The Rock, a youth project dedicated to supporting young people in Cheltenham, has been awarded a £41,000 grant to expand its services. The funding, provided by a consortium of local organizations including Cheltenham Borough Homes, NHS Gloucestershire, and the Gloucestershire Office of Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC), will enable The Rock to reach more young people who may be struggling with school, mental health, or social isolation. The Rock’s approach focuses on providing support both within youth centers and in the community. Their outreach workers engage with young people in parks, public spaces, and other locations where they gather. Victoria Atherstone, Cheltenham Borough Council’s cabinet member for safety and communities, said The Rock had “a fantastic application” for the grant. “[The council] recognised we did need to focus more on detached youth work to meet young people in the environments they’re actually at,” she said. “The town centre, St Paul’s and St Peter’s are three specific areas we’re honing in on to support young people.” The project has already made a positive impact by offering a range of services, including mobile sports activities and health and wellbeing advice. By providing opportunities for social interaction and personal development, The Rock is…
The UK Ministry of Defence has announced a £40 million investment in a new satellite, named Juno, to enhance the country’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. The satellite, developed by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd., is expected to launch in 2027 and will provide high-resolution imagery of the Earth’s surface. This advanced technology will support a range of military operations, including monitoring adversary activities and contributing to global security efforts. Juno will join Tyche, the UK Space Command’s first satellite, which successfully launched in August 2023. Together, these satellites will form part of a constellation that will deliver critical information to support UK defense and security interests. The investment in Juno is expected to create around 200 skilled jobs in the UK space sector, boosting the nation’s economy and strengthening its position as a global leader in space technology. Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry Maria Eagle said:“The contract for Juno shows the UK’s commitment to grow one of the most innovative and attractive space economies in the world and keep our competitive edge in space science and technology. Juno will not only support Armed Forces personnel deployed globally, but also support highly skilled jobs, delivering on the government’s growth…
Liverpool Waters, a significant regeneration project in the heart of Liverpool, has received a major boost with a £56 million investment from Homes England. This funding will accelerate the transformation of the city’s historic northern docklands, creating a vibrant new neighbourhood. The investment will support the development of Central Docks, the largest of the five neighborhoods within the Liverpool Waters district. This area is set to undergo a major transformation, with the creation of approximately 2,350 new homes, a new public park, and vital infrastructure. The project aligns with the UK government’s ambitious plans to build 1.5 million new homes across the country. By investing in brownfield sites like Central Docks, the government aims to revitalize urban areas and create sustainable communities. Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “Britain is under new management and now we’re really starting to see the difference. Working hand in hand with government at a national, regional and local level we can make an enormous difference and drive growth locally. The development of Central Docks, alongside the ongoing work to regenerate Bramley Moore and Bootle, has the potential to be a catalyst for growth and wider regeneration for great swathes of South…
Iberdrola, a global energy leader, has successfully issued a £500 million green bond in the UK market. This marks Iberdrola’s largest sterling bond issuance since 2009 and its first-ever green bond in sterling. The strong demand for the bond, exceeding £2.1 billion, allowed Iberdrola to reduce the spread over the reference interest rate to 95 basis points, a significant reduction from the initial 125 basis points. The coupon has been set at 5.25%, attracting the interest of over 140 investors, particularly those committed to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. The proceeds from the green bond will be used to finance future renewable energy investments in the United Kingdom. This issuance further solidifies Iberdrola’s position as a leading player in the global renewable energy sector. Iberdrola’s active presence in the capital markets has been evident in 2024, with six public transactions completed so far. These transactions have included bond issuances in euros, Swiss francs, and US dollars, demonstrating the company’s strong financial position and investor confidence. By diversifying its funding sources and accessing the UK market, Iberdrola aims to strengthen its financial flexibility and support its ongoing growth strategy.
Truro Methodist Church is set to undergo a significant transformation with the commencement of the Truro Community Hub project in late spring 2025. The first phase of the project will involve the construction of a three-story extension to the rear of the Grade II listed building, creating additional community space for local groups. Subsequent phases will introduce a new entrance and a community cafe. The Reverend Mark Dunn-Wilson, the church’s minister, said he believed the hub would make a positive difference to the community. He said: “Moving forward the hub will be adopting the name Kemeneth – which means community in Cornish – as a clear statement of the commitment of the project to serve local groups and people.” The £952,000 grant awarded by Truro Town Deal, along with a £500,000 investment from Cornwall Council, will fund the construction of the extension. This additional space will provide an extra 140 square meters for community activities, addressing the increasing demand from over 114 local groups that currently utilize the church’s facilities. The existing facilities within the Methodist church will remain accessible throughout the construction period
A revolutionary new project, BeefTwin, aims to transform UK beef farming by harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data-driven technologies. The £1.2 million initiative, funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), seeks to tackle critical challenges facing the industry, including greenhouse gas emissions, profitability, and animal welfare. Led by Professor Xiao Ma, Director of the Centre for Business and Industry Transformation (CBIT) at Nottingham Business School, the project brings together a multidisciplinary team of experts from Nottingham Trent University, the University of Nottingham, Royal Holloway University, the University of Sheffield, and the University of Lincoln. Addressing Urgent Challenges Beef farming is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, with annual emissions exceeding four billion metric tons (FAO, 2023). UK farms additionally face issues like inconsistent beef quality, lack of precision farming practices, and low profitability. Traditional grazing methods often hinder the collection of real-time data on animal health, feed conversion, and environmental impact. BeefTwin seeks to overcome these obstacles through a unique approach. Digital Twins for Optimized Farming The project will develop an AI-powered “Digital Twin” for each cow, creating a virtual representation of the farm system. This system will utilize real-time data, simulations, machine learning, and…
A pioneering project led by the University of Glasgow, University of Strathclyde, West of Scotland Housing Association, and Glasgow City Council is exploring the potential of electric wallpaper as a clean heat source for Scotland’s homes. Funded by Scotland Beyond Net Zero, the project aims to address the high carbon footprint of Scotland’s homes, which are among the oldest and worst insulated in Europe. Heating buildings accounts for a significant portion of Scotland’s carbon emissions, and gas central heating is the predominant heating system. The electric wallpaper technology, which utilizes Internet-of-Things and AI-enabled data analytics, is being piloted in 12 tenement properties managed by West of Scotland Housing Association. The technology collects information on efficiency, comfort, and tenant feedback to assess its viability as a replacement for traditional gas heating. “We have been trialling this technology for a few months now and have had excellent feedback from our tenants,” said Andrew Kubski, Director of Development and Asset Management for West of Scotland Housing Association. Councillor Ruairi Kelly, Convener for Neighbourhood Services and Assets at Glasgow City Council, emphasized the importance of finding new solutions to heat Glasgow’s tenement flats efficiently. “Innovative pilot projects like this are crucial for achieving a…
Thames Water, one of the UK’s largest water companies, has published its five-year Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP), outlining strategies to safeguard water supplies for millions of households in the South East region. The plan, approved by the Government, was developed in collaboration with Water Resources South East (WRSE) to address the challenges of a growing population and climate change. Thames Water is committed to delivering a safe and secure supply of drinking water for decades to come, while reducing its impact on the environment. Key aspects of the plan include: Nevil Muncaster, Thames Water’s Asset and Engineering Director, said: “The vital importance of water for all of society, and for the environment, means that we are committed to delivering this plan. Our region faces substantial pressure on its water resources and it’s our responsibility to provide a reliable supply of high-quality drinking water for generations to come. The Government’s approval of our plan also demonstrates confidence in our ability to build nationally significant infrastructure projects, enabling us to meet the future water demand challenges ahead.” The WRMP is essential for addressing the water resource challenges faced by the South East region, which is designated as seriously water stressed by…
GHD, a global professional services company, and Costain, the infrastructure solutions company, have successfully delivered a transformative approach to border processes post-Brexit through the Cabinet Office’s Port Infrastructure Fund (PIF) project. Their holistic assessment has played a pivotal role in reshaping the UK’s border trade approach and enhancing international supply chain security. Appointed by the Cabinet Office to address the challenges and ensure the PIF aligns with the Border 2025 strategy, GHD and Costain leveraged their joint expertise in supply chain, logistics, port operation, trade facilitation, and data analytics to deliver a comprehensive solution. By integrating data from government sources, third parties, and innovative new solutions, the project team provided invaluable evidence and intelligence to inform decision-making. The partnership’s efforts were instrumental in the successful delivery of the £200 million PIF on time and within budget, streamlining processes and delivering significant savings for the government and the supply chain industry. Additionally, the initiative reduced potential annual costs to the supply chain by £1 billion through refined policies to minimize border friction. To ensure a lasting legacy of built knowledge, GHD and Costain devised a comprehensive Borders Curriculum to upskill Cabinet Office personnel, leading to a 60% increase in their understanding…
The Association for Project Management (APM) is pleased to announce the appointment of Alistair Godbold and Antonio Nieto Rodriguez as its new Vice Presidents. They will succeed Dr. Paul Chapman and take on key responsibilities within the organization. Alistair Godbold, a highly respected project management professional with over 30 years of experience, will bring his expertise to the role. He has served as Deputy Chairman of APM and is a director of the International Centre for Complex Project Management. Godbold is passionate about addressing the shortage of skilled project professionals and expanding APM’s reach internationally. Commenting on his appointment, Alistair said: I’m very honoured and tremendously privileged to be able to carry on contributing to the profession and to APM.” Antonio Nieto Rodriguez, with 25 years of experience as a project management practitioner and former Global Chair of the Project Management Institute (PMI), brings a unique perspective to the role. His expertise in tackling the challenges facing the project profession, including the rise of new technology, will be invaluable to APM. Antonio said: “I am deeply honoured to be appointed Vice President of APM, the largest Project Management Association in the UK. Being part of a community of professionals who…
