Young members of Scotland’s longest running youth club can continue to enjoy a taste of independence thanks to a £1,000 donation from Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust. This crucial funding will help the Maryhill-based Shakespeare Street Youth Club to sustain and expand its food programme, which provides meals and cooking classes for local children and young adults. Founded over a century ago, Shakespeare Street Youth Club, lovingly known as ‘The Shakey’ by locals, has become a home away from home for Maryhill’s young people, running five nights a week and offering a friendly, welcoming environment for children from primary age through adolescence. Besides providing meals and snacks, the club engages members in activities focused on health, wellbeing, and essential life skills. Through initiatives like its cooking club and Friday night youth café, Shakespeare Street Youth Club helps the enthusiastic youngsters to gain confidence, learn about budgeting, and develop cooking skills in a supportive community setting. Youngsters just like Orla, who is enthusiastic about attending The Shakey each week. She said, "it’s fun, and it’s exciting and enjoyable. I love learning new things at the cooking club!" Peggy Dalrymple, Acting Senior Youth Worker at Shakespeare Street Youth Club, said: "Thank you so much to Allied Vehicles for the generous donation. This money will help us to expand our food programme for all our young people. It will give them the chance to learn about planning and budgeting for meals whilst also giving them more opportunities to cook by themselves for their peers." The funding from Allied Vehicles will allow the club to continue offering meals for young people, and go towards purchasing new kitchen equipment, enabling members to cook their own meals. These additions will boost the cooking club experience, allowing members to build practical skills and independence. The equipment will also be used in future community initiatives, including healthy cooking classes for adults. David Facenna, Corporate Culture Director at Allied Vehicles Group, commented: “We’re delighted to support Shakespeare Street Youth Club in providing such valuable resources for young people in Maryhill. At Allied Vehicles we are passionate about serving our local community, and The Shakey has been doing that for over 100 years." "This funding will help them to sustain a welcoming space where the community can gather, learn life skills, and feel empowered to take on new challenges, both in the kitchen and beyond.”

A skills gap and recruitment issues in cyber security could harm businesses across the country and impact on the nation’s economy, according to a leading cyber firm. C3IA Solutions, headquartered in Poole, Dorset, has warned that the industry needs more qualified people and that businesses often lack internal expertise. With cyber-attacks becoming more common and AI bringing new levels of sophistication, organisations must become more proactive in order to protect their systems and information, says C3IA. According to the latest government report into cyber security skills in the UK labour market, nearly half of all businesses have a skills gap in basic technical areas. Despite the number of cyber-security graduates rising by 34 per cent, there remains a shortfall of expertise. C3IA provides work experience for young adults and graduate placement opportunities and urges other businesses to help educate and develop the next generation of IT and cyber professionals. C3IA’s Jim Hawkins said: “While businesses have become more aware of cyber threats over the last few years, your employees are your first line of defence and businesses need to invest in training and education that will help address many of the threats faced." “At C3IA we understand the difficulty and recognise the findings of the government’s report which says that recruiting people with three-to-five years’ experience is the hardest area. This issue can be mitigated in part by providing internal training and development programmes." “Graduates are becoming more numerous but they also will need experience in the industry. One of our newer staff, Hannah Baverstock, joined after graduation and is now a member of the UK Cyber Security Council Youth Advisory Panel, representing careers and qualifications." “There are many paths into cyber security - apprenticeships, degrees, work experience, at-home training and qualifications as well as those coming into the industry from the military, and there are plenty of jobs as well as good pay." “We encourage organisations to develop structured Continuing Professional Development (CPD) plans - ensuring teams are up-to-date with best practice and are knowledgeable on new and emerging threats." “Ultimately the more secure businesses are, the better for the whole economy. There are malicious actors across the world who will target businesses, no matter their size or sector. Being a small business doesn’t mean you won’t be attacked." “We suggest that all businesses obtain Cyber Essentials certification – this government-backed scheme is a simple way to protect yourself from common cyber attacks and includes free cyber insurance for added peace of mind." “Our clients who have this certification feel much more confident in their cyber security. After all, you wouldn’t leave your office without locking the door, so why leave vulnerabilities exposed on your computer systems?” Photo:  Jim Hawkins

A survey undertaken by French pâtissier Tipiak has revealed the importance of food at parties and events. As we head towards the Christmas season, the sweet and savoury pâtisserie specialist has revealed that 54% of people think that food is more important than drink when they attend an event such as a party or reception. And one in two Brits will position themselves at a reception or party so that they have the best access to food or the waiter carrying the food. The survey, undertaken by Perspectus Global on behalf of Tipiak, also shared valuable insight for food service professionals about how to serve canapés. Four in ten Brits believe that you should be able to eat a canapé with just one bite and the respondents polled said that on average they would eat six canapés at an event. Marie-Emmanuelle Chessé, international development project manager at Tipiak, which supplies frozen, authentic French sweet and savoury pâtisserie to the UK hospitality sector via frozen food distributor Central Foods, said: “The results of our survey are useful for food service professionals as we head towards the busy festive season with its receptions, parties and other celebrations." “Canapés should be a key ingredient of any drinks reception or function, especially at Christmas. Tipiak’s authentic ‘thaw and serve’ range of canapés can help professional caterers to provide a delicious spread of snacks and bite-sized savoury treats for guests to accompany their drinks. Conveniently pre-prepared, Tipiak’s canapés simply need defrosting before serving – freeing up kitchen staff to concentrate on other parts of the food offering at Christmas parties and events.” Based in France, Tipiak supplies a range of canapé selections to the UK food service sector, including vegetarian and vegan options. Each piece is prepared by expert bakers and cooks, and hand finished. The Tipiak canapé selections are perfect for Christmas events, cocktail parties, receptions, conferences, weddings and other occasions. The research of 2,000 Britons was commissioned by Tipiak and conducted by Perspectus Global during June 2024.

Gemma Hedges, Director at Hampshire-based HWB Chartered Accountants says there were few surprises in Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ first Budget which sets out a decade of national renewal. “We saw this coming and that it was expected that we would need to pay more tax to make much needed improvements to public services, however, employers will feel it more than others with the double whammy of salary increases and a hike in employers’ NIC." “The national living wage for over-21s goes up 6.7% from £11.44 to £12.21 per hour from April 2025 with an increase in the national minimum wage from £8.60 to £10 per hour for 18 to 20-year-olds, with some businesses already warning it could hit job creation." “Businesses will be also less enthusiastic about the headline rate of national insurance for employers being increased from 13.8% to 15% from April next year. Also, the earnings threshold at which employers start making national insurance contributions has been lowered to £5,000 from £9,100, bringing more of their employees within the scope." “There was still good news for businesses though in the shape of Corporation Tax rates and Annual Investment Allowances remaining unchanged as part of the Government’s Corporate Tax roadmap. We also welcome a 40 per cent business rates relief for retail, hospitality and leisure business, capped at up to £110,000 per business for next year and 2026." “Whilst there has been a significant increase in HMRC enquiries into Research & Development claims recently, the Chancellor made clear that this relief is staying and is fully supported, which is welcomed where the relief is vital to so many businesses." “It was no surprise to see that the Government support is only for valid claims. In line with her predecessor, the Chancellor has continued the attack on those seeking to abuse the system, whether through fraudulent welfare or covid claims." “There is also again more investment into finding the ‘missing tax’ the Government perceive as lost, this time through umbrella companies, close company loans and car schemes." “Capital Gains Tax (CGT) increases were highly anticipated, but significantly lower than could have been expected, with the lower rate increasing to 18% and the main rate to 24%, in line with the current rates for UK residential property disposals." “Many will be delighted to see that despite significant speculation to the contrary, Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR) is staying, although this will increase to align eventually to the new lower CGT rate, so for people selling businesses this rises to 14% from April 2025 and 18% from April 2026.” “Inheritance tax (IHT) was another widely anticipated area of reform, but the Chancellor surprised everyone by extending the freeze on the nil rate and residence nil rate bands until 2030. Although on the face of it not increasing the tax, by bringing pensions within the IHT regime from 2027, the reality is that more estates will exceed the £2 million threshold whereby assets are actually taxed at an effective 60% rate of IHT. “A further blow to business owners has been the restriction of 100% business property relief (100% protection from IHT) to only the first £1 million of qualifying agricultural and business assets, the excess only qualifying for relief at 50%. For many businesses this will simply not be enough to allow them to pass the mantle to the next generation, who will likely now need to sell the farm or the business in order to pay the IHT bill. “Landlords, who have faced significant attacks in previous budgets did not escape unscathed this time either, with Stamp Duty Land Tax surcharges on second homes increasing from 3% to 5% from tomorrow.” Gemma added; “For individuals, the good news comes in the national minimum wage rises, the fuel duty freeze and of course for all of us, the spend on public services. I’m looking forward to someone answering the phone at HMRC and one million less potholes on our roads each year.”

Independent businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire are at the heart of a new book celebrating food, resilience and their community. ‘Bia’s Kitchen Show: The Cookbook - A Culinary Journey of Gratitude’ is the first in a collection being launched by Brazilian-born entrepreneur and foodie Bianca Rodrigues-Perry next month. It comes ahead of the first anniversary of the successful Bia’s Kitchen Show, hosted by Bianca, and celebrates the region that, for the last 15 years, she has called home. The book showcases some of the area’s brilliant local chefs, nutritionists, and food and drink artisans who share some of their own recipes and top cooking tips, alongside Bianca’s. But the project is also rooted in her own journey of overcoming personal mental health challenges through a passion for cooking. It’s in this spirit that the self-taught chef-come-author has also pledged to donate the book’s profits to Mind Warwickshire, a cause very close to her heart. Bia’s journey of reinvention began when she left behind her family and a high-flying marketing career in 2009, emigrating from her native Rio de Janeiro as the newly married Mrs David Perry - her future now devoted to a new role as mum of three. It was also to signal the start of a turbulent period in her life, spending much of her pregnancy in hospital with crippling sickness, and battling with post-natal depression and a series of health scares involving her children. Then, in 2020, the family were rocked when Bianca’s brother-in-law took his own life. It’s Bia’s combined passions of cooking and entrepreneurialism that became a lifeline – even going on to win Couple’s Come Dine With Me on Channel Four. Buoyed by her early business success running a thriving food delivery service during lockdown, it was in January this year that she stepped out of the shadows of her busy Cubbington kitchen once more, and into the limelight. The Bia’s Kitchen brand was born. “It was all a big shock for me when I first moved here,” she recalls. “I lost my identity and had no idea what I was going to do next. I just knew that everything comes back to food for me. I thrive off feeling other people’s energy and passion for food. After all, cooking is the universal language of love.” Since then Bianca and her show, which is streamed twice monthly on YouTube, have won the affections of a loyal and growing UK audience, even winning the entrepreneur a national award, recognising the enterprise and compassion she has shown in her work with local businesses. She added: “As well as sharing great recipes from fantastic local chefs, the idea behind the book is to hopefully inspire with the message that you can have a bad day or a bad period in your life and come back with a determination to succeed all over again. Hence the title ‘A Culinary Journey of Gratitude.’ Through food and through supporting other people, we can all do better." “Food has played a huge part in my own journey of recovery from a very dark place. I use it as a therapy, you can use anything as a therapy. There is not ever only one way to get out of depression. Everyone has their own thing which works for them." “For me it’s about helping other people and finding something that you love along the way. This is what I am all about and what the book is all about. If sharing my personal story goes some way towards helping and inspiring other people who are struggling, I find that incredibly rewarding. Empowering others is what also empowers me." “Plus, it was important to me to try and give a bit back along the way by donating all of the profits to charity that means a lot to my family and I.” Coventry and Warwickshire Mind has been delivering mental health services and promoting positive wellbeing for more than 50 years through a variety of methods, including phone lines, one to one support, activities, peer mentoring, trauma therapy, counselling, drop-in hubs and workshops and purpose-built mental health recovery unit. Ian Smart, Head of Business Development at Mind, said: “Coventry and Warwickshire Mind is incredibly grateful to be receiving donations from a project that beautifully combines the love of food with the importance of mental health." “Bias's personal journey, shared through the pages of this cookbook, will not only inspire readers, but also help fund crucial services for those facing mental health challenges in our community. It’s a wonderful reminder that healing can take many forms, and we’re honoured to be part of this meaningful initiative.” Bia added: “This is a fantastic cookbook full of gratitude, community, and flavour, and discovering how cooking can heal and bring people together." “I have loved where this journey is taking me so far and have met so many talented entrepreneurs who have also inspired me in their own stories of resilience. It’s been a pleasure to share in their passion and I’m proud to feature them in this first book which, fittingly, begins my culinary’ journey of gratitude’ in the adopted community I now call home.”

Warwickshire Gin Company is producing white label gin for guests at Ashorne Hill learning and conference centre in Leamington as well as Delta Marriott Hotel in Warwick. Owner Dave Blick said: “These white label projects give a unique element and deliver a very personal message to a business’s customers/guests." “The RAF Royal Signals, Leamington Tennis Club, Leamington Polish Centre, Hansgrohe and Röhlig Logistics are also among a few of our completed projects. Customers can choose to add a variation of bottles or gift packaging with their own branding, we also offer a bespoke logistical solution to internal or external customers of the organisation." “Bringing various projects to life for our customers is really great fun, promotes our distillery but also has great impact for the business/organisation which may be celebrating an anniversary, occasion or for brand awareness.” Visitors to Ashorne Hill learning and conference centre, which offers over 40 meeting spaces set in 35 acres of grounds, are gifted 5cl miniature bottles of WGC’s Philosopher’s Daughter gin while Delta Marriott Hotel offers miniatures of the distillery’s signature Leamington On Parade gin. Stuart Anderson, Executive Head Chef at Ashorne Hill, said: "The Warwickshire Gin Company helped bring The Taste of Ashorne Gin to life using botanicals from our estate. Dave and his team provided exceptional support throughout the development process, sharing their expertise to make the experience both enjoyable and seamless. We couldn't have asked for a better partner." The four-star Delta Marriott Hotel also serves WGC’s award-winning Kingmaker Vodka behind its bar. Jenny Heath, Director of Sales at Delta Hotels Marriott in Warwick, said: “Although our working relationship is quite new, the service I’ve received to date has been fantastic. We use the Warwickshire Gin Company for our corporate welcome gifts and also the Kingmaker Vodka and Gin in our aptly named Kingmaker Restaurant.” The inspiration behind David’s drinks collection comes from a desire to capture a moment in history, developing flavours to fully represent the county’s own unique story and bringing the range of hand-crafted flavours to life. As part of the continued chapter of growth for the ambitious entrepreneur, who established Warwickshire Gin Company in 2018, the new Lockhart’s mobile bar now also brings its range of drinks to private and public events. The huge 8x4m bar is designed to recreate the complete pub experience wherever it goes, including barrel tables and seating – a project that was supported by a council-backed duplex loan through Coventry and Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust. The distillery also offers popular visitor experiences - Gin Tasting, Cocktails at The Distillery and their new Afternoon Gin & Tea plus a range of build-your-own branded gift bundles, including spirits, goblet, mixers and gin or rum-infused chocolates.

Industrial property landlords and developers are being urged to deliver more high-quality stock in Surrey to meet growing business demand, says a regional specialist. Maria Hoadley, a partner specialising in industrial property based at property consultancy Vail Williams’ office in Woking, says industrial deal activity across the county has been growing throughout 2024. However, the continuing flight to industrial quality means there is a distinct lack of the ESG-activated stock sought by occupiers and a great opportunity exists for anyone able to plug the gap. She believes the challenge for the Surrey industrial market is the dearth of quality Grade A stock available on the market. Maria said: “When industrial occupiers think about a place to locate their business, they may not automatically think about Surrey, but perhaps, with a little more investment in stock here by landlords, they could and should." “Having seen some 210,000 sq ft of industrial space let since January spanning over 30 deals, well above the 10-year average of 120,000 sq ft, we are starting to feel a sense of buoyancy here once more." “However, thanks to the challenges of the last 18 months where build costs reached eyewatering levels and the general political and economic landscape made industrial development more questionable, we now have an industrial supply gap within certain locations in the Surrey area." “This is particularly true for quality units in the sub-10,000 sq ft category which boast the ESG credentials necessary to attract occupiers.” Maria, who has more than 30 years’ experience in commercial property across the Thames Valley and M4/M3 corridor, added: “Our message to Surrey industrial property landlords is that there is absolutely demand here." “If you have a secondary or tertiary asset and invest in it to deliver a quality product back to market, with EPC ratings of B and above and good or excellent BREEAM ratings, your asset will let – and at strong rental levels." “For industrial occupiers seeking a value for money location in the south east, Surrey should be on your geographical radar, particularly if you want to be close to the M25 and/or Heathrow Airport, but don’t want to pay the rents that come with locating in Heathrow." “Meanwhile, for those developers that have been trying to make viability stack up and will need to see land values and development costs level out a little more in order to take that next step here, our message is that if you build it, they will come.” Maria said industrial locations such as Chertsey, Staines, Egham, West Byfleet, Weybridge and Woking all benefited from extremely good transport links – be it access to Heathrow Airport or the M25. They also had the additional bonus of being located outside of the ULEZ zones which can be so expensive for logistics operators located nearer to Heathrow. Alongside these benefits was the fact that Surrey industrial stock was also competitively priced, particularly when compared with its nearby Thames Valley or Heathrow counterparts. “We see a good churn of enquiries for industrial space here, particularly in the sub-10,000 sq ft category as that’s where the market is. However, that’s not to say that warehouse units of 50,000 sq ft and above won’t let, if priced at the right level." “Whilst prime industrial rents here have risen by 5% in some cases, sitting at around £25.00 psf for Grade A stock closer to the M25, most available stock can be leased for sub-£18 per sq ft. Occupiers increasingly want environmentally friendly buildings on sites which are both accessible and powered-up, however, supply of ESG-activated stock remains limited." “Weybridge, Byfleet and Staines tend to attract larger, ESG-focused occupiers that are more logistics and manufacturing orientated.” Maria said the majority of deals this year were transacted in Guildford, Camberley and Farnborough for smaller units in the sub-10,000 sq ft because existing occupiers in the Surrey industrial market were SMEs, start-ups or family-run businesses with smaller requirements – hence the average size of unit let in Surrey being approximately 7,000 sq ft. She added that developments in Weybridge, Coulsdon and Egham were delivering larger premises, while the supply of smaller units was good at Chertsey Industrial Estate, Causeway Central in Staines and Chertsey Industrial Park. Photo:  Maria Hoadley, a partner specialising in industrial property based at property consultancy Vail Williams’ office in Woking

Contractor Clegg Construction has completed a £13m expansion project at Carlton le Willows Academy which has created new space and improved learning environments. The first phase of the development at the school in Gedling, Nottingham, involved building South Block - a new two-storey building to provide a state-of-the-art performance space, dining hall, 20 new classrooms, office space and a new main reception which has united the previously split site by linking the East and West buildings. Designed by Welham Architects, South Block has recently been highly commended in the regional LABC (Local Authority Building Control) Building Excellence Awards. Now the second part of the improvements - extensive alterations and refurbishment in various parts of the existing school, including the conversion of the previous dining area and assembly hall into additional teaching space – has also been completed. It marks the fourth project Clegg Construction has undertaken in partnership with the academy. Ross Crowcroft, pre-construction director at Clegg Construction, said: “Clegg Construction has had a long relationship with Carlton le Willows Academy, supporting the school in a number of improvement projects." “We are delighted to have completed these latest two schemes, which provide additional first-class facilities for those already at the school, as well as allowing the school to expand the number of places it can offer to youngsters in the nearby community." “As a Nottingham-based company, Clegg Construction takes particular pride in helping to improve the local education infrastructure and delivering facilities that will benefit future generations.” South Block created capacity for a further 300 extra students at Carlton le Willows Academy to meet increasing local demand for school places. It features a range of smart technology to ensure long-term sustainability, including optimising natural light and using low-energy lighting throughout the building, natural ventilation and cooling, and underfloor heating. As well as the new extension, the project involved the creation of a new car park for just under 100 cars, along with infrastructure for electric charging points. A sustainable drainage solution has also been installed as part of the groundworks, which included an attenuation tank aimed at avoiding any extra burden on the existing public sewers caused by rainwater. Other members of the project team included local businesses: GNA Surveyors, Moran Structural Consultants and Integrated Energy Building Services (IEBS). The development has been funded by Nottinghamshire County Council. During the construction and renovation periods, Clegg Construction took part in a careers fair during the summer term to help students at Carlton le Willows Academy understand more about careers available in the construction industry. The company has a long track record of delivering award-winning educational projects across primary and secondary schools, colleges, sixth form facilities and universities and has worked with Carlton le Willows since 2005 to create science labs, a resource centre, a music and drama extension, refurbish a library building, and build a Sixth Form centre complete with an ICT room and two teaching rooms. Education schemes currently being delivered by Clegg Construction include the £9.6m Centre for Green Technology at Peterborough College – which is set to hand over early next year - as well as the £8.8m Future Tech Skills and Knowledge Exchange at West Nottinghamshire College, which is due for completion next summer. With its headquarters in The Lace Market, Nottingham, Clegg Construction is a Midlands, East Anglia, and Yorkshire-based construction firm specialising in the delivery of public and private sector projects. The company works with organisations of all sizes and specialties across a range of different sectors.

The Big Bamboo Agency has achieved its goal of raising £5,000 for former colleague and popular Harrogate businessman David Simister. One of the district’s most well-respected figures, David suffered a life-changing stroke in March last year and now requires round-the-clock care as he battles a lengthy recovery process. The funds will go towards the purchase of a specially adapted electric wheelchair which will enable him to spend more quality time outdoors with his family and two dogs, Sunny and Bear. Having worked closely alongside the Harrogate-based Big Bamboo Agency, providing invaluable PR expertise, the team unanimously decided that David should be the focus of their fundraising efforts for 2024. As well as hosting a series of special bake sales and raffles at their base in Windsor House, the Big Bamboo staff also organised Harrogate’s first ever Walk & Talk event where friends, colleagues and businesses turned out to trek the entire route of the Harrogate Ringway. Sponsored by luxury and supercar financier Apollo Capital, the walk was joined by, among others, members of the Harrogate BID, Windsor House and Artus Digital. They were also joined along the way by David’s twin brother, Andrew Simister. David’s wife, Julie Simister, comments: “I am so very grateful for the hard work of everyone connected with this fundraising effort. It is absolutely amazing, and I can’t thank you enough." “David will be so pleased and would also like to say a huge thank you to everyone who kindly donated their time, energy and money to help him. It means so much to us all. I would like to put the money towards getting David get an electric wheelchair, adapted so he can control it himself, so he can get outside more, hopefully with me, Sunny and Bear.” Nicola Stamford, owner and founder of the Big Bamboo Agency has known and been friends with David for the last 24 years. She says: “We are absolutely delighted to have been able to do this for our good friend and former colleague, David Simister. The way the local business community has supported our fundraising campaign is testament to the love and support that he has within a region which he served so wonderfully.” David worked his way up from working as a journalist with the Harrogate Advertiser and The Yorkshire Post to being PR Manager for Yorkshire Water, before joining forces with good friend Richard Chew to set up Different PR. Appointed Chief Executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce in 2021, he was also a trustee of Harrogate Town FC Community Foundation and The Royal Hall Restoration Trust, as well as a member of Harrogate Hospital Radio for 31 years. David, who also provided PR services for the likes of Harrogate International Festivals, Harrogate BID and Ashville College, served for four years on Harrogate Borough Council and four years on North Yorkshire Council. Picture caption : Owner and founder of the Big Bamboo Agency, Nicola Stamford is pictured alongside David Simister who is facing a long recovery battle after suffering a stroke.

Team members at a process filter manufacturer have shared first-hand insight to help local school pupils learn about the world of work. On separate community initiatives with two secondary schools, Amazon Filters managers role-played job interviewers and welcomed students for a tour of their Camberley, Surrey, production centre. In support of a ‘big interview’ day for students at Kings International College, Camberley, two managers, Keith Wickert and Daniel O’Sullivan, visited the school and acted as prospective employers to quiz applicants for various roles. The pair helped around 20 ‘candidates’ present themselves across the table, explain their interest in potential jobs and make a case for their suitability. Interviews were held one-to-one and ranged over a variety of roles including combat pilot, doctor, veterinary nurse, tattoo artist, solicitor, software engineer, journalist and child psychologist. Keith, Technical Manager, said: “It was great to interact with so many confident, capable and polite young people and provide a little help in their journey to a fulfilling future.” Daniel, Housing Production Manager, said: “The aim was to assess the candidate's readiness for the workforce, focusing on communication skills, motivation and their fit for the role." “The feedback we had was that it was a valuable experience for the students. It highlighted strengths while providing insights for future improvement." “Continuous practice and reflection will enhance their confidence and performance in future interviews.” Separately, and as part of its support community charity the Community Matters Partnership (CMP), the firm hosted a visit by eleven pupils from Tomlinscote School in Camberley. The Year 10 group, aged 13 or 14, donned hi-viz jackets and safety footwear for a behind-the-scenes tour of Amazon Filters’ manufacturing facility which is just two miles from the state secondary. After a welcome from Managing Director Neil Pizzey and Head of People & Culture Ruth Pappadakis, the pupils met managers and staff as they were shown round various departments including cartridge and housing production and goods-in. As a conversation prompt, the visitors were invited to research answers to a series of questions about Amazon Filters before they arrived. Subjects included product awareness and the main industries the manufacturer supplies such as municipal water, energy, pharma, chemicals and coatings, and food and beverage. At the end of the afternoon, pupils were presented with goody bags containing Amazon Filters-branded selfie light rings. The visit was one of a series of workplace visits CMP has organised for pupils this year under its initiative Raise, standing for Raise Aspirations Inspire Support Encourage. The aim is to share experiences of different vocational opportunities to boost awareness among young learners and encourage confidence and motivation about entering the world of work. As well as Amazon Filters, pupils have visited Farnborough Airport, UK Connect, The Village Hotel, Syneos Health and BMW. Ruth Pappadakis said: “Being involved with Raise has helped us do our bit alongside fellow employers in our heartland to support young people." “It’s one of several ways we partner with CMP on behalf of the local community. We also arrange company volunteering days for team members through CMP. Most recently, these have included grounds improvement in a school playground, maintenance at a hospice and a leaf-clearing day outside a respite centre for families in crisis. “We also take part in CMP’s annual Twilight Runway Challenge in aid of a variety of charities.”

Property consultancy Vail Williams has appointed a new surveyor in response to growing business demand.   Jake Collins has joined the Gatwick agency team in Crawley from Worthing-based estate agent Michael Jones, where he held a senior negotiating role.   He is experienced in working in the Sussex commercial property market and specialises in the acquisition and disposal of commercial property, working with occupiers, landlords, investors and developers. He said: “I am thrilled to be appointed by Vail Williams, and I am looking to utilise my skill sets and regional experience to ensure clients continue to receive the second-to-none service for which Vail Williams is renowned."  “I was seeking a new challenge and am relishing being part of such a progressive and professional agency team in an exceptional firm.”   Jake, who completed his education at Chichester College, added: “I am looking forward to expanding my wide range of knowledge across all commercial property sectors, including retail, industrial, office and investment, and will be able to strengthen my experience, working with clients across Surrey, Sussex and Kent.”   He works alongside partner Steve Berrett and associate Mikael Goldsmith in the Gatwick agency team. Vail Williams’ Gatwick regional managing partner Suzanne Holloway said: “Jake has fitted seamlessly into our agency team and has hit the ground running to become a valued colleague as business continues to expand." “He has particular expertise in dealing with industrial, office and retail assets, and has been involved in a range of freehold disposals across the Gatwick region."   “Jake is also adept at real estate marketing and possess a keen knowledge of market appraisals, land values and development.”   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.  NEW ROLE : Jake Collins has been appointed as a Surveyor by property consultancy Vail Williams in the Gatwick region, based in Crawley

Celebration Packaging’s EnviroWare® bamboo fibre double wall hot drink cups and double wall Leaf 2 hot drink cups are now also certified as 100% recyclable in normal paper mills. Celebration Packaging Managing Director Nick Burton said: “When we created the EnviroWare® brand, over 17 years ago, our declared mission was to seek out more sustainable packaging solutions. We have always believed that when sourcing sustainable packaging, the provenance of the raw materials is paramount – but ensuring that it can be properly disposed of at its end-of-life is equally important. Obtaining certification to prove that our products are 100% recyclable is therefore crucial.” Using the recyclability assessment method of EN13430 with testing based on the Confederation of European Paper Industries Recyclability Test Method Version 2 (2022) for fibre-based packaging products and materials, the cups have been confirmed as 100% recyclable in standard paper mills, so they don’t have to be sent to specialist facilities. Family run Celebration Packaging’s EnviroWare® bamboo fibre double-wall hot drink cups are made from Forest Stewardship Council® certified bamboo fibre – with an aqueous-based lining, while the EnviroWare® Leaf 2 paper hot drink cups are made from FSC® certified material with a plant-based lining. Alongside the ‘Recycle’ logo, both types of cups feature the Din Certco seedling logo, as they are certified commercially compostable (DIN EN 13432:2000-12) – and both carry the messages: “Recycle with paper or compost commercially”, and “Made from sustainable renewable resources”. The importance of certification “Earlier this year, we commissioned Sapio Research to conduct a survey looking at consumer understanding of logos and terminology used for disposable foodservice packaging,” says Nick Burton. “The survey showed that 68% of consumers think that it is very or extremely important that food and drink packaging is certified recyclable, and over three fifths (61%) said that information on packaging is what they rely on the most to keep them informed about its correct disposal, underwriting the importance of it being properly certified." “Celebration Packaging has always invested in accreditations and certifications which we take very seriously, so that when we make environmental and sustainably claims, we can always back them up. This sets us apart from many of our competitors, while also giving our customers confidence to help them on their sustainability journey." “If foodservice operators are looking to improve their sustainability credentials, they need to work with a consultative supplier to ensure that they're choosing the right packaging – that is functional, fit for purpose, popular with consumers and above all, sustainable,” concludes Nick Burton.