Monthly Archives: August 2024

Education, Education News, News

Rising popularity of apprenticeships being felt in the Midlands

As we approach A level results day, new research* from leading business and financial adviser Grant Thornton UK LLP finds that there is a growing recognition of the benefits that school leaver apprenticeships can offer young people, with parents more likely to encourage their child to apply for an apprenticeship than to university after leaving school.

The research, which surveyed 2000 parents with children aged 12-21 and 2000 young people aged 16-21, from across the UK, explores changing attitudes to the routes available to young people after leaving school.

It finds that parents are more likely to encourage their child to apply for a school leaver apprenticeship (44%) than for university (40%). The main reasons parents gave for encouraging school leaver apprenticeships for their children are:

  • Gain practical on the job experience (63%)
  • Get paid while gaining a certified qualification (62%)
  • No student debt (40%)

The research also reveals a significant shift in the perception of the value and necessity of a university degree. It finds that two thirds (66%) of parents believe that the cost of a university degree delivers less value than it used to, a substantial increase from 45% in 2018 research conducted by the firm**. Almost two thirds (60%) of young people also share this view. In fact, two thirds (67%) of the young people surveyed who hold a degree believe the cost delivers less value than it used to. Additionally, 42% of parents and 37% of the young people surveyed do not consider a university degree essential to securing a well-paid job.

This shift in parents’ attitudes may be due to the increasing awareness of the benefits offered from school leaver apprenticeships. The percentage of parents who perceive apprenticeships as providing good career prospects has risen from 79% in 2018, to 84% in 2024. Nearly three quarters of young people (73%) also believe that school leaver apprenticeships offer good career prospects, with only 6% disagreeing.

The study confirms the influential role that parents can play in shaping young people’s post-school decisions. Over two-fifths (42%) of the young people respondents noted parents as the top source of influence in their career decisions. This was followed, quite significantly lower, by school/college careers service (28%) and teachers (25%).

 

Attitudes to apprenticeships are changing but improved careers advice still needed

While there is a growing recognition of the benefits a school leaver apprenticeship can offer, fewer of the young people surveyed have received good advice about this career path (57%) compared to a university degree (63%). Almost one in five (19%) do not believe they have received good careers advice about a school leaver apprenticeship.

Though the perception of the benefits of a school leaver apprenticeship is found to be improving, most of the young people surveyed still felt pressure to go to university, with parents and teachers noted as the top sources.

Of the young people surveyed, the majority are considering, or currently doing, a university degree (44%) citing ‘to further their education’ as the main reason for choosing this route. Just over one in five are considering or currently doing a school leaver apprenticeship (22%).

Commenting on the findings, Matt Buckingham, Partner and Practice Lead for Grant Thornton UK LLP in the Midlands, said:

“There are different paths to success and plenty of people in the West Midlands have developed fantastic, rewarding careers having started out as an apprentice. It’s certainly clear from our research that there has been a significant change in attitudes towards school leaver apprenticeships. This is likely partly due to the quality of some of the programmes on offer, and also because university isn’t going to be the best route for some young people. The opportunity to get paid while gaining a professional qualification and incur no student debt are two of the main reasons both parents and young people would consider the apprenticeship route.

“As a firm we actively hire both graduates and school leaver apprentices and have long championed the benefits of both routes. But as many young people and parents are still not aware that firms such as ours offer an apprenticeship programme, and many young people are not receiving good careers advice about the apprenticeship route, there is clearly more work to be done. Employers have a key role to play here, working with education providers in their local community to ensure that young people and their parents are provided with good advice, at the right time, about the different routes available to them after leaving school so they can make the right choice for them.”

Olivia Hunt, 20, started her school leaver apprenticeship with Grant Thornton in 2022.  Based in the Birmingham office, she joined straight from a school in Worcestershire, where she achieved high grades for three A Levels. She’d received no careers advice about accountancy and found the Grant Thornton programme through her own web-based research. “After working hard throughout high school, I felt ready to gain practical experience within the accountancy industry. Working in the audit practice has already given me exposure to many clients operating in different industries helping me to also observe and build my knowledge on how different industries operate.”

Alice Daykin, 22, also based in the Birmingham office, joined the same programme in 2020 straight from a school in Stafford, where she achieved three ‘A’ graded A Levels. “My confidence has massively increased by undertaking a school leaver apprenticeship. I now have four years of experience and have almost finished my exams, so should be a Chartered Accountant in the not too distant future. If I had gone to university instead, I may now only have a years’ worth of experience and would be still getting used to the basics. It feels like it has massively accelerated my career.”

 

Logistics, Sport

Avoiding a logistics nightmare: how logistics make or break a sporting event

Written by Simon Hainsworth, Managing Director of Corporate & Sporting Events Management (CSE)

The incredible sporting events being witnessed across the world this summer at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games are the culmination of years of detailed work and planning for the benefit of the athletes and those coming to view the spectacle whether in person or via live coverage.

Though often a forgotten aspect of such huge events as the Olympic Games, the logistics services that come together to provide the platform for such performances to take place cover some of the most crucial aspects of event delivery.

The importance of logistics

Services such as transport, travel and accommodation have the ability to make or break the preparation of World Class athletes. Ensuring that these services are properly managed, and mitigating against any potential risks to delivery is essential for enabling elite performers to reach their full potential every time they compete. The marginal gains won through ensuring an athlete or team has travelled and been accommodated without issue are critical to both a well-run event, and one where athletes are ready to perform.

Though the athletes are the stars of the show, ensuring logistics services are properly aligned also relates to other accredited stakeholder personnel, such as judges, technical officials, and the broadcast media, all of which are intrinsic parts of a successful large-scale sporting event.

Without the right expert team working closely alongside the management team of each event, there is a very real risk that both delivery and performance will fail to meet expectations.

Travel and accommodation considerations

The logistics around travel and accommodation are perhaps some of the most complex, especially when dealing with large-scale events. There is significant potential risk from an over-reliance on a travel industry that is often challenged by heightened security, weather issues and short notice strike action by operating personnel, and the lack of feasible back up plans or failure to identify these risks can spell disaster for an event.

Astute logistics professionals are alert to these potential pitfalls and are more readily able to formulate alternative solutions to navigate these challenges, ensuring key personnel travelling to events can arrive on time.

Accommodation is another huge consideration for sporting events, and often represents a significant cost to organisers. Take this years Olympic Games in Paris, which will see the city play host to 22,250 athletes across two events. When dealing with such complex considerations, accommodation partners should only be considered after extensive discussions around their suitability for each unique set of circumstances that different sports and sporting events demand.

Many of these potential pitfalls around travel and accommodation can be mitigated through detailed communications with suppliers, and a continued presence from the logistics management team to ensure all services are being properly delivered in line with contractual obligations.

Streamlining communication

Investment into technology and business transformation has touched nearly every sector in recent years, and logistics service delivery is no different, with the sector moving at pace over the last ten years with extensive investment into online solutions and streamlined communication tools.

Technologies that have enabled face-to-face meetings and streamlined operations have bought with them the capacity to plan large-scale sporting events with an even greater degree of certainty and knowledge. Service providers themselves, such as hotels and other accommodation providers have leveraged these tools, constantly reinventing themselves to meet the expectations of a tech-savvy and more demanding clientele, with service standards increasing accordingly. Though the airline industry has broadly plateaued in its offering, and has been challenged by greater security risks, those delivering logistics have also leveraged technology to be ready for potentially adverse circumstances.

The ability of logistics professionals to better communicate, organise and coordinate with service providers are key to close collaboration between partners, and delivering major projects and events in line with expectations.

Partnering for success

Delivery world-class sporting events requires a seamless team effort across all stakeholders to ensure events partners are properly coordinated.

With so many moving parts in play, experienced event suppliers have a vital role in removing the pressure from those within the sporting arena by delivering the most suitable services and tailoring these for success.

 

Finance and Banking

Leverage Forex Risk Calculators To Mitigate Risks with Eurotrader

Forex trading is an exciting yet challenging endeavor that requires managing fast-paced market conditions. One of the key elements in a successful trading strategy is effective risk management as it protects traders from significant losses. Utilizing tools like leverage forex risk calculators is crucial in managing these risks and making informed trading decisions.

Eurotrader provides powerful calculators designed to support traders in optimizing their risk management strategie by helping them trade confidently and efficiently.

Understanding Forex Leverage

Leverage in forex trading allows traders to control larger positions in the market with a smaller amount of capital. It functions by providing a ratio that determines how much exposure a trader can have relative to their actual investment. For instance, a leverage ratio of 100:1 means that for every $1 of capital, the trader can control $100 in the market.

Leverage amplifies both potential profits and potential losses, which makes it a powerful tool for traders. However, because of the heightened risks associated with leverage, traders need to employ effective risk management strategies to protect their investments.

The Importance of Risk Management in Forex Trading

Effective risk management is crucial for surviving in forex trading. The unpredictable nature of the market means that traders must be prepared for unexpected movements.

Common risks are as follows:

  • Market Volatility: Sudden price swings can lead to rapid losses.
  • Leverage Risks: High leverage can amplify losses beyond initial investments.
  • Emotional Trading: Decisions driven by emotions often result in poor outcomes.

Risk Management Strategies

To mitigate these risks, traders should employ strategies such as:

  • Setting Stop-Loss Orders: Automatically close positions to limit losses. Stop-loss orders help traders manage their risk by defining a specific price level at which a position will be closed to prevent further losses.
  • Proper Position Sizing: Determine the appropriate amount of capital to risk on each trade. Position sizing ensures that the size of each trade is in proportion to the trader’s overall account balance and risk tolerance, reducing the impact of potential losses.

How Forex Risk Calculators Help Mitigate Risks

A forex risk calculator is a tool that helps traders assess and manage risk by calculating the potential impact of different trading scenarios.

The main types of risk calculators are listed below:

  • Position Size Calculators: Determine the optimal trade size based on risk tolerance.
  • Margin Calculators: Calculate the required margin for each trade.
  • Pip Value Calculators: Assess the value of each pip in a trade.

Using Eurotrader’s Forex Risk Calculators

Eurotrader offers a suite of tools designed to enhance risk management strategies, making it easier for traders to navigate the complexities of the forex market.

Eurotrader provides an All-in-One Calculator that combines multiple features to aid traders in effective risk management. This comprehensive tool includes:

  • Pip Calculator: Determine the value per pip in your account’s base currency to better understand potential profits or losses.
  • Margin Calculator: Calculate the margin required to open and hold positions.
  • Swap Calculator: Estimate the cost or gain of holding a position overnight.
  • Profit Calculator: Assess potential profits or losses for specific trades.
  • Commission Calculator: Calculate the commission fees associated with trades.

Step-by-Step Guide to Using a Forex Risk Calculator

It is very easy to use Eurotrader’s Forex Risk Calculator by following the steps below:

  1. Access the Calculator: Log in to the Eurotrader platform and navigate to the All-in-One Calculator section.
  2. Input Necessary Data: Enter key details such as account balance, risk percentage, and currency pair.
  3. Interpret Results: Use the calculated results to inform trading decisions, ensuring that the risk-reward ratio aligns with your trading strategy.

Incorporating leverage forex risk calculators into your trading strategy is essential for effective risk management. By utilizing these tools, traders can make informed decisions that help protect their investments and optimize their returns. Eurotrader provides an array of user-friendly calculators designed to assist traders in navigating the complexities of the forex market.

Discover how Eurotrader’s forex risk calculator can enhance your trading strategy and mitigate risks today.

Digital Healthcare, Healthcare, Mental Health, News

DrDoctor makes first move into the mental health and community care space with Maia acquisition

LONDON, UK, 12 August 2024: Today, DrDoctor, the UK’s leading patient engagement platform (PEP), announces the acquisition of personal health record platform ‘Maia’ from Mindwave Ventures. The purchase marks DrDoctor’s first move into the mental health and community support space and will accelerate its mission to implement system-level change to the patient engagement experience throughout the NHS.

Maia, which was custom built for and in collaboration with mental health service users, is a customisable engagement platform, care planning and personal health record (PHR) for the mental health, community, acute and specialist NHS Trusts. It allows service users and clinicians to access appointments and triaging, letters and clinical documents, care plans, questionnaires, resources, trackers, secure messaging and more.

By adopting these capabilities and incorporating the technology into its own, well established and widely adopted portfolio, DrDoctor can now offer Integrated Care Boards a single, interoperable solution which combines the best of both PHR and PEP and crosses care settings and workflow silos. DrDoctor’s platform is already live in 70 different trusts and health boards, supporting system level change and powering more than 128 million appointments.

 

With recent data from mental health charity Rethink Mental Health revealing patients can wait up to 315 days for elective care and 727 days for care in the community, the new process will offer operational and clinical teams a much-needed solution to plan, qualify and activate mental health care plans in an efficient and hybrid way. Crucially, the combined solution will also give patients greater visibility and control over their own care experience.

 

Tom Whicher, DrDoctor CEO comments: “The Maia technology is a really smart addition to our platform – it means we can ensure mental health is given the same attention and focus as physical health. By joining up a service users’ treatment pathway with their record, service users will have the tools necessary to better manage their own health journey and gain visibility and control. Technology enhances rather than replaces the face-to-face care experience and at DrDoctor we’re committed to connecting the disparate dots and siloed operational workflows across secondary and tertiary care settings to truly embed system level change.”

 

Already established as the original PEP, delivering the highest engagement and experience scores in the sector, DrDoctor has further ambitious plans to extend its proven solution across the healthcare ecosystem by investing in innovation which gives clinicians across all services a 360° view and patients greater control and choice over their care plans.

 

About DrDoctor

DrDoctor provides the UK’s leading patient engagement platform in the NHS, covering primary and secondary care across over 70 NHS trusts and health boards. Using digital appointment-booking services and video consultations, DrDoctor empowers patients to take control of their healthcare and works to improve patients’ DNA rates by up to 35 percent. Their mission is to work with their partners to understand the challenges facing their staff and deliver technology that automates routine tasks and common blockers whilst improving the quality of patient care. Founded in 2012, award-winning DrDoctor now has more than 150 employees and has booked more than 117 million appointments across NHS practices.

Sport

Smith Partnership Supports Burton Albion Fc In Sale Of The Club To Nordic Football Group

A Midlands based law firm who played a leading role in helping secure the sale of Burton Albion FC have spoken about “the warmth of the deal”.

Smith Partnership advised Chairman Ben Robinson and his family on a deal which will now see the Scandinavian-based Nordic Football Group (NFG) take a majority stake in the League One club.

During a process that took around six months, Smith Partnership worked with the club every step of the way to secure the deal went smoothly.

Partners Fraser Cunningham, Danielle Upton and James Johnson led on a transaction which will now see Ole Jakob Strandhagen become Burton Albion’s chairman.

Burton Albion’s new owners have appointed Fleur Robinson, Ben’s daughter, as the new chief executive, following three years in the same role at newly promoted fellow League One club Wrexham. And Ben’s son, Ben Robinson Jr, will remain an integral part of the club’s operations.

Commenting on the support, Smith Partnership offered, Ben Robinson MBE DL, said: “After careful consideration, I decided that the time was right to sell my controlling interest in the Club to the Nordic Football Group UK Ltd, and I am extremely grateful for all of the support and hard work put in by Smith Partnership to help make it happen.

“It presented a fantastic opportunity to bring new investment into the football club and following Smith Partnership’s due diligence processes it was clear that NFG had excellent football and commercial pedigree and importantly, they are aligned with the Club’s values and ethos.

“They are people who share the same core values of integrity, honesty and respect, which have helped Burton Albion get to where it is today. NFG have an inspirational vision of how they would like to take the Club forward and they understand the importance of working with, and supporting the local community, which is high on the agenda.”

“We always take the time to learn about our clients, and how they operate.”

Reflecting on the deal, Danielle Upton, a partner who specialises in commercial property including property due diligence on corporate sales such as this, said there were a number of key areas where Smith Partnership had been able to offer their expertise.

She said: “First and foremost, as a business we always take the time to learn about our clients, and how they operate. This allows us to tailor the service we’re providing and ensure it’s the very best it can be.

“In a sale like this, when you are dealing with the property side, you are primarily focused on the stadium. You are aiming to ensure there are no massive red flags that are going to cause any issues.

“Anyone buying a football club will create a due diligence questionnaire listing everything they want to know about the business, and that will usually include a lengthy section about the property.

“It will ask questions like, ‘What properties does the business own?’ What do they use them for? Have they got tenants? Have they got occupational arrangements? What work have they done to them?”

“Any new owner will also want to know about the planning for the stadium to ensure all planning conditions have been complied with.”

Danielle added: “Since the stadium is open to the public, you’ve also got health and safety regulations that you have to be compliant with if you’re having members of the public in your premises.”

Smith Partnership also advised on matters relating to the Burton Albion Community Trust, and they liaised with the FA over the future use of St George’s Park, the English Football Association’s national football centre (NFC).

Asked what the key factors were in ensuring a high-level of legal support could be offered to the club, Danielle said: “As well as ensuring you get to know your client, it’s about being diligent, thorough, regularly communicating and making sure all of your occupational arrangements are properly documented and up to date. Obviously, this was a very significant deal for Burton, for the community, and for the fans of the club, so to play a part in helping finalise the deal speaks volumes for our standing in the area.”

 

“We have an expression…when a deal is on, it’s on. This one has a warmth to it.”

 

Fraser Cunningham, a partner who specialises in company and commercial law, said the key to the deal was timing.

He said: “There’s always drivers, in any deal, to try and get things done at particular times. But in this scenario of the sale of a football club you’ve got a season that dictates that. “There are contracts that need to be agreed by a certain time, for the players, so the club knows who’s playing from one season to the next.

“There’s the question of what the budget will be for the players from one season to the next. You’ve then got to tell the Football League who is signed and who isn’t. That’s why timing is such a crucial aspect of a deal of this nature.”

Explaining how Smith Partnership helped to get the deal over the line, he added: “We have the expression ‘When it’s on, it’s on’, and that might mean working 24/7. When there’s a deal to be done, there’s a deal to be done. It does occasionally involve working until three in the morning because there is a deadline.”

Ensuring the buyer will respect the traditions of Burton Albion FC – and nurture fans and club staff was vital to the Robinson family.

And, having worked closely on the deal, Fraser believes the club is in safe hands.

He said: “You want to make sure that the people you’re selling to aren’t just going to rip the thing up. I’ve met the buyers a few times, and they seem like good people to me, with the future and longevity of the football club at their heart. This sale has a warmth to it, and I think that’s why Ben may have looked at it and said this feels like a good deal to do.”

Sport

Scottish golfing legend sinks hole-in-one to win Farmfoods British par 3 championship

Paul Lawrie OBE emerged the winner at the Farmfoods British Par 3 Championship Pro-Am – after a hole in one helped him to victory.

Watched by a bumper crowd, Lawrie came out on top at Nailcote Hall, Warwickshire, to be crowned 2024 Champion and claim the  €50,000 1st prize pot.

The Scotsman edged out fellow competitors by finishing the tournament nine under par, with former winner Jarmo Sandelin and 152nd Open T10 player Daniel Brown tailing closely behind at eight and six under par respectively.

Speaking to event managers Champions (UK) plc, Lawrie said: “It’s a very nice feeling, there’s something about Farmfoods event that I clearly like! This is my third win in one of their events.

“I’m obviously chuffed to bits, I know how much is put into this event, and it’s always nice to win tournaments with sponsors who are very good friends of mine.

“History is always something you want to make, you want your name on trophies that have proper players already on it. So to get my name on that is something I’ve been trying to do for a while.

“The most satisfying thing for me is, obviously, I had a total head-off on Sunday coming in where I thought I should’ve won and didn’t. So to come to the very next event and play like that, put all that to bed, is the most satisfying thing.

“It doesn’t matter who you’re playing against, if you can bounce back like that then it gets you mentally in such a good space.”

In an entertaining two-day golfing spectacle, crowds saw Legends Tour player Jonathan Cheetham top the table after Day 1, finishing the first half of play six under par.

Lawrie, the eventual tournament victor, surprisingly finished Day 1 down in joint 11th place at two under, a turnaround which made the competition win even more impressive.

The 55-year-old started Day 2 well, and potted a perfectly-placed hole-in-one on Hole 2 to quickly climb the leaderboard.

In an event which mixes professionals from the world of gold with celebrities from the worlds of sport and screen, audiences were able to watch said celebrities compete alongside popular amateurs, such as Alan McInally, Derek Redmond and James Jordan.

To find out more about the event, visit: https://britishpar3.com

News

Booming promotions business approaching 35th anniversary targets net zero with expansion

AN international supplier of promotional products approaching 35 years in business has expanded its operations while targeting net zero.

Flint-based Preseli Ltd successfully lowered its carbon footprint after receiving a grant from the Carbon Reduction Feasibility Fund.

The Fund is delivered by Antur Cymru Enterprise with the backing of Pathway to Carbon Zero Ltd and Litegreen Ltd in collaboration with Flintshire County Council.

A trade-only importer and supplier of merchandise, gifts and promotional goods, Preseli was supported by Pathway to Carbon Zero and Litegreen in finding the most eco-friendly way to decarbonise their Castle Park headquarters and warehouse while constructing a new eco-friendly office.

The 17-strong company – a subsidiary of Preseli Enterprises Ltd in Hong Kong – is also exploring renewable energy options in a bid to become even more sustainable, having increased its range of ‘green’ services and switched to sea freight where possible to minimise emissions.

“As a company we are very aware of our carbon impact and that of the industry we are in and wish to be proactive in reducing our carbon footprint where possible,” said Managing Director, Dave Wilson.

“Having access to support from consultant Becky Morgan has been fantastic, her wealth of knowledge and contacts are helping us form longer-term carbon reduction plans.”

Working with Pathway to Carbon Zero, Preseli began the process of installing solar panels on its premises.

“We have also installed light sensors in toilets, LED lighting and are promoting good practice, such as switching off electrical appliances when not in use, reviewing staff transport and replacing appliances with more energy efficient alternatives,” said Dave.

“As a business we are looking at all areas, from the recycling of polyester lanyards into RPET pellets, to donating to relevant charities and joining Flint Litter Pickers in a bid to become a litter free business zone.

“This has been a very positive exercise and having the support available when needed is invaluable. We are now more confident in our approach and thankful for the advice and guidance we have received via the Carbon Reduction Feasibility Fund.”

Aimed at organisations in Flintshire, the Fund received £297,294 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, with grants available for businesses to access specialist advice on how to become a more sustainable organisation, as well as offering guidance on equipment, buildings, energy use and systems and methods that will reduce their carbon footprint and help increase profitability.

Fund Manager Rowan Jones said: “To receive such positive feedback is fantastic, and I’m sure the results will have a long-lasting and positive effect for Preseli Ltd, and other companies and organisations across the region.”

For more on the Carbon Reduction Feasibility Fund, visit www.anturcymru.org.uk/flintshire, email flintshirefund@anturcymru.org.uk or call 01352 871298.

Alternatively, follow Antur Cymru Enterprise on social media at @anturcymruwales or visit the website: www.anturcymru.org.uk.

Visit Promotional Products Promotional Pens, Lanyards Corporate Gifts (preseli.biz) for more info about Preseli Ltd.

Climate

Net-zero jargon is confusing says Nottingham academic

Despite a renewed focus on the environment following the King’s Speech, widespread confusion on how to reach net zero persists, with findings indicating the term ‘net zero’ is the problem.

Major new research, commissioned by Cadent and supported by the University of Nottingham’s Professor Alexa Spence, found the majority of Brits think messaging around sustainable energy is confusing and 2 in 3 don’t know what actions to take to meet the UK’s net zero target.

With the newly-formed UK government confirming it recognises the urgency of the global climate challenge, the report raises an important question about whether the terminology used is unhelpful in driving change amongst the British public.

A Professor in the School of Psychology, Alexa Spence says a greater focus on positive sustainability messaging may help encourage energy efficient behaviour – a notable shift away from inciting negative emotions, such as fear or guilt, as a means of motivating people to act.

While the report shows 64% of UK households are prepared to make changes, these are driven from a cost-saving perspective and the majority of actions being taken are low-impact such as recycling (72%) and reducing food waste (65%).

Professor Alexa Spence, University of Nottingham, commented: “Of course it’s important that sustainability approaches consider individual circumstances and address cost barriers to ensure inclusivity but this research indicates clearer messaging is also necessary to create lasting change.

“The term ‘net zero’ is simply too broad, too vague and doesn’t unite us as members of the public. There is a great deal of literature that suggests negative emotions encourage people to act but interestingly, this contradicts a trend in education that shows a positive focus has a longer-lasting influence on behaviour.

 “We need to rethink the net zero narrative and at its heart, remember its purpose is to create a better life for everybody. This will encourage us to see sustainability as a brighter future we can all relate to or feel good about.”

Mark Belmega, Director of Social Purpose and Sustainability at Cadent, said: “The report’s findings are clear – financial support is vital and we have long been advocating for better support for our customers, particularly those on low incomes, to bring them on the journey towards net zero with us.

 “However, collectively we should be questioning why the term ‘net zero’ is proving unhelpful when it comes to creating sustainable change. Simply promoting the phrase isn’t enough. We need to be going much further with supporting British people about the crucial role they have to play to help decarbonise industries such as ours, and highlight the positive impacts that they can have.

 “It remains crunch time for the UK if we are to meet the ambitious targets that have been set and strong leadership, collaboration and a powerful strategy are all desperately needed – with government and businesses having a critical role to play to ensure a successful energy transition.”

View the full report here: Net Zero report – Cadent Gas Ltd

Appointments, Finance News, News

Equity Release Group add to Management Team and appoint two new Advisers amidst renewed business growth

The UK’s leading whole of market equity release experts, Equity Release Group (ERG), today announced a trio of new hires that will join the Group’s equity release advisory business – Equity Release Supermarket (ERS) – as they expand their UK operations to fulfil the growing appetite within the industry and beyond.

The surge in recruitment closely follows the news of ERG’s new partnership with Responsible Lending, the exclusive providers of the Royal London Equity Release product range, as well as their strategic partnership with price comparison service – MoneySuperMarket (MSM).

The latest appointments to the UK’s No.1 independent equity release advisory service firm – Louise Thompkins, Brian Massie and Paul Massie – bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise from within the financial services sector.

 

Mark Gregory, Founder and CEO of Equity Release Group commented: “With a broader product mix now available, alongside a renewed confidence within the market following a year of turbulence, we’re witnessing above industry average growth within the Group.

“In part this is due to certain environmental factors but also due to our strategic partnerships and digital capabilities. By enabling customers to monitor rates and LTVs through the use of smartER™ – the UK’s only equity release comparison tool – consumers now have access to a comparative suite with greater choice, independence and transparency.

“To support this continued drive, we are thrilled to welcome Louise, Brian and Paul to our expansive and well-established team. Their respective expertise will help us to further strengthen our position and reach throughout the UK. It is always our aim to provide the best possible quality service to our customers, which is why we invest so heavily in our people, expertise and technology.”

 

With over 27 years’ experience within the financial services arena, Louise has an extensive knowledge of the mortgage and later life lending market.  She began as a Financial Adviser before progressing into leadership roles and will now head up the advice team at ERS, overseeing wellbeing, quality, and general operations.

 

Louise Thompkins commented: “It’s genuinely a privilege to join Equity Release Group. They have a very strong work ethic and incredible reputation, as well as being at the forefront of several industry changes. So, I’m delighted to be part of the team.

“I join ERS as Advice Team Manager from Legal and General where I was a founding member of the leadership team, tasked with the launch of their inhouse advice service and subsequently their whole of market proposition. My passion is about improving advice standards within the sector and driving the right customer outcome through the provision of good quality advice, and an excellent customer experience.

“I am really looking forward to being part of the team at ERS. They have the perfect platform in place to enable me to drive a continued and heightened customer experience.”

 

Other new faces alongside Louise are brothers Brian and Paul Massie, who will be advising customers that come into the business from Equity Release Supermarket and MoneySuperMarket. Both have worked in the financial services industry for several years.

 

The brothers share the mentality that seeing their clients benefit from whole of market advice is particularly rewarding, hence they were very keen to join the Equity Release Supermarket team. Prior to joining ERS, Brian and Paul were both part of the equity release team at Fluent.

Louise will be based at the firm’s HQ in Warrington, whilst Brian and Paul being telephone advisers, will provide whole of market advice to clients on a nationwide basis in support of the company’s growing national expansion plans.

 

Mark added, “We have an exceptionally talented and pro-active team who deliver unparalleled support and services to our clients, which have enabled the business to continue to excel.

“This is the first of many hires we expect to make throughout the year following year on year growth. Due to smartER™ consistently growing in popularity, new product launches, platform developments, new partnerships and affiliations, it is a particularly exciting time for people to join the firm and be part of this sector digital transformation.”

Data

Fortifying Frontline Defences – Cutting-Edge Enterprise Data Storage Solutions Are Revolutionising Cybersecurity

Written by Eric Herzog, CMO at Infinidat

Today, the threat of a cyberattack has become so pronounced that in a survey of Fortune 500 CEOs in 2023, the #2 threat CEOs cited to their companies was cybersecurity. We live in a data-driven world and protecting data assets is a constant challenge for all enterprise organisations. As Professor Stuart Madnick from MIT wrote in his recent paper, there was a 20% increase in the number of data breaches between 2022 and 2023 and this frequency continues to increase dramatically year-after-year.

One issue behind the rising incidents involving data breaches is that the connection between cyber security resilience and data storage systems tends to be overlooked by CTOs, CIOs, and CISOs. Enterprise storage is sometimes regarded as being at the more traditional, staid end of the technology stack compared with other newcomers, like Gen AI and EDGE computing. And yet, the type of storage in use within an organisation plays a critical role in their ability to recover quickly from a cyberattack. In this respect, storage can be considered one of the missing links to a comprehensive enterprise cyber protection strategy.

In addition to sub-optimal awareness of the vital connection between storage and cybersecurity, another contributor to organisational vulnerability is the lack of automated integration between the infrastructure where data is stored and cybersecurity monitoring systems employed. This is another enterprise security oversight. Cybersecurity monitoring systems like a SOC or SIEM, and SOAR cyber security applications, need a direct link to storage systems because this is the only way to ensure that immutable snapshotting of data – to enable a safe recovery – is automated. Cyberattacks are so prevalent today that most CTOs, CIOs, and CISOs will acknowledge that some form of ‘cyber-incident’ is likely to take place inside their organisation at some point. This is an inevitable part of doing business. The question is not if an organisation will suffer a cyberattack, but when and how often.

So, the goal now for security administrators needs to shift towards firstly protecting the organisation as effectively as possible and secondly, ensuring that the recovery phase is seamless and creates minimal problems. How can they be fully confident that primary and back-up data is safe and can be restored in minutes? And what tools exist to enable storage admins to shrink the threat window and minimise consequences of an attack?

Reaching this point calls for a brand new, more joined up approach to cyber security strategy development, employing strengthened enterprise storage security and automated cyber-scanning. And now, a unique new solution developed by enterprise storage specialists, Infinidat, does exactly this. It has already been given rave reviews by IT industry analysts because of its potential to transform cybersecurity recovery capabilities.

As several of the leading storage industry analysts have noted –

“Infinidat is one of the top enterprise storage companies in the world today, so it’s no surprise to see them launch compelling new solutions anchored in next-generation storage capabilities. With the new G4, the expanded InfiniSafe software, InfuzeOS Cloud Edition for Microsoft Azure, and all the enhancements on the InfiniVerse platform, Infinidat has solidified its position as a ‘go-to’ solution provider for hybrid multi-cloud storage infrastructures. It’s because of innovations like these that Infinidat is now synonymous in the enterprise with high performance and lower TCO for cyber resilient storage. The company is also making the right strategic investments in its InfiniVerse platform, delivering a strong Storage-as-a-Service offering that gives enterprises even more flexibility in deploying business-critical storage.” Steve McDowell, Chief Analyst, NAND Research

“Infinidat has carved out a unique leadership position as the only storage vendor to offer an automated enterprise storage cyber protection solution that seamlessly integrates with cyber security software applications. Infinidat’s newly launched InfiniSafe Automated Cyber Protection (ACP) that easily meshes with the SIEM, SOAR or Security Operations Centres is exactly what enterprises need to include enterprise storage as a comprehensive approach to combat cyber threats. This proactive cyber protection technique is extremely valuable, as it enables taking immediate immutable snapshots of data at the first sign of a potential cyberattack. This provides a significant advancement to ensure enterprise cyber storage resilience and recovery are integral to an enterprise’s cybersecurity strategy. ACP enhances an enterprise’s overall cyber resilience by reducing the threat window and minimising the impact of cyberattacks on enterprise storage environments.” Chris Evans, Principal Analyst at Architecting IT

“The new InfiniBox G4 hybrid and all-flash arrays represent a significant generational advance in cost economics and ultimate performance for enterprise-class infrastructure solutions. In EMEA we’re seeing a rapid acceleration in the Digital Shift and IT is becoming responsible for customer experience and becoming the foundation of modern business models. In addition, the performance demands of GenAI is pushing storage requirements to the limit. Infinidat has built on its proven and scalable storage platform to deliver a storage architecture that can deliver not only on today’s demanding requirements, but also on future storage needs as application demands continue to inexorably increase.” Andrew Buss, Senior Research Director, EMEA Future of Digital Infrastructure, IDC

In a world where data breaches are increasingly frequent and sophisticated, the connection between data storage and cybersecurity can no longer be overlooked. A convergent approach is paramount and there is a real need for integrated, automated and intelligent data storage solutions that offer a robust defence mechanism with added data protection and recovery capabilities. By taking a more holistic approach to cybersecurity, where storage and security are working together, enterprises can mitigate the impacts of cyber incidents and safeguard their most valuable asset: data.