and the government is underestimating the global security threat caused by it.

The House of Commons Committee on Climate Change (CCC) says it has warned the government repeatedly about poor preparation for extreme climate events and the risks that emanate from that.

The government’s National Adaptation Programme is due to be published later this year and the CCC warns it is “make or break”.

 

KCSGE CEO Stuart Poole-Robb says: “2022 should act as a warning. With temperatures in England of over 40 degrees Celsius, mortality rose, transport networks were disrupted, drought ruined crops and wildfires endangered lives and properties.

“Government advisers estimate that one fifth of critical supply chains for goods, services and food are vulnerable to climate incidents. If you look at the global picture, the effect is amplified with serious consequences for us all.

“3.6 billion people live in climate change hotspots. Drought, failed crops, food security, destruction to homes and livelihoods and fuel shortages drive migration and instability across the world.”

 

KCS Group Europe has previously highlighted the threat of grain and fertiliser shortages resulting from the war in Ukraine.

Crossbench peer and former national security adviser, Peter Ricketts, argues that restoring the UK government’s cuts to its overseas aid budget would help to limit the shocks to our own food supply. The UK imports 50% of its food from abroad.

 

Poole-Robb says: “The UK government has, so far, failed to put in place a robust strategy which reflects the seriousness of the risks we all face. Ministers need to address this as a matter of urgency.”

 

News, Technology

Lakeside Software’s platform provides IT leaders with cost of technology disruptions and employee downtime

IT leaders gain single view of organisation’s cost of downtime, latency, and technology issues with Lakeside’s Executive Insights dashboard 

 Lakeside Software has launched a new feature within its Executive Insights dashboard that calculates the monetary impact of an organisation’s IT health. Building on the current dashboard, IT leaders now have a single view into how much downtime, latency, and technology issues affect the bottom line.

This latest product feature introduces intelligent calculations, sensing employee behaviors and only monitoring active employee time, ensuring that the productivity cost calculations are precise and actionable. Additionally, IT teams can now see cost impacts segmented by various groupings, such as remote workers, departments, or device types. This eliminates the need for CIOs and IT leaders to make business decisions based on assumptions and piecemeal data and enables more strategic planning.

This new tool is built within Lakeside’s digital employee experience (DEX) platform, which helps IT teams optimize available resources as they are pressured to control costs and do more with less.

Leveraging the most comprehensive dataset in the industry collected from 1,000+ sensors across multiple endpoints, Lakeside’s new feature provides business and IT leaders with the insight needed to justify initiatives and investments that will improve the digital employee experience. Whether remote workers need new hardware or the CIO needs estate-level analysis for a board meeting, data provided through Lakeside’s Executive Insights offers accurate, uninflated values. These intelligent calculations are customised for each organisation, defining the true cost of downtime instead of a one-size-fits-all approach.

“Lakeside enables IT leadership to analyse how IT impacts individual users and compare the digital health of groups across the enterprise,” said Marc Moesse, SVP of Product at Lakeside Software. “Companies will have insight into the financial impact hardware, software, and network challenges have on their specific organization and teams. These intelligent calculations deliver a true ROI calculator that articulates the cost of employee downtime caused by tech and identifies the silent sufferers who are plagued by tech and network issues.”

Today’s announcement comes on the heels of the company’s proactive alerting innovation and recognition for earning its ISO 27001 certification and SOC 2 Type II compliance.

Register for the webinar “The Value of DEX: How Much Do Bad Digital Experiences Cost Your Enterprise?“ to learn more.

 

 

About Lakeside Software

Lakeside Software is a leader in cloud-based digital experience management. Lakeside’s Digital Experience Cloud, powered by SysTrack, gathers and analyzes data on everything that may impact end-user experience and business productivity and provides the unmatched visibility IT teams need to design and support rapidly changing digital workplaces. Customers use Lakeside’s technology to perform end-user experience management, digital workplace planning, IT asset optimization, remote work management, and proactive service desk operations. For more information, visit www.lakesidesoftware.com.

 

Lakeside Software and SysTrack are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of Lakeside Software, LLC in the United States, and other jurisdictions. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.

 

AI, Manufacturing, Manufacturing Tech, News, Technology

Investing in tech helps manufacturing businesses stay competitive

AI technology is changing how we interact with the world. Free AI chatbots are now accessible to anyone with an internet connection and private businesses are rolling out their own AI systems. It seems that use of AI has skyrocketed past any previous technology innovation entering the public market. This advancement is a great reminder that technology is ever-changing – and changing fast.

The faster an organisation innovates, the stronger competitive advantage it gains, leading to cost savings and a higher return on investment. Nowhere is this more critical right now than in the manufacturing sector.

Addressing inefficient processes and adapting to more efficient systems in the manufacturing industry is critical to keep up with customer demands. Lack of modernisation can affect an organisation’s customer-facing business and slows teams down, preventing them from doing their best work.

At the same time, manufacturing companies that implemented their first SAP applications many years ago to optimise business operations are no longer on the front foot, as a wide range of new systems and technologies have been established simultaneously around the ERP system. This has resulted in hybrid IT landscapes with high complexity and decentralised data storage. Today, these problems make it difficult for manufacturers to deliver information in real-time and take advantage of innovative technologies.

In a competitive business market, and especially in a manufacturing environment, employees must be empowered with efficient internal systems that run smoothly no matter what. By investing in tech and modernising processes through SAP low-code/no-code app development, manufacturing businesses can, however, stay competitive, avoiding the pitfalls of failing to stay up to date.

Modernise operations to seamlessly manage complex systems

Manufacturing teams work hard to seamlessly manage supply chains across time zones and borders. Putting pen to paper to communicate immediate needs across the company is not only time consuming and reactive, but is also error prone. There’s a real risk of putting vendor relationships on the line by not having the most up-to-date information readily available to the correct teams. Replicated or mishandled inventory also wastes employee time, and is much harder to manage offline.

Similarly, when maintenance happens – unexpected or planned – it needs to occur as seamlessly as possible. The bigger the site, the more complex it can be for teams to manage workflows around stoppages. With the right tools, however, teams are empowered to get assistance efficiently and effectively. Technology like apps, built in-house with low-code/no-code platforms that support SAP or outsourced with a partner, can help organisations address equipment needing service immediately, saving time that would previously be spent waiting for specialist support.  

The same is true for internal administration and employee management. Time is money, and the less time spent following a paper trail, deciphering handwritten notes or filling out timecards, the more people can focus on their work. Modernising employee administration puts the power in the employees’ hands, giving them the power to request everyday needs without complication. In turn, their requests are connected to other systems within a business, allowing managers to adjust seamlessly as needed.

Digitising processes drives savings and growth

Beyond driving efficiency, implementing the right technology platforms can drive savings and growth. Lean, effective, and adaptable organisations in all industries are becoming more economically viable and sustainable too. With transformation boosted by low-code/no-code software like Neptune DXP that support platforms including SAP, the manufacturing process can be trimmed to leave room for innovation by automating manual tasks.

With the right support, manufacturing organisations can also count on a significant reduction in training costs and inventory investment, faster planning cycles, a boost in top-line revenue, improved on-time deliveries, and more accurate demand forecasts. With the correct planning and strategic investment, technology can strengthen businesses’ footing in an uncertain economic climate. Let’s start future-proofing a connected, digital manufacturing world.

 

Neptune Software is a rapid application development platform vendor with more than 730 enterprise customers and over 4 million licensed end users globally. Their mission is to empower IT departments to drive business results. Neptune Software is the leading low-code enterprise app development platform in the SAP market to digitises and optimises business processes and user interfaces – at scale and with ease. The platform gives IT professionals the right tools to rapidly build the apps they need, across IT landscapes.

 

News, Technology

GFT and CloudFrame Partner to Help Industries Say Goodbye to COBOL

CloudFrame and GFT provide an automatic conversion approach to significantly reduce costs, making the shift from COBOL to Java fast, safe, and trouble-free.

GFT, a digital transformation pioneer, and CloudFrame, a provider of pathways to digital transformation for large organizations who are running mission-critical applications on COBOL, announced today that they have formed a global partnership to help COBOL users make the transition to more efficient platforms that enable users to reduce their overall mainframe costs. CloudFrame’s proprietary technology converts COBOL code into more efficient and future-proof Java. On average, the cost of a mainframe process is reduced by 50% after this conversion. GFT brings its expertise in CloudFrame implementation and mainframe modernization to the partnership.

In 2023, COBOL, a programming language debuted in the 1950s, is still ubiquitous in financial institutions, airlines, retail companies – the list goes on. It is increasingly becoming a problem for users, due to high costs of mainframe use and a shortage of experts needed for development and maintenance.

 

Taking the risk out of a dreaded process

“Partnering with GFT will help our customers achieve application modernization of their COBOL systems,” said Venkat Pillay, founder, and CEO of CloudFrame. “The combination of CloudFrame’s Relocate and Renovate COBOL modernization products, along with GFT’s skilled and comprehensive services, will enable customers to transform COBOL into maintainable Java.”

“Even experts are often surprised by how widely COBOL is still being used,” said Marika Lulay, CEO of GFT. “Migrating legacy applications to a new platform can be a daunting challenge, but it is becoming prohibitively expensive and risky to keep supporting COBOL. With CloudFrame’s conversion solutions and our implementation and mainframe expertise, we take the risk out of a process many IT managers dread.”

 

Relocate and Renovate

 CloudFrame can provide two approaches to the users: Relocate or Renovate. CloudFrame Relocate provides an easy way to shift COBOL workloads from GPs to a zIIP or other lower-cost environments using cross-compilation, while CloudFrame Renovate consumes the company’s COBOL applications, transforms the application into java assets, and provisions a new application into the company’s cloud environment (AWS, Azure, or GCP).

To learn more about CloudFrame Relocate and CloudFrame Renovate, please visit www.cloudframe.com.

 

 

Accountancy & Accounts, ESG/CSR, Finance News, News

Public sector finance professionals have key role in sustainability and addressing climate change

ACCA Global Talent Trends Survey reveals public sector facing talent challenge

Finance professionals working in the public sector play a crucial role in addressing sustainability and climate change issues. ACCA’s (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) Global Talent Trends Survey shows three out of four public sector respondents agree that accountants will play a bigger part in helping organisations address this agenda in the future.

In one of the largest ever studies across the accountancy profession, ACCA’s inaugural Global Talent Trends Survey 2023 provides a unique and vital view of how people feel about working in the finance profession right now. Finance professionals working in the public sector share many of the same concerns as the wider profession, but there are some differences.

ACCA’s research highlighted seven key talent trends for the public sector:

  1. Inflation is fuelling wage pressure: the impact of rising prices on salaries is more of a concern for public sector employees than for any other sector.
  2. Hybrid work is a work in progress: a significantly lower proportion of public sector employees have adopted hybrid and remote working practices compared to the private sector. 71% of public sector financial professionals are fully office based compared to 57% in all sectors.
  3. Addressing burnout must be a priority: just over half of public sector financial professionals (52%) believe their employers do not consider employee mental health to be a priority.
  4. Mobility is driving a possible talent crunch: public sector respondents indicated a similar level of mobility to the average of all sectors. However, amongst those planning to move roles, 4 in 10 public sector finance professionals expect to move internally in the next two years, while 5 in 10 are predicting an external move.
  5. Technology is empowering but training is key: 88% of those in the public sector want more technology training as they recognise the power technology has in supporting finance professionals to add more value. But 40% fear technology will replace all or part of their role.
  6. Inclusivity is strong but perceptions about social mobility are more troubling: 61% of public sector financial professionals think their organisation is inclusive (compared to 68% of all sectors), while 49% in all sectors (including public) have the perception that a lower socio-economic background is a barrier to progress.
  7. In turbulent times accountancy provides career security: public sector financial professionals see the key benefits to a career in this sector as the opportunity to gain a professional qualification (38%); having a job with purpose (27%) and the ability to make an impact (23%) – scores which outstripped all sectors at 33%, 23% and 17% respectively.

Jamie Lyon, head of skills, sectors and technology at ACCA, said: “Developing the talent of tomorrow is one of the top priorities for the accountancy profession, especially in the public sector. ACCA’s inaugural annual talent trends survey ensures the voice of those working in the profession – including the public sector – is heard and that the profession helps create a working environment where today’s professionals thrive and where tomorrow’s talent wants to be.”

As well as providing valuable insights the report sets out the ways in which ACCA supports employers, student and members, as well as the wider public sector.

Lloyd Powell, Head of ACCA Wales, said: “These findings have important implications for public sector employers in Wales as they seek to retain and attract finance professionals to careers in the sector. While the sector faces its challenges, it is clear that those working in accountancy and finance in the public sector see the ability to make a real difference to people’s lives as a key aspect of their roles. This new report is intended to support a workforce of vibrant and dynamic public sector finance professionals to drive through essential public financial management reforms.”

Read the full report.

News

Public infrastructure and access to labour splits UK small businesses down rural-urban divide

Factors such as the availability of quality public infrastructure and access to skilled labour are entrenching a rural-urban divide among UK SMEs according to a new survey of more than 900 SMEs by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and Xero, the global small business platform.

The survey, exploring the suitability of SMEs’ local trading environments, found that those based in rural areas were more likely to report a deficit in key success attributes.

General business outlook

The SME business outlook is subdued across the UK. Only half (53%) expect to see turnover growth in the next 12 months, while one in four (27%) expect turnover to shrink over the same period. In Wales, 48% of businesses expect turnover will increase over the next year, while 21% expect it to decrease.

Less than a third (30%) of UK SMEs plan to increase investment in technology, research and development, while 18% expect a decrease. However, almost half of Welsh SMEs (47%) told Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid in their quarterly economic survey that they saw new product innovation as an opportunity for business recovery and growth.

Public transport

When assessing the suitability of local infrastructure, the rural-urban divide was particularly notable in public transport. Over half (58%) of SMEs in rural areas do not believe their area has reliable and well-connected trains, compared with just 39% in urban areas.

Rail network deficiencies are also impacting SMEs based in business, retail or industrial parks, half (51%) of which were not satisfied with this provision. This rose further still when it came to buses and trams – over three-quarters (79%) in rural or countryside areas do not think they have access to reliable buses and trams, compared to 42% in towns, villages and high streets.

Internet connectivity

The rural-urban divide is also evident when it comes to connectivity. While three-quarters (75%) of SMEs overall agree their area has reliable broadband, this rises to 82% in urban areas and falls to around half (56%) in rural areas.

Labour market

Firms report a high level of dissatisfaction with their local labour markets; almost two in three (64%) SMEs do not believe their local area has high availability of appropriately skilled labour. In Wales, 61% of businesses have experienced difficulties in recruiting skilled employees.

However, there is divergence on this issue based on the type of business area. Firms in business, industrial or retail parks appear to struggle most acutely with this issue, with almost three in four (72%) stating that they did not have access to appropriately skilled labour. While still concerning, this drops to 56% for firms based in urban areas.

Paul Butterworth, Interim CEO of Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid, said: “This research shows that a significant rural-urban divide exists among SMEs, with rural businesses currently at a disadvantage compared to their urban counterparts across Wales and the UK.

“Investment is needed to improve public infrastructure and access to skilled labour to create equal opportunities to thrive, regardless of where a business is based.”

Alex Veitch, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “Our research highlights the rural-urban divide that continues to exist between firms across the UK, with rural businesses generally reporting higher levels of dissatisfaction with the quality and availability of local resources.

“High-quality public infrastructure and access to a skilled labour force are both key to the success of a business, in particular SMEs, and today’s findings indicate that rural businesses are at a significant disadvantage.

“Government must urgently prioritise the development of public infrastructure. Such investment will not only enable local and small businesses to adapt and thrive, it will also create jobs and inject money into local economies across the UK.”

Jo Copestake, Director of Small Business at Xero, said:

“When small businesses are eventually able to pivot to growth mode, any recovery would be inequitable, as many rural small businesses don’t believe they have the same trading conditions as their urban counterparts. We can’t risk that the conditions for recovery are skewed in favour of businesses in certain locations, which would reinforce the divides that have hampered the nation’s full economic potential for so long.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and that means their roots are all around the country. We must create an equitable trading environment, where each and every business can access the digital know-how, connectivity and infrastructure required to build a healthy business.”

News, North Wales, Tourism, Wales News

Zip World Launches New Gravity-Powered Adventure

  • Zip World launches new Aero Explorer experience at Penrhyn Quarry site
  • Riders will reach speeds of up to 30mph while being suspended over 35m in the air
  • New attraction at former world’s largest slate quarry will launch in time for summer

UK-based adventure company Zip World has announced the launch of its latest exhilarating adventure, Aero Explorer, a spiral suspension track powered entirely by gravity.

Located at the Zip World Penrhyn Quarry site – already home to the fastest zip line in the world – Aero Explorer will provide adventurers with a unique new experience as they soar across the 400m track at speeds of up to 30mph.

Set to open to the public from Wednesday 26th May 2023, visitors will be suspended in the air via a harness attachment as they take in breath-taking views of what once was the world’s largest slate quarry.

Along its 400m long suspended track, Aero Explorer features two spiral turns that riders will experience as they descend the structures.

Harnessing nothing but the natural topography of the area, the ride itself will be completely powered by gravity, with riders descending to ground level within 3-5 minutes.

Aero Explorer marks the fifth adventure at the North Wales site, joining Velocity 2, Quarry Flyer, Quarry Karts, and the Penrhyn Quarry Tour and becomes Zip World’s 24th attraction.

 

Zip World Founder and president Sean Taylor said:

“The Zip World Penrhyn Quarry site will join the company’s four other Welsh locations and two in the North of England, with more attractions set to launch by the end of 2023.”

 

Tickets for Aero Explorer are now on sale via the Zip World website. Prices start at £22 for a single rider, and £70 for a group of four. Each ticket includes two rides.

Aero Explorer is designed to be suitable for all the family to enjoy, with the attraction open to children with a height of 1m and above.

 

Visit www.zipworld.co.uk/adventure/gravity-explorer for more information.