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

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

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.

The Summer Holiday Mistakes Leaders Need to Stop Making

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The Summer Holiday Mistakes Leaders Need to Stop Making

Taking a break does not make a leader less committed, and stepping away over the summer could actually help sustain performance later in the year, says leadership expert Drew Povey. He argues that meaningful recovery gives leaders the opportunity to return refreshed rather than simply pushing through exhaustion.

Drew Povey, author and founder of the Drew Povey Consultancy, has highlighted five persistent myths surrounding summer holidays and leadership. With the right approach to recovery during July and August, he says leaders can protect their energy, sharpen their thinking and prepare for the demands of the final months of the year.

Drew, who has over twenty years’ experience working in elite level sport, education and business, says: “There are a lot of leaders I work with who carry a level of unnecessary guilt about taking time away, and others who feel like they need to rest in a certain way, as if it’s a rule.

“But actually, instead of seeing down time as slacking, we should be looking at it as an important part of working.

“What’s important to remember is that like most things in leadership, one size is never going to fit all. So the question isn’t whether you should switch off, it’s how you do it in a way that will genuinely help you perform when you return.

“There isn’t one perfect holiday strategy, but holidays are important. You’ve got to know yourself and make smart choices for you.

“The best leaders don’t copy someone else’s routine or style, they deliberately choose a recovery strategy that allows them to return with the energy, the better clarity, and the better judgment.

“The goal isn’t simply taking time off in the summer, it’s coming back ready to lead well for those last four months.”

Here are Drew’s five holiday myths busted:

Good leaders don’t need a break

Everyone needs a break, Drew says. There are some people who seem to wear the refusal to use annual leave or get the recommended amount of sleep as a badge of honour. In fact, it’s become a myth that you don’t need rest, that rest is for the weak.

“The reality is that recovery isn’t a reward, it’s an essential part of performance,” Drew says. “Top athletes don’t get better during training, they improve during the recovery, and it’s the same in leadership.”

You need to completely switch off

Down time is a personal choice, Drew explains. Some people will completely switch off and not consider taking a work phone or laptop with them, but for others that would be a nightmare and they’d be constantly thinking about what they were missing.

“If downing tools completely would create anxiety, then don’t do it,” Drew says. “Some people can enjoy their day as long as they’ve had ten minutes in the morning to check their emails, or know that someone can get hold of them if they’re needed. The trick is to communicate with your team and do what allows you to relax.”

You need at least a week off to relax

Some people love one long holiday, others recharge better with shorter breaks, Drew says. A four-day break can be just as restorative as a week off, so those who baulk at the thought of a longer holiday shouldn’t feel pressured into one. The advice is to take the breaks that work for you.

Your holiday starts the moment you leave

“Holidays often start much earlier than when you shut down your computer,” Drew says. “You’re winding down for a few days before you’ve actually finished. The other side is that you need a few days to unwind before you can really start to relax.

“I fall into that group, which is why I’m the kind of person to take a ten-day break rather than several shorter ones. I need about three days to get into the holiday mood before I can properly switch off for a week.

“The trick is to communicate with your team and be realistic about what’s right for you.”

Summer is a time to completely ease off

July and August do have a different rhythm, and they’re a great opportunity to take time off and recharge, Drew says. But two months of drifting shouldn’t be allowed to become four months of recovery.

“There’s no point coasting along if you’ve a busy September planned, because September isn’t built in September, it’s built in the habits we choose in July and August,” Drew says. “Rest will help us finish the last four months of the year strong, but we need to make sure we’re not stepping off too much or dropping our standards, because otherwise it will come back to bite us.”

First-Time Buyers Could Find a Better Mortgage Beyond Their Bank

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First-Time Buyers Could Find a Better Mortgage Beyond Their Bank

Mortgage expert Sam Fox, founder of UKMC, explains why looking beyond an existing bank could help first-time buyers find a mortgage better suited to their circumstances

First-time buyers who only approach their current bank for a mortgage could be overlooking options that may better match their financial position, according to mortgage expert Sam Fox, founder of UKMC.

Warrington-based Fox, who advises buyers across the UK on mortgage options, says familiarity with a high-street bank can create the impression that its mortgage products are automatically the most suitable.

“For many first-time buyers, the search for a mortgage starts with the bank they already use. I understand why. Your salary goes into the account, you have years of transaction history and there is already a level of trust,” says Fox. “But familiarity does not always mean suitability, and that is where many first-time buyers limit their options without realising it.”

The UK mortgage market extends well beyond the handful of high-street brands most consumers recognise, with more than 100 active lenders and thousands of mortgage products available across banks, building societies, specialist lenders and other providers.

According to Fox, having access to this wider range of lenders can be especially valuable for buyers with smaller deposits or more complicated financial circumstances.

“Lenders assess mortgage applications differently. While all providers must carry out affordability checks, each lender has its own approach to income, expenditure and risk,” he says.

“For buyers with smaller deposits, self-employed income, bonuses, commission or less traditional financial circumstances, those differences can be significant. A decline from one provider does not necessarily mean you cannot secure a mortgage elsewhere. It may simply mean another lender’s criteria fit your situation better.”

Building societies offer another route

Fox also believes first-time buyers should consider building societies alongside the better-known high-street banks.

Sector-wide data from the Building Societies Association puts building societies’ share of UK mortgage balances at around 29 per cent. Some building societies have also performed strongly in customer satisfaction surveys.

“The right mortgage is not always attached to the biggest brand,” says Fox. “Building societies and specialist lenders can offer different approaches to lending, and in some circumstances those criteria may be a better fit for an individual buyer.”

The range of products available illustrates the importance of considering the wider market. Skipton Building Society’s Track Record mortgage, for example, has offered 100% loan-to-value lending for eligible renters with a strong history of meeting rental payments, while major lenders including Lloyds, NatWest and Nationwide continue to offer 95% LTV products.

These products are designed for different borrower circumstances, demonstrating why first-time buyers may benefit from comparing a broader selection of lenders.

The lowest mortgage rate may not mean the best deal

Fox also cautions buyers against making their decision based solely on the lowest advertised interest rate.

Arrangement fees on residential mortgages can differ substantially between products, while other charges may also apply depending on the mortgage. Over the term of a mortgage, these additional costs can influence the overall value of a deal.

“A mortgage is a long-term financial commitment, so the cheapest rate on paper is not always the best option,” says Fox. “First-time buyers should look at the complete package and consider whether the mortgage fits their plans, rather than simply choosing the rate that appears first in a search result.”

The value of independent mortgage advice

Fox says independent mortgage advice can be particularly useful when buyers are trying to understand the full range of options available.

“When you go directly to your bank, you only see the products that bank offers. A broker can compare options across a much broader range of lenders and help you understand which products may be suitable for your circumstances,” he says.

“That does not mean the recommendation will never come from a major bank. In some cases, it will. The difference is that the decision is based on suitability rather than familiarity.”

For first-time buyers making one of the biggest financial commitments of their lives, Fox says it is important not to assume their existing bank is necessarily the right place to begin or end their mortgage search.

“The best mortgage may not be the one sitting on the high street,” says Fox. “It may be the one you discover by looking beyond it.”

Slink unveils platform designed to transform how growing businesses manage IT

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Slink unveils platform designed to transform how growing businesses manage IT

BIRMINGHAM, UK. August 25th, 2026 – Slink has launched the Slink Platform, a new technology management platform that brings IT support, automation, security, device management and service visibility together in a single customer experience. The company is positioning the platform as an alternative to the traditional managed service provider model, giving growing businesses greater control and visibility over their technology.

For decades, outsourced IT has largely operated around the support ticket. A user has a problem, submits a request and waits for a technician to carry out the work behind the scenes. Slink believes the relationship between businesses and their IT providers should be more connected, transparent and proactive.

The Slink Platform provides customers with a central place to manage their technology environment, bringing together IT support, employee lifecycle management, devices, security, projects, service performance and automation.

Rather than simply providing another IT portal, Slink is building a technology operating layer that allows customers to see, request, approve and increasingly automate the work required to run their technology.

At the heart of the platform are Action Requests, structured workflows that turn common IT processes into controlled and increasingly automated actions.

Employee offboarding is one example. Instead of emailing a support desk and relying on a technician to manually work through a checklist, an authorised user can initiate the process directly through Slink.

Following the customer’s agreed approval process, the platform can execute predefined actions such as locking accounts, removing access and securing devices, while maintaining a complete audit trail showing what was requested, approved and completed.

Slink is extending the same approach across onboarding, access management, device management and other recurring technology processes.

The platform also provides customers with greater visibility into their technology environment and the services Slink delivers.

Slink’s longer-term vision is to connect technology management, service delivery, security data and automation within one experience, reducing the number of separate portals, emails and manual processes businesses need to rely on to manage their IT.

“The IT experience hasn’t changed enough. You raise a ticket, wait for somebody behind the scenes to do something and often have very little visibility of what is happening. We want IT to feel like the modern software businesses use every day. Simple, transparent, connected and increasingly automated.

“We’re not building a better ticket portal. We’re changing the relationship businesses have with their technology provider,” said Tom Johnson, CEO of Slink.

The platform will continue to develop with additional integrations, Action Requests, automation capabilities and customer controls.

Slink’s ambition is to make managing business technology significantly easier while redefining what growing businesses should expect from their IT partner.

Award-winning Crofter’s Kitchen brings the Highland harvest to the table with new autumn dining experience

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Award-winning Crofter’s Kitchen brings the Highland harvest to the table with new autumn dining experience

SCOURIE, UK. August 25th, 2026 – Crofter’s Kitchen, the North Coast 500 restaurant recently named Business of the Year at the Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Awards, is extending its season this autumn with Hairst, a four-week dining experience celebrating the produce of its working croft and the surrounding north-west Highland coast.

Oysters served on hay, wild Highland venison, hand-dived scallops and vegetables grown just metres from the kitchen will feature on the menu when Hairst launches at Crofter’s Kitchen in Scourie this October.

The restaurant, which overlooks Scourie Beach on the North Coast 500, will run Hairst from Thursday 15 October until Sunday 8 November.

Named after the Scots word for harvest, Hairst /hɛrst/ marks the transition from the busy summer food truck season into autumn dining at Croft 17, the working family croft at Scouriemore where much of the produce used by the kitchen is grown and reared.

The approach is straightforward: cook with what is ready on the croft, use what can be sourced from the surrounding coastline and keep everything else as local to Scourie as possible.

The result is an autumn menu that reflects the landscape, seasons and producers of this particular corner of the Highlands.

Cape Wrath oysters are served on hay with cucumber granita and croft herb oil. Hand-dived scallops arrive in the shell with brown butter and samphire. Wild North West Highland venison haunch comes with fondant potato, charred kale and bramble and red wine jus, while Kylesku langoustines are grilled with garlic croft herb butter and bread.

Croft-grown celeriac, squash, kale and herbs feature throughout the menu. Eggs used in the Stornoway black pudding Scotch eggs are supplied by Crofter’s Kitchen’s own hens.

It is food designed to travel as little distance as possible before reaching the table.

“We talk a lot about our 30-mile menu, but during Hairst some of the food has travelled closer to 30 feet,” said Heather Mercer, co-founder of Crofter’s Kitchen.

“The celeriac and squash are coming out of the ground here, the hens are laying the eggs, there are brambles in the hedges and we have some of the best seafood in Scotland being landed around us. Rather than decide what we want to cook and then find the ingredients, we start with what this place is giving us and build the menu from there.”

A new Sunday tradition

Sundays will take on a different character during Hairst, with the usual à la carte offering replaced by a three-course Croft Roast served throughout the day at £55 per person.

Guests can choose wild North West Highland venison with bramble and juniper jus, Drumbeg roast pork with crisp crackling, or a vegetarian roast centred around croft-grown squash, celeriac and charred kale.

Each roast is served with croft-herb roast potatoes, a giant Yorkshire pudding, roasted croft-grown celeriac, heather-honey carrots, parsnips and gravy.

Desserts continue the focus on local ingredients and Highland flavours. Options include warm clootie dumpling with homemade butterscotch sea salt sauce, alongside an optional ice cream made with heather honey and The Hearach Single Malt from the Isle of Harris. Dark chocolate is paired with foraged North West Highland brambles, hazelnut praline and sea salt in another dessert.

“Summer up here is fast,” Heather continued. “Hairst is the opposite. The days are shorter, the restaurant is warm, the candles are on and we have time to cook in a completely different way.

“It is probably the season that feels most like us. You have this wild coastline outside, the weather can be doing absolutely anything, and then you come inside and eat oysters, langoustines, venison and vegetables that have come from almost exactly where you are sitting.

“For people willing to make the journey north in October, we want it to feel really special.”

From food truck to Business of the Year

Crofter’s Kitchen was founded by husband-and-wife team Heather and Grant Mercer in spring 2024, initially operating from a single food truck on their family croft above Scourie Beach.

Grant, a chef with more than 17 years’ experience, leads the kitchen, while Heather has overseen the development of the business and its ambition to make its remote north-west Highland setting part of the experience rather than a limitation.

Two seasons later, Crofter’s Kitchen has grown to include a permanent container restaurant set into the croft alongside its original food truck.

The business now has more than 500 five-star Google reviews, ranks number one on Tripadvisor in Scourie and was named Business of the Year 2026 at the Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Awards.

Despite that growth, its commitment to local sourcing remains at the heart of the operation.

Seafood including oysters, langoustines and scallops is sourced from the surrounding north-west coast, while meat comes from the croft and nearby Highland producers wherever possible. Increasing quantities of fruit, vegetables, herbs and eggs are also being produced on Croft 17 itself.

“Being this remote forces you to think differently,” Heather said.

“There is no wholesale market around the corner and we don’t want there to be. If we can grow it here, rear it here, forage it or buy it from somebody down the road or around the coast, that is where we start.

“Hairst is probably the clearest expression of that we have done so far.”

Hairst runs for four weekends only, from Thursday 15 October to Sunday 8 November 2026.

The autumn à la carte menu is available Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with the three-course Croft Roast taking over on Sundays.

Crofter’s Kitchen will then close briefly before reopening with its Christmas menu from 26 November until 20 December.

Advance booking is strongly recommended.

For menus and reservations, visit crofterskitchen.com/autumn-menu

Bridge Loan Direct Introduces New Calculator Suite for UK Property Investors

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Bridge Loan Direct Introduces New Calculator Suite for UK Property Investors

ROMFORD, UK. August 24th, 2026 – Bridge Loan Direct has launched a new suite of free specialist property finance calculators to help UK property investors estimate borrowing requirements, finance costs and potential project returns before approaching a lender. The tools are designed to provide a quick initial view of the numbers behind a property transaction, particularly where speed is important.

The calculator network brings together tools covering a range of short-term property finance scenarios, including bridging loans, auction purchases, property development, refurbishment, probate, chain breaks, bridge-to-let and commercial property finance.

The launch aims to meet the needs of property flippers and investors who increasingly need to assess funding decisions quickly when conventional lending processes do not fit the timescales of a transaction.

Bridge Loan Direct’s flagship Bridging Loan Calculator allows users to enter a property value, loan amount, monthly interest rate, loan term and applicable fees. The calculator then provides estimates for loan-to-value, monthly interest, total interest, arrangement fees, valuation and legal costs, and estimated total repayment.

For example, the calculator demonstrates how a £300,000 loan against a £500,000 property equates to a 60% Loan to Value, while illustrating the impact that interest and fees can have on the overall cost of short-term borrowing.

Raja Raval, Principal Broker at Bridge Loan Direct said: “In today’s volatile UK property market, speed is the ultimate currency for developers and flippers. Waiting weeks for a high-street bank to issue an initial decision-in-principle is no longer viable when dealing with time-sensitive acquisitions or auction properties.

“We engineered this specialist calculator infrastructure to strip away the traditional friction of borrowing. By inputting basic asset variables, property professionals receive an instantaneous, accurate assessment of their leveraging options which effectively bridges the operational gap left by mainstream lenders.”

Unlike a conventional mortgage application, where borrowers may need to work through a lengthy assessment process before understanding whether a transaction is viable, the calculators are designed to give investors an immediate preliminary indication of the financial position.

Raja added: “This is about giving property investors better visibility before they commit to a finance route. Being able to model the borrowing requirement, interest and associated costs upfront can help investors make more informed decisions about whether a deal works.”

The specialised calculator network is now live and fully accessible to the public, offering property investors a transparent framework to plan exit strategies, secure rapid short-term capital, and deploy funds into distressed or fast-moving real estate assets without traditional banking friction.

Bridge Loan Direct says its calculator tools are intended for guidance rather than as formal lending offers. The company advises borrowers to consider their complete costs, including legal fees, valuation costs, arrangement fees, potential exit fees and other transaction expenses.

For more information, visit bridgeloandirect.co.uk.

Zachariah Smith takes centre stage as Winners Host at Hair and Beauty Awards 2026

Helen Greaney
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Zachariah Smith takes centre stage as Winners Host at Hair and Beauty Awards 2026

Presenter and content creator Zachariah Smith was appointed Winners Host for the Hair and Beauty Awards 2026, taking on live interview duties with winners and guests throughout the evening.

The role saw Zachariah (pictured) positioned within the winners area, interviewing award recipients immediately after their time on stage and creating behind-the-scenes content from the event.

IMG 3594
photos by JAYJAY PR

The Manchester ceremony welcomed figures from across television, entertainment and the beauty industry, including Princess Andre, Helen Flanagan and Liberty Poole.

The hosting role forms part of Zachariah’s continued move into live presenting, entertainment and branded events, alongside his established digital audience and content work.

Zachariah said: “Live presenting is something I really want to continue building on. I love being in that environment, speaking to people in the moment and bringing some personality to an event. Manchester was a brilliant night to be part of.”

GoPlaces Announces New Partnership with YouTube Shopping

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GoPlaces Announces New Partnership with YouTube Shopping
  • GoPlaces selected as one of only two Lives agency partnering with YouTube in the UK
  • Partnership covers creator recruitment, management and training

GoPlaces, the UK’s leading social commerce agency by revenue generated for clients, today enhances its proposition with a new partnership with YouTube Shopping. 

The fast growing startup is one of just two partners for YouTube Shopping in the UK. The agency will be working with YouTube on recruitment, training and management of creators on the YouTube Shopping affiliate program to help them be successful on YouTube Shopping. 

YouTube Shopping launched in the UK earlier this year and is focused on making it easier for viewers to shop for their favourite products, directly from their favourite creators. Eligible creators will be able to tag products from  partner merchants via Wayfair, Currys, Debenhams, Boots, M&S, Etsy and Next directly in their videos, allowing them to earn revenue when their fans buy on a retailer’s site.  

GoPlaces has been selected thanks to its prior experience working with brands, creators and merchants and shoppable content creation – specifically its experience with shopping-focused creators. Since launching in 2024, GoPlaces has developed a comprehensive solution for brands seeking to build brand awareness and fame on emerging platforms, supporting them with everything they need to run and optimize the social commerce experience. 

Operating at the intersection of marketing, social media and retail; clients include Trip, PerfectTed, Haleon, Wrigley’s Extra, Shark Ninja and LG. Campaigns combine data-driven intelligence with creativity and technology – from sell-out launches and overnight follower growth to building a category-leading drinks brand on a social commerce platform in under three months. 

Sam Jacobs, CEO and co-founder of GoPlaces, said of the partnership: “We know the future of retail lies in social commerce, using the power of social media, the trust and credibility of creators and their relationship with their fans plus the scale and precision of the commerce engine behind a Live Shopping experience. We’re excited to bring our experience in working with other social commerce platforms to help YouTube Shopping launch in this emerging market.”

UK Industry Leader Hails Ritherdon’s Next Generation Fire Safety Product

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UK Industry Leader Hails Ritherdon’s Next Generation Fire Safety Product

A new fire safety solution developed by long established manufacturer Ritherdon & Co is receiving strong endorsement from a leading UK supplier, which has described the product as a potential game changer and “possibly the best on the market.”

“No one wants to see another Grenfell incident,” said Shane Porter, Managing Director of Comyn Ching Architectural Components.

“Ritherdon’s Mark lll FireSeal product is the only one we know of currently available that has undergone such rigorous testing, including penetration testing.

“Ritherdon does a fantastic job as a responsible supplier in the way they manufacture and market their products.”

Ritherdon, the historic Darwen based manufacturer, launched its latest range of passive fire safety products earlier this year. The new range has attracted praise from Comyn Ching Architectural Components, a leading supplier of fire protection products and equipment to the house building sector.

The 131 year old company is widely recognised for manufacturing high quality electrical enclosures and engineering solutions. Its expanding fire safety range now includes the new to market Mark lll FireSeal Fire Rated Access Panel.

Designed in house, the panel cover has been developed to improve the fire performance of an existing panel or wall opening. It creates a seal designed to provide protection against smoke and fire from both internal and external sources.

Shane, whose company is based in Bury St. Edmunds, said: “This product is manufactured and designed to such a high standard that it should stand the test of time.

“In an evolving market such as the fire sector, you need to understand what may be required in the future as regulations continue to change.

“Ritherdon has future proofed its new Mark lll Fire cabinet by subjecting it to rigorous testing against the highest standards and accreditations.

“It is more than likely to remain viable in five years’ time, which is exactly what our customers want.”

Ritherdon Operations Director Brian Derbyshire has overseen the project for several years, including the latest fire safety testing carried out earlier this year.

Brian said: “All of our FireSeal products have been smoke sealed and extensively fire tested.

“Some manufacturers test access panels in only one direction. We wanted to ensure our products provided fire and smoke resistance from both sides, so every one of our FireSeals has been smoke sealed and tested in both directions.”

This detailed approach to product development and testing is particularly valued by customers seeking reassurance about fire safety standards in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire.

Shane Porter added: “Testing and accreditations are vital to the success and longevity of any product.

“No one wants to see another Grenfell Tower disaster.

“The rules and regulations have become increasingly stringent.

“Many of the major fire companies we supply are closely monitoring legislative changes.

“The market has been crying out for a product that has undergone penetration testing in both directions.

“Ritherdon is very cautious about making claims about what the cabinet can and cannot do.

“They have the testing evidence to support what the new fire cabinet is capable of, and that is what makes it so special.”

The Ritherdon design team originally developed the product more than 15 years ago and has since reworked the original design to further improve the safety of the latest FireSeal range. Recent testing demonstrated that fire was unable to breach the access panel following more than an hour of exposure to temperatures of 1,000 degrees Celsius in a testing furnace

FireSeal Fire Rated Access Panels can be installed wherever an opening from outside a property leads into the building. Their primary application, however, is within buildings where multiple access panels are required between internal walls.

Brian said: “Traditionally, a fireproof board is placed at the back of electrical boxes, but we recognised that this did not provide enough protection, particularly because standard units do very little to prevent the spread of smoke.

“Our products incorporate fireproof glands and intumescent seals to create an airtight barrier that prevents flames and smoke from passing through the access panel covers.

“Our FireSeal Fire Rated Access Panels can be installed on external walls, but their principal application is inside blocks of flats and office buildings, where they are designed to prevent fire and smoke from breaching an internal wall in the event of a fire.”

The FireSeal Fire Rated Access Panel was tested at Element PFP in High Wycombe, Bucks. It successfully withstood the hour long fire and smoke test, followed by an additional 12 minutes.

Ritherdon has already secured a number of significant orders from commercial construction companies and house builders.
Managing Director Ben Ritherdon said: “We are constantly looking for ways to provide our customers with the highest quality products across all of our ranges.

“As far as we are aware, there are no other products like the Mark lll FireSeal currently available on the market.

“Achieving the highest standards of testing and accreditation was particularly important during development, and we were not prepared to launch the product until those standards had been met.

“We are delighted to receive such positive feedback from a respected and long standing customer such as Comyn Ching Architectural Components. It is greatly appreciated.

“FireSeal is the latest in a long succession of innovative products that we have developed in house.

“From our world first Passively Safe Cabinet to the world’s first PVC external electrical enclosure, we have designed our products around specific purposes with wide ranging applications, while recognising that they do not remove the need for standard access panels.”

Q:chi Enhances Harmoni Platform to Eliminate End-of-Quarter Marketing Spend Scramble

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Q:chi Enhances Harmoni Platform to Eliminate End-of-Quarter Marketing Spend Scramble

Q:chi, an enterprise marketing performance solution provider, today announced major enhancements to its Q:chi ) Harmoni platform.

Built to eliminate fragmented planning and budgeting silos, the enhanced platform gives marketing teams a connected infrastructure that ties strategic planning directly to real-time budget pacing and day-to-day execution.

Greg Evans, Founder and CEO of Q:chi said: “When planning systems and financial reporting function separately, marketers are forced to make important investment decisions using outdated information. When teams are working from figures that may be weeks old, they have no accurate understanding of how quickly their budgets are actually being consumed.”

According to Greg, this gap between financial information and operational activity is a fundamental driver of inefficient spending and lost pipeline.

“Without visibility into current spending, making timely adjustments becomes little more than guesswork,” he added. “By the time leadership discovers that budgets are being underspent, the opportunity to redirect investment strategically may already have passed. That information gap pushes marketing teams into reactive decision making and ultimately encourages them to put remaining funds into activities with limited ROI.”

The updated Q:chi ) Harmoni platform gives marketing leaders the ability to optimise budget pacing, connect execution to financial objectives, and prevent demand-generation opportunities from being lost through unspent or poorly allocated budgets. Its dynamic orchestration layer connects strategic and tactical plans with real-time budget and financial commitment data, removing the blind spots that can result in wasted capital.

“For far too long, Marketing has been expected to oversee millions in spending without the systems needed to properly understand it: no real-time budget visibility, no clear view of commitments, and no single source of truth”, said Greg.

“Harmoni provides CMOs and Marketers with the capabilities to break the cycle of lost demand and end-of-quarter panic buying, making sure every investment is deliberately directed toward measurable business growth.”

Key capabilities

Real-Time Burn Rate & Pacing: Immediate visibility into budget usage across campaigns enables teams to maintain consistent spending patterns, reducing mid-year underspend and removing pressure to spend heavily at the end of a quarter.

Synchronised Planning: Strategic direction is connected directly to execution. Each pound/dollar invested is tied to specific business objectives, helping maximise demand generation instead of simply consuming the available budget.

Unified Ecosystem: Planning and live financial allocations operate within the same environment, allowing leaders to see in real time how changes to campaign investment affect wider financial objectives.

Dynamic Scenario Modeling: Teams can move beyond fixed annual budgets by testing different funding scenarios and reallocating resources quickly before underspend becomes an issue.

Cross-Functional Alignment: Finance, Sales, and executive stakeholders gain a shared and transparent view of the marketing roadmap, strengthening confidence and reducing friction between departments.

“The ‘use it or lose it’ approach to budgets persists because marketing leaders have not had the tools required to accurately manage spending throughout the year,” added Greg Evans.

“Q:chi ) Harmoni enables leadership to respond to the board’s toughest questions with confidence, ensuring every dollar is deliberately orchestrated to deliver maximum impact.”

For more information, visit www.qchi.net.

Diisco to Showcase the Future of Hospitality Staffing at The National Restaurant, Pub & Bar Show 2026

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Diisco to Showcase the Future of Hospitality Staffing at The National Restaurant, Pub & Bar Show 2026

Diisco, the UK hospitality gig platform helping venues connect with reliable, flexible hospitality workers, has announced its participation in The National Restaurant, Pub & Bar Show 2026, taking place on 16–17 September 2026 at ExCeL London.

The event brings together hospitality operators, buyers, decision-makers, suppliers and technology providers from across the restaurant, pub and bar sector. Diisco will use the event to introduce its approach to flexible hospitality staffing and demonstrate how technology can help venues manage shift-based staffing more efficiently.

Staff shortages, last-minute absences and the challenge of finding suitable workers remain significant operational pressures for hospitality businesses. Diisco is designed to make the process of filling individual shifts faster and more transparent by connecting venues directly with hospitality workers through its digital platform.

With Diisco, venues can register their business, post a shift in minutes, review applicants, assess worker experience and ratings, and confirm suitable workers directly through the platform.

The platform is purpose-built for hospitality and supports real-time shift management, worker availability, messaging, applications, confirmations and payment processes.

Rather than relying on traditional agency processes, Diisco provides venues with a direct way to access flexible hospitality workers while giving businesses greater visibility and control over their staffing requirements.

Workers can also create profiles, verify their identity and right to work, discover relevant shifts, apply directly and build their professional reputation through completed shifts and ratings.

Diisco is also introducing AI-powered shift creation, helping hospitality operators generate and post shifts more quickly and accurately. By using intelligent automation, venues can reduce manual input, standardise shift details and improve the speed at which roles are published and filled, making last-minute staffing even more efficient.

Hasan Shahid, CEO and Co-Founder of Diisco, said: “Hospitality businesses need staffing solutions that work at the speed of the industry. Last-minute changes, busy service periods and fluctuating demand mean venues need access to reliable workers without unnecessary delays or complexity.

“Diisco was created to make that process simpler. With the addition of AI-powered shift creation, we are further reducing the time it takes for venues to get shifts live and filled.”

Diisco’s participation at The National Restaurant, Pub & Bar Show reflects the company’s ambition to work more closely with hospitality operators and understand the challenges they face in managing flexible workforces.

Visitors to the show will have the opportunity to meet the Diisco team, learn how the platform works and discuss how digital staffing solutions can help restaurants, pubs, bars, hotels, events businesses and other hospitality operators respond to changing staffing demands.

Alex Temprell, Director and Co-Founder of Diisco, said: “The real challenge in hospitality is not just finding staff, but finding the right people at the right time with minimal friction. Diisco is designed to make that connection simpler for venues and workers, giving hospitality businesses a more efficient way to respond to their staffing needs.”

The National Restaurant, Pub & Bar Show is part of the inaugural London Food & Drink Festival and will bring together thousands of food and drink trade buyers and operators alongside hundreds of exhibitors.

The show will take place:

Date: 16–17 September 2026

Venue: ExCeL London

Event: The National Restaurant, Pub & Bar Show 2026

Audience: Hospitality trade professionals and industry decision-makers

Diisco is inviting restaurant owners, pub operators, hotel managers, hospitality groups, event operators and other industry professionals attending the show to visit the team and discover how the platform can help simplify flexible staffing.

To find out more about Diisco, visit https://diisco.app

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