Monthly Archives: June 2024

Global Trade

TheMellonFX reviews – the best source of information for a trader

Online trading is gaining immense popularity in different countries. You should only enter into an agreement with a responsible broker for promising trading. An example of such a company is TheMellonFX. It has a website of its own production, allowing clients to trade on promising markets with liquid and accessible assets, including futures, indices, cryptocurrency, stocks, etc. The best specialists created software support for trading participants. Anyone can find reviews about this famous broker, where all its positive aspects are confirmed. The Swiss trading operator has a reliable, unblemished reputation, allowing it to quickly expand its client base and train newcomers in the trading field.

Modern digital solutions enable an environment where important deals can be concluded from anywhere. At the same time, you can have not only a computer at hand but also any mobile gadget.

TheMellonFX reviews will tell you more about the company

Currently, there are enough reviews in online sources about organizations offering trading services. You can get acquainted with independent opinions about TheMellonFX on social platforms and by visiting particular, well-known sites Slashpage,HackMD, Teletype, where various brokerage resources are mentioned.

Such data makes it possible for participants with any experience to decide on further work on any platform. The company in question has quite a lot of positive reviews. Their authors mainly point out the following positive aspects of the service:

  • convenient website with user-friendly navigation and all necessary functions;
  • absence of severe problems in the operation of the resource;
  • availability of more than 200 assets for transactions;
  • a wide variety of markets;
  • the opportunity to learn using unique information available on the website;
  • wide selection of trader tools;
  • favourable deposit minimum of $250;
  • convenient conditions for withdrawing money;
  • accessible, polite technical support;
  • high-quality personal consulting services;
  • the ability to carry out any operations using gadgets.

The resource allows a trader to choose financial markets with which to work freely. The number of users of this operator is constantly growing. The numerous reviews they leave about TheMellonFX indicate the high professionalism of the service’s employees, as well as excellent prospects for its registered members.

Many users highlight the benefits of creating an account on TheMellonFX website. In particular, they like the attractive affiliate program allowing traders to increase their profits.

How safe is the service for participants?

Traders who invest money in trading are interested in ensuring that the funds in their personal wallets are safe. At TheMellonFX, it is not customary to equate the finances of partner companies with corporate deposits. The operator does not allow its clients to have a negative balance, offering reliable insurance for every risky transaction.

Thanks to modern software, TheMellonFX website is well protected from all kinds of attacks by intruders. Transactions are carried out using complex SSL encryption, which does not allow outside interference. Reviews about this service only confirm its reliability and safety.

TheMellonFX Rules for Trading Participants

The brokerage company offers clients quite attractive terms of cooperation. Today, TheMellonFX is a modern, convenient website with many effective tools, the opportunity to use free tips, and great prospects for developing new directions.

Among the attractive conditions of this company, it is worth noting:

  • convenient, uninterrupted functioning of all systems;
  • a vast selection of trading assets and instruments;
  • leverage, which can reach 1:1000;
  • favourable opportunities for starting;
  • favourable volatile spreads;
  • the latest analytical reports;
  • the opportunity to communicate with an individual consultant;
  • availability of a demo version that allows you to enter into virtual transactions without risk.

Clients of TheMellonFX broker can transfer funds to their own wallet using the most modern, popular Visa and MasterCard systems. In addition, they can replenish the deposit using cryptocurrency or electronic wallets.

TheMellonFX for new and experienced members

The main advantage of this broker is its legal operation based on a valid license obtained from a reliable regulator. The company’s activities are constantly monitored. Based on the checks, it was not noticed in any fraudulent schemes against consumers of services.

The service’s management does not give its new users rosy, unrealistic promises. At the same time, any novice trader dealing with TheMellonFX broker can quickly learn the basics and subtleties of this activity, using particular information and analytical materials published on the website.

Conclusions

Anyone just deciding to cooperate with TheMellonFX should register on this company’s website. User opinions indicate its reliability and loyalty to traders with any experience. A responsible, licensed broker offers comfortable and safe work for entrepreneurs striving for success. Its characteristic properties are a respectful attitude towards users and impeccable, honest organization of all trading processes.

Thanks to open and accessible information, even a participant with insufficient experience can take the first successful steps in trading. Create an account with one of the best brokerages in Switzerland!

 

 

Awards, Business, Business Travel

eurochange Announced as 2024 British Travel Awards’ Voter Prize Draw Partner and Forex Category Sponsor

Leading currency provider also nominated as Best Retailer for Forex/Travel Money

Top travel money provider eurochange has teamed up with the British Travel Awards as a ‘Voter Prize Draw’ partner and sponsor of the Forex category.

The foreign exchange specialist, which has been nominated in the Best Retailer for Forex/Travel Money, will add £500 worth of currency into the prize chest at this year’s prestigious travel industry awards.

Last year, the British Travel Awards attracted over 400,000 voters, with over 1.6 million votes cast in total – a record number, with eurochange winning Bronze in the Best Retailer for Travel Money category.

The 2024 awards will feature 82 award categories, covering a comprehensive range of holiday experiences and leisure travel services, with public voting opening on 24 June.

The results of all award categories are determined solely by the number of consumer votes cast, making the Voter Prize Draw a key element of the proceedings.

Charles Stewart, MD of eurochange, said: “We are delighted to not only be part of these prestigious awards, which represent the very best of the British travel industry, but also to become an award sponsor for the first time.

“The British Travel Awards are voted for by the public, and as a business which prides itself on offering a seamless foreign currency experience to holiday makers, we are especially happy to be a Voter Prize Draw partner. Likewise, being named sponsor of the Forex category is an exciting move for us, highlighting eurochange as a true frontrunner in the travel money sector.

Lorraine Barnes Burton, director of events and partnerships at the British Travel Awards, added:  “We are thrilled eurochange is a key partner in our 2024 prize draw. The popularity and prestige of the BTAs get bigger and bigger every year and key to this is our consumer voters. We wish all nominees and voters the best of luck when the public voting opens on 24 June.”

Find out how to vote in this year’s awards here: https://britishtravelawards.com

Finance and Banking

Creditor pressure and creditor harassment. How to differentiate and deal with them. 

Dealing with creditor pressure is one of the worst aspects of being the director of an insolvent company. Creditors are within their rights to chase repayment from a company that owes them money, and they can explore several options through which to recover what they’re owed. However, there is a clearly defined line between reasonable creditor pressure and harassment that they shouldn’t be engaging in. 

Some of the differences between creditor pressure and creditor harassment are as follows: 

How frequently are they contacting you? 

Creditors can contact a company that owes them money via telephone, post, and, in some cases, through sending debt collectors.  

The distinction between this action constituting creditor pressure or creditor harassment depends on where the reminders are delivered to and when they arrive. 

For example, if the debts belong to a limited company, as its director, you shouldn’t be contacted at your home address in relation to those debts, especially late into the evening or the early hours of the morning. Nor should the creditor contact you personally via social media. 

The reminders’ frequency also contributes to whether such creditor action could constitute harassment. Weekly reminders towards the company might be considered reasonable, but daily letters or multiple phone calls a day to the point it hinders your ability to conduct business might be less so. 

Is their language formal or threatening? 

The language creditors use in their attempts to recover what you owe can determine whether they’d be considered harassment.  

Repayment reminders commonly feature formal language, clear explanations of the amounts owed, repayment deadlines, and further action if the debts are not settled within that time.  

However, threatening language, aggressive wording, encouraging the company to take out more credit (straddling it with even more debt), or out-and-out threats to your business or you personally could count as harassment. 

Has further action been mentioned? 

Creditors can pursue further action if you ignore repayment reminders. They could file a Statutory Demand or a County Court Judgment (CCJ). These should be addressed as soon as possible, as they can negatively affect the company’s credit rating if ignored. In the worst-case scenario, they could even apply for a winding-up petition, making trading impossible and forcing the company into compulsory liquidation. 

Some creditors might even threaten criminal action. However, accruing debt is not a crime in the UK. Insolvency matters are handled by county courts rather than criminal courts and don’t usually involve the police. Creditors threatening action outside their powers can, therefore, constitute harassment. 

Is the company undergoing an insolvency procedure? 

Directors of limited companies that cannot pay their liabilities as and when they fall due should put that company into a formal insolvency procedure. Doing so stops any further creditor pressure, with a licensed insolvency practitioner acting on the company’s behalf and dealing with the creditors while they work on the solution best for the company. While it can feel like an admission of defeat to consult an insolvency practitioner, doing so when the company cannot cover its liabilities is fulfilling your duties as director and acting in the company’s and its creditors’ best interests in finding a solution to the issues. 

The company’s circumstances dictate the options available. A licensed insolvency practitioner will assess your company’s situation and the future you want for it. Depending on its situation, it might be viable for a recovery and repayment procedure such as a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA), wherein the company repays a portion of its debt in monthly amounts tailored to what the company can afford. Alternatively, more substantial restructuring may be required if the debts are more significant, which could see the company enter administration to alleviate the issues. If the debts are of such a level that the company would be better off closing, the company can enter a Creditors Voluntary Liquidation (CVL). This process closes the company in an orderly manner, minimising creditor losses and writing off any outstanding debt. 

If your company is engaged in one of these insolvency procedures and creditors are still pushing for repayment, you should refer them to the insolvency practitioner dealing with your company.   

If a creditor partakes in any of the actions listed above, you can complain directly to the creditor or report them to the financial ombudsmen. 

Summary 

Creditors can contact your company with reminders to repay what the company owes them without it being considered harassment. Ignoring these reminders will only worsen the company’s situation, potentially leading to longer-lasting consequences, including Statutory Demands and County Court Judgments, and in the worst-case scenario, a winding-up petition. 

Creditor reminders become harassment if they cross certain boundaries. If demands for repayment increase in frequency, start coming at unreasonable hours or start being delivered to your personal address when the debt relates to your business, they may have overstepped the line into harassment. Reminders should be worded professionally, without threatening or aggressive language, and shouldn’t imply that creditors have powers beyond their means. 

Speak to a licensed insolvency practitioner if your company can’t repay its liabilities when they fall due. They can advise you of the best course of action for the company and help stop further creditor pressure. 

Animals

Recognise And Manage the Six Causes of Puppy Biting With Absolute Dogs

Biting is a normal behaviour for puppies, but it’s far from desirable, especially as puppy teeth are sharp and can easily break skin. A puppy’s biting tendencies are most likely to reach their peak between the ages of 12-16 weeks, which correlates with the start of teething. This is when puppies start to lose their milk teeth and grow their adult teeth.

Puppies typically stop biting as they reach adolescence. However, it’s important to set your puppy up for success by ensuring that they don’t practise biting often.

It can feel disheartening when your puppy bites, but you can overcome this common struggle with help from the specialist trainers at Absolute Dogs. Here, they share the six causes of puppy biting and strategies to manage this behaviour.

Cause 1. Lack of Sleep

One of the most common causes of biting — and undesirable puppy behaviour in general — is a lack of sleep. Puppies need 17-20 hours of sleep each day, which means the answer to most puppy struggles is more naptime.

A sleep-deprived puppy isn’t in a great state to make good decisions or regulate their emotions. Just like a tired toddler going into meltdown mode, lack of sleep can make your puppy overstimulated, reactive, and more likely to experience frustration. When tired, your puppy may growl, bite, or grab at you and things around them.

Thankfully, there are two things you can do to address this cause of puppy biting.

1. Encourage More Naps

Your puppy’s ability to take deep, regular naps will decrease from the age of eight weeks. This isn’t because they need fewer naps. It’s because their world has become much more stimulating and, as a result, they’re having a harder time settling.

Simply getting more sleep can help your puppy feel refreshed, revitalised, and less likely to bite. You can encourage your puppy to nap more by ensuring they have a quiet, calm place to relax that won’t disturb the quality of their sleep.

Create a small, dedicated rest space for your puppy, such as a crate, x-pen, or other puppy-proofed area. Covering this space can also help reduce distractions in the environment that may otherwise prevent your puppy from sleeping.

It’s important to set up a place for your puppy that’s free from hands, feet, and human or other animal interactions. These distractions could prevent your puppy from sleeping deeply.

2. Play A Game That Rewards Your Puppy for Doing Nothing

Each time your puppy lies down and relaxes, reward them with a quietly delivered food treat. This game-based training technique provides positive reinforcement for their calm behaviour.

You might reward your puppy when you see them settling on their bed or resting their chin on the floor or their leg. The aim is to reward your puppy for doing as little as possible.

Absolute Dogs recommends using your puppy’s daily food rations, like their kibble, as rewards during training games like this one. This approach can help you increase your puppy’s perceived value of the food you would have given them anyway.

Cause 2. Too Much Freedom

Your puppy is constantly learning and taking in everything around them. As a result, too much freedom can lead to information overload, overstimulation, and biting. When you give your overstimulated puppy too much access to you, they have more opportunities to make poor decisions and bite.

Give your puppy the chance to relax and settle away from you in a safe area, such as the crate, x-pen, or puppy-proofed space where they sleep. This will limit how often your puppy gets to practise negative behaviours like biting.

Help your puppy develop a positive association with their safe space by playing Absolute Dogs’ I Love My Crate training game. Toss food into your puppy’s crate and reward them when they go inside by throwing several more pieces of food in quickly. Then, toss one piece of food out to encourage your puppy to leave the crate.

Over time, this game will see you give your puppy more rewards when they’re in their crate than out of it. Closing the crate and feeding your puppy from the top if you have a wire crate (or sides if you have a plastic crate) can encourage calm behaviour when the door is closed. This game also helps prevent separation-related behaviours.

Remember, the more your puppy feels overwhelmed, and the more access they have to you in those moments, the more likely they are to bite. It’s not personal. They’re simply giving in to the desire to bite, and you happen to be nearby. Your puppy will outgrow this desire, but it’s important that you restrict their opportunities to practise biting.

Cause 3. Excitement

When your puppy is over-excited and frantic, you might assume that they need more exercise to tire them out. It’s a logical conclusion, but this often leads to a puppy that can’t settle, doesn’t know how to be calm, and only sleeps when they crash.

Additional exercise can also increase your puppy’s stamina, meaning longer periods of hyperactivity and more potential for biting.

The solution to over-excitement is to teach your puppy how to regulate their emotions and be calm. You can do this through the games mentioned earlier, that reward your puppy for doing nothing and build a positive association with their crate.

Although too much exercise can cause over-arousal, it’s vital not to go too far the other way. Your puppy needs adequate exercise and mental stimulation that provides them with opportunities to problem-solve. Mental stimulation activities can come in many forms, including:

  • Games that encourage your puppy to use their nose.
  • Games that encourage thought, such as how to put two feet on a box.
  • Games that build calmness.
  • Stuffable food toys, like a Kong.

Fast-paced, intense games can be fun, but they can increase your puppy’s excitement levels and won’t teach them to regulate their behaviour.

To lower the likelihood of your puppy biting, choose mental enrichment games that encourage a calm and settled body. Try Absolute Dogs’ Aeroplane Feeding game, which incentivises self-control, builds frustration tolerance, and decreases arousal.

The Aeroplane Feeding Game

To play this game, position your puppy in front of you (being on a bed or raised cot can help). Gradually bring a piece of food down to them. If they shift their weight towards the food or try to jump for it, pull your hand out of their reach.

As soon as your puppy settles again, continue moving the food towards their mouth. You may have to repeat pulling back and bringing the food forward several times before your puppy settles down. When they do, reward them with the food.

Be sure to keep the game slow and calm, without too much excitement from you. You want your puppy to learn to be relaxed when taking positive reinforcement.

Cause 4. Absence of a Healthy Outlet

In addition to licking, sniffing, and shredding, puppies chew and bite to self-soothe and regulate their emotions. Your puppy may be biting because they need more access to chew toys and other healthy outlets that help them self-regulate.

Try to identify your puppy’s texture preferences for biting or chewing and get them chews that emulate those preferences. Remember that your puppy’s preferences are likely to change as they grow and go through the teething process.

Absolute Dogs’ Ditch the Bowl eBook has some great options for appropriate chewing and biting outlets. Swapping out chews every one to three days can also keep available options novel and interesting for your puppy.

As puppies often use a few self-regulation methods, it’s best not to limit them to only one option. Stuffable food toys like kongs and Calm Mats from A-OK9 are excellent outlets for puppies that may have a preference for licking.

For puppies with a preference for sniffing, try scattering their food in the grass or a snuffle mat. Finally, if your puppy tends to be on the destructive side, give them things they can safely shred, such as cardboard boxes. Remember to monitor them to make sure they don’t ingest anything.

Appropriate Play

Appropriate play can be another fantastic, healthy outlet to reduce your puppy’s biting behaviour. Interactive toys that create space between you and your puppy, like a longer tug toy, make it less likely for your puppy to bite your hand if they accidentally miss grabbing the toy.

Absolute Dogs recommends encouraging and celebrating your puppy any time they interact with an appropriate toy. This can help your puppy develop better habits when it comes to the items they choose to bite.

Using two balls when teaching your puppy to retrieve can also help define clear space requirements. Your puppy is less likely to grab at or bite at your hand if they already have a ball in their mouth.

Cause 5. Defence

Defence is a less common cause of puppy biting but just as important to be aware of. A puppy may bite because they feel they must defend themselves. Perhaps they’ve experienced over-handling, haven’t enjoyed being handled, or had their collar grabbed too many times in response to making poor decisions.

A puppy may also bite or snap out of surprise or fear. For example, if they feel cornered in a crate or if someone has touched them unexpectedly.

Absolute Dogs’ Naughty But Nice Core Programme can help your puppy with these challenges. The programme’s games build confidence and optimism, transforming the way your puppy sees the world and interacts with you.

The Hand Over Head, Relax Game

Absolute Dogs’ Hand Over Head, Relax game is ideal for puppies that struggle with handling. Starting when your puppy is in a relaxed state, simply move your hand. This movement can be as small as twitching a finger or swaying your hand at your side. When your puppy acknowledges the movement by calmly looking over, say “Yes” and reward them.

With each repetition, gradually move your hand so your palm is facing down, over your puppy. At first, start really high, offering your hand closer to your puppy over time. If at any point your puppy struggles and tries to step back, you may need to slow down.

With time, this game should help your puppy embrace the idea that hands moving towards, around, or to touch them are not always invasive and can be safe.

Cause 6. Genetic Predisposition

Depending on their breed, your puppy may have a genetic predisposition to bite. For example, a Border collie puppy may have a tendency to bite at heels or anything in motion due to their breed’s sheep-herding background.

It can be helpful to learn about the tendencies of your puppy’s breed. You can then play games that will help your puppy make better decisions while keeping in mind their natural impulses.

Most puppies benefit from games that focus on becoming calm and disengaging from distractions. However, these games are especially important for breeds that tend to bite, use their mouth a lot, or chase anything that moves, like other animals or people.

Absolute Dogs’ game-based training can help you and your puppy prepare for situations when your puppy may want to bite. However, no one is perfect, and sometimes your puppy will bite anyway. In these situations, you can interrupt your puppy’s biting decisions with these three methods:

1. Let Your Puppy Sleep

When your puppy bites, they are probably feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, overstimulated, or tired. Encouraging naptime is Absolute Dogs’ number one way to handle biting.

2. End Play

When your puppy bites, end play immediately and move them to their safe space. Here, they can engage in independent self-regulation activities, such as chewing or licking a toy.

3. Use An Attention Noise

Use an attention noise when your puppy shows signs that they might start biting to distract them from this behaviour.

When your puppy looks at you in response to the noise, cheer them on and scatter five to six pieces of food on the ground so they can snuffle them up. Then redirect your puppy to an appropriate toy or move them to their safe space so they can calm down with a healthy outlet.

Be sure to practise Absolute Dogs’ Attention Noise game separately from a biting scenario. This will ensure your puppy stops what they’re doing and looks up when they hear the noise.

You can play this game by tossing a piece of food a few feet away from you so that your puppy goes to get it. Then, make a noise just as your puppy finishes the food and starts to orientate back towards you. This can be any noise, as long as it doesn’t imply disappointment or punishment. When your puppy turns to look at you in response to the sound, cheer “Yes,” and then reward them.

This game will help your puppy develop a positive association with the sound. You can use it to redirect poor decisions and unwanted behaviour, including biting.

Get more tips on preventing puppy biting from Absolute Dogs.

About Absolute Dogs

Since launching in 2014, Absolute Dogs has changed the face of dog training with its unique, games-based training approach. Always focused on positive reinforcement, Absolute Dogs’ games and courses make dog training fun and rewarding for dogs and their owners. From improving whistle recall to mastering stress-free walks, Absolute Dogs has a game for practically every dog training struggle an owner might face. Dog owners can also join Games Club, an online platform packed with Absolute Dogs’ training solutions.

Education

5 Habits and The Mindset of Parents That Cultivate High Performance Students

Lisa Giet, founder and CEO of Telios Tutors Ltd, has overseen thousands of students over the years. Outstanding performance does not happen by chance. There is often deep work behind the scenes, strategic planning, and a pattern of approach that correlates between a parent’s mentality and their child’s academic achievements.

She recalls a child who was once tutored who came from humble beginnings and is now studying at Harvard University. He was an exceptionally talented child, having received offers from some of the leading independent schools in London including Westminster School, City of London and Highgate. His mother was remarkably driven throughout the whole course of tuition. Their dedication was admirable, although this type of ‘tiger parenting’ may be ethically challenged by some!

Nonetheless, here are 5 habits of success that we have observed among families that have achieved some of the most outstanding results through 1-to-1 private tutoring.

Set Yourself Up For Success – Have Longsightedness

 

Strategic planning ahead of time is essential psychologically as well as practically. For example, most parents prepare for the 11+ exam for their children at least a year and a half ahead of time. There is a clear objective and plan to reverse-engineer. It also means factoring in the potentiality of obstacles and counteracting these. For example, if a holiday has been planned, dates of return and arrangement of lessons to make up for any lessons missed will be accounted for ahead of time.

Speed of Implementation – Be Faster Than Most

 

Fast action is the antithesis of procrastination which is correlated to the speed of progress. Clients who are fast at acting on feedback will often see their child improve quickly because this energy is transferred into implementation, and ultimately, results. Psychologically, this also builds self-esteem and confidence for the student as the neuropathways that are formed as a result of quickly putting something into practice will help cultivate their identity as someone who takes massive action. The mind is like a muscle, and the more this is reinforced, the stronger its bandwidth and ability to withstand more. This conditioning is also powerfully transferrable.

Setting Ambitious and Audacious Goals – Dream Big!

 

It’s understandable when a parent does not want to stretch their child out of worry that their child may feel overwhelmed or that they may be considered a ‘pushy parent’. However, this can often be a limiting belief, and their child has so much more potential. Projecting limitations can hold a child back from achieving true greatness. Setting the bar high and doing your best has been so much more rewarding than keeping expectations low if excellence is what you are aiming for.

Consistency – The Compound Effect

 

Parents who are serious about their children’s success are extremely consistent throughout their course of tuition with us. Some have even journeyed with us throughout their entire school years from the age of about 7 until the end of their formal education! They are reliable and serious about adhering to what they have committed to and often see substantial success due to making steady processes over a long period.

Receptive to Feedback – Be Adaptable

 

Whilst we welcome clients’ suggestions and preferences, there is also a respected appreciation on their side to lean on our leadership. Clients who approach us with humility and an open heart to receive constructive advice often find great success because it holds space for growth. Clear, respectful communication with our clients through mutual respect and honesty has allowed us to build relationally and enabled us to work alongside each other as a team to achieve a clear objective for their children. The road to success can come with challenges that may not have been anticipated, no matter how much we plan ahead. Being adaptable, pivoting, and moving through it together has made the whole experience not only one that leads to exceptional results but enjoyable, too!

 

To find out more about transforming your child’s education with a top 1-to-1 tutor, visit https://www.teliostutors.com.

Acquisitions & Partnerships

Supreme plc acquires Clearly drinks limited for £15 million

Supreme plc (“Supreme” or the “Company” or the “Group”), a leading manufacturer, supplier, and brand owner of fast-moving consumer goods, has announced the acquisition of Clearly Drinks Limited. This strategic acquisition broadens Supreme’s product range, bringing non-vape annualised sales to over £100 million (£250 million including the Group’s Vaping division).

Clearly Drinks, a Sunderland-based company, is a well-known UK manufacturer of canned and bottled-at-source spring water and soft drinks. Established in 1885, the business supplies around 70 customers nationwide, including major UK retailers such as Waitrose, Aldi, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Farm Foods. In addition to its own brands, Clearly Drinks also provides private and own-label beverages for supermarkets and discounters and serves as a contract manufacturer for some of the world’s largest soft drinks companies.

Clearly Drinks’ brand portfolio includes Perfectly Clear, Northumbria Spring, and Revolution Waves, offering a diverse range of products such as still and sparkling spring water, energy drinks, isotonic vitamin drinks, flavoured spring water, juices, coffee-based beverages, and mixers and tonics. The company operates from a 150,000 sq. ft. freehold site with three onsite natural spring water boreholes, capable of accessing up to 300 million litres of fresh spring water annually. Their fully automated facility includes a new can line with the capacity to produce 350 million canned drinks per year and capabilities for packaging in glass or PET bottles.

Supreme PLC, based in Manchester, sees this acquisition as a significant component of its broader diversification strategy. Sandy Chadha, CEO of Supreme, commented: “We are delighted to be acquiring Clearly, a high-quality manufacturer and brand owner of soft drinks. Our enlarged business is gaining not only a strong additional pillar that aligns with our Vaping, Lighting, Batteries, and Sports Nutrition & Wellness categories but also a significant opportunity to develop and capitalise on the further cross and upsell opportunities facilitated by our trusted reputation across the UK retail space.”

For the year ended 31 December 2023, Clearly Drinks reported (unaudited) revenue of £22.4 million and Adjusted EBITDA of £3.0 million, with further growth anticipated for the year ending 31 December 2024.

Supreme has acquired 100% of the share capital of Acorn Topco Limited, the parent company of Clearly Drinks, on a cash-free, debt-free basis from NorthEdge Capital LLP for a total net cash consideration of £15 million, funded from the Company’s free cash. Clearly Drinks will continue to operate from its Sunderland site, maintaining access to the onsite boreholes, independent of Supreme’s other manufacturing operations.

The acquisition is expected to immediately enhance Supreme’s earnings, generating cross- and upsell sales opportunities across its established customer base of supermarkets, discounters, and online retailers. Supreme also plans to leverage its vertically integrated distribution platform to develop additional own-label products or licenses under well-recognised brands and expand its Sports Nutrition & Wellness category to include wellness and energy drinks.

Finance and Banking, News

The Role of BaaS in Enhancing Customer Experience in Digital Banking

Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) is a revolutionary model that allows third parties to connect with banks’ systems directly via APIs, enabling them to build banking offerings on top of the providers’ regulated infrastructure. This service model is crucial in today’s digital banking landscape, where customer experience is a key differentiator. As customers increasingly demand seamless, personalized, and secure banking services, BaaS presents a unique opportunity for banks and fintech companies to meet these expectations effectively.

Enhancing Customer Experience with BaaS

Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS), offered by providers such as OpenPayd, significantly improves the customer experience in digital banking by integrating several key features, each contributing to a seamless and personalized banking journey.

Personalization and Customization

BaaS enables banks and fintech companies to offer highly personalized financial products. By leveraging data analytics and customer insights, banks can tailor services like personalized account features, customized offers, and loyalty programs that cater to individual customer needs. This level of personalization fosters a stronger connection between the customer and the bank, enhancing overall satisfaction and engagement.

 

Seamless Integration

BaaS facilitates the seamless integration of banking services into existing business platforms, providing a unified and efficient user experience. Customers can perform banking transactions directly within the applications they use daily, eliminating the need for multiple interfaces. This integration simplifies the banking process, making it more convenient and user-friendly. For example, e-commerce platforms can embed payment solutions that allow users to complete transactions without leaving the site, enhancing the shopping experience.

 

Real-Time Services

One significant advantage of BaaS is the provision of real-time banking services. These include instant payments, real-time balance updates, and immediate transaction notifications. Real-time services greatly enhance customer satisfaction by providing immediacy and convenience, ensuring customers are always informed and in control of their finances. Immediate access to transaction history and balance information helps customers make informed financial decisions on the spot.

 

Enhanced Security and Compliance

Security is a paramount concern in digital banking, and BaaS providers invest heavily in advanced security measures and regulatory compliance. Enhanced security features such as multi-factor authentication, encryption, and fraud detection build customer trust and ensure the safety of their data and transactions. This heightened security leads to a more secure and confident banking experience, essential in maintaining customer loyalty and trust.

 

Innovation and Agility

BaaS promotes innovation by enabling rapid and cost-effective development of new financial products. Fintech companies can launch innovative solutions like digital wallets, peer-to-peer payment systems, and micro-lending platforms swiftly. Startups, for example, can leverage BaaS to introduce niche financial products without needing to build the entire banking infrastructure from scratch. This fosters a more dynamic and responsive financial services market, benefiting customers from cutting-edge financial technologies and solutions.

 

Global Reach

BaaS platforms support multi-currency accounts and international transactions, allowing businesses to expand their services globally. Customers benefit from seamlessly managing their finances across different currencies and countries. This global reach enhances the overall banking experience, making it more flexible and accommodating for customers with international financial needs. For instance, expatriates and frequent travellers can manage their finances more efficiently, reducing the complexities associated with cross-border banking.

BaaS plays a pivotal role in enhancing the customer experience in digital banking by enabling personalized services, seamless integration, real-time functionalities, robust security, innovative product offerings, and global reach. As the financial landscape evolves, BaaS will likely drive further customer satisfaction and engagement improvements.

 

Businesses looking to enhance their digital banking services should explore BaaS solutions to stay competitive and meet their customers’ growing expectations. By leveraging the capabilities of BaaS, they can offer superior banking experiences that align with modern customer needs.

 

 

 

 

 

Hospitality, News

Hydes leads the way for customer satisfaction following national pub survey

Salford-based brewer and pub retailer Hydes has been announced as the number one pub company for customer satisfaction, based on the results of a national survey, canvassing the views of thousands of pub customers.

Hydes came top for customer satisfaction in CGA by NIQ’s annual PubTrack rankings to find Britain’s top pub operator. PubTrack is a first-of-its-kind consumer research that covers the entire pub market in Great Britain, including unbranded and independent venues

In addition to scoring highest for guest satisfaction, Hydes came third nationally overall in the PubTrack rankings as Britain’s top pub operator. In first place was Brunning & Price, followed by St Austell Brewery in second.

PubTrack is an exclusive tool that combines CGA’s Outlet Index with a survey of 10,000 nationally representative pub-going consumers. The tool delivers accurate data insight into guest behaviours and sentiment based on a combination of factors such as satisfaction, revists and recommendations.  The study covered a six-month monitoring period up to the end of March 2024.

With its brewery in Media City, Hydes was formed in 1863 and supplies beers to wholesalers, pub companies and other brewers throughout the UK and a pub retailing estate of nearly 50 pubs across the North West of England and North Wales. It currently has 14 tenanted pubs in its estate.

Commented Adam Mayers, managing director of Hydes: “The results of this industry survey are testament to the hard work and commitment of the entire Hydes team. We pride ourselves on customer satisfaction so to receive national independent recognition of this based on real feedback from the pub going public is extremely gratifying.

“We’re fully committed to keeping customers happy and doing everything we can to ensure they want to return after a memorable first visit. That’s why we’ve invested heavily in our growing pub estate, over £10M in refurbishments over the past two years, in addition to comprehensive skills and service training for all our staff. Investment in our pubs and our people is top priority at Hydes and this will continue throughout the coming year, strengthening our offering and enhancing the overall experience for all our customers and guests.”

Hydes operates nearly 50 pubs ranging from Lancaster in the North to Stoke-on Trent in the Midlands and across to North Wales including a wide selection of premium dining destination outlets and traditional community pubs.

To find out more about Hydes Brewery visit https://www.hydesbrewery.com/.

Gender Disparity, Gender Equality, News

UK Graduates Face Gender Pay Gap From Day One Of Work

  • Graduates of 2024 face a gender pay gap as soon as they begin their careers 
  • The UK gender pay gap exists even for young workers, starting at age 22
  • The gender pay gap in the UK widens with age, peaking at 14.2%*

As new graduates start looking for their first job this summer, Startups.co.uk analysis of government data shows that they could face a gender pay gap from day one of employment. 

Using government data, Startups has uncovered that the average gender pay gap for employees aged 22-29 is 3.0%.

Given that the majority of new graduates entering the workforce are aged 21 or 22, this suggests that young women employees can expect to earn less than male peers for their entire career

In fact, the longer a female employee remains in the workforce, the worse things get. Startups also found that the gender pay gap increases with age, peaking at 14.2% on average for 60-69 year olds. 

This is likely due to the motherhood penalty. Working mothers are more likely to drop their hours and work part-time in order to balance childcare commitments.

For graduates, who are less likely to have children, the pay gap is more likely caused by women having lower starting salary expectations than men, perhaps due to their own preconceived notions of the gender pay gap or entering lower paid industries.

When does the gender pay gap close?

Once in a role, it’s unlikely female graduates will see the closure of the gender pay gap. If the gap continues at the same rate of decrease, it will take 29 years to close, according to the Financial Times. 

That means even women employees who haven’t yet been born can expect to be paid less than their future male colleagues.

Startups.co.uk Lead Writer, Helena Young, comments:

 

“Our analysis of the ONS data suggests that this summer, as thousands of excited university leavers begin applying to graduate roles, many will earn less in their career simply because of their gender. It’s a shocking reflection on today’s workplace that even a newborn baby can expect to lose out on pay to a future male colleague.”

“Companies must work harder to close the gender pay gap in their workforce. While the causes are nuanced, the result is clear. A concerted effort by government and UK businesses is needed to address the external and psychological factors that lead to women employees being viewed as literally worth less than men.”

Construction, Construction News, News

Relaunch of Rock-Tite capitalises on key landscaping trend

Liverpool based Palace Chemicals has relaunched a landscaping favourite – the new improved Rock-Tite 3-part system.    

The Rock-Tite Exterior Porcelain and Stone System comprises a primer, a mortar and a choice of brush-in or flow grout. The mortar is available either as a pre-blend or a concentrate that requires the addition of sand, as the user prefers.  

Designed specifically for use by landscapers and garden designers, as well as tile fixers and keen DIY’ers, the three-step system capitalises on a key garden trend to extend an internal tiled space to an exterior terrace or patio area.  

The seamless design effect is part of a long-term lifestyle trend to enhance living areas by making better use of external space effectively bringing the inside out.  

Traditionally, such external areas might be covered with outdated concrete pavers or timber decking, which can look tired quite quickly. However, the latest generation of 20mm porcelain and stone tiles brings a number of advantages. 

The key benefit is that they allow a smooth transition from internal to external space, which is totally in accordance with the leading fashion trend of the moment and helps to open up additional living space either in the home or in higher traffic commercial spaces.  

Most porcelain tiles are also moisture, rot, frost and UV resistant, are easier to clean and offer good slip resistance, provided they are kept clean.  

The first component of the system is the Rock-Tite Porcelain Primer, which is supplied in three 5kg bags, complete with a 15kg mixing bucket. This is a fibre-reinforced, polymer- modified, cement-based primer, designed to improve adhesion when used with porcelain, stone and other low absorption types of paving.  

Secondly there is high strength fibre-reinforced Rock-Tite Mortar. There are two mortars available – either a pre-blend 20kg version, that very easily just mixes with water or a more traditional version, which is supplied in a 15kg bag that mixes in a 1:6 ratio with sharp sand to create the ideal bedding mortar for all external patio projects.  

Finally, the system includes a choice of a 15kg cement-free brush-in grout/jointing compound or a flow grout, the latter being preferable for areas which will be subject to early and sustained traffic. The grouts come in three 5kg bags supplied in a 15kg bucket. Each one is available in a choice of three different colours.  

Steve Ball, Commercial Director, said: “The Rock-Tite System has been made very straightforward to use – in fact it’s as easy as 1, 2, 3.  

“It allows home designers to come up with a durable and effective solution for working with the new generation of 20mm porcelain and stone tiles, so that they can complete projects which accord with current fashions and are entirely on-trend.”  

Rock-Tite from Palace Chemicals is supported by a range of promotional material, including a new brochure and a video, easily explaining all the benefits of the system and its ease of use – details of which can be found at www.palacechemicals.co.uk