Monthly Archives: February 2024

Food & Drink, News

BanktheFood and The Trussell Trust Join Forces to increase vital food donation to food banks

BanktheFood, a small charity helping food banks get essential supplies, has partnered with the Trussell Trust to ensure that food banks get the items they need the most so they can continue supporting people experiencing poverty in their local communities. The partnership will make it easier for people across the UK to find out the best items to donate to their local food bank.

Across the UK, food banks are at breaking point. The soaring cost of living is leaving people with no option but to turn to their local food bank – and the amount of help needed is outstripping the donations they are receiving.  The Trussell Trust has partnered with BanktheFood, a free charity-run app, that enables users to connect with local food banks and receive a notification of the food bank’s most needed items every time they run low on essentials. The app even sends a list of what’s urgently needed when the user arrives at their local supermarket, enabling shoppers to choose the items that will make the biggest difference in their local community and add them to their shop before they get to the checkout.

Since 2021, BanktheFood has grown in popularity and now has more than 48,000 people using the app to donate food items and toiletries, helping both the Trussell Trust and independent food banks in communities across the UK. The app is free for everyone to use and generates up to 7,000 donated items via the app every week. This partnership will allow BanktheFood to reach more users, seeking to generate an additional 100,000 food donations for food banks over the next year.

 

Emma Spring, co-founder of BanktheFood, said: “We are thrilled to partner with the Trussell Trust. It will allow us to provide more food to people who are struggling to get by and support our partner food banks and charities. Together, we can help ensure that fewer people go without the essentials each day in the UK.”

The Trussell Trust is an anti-poverty charity that supports a network of more than 1,300 food bank centres across the UK who distributed close to three million emergency food parcels to people facing hardship last year. As well as providing food and other essential items, the Trussell Trust delivers community-based programmes that provide advice and support to help reduce the likelihood of someone needing to access a food bank in the future.  The year-long partnership will see the Trussell Trust supporting BanktheFood with the development of the app, increasing awareness amongst the general public, and encouraging food banks across the Trussell Trust network to use it.

 

Emma Revie, CEO of the Trussell Trust, said: “This partnership with BanktheFood will make it even easier for people to support their local food bank and donate the items that they need the most. Food banks in the Trussell Trust network are having to buy more food than ever before as donations are not keeping up with the sharp increase in the number of people needing to seek support and the BanktheFood app will help to ensure that every item donated will make a real difference to people facing hardship in that community.”

 

Download the free BanktheFood app, find your local food bank and help them get the items they need most. Follow BanktheFood on Facebook @bankthefood or Twitter @BanktheFoodUK

Marketing, PR and SEO

Paid Vs Organic Marketing: Which Makes The Most Business Sense

Many businesses struggle to stand out and get noticed online. This can make it hard to succeed in an internet-driven marketplace, so you need to utilize digital marketing to create a stronger online presence. When it comes to digital marketing, you can opt for either paid advertising or organic marketing. Paid advertising involves paying to promote your message to your target audience, while organic marketing involves naturally attracting attention online. Both forms of digital marketing can be highly effective, but it is helpful to be aware of the key benefits and differences so that you can choose what is right for your business.

 

Paid Advertising

Paid advertising enables you to instantly increase your visibility online as ads go live immediately, and you can use advanced targeting options to ensure your ads are being seen by your target audience. Paid marketing, like PPC, allows you to scale your marketing efforts, and you can control many different aspects to fine-tune for success.

Paid advertising is a great way for brands to quickly increase brand awareness and attract traffic to the website, but there are a few considerations. First, you will find that users tend to prefer organic content and may be wary of any kind of online advertisement. Additionally, although it can be cost-effective and deliver ROI, paid advertising costs can add up over time.

 

Organic Marketing

Organic marketing involves various strategies to naturally attract attention online, including SEO, content marketing, social media marketing, and email marketing. These are all highly effective forms of digital marketing as they build up your visibility online over the long term without ongoing advertising spending. Organic marketing also builds trust with your target audience as it is not directly promotional and gives you an opportunity to engage your target audience online. Although results can take some time to show, organic marketing is more cost-effective than paid ads.

While organic marketing has clear benefits, you need to be aware of the main considerations. The first is that it can take a while to build up your presence online, so it is not ideal if you are looking for fast results. Organic marketing also requires a lot of work, creativity, and expertise.

 

The Most Effective Approach

Hopefully, the above information will help determine your brand’s best option. If you’re looking to quickly increase your visibility online, you will be better off with paid ads, but organic is the way to go if you want long-term sustainability.

Ultimately, combining paid ads and organic marketing is the most effective approach. This can deliver powerful results as you can increase brand awareness and traffic in the short and long term. You can use the services of digital marketing experts like Sagedigi.com to handle your paid and organic marketing efforts. They will know how to reach and convert your target market and utilize the latest tech to maximize your presence online.

 

There is a lot to think about when it comes to paid and organic marketing, but the information in this post should be useful and help you make an informed decision.

 

FInance, Finance and Banking, Marketing, News, PR and SEO

Creative agency helps financial management consultancy build on growth through refreshed brand and new website

BATH financial services management consultancy Altus Consulting turned to Wiltshire creative agency Milk & Tweed to help come up a new brand identity and website as part of its major growth plan.

The 19-year-old company’s CEO Martyn Evans said its continued growth meant it needed a new website to better reflect its national and international brand and ambitions. “We are a specialist financial services management consultancy with deep and broad expertise in investments, insurance and banking and we wanted to make those things clear on the website,” he said.

Its marketing team met with Chippenham agency Milk & Tweed, which specialises in website, brand and logo design and digital marketing, and was immediately taken with its ideas. “We were really impressed with the design concepts they delivered for us because they had understood  our brand, vision and values, and culture  and came up with a design that reflected these elements,” said Altus Marketing Executive Helen Whitehurst.

“We were very clear we didn’t want a website that looked too corporate with images that were meaningless. We are challenging the traditional consulting model and wanted our teams’ collaborative and uniquely visual approach to be strongly reflected in the new site.”

The refreshed branding makes effective use of the iconic ‘A’ in its name across the new website. “It wasn’t very prominent on our old site but Milk & Tweed built it into the design layout of the new one. Now when you land on the site it has a real brand identity that is really clear,” she said.

Milk & Tweed migrated more than 1,000 insight articles from the old site across to the new, enhancing functionality so they are easier to find and converting many more from PDF format to on-page content to make them more searchable online.

“Milk and Tweed were head and shoulders above other suppliers we spoke to during the selection exercise, they really grasped the brief and presented a creative concept and it is a testament to them that this is more or less exactly what we ended up with,” said Mr Evans. “They were prompt, responsive, and a pleasure to deal with throughout the process.”

Altus, which has offices in Bath and London, has ambitions to grow its presence in the UK and internationally and become the most recognised specialist financial services management consultancy in the UK said Mr Evans.

“It was really important that we had a website that clearly articulated who we are, what we do and what we’re all about and we think we’ve achieved that,” he said.

Jamie Lawton, Milk & Tweed’s Head of Design said: “This project was a true collaboration and it was a joy to work with the team at Altus. We had two key aims in terms of design and functionality, we wanted to elevate the company’s visual style, creating a clear and recognisable look that could extend from the new website across their digital marketing and branded materials.

“Secondly, as thought leaders in financial services, there was an obvious need to make it easy for Altus’ visitors to discover relevant articles and insights.

“Altus have some huge names from the world of finance as clients and the new website holds up against any of theirs. Special mention should go to Helen Whitehurst at Altus, and Sam Jones at Milk & Tweed who helped deliver a project we can all be proud of.”

Find out more about the consultancy services offered by Altus at altus.co.uk and discover more about Milk & Tweed’s services at milkandtweed.com.

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Pictured: Milk and Tweed Head of Design Jamie Lawton, left, web designer Sam Jones and Altus Consulting Operations Director Cat Atack at the launch of the consultancy’s new website

Food & Drink

High speed doors increase productivity and security at Beacon Foods

Beacon Foods is continuing its investment in manufacturing and storage facilities by installing the first two of five, bespoke Klimate-Ardent high speed industrial doors from BID Group.

 

The award-winning, Brecon-based business, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of ingredients and ready-to-eat products, has purchased the fast acting doors to make significant savings through increased productivity, enhanced security and reduced energy bills.

 

With an average speed of around one metre per second, the doors provide easy access and enhanced security.

 

When they are all installed, Beacon Foods will have three external and two internal high speed doors at the company’s factories, which total 53,000 square feet.

 

“Having fast and automatic door operation is essential to enable quick distribution of goods through internal and external doorways, which increases productivity, enhances security and reduces energy,” explained Beacon Foods chairman Edward Gough.

 

Antony Haynes, from Bolton-based BID Group Ltd, said: “It was a pleasure to work with Edward and the staff at Beacon Foods. Following the successful installation of the first two Klimate-Ardent high speed doors, the company has now ordered three more for their site. These doors are the perfect solution to provide ease of access and enhanced security.”

 

With a workforce of 140 employees, Beacon Foods supplies food manufacturers, food service, coffee shops, fast food chains and the travel and hospitality industries.

 

Established in 1993, the family-owned company is the UK’s leading specialist producer of garlic, ginger and chili puree, roasted and char grilled vegetables and fruit ranges, relishes, chutneys, sauces and fruit compotes.

 

Following recent £6 million investment in machinery and facilities, Beacon Foods can now offer UK produced, bespoke recipes of ready to eat IQF (individual quick frozen) char grilled and roasted vegetables, as well as sachets and dip pots.

 

The ingredients go into literally thousands of products, including sandwiches, ready meals, pizzas, soups, drinks and desserts, which can be found on supermarket shelves, airlines, restaurant chains and coffee shops.

 

Picture caption:

 

One of the new Klimate-Ardent high speed industrial doors at Beacon Foods.

Marketing, News, PR and SEO, Social Media

Influencers who fail to disclose ads are tarnishing industry and brands

EU study showing four out of five influencers don’t highlight commercial content shines a negative light on a digital sector which had “shaken off wild west” past

Influencers and digital creators who fail to disclose adverts and commercial content within their posts are damaging an industry which has managed to shake off the “wild-west” tags of the past.

That’s the view of influencer marketing agency, Disrupt, following a European Union study released this week, which shows that four out of five influencers on social media fail to disclose commercial content, as required under EU and UK law.

 

Stevie Johnson, managing director of Disrupt, said: “I’m astounded to see that around 80% of influencers are apparently not disclosing commercial content. So much good has been done to tighten up the rules over the last few years that this seems like a backward step and proves that brands – as well as influencers – are getting it wrong when it comes to influencer partnerships.

“These figures put a negative spin on an industry that has shaken off the wild-west tags of previous years. It shows that due diligence is required for brands to partner with the right professional talent who take these regulations seriously, and as a result won’t harm their brand by not using the correct disclosure.”

 

The European Commission report, released on Wednesday February  14th, showed that of 576 influencers studied, 97% posted commercial content on social media including Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Snapchat, and Twitch. But only 20% systematically indicated that it was advertising.

Under EU and UK law, content creators are obliged to disclose adverts within their posts.

 

Johnson added: “Agencies like Disrupt ensure in our contracting process that all paid for content absolutely must be disclosed as an Ad, in line with Advertising Standards Authority and Competition and Markets Authority rules.”

“In our experience, influencers nowadays have no issue with disclosing ads. They want to be authentic and truthful to their audience, and don’t want to risk the negative impact of pulling the wool over consumers eyes.

“Similarly, audiences can be just as engaged with this disclosed, branded content, as regular content…if the collaboration between influencer and brand is authentic, and there is a similar shared ethos between the 3 parties – brand, influencer and audience.”

 

Commercial Property, interior design, Interiors

What Are Your Options When Installing A Suspended Ceiling In Your Workplace

The importance of a well-designed ceiling cannot be overstated when you want to create an optimal work environment for your employees and business. A suspended ceiling, or a drop ceiling, offers practicality, aesthetics, and functionality, making it a popular choice for many companies. Whether you are renovating an existing workspace or designing a new one, choosing the right suspended ceiling can significantly enhance the ambience and functionality of your workplace. There are various options available regarding suspended ceilings, and you can see some of the options listed below to help you get started.

Acoustic Ceilings

Noise can be a significant distraction in a bustling workplace, and acoustic suspended ceilings are designed to absorb sound, reducing echo, and creating a quieter environment. These ceilings typically feature special tiles or panels engineered to dampen sound vibrations, making them an excellent choice for offices, conference rooms, and other areas where noise control is essential. If your office space gets rather noisy, a suspended ceiling with acoustic tiles is ideal and can help make your workplace much more comfortable.

Aesthetic Appeal With Decorative Tiles

Suspended ceilings offer a wide range of design possibilities, enhancing the visual appeal of your workspace. Decorative tiles come in various styles, textures, and finishes, allowing you to create a look that complements your overall interior design scheme. From sleek and modern to classic and elegant, there’s a decorative tile option to suit every taste and style preference. They are also available in various materials, so you should be able to find ceiling tiles that match your needs easily.

Lighting Integration

Lighting is crucial in any workspace, and suspended ceilings offer the perfect opportunity to integrate lighting fixtures seamlessly. Recessed, track, and LED lighting panels can be easily incorporated into suspended ceiling systems, providing ambient and task lighting as needed. This integration enhances the space’s functionality and contributes to energy efficiency and cost savings. Using an MF ceiling system and integrating your lighting can help you create the ideal workplace for your business and ensure the space is comfortable for your employees.

Fire Safety Considerations

Safety should always be a top priority in any workplace environment, and suspended ceiling systems can be designed to meet stringent fire safety regulations, incorporating fire-resistant materials, and ensuring compliance with building regulations. By choosing a suspended ceiling with fire-rated components, you can enhance the safety and security of your workspace, providing peace of mind for employees and visitors alike. You can help ensure that your workplace looks fantastic, is functional for your business, and most importantly is safe, specially in the event of fire.

Accessibility & Maintenance

One key advantage of suspended ceilings is their accessibility. The modular nature of suspended ceiling systems allows easy access to overhead infrastructure, such as wiring, plumbing, and HVAC ducts. This accessibility simplifies maintenance and repairs, reducing downtime and costs associated with servicing building systems. Additionally, you can easily remove and replace the suspended ceiling tiles, making it simple to update or repair damaged sections as needed.

Environmental Considerations

In today’s environmentally conscious world, sustainability is a major consideration for many businesses. Suspended ceiling systems can contribute to green building initiatives by incorporating eco-friendly materials and promoting energy efficiency. Look for ceiling tiles made from recycled content or manufactured using sustainable practices. Additionally, suspended ceilings can be designed to improve thermal insulation, reducing energy consumption and lowering carbon emissions. Your suspended ceiling can help increase the eco credentials of your business, and do its bit to protect our planet.

Customisation Options

Every workplace is unique, and your suspended ceiling should reflect your business’s specific needs and requirements. Many manufacturers offer customisation options, allowing you to tailor your suspended ceiling system to meet your specifications. Whether you need special acoustic properties, specific lighting arrangements, or branded design elements, customisation ensures that your suspended ceiling perfectly complements your workspace. Most companies that supply and install suspended ceilings can provide custom ceilings for your workplace, so finding a suitable company should be easy.

Cost-Effective Solutions

While quality is essential, cost considerations are also significant for businesses. Suspended ceilings offer a cost-effective solution for enhancing your workplace’s aesthetic appeal and functionality. Unlike traditional plasterboard ceilings, suspended ceilings are typically more affordable to install and maintain. Additionally, their modular design can help reduce construction time and labour costs, making them a budget-friendly choice for businesses of all sizes.

Installing a suspended ceiling in your workplace offers many options to enhance functionality, aesthetics, and practicality. Whether you prioritise acoustic performance, visual appeal, safety, or sustainability, you can find a suspended ceiling solution to meet your needs. By carefully considering your options and working with experienced professionals, you can create a workspace that looks great and promotes productivity, comfort, and well-being for everyone who enters it. Look at the various options available for a suspended ceiling and see how it can transform your workplace and benefit your business.

 

Logistics, News, USA

Watch out for Presidents’ Day: it’s the US holiday only 30% of British businesses plan for.

Monday, 19 February is Presidents’ Day in the USA. It’s an (almost) national holiday impacting UK-US businesses, trade and banking, warns the UK-US delivery specialist ParcelHero.

UK companies doing business in the US should be prepared for the impact of a holiday most Brits have never heard of, warns the UK-US delivery specialist ParcelHero. Research by ParcelHero reveals 70% of UK firms doing business with the US don’t plan for this major American national holiday, which occurs every third Monday in February and has 15 different official names, depending on which state you are in.

Presidents’ Day (as it’s most widely known) sees many US businesses closed, postal deliveries suspended for the day, Post Offices and Government-run organisations shuttered and the New York Stock Exchange and banks shut.

ParcelHero’s Head of Consumer Research, David Jinks M.I.L.T., says:  ‘While Americans’ trust in their Government has tumbled to a near-70 year low, Presidents’ Day is still a cause for celebration. Banks, Government offices and many businesses will close for the day. The United States Postal Service (USPS) won’t deliver regular mail or packages on Monday, 19 February, and all US Post Offices will be closed.

‘For UK-US businesses operating to tight timetables or running Just-in-time production schedules, Presidents’ Day can be an unwelcome surprise – even though it happens every year. We surveyed a selection of UK SMEs who trade with the US and found only 30% plan for the impact of this major US holiday. This is perhaps because its date changes every year or, in the case of Delaware and a number of other states, it’s not recognised as a legal state holiday at all.

‘What exactly shuts on this holiday? Federal (national) and state (local) government services close, together with federal and state courts. Schools are generally closed. Until the late 1980s, most corporate businesses also shut but many now remain open, especially major retail store chains offering special sales. Amazon.com is worth looking at for special deals.

‘While most Brits are familiar with major US holidays such as Independence Day and Thanksgiving, there isn’t the same awareness surrounding Presidents’ Day on our side of the Pond. That’s hardly surprising, given that the various states use 15 different names for the event, if you include the wandering or disappearing apostrophe. These include Washington’s Birthday, Presidents’ Day, President’s Day, Presidents Day, and Washington’s and Lincoln’s Birthday. In Arkansas, George Washington’s Birthday and Daisy Bates Day celebrates the achievements of the first President and a civil rights activist on the same day.

‘Presidents’ Day evolved to celebrate either George Washington’s birthday (22 February) or Lincoln’s birthday (12 February), depending on where in the USA you lived. Many states used to hold the holiday on Washington’s birthday itself. In 1968, it was decided to mark the day on the third Monday in February. Just to confuse things further, Presidents’ Day is still officially called Washington’s Birthday by the US Government, as its Committee couldn’t agree over the name change.

‘US workers have fewer holidays than their European counterparts. However, there are a few core dates almost everyone gets off:

  1. New Year’s Day (1 January)
  2. Memorial Day (last Monday in May, honouring people who have died in service)
  3. Independence Day (4 July)
  4. Labor Day (first Monday in September, honouring US workers)
  5. Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November)
  6. Christmas Day (25 December)

‘The impact of other holidays, such as Presidents’ Day, is more varied. For anyone needing access to the US Postal Service, here’s a full list of 2024 dates the USPS don’t deliver letters and parcels and Post Offices are closed:

  • New Year’s Day: Monday, 1 January
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Monday, 15 January
  • Presidents’ Day: Monday, 19 February
  • Memorial Day: Monday, 27 May
  • Juneteenth: Wednesday, 19 June (honouring the emancipation of slaves)
  • Independence Day: Thursday, 4 July
  • Labor Day: Monday, 2 September
  • Columbus Day: Monday, 14 October (also known as Indigenous Peoples Day)
  • Veterans Day: Monday, 11 November (honouring all military veterans)
  • Thanksgiving: Thursday, 28 November
  • Christmas Day: Wednesday, 25 December

‘While US postal services may not be available on these days, courier services such as UPS and FedEx will be operating on many, including Presidents’ Day. ParcelHero services to and from the USA will also be available for collection and delivery on 19 February.

‘Next year, Presidents’ Day falls on 17 February, 2025. We do advise everyone sending items to the US to regularly check ParcelHero’s USA page, which gives full details on any US courier holidays, changes in prices, Customs advice, and details about sending food etc.

‘The US is ParcelHero’s biggest individual overseas market. For expert advice on UK-US shipping, including useful frequently asked questions (FAQs), help for exporters and prohibited items details, see: https://www.parcelhero.com/en-gb/international-courier-services/usa-parcel-delivery

EVs, News, Transport

Great Western Railway’s battery train sets new distance record

Great Western Railway’s innovative FastCharge battery trial has achieved another significant step – just days after laying claim to a battery train UK distance record without recharging.

The train demonstrated its capability on Wednesday by travelling a UK record of 86 miles (138km) on battery power alone and without recharging.

Today the Class 230 battery train completed a 70-mile move from Long Marston to Reading Train Care Depot – using just 45 per cent of its battery capacity. GWR’s team of specialist engineers on board the train claim it could have travelled more than 120 miles on a single charge.

While at Reading, the train will undergo compatibility testing and preparedness for future maintenance and servicing requirements.

GWR Engineering Director Dr Simon Green said:

“We were delighted by how the battery train performed today and during its series of test runs. In fact, it’s fair to say it has surpassed the expectations of our team of engineers.

“Achieving these distances gives us great confidence as we press forward with this industry-leading FastCharge technology.

“It’s also worth noting that in reaching the 86 miles on Wednesday, the train was operating in a real-world environment, at speeds of up to 60mph, stopping and starting over a hilly route, with elevation changes of up to 200m.”

The train exceeded the 84 miles (135km) recorded by a Stadler Class 777 under test conditions in 2022 – believed to have been the greatest distance travelled by a battery train designed for the UK.

GWR’s FastCharge technology has been designed to solve the problem of delivering reliable, battery-only trains capable of fulfilling timetable services on branch lines, eliminating the use of diesel traction and helping to meet the Government and wider rail industry’s target to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The use of batteries for extended operation has typically been constrained by their range and meant widespread implementation has, until now, not been possible. It also negates the need for overhead electric lines which are expensive, time consuming to install and impact the landscape.

At West Ealing, where the technology will be trialled in a real-world environment for the first time this spring, the train will charge for just 3 ½ minutes before restarting its journey on the Greenford branch line.

GWR has already carried out simulations on other branch lines in the Thames Valley to explore how it could be rolled out even further in the future. This could reduce GWR emissions alone by over 1,700 tons of CO2e per year.

It is hoped the technology could one day see battery-powered trains in operation across the UK’s approximately 2,000 miles of 80-plus branch lines.

Background

In February 2022, GWR signed a deal with Vivarail to trial new battery-charging technology designed to support the wider introduction of battery-powered trains on the UK’s rail network.

After Vivarail entered administration in December 2022, GWR agreed contracts to buy intellectual property, rolling stock and equipment relating to the FastCharge technology.

Charging rails and lineside battery banks have been installed at West Ealing in preparation for the start of the trial on the Greenford branch line.

Once the trial commences it will run in non-passenger service alongside scheduled passenger services.

Record run: how GWR’s battery train clocked up 86 miles

Long Marston to Evesham West Junction, reverse, then to Moreton-in-Marsh = 25.6 miles

Moreton-in-Marsh to Honeybourne North Junction, reverse, then to Honeybourne Staff Hut and reverse again = 11.4 miles

Honeybourne Staff Hut to Honeybourne North Junction, reverse, then to Moreton-in-Marsh = 10.9 miles

Moreton-in-Marsh to Evesham West Junction, reverse, then return to Honeybourne Staff Hut via Honeybourne North Junction, then reverse again = 22.2 miles

Honeybourne Staff Hut to Evesham West Junction, reverse, then return to Long Marston via Honeybourne North Junction = 15.1 miles

Shunting to and from the maintenance shed to the entrance gate at Long Marston = 0.8 miles

News, Technology

Cavendish advises on the acquisition of Silent Sentinel by Motorola Solutions

Cavendish, the full-service investment bank for growth and investment companies, is pleased to announce that it has advised on the sale of Silent Sentinel, a global provider of advanced video surveillance solutions and specialised long-range cameras, to Motorola Solutions, a global leader in end-to-end video security solutions.

Founded in 2002, Silent Sentinel is an award-winning, globally recognised provider of high-specification surveillance and intelligent detection systems for the Homeland Security market. It offers customers a unique value proposition by designing and supplying tailor-made, high-end technology solutions (all built around its proprietary and market defining NexOS operating software). The technology is primarily used to protect complex and extreme environments associated with military, aviation, maritime and critical infrastructure.

The deal complements Motorola Solutions’ portfolio of fixed video cameras, expanding its footprint with government and critical infrastructure customers and strengthens its position as global frontrunner in delivering end-to-end video security solutions.

The senior leadership team at Silent Sentinel will remain in their current roles, reporting to Mark Schmidl, Senior Vice President, International Sales, of Motorola Solutions.

The transaction, in which Cavendish acted as advisors to Silent Sentinel, reflects Cavendish’s burgeoning credentials within the technology sector. The transaction team comprised Anthony Platt, Head of Technology, Sam Kavanagh and Soben Durai.

 

Anthony Platt, Partner and Head of Technology at Cavendish commented: “Silent Sentinel’s technology plays a critical role in safeguarding international borders and critical infrastructure. Given the geopolitical backdrop Silent Sentinel’s technology has been in high demand and the acquisition gives Motorola Solutions access to new markets. It is great to lead on the sale of UK technology firms to major US tech and telecoms acquirers like Motorola.”

 

Sam Kavanagh, Director at Cavendish commented: “We are delighted to have worked with Paul and the Silent Sentinel team to deliver this transformational deal that will strengthen Motorola’s proposition and directly contribute to their ambitious growth objectives. At Cavendish we pride ourselves on advising entrepreneurial growth businesses and this transaction underscores our ability to engage with international buyers and successfully navigate cross-border technology M&A deals.”

 

Paul Elsey, Managing Director at Silent Sentinel said: “We are thrilled to join Motorola Solutions and build upon their industry-leading portfolio and continue to support our customers in the most challenging of environments. I would like to express our gratitude to Anthony and the team at Cavendish who provided invaluable counsel and a streamlined process throughout.”

HR News, Middle East

NAOS Partners with Thrive to Invest in Efficient Learning for Employees Across the Middle East

Using Thrive’s AI-powered platform, NAOS will deliver an efficient onboarding process, enhance their learning culture and increase product knowledge.   

 Thrive Learning, the award-winning and fastest growing modern-day learning management system, has secured a partnership with French skincare company and pioneers in ecobiology, NAOS. With the end goal of enhancing the organisation’s learning culture from day one with an engaging, comprehensive and easy-to-use system, Thrive will be rolled out to 500  employees across NAOS’ three brands Bioderma, Institut Esthederm, and Etat Pur in the Middle East region from April 2024. 

Thrive’s all-in-one learning platform will play an important role in the overall learning and development experience at NAOS with its easy-to-use, engaging and accessible programmes. Looking to strengthen its onboarding process, NAOS turned to Thrive to create an efficient system which will set new employees up for success and unlock potential from day one. Allowing new starters to feel connected to the company regardless of location, Thrive creates the ability to effectively onboard new starters fully remotely. The NAOS x Thrive online learning platform will create a customised experience using data processed by AI, ensuring a tailored journey for each role, department, and level.  

Thrive’s interactive modules and multimedia content will ensure each employee is taken on an engaging learning experience which is accessible from any location, at any time. A key consideration to address the challenge of an organisation spanning multiple countries, cultures and languages. Continuous development will include in-role development, tools for the leadership and management teams, product refresher courses, and introduction to new products.

Bringing people together, NAOS will also utilise the platform’s data-insights feature to track individual employee progress, engagement, and completion rates in real-time to ensure individuals are partaking in their learning and development in an effective and timely way. This will also allow the opportunity for individuals to provide feedback on their own learning experiences.

Thrive is bridging the gap between LMS and LXP to provide a holistic approach to learning and development. The online learning platform will enhance NAOS’ company performance through its compliance tracking, efficient administration, and content management. Throughout NAOS’ Middle East team, employees are in different time zones and cultures. By implementing Thrive’s all-in-one platform, NAOS can give their employees the platform to learn anywhere from any device. This will ultimately lead to a more connected and engaged learning environment and deliver a more streamlined evaluation process.

 

Sean Reddington, CEO and Co-Founder of Thrive Learning, says: “We are excited to be partnering with such an incredible powerhouse in the skincare industry, to enhance their learning culture and ultimately bring their employees together regardless of physical location.

“NAOS came to us with the challenge of creating a platform which would combine ease-of-use with engaging content all while reducing admin time and strain on their L&D department. We needed to be able to connect employees together across different countries – all with unique cultures and changing languages – and create a unified experience which would connect everyone to NAOS. Everyone learns differently, and Thrive’s all-in-one platform will adapt to the different needs of each employee to ensure each NAOS collaborator gets the most out of their learning journey. We can’t wait to get started in helping each of NAOS’ Middle Eastern employees reach their full potential.”

Aysha Hayman, Lead of Learning and Development in the Middle East at NAOS, says: “As the head of L&D in NAOS I had a clear mission; to revolutionise our current learning platform, merging simplicity with empowering content. After several encounters with numerous different LMS providers, Thrive’s all-in-one solution emerged as the catalyst for this transformation. We are looking forward to this collaboration and what it holds for our NAOSians Learners.”

The partnership with NAOS will expand Thrive’s list of clients who have invested in their employees to enhance their learning and development journeys including DECIEM, Ann Summers, Ted Baker, Beauty Works, FatFace, and many more.