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Thousands of Aldi colleagues are set to receive market-leading rates of pay as part of a £36 million investment in pay and benefits by the UK’s fourth-largest supermarket. From Sunday 1st March 2026, starting pay for Store Assistants will rise to £13.35 per hour nationally, and £14.71 per hour within the M25, rising to £14.30 per hour and £15.03 within the M25 based on length of service. Aldi is also increasing pay rates for Store Apprentices to £12.02 per hour outside the M25, and to £13.22 per hour inside the M25. These rates are significantly higher than the minimum wage for a first-year apprentice. Giles Hurley, Chief Executive Officer of Aldi UK and Ireland, said: “Our colleagues are at the heart of everything we do. Their hard work and dedication is what allows us to offer customers the quality, value and service they expect from Aldi. That’s why we’re making such a significant investment in our promise to never be beaten on pay for our colleagues.” All Aldi colleagues will see their pay rise over the coming months, as well as receiving enhanced family-friendly benefits, with maternity pay extended to 26 weeks at full pay. Aldi also remains the only supermarket to offer paid breaks to all its store colleagues – a benefit worth up to £1,470 a year to store colleagues. Those interested in a career with Aldi can visit here  for more information.

Following its most successful year ever, Farnborough Aerospace Consortium (FAC) is inviting businesses to join it at this summer’s Farnborough International Airshow (FIA). It has booked a large stand and is able to open the offer to companies that are not members. FAC is a trade association representing companies in the aerospace, aviation, defence and space sectors as well as their supply chains. It has become a fixture at the biennial airshow and its members who have taken space at is stand in the past have often experienced large returns on investment. Alan Fisher, CEO of FAC, said: “Farnborough Airshow is so important that the Prime Minister usually attends. It brings together the most important businesses and individuals in the sector and billions of pounds worth of deals are done. Our members who have exhibited with us before believe it is of huge benefit and many now book their own stand." “This year – following our record-breaking 2025 – we have a large stand and it means we have some spaces left for non-members. There are various packages available and we also have also introduced a new associate membership option. The airshow is not just for the major multi-nationals but also for SMEs.” Andrew Barnett, managing director of Barnbrook Systems, which is headquartered in Fareham, Hants, said: “Exhibiting at FIA with FAC has been a game-changer. We have been part of the Farnborough Aerospace Consortium stand for more than three decades and the visibility, networking and credibility it brings are unmatched. FIA is where global aerospace leaders meet, and being under the FAC banner has given us access to primes, decision-makers, and new opportunities we wouldn’t have had otherwise.” Jon Hoyle from Bright Engineering said: “Exhibiting at Farnborough Airshow with FAC has for several years proven to be a golden opportunity for us as an SME manufacturer. It provides us with a cost-effective approach to accessing vital aerospace contacts all under one roof and having a professional space to meet with key customers." “One of our top three customers was onboarded as a direct result of being at FIA and exhibiting with FAC. The FAC team understand the budget and time constraints SMEs are currently facing and always deliver a professional and value-for-money proposition that easily delivers a return on investment, and adds to the brand and reputational value of our company each time we attend. We are excited to return for FIA 2026.” While primarily focused in the south and south-east – the centre of the UK’s aerospace industry – FAC has members from across the country and around the world. FIA 2026 takes place at Farnborough Airport between July 20-24 and FAC will be in Hall1, UK Village, and is on Stand 1317. Photo: The FAC team at the Farnborough International Airshow in 2024

Aquapak, which specialises in developing high performance, environmentally safe materials that can do the job of conventional flexible plastics and improve recycling efficiency, is warning that Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which came into effect in October 2025, could increase the annual grocery bill for the average family of four in the UK by £312 per year1. EPR is regulation designed to make the producer (or brand owner or importer) financially and operationally responsible for the packaging they put on the market and for the waste and recycling that follows, taking it away from local authorities and taxpayers. Now, brand owners will pay a fee per tonne, which varies depending on the material category. A red, amber, green (RAG) fee system defined under the Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM) will also be introduced. In short, the more recyclable the packaging, the lower the fee. The less recyclable, the higher the fee. In theory, this should encourage smarter packaging design, lighter materials, and less wasteful formats while easing pressure on public budgets. However, Aquapak has highlighted a lack of clarity because of definition changes, guidance shifts, and “illustrative fees” for those developing new, more sustainable solutions, such as converters, material innovators, and coating suppliers. DEFRA’s definition is compositional rather than performance based. For example, under the current EPR definitions, “paper” is packaging made from at least 95% fibre by weight. If a pack contains more than 5% non-fibre material, it’s automatically pushed into a new category called “fibre composites” which commands higher fees than the plastic packaging it is supposed to replace. Mark Lapping, Chief Executive Officer, Aquapak, said: “The intention of EPR is to make more producers and brands use more recyclable packaging. However, a lack of clarity and flawed definitions means that instead of pushing for better design, some are already choosing to simply absorb the fees and pass the cost on to consumers – even though the consumer is already paying council tax towards the cost of disposal." “A cost which was supposed to be a tax on the brand and instead the consumer will be paying for it twice at a time when the cost of living is still high. That’s hardly the outcome anyone wanted when EPR was first proposed.”

Aldi has recorded its best-ever Christmas, with sales of £1.65 billion (+3% vs. 2024) in the four weeks to Christmas Eve, as millions of shoppers turned to the UK’s lowest-priced supermarket to make their money go further during the festive season. The supermarket said that price had been the biggest priority for shoppers in 2025, with customers seeking ways to celebrate on a budget without compromising on quality. Ahead of the big day, Aldi committed to beating rivals on the price of a traditional Christmas dinner – part of a £325m investment to lower hundreds of prices throughout the year. The UK’s fourth-largest supermarket saw total sales increase by over 5% in the week leading up to Christmas, as customers spent around £500m with the discounter. Aldi said 22nd December marked its busiest trading day – as millions of customers flocked to stock up on seasonal items ahead of the big day. Aldi colleagues handled over 57m transactions over the four-week period to Christmas Eve, its highest ever number. Demand for its Specially Selected premium own-label range also increased by over 12%, showing that customers were still keen to treat themselves but in a way that offered better value for money. Popular products included award-winning festive lines such as Aldi’s Specially Selected The Ultimate Wagyu Fat Roast Potatoes, Specially Selected Double Wrapped Pigs in Blankets, as well as Specially Selected White Chocolate Ganache Pinecones. Shoppers also celebrated with a glass of fizz, with Aldi selling over 5.5m bottles, or 33m glasses, of sparkling wine over the festive period. Aldi also saw strong demand for home-grown produce, with sales of British-sourced meat and vegetables up as customers supported British during their Christmas shop at Aldi. As a result, shoppers bought 56 million potatoes, 37 million carrots, and half a million turkeys – all sourced from Aldi’s long-standing British supplier partners. Giles Hurley, CEO of Aldi UK and Ireland, said: “This Christmas proved once again that a great quality Christmas can still be affordable. We delivered a Christmas without compromise, offering customers award-winning British products at unbeatable prices." "We’re grateful that more people than ever chose Aldi for their Christmas shop and trusted us to deliver both quality and value during what remains a challenging time for many. I’m immensely proud of our amazing colleagues who, once again, went above and beyond to deliver a wonderful Christmas for our customers." “As we move into 2026, our focus remains unchanged – keeping prices low and quality high, so that every household in Britain can enjoy amazing food all year round.” Aldi has been named the UK’s Cheapest Supermarket by consumer champion Which? for the past four years and also retained its Christmas Retailer of the Year crown at the Quality Food Awards 2025 for the sixth consecutive year. Meanwhile, Aldi also continued its partnership with Neighbourly to support those in need during the festive season, donating an estimated one million meals to local charities, food banks and community groups across the UK.

Lidl GB has announced it’s set to open 19 stores in just 8 weeks as part of its continued expansion across the country. The discounter is also investing over £40million in modernising more than 70 existing stores, bringing more value, choice, and jobs to communities nationwide. Equating to one store opening every other day, Lidl will be creating up to 640 new roles nationwide. The store openings will expand the discounter’s presence into new parts of Great Britain, including locations in Calne, Wiltshire, to Brough, Yorkshire. On each opening day, shoppers can look forward to complimentary food sampling as well as some special Lidl prizes up for grabs. These openings mark a continued period of rapid growth, as the retailer strengthens its position as the UK’s fastest-growing bricks and mortar retailer1. Lidl reaches over 60% of British households and contributed £14.5bn in Gross Value Added (GVA)2 to the British economy in FY24. In addition, Lidl has announced plans to refurbish over 70 existing stores from Dundee to the Isle of Wight, ensuring customers benefit from the same high standards wherever they shop. The £43million investment will enhance these much-loved stores for the communities they serve with changes including new tills and larger freezers to offer a greater range of products. The discounter is also introducing energy-saving features as part of the modernisation like chillers that use natural refrigerants and smart lighting systems that reduce electricity use. These improvements will help lower the environmental impact and support Lidl GB’s journey toward Net Zero. Richard Taylor, Chief Real Estate Officer at Lidl GB, said: “We’re starting the new year as we mean to go on, with a major investment that reinforces our commitment to delivering the best experience for customers and creating a positive impact for the communities we serve. With this push, we’re set on winning more shoppers across the nation and claiming an even bigger share of the market.” These investments build on what Lidl describes as ‘the Lidl Effect’, where the benefits of its growth extend beyond the shop floor and into the communities it serves. New stores will also benefit from the retailer’s community investments from day one. Through its surplus food donation scheme, Feed it Back - delivered with charity partner, Neighbourly – Lidl provided 18.5 million meals last year, supporting 6.8 million people across Great Britain. 1 Worldpanel by Numerator, 52 w/e 28 December 2025 2 The Lidl Effect: Lidl GB Socioeconomic Impact Report Store openings Basildon, Laindon Birmingham, Kingstanding Brough, Welton Road Burntwood Calne Chester, Caldy Valley Rd Dereham Havant, Purbrook Way Hereford, Belmont Road Horley Hucknall, Watnall Rd London, Stamford Hill London, Walworth Road Reading, Tilehurst Royal Wootton Bassett Salisbury, Churchill Way West Sandford Sutton High Street Tring

A young entrepreneur and autism advocate is celebrating his latest accolade after being voted Best Wedding Magician in The Cotswolds Awards. Angus Baskerville’s latest award recognises his inspirational story of how magic ‘saved his life,’ and his ongoing mission to advocate for autism and mental health. It also acknowledges his unique expertise as an outstanding close-up wedding magician, bringing a compelling stage presence and skilful mix of mind-bending illusions and trickery. The news also follows the launch of Angus’s first book, ‘Naughty or Neurodiverse: An Aspie’s Road To Magic’ following his journey from misunderstood child to professional magician, thanks to a new passion he discovered while holidaying with family as a teenager. Bullied, excluded, expelled from three schools, Angus grew up feeling like he didn’t belong. Diagnosed with Asperger’s and ADHD at 15, he finally had a name for the chaos he had always felt. Now he is enjoying huge national success with a magic career that includes a return to The Edinburgh Fringe Festival throughout August, on the back of a sell-out summer one-man show, Hidden Powers, and series of big ticket event performances. He is also the proud recipient of a clutch of national awards, including last year, The Prestige Award, Ladies First Inspirational Awards and The Derek Award for standout acts at The Fringe. Of his latest award, the 29-year-old from Warwickshire, said: “ I truly believe that hidden powers such as those I’ve found in me, exist in all of us. To be recognised for what I do in adding magic to weddings, the most special day in a couple’s life, is both humbling and hugely appreciated." “What make the awards all the more special is that they are 100% independent, every nomination and vote coming from members of the public. Thank you so much to everyone who supported me.” As a Christmas gift in 2014 Angus’ parents Neil and Kate enrolled him on a magic course at the famous Davenport’s in London, bolstered by which he went on to compete in – and win - his sixth form talent contest. He earned money through his talent for the first time, performing tricks for tips in his local pub. At 19, Angus joined Leamington and Warwick Magic Society and, in 2020 he was accepted as a member of the prestigious Magic Circle. Today, he is in high demand among the magic and public speaking circuits, performing to a who’s who list of rich and famous at prestigious venues across the country, including Windsor Castle, The Grosvenor Hotel Park Lane and Greenwich Theatre in London. Despite a packed schedule these days, Angus is still finding time to stay true to his pledge to ‘pay it forward’ by helping others overcome the challenges of neurodiversity through workshops, holiday camps, mentoring and public speaking. He is also a regular keynote speaker at autism conferences, conventions and workshops around the country, and a proud neurodiversity ambassador for numerous charities and bodies. He added: “Life on the spectrum can be tough but with support, self-awareness and the right environment, it can also be joyful, meaningful and full of magic. I think if I had been diagnosed earlier things would have been different. I just felt like I was a bad person and the whole world was against me. I just didn’t want to be here." “But I've learned so much about mental health and other people and about autism and how you can achieve anything if you set your mind to it. There's always hope.”   The Cotswolds Awards recognise the best businesses in a host of categories across industry sectors, from hospitality and food and drink producers through to retail and professional services.   They were created by Mette Lacey, founder of Cotswolds Concierge. Established in 2011, the online magazine now reaches more than 80k readers who all benefit from its definitive guides and directory spotlighting and connecting local businesses and suppliers. Mette said:  “We created The Cotswolds Awards to shine a light on the extraordinary businesses, experiences and people who make this region so special. Although the Awards are run by us at Cotswolds Concierge, they are driven entirely by public nominations and votes. They’re completely free to enter, fully independent, and designed to give every business a fair and equal chance. Congratulations to Angus for this well deserved award.” ‘Naughty Or Neurodiverse: An Aspie’s Road To Magic’ is available as a Kindle edition or in paperback from Amazon. For further details and to order visit here . Visit: Angus Baskerville Magic here. Photo: by Brian Irvine.

Geospatial data and managed services provider ODCGIS has launched an analysis data package to help the UK’s property professionals manage housing and land assets. Asset, sustainability, environmental and risk managers, plus surveyors, developers and landowners, are among those set to benefit from ODCGIS Property Insights. The Bampton, Oxfordshire, firm has built the system in partnership with industry experts in property and land data, designing it as a single combined and analysed output readily accessible through spreadsheet or GIS data formats. ODCGIS Property Insights combines the most accurate and up-to-date national base datasets with ODCGIS analytics. The aim is to equip users, who need no GIS knowledge or skills, with a simple way to analyse the condition and spatial context of assets, make decisions on repairs, maintenance and investments, assess flood, subsidence, radon and other insurance risks and optimise contractor management. Craig Godwin, ODCGIS Managing Director, said: “By its very nature the land and property market is a key area of data activity. However, sourcing the most appropriate data is no longer the main issue for most users. The challenge is how to analyse it effectively - in other words, how to turn data into useful intelligence. That’s exactly what ODCGIS Property Insights enables." “By hosting, processing and contextualising essential datasets and combining them with analysis through ODCGIS Property Insights, we can help customers embed location intelligence in their business information." “This means they can make more informed and operationally sound decisions on all kinds of property-related costs, investment potential, risk management and strategic planning. ODCGIS Property Insights is for any professional involved in property management.” Users can: fill data gaps with Ordnance Survey NGD data such as building heights, number of floors, construction type, build year, roof type, solar presence, basement presence evaluate the risk of flooding with Twinn by Haskoning climate data assess the risk of trees affecting properties with Bluesky National Tree Map data analyse biodiversity, and heat, wildfire and drought risks, with data from Map Impact understand ownership responsibilities through Land Registry ownership data assess radon risk using BGS (British Geological Survey) radon data analyse open data added such as indices of multiple deprivation ranks, boundary information, subsistence risk, coal mining areas, conservation areas, proximity to fire stations and hospitals, gas and water lines Rick Thompson, Director of Operations at ODCGIS, said: “We know from years of experience that customers truly value data but, equally, they often need help to unlock it and ensure it is easily accessible. A key consideration in developing and trialling ODCGIS Property Insights was that the solution should be as easy to use as possible by people without prior specialist knowledge of how to source or manipulate digital map data on screen." “All the data sources and analysis are combined into one output, one product, for the client, so they don’t have to do any legwork. From the user perspective, the granular analysis it enables will help fill gaps in asset management data showing, for example, that a particular property is mid-terrace as opposed to end-terrace." “The level of detail you can analyse seamlessly is totally scalable, from the outlines of buildings and green spaces to the risk of flood, subsidence or radon, and how EPC ratings will feed into environmental reports.” ODCGIS Property Insights is the latest enhancement to the ODCGIS solutions portfolio which provides access to digital geographic content through managed services, data capture and provision and GIS consultancy. Customers, partners, integrators and suppliers use ODCGIS to source mapping, aerial photography, addressing, height data, historical maps and environmental reports. *ODCGIS Property Insights is a key theme of ODCGIS’s presence at the forthcoming Housing Innovation Show, taking place at the ICC Birmingham on 4 and 5 February 2026. As well as exhibiting the solution on stand 32, ODCGIS Director of Operations Rick Thompson will discuss its benefits for asset management and analysis in a conference presentation.

A home-based food business in Perthshire is carving out a name in the local takeaway sector after receiving support from Business Gateway. Tuktuk Thai Taste was founded by Lanya Sermsuktawee in November 2024. The business offers authentic Thai cuisine to local customers, blending traditional flavours with modern takeaway convenience. From the beginning, the business has focused on delivering quality, while responding to growing demand in the area. Lanya’s husband was the one who encouraged her to start the business because he always loved her cooking. She created a menu of her favourite dishes and launched the business through a Facebook page. She has had a fantastic response from customers, with many praising the restaurant-quality standard of her food. Lanya, who moved to Scotland from Thailand in 2022, runs the takeaway from her two-bedroom home using only basic kitchen tools, but this does not affect the quality of her authentic Thai dishes. She is planning to expand operations with a commercial kitchen to help the business grow. Since launching, Tuktuk Thai Taste has continued to refine its kitchen processes to meet rising customer demand without extending hours. To help spread the word about Tuktuk Thai Taste, Lanya has received tailored guidance from Business Gateway adviser Michelle Maddox, including support with developing a business plan, cash flow projections and marketing strategies to raise the business’s local profile. This work has been supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Lanya received advice on the food and drink sector, including seasonal trends, takeaway operations and strategies to expand into local events and festivals. Business Gateway also helped Lanya explore opportunities for sustainable growth, including digital development such as social media and website engagement. Additional guidance and financial support were provided via Perth and Kinross Council, helping the business make informed decisions about its expansion plans and providing essential support. Lanya Sermsuktawee, founder of Tuktuk Thai Taste, said: “I’ve had an incredible start to my business journey. Business Gateway has been invaluable - Michelle’s support has helped me turn my ideas into a real, growing business. With the advice and guidance I’ve received, I’m planning to expand into a commercial kitchen and I’m excited to see what the future holds.” Michelle Maddox, Business Gateway adviser, said: “Lanya has shown real dedication and creativity in growing Tuktuk Thai Taste. It’s been a pleasure to provide support on everything from planning and finances to marketing and sector insight. I’m looking forward to seeing the business thrive as it expands its presence in Perth and Kinross.” To find out more about Business Gateway and how they can help your business grow and succeed, visit here.

Property consultancy Vail Williams has welcomed a Government U-turn on marinas being excluded from lower rate multipliers in the forthcoming business rates revaluation as a ‘victory for common sense’. The firm, which acts for a number of the UK’s top marina operators covering multiple sites, is now conveying the news to clients. This move brings marinas into the same category as retail and leisure businesses such as pubs and restaurants. Business rates will continue to be administered by local authorities. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) updated the rateable values of all commercial, and other non-domestic, properties in England and Wales which take effect from 1 April. The Government announced that from 2026/27, existing business rate relief for retail, hospitality or leisure (RHL) properties would be replaced by a lower rates multiplier to calculate the business rates payable on those properties. However, marinas were specifically excluded from the RHL lower rates multiplier and faced being subjected to the standard business rates multiplier which applies to non-RHL business properties. Following a campaign backed by industry body British Marine, the Government has announced a refinement in the Statutory Instrument (SI) defining which properties would be eligible for the new RHL business rates multipliers that will be coming into effect in April. Dan Tomlinson, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury announced the change in a letter to British Marine CEO Lesley Robinson. He said: “I recognise that marinas are distinct from transport properties and that they form part of the infrastructure of leisure activity. Furthermore, the intention has always been for the scope of the new multipliers to broadly reflect the scope of the current RHL relief. Thank you for bringing to my attention that local authorities are currently awarding RHL relief to marinas." “The Government will therefore be amending the SI ahead of the policy coming into force on 1 April to remove marinas from Schedule 1. This means that marinas with rateable values below £500,000 and that are wholly or mainly used for leisure/recreational purposes will be eligible for the lower business rates multipliers.” “Ahead of then, the online guidance will be updated, and local authorities will be made aware of the upcoming amendment.” The reversal means that qualifying marinas will benefit from the 43 pence RHL rate, rather than the standard 48 pence rate. Vail Williams partner and head of business rates Adam Barnfield said: “This U-turn can be considered to be a victory for common sense and will benefit the vast majority of marinas which qualify for the lower business rates multipliers." “However, there have been significant increases in the VOA assessments of the rateable value applied to marinas, with an average 23% increase in values and an additional £5.8 million of rateable value” – which equates to approximately £2.5m in additional revenue for the treasury.” “Although this is obviously a welcome change in stance from Government, the increase in RV and the removal of the existing retail, hospitality and leisure relief will still have a significant impact on business rates liabilities.” Ian Froome, Vail Williams partner and head of marine & leisure, added that the upcoming amendment regarding lower rates measures would be welcomed by marina operators as a silver lining, but there would certainly be increased costs all around. “We cannot say there will be euphoria regarding this refinement in the revaluation process, but it is a cushioning of the significant increases faced by marina operators and should be accepted as such.” Business rates revaluation 2026 .

A female industry leader, who was behind one of Harrods’ most successful marketing campaigns, is setting her sights on expansion after completing a £2m investment drive. Big Bear Plastics’ Managing Director Emma Hockley is looking to maximise installation of two CNCs, a new robot and a waterjet machine to cement its position as one of the UK’s leading vacuum forming and compression moulding specialists. She is targeting new opportunities in point-of-sale retail and the defence sector to complement existing high-profile contracts within the agricultural, construction and leisure industries. A focus on big service, big reliability and rapid response times will be driving the growth beyond £10m by 2027, with the new ERP system helping to optimise manufacturing processes and new product introductions. “There’s been a lot of change and consolidation in the plastics sector and that represents a big opportunity for us,” explained Emma, who marked five years at the helm this month. “We’ve invested heavily in new technology and getting experienced manufacturing specialists in place and feel we have the platform and capability now to overcome some of industry’s pain points, including speed of response, material innovation and achieving world class quality in both low and higher volumes.” She went on to add: “These are already delivering solutions for OEMs in automotive, agriculture and mobile home providers and we believe there are plenty of opportunities where we can deliver products to retail, as well as maximising a renewed focus on defence.” Big Bear Plastics was founded in 1998 by Emma’s father Gerald Bloom, who previously launched and developed major tier 1 automotive supplier Midland Industrial Plastics. Located in a 75,000 sq ft factory in Droitwich, the company has evolved from vacuum forming and trimming of plastic parts to offering customers access to high quality compression moulding and waterjet cutting of lightweight interior trim products. The firm delivers a full-service solution from initial design, development and tooling to the manufacture of medium to high volume moulded parts up to 3.5m x 2.5m. It works with a wide range of thermoplastic materials, including ABS, PMMA-ABS, HDPE, HIPS, PC and PE in a variety of colours, finishes and thicknesses. Emma, a recent inductee of the Great 100 campaign by the Made Group, concluded: “Our sales are growing steadily, and I genuinely believe we can achieve and sustain sales of £10m+ by 2027. “We’ve got the capacity, we’ve got the technology, we’ve got the experience and we’ve got a strong sales pipeline, featuring exciting opportunities in new markets. As we move towards our goal, I believe we’ll be able to create more than 20 jobs during this time, taking our total workforce to 100 people." “Thermoforming allies itself to multiple sectors and we’re starting to explore more of these. For instance, we’re producing parts ranging from children’s play equipment to highly technical panels for vehicle modifications and aerospace applications…we’re also in discussions with military and defence specialists.” She concluded: “Manufacturing is completely different to what I was used to as Perfumery & Cosmetics Buyer at Harrods, arguably the world’s biggest and most luxury retailer." “Here I came up with the Perfume Diaries, an exhibition charting the history of perfume, which generated more than £2m of press coverage and significant sales results. It’s this eye for ‘telling a story’ I want to bring into the world of industry; it will just need to focus on the benefits of vacuum forming plastics rather than high-end fragrance brands!” Big Bear Plastics, which is accredited to ISO 9001 and is recommended for certification to the ISO 14001 environmental standard, has started work towards being part of the JOSCAR register, a collaborative online platform for the UK aerospace, defence and security sectors. For further information, please visit here .

Independent family brewer and pub company Shepherd Neame is to reopen landmark Farringdon pub The Hoop and Grapes in February following a £1.8m transformation.   The historic Grade II-listed site, a few minutes’ walk from Fleet Street, has been closed since 2019 during redevelopment of the surrounding area. Shepherd Neame began a comprehensive restoration in October, carefully designed to enhance the pub’s appeal while celebrating its rich heritage.   Housed within a five-storey building, the renewed Hoop and Grapes will offer three distinct experiences. The ground floor will retain the atmosphere of a classic London pub, centred around its original long bar, with bi-fold doors opening on to a charming courtyard garden. The first floor will provide relaxed seating leading to a fully covered, heated terrace, designed to be enjoyed all year round. On the third floor, an intimate piano room will offer a private and elegant retreat, perfect for dining or special gatherings.   Built in 1721 on land that once formed part of St Bride’s Church burial ground, the Hoop and Grapes gained notoriety as a venue for illicit ‘Fleet Marriages’—clandestine ceremonies associated with nearby Fleet Prison in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. This colourful history is celebrated with a bespoke swing sign depicting a wedding scene from the period. Traditional hand-painted external signwriting will further enhance the building’s restored façade.   The refurbishment includes relocating the kitchen from the cellar to the second floor, allowing for the creation of new customer facilities below. In line with Shepherd Neame’s commitment to sustainability, the project incorporates energy-efficient fridges, smart cellar technology and LED lighting throughout.   A refined new menu will showcase locally sourced, seasonal produce with an emphasis on relaxed, shareable dishes. Oysters will be a speciality, served freshly shucked with garnish or grilled in the pub’s take on Oysters Rockefeller, featuring bacon, spinach, shallots, Ricard, Tabasco, cream and Parmesan. Small plates will include miso-glazed aubergine with sweet tahini yoghurt, creamy burrata, and grilled lamb koftas with smoky baba ganoush. Larger dishes will range from Whitstable Bay beer-battered haddock and chips to tandoori chicken skewers with warm quinoa salad, alongside a 5oz grilled sirloin finished with Parmesan and garlic butter.   The drinks offering has been completely reimagined, with a strong focus on quality and provenance. Guests will be able to enjoy an extensive range of Shepherd Neame’s award-winning Kentish ales and lagers, alongside premium English wines, including from Champagne Taittinger’s Domaine Evremond vineyard in Chilham, close to the historic Faversham Brewery. A curated cocktail list will complete the experience.   It is part of the Kent-based brewer’s ongoing investment in its premium London pubs, following recent major refurbishments at the Tom Cribb, Westminster Arms and White Horse and Bower, as well as the freehold acquisition of the Bishops Finger in Smithfield.   Operations Manager Ryan Torrie said: “We are really looking forward to welcoming customers back to the Hoop and Grapes after more than four years. As Farringdon continues its evolution, we have taken care to ensure our transformation celebrates the pub’s unique heritage while offering a refined, contemporary experience.”

Businesses in and around Dorset can now explore, test drive and purchase new Kia vans, as well as used vans from a range of other manufacturers, as Hendy opens the doors to its dedicated Van Centre. The Hendy Van Centre is located just off the A31 on Ringwood Road, on the site previously known as the Hendy Used Car and Van Store. The repurposed showroom will initially represent Kia’s ‘Platform Beyond Vehicle’ (PBV) range of electric light commercial vehicles, including the all-electric Kia PV5, recently recognised as the 2026 International Van of the Year. PBV refers to Kia’s range of functional vehicles, all of which are built on the same innovative platform – the vehicle’s ‘base’ – with different modular structures on top. This means that the PBV range will ultimately cover a variety of applications, from family-friendly people carriers, taxis, refrigerated cargo vans and food trucks to Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs), and more. Later in Q1, the Hendy Van Centre will expand to offer new vans from Nissan, Vauxhall, Peugeot, Citroën, Renault, and Fiat, making Hendy the only multi-brand light commercial vehicle showroom in the area. Hendy’s team of van experts will be available to offer guidance and expert advice to visiting businesses and sole traders in Dorset, Wareham, Christchurch, Bournemouth and beyond. All used vehicles purchased at the Hendy Van Centre will come with a standard three-month warranty, 90-point quality check and are available with national UK delivery. John Stone, Regional Director for the West at Hendy Group, comments: “We’ve opened this site in response to demand from local tradespeople who are time poor and want to explore a diverse selection of vans and light commercial vehicles all under one roof. Our new Van Centre allows us to showcase some exciting new brands which haven’t previously been available locally." "This site will be a one-stop shop for traders and businesses based in and around Dorset, providing new and used stock, high-quality sales support and advice from our team of enthusiastic, van-savvy Hendy colleagues.” To find out more about Hendy’s Van Centre, visit here .