Covid started in China at the back end of 2019 and few of us could have foreseen the impact the virus would have on the global economy, business, our way of life and mental well-being. I am, by nature, a highly positive person, I have had more than my fair share of “issues” but survived them to become quite a wise man, always defaulting to positive. Prior to Covid, I was quite fortunate insofar as I had, inside Aspen Waite, launched the concept that “nobody ever needed to be alone any more”. When Covid hit us, it seemed intuitively obvious…
Author: sme-admin
Martine Catton, Chief Commercial Officer, explains,” Newspaper headlines tend to focus on the potential high number of business failures caused by COVID and the various lockdowns. However, little attention is given to those businesses that have weathered the crisis well by being innovative, creative and adaptable. “These businesses are facing a different challenge – how they are going to finance increasing opportunities to invest and grow while also keeping an eye on inevitable cash flow challenges.The new loan facility, between £10,000 to £1 million, is designed to cover VAT paid on commercial properties or other large asset purchases. It is…
Andrew Baker, a brain injury survivor who made it his mission to raise thousands of pounds for brain injury and children’s hospital charities, will now, after almost two decades of fundraising receive an (MBE) from the Queen. Mr Baker, 32, the founder and CEO of Play2Give, the Oxfordshire fundraising organisation, was born with a brain injury and was cared for since birth, he then suffered a head injury at the age of eight which resulted in him needing further treatment and later surgery at the age of 12. The St Birinus pupil started raising money at age 14 in what…
SME Today recently spoke to Andrew Baker BCAv, founder of Play2Give, a Didcot-based fundraising organisation supporting, raising money and awareness for many Oxfordshire charities. “Having a disability is no barrier to success, and for me that saying is perfectly true, as my very own fundraising organisation, Play2Give (or P2G for short), which I proudly founded in 2007 just keeps going from strength to strength.” “In February 2001, aged 12, my life changed when I underwent life saving brain surgery for a head injury sustained when I was knocked over at primary school, aged 8. It was treatment that would prove…
Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are responsible for around 48% of all waste fires occurring in the UK each year, costing some £158 million annually to waste operators, fire services and the environment, according to new research conducted by Eunomia Li-ion batteries are found in an increasing number of electrical and electronic household items such as mobile phones and electric toothbrushes, and even items such as singing greetings cards, an issue often unknown to householders. These batteries cause a significant fire risk when they get into the residual and mixed recycling waste streams, either loose or inside electrical items. When these batteries…
Global Primary Lithium Battery Market 2020-2024 The analyst has been monitoring the primary lithium battery market and it is poised to grow by $ 1.88 bn during 2020-2024 progressing at a CAGR of 7% during the forecast period. Our report on primary lithium battery market provides a holistic analysis, market size and forecast, trends, growth drivers, and challenges, as well as vendor analysis covering around 25 vendors. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current global market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. The market is driven by the advantages associated with use of primary…
High Wycombe based Grant & Stone Limited, an independent builders’ merchant in the Thames Valley, has agreed to acquire and merge with CRS Building Supplies Limited (CRS), marking a decisive stage in its strategy to expand through a combination of acquisitions, new site development and organic growth. Established in 2005, CRS Building Supplies provides a broad range of heavyside building materials to trade and retail customers from 12 branches across Somerset. Headquartered in Wells, CRS is a highly successful local brand, with the reputation for outstanding customer service, which has demonstrated continued organic growth since its formation. Strategically, the partnership…
The new campaign launches to support the nation’s mental health, as half of adults say they are more worried during this current lockdown than in March 2020. At the start of the current government restrictions, reveals the impact coronavirus (COVID-19) has had on adults’ mental wellbeing across the country. The research found that almost half (49%) felt that the pandemic has impacted negatively on their mental health and wellbeing (53% of women and 45% of men). Of those surveyed, significant proportions of the population said they had been experiencing more anxiety (46%), stress (44%), sleep problems (34%) and low mood…
People aged 70 and over and the clinically extremely vulnerable to begin receiving invitations for vaccinations from today. Millions of people aged 70 and over and those clinically extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 will be invited to get their vaccinations from today (Monday 18 January) as the NHS begins roll out of the vaccines to the next 2 priority groups. The NHS has so far been working to vaccinate the first 2 priority cohorts recommended by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which are care home residents and staff, and those aged 80 and over and frontline health and…
Thinking about applying for a Kickstart Scheme grant to offer young people job placements at your organisation, then please read below some tips and advice on applying. What is the scheme? The Kickstart Scheme is a £2 billion scheme to create thousands of high-quality 6-month job placements for 16 – 24 year olds. The Kickstart Scheme is part of the plan for jobs and supports young people to develop new skills that will help them move into sustained employment after they have completed their Kickstart Scheme job placement. The Kickstart Scheme provides organisations of all sizes, across the private, public and voluntary sectors with the opportunity to access a large pool of…