In response to customer demand, frozen food distributor Central Foods has re-introduced a gluten-free chicken Kiev to its range for food service operators. Central Foods MD Gordon Lauder says: “Chicken is the most popular meat served in the UK, and with the continued growth in demand for gluten-free options we just had to bring back our popular Golden Valley Foods gluten-free chicken Kiev." “Not only are the Kievs great for serving to coeliac customers and those who avoid gluten, they can also be served to anyone who just enjoys a tasty chicken Kiev. Made from succulent, whole breast meat with a creamy garlic and parsley filling, our gluten-free Chicken Kiev is a classic dish loved by many and taps into the retro/nostalgia trend currently influencing menus. Packed in small case sizes of just ten Kievs, providing lower up-front costs and less storage space, we know our customers will welcome the return of the Golden Valley Foods gluten-free chicken Kiev to our range.” Other products available from Central Foods in the Golden Valley Foods free-from range include gluten-free breaded chicken chunks, gluten-free breaded chicken goujons and southern fried gluten-free chicken goujons. Central Foods is a leading UK food service distributor, founded more than 25 years ago. The company is a catering partner across the whole food service sector, supplying to hotels, restaurants, bars, universities, schools, pubs, care homes, garden centres, leisure outlets and more. It currently sells to over 180 independent wholesalers, as well as larger national and regional wholesalers. For more information about Central Foods visit here .

In a heartfelt commitment to enhancing the lives of children with autism, the Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust is proud to announce a funding award of £2,000 to the ASN Club for Children. This significant contribution will enable the club to purchase a range of engaging and sensory-friendly resources, including a much-desired bouncy castle, sensory toys, and mobility toys like bikes and scooters, to create a welcoming and fun environment for children for whom making social connections can often be difficult. The ASN Club for Children was founded by Leah Deans, whose seven year old daughter is autistic, when she became disheartened by the lack of play and socialisation opportunities for children with autism and other neurodivergences. Leah’s club operates with the aim of providing a safe and joyful space for children with autism to play, socialize, and form new friendships. Leah said: "I put this group together voluntarily as my little girl who is seven years old is autistic and the sad reality is there is not much in the community for our kids to go to." Held every Tuesday evening, the club has become a vital part of the community for families seeking inclusive activities for their children. "This funding from Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust is a game-changer for our club. It will allow us to enhance our activities with fantastic resources that our children will love and benefit from immensely," Leah expressed. The ASN Club for Children's commitment to supporting children with autism aligns with Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust's mission to empower community initiatives and support the well-being of people of all ages across Glasgow. David Facenna, Corporate Culture Director at Allied Vehicles Group, commented on the funding, saying "We are inspired by Leah's dedication to creating this valuable resource for children with autism in our community. We’re happy that we can support the ASN Club for Children and help them to provide a fun, safe, and inclusive environment where children can thrive."

A survey of 500 SMEs by invoice finance company Novuna Business Cash Flow , highlights the critical need for more accessible and flexible financing options for small and medium-sized enterprises if they are to survive. 34% OF SMEs COULD CEASE TRADING IF UNABLE TO SECURE FUNDING The survey revealed a concerning statistic: 34% of SMEs are at risk of closing their doors permanently if they are unable to secure necessary funding. This alarming figure contrasts sharply with the surprising revelation that 50% of SMEs have not sought any form of financial assistance since November 2023, despite the precarious position many find themselves in. 28% OF SMEs HAVE BEEN REJECTED FOR ESSENTIAL FUNDING The reluctance to seek financing during these difficult times can be attributed to a variety of factors. A significant portion of respondents (43%) believe that the current economic conditions have exacerbated the difficulty of accessing funding. Additionally, a concerning 28% of the businesses surveyed reported being turned down for funding since November 2023, further discouraging attempts to secure much needed financial support. 29% HAVE HAD TO APPLY FOR FUNDING FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER Highlighting the urgency of the situation, nearly a third (29%) of SMEs surveyed have found themselves applying for business funding for the first time ever since November 2023. This statistic not only reflects the growing financial strain on businesses but also the changing landscape of SME financing. These findings highlight the urgent necessity for enhanced and adaptable financing solutions for SMEs to ensure their survival. By providing a broader range of financial assistance and support, we can safeguard the future of these essential pillars of our economy. John Atkinson, Head of Commercial and Strategy at Novuna Business Cash Flow commented, “In light of our recent survey findings, it's clear that SMEs are facing unprecedented financial challenges, with 34% on the brink of closure due to funding shortages. Surprisingly, half of these businesses haven't even applied for financial help since November 2023, a decision influenced by tougher access to funds and previous rejections. As we navigate these turbulent times, our focus must be on creating a more supportive financial environment that acknowledges the evolving needs of small and medium-sized enterprises."

It is a sure fire sign that summer is on the way - the first Hampshire-grown strawberries of 2024 have been harvested and have hit the shelves at a Meon Valley farm shop. The arrival of the super-sweet, famous Westlands strawberries brings memories of long, lazy summer days, Wimbledon tennis and picnics on the beach. It’s a strawberry harvest to bring a smile to everyone’s lips. There is now no need for shoppers to rely on high food-mile strawberries shipped in lorries from Spain and Morocco when they can get Hampshire grown and harvested, sweet strawberries at Westlands Farm Shop near Wickham once more. And with a strawberry and raspberry growing and picking season running right through to late October early November there will be plenty of fruit to go round right throughout this summer and beyond. Shop manager Harry King said Westlands’ soft fruit is always a top pick for the shop’s customers. “Our strawberries are by far one of our most popular products - they’re very quick to fly off the shelves." “You can even see the glasshouses where these strawberries are grown from the window of the farm shop - keeping our food miles to a minimum and the shelves well-stocked for months.” During summer of 2022, Westlands farm harvested a record-breaking 200 tonnes of strawberries and raspberries - keeping shelves stocked all the way through to mid-November.   Westlands’ Graham Collett said he is expecting another successful soft fruit season in 2024. Graham said: “We harvest an enormous amount of soft fruit throughout the year. Even if the weather is hot and dry, our own water reservoir means we can irrigate the plants using collected rainwater." “We’re a family-owned business committed to ethical and sustainable farming. Stocking our shelves with produce we’ve grown and picked ourselves means a lot to us - it’s so important we encourage our shoppers to support local agriculture.” Westlands Farm Shop is based in the Meon Valley and offers a range of locally sourced groceries and gifts as well as its own butchery.

Dunsters Farm is proud to announce a three-year sponsorship deal with Bury FC, the beloved fan-owned team, situated in the same area as our humble beginnings. The partnership, extending until the 2025/26 season, will entail our sponsorship of the esteemed ‘Starkies Bar’, located within the historic Gigg Lane ground. Bury FC began its incredible comeback, after the club was saved by its own fans, after falling into administration in 2019. Dunsters Farm are committed to making a positive impact in the community, and this collaboration underscores our commitment to serving the area we proudly call home. Bury FC aligns seamlessly with our core values – with a community-centric ethos that resonates deeply with us here at Dunsters. Not only is it an organisation ‘for the community, by the community’, but the football club also works as a local hub, supporting people with its foodbank, community spaces for vulnerable adult training, as well as the Kidzone area for families who need it. Tom Mathew, our Commercial Director said of the exciting new partnership: “We’re delighted to support Bury FC, not only were we inspired by the recent developments at the club, but we also identified with their journey. Just like us, Bury FC boasts a rich local heritage and serves as a force for good within the community, a principle that has driven our business since its inception.” Tom and Hannah, Directors and third generation members of the family business, also have a personal connection to the club. Attending matches as youngsters with their grandfather, and Dunsters Farm founder, Les Ratcliffe – a keen Bury fan, who was also awarded an MBE for his charitable work locally. “My first memories of attending Gigg lane are with my Grandad, and his legacy looms large in how we do business. No matter how much Dunsters Farm has progressed, we are still focussed on being a force for good in our community – it’s in our DNA. Whether it be by feeding our local schools with quality produce, or supporting community groups like this one." "This partnership means we can support a like-minded organisation and continue to do good nearby – something our grandfather would be proud of.”

Scotland international Christine Belisle has committed her future to Loughborough Lightning for two more seasons. The tighthead prop is currently away on international duty and earned her 32nd cap in the second round of the Women’s Six Nations when Scotland were narrowly beaten by France. The Canada-born forward joined Lightning in 2021, making her debut against Worcester Warriors and has moved to 35 appearances for the African Violets. During that time, she has established herself as an Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby front rower having arrived after making a positional switch from the second/back row into the number three shirt. “When I first came to Lightning I knew it was time for me to move somewhere I would face more international players, more consistently, because that’s how I knew I would get better in that position,” said Belisle, who has started all 12 of Lightning’s league games so far this season." “I feel like I have been developing really well, not just with set-piece stuff but also just as a player as a whole. Being able to play alongside my international friends every week is also pretty special.” “The team as a whole has grown closer, we have got a really good community and it was easy for me to stay. As a 30-year-old in Loughborough it could be tricky as it is a University town, but it is made a lot easier with the girls that were around all the time. We have a really good squad and it doesn’t grow tiring which is quite nice.” Belisle is one of five Lighting players who have represented Scotland during the Six Nations – alongside Rachel Malcolm, Emma Wassell, Helen Nelson and Chloe Rollie. “I have signed for another two years because a lot of the girls I enjoy playing with are staying, and that is massive for me,” added Belisle. “When we see where we finished last year to where we have been building this year, we have left a few performances out on pitches but you cannot deny how the squad has been improving. “You can feel in our training sessions, you can feel in our games that we are getting better and we are building towards something really special, and knowing we are retaining a lot of the players that are a part of that is massive." “Because that's everyone buying into knowing something is going to happen. But also, I just enjoy the community. I like the coaches and they have developed me as a player." “I am not ready to go anywhere else because it has been really special to see how much we’ve grown from last season to now, and then having the results following that is just undeniable. It has been an easy re-sign because we’re only going to continue getting better and I want to be a part of that.” Head Coach Nathan Smith was pleased to keep the international prop in his squad. He said: “First and foremost, we are really lucky to have CB in the environment, and that she has agreed to extend her stay at Loughborough Lightning. I think she exhibits the professional behaviours that we are chasing here for all our players and there's still a massive amount of growth within her game.”

Novus Property Solutions has appointed Sean Ryan as head of operations for Partnerships, part of its dedicated Interiors service which is a vital element of the national contractor’s five-year growth strategy.   Sean brings over 23 years’ experience in facility and project management services across multiple sectors, including healthcare and education. An accomplished engineer who has spent the past 12 years in senior leadership roles, Sean has led services in both central consulting and operational capacities, which has developed his ability to deliver exceptional quality-driven services.   Sean’s varied experience will be invaluable as Novus continues to expand its Interiors service, which offers a streamlined approach to turnkey refurbishment services through the contractor’s team of technical experts and trusted supply chain. Interiors features the three distinct areas of Partnerships, Major Projects, and Fast Track Fit Out to ensure all work – which spans small one-off projects to multi-million pound national refurbishments – is completed on time, on budget, and to the highest standard.   Partnerships provides a single source hard maintenance, minor works and small projects service for long term MTC clients and framework agreements.   Commenting on his new role, Sean said: “I am delighted to join Novus as Head of Operations for Partnerships at what is a very exciting time for the business. I’m looking forward to managing and enhancing our existing portfolio of clients in the healthcare and education sectors, as well as driving our overall business strategy through my passion for forming successful teams and creating strong customer relations." “My decision to join Novus was bolstered by its highly regarded reputation within the industry, and its commitment to maintaining a personable yet quality-driven service that is not eroded by its ambitions for growth. The onboarding process has been outstanding, and it’s clear that Novus prides itself on holding true to its core values as a family business.”   Matt Hiley, Executive Director at Novus Property Solutions added: “Novus has a long-held reputation for delivering operational excellence and reliability across our key sectors, and the structure of our streamlined Interiors service allows us to continue to build on this. We’re pleased to welcome Sean to Novus, and have no doubt that his impressive experience will play an important role in helping us achieve our business growth targets.”

Working at height specialists from Arco Professional Safety Services abseiled down the lastminute.com  London Eye with BBC Breakfast presenter John Maguire to give the iconic attraction a fresh coat of paint on the first day of spring. Positioned high above the capital, the Arco team worked at heights of 68m from the hub of the London Eye to help safely carry out the abseil and painting on live TV. The team had to utilise a range of work at height kit to ensure safe access and egress, including fall arrest lanyards, work positioning systems and personal suspension (abseil) equipment. The full paint refresh, which takes place every three years, requires around 5,000 litres to cover the entirety of the 135m high observation wheel - roughly the equivalent of painting 1,660 cars. Taking a team of eight painters working five nights a week for six months, this iconic London landmark requires a staggering 9,360 hours of painting maintenance to look its best. The Arco team consisted of Steve Dawson, work at height training manager, and Level 3 IRATA (Industrial Rope Access Trade Association) training instructors Pete Hancock and Chris Fricker. Steve Dawson said:  “The London Eye has been a great partner of ours for the past 20-25 years and it was a pleasure to work with the team on this event to showcase a British landmark and ensure it was carried out safely and securely." “This event showcases the truly bespoke offering that we are able to deliver at Arco and demonstrates the strength and breadth of expertise within our team.” Arco Professional Safety Services covers a complete range of safety solutions, including working at height, confined spaces and respiratory services visit here  for more information.

St Austell Brewery has signed a new 10-year deal with fellow Westcountry drinks brand, Thatchers Cider. The two companies have been working in close partnership since 2002. As part of the new, long-term strategic deal, St Austell Brewery will stock Thatchers cider in its managed pubs, from the Isles of Scilly to Bath. Thatchers will also continue to be a key drinks partner for publicans across the company’s 122-strong leased and tenanted estate. As the South West’s leading wholesale drinks distributor, Thatchers brands are also widely available to St Austell Brewery’s 3,000+ free trade customers across the region. Kevin Georgel, Chief Executive, St Austell Brewery said: “We’re delighted be continuing our longstanding partnership with Thatchers by signing this new 10-year deal. It’s a fellow family-owned drinks company, which shares many of our values." “Working collaboratively with other businesses in our region, and building strong long-term relationships, is something which has always been important to us. It’s fantastic to continue supporting one another by growing Thatchers’ Westcountry distribution whilst bolstering our drinks portfolio and cider offer for pub guests and wholesale customers.” Martin Thatcher, fourth generation cider maker, said: “Working in partnership with St Austell Brewery just makes sense; we share our values, roots and commitment to giving customers a great experience. This 10-year deal, which may seem short in comparison to the combined 292 years of family expertise our companies have, is a testament to our shared commitment to collaboration and sustainability. We look forward to raising a glass in a St Austell pub to celebrate!” Thatcher’s cider has been made on Myrtle Farm in Somerset since 1904. A family business just like St Austell Brewery, they’re on their fourth generation dedicated to its craft with a fifth already learning the craft. St Austell Brewery was founded by Walter Hicks in 1851. It remains an independent, family-owned business 172 years later. The company’s range of award-winning beers - including Tribute pale ale, Proper Job IPA and korev lager - are available in pubs and supermarkets nationwide. The business owns over 160 pubs, inns, and hotels across the West Country - including managed houses and leased and tenanted sites. It also operates two breweries, in St Austell and Warmley, near Bath.

Leading full-service marketing and communications agency, Big Bamboo, has appointed Matt Reeder as its new PR Director. An award-winning journalist with more than 30 years’ experience, Matt takes up the new role having worked alongside the 17-strong team as a PR consultant since November 2023. Dealing directly with the impressive list of Big Bamboo clients, he will provide a wide range of PR support from the writing of content and securing of media coverage, to offering media training and advice. Matt comments: “I am both thrilled and excited to be joining the Big Bamboo Agency on a permanent basis, having thoroughly enjoyed my time working for them on a consultancy basis." “Having already experienced first-hand how extremely talented and dedicated the team of marketing experts are at Big Bamboo, the opportunity to join them was simply too good to turn down.” Nicola Stamford, the company’s Owner and Founding Director, comments: “Matt is a welcome addition to the team, having already demonstrated his PR capability to us since November last year. I have no doubt he will be an asset to us and our clients.” Having started his career at The Northavon Gazette in 1993, Matt worked at the Derby Evening Telegraph and Swindon Advertiser before switching from news to sport and making his move to Yorkshire, firstly with the Evening Post and then The Yorkshire Post. After his coverage of Leeds United won him the prestigious NCTJ Sports Journalist of the Year award, he took on the role of Yorkshire Post Sports Editor for ten years before switching to become the title’s Head of Digital. Matt joined the Harrogate Advertiser as Deputy Editor in 2017, taking over as editor in 2021, before leaving to set up his own freelance PR business last year.

The Biochemical Society have given their annual Industry and Academic Collaboration Award to Professor Gopal Sapkota, of the University of Dundee. The Industry and Academic Collaboration Award is presented annually to an outstanding individual or team, from anywhere in the world, who has made an inspirational contribution to the biosciences and to industry–academia interactions. Professor Sapkota is based in the MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit (MRC PPU) within the School of Life Sciences at Dundee. Professor Sapkota said, “I am delighted to have received this prestigious award. It is a recognition of the many productive collaborations that I have had, and continue to be part of, with some of the leading pharmaceutical partners.” “It is also a recognition of the hard work of all the students and postdocs in my lab over the years. I am hopeful this award will promote many more fruitful drug discovery collaborations with industry and allow our trainees an excellent opportunity to work alongside top pharmaceutical industries in a unique collaborative environment.” Born and raised in a remote part of Nepal, after completing his formative education Gopal won a British Council Scholarship to study biochemistry at the University of Bath. He undertook his PhD research at University of Dundee in Professor Dario Alessi’s laboratory, supported by a Diabetes UK PhD studentship. He then pursued postdoctoral training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York with Joan Massagué and was awarded the prestigious Damon Runyon Cancer Research Fellowship to investigate the regulation of TGFβ signalling pathway. In November 2008, he joined the MRC PPU at the University of Dundee as a Programme Leader. In 2020, he was appointed Professor of Disease Signalling. His research focusses on understanding the fundamental mechanisms underpinning reversible phosphorylation and ubiquitylation processes in cell signalling and disease and harnessing this knowledge for innovative drug discovery approaches. He has been an integral part of the Division of Signal Transduction Therapy (DSTT), a long-running flagship collaboration between Dundee researchers and leading commercial pharmaceutical companies. Gopal has ongoing collaborative drug discovery projects with GSK, Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Amgen Inc. Professor Dario Alessi, Director of the MRC PPU, said, “This prestigious award is great recognition for the tremendous work Gopal has undertaken to understand disease-relevant signalling pathways and develop unique technologies to help researchers better interrogate biological systems. He has also devoted so much time and energy to foster long-term productive collaborations with pharmaceutical companies to help accelerate drug discovery and translate his research as well as to provide his trainees with exceptional experience of working with industry.” Gopal is one of fifteen eminent bioscientists, outstanding educators, and exceptional early career researchers acknowledged in the annual Biochemical Society Awards. Winners of the 2025 Awards represent a cross-section of the molecular biosciences, ranging from redox biology and plant-microbe interactions to mechanochemistry and virology. Professor Steve Busby, Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Birmingham, and Chair of the Biochemical Society’s Awards Committee, said, "The list of the 2025 Biochemical Society award-winners is impressive and, of course, we have a wonderful mix of awardees, since each prize is targeted to a different section of our community. This is due to great foresight by the Society’s managers and funders, over many many years. As well as congratulating the winners, I want to say thanks for all the hard work put in by nominators, supporters, Biochemical Society staff, and the Awards Panel during the current round, this scheme could not work without you, and your efforts made my job easy!”

easyJet, Europe's leading airline, today celebrated the opening of its new base at Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández airport, a step that further strengthens its presence in Spain, where it now has 4 bases. The first flight operated by Alicante based aircraft and crew took off on Sunday 31 March at 6.00 am to Glasgow with Captain Daniel Ankerso in command. The airline has allocated three aircraft of the A320 family at Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández airport, generating around 100 direct jobs for pilots and crew. The opening of this new seasonal base, which will be operational from March to October, consolidates easyJet's position in Spain, with 19 aircraft based in the country and around 900 people employed on local contracts. In addition to the economic boost that this announcement means for Alicante, the new base will allow easyJet to explore unserved markets and support existing key traffic flows. easyJet recently announced 10 new connections from Alicante, bringing its route network to 22 destinations and connecting it with key cities in Europe, such as Amsterdam, Geneva, Prague, and Nantes, among others. Since the first route between Alicante and London Stansted in 1999, the airline has carried more than 30 million passengers to/from Alicante and has positioned itself as the 2nd airline in terms of international connections. All in all, easyJet offers 1.5 million seats (capacity) in Alicante this summer season, an increase of around 10% compared to the same season in 2023. Javier Gándara, easyJet's country director for Southern Europe, commented: "With more than 30 million passengers carried since 1999, Alicante was one of the most popular destinations in our network that did not yet have a base, until now. Opening our fourth base in Spain in Alicante confirms our commitment to this region and is an opportunity to further expand and consolidate our operations in the country.” As Gándara explains, "the seasonal base model allows us to perfectly adapt to the needs of the market, boosting existing flows and giving us the opportunity to explore underved markets in the future that would have previously been inaccessible. Today we are particularly excited to be here in Alicante, to celebrate the beginning of our operations from the new base and to introduce easyJet, its business models and its values to the local community.” The Costa Blanca is also in the top 10 favourite destinations of easyJet Holidays customers, significantly contributing to the international tourism in the region and especially from the UK, with Manchester, London and Bristol being the main ports of origin. Bookings for the next summer are encouraging and currently already c. 60% ahead compared to the same period last year. The base opening was marked by an event attended by high representatives of Aena, easyJet, local and regional authorities, as well as the Alicante business community, represented by the Hotel and Tourism Business Association of the Valencian Community (HOSBEC), the Business Confederation of the Valencian Community (CEV) and the Association of Real Estate Developers of the Province of Alicante (Provia). Toni Pérez, president of the Diputación de Alicante and president of the Costa Blanca Tourist Board, has stated that the fact that easyJet is establishing a base at the airport "consolidates the Costa Blanca as a preferred destination, both in summer and the rest of the year. easyJet has shown an absolute confidence and commitment to the province of Alicante, aware of the results that the Alicante terminal records year after year, with a record figure of more than 15 million passengers carried in 2023".