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Half of adults want more effort from partners on Valentine’s Day

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Valentine’s Day has been dubbed a waste of money with novelty mugs and cheap underwear amongst the worst presents.

More than half of the 2,015 adults polled, said their partner should make more effort, rather than splurge on presents they don’t even want.

Respondents reported the rubbish gifts they had received included ‘wrong’ perfume, socks, candles and even, a car mat.

But while most said the day of lovers is a waste of time, one in three said they’d be gutted if their better half did nothing to celebrate.

Travel together

The research by Railcard.co.uk, found that one in five said a trip away would be the best romantic gesture with the Lake District top destination in the UK.

Relationship expert and coach, Sarah Louise Ryan, said: “Couples who travel together often end up more fulfilled and happier in their relationship.

“There are many reasons for this; inclusive of the fact it encourages communication and can deepen feelings of commitment as they plan their trips ahead of time, looking towards the future.

“Travel allows more opportunities for romance and time outside of the day-to-day routine, meaning romantic sparks can be reignited.

“Where flowers and chocolates can play a part, this Valentine’s Day I’d encourage all couples to carve out some time to book and experience a romantic getaway, whether for a day trip or a long weekend.”

The study also found 36% had considered a trip together as a way to rekindle a floundering relationship.

Micom Recognised in UK’s Best Workplaces 2026 Rankings

Employee feedback has placed Micom among the UK’s Best Workplaces 2026, reflecting the company’s strong workplace culture and its continued dedication to supporting its people.

Micom has been included in the UK’s Best Workplaces 2026 list published by Great Place to Work®, with the recognition formally announced during an event at Grosvenor House on Park Lane in London.

The company appears in this year’s rankings for organisations of its size, highlighting businesses where employee trust, engagement and a positive working environment are consistently demonstrated.

The UK’s Best Workplaces list is based on confidential feedback from employees alongside an independent evaluation of company culture. The process identifies organisations where trust and engagement are central to everyday working life.

For Micom, the achievement represents an important moment as the business continues to develop and expand. The company has long emphasised that a positive culture and strong business performance go hand in hand, particularly as teams grow and new opportunities arise.

Andy Barber, CEO of Micom, said: “I won’t pretend this doesn’t feel brilliant.

“To be recognised like this, knowing it comes directly from our people, is something I’ll never take lightly.

“We’ve grown. We’ve pushed ourselves. And through it all, the team has shown up for each other. That’s what makes this special – not the ranking itself, but the proof that as we grow, we haven’t lost who we are.”

Micom continues to strengthen its internal culture by investing in leadership development, employee wellbeing initiatives and structured career pathways throughout the organisation. As its technology platform and client base continue to grow, maintaining a supportive and engaged workforce remains a key focus.

Recognition among the UK’s Best Workplaces highlights both the company’s current workplace strengths and its commitment to further improvement in the years ahead.

HIPER Global UK Expands UK Expertise Following Integration of Sarsen Technology

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HIPER Global UK, a prominent supplier of application-specific computing technologies and solutions, has confirmed that Sarsen Technology is now fully operating within the HIPER Global organisation after its acquisition in 2025. The integration marks an important stage in aligning operations across the group and reinforces HIPER Global’s presence and capabilities within the UK market.

For many years, Sarsen Technology has specialised in embedded commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) computing as well as ruggedised hardware and software solutions. The company supports customers operating in highly regulated sectors where reliability, specialist knowledge and long-term relationships are essential. Now part of the HIPER Global group, Sarsen benefits from the resources and scale of an international organisation, including expanded engineering support, stronger supply chain collaboration and increased investment potential. These advantages enable Sarsen to deliver deeper technical support and long-term continuity to customers in the UK while continuing to focus on its niche expertise in embedded solutions.

“Bringing Sarsen Technology into the HIPER Global group is a natural step in our long-term investment and growth strategy in the UK,” said Mark Turner, Chief Executive Officer at HIPER Global UK.

“By combining their specialist knowledge and partner ecosystem with HIPER Global’s engineering depth and custom compute expertise, we are creating a stronger and more capable partner for our customers.”

Sarsen Technology has built a strong reputation over more than two decades as a supplier of advanced embedded computing systems. Its solutions are widely used in sectors such as rugged computing, aerospace and high-performance instrumentation. Through the integration with HIPER Global, the company gains access to broader resources and opportunities that support continued growth and innovation.

“For over 25 years, Sarsen Technology has built an exceptional reputation as a leading supplier of innovative embedded computing solutions, enabling us to achieve significant success with many loyal customers in the rugged, aerospace and high-performance instrumentation markets,” added Nigel Norman, Managing Director at Sarsen Technology.

“We’re excited to embark on this next stage of growth as part of the HIPER Global group. This partnership will allow us to offer a broader range of hardware solutions, strengthen our technical and commercial team, improve our international reach and create greater business opportunities for the outstanding manufacturers we represent.”

Existing customers will continue to work with the same experienced teams and technical specialists they have relied on previously, now strengthened by the wider resources and long-term backing of the HIPER Global group. Additional brand developments will take place gradually as part of HIPER Global’s broader strategic plans.

BenShot Appoints Innit Store Ltd as Official UK and European Manufacturing Partner for Embedded Glassware

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BenShot LLC, the American company known for its distinctive embedded glassware, has announced a new manufacturing partnership with UK-based Innit Store Ltd. The agreement designates Innit Store as the official manufacturer and distributor for BenShot’s popular embedded glassware designs throughout the United Kingdom and Europe, expanding access to the brand’s handcrafted giftware across retail channels and online platforms such as Amazon, Etsy and Shopify.

The partnership combines BenShot’s patented and recognisable glassware designs — which feature embedded elements that blend craftsmanship with practical use — with Innit Store’s artisan production expertise and knowledge of regional markets. Items produced by Innit Store will include several of BenShot’s most popular products, adapted specifically for UK and European consumers. The localised manufacturing approach is expected to shorten delivery times, reduce shipping costs, and minimise the environmental footprint associated with long-distance transport.

“Innit Store shares our commitment to quality, craft, and sustainable practices,” said Ben Wolfgram, Founder and CEO of BenShot LLC. “This partnership allows us to expand availability of our core designs across the UK and Europe while keeping production close to customers and supporting local craftsmanship.”

Production will take place at Innit Store’s facility in the United Kingdom, where artisans will handcraft BenShot’s designs while adhering to strict quality standards to maintain the appearance and durability that have made the products widely recognised. The agreement also grants Innit Store exclusive manufacturing and sales rights across the UK and Europe, enabling the company to supply gift retailers, boutique outlets, and online stores with regionally produced inventory.

“This agreement represents a major step for Innit Store,” said Ruth Winchester, Head of Operations at Innit Store Ltd. “We’re excited to bring BenShot’s iconic pieces to our customers, handcrafted here in the UK. Our skilled glassworkers will honour the original designs while meeting local demand more efficiently, providing retailers and consumers with high-quality giftware made closer to home.”

As part of the arrangement, Innit Store Ltd has been granted the authority to design, produce, and safeguard BenShot’s handcrafted glassware across both the United Kingdom and the wider European market. The partnership reinforces the companies’ ability to protect registered design patents and address unauthorised reproductions and lower-quality imitations.

“This partnership brings together two companies who value hands-on work, quality materials, and designs that tell a story,” said Olly O’Brien, founder of Innit Store Ltd. “Our customers want authenticity and products that feel personal. InnitStore is now a growing branch of the BenShot global network, we are proud to uphold the design integrity and to offer genuine BenShot designed pieces that are handcrafted here in the UK.”

Beyond commercial expansion, the partnership also reflects a shared emphasis on craftsmanship and design protection. BenShot’s distinctive glassware blends traditional techniques with creative embedded features, and the new licensing arrangement ensures customers across the UK and Europe can purchase authentic items produced under the guidance of the original creators.

Enviro Waste Management Secures Prestigious SafeContractor Health and Safety Accreditation

Enviro Waste Management, a locally based firm, has successfully gained accreditation from Alcumus SafeContractor, recognising the company’s strong commitment to maintaining high standards of workplace health and safety.

The Alcumus SafeContractor programme is a widely respected certification scheme that acknowledges contractors who demonstrate rigorous health and safety management practices. Thousands of organisations throughout the UK rely on the scheme, including small and medium-sized enterprises as well as major FTSE 100 corporations.

Enviro Waste Management employs a team of 12 people and operates primarily within the waste management industry. The business provides a wide range of waste disposal services across London.

The decision to pursue SafeContractor accreditation was motivated by the company’s desire to implement a consistent and recognised safety framework throughout its operations. Achieving the certification is also expected to strengthen Enviro Waste Management’s prospects when bidding for new contracts, while insurers are likely to view the company’s safety credentials favourably when reviewing its liability policy.

Gemma Archibald, Divisional CEO of Alcumus SafeContractor said: “Major organisations simply cannot afford to run the risk of employing contractors who are not able to prove that they have sound health and safety policies in place.”

“More companies need to understand the importance of adopting good risk management in the way that Enviro Waste Management has done. The firm’s high standard has set an example which hopefully will be followed by other companies within the sector. SafeContractor plays a vital role in supporting our clients in meeting their compliance needs, whilst working with their contractors as they progress through the approval process.”

John Kinful, Operations Manager at Enviro Waste Management said: “Health and safety is our foremost priority in every job we undertake. The moment our teams arrive on site, they are briefed on the safety measures required to minimise risk, and every labourer is fully equipped with the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) before work begins. Achieving SafeContractor certification recognises the standards we uphold every day to protect our employees and everyone working around us.”

Friend of Dorothy Wellness opens UK’s first digital pharmacy aimed at gay men

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Friend of Dorothy Wellness, a sexual wellness brand built around the needs of gay men, has launched what it describes as the UK’s first digital pharmacy designed specifically for this community.

The company was founded nearly three years ago and has grown a following in both the UK and the United States. Its existing product range covers supplements aimed at stamina, sexual performance, prostate health and general sexual wellbeing.

The new online clinic gives men access to treatments including erectile dysfunction medication, hair loss treatment and weight management support. Patients can consult with doctors and receive prescriptions through the platform without attending a physical appointment.

Founder Oliver James said the service was built to address a gap that he sees repeatedly in how gay men access healthcare.

Oliver said: “Many gay men, particularly outside major cities, feel uncomfortable discussing sexual health issues with a local doctor or pharmacist they’ve known for years. Some simply avoid getting help altogether.

“Our digital clinic aims to remove those barriers by offering private, judgement-free healthcare designed specifically with gay men in mind.”

The launch comes as wider attention is being paid to healthcare access for LGBTQ+ communities in the UK. The NHS launched what it described as its first ever review into LGBTQ+ health inequalities in July 2025.

Oliver James added: “We’re seeing a much wider conversation happening across the UK about LGBTQ+ health inequalities, and that’s incredibly positive, but conversations need to translate into real, accessible services. These communities often have very specific health concerns and experiences that aren’t always reflected in mainstream healthcare services.

“We believe there’s real value in creating services that understand those nuances. Our aim isn’t to replace traditional healthcare, but to complement it by offering support that feels relevant, informed and built with gay men in mind.”

For more information, visit friend-of-dorothy.com.

iFAST Global Bank launches multi-currency banking service for food and beverage businesses

iFAST Global Bank has introduced a Commercial Banking Suite aimed at small and medium-sized food and beverage businesses that handle international payments and cross-border supply chains.

The bank holds a UK banking licence and is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by both the PRA and the Financial Conduct Authority. It developed the suite in response to the operational and financial challenges that food manufacturers, distributors and retailers frequently encounter when working across international supply chains.

Food and beverage SMEs often rely on overseas suppliers, international logistics partners and export markets, and regularly need to make and receive payments in more than one currency. Conventional banking arrangements can require businesses to maintain separate currency accounts, accept automatic foreign exchange conversions and work with limited visibility over how their currencies are being managed. This creates additional administration and unpredictable costs.

The Commercial Banking Suite provides a multi-currency business current account that allows businesses to hold and manage nine major currencies under a single account number. These are GBP, USD, EUR, HKD, SGD, CNY, JPY, AED and CHF.

Through a partnership with Standard Chartered Bank, iFAST Global Bank has extended its international payment capabilities. Businesses can now send payments from those nine currencies to recipients in 52 currencies around the world, making it possible to pay global suppliers in their local currency.

Eligible deposits of up to £120,000 are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

The suite includes interest-bearing current accounts with variable rates of up to 2.40% AER on GBP balances. Fixed-term GBP deposits are available at up to 3.75% AER, and certain notice deposit accounts offer just over 3% AER.

A Visa Business Debit Card is available to UK-registered entities. It works across more than 200 countries and territories and supports real-time foreign exchange conversion for international purchases and operational spending.

The bank says the suite is intended to give food and beverage SMEs more flexibility when paying overseas suppliers, collecting export revenues and managing working capital across different markets, without the need to maintain several separate banking relationships.

The bank notes that demand for cross-border banking services has grown as more UK food and beverage businesses expand their sourcing networks and export channels, and look for greater control over their foreign currency exposure.

As a licensed UK bank, iFAST Global Bank operates its own payment infrastructure and participates directly in the Bank of England Faster Payment Scheme, CHAPS and SWIFT. This allows businesses to move money both domestically and internationally through established payment networks.

Inayat Kashif, CEO of iFAST Global Bank, said: “We believe that every business starts small, and we are committed to providing the same consistent relationship management and service to all businesses regardless of their size.”

The launch follows a period of industry recognition for the bank. It was named Highly Commended App-Only Savings Provider of the Year 2025 and received a Commended award for Best Customer Service at the Moneyfacts Awards. The bank was also named Best Newcomer at the British Bank Awards 2025, run by financial review platform Smart Money People, and received the Best Consumer’s Choice Highly Commended award at the Moneyfactscompare.co.uk Awards 2026.

About iFAST Global Bank

iFAST Global Bank is a licensed UK bank providing digital banking services designed to support individuals and businesses engaged in international finance. The Bank forms part of iFAST Corporation, a global digital banking and wealth management platform operating in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, China and the United Kingdom.

iFAST Corporation (SGX: “AIY”) has been publicly listed on the Mainboard of the Singapore Exchange since December 2014 and provides a range of investment, wealth management and banking solutions to clients across multiple markets.

The Bank stated that continued investment in digital banking capabilities forms part of its long-term strategy to support internationally active SMEs across specialised industry sectors. Find out more about iFAST Global Bank on their website www.ifastgb.com.

Disclaimers

Fixed Term Deposits are subject to a fixed deposit term. Early withdrawal before maturity is not permitted unless under exceptional circumstances and may result in loss of all accrued interest. A 14-day cooling-off period applies from the date of application, during which you may cancel your fixed term deposit without penalty. More details can be found on our website at www.ifastgb.com. Deposits up to £120,000 are fully protected by FSCS (Financial Services Compensation Scheme). More details: https://www.fscs.org.uk/. T&Cs apply. 

Notice Deposits are subject to a 14-day cooling-off period, after which, withdrawals will not be permitted before the end of the 95-days unless in exceptional circumstances. Early terminations will result in the loss of all accrued interest; however, your original deposit (principal) will be returned in full without penalty. T&Cs Apply.

Choosing the right professional scissor lift table for improved workplace safety and efficiency in the UK

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Selecting the appropriate professional scissor lift table is crucial for UK businesses aiming to enhance workplace safety and operational efficiency.

These lifting devices reduce manual handling risks, minimise operator strain, and help prevent accidents in various industries such as manufacturing, logistics, and warehousing. Key considerations when choosing a lift table include load capacity, lifting height, safety certifications, and adherence to UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) regulations.

Prioritising models compliant with standards like BS EN1570, CE marking, and regulations such as LOLER 1998 and PUWER 1998 ensures equipment reliability and legal conformity.

Understanding types and specifications of scissor lift tables

Scissor lift tables come in varied designs and capacities, tailored to different workplace needs. For light to medium loads, single scissor models typically support 250-300kg with lift heights up to 910mm, ideal for workshop or assembly tasks.

Professional single or double scissor tables offer higher capacities around 1200kg and lift heights up to 2100mm, equipped with electro-hydraulic controls, emergency lowering, and safety locks. Heavy-duty single scissor tables can handle loads up to 3000kg and are suited for pallet handling and industrial environments, helping reduce bending injuries.

  • Platform sizes generally range from 500-800mm wide and 800-1350mm long, with extendable options for added versatility.
  • Double or triple scissor lift tables provide higher lifts (up to 4 metres) and additional features such as tilt or turn functions.

Ensuring compliance with UK safety and regulatory standards

UK HSE regulations require site-specific risk assessments and strict control of mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) hazards. Essential safety features include automatic safety locking, height limit switches, audible warnings, and emergency lowering mechanisms.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) like helmets and gloves are recommended, and harnesses are advised near fall hazards. Regular inspections under LOLER and PUWER regulations must be conducted by competent persons to ensure ongoing equipment safety and stability. Though no formal licence is required to operate scissor lift tables, certifications such as the IPAF PAL Card or NPORS demonstrate operator competence and promote safe usage.

Boosting efficiency and ergonomics with the right lift table

Implementing the correct scissor lift table enhances productivity by positioning loads at ergonomic heights, reducing the need for stretching and bending. Features such as two-speed lifting, removable controls, and steerable handles support smooth daily operations.

Mobile models with heavy-duty rollers and durable finishes are ideal for workshop environments, combining flexibility with longevity. These ergonomic benefits not only improve worker comfort but also contribute to safer, more efficient workflows.

Key steps to selecting and implementing a scissor lift table

Choosing the right lift table involves a systematic approach:

  • Assess your specific needs, including maximum load, desired lift height, usage frequency, and working environment.
  • Verify essential certifications such as BS EN1570, CE marking, and ISO 9001 to ensure quality and compliance.
  • Provide operator training with recognised qualifications like IPAF or NPORS and conduct thorough risk assessments before use.
  • Implement scheduled maintenance and inspections following manufacturer guidelines to maintain safety standards.
  • Consult reputable suppliers who offer expert advice, installation support, and options for customisation or leasing.

For businesses in England seeking reliable and compliant lifting solutions, investing in a professional scissor lift table from trusted manufacturers like Saxlift guarantees safety, efficiency, and ergonomic benefits tailored to diverse industrial needs.

Equixly integrates with Checkmarx to introduce continuous penetration testing into application security workflows

Equixly, an agentic AI-powered offensive security platform designed for modern applications and APIs, has announced a new integration with Checkmarx, a global provider of agentic application security solutions. The collaboration enables continuous API penetration testing and business logic validation to be delivered directly within Checkmarx environments.

Through the integration, customers using Checkmarx One can extend their current static application security testing and software composition analysis (SAST and SCA) processes with automated, AI-driven testing of APIs and application workflows. This additional layer of analysis allows organisations to enhance their security testing by incorporating autonomous simulations of real-world attack scenarios.

By combining traditional secure code analysis with continuous offensive validation techniques, organisations gain broader visibility into exploitable risks within their systems. This includes identifying vulnerabilities and attack pathways that may be overlooked by standard security tools or periodic penetration testing exercises.

Equixly’s Agentic AI hacker continuously assesses applications and APIs by emulating the behaviour of real attackers. The system is designed to identify sophisticated multi-step exploit chains and potential abuse of business logic that can occur across complex application environments.

Together, the companies provide:

  • Continuous API penetration testing within the Checkmarx One platform
  • Detection of business logic vulnerabilities 
  • Validated, exploit-driven findings to reduce false positives
  • A unified view of code-level risk
  • Centralized visibility through a single pane of glass

As APIs become the backbone of modern digital infrastructure, risk increasingly emerges not just from individual coding flaws, but from how APIs authenticate, authorize, and orchestrate business processes. These risks are often invisible to static testing tools and only surface when exploited in production.

“Application security programs are evolving beyond code analysis alone,” said Alessio Dalla Piazza, CTO and Co-Founder of Equixly. “Checkmarx has long helped organizations build secure software from the inside out. With this integration, we extend that protection, continuously attacking APIs and workflows the way real adversaries do. This gives security teams a far more complete understanding of their true attack surface.”

For Checkmarx customers, the integration delivers enhanced assurance across the full application lifecycle. Security leaders can correlate findings from source code to live exploitation paths, enabling more accurate prioritization and faster remediation.

“Modern application security requires  continuous security across the agentic development lifecycle tapping into all signals, not only source code.,” said Ori Bendet, VP of product at Checkmarx. “By integrating with Equixly, our customers gain enhanced continuous offensive validation of their APIs and application logic. This strengthens their ability to identify exploitable risk and maintain confidence as applications evolve.”

The integration reflects a broader industry shift toward proactive, continuous offensive security, where organizations attack their own systems with the same automation and consistency used by modern adversaries.

By combining Checkmarx’s deep code intelligence and agentic expertise with Equixly’s autonomous penetration testing, customers can:

  • Identify exploitable API vulnerabilities earlier and validate them continuously
  • Reduce reliance on periodic, point-in-time penetration tests
  • Gain greater visibility across distributed, API-driven environments
  • Improve remediation efficiency through high-confidence, exploit-backed findings

The integration is available immediately to joint customers.

About Equixly

Equixly is an agentic offensive security platform built for the continuous penetration testing of modern applications and APIs in constantly evolving environments.  

In an era where AI-powered attacks operate Persistently, Equixly’s

proprietary Agentic AI hacker acts like a real adversary, continuously uncovering exploitable risk across APIs, workflows, and business logic, and providing actionable insight so security and engineering teams can fix issues faster and innovate with confidence.   

Already trusted by leading European banks, insurers, and payment giants, Equixly was founded by Mattia and Alessio Dalla Piazza, and backed by 33N Ventures, Alpha Intelligence Capital, JME Ventures, 360 Capital and the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze. Learn more at www.equixly.com

About Checkmarx 

Checkmarx is the leader in agentic application security, delivering enterprise-grade protection while lowering engineering costs and accelerating development velocity. The Checkmarx One platform scans trillions of lines of code each year for companies, cutting vulnerability density by more than half. Its autonomous security agents detect and counter AI-driven threats across the SDLC, providing prevention-first protection for legacy, modern, and AI-generated code at enterprise scale. Follow Checkmarx on LinkedInYouTube, and X.

Gogetop Marketing report says brands must rethink strategy for China’s 1.2 billion social media users

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Gogetop Marketing, a London-based marketing and communications agency specialising in digital campaigns that connect China with international markets, has released a new briefing aimed at helping global brands navigate China’s unique social media environment.

The report, titled Why China’s Social Media Ecosystem Demands a Different Strategy from Global Brands, explains why companies that are accustomed to operating on Western social media platforms often encounter operational, regulatory and compliance obstacles when attempting to build an official presence on China’s leading digital platforms.

The release comes as China’s online ecosystem continues to grow at remarkable scale. According to DataReportal, China recorded around 1.28 billion active social media user identities in October 2025. Meanwhile, figures referenced by Chinese state media indicate that the country had approximately 1.125 billion internet users by the end of 2025.

The briefing highlights that international companies frequently overlook the structural differences between China’s digital platforms and those commonly used in Western markets. Instead of a single dominant network, China’s digital landscape consists of multiple platform types including messaging, short-form video, lifestyle discovery, community discussion, long-form content and integrated commerce services. Each operates with its own rules for account verification, content governance and user engagement.

Recent statistics illustrate the scale of these platforms. Tencent reported that Weixin and WeChat together surpassed 1.3 billion monthly active users as of March 2024, while Weibo recorded 591 million monthly active users and 261 million daily active users in March 2025.

Bilibili disclosed 366 million monthly active users and 113 million daily active users in the fourth quarter of 2025. Kuaishou reported an average of 731.1 million monthly active users and 416.2 million daily active users during the third quarter of 2025.

Meanwhile, market reports suggest that Xiaohongshu, also referred to internationally as RedNote, has reached roughly 300 million monthly active users.

“International brands often assume they can approach China’s platforms in the same way they approach Western social media,” said Micky Liu of Gogetop Marketing. “In reality, account verification, compliance processes, content moderation and platform functionality can vary significantly across China’s domestic ecosystem. A successful strategy needs to be designed around how these platforms actually operate.”

The briefing notes that one of the most common mistakes made by overseas companies is to treat Chinese social media as simply a localisation task. Gogetop Marketing argues that decisions around platform selection, account structures, documentation requirements, content production workflows and commercial goals should be established far earlier during market entry planning.

According to the agency, the publication is designed for founders, marketing executives and communications professionals who are evaluating the initial stages of entering the Chinese market. The document provides an overview of major domestic platforms alongside a practical planning guide that covers platform selection, account registration processes, verification requirements, content strategy and compliance-focused execution.

“China social media is not just a translation task or a channel adaptation exercise,” Liu added. “It is an ecosystem with its own logic, its own platform hierarchies and its own operational requirements. This briefing is designed to help decision-makers understand that before they commit budget, timelines and internal resources.”

Zutec unifies brand in Ireland as DFM Systems transitions to Zutec name

Zutec, a prominent provider of ConTech and PropTech SaaS platforms across the UK and Ireland, has announced that DFM Systems will now operate under the Zutec brand.

The rebranding follows Zutec’s acquisition of DFM Systems in December 2024 and represents an important step in combining the two organisations into a single identity. The change also highlights Zutec’s long-term commitment to strengthening its presence in the Irish market.

Ireland has been a key market for both companies for over 20 years. During that time, DFM Systems and Zutec have supported the construction and property sectors with solutions covering digital handover, document control, quality assurance and asset management. DFM Systems has established strong relationships with leading architects, contractors, developers and building owners across the country. Bringing the businesses together under one brand aims to create a more cohesive organisation with a clearer value proposition and a shared goal of delivering a connected digital environment across the entire building lifecycle.

Operating under the Zutec brand will allow the company to expand integration between its solutions, accelerate product innovation and provide stronger support for customers managing building data. The approach is designed to help organisations handle information more efficiently from the construction handover stage through to building operations and regulatory compliance.

“By bringing both companies together, we are providing a bigger future with better benefits across our joint business, but with the same trusted team, expertise, and commitment to customers we’ve always had,” said Gustave Geisendorf [pictured], CEO at Zutec.

“Operating as one enables greater scale, investment, and innovation, which ultimately delivers enhanced capabilities and greater value to our joint customer base. Additionally, with Zutec’s dedicated AI strategy including the recent launch of Building AI – Powered by Zutec, the timing is right to unify as we accelerate intelligent ways for our customers to manage building data, reduce risk, and unlock more valuable information from their building assets. Ireland is, and will remain a strategic important market for us, and we stay committed to deepening our relationship with our customers.”

“DFM Systems has been a trusted partner to Walls Construction for many years, supporting our teams with digital solutions that help manage building information more effectively,” said Brendan D’Arcy, Quality Manager at Walls Construction.

“We look forward to continuing that partnership with Zutec and to benefiting from the expanded capabilities and innovation that the unified team will bring to the industry.”

Stronger Together

The combined business serves a broad and growing customer base of over 500 companies across the UK and Ireland. Close to 200 customers are in Ireland across the technological ecosystem, from architects, consultants, and subcontractors to main contractors and asset owners. Customers include organisations such as Walls Construction, Jones Engineering, John Sisk, Evara, Marlet and Oaklee Housing. This combination ensures customers benefit from a stronger, more scalable partner with deeper expertise and broader capabilities across the built environment.

Irish Team Leads Mark McCormack, Head of Operations and one of the founders of DFM Systems, and Mike White, CTO and one of the founders of Zutec, shared a joint statement: “Combining DFM Systems and Zutec under one brand marks an exciting step forward for our customers and our team in Ireland. Both organisations have been instrumental in helping the construction and property sectors manage building information more effectively, and this is the next step in our evolution. As a unified business, we can combine our expertise, technology and local knowledge to deliver even greater value to customers. Importantly, while the brand evolves, the team, relationships, and dedication to the Irish market remain the same.”

While the DFM name and visual identity will transition to Zutec, the core strengths that made DFM successful remain firmly in place, including its team, customer relationships, and expertise in digital safety files, building digitisation and handover. Customers will continue working with the same trusted teams and receive the same high level of service they expect today.

Response to Industry Transformation

The construction and property industries are rapidly adopting digital technologies and AI-enabled solutions as they respond to evolving data requirements, regulatory change, and increasing demands for efficiency and transparency. With a strong focus on compliance and building data management, as one brand Zutec will support customers in addressing critical challenges across safety, regulation, and operational performance throughout the asset lifecycle with digital and AI-enabled solutions.