Tag Archives: App

News

Welsh sports stars, helpline and fitness app unite for World Mental Health Day

A SUPPORT helpline and pioneering Wales-based fitness app have joined forces to promote mental health awareness.

Fitap provides a platform for communities in Wales to get moving; supporting people in their health and wellbeing journey involves their mental health, and signposting services in their geographical area, as well as encouraging people to exercise, eat healthily and keep active will aid their mental and physical welfare.

Alongside CALL Mental Health Helpline for Wales – and to mark World Mental Health Day today (October 10) – they have united to shine a light on an issue which is more prevalent than ever given the post-pandemic economic and social climate.

Fitap founder Alex Cuthbert – who launched the app with Wales rugby union teammate Gareth Anscombe and Welsh CEO and entrepreneur Dean Jones – is proud to be in association with CALL.

He said: “From a sporting perspective, given the demands of the game and the abuse and negativity you can experience on social media and online, it is so important to look after your mental health.

“Having experienced that myself and seen friends and other players impacted, it was a big part of the reason we wanted to do all we could to get behind CALL and promote the value of exercise, social interaction, and nutrition, especially given the amount of time people spent in self-isolation and lockdown.

“Knowing someone is there for you is important, and for those who do not have friends or family to talk to, being able to pick up the phone and speak to the amazing team at CALL is a lifeline.”

Dean added: “We are delighted to be in partnership with CALL and through Fitap can help display and demonstrate the wide range of services available for those who need them most, whether it’s a support group, a phone number or website, there are people who can help at the touch of a button.

“It’s crucial that we get people talking and remove any stigmas around mental health, because it affects so many people, especially at the current time. By putting all this information in one central, accessible place Fitap can help people with that.”

Statistics from MentalHealth-UK.org website revealed people who take part in regular physical activity have up to a 30% lower risk of depression, so the pairing of the app and charity are a perfect match.

CALL Manager Luke Ogden reinforced Dean’s words and thanked Fitap – which unveiled double Olympic gold medallist Jade Jones as a brand ambassador in past weeks – for making mental health services a priority.

“We are pleased to be working with Fitap to promote good mental and physical health to the people of Wales,” he said.

“Mental and physical wellbeing are both closely related and can have an effect on each other, and we feel it is essential that everyone has the tools to learn how they can look after themselves.”

Luke added: “CALL Helpline is an all-Wales mental health helpline, free to use for anyone living in Wales.

“We give emotional support and provide a listening ear for anyone wanting to discuss their mental health concerns and can also signpost users to services across the country.

“Like Fitap, we are always available and are able to support the people of Wales both in Welsh and English – 24/7.”

For more information on Fitap, follow @fitapofficial on social media. 

Text 81066 or call freephone 0800 132 737 for more on CALL Mental Health Helpline for Wales. Alternatively, visit www.callhelpline.org.uk.

Visit the World Health Organisation website for news and information on World Mental Health Day: www.who.int/campaigns/world-mental-health-day

News

Double Olympic champion joins fitness app to get Wales moving in obesity crisis

DOUBLE Olympic gold medallist Jade Jones has partnered with a revolutionary fitness app with the goal of getting people moving in Wales.

Jade, from Flint, has joined Wales-based Fitap as a brand ambassador, along with founders Welsh Rugby Union stars Alex Cuthbert and Gareth Anscombe.

A former world and European champion in the rising sport of Taekwondo, the 29 year-old ‘Headhunter’ was also champion at the London and Rio Olympics.

She hopes to inspire more females into exercise and healthy living, which will contribute to conquering Wales’ obesity crisis.

As Fitap – which launches before the end of the year – is offering free advertising space to industry professionals until January 2023, Jade says the time is now for businesses to take advantage of the offering and support in our bid to get Welsh people moving.

“Being a role model to young women and anyone who wants to improve their body and mind is very important to me, so I’m delighted to join the Fitap family,” she said.

“There is nothing like this in the country, a unique platform connecting users with multiple sports, activities, and community groups, whatever your age, ability, or background.

“Sport is for everyone, and that’s one of the main reasons I’m so passionate about Fitap and the potential it has to transform the way we access local services, getting people moving and bringing them together, especially post-pandemic.”

Jade added: “I look forward to seeing how the app develops over the coming months and playing my part in spreading the word – it’s an honour to be a part of it.”

Founded by Wales rugby union internationals Alex Cuthbert and Gareth Anscombe, in partnership with Welsh CEO and entrepreneur Dean Jones, the app, website and search engine will save users time and money, delivering options they may never have come across before based on their specific requirements, geographical location, budget, and availability.

‘’Fitap is an affordable and accessible platform that gives independent gyms, health groups, individual exercise instructors as well as free-to-access community groups a platform to showcase their services and facilities and create awareness in the community,’’ said Dean.

“Having Jade on board – a respected, successful athlete who truly cares about improving health and fitness in communities across Wales – is a huge coup for us and we are absolutely delighted she will now be a part of our journey.

“Fitap is a game changer for the sector, which has been reflected in the money we have raised and feedback from businesses, sports stars, and people in this arena.

“We are filling a void and helping to build a more active, engaged population here in Wales and further afield, as well as raising the app’s profile and promoting and sharing key issues and information on mental health and other vital subjects.

“Jade will play a major role in that; we are thrilled she is part of the team and encourage people to get in touch and be a part of it.”

For more information on Fitap, visit www.fitap.co.uk and follow @fitapofficial on social media. 

News

Rugby stars aim to convert gym goers to innovative new health and fitness app

TWO high profile Welsh rugby players and an entrepreneur have completed a successful round of investment to support the relaunch of a fitness app that will revolutionise the way people access exercise and leisure services in Wales.

Fitap is an innovative search platform connecting gym owners, personal trainers, sports clubs and health and fitness providers with consumers at the touch of a button.

Founded by Wales rugby union internationals Alex Cuthbert and Gareth Anscombe, in partnership with Welsh CEO and entrepreneur Dean Jones, the app is unique and will enable users to search for services in their area, saving time and money and delivering options they may never have come across before.

Those who download Fitap – which is offering free advertising space to fitness professionals until January 2023 – can set up a profile and identify choices tailored to their specific requirements, geographical location, budget, and availability.

“For those providing fitness services, especially independent gyms and personal training facilities, the costs of marketing and advertising is high, and difficult to measure the return on investment. Fitap is an affordable, measurable, and accessible alternative,” said Dean.

“We are excited to share more with people in the coming months as this is a game-changer for the industry and are thankful to those who have supported us on this journey since our soft launch in 2020, notably the well-known businesses and sporting stars who got behind our successful fundraise recently, raising over £200,000.”

Alex and Gareth – key members of the Ospreys and Wales rugby union sides – echoed those comments and believe Fitap will help build a more active and engaged population in Wales.

“At present there is no one-specific place for people to explore their health and fitness options, so the app will fill that void,” said Alex.

“Everybody is different and that includes where they are on their health and exercise journey, so this will give them an easy-to-use alternative to scouring the internet in the hope of finding something suitable.

“We are passionate about helping others to be fit, happy and healthy, so it’s brilliant to be able to relaunch Fitap to the market.”

Gareth added: “As well as physical health the mental health of consumers is hugely important to us – particularly in light of the Covid-19 pandemic and self-isolation – so we have a free section where organisations can promote and share their mental health awareness information and activities.

“The app will support users with a bespoke end-to-end experience and give fitness providers a platform to connect directly with them, so they can advertise discounts and offers, and help bring the health and fitness arena to a modern, tech-savvy audience.

“Fitness classes offered vary from gym classes and tennis lessons to white water rafting and kids summer rugby camps, both online and offline – the range is vast and inclusive.

“We are all heartened by the feedback we’ve received so far as this is exactly what the industry has been waiting for, so watch this space!”

For more information on Fitap, visit www.fitap.co.uk and follow @fitapofficial on social media. 

News

Management buyout and new owners for pioneering pet retail chain

A PIONEERING pet retailer is under new ownership and on the rise following a period of recruitment and investment.

Sion Pritchard and Paul Penketh, directors of Snowdon Holdings, are now majority shareholders of PetPlace having completed a management buyout (MBO).

The company has stores in Abergele, Ruthin, Mold, Llangefni and Chirk, and a headquarters on Tir Llwyd Enterprise Park in Kinmel Bay.

Both Paul and Sion, from Colwyn Heights, were already leading the North Wales business – supported by founder Gwyn Lewis – and are thrilled to be at the helm as PetPlace begins a new era.

With turnover exceeding £10m for the first time, plans to expand their 100-strong team with more sales and administrative staff and the potential to open further stores in the coming years, Sion says they are perfectly placed to grow further post-pandemic.

“The last two years have raised challenges but also given us the opportunity to advance the business in-store and behind the scenes,” said Sion.

“Everything is moving in the right direction, but we are looking at the future, which will eventually include further stores and more staff.

“Whatever happens, we will continue with our long-term and controlled approach and as always the pets and their owners are the number one for priority for everyone here.”

Among the biggest developments during Covid was the opening of a new dispatch warehouse to manage the growing number of online orders, and a popular loyalty app.

All a long way from the launch of Farm and Pet Place in 1970, which started from the back of a van and grew under Gwyn’s initial stewardship to become the region’s leading independent pet product retailer.

He is thrilled the organisation he founded will be in “safe hands” for the next generation and said: “I am excited to take a step aside and embrace this new era. Paul and Sion have so many wonderful ideas and will lead PetPlace to even greater heights, I’m sure.

“I am proud of them both and of course delighted to see PetPlace go from strength to strength after all these years – best of luck to you both.”

Paul added: “Both Sion and I are proud to have been part of the PetPlace family for a long time, so to now be taking it forward and building for the future is a huge privilege for us.

“There are many exciting developments on the horizon as we continue to evolve and have a positive impact on the local economy and the specialist pet retail sector – watch this space.”

For more information on PetPlace, including the PetPlace Plus+ loyalty app, follow @petplaceUK on Facebook and Instagram or email sales@farmandpetplace.co.uk. The app is available on platforms including Google Play and The App Store. 

Education News, News

Yorkshire-based edtech startup shapes the future of physical activity in UK schools

An education technology firm based in Doncaster is shaping the mental and physical wellbeing of school pupils across the UK with 100 schools expected to sign up in the first year.

Myphizz is an app designed to encourage the mass participation of physical activity in both primary and secondary schools. Using a live leaderboard, children have the ability to set their own imaginative and creative challenges in classrooms, playgrounds or at home and compare results both across their school and nationally. Teachers also have access to a functional control dashboard which measures individual pupils’ activity levels. 

By drawing on the expertise of schools, the app gives pupils control over their own physical activity and supplements school curriculums. The app also works with a growing number of inspirational role models to encourage children to become more active. 

One of those role models is British Olympic sprinter, Adam Gemili. He said: “The mental and physical wellbeing of children has never been more crucial; with lockdown restrictions having a negative impact on activity levels, many children are now sadly not meeting the recommended level of exercise. 

“myphizz gives children autonomy and empowers them to manage their own levels of physical activity through choosing exactly the types of exercise they enjoy. Whether they’re completely new to physical activity and enjoy inventing their own fun and wacky physical challenges, or they’re an aspiring athlete!”

The app was created by a group of four ex teachers who wanted to encourage children to engage in a more active, healthier and happier lifestyle. Two full time software developers have worked with the founders to employ the latest programming techniques to realise the initial concept of myphizz. The technology, which runs through secure schools networks and is only visible to school communities, can be accessed via PC, tablets or mobile phones.

Anthony McBride, a founder of myphizz, said: “A key part of the myphizz app has been building on our positive relationships with schools that we have through our other projects. It’s crucial that we ensure inclusivity for pupils, while providing schools with a sustainable way of offering more creative opportunities for physical activity. 

“With schools still being impacted by the pandemic and children potentially missing out on physical activity whilst isolating at home, myphizz provides a way for schools to continue communicating and engaging pupils in exercise whilst not in the school setting. It’s an absolute honour to have the opportunity to build a lasting impact on the health of our young people and encourage them to get involved in sport.”

Siobhan Roe, teacher at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Halifax who’s used the app, added: “myphizz has been a huge hit amongst our year three pupils – there’s been such a buzz in the classroom with every single pupil involved in creating, sharing and accomplishing activities. The children have rushed home to tell their parents all about their ‘phizzes’ and we can’t wait to see the rest of school enjoy it.

“The platform is so easy to use and I’ve found the images to describe the ‘phizzes’ really useful as it helps a lot of the children with their reading and spellings as they compare words and pictures. The mix of activities that can be set is incredible – we’ve used myphizz for practicing our times tables as well as challenging each other to do as many press-ups as possible!”

Over the next five years, myphizz hopes to have signed up 700 schools and become an instantly recognisable name in education. The business also plans to solidify the link between elite sporting organisations and schools to scout the next generation of talented athletes, and have made a positive impact on the lives of young people across the UK.

For more information, please visit myphizz.com.

Automotive, News

Southampton entrepreneur launches the world’s first in-app prestige car marketplace

From an iconic Formula One 1996 Williams-Renault FW18-3 to a classic Mercedes-Benz 300SL 1961 Roadster or a James Bond-esque 1965 Aston Martin DB5 – the world’s most desirable cars have been brought together in one place for the very first time following the launch of an innovative mobile app dedicated to the prestige car market – the brainchild of Southampton-based entrepreneur Reuben Smith.

Prestige Driver App™ has been created for car enthusiasts in the market for their dream car or those looking to add to a collection. Working in partnership with dealerships from the UK, Europe and the US, as well as industry publications, the app brings together a live inventory from multiple prestige car dealers into one place to significantly streamline the buying process.

Cars for sale in the app range from £60,000 to over £1,000,000 with sports cars, classic cars and performance vehicles all featured for sale. Whilst there are cars to suit all budgets, a number of those featured are so rare or renowned that they are labelled as price on application.

Three of the world’s most lusted over cars – you could buy today:

For those in the market for a performance car, one of the most successful Formula 1 models of all time is currently featured. Offered by SpeedMaster Cars is the 1996 Williams – Renault FW18-3. The FW18 won 12 of 16 races and the World Championship in 1996, designed by Adrian Newey the car dominated the opposition. The car was driven to two pole positions, three race wins and two second places by Jaques Villeneuve and decided the World Championship in the last race of the season.

Or for classic car enthusiasts with £1.1 million to spare, Hexagon Classics is selling an iconic Mercedes-Benz 300SL 1961 Roadster. Looked after by experts, the large history file on the car reads like a Who’s Who of the Mercedes Benz scene. The cover star of countless magazines and newspapers and used as the parade car for Sir Stirling Moss at Goodwood Festival, it is surely one of the finest examples on offer today.

Perhaps you are looking to James Bond to inspire your next car purchase – how about a 1965 Aston Martin DB5 – one of Bond’s most iconic cars featuring in eight films to date. With less than 900 coupes manufactured for global distribution, this iconic car is for sale with price on application – DB5s tend to fetch around £400,000 t0 £900,000.

As well as appealing to those in the market for one of these distinctive cars, the app enables enthusiasts to indulge their passion with article content on motor racing, historic, classic, competition and the latest supercars.

Reuben Smith, Founder of Prestige Driver App™ said: “The prestige car buying market is booming right now and there is huge investment potential in classic, performance and sports cars – especially when bought for the right price and kept in good condition. The launch of the new James Bond films has also driven up interest in classic cars with Aston Martins extremely popular at the moment. That said, the market for models from the 1980s and 1990s is also starting to gain some traction.

“With online auctions and sales really growing in popularity sine the pandemic, buyers are demanding that the buying process be as streamlined as possible and in-app marketplaces which curate content centrally are set to dominate this sector. The app allows those in the market for a prestige car to access and research cars from the palm of their hand. With stock from multiple dealers from across the world in one place.

“Whilst app-based marketplaces really are the future for many specialist sectors, motoring magazines are still extremely popular with this audience so we have integrated functionality which bridges the gap between traditional media and the online space. The scan function means that users can instantly bring to life print adverts within the app to offer rich, multimedia content.

“We have hundreds of prestige cars from dealers from across the world and the inventory is growing daily. Whilst there are many rare gems to be found within the app we really do feel that we have something for everyone with sports cars ranging from £80,000 to £350,000 selling extremely well.”

If you are looking to invest in a classic car – Reuben has this advice:

“When it comes to investing in cars there are a number of factors that you need to take into consideration – from budget to how you intend to use it and whether you are looking for something unusual and rare or a classic that you can use day-to-day. You might also be looking to invest in something which you can restore – in that case you are more likely to buy though auction.

“The key is to do your homework first – read up on the type of cars that you are interested in buying and gain an understanding of the best models to invest in, running and servicing costs and any other issues that particular models may regularly experience. You also could join an owners club which can provide lots of valuable insights and advice.

“Ultimately budget is going to be a huge deciding factor when you come to buy – you can pick up cars for as little as a few thousand pounds, right up to millions of pounds for the rarest models. That said, many classic cars will offer you a good return if bought at the right price and well looked after – and for many, collecting is a passion project and long term investment.

“Before parting with your money, make sure that you fully inspect the car. You may want to pay an experienced classic car engineer to come along with you to identify any issues or faults. Buying through a reputable dealer is always recommended – especially for cars with higher price tags. You can research and source a wide range of classic cars via Prestige Driver App™, which will link you straight with a specialist dealer.”

To learn more visit https://targetcars.app/

News

Armadillo launches Summer Surprises for McDonald’s in Ireland

Armadillo, the CRM agency, launches Summer Surprises for McDonald’s in Ireland this week. The new campaign is based around giving customers an unbeatable offer every day for 14 days to be redeemed exclusively on the McDonald’s app. It starts on Monday 9 and ends on Sunday 22 August.

The campaign will run across channels including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. To redeem each offer, users must register on the app and activate their daily deal in restaurant or at the Drive-thru.

As the UK and Republic of Ireland (ROI) CRM agency for McDonald’s, this marks the first campaign Armadillo has run in the ROI, and the agency fully devised the concept and visual identity for the campaign, creating all in-app assets, copy and socials. The agency also created static search banner ads and social animations for the nine strongest offers (a full list of all 14 is below).

All media was planned by Mediaworks.

Currently the sole CRM channel and focus of all personalised marketing, the McDonald’s app launched late last year and is currently building an audience. An uplift in guest count and order value can already be seen as a result of activity through the app.

Hannah Waters, Creative Director: “This has been a really exciting project for us, as we’ve been involved in the end-to-end process, from conception to completion, in a fresh territory. We’re confident we can apply our UK learnings to the Irish market and activity will lead to increased downloads and engagement with the McDonald’s app.”

Armadillo has been working with McDonald’s for over a decade and won a DMA Gold Award for its role in the Monopoly promotion in 2018.

 

Credits

 

Jo Penn – Client Partner

Hannah Waters – Creative Director

Rob Pellow – Innovation Director

Will Barnes – Digital Art Director

Charlie Bulmer – Conceptual Copywriter

Emily Sowden – Copywriter

Rachel Pyke – Producer

Retail

Pioneering pet chain unveils new North Wales HQ after pandemic sales hike

A LEADING pet retailer has opened new headquarters following a pandemic sales boom.

PetPlace – which has stores in Abergele, Ruthin, Mold, Llangefni and Chirk – has joined Tir Llwyd Enterprise Park in Kinmel Bay.

The company, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, will be based out of a 10,000 sq ft office and warehouse facility.

Managing Director Sion Pritchard said: “As a company we have grown and grown over the past few years, and that growth has accelerated since the onset of the pandemic.

“We quickly adapted to the challenges, transforming our stores into Covid-safe environments – installing Record FlowControl, a revolutionary automated system – introducing other safety measures and ramping-up the click and collect service to meet a 600% rise in demand.

“The new loyalty app has also been a major success and as a result of this cumulative impact we decided the time was right for us to find a new headquarters and move to the next level.”

He added: “Tir Llwyd in Kinmel Bay is the perfect place for us; central and easily accessible, we are delighted to join the community of long-established and successful organisations already based here.

“It is also less than a stone’s throw from the distribution hub that handles PetPlace’s online orders, so it’s a win-win situation for us.”

Chester and St Asaph-based BA Commercial handled the transaction on behalf of site owners Pure Residential and Commercial.

Director Fraser Crewe said: “We are delighted to have worked in partnership with PetPlace to secure this move. The site is easily accessible from the A55 and meets their distribution requirements while also giving them a central North Wales base.

“We congratulate them on all their recent success and wish them the best of luck for the future.”

For more information on design and build opportunities at Tir Llwyd – where units range from 2,900 to 4,100 sq ft, call Howard Cole or Fraser Crewe at BA Commercial on 01244 352121 or email fraser.crewe@bacommercial.co.uk.

For more information on PetPlace, including the new PetPlace Plus+ loyalty app, follow @petplaceUK on Facebook and Instagram or email sales@farmandpetplace.co.uk. The app is available on platforms including Google Play and The App Store. 

Charity & CSR, IT Support, News

Stone Group invests in the National Forest to encourage more businesses to recycle ageing IT

Leading UK ICT solutions provider, Stone Group, has announced its partnership with the National Forest, to help it fulfil its commitment to support tree planting on behalf of its customers when they recycle their old IT equipment through the new Stone 360 app.

Launched last month, the app allows organisations to arrange collection of their ageing or redundant IT equipment to be taken to Stone’s dedicated IT asset disposal (ITAD) facility, where they are securely recycled or refurbished. Users can either cash in the value of their recycled goods or collect points to purchase refurbished or new IT from Stone.

Staffordshire-based Stone Group elected the National Forest as its partner to support positive local environmental change, assisting the charity in its mission to prove that nature, society and the economy can work in harmony so that we all have a positive future. The three-year agreement will simultaneously support Stone in its core value of sustainability and its aim to encourage customers to recycle e-waste and generate donations in support of the National Forest.

Covering 200 square miles of the Midlands, the National Forest spans parts of Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

Users of Stone 360 are able to track their contribution to the National Forest through the app. For every 1000 points earned, a tree will be added to their ‘virtual woodland’ and a donation made to the National Forest. The partnership will result in a minimum of 400 trees planted in the National Forest on behalf of customers per annum, with funds donated through collections also put towards its woodland management, education, and community programmes.

Tim Westbrook, director at Stone Group, commented, “With 53.6 million metric tonnes of global e-waste generated just last year alone, the IT industry faces an enormous challenge in tackling the responsible disposal of IT hardware such as laptops, desktops, monitors and printers.

“It’s crucial that the IT industry does more to minimise its negative impact on the environment and we think it’s time resellers stepped up to the challenge. At the end of the day it’s the resellers who have the customer relationships and sell them new hardware.
“While we’re confident that the ease, convenience, and benefits, of the Stone 360 app will be enough to get UK businesses and organisations on board with our mission and making simple changes that will have a big impact, we’re delighted to be able to offer our customers the opportunity to also support the creation and management of new woodlands in the National Forest. Not only should this further encourage responsible disposal of e-waste and reduce the harm it causes to the environment, but by supporting the Forest, we’re also proactively making a positive contribution.”

David Bourque, director of development at the National Forest, commented, “The National Forest is a nationally inspiring place working on sustainability, in partnership with business, delivering positive change. Like Stone Group, we are solutions focused and by working with business partners who adopt sustainable solutions we can achieve a positive future together.”

The Stone 360 app is available on both iOS and Android devices.

Children and Childcare, FInance, News

Beanstalk App Launches to Let Whole Family Save for Children’s Future

Brings Junior ISAs into the digital world – Open and manage savings and investments for your children from your smartphone in just 2 minutes with £5

Parents, relatives and friends can make regular top-ups, ad hoc contributions or round up everyday payments

London, UK – 30th July 2020 – Beanstalk, an app-based child savings and investment account that lets the whole family put money aside for their kid’s futures, launched today. It allows parents to open and manage Junior ISA accounts for all their children from a single app in just 2 minutes with only £5 – removing the barriers of traditional alternatives which often require visits to a physical bank branch with separate paperwork for each child and/or minimum contributions. The app is available for download for Apple and Android devices.

Beanstalk offers stocks & shares ISAs and Junior ISAs, so any returns are tax free and requires no minimum or regular contributions, combined with a 0.5% fee – one of the lowest on the market – meaning more is saved for you, your kids and their future. It allows parents to invite grandparents and other friends and family members to link to the children’s accounts and send/receive gift messages. When linked, family and friends can use their own apps to contribute in a way that best suits their own circumstances, including ad hoc top-ups and regular contributions. Beanstalk also supports round ups on everyday spending, money back on shopping through a unique integration with KidStart.

Case Study – “When I buy a coffee or go shopping, I’m saving for my child’s future”

Veli Aghdiran, 35, “I looked at setting up a savings account for my daughter, Carmen, when she was born, but it always seemed too complicated, with too many choices to make, I had no idea if I was doing the right thing or not. I’ve found Beanstalk to be very straight forward, I just downloaded the App and in two minutes it was all set-up. It’s so simple that the grandparents can quickly and easily contribute to Carmen’s future with none of the hassle of having to pay birthday or Christmas cash or cheques into the bank. The KidStart savings and round up functions mean that our shopping is adding to her savings, and even buying a coffee or sandwich can top up the account.”

“Today’s young adults are facing ever bigger expenses for their education and to get on the property ladder, and this is going the same issue when today’s children reach 18,” said Julian Robson, CEO and Founder of Beanstalk. “Junior ISAs offer a tax-free way to save for your kids futures, but the current products are all too complex and hard to set-up. We are bringing Kid’s savings into the App-age allowing the whole family to contribute and offering the simplest sign-up making it easier than ever-before to start saving for your children’s futures.”

The app removes the complexity of choosing how savings are invested, by providing a simple choice of the percentage split between a global shares fund and a cash fund in whatever split parents want and which can be changed at any time using a simple slider interface. This represents a significantly easier and more accessible experience than alternatives which provide users with a list of complex and confusing investment options which turn off inexperienced investors.

Beanstalk has been created by the team behind KidStart, and builds on this heritage and experience gained over the last 10 years of helping thousands of families save millions of pounds for their children on shopping at over 2,200 retailers.

The Beanstalk Account is a simple and flexible account through which any contributions are invested at your choice in the funds on offer. The Beanstalk child account is a Stocks & Shares Junior ISA and requires no minimum contribution from the parent to open. A Junior ISA is a tax-efficient way to save or invest for a child’s future as all income and capital gains within a Junior ISA are exempt from UK tax personal tax. There are two types of Junior ISAs: Cash or Stocks & Shares. A child, who must be a UK permanent resident, can only subscribe to one of each type during their childhood, and children cannot share a Junior ISA. Beanstalk JISAs are open to children under 16 at the time of application; if a child already has a Stocks & Shares Junior ISA or a Child Trust Fund, the existing account can easily be transferred to Beanstalk.

For more information on how to open a Beanstalk Account and start investing in a Junior ISA for your children’s future, please visit https://beanstalkapp.co.uk