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The new partnerships with Sheffield Wednesday Football Club Community Programme (SWFCCP) and B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, join an existing collaboration with Qualitas Sport Ltd.   The partnerships will support the delivery of innovative blended learning opportunities, combining academic study with practical experience in sport business, coaching, and community development, equipping students with the skills and knowledge for the global sports industry.   Through these collaborations, Sheffield Hallam will offer courses including a foundation degree and a one-year top up course that converts a previous qualification into a full honours degree in Sport Business Management.    These collaborations will:   Deliver blended learning programmes  combining academic study with practical business-related coaching and community engagement. Provide inclusive education pathways  from FE to HE, supported by mentoring and career guidance. Enhance student employability  through a curriculum which integrates sport business, marketing, event management, and leadership—skills highly valued in the sports sector. Students learn to manage budgets, develop sponsorship strategies, and deliver community programmes, placements, and outreach projects. Strengthen South Yorkshire’s educational ecosystem and promote lifelong learning.   Dr Ruth Crabtree, Head of the School of Sport and Physical Activity, said:   “We are delighted to collaborate with leading professional clubs and organisations across the city and region. Working alongside partners such as Qualitas, Braun Sharks, and Sheffield Wednesday FC creates exceptional opportunities for our students to learn in a truly applied, real-world context. " At the School of Sport & Physical Activity, we pride ourselves on delivering value-added experiences and practical learning for all our students. These partnerships open doors for individuals who may not have previously considered higher education, enabling them to pursue degrees in dynamic environments while gaining hands-on experience and applying academic knowledge directly to their professional practice.” SWFCCP, established in 2005, is a leading charitable initiative generating over £8 million in social value during the 2023–24 season. Through its education hub, SWFCCP delivers post-16 BTEC qualifications, degree-level pathways, and community outreach programmes.   James Moore, Degree Coordinator at SWFCCP, said: “We’re thrilled at Sheffield Wednesday to partner with a world-leading organisation like Sheffield Hallam University. Together, we’ll expand our higher education offering so students can work toward a degree while gaining hands-on experience that sets them up for success in the working world of sports business management.” B. Braun Sheffield Sharks is a professional basketball organisation committed to education and youth empowerment. The Sharks have engaged over 20,000 students since 2013 through initiatives such as the Sheffield Sharks Education Academy, RESPECT programmes, and the B. Healthy campaign. Their partnership with Sheffield Hallam will provide blended learning opportunities, elite basketball pathways, and community engagement projects, supported by state-of-the-art facilities at Canon Medical Arena. Marko Backovic, Head of Operations at B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, said: “We are proud to join forces with Sheffield Hallam University together with some of the region’s most respected clubs and organisations, including Qualitas, and Sheffield Wednesday FC Community Programme." "Together, we are creating life-changing opportunities for our students—where learning goes beyond the classroom and becomes an experience that shapes futures. At Braun Sharks, we believe education should inspire, empower, and open doors. These partnerships allow students to earn degrees in dynamic, real-world settings, applying their knowledge in ways that make a tangible impact. For many, this is not just a chance to study—it’s a chance to dream bigger and achieve more.”   Current student Connor Dawson said:   “Starting the blended Sport Business Management degree at Sheffield Hallam has been a game-changer for me. The blended learning approach gives me flexibility, and working alongside professional organisations like Qualitas Sport Ltd has opened doors I never imagined. I’m gaining real-world experience while studying, which makes me feel confident about my future career in sport.”  Gavin Bailey, Managing Director at Qualitas Sport Ltd, added: “Qualitas and Sheffield Hallam University are proud to work in partnership to deliver a high-quality, blended learning experience with aspiration, education, and future employment opportunities at its core. Together, we are committed to nurturing talent, strengthening professional expertise, and creating meaningful pathways that uplift our local community.”

Dorset’s Tank Museum is holding its very first ‘Bumps, Babies and Toddlers’ event – with special guest Zoe Blaskey, the best-selling author and podcaster. In partnership with Little Pickles Markets, the day will include a nearly-new sale, talks from guest speakers and baby- and toddler-friendly activities. The huge, award-winning museum includes a soft play area which is perfect for wearing out tots. The event will be held on Sunday 25th January at the attraction in Bovington and there will be sensory experiences, baby massage instruction and workshops focussing on perinatal health. Dynamic digital experiences, exploring the museum, dressing-up opportunities, games, and activities for older children mean it is a day for the whole family, although the target is mums of those aged three and under. Special guest Zoe Blaskey is the author of Motherkind, a new way to thrive in a world of endless expectations, The Sunday Times best-selling book. She also hosts the Motherkind podcast. Rosanna Dean, Head of Commercial and Visitor Experience at The Tank Museum, said: “As Dorset’s largest indoor visitor attraction, we’re delighted to host such a family-focused event for our wider community. The programme not only offers valuable support and guidance for new and expecting families, but also highlights the fantastic opportunities Dorset provides for this demographic." “We are really excited to have such an impactful headline speaker, whose message is so important to women on any stage in their motherhood journey.” Blaskey’s mission is to help mothers shift from guilt, exhaustion, and comparison, to confidence and empowerment. With over five million podcase downloads and her instant bestselling book, her talk is expected to fill up fast. To encourage new visitors, the Museum has a special offer for the day of the event – 50 per cent off entry as well as an Annual Pass. Rosanna added: “With a soft play, dressing up, and lots of play opportunities throughout our exhibitions, we know that young children will have a great time exploring again and again.” Find out more, read the full programme, and book online here.

Contractor Clegg Construction has strengthened its team with the appointment of a new commercial manager. Andy Bore will be the commercial lead on the Midway Karparc project – an innovative scheme in Newcastle-under-Lyme to redevelop a 1960s former multi-storey car park into apartments which is being undertaken by Clegg Construction for Capital & Centric. He will also provide commercial and contractual support across the wider business and assist with the development, training and mentoring of the commercial team. With 24 years of working in the construction sector for companies such as Interserve, Kier, Thomas Vale Construction, nmcn and most recently GF Tomlinson, Andy brings a wealth of experience to the role. Clegg Construction Commercial Director Dan Manley said: “We are very pleased to welcome Andy to the Clegg Construction team. His extensive experience and proven track record in the industry will be an asset to our business." “Andy possesses expertise that I am sure will bring a positive impact, not only to the Midway Karparc project but across our wider operations as we continue to deliver successful developments for our public and private sector clients.” Andy, has worked on a wide range of schemes - both new build and refurbishment - including schools, shopping centres, a leisure centre and swimming pool, office block, student accommodation, high end housing, bio mass facility, heritage projects, and a few blue light schemes. Andy said: “I am excited to have started a new role as commercial manager at Clegg Construction - bringing my experience and expertise to the company at an exciting time when there is much in the pipeline to look forward to and celebrate.” 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 specialities across a comprehensive range of sectors.

Tortilla, the UK’s most loved Mexican restaurant brand, has taken a major step forward in its environmental commitments by removing tonnes of plastic waste from its supply chain. Through a new partnership with UK wrap manufacturer Prowrap, Tortilla will now use the Speedwrap Pro 300 dispenser across all 74 of its UK restaurants, cutting carbon emissions and helping tackle the growing global plastic pollution problem. The change is will eliminate more than 1,200kg of CO₂ emissions every year, including significant reductions from manufacturing, transport and materials. The sustainability improvement comes from the removal of thousands of small plastic adapters that had previously been used with Tortilla’s food wrap refills - unseen items that added up to a major environmental cost. The Speedwrap Pro uses plastic-free refill rolls, meaning Tortilla no longer needs these adapters and as a result, the chain will prevent 178kg of plastic waste and 591kg of CO₂ from being created each year. Because the dispensers are made in the UK, Tortilla also reduces transport emissions, saving an additional 733kg of CO₂ annually - the equivalent of charging 1.5 million smartphones. Emily Bagshaw, Central Operations Director at Tortilla, said: “Delivering fresh, customisable meals without the environmental guilt is core to our mission at Tortilla. We’re thrilled with the Speedwrap Pro, which delivers outstanding performance and efficiency in our stores, while helping us to reduce our supply chain emissions.” The partnership between Tortilla, Prowrap, and Disposables & Catering Supplies (DCS) comes at a time when restaurants are under increasing pressure to cut their Scope 3 emissions, the indirect environmental impact created by supply chains, packaging and transport. Tortilla’s move shows how small changes behind the scenes can make a big difference to a business’s overall environmental footprint. James Stacey, Sales Director at DCS, said: “It has been a pleasure to collaborate with Prowrap and Tortilla on this project. We’re proud to work with like-minded partners to set the standard for a more sustainable foodservice sector.” To demonstrate how much hidden plastic Tortilla has eliminated, Tortilla, Europe’s largest fast casual restaurant, revealed that its old wrapping system required 27,450 plastic adapters every year. Stacked on top of one another, they would reach 823 metres high, almost the height of the world’s tallest building the Burj Khalifa. This mountain of plastic will no longer enter Tortilla’s supply chain. Ben Creeth, Prowrap’s sustainability analyst, said this highlights a much wider problem across the foodservice industry. “These small plastic adapters are tiny, but they add up quickly,” he said. “And each one comes with a hidden cost. At Prowrap, we’re proud to be leading the way by shining a spotlight on these hidden costs - but more than that, we’re helping our customers take action, cut waste, and reduce costs with Speedwrap Pro." “In this case, Tortilla has successfully eliminated a Burj Khalifa-size stack of plastic waste from their supply chain. Just imagine how much unnecessary plastic waste we could eliminate if every other foodservice chain switched to the Speedwrap Pro.” Speedwrap Pro is an award-winning, UK-made food wrap dispenser used widely in professional kitchens. Its plastic-free refill system and British manufacturing make it a strong choice for businesses aiming to reduce their environmental footprint. For more information on Speedwrap Pro and Prowrap’s full product range, visit here .

A new partnership between NK Motors and Brackenfield School is helping SEND students in Long Eaton explore their future careers and discover the opportunities available in the automotive industry.    The partnership began after NK Motors Dealer Principal Simon Murdock met Helen Diggle, Transition and Employment Manager and Careers Advisor at the school, during the Pride Park Careers Fair earlier this year. After learning how valuable employer engagement is for Brackenfield’s SEND students, NK Motors created a three-week programme to build confidence and showcase the wide range of opportunities within the automotive industry.    Simon launched the initiative on 13 November with a visit to the school. He shared his own career journey and explained that the school environment didn’t play to his strengths. Instead of taking the traditional college or university route, he found his path through hands-on experience and a positive mindset.    He spoke about the importance of mindset and positivity, encouraging students to “dream big” and reminded them that fulfilling careers exist outside academic routes. Students then took part in a lively Q&A, asking about the different roles involved in running a dealership.    On 20 November, fifteen students visited NK Motors’ Chilwell dealership for a behind-the-scenes look at how the business operate, meeting staff across sales, service and support roles and gaining a clear picture of the teamwork and skills required in a modern dealership.   The final session took place on 27 November back at Brackenfield School, where Simon revealed the results of the “Future Career” drawing competition. Students were asked to draw what they want to do when they leave school, or if they are unsure, something that makes them happy. Some 37 students took part, producing thoughtful and imaginative entries.    The standard was so high that Simon chose four winners rather than one. One student drew himself as a builder and added the words “dream big” in the corner, showing how strongly the message had landed. Another spoke confidently about her ambition to work in a café, displaying a level of self-belief that impressed everyone in the room. NK Motors awarded vouchers to the four winners and brought NK-branded cupcakes for all students and staff.    Simon Murdock said: “It was a privilege to spend time with the students at Brackenfield School. I found that the school environment didn’t play to my strengths, and I didn’t follow the college or university route, so I wanted to show the students that there are still brilliant opportunities available if they approach life with the right mindset." “The automotive industry offers fulfilling, hands-on careers, from valeting to service administers, and everyone has to start somewhere. The students were engaged, ambitious and incredibly creative, and I absolutely loved spending time with them and encouraging them in their future careers. I’m looking forward to continuing the partnership next year.”    Managing Director Sanj Kumar added: “Brackenfield School offers an outstanding level of support to its students, and we’re proud to help them explore what their futures could look like. The enthusiasm shown throughout the programme has been remarkable and we look forward to building on this partnership and offering even more opportunities next year.” NK Motors plans to make the initiative an annual fixture, expanding the programme to give more students the chance to explore different career paths within the automotive sector and beyond.    For further information on NK Motors, visit here .

A North Lancashire hotel’s cultural links with Portugal and the production of the country’s renowned Port wines has been brought alive through the modern refurbishment of its bar and lounge.   Lancaster House Hotel has completed the renovation of its Sandeman Bar with a contemporary upgrade which gives a nod to its connections with the House of Sandeman from which it draws its name.   The new look for the bar has been inspired by Tammy Barwell, the restaurant and bars manager at the venue, who embarked on a fact finding mission to Porto arranged by the House of Sandeman.   Tammy returned from Portugal with the idea to showcase the Sandeman Bar with colour schemes to match the company’s history, as well as new artwork and images featuring the Sandeman Cellars to elevate the look and feel of the bar. It was also Tammy’s idea to introduce a timeline graphic of the history of the company dating back to 1790.   The refurbishment of the hotel bar includes an array of contemporary artwork and decoration in bold colours, upholstered chairs and tables, new curtains and wallpaper. Another feature is the Sandeman branded barrel with a plaque explaining how the company was the first to brand a cask of Port in 1805.   The hotel became inextricably linked with the world-famous Portuguese sherry and port wine producers due to a chance meeting on a continental flight in the early 1990s.   When the hotel first opened, its hospitality team were searching for a suitable name and theme for the main bar area. A conversation between an English Lakes Hotels board member and a Sandeman executive proved inspirational, with the result that the Sandeman Bar was named and themed after the port producer.   Tammy explains: “The close links between the House of Sandeman and Lancaster House Hotel have their roots from a Spanish holiday over 30 years ago. English Lakes Hotels was closing in on the completion of its new hotel in Lancaster, but there was a quandary about what to call the main bar at the venue." “Whilst returning home from Jerez, the hotel group’s operations director Douglas Dale struck up a conversation on the plane with a fellow passenger who was very interested to hear about the new hotel venture. That was David Sandeman, the managing director of the House of Sandeman at the time."   “The pair got on so well that Douglas tabled the idea of naming the bar after the Portuguese wine company and theming it accordingly. David graciously accepted the offer to come and open ‘The Sandeman Bar’, bringing with him various items of company memorabilia that are still on display here today.”   The partnership has endured and flourished for over 30 years, with a feature of the hotel bar being its Port and cheese nights and stocks of Sandeman Port sweet red wines, including Ruby, White, and Tawny Ports.   These are all produced from grapes grown in the vineyards of the Douro Valley in Portugal. The nearby city of Porto is renowned for its historical commercialisation and bulk transportation of fortified port wines in the 17th century – hence the eponymous link.   Tammy adds: “My trip to Portugal was a wonderful opportunity to discover more about the grapes, valleys, Ports, and vineyards of the area, as well as immersing myself in the history of the House of Sandeman." “Experiencing their traditions first-hand made a lasting impression on me, and it shaped the vision for our new bar design. I wanted to create a space to celebrate that craftsmanship and invite guests to enjoy its character and charm in a relaxed, welcoming setting. I’m thrilled to have been so closely involved in this thematic refurbishment of our main bar at the hotel.”

Aldi Scotland has invested £6,500 in seven local sports clubs across South Scotland as part of its annual Scottish Sport Fund initiative.  The fund reinforces the supermarket’s dedication to building a healthier Scotland by supporting the work of community sports clubs. Applications open throughout the year in different regions across Scotland, calling on local teams to apply for funding up to £2,500.  Solway Sharks Ladies Ice Hockey Team was awarded £2,500 – the highest funding available.    Founded in 2013, Solway Sharks Ladies Ice Hockey Team is an all-female side based at the Dumfries Ice Bowl, where girls aged 14 and over can discover their passion for the sport in a welcoming and inclusive environment. Players start at open development sessions, mastering the fundamentals of skating and hockey, and can progress through the club’s pathway to compete at the highest level in the Women’s National First Division (WNIHL 1). The club has a proud record of nurturing talent, with several players going on to represent Great Britain at under-16 and under-18 level. The club plans to use the funding from Aldi Scotland to help cover on and off ice running costs such as game and referee fees, transport to away fixtures, kits and training aids. Elsewhere in the region, South Ayrshire Volleyball Club and Stewarton Tennis Club both received £1,000, while Kilmarnock Amateur Swim Club, Irvine Meadow 2012, Annan Athletic Community Football Club and Wilton Park & Hawick Tennis Club each received £500. Aldi Scotland introduced its Scottish Sport Fund in 2016 to support individuals of all ages and abilities to get involved in physical activity in their local communities. The past decade has seen Aldi Scotland support over 650 clubs across Scotland, giving away almost £500,000, with the fund improving community access to sport across the country. Lee Simpson, Solway Sharks Ladies Ice Hockey Team said: “ "We are incredibly grateful for the generous support from Aldi Scotland. Our team is more than just a club, it is a place where girls can develop their skills, build confidence, and enjoy being part of a supportive community. Watching our players grow from their first steps on the ice to competing at a national level is something we are immensely proud of." “This funding will help cover essential on and off ice running costs and allow us to look at holding training camps and further development sessions in 2026. Thanks to Aldi Scotland, we can focus on providing our players with the best possible experience and inspiring more young women to take up the sport.” Sandy Mitchell, Regional Managing Director, Aldi Scotland, said:  “Since launching in 2016, the Scottish Sport Fund has supported a diverse range of clubs with vital funding to invest in much-needed equipment and resources." “It’s inspiring to see the impact this support has on clubs like Solway Sharks Ladies Ice Hockey Team, and how it contributes to encouraging active, healthy lifestyles in communities across Scotland.” Top Photo: Solway Sharks Ladies Ice Hockey Team received £2,500 funding as part of Aldi’s initiative

The spirit of generosity was alive and well last week as family businesses from across London and the South East came together at Hayman’s of London in Balham for the annual Family Business Festive Food Parcel event. Hosted at one of the UK’s oldest family-owned gin distilleries, Hayman’s remains proudly family-run, with Christopher Hayman and his children, James and Miranda, at the helm. The event brought together guests, supporters and members of the wider community, all united by a shared purpose: to support families in need across London and the South East this Christmas. In the days leading up to the event, and on the day itself, attendees donated hundreds of food items, filling boxes with essential groceries alongside festive treats. Guests also enjoyed the opportunity to step behind the scenes at Hayman’s, gaining insight into the distilling process and the rich heritage that has helped shape the business into a globally recognised British gin brand. Following the event, teams from Family Business United and The Pantry worked together to assemble the food parcels, which have since been distributed through schools across the region to ensure they reach families who need them most during the festive season. Family Business United worked closely with Luke Consiglio and his team at The Pantry UK, who provide 40,000 meals to children in schools across the UK every day. Through their network of schools and the insight of headteachers, families most in need were identified as recipients of the parcels created through the campaign. Paul Andrews, Founder and CEO of Family Business United, expressed his appreciation for the incredible support shown by the family business community: “We were absolutely delighted with the response this year. The generosity shown by family businesses has been truly inspiring, and the items donated will make a real difference to families at what can be a particularly challenging time of year. “Family is at the heart of everything we do at Family Business United, and it’s heart-warming to see our community come together to support other families in such a meaningful way.” The event highlighted not only the strength of the family business community, but also its shared values of compassion, collaboration and a commitment to making a positive impact. Concluding, Paul added: “We would like to thank everyone who helped make this event possible and all those who donated so generously." "Your support will bring much-needed help and festive cheer to families who need it most this Christmas.”

Close Brothers Invoice Finance is delighted to have been recognised as ‘Invoice Finance Lender of the Year’ at the prestigious NACFB Commercial Lender Awards.   The award is based on peer recognition and expert evaluation, combining votes by the broker community and an independent panel of judges.   The NACFB (The National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers) is the UK’s largest trade association for commercial finance brokers.   George May, Managing Director at Close Brothers Invoice Finance, said: “As a specialist funder – and supporter – of SMEs across the UK, we are privileged to have been recognised as the Invoice Finance Lender of the Year." “Winning this award validates our reputation for service excellence, funding expertise, and reliability in supporting small and medium businesses. It also further cements Close Brothers as a trusted provider, demonstrating how we stand out in a competitive space.”

Contractor Clegg Construction has staged a topping out ceremony to mark a key milestone in its delivery of a new £13 million care home near Milton Keynes. The three-storey, 96-bed luxury care home is being built for Hampton Healthcare, part of the Rochmills Group, behind Woburn Sands Garden Centre, off Newport Road in Woburn Sands. In a new and exciting care model being brought to the area by Hampton Healthcare, the care home will feature superb facilities including rooftop garden with champagne bar, piano lounge, private dining, cinema, and an entertainment suite, alongside spacious and comfortable rooms and suites. MD of Clegg Construction Michael Sims said: “ We are very pleased to be celebrating the topping out stage of this exciting development for Hampton Healthcare. As a company with significant experience of building care homes, Clegg Construction is a specialist in this field and is proud to be delivering a scheme which will bring a new and exciting care model to the area." “We look forward to completing the care home later in 2026 and the day when residents move in.” To mark the occasion, guests at the event signed a section of a wall that will later be covered and raised a toast." Woburn Sands Garden Centre is open for business during the construction work. Other members of the construction team working alongside Clegg Construction include APC Architects, engineers Ridge and Partners LLP, employers agent CS2 Limited and Gill Jackon Interiors. Joining the topping out ceremony was Kabir Sehmi from the Rochmills Group, who said: “We are delighted to reach this milestone and look forward to welcoming residents to our brand-new luxury care home in 2026. We are excited to bring our outstanding care services to the people of Woburn Sands and surrounding areas.”

When visitors drop in to a popular south Warwickshire village pub it won’t just be the aromas of the award-winning pies that will now fill the air - but a recipe of a very different kind. The Fleur de Lys, in Lowsonford, has teamed up with The Artibus Yard in Kenilworth to create a bespoke scent that they are promising depicts ‘an oasis of calm’ for its guests. The award-winning pub, better known as the originator of the famous pie brand, has worked with the artisan candle and scent maker to create a signature scent that’s also available to purchase as a diffuser oil. The ‘recipe’ blends cedar, fig, and cardamom - notes that were chosen in collaboration with licensee Emma Woodhouse to complement the age and character of the pub - warm, earthy, and gently spiced to echo its historic atmosphere while still feeling modern and inviting. Emma, who has run the Fleur de Lys for the past 11 years with her husband Nick, said: "Anyone who has stepped into The Artibus Yard shop in Kenilworth knows what an oasis of calm it is. Samantha has created a deliciously scented haven amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life." “We’ve been lucky to have her host a couple of her candle-making workshops here at the Fleur De Lys over the past 12 months and have been blown away by her knowledge and creativity. " “We asked her to develop a fragrance that conjured up memories of long cosy afternoons by our fireside, the glorious nature of the surrounding countryside and the kind of aromatic experience that we’d be happy to be synonymous with the Fleur. Luckily, she’s a genius parfumier who absolutely nailed our brief, presenting us with a few options before we nailed it down to this gorgeous diffuser oil bursting with cedar, fig and cardamom.”  She added: “We love it so much that we’ve commissioned The Artibus Yard to create a limited run for us so that you can take one home with you too and be reminded of your favourite Warwickshire pub during the times when you’re unable to pay us a visit in person.” The project marks a first for entrepreneur Samantha Harris who crafts every piece by hand in her studio shop, in Warwick Road. Sam also offers bi-weekly candle making workshops at her studio, which can also be brought to other venues and sells a variety of home accessories, gifts and confectionery. She said: “Scent exploration happens on-site, where each blend is thoughtfully developed for you to discover. This is the first custom scent I’ve created specifically for a pub, which made the process especially exciting and meaningful.” The Fleur De Lys was this year named Pub of the Year at The Coventry & Warwickshire Foodie Awards. It is nestled on the banks of the Stratford Canal between winding roads which used to be part of The Forest of Arden. The garden boasts an acre of land and is also popular as a stop-off for canal users. The signature scent diffuser can be purchased at The Fleur de Lys shop here . More candle-making workshops at the Fleur will be announced in the New Year.

The Minister for Energy has met with major retailers and the solar industry to try to unlock one of the UK's best opportunities to increase renewable electricity: warehouse rooftops. Michael Shanks MP, a minister in the Department for Energy and Net Zero, told participants at a roundtable organised by the UK Warehousing Association that using logistics premises to generate clean energy was probably the only issue on which all political parties agreed.   In a recent report, the UKWA found that warehouse rooftop solar was also the most popular form of renewable power with the public, supported by 9 in 10 people in a YouGov poll. The trade body's members, who develop, operate, and provide technology to warehouses, are keen to pursue solar installations, but are facing several hurdles.   The Minister heard how issues including insurance, connections to the electricity grid, and the fact that most warehouses are leased, were all slowing down the solar rollout. Logistics companies and retailers at the roundtable felt that insurers sometimes had an outdated view of the risk involved in installing solar panels, given that the technology was now well-established. Getting a connection upgrade to allow solar power to be exported to the grid was often slow and expensive, several companies said, although recent changes by the energy regulator, Ofgem, should make it easier to get smaller solar projects (under 5 megawatts) completed.   Clare Bottle, CEO of the UKWA, said: "Having the Minister for Energy hear directly from our members about the challenges facing warehouse solar projects is a big step forward in our campaign to unleash the 'rooftop revolution'. His support for the cause was clear, now it's about breaking down the barriers holding these projects back." "We're calling for the Government to get behind a pilot scheme at one of the UK's major logistics hubs, to cut through some of the delays, and cover all the warehouses in solar panels. This is only the first step. We're going to need joined up thinking, combining solar with battery storage and electric vehicle charging, if we're going to meet the twin goals of reducing energy costs and decarbonising logistics."   Bottle will attend a meeting of the DESNZ's Solar Council this week to press the case for Government and business to work together to capitalise on the UK warehousing's solar potential, which could almost add 17.3 gigawatts of capacity. Current total installed solar capacity is 18.9 GW.