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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Green energy group pulls out of climate summit over council planning delays
A pioneering eco-initiative aiming to deliver low-cost energy and affordable food to Wiltshire communities has pulled out of the county's upcoming Climate and Environment Summit in protest over prolonged planning delays. Sustain Wiltshire, which hopes to transform a landfill site on Brinkworth Road, Royal Wootton Bassett, into a waste-powered hub producing heat, electricity and crops, said on Wednesday it would not attend the Wiltshire Council-run summit scheduled for Thursday and Friday, June 20–21. The decision follows what the group described as nearly a year of frustrating hold-ups by the council in determining planning permission for the project, known as the Super-Midden. READ MORE: All UK passport holders told to take action 'today' amid travel warning READ MORE: Glastonbury fans think one act could replace Rod Stewart amid health concerns The application was submitted in July 2024. Since then, the organisation says it received validation only in February following a six-month wait, with just two site visits taking place in early summer. Despite being told a decision would be made on June 11, Sustain Wiltshire said that instead, the council posed 31 new questions and revealed that a failure to consult National Highways had triggered a last-minute objection from the agency. With the planning team now saying it will need at least 16 weeks to review the responses and possibly a further six months to address National Highways' concerns, Sustain Wiltshire said it could not, in good conscience, support the summit while its flagship project remained 'in doubt'. Nick Ash, director of both Sustain Wiltshire and Crapper and Sons Landfill Ltd, said: 'From our public consultations in 2023 through to last week we had not received a single voice of opposition to the Super-Midden. It is widely regarded as a progressive and innovative solution to the issue of landfill which is capable of removing over 3,800 tonnes of CO2 per year, at the same time as generating sufficient heat and energy to produce affordable fruit and vegetables to meet 80% of the needs of Royal Wootton Bassett, Malmesbury, Purton and Brinkworth. 'Now, at five minutes to midnight, we are faced with further questions, most of which have been addressed in our previous submissions, and a formal objection from the National Highways that could have been addressed months ago if the planning team at Wiltshire Council had done their job. 'That is why we have taken the decision to withdraw from Wiltshire Council's Climate and Environment Summit, where we were due to take part in the Circular Resources panel session focusing on 'Promoting a Low-Waste Culture and Local Share Economy.' 'Sadly, we see no way of being able to participate in an event run by a council that appears to be blocking the very innovations and initiatives that they are looking to celebrate at their summit. By taking this action and boycotting the event by mutual agreement – rather than raising these issues at the conference – we hope to draw attention to the damage being caused by outdated bureaucracy; without detracting from the important messages being addressed at the summit.' Nick added that the group is urging Wiltshire Council to fast-track the application, warning that if not, it will appeal to the Planning Directorate for non-determination and consider legal action for compensation. Responding to the decision, councillor Paul Sample JP, cabinet member for environment, climate and waste, said: 'We are disappointed to learn of Sustain Wiltshire's decision to not attend the Climate and Environment Summit this weekend. It is a shame that they do not wish to engage in the event which is completely separate to the planning process and will celebrate businesses working towards carbon neutrality and share best practice and approaches to accelerate their progress towards net zero. 'It would be inappropriate to comment on an ongoing planning application, but the council has a duty to assess the submitted proposals and take into account comments received from internal and external consultees. The council remains keen to work positively with Sustain Wiltshire to resolve the outstanding issues.'
Business Wire
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
ODRG Secures $3 Million Investment to Accelerate Growth and Expand Geospatial Intelligence Capabilities
ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Organizational Development Resource Group (ODRG), a fast-rising technology and operations firm serving federal clients, announced today it secured a $3 million investment from the Empower the Change Fund—a growth capital fund dedicated to supporting undercapitalized entrepreneurs. This investment will propel ODRG's expansion into advanced geospatial intelligence services and strengthen its mission technology capabilities to deliver on the evolving needs of federal agencies. This investment marks a transformative moment for our company. It enables us to deepen our commitment to technical excellence, scale our operations, and broaden the impact we can make through delivering AI-powered geospatial and mission-critical services. Share Sophia Harris founded and leads ODRG, which has built a reputation for delivering high-performance mission support and innovative technology solutions across the national security and geospatial sectors. With a growing footprint and a client roster that includes the US Navy, Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), the company is well-positioned for its next phase of strategic growth. 'This investment marks a transformative moment for our company,' said Sophia Harris, founder and CEO of ODRG. 'It enables us to deepen our commitment to technical excellence, scale our operations, and broaden the impact we can make through delivering AI-powered geospatial and mission-critical services. We look forward to expanding our capacity to innovate for our federal mission partners with even greater agility.' ODRG will use the capital infusion to grow, enhance R&D efforts, forge new strategic software partnerships, and expand the company's portfolio of technology-forward solutions, under the ODRG NEXT OCTAVE™ emerging technologies. Already operating across the defense, intelligence, and federal sectors with 95% prime contracts, ODRG is on a trajectory to become a leading solutions-based firm at the intersection of human-centered design, AI-powered data platforms, and geospatial intelligence. 'Sophia Harris and the ODRG team represent exactly the kind of entrepreneurial excellence the Empower the Change Fund was designed to support,' said Sandra M. Moore, Managing Director and Founder of the Empower the Change Fund at Advantage Capital. 'The company delivers impressive innovation for its clients, and we're proud to provide Sophia and her team the capital they need to unlock their next phase of growth.' The Empower the Change Fund supports high-potential businesses and undercapitalized entrepreneurs. The fund's investment in ODRG reflects a shared vision for economic development and support for growth-ready business owners who are building impactful businesses. About ODRG Organizational Development Resource Group (ODRG) delivers emerging technology solutions to the federal government, specializing in accelerating agency IT modernization. By leveraging human-centered design and AI-powered data services, ODRG focuses on mission-critical geospatial and secure-by-design cloud solutions for security cooperation. Our team of engineering experts excels in driving high-adoption, low-risk outcomes and exceptional performance to take programs to the NEXT OCTAVE™. To ensure mission success, ODRG assists customers with developing and implementing solutions that are both useful & used. Through collaborative partnerships with their technology alliances, ODRG prides itself on automating processes, upskilling the workforce, and delivering for the mission. About Empower the Change Fund Empower the Change is a growth capital fund enabled by Advantage Capital and the NMSDC Business Consortium Fund, dedicated to investing in and supporting underserved and underrepresented entrepreneurs. The fund was established to remove the barriers to financial freedom for business owners and the communities they serve. Advantage Capital is an Investment Adviser registered with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission. Such registration, however, does not imply a certain level of skill or training. This release has been prepared for informational purposes and to announce a prior event, and nothing herein should be construed as an offer of investment advisory services or as an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase any securities or investment product. All offers of investment interests in any fund or investment vehicle managed directly or indirectly by Advantage Capital are and will be made only to qualified prospective investors pursuant to separate and definitive offering and subscription documents in accordance with applicable federal and state securities laws. Advantage Capital is an equal opportunity provider. Empower the Change Fund is closed and not open to new investors.
Business Wire
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Infobip Research Reveals Surge in UK Brands' Adoption of RCS
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Global cloud communications platform Infobip has released its latest Messaging Trends Report, which reveals that the adoption of Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging has skyrocketed, transforming the customer experience landscape. James Stokes, Head of Enterprise, UK & Nordics at Infobip, commented: 'With RCS adoption accelerating and AI transforming customer interactions, 2025 is set to be a pivotal year for conversational messaging.' Share Infobip analysed more than 530 billion interactions on its platform between businesses and consumers in 2024 to identify the latest business messaging trends. The data suggests Apple's support for RCS, following its iOS 18 update in late 2024, contributed to a 65% increase in UK RCS traffic. UK businesses have embraced the channel for highly engaging, two-way customer interactions. Infobip's data shows that the increase in RCS usage is part of increasingly omnichannel approaches, with UK brands leveraging it alongside SMS, Voice & Video and WhatsApp for a seamless customer journey. James Stokes, Head of Enterprise, UK & Nordics at Infobip, commented: 'RCS is taking off because it works. The branded and verified experience reduces hesitation, while rich visuals capture attention and drive engagement. In A/B tests, RCS rich cards delivered up to 70% higher conversion rates than MMS. More significantly, RCS has driven conversion rates two to three times higher, and sometimes even ten times higher, than standard marketing channels.' The UK is the largest European market utilising the Infobip platform, growing by almost a third (31.7%) from 2023 to 2024. Companies in the wholesale communications services sector represent the largest segment, followed by telecoms and technology & software companies. The Messaging Trends Report has revealed that as UK brands refine their customer engagement strategies, WhatsApp has emerged as a significant channel for conversational marketing, where the channel's growth has surpassed the growth of SMS and email. Infobip recorded a 392% increase in marketing messages sent over WhatsApp in the UK, driven by new features enabling seamless purchases within a single chat. This was accompanied by a 12x increase in conversational marketing messages, with majority being over WhatsApp. The platform also saw significant growth in other chat apps like Telegram, Line, and Viber. Globally, Infobip saw a 30% increase in the number of brands orchestrating conversational marketing interactions with their customers on its platform. AI adoption has also increased, according to data from Infobip's AI Hub. AI-powered chatbots and automation are being widely adopted, particularly in finance and insurance, where security and compliance are paramount. Businesses increasingly use AI for personalized interactions, fraud prevention, and real-time customer support. James Stokes added: 'With RCS adoption accelerating and AI transforming customer interactions, 2025 is set to be a pivotal year for conversational messaging. ' For more insights, download the full report here:
The Herald Scotland
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Full list of Nationwide customers who won't get £100 payment
This follows Nationwide's announcement of a hefty £2.3 billion profit for the year ending March 31, 2025. The Fairer Share initiative was designed to give back to customers by sharing some of the profits, but only those who meet specific criteria will benefit. To qualify, Nationwide stipulates that you must have had an active current account on March 31, 2025. Whether you want to speak to a real person in branch, or do your banking online, there are many ways you can bank with us. If you need support, get in touch: — Nationwide (@AskNationwide) January 2, 2025 If your Nationwide current account wasn't open on this date, unfortunately, you won't be eligible for the bonus. Additionally, you must have used your current account within the first three months of the year. For savings accounts to qualify, you must have held at least £100 in one or more personal savings accounts or cash ISAs with Nationwide at any point during March 2025. Eligible members can expect to see the bonus credited to their accounts between June 18, 2025, and July 4, 2025. The building society has stated: "We will pay the money into your Nationwide current account by electronic transfer. "If you hold more than one current account with us, we may pay the money into any of those accounts. "We will pay the money into an account in your sole name if you have one and will pay it into a joint account if you do not. Recommended reading: "The payment will appear on your current account statement as Nationwide Fairer Share Payment. "We will not make the payment in any other way and if you do not have an open Nationwide current account when we try to make the payment, you will not be eligible to receive it. "We will decide whether you are eligible for the payment based on the information we hold about you and the products you have with us. "We always do our best to ensure that the information is accurate and complete, but incomplete, inaccurate, or out of date information may mean we wrongly exclude you from the payment."
Mercury
01-06-2025
- Business
- Mercury
Stock Tips: WTC could be a wise choice this week
Don't miss out on the headlines from Stockhead. Followed categories will be added to My News. It's no easy gig analysing share prices and company performance but somebody's got to do it. Every week two experts from our Share Tips columnist pool give us their recommendations. Andrew Eddy – Morgans Financial BUY WiseTech Global (ASX:WTC) Wisetech is acquiring E2open, expanding its market reach and capabilities, driving revenue and EBITDA growth, and offering a compelling opportunity to further extend the company's growth runway. Aurizon Holdings (ASX:AZJ) Earnings from the Network and Coal segments will continue to deliver higher cash returns to shareholders and investment into Bulk and Containerised Freight will provide longer term growth. HOLD Lovisa Holdings (ASX:LOV) Lovisa's recent milestone of opening its 1,000th store globally signifies its strong growth and global presence. It continues to have ambitious expansion plans. Regis Resources (ASX:RRL) Regis is well positioned to maintain significant share price torque to the price of gold, aided by a robust production profile and underappreciated organic growth at Duketon. SELL Telstra (ASX:TLS) Although having some defensive qualities, Telstra continues to trade above its long-term average multiple, which is hard to justify considering its minimal long-term growth and competition risk. Adriatic Metals (ASX:ADT) Adriatic's share price has bounced recently on takeover talk. While high-grade metal assets with compelling economics are rare, everything has a price. Dylan Evans – Catapult Wealth BUY Goodman Group (ASX:GMG) Goodman Group's portfolio of quality industrial properties and data centres should be well supported by long-term demand trends in online retail and data hosting. Steadfast (ASX:SDF) As the largest general insurance broker in Australia, Steadfast offer exposure to growth in insurance premiums, but without the underwriting risk of the insurers. HOLD Auckland International Airport (ASX:AIA) As New Zealand's primary overseas travel gateway, Auckland Airport is a key piece of infrastructure. Overseas travel still lags pre-covid levels, but is showing signs of recovery. Woolworths (ASX:WOW) Woolworths has been losing market share to its competitors over the last few years and is now going through another restructure to regain this lost share. We expect regaining this momentum will take several years. SELL A2 Milk (ASX:A2M) The Chinese infant formula market is a key part of A2 milk's product sales. Despite reporting growth in its 1H25 results, this market faces long-term challenges, including declining birth rates. BWP Trust (BWP) A solid property trust on most metrics, with modest debt, high occupancy, and a decent 5.2% yield. Concern is always with the potential influence and reliance on Wesfarmers, who have an ownership stake and contribute 85% of the rental income via Bunnings. The views, information, or opinions expressed in the interviews in this article are solely those of the interviewee and do not represent the views of Stockhead. Stockhead does not provide, endorse or otherwise assume responsibility for any financial advice contained in this article. Originally published as Stock Tips: WTC could be a wise choice this week
