The 2018 UK Social Mobility Awards will be launched on Monday 19 March at an evening reception in Central London, where companies interested in entering the 2018 awards or who are developing social mobility initiatives are invited to attend.

The reception will be attended by the awards’ judging panel Chair, Sir Kenneth Olisa OBE, Lord Lieutenant of London, as well as other leading figures from business and government. Guests will hear from last year’s ‘Organisation of the Year’ winner, the Wates Group and case studies of the 2017 Awards winners, compiled by CSI Nuffield, will also be revealed at the event.

The UK Social Mobility Awards celebrate the forward-thinking organisations who are developing initiatives to promote social mobility, either within their own workforces, or by influencing the debate from beyond their own walls. By raising awareness and celebrating the people and organisations that are committed to bringing about change, these awards aim to advance the practical implementation of social mobility in this country. Entries are judged by a prestigious judging panel, made up of leading figures in business, charity, politics and the public sector.

The awards, which are sponsored by the RAF, PwC, BNP Paribas and Hedley May, received an impressive array of entries in its inaugural year, as well as support from the Prime Minister. This year, the awards expect to receive a greater number of entries from organisations who have demonstrated excellence in their social mobility initiatives, as more and more companies begin to focus to their efforts in this all-important arena.

Tunde Banjoko OBE, Founder of Making The Leap who have organised the awards, said:

The mission of the UK Social Mobility Awards is to promote the issue of social mobility, and celebrate the businesses and organisations who are demonstrating excellence in this arena. This awards programme is for UK-based private sector, public sector and third sector organisations that have at least 20 employees. If you are interested in attending this event or learning more about the 2018 UK Social Mobility Awards with a view to entering, contact Making The Leap on 020 8962 1900

The UK Social Mobility Awards is organised by leading Social Mobility charity Making The Leap, who have supported over 57,000 young people from disadvantaged backgrounds over 24 years. For further information about Making The Leap visit https://makingtheleap.org.uk

A Lancashire women’s activist has won a coveted place on a prestigious map, celebrating history making women of modern Britain. Preston based actress and women’s rights campaigner, Claire Moore was voted one of the women of ‘Suffragette Spirit’ following a nationwide search for worthy contenders by Amnesty International..

Claire, who plays the onstage version of Preston’s first ever Suffragette, Edith Rigby, has been a staunch advocate of women’s rights for nearly thirty years, writing and touring her plays, internationally, with her theatre company Certain Curtain Theatre. Claire founded the company in 1989, with the aim of producing dynamic, original dramas, tackling difficult subjects, particularly domestic violence and touring them to community spaces across the UK.

“I didn’t expect such an honour,”says Claire, who is currently rehearsing her role as Edith Rigby, in ‘Woman On Fire’, which will begin its national tour at the end of April.

“I’ve worked under the radar for many years, too wrapped up in my work, to consider such things! But it is a great honour to be voted onto the map by people who know my work! Thank you!”

As well as her theatre work, Claire also created the ‘Dead Women Walking March’ an annual event, every IDEVAW (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) in November to commemorate the many women killed by men they know, over the previous year.

“This is very important to me,” Claire adds. “It is vital that we are constantly reminded of this shocking waste of women’s lives and that they are not forgotten. I will continue my work come what may, for as long as I can.”

Writer and director of ‘Woman On Fire’ John Woudberg adds, “Claire thoroughly deserves every honour that comes her way. She is a woman of great spirit and tremendous courage which she brings to the part of Edith Rigby and Claire would certainly have been one of the first suffragettes, in 1903 - Edith would be proud of her!”

Wednesday 7 March 2018 marked the launch of a new All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) which has been established to examine the issues facing people living with the rare metabolic disease phenylketonuria (“PKU”).

PKU is a rare genetic metabolic disorder affecting around 1:10,000 people in the UK. People with PKU cannot metabolise phenylalanine, an amino acid found within protein foods. Currently, the only treatment funded in the UK is an extremely restricted dietary therapy in which almost all natural protein is removed from the diet. The majority of PKU patients in other European nations have access to the drug BH4 (Kuvan). The NHS does not currently commission Kuvan treatment.

Chaired by Liz Twist, MP for Blaydon, the APPG will raise awareness of PKU and consider the need for improvements to access to treatment.

Liz Twist said “A local family in Blaydon contacted me to explain their concern that their young son with PKU must eat virtually no natural protein to ensure safe brain development even though there is a drug treatment – Kuvan - which would help him. Kuvan is used in almost every other country in Europe but is not provided by the NHS. I am very pleased that this APPG has been formed with cross party support to examine the barriers and difficulties faced by people living with PKU.”

Eric Lange, Chairman of NSPKU, the national charity for PKU, said “The NSPKU is delighted to be working with the APPG to raise awareness of PKU. Many patients and families living with PKU have felt ignored and neglected for too long. We are extremely grateful for the support of MPs for bringing political scrutiny to our concerns.”

Notes to editors:

KingCasinoBonus.co.uk launched on March 03rd, 2018, for all the casino games enthusiasts based in the United Kingdom. It gives them the chance to win massive prizes by bringing some of the best promotions and bonuses online casinos have to offer.

Online gambling is becoming more and more popular and players are constantly looking for the best deals. Kingcasinobonus.co.uk was launched with the mission to offer gamblers in the UK more chances to win and have fun playing at the best online casinos. In addition, it also aims to provide the best solutions while taking into consideration all the latest changes in the UK gambling legislation.

This website is created by gamblers for gamblers and it offers everything they might need in order to enjoy an amazing gambling experience. It does not only come with consistent exclusive bonuses, but also with information on a wide variety of virtual casinos and different types of offers. This way, the players in UK can find the gambling platform and promotions that perfectly suit their gaming style and preferences. In addition, beginner gamers get a chance to understand a bit about how online gambling works before they start their journey.

KingCasinoBonus.co.uk has made it its personal goal to offer gamblers all the insight they need along with the best deals and solutions in the industry so they can really enjoy each of their gaming sessions. It does that by picking only high-quality online casinos that obey the law. It presents players with unbiased information about these gaming websites and their ongoing promotions. They have the chance to claim various exclusive bonuses such as the highly demanded 55 no deposit free spins one.

Free spins offers are very popular among UK gamblers. They allow them to play slot machines and win big prizes without spending any of their hard-earned money. Therefore, this website brings plenty of no deposit spins promotions for everyone to enjoy. They can all be found at https://kingcasinobonus.co.uk/free-spins/ . All the deals presented are in full accordance with the law, including its recent updates.

The passion for online gambling is what brings KingCasinoBonus.co.uk closer to casino games enthusiasts from the United Kingdom. In this fast-growing industry, bonuses became crucial and the website tries to help gamers spend less time looking for them and more time enjoying them. It constantly updates its database with new ones that can suit any player’s preferences. From no deposit to reload bonuses and welcome packages, they have plenty to choose from. Online casinos are tested and reviewed in order to make sure all gamblers get the best possible experience.

For more information on the best online casinos and promotions in the industry, please visit KingCasinoBonus.co.uk!

Ella got a new heart after five months in Freeman Hospital. A lot of that time she was on life support and it felt like we were too, but getting a new heart finally brought my baby back to life.

Ella became ill with a chest infection when she was 11 months old. I took her to our local doctor in Douglas on the Isle of Man who prescribed her some antibiotics and sent us home. However, rather than get better she continued to deteriorate. She refused to eat, was breathing rapidly and suddenly started vomiting. Ella’s Dad, TJ, called his mum who rushed over. She recognised Ella’s symptoms as a sign of a problem with her heart and told us to call an ambulance immediately.

My baby was rushed to Noble’s Hospital in Strang and after a chest X-ray, which showed she had pneumonia, a further one showed something a lot more serious. Our daughter looked so small and vulnerable. And all we could do was stand there with the words of comfort from our family members washing over us as we were told Ella had a problem with her heart.

An air ambulance arrived to transfer Ella to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool. I was terrified. There, Ella was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, which meant her left ventricle (the heart’s main pumping chamber) was enlarged and weakened. We were devastated. For 11 months we had had no idea there was anything wrong with our baby.

The doctor said there was a 30% chance Ella’s condition would remain the same, a 30% chance it could improve by itself and a 30% chance it could deteriorate. After a month being closely monitored in hospital we were sent home, but over the months that followed Ella was readmitted again three times. And each time, I thought I was going to lose my baby girl.

Ella didn’t get better. And it was decided she needed to be flown to Freeman Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne for a heart transplant assessment. I couldn’t believe it. I knew this sort of thing happened, but never once did I think it would happen to my baby.

Another shock came. At Freeman Hospital it was discovered that Ella wasn’t suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy, her left coronary artery was blocked and had been since birth. She needed to have an operation as soon as possible, but even then it was unlikely her heart could be repaired. It was devastating. Not only were we hours from home - we were a sea crossing away. We had nowhere to stay, we were unable to afford the cost of a hotel and had no idea how long Ella would be in hospital.

Thankfully, as we sat at Ella’s bedside a nurse told us about The Sick Children’s Trust. I didn’t know the charity existed, but we were put in touch with Andrew who manages the charity’s Scott House at the hospital. He came to meet us on the ward and explained that The Sick Children’s Trust would provide us with a room, totally free of charge, just minutes from where Ella was being treated. We didn’t know at that point that we would be staying at Scott House for more than six months, but gratefully accepted the room and moved in. It was a godsend and immediately became somewhere we thought of as home.

Three days after arriving in Newcastle, Ella underwent her first open heart surgery and we waited for her to come out of surgery in Scott House. It was unbearable, but at least we were in an intimate environment surrounded by lovely supportive people who understood what we were going through. When Ella came out of surgery and I saw her lying there I was inconsolable. Nothing can prepare you for that – seeing your child on a life support machine and reliant on another machine to pump blood around her body. It destroyed me.

Ella’s heart was significantly enlarged, but following the operation the doctors hoped it would shrink and begin to function more effectively by itself. However, within a week we were given more devastating news that she had end stage heart failure, her heart was so enlarged one of her lungs had collapsed. Ella’s only chance of survival was a heart transplant. From that point on our lives became a waiting game. Ella had to have another operation to fit her with a tracheostomy tube so that she was able to breathe. And she spent most of her treatment wired up to a life support machine that was keeping her alive.

You can’t begin to imagine the thoughts that crossed my mind during those months. My baby needed a different baby’s heart. A baby needed to lose a life to save my daughter’s life. It was torture, but we had to remain hopeful. Talking to other parents in the same situation at Scott House helped keep our spirits up. It was a tremendous support and we were able to comfort each other – sharing our fears, but also inspiring hope and reassuring one another that good news was just around the corner. Thinking back I remember being in the living room talking about how I was feeling and knowing that those listening understood what I was going through. It was a different story with some my friends back home; they struggled to comprehend and we drifted apart.

Scott House really is an incredible place. It is so close to the hospital and because there was a direct phone line from our bedroom to the ward where Ella was being treated, at night I felt able to relax a little bit, have a hot bath and then, exhausted and drained, tumble into a comfortable bed. Plus, the amazing facilities meant we could wash and dry our clothes, store our own food in the kitchen, cook nutritious meals of our choice and even have family members over. When it was just the one family member visiting they even stayed in our room at Scott House, which saved them money and gave us the additional support we urgently needed. TJ’s and my family have been amazing – endlessly supportive they visited us regularly and spent a lot of time with us in both the hospital and Scott House.

On the day we got the call to say there was a heart for Ella, we were ecstatic and terrified all at the same time. She went into theatre that day at 5.30pm and once again we waited, scared stiff, in Scott House until she came out of theatre at 2.30am. Andrew was there with us for the first few hours and he has this amazing ability to lighten every situation. When we heard the news that the operation had been a success it was the best news we had ever received.

From this point on our story is one of triumph! Ella is doing amazingly well – she has recovered from her operation and has even started to walk again. She had started walking before her admission to Alder Hey at the end of May, but she had been in a hospital bed since then so had to relearn. She is chatty, lively and very, very cheeky! She’s a completely different child, which means I can be a different mother!

Knowing that other parents we met in Scott House are still waiting for a heart for their child is extremely upsetting, but at least they have the support of The Sick Children’s Trust. At the moment Ella and I are living in Newcastle so we can attend her fortnightly appointments at Freeman Hospital, but I am positive that it won’t be long before we get back home to the Isle of Man.

Amy Ash, Ella Wiseman’s mum.

Bigbom is proud to announce that it has joined forces with Tomochain to form a long-term collaboration in startup acceleration. At the Blockchain Innovation Talk, hosted by Bigbom, Mr. Vung Nguyen from Bigbom and Dr. Long Vuong from Tomochain signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

During the talk, six high-profile panel members discussed several topics relating to blockchain, cryptocurrency and investments. Next to Mr. Vung Nguyen (Bigbom) and Dr. Long Vuong (Tomochain), the panel included the likes of Mr. Li Ni (VP of Wanchain), Mr. Zack Piester (Tokendeck.io), Dr. Loi Luu (Founder of Kyber Network) and Dr. David Nguyen Vu (Founder of Blockchain Intelligence Group).

Following this talk, which occurred on March 7, Bigbom hosted a Private Vietnam Crypto party at night. Dr. Loi Luu and Dr. Long Vuong were the guests of honor, and were presented as advisors to the Bigbom projec. They will be utilizing their experience and skills to assist Bigbom in their efforts to disrupt the advertising industry.Bigbom is a dApp which aims to solve several problems within the world of advertising. It does so by providing a smart-contract solution for multi-advertising models such as CPC, CPM and CPA. This smart-contract enables advertisers, publishers and ad platforms to perform their actions efficiently and securely. By integrating with the Tomochain technology, Bigbom will have near-zero transaction fee, faster confirmation time and a much higher transaction capacity, compared to those on Ethereum. An MVP will be available before the launch of the ICO, and a roll-out of the Bigbom system is planned to over 15,000 members of Haravan. The ecosystem is powered by the Bigbom token: BBO.

Bigbom will be launching its ICO for the BBO token on April 10, and has already garnered a lot of attention within the industry. More information about Bigbom, including the white paper, can be found at Bigbom.com.

LONDON--(PRESSAT) – 14 March 2018 08:00 AM GMT

Cashfloat.co.uk releases a free '2018 Guide to Debt Management Companies' to give UK citizens much-needed information about managing debt before turning to expensive credit to help them overcome a deteriorating financial situation.

One of the fastest growing payday loan companies in the UK is Cashfloat, a trading style of Western Circle Ltd. Although payday lenders are normally criticised for putting people into a lot of debt, Cashfloat.co.uk is one payday lender who is doing the complete opposite by addressing debt issues on their website with the release of their 2018 edition of ‘A Guide to Debt Management Companies in the UK’.

Cashfloat's aim is to balance helping people with their short-term problems while educating them to avoid a long-term problem.

Peter Kimpton, Cashfloat’s COO explained:

As part of their initiative, Cashfloat has introduced a 60-second debt test from Stepchange Debt Charity on their website which allows users to check if they are in danger of falling into debt. If the results of the test suggest that the user is in debt, they will immediately be directed for debt help provided for free by Stepchange.

Daniel Wyatt who manages correspondence with debt management companies for Cashfloat commented:

The debt management guide available on the website has thirty-two detailed chapters examining many aspects of debt management companies such as ‘Interest Charges and a Debt Management Plan’, ‘Tips to help you clear a Debt Management Plan’ and a comprehensive list of all the free debt help providers in the UK along with their contact information.

The Cashfloat Guide to Debt Management Companies in 2018 can be found here.

About Cashfloat

Cashfloat.co.uk is a trading style of Western Circle Limited; an FCA-fully authorised direct lender. The Cashfloat model is based on fundamentally good morals and very advanced artificial intelligence technology designed to help and protect people taking payday loans online.

Contacts

Kelly Richard, 020-3757-1933

kelly.richard@cashfloat.co.uk

Ofer Valencio Akerman (SEO and Security)

akerman@masterlevelseo.com

Social Media Accounts

Seven
charities and patient support groups from across the UK have
come together with a single goal in mind, to raise awareness for the little-known yet
common condition Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), including Non Epileptic Attack
Disorder (NEAD). The 25th March
2018 will see a flurry of activity for the second FND Awareness Day UK around
the theme #Voices4FND

Functional
Neurological Disorder (FND) encompasses a diverse range of symptoms including
functional limb weakness and movement disorders, functional and dissociative
attacks, sensory problems, cognitive problems, visual and speech symptoms. 

Whilst
the symptoms may appear similar to neurological diseases including those of
Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s and Epilepsy, and are
associated with similar levels of disability and distress, they are not caused
by structural disease of the nervous system. Instead, it is a problem
with how the nervous system is functioning. The
condition affects men, women and children of all ages and is commonly seen in
neurology clinics. 

However,
there is very little awareness amongst the medical profession and even less
amongst the general public. The awareness day will make a big difference. 

The
initiative is being led by two charities, FND Action and FND
Dimensions and includes another charity, FND Friends and the patient
support groups Friends in NEAD, Younger FND Fighters, Functional
Neurological Disorder and Functional Movement Disorder.

Based
around the #Voices4FND theme, the charities are asking people to get
involved by taking a short video (up to 7 minutes) of themselves talking about
any aspect of FND or NEAD and then sharing it across social media or other
sources. This includes people who has been diagnosed, carers,
friends, medical professionals, service providers, or even just members of
the public who wants to support the cause. Other awareness activities will
be taking place on and around the day.

By
joining together with one voice, it is hoped that FND Awareness Day UK will
shine a bright light on this little-known condition.

To find out how you can get
involved and to learn more about the charities taking part, visit www.fndaction.org.uk.

A family who have already gone above and beyond to raise £162,000 for The Sick Children’s Trust which supported them when their son was critically ill in hospital are holding two more special events in April to thank the charity.

Marcus and Laura Leverton, from Chesterfield, found themselves living every parent’s worst nightmare when their 18 month old baby son, Harry, was rushed to Sheffield Children’s Hospital after becoming seriously ill. While Harry underwent lifesaving treatment, the couple were given free ‘Home from Home’ accommodation at the charity’s Treetop House, just a lift ride away from their son’s bedside.

Eight years on, the family have never forgotten the support they received and have made it their mission to raise much-needed funds for The Sick Children’s Trust. Dad Marcus, Director at Leverton UK, is now organising the family’s latest charity balls. He says:

“You cannot put a value on having a safe, private space that is close to your sick child - and that’s exactly what The Sick Children’s Trust’s ‘Homes from Home’ provide. I’m an old fashioned type of person and I feel completely responsible for protecting my family. But when you are in that situation where someone you love is critically ill, it’s hard to always put on a brave front. Treetop House gave me the space and time to sit in a quiet room and gather my emotions so that when I went back to the ward I could be strong for my family.

“Harry was only 18 months old when he became seriously ill and was rushed to Sheffield Children’s Hospital to undergo specialist treatment for three viral infections which shut down his airways. He also suffered a bowel perforation which caused blood poisoning. Harry had to undergo surgery and was in intensive care and on a life support machine. When he was in the operating theatre I swore to myself that if my boy ever came back, I would do something to help other families who may find themselves in a similar situation.”

The Sick Children’s Trust runs ten ‘Homes from Home’ located at leading specialist paediatric hospitals across the country, two of which support families with children undergoing lifesaving treatment at Sheffield Children’s Hospital. Dad Marcus continues:

“The annual charity balls are something my whole family love to get involved with. My sons, Sam and Harry, really understand why we host them every year and so they always take it upon themselves to help. They are really good kids with big hearts and I’m very proud of them.”

The charity, which believes keeping families together significantly improves the recovery of sick children, provides its accommodation free of charge to families with seriously ill children in hospital. However it costs The Sick Children’s Trust £30 to support a family for one night and the charity relies entirely on voluntary donations to do this. Treetop and Magnolia House Manager, Ann Wyatt, says:

“We have attended the Leverton Ball every year and it’s amazing to see how much support The Sick Children’s Trust receives. The fact that Marcus and his family have already raised £162,000 is outstanding and with this money we have been able to keep 5,400 families together, just minutes from their child’s hospital bedside.

“We can’t wait to see what the Leverton Ball has in store for us this year and we know it will be nothing less than fantastic. If you’d like to join us in supporting the family’s fundraising efforts, please do get in touch with Marcus to find out more.”

The first Leverton Ball will be held at Chesterfield Football Club on Saturday 21 April and the second will follow at Casa Hotel, Chesterfield, on Saturday 28 April. At both events guests can look forward to an evening of live music, a diamond raffle, a live auction, and a few surprises along the way!

For more information and tickets please contact Marcus directly on 07811 182411 or m.leverton@levertonuk.com.

For further information about The Sick Children’s Trust, please visit http://www.sickchildrenstrust.org/

Alex Rushmer and Tristan Welch are set to collaborate this week by showcasing a pop-up restaurant that sells waste food: not a task for the faint hearted! The event is to occur on the 16th and 17th of March at Michaelhouse Church in Cambridge. All proceeds from the event will go to 'Jimmy's Night Shelter' and 'Food Cycle'.

Alex Rushmer, former Masterchef finalist, and Tristan Welch, the former head chef at the prestigious Launceston Place in London, have set their sights on raising awareness about the amount of food that goes to waste in the industry. To showcase this, they have announced their plans for the two-day pop-up restaurant, which will use only food that would have usually gone to waste. With the apt name of 'Rubbish Chefs', the two roll up their sleeves and get stuck in!

The food was supplied by local companies who have shown their support for the cause. With the leftover produce, the illustrious duo will create a four-course menu to serve 45 covers on each of the two nights that it will run. Local wine merchant's, Thirsty, will be providing complimenting wine, whilst also showcasing sustainable alternatives to bottled wines. By serving everything that most restaurants throw away, they hope to prove the potential of this food waste and inspire others to consider its' usage.

Tristan said: “While it is going to be a challenge, I can’t wait to get stuck in and create delicious dishes that highlight the waste issues in our food chain. Alex and I want to make a positive statement and help inspire people and companies to change the way they cook and view food. What they may currently view as ‘rubbish’ and ‘off-cuts’, might actually be enough to create a dinner fit for a king.”

Alex, who previously ran The Hole in the Wall in Little Wilbraham added: “As a chef, I know all too well the issue of food waste and worked consistently at The Hole in the Wall to limit this as much as possible. I’m looking forward to creating some truly fantastic dishes from ingredients that would otherwise have gone to waste. I’ve also been delighted by the response from our local suppliers, all of whom share the same concerns regarding food waste.”

Rushmer has been back at Masterchef this year as a judge, having recently closed his restaurant, The Hole In the Wall in Little Wilbraham. Having previously worked with Alex at The Hole in the Wall on his menu boards, UK Hospitality Supplier's, Smart Hospitality Supplies, have shown their support for the cause. A company representative said: "It is important that chefs like Alex and Tristan, who are in the spotlight, take the opportunity to show how imperative it is that the industry act upon the amount of food that is being wasted. As they are about to prove, there are so many beneficial uses for it!"

Tristan is also currently in charge of the launch of the much anticipated 'Parker's Tavern' which is set to open at Cambridge's University Arms in the Summer. The restaurant will be a 110-cover restaurant with an additional 61-cover bar within the recently redeveloped hotel.

Tickets for the event are available on Eventbrite.

To mark British Science Week, the London-based animation company Slurpy Studios teamed up with Royal Observatory Greenwich (ROG) to produce three short films to inspire students to think about astronomy and space; and answer questions about our solar system.

Working with the ROG Learning team, it was Slurpy Studios’ task to take their scripts and bring them to life; explaining difficult concepts in a fun and simple way. Aimed at primary and secondary level students, the videos answer the questions: how the Solar System was formed, where space begins, and how collisions and explosions in the universe have shaped Earth, the moon and the other planets.

Director Katie Steed, who led Slurpy’s team of in-house animators, designers and compositors, said:

Although launched to coincide with British Science Week, which takes place between 9-18th March 2018, the films form part of a wider collection of learning resources that help teachers develop an interactive learning approach with their students. The videos are accompanied on the ROG website by downloadable curriculum-linked resources that provide more details about the topics covered.

Dhara Patel, the Astronomy Education Officer at ROG, said:

Leading oral hygiene brand Beverly Hills Formula has been shortlisted again for the Pure Beauty Global Awards 2018.

The innovative teeth whitening brand previously won the Pure Beauty UK Awards in 2017 with their Professional White Precious Pearl remineralising serum, that is shortlisted in this year’s Global Awards. Beverly Hills Formula also won the Grocer New Product Awards with Perfect White Black mouthwash in 2016.

Precious Pearl Enamel Remineralising Serum is a new formula containing high levels of Hydroxyapatite and pearl powder. Hydroxyapatite is a natural compound proven to form a new protective layer helping to make teeth appear smoother and whiter by repairing micro-lesions and strengthening the enamel. While pearl powder is gentle micro-polisher rich in remineralising minerals such as calcium, phosphorous and potassium.

Now the Dublin-based company will compete against other international brands for the Best Special Innovation Award, which will be announced later this year in Dubai, alongside Beautyworld, the largest international trade fair in the Middle East.

Christopher Dodd, CEO of Beverly Hills Formula, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be shortlisted in the Pure Beauty Global Awards as it’s the first time we’ve entered them. As an international brand competing against other leading brands it’s a fantastic achievement in itself just to be shortlisted in such a hugely competitive industry.

“This follows on from our award win last year in the Pure Beauty UK Awards and the year before when our Perfect White Black Mouthwash won the Grocer New Product Award.

“To be recognized consecutively by Pure Beauty Magazine makes us all feel incredibly proud,” added Chris.

Pure Beauty Magazine is UK’s most popular retail magazine which rewards innovation and creativity within the beauty industry and the Grocer New Product Awards celebrates and rewards outstanding innovation in the UK’s Fast Moving Consumer Goods sector in non-food and food categories.

Beverly Hills Formula, established in Dublin since 1992, have led the way with original and effective oral hygiene products and whitening toothpastes that are available in over 22 countries worldwide. Also in UK pharmacies, Superdrug, superdrug.com, selected Morrisons and Waitrose supermarket stores. For more product details and stockist details, visit http://beverlyhillsformula.com

Images:

Pure Beauty Global Awards Shortlisted Logo

Beverly Hills Formula Professional White Remineralising Serum

Notes to Editors:

For samples please see media contact below.

Beverly Hills Formula is one of the longest and most trusted whitening brands on the market, having been formulated in California in 1992, the brand was later established in Ireland. Today, Beverly Hills Formula leads the way with innovative products like their Perfect White Black toothpastes and Perfect White Black mouthwash which contains Activated Charcoal known for its whitening properties and their latest Professional White range.

Pure Beauty Magazine provides news, views and in-depth features covering product launches, retail trends and innovation in the British beauty market. A must read for buyers, consultants, brands, PR and beauty retail. In addition to the magazine the prestigious Awards reward innovation and creativity within the beauty industry. Pure Beauty readers vote to help decide the final results announced at the awards evening.

The Grocer is the only paid for weekly magazine to serve the food and non food retail sector. Celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2012, The Grocer provides unrivalled coverage of the latest product developments, up to the minute news, industry data and category information.

Social Media:

Facebook: Beverly Hills Formula

Twitter: BHF_Whitening

Instagram: BeverlyHillsFormula

YouTube: BHF

Media Information:

For further information, images or samples please email; contact@tereniataraspr.co.uk

Or call Terenia Taras PR: 01423 391465 07773703226

Muslim Marriages: Aligning Sharia Family Law with British Family Law

About 40 years ago, this organisation made a rule that its imams shall not perform a nikah unless a civil marriage had been registered. We did this to save the parties from legal difficulties and hardship if the marriage broke down. We also struggled for a change to the law to make sure that this happens. We tried everything we could think of but without success.

The Times has just announced that the Government is going to change the law and require that before a nikah takes place the couple must register a civil marriage. An imam who performs a nikah without making sure that a civil marriage has taken place will face prosecution.

This is a great victory for common sense. It vindicates our struggle over 40 years and shows that in our country, eventually, the Government will come to the right conclusion.

The Ahmadiyya Association for the Propagation of Islam (Ahmadiyya Anjuman Ishaat Islam) was established in Lahore in 1914 to promote the informed understanding of Islam in the West. In the UK it operated the Shah Jehan Mosque in Woking until the early 1960s. Its new headquarters is at Dar-us-Salaam, 15 Stanley Avenue, Wembley, HA0 4JQ, UK. In 1924, in Berlin, it built the first mosque in Continental Europe of the modern era. The German Government recognises the Berlin Mosque as part of the German national heritage. From its European and other centres around the world this organisation has taught that Islam promotes peace, harmony and mutual respect between all communities and nationalities.

Localis press release

Embargo date: from 00.01 am, Friday 16 March 2018

Government should scoop up millions of pounds worth of funds lying dormant in thousands of business apprenticeship levy accounts to help jump-start a skills revolution across England’s regions, a new report issued today by Localis has argued.

The recommendation is made in a Localis report entitled ‘Working Better Together – colleges collaborating to succeed’ which examines how Further Education (FE) colleges could work better together to seize the devolution agenda and upskill the nation’s workforce.

Localis found the majority, some 11,000 out of 19,150 eligible companies, have not signed up to the online service allowing them to passport 10% of their apprenticeship levy along their supply chain. The report authors urged the Government to force bosses to passport cash unspent after two years to regional economic players such as Local Enterprise Partnerships or Combined Authorities - which would use the money to improve local skills provision.

The study also revealed that the substantial (29% between 2010/2011 and 2015/16) reduction in funding for Adult Skills – has created an environment where competition based on the need for institutional survival at all costs has driven strategy and behaviour.

The report advised FE colleges should take control of their destiny by adopting a collaborative model, dubbed the ‘enhanced consortium model’, to build mutually beneficial relationships between institutions. The model’s key tenets are:

Chief Executive of Localis, Liam Booth-Smith said: “At present more than half of around 20,000 estimated eligible large employers have not yet registered with the online service which enables them to spend their apprenticeship levy funds.

“This is a ‘use it or lose it’ situation and this untapped cash should be put to the good use it was intended. Government should, therefore, use the money that has lain dormant in these accounts to help local economic players - such as Combined Authorities, Local Enterprise Partnerships or Strategic Authorities, such as county councils – develop and support vocational skills and increase the quantity and quality of apprenticeships.”

Report co-author, Localis researcher Rosalind Kenny Birch, said: “The FE sector has been beset by frequent policy changes. Working in a collaborative model, rather than alone, will give colleges the resources and cohesion they need to proactively set policy agendas.”

“Enhanced cooperation can most effectively take place within small regions: FE institutions can come together to develop strategic plans aiming to upskill locals, meet skills deficits and give people who wish to further develop their professional skills or re-train the opportunity to do so.”

Chief Executive Officer of Dudley College of Technology, Lowell Williams, said: “The reality for the Further Education sector is that a new system is emerging around us. With power now devolved to new sub-regional levels, the sector will require enhanced consortium groupings of colleges if we wish to influence freshly empowered Combined Authorities, Local Enterprise Partnerships and Skills Advisory Panels.

“The future is working together. There should be no issue with competition among colleges when necessary, but there is a problem when competition for its own sake risks diverting precious resources and energy.

“Recent funding pressures and changes led by the devolution agenda and changing qualification landscape have left FE leaders in a constant state of adaptation.

“But this also presents institutions with a unique opportunity to influence, one which colleges must seize by meaningful strategic collaboration that fosters a stronger channel of communication to regional business leaders and national government alike.”

ENDS

Press enquiries:

Jonathan Werran, Head of News and Events, Localis(Tel) 0870 448 1530 / (Mobile) 07967 100328 / jonathan.werran@localis.org.uk

Notes to Editors:

The findings go beyond previous reports which suggest changing policies to strengthen the sector at the national level. This report focuses on operations at the institutional level which have resulted in desirable outcomes. In the case of the West Midlands Further Education Skills & Productivity Group, closer cooperation led to a better working partnership with the combined authority.

1. As announced in government’s Modern Industrial Strategy: Building a Britain fit for the future document seven Skills Advisory Panels (SAPs) are being piloted to provide strategic leadership around local skills planning. We recommend, subject to positive evaluation, government encourage and incentivise further Skills Advisory Panels in non-pilot areas.

2. A number of places, either through a local authority, LEP, university or other public agency/collaborative body, have for some time been operating advisory boards which provide advice and guidance on skills and employability which have proven useful forums for the discussion of strategic skills needs. We recommend those areas which do not have a Skills Advisory Board or similar (or currently operate a Skills Advisory Panel pilot) set up either Skills Advisory Board to operate as shadow Skills Advisory Panel in advance of a wider roll out.

3. Colleges individually produce detailed strategy documents which inform medium to long term planning.[1] However in the context of devolution (through LEPs, combined authorities and the future trend of skills funding devolution) there is a need for colleges to more efficiently influence the local political and policy making process. We recommend that colleges work in collaboration, based upon a voluntary functional geography which aligns with the relevant decision making body be that a LEP or combined authority, to craft an independent FE Strategy. This strategy should be a collective articulation of the local FE sectors demography, financial strength and specialisms, amongst other key information. This strategy can then be fed into the strategic economic decision making of the LEP, combined authority or other empowered local agency. Specifically, such a strategy should seek to influence the crafting of the impending Local Industrial Strategies.

4. Collaboration at a basic level can be achieved through improved communication and coordination. Fundamental reform, however, will require a resource commitment. Based on the available evidence gathered in this report and the best practice identified we recommend collaborating colleges consider the following approaches (these are by no means the limit);

5. We recommend the government’s Flexible Learning Fund should be extended into 2018/19 (it is currently due to be reviewed before April 2018)[2]. As part of the extension we recommend government change the specification to prioritise consortium bids and judge the allocation of funds accordingly. For any subsequent similar funds created, we recommend the principle be applied too.

6. Where there is an identifiable skills shortfall, such as in the automotive and constructions sectors, we recommend government makes explicitly clear in any sector deals agreed how the number of apprentices will be increased. Specifically highlighting the sub-regional targets needed and the role of FE sector locally in supporting this delivery.

7. Government currently plans to allow Apprenticeship Levy contributors the option to passport 10% of their levy account along their supply chain. Evidence suggests that as of July 2017, 11,000 employers (out of 19,150 companies eligible to register) have yet to sign up with the online service which enables them to spend their levy funds.[3] We recommend government extend this principle further and, if apprenticeship levy funds are dormant after two years, mandate employers to passport funds to a Combined Authority, LEP or a nominated Strategic Authority (for example a County Council). [Consideration should be given to distribution of funds because of the geography of firms. They may have multiple sites and negotiation may need to occur over who will receive the funds].

8. Many of the college principals and FE sector experts interviewed for this report cited concerns about data management and sharing. In particular there was a concern that Whitehall departments are holding data that it either was not sharing with local areas or, when it did share, did not release raw numbers but rather composite data which has proven unhelpful when it comes to strategic planning locally. We recommend government establish a working group comprising FE college principals, the Association of Colleges, sub-regional college groupings and technical experts to agree a new approach to data sharing between central government and local agencies. Specifically in light of the need to assess the impact of the apprenticeship levy and the roll out of the new T-Levels in order to make timely improvements.

9. The government is currently set to devolve the Adult Education Budget (AEB) to seven mayoral combined authorities by 2019/20. In order to encourage further collaboration amongst colleges, we recommend the government publish a green paper on its future plans to devolve the AEB to non-mayoral combined authority areas.

[1] https://www.aoc.co.uk/sites/default/files/GN Strategic positioning and local infrastructure.pdf

[2] Department for Education (2017) – The Flexible Learning Fund Specification for project proposals

[3] FE Week – Most eligible employers not yet on levy system – https://feweek.co.uk/2017/07/07/most-eligible-employers-not-yet-on-levy-system/

The Sruighlea Festival [Sreee-lie] due to take place on August 18th at
Stirling Sports Village has managed to attract another big name to the event in
the shape of Celebrity Chef, Tony Singh.

Leith-born chef, Tony Singh, is a leading personality in the Scottish restaurant industry. As chef director of a string of award-wining restaurants in Edinburgh – including Tony’s Table, Roti and more recently Oloroso – Tony has pushed the boundaries of culinary innovation for over 16 years. Always open to new ideas, his approach to food is to ‘keep it real and fun’.

Tony has extensive broadcasting experience. He has made TV appearances on the Great British Menu, Market Kitchen, Saturday Kitchen, Celebrity Mastermind, Pointless Celebrities, Celebrity Eggheads and is a regular presenter on BBC’s The One Show. One half of The Incredible Spicemen and was part of the wonderful series A Cook Abroad for the BBC and is working on some new and exciting TV projects. Tony is also a member of The Academy of Culinary Arts.

Organisers of the Festival were keen to build on the success of the 2017
Foodie Festival and with another bumper interest from Scotland Food & Drink
producers, this year promises to be another belter.

The Foodie Festival, which will be housed within a massive 45m by 15m
marquee will help showcase some of Scotland's award winning food and drink
producers with the simple aim of creating a great experience for food and drink
enthusiasts to enjoy.

Speaking to the event team it seems the continued interest in the event
shows no signs of slowing down and with producers from craft breweries, craft
gins, whisky, savouries and confectionaries already wanting to be part of this
year's Festival, the addition of Tony to the menu can only add to the quality
of what the organisers are looking to achieve.

Tony added, "Being invited to The Sruighlea Festival is one of my
highlights of the year. It gives me a chance to speak to local producers and
see what they are up to, see what's new and try some of the best of Scottish
Produce. One thing I’m sure of its guaranteed to be Tasty!"

Visitors will be able to speak to
Tony as he wanders around the producers stalls with Cate Devine, the
Glasgow Herald's food critic and the Foodie Festival MC for the day. There are
also plans afoot to host a tasting session as part of the visitors experience
so make sure you head over to the marquee early afternoon if you fancy
talking about all things food and drink.

The Sruighlea Festival organisers
welcome the support from Stirling Council towards to the Foodie Festival and
share the local authorities vision of developing the food and drink sector in
the area.

Tickets for The Sruighlea Festival can
be booked online in advance from www.sruighlea.scot . For sponsorship or
traders applications you can call the team on 01786 273556 or email
office@sruighlea.scot

A local woman is training hard in preparation for a rainforest trek, from the Pacific coast to the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, to raise money for The Sick Children’s Trust in memory of her friends’ son who tragically passed away last year.

Alison Honour, 49, from Kirkheaton, is taking on the challenge of a lifetime in memory of Calvin Sutton to raise both money and awareness for The Sick Children’s Trust. The charity, which runs free ‘Home from Home’ accommodation at leading paediatric hospitals across the country, supported his parents, Whitley Campbell and Josh Sutton, at its Eckersley House whilst their son underwent treatment at Leeds General Infirmary (LGI).

Calvin was born with CHARGE syndrome – a rare condition affecting one in every 10,000 babies where a number of birth defects occur at once. Calvin was born blind and deaf, had two holes in his heart, a very weak immune system and atresia of the choanae, a condition in which the nasal passages are blocked by bone or tissue, causing difficulty breathing. For nine months, he fought for his life in hospital before sadly losing his fight. During this time his parents were supported at Eckersley House, just minutes from his hospital bedside. Alison, an Occupational Therapist at a children’s hospice, says:

“Throughout his painfully short life, Calvin touched so many people’s lives and was very much loved, especially by his Mum and Dad.

“Whitley and Josh stayed at Eckersley House for months when Calvin was being treated at LGI. Having a ‘Home from Home’ with a private room to come back to after a long day on the ward meant so much to them and offered a bit of respite from the unimaginable level of stress they were facing. The Sick Children’s Trust kept their family together through their darkest hours, even though they were miles away from home. And for that, I wanted to give a little something back to the charity. Because of my job, I think I understood a tiny bit about what was happening, but felt awful as there was nothing I could do to help.

“I hope that by raising awareness of The Sick Children’s Trust and the vital role the charity’s ‘Homes from Home’ play during such difficult times that, on behalf of my friends, I can help the charity to be there for others.

“To prepare for the trek I am doing lots of running to increase my fitness and I’m planning to run the Manchester Marathon in April. Training is helping my fitness and stamina, but I’m expecting the trek to be really tough, especially with the climate and steep trails. But when things get tough, I will just think of Calvin, his courageous fight and the fact that the money I raise will help more families like his.”

The Sick Children’s Trust runs ten ‘Homes from Home’ across the country, giving families with seriously ill children free accommodation just minutes from their child’s hospital bedside. The charity relies entirely on voluntary donations and it costs £30 to support a family for one night. Jane McHale, Eckersley House Manager, says:

“We are so grateful to Alison for taking on this unusual challenge to raise money in brave little Calvin’s memory for The Sick Children’s Trust. We support around 4,000 families in our ten ‘Homes from Home’ every year, so Alison’s fundraising will help us to keep even more families close to their seriously ill child’s bedside.

“We wish Alison all the best of luck with her trek and can’t wait to hear how she gets on!”

To sponsor Alison, visit her JustGiving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ahonour

For further information about The Sick Children’s Trust, please visit http://www.sickchildrenstrust.org/

Trees for Life has launched an appeal to raise £22,000 to ensure a better future for red squirrels in the Highlands of Scotland.

The Reds Return appeal will enable the reintroduction of red squirrels in up to eight woodlands in the north-west Highlands, where new populations will be able to flourish, safe from competition and disease from grey squirrels.

This will also help the natural expansion of the region’s pine forests, because reds inadvertently plant new trees by forgetting where they have buried their winter stores of nuts and seeds. It will allow more people to see red squirrels in the wild too.

“Although one of our best-loved wild animals, red squirrels are sadly missing from suitable woodlands across the Highlands. They cannot reach these isolated havens on their own, because they avoid crossing large open spaces,” said Steve Micklewright, Trees for Life’s Chief Executive.

“Every donation will help us reintroduce red squirrels to ideal forest habitats. Returning them to forests safe from grey squirrels will help conserve this charismatic species forever.”

Trees for Life knows the reds can be rescued. For the last three years, the conservation charity has been carefully transporting red squirrels from their strongholds in Inverness-shire and Moray to isolated fragments of suitable forest at Shieldaig in Wester Ross, the Coulin Estate near Kinlochewe, Plockton, Inverewe, the Reraig peninsular, Attadale and Letterewe.

The hugely successful project has seen 140 red squirrels released so far. The animals have been seen exploring their new woodland homes, successfully breeding and spreading into new areas. The charity is now seeking funding to enable it to extend the work to more areas.

With animal welfare paramount, squirrels are transported in special hay-lined nest boxes. Only small numbers of animals are removed from any site, leaving donor populations unaffected. Health checks ensure that only healthy animals are introduced to new populations.

Positive community involvement – including local people reporting sightings, monitoring the squirrels, and carrying out supplementary feeding – is at the heart of the project.

The new red squirrel release sites have yet to be confirmed, but Trees for Life plans to focus on the Morvern peninsular and north of the Dornoch Firth, which will extend the species’ current range.

Red squirrels are threatened by the spread of invasive grey squirrels from the south. Greys are immune to and spread squirrel pox virus, which is lethal to reds, and also outcompete the native reds. Greys were introduced to the UK in 1870 and now number over three million, compared to just an estimated 120,000 reds in Scotland.

Red squirrel numbers have also been decimated by the reduction of forests to isolated remnants.

To support the appeal, visit www.treesforlife.org.uk/appeal or call 01309 691292.

Ends

16 March 2018 – Acuitis Optical and Hearing Ltd – who have centres in London, Oxford and Milton Keynes - have pledged their support of the British Tinnitus Association (BTA) by becoming a Corporate Member of the charity, helping to raise awareness of tinnitus and to support the BTA’s services helping those affected by the condition.

The BTA is the only national UK charity solely dedicated to those with tinnitus - a term that describes the sensation of hearing a noise in the absence of an external sound. For the last 35 years the charity has supported the one in ten people in the UK who experience tinnitus and in particular the 10% of those with tinnitus who find it severely affects their quality of life.

Mrs Samantha Godkin, Hearing Aid Audiologist with Acuitis Optical and Hearing commented: “I have been aware of the work the BTA do through my association as an elected member of BSHAA and having worked as a Hearing Aid Audiologist for over 20 years, most recently with Acuitis Optical and Hearing. Having seen the impact Tinnitus can have, being able to use my expertise to help people is rewarding both professionally and personally. Being a corporate member of the BTA means I can collaborate with an experienced and trusted charity that are also dedicated and committed to helping those affected by tinnitus.”

Helen Goldsby-West, Head of Major Giving for the British Tinnitus Association, said: “Last year, the BTA supported over 335,000 people. To do this, we are reliant upon the generous donations of our fundraisers and supporters, and contributions from Corporate Members like Acuitis Optical and Hearing. We receive no government support and need to raise over £500,000 this year to continue our much needed work. The Corporate Membership scheme is a great way for organisations to demonstrate their commitment to our work and the wider tinnitus community. We are extremely grateful to Acuitis for their backing in our endeavours.”

Samantha added: “It is so often the case that the people we see for a hearing test are tinnitus sufferers, we experience first-hand their suffering. We know that we can help in over 80% of cases with a good hearing solution but we passionately want to do more and treat clients holistically. Our biggest asset is time – being able to give the client the time they need to support and counsel them through their tinnitus. We may not be able to provide silence but we can help develop peacefulness.”

The British Tinnitus Association website is www.tinnitus.org.uk.

Editors Notes

About the British Tinnitus Association

The British Tinnitus Association (BTA) is an independent charity which supports thousands of people who experience tinnitus and advises medical professionals from across the world.

The BTA is the primary source of support and information for people with tinnitus in the UK, facilitating an improved quality of life. They aim to encourage prevention through its educational programme and to seek effective treatment for tinnitus through a medical research programme.

The support the BTA offers to 335,000 people per year who are affected by tinnitus is reliant upon the generous donations of their supporters and fundraisers. They receive no government support and need to raise half a million pounds each year to continue their UK wide support. Donations can be made via www.tinnitus.org.uk

The experienced team at the BTA understands the impact that tinnitus can have on the lives of those who experience tinnitus and those who live with them, so seeks to provide the most appropriate and expert advice and information free of charge – via a confidential freephone helpline on 0800 018 0527 and online at www.tinnitus.org.uk. The BTA can also post printed and audio information and advice.

Visit the BTA’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishTinnitusAssociation and follow the BTA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BritishTinnitus

About tinnitus

Not an illness or disease, tinnitus is a term that describes the sensation of hearing a noise in the absence of an external sound. The noise can have virtually any quality. Ringing, whistling, and buzzing are common, but more complex sounds may also be reported. Troublesome tinnitus can be very distressing for the affected individual, and issues may arise with sleep, concentration and mood. However, in many cases, subtle changes in people’s environment can address these issues, and improve quality of life.

About Acuitis Optical and Hearing

New to the UK, Acuitis Optical and Hearing Ltd are specialists in optical and hearing care. Founded to bring the best products, best advice and best service to everybody. The optical offering is centred around unique designs and exquisite materials at accessible prices.

The audiological offering is in partnership with Widex to provide the most advanced hearing aids with the best sound quality. Hearing tests are conducted in the luxurious and exclusive setting of a sound treated Biophone Consulting Room. Additional services include tinnitus support management and wax removal using the latest micro-suction technique.

For more information

Nic Wray, Communications Manager

nic@tinnitus.org.uk

0114 250 9933

Skype: nicwray20

British Tinnitus Association

Ground Floor, Unit 5 Acorn Business Park

Woodseats Close

Sheffield

S8 0TB

Leading football statistics website WhoScored.com have partnered with second bookmaker Betfair to launch the ever-popular WhoScored Man of the Match market.

Already available with Betvictor, the objectivity of WhoScored.com’s unique rating system has proved a real hit with fans and caused a surge in betting activity.

The market will cover the remainder of the Premier League season and offers supporters the chance to make money on who they think will be the highest rated player in different matches.

Cristiano Acconci, WhoScored.com's Co-Founder and CEO said “Having our Man of the Match market on two bookmakers really shows the quality and credibility of our ratings system. This market also allows all football fans to join without being betting experts, its a fun market to bet on with very favourably odd margins.”

WhoScored.com’s Man of the Match market is based on a ratings system which analyses over 200 raw statistics collected by Opta, which are updated live throughout matches.

Visit www.whoscored.com for football statistics and news.

If you are dreaming of quitting the rat race, your smart digital assistant may be able to help. One such solution is created by legal graduate and entrepreneur Graham Jules.

Graham’s road to app development was not straightforward. Marvel and DC Entertainments Inc creators of Superman, The Avengers and the recent Black Panther movie took exception to the title of his business book “Business Zero To Superhero” due to their own trade mark ‘Superhero’. However, following a near three year battle the entrepreneur miraculously won the trademark row allowing him to release his book and app. He has created a certified Alexa skill (Amazon’s word for app) called, “Zero To Superhero Business Skill”. You can talk to Alexa and ask for start-up business advice, get stock quotes, work out loan repayments, calculate V.A.T, work out the price of Bitcoin, perform company searches and more.

The rise of artificially intelligent devices such as Amazon’s Alexa, Google Home and Apple HomePod means that you can utilise the power of artificial intelligence to realise your dream of escaping the rat race and achieving superhero status in the start-up arena. Other apps allow you to connect Alexa and other smart assistants to your calendar to help you stay on top of important meetings and Amazon’s ‘Alexa for Business’ allows you to drop into conference calls, all using your voice. If your start-up business is e-commerce in nature you can connect to Shopify and web analytics to keep track of your sales and traffic all without lifting a finger.

Amazon’s voice recognition technology, in particular, has gained lots of traction. It is estimated 9% of homes (2017) have an Amazon smart speaker and that figure is set to grow to 40% in 2019. * Jules says, “It’s been a long road, but worth it. The technology is getting better and better all the time. With increasing competition in the field, new and exciting artificial intelligent skills are being created with the small business user in mind.”

*(RadioCentre)