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Colleagues from property finance lender MSP Capital have helped Poole Property Club celebrate its first birthday. They were among 90 club members who gathered at the Dorset town’s South Deep restaurant for sparkling party to mark the occasion. MSP Capital contributed directly to the success of the evening, and the networking opportunities it created, by acting as lanyard sponsor. Head of Broker Relations Arian Manouchehri said: “Poole Property Club helps property professionals to connect with each other, build new relationships and strengthen existing ones." “As a key player in the property and built environment sector, it’s a natural move for us to offer our support, wishing the club every success as it grows and develops.” Poole Property Club launched in April 2023 as a forward-thinking support network for property professionals and businesses working in Dorset and along the south coast. The bulk of member businesses are resident in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole region while developers and funders from across the UK and worldwide are also welcome to join. MSP Capital’s club sponsorship is part of the wider property industry support the fixed rate lender delivers through its ESG strategy Foundations for Better Futures. Jo Kelly, Credit Analyst at MSP Capital, said: "The anniversary event was great fun and provided an ideal opportunity to network on what was a relaxed and informal evening.” "Club founders Keeley Fox and Heidi Munro, who run four signature events a year, described the first birthday celebration as a ‘wonderful occasion enjoyed by everyone’.

Players and staff of UEFA Champions League (UCL) finalists Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid will pay no tax on UK earnings when they meet at Wembley Stadium on 1 June 2024. This is due to a one-off Income tax exemption announced by HMRC for the 2024 UCL final, which could save ‘accredited individuals’ participating in the event up to six days of tax liability between 28 May-2 June. The exemption applies to non-UK tax residents and is expected to benefit some 60-70 players and coaches whose attendance is accredited by UEFA, as well as match officials and other designated individuals involved with the final. Lee Stott, Tax Partner at UK top 10 accountancy and advisory firm Azets, said: “The UK is fairly unique when it comes to sporting events for non-UK residents as we deem the income earned from the events undertaken in the UK as taxable UK income, as well as any portion of income relating to a sportsperson’s image rights, bonus payments and endorsements." “Non-resident football players and coaches are coming to the UK to carry out a ‘relevant activity’ – a sporting performance, in this case – and this is caught by the ‘Artistes and Sportsmen Article’ in the various tax treaties the UK has with countries around the world. “For example, a Spanish footballer will be Spanish tax resident and therefore we look to Article 16 of the UK/Spain tax treaty. This says that income arising to a sportsman who is resident in Spain which relates to activities undertaken in the UK can be taxed in the UK." "Therefore, a portion of the Spanish salary which relates to UK workdays would be taxable in the UK without this exemption offered by the Treasury. Non-playing staff are also exempt from tax under a different article under the tax treaties as employees, so do not require a special exemption." “Most developed countries in the world have some form of tax regime which catches ‘Sportspersons and Entertainers’ and the UK’s version is called the Foreign Entertainers Unit (FEU) regime.” HMRC’s announcement follows similar tax exemptions that were in place for the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 final between England and Germany at Wembley and the London 2012 Summer Olympics, among others. Lee Stott added: “Regular tournaments such as Wimbledon or The Open do not get exemptions as they are only usually handed out for one-off special events in order to attract investment. This will be a welcome relief for any non-resident individuals participating in the 2024 UCL final.”

Paralympic gold medallist Natasha Baker made a winning return to the dressage arena after a 20-month absence from competition, following the birth of her baby boy Joshua in 2023. Riding Keystone Dawn Chorus, Natasha picked up a double of para-dressage victories at the I.C.E. Horseboxes All England Dressage Festival. On Tuesday, she headed the Agria CPEDI 3* Grand Prix A Grade III test with 74.833%, and repeated her win today in the Grand Prix B with 73.333%. Natasha said: “It’s really good to be back in competition, and ‘Lottie’ was amazing - she really looked after me. Today she was feeling absolutely pumped and ready, and that did lead to a couple of small mistakes, but I'm so happy for my first competition back in such a long time." Natasha has had the ride on Lottie since 2019, and they were part of the gold medal winning team in Tokyo. The pair also won individual silver and bronze at last year’s World Championships in Herning. “She is the kindest, sweetest, cuddliest horse,” said Natasha. “She's just the absolute dream to look after, she's so well behaved but also really brave and confident.” Though her return to competition resulted in a double of wins, their path back into the arena hasn't always run smoothly. “I had a really bad start to the year, unfortunately my Nan was really poorly so I didn't manage to ride a lot in January, and that's just pushed things back a little bit with our preparations. But the last few weeks have gone really well, and Lottie has been feeling amazing. Now I need to get better and stronger, to be able to cope with all of Lottie’s movement.” Becoming a mum has also brought its own challenges. “I'm not going to lie, I thought parenting would be easier to balance than it actually is! I really want to make sure I balance it well, and to make sure I don't miss anything with my son. I want to be there for all of his ‘firsts’, but I also want to be back out performing and being the best that I can be. So it's a juggle, but I'm sure every parent will understand that. Becoming a mum has been a real adventure – I love challenges and this is probably the biggest challenge that I've ever had. But coming into that arena yesterday was just awesome.” Natasha’s son Joshua recently celebrated his first birthday, and he now has an important role of being the number one supporter for his mum. “Yesterday I came out of the arena feeling really happy with my test, then I saw him and just bawled my eyes out,” said Natasha. “It’s amazing being back doing my day job but with him on the sidelines. His dad has also taken time off work so he can be here looking after Joshua while I compete.” A strong showing today will no doubt be a boost to her hopes of selection for this summer's Paralympic Games in Paris. If Natasha gets selected, it will be her fourth Games, and another chance to help Great Britain retain their record of team gold medals. “I had no expectations, I didn't know how Lottie was going come back or what the judges were going to think of us after such a long time out of the arena. But luckily, they seem to still love her. We've got another couple of internationals this year and then we have to see if the team still wants me!” Natasha will be back in action in Thursday’s Freestyle, when she will be revealing brand new music. “It's like nothing I've ever had before, really pop and upbeat. If you're not singing it for the rest of the day, I'll be disappointed!” she added. The I.C.E. Horseboxes All England Dressage Festival takes place at Hickstead (7-12 May) with free admission and parking for spectators. Watch the livestream on Horse & Country TV. Photo credit Spidge Photography

Small business confidence made a welcome return to positive territory for the first time in two years, the first evidence that the small business community has now come out of the late 2023 recession, according to FSB’s Small Business Index (SBI) for Q1 2024. Key Findings Rise in small business confidence could signal end of recession, new report finds. The headline confidence reading jumped up over 20 points, to reach +5.5 points in the first three months of 2024. Manufacturing was the most positive sector at +19.2 points. This is a good indicator that the shallow recession recorded at the end of 2023 is firmly in the past. However, challenges remain for the hospitality and food sectors, which recorded -11.8 points. The headline confidence reading jumped up over 20 points to reach +5.5 points in the first three months of 2024, up from -15.0 points in the final quarter of last year. Outside of COVID waves, this is the first confidence reading above zero since 2018, which makes it significant and important that it be sustained. The gap in confidence readings among major sectors was notably narrower compared to the previous quarter, showing a gentle rising tide across the whole economy. The most positive sector is manufacturing (+19.2 points), getting over a tough last quarter, with the least positive being accommodation and food services (-11.8 points) – a 31-point difference. Sectors showing significant improvement from Q4 2023 to Q1 2024 include retail and wholesale (-29.8 points to +2.1 points), manufacturing (-26.2 points to +19.2 points), and professional, technical and scientific firms (-4.7 points to +14.3 points). Accommodation and food services made the largest recovery, going from -73.0 points in Q4 to -11.8 points in Q1. The only major sector to see a decline in its confidence score between quarters, meanwhile, was information and communication, which saw a fall from +24.4 points in Q4 to +7.1 points in Q1, down by 17.3 points. Crucially, this still remains in positive territory. Tina McKenzie, FSB’s Policy Chair, said: “Having small business confidence back in positive territory in the opening months of 2024 is a relief, after two years of it being underwater, and following on from a particularly difficult end to last year." “The rebound in confidence levels in most sectors is a good indicator that the shallow recession recorded at the end of 2023 is firmly in the past, and small businesses are keen to look ahead to expansion and better trading conditions." “Challenges do of course remain, especially for hospitality firms, whose outlook – though it made a strong recovery when compared with the end of last year – is still some way behind the other major sectors.” Revenues and growth Revenues reported over the first quarter declined slightly when compared with the final quarter of last year, perhaps unsurprisingly as we exited the so-called ‘golden quarter’. But the same businesses report accelerating ambitions for revenue/growth for the next quarter. Over three in ten small businesses (32.0%) said their revenues increased in Q1 2024, while two in five (40.5%) reported a fall in their sales volumes. This marks the eighth consecutive quarter with a negative net balance of firms reporting revenue growth, and underlines that many small firms are dealing with uncertain finances following the shallow recession experienced at the end of last year. Revenue expectations for the coming quarter were, however, notably brighter – nearly half (45.7%) of small businesses expect their revenues to be higher in Q2, with just under a quarter (23.6%) bracing for a drop in revenues, giving a net balance of 22.1%. By contrast, the Q4 survey found that almost exactly the same proportion of small businesses were expecting revenues to grow (31.6%) as contract (32.0%). Growth expectations also rose, with 52.4% of small businesses predicting they would expand in the next 12 months, up from 48.2% in Q4, and the highest reading on this measure since Q4 2021. The share of small firms predicting that they would contract fell from over one in seven (15.0%) in Q4 to one in eight (12.6%) in Q1. The domestic economy retained its place as the most-commonly cited barrier to growth in the first quarter of 2024, mentioned by nearly two in three small firms (64.6%), up from 61.8% in Q4. Consumer demand kept its second-place spot, cited by over one in three firms (35.6%), up from three in ten (30.7%) in Q4. Access to appropriately skilled staff increased notably, from a fifth (20.7%) in Q4 to a quarter (24.8%) in Q1. Cost pressures Inflation continued to take a toll on small businesses, with over four in five (83.7%) saying the cost of running their business was higher overall in Q1 2024 than in the same period in 2023, a slight increase on the 82.5% of small firms who said the same thing in Q4. There was a welcome drop in the proportion of small businesses who said their costs had significantly increased, going from a quarter (24.7%) in Q4 to 22.8% in Q1, continuing the decline on this measure recorded since it hit a height of 38.3% in Q4 2022. Utility costs kept their spot as the most commonly-cited factor driving cost changes in Q1, mentioned by over half (55.2%) of small firms – a distinct fall from the 62.5% who pointed to utility costs in Q4. Labour costs climbed upward as a driver of costs, going from 45.7% to 48.1%, with inputs in third place at 36.5%, down from 41.6% in Q4. Rent reached a new record as a driver of cost changes, cited by 26.4% of small firms, the highest reading in the SBI’s history, beating the previous record of 25.3% from the same quarter last year. Access to finance Despite the lack of movement in the base rate, the situation has improved slightly for small firms seeking finance, with around one in six (16.5%) describing the availability and affordability of new finance as good, up from one in seven (14.5%) in Q4; likewise, the proportion of small firms rating it as poor fell from 52.0% in Q4 to 46.0% in Q1. The rates on offer to successful finance applicants also decreased, with twice as many small firms offered a rate of up to 4% compared with the previous quarter (8.3% in Q1 against 4.2% in Q4), while the percentage being offered a rate of 11% or more fell from its record high of one in three (33.4%) in Q4 to around a quarter (26.1%) in the most recent survey. Tina McKenzie added: “While revenues over the first quarter suffered in comparison with revenues recorded during the previous three months, thanks to festive spending levels, the outlook for the next quarter is far sunnier, which is encouraging." “Small firms may finally feel able to leave the survival mode they entered in order to cope with the successive blows of the pandemic, the cost of doing business crisis, and soaring energy bills." “The domestic economy remains a big challenge as far as expansion plans are concerned, but if it performs better than expected, that could give small businesses the opportunity they have been waiting for to grow and flourish." “The small business community took a big hit to its numbers in the wake of covid, with a loss of around half a million businesses. While there has been some recovery in the numbers since then, there’s still some way to go to make up lost ground." “Politicians of all parties need to think about how they can give a real impetus to growth and investment, from start-ups to scale-ups. We’d also like to see banks and other financial institutions thinking about how they can treat small firms in a way that is fair and supportive, to help them achieve their ambitions – to everyone’s benefit.”

John Good Group’s DAN Shipping & Chartering Ltd, has acquired Arthur Smith (Grimsby) Ltd, a prominent shipping services provider in the ports of Grimsby and Immingham since 1936. Sixth-generation John Good Group, with three centuries of trading to its name, has deep roots in the maritime industry since its inception in 1833. The acquisition of the fifth-generation family business, Arthur Smith, serves to strengthen both the heritage of the company and the operations of the Maritime Division as a whole. The acquisition of Arthur Smith is a pivotal expansion for the Maritime Division of John Good Group and a strategic move into the offshore sector. Arthur Smith, under the leadership of David Smith & James Smith, will be integrated into the operations of the Maritime Division, alongside DAN Shipping & Bay Shipping. David Smith, comments on the integration, "Joining with DAN Shipping opens a new chapter for us. It's an opportunity to blend our expertise in offshore and renewables work with Dan Shipping’s longstanding reputation for service and John Good’s significant backing and areas of expertise in marketing, finance and HR." Adam Walsh, CEO of John Good Group, shares his perspective, "This acquisition brings expansion in our Maritime Division both in the quality of people and business, but also a strategic move to enter the offshore and renewables markets." "Welcoming five new team members from Arthur Smith, we're not just growing in numbers but also in our capabilities and reach. I’m really pleased for Steve Pullen, Paul Haste, Mark Mullins, Kevin Parker who worked on the deal, and the wider team at DAN Shipping, for getting this one over the line." “It’s also a bonus for the group, because we know how special family businesses are, and the completion of this process sees us welcome a fifth-generation business, into our sixth-generation family business. Family businesses, with all the heritage and values that go with them, are things to be cherished and I’m delighted to be welcoming the Smiths into our business and look forward to working with them to build a business for the future."

Williams Racing announces a new multi-year partnership with Keeper Security. Keeper, the leading provider of cloud-based zero-trust and zero-knowledge cybersecurity software protecting passwords, secrets, connections and privileged access, joins Williams as an Official Partner on the eve of the Miami Grand Prix. Trusted by thousands of businesses and millions of individuals globally for its cybersecurity software, Keeper’s branding will appear on driver overalls and the FW46 piloted by Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant in the current Formula 1 season and beyond. To mark the inauguration of the partnership, Keeper’s branding will be on the front wing for this weekend’s Miami GP. Race fans will also see the Keeper brand displayed across the Williams F1 car, garage, trucks and screens used by the team and drivers. Research has found 74% of data breaches include a human element, with the majority caused by weak or stolen passwords. Password management mitigates these risks, and Keeper will become Williams Racing’s Official Password Security Partner. Keeper joins a roster of Williams Racing partners that has grown significantly in 2024 as the team continues to strengthen and transform in pursuit of a return to winning ways. Since the turn of the year Williams has also unveiled new partnerships with Komatsu and VAST Data and renewed ties with Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts. James Vowles, Team Principal, Williams Racing: “Our data is one of our most important assets and protecting it is paramount. Maintaining hundreds of passwords to keep our information safe and data protected requires robust and trusted systems." "Keeper is the solution to these concerns, providing proven security for your information, and it is great to welcome them to Williams. Keeper also embodies the ethos of the team: excellence, pioneering innovation and relentless determination to succeed.” Darren Guccione, CEO and Co-founder, Keeper Security: “Partnering with Williams Racing presents an exciting opportunity to showcase Keeper Security's cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions on the global stage." "The technological advancements and relentless pursuit of innovation synonymous with Formula 1 mirror Keeper's mission to deliver next-generation protection for individuals and organisations worldwide. When seconds matter, both on and off the track, Keeper is driving powerful cybersecurity solutions that position our customers ahead of cybercriminals in the ever-evolving digital landscape.”

The founder of successful nine-year-old PR agency, MacComms has announced details of the upcoming launch of her second business, HelloHope.   Ellie MacDonald from Leeds has trained as a mental health and suicide prevention instructor trainer and is launching her Community Interest Company, HelloHope at a special event on 23rd May.   Having battled mental health issues and experienced the loss of her dad to suicide when she was just four years old, Ellie is channelling her pain into something positive to bring more hope to people at a time when it is needed most.   Ellie comments: “I grew up sad, angry, and confused by my dad’s suicide, nobody dared speak about it and so it's taken years to be able to understand it and to get to a place to do something positive to help those who, like my dad, may be struggling." “Timing is everything. This isn’t something I could have handled emotionally a few years ago but having experienced severe depression between 2021-2023, my recovery highlighted a need in me to do something truly purposeful.”    Having been behind PR campaigns such as Champion Health’s workplace wellbeing and suicide prevention reports, supporting charities such as the National Centre for Suicide Prevention, Education and Training, and local homelessness charity Simon on the Streets, Ellie realised how much it meant to be part of something meaningful.   Ellie’s desire led her to become a local suicide prevention campaigner for Samaritans and Trustee of national suicide prevention charity, Baton of Hope.   With The Office For National Statistics (ONS) reporting that 2023 suicide rates are statistically significantly higher than the previous three years, with suicide listed as the main cause of death in people under 35 years old in the UK, Ellie was keen to do even more.   Having spent time observing the sector, retraining, researching and planning, Ellie appointed Leeds-based branding agency, ALLGOOD to create a positive, vibrant brand which aims to make it easier to have conversations around suicide and poor mental health.   Ellie continues:  “The statistics are shocking and it’s about time we finally break the stigma to put an end to people’s silent suffering." “I plan to use my PR background to run awareness-raising and stigma-reducing campaigns, talks, events and activities in workplaces, businesses, and schools, and of course by getting as many people as possible trained."   “HelloHope will deliver simple yet vital lifesaving training to adults as preventative methods so we can all better at understanding the signs to look for and how to get someone who is struggling to a place of safety (whilst keeping the intervener safe)”   Over the past nine years, Ellie has won awards for her PR agency which set out to do business better. This includes Yorkshire’s Young Leader of the Year in the Business Desk Yorkshire’s Leadership Awards and Start-Up Businesswoman of the Year in Forward Ladies regional awards.   HelloHope will launch at a special event alongside celebrating MacComms’ ninth birthday on Thursday 23rd May at Nexus, Leeds from 5.30pm.

Three of St Austell Brewery’s beers have come away with medals from a prestigious beer award ceremony. Cornish Best (3.4% ABV) a full-bodied, bitter with toffee and biscuit notes, Mena Dhu (4.5%) a stout brewed with six different malts to bring complexity, and punchy DIPA Big Job (7.2%), all won silver awards at the SIBA South West Independent Beer Awards 2024. These new accolades put St Austell Brewery at its 51st win at this event since 2005. The awards, which were presented at MaltingsFest opposite Tucker’s Maltings site in Newton Abbot, are judged by beer sommeliers, master brewers and other expert beer judges from across the industry. Georgina Young, brewing director, St Austell Brewery, said: “We’re thrilled that our beers have been recognised as some of the best in brewing at this year’s SIBA awards." “Our three winners showcase the different style of beers St Austell Brewery produces and highlight the brewing team’s dedication to crafting different styles of beer - a lower ABV bitter in Cornish Best, a powerful hoppy DIPA in Big Job, and smooth and smoky Mena Dhu - one for the stout lovers.” The SIBA Independent Beer Awards represent the very best beer from the UK’s independent brewers and are judged by fellow brewers and industry experts, making these awards the “Brewers’ Choice” awards in the UK.

Safety Shield Global has been honoured with a prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise in recognition of its innovative work in developing an Artificial Intelligence safety system for plant machinery. Considered to be the highest commercial accolade possible for any UK business, the full list of this year’s recipients was announced this morning, with Cheshire-based Safety Shield delighted to be among those endorsed by His Majesty, King Charles III. The most advanced AI ‘human form recognition device’ available on the market, Safety Shield’s award-winning system was designed to cut the risk of serious injury on busy construction sites and places of work where heavy plant are operational. Providing a world-class level of protection for contractors in the most demanding of safety-focussed environments, Safety Shield gives operators a full 360-degree ‘window’ to ensure workforce safety. Using AI to identify people who are in the danger zone, the system is trained to filter out all other objects and only detects the human form, acting as a third eye for the operator and sounding an alert if a collision is imminent. The system can be fitted to any type of plant, for industries such as construction, rail, mining, demolition and waste, amongst others. Manufactured in the UK, the device which can also be retrofitted to any plant or machinery, and has achieved AI accuracy at 99.6% via independent test bodies in the UK and Germany, achieving the gold standard of accuracy levels. Jonathan Guest, Safety Shield Global founder and CEO, commented: “I am deeply honoured and humbled that Safety Shield Global have been awarded with The King’s Award for Enterprise: Innovation. This award represents recognition of the resolution, vigour, and dedication of our team." “I am infinitely grateful to everyone who has contributed to the dedication of achieving our mission of helping eliminate collisions associated with people and plant interface and help change behaviour on site." “Artificial intelligence is booming across all industries, and we are proud to be at the forefront; we were the first to bring human detection technology for collision avoidance to the construction industry and our product is still the most accurate and advanced. We will continue to push the boundaries of possibilities as we strive to enact behavioural change for onsite safety.” The King’s Award for Enterprise was renamed last year to reflect His Majesty The King’s desire to continue the legacy of HM Queen Elizabeth II, by recognising outstanding UK businesses. The Award programme, now in its 58th year, allows successful businesses to use the esteemed King’s Awards Emblem for the next five years. Initially adapted from existing AI devices used in the automotive industry, Jonathan and his R&D team have worked tirelessly over the last decade alongside government officials, transport authorities, research institutes, international construction companies and original equipment manufacturers (OEM) to develop the state-of-the-art product that is in use today.

Trade Knowsley based JJ Smith has proudly earned a King’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade. As one of only 252 organisations nationally, and one of only four organisations in Merseyside, to receive the award, JJ Smith has been acknowledged as a beacon of excellence in business. Founded in 1923 and deeply rooted in family values, JJ Smith boasts a legacy spanning four generations and has built up a wealth of experience surrounding international trade within the woodworking industry. With a dedicated team of skilled professionals, the company has established itself as a leader in providing new and used woodworking machining solutions in the UK and overseas by having a close working relationship with suppliers from across the world, enabling them to innovate and develop cutting edge technology. The company supplies machinery to a wide variety of businesses including offsite construction, shed and garden building manufacturers, door, staircase and window specialists, prisons and local colleges. Through their knowledge of the woodworking industry, JJ smith is able to provide customers with a personal service, offering the most technically suitable and cost-effective machining solutions to meet production requirements and maximise productivity. Rachael Baker, Managing Director at JJ Smith said: “What an incredible honour for JJ Smith and our community in Knowsley, Merseyside. As one of only four organisations in Merseyside to receive the King’s Award for Enterprise, we believe it is a testament to the hard work and dedication of every member of our team." "It’s a recognition of our commitment to excellence and innovation in the woodworking machinery industry, as well as the work we have done over the past few years with the local community to provide more opportunities to young people. As a proud Knowsley business, we believe passionately in the role we play within the community and are keen to help other businesses within the Liverpool City Region to engage with their communities." The King’s Award for Enterprise, formerly known as the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, is the most prestigious business award in the country, recognising and celebrating business excellence across the UK. It serves as a testament to JJ Smith’s relentless pursuit of business excellence and innovation over the last century. As a recipient of this esteemed accolade, JJ Smith gains the privilege of proudly displaying the King’s Award Emblem for the next five years. This remarkable achievement underscores JJ Smith’s unwavering commitment to delivering quality and service and remaining at the forefront of innovation in the woodworking industry for many years to come.

The island of Majorca in Spain and the Scottish Highlands and Western Isles would not on the face of it seem to have much in common. They are hundreds of miles away from each other. They have radically different climates and speak different languages. Yet the impacts of tourism in both Scotland and Spain in the last decade are felt in similar ways by local communities, according to research being undertaken by an academic at the University of Glasgow. Dr Guillem Colom-Montero has been looking at both countries to gauge the impacts of tourism, particularly in the last decade, where the industry has become the main focus of public and political debate. Local community associations, particularly in Majorca, have been overly critical of the effects that tourism is having on housing, public services, jobs, landscape, and the environment as well as linguistic and cultural sustainability. They see the island being totally overwhelmed by the influx of visitors – Majorca is home to one million residents and receives more than 12 million tourists annually. Now tourism is being described as a “devastating,” “unsustainable force” by community leaders which is rapidly transforming the island’s environment, landscape, and territory as well as its sociocultural fabric. Tourism is seen as the main cause of the locals’ inaccessibility to housing due to the rapidly increasing prices both in urban and rural areas as well as of the strain on public services and roads due to overcrowding, in particular during the summer months. Residents also complain of the working conditions and low salaries offered in the tourism industry and are particularly critical of vacation rentals and the recent boom of residential tourism and second homes, which has led to a housing crisis. Dr Colom-Montero, a Lecturer at the School of Modern Languages and Cultures at the University of Glasgow, whose University of Glasgow’s Stories from Glasgow Podcast is launched today (Monday 29 April), said: “Tourism has triggered such overarching transformations at all social, cultural and economic levels that Majorcans no longer recognise the island, don’t feel they belong and at times even feel expelled. “Majorcan culture has seen a mushrooming of creative, literary, and cultural responses to overtourism, including fiction, poetry, travelogues, documentary film, drama, political cartooning, and a body of cultural production by grassroots activism. These creations represent tourism through narratives and vocabularies of colonialism, invasion, destruction, illness, malaise, and collective trauma. “This acutely critical perspective suggests a culturally traumatic experience associated to the environmental and sociocultural effects of mass tourism on Majorca. It is fascinating to see parallels with Scotland, where communities are also facing similar problems and are now beginning to find their voices against mass-tourism and its impact on their local areas.” Margalida Ramis is the president of GOB, the largest environmentalist association in the Balearic Islands, who told Dr Colom-Montero during interviews conducted for his research: “The main problem is Majorca’s total economic dependence on tourism, which I would define as a ‘monocrop;’ which is why it seems impossible to keep its detrimental impacts in check.” Dr Colom-Montero said: ‘The situation is remarkably similar in the Canary Islands, where more than 60,000 people took to the streets recently to demand a change of the tourism model. This has been the largest demonstration ever to take place in the Canaries and, like in the Balearics, demonstrators also called to limit property sales to non-residents.” Toni Pallicer, an activist from the grassroots collective Tot inclòs, emphasises the huge transformations triggered by the post-pandemic explosion of property purchases by non-residents and added: “While overcrowding used to be seasonal and in specific areas, it has now become the norm all over the island and all year round. Overall, there is a clear feeling that a tipping point has been reached.” This is a view shared by certain industry stakeholders and large hotel companies – in January, the CEO of Riu Hotels & Resorts, one of the largest chains on the island and the 30th globally, went as far as proposing a referendum on tourism numbers. This is a comparable situation being faced in parts of Scotland, particularly in the Highlands and Western Isles. Last year, Dr Colom-Montero started analysing residents’ reactions to tourism in Scotland. In May 2023, he visited the isle of Barra, where he screened the Majorcan documentary film Overbooking (2019), which revolves around the impacts of mass tourism on the island, in the Barra Learning Centre and Castlebay Community School. The screenings were followed by a lively debate and, while the intensity was seen as smaller, the responses were quite telling: ‘all these issues ring a bell here,’ while another resident said it now felt like they were living in a ‘theme park.’ Dr Colom-Montero said: “Both Barra and Majorca, the Hebrides, and the Balearics, are remote, fragile island-environments in which rural imaginaries are still very much present in the everyday life experience of the local population. The sudden and comprehensive transformations experienced in recent years are felt in dramatic ways in both regions, which share the historical link between landscape, community identity and language, Gaelic in the Hebrides, and Catalan in the Balearics.” Gail Anthea Brown, a writer from Caithness who, after watching Overbooking online, said: “There are many parallels in this documentary with feelings around tourism in the Highlands & Islands. Majorcan residents' concerns around the impacts of tourism are mirrored across our communities, who have been negatively affected by initiatives such as the North Coast 500, and the increasing portrayal of rural areas as travel destinations rather than places where people live." "It was particularly interesting to note the documentary's caution around the development of 'alternative' tourism streams, such as slow, immersive, and off-season travel, which, without restriction in other areas, adding up to more unsustainable tourism. The Majorcan experience should be a cautionary tale for the Highlands and Islands, where overtourism has all too often left communities feeling powerless and overwhelmed.” Toni Pallicer says Majorca has seen a massive increase of ‘estate agents focusing on non-residents, usually from Northern Europe,’ who ‘buy a property to spend short spells on the island and live isolated from the local community, don’t build the place or join the social fabric.’ On Skye in Scotland, it would appear to be the same. Theatre-maker Daniel Cullen from Portree wrote the play ‘The Chariot, the Flag and the Empty, Empty Houses’ after working for three years with community groups tackling rural housing problems in Skye and Lochalsh. Speaking to Dr Colom-Montero, Mr Cullen said: “Tourism is the only show in town, and this has clear impacts on jobs and housing: most hospitality posts are low-paid and temporary, and the huge expansion of second homes and short-term lettings pushes local people out. In the past people left Skye for jobs, now there are more jobs than people because people cannot afford to live here. It now feels like you are being forbidden to live where you are from.”

A thriving Surrey fitness and health business is expanding into a second facility in Camberley to cope with increased demand. Prime Acrobatics, which offers blend of gymnastics, acrobatics and circus skills to children and adults, has nearly completed the fit-out at Prova Court. Dozens of jobs will be created when the new facility opens in June, giving a much-needed boost to the west Surrey local economy. Property consultancy Vail Williams sourced the 16,421 sq ft (1,525 sq m) premises, formerly used as science laboratories, on the town’s Yorktown Business Park and secured change of use. Prime Acrobatics, based at picturesque Heather Farm on Horsell Common in Woking since 2016, has taken a 15-year lease for an undisclosed sum. A lengthy programme of works on the building included removing two-thirds of the first floor, which reduced the size to around 11,000 sq ft, but delivered the height needed for gymnastics and acrobatic equipment. Some upstairs space has been retained for offices, a viewing area and a studio, with a cafeteria set to be added later. Charlie Nicholson, Partner at Vail Williams based in Woking, said: “Prime Acrobatics is a valued and progressive client with whom we have been working for some years, including acquiring extra units at Heather Farm to facilitate recent expansion there, giving 35% extra space." “The search for a new unit was complex, as any potential landlord had to be willing to consider change of use to Class E, gymnasium. Thankfully, at Prova Court we found the perfect premises, also being in an excellent location for easy public access." “In a sense, this is a complete reversal of the current trend in which more properties are being acquired by life sciences organisations. This deal was all about helping people, particularly children, stay fit, active and healthy.” Vail Williams’ Surrey Building Consultancy team also worked on the project for Prime Acrobatics after being instructed to prepare a schedule of condition to be appended to their new lease for Prova Court. Senior Surveyor Nicki Rought said: “The schedule recorded the condition of the whole building, including car parking and yard areas. Having a schedule of condition on the lease helps protect Prime Acrobatics’ repairing liability at lease end.” Prime Acrobatics was founded in 2012 by gymnast Chris Bowler, formerly a coach with the Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group, and Clem Malcolmson, a now retired UK gymnastics stalwart. The company has more than 1,600 members at Woking and many more on a waiting list. Each week it hosts 33 preschool classes for 500-plus children aged four months to three years, 40 classes for 1,000 four to 11-year-olds, nine classes for pre-teens and teens, plus a selection of short courses each month for parkour (pre-teens and teens) and adult gymnastics/circus classes. Matte Hart, Company Operations Executive, said: “We are indebted to Vail Williams for helping us to acquire our new larger facility, Prova Court, and we have been working non-stop to get it ready for action." “We currently have 62 staff on our books and with the introduction of our Camberley facility we look forward to reaching more than 100 employees. Our current recruitment drive offers opportunities for full and part-time positions covering coaching, management and administration.” Prime Acrobatics was commended by British Gymnastics and shortlisted for the National Community Club of the Year Award in 2019, 2022 and 2023. British Gymnastics has endorsed the teaching of all circus activities. Chris Bowler added: “We are proud to already be the home of one of most unique facilities in the UK with a blend of gymnastics, acrobatics and circus skills." “Our varied class programme includes traditional gymnastics activities as well as tramp wall, parkour, juggling, aerial silks, trapeze, tight wire, teeterboard, Chinese pole and more. The Camberley facility will allow us to bring our unique programme to a new area and expand it in new ways thanks to the higher ceiling heights." “Our ethos is simple – to give more children and adults the opportunity to enjoy exercise and benefit from living a healthy lifestyle and to help them challenge themselves to reach their full physical potential within a safe and happy environment.” Vail Williams’ full-service property advice includes commercial agency, investment and development advice, building consultancy, property valuation, planning, lease advisory, property asset management, business rates and occupier consultancy.