Permasteelisa Group, the leading international facade specialist, announced its North American expansion with the acquisition of key business assets from Benson Industries (“Benson”), a leader in design, engineering, fabrication and installation of custom unitized curtain wall and glass solutions. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Benson is widely recognized among the architectural and construction community as one of the premier custom curtain wall and external cladding subcontractors in the United States. Established in Portland, Oregon in 1926, Benson maintains offices across California, Washington and Oregon with additional design and engineering facilities worldwide, including in Singapore, the Philippines and Mexico. Over the past several decades, Benson has worked on many iconic projects, including the Salesforce Tower in San Francisco, and The Wilshire Grand Center in Los Angeles. With the acquisition of Benson, Permasteelisa Group significantly expands the size and scope of its operations across North America, growing its footprint in several key markets. Together, customers of both businesses will now be able to leverage a broader suite of global capabilities and offerings.  Liam Cummins, CEO of Permasteelisa Group commented: “The expansion of our North American footprint is a crucial component of our long-term growth strategy, and this acquisition is an exciting milestone on our path toward achieving it." "The highly capable team joining us from Benson has an excellent track record and shares our commitment to providing the very best service to our clients. With Benson’s West Coast presence and complementary glass and curtain wall offerings, this acquisition is truly a ‘win-win’ for our customers, suppliers and teams.” Supported by Permasteelisa Group’s global resources, Benson will operate as a standalone business within Permasteelisa North America. Lance Howard, who has served as President of Benson since 2016, has been named Chief Executive Officer of the combined North American business. “As a leading international façade specialist, Permasteelisa Group is the ideal destination for Benson’s team. Permasteelisa’s deep industry experience and international presence will enable us to expand our technical offering and access new design and production resources worldwide,” said Lance Howard. “By leveraging our capabilities with Permasteelisa Group’s global reputation for excellence, we will be able to further enhance our ability to service our clients. I look forward to what is ahead in this next chapter for our newly united organization.” Photo caption: Permasteelisa Group CEO Liam Cummins announces the acquisition of Benson.

To support the growth of Unilever’s foods business in the UK, the £40 million investment has doubled total output at Unilever’s Burton food factory in the last three years following the completion of a second state-of-the-art factory and investment in new digital capabilities. Unilever’s largest UK food factory in Burton has undergone a significant five-year transformation, bringing production of the full Unilever UK condiments business into one specialist hub in Burton. With 99% of products made at Unilever’s Burton site distributed to UK retailers, the investment will support the continued growth of Unilever’s foods business in the UK with a focus on driving supply chain efficiencies, boosting capabilities and delivering significant production growth at the site. A second state-of-the-art factory has been built alongside the existing factory, increasing the site’s footprint by 50% to 31,000 sqm and bringing production of Hellmann’s to the site, alongside Colman’s, Marmite and Bovril. Investment in digital capabilities has created a highly optimised site across two food factories and nine production lines, doubling volume alongside a 13% increase in total factory efficiency at the site in the last three years. With the final investment of the transformation complete this year on a new Hellmann’s production line, 2024 is set to be a record year for the factory, with the site producing an average of 9 million jars and bottles of condiments a month. The new factory includes state-of-the-art machinery and automation, including automated production lines using real-time data capture and analysis on the factory shop floor to boost efficiency and minimise waste, and a fully automated palletisation process, with two robotic arm palletisers and three top loading palletiser robots that pack over 1,000 pallets a day. 3D-printing machines and capabilities have also been brought in-house so standard machine parts can be replicated and replaced at speed. The investment and growth has resulted in 160 new jobs at the factory whilst also supporting current employees to develop new skills in digitised manufacturing, building on the site's 100-year history of supporting local jobs and skills. Andre Burger, Unilever UK & Ireland Foods Lead, said, “The investment in our Burton site and new factory reaffirms the site as a key food hub for British produce, making delicious condiments that are helping to create meals in homes up and down the country every day." "By bringing all our condiment production under one roof and focusing on advancing digital capabilities, we’ve really optimised our supply chain and manufacturing whilst significantly increasing the site’s capacity. The investment has already delivered record breaking growth for the site and will be key in supporting the continued growth of our food business and market leading brands here in the UK." "This investment is a celebration of our history in Burton as well as a commitment to its future. It is testament to the continued commitment and expertise of our teams at the site that its transformation has delivered such incredible growth so quickly.” In addition to boosting productivity, the investment has accelerated the reduction of the environmental footprint of the site, with a focus on minimising food waste and reducing the carbon footprint of products. The increased use of real-time data analysis at the site has helped to halve the site’s food waste since 2021 with the remaining waste redistributed, including to create energy for the factory via the on-site biogas recycling plant or feed for local farm animals. The final-stage production of Hellmann’s 100% recycled plastic squeezy bottles – the stage at which the basic recycled plastic material is blown into the full-size distinct Hellmann’s squeezy bottle shape - has been bought onto the site. Localising these aspects of Hellmann’s production and packaging has significantly reduced lorries on the road and travel time from production to shelves, resulting in CO2 savings.

The Office for National Statistics has reported retail sales figures in Great Britain for November but sadly they do not provide much in terms of positivity for retailers who are having a pretty tough time at the moment. Key Figures: Retail sales volumes rose by 0.2% in November 2024 following a fall of 0.7% in October. Non-food store sales volumes rose by 0.2%, Food rose by 0.5%. Clothing sales volumes fell by 2.6%, following a 3.5% fall in October Retail sales had been expected to rise by 0.5% Charlie Huggins, Manager of the Quality Shares Portfolio at Wealth Club commented: "The UK consumer appears to be limping towards the finish line in 2024 - retail sales volumes came in slightly below expectations in November, with a good performance from food the only real highlight." "Online sales were weak across the board and there was little Christmas cheer on offer for clothing retailers. The 2.6% decline in clothing sales in November means clothing sales volumes are at their lowest in almost three years. With clothing often the first category consumers cut back on in difficult times, this is not a good omen." "The Autumn Budget leaves UK retailers between a rock and a hard place. The significant increase to national insurance contributions and the National Living Wage means they will have little option but to put up prices, and margins across the sector are likely to come under pressure." "With prices likely to rise and interest rates coming down more slowly than expected, the chance of a hit to UK consumer confidence in the coming months has significantly increased."

Solent Freeport has invested £6.7 million in seed capital funding to support six projects in the region. It is the latest tranche of awards from the £25 million in funding which is provided by the government to each of England’s eight freeports. The purpose is to address infrastructure gaps in freeport locations and create the right physical conditions to encourage private sector investment. Solent Freeport projects include: Redbridge investment site to deliver an increase in the number of containers transported by rail, build an HGV welfare facility, generate additional HGV lane capacity and create the infrastructure for electric HGVs. Support for the development of the outline business case by Hampshire County Council for A326 improvements in the Totton and Dibden areas. Investment in enabling works to facilitate commercial development at Dunsbury Park, industrial and manufacturing business park at Havant. Marchwood Port investment to fund enabling works including costs associated with demolition, earthworks, biodiversity net gain, Section 278 and highways, local highways improvements and main gate security and services. Portsmouth International Port – construction of a Freeports Customs Zone adjacent to the Border Control Point (BCP) building, along with the demolition of the Sydenham building and an upgrade of the Rudmore Square junction to create a right-hand turn. Support towards the technical design and planning application for Navigator Quarter, a 112-acre tax site adjacent to Southampton Airport which will provide a state-of-the-art research, manufacturing and industrial facilities. Brian Johnson, Solent Freeport chair, said: “National seed capital funding is vital to support proposals and developments which in turn bring further growth an investment into the region." “Enhancing strategic infrastructure within the Solent Freeport area will enable key partner organisations to further optimise their operations and help boost our ongoing plans to deliver long-term economic prosperity." “This funding announcement is another illustration of our ambitious plans to attract millions of pounds of inward investment and create thousands of jobs for the population of the wider Solent region." “We take our role in approving this significant funding very seriously as it is public money we are distributing. Business cases for the six latest projects have been thoroughly scrutinised and investigated to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria.” Solent Freeport is one of eight areas of England that have been created by government to boost investment into parts of the country that have historically missed out, benefitting from a generous package of incentives. It will enable the region to capitalise on its strengths in a highly competitive global market and ensure the unique geographic advantage of the region is maximised for UK plc. A strong track record of international trade through the Solent already evidences credentials as the nation’s global gateway. Land earmarked for tax sites includes the Navigator Quarter near Southampton Airport, a development site in Southampton’s Western Docks, the Dunsbury Park business campus just north of Portsmouth, and locations along Southampton Water and the Fawley Waterside. The main customs sites are Solent Gateway on Southampton Water and Portsmouth International Port.

A North West based food ingredients business is diversifying and expanding into new markets with the creation of two new divisions. Innovative Food Ingredients, which specialises in the development of quality dry blended spice mixes and rubs, liquid marinades and sauces, has launched the new business units to work more closely with food manufacturers, regional retailers, butchers and farm shop owners. The family run Lancashire business, with a team of experts including passionate foodies and qualified butchers, is an established partner for international manufacturers such as Newly Weds Foods (NWF) and AVO, a leading European spice, liquid marinade and sauce specialist. Its new Butchers’ Collective sub-group will provide a free members portal for an innovative community seeking to enhance the art of butchery and encourage collaboration. It will offer butchers and business owners exclusive access to trade support, with knowledge sharing of food and flavour trends, educational webinars from experts, industry insights and marketing tools. Meanwhile, the Taste Creation platform, an addition to the company’s online shop, is targeted at food manufacturers, food development businesses and regional retailers. It will cover key aspects of the company’s fully customised food product development services, as well as partnership working opportunities. The new business units have been set up in response to the rapid expansion of the foodie market, with butchers and meat retailers across the UK diversifying what they offer. More discerning consumer tastes are driving up demand for more distinct, multi-cultural flavours, which Innovative Food Ingredients is bringing to the table with its products. Innovative Food Ingredients has achieved significant growth over the last 18 months, with the addition of four more employees, a new senior leadership team in place and a rebrand as part of the launch of The Butchers’ Collective and Taste Creation. The firm has also custom built and designed a modern demonstration kitchen at its headquarters in Poulton-le-Fylde to help showcase its food ingredients solutions and recipes. It will enable the team to conduct its webinars and host food preparation and demo sessions. Innovative Food Ingredients commercial director Chantelle Brennand explains: “The Butchers Collective will provide a free, supportive community for butchers, apprentices and shop owners, with exclusive access to educational webinars from our team and key industry experts." “The portal will be an invaluable source of industry insight and expertise, with cutting-edge flavour trends, food production techniques, exclusive promotions, marketing tools and buying tips." “Taste Creation is an opportunity for us to show manufacturers and retailers how we can specifically meet their needs. This is not only with the innovative food ingredients we offer, but also in terms of new product development, supply and batch production, distribution and resource support which dovetails with their manufacturing processes." “The new units are in response to changing purchasing behaviours, diversification and a renewed drive for greater value and taste as we put customers’ needs at the heart of everything we do." “Food manufacturers, butchers and meat retailers now want to design and market dishes with different continental flavours. When they are in need of new flavours to extend their ranges, we have the consumer insights, creativity and technical knowledge to make it happen.” Innovative Food Ingredients acts as a catalyst to bring UK and international food processors, farm shops and retail butchery sectors together to add value and enhance the quality of their product ranges. Products include oil-based marinades, sauces, crumbs and fillings, plus traditional burger and sausage mixes and seasonings. As well as supplying traditional family run butchers, grocers, delis and farm shops, it also works with food processors and retailers, offering a fully bespoke development service to satisfy specific client requirements. For further information, visit here.   Photo caption : Chantelle Brennand and Peter Rushforth from Innovative Food Ingredients are expanding their reach into new markets.

The Kia Sportage has been crowned the UK’s best-selling SUV and second best-selling car of any make or model in 2024, with 47,163 units sold of the popular family car, according to full year results published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Kia’s total volume in 2024 reached 112,252 units sold, with a market share of 5.7%, making Kia the fourth best-selling brand overall – an impressive new record. Importantly, Kia’s sales mix of electric and electrified models ensured it was on track to achieve the inaugural ZEV mandate target. In the year that saw England reach the UEFA Euro 2024 final, Paris host the Olympics again after a 100-year wait, and the return of a Labour Government, the Kia Sportage once again proved to be Kia’s most popular model. The family SUV made up around 42% of Kia’s total sales, thanks to its enduring appeal and range of efficient and electrified powertrains. Combined, Kia’s three Compact SUVs – the Sportage, Niro and XCeed – easily made Kia the best-selling brand in this extremely competitive segment. Combined sales of these three models totalled 72,836, giving Kia a domineering 12.6% overall share of the C-SUV market. Kia’s Eco models (fully electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid), accounted for half (50%) of total sales (56,467), ensuring Kia ended the year as the second best-selling brand for electrified models. While the Sportage and Niro continued to be the most popular models for Kia in the UK, the Ceed family (Ceed, Ceed Sportswagon, XCeed, ProCeed) and Picanto rounded out Kia’s big-four, combined with Sportage and Niro accounting for around 83% of the brand’s 2024 sales (see figure 1). A bumper year of records, 2024 saw Kia achieve record sales months in February, April, June, July, August, September and October. In addition, these months contributed to record sales periods across Q1, Q2, H1, Q3, Q4, H2 and the entire year. 2024 was also a record year for hybrid sales, plug-in hybrid sales, and electrified sales. New Additions Kia’s fully electric models, the new EV6, EV9 and Niro EV, welcomed a new addition to the family in November with the launch of the EV3. This latest model arrived just as Kia celebrated a decade of EVs in the UK, following in the footsteps of the original fully electric first-generation Soul EV, launched in November 2014. In addition, Kia launched new versions of the Picanto and Sorento – the brand’s smallest car and largest non-electric SUV respectively. President and CEO of Kia UK, Paul Philpott, commented: “2024 has been yet another fantastic year for Kia. I couldn’t be prouder of the results and the dedication shown by our dealer partners and staff who have all worked tirelessly to put customers first and achieve another record sales year." “Despite various challenges throughout 2024 and the first year of the new ZEV Mandate regulation, Kia UK achieved record upon record. This shows the true demand for all Kia vehicles from UK customers, including our award-winning line-up of fully electric models, and the trust customers have in our brand." “2025 brings a new set of challenges and opportunities, Kia is braced to build on the exceptional results of last year with significant updates to the product offering and firm plans to boldly venture into the commercial vehicle market.” Awards Aplenty Kia won no fewer than 68 awards throughout 2024 for its products. These included high praise for the EV9, which stood out with an impressive 23 awards in the year, including ‘UK Car of the Year 2024’, ‘World Car of the Year 2024’, and ‘Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year 2024’. Despite only launching in November, the EV3 has already picked up several notable awards, including ‘Car of the Year’ from Electrifying.com and Top Gear’s ‘Crossover of the Year’. Kia’s products clearly resonated with customers and media alike, but the company itself was no stranger to coming out on top. The National Franchised Dealers’ Association’s (NFDA) twice-yearly Dealer Attitude Surveys saw Kia named the number one franchise by dealers in both April and October, marking a winning streak of four surveys in a row and a top-three ranking in the past 17 successive NFDA surveys. Kia UK’s 2024 In Brief Kia hit the ground running in January 2024, revealing three ‘Platform Beyond Vehicle’ (PBV) concepts at CES, Las Vegas – destined to become Kia’s first fully electric light commercial vehicles (eLCVs). Kia UK also renewed its long-standing partnership with Surrey County Cricket Club and the Kia Oval for a further five years, and opened the Kia Academy; an all-new state-of-the-art training centre, in Derby. The company furthered its membership of the Automotive 30% Club as a Silver member, to continue to lead on equality, diversity and inclusion – extending across the business. In March the EV9 earned its World and UK Car of the Year accolades. In the same month, Kia UK became a Gold Carbon Literate Organisation. Kia UK was also officially named one of the UK’s Best Workplaces™ 2024 by Great Place To Work®. Kia sold its 1.5 millionth car in the UK in April, a Kia EV6 ‘GT-Line S’ in Yacht Blue, some 33 years after the first Kia Pride was sold in the UK. Meanwhile, Kia was headline sponsor of Grand Designs Live, in London. Kia Rental celebrated its 10th anniversary in June, with the service growing to 28 locations throughout the UK with an effective rental fleet of more than 1,400 cars. The month also saw Kia launch EV3 Electric Experience events across its entire dealer network, showcasing the new model to the public across a three-month period. In July, the Picanto celebrated its 20th sales year, having first been introduced to the UK market in the same year that Mark Zuckerberg first launched Facebook. Since its introduction, Kia has sold more than 270,000 examples of the Picanto, and the model has seen three all-new generations and four mid-life facelifts. August saw Kia renew its love for film with a fresh partnership with independent cinema specialist Digital Cinema Media (DCM) and a new partnership with Pearl & Dean. September saw the European debut of the Concept PV5 van including notable specification reveals, such as the inclusion of a seven-year/100,000-mile warranty as standard in the UK. Following a string of awards throughout the latter part of the year, Kia’s first electric van, the PV5, won its first UK award as the ‘One to Watch’ at the 2025 What Van? Awards. At the same time, the first EV3 UK customer orders started delivery in time for Christmas.

London is officially the most congested city in Europe, as drivers in the capital spent an average of 101 hours in traffic last year, a 2% increase from the previous year. The report by the transport analytics company Inrix also revealed that the A40 Westway in London was the most congested road in the UK, particularly during the hours of 5pm-6pm. London has seen a consistent increase in congestion in recent years, from 97 hours in 2022 to 99 hours in 2023. Congestion and lengthy traffic jams are not only inconvenient, but also a major source of stress for drivers who are sitting in lengthy queues, sometimes for hours on end. The RAC anticipates other congestion hotspots include the M5 heading both north and south, the A590, which connects the Lake District to the M6 motorway, as well as the areas surrounding Leeds and Reading, with both locations playing host to major music festivals. Graham Conway, Managing Director at Select Car Leasing , explains: “Anyone who has endured lengthy traffic jams in the past can attest to the stress and irritation they can cause." “In some circumstances, frustration behind the wheel could manifest as poor decision-making, erratic and rushed driving behaviours, and an increased risk of road rage. That clearly has the potential to put other road users in danger." “So it’s crucial that motorists find ways to overcome those negative emotions, however difficult that might be if you’ve been trapped in a car for hours on end." “Let’s all help each other to get home safely.” Below, Graham highlights five steps drivers should take to help overcome driving anxiety or frustration when stuck in traffic: 1. Plan Ahead This may seem obvious but often gets forgotten about, especially if you’re leaving in a hurry to get to your desired destination on time. Planning your journey well ahead of time will help ease the nerves if you do unexpectedly hit traffic. Make sure to check traffic updates just before setting off to get a clearer understanding of the current condition of the roads. And even if you know where you’re going, set up a mapping app - like Google Maps or Waze - that can alert you to traffic issues ahead while suggesting alternative routes so that you don’t end up snarled up in a big delay. "It goes without saying that you should give yourself plenty of time and leave slack in the system to account for congestion. If you do hit traffic, you’ll still be sitting pretty.” 2. Pit Stop Don’t leave home without your water bottle, as being dehydrated behind the wheel can lead to symptoms like tiredness and lethargy, dizziness, headaches, confusion, muscle cramps, and a general lack of concentration. And make sure you plan regular pit stops so that you can grab a bite to eat. Being ‘hangry’ while stuck in congestion is highly unlikely to put you in a good mood. It’s also good to remember that while there’s no specific law against eating behind the wheel, if you end up distracted while doing so you could be hit with a police prosecution for careless driving. That could easily lead to a fine of £100 and 3 points on your driving licence. In the most serious cases, you could receive a fine of £2,500 and an appearance in court. 3. Calm Your Mind As driving anxiety can increase your heart rate and leave you with shortness of breath, it’s beneficial to learn deep breathing exercises to prepare you for stressful driving situations like being stuck in traffic. Deep breathing exercises help your muscles relax and keep you calm, as your brain interprets this as a sign that everything is okay, and it's safe to relax. You could try creating a relaxing playlist on your music app, or there are countless podcasts devoted to relaxation, relaxation and mindfulness. If your driving anxiety is getting too much and deep breathing exercises aren’t helping, pull over at the first opportunity and take a break. 4. Stay Alert While it’s beneficial to keep your mind calm when experiencing driving anxiety, it’s crucial that you don’t switch off entirely and stay alert on the road ahead. If traffic has been at a halt for a while, you might notice yourself getting bored or even sleepy, which are both very dangerous when operating a vehicle. Open a window or turn on the air conditioning for a few minutes to help wake yourself up and remain vigilant. It also helps to drink some water to refresh yourself or have a bite to eat to maintain your energy levels. 5. Let It Go Traffic jams have the tendency to bring out the worst in some motorists, particularly when lanes are blocked on a motorway and everyone is trying to merge into the ones left available. Your anger levels might also rise if you spot law-breaking drivers dangerously using the hard shoulder to make forward progress. “My advice would be to take a deep breath, let it go, and try not to let the behaviours of others sour your mood. If someone is trying to pass you or get ahead, let them - blocking them is just going to create more problems and leave you even more stressed." "And if someone is breaking the law, rest assured that the police are likely to catch up with them eventually.”

Hyundai Motor UK sales grew 5.4% year-on-year during 2024, continuing an upwards sales trend that saw 2023 sales up 8.3% over 2022. Overall, Hyundai Motor UK sold 91,800 vehicles in 2024, with the TUCSON as best-seller, accounting for 35% of all cars sold. The brand’s share of the UK car market increased by 0.1 percentage points to 4.7%. Significant advances in electrification bolstered the impressive sales growth, with alternative fuel vehicles now accounting for over 50% of total Hyundai sales. Electric vehicle sales showed particular strength, growing by 4,400 units to just under 18,000 units. The KONA Electric represented 60% of all EVs sold ahead of the launch of two all-new electric vehicles in 2025. This strong performance in zero-emission vehicles positions Hyundai on target to achieve full compliance with the ZEV mandate based on ZEV sales and CO2 reductions. Hyundai’s extensive range continues to gain exceptional recognition from experts, with numerous high-profile awards. In the last two months of 2024 alone, the All-New Hyundai SANTA FE was named SUV of the Year at the TopGear.com Awards and crowned Car of the Year in the 2025 Carwow Awards. In addition, the brand’s ground-breaking IONIQ 5 N was named Britain’s Best Electric Car in the cinch Car of the Year Awards and hailed Performance Car of the Year at the Scottish Car of the Year Awards, while the All-New SANTA FE took the prize for Large ICE Car of the Year at the same ceremony. Ashley Andrew, Managing Director of Hyundai Motor UK, said: "We've continued our strong momentum through 2024, with particular success in electrification as we transition towards a more sustainable future." "Our market share growth to 4.7% demonstrates the continued trust UK consumers place in our brand. At the same time, our preparation for the ZEV mandate shows our commitment to leading the charge in zero-emission mobility." "With two exciting new EVs joining our range in 2025 and our continued focus on customer satisfaction, we're ideally positioned for further success in the year ahead."

England’s leading first aid charity St John Ambulance has declared 2025 the year of holistic workplace health, warning that organisations must proactively address outdated approaches to first aid in the workplace to best protect their employees. As businesses reopen for the first full working week of the year, employers are being urged to recognise that the traditional concept of workplace first aid is dangerously outdated. First aid is no longer solely about treating physical illness or injury, or maintaining emergency first aid kits, but integrating both physical and mental health first aid to holistically keep workers safe. Between 2023 and 2024, across the UK there were 33.7 million working days lost due to workplace injury or illness. Sick leave due to stress, depression or anxiety accounted for 16.4 million (about half) of those lost workdays. Lisa Sharman, Head of Education and Commercial Training at St John Ambulance, said: “Workplaces that do not upgrade their approach to first aid to incorporate mental health first aid, and a focus on mental wellbeing, are in significant danger of failing to provide holistic care for their employees.” She added, “First aid – both physical and mental – is a core component of employee wellbeing – and in 2025, it demands a more sophisticated approach from businesses.” “Mental health first aid focuses on identifying, understanding, and responding to signs of mental health issues or crises, providing initial support and guidance to professional help if needed.” “Mental wellbeing is about proactively maintaining good mental health through practices like stress management, resilience building, and creating a supportive environment.” “Together, they complement each other: mental wellbeing promotes prevention and ongoing health, while mental health first aid equips people to respond effectively when issues arise.” “Mental and physical health are deeply interconnected. The workplace has changed dramatically in recent years, health requirements are evolving, and people’s expectations of their employer have shifted.” “A holistic workplace first aid strategy draws on physical health interventions, mental health support, preventative training, and integrated wellness programmes.” “By investing in holistic health approaches, organisations can reduce incidents and build more resilient, productive teams.” “As we start the new year, we are calling on organisations to adapt in order to proactively contribute to improved employee resilience, reduced workplace incidents, and enhanced overall organisational health.” Workplace illness is a rapidly growing economic cost for England employers. Of the £21.6 billion cost to business during 2022-2023, £7.1 billion was lost to workplace injury and more than twice that amount to ill health. St John Ambulance provides a range of physical and mental health first aid courses for the workplace that adopt a uniquely practical approach to creating competent and confident workplace first aiders. St John Ambulance is also one of the most trusted providers for first aid training, with organisations across England rating their courses at 4.9 out of 5, based on more than 40,000 reviews. The St John Ambulance Workplace First Aid Training Courses range from First Aid and Emergency First Aid at Work, to specialist training on defibrillators, paediatric first aid, annual refreshers and more. The St John Ambulance Mental Health First Aid Training Courses range from Mental Health Awareness to Manager training, e-learning modules, Workplace First Aider and Workplace First Responder courses, helping workers to spot the signs and respond to the needs of a person experiencing a mental health issue. Employers have a legal duty of care to ensure that employees are provided with a safe working environment. They must take reasonable care to prevent personal injury (including mental or physical harm) that may arise in the workplace. Employers can address first-aid provision in the workplace with the latest Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance. For more information, and to book a training course with St John Ambulance, visit their website here

M&S Food has revealed its latest campaign to launch its two new health and wellness ranges, Brain Food and YAY! Mushrooms. The new ATL brings to life the nutrient rich and trend-led foods and positions M&S Food as the destination for customers looking to support their health this January and beyond. The campaign runs across TV, VOD, Press, Digital Audio, PR, Paid and Organic Digital and Social, as well as in-store and CRM for the next month. The TV ad will focus on the Brain Ball, the hero line from the new Brain Food range. Through the voice of Mark Heap – the British Actor and Comedian known for his roles in television comedies including Friday Night Dinner and Green Wing - Brian the Brain Ball will be subtly animated in a back-and-forth conversation with a voice over from legendary M&S Food ambassador, Dawn French. The creative showcases the innovation of the product in a playful way whilst highlighting the priority brain health supporting nutrients. The 30 second ad will appear across channels including C4, ITV and Sky, including during shows such as The Masker Singer Special, This Morning and Wheel of Fortune. Digital Out of Home will focus on the YAY! Mushrooms AM & PM Cold Pressed Shots, targeting commuters to kick start their day with the AM shot and wind down in the evening with the PM shot. The new ranges are available in M&S Foodhalls and on Ocado. The M&S Brain Food range includes 13 lines, championing six key brain health supporting nutrients that people lack in their diets: omega 3, iron, iodine, folate, zinc, and vitamin B12. The M&S Brain Food criteria have been developed in partnership with the British Nutrition Foundation. The YAY! Mushrooms range has been created in partnership with Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and includes five new drinks featuring two key fungi, lion’s Mane and reishi, each with their own innovative properties. Sharry Cramond, Marketing & Loyalty Director at M&S Food, said: “Insight, quality and innovation is at the heart of everything we do and these two new first to market own label ranges, M&S Brain Food and YAY! Mushrooms, are the perfect examples of when these three marry together. We’re seen as the leading retailer offering healthy choices and 80% of our customers say they are concerned about their cognitive/brain health, so it really made sense for us to introduce Brain Food to our Foodhalls." "YAY! Mushrooms taps into our adventurous customers who love to try new things and also aims to open us up to new customers who may be familiar with lion’s mane but have not tried them in a delicious drink." "The campaign brings to life the unique ‘only at M&S’ innovation, which is central to our marketing strategy as we have a complete ban on the generic." “We’re absolutely obsessed by the quality of the products in our Foodhalls and that’s why we’ve partnered with industry experts to support our claims on both ranges. M&S truly is the home of health and we can’t wait to see what customers think of our exciting, tasty and beneficial new products.”

Aldi, the UK’s fourth-largest supermarket, is set to invest around £650 million across Britain in 2025.   This includes the development of new stores in Fulham Broadway in London, Billericay in Essex, and Cheadle in Stoke-on-Trent, with the supermarket targeting around 30 new store openings in total in 2025. This forms part of Aldi’s package of annual investment to accelerate its expansion across Britain’s towns and cities. The rate of investment in 2025 continues from an equally busy new store opening programme in 2024 with Aldi opening in new locations such as Totton in Hampshire, Cribbs Causeway in Bristol and Pwllheli in Gwynedd in recent weeks. Giles Hurley, Chief Executive Officer, Aldi UK and Ireland, said: “At Aldi, our unwavering commitment has always been to provide Britain with the best value groceries. The demand for our unbeatable prices is now at an all-time high, which gives us the confidence to continue investing in Britain to provide greater access to our award-winning products at the lowest prices." “We recognise that there are still areas without an Aldi store, so our expansion plans for 2025 are designed to address some of these gaps as we work towards our long-term goal of 1,500 UK stores.”

New research shows scale to which Labour’s employment plan will harm jobs, lock people out of work and cause spiralling benefits bill. Key Findings: 92 per cent of small employers are worried about the Employment Rights Bill, with 67 per cent saying they plan to recruit fewer staff, and 32 per cent set to reduce headcount The Government’s benefits bill is set to soar, with a majority less likely to hire those out of work or with a poor work history The UK’s largest small business group is now calling on the Prime Minister to remove plans to expand grounds that would allow employees to sue for unfair dismissal from their first day of work. Small firms fear the new Employment Rights Bill will harm recruitment and lead to a spiralling benefits bill, a survey by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) shows. The research shows that 92 per cent of small employers have concerns about measures in the Bill. One of the main concerns cited in the Bill is changes to unfair dismissal legislation, which would expand the grounds for employees to take their new employer to a tribunal from their first day in the job. FSB says that the Prime Minister must now show he “gets” the importance of creating and sustaining jobs by scrapping this part of the Bill, returning instead to the one-year qualifying period in place under the last Labour Government. Small employers said that the Bill would see them: Recruit fewer staff (67%) Cancel or scale down plans for investing and expanding in the business (56%) Reduce headcount before the measures kick in (32%). People out of work or with a poor job history are set to be especially hard-hit, with small employers saying they will: Change their recruitment or employment practices (87%) Avoid hiring those with a poor work history (66%) Avoid hiring those out of work or who haven’t had a job before (49%). Tina McKenzie, FSB’s Policy Chair, said: “Small firms have made it crystal clear that the Bill will not motivate them to hire more whatsoever. Their feedback is emphatic, resounding, and overwhelming." “Ministers must show they get the risk to jobs and avoid a cavalier, dogmatic or patronising approach to the loud and clear feedback from small businesses. The economy is in no fit state for a ‘war on work’. If employers fear they will be sued, fewer will hire – with knock-on effects including a rising benefits bill and a lasting drag on living standards across the UK." “These changes would have a severe negative impact on the real economy. All those who will be locked out of work as a result of this Bill deserve better from the Government." “Removing new rules on day one dismissal processes from the Bill altogether, and returning to the one-year qualification period in place under the last Labour Government, is a more balanced approach and a cost-free route for the PM to show he gets it on the importance of creating and sustaining jobs.”