Monthly Archives: February 2024

News, Retail & E-commerce

Temu Achieves MASA Certification, Reinforcing Commitment to User Security and Privacy

Temu, which advertised at the Super Bowl for a second year running, announced it has received the Mobile Application Security Assessment (MASA) certification following an evaluation by DEKRA, the world’s largest independent expert testing organization. The certification is a part of Temu’s efforts to uphold the highest security and privacy standards for its users.

MASA certification was launched in July 2022 by the Google-launched App Defense Alliance (ADA) as a program to improve application security through third-party independent security assessments. The goal is to ensure the safety of Google Play and the broader Android ecosystem and to provide more transparency to consumers. DEKRA is one of six Google Authorized Labs that conduct this security assessment.

The MASA framework sets forth a rigorous set of security guidelines designed to protect mobile applications against the latest cybersecurity threats. The certification process involves a detailed examination of an app’s data handling, encryption practices, authentication mechanisms, and compliance with industry-standard privacy protections. By adhering to these stringent standards, Temu demonstrates its commitment to safeguarding users’ personal and financial information by enhancing user data protection beyond Google Play store security requirements.

 

Key areas assessed by MASA include:

  • Data privacy and security within the app.
  • Use of strong encryption for information protection.
  • Access control to ensure only authorized user entry.
  • Security of data during internet transmission.
  • Minimal and necessary permission requests from devices.
  • Validation of all incoming data to prevent security breaches.
  • Restriction on other apps accessing secure features.
  • Frequent updates to address security vulnerabilities.

In a statement, a Temu spokesperson expressed the company’s proactive approach to security: “We submitted the Temu app for MASA certification as part of our continuous effort to improve on user privacy and security. We want to assure our users that they can shop with confidence, knowing their data is protected by the best practices in the industry.”

The MASA certification is the latest in a series of measures taken by Temu to enhance its transparency over its security and privacy practices. Previously, Temu collaborated with the San Francisco-based cybersecurity company HackerOne to establish a bug bounty program, incentivizing ethical hackers to identify and report security flaws in Temu’s system. Additionally, Temu implemented two-factor authentication to enhance the security of user login procedures.

Other apps that have undergone independent testing and received the MASA certification include Walmart, Google, YouTube, Instacart and Otto. 

Here is the link to Temu’s MASA certification.

Property Rentals

Big Shake-Up of The Rental Market Coming: How Will It Affect Tenants & Landlords

The housing market is evolving all the time, with some of the biggest changes being seen in the UK rental market. There is just as much, if not more, demand for rented accommodation than ever, so it is important that regardless of whether you are a tenant or landlord, you understand what these changes mean for you. These changes are mostly driven by legislative reforms and economic factors and fall into these key areas.

#1 Legislative changes – know the new rules and their implications

The big news here is that the Renter’s (Reform) Bill will bring major changes to anyone who is a landlord or tenant in England. The headline is that section 21 is being repealed, and this will abolish ‘no fault’ evictions. The aim is to align the rights and responsibilities of both tenants and landlords, allowing more stability for renters and giving landlords more opportunity to reclaim their properties when they need to.

Improved living conditions

With so many rental properties being less than substandard across the UK, the Bill has imposed how crucial it is to be able to offer decent living conditions for all tenants and applies the Decent Homes Standard to the private sector. This should target those landlords that are slack to perform the necessary repairs to make their properties liveable while providing tenants with the ability to be able to expect better and safer homes to live in.

Provide fairer opportunities – families with children or pets

Another major effect of the Bill is that it will make blanket bans illegal, meaning that if you are a landlord, you cannot discriminate against those who have children or are on benefits of one type or another. Tenants who might have been excluded from rental properties previously due to having pets will now have to have their requests considered. While no reasonable request can be refused, landlords can claim against the tenant’s pet insurance if any damage is done during their tenancy.

Dealing with anti-social tenants or non-payers

Landlords will also be pleased to find that they can now recover or repossess property faster if a tenant is a non-payer or persists with anti-social behaviour and damage to their property. This has always been a complicated area, but there is now a private rented property portal where landlords can go to understand what their legal obligations are and what they can do. This also provides tenants with the information they need to better understand their obligations according to their tenancy agreement.

#2 Economic trends – their effect on demand

This legislation has caused concerns among landlords about rising costs, with some considering selling up. This also means that getting into the buy-to-let market is more problematic than before and can result in a reduction in the number of available rental properties.

Despite this, there is a higher demand than ever, especially in the short period since the pandemic. This means that there is still the market to invest in property for rental purposes, although the number of people it remains a viable option for may well have decreased. The driving force behind this looks to be the available mortgage deals, and a more settled economy is likely to bring more stability there and increase the number of deals you see available.

#3 Rental prices – will they continue to rise?

This combination of high demand and limited supply will increase the potential for rents to increase in the near future. However, as the mortgage market becomes more settled, you might reasonably expect the recent large rises in rental costs to slow down by 2026 in line with less financial pressure being placed on landlords.

Another factor to consider is also the rise in energy costs and the knock-on effect that has on both tenants and landlords who rent properties where utilities are included, such as some HMOs. In addition, the plans to increase energy efficient standards will mean a reduction in these, but at the same time, will incur further costs to upgrade areas like insulation, doors, and windows.

A few final thoughts

In the ever-changing rental market, there have been fewer seismic events than the Renter’s (Reform) Bill. This has provided a major shake-up, which has made it harder for landlords to provide substandard properties and evict tenants without fault. It also allows them to gain control of properties when the tenant is at fault, costing them money either through non-payment or damaging their property. This will have repercussions with some landlords choosing to leave the rental sector entirely, which can cause fewer properties to become available and rents to rise as a result.

 

 

 

Art

March auction includes works by Sir Kyffin Williams and Henry H. Parker

A watercolour by famous Welsh artist Sir Kyffin Williams, OBE and a haymaking scene by English landscape artist Henry H. Parker are two potential stars of a fine art, antiques and jewellery auction in Shropshire next month.

 

Consigned by a Shropshire collector to Halls Fine Art’s March 6 auction in Shrewsbury, the watercolour and pencil painting, titled ‘Welsh Pony in Winter’, by Sir Kyffin (1918-2006) is expected to sell for up to £3,000.

 

A celebrated painter, who lived on Anglesey, his works typically drew inspiration from the Welsh landscape and farmlands.

 

The oil painting by Parker (1858–1930) captures haymaking in an extensive landscape by the coast and is expected to sell for up to £5,000.

 

Born in London,  Parker specialised in picturesque pastoral scenes, often featuring harvesting and haymaking, river and coastal landscapes and traditional rural buildings. Much of his painting was done in England’s southern counties.

 

“Haymaking and harvest scenes are always very popular at our auction and we are delighted to have a beautiful example of a work by Henry H. Parker in our March sale,” said Abigail Molenaar, Halls Fine Art’s paintings and prints specialist. “Parker painted similar scenes of haymaking on the Suffolk coastline.”

 

Always a popular subject in Shropshire, Abigail has a number of equestrian related paintings in the auction, including a portrait of Shropshire born, 26 times British flat racing champion jockey Sir Gordon Richards mounted on racehorse Rose of England, which is valued at up to £500.

 

Two other equestrian oil paintings are ‘Racehorse Tristan in a loosebox’ by Arthur Louis Townshend (1848-1927) and ‘Light Bay Hunter and Spaniel in a landscape’ in the manner of John Frederick Herring Senior (1795-1865), each valued at up to £1,200 and an oil on canvas after John Frederick Herring Senior of ‘Touchstone and Jockey in the Duke of Westminster colours’ valued at up to £600.

 

A beautiful collection of 47 delicate and detailed botanical watercolours, dating to the late 19th or early 20th centuries and showing British plants and flowers, is expected to fetch up to £600.

 

Watercolours are well represented with some good examples by artists including Helen Allingham (1848-1926), Louis Haghe (1808-’85) and Charles Edward Wilson (1853-1941).

 

For more information about the paintings in the auction, contact Abigail at Halls Fine Art on Tel: 01743 450700.

Apprenticeships

Leading hygiene services company reaping the apprenticeship rewards

Leading hygiene services provider phs Group says apprenticeships have helped the company increase colleague engagement and retention, improve productivity, customer service and grow sales.

 

Based in Caerphilly, the company employs more than 3,000 colleagues nationwide, of which 130 are apprentices. Over the past five years, phs Group has employed 256 apprentices, 47 of whom have been promoted or moved into a new role as part of their career plan.

 

Phs Group aims to have at least 5% of its workforce on apprenticeship programmes which help develop the career paths from entry to senior management.

 

Now, phs Group has been shortlisted for the prestigious Apprenticeship Awards Cymru 2024 as a Large Employer of the Year finalist.

 

Highlight of the year for apprentices, employers and work-based learning providers and practitioners, the awards are organised by the Welsh Government and supported by the National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW). Headline sponsor is EAL.

 

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony to be held at ICC Wales, Newport on March 22, 2024. The awards highlight the outstanding achievements of employers, apprentices and work-based learning practitioners.

 

Apprenticeships from Level 3 to 7, ranging from Business Administration and Customer Service to Management and Data Science, are delivered by ALS Training, along with ACT and Coleg y Cymoedd. Bridgend College also recently awarded phs Group the Employer Partnership Award In 2023.

 

An Apprenticeship Ambassador Network member, phs Group shares best practice with other employers and has transferred £90,000 of its apprenticeship levy to support apprentices at 15 small and medium sized businesses.

 

Phs Group recruited Julie Harries as work-based learning lead in 2019 to drive and manage apprenticeships, resulting in significantly improved skills and opportunities across the business coupled with high completion rates.

 

She believes apprenticeships fit perfectly with in-house learning and development programmes which are available to colleagues.

 

“Our apprenticeship programme ensures that we have the right knowledge, skills and behaviours. Through the 130 people that we have on apprenticeship programmes, we have elevated colleague expertise within phs Group, which helps us achieve our vision of becoming the partner and employer of choice.

 

“By developing colleagues, they feel more motivated and engaged. Happy employees impact how we service and provide best outcomes for our customers which is vital for a company that puts people at the heart of their products and services”

 

Vanessa Hope, ALS Training’s corporate development manager, said: “Having worked with phs Group for several years, we are always impressed by the company’s level of commitment to apprenticeships, and this can be demonstrated by the high achievement rate of their staff.”

Economy Minister Vaughan Gething congratulated phs Group and all the other finalists. “Today’s apprentices will be tomorrow’s specialists, and Apprenticeship Awards Cymru allows us to recognise apprentices, work-based learning practitioners, and employers that have gone above and beyond,” he said.

“Their tenacity, passion, and commitment to growing their own careers, the careers of others, and the larger Welsh economy is inspiring. I wish each of the finalists the best of luck at the awards and with their future endeavours.”

Congratulating the finalists, Al Parkes, managing director at EAL, said: “As the specialist awarding organisation and skills partner for the engineering and manufacturing industry, apprenticeships in Wales are especially important to us.

“Apprenticeships play an important role in supporting personal progress through career opportunities and a sense of achievement, while ensuring that employers have the right skills at the right time to keep up with evolving industry needs.

“EAL is committed to encouraging employers to take on apprentices. Marking the achievements of employers, apprentices and work-based learning practitioners at the Apprenticeship Awards Cymru is vital to this.”

For more information about recruiting an apprentice, visit: https://gov.wales/apprenticeships-genius-decision or call 03000 603000.

Picture caption:

 

Staff from phs Group, Large Employer of the Year finalist.

Apprenticeships, Transport

All aboard for a UK-first apprenticeship programme with award finalist

Keeping Wales on the move through a sustainable train network has been the driving force behind a pioneering apprenticeship programme created by Transport for Wales (TfW).

 

The not-for-profit company was established in 2015 to support the Welsh Government’s vision of creating a high quality, safe, integrated and affordable transport network. TfW has embraced work-based learning by recruiting hundreds of apprentices to improve performance and long-term sustainability.

 

TfW welcomed its first cohort in 2019, but by 2021 the company had introduced a UK-first programme for trainee train drivers that was designed in collaboration with the awarding body, EAL, and delivered in partnership with Coleg y Cymoedd.

 

The programme has already encouraged scores of new recruits from diverse backgrounds to enter the rail industry with the target to attract more than 100 new apprentices per year over the next five years. TfW currently employs 189 apprentices and has recruited over 300 over the past five years.

 

Now, TfW has been shortlisted for the prestigious Apprenticeship Awards Cymru 2024 as a Large Employer of the Year finalist.

 

Highlight of the year for apprentices, employers and work-based learning providers and practitioners, the awards are organised by the Welsh Government and supported by the National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW). Headline sponsor is EAL.

 

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony to be held at ICC Wales, Newport on March 22, 2024. The awards highlight the outstanding achievements of employers, apprentices and work-based learning practitioners.

 

“By designing a bespoke apprenticeship programme, Transport for Wales ensured that trainee train drivers receive a recognised qualification, the first accredited MVQ Level Three qualification in train driver operations in the UK,” said Liam Matthews, rail apprenticeship co-ordinator at Coleg y Cymoedd.

 

“This qualification not only provides official recognition for the employees but also sets the foundation for a reliable public transport service.”

 

Apprenticeships are now available across 12 areas of the business and also delivered by ALS Training, with TfW crediting these programmes by directly supporting the company’s transformation plans.

 

With a focus on diversity and inclusivity, it has also provided a sustainable pipeline of talent that aligns with the organisation’s goals and objectives as outlined in their corporate strategy and strategic equality plan.

 

The introduction of a new salary structure for apprentices, aligned with the National Living Wage, demonstrates a commitment to attracting candidates from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, ensuring apprenticeships are accessible to a wider range of individuals to further promote diversity within the workforce.

Economy Minister Vaughan Gething congratulated Transport for Wales and all the other finalists. “Today’s apprentices will be tomorrow’s specialists, and Apprenticeship Awards Cymru allows us to recognise apprentices, work-based learning practitioners, and employers that have gone above and beyond,” he said.

“Their tenacity, passion, and commitment to growing their own careers, the careers of others, and the larger Welsh economy is inspiring. I wish each of the finalists the best of luck at the awards and with their future endeavours.”

Congratulating the finalists, Al Parkes, managing director at EAL, said: “As the specialist awarding organisation and skills partner for the engineering and manufacturing industry, apprenticeships in Wales are especially important to us.

“Apprenticeships play an important role in supporting personal progress through career opportunities and a sense of achievement, while ensuring that employers have the right skills at the right time to keep up with evolving industry needs.

“EAL is committed to encouraging employers to take on apprentices. Marking the achievements of employers, apprentices, and work-based learning practitioners at the Apprenticeship Awards Cymru is vital to this.”

For more information about recruiting an apprentice, visit: https://gov.wales/apprenticeships-genius-decision or call 03000 603000.

Picture caption:

 

Transport for Wales apprentices.

Agriculture

Heifer sells for £3,200 at Shrewsbury Auction Centre Dairy Show and Sale

A heifer with a great pedigree grabbed the headlines after selling for £3,200 at Shrewsbury Auction Centre’s Dairy Show and Sale yesterday (Tuesday).

 

The classy heifer, Whitgreave Haniko Zindra, from Stubbs Partners, Whitgreave, Stafford, which was backed by 10 generations in the top two grades, tracing back to the great Ocean-view Mandel Zandra EX95 and giving 36kg of milk, sold to R. A. Jones and Son, Pied House, Garthmyl, near Welshpool.

 

Halls auctioneer Jonny Dymond, Shrewsbury Auction Centre manager, said: “This well-bred heifer, a daughter of Haniko, was very correct and full of milk. Her looks matched her pedigree and the buyers clearly agreed.

 

“It was the best dairy price recorded at Shrewsbury for 18 months since the downturn in milk price.

 

“It’s evident that the Shrewsbury Auction Centre’s reputation for selling top quality dairy cattle is spreading far and wide. We are now attracting cattle from a huge geographical region including Carmarthenshire, Derbyshire, Ceredigion and Leicestershire yesterday, with others from Warwickshire, Gloucester and Lincolnshire in recent weeks.”

 

The market’s pulling power was demonstrated by dairy show champion Deri Enid 455, a Seagull-Bay Jo Dancer heifer giving 31.3kg from D. R. Evans, Dryslwyn, Carmarthen, which sold for £2,600.

 

Mr Evans sold four heifers, including the much admired Deri Pet 82, sired by Seagull- Bay MJ Applejax and giving 34kg, which all sold for £2,250. The quartet, which averaged £2,187, sold to the show judge, Rachel Owen, from Overton.

 

Shropshire supporters J Allsop & Sons from Leebotwood, Church Stretton, saw Enchmarsh Totem Ethel 2, a Totem sired daughter giving 30kg, sell for £2,380, while Hillstar Lighthouse Rebecca Raquel, a freshly calved heifer giving 36kg, with 10 generations in the top two grades, sold for £2,250.

New vendor G. W. Watkin, from Borth, sold an impressive group of 12 fresh heifers which topped at £2,150 for Henllys Kimball May 2, having calved two weeks ago. The group averaged £1,763.

 

The show’s second placed heifer was Deri Lofty 263 from D R. Evans which sold for £1,950 and third was Gwynnog Sedona Joanne from M. J. E. Hughes from Criggion which made £1,980.

 

The quality of the nine cows on show was underlined as more than half sold for £1,900 or more. The show’s reserve champion was Redlong Supershot Mauvoreen from A. C. & D. Drinkall, Wettenhall, which topped the cow trade at £2,350.

 

Close behind was a pair of cows with height and width in their rear udders from Neil Morgan and family from Arddleen, near Welshpool. Trederwen Imagine Pam, a three year old second calver giving 48kg, made £2,280 and Trederwen Uno Elsa, sired by Amigetti Numero Uno and giving 45kg, sold for £2,150.

 

The continuing dispersal of R. T. Albert saw a strong Montbeliarde cow making £1,550.

 

The 48 heifers on offer averaged £1,776 while the nine cows averaged £1,863.

 

Next Tuesday’s sale entries include a dispersal of a genuine group of Montbeliarde, Montbeliarde cross and Holstein cows from  E. R. & I. Dodd & Son from Crowton, Northwich this. The vaccinated, cubicle housed cows average 7,300kg with 4.50% fat, 3.60% protein.

Aerospace

Aerospace Machining Is Evolving: Everything You Need To Know

The AS9100 specification is one of the most stringent quality criteria that CNC machined components must meet in the aerospace sector.A manufacturing method must be in place to support components that have been designed and tested to meet all requirements. Precise aerospace CNC machining is absolutely necessary in this situation.

Aerospace Aircraft, space shuttles, and other aerospace applications rely on components made via CNC machining. For example, aviation components come in a vast array of shapes and sizes; these components are utilised in the manufacturing of seats, oxygen generating systems, filters, and many more.

When it comes to aircraft, how may CNC machining be used?

The plane’s engine and wings are the first components that come to mind when you think of an aeroplane. A Boeing 747 contains more than 6 million parts, which should give you an idea of scale and highlight how critical it is to be exact with each and every one of them.

Several aerospace-related applications make use of CNC machining. The following items can be made from this:

  • Positions in spaceships and aeroplanes
  • Applications involving shafts for power transmission
  • Parts of oxygen production systems
  • Parts of the valve
  • Connectors for electrical devices
  • Durable missile casings
  • Filter structures for air and liquid that are complex

The application of computer numerical control (CNC) machining in aerospace has a somewhat distinct emphasis:

CNC for use in aerospace

The manufacturing of an aeroplane is characterised by its meticulous attention to detail. All components must be manufactured with the utmost precision if this aircraft is to be used as a combat jet, a passenger airliner, or a freight plane. Aircraft engines are responsible for properly processing and using fuel to keep planes in the air for the necessary duration. The cockpit, even without the engine, is critical, with many little parts and their interconnections performing critical functions during flight. Aircraft that consistently perform to a high standard and satisfy stringent safety rules are the result of the combined efforts of all of its parts.

Technology

A rocket or spacecraft’s overall design is comprised of countless intricate and crucial parts. It is absolutely mind-blowing to think about constructing a spaceship to endure the rigours of space flight. Due to the meticulous nature of this production process, CNC machining has emerged as the gold standard for safety and durability due to its high requirements.

Aerospace CNC machining uses what kinds of materials?

Aerospace CNC machining requires materials that are both lightweight and robust. You may basically classify materials into two broad categories: those that are strong and lightweight (like aluminium) and those that are neither.

Materials that are not heavy

Aerospace manufacturing relies heavily on the weight and strength of its components. For this reason, steel is not really a lightweight metal, despite its reputation as a robust metal. A less efficient and heavier plane would result from using steel. Because of their strength and light weight, aluminium alloys and titanium are the materials of choice for both the exterior and inside of aeroplanes.

Superbly performing polymers

One use of computer numerical control machining in the aerospace industry is the production of lightweight, complicated plastic components. It provides the kind of precision needed for these kinds of uses, making components for things like bearings, electrical conduits, interior wall panels, doors, and ventilation ducts.

Using top-notch materials and quality CNC machining, the basis for any spaceship or aircraft may be built from either metal or plastic. The aerospace industry relies on this, and CNC machining technologies can’t compare.

Aerospace CNC machining’s advantages

CNC machining offers numerous advantages to the aerospace sector, such as:

Exquisite level of achievement

Aerospace components must meet rigorous standards to prevent malfunction. CNC machining consistently produces high-quality results even when working with challenging materials.

Natural lightness

The aircraft industry is always looking for ways to make their equipment lighter. Using computer numerical control (CNC) machining, it is possible to create sturdy and lightweight structures and components.

Precision

In the aircraft sector, accuracy and precision are paramount. Computer numerical control (CNC) machining provides a precise method to enhance tight tolerances and decrease the likelihood of manufacturing mistakes. There is absolutely no space for human mistake in this highly precise engineering. This is of the utmost importance in this field, as aircraft are used for extended periods of time in flight and remain in service for numerous years.

Diverse and intricate components

In the aircraft business, precision is of the utmost importance for every component. A method like CNC machining is necessary to ensure the stability and consistency of performance when dealing with components that span a wide range of sizes, shapes, and levels of complexity.

Affordable process

After considering all of the advantages, CNC machining becomes a cost-effective procedure for the aerospace sector in the long run. Reduced material waste and fewer parts with flaws mean less time and money spent fixing them. Profitability is enhanced by lowering the price-per-part and achieving rapid and precise production.

Robust components, frequently with intricate geometries, are essential to the aerospace industry’s reliance on high-quality part production. Component parts that meet these specifications can be quickly and accurately manufactured by Rotec’s CNC machining capabilities. Producing parts for individual uses or larger production runs requires this level of precision.

Business

5 things you need for excellent field service management

Field service poses unique challenges. Businesses need to empower their field service agents to provide the best possible experience, from any location. It also requires careful monitoring of stock levels and resource to ensure costs are minimised and customer expectations met.

Excellent field service should drive quick resolutions, satisfied customers and enhanced productivity. We’ve listed five things to consider to improve your field service provision.

  1. Inventory management

Supporting your customers means having the tools required for a quick resolution.

Field service agents need an accurate view of stock levels within your warehouse and in their vehicles. This enables them to have the right supplies before they arrive on the customer’s premises, rather than having to come back later.

Agents must know what customers need ahead of their visit so they can prepare. They need visibility of the customer’s information and on-site equipment, ideally through a platform they can review while on the go.

  1. Efficient allocation

To ensure a satisfactory fix, you need to send agents with appropriate skills to the customer’s site. This means understanding the customers’ requirements in advance, through data monitoring, to pinpoint the likely cause of the problem.

Once you determine the job that needs to be done, you can send the best person.

However, it is also crucial to allocate resource based on where agents are and when they are free. Tools like Microsoft Dynamics 365 Field Service provide job routing to quickly match employees to customer jobs, allowing you to make the most of their time and increase productivity.

  1. Empower agents

Reducing repeat callouts will drive efficiency. As well as having the right skills among your field service team, you also need to make sure they have the appropriate tools.

While reviewing customer data can help you pinpoint the issue the site is facing, it may be that the solution can only be determined on-site. Agents need resources required to solve whatever the issue may be.

Mixed-reality tools can empower them to fix a multitude of issues. These tools can also be carried from site to site, allowing agents to quickly move between jobs and solve issues quickly.

  1. Prevent problems

Data is incredibly helpful in understanding issues with your customer’s equipment, allowing you to conduct preventative maintenance and quickly analyse the root cause of outages.

Many field service providers use sensors to get an understanding of when issues will occur. By leveraging data from these sensors, you can accurately predict when your agents will be needed and what inventory will be required.

It will also allow you to provide routine maintenance rather than emergency callouts, improving planning for your field service agents and avoiding disruption for your customers.

  1. Cost reduction

In today’s climate, cost reduction is integral.

To minimise costs, you need to avoid repeat callouts and ensure a first-time fix. Effective allocation and data monitoring can help you with this, allowing your agents to efficiently visit customers and then move onto the next job.

It is also crucial to stay on top of your stock. By tracking your inventory, both in your warehouse and in agents’ vans, you can make sure you have what you need to service customers. Data will also enable you to predict the inventory you will need, so you don’t over-order for total cost-efficiency

Accountancy, Appointments, Tax

Kilsby Williams appoints directors in new year promotions

Tax and accountancy specialist Kilsby Williams has announced a trio of senior level promotions to start the new year.

The Newport-based business, which is the largest independent firm in the region, has promoted three employees to director roles within its tax and business services teams.

Lucy Creese and Kaye Morris have been promoted to director in the tax team, while Zak Wright has been promoted to director in the business services team.

Lucy and Kaye are both experienced corporation tax and company tax specialists, regularly undertaking compliance and tax planning work for a variety of clients including SMEs.

Zak has qualified as a Chartered Accountant since joining the firm nine years ago and has honed his skills in the provision of statutory financial audits, accounts and due diligence work.

The newly promoted directors will lead a growing team at Kilsby Williams, delivering astute accountancy, business and tax advice and identifying key planning opportunities for a diverse range of clients.

Simon Tee, managing partner at Kilsby Williams, said: “We are delighted to announce these senior promotions as we start the new year.

“We firmly believe in supporting the professional development of our employees and rewarding their hard work. With their technical expertise and dedication to providing the best possible service for our clients, Lucy, Kaye and Zak have all made a significant contribution to our firm’s success. I look forward to seeing them thrive in their new roles.”

Established in 1991, Kilsby Williams works with clients from across south Wales, the Midlands and London, ranging from sole traders to companies in international quoted groups.

Business Advice, Creative News

Unleashing Business Potential Through the Vibrant Canvas of Creativity

Pop art first entered the art scene in the late 1950s, revolutionising the world of art with its bold, vibrant aesthetics that challenged traditional boundaries. While pop art originated from the creative minds of artists like Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein, the visual language and ideology behind the movement contain invaluable lessons for the business world. By embracing creativity, companies can ignite innovation, engage employees and customers, and unlock unique value in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

The Vibrant Spark of Creativity

What fuels the vibrant colour palette that defines pop art? Creativity. The pioneering pop artists of the 1950s and 60s challenged the establishment and broke free from the mainstream by experimenting with new materials, processes, and visual rhetoric. Business leaders should follow their lead by nurturing a culture where creativity can thrive.

Research shows that embracing pop art characteristics like fun, playfulness, and boundary-pushing boosts productivity, problem-solving, collaboration, and employee retention. Yet, in many corporate environments, creativity gets suppressed by hierarchical management structures, risk-averse mentalities, and lack of autonomy. Providing mechanisms for employees to explore ideas freely through design sprints, innovation hubs, and collaborative spaces can unlock a wellspring of creativity that translates business challenges into pop art-esque bursts of ingenuity.

Bold Disruption: Pushing Boundaries

A core pop art characteristic lies in boundary-pushing disruption. Pop artists like Warhol and Lichtenstein took familiar items from mainstream culture, like Campbell’s soup cans and comic strips and reinterpreted them in bold aesthetics using commercial printing techniques. This fusion of the familiar and groundbreaking created something novel and captivating.

Businesses should identify opportunities for positive disruption by questioning traditional norms, processes and business models. The pandemic led many companies to rapidly digitise operations, transition to remote work structures and rethink supply chains. Maintaining an openness to pushing boundaries can present new possibilities for reaching customers and progressing society. Of course, poor execution of disruptive change can prove detrimental, so organisations must perform careful analysis before leaping boldly. But the vibrant spark of curiosity that was core to pop art can help companies continually reinvent themselves.

Playful Communication

A playful spirit radiates throughout pop art, which took familiar cultural symbols and reimagined them in cheeky ways. Business leaders should tap into playfulness and humour to spice up customer and employee communications in memorable ways that spread organic excitement.

Research by several universities found that humour makes people more receptive to ads and brands by reducing scepticism, enhancing sophistication perceptions and boosting neural activity. Fun internal communications help foster camaraderie and diffuse workplace stress. Companies seeking to ignite pop art levels of cultural resonance should incorporate tasteful humour and playfulness in external branding efforts and internal employee engagement initiatives.

Responsible Rebels: Driving Social Progress

Beneath pop art’s flashy patina of tongue-in-cheek cultural wit often lay deeper sociopolitical commentary on materialism, consumerism and the human struggle. While pop artists like Warhol and Lichtenstein achieved fame through their vibrant aesthetic innovations, their work also carried undertones of social consciousness and reflection on deeper collective challenges

Similarly, companies today face increasing public demand to steward environmental, social and governance (ESG) change rather than just pursuing profits in isolation. Business leaders must consider how their organisations can drive maximum benefit for society, even if disruptive to conventional corporate approaches.

For example, sustainable shoemaker Allbirds continually questions norms by assessing its environmental impacts at every level of operations, no matter how inconvenient business-wise. Yet this pop art spirit of convention-defying responsibility earned the companytremendous growth, cultural cachet with purpose-driven younger consumers, and a $1.7 billion IPO…on its own unconventional terms.

Celebrating Individual Expression

While pop art is recognised for its unified visual style, a closer examination reveals the movement gave voice to artists’ distinct personalities and perspectives. Andy Warhol explored fame and mortality, while Claes Oldenburg playfully anthropomorphised everyday objects. This freedom of individual expression devoid of creative limits birthed some of history’s most impactful cultural icons.

Business leaders should recognise that diversity of thought and allowing associates to contribute unique skills makes organisations more creative, resilient and responsive to complex market dynamics. An atmosphere where people feel psychologically safe to express themselves yields fresh insights and talents that can unlock new sources of innovation and value. Analysis found the most diverse executive teams were 70% more likely to see market share gains from new innovations. Simply put, individuality and self-expression provide the vibrant sparks that ignite creativity and growth.

Like a Warhol print bursting with colour, pop art overturned mainstream sensibilities through its visual audacity and ingenuity. This vibrant form of creativity contains invaluable lessons for businesses around boosting innovation, engaging stakeholders, and pushing boundaries. By unleashing creators, leveraging positive disruption and incorporating humour and playfulness, companies can channel pop art perspectives to unlock unique sources of value in a complex business landscape.