Two in five UK employees are considering changing jobs before the end of 2024, with the demand for hybrid roles driving people’s decision to move, a new study has revealed. Workspace company Beyond commissioned an independent survey of 1,262 UK adults in part-time or full-time employment. It found that two in five (39%) employees are weighing up moving jobs in the coming year, with 47% saying that wanting a better hybrid working policy is a factor in doing so. This trend has gathered pace since Covid. For those who have changed jobs since the start of 2022, 43% say that finding an employer with a better remote or hybrid working policy influenced their decision. The overwhelming majority (80%) of UK employees believe that the rise of flexible working is the single best thing to come from the pandemic. Wybo Wijnbergen, CEO of Beyond, said: “Hybrid working arrangements have been both a professional and cultural movement, going from a ‘nice-to-have’ perk to a ‘must-have’ for workers globally. Our research underlines that in the UK, finding roles with flexibility has become a top priority for employees – and we should certainly expect this to shape millions of people’s career decisions in 2024." “What does that mean for business leaders? For one, it is an opportunity to attract and retain top talent, if they can tap into that sentiment. If they can offer flexibility in how, when and where people work, that will better enable them to build great teams – and if they want to encourage their employees to commute into their place of work, then that place of work better be great, too.” Beyond's survey found that, at present, 36% of UK workers are in roles that dictate they must be on site – such as doctors, nurses, teachers, construction workers, and so forth. For those in roles where hybrid working arrangements would be possible, 44% are working in a hybrid model (combining office and remote working), 30% are in the office full-time, and 22% are fully remote.

A collaboration of local colleges, led by Leicester College, has been awarded a grant of £3 million from the Department for Education’s Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF) to fund a range of new projects focused on decarbonising transportation, encouraging green leadership skills, digital upskilling and employer skills training. The collaboration includes Leicester College, Loughborough College, North Warwickshire & South Leicestershire College and SMB College Group. More than £200 million has been announced as part of a funding boost to support colleges and training providers to offer more high-quality training opportunities in key industries, including the green sector. Leicester College will receive a part of the £165 million funding to work collaboratively to meet the employer skills needs identified in the local area's Local Skills Improvement Plans. This will provide local businesses with access to the skilled workforce they need to grow. The funding will support four key projects: Decarbonising Transportation: Delivering skills training through seven new LSIF-enabled courses for industry at levels 3 and 4, covering current and future green transport technologies to drive a step-change in becoming Carbon Neutral. Green Leadership Skills (Cross-sector): The collaborative development of short contextualised, level 3 courses including a new ‘Green Leadership Health Check Tool’ for leaders, managers and decision-making staff within organisations to assess the viability of implementing sustainable energy/waste/building technologies. Digital Upskilling: Creating easy-access, flexible, short courses/units/modules between levels 3-5 for Digital Skills in business, including digital marketing, social media, cloud computing, data analytics and an introduction to Artificial Intelligence. Employer Skills Training (including Harborough): Reviewing Further Education training options across Harborough and the surrounding districts. This will include adult provision and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) across Leicestershire. The project will include a Training Needs Analysis and a review of travel to learn times/zones and options across Leicester and Leicestershire. The College will also receive a share of £44 million from the Skills Injection Fund to support more people to take the Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQ) to gain in demand skills including digital, health care and engineering as an alternative to a traditional three-year degree. Verity Hancock, Principal of Leicester College, said: “We are thrilled to have been chosen to receive a share of the LSIF. As the leading local provider of training and apprenticeships, the funding will enable us to continue to invest in our vocational training programmes and develop relationships with local businesses. This will ensure that our students have access to the best industry-wide employment opportunities and that employers can work with highly skilled young people and adults.”

A new University of Dundee design concept can help communities threatened by extreme weather events fight back in the battle against climate change. The sustainable properties, designed to cope with flooding and other climate emergencies, are appearing in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, in the latest evolution of a housing concept developed thousands of miles away on the banks of the River Tay. As well as having the ability to float, the properties can produce their own power and grow food, allowing communities that would otherwise face displacement to remain resolute in the face of increased rainfall. The first of these Dundee-designed demonstration properties have now been completed in Dhaka, giving hope to those who live at the mercy of the elements. “The communities that we have been working with are ecstatic about what they are seeing,” says Roufa Khanum, from the Resilience Solution and Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research (C3ER) of BRAC University, which is working with Dundee experts. “Conventional housing typically prioritises aesthetics and functionality over environmental considerations. These homes, however, are designed with a focus on sustainability, energy efficiency, and minimising environmental impact, while being three to four times cheaper than conventional homes in the city. “The ultimate goal of scaling up the concept of climate-resilient homes in Bangladesh and elsewhere is to offer self-reliance to climate 'at-risk' communities. By providing education and training, access to resources, advocacy and representation, support networks, and information and communication, individuals can be empowered to take control of their lives.” While the concept homes may look similar to traditional “box” style homes seen throughout the world, Dr Nandan Mukherjee, of Dundee’s UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science, says that construction has only been possible due to development of a revolutionary brick which has further improved the project’s environmental credentials. “Nature has been a great teacher and it has ultimately taken two years to develop this new brick,” he says. “When soil is compressed with sand it turns into a semi-stone. We used clay soils, which have natural binding properties, as well as additives like lime that promote a chemical reaction, not a thermal reaction, that creates a mineral complex. This negates the requirement to toast the brick, but also draws carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, which is beneficial to the environment." “This is science and technology coming together, which as a university is hugely enjoyable to have witnessed." “Our first disaster-resilient homes were built from bamboo, which is often referred to as ‘poor person’s timber’. From extensive community consultation exercises it became clear that people want to live in ‘box’ houses, constructed with a recognisable type of brick." “Box architecture is prevalent everywhere from Africa to America, as well as here in the UK. Climate change is a global problem, so it makes sense to create a design that can be replicated anywhere.” Around 40% of the world’s population live in coastal areas less than 100 km from the sea. As the world struggles to adapt to climate change there is an urgent need to help these inhabitants deal with rising sea levels, heavy rainfall and increasing numbers of natural disasters such as extreme flooding. In Bangladesh, some 45 million people live in areas where extreme cyclones frequently destroy homes and livelihood assets, causing further complex social and economic challenges. In 2017, Dr Mukherjee, then a PhD student at Dundee, developed the initial disaster-resilient home. Costing $12,000 each, the properties could produce their own food, water and energy, using permaculture-based food production systems and renewable energy generation. Furthermore, they were capable of floating, allowing communities to remain resolute in the face of floods and cyclones, issues becoming increasingly prevalent as climate change tightens its grip on the planet. Two years later, the concept won the United Nation’s prestigious Risk Award, accompanied by the award of $100,000 prize-fund supporting a Research Fellowship to develop the concept further. This additional funding to the UNESCO Water Centre has resulted in the new, full-scale demonstration home, located in the Bangladeshi capital. Designed to be replicated anywhere in the world, the homes utilise bricks that can also incorporate fibres and materials specific to regions. Dundee was once a famous hub for the global jute trade, and this is one fibre that can easily be incorporated into the brick design to strengthen it further. In a twist of fate, could the material that helped build Dundee now help Dundee build the rest of the world? “Our bricks are comparable in strength to a conventional brick, and cost just a third of the price,” added Dr Mukherjee. “We also found that including fibres such as jute or bamboo to our formula meant they could be strengthened further." “This will be our next avenue of exploration, where we will study how other natural fibres can be incorporated into the construction process. Doing this successfully allows us to develop further nature-based solutions, making our homes stronger, more durable, and even more sustainable.” The creation of the concept homes in Dhaka provided the opportunity for around 100 local people to be trained in the construction process. While acknowledging that overcoming scepticism will be a factor, Professor John Rowan, Director of UNESCO Centre for Water Law Policy and Science, said that the concept has the potential to revolutionise house design for communities at risk from climate change. “When something is cheaper, people often believe that it is an inferior product,” he says. “As educators, we need to tell the world that this is not the case in this instance. There are clearly sensitivities about how this concept can be rolled out because it has the potential to disrupt the conventional construction market. However, we are committed to help deliver the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals and we believe that this project addresses each one in important ways. “In the short-term, we need to illustrate the potential of this concept, demonstrate its success and then allow others to utilise it. We are not trying to control the market and establish a construction spinout. This is a global concept and one we want to gift to the world.” The ongoing financial support of the UNESCO Centre, supported by the Scottish Government’s Hydro Nation Agenda, are warmly acknowledged.

Four of St Austell Brewery’s apprentices have joined together to create a special Christmas beer to round off a successful 2023. Secret Santa was designed by Cavan Lewis, Joe Baker, Finn Price and Josh Bonner, who completed their brewing apprenticeships with HIT training at Nottingham University’s International Centre for Brewing Science in September. The brew is the last of three special edition beers produced across this year. Brewing Director of St Austell Brewery, Georgina Young, said: “The apprentices were brimming with ideas for our special edition Christmas beer, and coming together to create it has been a great way to celebrate their recent shared success of graduation.” Josh wanted to use pine needles, Joe wanted to use fruit, Finn wanted to use Pheonix hops and Cavan wanted to use rye. The ingredients produced a rich mahogany coloured 4.3% abv ale with red rye crystal and oats complementing the base malt to make a warming beer which has been bittered with British Bramling Cross hops which contribute hedgerow fruit flavours. Phoenix and Brambling Cross hops, also British, gave the beer chocolate and spice, whilst plum fruit was added to bring some Christmas magic. Secret Santa is now available across selected St Austell pubs.

Leicestershire CCC is excited to announce the return of promising bowler Scott Currie on a season-long loan from Hampshire. The 6ft 5” tall seamer, who spent the final month of the 2023 summer with the Foxes, rejoins for the entirety of the 2024 campaign and will be available for selection in all three formats. Currie featured twice for the club in September, taking five wickets during County Championship fixtures against Sussex and Yorkshire. A product of Hampshire’s youth system, the 22-year-old has picked up 78 wickets from 47 first team appearances, while he has claimed 56 wickets at an average of 24.25 in the Second Eleven Championship. Currie impressed for his home county during this summer’s Metro Bank One Day Cup, snaring 14 wickets at 24.36 from eight matches, including three wickets against Leicestershire during the Foxes' two-run victory in the final at Trent Bridge. The former England Under-19 star has also made an impact in T20 cricket for Hampshire, helping the Hawks to the 2022 Vitality Blast title, while collecting 19 wickets at a miserly average of 12.84 en route to Finals Day in 2021. Discussing the move, Currie said: “I’m really looking forward to continuing my development in first team cricket, but more importantly, building on and trying to contribute to more success for Leicestershire." “The opportunity to play with the team in September was brilliant, and one I’m very grateful for. I enjoyed walking into a fresh environment and continuing to learn the game, and I’m very much looking forward to getting back involved with the boys." “It was fantastic to see what the One Day Cup success last season did for the group and the wider community of Leicestershire. There was also plenty to be pleased with in the Championship, and I know Alfonso (Thomas), James (Taylor), and the lads are hungrier than ever to get this club into Division One.” Director of Cricket, Claude Henderson, added: “We are very excited to welcome Scott back to Leicestershire. He fitted in seamlessly with the team and has a bright future ahead of him. Scott is a threat in all three formats and possess an exceptional knowledge of the game for a young bowler. He has a strong relationship with Alfonso, and we are really looking forward to seeing him perform for the club next season.” Currie is currently in Australia, playing South Australian Grade Cricket League for Adelaide University. He will link up with his Leicestershire teammates in March. The Hampshire loanee becomes the fourth arrival at Uptonsteel County Ground this winter, following the permanent signings of Ben Cox, Liam Trevaskis and Ben Mike. Photo Credit: John Mallett. Image provided by Leicestershire County Cricket Club.

Team members at a Hampshire accountancy firm have shown their fun side with the launch of an exciting Christmas bauble competition in aid of charity. HWB Chartered Accountants is inviting clients, contacts, staff and members of the public to guess the exact number of Christmas baubles they have on display in their Chandler’s Ford reception. Managing Director Tracy Jenkins has filled a one-metre-tall, 300mm-diameter clear cylindrical tube with the coloured decorations of different shapes and sizes. A Christmas hamper worth £100 is the prize for the closest guess, whilst donations and the baubles will be going to HWB’s main charity, Mountbatten Hampshire. Tracy said: “This is a great way to brighten up Christmas and share some festive joy. With Christmas fast approaching, we thought we’d show our fun side, sprinkle a little cheer and help Mountbatten at the same time.” Glass baubles made to hang on trees first appeared in Germany in the 1500s. The most expensive bauble was sold in 2009 with a price tag of £80,000. It was made by a British jeweller and consisted of 18K gold and more than 1,500 diamonds. The world's biggest Christmas bauble was unveiled in Dubai in 2018, measuring almost 6.59 metres in height, 4.68 metres in width and weighing in at 1,100 kilograms. The word ‘bauble’ came into contemporary use from Middle English and earlier from Old French, where ‘baubel, babel’ meant ‘children’s toy’. Scholars believe the origin is the Latin ‘bellus’, an adjective meaning ‘pretty’. Entries to the HWB competition can be made on an iPad by calling in at the firm’s office in Mayflower Close, Chandler’s Ford, or online via the company’s social media channels. The baubles, in HWB’s corporate colours of blue, pink and turquoise, will be on display until Friday 15 December when a winner will be notified by email and announced. If there is a tie, entrants with the same answer will be drawn from a hat. Once the competition is closed, all the baubles will be donated to Mountbatten for them to sell on, so recycling their use. Caitlyn Sherry, Corporate Partnerships Fundraiser at Mountbatten, said: “With demand for our 24/7 services growing all the time, and with Christmas being a particularly challenging time for people living with death, dying and bereavement, we really appreciate gestures like this, so on behalf of everyone at Mountbatten, thank you HWB Chartered Accountants.” In another festive-themed competition in 2015, HWB challenged people to estimate how many brussels sprouts were on display inside a clear tube in the office. Tracy said: “This left an unfortunate aroma in the office, so we’re glad we won’t have the same problem this time around!” HWB Chartered Accountants, based at Chandler’s Ford, near Southampton, provides business and tax advice.

One of the UK’s largest commercial nurseries, Johnsons of Whixley, established over 100 years ago, has announced a rebranding to Johnsons Nurseries in a move that will secure the brand for generations to come. Founded in 1921 by war veteran Eric Johnson before being purchased by John Richardson in 1964, the now third-generation family business achieved a record sales turnover of £18.8m in its last financial year and has big plans for growth, with the rebrand defining its intention for moving forward. Graham Richardson, group managing director at Johnsons Nurseries, said: “We have used the generic term ‘Nurserymen’ as part of our branding for years, and it has been an accepted historical collective term that describes the profession and not a deliberate specific reflection on gender within the workforce." “We are proud of the diversity of our workforce and the contributions that all of our employees make.” “However, we are acutely aware of this being perceived as outdated and intend to phase out the term over time as we introduce our new brand. This is also an opportunity for us to solidify our place in the market and ensure that the quality and reputation of Johnsons products are maintained for future generations of our workforce, customers and stakeholders." “Our values remain the same as we aim to continue the legacy of professionalism and reputation that Mr Johnson and the Richardson family have built.” Johnsons was this year awarded the prestigious Plant Healthy accreditation for the third year running in recognition of its plant health quality and biosecurity practices. The scheme, which is backed by Defra, aims to improve biosecurity in the UK horticultural sector, focusing on UK ornamental and horticultural businesses and organisations, from nurseries and retail outlets to public gardens. The firm was included in the York Top 100 Businesses for the 6th year running, placing at number 26 this year. The annual report is produced by The Press, with partners York St John University and City of York Council. A trusted landscape supplier to the amenity sector, Johnsons provides plants and trees to a wide range of projects across the UK with recent projects including a five-star luxury hotel, Grantley Hall, a leisure and retail complex, Thorpe Park in Leeds, and the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire.

Edinburgh Airport will welcome JetBlue to Scotland in 2024 as the airline launches its first ever Scottish route to New York. The airline will run a summer service from EDI to New York JFK from May to September 2024, marking the first time it has ever operated in Scotland. Flights will depart daily on an Airbus A321neo, giving passengers even more opportunity to see the bright lights of the Big Apple. The addition of this route further enhances connectivity to North America out of Scotland’s busiest airport after a strong 2023 where transatlantic capacity was up 51 per cent on 2019 levels. Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport, said: “It’s always a big moment when we welcome an airline to Edinburgh for the first time and the arrival of JetBlue will be an exciting step as we further strengthen our links to North America. Edinburgh and New York are both hugely popular places to visit and I’m thrilled that this new service will provide even more opportunities to connect between two of the world’s great cities." “It’s extremely important to us, as Scotland’s airport, that we continue to build on the momentum of 2023 and offer fantastic choice for our passengers. The arrival of this route allows us to do that – enhancing leisure travel, business links and allowing people more chance to reunite with family and friends across the pond." “I look forward to welcoming JetBlue to Edinburgh Airport and working closely with them to make this route to New York a success while developing our relationship with the airline further.” Minister for Small Business, Innovation, Tourism and Trade Richard Lochhead said: “I welcome the announcement of JetBlue’s new Edinburgh to New York JFK service – which I am sure will be welcomed by travellers in both Scotland and the US." “This is the first time JetBlue will serve Scotland, and this decision will help enhance our direct connectivity to the US and strengthen important links for business connectivity, exports, and inbound tourism. This announcement not only demonstrates the confidence that JetBlue has in the Scottish market, but also strengthens Edinburgh Airport’s case for establishing a US pre-clearance border facility to help make travel more seamless and provide added benefits for Scottish businesses and visitors.” Malcolm Roughead, VisitScotland Chief Executive, said: “The arrival of this brand new seasonal route, which marks JetBlue’s debut in Scotland, is further evidence of the strong demand we are seeing from American visitors for 2024. The US is our most important global market bringing visitors who often stay longer and spend more exploring all our country has to offer." “Good connectivity helps makes Scotland a more desirable destination, boosting inbound tourism which in turn grows the wider visitor economy, helping create jobs and sustain communities. It is therefore vital we continue to make it as easy as possible for international visitors to come to Scotland.”

easyJet has revealed it will base an additional aircraft at Glasgow from next summer - taking the airline's fleet at the airport to six. The move comes after the airline operated its biggest-ever summer flying programme in Scotland and flew a record seven million passengers to and from Scotland in its 2023 financial year. The arrival of a sixth aircraft at its Glasgow base will enable the airline to offer customers even more choice and greater connectivity across the UK, Europe and beyond, as well as creating around 40 local job opportunities at the airport. With the addition of the sixth aircraft, easyJet expects to have nearly 300 employees based in Glasgow including pilots, cabin crew and base management. A new greener neo aircraft will join two 156-seat Airbus A319, two 186-seat A320, and one 186-seat A320neo aircraft already serving the airline’s customers in Glasgow. Compared to the current generation of aircraft, the Airbus NEO brings significant environmental benefits and operational efficiencies compared to the previous generation of aircraft, resulting in at least 15% less CO2 emissions and 50% less noise during take-off and landing. easyJet’s Glasgow network has gone from strength to strength over the last year with new routes including Lisbon and Porto from Glasgow. The airline has already announced new routes for its 2024 financial year to Hurghada, Larnaca and Enfidha which will operate from Glasgow next summer. Ali Gayward, easyJet UK Country Manager, commented: “We are proud to be Scotland’s largest airline and are delighted to have carried a record seven million customers in our last financial year, offering a fantastic network of 84 routes across four Scottish airports - Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Inverness." “We continue to see opportunity in Scotland which is why we are pleased to be basing an additional aircraft in Glasgow from next summer to offer our customers even more choice, like our new routes to Enfidha and Larnaca, providing more connectivity to popular destinations across the UK, Europe and beyond, all with great value fares and a warm welcome onboard.” Matt Hazelwood, Chief Commercial Officer at AGS Airports, said: “easyJet’s decision to introduce a sixth based aircraft is a huge endorsement of our continued recovery and testament to a fantastic relationship that stretches back more than 27 years to the airline’s inaugural flight." “This is a significant investment given that the introduction of a yet another based aircraft brings with it and will support approximately 40 new jobs at Glasgow Airport." “It has been a bumper year for both airport and airline not only celebrating the 40-million passenger landmark earlier this year, but we also welcomed a number of new routes which are proving popular with our passengers.”

Virgin Atlantic’s historic flight on 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) has taken off from London Heathrow to New York JFK, marking the culmination of a year of radical collaboration, to demonstrate the capability of SAF as a safe drop-in replacement for fossil derived jet fuel, compatible with today’s engines, airframes and fuel infrastructure. SAF has a significant role to play in the decarbonisation of long haul aviation, and pathway to Net Zero 2050. The fuel, made from waste products, delivers CO2 lifecycle emissions savings of up to 70%, whilst performing like the traditional jet fuel it replaces. While other technologies such as electric and hydrogen remain decades away, SAF can be used now. Today, SAF represents less than 0.1% of global jet fuel volumes and fuel standards allow for just a 50% SAF blend in commercial jet engines. Flight100 will prove that the challenge of scaling up production is one of policy and investment, and industry and government must move quickly to create a thriving UK SAF industry. As well as proving the capabilities of SAF, Flight100 will assess how its use affects the flight’s non-carbon emissions with the support of consortium partners ICF, Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), Imperial College London and University of Sheffield. The research will improve scientific understanding of the effects of SAF on contrails and particulates and help to implement contrail forecasts in the flight planning process. Data and research will be shared with industry, and Virgin Atlantic will continue its involvement with contrail work through RMI’s Climate Impact Task Force, which is part-funded by Virgin Unite. The SAF used on Flight100 is a unique dual blend; 88% HEFA (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids) supplied by AirBP and 12% SAK (Synthetic Aromatic Kerosene) supplied by Virent, a subsidiary of Marathon Petroleum Corporation. The HEFA is made from waste fats while the SAK is made from plant sugars, with the remainder of plant proteins, oil and fibres continuing into the food chain. SAK is needed in 100% SAF blends to give the fuel the required aromatics for engine function. To achieve Net Zero 2050, the innovation and investment needed across all available feedstocks and technologies must be harnessed to maximise SAF volumes as well as continuing the research and development needed to bring new zero emission aircraft to market. Virgin Atlantic is committed to finding more sustainable ways to fly, taking action across every part of the journey. Already operating one of the youngest and most fuel and carbon efficient fleets in the sky, Flight100 builds on the airline’s 15-year track record for leading on the development of SAF at scale. Collectively, industry and government must go further, to create a UK SAF industry and meet aviation’s 10% SAF by 2030 target, capitalising on the significant social and economic benefits it will bring – an estimated contribution of £1.8 billion in Gross Value Added to the UK and more than 10,000 jobs. Shai Weiss, Chief Executive Officer, Virgin Atlantic said: “Flight100 proves that Sustainable Aviation Fuel can be used as a safe, drop-in replacement for fossil-derived jet fuel and it’s the only viable solution for decarbonising long haul aviation. It’s taken radical collaboration to get here and we’re proud to have reached this important milestone, but we need to push further." “There’s simply not enough SAF and it’s clear that in order to reach production at scale, we need to see significantly more investment. This will only happen when regulatory certainty and price support mechanisms, backed by Government, are in place. Flight100 proves that if you make it, we’ll fly it.” Sir Richard Branson, Founder, Virgin Atlantic said: “The world will always assume something can’t be done, until you do it. The spirit of innovation is getting out there and trying to prove that we can do things better for everyone’s benefit." “Virgin Atlantic has been challenging the status quo and pushing the aviation industry to never settle and do better since 1984. Fast forward nearly 40 years, that pioneering spirit continues to be Virgin Atlantic’s beating heart as it pushes the boundaries from carbon fibre aircraft and fleet upgrades to sustainable fuels." “I couldn’t be prouder to be onboard Flight100 today alongside the teams at Virgin Atlantic and our partners, which have been working together to set the flight path for the decarbonisation of long-haul aviation.” Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “Today’s historic flight, powered by 100% sustainable aviation fuel, shows how we can both decarbonise transport and enable passengers to keep flying when and where they want. “This Government has backed today’s flight to take-off and we will continue to support the UK’s emerging SAF industry as it creates jobs, grows the economy and gets us to Jet Zero.” Sheila Remes, Vice President of Environmental Sustainability, Boeing said: “In 2008 Virgin Atlantic and Boeing completed the first commercial SAF test flight on a 747 and today we will accomplish yet another significant milestone utilising a 787 Dreamliner. This flight is a key step toward our commitment to deliver 100% SAF-compatible airplanes by 2030. As we work toward the civil aviation industry’s net-zero goal, today’s historic journey highlights what we can achieve together.” Simon Burr, Group Director of Engineering, Technology & Safety, Rolls-Royce plc, said: “We are incredibly proud that our Trent 1000 engines are powering the first ever widebody flight using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel across the Atlantic today. Rolls-Royce has recently completed compatibility testing of 100% SAF on all our in-production civil aero engine types and this is further proof that there are no engine technology barriers to the use of 100% SAF. The flight represents a major milestone for the entire aviation industry in its journey towards net zero carbon emissions.”

An inspirational youngster has been chosen to ‘Light up Loughborough’ and switch on the town’s Christmas lights in front of thousands of people. Amellia Baker, from Sileby, has been named the winner of the Light up Loughborough competition run by Charnwood Borough Council which organises the festive event on Sunday, November 26. The 11-year-old stood out to judges for the time she sacrifices to help her mum Vicky Wilson and dad Russ Baker, look after her nine-year-old sister, Imogen who has Angelman Syndrome. The rare neuro-genetic disorder causes developmental problems and leads to a child having learning difficulties, an abnormal sleep pattern and means they can be non-verbal. Amellia helps her parents look after Imogen, meaning she often misses out on school clubs, activities and social events with friends. The great news was broken to Amellia by the Mayor of Charnwood, Councillor Margaret Smidowicz and Councillor Jennifer Tillotson at a surprise assembly at her school, Wreake Valley Academy, on Friday November 17. Amellia said: “I was really surprised to find out that I am turning on the Christmas lights as I didn’t even know my mum had entered me into the competition." “I can’t wait for Sunday, it will be a lot of fun to go up on stage and turn the lights on in front of all those people.” Mum Vicky, entered Amellia for being ‘a kind, caring, loving, young lady who never complains and is always happy to help with Imogen’. Vicky said: “Amellia is a very loving and caring, young lady. She often misses out on some social activities but never complains." “When I was sent the link to nominate Amellia, I felt this would be something that will show her how proud we are of her and appreciate everything she does and sacrifices to help me. All young carers are superstars!” Councillor Jennifer Tillotson, the Council’s lead member for economic development, regeneration and town centres was part of the judging panel and who attended the surprise assembly, said: “As always, it is a pleasure to read so many of the entries into the Light Up Loughborough competition and it was a tough choice once again." “Amellia stood out to us because of the work she puts into looking after her sister and the time which she sacrifices to help her parents. We were so inspired by her story and felt like she deserved a day of festive joy and happiness and hopefully this will lead to Amellia having a memory which will last a very long time." “I would like to thank everyone that entered this year’s competition and I look forward to seeing everyone and Amellia at the Christmas lights switch-on.” Mayor of Charnwood said: “It was an honour to be on the judging panel and to read so many stories about children across Charnwood. Amellia’s story stood out for all the work she does and the way she goes above and beyond for her sister.” The Light up Loughborough winner has also received a family ticket to this year’s pantomime, Peter Pan, at Loughborough Town Hall and a £50 Love Loughborough voucher. The Christmas lights will be switched on in Loughborough on Sunday, November 26 in a day of festive fun in the town. Market Place will host a wide range of stalls, food and drink stands and fairground rides from 11am and then from 12pm, a host of talented performers will be appearing on the main stage to entertain the crowds. The lights will then be switched on at 5pm by Amellia.

Unilever has announced it will grant a free non-exclusive license to the ice cream industry for 12 reformulation patents, following two successful pilots to warm up its last mile ice cream freezer cabinets. Access to these patents will help the industry reformulate ice cream products that remain stable at the warmer freezer temperature of -12°C, rather than the current industry standard of -18°C. It is hoped that by sharing these patents with other ice cream manufacturers the industry will be able to move towards more energy efficient freezer cabinets across the globe. Last year, Unilever announced its ambition to increase the temperature of its last mile ice cream freezer cabinets, whilst ensuring the same ice cream quality and consumer experience. Since then, research conducted at Colworth, Unilever’s Global Ice Cream R&D Centre and two pilots in Germany have confirmed an energy reduction of around 25% per freezer cabinet at the warmer temperature of -12°C, which is better for the environment, and means the freezers are cheaper to run. Andy Sztehlo, Chief R&D Officer Ice Cream at Unilever said: “We’re pleased to take this next step in our work to increase the temperature of our last mile ice cream freezer cabinets. By granting a free non-exclusive license to these 12 reformulation patents, we hope our peers and partners from across the ice cream sector will benefit and work to tackle emissions across the industry. We believe through collaboration, we can reduce the cold chain’s impact on the environment, whilst continuing to deliver the great quality ice cream products our consumers love.” Emissions from retail ice cream freezers account for 10% of Unilever’s value chain greenhouse gas footprint. Unilever’s Climate Transition Action Plan sets out the company’s roadmap to reach its climate targets, including achieving net zero emissions across its value chain by 2039, and a science-based target to halve the emissions impact of its products on a consumer use basis by 2030, against a 2010 baseline. When it comes to ice cream freezers, this includes reducing cabinet energy consumption through innovation of the main technical components (e.g., compressors), exploring programmes that will enable the freezers to be powered by renewable electricity, and working towards ‘warming up’ freezer cabinets. The international applications of these patents have been published today. Industry partners can contact IceCream.Reformulations@unilever.com to receive further information about obtaining a license.