Category Archives: London News

Construction News, Health, Healthcare, London, London News

Amethyst Radiotherapy achieves high-rise Gamma Knife source loader crane installation feat at Queen Square Centre, Central London

Amethyst Radiotherapy a leader in cutting-edge cancer treatment, specifically Stereotactic Radiosurgery, is proud to announce the successful upgrade of its Gamma Knife machine at its prestigious Queen Square centre in central London.

Specialised cranage equipment was used, lifting over 15 tonnes of equipment between the two high-rise buildings located in Central London. The Source Loader weighed approximately nine tonnes, with the radiation vault at roughly five tonnes – a variety of other equipment also required specialist transportation.

The Gamma Knife source loader is a sophisticated device used to precisely position radioactive sources, specifically cobalt-60, within the Gamma Knife machine.

This technology is critical for targeting and treating brain tumours with high doses of radiation, whilst minimising exposure to surrounding healthy tissues. The precision of the source loader is vital for the effectiveness and safety of Gamma Knife radiotherapy, offering non-invasive treatment options for patients with various neurological conditions and metastatic brain tumours.

Issues were faced – including an unrelated protest march which prevented the access and delivery of equipment, vehicles not following the temporary parking restrictions and more.

The complicated installation process underscores the intricate logistics undertaken by the Amethyst team to ensure a safe and efficient installation, reducing disruption to the surrounding area, whilst continuing to strive to deliver world class treatment.

Following the successful installation, the equipment will soon be resuming treatment of NHS and private patients.

 

Daniel Lumley, Director of Clinical Operations, Amethyst UK commented:

“The logistical challenges of transporting and installing the source loader and radiation vault were formidable, particularly given the dense urban environment of central London.”

”The use of a crane was essential for positioning these heavy and sensitive components with precision. Our team’s expertise in navigating these complexities was critical to the successful upgrade of our facilities – I’d like to thank all involved, from within Amethyst and the outside contractors who contributed to the project’s success.”

Mr Neil Kitchen, Consultant Neurosurgeon, Medical Director for the Queen Square Gamma Knife Unit commented:

“The reloading of our state of the art gamma knife treatment platform with brand new cobalt radiation sources will halve treatment times for our patients making their therapy less onerous and allowing us to treat many more patients efficiently thus reducing waiting times. As Clinical Director, on behalf of the clinical team, I would like to thank Amethyst UK and UCLH for completing this complicated task.”

 

Art, London News, News

Quintain Doubles Affordable Artist Space For Second Floor Studios &Amp; Arts At Wembley Park

Quintain, the award-winning developer behind Wembley Park, is strengthening its ties with Second Floor Studios & Arts as it confirms a new lease which will see the number of affordable artist workspaces more than double at Wembley Park, consisting of 56 studios, housing 80 artists.

The partnership between Quintain and Second Floor Studios & Arts began in 2016, with the first studios opened in 2018. This initial phase saw 6,880 sq. ft. of studio space built at Wembley Park. A long-term partnership, starting out as a ‘Section 106’ planning requirement, has already successfully ensured over 60% of the artists and makers are residents from the local London Borough of Brent.

The new lease will see the second phase of the affordable workspace launch, with a further 8,293 sq. ft. of studio space later this year, 25% more than required under Quintain’s planning permission. A total of 30 studios are to be provided and will be purpose-built for the visual arts, becoming home to local artists, makers and designers. Ground floor and first floor studios are provided along with a breakout area where artists and designers can come together and exchange ideas as well as a gallery wall where artwork, ceramics and designs can be displayed. All spaces are fully wheelchair accessible.

 

James Saunders, CEO of Quintain commented:

“It has been a privilege to work with Second Floor Studios & Arts to successfully support and boost the local creative community. We are committed to establish Wembley Park as a place for art and culture and have ensured that affordable space is provided so that local creatives can thrive.”

 

Nichole Herbert Wood, CEO of Second Floor Studios & Arts said:

“I am heartened to see the Quintain partnership that we have established since 2016 go from strength to strength, supporting an additional 40 artists. Thanks to backing from Quintain and Brent Council, we are pleased to provide affordable, long-term and high-quality studio spaces for artists which I believe is vital in order to protect the creative and cultural aspects of London and its communities.”

 

Councillor Shama Tatler, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Planning, Regeneration and Growth at Brent Council said:

“Our borough is brimming with creative talent and we’re committed to supporting local creatives to thrive in their hometown. Partnering with Quintain and Second Floor Studios & Arts, we’re delighted to be delivering 30 additional affordable workspaces in Wembley Park supporting even more local people to flourish.”

Appointments, London News, News, South East

CovertSwarm strengthens leadership team with three key senior appointments

CovertSwarm, the leading global red team, and cybersecurity solution provider, has announced three new senior hires to its senior leadership team in anticipation of significant growth in the coming year.

Neil Jefferies joins as the Finance Director, bringing extensive experience supporting AIM-listed companies and overseeing large-scale exits. Ronan McCrory has been recruited as Head of Product and joins from industry competitor, Cobalt.io. Meanwhile, Santi Quintana, with more than a decade of international product marketing experience, joins as the business’ first Head of Marketing. 

These strategic hires coincide with CovertSwarm’s ongoing efforts to disrupt the conventional Attack Surface Management (ASM) market. Following a highly successful 2023, the London-based company is poised to expand its operations into North America in 2024. The company was also named in the latest Startups 100 Index, recognising the UK’s pioneering startups sparking change across every sector.

During 2023, the London-based company announced it had become the youngest organisation to join the Beech Tree Private Equity portfolio after receiving investment earlier this year (ranging between £10 million – £30 million), enabling its ambitious organic growth strategy and accelerating the development of its proprietary “Offensive Operations Center” software.

Anders Reeves, CEO at CovertSwarm, said: “These strategic senior appointments underscore our rapid growth trajectory while affirming our ability to attract top-tier talent from established industry players.

“Our latest hires align with our commitment to revolutionise and disrupt the Attack Surface Management (ASM) sector, challenge the outdated industry norms, and establish a new standard of excellence.

“The addition of key roles in Product, Marketing, Business Development, and Finance also demonstrates our focused expansion in North America, underlining our dedication to enhancing global operations and achieving sustained growth.

“These appointments reflect our continuous pursuit of maturity and prominence in the cybersecurity landscape, emphasising our persistent efforts to punch above our weight and make a resounding impact in the industry.”

 

London News, Storage

Attic Self Storage Bolsters London Expansion with Acquisition of New Site in South West London

London-based Attic Self Storage is pleased to announce the acquisition of a prominent site situated off Junction 1 of the M3 in Sunbury.  The 3.7-acre site will be converted to provide 50,000 sq feet of self-storage to help satisfy growing demand across the capital.  The facility, which will open in the first half of 2024, will include a range of self-storage units to cater for both domestic and business users alike in a well-lit and welcoming environment.

This latest acquisition builds on the success of Attic’s five existing established locations across London, the most recent of which to open was the Beckton facility in 2022.  Attic’s Harrow store was awarded SSA Independent Store of the Year in 2022 and the team is now focused on delivering the same high standard with the development of the Sunbury site.

Attic is majority owned by Metric Capital Partners and has access to a strategic debt facility, provided by Nuveen Real Estate. They are on course to continue their expansion across London throughout 2024 with the launch of new facilities in Barking, Enfield and New Southgate.  Attic is focused on securing 10 further locations across London in the coming months to deliver its ambition of being the largest independent storage provider in the capital.

CEO Richard Hodsden comments, “We are extremely pleased to be able to build on our successful portfolio of stores with this latest addition in Sunbury.  This new location, along with our pipeline stores and future acquisitions, will help us in our mission to deliver an increasing network of best in class, customer-focused self-storage locations across the London area.”

Attic provides modern, state-of-the art self-storage facilities with a strong customer focus.  The company’s digital-led approach with electronic, app-controlled locks, 24-hour access ensures that the customer experience and simplifying the self-storage process are always a priority of everything we do.  Attic aim to build all new sites to a BREEAM Excellent standard or above with a focus on sustainability, incorporating elements such as EV charging and solar panels with the aim of being operationally carbon neutral.

With a strong ethos of supporting and engaging with the local communities in which they operate, being a core value of the business, Attic has donated more than £8,000 so far this year to local London foodbanks to help with the cost-of-living crisis.

About Attic Self Storage:

Attic Self Storage is an independent London based self-storage business established in 2006. The first facility launched in Bow in 2008, and second one in late 2016 near King’s Cross.

Attic presents state of the art facilities and develops new services and digital tools to ensure customer service is at the forefront of the business. It was the first operator to offer a full online quotation, check-in and account management system in 2016 and the world-first to offer virtual reality in self-storage. Customer are given complimentary 24-hour access to their unit within a safe and welcoming environment and since the opening of the Marylebone store, Attic has introduced electronic, keyless locks to its storage units. Additionally, Attic’s Harrow site is carbon negative and all new sites will also be carbon negative. Now with 5 stores across London, Attic is working to reduce its environmental impact by aiming to be operationally carbon negative across new stores.

As well as storage, Attic offers work pod hire, packaging products and mailbox rental. Attic actively engages with the local communities served by the business, supporting local charities and good causes wherever it can.

To find out more about Attic Self Storage please visit: www.atticstorage.co.uk

AI, AV tech, Finance and Banking, Investment, London, London News, Tech, Technology

AI video generation startup Immersive Fox secures €3.3m seed to advance ‘AI twin’ technology

Funding will support R&D and product advancement of AI solution that unlocks personalised video production at scale

London-based Immersive Fox – a tech startup specialising in AI-generated videos for sales and corporate communication – has closed a €3.3million [£2.8million] seed funding round to help advance proprietary AI technology that allows clients to create unlimited video content using their face and voice.

Defying investor trends – which have seen top venture capitalists favour fintech of late – the funding comes from a trio of prominent VC firms, including Redseed VC, Monte Carlo Capital, and Altair.

While total VC investment into UK businesses has slumped, B2B technology enablement is becoming a key driver of investment, not only in finance but across every sector.

Immersive Fox, which currently has a host of customers on a waitlist across the fields of sales enablement, customer communications, learning & development and corporate communications, offers a superior alternative to traditional video content production – an often painful, time-intensive and expensive process for sales and marketing professionals (on average video production takes 3+ weeks and $2000-$5000/min).

As social media marketing rises, some have wondered “is email marketing dead?” However, in the battle for attention, video wins – viewers retain 95% of a message when they watch it on video, compared to 10% when reading it in a text. Despite this, few have the resources to produce it at scale. Immersive Fox’s solution allows its clients to create personalised videos on mass, in 1 minute to generate a 1 minute of sales videos on average – shaving 7 minutes off closest competitors. This saves time and money, enabling businesses to enhance customer experiences, streamline operations, and unlock new possibilities for growth.

Funding has been allocated to developing the company’s cutting-edge technologies further – with product and R&D plans including a video analytics tool, embeddable video player, UI animations and captions, and full body movement synthesis from text.

Boosting sales and attracting new talent is also on the agenda following the raise, with Immersive Fox aiming to increase its team twofold by the end of this year, to penetrate new markets and strengthen customer relationships.

Eugene Belov, managing partner at Redseed VC – one of the largest investors in Immersive Fox’s latest round – comments: “Artificial Intelligence came to the foreground of the investor community during 2022. With the rise of generative AI and LLMs, the tremendous disruptive potential of this technology became apparent to the broader population. However, the true value of any new technology lies in the extent to which it solves and simplifies existing problems and challenges. While we were very impressed with Immersive Fox’s tech stack and brilliant team, what really solidified the investment case for us was the company’s razor-sharp focus on the sales & marketing use case, which to this day saw very little innovation and disruption throughout the years. We are strong believers in the tremendous value Immersive Fox and its technology can generate for sales teams across multiple verticals by constantly tailoring their product to their customer’s needs.”

Alisa Patotskaya, CEO and Founder of Immersive Fox, adds: “This significant investment is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, who work together diligently to bring a wealth of experience and professionalism to the table. Both my team and investors are all excited to see how this innovation shapes the industry.”

Key features of the Immersive Fox technology include:-

  • quick onboarding of customers  – one week
  • personal avatars or ‘digital twins’ are created at speed and off the back of only two 4-minute videos
  • high-resolution personalised video content is generated in 1 minute compared to market competitors at 8 minutes
  • using a cloned voice, videos are auto-translatable into 50+ languages
  • the company has integrated with HubSpot and other systems, empowering their CRM, and allowing video to become central to HubSpot’s sales process.

Privacy and security are also paramount concerns for the company, who have taken proactive measures to prevent the theft of personalised avatars, clearly defining ownership in contracts, while all data is securely stored on its servers, ensuring confidentiality and peace of mind.

Electric Vehicles, EVs and Automotive News, London, London News, Telematics

Enfield Council Adopts Ground-Breaking AI Video Telematics For Electric RCV And Targets Road Safety Improvements

Enfield Council has teamed up with VisionTrack to lead the way in road safety and stay at the forefront of fleet innovation. The London borough has worked closely with its existing video telematics partner to develop a sophisticated AI-powered vehicle camera solution for its first fully-electric refuse collection vehicle (RCV). The Renault E-Tech D Wide 26-tonne truck has been specially-designed by Enfield Council and Renault Trucks, to create the most advanced and high-performing waste management vehicle currently available.

“Our aim was to develop an electric RCV of the future that brings together class-leading technologies and helps achieve sustainability, duty of care and road safety goals,” said Cllr Rick Jewell, Cabinet Member for Environment at Enfield Council.  “The collaboration with VisionTrack will provide increased protection to our residents, refuse collection teams and other road users.”

The video telematics solution combines four AI cameras, for 360-degree vision and vulnerable road user (VRU) detection, along with two wing mirror cameras and an external speaker for audible lefthand turn warnings. The intelligent detection cameras use deep learning technology to identify pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and people on scooters, while disregarding street furniture.

With configurable safety zones, blind spots around the vehicle will be eliminated and drivers alerted to the precise location of nearby VRUs. Footage will automatically be displayed on an in-cab monitor, and supplemented with an audible, spoken warning. Road safety insight – including footage of collisions, near misses and harsh driving events – will also be uploaded to the Autonomise.ai IoT platform, so Enfield Council has complete visibility of driver, vehicle and fleet risk.

The ultra-quiet Renault Trucks E-Tech D Wide Low Entry Cab, equipped with a CP Davidson Titan refuse body, is the first of four to be delivered and will service local households. The electric RCV has been in development for over a year, with Enfield Council and Renault Trucks working in partnership to create a prototype that met the precise needs of a large, busy, London borough. It underwent extensive testing and road trials in Enfield, which demonstrated impressive performance levels, reliability and battery life.

Richard Kent, President of Global Sales at VisionTrack commented: “As a longstanding partner of Enfield Council, we have been supporting their road safety strategy for a number of years with our proven video telematics technologies. This latest initiative uses the latest advances in AI to deliver a ground-breaking solution for a revolutionary waste collection vehicle. It will demonstrate the potential of intelligent camera solutions – especially for heavy vehicles in the urban environment – in terms of 360 visibility, people detection and fleet risk reduction.”

Awards, London News, News

Smart certified as a Great Place to Work® for 2023

Smart, the London-headquartered fintech disrupting the $62 trillion global retirement savings market, has received a series of awards for its workplace culture across the globe.

Launched in 2015, the business has now been named an overall leader in workplace practices in the US, UK and Poland by Great Place to Work®, a leading authority for workplace culture.

Globally, Smart received survey results of 90% and above for ten different categories in Great Place to Work’s Trust IndexTM, significantly higher than the minimum of 65% needed to be certified. Employees consistently praised the company for making them feel welcome, for being honest and ethical, and for valuing work-life balance. Smart was also lauded for being a friendly place to work, for treating employees with respect, and for treating people fairly regardless of their gender, sexuality, race or ethnic origin.

Acclaimed as one of the top 50 large employers in the UK, Smart received recognition of its excellence across multiple areas. It was ranked as 15th best workplace among tech employers, 19th best company for promoting employee wellbeing, and 38th best employer for women in the workplace.

Smart was highly commended for its building facilities. In 2021, Smart signed a 15-year lease on a new London headquarters at 136 George Street. The building is one of the first all-electric powered office buildings in central London, operationally carbon-zero and using electricity from renewable sources. WiredScore Gold Certified, Smart’s headquarters has best-in-class digital connectivity.

Smart, which has 85 people working in its Polish office, also ranked on the Great Place to Work Trust IndexTM for Poland, where it was named 13th best employer in the Small & Medium category.

Smart also achieved additional recognition for employee satisfaction in the US. Stadion Money Management – acquired by Smart in 2022 – was recently named a Best Place to Work by Pensions & Investments. Employee feedback emphasised the company’s family-like atmosphere, positive work culture, and sense of purpose.

Martin Warner, Director of Talent at Smart, added:

“We’re thrilled to receive recognition for a third consecutive year from Great Place to Work®, and this time to be awarded certification in three of our locations around the world. Having happy and good people in our team is one of our Smart Principles, so this means adapting to different challenges and listening to our staff as we grow.

“Our people matter, and we are passionate about investing in the wellbeing of our teams. Amongst a variety of benefits, we provide 24/7 access to mental health support and offer multiple physical wellbeing support resources. We also offer mindfulness sessions and ‘lunch and learns’.

“We’re a diverse team, made up of people from different backgrounds, experiences and skills. We’ve increased our headcount significantly over the last few years, rising from around 150 people in 2019 to over 800 today, which included onboarding over 200 colleagues during the pandemic.”

About Smart
Smart is a global savings and investments technology platform provider. Its mission is to transform retirement, savings and financial wellbeing, across all generations, around the world.

Smart partners with governments and financial institutions (including insurers, asset managers, banks and financial advisers) to deliver retirement savings and income solutions that are digital, bespoke and cost efficient. In addition to the UK, Smart is operating in the US, Europe, Australia and the Middle East with more than a million savers entrusting over £4 billion in assets on the platform.

Smart supports its clients with a 800+ strong global team.

Legal & General Investment Management, J.P. Morgan, the Link Group, Barclays, Natixis Investment Managers, Chrysalis Investments, DWS Group, and Fidelity International Strategic Ventures are all investors in Smart.

For more information, please visit Smart.co

 

London News, News, Property, Property Buyer News

Bellway London invites Watford homebuyers to meet managing agents

Homebuyers at Bellway London’s Waterside at Riverwell development, in Watford, were invited to attend a ‘Meet the Managing Agents’ mixer, as part of the housebuilders initiative to deliver award winning customer service, even after the customers have moved in.

All customers who have purchased a new home at Waterside at Riverwell had the unique opportunity to meet staff from PBM Property Management, about the aftercare they will receive, now construction has finished and Bellway’s sales and site team will be moving off site.

The session, which was attended by over 50 residents, was held in the development’s sales and marketing suite, where light refreshments and canapes were provided.

Waterside at Riverwell is a development of 143 Bellway London homes off Thomas Sawyer Way, comprising 110 apartments for private sale and 33 affordable properties available for local people through rent or shared ownership.

PBM Property Management has now taken charge of the upkeep of the apartment buildings, the concierge service, the residents private gym and the communal and landscaped areas, including the podium gardens.

Greg Allsop, Sales Director for Bellway London, said: “We wanted to take the opportunity to host an event where the new residents of Waterside at Riverwell, could meet the managing agents in an informal environment.

“The aftercare to those who have bought a Bellway property, is really important to us and doesn’t stop once the team have moved off site. We look after our customers from enquiry through to completion and onwards. The event was clearly a well-received idea because a significant proportion of our customers turned up on the day.

“As a responsible housebuilder, we felt it was important for us to use our links with both the residents and the managing agents to bring them together and give an opportunity for people to ask any questions they might have. There are often lots of queries surrounding apartment block and estate management, service charges and living in a leasehold property, so this three-hour session enabled those questions to be answered.

“Bellway has achieved five-star builder status with the Home Builders Federation (HBF) for six years in a row because nine out of ten of our customers would recommend us to a friend. We are proud of this coveted status which comes as a result of always putting our customers first.

“This event is a perfect example of how we are trying to ensure that our buyers experience the very best level of customer care we can provide.”

Waterside at Riverwell is part of the wider Riverwell regeneration project. The scheme is a joint venture between Watford Borough Council and Kier Property to develop 70 acres of land to the south of Watford General Hospital and Watford Football Club.

In addition to providing new homes, the project includes plans for a new two-form entry primary school, community centre, flexible workspaces and more than 4.5 acres of green open space.

There’s currently only a handful of apartments left for sale at the development, with a selection of one and two-bedroom apartments available to reserve, with prices starting at £269,995 and £380,000 respectively.

For more information about the development visit https://www.bellwaylondon.co.uk/new-homes/north-london/waterside-at-riverwell or call the sales team on 01923 700486.

Fashion, London News, News, North of England, Retail, Retail & E-commerce

Recycled cashmere brand hosts pop-ups at John Lewis this September

Luxury second-hand fashion brand, Nearly New Cashmere Co is set to host two pop-up stores later this month at high-street retailer John Lewis stores in Greater Manchester and London.

The family-run company was established in 2015 by entrepreneur Ali Orr from her home in the Yorkshire Dales. Since then, it’s become a leading shopping destination for cashmere lovers – who can shop for luxury cashmere knitwear at affordable prices. 

The skilled team at Nearly New Cashmere Co works meticulously to restore, repair and hand-finish cashmere pieces to a like-new standard. They’re also passionate about waste reduction and finding innovative ways to reuse discarded cashmere. This process includes transforming jumpers into neck warmers, fingerless gloves, beanie hats and other accessories.

The sustainable fashion brand has a restore and repair service for customers who wish to extend the life of their existing cashmere pieces and exchange service. The exchange service is for customers that want to exchange their old cashmere items for credit to spend at Nearly New Cashmere Co. The team hopes this will encourage people to wear clothing and accessories for longer and positively impact the environment.

Sharing more about what customers can expect at the pop-ups, founder Ali Orr comments: “At Nearly New Cashmere Co, we specialise in repairing and restoring second-hand and vintage 100% cashmere clothing into like-new quality cashmere pieces. We are passionate about saving discarded garments that would otherwise end up going to waste.

“Over the years, we’ve hosted many pop-up stores and stalls at fairs across the UK, and we’re always excited to run these. They’re an excellent opportunity to meet some of our customers in person. 

“We will have an extensive range of men’s and women’s cashmere clothing and accessories available at the pop-up shops, including cashmere scarves, cashmere jumpers, and cashmere cardigans. 

“We appreciate that second-hand and sustainable shoppers are conscious about the products they’re buying, and rightly so. With that in mind, the pop-ups present a great opportunity to chat with customers about the products, the repair and restoration process, and cashmere care and styling.”

The Nearly New Cashmere Co pop-up stalls will take place later this month at the John Lewis store in Stratford, London, from 20-25 September, and the John Lewis store in Trafford, Manchester, from 26 September-2 October. 

Both of these events coincide with Oxfam’s Second Hand September – a sustainable style challenge to encourage people to buy only second hand items for 30 days in the month of September.

London News, News, Property

Hunter Jones becomes leading consultancy for property investment following launch of new Group structure

Alternative property investment firm, Hunter Jones, has unveiled its new Group structure to establish the brand as a leading consultancy for diligently researched and structured property investment opportunities.

A growing force in the property investment and development sector, Hunter Jones was originally launched in 2013 as an alternative investment introducer, and since this time has raised over £100 million for structured investment opportunities in partnership with multiple leading developers.

With a proven track-record in delivering above average returns for its investors, Hunter Jones established sister brand, HJ Property, in 2021 with a clear vision to meet the increasing demand for property acquisitions, delivered off-market and with attractive rates.

In combining both Hunter Jones and HJ Property under the new Hunter Jones Group, Founder and CEO, Reece Mennie, has established a forward-thinking and holistic service – ranging from diligently researched alternative investment and direct property acquisition opportunities for investors, through to an alternative and specialised lending facility for developers.

He explained: “For investors, there’s a huge amount of stability and potential to be found in bricks and mortar – but only if you can maximise that potential with the right kind of expertise, accessible guidance, and the influence that only seasoned specialists, like our team at Hunter Jones Group, can provide.

In establishing our new group structure, we are confident we can advise on and deliver a wealth of exciting opportunities through alternative and direct investment with above average returns, while offering developers access to our advanced and alternative lending facility. We have made excellent progress over the last several years and are now committed to ensuring Hunter Jones Group is the UK’s leading property investment consultancy for years to come.”

Headquartered in Canary Wharf, London, Hunter Jones Group now employs a team of 25 property development and investment specialists.