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Mexican food brand Mexi Bean Express is firing up its UK expansion with the signing of its very first franchise location. Peterborough-based entrepreneurs Manoj Kumar Maruthan and Mohamed Fayas Athambawa are bringing the fiesta home – pairing a great business investment with love at first bite. “Here in Peterborough city centre, there are lots of food options, but we noticed there wasn’t much in the way of good Mexican food,” said Manoj. “We saw that as a great opportunity. We really liked the Mexi Bean Express menu and concept – that’s what drew us in and made us feel confident about taking on the franchise.” Between them, Manoj and Fayas bring a powerhouse of experience to the table. Manoj, who’s spent nearly two decades working in cybersecurity and cloud architecture, is swapping tech for tacos to focus full time on running the new site. His business partner, Fayas, brings valuable retail know-how from years managing his own successful convenience store. With the lease signed and the fit-out already underway at 41 Bridge Street, the Peterborough restaurant is taking shape fast. The duo is aiming to open before the end of the year, ready to serve up the brand’s signature menu of burritos, tacos, nachos and quesadillas – all made fresh, fast and 100% halal. Their opening marks a huge milestone for Mexi Bean Express, which has grown from a single restaurant in Yorkshire to a thriving multi-site brand loved for its bold flavours, vibrant personality and quick-serve convenience. Born in the North and built on authentic Mexican recipes with a modern twist, Mexi Bean Express is all about bringing fresh, flavourful food to people who like a little extra kick. For founder Danielle Best, this first franchise signing is a landmark moment: “We’ve built something special in Yorkshire, and it’s amazing to see it catching fire beyond our home turf. Manoj and Fayas have that perfect mix of energy, ambition and community spirit – exactly what we look for in our franchisees. Peterborough’s about to get a taste of Mexi Bean Express magic, and this is only the beginning of our mission to bring fresh Mexican flavour to every corner of the UK and beyond.” For Manoj, Fayas and the crew, this is where true partnership begins: “It’s a proud moment to be part of the Mexi Bean Express franchise journey – and even more special knowing we’re the first of many franchisees to come. We’re ready to tempt the tastebuds of Peterborough and build our Mexi Bean Express cartel.”

With BBC News covering live the Amazon Web Services (AWS) outage affecting leading UK banks, and global services, the incident bears striking similarities to the CrowdStrike disruption seen last year. Banks, like many other sectors, are becoming increasingly reliant on technology, particularly on third-party providers that deliver the specialist services on which daily operations depend. The Amazon Web Services (AWS) outage, which has disrupted leading UK banks and global services, has once again revealed the fragility of this dependence. The incident bears striking similarities to the CrowdStrike disruption seen last year, both demonstrating how a single failure in a major technology provider can cascade across industries. Alina Timofeeva outlines her thoughts on the matter. For instance, customers, including myself, have been unable to log into the Lloyds Banking Group app, while widespread reports confirm disruptions across Barclays, Lloyds Bank, and the Bank of Scotland. Few institutions anticipated that a third party with AWS's reputation could experience a failure of such magnitude. As a result, many had not prepared or tested for an outage of this scale, or for the specific recovery steps required to restore critical services quickly. This was not merely a technical glitch; it was a crisis of trust. Customers were left wondering: Can I trust my bank? Can I trust technology itself? The outage underscores the systemic concentration risk created by the world's heavy reliance on a handful of global technology providers. The financial sector, in particular, faces heightened vulnerability from this dependence, as vendors like AWS have become so deeply embedded in the global economy that their failures can disrupt millions of customers and impact critical economic functions. The event highlights the need for a strategic, coordinated response across banks, governments, and regulators to minimise the risk of future incidents. Banks must embed resilience into the design of their systems and governance, with board-level accountability for cybersecurity and operational continuity. Governments should demand greater transparency from the technology giants whose infrastructure underpins much of modern life. Regulators must continue to challenge concentration risk, ensuring that efficiency and cost savings never come at the expense of security and stability. Resilience must no longer be treated as an afterthought. Our systems and processes must be secure and resilient by design, with resilience embedded from the outset of every technology and service. That includes developing proportionate response mechanisms to ensure that material services such as payments or payroll remain operational even in the face of major disruption. Ultimately, this outage serves as a wake-up call. The digital backbone of our economy is only as strong as its weakest connection, and trust, whether in our banks, our data, or our digital future, depends on our ability to make resilience part of our DNA. About the Author - Alina Timofeeva is a multi-award-winning strategic advisor in Data and Technology, guiding major financial organisations through complex transformations and regulatory challenges. With a career spanning top consulting firms such as Oliver Wyman, KPMG, and Accenture, Alina has been recognised by the industry as the Digital Leader of the Year, Cloud Professional of the Year, and Most Inspirational Individual of the Year. A LinkedIn Top Voice and TEDx speaker, Alina frequently addresses high-impact topics on Data and Technology at global events like the World Economic Forum, London Tech Week, LEAP, and Money 20/20. She has also spoken at prestigious universities, including Oxford, LSE, and Imperial College. Her insights have been featured in BBC, Forbes, The Telegraph, and The Banker by Financial Times.

High flying Newbury accountancy apprentice Kristina Pallaiova has raised hundreds of pounds for young people’s charity by jumping from an aeroplane. Kristina, an associate at UK top 10 accountancy firm Azets, took part in a charity skydive in aid of Bridge for Young People, charity of the year at the firm’s Newbury office. She took the plunge in a 15,000 ft tandem skydive with 60 seconds of freefall from Salisbury Skydive Centre at Old Sarum Airfield – and came away with £1,065 for the Berkshire-based charity. Kristina said: “Although I was nervous beforehand, once the dive started it was an exhilarating experience, especially once the ripcord had been pulled and the parachute opened." “The views up there were spectacular as we gently floated back to earth – and it was especially gratifying to know that my generous sponsors would be helping such a worthwhile charity.” Bridge for Young People, provides a home and support to young people (aged 16-25) who are leaving care or who are homeless and currently has three houses in West Berkshire –Cornerstone, Rebecca House and Hope House. Residents have typically experienced varying challenges during their childhood and the charity provides them with a stable home, emotional support and practical help during this crucial time as they move into independence. Azets’ Newbury office managing partner Neil Elsden said: “I take my hat off to Kristina for her efforts in raising money for our chosen charity. The proceeds of her skydive will enhance the £750 raised through a quiz night earlier this year.” Kristina, who has been with Azets for 15 months, joined the firm as part of its apprenticeship scheme and is a member of the accounts and business advisory services (ABAS) team in Newbury. She had previously completed a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Business at Reading College and is now working towards her AAT qualifications. Azets, the UK’s specialist business advisor to SMEs, offers a varied career path for early careers professionals, with the option to work across different parts of the country and to develop specialist skills in diverse areas of accounting and business advisory, from general practice and tax to corporate finance, trade, and restructuring. The firm is based in the centre of Newbury at Elizabeth House on London Road, conveniently placed just off the A4 and a 15 minute walk from Newbury train station. The office operates from a modern, open plan office with plenty of parking and provides a range of services tailored to businesses of all scales, encompassing sole traders to limited companies.

A leading cybersecurity company has achieved the hard-to-gain B Corp certification – by achieving high ethical standards for staff and the planet. Computer Network Defence (CND), with offices in Corsham near Bath and on the Isle of Man, is the first dedicated UK-headquartered cybersecurity business to achieve the standard. The assessment measured the business’s impact on its staff, community, suppliers, customers, governance and the environment. Founded 21 years ago by Andy Cuff and his wife Amanda, CND has grown to around 70 staff and operates across the world. It works in all areas of cybersecurity, develops its own products, recruits in the sector and provides intelligence to all the world’s major governments. The business has always taken its corporate social responsibility seriously and when it became aware of the B Corp certification it discovered much of what was required it was already doing. B Corp is a global community of for-profit leaders pledging to use business as a force for good. Andy said: “Ethics has always been our cornerstone – we have no sales staff and grow through reputation and word of mouth. When we came across the B Corp certification we looked at it and saw that the assessment covered things already embedded in the business." “For example, around 40 per cent of our staff identify as neuro-divergent - we know the unique strengths they bring so we work hard to create an inclusive environment where all staff are empowered to thrive. We also recruit from disadvantaged groups such as military wives and veterans and were early in adopting flexible working hours, so parents could pick up their children from school for instance." “The assessment process is extremely demanding and more than half of applicants fail to achieve the standards. It includes things such as having policies and statements on working with sustainability, mental wellbeing and flexible working – all things we have been doing for years." “I would urge other businesses to go for the certification; the process is worthwhile in itself as it helps you view your business from a different perspective. It makes you more agile." “Our clients have been hugely impressed and we now seek to work with other B Corp-certified businesses. CND are proud to join the B Corp community and are committed to taking the next steps to a positive outcome for all.”

New research from M&S reveals that retail is helping more young people into work than any other sector, with nearly 1 in 4 beginning their careers in the industry - more than double the total for any other industry in the UK. This additional job creation for young people contributes £7.4 billion in GVA, which is equivalent to 7% of the retail sector’s total economic impact in 2024. The research, conducted by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), highlights not only the scale of youth unemployment, but the impact of mental health on young people: Currently 948,000 young people are not in Employment, Education, or Training (NEET), having reached the highest level in a decade in December 2024. 650,000 fewer 16-24-year-olds in employment compared to three decades ago. Long-term sickness - particularly growing mental health challenges - has driven 300,000 16–24-year-olds into economic inactivity since 2019, a 55% increase on pre-pandemic levels and the highest of any age group. While youth unemployment rates are rising, more than one in five (22%) young people who are not in Employment, Education of Training say that securing a job is one of their biggest goals, according to The Kings Trust. However, young people today face increasing barriers to employment with around one in six (16%) young people being rejected for more than 50 jobs, knocking their confidence. M&S is committed to providing young people furthest from the workforce a pathway to long-term employment. Launched over two decades ago in partnership with The King’s Trust, the Marks & Start scheme - which offers a four-week work experience placement at M&S - helps those facing barriers to employment gain a crucial first step on the career ladder to build essential employability skills and boost their confidence. The goal is to increase their chances of securing long-term employment – whether at M&S or within the retail sector more broadly. Together, M&S and The Kings Trust have supported over 12,000 young people to date with a commitment to support a further 2,000 young people in the next three years. The number of candidates that completed its Marks & Start employability programme (91%) and those offered a permanent paid job (88%) reached a five-year record high in this year. Mental health is now one of the biggest barriers for young people getting into work with 28% admitting it has stopped them from taking the first step to apply to jobs**. M&S is committed to providing young people furthest from the workforce a pathway to long-term employment. Launched over two decades ago in partnership with The King’s Trust, the Marks & Start scheme – which offers a four-week work experience placement at M&S – helps those facing barriers to employment gain a crucial first step on the career ladder to build essential employability skills and boost their confidence. The goal is to increase their chances of securing long-term employment – whether at M&S or within the retail sector more broadly. M&S has utilised its partnership with YoungMinds, the UK’s leading mental health charity for young people to review and further develop the Marks & Start training materials to better support young people who join the programme with their mental health and ensure they have the wraparound care from M&S in place. Since launching the partnership two years ago, M&S has raised over £4.4 million, supporting over 6 million young people. M&S is calling on the Government to work more closely with businesses to help get more young people into work. The firm believes that Employer NICs relief for businesses that employ the long-term unemployed or young people struggling to find work will unlock significant opportunities with The Jobs Foundation suggesting the move could create over 100,000 jobs. M&S also wants the Government to deliver on its promise of Apprenticeship Levy reform so that more of the funds paid by businesses can be used to offer opportunities. Marks & Spencer CEO Stuart Machin said: “Retail is a powerful engine of social mobility. At a time when so many young people are struggling to get their foot on the career ladder, this industry can give them that first crucial opportunity - particularly those facing the biggest barriers. As one of the UK’s biggest retail employers, we have already supported more than 12,000 young people through Marks & Start and we’re committed to doing our bit to get more young people into work. But we can’t do it alone – businesses need more support from the Government to unlock more opportunities for young people." “Retail is a dynamic, fast-moving industry where no two days are the same. From working in stores or supply chain to food, fashion or finance and everything in between, it can open up so many opportunities. This is an industry that can give you responsibility from a young age and if you’re willing to work hard, you will go far no matter what your background.” Jonathan Townsend Chief Executive Officer at The King’s Trust said: “Young people continue to face significant challenges to their employment prospects but there are so many young people who are ready to work and just need an additional support to make that happen. We rely on partners like M&S who invest in young people and create accessible routes to employment, helping us to achieve our mission of building the confidence and skills of young people who need us most." “M&S has been a driving force behind our employability initiatives and we are so proud of our long-standing partnership, celebrating 20 years together to support 12,000 young people. With their pioneering approach and embedding our work across their organisation, we are able to remove employability barriers for thousands of young people helping to transform their futures." At a time when many young people are thinking about what they should do after school, M&S has this week launched a six-part podcast series with the UK’s leading careers show, My Duvet Flip. Listeners will hear personal stories and experiences of six young people who have taken part in Marks & Start or one of M&S’ Early Careers programmes. Jack Parsons, Founder of My Duvet Flip, said: “My Duvet Flip is about real conversations with real people, having invited Stuart Machin on the podcast a couple of years ago I saw first hand his passion for supporting young people into work. Together, we have a shared commitment to inspire the next generation to flip their duvet build their future. But it’s not only leaders who can inspire the next generation, but young people who are living and breathing these experiences right now – who can inspire their own generation, through their own stories. Together, we’re not just taking about opportunities, we’re creating them.” Llorayah Timbou-Foucher, Early Careers participant and guest on an upcoming episode of My Duvet Flip, commented: “I started off as a Christmas temp at M&S, I went in not knowing about retail, not knowing what I wanted to do, not thinking I was good enough and definitely not having the confidence. Now, through M&S, I am a completely different person and I would never have expected to be where I am today." Looking back, I wish I could have told my younger self to put myself out there more and so sharing my experience on My Duvet Flip, has given me the opportunity to inspire others. I truly believe you should always love the job you work in, you should never do it just because it’s a job - it’s just about finding the right job, and for me, it was the exciting whirlwind world of retail.”

Turner has appointed Jason Cohen as Investment Director, strengthening its team as the business looks to partner with ambitious management teams in industrial and business service markets.   Turner is fourth generation family business which has been building private companies for more than 100 years. Its portfolio of businesses’ turnover is in excess of £90 million with a combined balance sheet value of over £150 million.   Jason joined the team in October and will focus on sourcing and securing new deals. He joins Turner from PwC Corporate Finance in Glasgow, where he has advised on a wide range of corporate and private equity transactions.   Craig Campbell, CEO of Turner, said: “Jason’s appointment is another important milestone for Turner as we continue our evolution, building on our heritage in engineering and industrial services. Jason’s energy and expertise will bring real value to our ambition to partner with new teams to build their companies as we focus on driving business growth and long-term success across our portfolio.” Jason said: “Turner’s values, legacy and operational experience built over more than a century is truly exceptional and unique. I look forward to playing an important role with the business at this significant point in its evolution and helping to deliver on our strategic vision.” Jason’s arrival follows the appointment of Mark Abbey as Turner’s Operating Partner earlier this year. Jason will work closely with the Turner team to explore new platform deals in industrial and business services markets. A particular area of focus in coming months will be on safety and water industry service businesses.   Jason was formerly Associate Director at PwC in its Corporate Finance team having been at the firm almost seven years. He regularly worked on multi-million-pound deals on both sides, as well as brief seats in PwC’s transaction services and equity fundraising teams.   In July, Turner sold its aviation business, Turner Aviation, to Precision Aviation Group, a global provider of aerospace maintenance, repair and overhaul services. The move contributed significantly to Turner’s liquid resources, with substantial funds available for investment in its existing companies and new transactions.

Graduates are choosing not to take up careers in aerospace and aviation because they are considered not green enough, a conference has heard. Several speakers at the Farnborough Aerospace Conference said the trend was exacerbating an already difficult situation recruiting in the industry. With the UK being a world leader in aerospace, growth could be compromised unless more talent enters the sector, delegates were told. Stephen Cowan, Vice-President for Supplier Development and Strategic Sourcing at GKN Aerospace Defence, and former Chairman of the Aerospace Growth Partnership (AGP), was amongst those who raised concern. He said: “Education places a strong emphasis on sustainability and the environment, and there is a common view that the aerospace industry's journey to net-zero will take decades." “It is admirable that young people are concerned about the environment and sustainability, and if young people really want to change things then going into aerospace is a great option because it is a leading industry in innovation." “It is creating sustainable fuels, new power systems with batteries and hydrogen, and there is a real commitment to get to net-zero flight. All these embryonic technologies are advancing quickly and will also be used to benefit other sectors." "There's a common misconception that shop floor manufacturing is outdated, while industries like automotive are viewed as more modern and clean. In reality, aerospace is advancing rapidly, with smart technologies and innovation driving significant changes across the sector." “At GKN Aerospace, we have global technology centres where hundreds of engineers collaborate closely with colleagues in the eco-system and from universities and knowledge institutes to develop and mature sustainable technologies, such as lightweight composites and hydrogen propulsion, ensuring we stay at the forefront of net-zero aviation." “This shift isn't just limited to engineering and manufacturing – HR, finance, and other office-based roles also benefit from this dynamic environment. While young talent may be drawn to industries perceived as more environmentally or socially responsible, aerospace is equally committed to sustainability and offers rewarding, impactful career opportunities in these areas." "We need talented minds to join us in staying at the forefront of sustainable aviation development, ensuring we continue to lead in innovation and progress. The new government has put an emphasis on growth and acknowledged that aerospace is an important sector. What we need now is for graduates and school leavers to go into aerospace." “STEM teaching and apprenticeships have made a difference, but the work must start in primary schools. “Aerospace and aviation are on the cusp of a revolution that will have the same sort as impact as Whittle’s jet engine did. Everyone in the sector wants clean, sustainable flight and it is achievable. It is now enshrined in law by the UK Government by 2050. The more bright minds who take up the challenge, the quicker we’ll have it.” Harriet Woollerton, service director for ADS, the aerospace, defence, security and space trade association, told the conference: “The Great Rocket Challenge is an example of how schools can introduce children to the sector, but business should play its part. The Great Rocket Challenge is an example of what can be done, but schools have budget constraints so this is something where businesses can help." “Donating a few hundred pounds to a school so it can enter the challenge and then perhaps lend some employees to help build a rocket would enable the students to compete against schools from other countries.” Other delegates spoke about the ignorance of children when it came to aerospace and that awareness about it as a career was vital. Alan Fisher, FAC’s CEO, said: “We engage with industry, government, and academia to address skills issues not just in the south-east where aerospace is centered, but countrywide. There is a perception issue. Aerospace is responsible for less than two per cent of the world’s emissions but you’d think it was 99 per cent if you listen to some commentators." “Most goods around the world are carried by ships which are often extremely bad for the environment. “People don’t often see shipping, but they will see planes overhead and notice the contrails and that reinforces the perception." “We had a series of excellent speakers, several of whom noted that young people were choosing not to enter the industry because it was considered harmful to the environment. But sustainability is not just an add-on anymore in aerospace, it’s essential for future business.” Dr Stephen Curran, an education expert who advised the government on the 2014 curriculum, said: “I’m very much in favour of technological advance. We need to deal with environmental problems through technology and innovation – not by stopping things. So we definitely need more emphasis on these types of careers. And we need to introduce children to them from a young age, then as they get older they are more likely to pursue them." “In Germany, for example, 70 per cent of students move in a vocational direction at 14 years of age. We don’t do that here. Also in Germany only 30 per cent or so of its young people go to university. The others are in vocational and technical training." “We have introduced ‘T’ Levels; technical-based qualifications that employers and businesses helped develop and are two-year courses for 16-18-year-olds. These are a good idea and should be developed." “There is also the messaging about climate and the environment. It is important of course but it has to be contextualised and clearly if industry has identified an issue it must be addressed.”

A new study describes the creation of a curriculum which embeds empathic communication skills throughout undergraduate education for medical students. A growing body of evidence is showing that empathic care and communication in healthcare settings leads to better outcomes for patients and helps healthcare professionals to cope with the pressures they face at work. However, a new study from experts at the Stoneygate Centre for Empathic Healthcare based at the University of Leicester, has revealed that despite most medical schools offering communication skills training, medical students’ empathy often declines as they progress through medical school. The study identified key gaps in existing empathy training and its authors have gone on to develop a replicable model that combines home visits to patients, workplace-based empathy assessments with patient feedback and evidence-based communication strategies that are integrated throughout the medical curriculum. Associate Professor in Medical Education and Honorary Senior Academic GP Andy Ward, of the Stoneygate Centre for Empathic Healthcare, said: "Empathy is central to effective medical practice but our research found that empathy training was concentrated in the early years of medical training and focussed on active listening and rapport-building, with little evidence-based content or longitudinal reinforcement." “This could explain why empathy often declines as students progress throughout medical school." “An evidence-based, empathy-focused communication skills curriculum has the potential to prevent the decline in medical student empathy and benefit students, future doctors, and patients.” During the study, the researchers worked with patients, students, and teachers to design an innovative new way of teaching communication skills to medical students. Dr Ward added: “Instead of short courses focused on ‘ticking boxes,’ this new programme helps students to learn empathy throughout their five years of training. It includes home visits to patients, opportunities for students to learn directly from lived experiences, and feedback from patients themselves on how students communicate." “It also teaches students how to navigate complex interactions including discussions about end-of-life care or working with people who face social exclusion.” The study is called ‘The development, delivery, and evaluation of novel longitudinal empathy-focused communication skills training at a UK medical school’ and has been published in Patient Education & Counseling.

The outstanding contribution of JCB employees across the globe is being recognised with an extra day’s holiday to mark the company’s 80th anniversary.   More than 19,000 people at 22 plants around the world will celebrate the family digger maker’s remarkable international success story with the holiday on Friday, October 24th. In the UK, more than 8,000 employees based at JCB’s plants in Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Wrexham will enjoy the extra day off – giving everyone a long weekend.   It will be 80 years on Thursday, October 23rd since the late Joseph Cyril Bamford CBE founded JCB in a 12 ft x 15 ft lock up garage in Uttoxeter – on the same day his son Anthony was born. Lord Bamford took over from his father as Chairman in 1975 and has overseen the company’s expansion into a global manufacturer making more than 350 different products for the construction industry and agriculture.   Lord Bamford said: “JCB would be nowhere if it wasn’t for the efforts of our employees around the world and this extra day’s holiday is a small token of my family’s gratitude as we mark our 80th birthday.”

A business that helps families of disabled children travel more easily has doubled its turnover and moved into new premises after receiving specialist scale-up support from Business Gateway East Renfrewshire. Safe Place Beds Ltd. was founded by Lucy Todd after she struggled to find suitable travel bed options for her son. Lucy is a proud mum to CJ, who has complex additional needs including epilepsy and autism. CJ has a specialist bed in the home, but when he outgrew a travel cot it became increasingly difficult to go on holiday or visit relatives. She searched online for solutions and what she found was bulky, heavy, complicated and expensive. She found the American website for Safe Place Beds, which are compact, affordable beds for children with additional needs. The Safe Place Bed provided the perfect solution, but shipping from America was expensive and Lucy saw a gap in the market. During the pandemic she contacted the American owners of Safe Place Beds and asked if she could distribute in the UK. They took a chance on her and said yes. The lightweight, compact and easy-to-assemble beds are designed for children aged between 3-13 years old with conditions like autism, Angelman syndrome, cerebral palsy, Down's syndrome, epilepsy, Smith Magenis syndrome and a wide range of chromosomal conditions. Driven to provide the best for each family’s needs, Lucy takes a warm, informative approach to customer service, always ensuring a Safe Place Bed is the right fit for them before buying. She is also committed to reducing the environmental impact of the business: beds are shipped in a carbon-neutral way in fully recyclable packaging and recent design improvements mean that individual parts can now be replaced, extending product life and reducing waste. The way that customers use the Safe Place Bed has also changed, with approximately 50% of customers using it as a permanent bed in the home. In March 2024, the business moved to new premises at Greenlaw Works in Newton Mearns. In April 2024, the business was formalised from a sole trader to a limited company. And in May 2024, the first member of staff was recruited – another parent of children with additional needs. Since 2024, Lucy has been able to significantly scale up the business with Business Gateway’s East Renfrewshire Accelerator programme, which provided expert guidance across a range of areas including marketing, social media, GDPR, shipping, online marketplaces, HR, moving premises, business planning and access to funding. Turnover has doubled for the business since it started on the Accelerator programme. Lucy Todd, Safe Place Beds Ltd owner, said: “My journey with Safe Place Beds Ltd has been about helping people like me. I know what a difference peace of mind makes. The East Renfrewshire Accelerator programme has been amazing for me. I’ve spent a lot of time with other people who are running businesses, received fantastic training, and always had someone from Business Gateway on hand to discuss things with.” Scott Arnot, Business Gateway East Renfrewshire adviser, said: “Lucy had already laid strong foundations with Safe Place Beds Ltd. and we were glad to support her in taking the next steps. We looked at how a range of aspects of the business could be enhanced, and it’s been great to see how transformative things like securing a dedicated space and funding have been for her vision.”

Mike Wilson, Managing Partner at leading UK law firm Blake Morgan LLP, has been appointed Chair of the CBI’s South-East Council. A longstanding member of the council, Mike brings deep regional insight and leadership experience to the role. He joined Blake Morgan in 2012 and was elected Managing Partner in 2016. Since then, he has overseen the firm’s strategic growth and development, working closely with the firms’ strategy and operations boards to ensure the business remains values-driven and regionally invested. Mike is known for championing an inclusive, people-first culture. Under his leadership, Blake Morgan has undergone significant cultural transformation, offering colleagues meaningful career opportunities and maintaining retention rates well above the industry average. His strategic restructuring of the firm has also delivered strong returns for stakeholders. As Chair, Mike will play a key role in representing South-East businesses and helping shape the CBI’s regional agenda. Anneka Hendrick, CBI London and South-East Director, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Mike as Chair-Elect of the CBI South-East Council. A valued CBI Councillor for many years, Mike brings more than three decades of experience as a law firm leader, and latterly as Managing Partner of Blake Morgan." “His boardroom expertise, extensive networks across the South-East and beyond, and commitment to inclusive growth give him a deep understanding of the region’s business landscape. Combined with his strong support for the CBI’s mission, these qualities make him an outstanding choice to champion the voice of South-East businesses." “We look forward to working with him to drive forward the priorities of our members and the wider business community.” New CBI South-East Council Chair, Mike Wilson, said: “It is an immense privilege to be appointed as Chair of the CBI’s South-East Council. I have been a member of the CBI Council for several years and have seen how impactful the organisation can be as a collective voice for businesses across the UK, especially in London and the South-East, which together cover over 35% of the UK's registered firms." “Given the challenges faced by many businesses and organisations in recent times, the need to drive sustainable growth through investment across all sectors throughout the UK is paramount. We need a vibrant, modern economy. It is more important now than ever that the CBI continues to advocate for businesses in a practical, optimistic way." “I look forward to working closely with the CBI Council and my colleagues across London and the South-East to achieve this, ensuring that we take advantage of the opportunities available to us through the impressive CBI network.”

Emirates and AC Milan are proud to announce the extension of their iconic partnership. The landmark renewal reinforces one of football’s longest and most successful collaborations, with Emirates continuing as the Principal Partner, Official Airline Partner, and Official Men’s Jersey Partner of the prestigious Italian club. As part of the renewal, Emirates’ signature ‘fly better’ logo will remain emblazoned on the front of AC Milan’s Men’s First Team shirts across all major competitions including Serie A, Coppa Italia, UEFA, FIFA fixtures, and international friendlies. Emirates iconic logo will also extend to the jerseys of AC Milan Academy youth players, enabling the partnership to cultivate not only sporting excellence but also the next generation of footballing talent from grassroots to the global stage. Emirates will also benefit from extensive activation rights, including LED displays of its brand in stadiums and training centres for all home matches, exclusive digital content, fan engagement experiences, and premium hospitality. The extended partnership will feature innovative initiatives to engage fans, such as global watch parties hosted at select international locations. Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline said: "We are thrilled to extend our partnership with AC Milan. This collaboration, built on shared values and a mutual commitment to excellence, has created unforgettable experiences for millions of fans worldwide." "Our deep-rooted relationship with Italy makes this extension a natural next step, as we continue to connect Milan and other Italian cities to the world through Dubai, while bringing Rossoneri fans across our global network closer to their favourite club and players." Maikel Oettle, Chief Commercial Officer of AC Milan, stated: “The renewal of our partnership with Emirates stands as testimony to one of the most historic and admired collaborations in football, a shared journey that looks to the future with ambition and vision." "Emirates will continue to stand by our side, helping us strengthen the Club’s solid foundations and, together, connect new generations of fans around the world while creating unique experiences that go far beyond the pitch.” This renewed partnership reaffirms Emirates’ position as a leader in global sports sponsorship and AC Milan’s status as the Italian club with the largest global fanbase. Together, these two iconic brands will continue to create unmatched experiences for fans both in Italy and worldwide, forging powerful synergies between aviation and sports. Emirates first began its sponsorship of AC Milan in September 2007. In 2008, the relationship was elevated to Top Institutional Sponsor, and the airline became the official jersey sponsor in the 2010/2011 season. In celebration of AC Milan’s 125th anniversary, Emirates unveiled a bespoke A380 livery last year, featuring the club’s iconic colours and official crest, symbolizing the deep-rooted and enduring nature of this partnership. AC Milan has also opened its new office in Dubai, serving as a key hub for the Club to expand its commercial and communication strategies throughout the region. Emirates’ ongoing commitment to football enables it to connect with fans worldwide, forging prestigious partnerships with top football clubs and major tournaments. The airline’s ‘fly better’ logo is proudly displayed on the jerseys of prominent European clubs such as Real Madrid, Arsenal FC, Benfica SL and Olympique Lyonnais. The airline has also recently expanded its football portfolio with a new partnership with FC Bayern Munich, becoming the Platinum Partner of its first team from the 2025-26 season through to 2031-32. Emirates has been the Title Partner of The FA Cup for nearly a decade, with the tournament officially known as The Emirates FA Cup. While in the UAE, Emirates continues to support the UAE Pro League, and the airline's logo will appear on the sleeve and back of Al Ain FC’s training jerseys throughout the 2025/2026 season.