Osprey Charging, the UK’s leading and fastest growing EV rapid-charging network, now has over 1,000 live public EV chargers available for use by the UK’s EV drivers. This expansion milestone builds on the tremendous success of 2023, which saw Osprey grow in scale by 150% in the space of just 12 months. With more than 1,000 charge points now active, Osprey is the third largest public rapid charging network according to Zap Map statistics. In the past 12 months, Osprey has launched flagship hubs in key locations such as Devon, Cumbria, Essex, Dunbartonshire, Carmarthenshire and Nottinghamshire. These hubs are not only strategically positioned but also offer accessible, high-powered and reliable public EV charging. As a testament to Osprey's dedication to meeting increasing EV charging demands, the accelerated growth witnessed in 2023 has seamlessly extended into the opening months of 2024, with Osprey launching more chargers than any other network in 2024. With hundreds of locations spread across both rural and urban locations throughout the UK, Osprey chargers have an outstanding reliability rate of 99%, while its straightforward charging experience has seen Osprey recognised as a ‘Driver Recommended Network’ by Zap Map for a fourth time. At the 2023 Transport and Energy awards, Osprey was named Best EV Charging Network, shortly followed by winning Chargepoint Network of the Year at the 2023 Electric Vehicle Innovation and Excellence Awards (EVIEs). Ian Johnston, Osprey Charging CEO, commented: “With over 1,000 public rapid EV chargers now available on the Osprey network, we are providing the essential infrastructure that drivers and industry are calling for to support the electric vehicle revolution. The rate of growth is matched by the highest standards of service offered to our drivers, through a reliable and easy to use nationwide network." “Recent findings from the House of Lords have highlighted the need to speed up the roll-out of charging infrastructure by tackling delays for funding and planning regulations, as well as the equalisation of VAT rates between domestic and public charging. Both recommendations are welcomed by Osprey as they will ultimately help deliver an improved customer experience for EV drivers.”

Savour the bold tropical flavours of Shepherd Neame’s new beer Rumour Mill (4.3% ABV) this spring. It is the latest beer released by the independent family brewer as part of its popular real ale initiative Cask Club. A juicy IPA, Rumour Mill combines four hops - Mosaic, Amarillo, Jester and Challenger - to create a complex fruity flavour with additional notes of citrus and pine. The pale golden brew is perfect to savour on a spring day with its light, refreshing finish. Its name, and eye-catching pump clip design, was inspired by an historic landmark in Shepherd Neame’s hometown of Faversham, Kent - Chart Gunpowder Mills. First established in 1760, it was the only complete water-powered gunpowder mill in the country and made Faversham an important centre of the explosives industry for many centuries. The mill closed in 1934, when production was moved to Scotland. Brewing Manager Rupert Hodgkins, whose signature features on the beer’s pump clip, said: “Brewing Rumour Mill with a collection of powerful hops has been a fun challenge for the team, using our expertise to ensure a well-balanced flavour profile and aroma, crafting a delicious pint that pairs perfectly with a sunny pub garden." “We’re excited for discerning drinkers to give this flavoursome beer a try!” Shepherd Neame’s Cask Club offers an exciting new range of limited edition innovative cask beers incorporating modern styles and flavours, while also celebrating some seasonal classics. Future ales in the Cask Club programme to look out for over the next few months include Go For Gold and returning favourite Late Red.

Selby College has announced a range of Learning Destinations across the district for its recently launched Children’s University. The Selby Children’s University works with schools to encourage their pupils to take part in learning activities outside school hours. To help deliver the programme, Selby College has secured a wide variety of Learning Destinations in the local area including Carol Saunders Swim School, Chelles Dance Academy, Glazed and Confused Ceramic and Art Studio, Goole Gymnastics Club, KCMA- Kris Crump Martial Arts, Miss Hannah’s School of Dance, Perfect Pitch Stars Performing Arts, Rainbows at Barlby and Osgodby Methodist Church Hall, Sign with Sarah-Jade and The Painting Pot. Elaina Wynne, Studio Owner of The Painting Pot, said: “Children’s University is a wonderful charity dedicated to fostering a love of learning in children by promoting participation in extra-curricular activities both in and outside of school and we couldn't be more excited to be part of their mission." “At the Painting Pot, we believe in the power of creativity to inspire and educate young minds. By becoming a Learning Destination provider for Selby’s Children’s University, we're committed to providing a level playing field of opportunity for children of all backgrounds to explore their artistic talents and unleash their imagination through pottery painting. We can't wait to welcome more young learners to our studio and embark on this exciting journey together.” James Pennington, Head of School Partnerships at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, said: “We are delighted to have a diverse range of Learning Destinations on board to provide high-quality learning opportunities and experiences for Selby Children’s University pupils. Our aim is to inspire them to try something new and explore particular areas further, helping to develop their learning, confidence and skills. We hope to welcome more Learning Destination providers in the Selby district in the near future.” Four schools in the local area have already signed up to become Children’s University members including Airmyn Park Primary School, Athelston Community Primary School, Hemingbrough Community Primary School and Selby Community Primary School – with more schools in the pipeline. The Children’s University Trust is a charity which works with schools to encourage the participation of extra-curricular activities for students aged 5-14 years old in primary and secondary education. Each Children’s University works with a broad network of local authorities, educational institutions and charities to co-ordinate the delivery of the learning initiative in the local area. Pupils involved receive a ‘Passport to Learning’ which they use to collect stamps each time they participate in a learning activity such as an after-school club, with the aim of collecting as many stamps and hours as possible. The diverse learning opportunities include activities led by the College, the pupil’s school and other Learning Destinations, with activities completed either at home or online. Once the academic year ends, the children’s achievements will be commended at an annual Children’s University Graduation Ceremony, hosted by the College and attended by parents and carers. To find out more and get involved in Selby’s Children’s University, please visit here.

Hampshire firm HWB Chartered Accountants has made three strategic promotions to facilitate future growth as business demand grows. The trio, Jenny Cull, Will Churcher and Brendon Reis, have all been named as Business Advisors as the Chandler’s Ford based firm bolsters its business strategy and planning offering. HWB Chartered Accountants Managing Director Tracy Jenkins said: “These promotions are part of our continued growth and succession planning for the future. It is also to do with talent retention and aligned with our strategy of promoting from within whenever possible." “These promotions are thoroughly deserved, and we are pleased to promote the three of them. Jenny, Will and Brendon will now work closely with our team of directors to offer advice, guidance and practical help to our growing client portfolio.” Jenny joined HWB’s accounts and audit department in 2012 as an 18-year-old trainee, the youngest employee in the firm at that time, straight from Barton Peveril College. She completed her AAT apprenticeship studies in-house, before moving onto her ACA exams and qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 2017. Southampton-born Jenny has worked across a variety of sectors, including manufacturing, the motor trade, hospitality, logistics, the film industry, academy schools and corporate clients, as well as taking on responsibility for the training for the firm’s audit training and development across the board. Will Churcher, who joined in 2017, initially applied for HWB while he was studying AAT at college. Will continued to work through AAT and ACA, qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 2023. He has subsequently worked on a range of clients in various sectors, including academy schools, construction, property management, recruitment, and retail. His focus moving forward will be helping clients to develop while ensuring that they are compliant with reporting requirements. In addition to this, he will be overseeing HWB’s Business Services and Innovation team who offer a range of services including management accounting, bookkeeping and VAT returns. Brendon Reis, who joined in November 2017, has worked with a variety of clients ranging from property management, architecture and design firms, fire engineering, design, goods manufacture and construction businesses. He started working with HWB after he finished at Winchester University studying Accounting and Finance and was seeking a place to work, train and take his ACA exams. His current responsibilities include acting for academy schools and corporate clients. Chartered accountants HWB, based at Chandler’s Ford, near Southampton, provides business and tax advice.

An Orkney family business has enjoyed a dramatic increase in sales and social media followers, after one of its products appeared on James Martin’s Saturday Morning, which showcases recipes and products to a range of celebrity guests. The Orkney Gin Company, founded by husband-and-wife team Gary and Andrea Watt, uses a traditional process to distil its spirits, which include gin, vodka and Scotland’s first akvavit. The team hand-picks its base botanicals, distils the spirits slowly up to eight times, and hand-fills and corks its Selkie Folk inspired bottles, which are designed in-house in a nod to Orkney’s history and folklore. Wholesalers make up the majority of The Orkney Gin Company’s customer base, but its products are also sold by Trade, John Lewis, Amazon and other online outlets, as well as its own website.   After securing their operating license in 2015, Gary and Andrea initially approached Business Gateway for support in starting-up, and received advice on their business plan and help to secure their first premises. Gary Watt, Co-owner and Distiller at The Orkney Gin Company, said: “We’re passionate about our Orcadian roots and about gin, so we knew we were capable of creating something amazing when we first approached Business Gateway for help to set-up." “We truly thought our business would remain a local one, but we’ve enjoyed steady demand over the years, which snowballed after we won our first World Gin Award.” The business saw a particularly large spike in sales after its Aatta gin, Christmas Old Tom gin and Orkney Akvavit appeared on James Martin’s Saturday Morning programme in late 2023. Gary continued: “We were approached by James and his team at a Country Living Fair in 2022 and couldn’t quite believe it. We are a small-scale family business at heart, so were very proud that someone with James’ profile liked our gin so much.” As well as a sales increase, The Orkney Gin Company has also secured additional trade customers, and has grown its website subscribers and social media following since the programme’s broadcast. The business also saw a sales increase for its Orkney Akvavit. Looking ahead, Gary and Andrea are now turning their attention towards securing larger premises to keep up with product demand, with the overall goal to introduce a visitor centre to make the most of Orkney’s tourism. Gary said: “We would love to open up a visitor centre in Orkney, and will certainly be reaching out to Business Gateway for advice on this next step in our journey. They’ve already signposted us to various Covid Bounce Back funding schemes, which have been so helpful for keeping our operations afloat. “Business Gateway has been a great support to our business operations over the years, so I’ve no doubt their continued support will be valuable as we enter this next chapter.”

The KaterBake bakery range at Central Foods has been expanded with the addition of five new donuts for the food service sector, including a gluten-free version. Ahead of National Doughnut Week 18th to 26th May, frozen food distributor Central Foods is launching sugared donuts, mini sugared donuts, chocolate iced donuts, mini chocolate iced donuts, and the gluten-free midi sugared donut under the KaterBake range. The ring-shaped, cake-style donuts are suitable for vegetarians and simply need thawing before serving. Gordon Lauder, MD of Central Foods, said: “Doughnuts and their American-style donut counterparts have been one of the greatest success stories of recent times, with huge innovation in the sector." “We’re delighted to be expanding our popular KaterBake bakery range with the addition of these five new ring donuts for our food service customers. The inclusion of a gluten-free ring donut means that coeliac customers don’t miss out on these popular sweet treats." “Our new cake-style donuts have a slightly denser texture, meaning they provide a more filling treat. But donuts are more than just a sweet treat; caterers can use them to decorate a freak or milkshake, an ice cream sundae, include as a component of afternoon tea or even to ‘sandwich’ savoury items, such as chicken burgers, to make unusual flavour mash-ups that can go viral on social media! The only limit with donuts is a chef’s imagination!" “Frozen donuts are ideal as operators can defrost them as needed, ensuring there is always a ‘fresh’ supply to hand and reducing wastage.” The KaterBake range is Central Foods’ own-brand of bakery products for the food service sector and includes speciality bread and morning goods such as flatbreads, crumpets, waffles, bao buns and yum yums. Central Foods was founded in 1996 and is one of the UK’s leading food service frozen food distributors. The company is proud to be 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. Based in Collingtree, near Northampton, it currently sells to over 180 independent wholesalers, as well as larger national and regional wholesalers. For more information, visit www.centralfoods.co.uk

Nathalie Lion Haddad has been named Chief People Officer of the Permasteelisa Group, effective today. A Human Resources executive with more than 20 years’ international experience, Nathalie has a track record of leading cultural, organisational and leadership transformation in diverse global business contexts across the oil and gas, electronics and mining industries. Born in France and now living in London, she studied English Language and Business at the Sorbonne University in Paris. She has lived and worked around the world in West and North Africa, Dubai, Madagascar and Canada for leading organisations including BHP Billiton, LG Electronics, Sherritt International Corporation and Golden Star Resources, before setting up her own consulting and coaching business. Nathalie joins the Permasteelisa Group in this new position having operated for the business as an independent consultant since early 2023, supporting the Executive Leadership Team with executing its global transformation plan." She comments: “I am delighted to take up this position and look forward to continuing to partner with our talented teams globally to cultivate an environment that empowers and inspires our employees and unlocks our collective potential." “Permasteelisa is a leader in its field, and this is an exciting time for the organisation, with an opportunity to become the go-to employer of choice not only in its industry, but within the global construction industry as a whole.” She will report directly to Permasteelisa’s Group CEO, Liam Cummins and joins him on the Executive Committee. Liam comments: “Nathalie has supported the Group since early 2023 and has made a fantastic contribution. I am pleased to welcome her officially to our business and as a member of my Executive Leadership Team." “Our people are the driving force behind our success and Nathalie will continue to partner with our leadership team, to ensure we have the right strategies and initiatives in place to support our employee growth and foster an environment of excellence.” Nathalie’s key focus areas will include overseeing all aspects of the employee experience while placing increased emphasis on inclusion, diversity and wellbeing and accelerating leadership and organisational development. Permasteelisa Group is the leading global contractor in the design, engineering, project management, manufacture, installation and after-sales service of technically advanced building envelopes. www.permasteelisagroup.com

A new centre for baby loss which recently opened in Birmingham, has taken delivery of a CuddleCot worth £2k thanks to a donation funded by DRD Capital in Birmingham. The special refrigerated cot has been presented to the newly opened Woodland House at Birmingham Women’s Hospital, by The Luca Foundation. The CuddleCots are designed to act like a refrigerator to keep the body cold which allows the parents to have up to a week with their baby and, if they wish to, even take them home with that equipment. Sharon Luca-Chatha’s life was turned upside down in June 2012 when she lost her precious son to stillbirth at 36 weeks. Since then she has gone on to give the ‘gift of time’ to more than 3,000 grieving families and donated and repaired more than 120 CuddleCots for maternity units, neonatal intensive care units and paediatric wards through her award-winning Luca Foundation . Sharon is driven by her vision to fund enough cuddle cots to service every maternity unit throughout the UK and then turn her attentions to cuddle blankets, for under 18s. She said: “A CuddleCot will give the families the ‘gift of time’ with their baby that they would not otherwise have. When a baby dies, there is a lot of information to take in, forms to sign, post-mortem to discuss etc. therefore the extra time is very much needed to take in all that has happened and the trauma that comes with that." “It is instrumental for the mental health of the parents and family, often including young siblings, for the grieving process to start with their baby in their arms. The long-term effects of not having a CuddleCot, such as in my case, can lead to chronic illness from the trauma of not having enough time with your baby." "For me, four years later, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, which led to me grieving the loss of my health, successful career and independence, along with my never-ending grief for my son." “I am still working through this trauma with EMDR therapy, but the anger of what happened to us is the fire within me that wants to ensure all parents in these tragic dark times have access to a working CuddleCot, something I wish I had had.” Woodland House, which was built at the side of Birmingham Women’s Hospital, cares for over 2,000 grieving parents every year who have lost a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death. The £3m centre – the first of its kind in the UK – was funded over three years by donations and corporate sponsorship. It is designed to be a safe haven in which families can grieve, away from the maternity ward. The Luca Foundation has is now hoping to raise further funds and awareness at the charity’s second Gala Dinner, on May 11th. This year’s event at Birmingham’s Park Regis Hotel, is being hosted by comedian Tommy Sandhu and MC Sandra Godley OBE and includes a welcome glass of fizz, three-course meal and dancing to a DJ. A raffle and auction on the night will help further boost funds, one of the top prizes including a private dinner for four people cooked in your own home by 2021 Masterchef winner Dan Lee, from Birmingham. Venture capital firm DRD Capital is also headline sponsor for this event. Any businesses that would like to donate a raffle or auction prize or get involved as a sponsor, can contact Sharon here .

Over 250 staff, students and people from the local community joined Leicester College for the first-ever Big Iftaar event, held at the Abbey Park Campus. Leicester College partnered with The City Retreat to host the ‘Big Iftaar’, which celebrated Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. At the event, Shaykh Shafi Chowdhury from The City Retreat spoke about the importance of Ramadan to Muslims. The Adhaan (call to prayer) was delivered from the rooftop of the Abbey Park Campus building, with a congregation for Maghrib Salah – the prayer for sunset - for both men and women. Staff and students from the College then served free Iftaar meals – a meal eaten at sunset during Ramadan to break the day’s fast. The event was sponsored by One Nation and The Empire Hall, and fundraised £200 for humanitarian aid. Verity Hancock, Principal at Leicester College, said: “We were delighted that so many people from the local community were able to join our staff and students, of all faiths, to celebrate this important date in the Islamic holy month.” Shaykh Shafi from The City Retreat, added: “We would like to extend our gratitude to Leicester College for hosting this first Big Iftaar. It was a wonderful event, bringing together so many different people to celebrate Ramadan with us.”

Top ten accountancy and advisory firm Azets has appointed a new Tax Partner as the firm seeks to develop an additional service offering. Nick Cullen has been named as UK head of the recently launched transfer pricing team, which is set to challenge the Big Six firms. He has 15 years’ experience in delivering transfer pricing solutions for a range of clients from FTSE100 companies to owner-managed businesses (OMBs). Nick joins Azets, the UK’s specialist business advisor to SMEs, after six years in a transfer pricing director development role at BDO, based in Leeds, and previously worked at PwC in a variety of tax roles. He said: “This is a perfect challenge for me, both in terms of career development and in being at the forefront of setting up a new offering for such a progressive firm as Azets." “What also appealed to me was that Azets is very much a national business, with senior people across all regions. Being able to offer a full breadth of transfer pricing services will enhance our ability to service larger, international clients and strengthens our position as a credible alternative to the larger firms.” Leeds-based Nick is building a national team to include members located across the country and will be aiming to build awareness of the new offering both internally and externally. More specifically, Nick will assist clients with: Understanding the levels of supportable debt for Private Equity portfolio companies. Dealing with transfer pricing tax disputes. Ensuring that transfer pricing operating models are aligned with operational substance, and value creation. Supporting on implementation, documentation and operational aspects of transfer pricing operating models. Since the launch of the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting project by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in 2013, transfer pricing has increasingly become a hot topic for international groups. This, in turn, has resulted in transfer pricing being high on the agenda for many stakeholders in businesses. With the appointment of Nick, Azets can now offer a key service to its larger client base that is crucial in maintaining compliance across their global footprint. Nick added: “Transfer pricing is a complex area and our clients, ranging from groups who are just setting out on their international expansion, to larger and more established businesses, require support and advice to ensure that they remain compliant with transfer pricing rules across their global footprint.” Becky Maguire, Office Managing Partner for Azets in Leeds, said: “Nick is an important addition to our national and regional tax team and will be a crucial part of our growth strategy in the coming years." “He has a deep understanding of the implementation and functional aspects of transfer pricing operating models as well as being an expert in thin cap analyses particularly in the private equity and leveraged buy-out market." “He has hit the ground running and is busy building up his team, who will be a perfect addition to our locally delivered personalised client service offering in the UK.”

A former headteacher whose son registered her business on Companies House without her knowledge is now the creator of an award-winning Scottish craft gin. Collymoon Craft Gin’s Gealach Úr Scottish Dry Gin recently won the Bronze Medal Award for Scotland in the London Dry Gin category at the World Gin Awards in January. The gin, which has a unique blend of Scottish botanicals, boasts citrus notes with a hint of spice and floral flavours. Colymoon Craft Gin is the brainchild of former headteacher, Nicola Finney, who had a long-held dream of launching her own gin and spirits brand. In 2021, Nicola left her career in education and returned to Scotland after 30 years living in Staffordshire, on a mission to turn her vision into a reality. Her son, Cameron, motivated Nicola to take first official step on her business journey by registering the business on Companies House without her knowledge. Buoyed by the support of her family and friends, Nicola spent the next 18 months learning about foraging and botanicals, flavour profiles and the distillation process so she could get off to the best possible start. A family affair, Nicola also involved the rest of her children in her business journey, with her eldest son Ben designing the business’ logo, and her youngest son Kieran, a mixologist, creating perfect serves and cocktail recipes, including a negroni and a dry martini. Looking for advice on how to get her business off to the best start possible, Nicola accessed a suite of Business Gateway’s start-up support services, including one-to-one support from a dedicated business adviser, as well as advice on her business plan, funding, premises and marketing. Through Business Gateway, Nicola was put in touch with a digital expert who carried out an audit of her website, ensuring it was as user-friendly as possible. Nicola also learned about methods to optimise her search performance to market her product to her target audience. As well as selling online, Collymoon Craft Gin is now stocked in a range of hotels and B&Bs, including The Inn at Aberfoyle and the Black Bull in Gartmore. Nicola is now developing flavours for her next batch of gin products, which will include a navy strength edition, as well a fig, orange and vanilla gin. Nicola Finney, founder and owner, Collymoon Craft Gin, said: “I’ve always liked gin, and always had a hankering for setting up my own business, but was a bit apprehensive about jumping in at the deep end. I still can’t believe that my first product is award-winning." “Business Gateway has been a massive support throughout the process of setting up my business. Having my adviser on the end of the phone has given me a real confidence boost, knowing that I’m not alone in this process.” Linda Letford, Business Gateway Stirling’s expert Food, Drink and Tourism adviser said: “Collymoon Craft Gin has seen great success since launching, which is testament to Nicola’s hard work and passion for her product. I’m very much looking forward to watching where the business goes next.”

As the days will get longer and brighter with the clocks going forward recently, cyclists across the UK are gearing up for the new season. With stunning landscapes from rocky coastlines to peaceful countryside, there is a variety of cycling routes suitable for all skill levels. These routes not only showcase beautiful scenery across England, Scotland, and Wales, promising an unforgettable experience for all, but also provide a glimpse into the country's rich history. James Whitten, Marketing Manager at cycleGuard says: “With cycling seeing a surge in popularity as a sustainable and healthy way to explore the great outdoors, there's never been a better time to saddle up and discover the beauty of the UK's diverse landscapes.” Leading cycle and e-bike insurer cycleGuard shares their favourite cycling routes in the UK. The Camel Trail - Cornwall The Camel Trail in Cornwall is a great choice for a family day out, providing tons of pleasant cycling, and fun sights to keep the whole family entertained along the way. Although this track is a little more relaxing and may be less about the physical challenge, it will certainly keep cyclists fit and happy. The trail runs through a disused railway line, beginning in Padstow and taking riders through the scenic Cornish countryside. The entire trail is 29 kilometres long, but the route can be shortened according to individual needs. One of the best parts of this ride is that it is almost entirely free of any traffic, providing a calm day of exploration. The Settle Circular - Yorkshire The Settle Circular is a track the more seasoned rider will appreciate, consisting of 62 kilometres beginning in Settle, Yorkshire. Yorkshire is a location that has long been popular with cyclists, especially after the Tour de France sped through the region over three days in 2014. The area has so much to attract cyclists, from the challenging climbs as they dip in and out of hills and valleys, to many quaint villages that will interest them along the way. This loop passes through Kilnsey and Arncliffe, which are great places for a quick pit stop. While the views of Pen-y-Ghent and Pendle Hill will make the tired legs feel even more worthwhile. Assynt Achiltibuie Circuit - Highlands Not one for the faint-hearted, the great Assynt Achiltibuie Circuit will generally take up a full day of cycling. As cycling continues to be one of the most popular forms of fitness, tracks across the UK are becoming busier and busier. However, for those wanting to experience the feeling of riding a road that appears reserved solely for them, this circuit is one of the quietest and most tranquil roads. The peaceful highland road is surrounded by stunning nature and a spectacular mountainous backdrop. The track offers glimpses of the coast and the great landmark, Ardvreck Castle. “Whether you are a professional cyclist or just starting out, these routes offer a chance to challenge yourself, spend time outdoors and fuel your hobby” adds Whitten.