This March, Manchester based HMG Paints will be supporting local charity Francis House Children’s Hospice as they look to raise funds for their Easter Chick Knit Campaign. The campaign see’s thousands of handcrafted Easter chicks, each filled with a delicious Creme Egg, sold to raise funds for Francis House. Every Year at Francis House, supporters and volunteers of this campaign gather from across the UK to help knit thousands of chicks and bunnies. Each chick is personally hand-crafted,and crème egg sized surprise is inserted into each and every chick. Each bespoke gift is paired with a chocolate egg and donate the Easter-themed pairing to supermarkets, businesses, and local individuals. This heart-warming initiative aims to raise vital funds to support children and young adults with life limiting conditions. Discussing the event, Francis House said: “Every year, thousands of little woolly chicks, and bunnies flock into Francis House, knitted by crafty supporters from across the world. The chicks are filled with a donated chocolate egg each and sold in schools, stores, and businesses all across Greater Manchester to raise funds for the hospice.” Leading independent paint manufacturer HMG Paints, is honoured to support this meaningful event, helping to contribute to the success of the Easter Chick Knit fundraiser. As a company deeply rooted in the Manchester community, HMG often get involved with their community and support those in need. Members of the team are delighted to support the campaign this year and the team have gladly donated a generous 192 eggs to the cause. Speaking on their involvement within the Chick Knit Campaign, HMG’s Gracienne Ikin, Business Development Manager stated “HMG are so pleased to be involved with the Easter Chick appeal with Francis House once again this year. It really brings the festive Easter spirit to the factory at HMG when we sell the chocolate filled, knitted chicks and bunnies. We are delighted to be able to support Francis House and this particular appeal is a really easy and fun way to get involved and raise vital funds.” To date, thanks to the work of hundreds of supporters, tens of thousands of knitted chicks were sold via various outlets, raising over £51,500 and allowing many businesses to join hands in fundraising for the Easter season. With the fundraising charity looking for varied venues to sell their chicks knits, HMG, Collyhurst will further commit to this event; purchasing chicks and bunnies to sell across the independent paint factory throughout March. Francis houses look to sell each ‘standard chick or bunny’ for a minimum of £2, as well as providing the option of supplying an ‘accessorised chick’ for £3. With limited time left to get involved with this year’s event, HMG encourage all to get involved with this incredible event dedicated to making a positive impact. For more information about the Easter Chick Knit fundraiser and how you can get involved, please visit: Easter Chick Knit - Francis House

Williams Racing is thrilled to announce the arrival of its first-ever Fan Zone in Japan close to the iconic Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo.   As excitement builds for the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix, fans will have the unique opportunity starting from Monday 1 to Sunday 7 April, to immerse themselves in the world of Formula 1 at the Williams Racing Fan Zone. The free-to-enter event offers unmatched access to get closer to the action and be a part of the Williams Racing team.   During the week, fans will have the opportunity to: Meet F1 drivers Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant and Team Principal James Vowles. The full line-up of appearance times during the week and how you can register to meet them will be available at williamsf1.com  closer to the event. See the Williams Racing FW46 show car up close. Get behind the wheel of a state-of-the-art esports simulator to test your driving skills around the Suzuka Circuit. Learn more about the team’s partners with Komatsu’s digger simulator and MyProtein’s batak challenge. Buy team merchandise, including limited edition collections. Fans who download and register on the Williams Racing app will have access to the latest event information and the chance to win exclusive prizes.   Location:             Zero Base, 2-5-8 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Dates:                   Monday 1 April to Sunday 7 April Opening Hours:    Monday-Friday: 12:00pm to 10:00pm                               Saturday: 10:00am to 10:00pm                               Sunday: 10:00am to 8:00pm   Tokyo marks the second stop of the team’s 2024 Fan Zone World tour which includes a total of nine locations across the F1 season. Since 2022, Williams Racing Fan Zones have offered unparalleled access to supporters, attracting thousands of fans across the globe.   Logan Sargeant, Williams Racing Driver: “It’s great that we’re able to bring our Fan Zone to Tokyo this year ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix. Tokyo is one of my favourite cities, and I loved experiencing it for the first-time last year. I know the fans are super passionate about the sport, so to be able to give them the chance to be a part of the team, even if they can’t make it to the race in Suzuka is special. I can’t wait to see their support at the Fan Zone in Shibuya”.

The successes came thick and fast on day two of the 2024 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships as Archie Atkinson delivered a stunning individual pursuit ride to take the rainbow jersey, while the women’s tandem 1km time-trial saw the British pairings fighting it out, with Lizzi Jordan and Danni Khan taking the top spot. The women’s tandem time-trial saw three British pairings qualify in the top four places, heading into the evening’s final vying for some silverware. Last year’s bronze medallist Lizzi Jordan and debutant pilot Danni Khan clocked the quickest qualifying time with 1:07.85, just ahead of defending champions and teammates Sophie Unwin and Jenny Holl. In a nail-biting final, Jordan and Khan held their own and delivered a blistering ride, beating Unwin and Holl’s time by just over half a second to earn their first set of rainbow stripes as a pair. Unwin and Holl secured their first medal of the championships with the silver, while Lora Fachie and pilot Corrine Hall just missed out, finishing in fourth place overall. On the win, Jordan said: “It’s really special. It’s our first race together so to be on the top of the podium is incredible – we never would have dreamt of it. It’s really exciting and hopefully this is the start of a successful journey for me and Danni. We’ve set off on a bit of a high so hopefully we’ll keep it up!" Khan added: “It’s incredible and the last few weeks have been really turbulent as we’ve both had illnesses. We had a lot of doubt over what our form would be like so to be able to piece it together, back up both rides and come away with a gold medal is amazing." "We can literally count the number of sessions we’ve done together on our hands so for our first world championships together in a Paralympic year is definitely a ‘pinch me’ moment!" Archie Atkinson delivered a blistering time of 4:23.270 in the men’s C4 individual pursuit qualifying ride, almost six seconds faster than the defending world champion Kevin le Cunff, who he went on to catch in the gold medal ride off where he delivered another show-stopping performance. Teammate Jody Cundy unfortunately did not finish his ride but will return on Saturday to defend his title in the men’s 1km time-trial. After his win, Atkinson said: “I’m pretty ecstatic to be a world champ, particularly in a Paralympic event too. A lot of hard work has gone in the past four or five months since moving onto the programme fully so it’s really nice that’s paid off." "I was extremely nervous for the qualification because after getting a big PB at nationals, I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to do it again at worlds. It’s a big event and you have riders like Kevin [le Cunff] against you and you want to perform. It feels really special and it’s my first year on the GB squad so to get that time in a Paralympic year is quite exciting.” After a strong performance in the women’s C1 500m time-trial, Katie Toft claimed the silver medal, clocking a time of 48.348 to secure her second medal of the championships. Daphne Schrager put down a strong time of 44.035 seconds in the women’s C2 500m time-trial, coming third fastest and heading comfortably into the evening’s final but just missed out on a medal to finish fourth. Teammate Amelia Cass finished seventh with a time of 48.673. In the women’s omnium flying 200m qualifier, Kadeena Cox powered to the fastest time in the C4 category with 12.120, while Morgan Newberry rode a respectable time of 14.126 seconds to kick off the C5 omnium in 10th place. In the men’s equivalent, Jaco Van Gass clocked 10.989 to sit in second, one place ahead of teammate Fin Graham with a time of 11.579 in the C3 class. Matt Robertson sprinted his way to fourth in the C2 event, while Ryan Taylor finished in ninth. In the men’s C5 individual pursuit qualifiers, Will Bjergfelt laid down a time of 4:32.051 to finish eighth, with teammate Blaine Hunt just behind in ninth on a time of 4:32.292. After two days of competition, Great Britain now has four gold and four silver medals and sits at the top of the medal table, with three more days of competition to go. Photo credit SWPix.

Wakefield Council has received £446,587 of funding from Art Council England’s Libraries Improvement Fund to create its new children’s library and museum space. The Council is currently developing the former British Home Stores (BHS) building in Wakefield city centre into a new library and museum. The new children’s library and family interactive museum gallery will sit at the heart of the proposed ground floor space and will form a unique and transformative experience for local families and visitors. Mark Lynam, Wakefield Council’s Corporate Director for Regeneration, Environment and Economic Growth, said: “We have ambitious plans to deliver a transformational experience for children and families through a joint libraries and museums children’s space in the new building." “Equal opportunities and access are at the heart of the design concepts for this space. It will cater for those with sensory and physical disabilities as well as providing activities which appeal to a variety of genders and ages.” Luke Burton, Director Libraries, Arts Council England, said: “I’m delighted that Wakefield’s new children’s library and museum has received support from the Libraries Improvement Fund for its children and family area." “We know the importance of literacy in developing skills and extending horizons and having this facility on their local high street will make a huge difference to the lives of people in the community." “That they will also be able to enjoy other creative activities, engage in role play and theatre while exploring the museum and local stories is fantastic. I look forward to seeing the project develop and eventually visiting the sensory Rhubarb Patch!” The space will be split into themed areas, encouraging a wide range of play styles to promote a love of reading, engagement with museum collections and stories of Wakefield district. Initial designs include a sensory Rhubarb Patch for under 3’s to play in, a role play shop, a building area, stage, and puppet theatre. There will also be a craft activity area and a focus area with computers and reference books. And plenty of soft seating and quiet areas to read throughout. The Libraries Improvement Fund is designed to enable library services across England to invest in a range of projects to upgrade buildings and technology, so they are better placed to respond to the changing ways people are using them. The wider design and build project for the BHS building is funded jointly by the Levelling Up Fund and the Council.

Funerals can now be held in a stunning location among Dorset’s Purbeck Hills thanks to an exclusive partnership. Kingston Country Courtyard has partnered with Douch Family Funeral Directors to offer its 16th century barn for services. Magnificent views from the location look out over Corfe Castle to Poole Harbour beyond. With people’s expectations of funerals developing, this partnership provides a memorable location for final farewells. Kingston Country Courtyard is a hotel with fine dining and hosts a variety of events. Its facilities are now available for those organising funerals through any of Douch Family Funeral Directors’ branches. Malcolm Green, manager of the James Smith branch in Swanage, said: “People’s expectations and choices are changing. This has accelerated since Covid and our new partnership offers people a place where the service and wake can be held in the same, stunning place." "The burial or cremation will usually take place privately at a separate location either after or before the funeral and this is becoming a more common choice. Many people request that their funerals be held in a specific place and we aim to cater for them." “The facilities at Kingston Country Courtyard are superb including audio-visual equipment. While James Smith and the Albert Marsh branches are closest we expect clients from all our branches to be interested in holding a funeral at this location.” Tony Edwards, director of Kingston Country Courtyard, said: “We host a variety of events and welcome the partnership with the funeral group. Our 16th century barn can accommodate gatherings of 140 seated or 175 for a buffet. We have 26 rooms and our location is between Swanage and Wareham in the Purbeck Hills.” Douch Family Funeral Directors has branches in Wimborne, Parkstone, Swanage, Wareham, Blandford, Corfe Mullen and Ferndown. Malcolm Green from James Smith Funeral Directors in Swanage, Emma Byron from Albert Marsh Funeral Directors in Wareham and Tony Edwards, director of Kingston Country Courtyard.

Every year in the UK, about 2,000 dogs are stolen. That's roughly 5 dogs taken from their owners every day. These statistics not only highlight the alarming numbers of dog thefts but also emphasise the emotional distress for families and their beloved pets. Each stolen dog represents not just a loss of property, but a loss of companionship, trust, love and security. These numbers show the urgent need for joint efforts to raise awareness, implement stronger legislation, and empower pet owners with the knowledge to protect their furry friends from such devastating incidents. James Whitten, Marketing Manager at petGuard says: “It is every pet owner’s worst fear. The thought of our beloved pets being stolen from us doesn’t bear thinking about but is a nightmare that more and more pet owners are experiencing.” Leading pet insurer petGuard wants to spread awareness about the surge in dog theft and new laws being introduced to tackle this ongoing issue. Dog theft has been on the rise in the UK In 2023, there were 2,290 cases of dog theft recorded across the UK, with 359 of them happening in London alone. This marks an alarming 6% increase compared to the previous year. Sadly, only a small number of stolen dogs have been reunited with their owners. It highlights the urgent need for action to address the growing problem of dog theft and improve the chances of pets being returned to their families. What will the new law do to tackle dog theft? Under the proposed changes, the government will introduce a new ‘pet abduction’ offence which will mean that pet theft is no longer treated as loss of property. Instead, the new Pet Abduction Bill law shows that pets mean far more to their owners than property. According to GOV.uk , under the proposed Pet Abduction Bill individuals convicted of pet theft could be sentenced to a maximum of five years along with a monetary penalty. This new law was presented to the House of Commons in December 2023 and its second reading took place in January this year. The new Pet Abduction Bill will also looks to make identifying and tracking cases of pet theft easier by introducing new microchipping requirements for dogs and making microchipping compulsory for cats too. “There are many steps you can take to keep your dog safe. At petGuard, we’re serious about providing cover for your beloved companion“ adds Whitten."

The fourth day of the 2024 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in Rio de Janeiro saw the Great Britain Cycling Team claim a further three world titles, three silver medals and a bronze to continue to top the medal table with one day of competition remaining. Jody Cundy proved he was the king of the kilo, claiming his 15th consecutive world title in the C4 1km time-trial. After qualifying second, Cundy brought it back in the final to take the gold medal in 1:04.120, while teammate Archie Atkinson finished in fourth place with a time of 1:06.006. Speaking on his win, Cundy said: “It’s pretty cool to have done it again! I was pretty much passed out after the race. I gave it absolutely everything and put it all out on the track. Hopefully today’s performance is still enough to hit it out in Paris. I know it’s not going to be an easy team to make as we have had so many excellent performances here." “I love the sport and I’ve been in GB sport for 30 years – I’m still here for a reason because I love the competitive side of things and the racing. The Paralympics is the ultimate event you can ride as a GB para-cyclist so to make it to Paris would mean everything.” The time-trial also rounded off the men’s C4 omnium, with Atkinson finishing in fourth place and Cundy in eighth. Blaine Hunt defended his title in the men’s C5 1km time-trial, taking the gold medal in 1:03.475, while teammate Will Bjergfelt finished in 20th place. Hunt said: “It feels amazing – this is the third one now and each time, it feels more special than the one before because you’ve managed to back up what you’ve done in the previous year and all the hard work. Obviously, there’s a lot of pressure on this race as it’s the last worlds before Paris. To finish on a win going into Paris, I feel like I’m the one to beat, I’m in a good position, and I’ve just got to keep pushing on. The vibes are always good when I’m on the team!” It was another Great Britain 1-2 podium in the women’s tandem individual pursuit, with Lizzi Jordan and Danni Khan taking their second title of the championships. Jordan and Khan qualified fastest in 3:25.372, with Sophie Unwin and Jenny Holl just behind on 3:25.940. The two pairs went into the gold medal final neck-and-neck, but Jordan and Khan showed their dominance with an even faster ride of 3:23.686. Unwin and Holl posted a 3:24.977 to claim another silver medal. Having taken a second world title in the competition, Jordan said: “It’s incredible and a bit unexpected! Very exciting to have two world titles now. The qualifying ride was our first ever pursuit together so we went out quite hard and suffered, so for the final, we just wanted to pace it more and see if we could go quicker. It’s exciting to see what we can do.” Khan added: “I can’t believe it really – I'm just so proud of us both. We were really happy after the kilo, but the pursuit for me is the blue-ribbon event on the track. To learn from our mistakes in qualifying and put it right in the final to go faster and come away with another world title is surreal. I’m just really proud and over the moon.” Jaco van Gass and Finlay Graham claimed silver and bronze medals in the men’s C3 1km time-trial after blistering rides. Van Gass clocked 1:06.317 in the final to take the silver, while Graham rounded off the podium in the bronze medal position with a time of 1:07.278. Steve Bate and pilot Chris Latham gave it their all in the men's B individual pursuit but faced tough opposition from the defending world champions in the Dutch duo to take the silver in 4:02.479. Chris McDonald and Adam Duggleby posted a time of 4:14.247 to finish in fourth place, having made the bronze medal final. Matt Robertson finished in fourth with a time of 1:12.009 in the men’s C2 1km time-trial to clock a personal record, while teammate Ryan Taylor came home 10th after a commendable ride. The women’s C4 scratch race saw Kadeena Cox finish in 10th place, having stayed within the chasing group throughout the race and round off the omnium competition in sixth place. Tomorrow’s final day of competition will see sprints for the women’s and men’s tandems and C1-5 team sprint, while the scratch races will be contested in the women’s C1-2 and C5 classes, and men’s C2, C3 and C5 categories. You can watch live from 1pm UK time on YouTube and follow results on British Cycling’s social media channels. Photo Credit SWPix.

Manchester United and Malaysia Airlines have announced a multi-year partnership which will see the award-winning airline become the club’s official commercial airline. As an established and respected name in global aviation, Malaysia Airlines prides itself on representing Malaysia and providing best-inclass customised experiences for its passengers, reflecting the Malaysian culture of a welcoming and hospitable service. The partnership was announced by Malaysia Airlines’ Group Managing Director of Malaysia Aviation Group, Izham Ismail, at a major industry trade fair in Kuala Lumpur. To celebrate the announcement, former Manchester United defenders Patrice Evra and Wes Brown flew to Kuala Lumpur to attend the event, to share their experiences of travelling the world as both players and ambassadors for the club. During the event the two United legends were asked about the significance of the new partnership, Patrice Evra said: “Manchester United has fans from all over the world, and the passionate support we have here in Asia never fails to impress me. I am pleased to be able to share our partnership with Malaysia Airlines with those fans and introduce them to the best-in-class service they offer." "Wes and I travelled here on Malaysia Airlines, and I would like to thank them for such a comfortable journey. From the food to the comfortable seats and friendly service, everything was perfect.." Wes Brown said: “I am fortunate enough to represent Manchester United at events all over the world. I have visited Malaysia many times, and I am always blown away by the warm welcome I receive. Malaysia Airlines is a true representation of Malaysia’s friendly culture, and I cannot wait to work with them to engage with our fantastic supporters." Also speaking at the event was Manchester United’s CEO of Alliances and Partnerships, Victoria Timpson, who said: “Manchester United has a long-standing and proud connection with Malaysia, with a history of passionate support from across the country. We have three official Malaysian supporter's clubs, with the Kuala Lumpur branch boasting one of the club's largest supporter communities, reflecting the country's love of all things United." “We are very pleased to welcome Malaysia Airlines to our family of partners and look forward to sharing with our global fans its trusted, welcoming and hospitable service.” Group Managing Director of Malaysia Aviation Group, Izham Ismail, said, “We are delighted to announce this exciting partnership with Manchester United, a club synonymous with excellence and sporting passion around the world." “This collaboration brings together two global icons, Malaysia Airlines and Manchester United, and will create unforgettable experiences for our fans and customers. Aligning with a globally recognised club like United places Malaysia Airlines in front of a massive worldwide audience, significantly boosting brand recognition, especially in Europe and Southeast Asia where United has a large fanbase. We look forward to the exciting opportunities this collaboration brings and the joy it will bring to football enthusiasts worldwide.” About Manchester United Manchester United is one of the most popular and successful sports teams in the world, playing one of the most popular spectator sports on Earth. Through our 146-year heritage we have won 67 major trophies, enabling us to develop the world’s leading sports brand and a global community of 1.1 billion fans and followers. Our large, passionate community provides Manchester United with a worldwide platform to generate significant revenue from multiple sources, including sponsorship, merchandising, product licensing, new media & mobile, broadcasting and match day. About Malaysia Airlines Malaysia Airlines is the national carrier of Malaysia, offering the best way to fly to, from and around Malaysia through its premium and fullservice offerings. Malaysia Airlines carries up to 40,000 guests daily on memorable journeys inspired by Malaysia’s diverse richness. As the nation’s flag bearer, it embodies the incredible diversity of Malaysia; capturing its rich traditions, cultures and cuisines via its inimitable Malaysian Hospitality across all customer touch points. Since September 2015, the airline has been owned and operated by Malaysia Airlines Berhad. It is part of the Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), a global aviation organisation that comprises of different aviation business and lifestyle travel solution portfolios aimed at serving global air travel needs. The airline is committed to facilitating safe and seamless travels by placing safety and hygiene as the anchor across all end-to-end consumer touchpoints in line with its MHFlySafe initiative. Via its alliance with oneworld®, Malaysia Airlines offers superior connectivity to more than 900 destinations in 170 territories across the globe.

The UK is due to switch off its analogue phone system in 2025 as the country goes digital. But if you’re a business who hasn’t yet made the switch, what do you need to know and what are the problems you face if you leave it too late? Here Juliet Moran from TelephoneSystems.Cloud explains everything you need to know. 2025 is the deadline for digitisation of the telecoms network. Many countries around the world have gone through this process over recent years and the UK is no exception. In the background, exchanges in the UK have been upgraded, and depending on your location, your local exchange may now be ready for full digital. Once a local exchange is fully upgraded, a stop sell happens and no new analogue technology can be installed in that exchange. This is happening to improve the capacity of the network. Historically we run both phone and broadband down a single line, splitting it in half. By removing analogue from the network, the full cable can be used for broadband, increasing speed capability. If your business has already made the switch to digital, well done. You’ve upgraded, probably saved money and have a flexible phone system for your business. If on the other hand you are the 60% still left to make the change, you are probably being inundated with calls about the switch. Companies can look up your line before they call you and check if you are still on the analogue system. So, you can’t pretend you have switched over, as your network status gives it away. The only way to stop the endless calls is to switch. The analogue switch-off isn’t going away - it will happen, it’s just a matter of when you choose to migrate. A big concern is if every business leaves it until the last minute, there could have problems. Porting a phone number - which is the process of migrating your number off the analogue systems and onto a digital platform - can be challenging. Porting takes 10 days minimum to process (due to Ofcom regulations), but the number still works during this time. It also takes humans to migrate the number from the legacy system. If everyone leaves it until the last minute, there is a chance of downtime for some as the porting capacity is hit. Many telecoms suppliers may also appear less keen to migrate you now because they are making more money off you. The digital supplier market is much larger than the analogue one, so you have a larger choice of supplier to choose from and you may find that your current telecoms supplier is taking advantage. New telecom providers also have more flexible pricing structures. Long-term contracts are unnecessary. With cloud phone systems you pay for what you need on a monthly basis. The wholesale prices of analogue services are also rising at rates higher than inflation to push you off the old technology. You will be paying a lot more than you need to be if you stay on the analogue technology. While switching your telecom provider might not be high up on the list for your business, now is the time to find your new telecoms supplier and get upgraded to digital or face the mayhem with everyone else who left it too late.

New research from BusinessComparison has surveyed UK SME leaders on their usage of local banks, and has found that a huge majority agree that there are fewer banks near their business than there were 10 years ago. The survey asked owners and senior decision-makers at SMEs about how often they use their local bank and what worries them the most about bank closures. The results were also broken down by business leaders’ age and where they are based in the UK. • 74% agree that there are fewer bank branches near their business than there were 10 years ago. • 21% of business leaders say it takes them or a staff member 31 to 45 minutes to visit the local bank - 51% say it takes them 11 to 30 minutes. Philip Brennan, Founder and MD at BusinessComparison , comments: “We were interested in finding out how leaders at SMEs feel about their access to local banks. The fact that three-quarters of the people we surveyed said they’ve noticed fewer branches confirms a pattern that has been going on anecdotally for some time." “It was heartening to see how much of a sense of business community emerged from the survey results. For 88% of business leaders, the main concern when it came to bank closures was the impact on the local area, including other businesses.” Business Owners’ Biggest Worries About Bank Closures Only 12% of business leaders said they were not worried about bank closures in their area. 50% said they were concerned about businesses that take cash payments, and 34% were worried about the impact on customers. How Businesses are Using Their Bank One of the most popular reasons to visit the bank was to deposit any takings in cash - 46% of those surveyed said they ‘often’ or ‘sometimes’ go for this purpose. Collecting change from the bank was a slightly less commonly given reason - but while 47% of businesses never run out of change to give to customers, 13% do several times a week. 51% of business leaders said it takes them or a staff member 11 to 30 minutes to make a trip to the closest bank. 21% said that it takes between 31 and 45 minutes. Going Digital 44% of business leaders said they ‘Always’ use digital banking services to complete routine tasks, with 34% answering ‘Often’. Alternative digital payment methods were shown to be increasingly popular. Either due to customer request or difficulty using cash, 57% of those surveyed said they had taken a payment using the most popular of these options, PayPal. Differences by Region London was the region most likely to say they often take cash payments, at 40%, much higher than the national average at 24%. This region was also the most likely, overall, to have a member of staff visit the bank every day, at 62%. London’s business leaders were the most likely to say that there were more banks near their place of work than there had been 10 years ago. While there was still a majority saying there were fewer local banks, at 56%, 22% said there were more. Perhaps the reliance on in-person bank visits means bank branches in London are less likely to be closed. Another outlier was the South East, the most likely to only take card payments, at 35%. That is more than 10% of the national average of 21%. 74% of respondents here said their business never goes to the bank to collect change. Differences by Age In one interesting discovery from the survey, younger business leaders were more likely to make in-person visits to the bank. 45% of businesses run by 25 to 34-year-olds and 36% of those run by 35 to 44-year-olds send a staff member to the bank several times a week. Only 15% of businesses run by 55 to 64-year-olds go this often. Gen Z business owners aged 18-24 are the most likely to go to the bank several times a week at 51%. The survey found that while the majority of businesses still rely on in-person banking, there is a surprising level of variation between different age groups and across the country. Owners and decision makers at SMEs clearly value their local banks and are concerned that they are disappearing - both for their own sake and for the sake of others who use local bank branches, the other businesses in the local ecosystem as well as their customers.

Over 170 pupils from the Wakefield district took part in a wide range of hands-on construction activities as part of Give Construction a Try – giving them insight into the different career paths available within the sector. Give Construction a Try, which was held at Castleford College on Wednesday 13th March, saw pupils enjoy 115 interactive workshops across the day in bricklaying, building information modelling, carpentry & joinery, clay tiling, electrical, plumbing, roofing surveying and more. The event was formally opened by Lord-Lieutenant for West Yorkshire, Ed Anderson, who spoke about why it’s such an exciting time to be a part of the construction industries and the endless opportunities it offers. Sam Wright, Principal and Chief Executive Officer at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, said: “This is the third year we’ve hosted Give Construction a Try and it’s amazing to see so many employers and pupils from across the district taking part in the event, as well as having the Lord-Lieutenant for West Yorkshire open the proceedings." "By bringing together businesses, educators and industry specialists, we are able to deliver an event which gives young people a real insight into the opportunities available in the construction industry, which will hopefully inspire them to study or work in the sector in the near future.” Pupils from Airedale Academy, Carlton High School, Castleford Academy, Crofton Academy, De Lacy Academy, Freeston Academy, Highwell, Kettlethorpe High School, Outwood Academy Freeston, The Kings School, St Thomas a Beckett, Trinity Academy Cathedral and Wood Kirk, then broke off into the sessions which were designed to give them insight into the diverse range of roles and opportunities the industry has to offer. Mick Hill, Teacher at Outwood Academy Freeston, said: “Our Year 9 pupils are currently choosing their subject options, so the event was the perfect chance for them to see first-hand the opportunities which are available in Construction. They really enjoyed the hands-on nature of the sections and the industry as a whole, which has given them focus and inspired them to find out more about the different roles they could have and how they can get there.” Ethan, Year 9 Pupil from at Outwood Academy Freeston, said: “The day was really fun and I enjoyed the different sessions, especially bricklaying. Before the event, I had thought about studying construction and a career in the industry but Give Construction a Try has confirmed that I want a job in the sector.” In addition to the headline sponsor of the event, Willmott Dixon, interactive workshops were delivered by Bell Group, Building Futures, Caddick Construction, Illingworth & Gregory, Korec Group, Morgan Sindall, Omexon, Overbury, Promoting Construction West Yorkshire Training Group, Robertson, SCP, Sigma, Smith Hire, Speedy Hire, The Civil Engineering Contractors Association/National Highways, Wakefield District Housing, Wienerberger, Willmott Dixon and Yorkshire Independent Roof Training Group. Hollie Buckley, Senior Social Value Manager at Willmott Dixon, said: “We’ve previously delivered sessions at Give Construction a Try and this year we were really keen to sponsor the event as we are committed to bringing new talent into the industry. It has been a great day - the event was really well organised and it was good to see so many pupils and their tutors getting stuck into the sessions.” Give Construction a Try was set up to inspire young people in West Yorkshire to consider a career in construction and raise awareness of the diverse range of roles and opportunities the industry has to offer. Darren Harmer, Director of Give Construction a Try CIC, said: “Give Construction a Try is now in its sixth year and it’s great to see how the event has evolved over the years. In addition to the more traditional career paths, this year’s event has really shone a light on the range of digital, technical and green skills roles which are available in the sector and what a future working in construction could look like. The engagement the pupils showed was also fantastic, with many of them asking lots of questions and showing a real interest in the activities.”

Level 3 Fashion Textiles students from Wakefield College have teamed up with Community Foundation Wakefield District to create and help promote sustainable fashion across the district. As part of this, the students have transformed clothes that have previously been donated to the charity’s shop or fabrics which would usually be sent to landfill to create new fashionable garments or accessories. The items are now being displayed in the charity shop’s window in Wakefield, helping to encourage shoppers to buy second-hand items. The garments will be sold as part of the charity’s Community Give Box, with the money raised going towards its Wakefield Fund which provides small grants to individuals, local communities and voluntary groups to help build better communities within the Wakefield District. Student Ruby Lawton said about the project: “I was excited to work with Community Foundation Wakefield District because I go to charity shops quite a lot and I’d seen people recycling yarn in different ways from charity shops." "When we were asked to choose garments from The Give Box to make our pieces, I selected items that I could make into some sort of yarn to crochet with. I really enjoyed this project because it gave me the opportunity to practice new skills and recycle t-shirts and make them into something completely new.” In addition to supporting the community, the project has helped to further develop the students’ skills in weaving, embroidery, crochet, knitting and fabric manipulation. Lisa Milburn, Executive Director at Community Foundation Wakefield District, said: “We try to promote sustainability in everything we do, so this collaborative project was perfect in terms of avoiding landfill, re-use, repurpose and giving something old a new lease of life. The students were brilliant, and several of them are now regular visitors to look at what they can upcycle and individualise from our range of clothes. The plan is to sell or auction the items the students have created to put funds back into the community.” This is one of a number of projects the Art & Design department is working on in the Wakefield district, with further projects planned with Wakefield Museum looking at the history of Double Two - which will students design and make a shirt based on the theme of Wakefield. The Level 3 Fashion Textiles programme is aimed at anyone who has a creative mind, wants to develop their design knowledge and skills, and has a real passion and desire to work in the creative industries. Students are able to explore a wide range of techniques through the creation of textiles and fashion, with learners producing a self-initiated project and exhibition which showcases their creative work.