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An award-winning Warwickshire brewery has announced a historic licensing partnership which will see its brand in 100 English Heritage sites across the UK. In what is one of the company’s biggest partnerships in recent times, Purity Brewing Company has unveiled its English Heritage Collection – a trio of Best Bitter, Organic Craft Lager and Low Alcohol Pale Ale, as part of a shared celebration of both brands’ sustainability and authenticity values. The 4% ABV Modern Day GF Best Bitter, in a 500ml bottle; 5% ABV Organic GF Lager, in a 440ml can; and 0.5% ABV GF Low-Alcohol Pale Ale, in a 345ml bottle, are all available to buy in shops and cafés at many of English Heritage’s 400 historic sites, including world-famous English medieval castles, Roman forts, abbeys and even a Cold War bunker. It’s also a particularly poignant collaboration for the Purity team whose late co-founder Jim Minkin, enjoyed a passion for Roman history. Minkin established Purity, in Great Alne, in 2005 with Paul Hasley on a joint mission to ‘brew great beer without prejudice, with a conscience, consistency and attention to detail.’ History is also brought to life through the new collection’s branding - with their modern take on historic English helmets. Paul Brazier, Head of Marketing at Purity, said: “The English Heritage partnership has been born through a shared desire to leave a recognisable mark of quality, sustainability and authenticity on the world. Manifesting itself through our English Heritage Collection, celebrating the best of all things that have shaped our green and pleasant land, our beers are as rich and characterful in flavour as our country is in history. This is a great opportunity to tell authentic stories through the eyes of national treasures." “The unique label designs combine the three core brewing ingredients: whole cone hops, malted barley and pure water with medieval battle-worn helmets from some of English history’s most defining moments, including the invasion of English shores by Saxon and Viking warriors, to the enduring conquests of the infamous Knights Templar.” Alexandra Bovey, Licensing & Commercial Development Manager at English Heritage, said: “We’re so proud to have partnered with Purity, who we knew were a great fit as a responsible brewer caring about sustainable practices and never compromising on quality. The product range that is the result of months of joint development work are beautifully designed and we’re so pleased to be bringing this range to both our visitors, members and the wider public.” Central to the brewer is a strong commitment to supporting the environment. Purity only uses natural ingredients, supports recycling programs and respects the local community and environment. Waste products are recycled through its unique wetland system. This sustainable ecosystem helps minimise carbon dioxide emissions, reduces energy consumption and encourages wildlife diversity.

Aldi will invest more than £550m in expanding and further improving its store and distribution network during 2024. This includes plans to open stores in new locations up and down the country, as well as upgrading its existing stores and distribution centres to support growth. New stores set to open in 2024 will create over 1,500 new jobs across the country, with further job opportunities in its current stores, Regional Distribution Centres and UK offices. Aldi currently has more than 1,000 stores across the UK and is committed to continuing towards its long-term target of 1,500 locations to meet the demand for its unique high quality and affordable offering. This announcement comes after Britain’s fourth largest supermarket recorded its strongest Christmas yet and invested more than ever before in the British suppliers and growers that provide around three quarters of all items sold. Aldi works with around 5,000 suppliers across the UK and has been ranked as the best supermarket for conducting relationships fairly and in good faith for a record 10 years in the GSCOP annual survey. Giles Hurley, CEO of Aldi UK and Ireland, said: “We’re continuing to welcome more and more new customers through our doors – with people coming for our low prices but staying for our award-winning quality and British sourcing." “However, there are still areas of the country that don’t have an Aldi, or that need more or larger stores to meet demand. That is what our 2024 expansion plans aim to address. We now have more than 1,000 stores across the UK but there are plenty more Aldi stores still to come, in 2024 and beyond.” Aldi is on the lookout for freehold town-centre or edge-of-town sites that are around 1.5 acres and can accommodate a 20,000sq foot store with around 100 parking spaces. Ideally, each location will be near a main road with good visibility and access. Aldi recently became the first supermarket to guarantee store and warehouse colleagues at least £12 an hour after confirming new rates of pay which take effect from 1 February 2024. The new minimum rate, makes Aldi the first supermarket to offer rates in line with the Real Living Wage that was set by the Living Wage Foundation in October last year. Store Assistants’ pay will rise further to £12.95 nationally, and £13.85 within the M25, based on the length of service as part of Aldi’s £67m investment in colleague pay. Aldi also remains the only supermarket in the UK to offer paid breaks.

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is launching a nationwide initiative to monitor ‘Bumbles on Blooms’, in a bid to identify which plants are most visited by bumblebees in spring and help these vital pollinators to thrive.  From 12 February until 31 May 2024 the RHS, supported by the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, is calling on all members of the public to observe bumblebee sightings on flowers in gardens and parks across the UK, and record their findings and photographs. Bumblebees are a vital group of wild pollinators, helping to pollinate our garden plants as well as much relied on crops such as apples, tomatoes, and peas. When the weather starts to warm, queen bumblebees emerge from hibernation seeking flowers to provide nectar as fuel for flight and protein-rich pollen to feed the developing larvae of the worker bees. The duel challenges of habitat loss1 and climate change mean that the availability of flowers in springtime is critically important for helping bumblebees establish successful colonies at the start of the season. Data gathered during this project will help boost bumblebee populations by ensuring that gardeners receive the best advice for what to plant, and improve our understanding of their habits. Wildlife specialists from the RHS will monitor the results that could also provide valuable insight into whether factors such as flower colour and how urban or rural a site is influence bumblebees’ plant choice. Getting involved in this project requires a few simple steps: Photograph bumblebees on flowers. Check the identity of your bumblebees (simply submit as ‘bumblebee’ if unsure). Submit your record to the ‘Bumbles on Blooms’ project on iNaturalistUK2 (app or online). Helen Bostock, RHS Senior Wildlife Specialist said:  Bumblebees are a vital part of our ecosystem, pollinating our crops and flowers, and playing a key role in much of the food we eat. In the face of large-scale changes to the countryside and the ensuing decline in their numbers, flowers in gardens and parks are an increasingly important source of pollen and nectar for bumblebees. This project is an opportunity to give back; the better we understand which plants these industrious insects most rely on, the more we can help them to thrive.” For more information on the project and how to get involved please visit here.

McLaren will make its WEC debut in 2024 with the 720S GT3 EVO in the new LM GT3 class. The eight-race calendar includes the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in which the brand will be represented for the first time since 1998. McLaren has a historic link with the endurance classic, having won on its debut appearance 29 years ago with the iconic #59 F1 GTR. The 2024 season will be the first time McLaren will contest all three of motor racing’s Triple Crown of races in the same season, having previously claimed Monaco Grand Prix and Indianapolis 500 victories. The 720S GT3 EVO cars, which are numbered #59 and #95 in recognition of the Le Mans win for the #59 car in 1995, will run a livery with echoes to iconic McLaren liveries of the past and consistent with this season’s Formula 1 and IndyCar designs. The 2024 McLaren-United Autosports WEC livery is divided into three sections in a chevron formation. The front of the car transitions from satin black to a high gloss black with the iconic McLaren Papaya at the rear of the car. Papaya also features on the rear wing and aerodynamic dive planes on the nose of the car, as well as being used as a differentiator on the side mirrors and windscreen strip of the #59 car. The McLaren-United Autosports WEC driver line-up for the 2024 season has also been confirmed ahead of the Official Prologue at Qatar on February 24-25. The #59 car will be driven by Swiss Gregoire Saucy, Briton James Cottingham and Brazilian Nicolas Costa. In the #95 car will be Japan’s Marino Sato, Chilean driver Nico Pino and Briton Josh Caygill. The 2024 WEC season begins in Qatar on March 2, the first of eight rounds that includes Imola, Spa-Francorchamps and Le Mans in Europe. The championship then heads to Sao Paulo and Texas in the Americas, going onwards to Japan, with the final round in Bahrain in November. Michael Leiters, CEO, McLaren Automotive commented: “We are proud to present the 720S GT3 EVO in conjunction with our Racing Partner United Autosports ahead of our WEC debut in Qatar with an exciting driver line-up. Racing is intrinsic to the McLaren brand and the WEC is the perfect arena to demonstrate the performance capabilities of our supercar engineering programmes. We are also pleased to celebrate our victory in the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans with our livery, which is a hugely important part of McLaren history.” Richard Dean, CEO, United Autosports said: “This is a proud moment, unveiling the new look of McLaren on its return to Le Mans and the WEC. The design has racing heritage at its core, harking back to the 1995 Le Mans winner, while being - unmistakeably - part of the current McLaren family. It’s an exciting addition to the 2024 McLaren line-up, complimenting the Formula 1, IndyCar and Formula E designs; they look like winning cars, and we have big ambitions.”

Passengers travelling through London Gatwick will have the opportunity to treat a loved one, or themselves, to a new watch, as boutique watch stores TAG Heuer and Tudor are now open at the airport.  In line with London Gatwick’s vision – to be the airport for everyone, whatever your journey – the two new stores will provide passengers with an increased choice and scope to personalise their experience.    TAG Heuer will welcome clients to explore the range of men’s and women’s luxury timepieces, showcasing the world-renowned Swiss watchmaking expertise from the brand known for its passion.    TUDOR aims to reach a wider audience and share its passion for exceptional timepieces with travellers from around the world.  With its elegant and contemporary design, the showroom reflects the essence of TUDOR's commitment to craftsmanship, innovation, and timeless style.  TAG Heuer  and TUDOR can be found in the South Terminal, both after security. The stores will be the first new retail operators to open at London Gatwick this year, with more in the pipeline over coming months.  Black Sheep Coffee opened in the South Terminal in January, while a range of other food and beverage outlets, including Krispy Kreme, Giraffe World Kitchen and Brewdog, have all started trading at London Gatwick in recent months. Rachel Bulford, Retail Director, London Gatwick said: "Having world-renowned brands such as TAG Heuer and TUDOR opening stores at London Gatwick is fantastic news for the airport and our passengers."  “The two stores are premium names which we expect to be very popular with passengers and might just add the perfect touch to a dream holiday. ”  Rob Diver, Managing Director of TAG Heuer UK and Ireland said: “ This is an exciting time for TAG Heuer as we continue to grow our bricks and mortar presence in the UK with our valued partner Watches of Switzerland. With this new boutique at London Gatwick’s South Terminal, we look forward to bringing to the fore a new TAG Heuer experience in travel retail, with a team who can share their expertise with clients in the search of their next timepiece.”   A TUDOR spokesperson said: “ We are delighted that our partner, Watches of Switzerland Group, has been able to secure this location in London Gatwick’s recently elevated luxury environment.”

Loughborough will host a popular vegan market on Sunday February 25. This will be the first vegan market of 2024 following its success and popularity in recent years. The event, run by Vegan Market Co. in partnership with Charnwood Borough Council, will feature a variety of vegan street food, artisan bakes, craft cheeses, handmade cosmetics, ethical clothing and jewellery, arts and crafts, and charity stalls. All items are created by a handpicked selection of talented, ethical and sustainable businesses. The vegan market will run from 10.30am-4pm. Gluten free options are available and well-behaved dogs are welcome. The event is also fully wheelchair accessible. Councillor Jennifer Tillotson, the Council lead member for economic development, regeneration and town centres, said: “It is fantastic to see the vegan market returning to Loughborough this month. We are proud of our historic market and it will be an exciting year with specialist events planned throughout 2024 which run alongside our weekly markets in Loughborough.” Loughborough Market operates a retail market every Thursday and Saturday and a vintage market on Fridays. A farmers and craft market also takes place on the second Wednesday of each month and stalls are currently being offered to new traders for free through a scheme run by the Council.

An Inverclyde family support worker has launched a range of play and learn sessions to encourage children’s positive early experiences after she accessed expert support from Business Gateway, Scotland’s national business advisory service. Jacqui Jack’s Play & Learn sessions provide a safe, stimulating, and nurturing environment that encourages creativity, exploration, and discovery through play-based learning. The sessions support the five main areas of child development, including cognitive development, fine motor skills, communication, and language, as well as emotional and social development. Launched in September last year, the business was founded by Jacqui Jack, who had worked as a family support worker at Inverclyde Council for over twenty years. Jacqui had always had a vested interest in how children learn, and the impact of positive play on educational attainment and the attachment it creates between parents and children. During her time at the council, she set up a group for parents of children under 5 to ensure they knew about the importance of play and how it can support early brain development. Having been made redundant from her role in June, and buoyed by the support of her peers, Jacqui was encouraged to set up her own business which would offer these sessions to children across the Inverclyde region. Armed with an idea but lacking the practical skills and knowledge to navigate the challenges of setting up a new business, Jacqui approached Business Gateway in July 2023 for help and support. Jacqui accessed a suite of Business Gateway’s start-up services, which included one-to-one support from a dedicated business adviser, as well as advice on her business plan, marketing, and routes to funding. Through Business Gateway, Jacqui was also able to learn the skills needed to set up a new business through practical online webinars and various market research reports. Business Gateway was able to signpost Jacqui to just under £1,000 of funding through the new business start-up grant and the new business marketing grant, which helped her purchase a laptop. Having this new technology has allowed Jacqui to streamline her online booking process and manage incoming enquiries from potential clients. Jacqui Jack, owner, Jacqui Jack’s Play & Learn, said: “Despite having extensive experience working with children and their families, taking the plunge to start my own business was really daunting and I was anxious about setting up." “My Business Gateway adviser provided very helpful advice throughout the process, and their support gave me the confidence to turn my vision into reality. Feedback from parents and families has been really encouraging and has helped me realise what a unique and quality service I can provide for young children.” Alexis Watson, adviser, Business Gateway, said: “It’s been so rewarding to support Jacqui with her business venture, and the positive reception from the local community is a testament to her hard work and commitment over these last few months. I’m sure her sessions will continue to prove popular with families across Inverclyde for years to come.”

Planning permission has been granted for a new convenience store and 77 retirement apartments at Edwalton, near Nottingham.  Developer Charterpoint and leading not-for-profit housing provider Anchor have received reserved matters planning permission from Rushcliffe Borough Council for the scheme on the corner of Rose Way and Melton Road.  The 2.2 acre site will feature a single-storey convenience store, plus a three-storey retirement apartment scheme providing a range of one and two-bedroom apartments.  Charterpoint has now completed on the deal to sell part of the site to Anchor, England’s largest not-for-profit provider of housing and care for people in later life.  Anchor will carry forward and operate the retirement development, which will include a range of residents’ amenities and a courtyard garden, as well as 77 apartments.  Charterpoint will develop the remainder of the site for the convenience store and will announce further details in due course.  Charterpoint CEO Adrian Goose said: “We are very pleased to have received reserved matters planning consent for this key plot in Edwalton and to have subsequently sold part of the site to Anchor. " “The area around the site has grown considerably in recent years, with new housing, retail and commercial developments. Our plan for the site on the corner of Rose Way and Melton Road will bring a new convenience store to the neighbourhood. It will also provide much needed affordable retirement apartments for the community, operated by Anchor, which will help to free up larger family homes in Edwalton, West Bridgford and the wider area.”  Based close to the development site, in Wheatcroft Business Park, Edwalton, Charterpoint is a senior living and mixed-use specialist that has developed a portfolio of similar projects throughout the country.  Patrick Duffy, Anchor’s Director of New Business, said: “We are delighted to have acquired this site from Charterpoint. This is a key new development for us to work in partnership with Rushcliffe Borough Council to provide affordable homes for older people locally. We look forward to working with Charterpoint to deliver the wider scheme for the local community.”  Anchor has a strong development programme and currently has 121 care homes in its portfolio.  The plans for the Edwalton site were designed by Brewster Bye Architects.

Warm-hearted restaurateurs in Leamington cooked up a storm when they turned up at a charity sleepout to feed cold and hungry fundraisers. Geanina Lacraru, who runs We Love Pizza in Regents Place with her partner Jose, handed out pizzas to more than 50 kind-hearted volunteers who took part in the Helping Hands Community Project’s Big Sleepout. The giveaway was the latest in a series of gestures by the restaurant to support the charity over the years since it opened in 2020. Geanina said “The date coincided with National Pizza Day and what better opportunity to share a ‘Random Act of Pizza’ with the ones that need the most and most times are forgotten, even when they are all around us in our daily life." “The event aims to raise awareness of homelessness and some of its causes, issues which face so many in our community in Leamington." “In the winter months with longer, darker and colder nights, charities such as Helping Hands are more in demand than ever. This is just the right time to give these organisations the boost they need. Homeless people are not only missing a home, they also miss social interaction, people that understand them and some comfort." “We hope our freshly baked, hot pizzas brought them some comforting moments. We wanted to share it with them as a way of saying, we are in this together. We can’t find you a home, just yet, but we understand and support you!” The event, which is in its ninth year, was held at All Saints Parish Church and raises vital funds for Helping Hands, a charity which raises awareness of the causes and effects of homelessness within the local community. Spokesperson for the charity, Kerry Steward, said: “The pizza was devoured and enjoyed by all 50 attendees of the event as well as volunteers and staff team, adding a bit of extra cheer to what was a very cold and wet night!” She added: “We Love Pizza have been a wonderful support to us over the years, most recently gifting pizzas to us to celebrate with our volunteers who were awarded the Kings Award for Voluntary Services back in November last year." “They have also delivered pizzas on nights sponsored by local corporate groups and included extras to our evening soup kitchens where we provide up to 50 meals a night to some of the most vulnerable people within our community.” Geanina and Jose reopened their doors to diners with a new look restaurant more than three years after the pandemic forced it to pivot into takeaway food. They unveiled the two-storey dining space above the take-out business, in Regents Place, in response to customer demand. The couple pride themselves on delivering ‘affordable quality’ to their customers by using only the best and most nutritious flour combinations and implementing exact temperature control and longer fermentation periods for the sourdough. Fresh ingredients are sourced directly from Italy – including tomatoes from the volcanic soils of Mount Versuvius - as well as locally.

Staff from Castleford College have ridden over 400 miles for Yorkshire Air Ambulance, raising more than £545 for the charity. Their latest ride started at the College with the team making their way to the east coast, covering seaside towns Bridlington and Scarborough. Andy Kitchen, Lecturer in Engineering and Automotive, said: “The team of riders consists of staff from all areas of the College, with many of us keen motor cyclists. Between us, we have ridden more than 400 miles to fundraise for Yorkshire Air Ambulance. The charity is special to us all as it does so much to help bikers across the Yorkshire area and the wider community and that is why we plan to make this an annual charity ride.” Additional Learning Support Officer, Claire Coppin, took part in the challenge to show her support for Yorkshire Air Ambulance after she was airlifted to hospital by Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s crews following a road traffic incident in 2006. Acknowledging their achievements, Stephanie Maynard, the West Yorkshire Community Fundraiser from Yorkshire Air Ambulance, visited the College to present the staff with their cheque. Claire Roberts, Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: “Castleford College’s donation is a real lifesaver. It will help us provide a rapid response emergency service to five million people. On average, our crews respond to around 1,700 incidents each year – that’s nearly five missions a day across Yorkshire." "Thanks to generous donations such as this, we now have plans to improve our service by expanding our fleet to include a third helicopter and employing our own Technical Crew Members. This means we will have greater operational availability, which is so important to us, our patients and the people of Yorkshire.” Yorkshire Air Ambulance is an independent charity providing a lifesaving rapid response emergency service to five million people across the whole of Yorkshire.

A cutting-edge engineering system that uses real-time data to predict aircraft maintenance issues is helping British Airways reduce delays and save the use of more than 900,000 pieces of paper a year. The E-Logs platform will provide live performance information about all of the airline’s 270 jets, allowing the airline to immediately spot potential problems and proactively fix them and reduce downtime. It is replacing a costly and time-consuming paper-based system with an entirely automated process that makes it much easier for pilots and cabin crew to log issues. Andy Best, Chief Technical Officer at British Airways, said: “We’re using the latest technology to help ensure we continue delivering a consistently high standard of service for our customers – always with a focus on safety." “Our investment in innovative tools like this, means we can support our teams to identify and put solutions in place ahead of time. By replacing time-consuming manual processes with digital technology we are constantly improving the reliability of our aircraft fleet and as a result our customers’ experience.” Aircraft technical logs are a regulatory requirement that have historically been paper-based. Flight and cabin crew would log any faults in writing and these are then transcribed and transferred to maintenance teams, which carry out any required work and again update the aircraft maintenance log in writing. The E-Logs system, which will see a number of specialist iPads placed on every aircraft, will replace the paper-based system entirely and allows the immediate transfer of data from the aircraft to engineers within seconds - before the aircraft arrives at its destination. This means engineers can pre-order any required parts and resolve issues more quickly on arrival, reducing the amount of time planes are out of action. The technology also allows BA to predict faults and pre-emptively correct them before they become an issue that might take an aircraft offline. The system forms part of BA’s £7bn transformation investment over the next two years. This is the biggest ever investment in the business to revolutionise how teams work, rolling-out the very latest technology to boost the customer experience. This includes cutting-edge machine learning, automation and AI across the operation, driving improvements from bookings to baggage handling and helping cut cancellations and delays. The tools being used are revolutionising how the airline works, replacing time-consuming manual processes with tech-based solutions to ensure that the right information is in the right place at the right time.

Buzzworks Holdings, one of Scotland’s leading independent restaurant and bar operators, has welcomed esteemed Scottish chef Brian Maule to the business. The chef - who ran one of Scotland’s most famous fine dining restaurants, Brian Maule at Chardon d’Or, in Glasgow for 22 years - has joined the team as a consultant to help Buzzworks build on its culinary excellence. Brian, who cut his teeth in the culinary capital of the world - Lyon, France, before working for the Roux Brothers at the prestigious 2-star Michelin Restaurant, Le Gavroche in Mayfair, will use his wealth of experience to focus on enhancing collaboration and overall efficiency across Buzzworks’ 19 venue kitchens. Maule, who enjoyed a 15-year tenure with the Roux Brothers, progressing from Chef de Partie to Chef de Cuisine, and successfully built a stellar reputation for his own venue across two decades, joins Buzzworks at an exciting time. The family-run business continues to go from strength-to-strength, having recently announced that negotiations are underway for new venues and plans to grow the business further, creating jobs and careers within local communities. Speaking on the six-month project, Maule expressed his passion to pass on his decades of experience and make a positive impact across Buzzworks. He said:  “I started my career in Ayrshire as a chef apprentice before heading to France to hone my skills, so this feels in part like a homecoming, collaborating with Buzzworks, which also started its successful tenure here in the region." “The business is already well regarded, and I’ve been impressed with their high standards. My role will be to enhance this further, working with the talented kitchen teams to raise their level once more so that the business can continue to grow and bring its first-class brand of hospitality to new communities across Scotland.” Buzzworks, consistently named in the Top 100 Companies to Work For, currently operates 19 prestigious venues across Scotland, employing more than 800 team members. With an ambitious expansion and growth strategy, Head of People, Nicola Watt, believes that working with the industry’s best will help the business push on further. She said: “Bringing in Brian Maule is an excellent coup for the business and testament to our ambition of growing Buzzworks further." “With more than 40 years in the business, operating at the highest level, Brian’s knowledge will be invaluable as we look to not only continue delivering an exceptional experience to our customers, but looking behind the scenes at streamlining our operations to ensure the highest standards possible." “Despite challenging conditions for everyone within the industry, working with the likes of Brian will help ensure our continued success, optimising our ways of working so that we are best equipped to deal with the increasing external pressures, whilst maintaining and building on our well-regarded reputation."   “We look forward to seeing what added benefits Brian brings over the next six months.” As well as working behind the scenes across the venues, Brian will also be headlining a special chef’s evening at Buzzworks’ flagship venue, The Vine."   Having cooked for the likes of Morgan Freeman, Cameron Diaz and Halle Berry, those keen to enjoy an evening of exquisite cooking from Brian and the talented kitchen team in Prestwick, should keep an eye on the Buzzworks Love Food Feel Good website for information.   Buzzworks offers an aspirational dining and entertainment experience across Scotland through its stylish brands – Scotts, House, Lido, Vic’s & The Vine, The Duke, Thirty Knots, The Bridge Inn, The Fox and Herringbone.