Showon, a company, with its creative studios in Nottingham, has been chosen by TGI Fridays to convert selected restaurants into centres for nights of entertainment. No strangers to creating theatre inside American Diners, the company will be bringing party styled productions that have been staged in three continents, and in cities that include New York. History appears to be repeating itself as 60 years ago next month Alan Stillman opened the first TGI Fridays in Manhattan looking to satisfy a demand for a cocktail bar that could provide a fabulous ,yet comfortable, party atmosphere. Until then, bars in New York were not female friendly and very quickly the restaurant became recognised as a "Singles Bar" and possibly one of the first in the world. Alan appeared to enjoy both commercial success and the female patrons that the restaurant attracted. TGI's were the originators of the "Ladies Night" theme. "We are delighted to be working with a team who recognise the trend for restaurants to offer something more than just really good food", said Showon's theatre director, " and to stage the premier next month in our home city of Nottingham is really exciting. We have a policy of working with up and coming young talent ,giving them a firm platform from which to perform, and who knows, the next time you see your waiter might be on a West End stage". The Showon company has created a diverse range of dining and cocktail experiences that includes the theatre for the world famous Karen's Diners ,The Magic in Wonderland and The Order of Wizards. During the year, the company is planning to open a permanent immersive cocktail theatre club in the city to premier more of its experiences. If you Wonder where Wonderland is to be sited, a company spokesman has said that an announcement will be made over the next eight weeks.

A Meon Valley farm team is busy preparing 50,000 raspberry plants for the 2025 summer season - more than five times the number planted last year. Westlands Farm in Wickham had a bumper crop in the 2024 season with fruit from around 8,000 raspberry plants and 185,000 strawberry plants. Overall, the farm produced just under 200 tonnes of soft fruit. This expansion is a significant investment in British-grown fruit at a time when many farms are reducing output due to rising costs and unpredictable weather, and makes Westlands one of the south’s biggest soft fruit growers. While the farm’s production is growing, the expansion isn’t just about numbers. It’s about meeting demand for fresh, local produce and ensuring that Hampshire residents have access to high-quality soft fruit grown just a few miles from their doorstep. "Every year, we see more and more people seeking out locally grown fruit," said Graham Collett, who runs the fruit farm alongside his wife, Kayleigh. "We want to be able to meet that demand, and this expansion means that more of our raspberries will be enjoyed in homes across the region." Despite the massive growth of production, sustainability remains at the forefront of everything Westlands Farm does. The raspberries will continue to be grown using eco-conscious farming practices, such as being irrigated using recycled rainwater that has been collected from a purpose-built on-site reservoir. Westlands' fruit-growing history goes back to the 1980s, with strawberries already a major focus. Customers travel from across the county every summer for their renowned soft fruit - including strawberries and raspberries. With this expansion, raspberries will significantly increase in availability. With planting already underway, the first raspberries from this new expansion will hit shelves in Westlands Farm Shop in summer 2025. Until then, the team at Westlands is hard at work, ensuring that Hampshire will have delicious homegrown raspberries for years to come.

A luxury Lake District spa resort has achieved a new accreditation to benchmark its progress in environmental performance and use of renewable energy. Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa near Windermere has received the nationally recognised Greengage ECOsmart gold award. ECOsmart is the leading certification system for hotels, hospitality and meeting venues. It integrates UN sustainable development goals into its benchmarking processes and is recognised as a marque that organisations can display to demonstrate their commitment to environmental sustainability and achievement of recognised standards. Low Wood Bay recently became the first spa in the North West to attain the Good Spa Guide’s highest ‘Five Bubble Luxury’ rating. Around 12% of the venue’s annual electricity is now self-generated on-site by a hydropower water turbine fed from a fellside stream behind the hotel. The spa hotel also runs a combined heat and power (CHP) plant which generates electricity and heating. And six EV charging points are in situ for guests to recharge their cars during overnight stays. Conservation projects are also a vital cog in the venue’s efforts to improve its natural surroundings. New woodlands next to Low Wood Bay are thriving thanks to the plantation of over 2,500 new trees by English Lakes Hotels Resorts & Venues. The hotel group’s ECOsmart certification also includes its sister venues Wild Boar Estate, which has a biomass woodchip burner, solar panels and its own private borehole water supply, and Lancaster House Hotel which features solar panels and EV charging points. ECOsmart certification continually tracks sustainability performance and improvements. Accessible through a user-friendly online portal, it includes a range of environmental management tools to help direct the hotel’s path towards greater sustainability. Mark Needham from English Lakes Hotels says: “Sustainable approaches to regenerative tourism and renewable energy adoption are crucial aspects in our thinking. We are continually looking at ways to reduce our environmental impact, our carbon footprint and our operating costs too." “As well as helping us to measure our carbon output more accurately, ECOsmart gives us a pathway to best practices and new ideas and validates our commitment to sustainability.” Low Wood Bay front of house manager Sofia Spadafora regularly shows guests around the water turbine building and pipeline when they ask about the hydropower project, including delegates from a recent energy industry conference at the venue. Guests can also view live turbine output performance here . According to Greengage, 78% of travellers plan to stay in a sustainable property at least once in the coming year. ECOsmart certification provides a quality hallmark to help them make more informed decisions when booking a sustainable hotel venue. It is also compliant with Travalyst’s sustainability standards for accommodation providers, in an initiative aiming to increase international transparency.

Barclays UK announced that Jatin Patel will join the Executive team. Effectively immediately, Jatin will lead Barclays’ work across mortgages, savings and insurance. Jatin has over 20 years’ experience leading and growing retail financial services businesses. He has held executive roles across a range of product lines, including mortgages, savings, and insurance, at organisations such as TSB Bank and Lloyds. Most recently, Jatin held the role of Chief Commercial, Digital and Marketing Officer at Hastings Group, where he led its global retail business. Vim Maru, CEO of Barclays UK, said: “Jatin brings a strong track record of delivering customer-centric propositions and driving change. We’re excited to welcome him at this important time as we continue to grow in our home market.” Jatin replaces Mark Arnold, who will be retiring after two years of leadership in Barclays UK and seven years as CEO of Kensington Mortgages. Mark led the mortgages, savings and insurance business to great success, including improved customer satisfaction, record-breaking ISA seasons and an increase in mortgage applications, leaving a strong foundation for continued growth. Allison Buckley, previously Operations Director at Kensington Mortgages, has assumed the position of CEO of Kensington and will report to Jatin. This appointment reinforces Barclays’ commitment to deliver on the bank’s strategy and financial commitments as part of its three year plan.

UK energy engineering solutions provider BRUSH Group has signed an exclusive partnership agreement with South Korea’s ILJIN Electric, a leading manufacturer of power generation, transmission, distribution equipment and power cables.   The deal accelerates the expansion of BRUSH’s portfolio to meet the UK’s growing demand for medium and high voltage (36kV kilovolt) low-emission electrical switchgear , along with high-capacity (above 100MVA, megavolt ampere) power transformers  for large-scale electrical energy transmission and distribution.   The partnership opens new markets for ILJIN, which already has a strong presence in the USA and Middle East, as well as Korea. It also enables the firm to harness the full capability of its new state-of-the-art factory in Hwaseong-si Hongseong, opened in October 2024.   As part of the arrangement, BRUSH will set up a new switchgear production line at its existing switchgear manufacturing facility in Blackwood, South Wales and train its experienced service team on the ILJIN product range.   Nicolas Pitrat, CEO of BRUSH Group, said: “This exclusive deal with ILJIN is all about growth and increasing our ability to support the UK’s energy transition. It extends the BRUSH product range so we can meet the strong demand from power network operators for products that we do not design and manufacture ourselves. ILJIN has an impressive track record in other parts of the world and we’re looking forward to bringing their outstanding products and expertise to the UK.” Soo Hwang, CEO of ILJIN Electric, said: “This is an exciting next step in the development of our worldwide business. It allows us to tap into BRUSH’s vast experience of the UK's energy network and enables us to combine our engineered products with their well-respected servicing capabilities, ensuring seamless product integration and lifecycle maintenance by BRUSH's UK-based team." ILJIN products are manufactured at the company's advanced production facility in South Korea, to the highest global standards. Together, BRUSH and ILJIN will work in partnership to deliver ever-more innovative solutions for projects across the UK, including accelerating the development of an SF6-free switchgear solution.

A Leicestershire resident who was honoured for her service to the Royal Family in the King’s Birthday Honours List 2024 has been presented with her award by the Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire at an investiture ceremony at County Hall, Glenfield. His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Mr Mike Kapur OBE CStJ, presented the Medal of the Victorian Order (MVO) to Rosemary Mason, of Hamilton, in front of a number of guests in a special ceremony. Mrs Mason received the award in recognition of her role as a Nosegay maker for the Royal Maundy Services for more than 30 years. Mrs Mason’s company was awarded a Royal Warrant in 2008, under Her Majesty the Late Queen Elizabeth II. The Royal Victorian Order was established in 1896 as a personal award to recognise “distinguished personal service” to the Monarch, members of the Royal Family, and to the Royal Household. Mike Kapur OBE CStJ, Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire said: "I am delighted to present this honour to a Leicestershire resident who has dedicated unstintingly of their time and energy to the Royal Family. This award is a testament to Rosemary’s dedication, professionalism and devotion to her service." "Her wonderful and selfless contributions have been rightly recognised, and it is a real pleasure and privilege for me, in my role as Lord-Lieutenant, to present this honour to Rosemary on behalf of His Majesty the King." Above Photo : Mike Kapur OBE CStJ, Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire and Rosemary Mason has been honoured for her service to the Royal Family

Bayne’s The Family Bakers proudly celebrates its 70th shop opening at Perth’s Inveralmond Retail Park. This significant milestone coincides with this much-loved Scottish bakery’s 70th anniversary and ongoing expansion, marking seven decades of growth, innovation, and deep-rooted community connections since Bayne’s was founded in 1954. From a single bakery in Lochore, Fife, Bayne’s has flourished into a beloved Scottish institution, renowned for its quality baking and strong local connections. The company operates 70 shops across Scotland, with plans for continued expansion and further investment in the coming year. Over the past 70 years, Bayne’s has evolved from a traditional home bakery into a leading player in the bakery food to go market. Driven by changing consumer preferences, the business has embraced convenience focused offerings, premium coffee, and home delivery services, positioning itself at the forefront of Scotland’s modern retail landscape. Reflecting on the company’s growth, Bayne’s Joint Managing Director, John Bayne said: “A decade ago, we had 490 colleagues supporting 52 shops. Today, we’ve nearly doubled our workforce to 960, ensuring we continue to bring fresh, quality baking to communities across Scotland. Looking ahead, we plan to open three to four new shops annually over the next decade while continuing to invest in product innovation and digital transformation to meet evolving customer needs.” Bayne’s has grown strategically, expanding beyond Fife in 1975 to Perthshire with a shop in Kinross then steadily increasing its presence throughout Scotland. In the late 1990s to early 2000s Bayne’s saw further growth into Perth, Dundee, and Monifieth, followed by the opening of its first retail park ‘food to go’ shop in Stirling in 2006. Bayne’s entered the Edinburgh market in 2012 and expanded into Glasgow in 2018. In 2021, the company launched its first drive-thru in Hillington. Most recently, in 2023, Bayne’s completed a freezer extension at its bakery, further enhancing production capacity to meet growing demand. John Bayne added: “At Bayne’s, our customers are at the heart of everything we do. Whether it’s through our popular coffee card reward program, which offers a free coffee for every eight purchased, or our ‘Moments of Joy’ initiative, which empowers staff to provide complimentary treats for special occasions, we are committed to delivering exceptional experiences.” Stanley Bayne, Chairman of Bayne’s, added: "Seventy shops in our 70th year - it's a milestone that fills me with immense pride. My father, John, would be incredibly proud to see how far we've come; from opening our first shop in 1954 to opening our 70th shop today. Our success is a tribute to the generations of colleagues and bakers who have kept our ovens warm and our customers smiling. This new Perth shop is a symbol of our enduring commitment to Scottish baking traditions and the communities we serve." Bayne’s the Family Bakers is committed to product innovation and enhancing its bakery and drinks range to meet evolving consumer tastes. The company is also investing in digital transformation, improving online ordering and home delivery services to meet growing demand for convenience.

For decades, ambition has been associated with relentless hustle, high-profile success, and an unshakeable drive to climb the corporate ladder. The loudest voices in the room, the most aggressive networkers, and the tireless self-promoters were seen as the ones who got ahead. But in recent years, a shift has been taking place. More and more people are rejecting the traditional definitions of ambition, opting instead for a quieter, more sustainable path to success. The era of quiet ambition is here, and it is challenging everything we thought we knew about what it means to be successful. Social media has long glorified the hustle culture—early mornings, late nights, and an always-on mentality. But as burnout rates soar and people question the price of constant striving, a new mindset is emerging. Quiet ambition is about pursuing meaningful work without the need for external validation. It is about success on one’s own terms, rather than a never-ending competition for visibility and recognition. One reason for this shift is the changing nature of work itself. Remote and hybrid working have blurred the lines between professional and personal life, making it clear that endless hustle is neither productive nor sustainable. People are rethinking their careers, prioritising work-life balance, and valuing depth over speed. Success is no longer just about titles and paycheques; it is about fulfilment, autonomy, and well-being. This doesn’t mean ambition has disappeared—it has simply evolved. Instead of chasing status, many professionals are focusing on mastery, meaningful contributions, and long-term impact. Another driving force behind quiet ambition is the rise of introverted leadership. In the past, the corporate world favoured extroverts—those who thrived in meetings, commanded attention, and built vast networks. Today, there is a growing appreciation for leaders who lead with thoughtfulness rather than volume. Figures like Tim Cook, Satya Nadella, and even the late Steve Jobs in his later years have shown that quiet confidence and strategic thinking can be just as, if not more, effective than traditional charismatic leadership. Quiet ambition also speaks to a broader cultural shift in how success is defined. Younger generations, particularly Millennials and Gen Z, are increasingly rejecting the idea that one must sacrifice personal happiness for career success. They value flexibility, meaningful work, and ethical leadership over climbing a rigid corporate hierarchy. In this new landscape, self-worth is no longer tied solely to productivity, and success does not require constant self-promotion. This shift does not mean that ambition is disappearing, nor does it suggest that people are working any less hard. Instead, it is a recalibration of priorities. Quiet ambition is about substance over show, depth over display. It is about recognising that success does not have to be shouted from the rooftops to be meaningful. In a world that constantly demands more, the quiet achievers are proving that sometimes, less is more.

Lower carbon parsnips are now available at select M&S Foodhalls across the country, grown autonomously in a trial funded by the M&S Plan A Accelerator Fund, which is available for innovation projects to enable rapid action towards net zero. Working with a long-term, family owned root vegetable supplier, Huntapac, the project involved using the latest farming technology and scientific methods to farm with a significantly lower environmental impact. The technology included two robots for bed forming, planting and weeding, two different types of drone to monitor and maintain crop health, and the latest scientific testing on soil health and carbon impact. Much like when agriculture moved from horse and plough to mechanical tractors, these latest technologies offer a future of farming that will aid farmers, create more highly skilled jobs in the industry and attract new talent. The team also farmed while taking care to minimise disruption to the soil, helping to keep carbon locked away, and used a green fertiliser. These combined with the new tech, which has much lower carbon emissions compared to a traditional tractor, has demonstrated a carbon reduction of 47% in the growing phase, compared to standard methods. On top of the carbon impact, there have been other benefits including a high quality of vegetables. AI was used to monitor and improve crop health and autonomous technology can reduce weather impact. For example, last year, following extremely wet weather the team were able to get in and plant the field with the autonomous robot which wouldn’t have been possible with a traditional tractor. The expectation is that this trial field will have 72% of picked parsnips at grade one which is a strong result versus other fields. The field also included various measures from M&S’ Farming with Nature programme to improve biodiversity of both wildlife and the soil, including agrisound boxes and wildflower borders. AgriSound technology monitors pollinator numbers with specialist listening devices situated on farm. Through the trial, AgriSound found that there was more pollinator activity in the trial field compared to the standard field, demonstrating another environmental benefit to farming this way. The parsnips were grown in Yorkshire and are now available in selected M&S stores for approximately a week. The trial was the first M&S Food project to be funded by the M&S Plan A Net Zero accelerator fund, which the retailer launched to find innovation projects to enable rapid action towards net zero to meet its Plan A goal of being a Net Zero business across its entire supply chain by 2040. Andrew Clappen, Technical Director at M&S Food, said: “The Plan A Accelerator Fund was designed to move us towards being a Net Zero business across our entire supply chain by 2040, by tapping into the entrepreneurial spirit of our suppliers. Partnership is going to be the key to achieving this goal and at M&S our unique model of own brand, long term supplier relationships is how we deliver the quality and trust our customers expect from us." “It’s fantastic to see not only a carbon reduction of almost 50% from our trial with Huntapac, but a high proportion of the incredible quality of produce that M&S is famous for. The trial has also been really well received by the industry, with knowledge sharing sessions held to demonstrate the new technologies as if widely adopted, this would create more highly skilled jobs and attract new talent into the sector, which in turn would drive more innovation around finding new lower impact farming methods to reduce carbon emissions.” Stephen Shields, Technical & Sustainability Director at Huntapac, said: “This project was only possible due to the M&S Plan A Accelerator Fund and our 40 year relationship. The opportunity to trial something which has such potential for our business and the industry is testament to the drive and appetite for innovation which is central to M&S Food." "The success of this project has led to us explore the potential of purchasing our own robot so that we can farm more vegetables this way next season and in the future. We’re working to upskill our team and sharing our learnings with the wider industry as we believe this is the future of farming.”

The countdown is on to the start of the 2025 Formula 1 season so we thought we would run a poll as to who the public feel is in the running to take the title this year. 20 drivers take to the grid but with some new names in the driving seat 2025 could be the year where there is a changing of the guard. Cast your vote for who you think will win the F1 World Championship this year?

As businesses rapidly adopt AI, a critical and alarming question remains unanswered: who owns the intelligence AI learns from employees, and what happens when workers are replaced by their own digital counterparts? Cheney Hamilton, CEO of Find Your Flex Group , Research Analyst at Bloor Research, and Member of the APPG for Modern Employment, warns that businesses may be unknowingly stepping into legal and ethical disputes by replacing employees with AI-driven versions of their own work and the results could be catastrophic. She says, “Bloor Research and Find Your Flex Group are calling on businesses, policymakers, and legal experts to join the conversation now before AI-driven, fusion work outpaces regulation and leaves us playing catch-up.” She has seen how AI is now replicating employees’ work styles, automating decision-making, and even cloning voices for customer service and believes the lines of ownership, ethics, and fair compensation are becoming dangerously blurred. If an employee is made redundant but their AI-trained system remains in place no one is asking, should they be compensated or should they have the right to demand that their AI-generated work be deleted, and that feels wrong. At the same time, the UK government has delayed its AI regulation plans, leaving businesses and employees in legal and ethical uncertainty. While creatives challenge the government’s AI copyright proposals, employees face a parallel issue. AI is absorbing their expertise, yet employment law has not caught up to address compensation or ownership rights. “AI is already replacing elements of human work, but without clear policies, businesses are playing with legal fire." "Both employers and employees need to understand what fair compensation looks like when AI-trained employees are replaced by their digital counterparts, as well as how they can protect themselves from future legal disputes,” says Hamilton. One key concern is redundancy, which is traditionally based on a role no longer being needed. But what happens if AI continues to perform the same work using an employee’s expertise, voice, and decision-making skills, effectively making them redundant? Hamilton also raises questions about whether employees should have the right to ongoing compensation or royalties for AI-generated work derived from their expertise. Should they be legally entitled to request the deletion of their AI-trained work once they leave? She adds, “AI can be a game-changer for flexible work and multi-portfolio careers, but it also introduces a tightrope that many employers never expected to walk alone. Without clear governance, we risk creating a system where businesses benefit while workers are left behind." "How can employees be protected against AI-driven redundancy, ensuring that human contributions are not quietly repurposed without consent?" AI is evolving faster than employment law, and businesses face a looming legal and ethical minefield, and the conversation around AI in the workplace must shift from automation to accountability, ensuring that the benefits of AI do not come at the cost of employee rights.

As economic instability rises and political shifts threaten financial security, new insights from nudge highlight that financial education is more crucial than ever in helping Americans achieve ‘The American Dream’ - nearly 100 years after the phrase was popularised. nudge, a global financial education platform, analysed data from over 2 million users and found that US employees who boost their financial knowledge also see a measurable improvement in their financial health. On average, US-based employees received a financial health score of 56/100, which is a four-point jump from the previous quarter and slightly above the global average of 55. With rising living costs, increasing debt, and a changing political landscape, financial education is now more critical than ever. Debt, credit, and investing topped the list of financial concerns for Americans, showing that many are taking proactive steps to secure their financial future in an uncertain time. A 2024 Pew Research poll found that 41% of Americans believe the American Dream was once attainable but is no longer within reach, reflecting growing concerns about financial stability. This underscores the increasing need for financial education to help individuals navigate today’s complex economic landscape. Jeff Miller, Vice President of US at nudge , commented: “The American Dream is built on the promise of financial stability and opportunity. It is still within reach for those who possess financial knowledge, skills, and confidence." "With the U.S. experiencing political and economic changes, it’s more critical than ever that Americans become financially literate. To address challenges and build their financial futures, more and more American workers are asking their employers for unbiased in-the-moment financial education support.” The urgency for financial literacy is even greater for Gen Z, who are on track to surpass Millennials in credit card ownership. According to TransUnion, 84% of Gen Z consumers had at least one credit card in Q4 2023, compared to just 61% of Millennials a decade earlier. Jeff added, “With the cost of living continuing to rise and consumer debt climbing, employers have a responsibility to support their workforce by offering financial education." "This helps employees make informed financial decisions and build long-term financial security, reigniting the American Dream and making it accessible for everyone.”