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Bus passengers across Kent and Medway will be able to travel completely free over the weekend of 24 and 25 June, thanks to a collaboration between Kent County Council and the bus companies, paid for with funding from the government. This initiative has been coordinated to support the Kent Big Weekend, organised by Visit Kent, which is promoting more than 70 tourist attractions across the county with many offering free or reduced cost entry. The Free Bus Weekend is funded by the Department for Transport through Kent’s Enhanced Bus Partnership Schemes. Passengers can just turn up and travel for free on any bus within Kent and Medway up to 8pm on both days and it is hoped that as well as supporting the Kent Big Weekend, this initiative will encourage more people to use buses again following the pandemic, to discover new places, visit friends or family and to help reduce the number of cars on Kent’s roads. KCC’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, David Brazier said: ‘We are very grateful to the government for providing us with the funding to support our Bus Service Improvement Plan." “Reduced use of buses and increased operating costs means that there is a real challenge for operators to sustain their services. This is one of a number of new initiatives that we hope can improve our network and encourage greater bus use helping to make services sustainable in the future." "Greater use of buses would also help with improving air quality through having fewer cars on the road and therefore less pollution." Richard Holden, the Parliamentary under-Secretary at the Department for Transport, said: “People up and down the country deserve a modern, reliable, and affordable public transport system. That is why we have allocated £35 million to Kent County Council for it to invest in its bus services." “We hope that Kent residents can enjoy the free bus weekend and continue to use local services.” For more information about the Free Bus Weekend check out their website here .

Kent Trading Standards officers will be targeting illegal vape products designed to entice children in a series of enforcement operations throughout the summer. It follows a visit to Kent by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who saw first-hand the colourful designs that are being directly marketed at those under the age restriction to purchase. The Prime Minister visited Kent Scientific Services (KSS) site at West Malling and was shown a trailblazing laboratory test, developed by KSS Scientist Punil Sanatcumar, analysing the dangerous ingredient levels in vapes which are being imported and getting into the hands and lungs of those under 18. The visit was an opportunity to focus on the actions being taken to tackle the problem of underage sales, and Mr Sunak promised to close the legal loophole, which allows retailers to give away free samples to children. Head of Trading Standards Steve Rock, who spoke to the Prime Minister and the government’s Chief Medical Officer Sir Chris Whitty, welcomed the move. He said: “Over the next few weeks, we will be carrying out targeted enforcement activity to crack down on these child-appealing novelty products and those aimed at younger people, and our officers will be in a number of locations across Kent. This is part of the ongoing successful work we were able to show the Prime Minister at KSS, which includes seizing these illegal vapes at the ports.” The brightly-coloured packaging of these illegals vape products is designed to appeal to teenagers Speaking in Kent, Mr Sunak said: “I am deeply concerned about the sharp rise in kids vaping and shocked by reports of illicit vapes containing lead getting into the hands of school children. "My daughters are 10 and 12, and I don't want the way vapes are marketed, promoted and sold to be attractive to them.” KCC Leader Roger Gough said: "Both Kent Trading Standards and KSS are at the forefront of protecting the health and safety of Kent residents in ways that are not necessarily obvious. I am delighted that their efforts in the sale of dangerous and illegal vapes has been recognised at this high level."

Family firms are different, a real force for good and that can only be a good thing. The obvious thing that makes family businesses stand out from their non-family counterparts is the ‘family factor’ and this is something that can be used to the competitive advantage of the business if harnessed in the right way. Sadly, all too often family business is portrayed as ‘small business’ rather than the reality that those in the know understand: family firms can be big business, take JCB, Wal-Mart, BMW, ALDI and many others and the myth has been blown away, but fundamentally it is more important that family firms are recognised for the positive values they bring to the economies and communities in which they operate. Rather than focusing on the sensational headlines around sibling disagreements, nepotism or inter-generational issues there are real positive attributes possessed and demonstrated by family businesses the world over on a daily basis which helps to show that family firms are a real force for good too. Family firms are generally seen as good employers, trusted and respected businesses, even more so when the family name is above the door and the business has been around for generations and the benefits associated with being a family business can be great. These benefits can even result in the family business deriving competitive advantage as a result. Here are ten benefits that family firms have: 1 – Values Family values can be translated into the way that the business operates, the culture of the family firm, and these can be passed from generation to generation as well as from family members to other employees. There is an immense level of pride amongst family members to respect the business, their predecessors and in many cases to act as stewards to pass on the business to the next generation and the values that underpin the family and the family business add to the essence of the family firm. 2 – Long Term View Family firms are recognised for taking the long term view, not always focusing on the short term financial performance and results of the business. A patient and often cautious approach can help to align resources and plans too. 3 – Loyalty Research has proven that shared values and vision amongst family members with clear and open communication of their goals and objectives can result in greater loyalty from family members too. 4 – Retention Employees of family firms are often cited by the family as an ‘extension of the family’ or as part of the ‘extended family’ and consideration and support of employees to such an extent can provide an incredibly loyal workforce who enjoy the work environment, the support of the family and the way that they are treated. 5 – Legacy Making a difference and creating a legacy is something that can come from a family in business and there are lots of examples where family firms are integral to the community in which they operate. Building on the efforts of previous generations and continuing the family tradition, protecting the name and the values that it upholds are also drivers for subsequent generations to continue in the same manner and to continue to give something back. 6 – Trust & Integrity Research has proven that the very nature of the family ownership can engender more trust from stakeholders and customers alike, and more and more family firms are celebrating their history and legacy in the brands that they are developing, recognising that it can be to their competitive advantage. 7 – Innovation Due to their governance and ownership structures family firms can be more innovative. In many cases, they recognise the need for innovation as part of their strategic planning to keep the business relevant and current and as such are able to respond to change and take on opportunities as they arise more quickly than some of their non-family counterparts. 8 – Entrepreneurship Successful family firms can be a breeding ground for entrepreneurship, supporting the next generation in their pursuit of new opportunities, either through opportunity, training, career progression or encouragement. 9 – Respect Many family firms are massively involved in their local communities and give back in many ways which engenders significant respect from the communities in which they operate. 10 – Relationships Whilst it may not be seen as the ideal situation for some, families that work successfully together get to spend more time together and sharing a drive towards goals for the business can be a bonding and fulfilling journey. Successful family firms reap the benefits and have structures in place for clear and effective communication, helping to minimise the risk of disagreements or conflicts arising. This enables them to focus on the business, with shared goals and commitments to getting the right results and without any doubt, when it all comes together, family business is different but can be a resolute force for good and secure competitive advantage too, further generating better financial results and performance that is of benefit in the long term too. Celebrate the strengths of family business. They are a force for good and provide significant benefits to communities around the world.

This international compost awareness week Chapel Break Infant School pupils got their hands dirty learning how food waste and garden trimmings can find a new lease of life. Composting experts shared top tips with the children on how to turn what could otherwise be thrown away into nutritious compost for growing vegetables, plants and flowers. The event marks the launch of Norfolk’s new home composting campaign titled ‘Composting, make your garden grow’, which encourages people to start composting to help the environment, cut waste, and create a nutritious free resource for their garden. Cllr Eric Vardy, Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste, said: “It can seem like a little piece of magic when you first use compost you’ve made at home. It’s a great way to reduce waste and save money so we’re offering cut price compost bins, and lots of great hints and tips to help people to get composting at home, and make your garden grow.” Compost bin offers, and support from Norfolk’s expert Master Composters, are available to residents as well as schools. People across the county will also be able to take advantage of free beginners composting workshops this spring and summer. To find out more, order a cut price compost bin, or join a free composting workshop, visit the Norfolk recycles website here

19 new ‘buzz shelters’ have been installed in the city, all with green roofs designed to provide food and shelter for bees and other pollinating insects at risk from habitat loss. Hull City Council has installed the ecological shelters at bus stops on Hall Road and Hedon Road, replacing shelters that were in poor condition. The project has been made possible by a £96,865 grant from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, so comes at no cost to council taxpayers. Cllr Mark Ieronimo, Portfolio Holder for Transportation, Roads, and Highways said: “I am thrilled that the eco-friendly bus shelters are now in place. This project has been great on many levels, with benefits to our local communities and the environment." “These shelters are something people can be proud of, and they go a little way towards encouraging more people to use public transport.” The council has been working on getting the shelters ready for the past couple of months, along with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, community urban garden groups, and local schools. Children from Parks Academy, St Anthony’s Academy, Southcoates and Thorpepark Primary schools have worked with local artist Mike Sprout to design some of the artwork for the shelters, which all feature scenes related to Hull or wildlife. Fittingly, one of the shelters is dedicated to Jean Bishop, Hull’s own Bee Lady, who spent many years fundraising in Hull while dressed in a bumble bee costume. Mrs Bishop died in 2021 at the age of 99, having raised around £125,000 for Age UK. Other notable people include Clive Sullivan MBE, Amy Johnson CBE, and William Wilberforce. Andrew Gibson, from Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, said: “This project demonstrates that even small urban build projects can have nature, water storage and carbon storage built into them through clever design." “The roofs are designed to be sustainable and withstand both drought and down pour, which we will see more of with climate change.” The project was funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund which is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.

The 5th High Wolds Poetry Festival is now open for entries around the theme of Mysterious Tales and Unusual Stories. The free festival in North Dalton, East Yorkshire, on Saturday, 23 September, is an open mic, one-day festival for absolutely anyone of any age to share their own or other people's poetry. A selection of work submitted will be published in a unique, free, custom-designed book and there will be home made locally sourced food and drink available throughout the day. Julian F. Woodford, festival director, said: "Now in its fifth year, the festival is open to any kind of poetry, not just around this year's theme of Mysterious Tales and Unusual Stories, so you can send us your work about absolutely anything, any content, form, tone, style. It might be inspired by the Yorkshire Wolds or by your own experiences in general, it's really up to you." "We want poets of any ability, experience, age and background to read or listen on the day - and anyone is welcome to come and read - and this year everyone has a chance to take part in a new series of poetry workshops which Caroline Coath and I will be leading." The festival is supported by Arts Council England through East Riding Museums, whose Assistant Curator - Community, Caroline Coath, said: "We are really looking forward to seeing how the fascinating stories of the Wolds and wider East Riding can inspire our local poets. We are producing some resources to support these creative individuals which will be available by email and on social media and also at our new poetry workshops." "Final details are to be confirmed around the workshops which will be in Beverley Treasure House, Skidby Mill and a North Wolds village during July and August." Nial Adams, Museums and Archives Manager, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: "There's no doubt that the festival continues to thrive because of the way in which it has been able to fuse local people's creativity with Caroline's inclusive North Wolds community outreach work and themed interaction with our museums' archives." "The continued Arts Council England and East Riding of Yorkshire Council support and the mixture of wonderful homemade catering by Joanne Young and friends and the beautiful North Dalton village location seem to just come together each year with the support of local farms, hamlets, villages and towns here in the heart of the Yorkshire Wolds." The festival will publish a collection of work from poems submitted and will run an open mic at North Dalton Village Hall on Saturday, 23 September from 11am to 6pm. Entries for the custom-designed festival book are free and close at midnight on 31 August and can be sent by email to highwoldspoetry@gmail.com or by post to The Festival Director, The High Wolds Poetry Festival, East Riding Museums, Treasure House, Champney Road, Beverley HU17 8HE. Entries for the Open Mic are open until Friday, 22 September, the day prior to the festival.

April's GDP growth offers a measure of hope to small firms amid difficult conditions. Responding to the Office for National Statistics figures showing that GDP rose by 0.2% in April 2023 compared with the previous month, and rose by 0.1% in the three months to April, Tina McKenzie, Policy Chair at the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), said: “GDP growth in April comes after a tough winter, and will bring some measure of hope to small firms." “This slight increase was driven by services, up 0.3% in the month, although consumer-facing services in particular remain 8.7% below pre-pandemic output. The three-month picture, meanwhile, doesn’t offer much to shout about, only just lifting above zero – although growth of any kind is of course good news." “Our Small Business Index measured a big uptick in confidence among small firms between the last quarter of 2022 and the first quarter of this year, ending up in lightly negative territory, and we hope this momentum will continue." “Most small business owners will tell you, however, that it’s far from plain sailing for them at the moment, despite the resilience they’ve shown to date. Yesterday’s labour market figures show that wages are rising at a record rate outside pandemic conditions, which makes a base rate rise next week more likely, and will make finance even harder to come by for many small firms looking to invest. This will hold back our recovery, when it is small firms we should be looking to as the way out of the economic doldrums." “If the Government wants to give small firms a lift, one revenue-neutral measure which would have an immediate effect would be to tackle late payment, to get funds flowing through supply chains." “Making large corporates publicly responsible for the payment practices in their supply chains would give immediate relief to millions of small firms, and save them time and effort currently spent chasing invoices, improving their productivity." “Inflation fell in the most recent figures, but is still some distance higher than the 2% target, while elevated prices are proving sticky. With consumer confidence rising but still firmly negative, many small firms are in a precarious position." “Cutting their fixed costs – by looking at business rates, increasing the VAT threshold, and ensuring that small businesses trapped on high energy tariffs can ‘blend and extend’ their contracts – will relieve margin pressure, and encourage small firms to fulfil their true potential as the engine of recovery.”

Men hide knowledge from colleagues more frequently than women, but women are more likely to do so through providing incomplete information or playing dumb, finds new research from UCL Global Business School for Health (UCL GBSH). Dr Paola Zappa, lecturer in Organisational Behaviour and HR management at UCL GBSH, and Dr Tatiana Andreeva, Associate Professor at Maynooth University School of Business, investigated the influence of gender on knowledge hiding. Participants – UK based workers employed in a variety of industries – answered questions about their demographics, work attitudes, and knowledge hiding behaviours, focusing on three types: evasive hiding (providing incorrect or incomplete information), playing dumb (pretending not to know the answer), and rationalised hiding (admitting to concealing knowledge but sometimes with a genuine reason, e.g., privacy or confidentiality reasons). The findings suggest men feel more entitled than women to conceal their knowledge: they hide it more often than women, specifically through rationalised hiding, while women use evasive hiding and playing dumb. Men also conceal knowledge more frequently in a female-dominated environment and are more likely to use the same methods as women, since they believe that women will sanction them less than men for this behaviour. Although intentionally withholding knowledge from colleagues can be damaging for individuals and organisations, this behaviour may be an attempt to cope with work conflict, psychological stress, or to gain a competitive advantage over colleagues. “Rationalised hiding does not necessarily involve deception, and leads to lower turnover intentions and higher job satisfaction. Therefore, men are likely to benefit more, as they protect their knowledge by selecting the most inconsequential or safest way to do so,” explains Dr Zappa. For women, openly admitting to not sharing knowledge may be perceived as going against the social expectation of being caring and helpful and may lead to negative responses from colleagues. Dr Zappa continues, “By pretending not to know the answer to a colleague’s request, women might reinforce the gender stereotype of not being competent, harming their reputation within the company." Managers should counteract gendered stereotypes around competence and decrease social pressure on female employees to avoid rationalised hiding. This can be done by acknowledging the expertise of female employees and the value of their knowledge. These findings were first published in Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology.

Calderdale community organisation, Nurturing Creativity CIC has won the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Regional Champion Award for Yorkshire and Humber for its holiday club at this year’s HAF Programme Awards. The accolade was presented for its work in giving children from low-income families access to free, nutritious food and engaging activities over the school holidays. Hundreds of thousands of children across England attend HAF holiday clubs nationwide, which support parents with childcare costs over the Christmas, Easter and summer holidays, offering children enriching activities such as football, play sessions and cooking classes. Nurturing Creativity CIC demonstrated an exceptional commitment to providing engaging activities for children during the holidays. It is one of 8000 clubs, events or organised activities in England to have offered an experience to around 600,000 children in summer 2022. Kirilea Whitehead from Nurturing Creativity CIC explained: “The HAF Programme has enabled us to provide safe, fun and engaging holiday clubs of the highest quality in Ovenden and Illingworth. The children from these areas experience a vast range of activities with us and we encourage them to step outside their comfort zone and ‘Give it a Go’, building confidence, character and self-esteem." “Our clubs are valued by the children, the families, the schools and all the staff involved. Winning this award highlights a real team effort and makes us extremely proud of all who create the vibrant and innovative environment that inspires and engages all our children.” Cllr Sarah Courtney, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Towns, Tourism and Voluntary Sector, said: “Congratulations to Nurturing Creativity CIC for winning this prestigious award! It’s an amazing achievement and well-deserved recognition for everything they do for Calderdale’s young people." “The Council is proud to work in partnership with the Community Foundation for Calderdale and community organisations like Nurturing Creativity to provide a vital lifeline for families struggling financially, especially during the cost of living crisis. Together, with the support of the Holiday Activities and Food Programme, we’re helping to reduce inequalities by tackling child hunger and family poverty, and giving young people hope and access to opportunities to achieve their potential.” Steve Duncan, CEO of Community Foundation for Calderdale, added: “Reducing inequalities and investing in children is important. We are so proud that the regional winner for Yorkshire and the Humber is from Calderdale and feel that this reflects the high quality of Healthy Holidays projects that are running in our borough.” Minister Claire Coutinho, Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing, said: “Our Holiday Activity and Food Programme gives children across the country access to incredible experiences during the holidays, helping to make friends and create memories through enriching and fun activities. Nurturing Creativity CIC has gone above and beyond in offering an experience like no other which is why they’re this year’s winner of the HAF Regional Champion for Yorkshire and the Humber.” The government’s HAF Programme started as a pilot in 2018. It was created in response to the pressures that low-income families can face over the holidays, with some children being less likely to access organised out-of-school activities, and more likely to experience social isolation and ‘unhealthy holidays’ in terms of nutrition and physical health. It provides free places for school-aged children from reception to year 11 who receive benefits-related free school meals. Government provides funding through local authorities to fund clubs over summer, Easter and Christmas breaks. The continuation of the HAF Programme is part of the government’s commitment to support vulnerable families with rising costs due to global inflationary pressures, particularly in disadvantaged areas. This programme runs alongside the Household Support Fund which supports vulnerable households through small payments for food, clothing and utilities. The fund has recently been extended to 30 March 2024 with an additional £1 billion to be used by local authorities to support vulnerable households.

A pioneering sustainability centre has been launched and is set to help South Yorkshire meet the challenges posed by the climate emergency, while also providing positive opportunities for the people, places and businesses in the region. The South Yorkshire Sustainability Centre (SYSC) is the first centre of its kind in the UK, connecting world-leading academic research with local businesses, public sector organisations and charities to overcome challenges like decarbonisation and helping the region meet its net-zero targets. Creating a pipeline of sustainability research with the people who need it, the centre will also help to create new jobs, skills and economic opportunities in the region. At the heart of the SYSC is a partnership between the University of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University, the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, the four South Yorkshire local authorities - Sheffield, Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham - and a range of private and voluntary sector organisations. The launch by South Yorkshire Mayor, Oliver Coppard, follows the announcement of the centre at the South Yorkshire Economic Summit in 2022. Over the past 12 months the SYSC has been focused on three key areas that represent the highest-emitting and most difficult to decarbonise elements of the economy and relate directly to regional priorities. Tackling these areas will have a massive impact on our region. These are: Retrofitting homes in South Yorkshire to reduce energy use and improve health and wellbeing Working with the University of Sheffield, Doncaster Metropolitan Council (MBC) identified a total of 1,800 homes that needed to be treated and upgraded to help the city reach 100 per cent net-zero by 2040. Homes will be retrofitted with combinations of solid wall insulation and wall updates, new roofing, loft insulation, window glazing and door upgrades, and heating controls. The project is also helping to tackle a high-level of fuel poverty, affecting around 17 per cent of homes, and also supporting residents’ wellbeing and satisfaction with their home. As well as retrofitting homes, researchers are also working to understand how and why people move around Doncaster to help reduce transport emissions and help local organisations make decisions on services that are not only more sustainable but are better for the people using them. Reducing the amount of CO2 emitted from farm to fork To achieve net-zero within the UK food system we need to develop technologies and processes that reduce the amount of CO2 emitted from “farm to fork”. The centre is looking at how we can produce food using low-carbon processes, embedded in local and regional communities. Helping regional industry and business decarbonise and move to clean fuels The centre is working with regional industry and business to help them decarbonise and move to using clean fuels whilst maintaining the quality of their products. In South Yorkshire we have major manufacturers in foundational industries that underpin the UK’s economy. Decarbonising these industries will bring far wider benefits at a national level. Director of the SYSC, Professor Rachael Rothman from the University of Sheffield, said: “We all know that to combat climate change we need to urgently reduce carbon emissions, but doing so without balancing the connected economic and social issues will only lead to more inequality and poverty in society." “The challenges we face are complex and cut across industries, society and academic disciplines, but there are also opportunities; for jobs, economic growth and a more sustainable and thriving future. The decisions and changes we make now will have an immense impact on that future." “We will connect our world leading research together with the region to provide the evidence needed to make those decisions and drive change." “It makes me incredibly proud to know that South Yorkshire is playing such a pivotal role in the journey to a sustainable future.” The SYSC was launched at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) Technology Centre with speakers South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard, Co Founder of Civic Square, Immy Kaur and SYSC Director Professor Rachael Rothman. Active Travel Commissioner and Olympic gold medal cyclist, Ed Clancy, also spoke at the event after leading a group cycle from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority offices on Broad Street West - close to Sheffield train station - to the AMP in Rotherham. South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: “The climate crisis is perhaps the biggest challenge we face, but if we get our response to it right, the rewards are significant: making our homes more sustainable will also make them warmer and cheaper to heat; Investing in green technology to help us reach net-zero emissions will also create great new jobs in the industries of the future, and grow our economy too; investing in public transport, as well as walking and cycling infrastructure, will mean more of us can leave our cars at home, creating safer, more liveable neighbourhoods and better connected communities." “But we will only be able to build that new future if we work in partnership, with our communities, our businesses and our institutions across South Yorkshire." “That’s why I’m so pleased to be launching South Yorkshire’s Sustainability Centre, bringing together leading academics, harnessing the resources and capabilities of our great universities to help build a greener, fairer future that works for all our communities, right across the region, and providing leadership to the whole of our country.” Professor Koen Lamberts, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield, said: “The world is facing a climate emergency and universities are uniquely positioned to respond to the global challenges we face." “We are proud to be leading the South Yorkshire Sustainability Centre, which will connect our world-leading and world-changing sustainability research with businesses, public sector organisations and charities." “Through working together, we can tackle urgent global issues like decarbonising to meet net-zero targets, and make a significant impact on our region, creating new green jobs, skills and economic opportunities.” Sheffield Hallam University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Chris Husbands, said: “Climate change is the greatest challenge facing humanity and it is vital that universities utilise their research excellence, expertise and knowledge to help bring about societal change." “The South Yorkshire Sustainability Centre is an excellent example of how collaboration and partnership can bring together organisations across a region and across disciplines to realise economic and social impact through the common goal of addressing urgent sustainability challenges. Sheffield Hallam is delighted to be a lead partner in this important initiative so we can better connect academic networks, local expertise and delivery partners to drive positive change in our region.” For more information about the SYSC, please visit their website here

A painting by world renowned Italian artist, Canaletto will go on display at the Ferens Art Gallery later this year. A Regatta on the Grand Canal c.1733-4 is lent by His Majesty The King from the Royal Collection, and is the fifth and final work loaned to the gallery as part of a partnership with Royal Collection Trust that started in 2017. The painting shows the entire central stretch of the Grand Canal and is painted from the same vantage point as The Grand Canal, Venice, Looking North East from the Palazzo Balbi to the Rialto Bridge, a work made around 1724 by Canaletto from the Ferens’ own collection. The Royal Collection painting shows the regatta of the feast of the Purification of the Virgin, held annually on 2 February in Venice since 1315. Elaborately decorated barges belonging to prominent Venetian families line the Canal, while both men and women appear dressed in carnival costume, identifiable by the distinctive black cloaks, white masks and black tricorne hats. Kerri Offord, Curator of Ferens Art Gallery said: “We’re grateful to Royal Collection Trust for this loan and the incredible partnership we have had for the last six years." “This final artwork will be part of something very exciting coming later this year, and we ask that artists keep a close eye out for an opportunity coming soon.” Anna Reynolds, Deputy Surveyor of The King’s Pictures, Royal Collection Trust, said: "We have been delighted to work with the Ferens Art Gallery over the past six years, providing opportunities for the people of Hull to enjoy a range of works from the Royal Collection by artists including Rembrandt, Van Dyck and Holbein." "This magnificent painting, which usually hangs in the Picture Gallery at Buckingham Palace, is one of Canaletto’s finest works and makes a fitting final loan in what has been an exciting and rewarding partnership." Giovanni Antonio Canal (1697-1768), known most commonly as Canaletto, was born in Venice to a family of artists and theatre set designers. He undertook an apprenticeship with his father and brother, and travelled with the former to Rome in 1719 to assist in the creation of sets for two operas by Alessandro Scarlatti, before returning to Venice to pursue a career as an artist. Canaletto’s earliest signed and dated work is from 1723, and his earlier works are often viewed as his best before his commercial success made him repetitive. His work is known for being precise and he, unusually for the time, would make his work outside, rather than in a studio. The work will be on display at the Ferens Art Gallery from 20 October – 28 January 2024.

Acquisitions that go wrong are a top cause of business insolvency, according to Purbeck Personal Guarantee Insurance , which has analysed claims from business directors for personal guarantee insurance, following insolvency. Not being close to business financials due to an over-reliance on accountants, and bad debts or payment disputes, were also major reasons why business owner’s dreams ended in a nightmare. There is good news, however, as there are solid steps that can be taken to avoid some of the most common reasons businesses fall into insolvency. Todd Davison, MD of Purbeck Personal Guarantee Insurance said: “Business failures can often occur after a business acquisition. When a business goes through a leveraged buyout, where the target company to be acquired is loaded with debt to buy out the former shareholders, then this has an adverse cash flow and margin impact to meet the repayment obligations. It means an immediate deterioration of the balance sheet position. So the new owners have to grow the business or deliver substantial cost savings through the business quickly, to avoid failure.” Firms window dressing their business to make it appear more secure than it actually is prior to acquisition can be common, according to Purbeck Personal Guarantee Insurance. Robust due diligence processes including, arranging a financial audit, scrutinising the validity of future orders and analysing future staff and cost savings that can be made once acquisition has happened, can all help to sidestep insolvency. Purbeck also advises keeping a close eye on the balance sheet. It found that often a director, who is incredibly skilled at providing a product or service, may rely on their accountant for day to day financial running of their business. Unfortunately though, it is the business owner who ultimately shoulders responsibility for business cash flow, so directors should seek clear explanation from accountants to ensure they are always knowledgeable about their financial situation. Bad debts or payment disputes were the third most common reason businesses fell into insolvency. Businesses looking to protect themselves from bad debt will always research potential clients thoroughly before selling goods and services to them. According to Purbeck, however, a common theme amongst directors claiming on their Personal Guarantee Insurance was an overconcentration on one or more customers who were late payers, which in due course, put a stranglehold on the creditor’s business. Finally, when a business is doing well, it is tempting to raise finance to develop it further, but when growth slows, firms often find the finance cost becomes unaffordable. Todd Davison concludes: “Instances like overtrading can be avoided by focusing on profitability, rather than revenue growth. Equally, due diligence before an acquisition and trying not to put all your eggs in one customer’s basket can all help to make positive impacts on trading." "Ultimately, everyone wants small businesses to succeed, as a personal guarantee insurer, none more than us. With personal guarantee insurance in place, however, the comfort of knowing that directors will not have to pay back business debt through their own finances, such as their home or personal savings can be hugely reassuring to small business owners.”