Business News

More than half (52 percent) of British commuters say they believe that this year will change their commuting habits forever.

29 percent say they think they will work from home more often and a further 23 percent are planning to change the way they travel to the office.

One in ten (10 percent) intend to opt for the outdoor air and walk to work, whilst a further 12 percent are planning to ditch public transport in favour of the secluded safety of their own car.

Of the 1,000 motorists polled by webuyanycar.com, nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of commuters say that they do not miss the commute at all, and 27 percent say that there is NOTHING they miss about the office.

For those that will be going back to the office, it’s not all bad news, as 38 percent are looking forward to a time when they can be in the office more often, with more than half (54 percent) say they have missed socialising with their colleagues.

One in ten are excited to get away from their partner for the day and 8 percent are yearning for a break from the kids.

Richard Evans, head of technical services at webuyanycar.com, said: ‘’This year has seen all of us adapt our daily routines and for many of us, our ways of working and commuting has been hugely impacted.

‘’We know that there will be many motorists looking to sell their car now that their commuting habits have changed, whether that be to upgrade their, car as they plan to drive into work over using public transport, or because working from home means they no longer need their car at all.’’

Richard added: ‘’At webuyanycar.com we’re big advocates of doing things safely.  That’s why we offer our customers a safe and hassle-free solution to selling their car. Motorists can avoid the potential risks of a private sale by selling directly to us at one of more than 300 local branches.’’

Whilst we might not all be missing the daily back and forth to the office on the whole, there are a few things about our old commute we long for.

Topping list of things we miss about the commute is ‘time to ourselves’ (38 percent), shortly followed by ‘listening to music’ (36 percent) and time to think (32 percent).

11 percent, who fancy themselves as the next Adele, miss singing in the car and 8 percent can’t wait to see their favourite barista again and pick up their proper morning coffee.

For those that are heading back to the office, something to look forward to is experiencing that true Friday feeling again, as more than half of those surveyed (57 percent) agree that Friday feeling is better in the office.

The Rolling Stones opened the doors to their world-first flagship store, ‘RS No. 9 Carnaby’ in the heart of London’s Soho, at 9 Carnaby Street.

Created in partnership with Bravado, the store is now home to an exclusive mix of collections and collaborations for fans of all ages, and will feature a bespoke T-shirt customisation station. Framed in an exceedingly contemporary red and black shop fit, visitors will be able to explore the diverse product offering whilst listening to tracks from the greatest rock ‘n’ roll band in the world!

The Rolling Stones said: “Soho has always encapsulated Rock ’n’ Roll so Carnaby Street was the perfect spot for our own store. We are confident this exciting project that our friends at Bravado have created will be an unrivalled experience for everyone to come to London and enjoy.”

It is a bold time to launch a permanent retail space in London, but RS No.9 Carnaby Street will provide a major long-term boost to music tourism in the capital, as one of the most iconic music British brands and bands of all time, launches this unprecedented experience on London’s historic Carnaby Street in Soho, which has been synonymous with British music culture since the sixties.

The Stones’ deluxe reissued 2020 version of their historic ‘GOAT’S HEAD SOUP’ album, out this week looks set to top the U.K. album charts, 47 years after its first release.

Fans who were unable to visit can experience it through a bespoke online store and experience which will be going live shortly at: https://no9carnabyst.rollingstones.com  

 Leading rural insurer NFU Mutual has joined forces with police and agricultural machinery manufacturers to tackle a surge in thefts of expensive guidance systems.
 
Across Europe, thefts of tractor GPS systems have surged as criminals target the expensive guidance systems now extensively used to guide farm machinery. Many of the stolen systems are John Deere StarFire receivers and cab display units – but other systems are increasingly being stolen.
 
In the UK, thefts have spread from East Anglia, where they first became commonplace, and police and insurers are now dealing with thefts all across the UK. In recent weeks, NaVCIS, the police agricultural vehicle theft co-ordination organisation funded by NFU Mutual, is being alerted to multiple GPS thefts from farms and machinery dealers almost every day.
 
To help stamp out the crime wave, farmers are being urged to rigorously check that any GPS kit offered for sale outside dealer networks has not been stolen.
 
Bob Henderson, NFU Mutual National Technical Engineering Manager, said: “Having tractor GPS kit stolen during harvest is hugely disruptive. Not only do replacement units – which can cost £8,000 and more – have to be sourced, fitted and programmed, but modern farms can’t work effectively during the vital harvesting period without them.
 
“As the main insurer of the UK’s farmers we are working with police and tractor manufacturers to tackle this worrying new crime trend.”
 
To help the checking process, John Deere has a system enabling farmers to call their local dealership to check the serial number of its popular StarFire GPS system. The company’s database includes a marker for stolen equipment – but stresses that not all John Deere thefts are reported to it, and that the system cannot provide proof that equipment offered for sale online is legitimate.
 
If you are unfortunate to have John Deere stolen, the theft can be reported to local John Deere dealers so it can be logged in the system.
 
To make it more difficult for criminals to sell-on stolen StarFire GPS systems, John Deere included a PIN security feature in its StarFire 6000 series, launched in February 2019.
 
Superintendent Andy Huddleston, national police lead for agricultural machinery and vehicle thefts, said: “Making careful checks on the provenance of any GPS kit offered for sale outside the dealer network can stop criminals making money from these crimes and halt the surge.
 
“The service introduced by John Deere dealers makes these checks easier by enabling farmers to quickly check if a StarFire serial number is on their database of stolen systems.”
 
He also urged farmers to be very wary of buying GPS kits which have had serial number stickers removed.
 
NFU Mutual GPS security checklist:
Activate PIN security on GPS kit with your own unique number
Keep tractors and combines with GPS fitted stored out of sight when possible
Check serial numbers of second-hand kit offered for sale
Remove GPS kit from tractors and other machinery and store it securely when not in use
 
For further information, contact:
Kate Ryder
NFU Mutual Press Office
Phone: 07814 365257
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Swedish company Voi has been appointed to operate e-scooters in the West Midlands, it was announced today. The trial will launch to the public in Birmingham and Coventry next week and be rolled-out across the region soon after.

E-scooters will be rolled-out in Birmingham and Coventry from next Thursday (10 September). Soon afterwards, the scooters will be deployed in, Sandwell (West Bromwich), Solihull, Walsall, Wolverhampton and Warwickshire.

The tender process, part of the West Midlands Combined Authority concluded with the contract being offered to Voi as the sole operator. Voi launched Europe’s first dockless e-scooter service in 2018 and now operates in 45 cities across 11 countries.
The public will initially be able to access and ride e-scooters within the immediate vicinity of Birmingham and Coventry’s city centre, with an ambition to expand the trial zones as the trial progresses.

For the purpose of the trial the DfT requires a maximum speed of 15.5 mph on roads. In pedestrianised areas a lower speed limit of 5mph will be applicable. E-scooters are allowed on any 30 mph or less road, however the council have advised users to use designated cycle routes wherever possible.

Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, said: “The West Midlands is proud to be leading the way on future transport development, and it is great to be able to partner with Voi and reveal our plans for e-scooters across the region.

“E-scooters will help bring more flexibility, choice, and greener travel solutions for the West Midlands.

Its unquestionably offer a healthier, more environmentally friendly, alternative to the car for shorter journeys around our towns and cities and It’s a great coup for the West Midlands to be at the forefront of the Government’s e-scooter trial. I look forward to work with Voi and local authorities to make sure we maximise the potential.”

The Department of Transport passed legislation earlier this year to accelerate the deployment of e-scooter trials across the UK and Birmingham City Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and the Environment, Councillor Waseem Zaffar, said: “This is brilliant news for the West Midlands, and I am delighted that Birmingham will be one of the first UK cities to trial e-scooters. This provides the public with yet another green alternative to private car, supporting social distancing but also helping to reduce pollution levels and improve air quality.

“Working with our partners, we have managed to turn this project around really quickly and made sure that safety is absolutely paramount. I hope the people of Birmingham will embrace this new, environmentally-friendly way of getting around our city.”

Up to 10,000 e-scooters are due to be deployed across the region over the course of the trial. Birmingham and Coventry will initially start with 200 each, with demand monitored by Voi – working closely with Local Authorities.

Riders will need a provisional or full driving licence to unlock an e-scooter. They will cost £1 to unlock and 20p per minute to ride, however there will be reduced rates for NHS workers, students and those on low incomes. Those who are looking to use the e-scooters regularly can have unlimited rides for £40 per month. Private e-scooters will not be permitted as part of the trial.

To make sure that e-scooters are introduced as safely as possible, Voi has gone over and above Government requirements on age limits, insurance and rider verification. Voi will provide in person and online rider education, provide rider identity verification and will make #RideLikeVoila - its online traffic school - available to users in the West Midlands.

Lucy Yu, Voi’s Director of Public Policy, said: “In the UK, 60 per cent of car journeys are between one and three miles, which significantly increases congestion. Cars no longer suit the way we live today, and we estimate that 20 per cent of short journeys could be replaced by low-carbon e-scooters with a minimum five-year lifespan. E-scooters provide a compelling alternative that will outrun the car.”

Voi is also committed to upholding West Midlands Combined Authority’s health and safety policy to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the region. Voi is adding Shieldex Copper-Tape to the handlebars of its e-scooters, which kill 99.98% of coronavirus on contact, and all e-scooters will be disinfected every 24 hours.

The trial is due to run for 12 months. It will be closely reviewed by the Department of Transport and Transport for West Midlands working closely with local authorities and stakeholders, with a view to establishing longer-term options for e-scooters in the region.

Inspire International UK, pioneers in health and safety, environmental and quality management within the commercial vehicle market, based in Meriden Business Park, West Midlands has announced the launch of its new vehicle workshop safety e-learning solution, E-Workshop – a first for the industry.

Inspire International UK is a family run business, with 20 employees, managed by Jagjeet Singh Virdee, Managing Director and his Father Harvinder Singh Virdee, Technical Director. The father and son duo have provided commercial vehicle health and safety solutions to over 250 commercial vehicle workshops across the UK for over 30 years.

Aimed at the commercial vehicle market, the E-Workshop solution has been designed and developed by Inspire International UK, the UK’s leading provider of health and safety management solutions for commercial vehicle workshops, offering 16 health and safety e-learning modules, plus many more which are soon to be released. 

Recent statistics showcased that over half of companies expect an increase in their risk profile with 71 per cent expecting to increase investment in legal compliance, with the largest anticipated risk increase from health and safety.[1] To address this, Inspire, through its E-Workshop solution, is offering a Covid-19 Return to Work programme, which explains the changes that have been introduced into the workplace and what employees must do to protect themselves and others from the spread of infection.

Inspire International UK work with well-established and leading businesses in the industry, including the likes of Keltruck, Scania (Great Britain) Ltd, MAN Truck and Bus UK, Haydock Commercials, Ford and Slater Group, Europa Worldwide Group and RH Commercial Vehicles, plus many more.

Jagjeet Singh Virdee, Managing Director at Inspire International UK explains why now is the time for businesses to invest in health and safety e-learning that is specific to their commercial vehicle workshop: “In light of Covid-19 and the challenges this presents Commercial Vehicle Dealerships now and over the next few years, we have worked with Senior Commercial Vehicle leaders to ensure they can maximise workshop hours/utilisation whilst complying to the health and safety regulations that are applicable to their operations.

“E-workshop is the UK’s first commercial vehicle specific health and safety e-learning solution that will help to ensure commercial vehicle dealerships remain compliant to applicable health and safety regulations through the use of e-learning.

“E-workshop is ideal for the current economic climate and will be the future of health and safety training within the commercial vehicle industry.”

The easy to use e-learning solution caters for all personnel, from Directors to Workshop Controllers and Technicians, educating them on the importance of effective health and safety management within a commercial vehicle workshop.

Inspire advises that by investing in the e-learning training modules, it will ensure workshops remain compliant, workshop hours are maximised, the correct type of health and safety training for the correct job role is delivered and teams are educated to effectively avoid and manage health and safety within their working environment.

Jagjeet Singh Virdee continues: “We are a one stop shop for all areas of health and safety management that relates to commercial vehicle businesses. With the launch of E-workshop, we look to further strengthen our position as the experts in commercial vehicle health and safety solutions that are effective, efficient, pragmatic and proven. We are the leaders in our Industry and truly passionate about what we do, so we will continue to invest in developing solutions that will benefit both our existing and new clients.

“We plan to continue to listen to the needs of our customers and monitor any changes/introduction of health and safety regulations to ensure our customers continue to introduce best practices in order to remain compliant.”

The 16 e-learning modules currently include: Covid-19 Return To Work, PIT Safety Awareness, Working At Heights, Health Surveillance – Noise, Respiratory and HAVS awareness, Equipment Checks – Pre-Use and Defective, Vehicle Lifting Equipment, Tyre Inflation and Compressed Air Systems, Electrical Safety and Awareness, Hot Works – Oxy-acetylene, Abrasive Wheel and Welding Safety Awareness, Fire Safety Awareness, Workplace Transport Safety, Fire Warden, First Aid Appointed Person, Introduction To Vehicle Workshop Health and Safety, Emergency Procedures and Reporting Accidents, Incidents and Near Misses, and, Display Screen Equipment, plus many more which are planned to be introduced. 

With over 30 years’ experience and having worked with over 250 client locations, Inspire has a proven track record of ensuring risks are managed effectively and efficiently through the implementation of 'proven' solutions. Each solution has been developed specifically for the commercial vehicle, logistics and food manufacturing markets.  
 

This October, Dementia UK’s brand-new fundraising event, Raise Your Game, sees fundraisers across the UK getting out their Jenga/Snakes and Ladders/Ludo/Scrabble sets [delete as appropriate] to help families face dementia. Families are invited to spend time together (either virtually, socially distanced or within their household) having fun, as well raising awareness and funds, for more of Dementia UK’s dementia specialist Admiral Nurses.  
 
When things get challenging or difficult for people with dementia and their families, Admiral Nurses work alongside them, giving the compassionate one-to-one support, expert guidance and practical solutions that can be difficult to find elsewhere. They are a lifeline - helping families to live more positively with dementia in the present, and to face the challenges of tomorrow with more confidence and less fear. 
 
Fundraisers will be getting involved in a number of different events over the next few months, from 24-hour board game marathons to whole villages throwing the dice. One fundraiser who will be taking part in Raise Your Game this year will be Sue from Hampshire. Her mother was diagnosed with dementia in 2013. Sue says: “I had never heard of Admiral Nurses but I realise just how valuable they could have been in my situation in terms of supporting me with respite, and talking through the feelings of guilt I faced after having put mum in a nursing home.” 
 
Games have always played (no pun intended!) a strong role in Sue’s life. She lived in Germany with her husband who was in the military. They used to get involved in games nights with the people who were stationed there. Sue continues: “We used to play Ludo tournaments during our lunch breaks and in between our shifts. It didn’t matter if we didn’t speak the same language as Ludo has a language of its own! A six is a six in any tongue. There were teams of British, German, Portuguese, Yugoslavian and we never tired of playing.” 
 
Hannah Gardner, Admiral Nurse from East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, said: “My mum was diagnosed with young onset dementia and it’s this which ultimately led me to becoming an Admiral Nurse. Being an Admiral Nurse, I help families through many challenging times but also allow them to appreciate the moments they have together.  
   
“I remember my own family used to play Monopoly but never got to the end of the game, as it took far too long! But it was nice to just spend time together. I’m delighted that Dementia UK has put this fundraising event on as I know it will be of benefit to so many families.”  
 
Hilda Hayo, CEO of Dementia UK and Chief Admiral Nurse, said: “People affected by dementia can feel isolated, and straightforward games can be an excellent way to help them communicate and have fun. Our first-ever Raise Your Game fundraising event is a welcome addition to our events calendar. It will no doubt bring many families together in the face of one of the most challenging health conditions out there, whilst also raising money for more dementia specialist Admiral Nurses.” 
 
Families can look at the charity’s online coronavirus hub for the latest updates on how to care and support a relative at this time.

Technology entrepreneur Charlette N’Guessan has won this year's Royal Academy of Engineering Africa prize for engineering innovation. The Ivorian 26-year-old, who is based in Ghana, is the first woman to win the prestigious prize. Her team's invention, Bace API, uses facial recognition and artificial intelligence to verify identities remotely, the academy said.
 
It takes live images or short videos recorded on phone cameras to detect whether the image is of a real person, or a photo of an existing image. It is aimed at institutions that rely on identity verification. Two financial institutions are already using the software to verify customers’ identities, the academy said. Ms N’Guessan won £25,000 ($33,000) for the top prize.
 
The winner was voted for by a live audience during a virtual awards ceremony held on Thursday where four finalists delivered presentations. Three runners-up received £10,000 ($13,000).
 
They are Aisha Raheem from Nigeria - whose digital platform provides farmers with data to improve their efficiency, Dr William Wasswa from Uganda - whose low-cost digital microscope speeds up cervical cancer screening and David Tusubira from Uganda - who devised a system that manages off-grid power grids by monitoring the condition of solar arrays.
 
In a statement the academy said: "Fifteen shortlisted Africa Prize entrepreneurs, from six countries in sub-Saharan Africa, received eight months of training and mentoring, during which they developed their business plans and learned to market their innovations."
 
 
 

City of Wolverhampton Council is putting plans in place for another major Bilston Urban Village development that could enable the delivery of up to 300 jobs for the city - and vital business rates revenue.
 
A report to be heard at the council’s Cabinet Resources Panel meeting on Wednesday, September 9 is proposing the disposal to a delivery partner of 17 acres of brownfield land identified for employment use to provide at least 100,000 square feet of industrial/commercial space.
 
The site is situated at the East of Bilston Urban Village, to the rear of Morrisons supermarket, and borders the Midland Metro to the east and Bankfield Road to the west – with quick connections to Junction 10 of the M6 via The Black Country Route.
 
There is demand from businesses requiring high-quality premises and market testing last year indicated a number of developers interested in building out the site for employment purposes.
 
Bilston Urban Village has been created following multi-million-pound investment by City of Wolverhampton Council, Homes England and the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership to remediate brownfield land through a range of major works, including the site clearance, former factory floors being broken up, the old railway embankment removed, treatment of mineshafts and highways and drainage infrastructure being installed.
 
Significant, initial investment in Bilston Urban Village saw the building of the Bert Williams Leisure Centre and South Wolverhampton and Bilston Academy – improving health and increasing education and skills opportunities.
 
With the first residential phase of 78 Kier homes off Dudley Street now complete and people already moving into the larger Countryside development off Coseley Road, which will provide 420 homes across 27 acres, there is an increasing population right on the doorstep of the town centre.
 
A newly-built Marston’s family pub/restaurant, the White Rabbit, and the new Loxdale Primary School also form key components of Bilston Urban Village.
 
Extensive landscaping works also mean these destinations have been connected by 35 acres of green space, creating a conservation and recreation area accessible by a network of paths, including Bert Turner Boulevard, which leads into the heart of the town centre.

Councillor Stephen Simkins, Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: “The disposal of this land for employment use is another critical piece of the Bilston Urban Village jigsaw.
 
“It is even more critical now to provide new opportunities for our residents as we look to recover economically from the impact of Covid-19.
 
“We are realising our vison of affordable urban living for hundreds of families - all right at the heart of Bilston.
 
“The urban village offers extensive areas of open space to enjoy on the doorstep, new schools for kids to learn in, a top-class leisure centre nearby, a new family pub/restaurant on tap and further investment planned for the town centre.
 
“It is also a great location with purpose-built transport connectivity and the new commercial plot will provide hundreds of jobs opportunities.
 
“Bilston Urban Village also shows why our work towards establishing a National Brownfield Institute at the University of Wolverhampton’s outstanding £100million Springfield Campus is so critical.
 
“This will help get more former industrial land ready for development, creating future employment sites and homes.”
 
The land has been assembled by the council over a number of years following a transfer of ownership from Homes England (formerly Homes and Communities Agency) and the acquisition of neighbouring scrapyards.
 
Full site investigations on the employment site have already been carried out thanks to funding through the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership.
 
Access is proposed off Brook Street and, with offices and general industrial use identified for the land rather than storage and distribution, the movement of heavy lorries is expected to be minimised.
 

Child Trust Funds are due to start maturing today and millions of children who received a handout from the government have benefited from their parents choosing to invest in stocks and shares rather than cash.

Launched in 2005, the first Child Trust Funds are starting to mature this month when the oldest group of children turn 18 and gain access to their accounts. HMRC say around 55,000 will mature each month.

When they were opened, parents had the option of choosing to invest in cash or funds that invested in stocks and shares.

Of the 6.3million Child Trust Funds opened for children born between September 2002 and January 2011, around 4.84million of them were invested in funds that invested in stocks and shares, but more than a million were invested in cash.

And those families who invested in shares are likely to have seen better returns.

£250 invested in April 2005
Returns
FTSE All-Share
£590.34
Cash
£319.40
*Figures from FE 01/04/2005 – 28/08/2020

Sean McCann, Chartered Financial Planner at financial advisers NFU Mutual, said: “Many play it safe when it comes to investing for children and keep the money in savings accounts, but families who invested in share based funds may be surprised by the returns they’ve made.

“These figures demonstrate the longer-term potential of the stock market and how taking more risk can produce better returns when investing for children.

“Despite the credit crunch of 2008 and the financial downturn this year, many Child Trust Funds invested in shares have still outperformed those invested in cash.

“One of the aims of the Child Trust Fund was to help children understand the benefits of longer term saving and investment.

“Thousands of teenagers will start receiving this money in September, and when they take control at 18 they can move some or all of the money into an ISA and continue to benefit from any future growth.” 

If parents didn’t invest their child’s handout, the government did it for them. You can trace a lost Child Trust Fund, by logging onto: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/child-trust-fund

England striker Marcus Rashford has formed a taskforce with some of the UK's biggest food brands to try to help reduce child food poverty.

The 22-year-old Manchester United forward successfully campaigned to extend free school meals this summer. He has written to MPs, outlining the help he feels some families still need.

They include expanding the numbers who are eligible for free school meals - and offer them free food and activities during school holidays in England.

He has spoken about his own experiences of using a food voucher scheme as a child and was praised for pressing the government into a U-turn on the issue.

The group of supermarkets, businesses and charities - including Aldi, Asda, Co-op, Deliveroo, FareShare, Food Foundation, Iceland, Kellogg's, Lidl, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose - have formed a taskforce and backed proposals from the National Food Strategy, an independent review of UK food policy.

The taskforce is calling for three policy recommendations by the National Food Strategy to be funded by the government as soon as possible:

Expanding free school meals to every child from a household on Universal Credit or equivalent, reaching an additional 1.5m children aged seven to 16
Expanding an existing school holiday food and activities programme to support all children on free school meals in all areas of England. instead of the current 50,000 children that are helped
Increasing the value of the Healthy Start vouchers - which help parents with children under the age of four and pregnant women buy some basic foods - from £3.10 to £4.25 per week, and expanding it to all those on Universal Credit or equivalent, reaching an additional 290,000 people

The taskforce says implementing the three recommendations would mark a "unifying step to identifying a long-term solution to child poverty in the UK".

Rashford said he was "confident" the group could help change lives "for the better" and said that the move to extend free school meals over the summer had been a "short-term solution" to stopping children from going hungry, but it "wasn't going to work in the long run".

"We had to think about the best way to do it, to think about how these families can eat long term and not have any issues," he said.

He is hoping that, with a bigger team of experts around him, he might be able to help more children.

"We wanted to do it the best way we could, introduce the best people into our group, and see if using them [we] can push it even more."

The CEOs of City First Bank in Washington, DC and Broadway Federal Bank in Los Angeles have decided to merge to create one of the largest in the US - and Black-led Minority Depository Institution (MDI) in the nation - with more than $1 billion in combined assets under management and approximately $850 million in total depository institution assets.
Brian E. Argrett, CEO of City First, will be CEO of the newly combined company, which will use City First as its banking brand but keep the publicly-traded Broadway Financial Corp (BYFC) as its bank holding company. Wayne-Kent A. Bradshaw, Broadway’s CEO, will be the chairman of the new company.

Combining the two institutions increases their collective commercial lending capacity for investments in multifamily affordable housing, small businesses, and nonprofit development in financially underserved urban areas while creating a national platform for impact investors.

Both banks have held a strong financial position as Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), and have a longstanding history of advancing economic and social equity through the provision of capital in low- to moderate-income communities. The combined institution will maintain its CDFI status, requiring it to deploy at least 60% of its lending into low- to moderate-income communities.

CDFIs help to close funding gaps, create jobs, expand critical social services, and spur equitable economic development with a mission to strengthen the overall well-being of vulnerable communities. Since the beginning of 2015, City First Bank and Broadway Federal Bank have collectively deployed over $1.1 billion combined in loans and investments in their communities.

The new institution will maintain bi-coastal headquarters and will continue to serve and expand in the banks’ current geographic areas, with a desire to scale to other high-potential urban markets. As a national bank, the combined entity intends to continue to operate under the supervision of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and to be listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market.

In a potential bid to restart the persistent near standstill in transatlantic travel UK and US government officials are reportedly looking at establishing regional air corridors. Localized travel bubbles could allow for UK quarantine exemptions for passengers from low-infection rate areas, such as New York, and jumpstart the world’s most revenue-generating route.

Even as the UK removes more and more European countries from its quarantine exemption list, talks seem to be moving ahead on a travel corridor with the US. Regional “air bridges” could allow people arriving from areas with low infection rates, such as New York, to forego the 14-day quarantine requirement currently in place.

A source said: “There are discussions going on at a very senior level around opening up London and New York. They are at a very early stage but it is vital to get business going with a major trading partner especially as we near Brexit”.
Before corona restrictions were imposed, London-New York was the world’s most revenue-generating route, with over $1 billion in annual sales.

Business travellers to the UK from the US spent £1.06 billion ($1.4 billion) in 2019, according to Statista. This is far more than the £372 million ($495 million) spent by Germans in second place, or the £199 million ($265 million) by the French.
At the moment, along with all other Europeans, UK nationals are still prohibited from entering the US. Similarly, any Britons returning from the States are subject to a two-week-long quarantine. While all of the USA remains red-listed, some states and areas are experiencing much lower rates of infection than others.

Early virus hotspot New York has, following strict lockdown measures, reduced its weekly infection rate to 7.2 cases per 100,000, which is lower than the UK’s 11.3. At the same time, other areas such as the southern states of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana are faring much worse.

But, of course, as the term implies, travel corridors are a bilateral affair. The US must make equal considerations. Paul Charles, chief executive of the travel consultancy The PC Agency, told the Telegraph that these talks could increase pressure on the UK to introduce COVID-19 testing on arrival.

Mr Charles said: “The US will only agree to this if there is proper testing in place in the UK. The delay in establishing a testing policy is in danger of holding up the opening of commercially-important travel corridors”.

Only a week ago, Germany’s leading aviation industry group, BDI, proposed the creation of limited air-travel corridors between major US and European hubs. The proposal would require passengers to produce a negative COVID test before flying.
The pilot project would include Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, and Newark in the US, and Frankfurt and Munich in Germany.

Severn Trent is encouraging its customers to look back to the Swinging Sixties, after it was revealed that people now use more than 50 litres of water each day, compared to 60 years ago. That’s the equivalent of an extra 200 cups of tea or coffee every day for everyone in the UK, as the average person uses around 130 litres each day now.

The recent ‘Great British Rain Paradox’ report supported by the Environment Agency suggests the UK could face water scarcity in just 25 years, if behaviours towards water don’t change.   Sir James Bevan, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, said on the report:

“People might wonder how a country with such a reputation for rain like the UK could reach a tipping point where demand for water outstrips supply in just 25 years. But this may become a reality if we don’t take action to save water now.  The fact is a convergence of factors underpinned by climate change has led us to this frightening prospect. But if we all take concerted action now we can ensure that there will be enough water to go around for generations to come.”

So the fact is that in the future we may have less water available, and yet we’re using more and more.  So looking back to the Sixties may well help us when we’re looking ahead.

Severn Trent says we’re using water in different ways these days compared to the Sixties - most of us will now have water hungry devices like jet washers, sprinklers and huge paddling pools which all contribute to the increases in consumption. So in this unique Summer with more people at home than ever before, its encouraging its customers to think about their water use and get into good water saving habits now for the future.

Doug Clarke, Severn Trent’s Water Resource Lead, said: “While the world has certainly changed over the last 60 years, one thing’s for sure, we can all still learn a thing or two about saving water from those in the Sixties.

“Today we’re likely to bath or shower more, be watering our garden more often with sprinklers, have bigger paddling pools and while no one wants to stop people washing their hands, having showers or even having fun with water, we really want to encourage people to maybe be a bit more Sixties, and a little less 2020s in how they think about their water use.

“There are loads of really simple ways to save water – you can use a water butt to harvest rainwater which you can then use to water your plants and garden, turn the tap off while your clean your teeth, reuse your washing up water on your plants or use a bucket and sponge to clean your car” said Doug.

“And super soakers might not have been around in the Sixties but they’re great fun for kids and grown-ups, and use a heck of a lot less water than giant paddling pools!”

Some of the top ways you can save water include:

Putting the garden hose or sprinkler away; a brown lawn quickly bounces back to green when it rains again;
If you’ve filled your paddling pool up, keep the water for the next day by simply covering it. This will also help keep any creepy crawlies out!
If you’ve got a traditional toilet without the two button flush, order a free Buffaloo from Severn Trent that’ll reduce how much water you use each flush.

You can also get your hands on some free water saving devices, visit stwater.co.uk/savewater

There are now only a few more days left for businesses to submit their applications to host an event in the 2020 Black Country Business Festival.

The Festival closes its doors to new event applications at 5pm on Friday 14 August. Anyone can run an event and it can be about anything so long as it helps other businesses or employees to learn, share or grow. Events can be digital, physical or a mix of the two, where a minimal amount of delegates will be able to attend while the event is live-streamed. A Business Festival digital platform has been created on ‘Zoom’ [digital live streaming platform] to allow event organisers to run their events online.

Already there are nearly 80 events in the Business Festival which is taking place from 5 to 15 October. There is a good mix of physical and digital events which shows that businesses have really adapted to new ways of working. Tickets to events will start to go live on the Business Festival website (www.blackcountrybusinessfestival.com) from 17 August. Events are split into sectors to make it easy to browse and sort and there are so many different topics there is bound to be something for everyone.

Sandwell Council in conjunction with construction company, Balfour Beatty is running a virtual ‘meet the buyer’ event on 8 October, where they will be sharing tips with local supply chains on how to win business on the landmark £267m MMUH healthcare project as well as some of Balfour Beatty’s other regional projects such as the redevelopment of the Black Country Living Museum. In Walsall, the council’s Works, Skills & Jobs Expo on 5 October is an all-day event for businesses and training providers, where there will be details about jobs, apprenticeships and courses for local residents.

Business Festival partner, the University of Wolverhampton is once again holding several excellent events which range from examining the advantages and disadvantages of developing brown field land right through to Intellectual property protection on innovations and the business of cyber protection.

Corin Crane, chief executive of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, which initiated the BCBF three years ago, said, “There is such great engagement from the business community that the Festival is proving to be a showcase in itself of the positivity and resilience of the Black Country. But there are only a few more days left before the portal closes so any business wishing to be part of this brilliant fortnight needs to get their application in now.

“This is the third year of the Black Country Business Festival and this year is possibly more important to our businesses than ever before, because of the solid platform on which to re-energise and re-engage that it provides.”

The BCBF relies on sponsorship from organisations in the Black Country. The 2020 Festival Partners are: University of Wolverhampton, Talbots Law, Dudley Business First, Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership and the Black Country Growth Hub; sponsors are: Wolverhampton Racecourse, Thomas Dudley, Casino36 and M6toll.

The Festival is also supported by Gecko Programmes, Sandwell Council and Walsall Council with media partners, Elonex, Signal 107 and Metro and app partner, Infonote.

Survey shows shoppers in the West Midlands expected to shop second-hand to save money and support those in need, following pandemic

Charity shops could be vital to the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic by helping people save money, shop sustainably and fund charitable services, according to a new survey. 

The survey commissioned* by the British Heart Foundation showed that over a quarter of adults in the West Midlands (28%) feel that charity shops are more important to society following Covid-19, while just under four in ten (38%) agree that being sustainable and thinking about the environment when they shop is more important than before.

Of those who think charity shops will be more important for society in the West Midlands: 

Over three in five (64%) say it’s because charity shops provide affordable items to those with financial concerns.
Over three in five (62%) say it’s because they raise funds for charitable causes at a time many of these causes are in high demand. 
More than half (52%) say charity shops are vital because they prevent items from being thrown away.
Four in ten (40%) respondents say they provide jobs and volunteering opportunities in community at a time the UK is facing recession. 

Last year alone, thanks to the generosity of donations to our shops the BHF helped re-use an incredible 71,000 tonnes of items and prevented 135,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions from being released into the atmosphere. The BHF say the Covid-19 crisis has highlighted the benefits charity shops bring to the economy and consumers, from saving people money, to preventing items going to waste and funding causes that have given vital support to people during this time. The charity hopes its shops will be a first stop for those wanting to declutter and donate as people are more conscious of these benefits than ever.

Allison Swaine-Hughes, Retail Director at the British Heart Foundation, said: “This pandemic has been devastating for so many of us and the reopening of charity shops is going to be vital for millions as we look to recover. Charity shops provide high quality items at affordable prices, power charitable services that have never been more in demand, re-use thousands of tonnes of items and provide a community space for so many volunteers and customers.”

 “Every pound raised in our shops helps us to support the 660,000 people in the West Midlands living with heart and circulatory diseases, many of whom are at increased risk from Covid-19. Shopping at the BHF will help us, help them.”

At the end of March, the BHF temporarily closed its 750 nationwide shops in order to protect staff, volunteers and customers. The charity has since revealed that its funding budget to support research into heart and circulatory diseases may be reduced by £50 million this year and needs the public support more than ever to maintain progress.

Just £16 worth of your donations can support an early career scientist in carrying out an hour’s research and £25 gives a researcher an hour’s access to equipment. If your donations raised £100, this would fund a DNA extraction kit to identify genes linked to heart and circulatory diseases. 

Dorsett Wanchai and Dorsett Mongkok Win 2020 Travellers’ Choice Award By TripAdvisor for Exceptional Hospitality

The Covid-19 has definitely affected many people in one way or another, but it hasn't stopped the two sister hotels - Dorsett Wanchai and Dorsett Mongkok, Hong Kong from achieving more. Last week, both hotels saw their hard work being paid off when they were announced the award-winners of the 2020 Travellers' Choice Award by TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel platform.

The annual award recognizes the top 10% of hotels that perform exceptionally well in the hospitality businesses based on a large volume of positive travellers' reviews received globally and verified by TripAdvisor in the past year.

Ms Anita Chan, General Manager of Dorsett Wanchai and Dorsett Mongkok said: "Despite tourism industry being heavily impacted by Covid-19, our commitment to serving our guests with genuine hostility has never once been shaken by the pandemic. Winning this award has a special meaning for us this year. Not only does it assures our guests that we are still a trusted place to stay, it also proves that nothing is impossible with a passionate heart.

“Therefore, I want to take this moment to thank all our guests for their support and to the hotel staff for doing a marvelous job in keeping guests safe and well during these extremely challenging times. We wouldn't have achieved this without the trust of our guests and the full support from our people".

At Dorsett, the safety and well-being of the guests and staff has always been the top priority.

In the past few months, they have been taking cautious steps to upgrade our safety measures.

They have partnered with Ecolab and use their medical grade disinfectant; we also incorporate technology to increase cleaning and disinfecting efficiency, such as the AI vacuum cleaner and AI thermal scanner.

They have also launched a new foodpanda menu to enhance our in-room dining experience, and a vending machine fully-stocked with sanitizing amenities and daily necessities to provide convenience for in-house guests.

"We are better prepared than ever in face of the pandemic in Hong Kong. When you are ready to travel again, we are ready to serve you at Dorsett," said Ms Chan.