Central London witnessed a haunting scene today as five mysterious figures, dressed in traditional Celtic garb, made appearances at notable landmarks, including Bank, Millennium Bridge, and Westminster. The spectacle was part of Tourism Ireland’s campaign to share the origins of Halloween, which dates back over 2,000 years to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, celebrated on the island of Ireland. Many believe Halloween’s roots lie in American culture, yet much of the holiday’s symbolism and traditions are intertwined with ancient Irish customs. According to historians, the tradition stems from Samhain, a festival marking the end of the harvest season and…
Author: Perthshire Scotland
Builds Bio+, a prominent US-based life sciences organisation, has launched its London/UK chapter, enlisting 10 founding members from leading British universities, industry leaders, and prominent real estate firms. This new chapter aims to foster innovation, growth, and collaboration across the UK and Europe, building on the organisation’s success in New York and Philadelphia. The London chapter launch represents a strategic expansion for Builds Bio+, creating an international network that will connect key players in the life sciences industry across both sides of the Atlantic. Regular virtual events are expected to enhance engagement and knowledge exchange among members in the New…
The Khalili Foundation has been announced as the Founder Member of the newly established King’s Commonwealth Fellowship Programme (KCFP), designed to support and uplift Commonwealth Small Island Developing States (SIDS) facing significant environmental, social, and economic challenges. The fellowship programme was unveiled at an event hosted by the University of Samoa, with attendance from King Charles III, Professor Sir Nasser David Khalili, founder of the Khalili Foundation, and the Bahamian Prime Minister, Hon. Philip Davis. The KCFP was co-created in partnership with the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) and universities from across SIDS and Commonwealth nations. Inspired by His Majesty…
The UK and Scottish governments have launched a joint consultation aimed at overhauling Scotland’s planning process for large energy infrastructure projects, which currently faces delays that can extend approval times to four years. The proposed changes, announced on 28 October, intend to speed up approvals and give communities earlier input on projects that impact their regions. The reforms target a system set by UK legislation in 1989, which has often led to long waits for approvals on projects such as onshore wind farms and power lines. In comparison, England and Wales have seen faster determinations for similar large-scale projects due…
Three academics from the University of Manchester have raised concerns over the severe levels of child poverty in England, calling for urgent action to address the inequalities affecting millions of children. In a recently published piece from Policy@Manchester, Dr Carl Emery, Dr Louisa Dawes, and Sandra Clare argue that at least 900,000 children in poverty across England are currently missing out on free school meals (FSM), which are used as a main indicator of child poverty levels. The authors contend that this figure, while significant, does not fully represent the depth of child poverty nationwide. Drawing on data from the…
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has secured substantial new investments from Australian firms, totalling over £1 billion, as he continues his push to strengthen the British economy and attract foreign investment. The announcement came during Starmer’s historic visit to Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, marking the first time a sitting UK Prime Minister has visited a Pacific Island nation. Among the latest commitments, Australian superannuation fund Aware Super has partnered with British property firm Delancey Real Estate to inject up to £1 billion into UK property. This initial investment will focus on high-value central London offices, where environmental…
Certus Construction Named Finalist in Wakefield Business Awards Certus Construction Services, based in Wakefield, has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Wakefield Business Awards for the Collaboration of the Year category. This recognition highlights the company’s partnership with Wakefield and District Housing (WDH), where Certus has been a key supplier in delivering social housing services across the region. Certus Construction’s ongoing collaboration with WDH has resulted in the successful refurbishment of more than 40 vacant properties, now providing homes for families within the district. The partnership has also contributed to local employment through the creation of new jobs, including…
Hull Trains Supports National Adoption Week Through New Partnership Hull Trains is marking National Adoption Week by partnering with adoption campaign You Can Adopt, aiming to raise awareness of adoption in the UK. As part of the collaboration, Hull Trains invited adoptive parents Andy and Luke Merriman, along with their adopted twins Savannah and Theo, to share their personal story in a video recorded on board one of its services. Andy and Luke, who adopted the twins in 2021, travelled to Doncaster with their children and the twins’ former foster parents, who have remained close with the family. In the…
Research commissioned by UK education charity Let Me Know (LMK) has highlighted a significant lack of awareness among managers and employees about upcoming changes to the Equality Act aimed at preventing workplace sexual harassment. The law, effective from 26th October, mandates that employers proactively prevent sexual harassment, regardless of whether incidents have been reported. The findings reveal that nearly a third (29%) of senior managers and 41% of middle managers report hearing “nothing or very little” about the new legislation. Additionally, over half (51%) of employees surveyed indicated they are either unaware of the changes or know little about them,…
Sunwoda Energy has been named in the prestigious Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) Energy Storage Tier 1 List for the fourth quarter of 2024, an industry benchmark for innovation and reliability. The BNEF Tier 1 list is a respected index that highlights the most trustworthy energy storage companies worldwide based on criteria including product reliability, market reach, financial stability, and operational success. Sunwoda’s inclusion this quarter reflects the company’s continued growth and robust industry presence as a global energy storage provider. A Complete Energy Storage Provider Founded as part of the broader Sunwoda Group, Sunwoda Energy has over 30 years…