As part of a company commitment to inspire the next generation of farmers, Perdue Farms has renewed its support of the National FFA Organization’s Give the Gift of Blue program with a $20,000 grant funded through the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation. This donation is part of the company’s Delivering Hope to Our Neighbors® outreach focused on improving quality of life and building strong communities. FFA (formerly Future Farmers of America) is a student organization that prepares members for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. Molly Ball, president of the National FFA Foundation and chief marketing officer of the National FFA Organization said: “National FFA is grateful for Perdue Farms’ continued partnership and commitment to the future of agriculture. By supporting the Give the Gift of Blue program, they are helping more FFA members feel welcome in our organization and part of something bigger than themselves .” FFA members are required to wear Official Dress, which includes an FFA jacket and scarf or tie, to participate in competitions and attend the National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis. The FFA blue jacket, part of the organization since 1933, generates pride in those who wear it, highlighting the state and local chapter they represent and giving students a sense of belonging. Kim Nechay, executive director of the Perdue Foundation, applauds the work of the National FFA Organization’s Give the Gift of Blue program. “FFA is an important organization for the future of agriculture and the next generation of farmers in this country,” she said. “The iconic blue jackets are a point of pride for FFA members. We are proud to continue funding to enable youth who cannot afford the jacket the opportunity to participate in a unique tradition.”

The Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust has donated a four-figure sum to assist a vital charity which provides comprehensive support to families with children undergoing cancer treatment. The Emma Cameron Foundation has been a pillar of support for families coping with the devastating impact of childhood cancer. Established in memory of Emma Cameron, who battled osteosarcoma (bone cancer) until her passing in 2011, the foundation channels Emma's spirit of resilience and generosity by offering financial assistance and support to families in similar circumstances. With a deep understanding of the financial hardships that accompany a child's cancer diagnosis, the foundation was created to provide the numerous forms of support that Emma and her family were grateful to receive during her treatment. Operating on an annual budget of £60,000, the Emma Cameron Foundation support everything from funding for real hair wigs, trips to Lapland, support for social workers, facilitating end-of-life care at home in partnership with CHAS - a service that was not available to Emma but is now a critical form of support for families - to providing supermarket vouchers to help with immediate needs. Funding these essential services has become more challenging in the wake of the pandemic, with the foundation now relying entirely on self-generated fundraising and donations due to the depletion of reserve funds. The Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust has donated £2,500 to fund these supermarket vouchers, which will cover the Emma Cameron Foundation’s annual cost for provision of this service. Alan Cameron, Emma’s father, founder of the Emma Cameron Foundation said, "From our experience with Emma we know that having a child in hospital with cancer is expensive, adding more worry and issues to the most basic concerns about their diagnosis. There are so many financial consequences to a child’s cancer diagnosis, and we are trying to minimise this impact and let families focus on their child’s health." “We work with the hospital social workers who are aware of the impact a child’s cancer diagnosis has on each family. They identify the families most in need and the vouchers funded by the Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust will be used to help families who are having to stay away from home, have extended periods in hospital, make emergency pyjama / toiletries purchases, and more.” Jennifer Miller, Corporate Sales Manager and Charitable Trust committee member at Allied Vehicles Group said, “We are honoured to support the Emma Cameron Foundation's shopping voucher scheme with a donation of £2,500. With this contribution we aim to alleviate some of the burdens these brave families face, ensuring they have one less worry as they focus on their child's health and well-being."

Cladspray Solutions, a commercial spray painting company, celebrated the grand opening of its new premises in Norwich last Friday. The event drew an attendance of around 200 guests, with former Norwich City Football Club captain Grant Holt cutting the ribbon. The new 11,500 square foot facility on Mason Road marks a significant milestone for Cladspray Solutions, symbolising its commitment to innovation and excellence in the industrial coatings sector. Equipped with purpose-built offices and a renovated warehouse, the premises also provide space for their in-house training programme. Among the guests were representatives from Lotus, Bluespace, and Ovamill, who spoke of their longstanding relationships with Cladspray Solutions. Additionally, charities Friend in Deed and Future Projects were present, highlighting the impactful work Cladspray does within the community. David Eyre, representing the Corrodere Academy, commended Cladspray Solutions for its commitment to excellence in training. He emphasised the significance of Cladspray's new world-class training facility, the only one of its kind in the region. Established in 2013 by Founder and Managing Director Tom Carter, Cladspray Solutions has emerged as a leader in industrial coatings. With a focus on quality and customer service, Cladspray has won numerous awards over the years. They have just been published on the Financial Times' Fastest Growing Companies list for the third consecutive year. They're one of just four UK construction firms on the list this year, which confirms their strong position in the industry. Tom Carter, Managing Director of Cladspray Solutions, thanked the company's team of skilled employees and reiterated the commitment to innovation and supporting the local community.

Baked Earth Bakery has launched two new flatbread wraps for the food service sector. The fully baked, round Turkish style wraps and the Greek style wraps can be packed with tasty ingredients to make a light lunch or a food-to-go snack or used as an accompaniment to dips. Both suitable for vegans and vegetarians, the Baked Earth flatbread wraps are available to the catering sector via frozen food distributor Central Foods and warmed from frozen in 4-5 minutes in an oven or in a few minutes under the grill. They can also be defrosted and eaten cold. The flatbreads are an ideal replacement for tortillas for food service professionals who are keen to offer their customers something extra special. Dan Butt, MD of Nottingham-based Baked Earth, said: “We have been baking flatbreads for almost 35 years, continually innovating and creating new and exciting products for our food service customers." “We are very pleased to have launched the Turkish and the Greek style flatbreads. They are tasty, versatile and just perfect for the latest trends in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine.” Both approximately 200mm in diameter, the Turkish style is topped with brown and yellow linseeds and kalonji (black onion) seeds, while the Greek style is embedded with ancient grains, such as linseeds, sunflower seeds, millet, wheat flakes, oat flakes, barley flakes and crushed rye. For more information visit www.centralfoods.co.uk

The international transport and logistics company Gebrüder Weiss ended its 2023 fiscal year with a net revenue of 2.47 billion euros (2022: 3 billion euros). Despite this decline, the company remains above its growth trend seen between 2015 and 2020. The coronavirus-related effects of the two previous years did not persist in 2023. At 774 million euros, net revenue in the Air & Sea business area subsequently returned to levels seen in previous years. Given the higher freight rates shipping lines and airlines charged, Gebrüder Weiss generated 1.27 billion euros in this segment in the previous year. Revenue was also stable in the Land Transport and Logistics business areas at 1.45 billion euros (2022: 1.48 billion euros), with declining energy and fuel prices. The equity ratio increased to 63 percent (2022: 60 percent), ensuring the company’s ability to handle crises and positioning it as an ideal employer. Wolfram Senger-Weiss, CEO of Gebrüder Weiss commented: “Despite the challenges posed by general economic conditions, we have been able to help our customers enjoy success in their global sales markets with our first-rate service and increase the presence of Gebrüder Weiss with new locations in the USA and Germany. This is due first and foremost to the wholehearted dedication shown by our employees." "Geopolitical conflicts and weaker global economic output had a negative impact on revenue and transport volumes. Our stable financial situation meant that, in 2023, we were still able to implement a comprehensive investment program to expand both locations and services. Many projects that had to be postponed as a result of COVID-19 could now be carried out in 2023." Investments in network expansion With a record investment volume of 187 million euros, Gebrüder Weiss substantially expanded its network in the German and US markets, as well as South-Eastern Europe, while also investing in customer projects and sustainable energy generation. In Bavaria in particular, the logistics company consolidated its position through acquisitions and real estate purchases in Bayreuth, Konradsreuth and Nuremberg and the construction of a new freight forwarding terminal in Straubing. The US network was expanded to include locations in Miami and Laredo, Texas. Other investment projects included a second location in Bucharest, the enlargement of the logistics terminal in Hungary, and the construction of a new logistics warehouse in Graz and Reutte, Tyrol. As a result of the acquisitions, the number of employees at the 180 locations worldwide increased to 8,600 (2022: 8,400). At the same time as it works to expand its network, Gebrüder Weiss has also been investing in the digitalization of supply chain management. Warehouse analysis functions (Warehouse Analytics) have been added to the web-based customer portal myGW. The portal offers transparency along the entire supply chain and serves as a central information and communication platform for customers and their global shipments, covering everything from real-time tracking to estimated times of arrival (ETA). More renewable energies The company made progress in decarbonizing its own business activities. Three-quarters of the company’s own electricity requirements in the DACH region are already met by its own solar power. In 2023, the logistics expert commissioned nine further photovoltaic systems (PV) in the DACH region and Eastern Europe. A total of 27 PV systems generated 5,850 megawatt hours of electricity, doubling the amount of CO2 emissions saved to 2,750 tons. Gebrüder Weiss has also been helping improve the green credentials of the electricity mix in Germany since 2011 with its wind farm in Northern Germany. The company’s attention is increasingly on its own vehicle fleet as part of its goal to achieve climate neutrality in the operation of its own assets and trucks by 2030. The logistics company already uses e-vans to deliver goods ordered online to end customers in Austria, Hungary, Croatia, and Romania. Two battery-powered trucks will be launched in Germany this year, and further e-trucks and e-delivery vehicles will be purchased in Austria. To manage the transition period to e-mobility, the company is converting a large part of its own truck fleet in Austria to hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO). Following the downturn in global trade and signs of a recession, Gebrüder Weiss expects a slight economic upturn in the second half of 2024, thereby translating into more positive revenue development fed by the success of individual national companies. Wolfram Senger-Weiss noted: “We are now benefiting from the fact that we have a global position and can swiftly respond to economic upturns in individual regions with the necessary local logistics services." "At the same time, we see confirmation of our “best of both worlds” strategy. The last few years in particular have shown how important it is to invest in both the development of the operational network and the company’s digital expertise.”

New Consumer Spend data from Barclays’ annual contactless trends report has revealed that 2023 was another record-breaking year for ‘touch and pay’, further cementing it as the UK’s most popular payment method, owing to its speed and convenience. Usage grew across all age demographics, and the gap between older and younger audiences continues to narrow, with fastest growth among the over 65s for the third year running. Mobile wallets are also gaining ground, particularly with younger shoppers, while Chip and PIN and cash are the preferences for purchases over £100. Across the population as a whole, a record 93.4 per cent of all in-store card transactions up to £100 were made using contactless in 2023, and in total there were 7.8 per cent more ‘touch and go’ transactions than in 2022. On an individual level, the average user made more transactions (up from 220 to 231), on more expensive items (the average purchase cost £15.69 – up 3.8 per cent), meaning that they spent more overall (£3,623 – up 8.9 per cent). For the second year running, the Friday just before Christmas (22 December 2023) was the single biggest day for contactless – spending was 87.6 per cent higher compared to the daily average, as shoppers picked up last-minute gifts, or enjoyed a few drinks with friends as they clocked off for their festive break. Silver Spenders Tap Into Convenience While contactless is still more popular among younger consumers, the gap between older and younger audiences continues to narrow. In 2023, the percentage of active users among 85–95-year-olds (80.1 per cent) crossed 80 per cent for the first time. More broadly, for the third year in a row, over-65s were the fastest growing segment for contactless usage , up 4.1 per cent year-on-year. However, there is still a division among contactless users when it comes to preferences for making contactless payments using a mobile wallet versus a physical card. Research from Barclays shows just 3 per cent of over-75s prefer a mobile payment over using a physical card, whereas a quarter (25 per cent) of 18-34-year-olds say they prefer to use their phone. Wallets Optional: Younger Consumers Embrace Mobile Payments The increasing popularity of mobile payments; which have no contactless upper limit via two-factor authentication; means some younger shoppers now opt to go cardless when leaving home. More than one in five (22 per cent) of those aged 18-34 regularly leave their wallet behind when out shopping in favour of paying with their smartphone, in comparison to just 1 per cent of over 75s. As a consequence for increased ‘touch and go’ mobile spending, nearly one fifth (18 per cent) of Brits admit they also have trouble remembering their PIN when prompted. Fortunately, many banks, including Barclays, allow customers to check their PIN securely by logging in through their mobile banking app. Table Tech When dining out, restaurant-goers continued to embrace contactless and digital payments in 2023. While overall restaurant spending was down -6.7 per cent due to cost-of-living pressures, contactless spending fell only -2.9 per cent; demonstrating the shift towards speed and convenience at the point of payment. In addition, 15 per cent of those aged 18-34 now say they prefer to order and pay by scanning a QR code using their phone when the option is available, to avoid having to wait for the bill or card machine at the end of a meal. A Win For Chip And PIN When it comes to buying items over £100, pre-contactless technologies remain the most popular way to pay. Four in five (78 per cent) say that Chip and PIN is one of their top two choices, while one in four (23 per cent) opts for cash. Contactless payments over £100 are possible using a mobile wallet – the limit of £100 applies to physical cards; mobile wallets while growing in usage, placed third chosen by one in five (19 per cent). Karen Johnson, Head of Retail at Barclays said: “Since we rolled out contactless payments to the UK in 2007, it has firmly cemented itself as the UK’s favourite payment method, thanks to its speed and convenience." "Given the growing number of cashless businesses, I’m pleased to see that many older shoppers are embracing touch and go, and that the gap in contactless usage between age demographics continues to narrow." “In 2024, we expect to see a greater shift to payments using mobile wallets, as more bricks-and-mortar business integrate the technology into their customer experience. Many of our hospitality & leisure clients are finding success by giving customers the ability to order and pay from their table by scanning a QR code. Customers like it because they don’t have to wait for the bill, meaning they can squeeze in an extra round of drinks or a dessert before they need to leave, and the business frees up more capacity for waitstaff, boosting productivity.”

Work to develop a new community diagnostic centre (CDC) at Metrocentre in Gateshead is now underway.  Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust and Newcastle Hospitals are working in partnership on this exciting project – that is being delivered by Robertson Construction North East – which will create a modern, state-of-the-art environment for patients, carers and staff. The CDC will provide imaging, respiratory investigations and cardiac investigations with the centre designed to create capacity for these services that are seeing increased referrals. It is an important step in providing improved access to screening and diagnostic services outside of a hospital setting for the people of Gateshead and Newcastle.  Funding for the centre was announced earlier this year and once open it will offer 145,000 appointments per year and create 134 jobs.   A steel signing ceremony has been held to mark the start of work on the centre. Trudie Davies, Chief Executive for Gateshead Health and Sir Jim Mackey, Chief Executive of Newcastle Hospitals, said: “We are delighted to see work progressing on the new community diagnostic centre at Metrocentre. This collaborative effort between Gateshead Health and Newcastle Hospitals signifies our commitment to enhancing healthcare services for our communities." "The centre will meet the growing demand for diagnostic services that are easy for people to visit, as well as creating many employment opportunities. It will be a great service for the residents of Gateshead and Newcastle.”  Garry Hope, Managing Director, Robertson Construction North East, commented: “The new community diagnostic centre is a great example of two NHS Trusts collaborating to meet the needs of the communities they serve through an accessible facility which puts healthcare to the fore." “Having worked with both Trusts before on the delivery of successful projects, they can be confident that we will deliver a quality facility that everyone can be proud of.” Alice Leaver, Head of Service for Clinical Support and Screening, said: "The development of the community diagnostic centre at the Metrocentre is a significant step forward for healthcare in our region. Faster access to crucial diagnostic tests like MRIs, ultrasounds, and heart function tests will have a really positive impact on patients from both Trusts." Ken Bremner MBE is Chair of the North East and North Cumbria Provider Collaborative. He said: “This is a fantastic example of what can be achieved through collaboration and it is great news that work is finally underway on this exciting development."    “The new Metrocentre Community Diagnostic Centre will make a huge difference to the residents of Gateshead, Newcastle and beyond.  Providing more healthcare services within community settings like this is vitally important.  It means we will be able to see more patients quickly as we keep our relentless focus on improving waiting times across the region’s NHS.”  David Gullane, Regional Director, AtkinsRéalis, said: “AtkinsRéalis has been involved from the very beginning of the Gateshead Community Diagnostic Centre's journey, and we’re delighted to be supporting the delivery of such a key facility for the local area and the wider region." “Watching this come to life on site is a great testament to everyone's efforts to date, ensuring we deliver a great facility for the whole community to benefit from.” Gavin Prior, Director, Metrocentre Centre, commented: “With the fit out works now well underway, this is a landmark moment for Metrocentre, as we introduce a flagship healthcare facility for Gateshead & Newcastle and the North East more widely. It will enrich our offer, increase healthcare accessibility for our catchment and deliver new purpose to visit Metrocentre to the benefit of all our occupiers. This showcases our mission to offer visitors and locals what they want and need, as a big step in evolving the diversity of uses at Metrocentre.” The community diagnostic centre will be opening later this year in autumn. Newcastle Hospitals and Gateshead Health are two of four hospital trusts in the North of England who have signalled their intention to work together as part of the Great North Healthcare Alliance. The Trusts believe that there is huge potential to reshape healthcare to deliver significant benefits to our patients and staff within our own organisations and in the wider region.

After 14 years of leadership, innovation and strategic vision, David Hurcomb will retire from his role as Chief Executive Officer of NG Bailey Group in May 2024. Under David’s leadership, NG Bailey, the UK’s largest independent engineering and services business, has experienced unprecedented growth, diversification and success. From cultivating a balanced business in the engineering and building infrastructure services sectors, to delivering groundbreaking projects, David has been instrumental in positioning the company as a formidable force in the built environment sector. Jonathan Stockton will replace David in the role of Chief Executive Officer. Jonathan joined NG Bailey in 2016 and has held several senior roles within the business, including Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. He was appointed to the Group Board in 2021, since when he has worked closely with David at a strategic Group level as part of this planned transition. Following his retirement in May, David will continue to work closely with the business for a short period to support the transition of responsibility and overall leadership to Jonathan. David said: “It has been a huge honour to have played my part during my time as Chief Executive in the ongoing success of what is a truly fantastic family-owned business." “I am immensely proud of the many remarkable highlights and achievements there have been over the years, and it has been a pleasure to have worked with so many talented colleagues." “Whilst we have faced undoubted challenges along the way, including Covid-19 and challenging wider market conditions in more recent times, I am delighted that the business is well on its way to pre-pandemic levels of performance. Indeed, early indications show an increase in turnover and expected double-digit profit figure for the 2023/4 financial year." "Alongside this, our well diversified portfolio means we have a healthy £1.4bn forward order book, with strong growth in sustainable markets." “Looking ahead, I am certain we will further develop and innovate across our engineering and services divisions, ensuring we continue to make a positive impact in the key sectors we operate in and through the vital UK infrastructure projects we deliver." “Finally, being able to fill my role by promoting from within is testament to the great people we have and significant investment we make as a business to develop our skills and talent. I would like to take this opportunity to wish Jonathan every success in his new role as he leads the Group on the next phase of its exciting journey.” Jonathan added: “I am very much looking forward to my new appointment and taking on the position of Chief Executive Officer, working with the Board, shareholders and senior leadership teams to lead the business through its next chapter." “I would like to thank David for his ongoing support, and I wish him a much deserved, long and happy retirement.”

As the official logistics partner of the Austrian Space Forum (OeWF), Gebrüder Weiss turned its Maria Lanzendorf location into a test site for the Mars Analog Mission AMADEE-24 from January 26 to 28. The research team and the Analog astronauts of the OeWF conducted a comprehensive dress rehearsal with the equipment and the scientific experiments for the Mission. On Sunday, January 28, during a special open house event, science, space travel, and the future of mobility came alive for the company’s employees and their families. Jürgen Bauer, member of the Management Board of Gebrüder Weiss commented: “This is the second time that we are supporting the Austrian Space Forum with our transport and logistics expertise." "We consider it important to participate in shaping the future of mobility and to also enable our employees to experience the same up close. As the world’s oldest transport and logistics company, we feel a commitment in this respect." AMADEE-24 is the most complex Mars Analog Mission to date. During the dress rehearsal, the OeWF tests to ensure that both the astronauts and equipment are fit for a one-month mission in complete isolation. Last weekend, visitors enjoyed a live experience, watching how scientists work, seeing how difficult it is to put on a spacesuit, and what an astronaut’s watch needs to be like to withstand the extreme conditions prevailing in outer space. Gernot Grömer, Director of the OeWF, comments on AMADEE-24: “This dress rehearsal is very important to us. It shows us where we stand at the moment, and what still needs to be done before we start the actual simulation in Armenia early in March." "The high interest on the part of visitors and the support provided by Gebrüder Weiss offer us some tailwind for the most complex mission that we have carried out so far.” The one-month Mars simulation will take place in the desert region around Armash, Armenia, in March. Logistics plays an important role in implementing the project. Gebrüder Weiss will bring the sensitive equipment from Maria Lanzendorf to Armenia, taking care of safely packing spacesuits, rovers and drones, as well as managing customs clearance and delivery of the goods. This challenging Mission highlights the logistics company’s expertise in the field of special transports, as well as its extensive know-how in the Caucasus region. Gebrüder Weiss has its own locations in Georgia and Armenia that cooperate closely with Viennese colleagues on the AMADEE-24 Mission. “We have assembled a team of experts from all three countries for this pioneering mission. They are going to treat the two sea freight containers like spaceships, bringing them safely to the mission site and back,” says Franco Ravazzolo, Department Manager Projects & Break Bulk at Gebrüder Weiss. The trip from Austria via Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Türkiye and Georgia to the final destination in the Armenian desert of Armash is starting this week. The transport back in May will also be handled by Gebrüder Weiss. You can find video footage of the event in the sidebar on the right. Information about the Mars Analog Mission AMADEE-24 will be posted on the logistics expert’s social media channels regularly.

LEGO believe it’s important to be transparent about their sustainability efforts, including ambition to make products from more sustainable materials. Finding alternative materials to make their long-lasting, durable, safe LEGO bricks with is a significant challenge but one that are more committed than ever to solving. As LEGO work to solve this challenge, they will continue to share their progress, both big and small steps, as they believe this will help keep them and others moving forward. Investing to accelerate progress By 2032, their ambition is to make LEGO products from materials that are renewable and recycled. This ambition requires investment and in 2023, they increased spending on environmental initiatives by 60% compared to 2022. By 2025 they plan to have doubled their annual spend compared to 2023. LEGO know there isn’t one solution for the challenge they face, instead there are a range of solutions, that will help achieve their ambition. LEGO remain curious, creative and committed in finding them. Materials that meet high standards To date, LEGO have tested more than 600 different materials for their LEGO bricks and elements. Some have already been successful, such as bio-PE which are used to make more than 200 different botanical elements and Minifigure accessories. Others have shown potential, but have not met their strict quality, safety and durability requirements, or would not have helped reduce their carbon footprint. This is the nature of innovation, but they always learn from the process and make progress. One of LEGO's latest successes is the introduction of a new material called arMABS to their portfolio. This is produced using recycled artificial marble, commonly found in kitchen worktops, and from this year it will be used in over 500 different LEGO elements, including all of their transparent elements such as light sabres, windscreens and windows. It will be found in around 60% of sets. LEGO are also excited to be working on the development of a material called ePOM that uses cutting-edge technology to mix renewable energy and CO2 from bio-waste. They hope to start introducing this soon, for select LEGO elements, such as wheel axels. Role in driving industry change LEGO are pleased with the progress they are making and will continue to test new materials and technology as they develop. However, they also want to play a broader role in driving industry change. Right now, the market for high quality sustainable plastic – that can be reused for decades – is still emerging, which means the quantities and quality of raw materials they and other manufacturers need are simply not yet available. They want to help change this. Moving forward with mass balance One of the ways LEGO aim to do this is by increasing their use of material that has been certified according to mass balance principles. In simple terms, this is resin made from a mix of certified renewable or recycled raw materials, such as used cooking or plant oils, and virgin fossil. LEGO can use this in their existing manufacturing process to make products without compromising on quality or safety. In 2023, 18 percent of all resin they purchased was certified according to mass balance principles, which translates into an estimated average of 12 percent renewable sources. LEGO plan to significantly increase this percentage in 2024 and beyond. They don’t see mass balance as a long-term solution but for now, as technology around sustainable materials continues to develop, they believe it is the best option to stimulate the raw materials market, which in turn will help them to make products more sustainable. Building a more sustainable future for children LEGO will continue to join forces with suppliers, research institutions and other industries to develop and innovate new and existing materials to drive the industry’s transition to renewable and recycled materials. Today, this is their most important innovation journey - they know the environment is one of children’s biggest concerns and they want to play their part in building a more sustainable future for each new generation of children. LEGO know all of this cannot be done alone and they encourage a collective effort so they can build progress together.

The UKs leading supplier of gritters and winter maintenance vehicles is celebrating its female employees today as the world marks International Women’s Day. Yorkshire-based Econ may operate in what many regard as a male-dominated engineering and manufacturing world, but its ethos of equal opportunities continues to promote diversity within its workforce. Figures from the Women’s Engineering Society released in 2022 revealed how women now make up 16.5% of all engineers in the UK, compared to 10.5% reported in 2010, representing a six per cent increase in the proportion of women in the workforce. This year’s International Women’s Day message is to ‘inspire inclusion’, and Econ is keen to ensure opportunities at its Ripon factory are there for everyone… no matter your gender. Econ director, Katie Sharman, said: “Econ is a family run business which looks after its staff as though they were part of that family. Being a woman should not, and does not, prevent you from doing any job that you wish to take on, and here at Econ we make sure there are equal opportunities for all our staff." “International Women’s Day is important as it raises the profile of women workers in a wide range of sectors and industries, helping to break down the barriers that may have previously blocked female applicants.” With an 85% share of the market, Econ prides itself in providing the vehicles and machinery needed to keep our nation’s roads open and our streets safe. Whether sold or leased to councils and contractors, the Econ vehicle stands for British manufacturing excellence and durability… and equality. Finance Director, Beverley Shepherd, said: "International women’s day is really important to Econ because it celebrates the achievements of our hard-working staff and promotes equality within the workforce.” Clare Hope, Hire Desk Manager and Office Manager, added: "I believe that days like International Women’s Day really do help to stamp out any inequality and stop discrimination across the workforce. To ensure that Econ has a more diverse workforce, all opportunities within the business are open to everybody, not only men, helping women to grow and to develop their skills.” And Chrissie Gargett, Hire Desk Administrator at Econ, added: “The types of women who inspire me are those who challenge the industry and those who go against the grain." “There are barriers within the industry because it is traditionally seen as a male dominated industry and it can be regarded as quite difficult for women to climb the ladder… but it is not impossible.”

St Austell Brewery has unveiled a new look for its flagship IPA, Proper Job which has already hit pubs and supermarkets across the UK. The independent, family-owned company has evolved the brand to continue to drive loyalty with its existing drinkers, as well as attracting a broader audience. The inspiration behind the rebrand was to fuse heritage and heartfelt craft with relevance for today’s market. It features a striking new typeface and Proper Job’s iconic green is more prominent to maximise stand out. A completely new brand world will be rolled out. This includes new glassware and pump clips in pubs, as well as new look bottles and can packs in supermarkets. The rebrand is being supported with a multi-channel marketing campaign which will launch in the spring. Laura McKay, St Austell Brewery’s Marketing & Communications Director, said: “Since the brand launched in 2006 the beer category has changed significantly, and it had been a little while since Proper Job’s look had evolved. Proper Job is a famous Cornish phrase meaning ‘a job well done’. Just like its name, we’ve spent over a year perfecting the beer’s new look and testing it with beer drinkers and fans of the brand." "Our investment in the brand is all about honouring Proper Job’s loyal drinkers with a design that doesn’t stray too far from its roots, as well as reaching new audiences with its fresh look and feel. There’s absolutely no change to the much-loved IPA’s recipe.” Proper Job was one of the first IPAs to hit the mainstream beer scene in the UK in 2006 and has gone on to become one of the country’s most well-recognised and award-winning premium ales. Packed full of vibrant citrus, pineapple, and resinous flavours, it’s expertly balanced with a crisp, bitter finish. A bold original with reliable quality in every sip. Proper Job is available in pubs nationwide (4.5% abv) as well as 500ml bottles (5.5% abv) and 4 x 440ml can packs (5.5% abv) in all major supermarkets across the country.