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Mitre announces a new three-year partnership with The Football Association (FA), alongside a set of new football designs inspired by football fan culture. The deal will see Mitre continue in its role of official ball supplier across FA competitions including the Emirates FA Cup, the Women’s FA Cup, the Isuzu FA Vase, the Isuzu FA Trophy and the Golden Ball Awards until the end of the 2026/7 season. To celebrate the partnership, Mitre has unveiled a new set of football designs that pay homage to fans of the legendary Mitre Ultimax. The brand has updated the iconic ball with modern, geometric patterns inspired by football fan matchday scarves and flags. The bold red on the men’s ball has been carefully matched to The FA’s colour pallet with blues taken from Mitre. The women’s ball features the Women’s FA Cup brand colours of deep purple, The FA’s blue and mint green and the silver of the trophies. Mitre’s Ultimax Pro football has been built upon decades of knowledge. It uses a unique four-panel thermally bonded construction to increase that sweet spot for a cleaner strike while the Hyperflow debossed grooves improve in-flight dynamics and reduce drag for pinpoint passing. The FA’s head of commercial partnerships, Stephen Hutchison, said: “We really value our relationship with Mitre, so we’re very happy to extend our partnership. Mitre shares the desire for our competitions to maintain the highest standards and their track record as football suppliers, to both the game in England historically and us throughout this period, has been outstanding.” Simon Rowe, vice president of global sports marketing, Pentland Brands, added: “We’re extremely proud of our partnership with The FA. At our core, we are a brand dedicated to our fans and we firmly believe the beautiful game should always start with a beautiful ball. With these new designs, players and fans can expect the same game-changing ball technology coupled with a levelled-up retro design that encapsulates Mitre’s iconic past through the current football scene.”

Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards joins the cast of Dancing on Ice. Swapping skis for skates, Eddie will be taking to the ice alongside his fellow celebrities as training for the 2024 series has now begun. Eddie said, “It’s bittersweet as whilst I’m delighted to be taking part in the new series I’m gutted for Stephen and wish him a speedy recovery. Dancing on Ice is a show I’ve always wanted to do. It’s a challenge I think I’m going to relish!” Eddie joins the cast after Gogglebox star Stephen Lustig-Webb had to withdraw from the show due to an injury he sustained during training. Eddie will be joining the class of 2024 which includes, World Champion Boxer Ricky Hatton MBE, actress Claire Sweeney, actress and singer Hannah Spearritt, West End star Amber Davies and Olympic Champion and presenter Greg Rutherford MBE, TV personality Miles Nazaire, comedian and writer Lou Sanders, actor Ricky Norwood, Broadcaster and DJ Adele Roberts, actor Ryan Thomas and Emmerdale Roxy Shahidi. Dancing on Ice, created and produced by Lifted Entertainment, returns to ITV1, STV and ITVX in 2024 with a new cast. Twelve celebrities prepare to embark on the ultimate challenge as they take to the ice each week, skating live in a bid to impress both the panel and viewers at home. Back for a sparkling new series, the greatest show on ice promises more glitz, glamour and show stopping performances as the celebrities brave it all to learn this dangerous discipline. But who has what it takes to master the skill and steps and lift the trophy at the end of the series?

Velfrey Vineyard, near Narberth in Pembrokeshire, has been nominated as a finalist in the prestigious BBC Food & Farming Awards 2023. These national awards were launched in 2000 to honour those who have done most to promote the cause of good food. Fiona Mounsey, from Velfrey Vineyard, commented: “It is an honour to have been chosen as one of three finalists in the category Best Food and Drink Producer in Wales.” The other finalists are Pembrokeshire Lamb and Peterston Tea from the Vale of Glamorgan. Velfrey are no strangers to success having been awarded the Food & Drink Wales Best Small Drinks Producer award earlier this year, and are holders of the Visit Pembrokeshire Croeso Award for Tourism Innovation as well. The vineyard’s flagship wine, its traditional method non-vintage sparkling was awarded a Silver Medal at the WineGB 2023 Awards, while its award-winning Naturiol (Welsh for Natural) is served at some of the country’s finest restaurants. Each week, Radio 4’s The Food Programme has been featuring one of the categories in this year’s Awards, and the episode featuring the best producer in Wales will be broadcast next month. The winners of each of the nine categories will then be announced at a dinner to be held in Newport on 25 October. “We are really looking forward to the event,” concludes Fiona. “We’re thrilled to be in the final alongside such amazing food and drink producers.” The winners will be revealed in BBC Food Programme across two episodes to be broadcast on Sunday 29 October and Sunday 5 November on BBC Radio 4 (12.32pm).

Store & Secure’s huge facility in Poole has undergone an autumn makeover – thanks to one of its clever clients. The frontage of Joyce House has been decorated with an arch of gorgeous seasonal foliage and flowers. Its usual sunny yellow colour still shines through but visitors are now under no illusion that autumn is open us. Josie Murgatroyd of Little Dreams Events took storage with the company and offered to give the entrance a different look. She said: “When I needed storage for my business Store & Secure were the best and they have been great to work with. I asked if I could do up the entrance to the facility with an autumnal display and they said ‘go ahead.' “There are a number of businesses using the facility and it is a very friendly and sociable place – unlike the larger chains.” Store & Secure is run by the ‘storage sisters’ Lucy and Sophie Maidman, and Lucy said: “We love what Josie has done. Like many businesses in various sectors she took storage with us because it is safe and we take in stock for clients when they’re not here. We have indoor and outdoor storage plus serviced offices and love to interact with our clients." “Visitors are always remarking on the display and saying how talented Josie is to have created it.”

ECI-backed, SaaS HR provider Ciphr has appointed Andrew Stevens as its new chief technology officer (CTO). He will lead all technical activities for the group, with immediate effect. Stevens has over 25 years of experience in software engineering, including a strong technical background in greenfield development and deployment, critical systems, platform innovation, infrastructure transformation, and SaaS technologies. He joins Ciphr from Checkit, a leading provider of workflow management software and smart sensor automation for deskless workers, where he served as CTO for nearly three years. Prior to this, he was software development director for Kerridge Commercial Systems, working with large-scale ERP systems. He has also held senior roles at DMGT’s Property Information (PropTech) division, and at Sage, where he worked for over a decade – rising through the ranks to head up R&D for a range of HR, payroll and ERP products in the UK and Europe. Sion Lewis, CEO of Ciphr, says: “We are delighted to welcome Andrew to Ciphr, and to our executive leadership team. CTO is a pivotal role in driving ongoing growth for the group and Andrew brings extensive technical knowledge and expertise in software development and engineering to the business. “His impressive SaaS and cloud experience, with a consistent focus on customer delivery and innovation, successful management of several tech transformation programmes, and proven track record of developing people and building high-performing teams, make him ideally suited for this position. We’re really looking forward to working with him as we continue to innovate and evolve Ciphr as the go-to HR software and solutions provider for mid-sized organisations.” Andrew Stevens, incoming CTO at Ciphr, says: “I’m excited to join Ciphr at such an important time, and I see great opportunities ahead for the business and our customers. Ciphr’s innovative products offer huge benefits to businesses across all industries – helping them to manage, support, and unlock the value of their people. “Ciphr has big ambitions, a thirst to drive change, and a proven legacy of innovation in the HR technology market – its products help businesses grow and empower the people that use them. It’s a very compelling proposition, and I’m looking forward to working closely with our customers to meet their business needs and deliver the best possible outcomes. I believe that Ciphr is well placed to further its success, and I’m honoured to be a part of the journey.” David Burns, Ciphr’s former CTO, left the business in May. Ciphr is a leading provider of integrated HR, payroll, learning and recruitment software and solutions. More than 600 organisations use the group’s people management solutions globally across the public, private and non-profit sectors. Ciphr also offers off-the-shelf and bespoke eLearning content through its subsidiary Marshall E-Learning. For more information, please visit www.ciphr.com .

Businesses are being advised to prepare thoroughly – and budget accordingly – when considering hiring staff from overseas. The warning comes from Azets, the UK’s specialist business advisor to SMEs, as costs associated with bringing in foreign workers continue to rise for both employer and employee. Senior HR consultant Andreja Okambga, part of the HR Consultancy Services team at the top 10 accountancy firm, said a number of factors was behind the rising cost. Increases to the visa application fees effective from 4 October have contributed 20% to overseas employee cost inflation. And that cost is set to rise still further when the Government implements an announced 66% rise in the immigration health surcharge (IHS) to £1,035 per person per year. The implementation date has now been announced as 16 January 2024 (or later pending parliamentary approval). When the surcharge, to access the NHS, was introduced in 2015 it was £200 per person per year. Employers have also been hit with an increase to the certificate of sponsorship fee, but the skills charge, payable by the employer, has not been increased. Andreja said a skilled worker immigrating with a partner and two children after the January 2024 IHS increase will be hit with a bill of £23,790 before even considering legal fees or moving expenses such as flights, accommodation, an English language test and a TB test. The employer will also have to pay £5,239 for the privilege of sponsoring a skilled worker from abroad, and this does not include the costs for maintaining the sponsor licence. Andreja, an immigration advisor registered with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC), has set out a number of tips for businesses. Businesses should review their recruitment budgets and policies and re-evaluate their recruitment strategies. Budgets will have to be increased to account for the increasing fees, but also considering that more applicants will require help with the fees to be able to relocate. Those employers who are able to continue to support applicants with increasing fees, should ensure appropriate claw-back agreements are implemented to safeguard the business against the risks and enable them to recoup the investment should the employment not work out. Businesses should also accelerate any visa applications in the pipeline to try to get them over the line before the IHS increase in January Andreja, also a qualified paralegal in employment law, said: “Workers entering the UK to start a sponsored job are typically sponsored by employers for three years initially, to mitigate the risks of the employment not working out." “Since the fee increases were announced, more workers are sponsored for the full five years’ duration from the outset, to avoid the uncertainty of the increasing fees and to try to lock-in the whole sponsorship period at the current fees." “While that is a much bigger financial undertaking now, it means the overall cost of sponsoring a worker will be lower." “Visa application fees are often picked up by employers and I expect this will become a necessity as more and more applicants will be priced out of being able to pay for their own visas." “A lot of people don’t appreciate the total cost that a skilled worker in demand in the UK needs to pay for the privilege of working here.” Latest government figures show that in the year ending June 2023 there were 321,101 work visas granted to main applicants, 45% higher than in the year ending June 2022 and 144% higher than the number in the year ending June 2019, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. The rise is largely due to increases in the ‘skilled worker’ visas. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) the number of non-UK nationals working in the UK has increased by 344,000 (+9%) in the past year to 4.26 million. Of these, an estimated 1.98 million are non-EU nationals. The total UK workforce is estimated at 30.1 million.

For many of us, swimming started at a very young age as a life skill, others took the water when they were at school and fortunate to have access to a pool, and others took the plunge later on in life. One thing is for sure, swimming is a sport for all and irrespective of when you took to the water, it is certainly not just a recreational activity but an immersive experience that offers an array of physical and mental benefits. As an activity that combines both relaxation and exercise, it has captured the hearts of millions worldwide. Whether you're gliding gracefully through calm waters or racing against the clock in a competitive pool, swimming offers something for everyone. The Physical Benefits Swimming is a full-body workout like no other. As a low-impact exercise, it is gentle on joints, making it an excellent choice for individuals of all ages and fitness levels. Here are some of the physical benefits of swimming: Cardiovascular Health : Swimming elevates the heart rate, improving circulation and increasing cardiovascular fitness. Muscle Toning : Every stroke engages multiple muscle groups, promoting strength and muscle tone. Weight Management : Swimming burns calories and aids in weight control, making it an effective exercise for those looking to shed extra pounds. Enhanced Flexibility : The rhythmic motion of swimming helps improve flexibility, especially in the shoulders, hips, and legs. Stress Reduction : The soothing properties of water have a calming effect, reducing stress and promoting relaxation. The Mental Benefits Swimming offers more than just physical rewards; it also has several mental benefits: Stress Relief : The gentle, repetitive motion of swimming is meditative, allowing you to clear your mind and reduce stress. Improved Mood : Swimming triggers the release of endorphins, enhancing mood and combating depression and anxiety. Mental Clarity : Many find that the time spent in the water is when they experience some of their most creative and clear thinking. Sense of Achievement : Setting and achieving swimming goals can boost confidence and provide a sense of accomplishment. Social Connection : Swimming can be a social activity, fostering a sense of community and connection with others who share the passion. Beyond its physical and mental benefits, swimming is a critical life skill. Knowing how to swim can save lives in emergency situations, such as water accidents or natural disasters. It's an essential skill for personal safety and a valuable asset for anyone living near water or frequently engaging in aquatic activities. Swimming is more than just a sport or pastime; it's a holistic experience that nourishes the body and mind. It offers numerous physical and mental benefits, from improved cardiovascular health and muscle tone to stress reduction and enhanced mood. Whether you're diving into a serene lake or racing in a competitive pool, swimming is a versatile and life-enriching activity that has something to offer everyone. So, why wait? Take the plunge and let swimming become your watery adventure for a healthier, happier life.

British Airways’ first flight from London Gatwick to Accra has landed at Kotoka International Airport. The inaugural service received a warm West African welcome as it taxied to stand, with dancers, drummers and a VIP delegation, including the British High Commissioner to Ghana, Harriet Thompson, greeting customers as they stepped off the aircraft. Crew members arrived in their new uniform, designed by British-Ghanaian master tailor, Ozwald Boateng OBE. British Airways is now operating three times a week from the Ghanaian capital to London Gatwick, giving travellers more choice of flight times and airports. Flights depart Accra at 21.20 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, landing into Gatwick at 04.00. A fourth weekly service will be added to the route timetable from April next year. Neil Chernoff, British Airways’ Director of Network and Alliances said: “With 11 direct flights, across two London gateways, we’re pleased to offer our Ghanaian customers a greater choice of products and prices. Overall, we’re doubling the number of seats between Accra and London, with 55 per cent more capacity next summer versus 2019. We are always looking at routes and regions where there is potential for growth and Accra is one of those routes and Africa is one of those regions.” Daily flights from London Heathrow to Accra are served by the airline’s A350 fleet, British Airways’ newest and more-fuel efficient aircraft type, featuring the latest generation business class seat, Club Suite. The new route also adds cargo capacity between the two capitals, increasing opportunities for Ghanaian exporters to get perishables and other goods to market more quickly through IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group, British Airways’ parent company. To celebrate the increase in the number of flights between Africa and London, the airline is bringing Afrobeats to travellers, with an exclusive playlist available onboard. Global DJ sensation, Cuppy, has curated her top tracks for the airline’s inflight entertainment system bringing feel-good vibes right to customers’ seats.

One-in-five (20%) small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) owners plan to sell part or all their business within the next two years according to a new study conducted on behalf of Handelsbanken Wealth & Asset Management. An additional one in ten (11%) respondents expect to downsize their businesses over the same period. Of these, a third (31%) blame rising costs, 18% cite performance-related issues and a further one in six (15%) need to release liquidity to deal with the cost-of-living crisis. But while rising costs and profitability were among some of the catalysts for selling up or making a change, the research also shows that many owners are motivated to sell all or part of their business for positive reasons. 40% plan to release liquidity to invest in other business ventures, for example. Just six percent said they are planning to sell their entire business within the next two years, with 20% citing retirement as the driving factor, and a further 20% having to do so due to an absence of family succession options. Despite the multiple challenges faced by many SMEs, most company owners (52%) have no plans to change their firm’s size or ownership status. Furthermore, one in six (16%) are considering scaling up their operations within the next two years, indicating a welcome degree of optimism among this business segment. Christine Ross, Head of Private Office (North) and Client Director at Handelsbanken Wealth & Asset Management said: “Making changes to your business – whether you’re expanding, downsizing, selling or starting something new – can be a very exciting time, but it can also be very stressful. If you’re releasing money from your business by selling all or part of it, it can feel like a big weight off your mind when the process is finally concluded. However, there’s also the question of what to do with the proceeds of a business sale, as you enter the next chapter of your life." “This is a good time to take stock of your situation, and focus on your goals for the future. It’s important to remember that many of the tax advantages you enjoyed as a business owner may no longer be available to you, so consider taking professional advice as early as possible to help work out the best options for you." “For example, setting up a family trust prior to your business sale could make use of inheritance tax reliefs, if this meets your financial and estate planning objectives. You might also want to make the most of allowances around ‘gifting’ money to help the next generation, if it suits your personal situation, or invest in financial markets an effort to protect the value of your capital against inflation." "Whatever you choose to do next, make sure you understand the risks and potential rewards involved.”

Employers need to speak to staff and rethink workspaces before pushing ahead with full-time office returns, according to workplace creation expert, Unispace . Responding to reports from the latest KPMG CEO Outlook that suggest 64% of global leaders expect staff to be back in the workplace full time by 2026, Unispace has warned that employee engagement could be damaged if mandates are used to achieve these attendance levels. In its 'Returning for Good' report – which combined the results of a survey of 9,500 employees and 6,650 employers from 17 countries worldwide – the firm found that 58% of workers struggle to carry out their core job in the office due to distractions and excessive meetings. The data also revealed that over a quarter (29%) of businesses that had already mandated returns were struggling to recruit while 42% had experienced higher than usual staff attrition rates. As Lawrence Mohiuddine, CEO EMEA at Unispace, explained, this suggests employees are struggling with office working and likely to move elsewhere if forced to return to a space they do not feel productive in. “While encouraging a return to the office makes business sense for firms that have spaces going underutilised, there needs to be complete clarity around why people haven’t naturally begun heading into the workplace more and what difference workforces want from the space itself. With our data showing that people don’t feel productive in the office, it’s understandable that many want to continue working in a hybrid manner." “However, with firms also revealing difficulties attracting and retaining staff at a time when skills shortages are still rife, it is imperative that business leaders get to grips with the unique wants and needs of their workforces and use this information to drive meaningful changes." "What people need in the workspace today is vastly different to a few years ago. Having been able to work in quiet spaces but also collaborate online when needed, employees are rethinking how and where they want to work. If employers force a five-day office return too quickly and without finding out what their people want from the office, staff attraction and retention will be negatively impacted.”

The series will tell the stories of lives, journeys, and adventures – both human and equine – which make horse racing so dramatic and compelling, as well as focus on the high levels of welfare applied to racehorses and jockeys. It will showcase the very best horse racing has to offer to a wider and broader audience and get behind the scenes of the sport like never before. The series will be produced by South Shore, and Flutter and Racecourse Media Group (RMG) have supported the project. However, the emphasis is very much on the series being a racing-wide collaboration, and many different stakeholders, including the Professional Jockeys’ Association and British Horseracing Authority (BHA), have already lent their invaluable support. BHA Chief Executive, Julie Harrington, said: “This is an extremely exciting development for the sport. The industry’s strategy is all about reaching new audiences and showing them the brilliance of our sport, while at the same time making racing more interesting and engaging for our current fans. There promises to be a little bit of something for everyone in this new programme." "We’re proud of our sport and all it stands for, and anything that brings the passion and excitement of racing and the characters who work in it into people’s homes can only be a good thing.” Simon Daglish, Deputy Managing Director, Commercial, ITV said: "Racing drives an enormous amount of passion and excitement among ITV viewers as we know from our unrivalled coverage. This new series is a fantastic chance to build on that excitement and bring this adrenaline filled sport to a new audience. We are delighted to be working with the racing community to showcase racing in a way that has never been seen before." Dale Gibson, Interim CEO of the PJA said: ''This is a great result for racing. We're delighted that it will show off the skills, determination and personalities of some of our outstanding jump jockeys, whilst raising their profiles and helping to promote the sport to a new audience. A win all round.” Paul Johnson, CEO of the National Trainers Federation said: “This is a simply brilliant initiative for the sport and highlights how fortunate we are to work with such a supportive broadcaster in ITV." "We have no doubt that getting to know some of Racing’s characters and their day-to-day stories will help showcase our sport in a way that we have not seen before.” Ian Brown, CEO of Flutter UKI: “We are delighted to announce the forthcoming horse racing documentary series in conjunction with ITV, South Shore and RMG." "This is an idea we have been championing for some time and we are hugely excited to be bringing the inner story of horse racing, and all the wonderful people who support it to a new and broader audience through a prime time slot on ITV1 and ITVX." "We have long supported the horse racing industry across both the UK and Ireland and we are committed to working together with all racing stakeholders to support and modernise this unique and enthralling sport through initiatives like this brilliant new series.” Martin Stevenson, CEO of RMG, said: “We firmly believe that a docuseries like this on a major channel can significantly help grow participation in the sport. We are very grateful to Flutter for its invaluable support in making the series possible and ITV’s wholehearted support. ITV has been a fantastic partner for Racing and this docuseries is further evidence of its commitment to the sport.” The series will be produced by the ITV-backed independent production company, South Shore, with filming due to start in December ahead of transmission in late summer 2024. South Shore has a strong track record in unscripted programming and is responsible for sports focussed series that include the BAFTA nominated Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams (BBC1), The Man Who Bought Cricket (Sky Docs) and Football Dreams: The Academy (C4). Melanie Leach, Joint CEO of South Shore, said “The dedication, determination and bravery in British horse racing is the stuff of legend – reputations are won and lost in the blink of an eye. We couldn’t be more excited to tell the story of the fight between the heroes and heroines of this incredible sport as they race their way to the winning line.”

Dancing on Ice today confirms its line up of professional skaters for the forthcoming 2024 series. Returning to the show are Vanessa Bauer, Colin Grafton, Mark Hanretty, Brendyn Hatfield, Sylvain Longchambon and Tippy Packard. After a break of one series and having both first featured on the show in 2013, Andy Buchanan and Robin Johnstone will also be back on the ice. Meanwhile, Matt Evers announces his departure from the show, after a glittering fifteen series run and having been part of the professionals line up since the very first series in 2006. Fellow series regulars Alexandra Schauman and Łukasz Różycki will also be taking a break from the forthcoming series. The greatest show on ice will also be welcoming four brand new skaters: Amani Fancy - Two time British national champion, has previously appeared on the German version of Dancing on Ice Vanessa James - Six time French national champion who represented Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympic games Annette Dytrt - Former German and Czech national champion, also appeared on the German version of Dancing on Ice Simon Senecal - Former Armenian national champion and Winter Olympian Karen Barber and Daniel Whiston will also return to the show as Head Coach and Creative Director respectively. As the 2024 celebrities begin their intense training regime, the professional pairings will be revealed over the coming weeks. Dancing on Ice is back on ITV1, STV and ITVX in 2024.