Spark, an award-winning market research and insights agency is investing in Leeds and growing its workforce in the region. The boutique agency, which was founded in 2007 in Dublin, now has over half of its workforce based in Leeds City Centre. The team deliver market and customer insights for high-street and local brands, including Pizza Express, No7, Nomad Foods, Hisense and the Real Yorkshire Pudding Company. The agency, which is part of marketing group – Audience Collective, has ambitious growth plans to continue to strengthen and develop its UK presence, by being in close proximity to its fast-growing portfolio of nationwide clients. Bolstering its workforce, Spark has recently appointed an Associate Director to join the Leeds team and has plans to welcome a graduate from a local University in Q3. Lynsey Carolan, Managing Director at Spark said, “Leeds is a thriving city and an emerging Northern hub for the market research industry, making it a hotbed for both talent and growth opportunities." “With a growing UK client base, we want to invest in people here in Leeds and provide opportunities for them to get under the skin of some of the UK’s most inspiring and exciting brands that we’re proud to partner with." “We’re looking forward to connecting with more regional and national brands and further growing our Leeds division.” Spark market research delivers insights to brands in over 50 markets specialising in brand measurement and brand exploration, helping businesses to make smarter and more informed decisions.

Estate agents Zenko Properties, digital marketing agency Perfect Storm and recruitment, training and coaching services provider Back2Work have all successfully relocated to Graphical House, an iconic creative workspace in the heart of Leeds. The property was brought to market at the beginning of the year by strategic property advisors, Fox Lloyd Jones and Carter Towler and spans over 7,000 sq. ft. in total, offering high quality offices over four floors. Located in The Calls district of Leeds, the building has undergone a significant refurbishment to offer some of the city’s best creative space. Graphical House is now largely known for its distinctive contemporary artwork on the building’s exterior – a project completed by Bristol-based artist Mr Penfold as part of the In Good Company project, commissioned by King & Co. Zenko Properties, founded in 2015 by managing director Tobias Duczenko, has expanded its presence with a new branch on the ground floor of Graphical House. The 1,215 sq. ft space, secured on a 6-year lease, marks the company’s second Yorkshire location adding to its successful branch in Silsden. The second floor is occupied by one of the UK’s most progressive digital marketing agencies, Perfect Storm. The agency recently announced a record £3m turnover for the 2023/24 financial year and has acquired one of the larger suites at 2,100 sq. ft on a 5 year lease. Back2Work now occupy 1,720 sq. ft at third level, on a 3 year lease. With its focus on workforce development and skills training, Back2Work plays a crucial role in supporting the local economy and community. Nick Salkeld, director at Fox Lloyd Jones, said: “Graphical House is an iconic landmark in the centre of Leeds and a unique creative environment, with the high levels of interest it has received paying testament to its vast appeal." "The businesses that now make it their home are great examples of the diverse and innovative enterprises we aimed to attract. We’re just one suite away from filling the building with an impressive line up of established businesses, and it’s not hard to see why it is so popular.” The first floor suite is the last available space at Graphical House. It comprises 2,120 sq. ft of creative workspace benefiting from existing fit-out in the form of high-quality meeting rooms and a fitted kitchen. Clem McDowell, director at Carter Towler, said: “Its location is ideal for travel with rail, bus and motorway links close by and the presence of all three businesses within Graphical House creating a dynamic and collaborative environment that promotes growth and innovation." "Being situated in the heart of The Calls district, it is also surrounded by an abundance of local amenities which just adds to the many reasons so many businesses are looking to call this area of Leeds their home.”

UK energy engineering solutions provider BRUSH Group has announced its acquisition of Rybka, one of Scotland’s leading mechanical and electrical building services and sustainability consultancies. The acquisition expands the Loughborough firm’s portfolio of services to include mechanical and electrical consulting engineering, BIM (Building Information Modelling), building physics, Passivhaus design and low carbon consulting – an area in which Rybka has grown to become a market leader in Scotland. It also gives BRUSH a foothold in the Scottish market whilst enabling Rybka to grow into England and Wales, supported by London-based building services consultancy Eta Projects Ltd – acquired by BRUSH in 2022 – which has a strong track record in healthcare and critical infrastructure. Nicolas Pitrat, CEO of BRUSH Group said: “We are thrilled to welcome Rybka on board as part of the BRUSH Group. We already share a lot in common and I see many of our values reflected in the way the team at Rybka works together to deliver outstanding results for their clients." "I am impressed with their breadth of knowledge and expertise, and having Rybka as part of the Group will support our ESG ambitions and create decarbonisation opportunities with our customers.” David MacLeod, Rybka chairman, said: “We are very excited to be joining the BRUSH Group. Our proven track record as a provider of outstanding consultancy services, along with BRUSH’s reputation for delivering engineering excellence, will ensure we continue to go from strength to strength." "Working in partnership with BRUSH we will grow our geographical footprint and build on our existing expertise, while continuing to deliver an exceptional customer experience.” Established in Scotland in the 1990s, Rybka has continued to grow, especially with the advent of the decarbonisation agenda and drive towards a low carbon economy. With more than 50 staff located in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness, Rybka will become a key part of the BRUSH Engineering Solutions portfolio whilst operating independently with existing partners and clients. BRUSH’s engineering solutions offering brings the specialisms and complementary skills of each Group business together to deliver engineering services, including concept, design, authorising, consultancy, build and servicing. Working across the UK, the Group has clear ambitions to expand in line with the ever-growing markets in infrastructure electrification and renewables. Rybka is the latest in a series of acquisitions and ventures by the BRUSH Group. The company anticipates that this acquisition will give rise to career opportunities for both the teams at Rybka and BRUSH, with the creation of more job roles across the UK.

Summer sun, barbeques with friends, and... a lush, green lawn that makes the neighbours envious? It doesn’t have to be a dream. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a lawn care rookie, get ready to transform your garden into a summertime oasis. Cheryl Harper, Managing Director of Greensleeves Lawn Care, is here to help. With warmer days ahead, follow these expert tips and tricks and you'll be enjoying the perfect green space in no time. Mowing made easy The recent weather conditions are perfect for stimulating lawn growth - a mix of wet and warm conditions. It’s easy for our lawns to get wild and out of control, but resist the urge to give your lawn a heavy mow as you risk stressing the grass and potentially harming its health. Taking off too much at once weakens the grass blades, making them more susceptible to disease and drought, which are common threats during the summer. Instead, opt for frequent mowing with a higher blade setting. Longer grass shades itself from the sun and reduces evaporation, helping retain valuable moisture needed in summer. Even though you want your grass to be a little longer in summer, that doesn’t mean mowing less. In fact, the opposite is true for maintaining a lush lawn. Regular mowing is essential for keeping your lawn looking neat and tidy. Set your lawn mower blades to a height of 10-25mm and try to mow your lawn once a week. Keep your lawn mower blades sharp and avoid mowing when the grass is wet to ensure a clean cut that promotes healthy growth. Stay hydrated this summer Summer sunshine might be a welcome sight, but it can also mean less moisture for your lawn. To keep your grass healthy during this time, hydration is key. The best time to water your lawn is in the early morning or evening when the conditions are cooler. This helps reduce evaporation, ensuring the water reaches the roots where it's needed most. Remember, keeping your grass a bit longer also helps retain moisture. A shorter cut exposes more soil to the sun, leading to quicker drying and potentially creating dry or even dead patches. If you have the option, consider collecting rainwater for watering. Not only is it a sustainable choice, but rainwater often contains beneficial nutrients that can give your lawn an extra boost compared to tap water. Aerate your way to a happy lawn Aeration can be a great addition to your summer lawn care routine. Aeration works by creating channels in the soil, allowing air, water, and nutrients to reach the grass roots more easily. This not only helps your lawn thrive, but it also helps it use water more efficiently during hot weather. There are two main aeration techniques: hollow tine and spiking. Hollow tine aeration uses a machine to drive hollow spikes into the lawn, which remove small plugs of soil and thatch. The principle of spiking is the same, although it is a less intensive method of aeration. Weed out the competition Summer's sunshine isn't just enjoyed by us – weeds love it too. These unwelcome guests can quickly steal valuable nutrients and moisture from your lawn, putting your grass at a disadvantage in the fight for a healthy summer. The key is to be vigilant. Removing weeds when you see them, even the small ones, helps stop them from taking over your lawn. While weeds might seem like a never-ending battle, a combination of professional treatment and consistent lawn care goes a long way in keeping them at bay for longer. Don't underestimate the destructive power of some weeds, especially those that take root in your walkways or patios. They can cause irreversible damage if left untreated. Consider a weed killer or a professional lawn care service such as Greensleeves if weeds become a problem. If you don’t have the time or experience to look after your lawn this summer, you can always rely on the services of a professional lawn care company. Local experts know how to diagnose any problems your lawn might have, create a customised treatment plan and ensure your lawn thrives throughout the hot summer months. For further information about Greensleeves and how they can help you with your lawn care, visit here .

Two projects completed by global engineering steel specialist, William Hare Group, have been recognised with prestigious Tekla BIM Awards. The London-based works at 40 Leadenhall Street and Maggie’s at The Royal Free Hospital were named among the winners of this year’s UK awards and will now go through to compete at the global finals later this autumn. As a leader in engineering software, Tekla’s awards recognise the very best projects to have utilised its Building Information Modelling technology to support the design process through state-of-the-art computer-generated models. William Hare Group, which continues to play a key role in the supply of steel solutions for major London construction projects, won the public vote for the 40 Leadenhall Street building, while Maggie’s at The Royal Free Hospital was named as the public projects winner. Described as resembling a skyscraper in the fantasy comic world of Batman’s Gotham City, 40 Leadenhall Street is one of the largest buildings to have ever received planning permission in the City of London. The £225m scheme, which saw William Hare collaborate with Mace, WSP, Make and Focchi, includes a stepped design cascading down towards the River Thames and is seen as a ‘destination office’ that can entice workers to switch back from home-working post-Covid. Judges’ comments included: “This project was impressive, because of its sheer scale. So much detail went into the design of this 34-storey steel frame superstructure, effectively using BIM for complex curved structural elements." “This elegant high-rise structure is a very striking design with a tonne of character, and has transformed the London Skyline." Maggie’s at The Royal Free Hospital was a smaller job in size, but was still highly regarded by the judges for its impressive use of technology to overcome complex design issues. Working with Sir Robert McAlpine, Expedition, Magma Architecture and Studio Libeskind, the £8m project was made possible through charitable donations of time and materials. Situated in the grounds of the Royal Free hospital in London, the newest Maggie’s cancer support centre showcases a custom raking curved facade, distinctive external fins, and a secluded rooftop garden and pavilion. Its complexity demanded a more integrated approach than usual, including an enhanced use of the 3D resources available within Tekla software. William Hare Group Board Director, Matthew Nesbit, comments: “Tekla’s BIM technology was crucial to us in the design and delivery process. The Maggie’s project was a special one for William Hare as it was charitable in nature; having the opportunity to contribute so strongly to the support of anyone with cancer or their families has been an invaluable opportunity for the team involved.” William Hare Group was established in 1945 and provides value-engineered steel solutions to some of the world’s most innovative and sustainable construction projects. A family-owned and run business, it has a turnover of c£300 million and employs 2,000 people worldwide.

Expanding property consultancy Vail Williams has made a series of strategic promotions as business demand continues to grow. Among 11 financial year-end promotions across the firm’s six regions are a new board member and a new regional managing partner. Chartered surveyor, business rates expert and LLP member Danny George has been appointed to the Vail Williams executive board. Crawley-based Danny, previously regional managing partner for the firm’s Gatwick region, has 25 years’ industry experience and joined Vail Williams in 2016. Danny, who specialises in strategic advice to reduce business rates, said: “I am honoured and humbled to have been promoted to the board. I intend to utilise my knowledge to help drive the business forward to achieve and enhance our strategic business goals and open up new revenue streams.” Planning specialist Suzanne Holloway succeeds Danny as Gatwick regional managing partner. Suzanne, who has been with Vail Williams for eight years after previously working for two decades in various planning and regeneration roles across the public sector, has worked on a range of major developments across the south east. She said: “I very much appreciate the confidence shown in me to lead the Gatwick team, a highly skilled and dedicated group covering multi-disciplinary roles.” The other promotions include two new partners in Ben Christian (planning, Southampton) and Bryony Thompson (agency, Bournemouth), five new associates in Andrew Soane (valuation, Surrey), Elise Thompson (valuation, Gatwick) James Newton (agency, Thames Valley), Matt Cureton (agency/development, Birmingham) and Ben Duly (investment, Bournemouth), plus Charlie Perkins (agency, Surrey) has been made a senior surveyor and Arabella Macrae (agency, Thames Valley) is promoted to surveyor level 2. The promotions come as the 175-strong, 50-partner, firm remains ahead of target in its current growth blueprint, having enjoyed its best ever year with increased revenues of £18.3 million for 2022-23. Managing Partner Matthew Samuel-Camps said the promotions reflected outstanding individual contributions to the business during the previous 12 months and rewarded continued hard work. “We very much believe in promoting from within and developing and retaining our own top talent. Outstanding personal contributions to our business growth have been rightly recognised." “It is a joy to witness career trajectories taking off, with self-development and advancement through the business dependent only on exceptional performance, results and attitude whatever a person’s age.” Vail Williams is based across 12 offices in the Midlands and south of England in Birmingham, Crawley, Brighton, Woking, Heathrow, Leeds, London, Portsmouth, Reading, Southampton and Bournemouth – with the new Oxford office opening last February. The firm was also awarded the prestigious Investors In People (IiP) Gold accreditation and continues to publish its annual carbon emissions report on a journey towards net zero by 2030. Vail Williams offers a comprehensive range of commercial and residential property services for occupiers, landlords, developers and property investors.

Rising demand for mashed potato has prompted the opening of Britain’s biggest and most modern mash factory in Lincolnshire. Last year Tesco shoppers alone bought more than one million more packs of fresh ready-made mash than in 2022 with the classic British staple proving very popular during the cost of living crisis. While regular mashed potato is by far the most popular variety, it’s sweet potato mash that is currently creating the biggest stir with demand rocketing by more than 100 per cent in 2023 versus 2022. Now, Branston, one of the UK’s largest potato suppliers, based in Lincolnshire, says it has worked with the supermarket to take the mash potato dining experience to the next level. And so ambitious are the company’s plans to launch the ultimate mash factory that it has created 80 jobs to help it fulfil its ambitions. Tesco Prepared Produce Buying Manager Alex Edwards said: “Britain’s millions of mash fans should be very excited by the news as our chefs have worked with Branston to excite existing recipes." “What we’re planning to do is to take the mash-eating experience to the next level and make it more of a gourmet food that you’d find in an upmarket restaurant.” Demand for fresh mash started rising shortly before Covid but lockdown encouraged a revival of Brits cooking from scratch as they had more time on their hands, which led to whole potatoes becoming more popular. However as lockdown ended and people started returning to work demand for the fresh, ready-made mash start rising again and has continued to increase as a direct result of the cost of living crisis with mash being seen as an inexpensive and heart-warming old favourite. Branston has worked with Tesco food chefs to improve existing recipes and turn them into gourmet dishes. One example is Root Veg Mash where increases of parsnip, butter and seasoning will deliver a sweeter and fresher flavour with added creaminess. Another change is for Bubble and Squeak where a richer recipe has been created to bring about a smoother taste. And with the mash processing factory now being on site, the whole farm to fork process will bring about far fresher tasting products. Branston CEO Jim Windle said: “We are proud and very excited to have brought the latest world class food manufacturing technology alongside restaurant quality recipe design to uplift and elevate one of Britain’s best loved foods." “Mash is one of Britain’s favourite comfort foods that needed a 21st century makeover to delight and inspire customers across the new range.”

Tesco has continued with its ambitious, industry-leading renewable electricity programme with the announcement it has signed a new deal to take 150GWh of power from Stranoch windfarm every year. The windfarm, being built by EDF Renewables UK, has started construction this week and is due to become operational in 2026 generating 102MW, with 20 turbines located on the site in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The deal will see Tesco taking enough clean energy to power the equivalent of more than 80 average sized supermarkets for a year. The site is the latest in a series of renewable energy projects which will bolster Tesco’s aim of procuring more of its own renewable electricity and reaching carbon neutrality in its own operations by 2035. The latest deal, known as a corporate Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), which has been put in place by EDF Business Renewables, comes as another windfarm in West Benhar was officially opened by EDF Renewables in North Lanarkshire at the end of February. In addition, four previously announced solar farms - including two operated by Schroders Greencoat, and two by EDF Renewables UK - will start generating renewable electricity for Tesco. Altogether, the five new renewable assets that are coming online will add a substantial 300GWh of energy per year to the Tesco renewable energy portfolio. The new sites bring the supermarket closer to its target of 60% renewable electricity through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) by 2030, with the clean electricity generated providing Tesco with energy to help power stores, electric home delivery vehicles and EHGVs, as well as air source heat pumps that are used to heat stores. These long-term agreements are central to sourcing renewable electricity, guaranteeing procurement over an average 20-year period, giving energy providers confidence to invest and create new renewable energy for the National Grid. To support the renewable electricity roll-out, Tesco last year announced its ambition to install onsite solar PPAs at 100 stores over the next three years – with solar panels on roofs across the country helping power stores facing into increased electricity demand. With initiatives such as air source heat pumps used to replace gas heating boilers, customer EV charge points, and electric dotcom home delivery vans the need for renewable electricity has never been more important. Tesco has already met its 2030 ambition to switch to 100% renewable electricity in its own operations across the Tesco Group ten years early, through a mixture of direct sourcing and renewable certificates. The retailer is now moving to ensure the majority of this renewable electricity comes from direct sourcing. Andy Henley, Tesco Corporate Finance Director, said: “Scaling up the production of clean renewable energy has never been more important, so we’re delighted that five new renewable electricity sites have started generating clean green power for Tesco." “These new sites are a sign of the strong progress we’re making across our PPA portfolio, and our partnership with EDF Renewables UK, Stranoch, moves us closer towards our target of reaching carbon neutrality in our own operations by 2035.” Matthieu Hue, Chief Executive of EDF Renewables UK commented: “At a time when tackling climate change and energy security are rightly understood as essential, EDF Renewables UK is delighted to work so closely with Tesco on many projects sourced from a large and diverse renewables generation portfolio." “It is also great that EDF Business Solutions is able to add its market knowledge and trading expertise to allow Tesco a complete supply solution to access clean and affordable energy." “Overall partnerships like this are pivotal to helping the country to achieve net zero.” Lee Moscovitch, Partner at Schroders Greencoat and joint Head of Solar, said: “We’re delighted to work with Tesco on supporting its carbon neutrality ambitions through the Thaxted and Eynsham projects, which together will supply 80 GWh a year in clean electricity towards Tesco’s energy goals." "Partnerships with companies on renewable energy projects, including PPAs, are a key way in which we can create long-term direct impact towards the UK’s overall renewable energy capacity. We’re pleased to be able to help Tesco, the UK’s leading food retailer, on its ambitious journey on emissions reductions, while contributing significantly towards the country’s overall net zero strategy.”

East Midlands civil and structural engineering firm BSP Consulting has made internal promotions to create two new associate directors. Civil engineer Carol Ell, who has a leadership role in BSP’s Leicester office, has been with the company 20 years next month. Finance manager James Payne, who is based in the Nottingham office, working across the company, joined BSP from school in August 2001 and has held a variety of roles within the business. BSP MD Carl Hilton said: “Both Carol and James have proven themselves to be very committed to BSP Consulting, with almost 43 years of service between them. They bring an energy and enthusiasm to the company which very much contributes to our success." “I am pleased to announce that they have both earned a well-deserved promotion to associate director and congratulate them on their new appointments.” BSP Consulting, with its head office in Oxford Street, Nottingham, and branches in Pride Point Drive, Derby, and De Montfort Street, Leicester, was founded 25 years ago and has grown to become one of the largest independent civil and structural engineering companies in the East Midlands. An award-winning firm that operates across the UK, BSP offers civil engineering, structural engineering, transport engineering, geotechnical and environmental engineering. The company works across all sectors including housing, student accommodation, commercial, industrial, health, education, senior living, retail and heritage. For more information about BSP Consulting visit here .

An integrated built environment consultancy has won a top industry award sponsored by property finance lender MSP Capital. Ridge and Partners LLP scooped the Fast Rising Property Business of the Year Award at the South Coast Property Awards. Co-ordinated by The Business Magazine, this year’s awards night attracted an audience of developers, planners, consultants, agents, lawyers and dealmakers to the Hilton Southampton at the Utilita Bowl. Ridge and Partners LLP saw off strong competition from fellow businesses in the property and construction sector to win their category. The award was designed ‘to recognise a market leading increase in sales, headcount, profitability, market share or geographical expansion during 2023’. As well as being an award sponsor, MSP Capital provided two senior colleagues to help with the judging process, Associate Director of Credit Lee Merrifield and Head of Marketing Rachel Bartlett. Congratulating Ridge and Partners on the win, Rachel said: “This year has featured an impressive array of strong nominations. It was particularly inspiring to hear from companies demonstrating growth and resilience in a challenging market." “Ridge and Partners LLP stood out due to their remarkable business expansion particularly in their Winchester offices. Although an established business already, their nomination clearly showed an acceleration in their growth strategy for the local office over the past year." “Expanding on their strategy they could clearly show a thoughtfulness behind growing in a sustainable and logical way, to ensure longevity. The growth was created organically and with a purpose of continuing to provide the best outcomes for their clients and professional partners.” Joining Rachel and Lee for the awards night were eight colleagues including Chris Sheppard, MSP Capital’s Associate Director of Credit. Chris said: “It’s a pleasure and privilege to support the South Coast Property Awards and represent the specialist lending sector across our region." “From our perspective, it’s all about helping clients in the property and construction industries to turn development proposals into real projects on the ground. In providing relationship-led lending, we aim to be flexible and agile, offering tailormade solutions to ensure even the most complex development projects come to fruition.” As well as sponsoring the South Coast Property Awards, MSP Capital partners with The Business Magazine on a monthly property podcast. Aimed at industry professionals, the series is designed to offer expert insight and knowledge about market trends, challenges and opportunities in the region. Each episode centres on a studio discussion with an MSP Capital director and other industry guests. To watch and subscribe, visit https://thebusinessmagazine.co.uk/podcasts/ or search ‘The Business Magazine Property Podcast’ on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or PocketCast. Founded in 1981, MSP Capital is a principal bridging and development lender offering funding solutions to property professionals up to £20 million. For more information, visit here .

New research from cricket apparel range, Maiden  has found that playing competitive sports when young has helped British workers later in life as they face the challenges of the modern-day workplace. When asked if it has made them a better team player, 69% of people thought so – that was 69% of men and 56% of women. Two thirds (63%) of people believe that sports have helped them in the workplace, teaching them key skills of teamwork (64%), competitiveness (49%), respect (37%) and resilience (37%). 39% of British people also believe that playing sports when young instil good health and fitness habits later on in life. Despite these positive stats and 70% of girls saying they enjoy playing sport, a third (36%)1 are put off at school because of the limited ill-fitting sportswear available to them. A quarter (25%) of girls today say this sportswear makes them feel self-conscious, while nearly half of women (44%) say they wouldn’t wear kit if it was uncomfortable, not fit for purpose for their time of the month (35%) or if sweat marks show easily (27%). The fact that so little attention has historically been given to girls’ sports clothing could be affecting the talent pipeline of women in the workplace. With girls dropping out of sports at an early age, they lose all the benefits that sports teach that can then be transferred to the workplace, encouraging more women at senior positions. Suzy Levy, Author of Mind the Inclusion Gap and Managing Director at The Red Plate says: “The benefits of keeping young girls in sport last well beyond the team or the trophy. Sport develops skills which last a lifetime. Having brands like Maiden, who recognise the positive impact that sports kit purposefully designed for and by women and girls, is important for inclusion.” In the girls’ cricket world, Honor (16) and Cat (15) Black are tackling the issue. They are fed up with having to wear uncomfortable and ill-fitting cricket clothes made solely for boys when playing their game for the last eight years so came up with Maiden Cricket Clothing which launched in March 2024. Their range aims to empower, inspire and redefine the game for young female cricketers aged eight to 18. The designs are meticulously crafted to girls’ unique needs – both in terms of function and fashion, encouraging them to feel, look and play their best.   Maiden Founder, Honor Black (16) says: “Playing Cricket was all I wanted to do at school, it’s a brilliant strategic game and team sport. It’s so motivating to hear that playing competitive sports puts you in good stead for the future." "However, why do girls have to wear ill-fitting kit, feel self-conscious and distracted when really the focus should be on the game and team performance? We created Maiden to show girls that it doesn’t need to be this way; you can look good and play your best in kit that is tailored for girls. We want to encourage more young people into the sport to experience the huge benefits that it brings – creating camaraderie, teaching you resilience, and improving your mental health which is so important for young people today."   “We want to also champion girls’ cricket from when someone discovers the game at school or through their community. If we can build a bigger and stronger community, this will empower current players and others for the future. We have had an overwhelming response since we launched six weeks ago, with over 150 applications for The Maiden Rising Stars Programme, telling us their stories and why they want to be part of the Maiden Mission. Our mission is to make sure girls are seen equal to boys in schools when it comes to PE and Sports – which will then filter through to the workplace. We need to all work together to encourage the next generation of sporting heroes.”  About Maiden Maiden launched in March 2024 and has so far received rave reviews with many saying that a change in girls’ cricket ware hasn’t come soon enough. They have created a Rising Stars partnerships programme, celebrating up and coming cricketing talent in the UK and have received hundreds of applications – showing a real love of the sport.

Aston Martin has completed a new long-term agreement, increasing pay for its valued employees whilst committing to reduce the contractual hours of manufacturing technicians in 2025 to promote a positive work-life balance. More than 2,500 eligible Aston Martin employees and contractors across its UK manufacturing sites and offices are to be rewarded through the new deal, which provides a 4% annual pay increase for its general staff population in 2024 and 2025. In addition to a 4% increase in 2024, manufacturing technicians at the company will receive a 1.5% rise in 2025 alongside a reduction in working time by the equivalent of one hour in the working week, with the goal of boosting productivity and supporting employee wellbeing. All eligible employees will also receive a one-off payment of £1,000 recognising the continued high cost of living, building on the company’s long-standing support for its people, including a significant pay increase in line with the Retail Price Increase in January 2023. In 2023, the company also launched a new employee share scheme, awarding all employees a stake in the company and the opportunity to share in its success. Simon Smith, Chief People Officer of Aston Martin, said: “Achieved through our positive working relationship with trade union colleagues, this new agreement recognises our commitment to putting people at the very heart of our organisation and making Aston Martin a great place to work. It builds on our continued support for colleagues with the high cost of living and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic." “In addition to rewarding our skilled and dedicated employees, this agreement also promotes talent retention, providing labour certainty for the business as we enter an important period of production, with the ramp up of new models that will support the company’s financial goals in 2024 and beyond.” Achieved following constructive talks with Unite, the new agreement has been welcomed by trade union members in an employee ballot and confirms pay and conditions at the company for the next two years. A spokesperson for Unite the Union added: “Following lengthy negotiations between Unite the Union and Aston Martin Lagonda, Unite members have voted in large majority to accept the two year pay deal. Unite believes that this deal promotes the working relations built with AML, along with delivering a substantial pay rise and improvements on the work life balance of our members, promoting wellbeing.”