Two Asian elephants have travelled across the country, in a move to boost the conservation breeding programme for the endangered species. The big move, which took months of planning and involved keepers, vets, two lorries, a crane able to carry 100 tons, and a team of animal transport experts, marks a critical step in efforts to protect the endangered species. 26-year-old Karishma and her nine-year-old daughter Elizabeth, or Beth as she is known by keepers, moved from Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire to their new home at Chester Zoo in Cheshire on Wednesday 9 July, and have been settling into their new surroundings before meeting the rest of the herd. The pair were transported in custom-built travel crates, weighing ten tons each, specially designed to keep them comfortable for the duration of their road trip - including being fitted with air conditioning and CCTV cameras for drivers to check on their precious passengers during the four-hour journey. The two lorries, driven by animal transport experts, travelled in convoy down the motorway with Whipsnade Zoo’s elephant team leader Mark Howes and lead elephant keeper Emily Hanley in tow, to ensure the elephants saw a familiar face once they reached their destination. Stefan Groeneveld, section manager for elephants at Whipsnade Zoo, said: “It was a bittersweet day for all of the elephant keepers here when we said farewell to two of our elephants, Beth and Karishma.” “Karishma arrived at Whipsnade Zoo just over 20 years ago, and she and her daughter Beth, named after HM Queen Elizabeth II, have been much-loved members of our herd.” “It’s always sad to say goodbye to animals we work so closely with, but we’re excited that they’ll be starting a new chapter in a new place, with the opportunity to keep growing the herd there as part of the conservation breeding programme for their sadly endangered species.” Elephant keepers at Whipsnade Zoo have been preparing Beth and Karishma for their move for months, including getting them used to their travel crates - which were placed in their paddock in February to allow the mother-daughter duo time to investigate them and get used to them. “We did daily training sessions with Beth and Karishma, where they were rewarded for voluntarily walking into the crates, which ensured they were really comfortable with them for their journey to Chester Zoo,” explained Stefan. “We also packed their favourite snacks for the road trip, including fresh hay and water.” Additionally, in preparation for their journey, Beth and Karishma received a health check from the conservation zoo’s vet team to confirm they were fit and healthy for the move. Stefan said: “Collaboration between zoos as part of conservation breeding programmes is integral to keeping a strong and healthy insurance population for animals at risk of extinction in the wild. Considered by conservationists to be one of the most persecuted species in the world, elephant conservation in zoos is particularly critical, as the wild population of Asian elephants is dwindling due to habitat loss, degradation, and poaching for their ivory tusks.” “Our remaining herd of five elephants, including male Ming Jung, females Kaylee, Lucha, and Donna, and calf Nang Phaya, who is almost three, will continue to contribute to the breeding programme here at Whipsnade Zoo.” To learn more about the conservation work ZSL, the international charity behind Whipsnade Zoo, does, as well as the other conservation breeding programmes the Zoo is involved in, sign up for ZSL’s conservation newsletter: Conservation Newsletter signup | ZSL Photo: Mother-daughter duo Karishma and Beth left for Chester Zoo (c) Whipsnade Zoo

Zempler, the provider of digital bank accounts and lending products for UK small businesses, has published its full year results for the financial year ending 31st March 2025, announcing a pre-tax profit of £5.2m, a 58% increase year-on-year, from gross revenues of £68.2m. The performance represents good progress, with three years of consecutive increases in profit before tax despite continued investment including a major upgrade in Zempler’s capabilities in tackling fraud and economic crime, the launch of a new “Pro” business current account product for larger businesses and a full rebrand to Zempler Bank. Zempler Bank was previously known as Cashplus Bank and rebranded in July 2024. The firm recorded a slight uptick in business customer numbers to just over 170,000 open accounts, in line with the management team’s focus on optimising growth and accruing capital to support higher levels of lending to UK businesses. The bank’s cost-to-income ratio also improved by three percentage points. There was also a 15% increase in customer deposits to £626m. This follows the launch of new savings pots within the business current account. Rich Wagner, CEO, Zempler Bank: “Zempler’s growing profitability will be a key driver of our strategy over the next 12 months as we continue to optimise our business, strengthen our capital position and diversify our business through lending growth." “This plan creates a clear path to scaling our business and creating ever greater value for the businesses and consumers that we serve, for our fantastic colleagues and for our shareholders." “The year ahead is set to hold challenges for many of our customers and we know that confidence in the UK economy and the spending power of consumers is under pressure from macroeconomic conditions and that many small firms are facing an increasing tax burden. We will do everything we can to support those businesses with products that make their life simpler, exemplary service delivered by our UK in-house team, located in Liverpool, and the access to lending that is too often unavailable to small or early-stage UK businesses.”

An Edinburgh mum has launched a children’s clothing brand designed specifically for children with disabilities after receiving specialised start-up support from Business Gateway. Blue Bee Mike, founded by Kasia McGavigan, offers sensory-considerate clothing that supports the needs of children with additional support requirements. It is the only Scottish brand that creates this type of clothing. The business is named in honour of her son Michael, who lives with autism, and inspired Kasia to create adaptive designs that combine comfort, dignity and practical use. She tests out any designs on Michael. Through her experience as a mum to Michael, Kasia has seen first-hand how difficult it can be to find clothing for children with additional needs. She spotted this gap in the market and decided to start creating the clothes herself in 2024. The idea began with the development of a specially designed onesie, created to ease everyday challenges for both children and carers. The onesie is zipped at the back to prevent the child from taking it off if they become distressed and also allows access for a feeding tube if needed. Every product is designed with comfort, functionality and joy in mind, with the children’s needs at the heart. The clothes allow children to move freely and not be inhibited by their clothing. Kasia’s parents were tailors, so she grew up watching them create clothing and began helping as she got older. Kasia hopes her brand not only supports children, but also raises awareness about the importance of inclusive clothing design. As a full-time carer, Kasia had a vision for her business but needed help bringing it to life. She remembered a friend who had worked with Business Gateway in the past and decided to approach them. Since June 2024, she has worked closely with Business Gateway to develop her idea into a viable business - receiving one-to-one support from Business Gateway adviser Lee Briggs to break down key tasks, prioritise actions and build confidence as she launched her brand. Kasia has engaged with various Business Gateway workshops, including sessions on marketing, finance and starting a business. With expert guidance, she launched her website and recently accessed Expert Help support to refine her marketing strategy and explore opportunities in international markets. Kasia McGavigan, founder of Blue Bee Mike said: “Starting Blue Bee Mike has been a deeply personal journey. As a full-time carer for my son Michael, I understand how challenging it can be to find clothing that’s both comfortable and practical for children with additional needs. I wanted to create something that genuinely helps families like ours -something designed with love and real-life experience at its heart." “Business Gateway has given me the support, structure and encouragement I needed to turn my idea into a reality. From helping me work out what steps to take and when, to giving me the confidence to launch my website and start sharing my products, their advice has been invaluable. I’m incredibly proud of what I’ve achieved so far and excited about growing the business to support even more families.” Lee Briggs, Business Gateway adviser said: “Kasia is truly inspiring. She’s humble, focused and incredibly determined, balancing her caring responsibilities with launching a meaningful business from the ground up. Her ability to take on advice, stay organised and put everything into practice has been exceptional. Blue Bee Mike is already making a difference, and we’re proud to have supported her on this journey.” To find out more about how Business Gateway can help your business, visit here .

British sunflower season is here and M&S has launched a range of new bouquets, showcasing new sunflower varieties for customers to try. The varieties on offer include fiery-bright Helios flame, deep-burgundy Pro Cut red, Sun Rich Gold, Solano Gold and Double sunflowers. Customers can find the new bouquets – including Speciality Sunflower Abundance (also available online) and Sunflower, Cerise Rose and Eryngium available in selected UK stores. Behind these new varieties is the Naylor family, based in Spalding in South Lincolnshire, who have been growing cut flowers for over 70 years. The family has been working with M&S for over two decades now as a Select Farm partner and grow over 100 million cut stems of cut flowers per year, including plenty of sunflowers. Each flower is hand-picked by a skilled harvest team seven days a week to make sure they are at just the right stage to look their best in customers’ homes and last for longer. The Naylor family now employ more than 80 colleagues across the 600-acre farm and have been investing in renewable energy, roof water harvesting and robotic weeding to help improve sustainability on-site. Matt Naylor, Managing Director of Naylor Flowers Ltd, said: “I’ve been growing flowers now for over 30 years and the summer harvest is always a highlight! Our sunflowers have one of the longest seasons and so much work and skills goes in from the whole team to grow and harvest each stem to make sure it’s the perfect quality for M&S customers. It’s fantastic that customers are getting to see even more varieties this year and we’re incredibly proud to be bringing that touch of joy into people’s homes across the UK.” Kathryn Camps, Senior Technologist at M&S, adds: “Our new eye-catching Speciality Sunflowers are sure to make a statement in your home and spread some of that summer joy! From fiery reds to magnolias and rich golds, these flowers instantly uplift any space. It’s brilliant to have such longstanding relationships with our growers like the Naylor family, who share our relentless focus on quality and that passion for the perfect summer bouquet!” M&S’ ‘Flower Doctor’ works directly with suppliers to ensure every stem meets the highest standards of quality and freshness, with all M&S flowers handpicked for perfection with a 5-day guarantee. Here are some top tips from M&S’ Flower Doctor for keeping your sunflowers fresh for longer at home: Always ensure you have fresh water Cut the stem at an angle to increase surface area Always make sure you display flowers away from the fruit bowl, which can speed up the ageing process

The professional staffing market is showing promising signs, with both contract and permanent hiring activity increasing month-on-month. That’s according to the latest Hiring Trends report from the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo). The trade association’s latest analysis – produced in conjunction with Bullhorn – revealed an encouraging increase in new vacancies added between June and July, up 10% for contract and 8% for permanent positions. Placements also showed a modest uplift month-on-month, up 2% across both permanent and contract. According to APSCo, while this represents a seasonal increase ahead of the summer slowdown, it is a further promising sign for the professional staffing market which has seen sustained falls in hiring activity this year. This is further backed up by a rise in the number of CV sends between June and July, which were up 13% for contract and 8% for permanent positions. Samantha Hurley, UK Managing Director at APSCo commented: “While it’s common to see a slight increase in recruitment between June and July, ahead of August’s seasonal blip, this uptick is promising given the tough year that the staffing market has faced so far. There remains a slightly higher demand for contract resources over permanent, which is expected when the economic climate is still uncertain. However, the gap is decreasing, giving us and our members some promising indicators that the tide is starting to turn.” Andy Ingham, SVP Sales, EMEA & APAC at Bullhorn, added: “July exhibited strong momentum, with most metrics on the up month over month. Only sales are down from June, but are still showing positive trends compared to July ’24. Pipeline continues to grow from the promising foundation last month, paired with a surge of delivery activity in the form of a 13% and 8% monthly boost in CV sends for contract and perm respectively after a slight lull in June. Placements had a modest lift, both up around 2.5%, indicating good client commitment and high throughput on key vacancies, despite June’s delivery slump.”

Leading professional services firm AAB, has been short-listed as a finalist in several prestigious national awards, reflecting the firm’s continued commitment to delivering exceptional client service, driving digital transformation, and providing market-leading expertise across multiple disciplines. The first of these awards comes from leading online accounting software provider, Xero. AAB has been shortlisted for ‘National Partner of the Year’ in the 2025 Xero Awards – one of just three firms recognised in this category nationwide. The Xero Awards celebrate excellence among firms using Xero’s cloud-based accounting platform. The ‘National Partner of the Year’ award is reserved for partners with a significant national presence who demonstrate outstanding client care, visionary use of Xero technology, and strong advocacy of cloud accounting. Xero is a key partner for AAB’s Digital Advisory team, who help SMEs across the UK streamline their financial operations, enhance performance, and unlock new opportunities for growth. Services include systems reviews, digital health checks, software training, and full-scale migrations to cloud accounting platforms like Xero. Graham Dyer, Head of Digital Advisory at AAB, commented: “Xero has transformed the way our clients manage their finances – delivering real-time insights and improving efficiency across the board. We’ve worked closely with Xero as a Platinum Partner for many years, and it’s fantastic to be recognised in this way for helping businesses succeed through smarter, cloud-first solutions.” In addition to the Xero Awards, AAB has also been shortlisted in three categories at the 2025 Accounting Excellence Awards – widely regarded as one of the industry’s most respected award platforms. AAB is a finalist for: Large Firm of the Year Tax Team of the Year Audit Firm of the Year These categories acknowledge firms delivering excellence at scale, with a particular focus on client impact, team innovation, and the ability to serve complex needs across a wide range of business types and sectors. AAB’s audit and tax teams are recognised for their deep expertise in working with large corporates, mid-market enterprises, and international businesses, while also providing a broad range of integrated services. Whether navigating complex multi-jurisdictional tax matters or adapting to new audit regulations, AAB continues to lead with specialist knowledge, senior-level client relationships, and a strong commitment to quality and collaboration. John Beevers, Head of Professional Services at AAB, commented: “Being shortlisted for four national awards across Xero and Accounting Excellence is an incredible honour. It’s a reflection of the outstanding work our teams do – from helping SMEs embrace cloud accounting, to supporting complex businesses with bespoke tax and audit services. The award categories align with our brand, expertise and client-centric ethos, reinforcing the value we deliver every day. It’s a proud moment for our team and underscores their commitment to our clients.” Since 2021 AAB has trebled in size and now employs more than 1,000 people. The rapid growth journey is set to continue as part of delivering its ambitious growth strategy for 2030.

Strategic property and construction advisors, Fox Lloyd Jones has successfully completed the sale of The Kennedy Building, a 6,617 sq ft standalone property in Leeds’ South Bank district for £1.1m, following the relocation of the owners, North America Travel Service (NATS) to Water Lane, Leeds. Acting on behalf of the former directors of NATS, the property has been sold to Regional REIT which is externally managed by leading Pan-European real estate investment management firm, ESR Europe. The acquisition represents a strategic move in their long-term investment strategy to consolidate and enhance its existing Central Park holdings immediately adjacent and offers short term reletting potential. The Kennedy Building occupies a prominent 0.24 acre site at 48 Victoria Road, directly adjoining Central Park, a substantial multi let office development already under Regional REIT’s ownership. Brought to market in February 2025, the building attracted considerable interest for a wide range of uses both as existing and subject to redevelopment. In the immediate term, Regional REIT plans to bring the building to market for lease, while concurrently developing long-term plans for site redevelopment. These plans have been unlocked by the recent lifting of HS2 safeguarding in the area, opening up new opportunities across Leeds’ rapidly evolving South Bank regeneration zone. Eamonn Stones, senior asset manager at ESR Europe, said: “This acquisition marks an important step in our wider growth strategy to assemble and optimise Central Park. The Kennedy Building enhances our footprint and unlocks future potential for redevelopment.” Nick Salkeld, director at Fox Lloyd Jones, said: “We’re pleased to have secured a successful outcome for our clients, marking a new chapter for the building and NATS who have been owner occupiers since 1998. The opportunity generated strong interest from both owner occupiers and developers due to its lot size as a Freehold HQ office offering development potential in this exciting area of the city.” Located within walking distance of Leeds Railway Station and key city centre amenities, The Kennedy Building combines the convenience of an urban business park setting with immediate access to the region’s transport and commercial infrastructure.

The Turriff Show Business Breakfast delivered its biggest helping of insight and inspiration yet on the second day of the biggest two-day agricultural show in Scotland. Headline sponsor Virgin Money and associate sponsor Ledingham Chalmers helped fuel a lively event that has rapidly gained traction as a must-attend function, drawing local business owners, industry experts, farmers and journalists for an energising start to the final day. Already hugely successful in only its third year, the Business Breakfast welcomed experienced Chair Jane Craigie, local journalist and communicator, who kept discussions flowing as four dynamic speakers shared their outlooks and perspectives on the industry. First to take to the stage was Mike Duxbury, co-founder of the Inclusive Farm, who used his time to prove that determination knows no boundaries. Since losing his sight at age six, Mike has maintained his unwavering belief that ‘anything is possible’ and was the first blind person to attend the Warwickshire College of Agriculture. Mike discussed his journey from opening the Inclusive Farm in Bedfordshire with his wife Ness, creating groundbreaking opportunities for people with disabilities in agriculture, to now bringing the same concept to Scotland where the couple have recently taken on a 22-acre tenancy near Tarland, courtesy of The MacRobert Trust. Discussing what he believes to be an under appreciation of those with diverse needs in the workplace, Mike said “Don’t look at the disability, look at the person. Give them an opportunity to show you what they can do." “We are struggling with accepting diversity in people, yet we’ve embraced making the natural environment and our businesses more diverse. Given the current workforce issues we face as an industry, it would be to everyone’s advantage if we could start actively supporting people with diverse needs.” Meanwhile, Dr Jenna Ross OBE brought world-class expertise from farm to showground, combining her Aberdeenshire farming roots with a PhD in Environmental Science and a globally ranked MBA. Jenna explained how her inspiration for a career in environmental science came from growing up on her family farm which sits on Queen’s View near Tarland in Royal Deeside. So called as it was reportedly Queen Victoria’s best-loved vista – and more recently described by King Charles as his favourite spot too. Now leading international development for the UK Government funded UK Agri-Tech Centre, Jenna brought a global perspective to the morning, sharing fascinating insights into the high-impact projects she’s leading, driving sustainability, productivity and profitability on farms worldwide. Discussing what she thinks the industry can do to inspire the next generation into a career in agriculture, Jenna said “Young people need to see that agriculture isn’t just traditional farming, it’s innovation, science and solving global challenges. It is so important that we take time to go into education settings at all levels - primary, secondary and tertiary - and talk about agriculture as a STEM subject, which it absolutely is." “The industry has so much to offer, from farming to research, technology, business and beyond, and we need to showcase these opportunities and widen the net for a more diverse future workforce – not just for the advancement of our industry, but to help solve the complex challenges we face.” Next up was Christine Tacon CBE who delivered insights from the frontline of food industry leadership. Drawing on her experiences from roles such as former Groceries Code Adjudicator and Chair of the Red Tractor Assurance scheme to her current position as Member Nominated Director of the Co-op Group, Christine offered a unique perspective on navigating the complex issue of global food security. “It’s absolutely right that we focus on food security, but we must also turn our attention to resilience and building longer term relationships in our supply chains." “With issues such as rising global temperatures and water scarcity, the future is likely to see supermarkets place increased value on products being guaranteed from a more resilient source to mitigate any risk from less robust sources and ensure continuity of supply." “The Co-op is very much moving towards more long-term relationships with farmers and growers, sharing insights and knowledge across the board and taking responsibility for understanding where the issues are.” The final speaker for the morning was Brian Richardson, Head of Agriculture for Virgin Money. Born and raised in Yorkshire, Brian brought decades of agri-business expertise to the breakfast event. Being a Nuffield Scholar and having served as Chief Executive at H&H Group for 10 years before joining the bank, Brian touched on his perception of recent negativity in the industry, and how he hoped we could reignite the positive messaging to the public. “Uncertainty in the industry has slowed investment and led to a 15% reduction in lending compared to pre-covid. The new and unwelcome challenge of IHT changes hasn’t helped, but farmers should take the opportunity now to be proactive in looking at their assets, deciding what succession looks like, and bringing those conversations forward. “To give real confidence to those working in the industry, we need to see longer-term plans from the government and a reset on support." “We know farmers are resilient and adaptable, producing great food at incredible value for consumers, so we should focus on what we know, while supporting our goals for carbon reduction, and produce more food in a more sustainable way.” Chair of the event, Jane Craigie, said the morning’s speakers had left attendees feeling inspired by what was possible. “Once again the Turriff Show Business Breakfast was a big hit. We had over 100 people, a fantastic line up of panellists who shared their diverse and very honest insights into science, diversity, inclusion, and global food security as well as economic outlook, the confidence in the farming sector, and so much in between." “Huge thanks must also go to Virgin Money and Ledingham Chalmers. Turriff Show is a community event run dominantly by volunteers and relies on the support of sponsors to bring important conversations like these to our north-east farming community." “It was an absolute privilege to chair the session, and we’re looking forward to the 2026 Turriff Show when we will be expanding the business offering to a new Business Hub." “Business is a key part of the Turriff Show and the reason that people come, and it seems fitting to create a business specific area of the show where farmers and the wider industry can come to discuss the farming sector, its outlook, its challenges and its opportunities.” Turriff Show, now in its 161st year, welcomes over 24,000 visitors each year and as well as the Business Breakfast event there are over 300 exhibitor stands, and more than 1,500 livestock classes with £88,000 of prize money, offering plenty to explore in the showground across the two days. Photo credits: Craig Stephen Photography

Firms across the private sector expect activity to fall in the next three months (weighted balance of -18%), extending a run of negative sentiment that began in late 2024, according to the CBI’s latest Growth Indicator. The downturn is expected to be broad-based, with business volumes in the services sector set to decline (-19%), driven by weaker expectations in business & professional services (-16%) and a continually negative outlook in consumer services (-28%). A sizeable fall is also anticipated in distribution sales (-28%), while manufacturing output is expected to dip modestly (-6%). The weak outlook follows a sharp fall in activity in the three months to July (-29%). Most sub-sectors reported falling activity, while manufacturing output was stagnant. Alpesh Paleja, CBI Deputy Chief Economist, said: “Firms continue to face testing conditions, with expectations pointing to another quarter of falling activity across the economy. While not worsening, the persistently negative outlook underlines the fragility of demand conditions." “Against this backdrop, businesses continue to cite headwinds from adjusting to higher employment costs, energy prices and continued uncertainty from a volatile global environment. With few signs of recovery on the horizon, firms are focused on managing costs and streamlining processes in what looks set to be a subdued second half of the year." “Building positive business sentiment will require the government to translate its long-term strategic thinking into short-term delivery progress." "The government must work collaboratively with business in the lead up to this year’s Autumn Budget: acknowledging the significant burdens that firms are facing and mitigating the damaging impact on sentiment from continued fiscal uncertainty." “Detailing how the government will deliver its action plan to tackle regulatory barriers to growth; positioning businesses to invest in the people they need through a flexible Growth and Skills Levy; and finding an appropriate landing zone for the Employment Rights Bill are positive next steps the government should be prioritising to build confidence in its growth mission.” Key findings from our monthly Services Sector Survey showed: Business volumes in the services sector fell in the three months to July (-35%), at a faster pace than in the quarter to June. The latest data marked nine consecutive rolling quarters of decline. Both business & professional services (-37%) and consumer services (-30%) volumes fell through the quarter. But trends between the two sectors diverged: business & professional services saw the fastest fall in activity since October 2020, while consumer services reported the slowest decline in nine months. Hiring intentions within the services sector remain weak. Business & professional services expect headcount to fall over the next three months (-19%), while consumer services companies expect a comparatively sharper fall in numbers employed (-37%). Selling price expectations in the services sector have eased close to long-run averages (+11%; long-run average +7%). Inflation expectations have retreated in both business & professional services (+7%) and consumer services (+24%).

Property consultancy Vail Williams has been instructed to market a major new build business park offering industrial and logistics opportunities in West Sussex. Panattoni Park Burgess Hill is a speculative development with 12 Grade A units available flexibly from 8,142 sq ft (76 sq m) to a total of 403,708 sq ft (33,237 sq m). The business park was the first entry into the South Coast market for Panattoni, the UK’s largest industrial developer. Two units have been let to transport giant EMED and motorcycle exhaust systems specialist Austin Racing, with existing tenants including DPD and Roche Diagnostics. EMED occupies 35,000 sq ft at Panattoni Park Burgess Hill on a 10-year lease in a deal concluded by Vail Williams. Steve Berrett, Vail Williams partner based in Crawley, is leading the firm’s team marketing Panattoni Park, which directly fronts the A2300 dual carriageway at Goddards Green on the outskirts of Burgess Hill. He said: “Panattoni Park Burgess Hill provides modern, high-specification facilities designed to meet the needs of businesses seeking sustainable and efficient industrial and warehouse space. " “The flexibility of the park ensures occupiers of all sizes can benefit from the development’s strategic location – with fast access to the A23/M23, Gatwick Airport, Brighton and the South Coast – as well as premium infrastructure." “With EPC A and BREAAM excellent rated units, along with 15% rooflights, roof-mounted solar panels, high standard insulation, rainwater harvesting and water-saving taps, there could well be huge cost savings to be made with a unit at Panattoni Park.” Located for the last mile, Panattoni Park Burgess Hill offers direct market access to the affluent consumer markets of the Home Counties and south coast. With one million consumers within 45 minutes by van, Burgess Hill itself is set to witness significant growth. Approximately 3,500 new homes and a proposed 1.4m sq ft science and technology park are both due to be created on sites immediately adjacent to the park. Panattoni is the world’s largest privately owned industrial developer, having developed 650 million sq ft to date, with 60 offices across the globe. The Panattoni tenant list includes more than 2,500 international, national and regional companies, many of whom have completed multiple projects with Panattoni. David McGougan, Development Director Panattoni, highlighted the company’s strategic approach to addressing the supply-demand imbalance in the South Coast market. He said: “We identified a significant gap in the market for mid-box units, particularly in the 20,000 to 150,000 sq ft range. The response has been tremendous, with high levels of interest from occupiers for these speculative units. It’s evident that there is a critical undersupply of high-quality industrial space in the region." David added: “Our business model focuses on acquiring sites in areas with limited stock to provide tenants with opportunities to enhance their operations. Demand remains particularly strong for mid box distribution units that enable occupiers to hit their own ESG targets whilst delivering a high base specification including excellent eaves heights and dedicated parking and yard space.” SHW has been appointed as joint agents alongside Vail Williams on the letting of units 8 to 24. Vail Williams’ full-service property advice includes commercial agency, investment and development advice, building consultancy, property valuation, planning, lease advisory, property asset management, business rates and occupier consultancy.

A vital outreach service helping to tackle poverty in Coventry faces an uncertain future unless businesses can step in to save it. The Pathfinder Project, funded by The Trussell Trust since the pandemic, has proved a lifeline to thousands of foodbank users in the city. The service, based at Coventry Foodbank's headquarters in Binley, works with partners to offer practical and financial support, and has gone on to make a huge impact on reducing the number of local foodbank users from 30,000 to 21,000 a year. But now, as the funds run out, attention has turned to local businesses to secure its future. Its loss would also be felt acutely by the man in charge - because the foodbank marked a turning point in his own life. Project Manager Hugh McNeill sought the help of the charity after being left penniless following the collapse of his restaurant business in 2013. He said: “My wife had a background in catering and we thought it would be great. Only pretty quickly it turned into a nightmare. It was just like a money pit and we lost everything and ended up in huge debt." “For me the foodbank is a very personal thing because when I needed it, it was there, and I had the opportunity to transform my life. I thought I was going to open a restaurant and get paid money for giving people food, and now I'm in a situation where I am getting paid, and I'm giving people food, but it's for free!” Since then Hugh has been instrumental in building what has become the hugely successful outreach project, working closely with more than 50 local and national referral partners, including in the fields of housing, law, financial services, social care, homelessness, immigration, mental health and an increasingly greater focus on employability. The team are also able to donate essential equipment such as white goods, beds and, in the winter, electric blankets and radiators as well as laptops and mobile phones. Hugh said: “When we did our research we found that seven out of 10 people coming to the foodbank weren’t getting any further help. So we introduced ways of collecting data from every client. From that data we were able to signpost people to the right practical and financial support they needed." “We are able to offer each person tailored support so they can make more informed choices until they are self-sustainable. This can be anything from a couple of weeks to several months.” The drive to secure a future for Pathfinder also comes in the wake of latest statistics which show that emergency food provision is two and a half times the level seen a decade ago. And, last year, foodbank donations dropped off 40% against an increased demand of 13%. No wonder then that Hugh is proud of the role he has played in generating a whopping £1.4m million in financial gain for those who received Pathfinder’s help since its launch. He said: “The realisation is that, in the 13 years I’ve been with the foodbank, things aren’t getting better. The problem is, the demand is bigger than we can actually meet. But we are making a difference. For every pound we are given we probably deliver ten pounds back." “All the good work that we've done in turning things around will be wasted. And I think that’s a crying shame. The problem is that charities are all chasing the same pot of money, and unless you've got a new project, it's very hard to get that support. But you can't run a project with volunteers alone!" He added: “My life was transformed through food bank and that's why I try and give back as much as I can. But going forward, without the funding, we can only do so much. Pathfinder is now being run very much on a shoestring but thankfully we’ve still got our volunteers, whom we couldn’t do without. “What we really need is a corporate sponsor or sponsors to step in and offer us a lifeline, enabling us to build on all the good work we’ve achieved for the last four years.”

Emirates has entered a landmark seven-year partnership with FC Bayern Munchen, 34-time Bundesliga champions and six-time UEFA Champions League titleholders. The agreement positions Emirates as Platinum Partner of FC Bayern Munich’s first team from the 2025-26 season through to the 2031-32 season. The football powerhouse is one of the most widely supported and respected clubs worldwide, with a highly engaged global fanbase of more than 140 million people, enjoying strong brand recognition rooted in a unique Bavarian identity. FC Bayern also enjoys a robust club membership of 410,000, one of the largest in the football world, demonstrating deep community support and engagement. It also has fanclubs spanning more than 100 countries, reflecting its massive international appeal. The multi-year partnership provides Emirates with prominent brand visibility on perimeter stadium and LED boards seen by global audiences as well as two premium pitch cam carpets. The agreement also includes exclusive ticket and hospitality allocations, plus a dedicated Emirates skybox at the club's home stadium, Allianz Arena. Additionally, Emirates will have access to FC Bayern Munich’s collective player images. The airline’s branding will also feature prominently in Club TV backdrops during press conferences, flash zone interviews and other public and digital events. Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline said: "We are immensely proud to partner with FC Bayern—Germany’s most iconic football club and a true global sporting giant. This landmark partnership represents far more than a commercial agreement; it embodies our deep commitment to Germany, which stands as a cornerstone of our European network. By aligning ourselves with this legendary sporting institution, we’re forging a connection to the Club’s rich heritage and its extraordinarily passionate community." "Few forces match sport's remarkable capacity to unite hearts and minds across cultures and continents, and we look forward to building meaningful relationships with millions of devoted FC Bayern fans around the world, while celebrating excellence, a value that defines both Emirates and FC Bayern.” Michael Diederich, Deputy Chairman of FC Bayern, commented: “FC Bayern is very pleased to have gained a strong and shining partner in Emirates, which has been a committed supporter of football in Europe for decades. FC Bayern also needs financial planning security to achieve its sporting goals, so Emirates is an ideal fit for our club's family of partners. It will also help us that Emirates connects football fans around the world and can support FC Bayern in its internationalisation plans." This new partnership also marks Emirates’ official return to the German football league. With the club’s fanbase rapidly expanding in key markets across Asia and the US, Emirates is perfectly positioned to strengthen that connection through its extensive global network and world-class service. Football remains one of the most celebrated sports within Emirates’ portfolio, exemplified through prestigious partnerships with global football clubs and premier tournaments. The airline’s ‘Fly Better’ logo features on the football jerseys of leading European clubs like Real Madrid, Arsenal FC, AC Milan, Benfica SL and Olympique Lyonnais, in addition to naming rights to Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium. Emirates’ logo will also feature on the back of Al Ain FC’s First Team’s Training Shirt throughout the 2025/2026 season. Emirates has also been the Title Partner of The FA Cup for almost a decade, known as The Emirates FA Cup, the oldest and biggest domestic football tournament in the world. In its home base of the UAE, the airline supports the UAE Pro League. About FC Bayern FC Bayern is Germany's most successful Football Club, with 34 German championships, 20 German Cup victories and six UEFA Champions League triumphs. The club’s outstanding national and international achievements are based on the conviction that winning and economic rationality must go hand in hand. With 410,000 members FC Bayern is currently the largest membership club in the world and FC Bayern build strong ties with its fans. The Club FC Bayern connects history, tradition and social engagement with innovative concepts for a globalised football industry. With offices in New York, Shanghai and Bangkok FC Bayern has an international presence and is close to its supporters abroad, too. The record champions play their home games at the shining Allianz Arena – a stadium with iconic architecture and global appeal.