Legacy Funding Corporation has announced a major opportunity for industry partners to collaborate in the development of innovative Charity ISAs, aimed at advancing new approaches to charitable funding and investment.

The UK’s ISA market is worth £700 billion in value. The Legacy Funding Company deems that now is the time for similar financial instruments to be developed in order to address a growing funding gap in the charity sector. 

According to recent data from AJ Bell, UK savers currently hold between £726 billion and £900 billion in ISAs, with more than 22 million adults using the tax-efficient savings vehicle. ISAs continue to attract strong participation due to their flexibility and tax advantages, with over 4 million people subscribing to stocks and shares ISAs annually, and a marked shift back towards cash ISAs amid economic uncertainty.  A proposed Charity ISA would allow funds pledged in wills to be partially released early to charities through secured financial products.

The UK charity sector—receiving approximately £4.5 billion annually from legacy giving—is under increasing financial pressure due to probate delays. Research from IFA Magazine indicates that 87% of charities are impacted by probate delays, with over half forced to sell assets or cut services to manage cashflow gaps. 

Despite strong public support (over half of UK adults donate to charity annually), funds pledged through wills can take months or years to reach beneficiaries due to estate administration and HMRC approval processes. The charitable sector makes up approximately 1% of global GDP.

The Legacy Funding Corporation believes that industry voices should now explore whether a charity-linked ISA-style or asset-backed funding model could provide a solution.

The concept would enable earlier access to a portion of pledged legacy funds, capital secured against estate value during probate, reduced reliance on volatile equity markets and potential tax benefits for both individuals and government.

Peter Collins, of The Legacy Funding Corporation, said: “There is a significant disconnect between when charitable funds are pledged and when they are received. During probate, millions of pounds just sit there—capital that could be deployed immediately to support essential services. Commercial organisations can forward-finance their invoices—why can’t charities access forward finance on their legacies?”

Recent data highlights a shift in saver behaviour, with static and rising interest rates and economic volatility driving increased demand for lower-risk, cash-based products. In the 2023/24 tax year alone, UK savers deposited nearly £70 billion into Cash ISAs—a 67% year-on-year increase. 

This trend suggests that any future model aimed at supporting charities would need to balance security, accessibility, and modest returns, rather than relying on high-risk investment performance.

The proposal is not positioned as political policy, but as an industry-wide opportunity requiring collaboration between political parties, financial institutions and funders, pension funds and asset managers, legal and probate professionals, charities and policymakers and digital, print and broadcast media.

With millions of UK adults already engaged in ISA products, and over £4.5 billion annually flowing into charities via legacy giving, is it time to explore how financial innovation could unlock “capital in limbo” for social impact.

The Legacy Funding Corporation is seeking partners to work with to deliver this product for the charity sector and help the country. For more information contact Peter Collins.

The UK’s appetite for rosé wine continues to grow, with the category now valued at more than £712 million and projected to reach £928 million by 2035. As consumer demand rises – fuelled by premiumisation, lifestyle-driven purchasing and a preference for lighter wine styles – retailers and hospitality operators are being encouraged to expand their rosé offerings beyond the most established labels.

While Provence has dominated the rosé boom through recognisable branding and distinctive packaging, the category itself remains one of the most diverse in the wine market, offering consumers a wide variety of styles to explore.

Neil McAndrew, wine consultant and advisor to the EU’s More Than Only Food & Drink campaign, explains: “The EU produces a huge diversity of rosé styles, from dry and mineral to fruity or off-dry, as well as sparkling; depending on grape variety and winemaking technique. Yet the trend for pale-coloured rosé in a Provençal style has exploded, and major regions from the Languedoc to Bordeaux, the Rhône and the Loire Valley are now producing their own successful expressions. 

“A similar picture is seen across Europe, with key wine-producing countries including Spain, Italy and Portugal embracing the style, while Germany – the fourth largest producer in Europe – has also invested heavily in rosé, particularly organic production. Meanwhile, emerging regions such as Slovenia and Czechia, alongside cooler-climate areas in Greece, are producing notably fresh styles.”

A commercial opportunity for retailers and hospitality

For UK retailers and hospitality venues, expanding rosé listings and coming up with strategies to promote the category offers a simple way to drive discovery, increase premium sales and tap into one of wine’s most dynamic categories. The visual aspect of rosé and its attractive packaging is a powerful tool to utilise in online imagery, back-bar or window displays, and in prominent retail spaces.

McAndrew continues: “Premium rosé has seen significant growth in the UK and doesn’t face the same barriers as other premium wines. While entry-level rosé sells well in supermarkets, independents, restaurants and bars can benefit from trading consumers up to more premium wines. The distinctive bottles and strong brands support premiumisation and deliver higher price point bottle sales as well as opportunities for higher-margin by-the-glass sales. Yet many wine lists still default to one or two Provençal rosés, despite Europe producing dozens of distinctive styles.”

To help retailers and operators expand their offer, Neil McAndrew shares six EU rosé styles to explore this summer:

1. Tavel PDO from Rhône Valley, France: the powerful rosé

“Often described as the “red wine drinker’s rosé”, Tavel PDO from France is deeper coloured and fuller-bodied than the pale Provençal style. Typically based on Grenache with Syrah or Cinsault, it delivers flavours of strawberry, herbs and spice, and is structured enough for grilled meats or Mediterranean dishes.

“A serious, gastronomic rosé that proves pink wine doesn’t have to be delicate.”

2. Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo PDO from Italy: vibrant cherry rosé

“Italy is the third largest producer of rosé with great examples produced in all wine-making regions, from Veneto in the north to Sicily in the south. Made primarily from Montepulciano grapes, cerasuolo literally means “cherry-coloured”. Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo PDO sits stylistically between rosé and light red: vivid, fresh and juicy with cherry, raspberry and subtle tannins.

“Bright fruit and structure make it ideal for food – from charcuterie to pizza.”

3. Getariako Txakolina PDO from Basque Country, Spain: zippy Atlantic rosé

“Spain is the second largest producer of rosé in the world, with famous regions such as Rioja and Navarra crafting high-quality examples. However, at the more individual and interesting level, Getariako Txakolina PDO is produced near Spain’s northern coast using grapes such as Hondarrabi Beltza. These wines are light, saline and naturally high in acidity, sometimes with a slight spritz.

“A refreshing coastal style that pairs perfectly with seafood.”

4. Grenache Rosé (Languedoc-Roussillon region, France): great value rosé

“Grenache rosés from the south of France, specifically the Pays d’Oc and Languedoc-Roussillon offer exceptional value for money and are widely available. Ranging from very pale pink to a delicate salmon-pink, the wines are similar to the iconic Provence style but without the price tag. Many producers blend in Cinsault, Syrah, or Mourvèdre to increase complexity.

“A great mid-week treat which whisks you away to the sunny South of France, even on a dark November evening!”

5. Greece: Emerging rosés

“For new and exciting rosé wine, consistently delivering exceptional quality, great value and individuality, join the rush to explore the best that Greece has to offer. Normally produced from a blend of native grape varieties like Xinomavro, Agiorgitiko, Fokiano and Malagousia, this ancient wine-producing country has gained a firm foothold in the UK with the wines now available from local and national retailers.

“Classy, elegant style, great with mediterranean dishes.”

6. German Rosé / Rosé Sekt (Germany): cool-climate precision 

“Germany is the fourth largest wine producer in the EU and produces rosé in the Pfalz, Rheinhessen, and Baden regions from grapes such as Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir), Portugieser and Dornfelder. Styles range from dry to off-dry still rosé to Rosé Sekt, the country’s sparkling wine category.

“Crisp acidity and delicate fruit — a cooler-climate alternative to Mediterranean rosé.”

Together, these styles highlight the breadth and versatility of EU rosé wines, offering retailers and hospitality a clear opportunity to refresh their ranges and inspire consumers to explore beyond the familiar.

For more information please visit the campaign website or contact: [email protected]

A new national register of vetted funeral celebrants and officiants has been introduced in response to increasing concerns around professional standards, safeguarding and accountability within sections of the funeral industry.

The Funeral Officiant Authority (FOA), founded by experienced celebrants Sacha Mulligan and Michelle Harvey, aims to introduce clearer professional standards for those conducting funeral ceremonies across the UK.

The organisation is launching an initial pilot scheme in the South-East of England and plans to expand nationally, with the longer-term goal of establishing a recognised benchmark for funeral officiants nationwide.

Currently, there is no formal regulation preventing individuals from conducting funeral ceremonies without recognised training, vetting or accountability processes.

The launch follows wider industry concerns surrounding safeguarding, transparency and professional oversight within the sector.

The FOA will operate as a voluntary national register of vetted officiants and celebrants and will be overseen by a board including experienced officiants, funeral directors, legal professionals and sector specialists.

Alongside the register, the organisation is also launching a public awareness campaign, “Let’s Talk About Death”, aimed at encouraging greater openness, professionalism and public confidence around funeral services.

Under the proposed standards, all officiants listed on the register will be required to:

• * Hold DBS checks
• * Meet minimum training and competency standards
• * Maintain appropriate insurance
• * Adhere to a formal complaints and accountability process
• * Commit to ongoing professional development and compliance monitoring

The FOA is also calling on government, political parties, funeral providers and insurers to support the introduction of clearer professional standards across the sector.

Sacha Mulligan, co-founder of the Funeral Officiant Authority, said: “We co-founded the Funeral Officiant Authority after more than six years of work to create real protection, accountability, and meaningful support for both the families we serve and the celebrants who support them.

“Every benefit, standard, and safeguard has been built to ensure families, celebrants and funeral directors have somewhere trusted to turn to, and somewhere concerns can be properly raised and addressed.”

Michelle Harvey, co-founder of the FOA, added: “The Funeral Officiant Authority (FOA) is dedicated to helping families find trusted, professional officiants to deliver meaningful and personal funeral services.

“The FOA provides access to approved officiants who are experienced, compassionate, and fully DBS certified for complete peace of mind. Through its carefully maintained database, the FOA is committed to supporting families with dignity, care, and professionalism during life’s most difficult moments.”

LegalTech in Leeds will host its annual conference on 21 May at The Rose Bowl, Leeds Beckett University, bringing together 200 legal and tech professionals for the fifth consecutive year. The event continues to strengthen Leeds’ position as a leading UK hub for LegalTech innovation outside London.

LegalTech in Leeds, coordinated by Leeds Law Society, prepares for the return of its flagship Annual Conference. Now in its fifth year, the event has established itself as the largest LegalTech conference outside London, and this year is set to be the most ambitious yet.

With over 70 events hosted since 2022, more than 5,000 sign-ups and 450+ speakers, LegalTech in Leeds has grown into one of the UK’s most active and influential regional LegalTech communities.

The 2026 conference builds on that momentum, bringing together over 200 legal and tech professionals from across the region and beyond for a full day of keynotes, panel discussions, fireside chats and a LegalTech showcase.

This year’s theme, The drive to adoption: turning LegalTech ambition into action, puts practical progress front and centre, with sessions focused on embedding LegalTech into real operations, shifting culture to support innovation, and navigating an evolving regulatory and policy landscape.

This year’s agenda has been designed to move beyond conversation and into action. Attendees can expect keynotes from national thought leaders and panel discussions on culture change and technology adoption. Speakers include, PEXA’s Head of Government & Public Affairs Angela Hesketh, Claire Zucker from Laurel, Peter Ambrose from Legalito, and Beth Fellner, Director of Legal Geek, alongside insights from regulators like the Bar Standards Board on AI guidance for the Bar.

Sessions on data governance, legal operations and the future of legal skills sit alongside an investor perspectives panel and a LegalTech showcase featuring innovations from regional and national firms.

The conference is delivered in partnership with Lawtech UK, the national body working to accelerate technology adoption across the legal sector. The partnership brings national reach and programming insight to an event that has always been proudly rooted in the Leeds region, and reflects a shared ambition to make LegalTech adoption a reality for firms of every size.

A spokesperson for Lawtech UK said: “Lawtech UK is proud to partner with LegalTech in Leeds on this year’s Annual Conference. The Leeds community exemplifies exactly what is possible when regional ambition is matched with genuine collaboration, and we are pleased to bring our national perspective to both the programming and promotion of an event that is making a real difference to how technology is adopted across the legal sector.”

The 2026 conference has attracted some of the most prominent names in LegalTech and legal education as sponsors, reflecting the growing national and international significance of the Leeds event.

Clio, one of the world’s leading legal practice management platforms and a driving force in global LegalTech, returns as a primary sponsor for the second consecutive year. Their continued backing signals not just confidence in the Leeds community, but a genuine commitment to accelerating LegalTech adoption across the UK’s regions.

Clio’s Harry Black will be delivering the keynote, The Efficiency Advantage: How AI Is Rewriting the Rules for Modern Law Firms, getting to the heart of what modern legal practice needs to look like.

BPP, whose legal education programmes are shaping the next generation of legal professionals across the UK, brings its expertise and influence to the conference as a primary sponsor. With technology transforming how law is practised and taught, BPP’s involvement underlines the growing importance of LegalTech literacy at every stage of a legal career.

Clare Grant, Commercial Director at BPP, said: “BPP is delighted to be a primary sponsor of the LegalTech in Leeds Annual Conference 2026. The theme of turning ambition into action resonates deeply with how we approach legal education and professional development. Events like this are vital in bringing together the people and ideas that will shape the next generation of legal services, and we are proud to support a community that is making that happen right here in Leeds.”

The conference is also supported by sponsors Walker Morris, University of Law,  PEXA, Laurel, Legalito, Bruntwood SciTech and katchr representing a broad cross-section of the legal and technology sectors.

The conference is held at The Rose Bowl, Leeds Beckett University, one of Leeds’ most distinctive and well-connected venues, and a fitting home for an event at the intersection of law, technology and education.

Leeds Beckett’s Leeds Law School is a proud partner of the conference, and the University’s commitment to innovation and applied learning makes it a natural hub for the LegalTech in Leeds community.

Deveral Capps, Professor of Law and Dean of Leeds Law School, Leeds Beckett University, said: “Leeds Beckett University and Leeds Law School is proud to host the LegalTech in Leeds Conference. This event provides an important platform for bringing together experts, practitioners, students and innovators to consider how technology is reshaping the legal landscape, and to reinforce our commitment to excellence, innovation and collaboration.”

LegalTech in Leeds is coordinated by Leeds Law Society, the professional membership organisation for solicitors and the wider legal community in the Leeds region. Since taking on the coordination of LegalTech in Leeds, Leeds Law Society has reinforced its commitment to innovation and the future of legal services, championing collaboration between the legal and tech sectors and ensuring Leeds punches well above its weight on the national LegalTech stage.

Luke Corcoran, President of Leeds Law Society, said: “Taking on the coordination of LegalTech in Leeds is something we are incredibly proud of. This community has built something genuinely special over the past four years, and it is a natural home within Leeds Law Society. We are committed to driving collaboration between the legal and technology sectors in our region, and the Annual Conference is the centrepiece of that ambition. This year’s event is going to be bigger and better than ever, and I would encourage everyone across the legal and tech community to come and be part of it.”

The LegalTech in Leeds Annual Conference 2026 takes place on Thursday 21 May, 2026 at The Rose Bowl, Leeds Beckett University.

Doors open at 8.00am and the event runs until 5.00pm, with networking and drinks to close the day. To get tickets for the event, or to find out more, click here.

LockerQuest has partnered with Northern to introduce YEEP! parcel lockers for rail passengers across its network. The new self-service facilities are designed to give customers a simple, secure, and convenient way to collect, send, and return parcels as part of their everyday journeys.

The rollout of YEEP! parcel lockers will provide customers with a convenient way to collect and send parcels while on the move.

To date, 50 solar-powered YEEP! lockers have been installed across train operator Northern’s stations in the north of England, allowing customers to pick up and drop off packages to fit in with their travel plans.

Stations where you can find a YEEP! locker include; Rochdale, St Helen’s Central, Chorley, Wakefield Kirkgate and Crewe. Further stations are currently being reviewed with a view to see additional YEEP! lockers being installed across the network.

Northern is the UK’s second-largest train operator, running 2,650 daily services connecting over 500 stations throughout the North of England.

The strategic partnership between the rail operator and parcel locker location experts LockerQuest aims to transform station facilities into multi-purpose community hubs.

LockerQuest helps property owners generate additional revenue by bringing lockers to unused or underutilised space to increase customer footfall, managing the process from surveys through to installation and ongoing management.

Alex Hornby, Commercial and Customer Director at Northern, said: “Northern stations serve local communities and are perfect places to offer the popular services which people require.

“Thanks to our partnership with LockerQuest we can offer customers the convenience of combining travelling with collecting or dropping off their parcels.

“LockerQuest have been great partners so we are pleased to offer lockers to the thousands of customers who visit these stations every day, forming a basis for the development of our  partnership in the future.”

Jonathan White, LockerQuest CEO, said: “Rail networks such as Northern’s serve as vital connection points for communities so installing smart lockers extends that connectivity into the world of commerce and logistics.

“By positioning secure lockers at Northern stations, customers benefit from the convenience of accessible and automated facilities on their travel routes so passengers can expect to see many more facilities installed throughout 2026.

“With Northern’s impressive network serving approximately 100 million passenger journeys annually, our developing partnership enhances our service footprint for retail and carrier partners across the North of England.”

LockerQuest’s mission is to unlock the value of underused space by delivering end-to-end solutions that create guaranteed income for partners, support locker network growth and improve everyday convenience for communities.

To find out more about LockerQuest and to see the full list of YEEP! lockers installed on Northern stations go to https://lockerquest.com/

Businesses across the UK are being warned about the increasing risks associated with disconnected communication systems, as new insight highlights how fragmented messaging channels may lead to operational inefficiencies, compliance gaps and poor customer engagement.

Communication specialists at Micom Technologies have warned that many organisations are now relying on multiple disconnected providers to manage customer interactions across email, SMS, print, portals, messaging apps, and contact centre platforms, often without a unified delivery or reporting structure in place.

In many organisations, customer communications are spread across multiple platforms, suppliers and channels, making governance, reporting and customer experience increasingly difficult to manage at scale.

Micom says the risk is increasing as customer journeys become more complex and expectations around responsiveness continue to rise. Research indicates that B2B buyers now interact with an average of 10 touchpoints before making a purchasing decision, placing greater pressure on businesses to maintain consistent communication across channels.

According to the company, fragmented systems can create situations in which messages appear to have been processed internally but are never successfully delivered to the customer due to failed validation, disconnected workflows, or the absence of fallback delivery routes.

The issue is particularly significant for regulated industries where delivery assurance and auditability are critical, including financial services, healthcare, utilities, and public sector organisations.

Andy Barber, CEO of Micom Technologies, said: “Most businesses didn’t intentionally build fragmented communication environments. These systems evolved over time as teams adopted different tools to solve different problems.

“The challenge now is that customers expect communication to feel seamless, while internally many organisations are managing disconnected platforms that don’t always share data, reporting, or delivery logic effectively.

“In regulated sectors especially, businesses cannot afford gaps between systems where a communication may be triggered but not successfully delivered or evidenced.”

Micom is advising organisations to reassess how communication workflows operate across channels and ensure critical customer messaging can dynamically route between digital and physical delivery methods where required.

The company says businesses should focus on unified reporting and audit trails, connected workflows across communication channels, delivery validation and fallback logic, centralised customer communication management, and reducing unnecessary platform duplication.

The warning follows growing market demand for consolidated communication environments that combine digital messaging, print, workflow automation, and reporting within a more connected infrastructure.

Micom points to measurable improvements where communication systems have been coordinated more effectively. In one financial services deployment, introducing digital-first delivery with structured fallback workflows improved payment cycles by 45% while reducing mailing costs by 65% .

Andy Barber added: “Multi-channel communication is no longer the challenge. Most organisations already have multiple ways to reach customers.

“The real challenge is ensuring those channels operate together reliably, particularly when customer experience, compliance, and operational performance all depend on successful delivery.”

For more information about Micom Technologies, visit www.micom.com.