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Virgin Atlantic expands dementia-friendly cinema offering with WOFFF partnership

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Virgin Atlantic and the Women Over 50 Film Festival (WOFFF) are delighted to announce the continuation of their innovative collaboration, rolling out a new season of dementia-friendly short films on board.

This thoughtful collection, available via the airline’s Vera inflight entertainment platform, provides a gentle and inclusive cinematic experience designed to support customers living with dementia alongside their families and carers.

Since its launch in June 2024, the initiative has already attracted more than 60,000 views, highlighting the strong appetite among travellers for inclusive and meaningful in-flight entertainment.

Sharon Noyau, Manager – Inflight Entertainment Content at Virgin Atlantic, said: “The response to our dementia-friendly film collection has been incredible, and we couldn’t be more delighted to continue this partnership with WOFFF. Our customers have told us how meaningful it is to have content that can be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of cognitive ability. We’re proud to lead the way in inclusive inflight entertainment and can’t wait for customers to experience this beautiful new selection of films.”

Nuala O’Sullivan, founder of WOFFF, added: “It’s wonderful to know that over 60,000 people have already enjoyed our dementia-friendly films on Virgin Atlantic flights. Cinema has the power to connect us, to calm us, and to bring joy. 

“We’re honoured to keep working with Virgin Atlantic to ensure that everyone, including those living with dementia, can share in the magic of film, wherever they are in the world.”

This dementia-friendly programme, created by the Women Over 50 Film Festival, is designed especially for people living with dementia and their companions. These short films feature gentle soundtracks, simple storylines and moments of calm, with a mix of animation, dance, poetry and documentary.

The new dementia-friendly short film collection on Vera includes:

  • And Yet, directed by Lucretia Knapp, Lynne Yamamoto | Experimental: A film that glides from silence to gentle music. If you’re living with dementia, the “kitchen dancing” might spark memories of dancing with someone you love.
  • Call of the Cranes, directed by Vilma Tihilä | Experimental: People in a forest hear birds calling. They gather together and dance in response. If you live with dementia, you may enjoy the calming beauty of the Finnish countryside.
  • Clearing, directed by Karen Kaeja | Experimental: This calming film features a woman dancing on a snowy Canadian morning. People living with dementia may find the simple colour scheme of black, white and yellow pleasing to watch.
  • Magicland, directed by Celia Willis and Emily Stein | Documentary: Jenny Myers is the first Black woman invited into the Magic Circle. If you live with dementia, you may find this joyful, colourful meditation on magic and intergenerational relationships enchanting.
  • The Past Is Another Country, directed by Magda Rakita | Documentary: 76-year-old Bridget Sojourner reflects on fashion, allotments and life. There’s no room for beige here. If you’re living with dementia, you may enjoy Bridget’s vibrant colour choices.
  • The Piano Forest, directed by Eva Sjöblom, Åsa Linder | Documentary: Pianos placed in a Swedish forest create an art installation exploring the fleeting nature of life. If you’re living with dementia, you may find the peaceful forest soundscape soothing.
  • Treasure, directed by Samantha Moore | Animation: In the Shropshire hills, a mother’s love connects through the ages to a treasure hunter’s quest. If you’re living with dementia, you may find this soothing animation relaxing to watch.
  • Wait a Minute, directed by Marta Renzi | Experimental: On a sunny pier, people dance and play to upbeat music, creating a joyful invitation to savour the moment. People living with dementia may enjoy the upbeat music and the people dancing in the sunshine.
  • You Can’t Shrink Love, directed by Veena Rao | Documentary: Artist Lucy Francis crafts tiny, lifelike dogs, bringing joy and memories of beloved pets to life. People living with dementia may enjoy Lucy’s craftwork. Some viewers may be reminded of dogs they have known and loved.

Samantha Moore, director of Treasure, one of the films showing on Virgin Atlantic said: “I am thrilled to be included in this dementia-friendly programme for WOFFF and Virgin Atlantic. 

“My mum had early onset dementia, and our experience was that she retained a lot of emotional intelligence, despite losing so much. Music, images, colour, and texture remained potent connectors between us, and I hope that these films will similarly connect with a curious and friendly audience.”

The programme has been positively received by passengers from around the world, including Ipsit Vahia, MD Chief of the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry at McLean Hospital who came across the programme during a flight and took to LinkedIn to say:

“On an international flight on Virgin Atlantic this week, I spotted an interesting option in the movie selection menu – it said, simply, ‘Dementia-friendly shorts.’

“A closer look showed a selection of nine short films, ranging from 2-9 minutes and scripted to be gently contemplative. Each of them was designed to engage a person living with dementia in a calming way, and could be played on loop, taking rapid forgetting into consideration. 

“Being 7 hours into a 9-hour flight, it made me think about what it is like for someone with dementia and their carers to take a long-distance flight. In that moment, I felt relieved on their behalf that their needs were considered by the airline.”

This collaboration remains one of the first of its kind in inflight entertainment, highlighting the potential of cinema to create more inclusive experiences for travellers worldwide.

Double Success for Influencer Matchmaker at SME Enterprise Awards 2025

Influencer Matchmaker has secured a double win at the Midlands Enterprise Awards 2025, reinforcing its position as one of the UK’s leading influencer and celebrity talent agencies.

The agency picked up the titles of Best Influencer & Celebrity Talent Marketing Agency 2025 and Leading Influencer Campaign Specialists 2025.

Hosted by SME News Magazine, the awards are now in their ninth year and shine a spotlight on the region’s most innovative and impactful businesses.

Over the past year, Influencer Matchmaker has delivered more than 1,000 brand partnerships by drawing on its international network of creators and celebrities. Its strategies are designed to maximise brand impact online while driving growth, ROI, and stronger customer engagement.

The agency brings together more than two decades of combined expertise and represents a global community of over 2,000 influencers and celebrities. Clients have included household names such as Disney and McDonald’s.

Recent high-profile campaigns have seen Amazon Handmade partner with Stacey Solomon, Acer work with Steven Bartlett, and Quaker Oats collaborate with Tom Daley.

Laura Hayes, Senior Celebrity & Brand Partnership Executive, commented: “We are hugely honoured to receive these awards, which are testament to the hard work of our team and their dedication to matching top influencers to major events and campaigns. We have seen a 27% increase in demand for celebrity and influencer content for brands, something we anticipate with increase in years to come.

“We like to create long-term partnerships, but we have also worked with some amazing brands for one-off campaigns, collaboration and promotions.

“These awards are a fitting tribute to our efforts as we seek to go further and higher in the coming months with some really innovative and exciting projects in the pipeline, which will be unveiled in due course.”

Awards Coordinator Melissa Bramall said: “I’m so pleased to share my congratulations with our winners, especially as they alter the trajectory of their industries for the better.”

For more details, visit www.influencermatchmaker.co.uk.

Dan Herbatschek Introduces AI Innovation to Erdos Tracks for Smarter Contractor P&L Tracking

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Erdos Tracks, the contractor-focused business management platform, has received a major upgrade from founder Dan Herbatschek. The platform now uses artificial intelligence to deliver real-time profit and loss (P&L) tracking.

This latest development combines bidding, quoting, project management, dispatch, fleet management, and analytics within a single platform. By embedding AI-powered job costing, Erdos Tracks provides contractors with sharper financial oversight and complete project transparency.

The enhanced release expands the system’s capabilities with AI-powered job costing and advanced analytics, giving contractors unmatched visibility into their operations and financial performance.

Unlike traditional software that only captures job data in silos, Erdos Tracks covers the entire project lifecycle — from bidding and quoting to line-item creation, project management, dispatch, and fleet management. This end-to-end tracking ensures contractors have a clear view of profitability at every stage of a job.

The upgrade also introduces powerful analytics tools that allow contractors to measure profitability by region, project manager, time period, and more. By surfacing trends and performance drivers, Erdos Tracks helps businesses make data-driven decisions to maximize margins and scale efficiently.

At the core of the platform is AI-driven job costing, which automates financial calculations in real time. Contractors can see live P&Ls on active projects instead of waiting until completion — a game-changing advantage in an industry where profit can vanish in the details.

“Contractors shouldn’t have to run their business on guesswork,” said Dan Herbatschek, founder of Erdos Tracks. “With this upgrade, we’ve combined project tracking, financial intelligence, and AI into one system — giving contractors the clarity they need to protect margins and grow with confidence.”

With these enhancements, Erdos Tracks strengthens its position as a leading technology partner for the field service industry, helping contractors unify operations, improve efficiency, and achieve sustainable growth.

About Erdos Tracks

Erdos Tracks is an AI-powered platform built for contractors in the field service industry. By integrating CRM, ERP, bid management, job tracking, dispatch, fleet management, and automated job costing, the platform provides contractors with real-time visibility into profitability. Founded by Dan Herbatschek, entrepreneur and technology innovator, Erdos Tracks enables smarter decisions through advanced analytics and end-to-end project tracking.

Launch of the Excellence in Healthcare Partnerships (EHP) Awards 2026 – Now Open for Entries

The Excellence in Healthcare Partnerships (EHP) Awards have officially launched, with entries now open for the 2026 competition. This new awards programme will celebrate the best examples of collaboration between healthcare providers, pharmaceutical and HealthTech organisations, and wider industry partners.

As the first year of the awards, 2026 marks the beginning of an annual platform designed to highlight partnerships that drive meaningful impact across healthcare.

Entrants can now submit their applications for the 2026 awards here: https://ehpawards.com/how-to-enter/.

The awards are delivered by PMGroup Worldwide Ltd in partnership with Visions4Health, bringing together their combined expertise in healthcare communications and strategy.

The EHP Awards are overseen by a highly respected Executive Steering Group, which includes senior leaders from the NHS, the pharmaceutical sector, healthcare innovation, and policy. The Group ensures the programme is run with integrity, fairness, and focus on collaborations that deliver tangible benefits to patients, health systems, and industry alike.

To find out more about the Executive Steering Group and to explore the award categories for the inaugural year, visit: https://ehpawards.com/.

“Partnerships are the cornerstone of innovation, driving progress and sparking new ideas. It is through our collaborative efforts that we can achieve groundbreaking advancements in healthcare. Celebrating these partnerships not only acknowledges the immense value they bring but also inspires future collaborations that can transform lives.”

Professor Hatim Abdulhussein, Chief Executive Officer, Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex. EHP Executive Steering Group.

“It’s more important than ever that we work collaboratively to achieve the best outcomes for patients. I am excited to review some innovative, high quality applications and help to share the learning about how we can work better together.”

Jill Loader, Director, Dr J Loader Ltd. Executive Steering Group.

“The Excellence in Healthcare Partnerships Awards are about something simple but powerful: people working together to make healthcare better. When brilliant minds, cutting edge technology and caring hearts collaborate, that’s when real change happens – better treatments, smoother systems, and ultimately, healthier lives. These awards celebrate those unsung partnerships that don’t just talk about progress – they make it happen. PMGroup are delighted to be able to bring this new awards programme and networking opportunity together alongside our partner Visions4Health and with invaluable input from our Executive Steering Group.”

Karl Equi, Executive Director, PMGroup Worldwide Ltd.

“Now more than ever, partnership working between industry and the NHS should be ‘business as usual’, but this is not always the case. Visions4Health is excited to be partnering with PMGroup to deliver the EHP awards which will showcase great examples of UK healthcare partnerships and inspire others across the life sciences and NHS ecosystem to collaborate and achieve better patient care together.” Sabina Syed, Managing Director, Visions4Health.

The categories for the EHP Awards 2026 are:

  • SME Partnership Project of the Year
  • Multi-sector Partnership Project of the Year
  • Most Transformational Partnership
  • Partnership Working to Address National Healthcare Priorities (National Projects)
  • Partnership Working to Address National Healthcare Priorities (Sub National Projects)
  • Partnerships for Scalability and Adoption
  • Partnership in Research – Recognising Excellence in Research-led Partnership Projects
  • Leadership in Partnership Working
  • Partnership Team of the Year (Pharmaceuticals)
  • Partnership Team of the Year (HealthTech)
  • Partnership Project of the Year (Pharmaceuticals)
  • Partnership Project of the Year (HealthTech)

The Power of Healthcare Partnerships

Healthcare partnerships bring together diverse expertise, resources, and perspectives to drive better patient outcomes, improved efficiency, and transformative innovation. By collaborating across sectors – whether through pharmaceutical companies, HealthTech providers, NHS trusts, or other stakeholders – organisations can:

  • Enhance Patient Care – Deliver more effective treatments, faster diagnoses, and improved healthcare access through shared knowledge and resources.
  • Accelerate Innovation – Combine industry R&D with frontline clinical insights to develop cutting-edge solutions that address unmet medical needs.
  • Optimise Resources – Pool skills, data, and funding to reduce costs, streamline processes, and maximize impact across healthcare systems.
  • Strengthen Trust & Transparency – Foster ethical, patient-centred collaborations that build confidence among healthcare providers, industry, and the public.

Celebrate and showcase innovative healthcare collaborations by entering the prestigious EHP Awards 2026 – recognising outstanding partnerships that deliver a triple win: benefits for patients, healthcare organisations (including the NHS), and industry partners. For more information on categories and how to enter, visit https://ehpawards.com/ or for more details contact [email protected]

HMDG Unveils the Private Practice Barometer for MSK Clinics Across the UK

Private MSK clinics are set to benefit from a new source of clarity as HMDG introduces The Private Practice Barometer, offering straightforward benchmarks on business and industry trends.

As the UK’s first national survey for MSK practices, it will measure performance across Physiotherapy, Osteopathy, Chiropractic, Podiatry, Sports Injury, and related healthcare disciplines. The initiative is designed to provide transparency on how clinics compare nationwide.

Up until now, business owners have often depended on guesswork and scattered conversations regarding fees, patient flow, staffing, technology, and referrals. The launch of The Private Practice Barometer changes that for good.

By collecting anonymous, comprehensive data directly from private clinics, the survey offers an unprecedented opportunity to benchmark a plethora of crucial statistics and trends against various filters such as location, clinic size, and specialisms, and offers answers to questions like:

  • Are my fees competitive?
  • Are clinic owners optimistic about the future of the profession (and why)?
  • Am I over or understaffed?
  • Which are the most used AI tools in clinics?
  • What’s the average diary occupancy in my area?

Ben Marcilhacy, CEO of HMDG, emphasises the need for real data in the sector:

“Up until now, benchmarking for MSK clinics has been an exercise in guesswork and gut feelings. This survey delivers hard facts to the table, finally giving clinic owners the clarity they need to make confident, informed decisions about their business. The Private Practice Barometer will set the standard for transparency and insight in the UK’s private MSK sector.”

Participation in the survey is quick and straightforward, taking approximately 10–15 minutes to complete. All responses remain strictly anonymous, ensuring individual clinics cannot be identified. Privacy is paramount – no personal data is collected, and the survey is entirely separate from any marketing and results contact lists.

HMDG invites all private MSK clinic owners to take part in the survey when it opens on 19th August 2025. The more clinics that contribute, the more robust and meaningful the benchmarking data will be, making this a rare chance to build a powerful industry resource that benefits everyone in the sector.

Why take part?

  • Get answers no one else has: Put an end to speculation with trusted data about private clinics’ performance and the wider market
  • Make informed decisions: Compare  fees, staffing, and marketing results against peers to understand where to focus priorities and efforts
  • Shape the industry’s future: Help create the first national dataset that sets a benchmark for private MSK care in the UK

The full report will be available before the end of 2025, providing early access to national trends, regional breakdowns, and crucial insights, ready to support planning for 2026 and beyond.

This initiative reflects HMDG’s ongoing commitment to supporting MSK clinics with transparent, educational, and practical business insights, rather than clickbait hype or sales jargon.

About HMDG

HMDG is a specialist marketing and consulting agency dedicated to the private MSK sector, combining deep industry knowledge with commercial expertise to support clinic owners. They provide transparent guidance that’s evidence-based and offer practical insights, addressing the real challenges faced by clinicians and clinic owners.

MattressNextDay Celebrates Fifth Year of Growth with 20% Rise in Annual Profits

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MattressNextDay, a prominent UK online mattress and bed retailer, has reported pre-tax profits of £3.6 million for the year ending March 2025 – a 20% increase compared with the previous year.

With gross profits of £17 million and a 46.5% margin, the business has reinforced its reputation as one of the fastest-expanding and most profitable names in the UK sleep retail market.

This strong performance marks the fifth successive year of record-breaking results, with turnover climbing to £36.6 million – up 47% year-on-year and an extraordinary 447% higher than in 2020.

CEO and founder Martin Seeley commented: “Profitability is a clear reflection of how well we’re serving our customers and adapting to a changing retail environment. After five straight years of growth, it’s especially rewarding to see that our core values and long-term strategy continue to deliver tangible, bottom-line results.”

Balancing Aggressive Growth with Sustainable Profit

Founded in 2003 as a family-run business, MattressNextDay has evolved into a technology-focused, customer-centric operation. Today, it offers next-day delivery across the UK, a portfolio of over 200 mattress types and bed styles, and a direct-to-consumer model that has proven highly resilient.

CFO Stuart Rogers emphasised the company’s disciplined financial strategy and said: “What sets us apart is our ability to scale without compromising on profitability. That comes from deliberate investments in people, platforms, and processes that prioritise long-term value over short-term wins.

“While others focus on discounting and short-term volume, we’re focused on durability, both in terms of product quality and commercial sustainability. That’s what’s delivering profit year after year.”

Technology-Led Efficiency Gains

A cornerstone of the company’s recent success is its ongoing investment in technology, particularly artificial intelligence. Spearheading this effort is CTO Jamie Latham, who has led the company’s digital transformation since inception.

“Our AI chatbot ‘Kip’ now handles more than 3,000 customer interactions monthly and saves upwards of 400 staff hours each month,” he explained. “It’s not just about cutting costs – it’s about reallocating human support to more complex customer needs while still offering 24/7 responsiveness.”

Building Authority Through Industry Collaboration

In June 2025, MattressNextDay further strengthened its market position by launching a Brand Ambassador programme. The initiative brings together ten handpicked sleep industry professionals from top-tier manufacturers, including TEMPUR®, Sleepeezee, Hypnos, Sealy, Silentnight, and Sleepsoul.

Notable ambassadors include Amy Curtis (Sleepeezee), Emma Sharp (TEMPUR®), Robert Evans (Sealy), Sarah Mitchell (Hypnos), David Harris (Silentnight), as well as Stuart Hibbert and Michael Prime from Sleepsoul.

Martin Seeley described the programme as a strategic differentiator: “After two decades in this business, I know that buying a mattress is still an emotional, often confusing decision for customers. Our ambassadors offer genuine, trusted guidance that makes the experience easier and more informed, ultimately helping to drive both trust and conversion.”

“Every innovation, whether it’s AI automation or expert consultation, has a single aim: to enhance the customer journey while running a scalable, profitable operation. That’s what’s enabled us to grow through economic headwinds and stay ahead of the curve.”

Recognition and Reputation

The business’s performance has not gone unnoticed. MattressNextDay was recently named the National Bed Federation’s Online Bed Retailer of the Year for two consecutive years (2023/24 and 2024/25). Customer satisfaction remains a key differentiator, with over 28,000 verified five-star reviews on Trustpilot and a 100 Night Sleep Trial offered on every mattress.

As the retail landscape continues to evolve, the company is focused on consolidating its market leadership through continued innovation, operational agility, and a customer-first approach.

Mr Seeley concluded: “These are excellent results but as a business we have bold ambitions for the future and we are determined to build on this performance and do even better next year.”

Nationwide Sustainable Generator Hire Now Available from MEMS

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MEMS Power Generation is expanding access to its cleaner generator hire services across the UK, enabling organisations to lower emissions while ensuring secure and efficient temporary power. The enhanced offering features Stage V generators, battery energy storage solutions, Load on Demand capabilities, and generators approved for Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel.

Throughout 2025, MEMS customers are on course to reduce CO₂e emissions by thousands of tonnes through the adoption of HVO and other renewable fuels. This transition is helping key sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, and critical infrastructure to meet sustainability goals without impacting performance.

“Many sites can now make a measurable reduction in their environmental impact without changing how they operate,” said Mark Diffey, Director, MEMS Power Generation. “Cleaner fuels and advanced technology mean temporary power can be both dependable and responsible.”

The MEMS Cleaner Options portfolio is designed for varied operational needs, particularly in urban and environmentally sensitive areas. Stage V generators meet the latest emission standards, battery energy storage reduces generator runtime and noise, and Load on Demand technology matches power output to real-time demand, cutting unnecessary fuel use and emissions.

HVO fuel, produced from 100% renewable raw materials including waste and residues such as vegetable oils, animal oils, and animal fats, offers a practical drop-in alternative to diesel. HVO can cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90% compared with conventional diesel, with no engine modifications required in compatible units.

“We’re investing in practical solutions that support customer sustainability goals,” added Mark Diffey. “From proven CO₂e savings with HVO to advanced Stage V and hybrid systems, we aim to make lower-emission power an everyday option nationwide.”

MEMS sustainability strategy goes beyond fuel choices. The company’s environmental commitments include waste reduction, recycling, logistics optimisation to reduce vehicle movements, and telemetry-enabled fleet monitoring for efficiency. MEMS is also exploring future technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells to further decarbonise temporary power.

One recent nine-week project saw MEMS supply a 200 kVA generator, 3,000-litre bulk fuel tank, and full distribution cabling to restore power within four hours of a customer outage. After load profiling, a 45 kVA Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) was installed, with MEMS Connect remote monitoring active throughout. Over the final 31 days, the hybrid setup reduced projected fuel use from 5,888 litres to 3,346 litres, saving 2,542 litres and avoiding 6,813 kg of CO₂e – a 43.17% emissions reduction.

The Valeters Rides Wave of Demand for At-Home Car Valeting in London

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More London drivers are turning away from traditional car washes in favour of having their vehicles cleaned at home, with one mobile car wash and valeting business increasing its weekly service volume from 30 to over 100 in under a year.

The Valeters, a favourite among customers on Google and Trustpilot, has scaled rapidly since 2024, expanding from a one-van operation to a fleet of four. Initially serving North-West London, the company now reaches clients in West, Central, and South-West London, plus parts of Hertfordshire and Surrey.

“People’s time is more valuable than ever,” said Mahmoud Itani, founder of The Valeters. “Our customers don’t want to queue, they don’t want shortcuts, and they certainly don’t want to risk poor quality. They want their car looking immaculate without lifting a finger — and we make that happen on their schedule.”

Each van is fully self-contained, carrying its own water and power supply alongside professional-grade products and detailing equipment. The service is entirely self-sufficient, so customers don’t need to provide a single thing.

What’s driving the switch? For many, it’s the flexibility and ease of booking. With The Valeters’ mobile app, customers can choose a package, secure a time slot, and track the job in real time. Many receive SMS updates and before-and-after photos, with some unlocking and locking their cars remotely so the entire valet can be completed without them being present.

Backed by hundreds of positive reviews, The Valeters offers the reassurance of proven quality alongside convenience, delivering expert car valeting across London. Customers often say it’s more cost-effective too: instead of sitting in traffic or waiting in a queue, they can spend that time working from home or with family, knowing their vehicle is being cleaned to a higher standard than many drive-through washes.

From Kensington and Chelsea to Hampstead, Wandsworth, and Northwood, The Valeters has become a regular sight on both bustling streets and in some of the city’s most exclusive postcodes — cleaning everything from family cars to high-end supercars.

With demand continuing to rise, the business is investing in staff training and expanding its fleet to ensure every valet meets the same high standards, wherever in the region the service is booked.

About The Valeters

The Valeters is a premium mobile car wash and detailing service operating across Greater London and parts of Hertfordshire and Surrey. Highly rated across Google and Trustpilot, the company provides interior and exterior valeting, machine polishing, ceramic coatings, and odour sanitisation — all carried out on location by trained professionals using fully equipped vans.

Website:www.thevaleters.co.uk
Email:[email protected]

Evlo Partners with Moneyline to Provide Affordable Lending for Non-Prime Applicants

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Evlo, a conscientious UK consumer finance company, has announced a partnership with Moneyline to expand access to fair lending for customers outside mainstream credit. The collaboration focuses on helping non-prime borrowers secure support precisely when they need it.

Every month, large numbers of people apply for loans through Evlo but fail to meet eligibility requirements. Through this new arrangement, these applicants will be signposted to Moneyline – a socially driven lender committed to offering small, manageable loans to people facing financial exclusion.

“We know that not everyone who applies for credit with us will be eligible, but we believe in doing right by every customer,” said Asif Nadeem, Chief Transformation Officer at Evlo. 

“This partnership means that even when we can’t lend, we can still point customers toward helpful, trusted resources — like those offered by Moneyline — that may support them on their financial journey.”

For customers where credit isn’t the solution, customers will gain access to Moneyline’s MoneyToolkit — a free digital hub offering budgeting tools, gambling support, cost-saving tips, and an embedded benefits calculator that helps individuals identify unclaimed government support they may be entitled to. This toolkit is designed to empower customers to take control of their finances, improve their financial resilience, and reduce reliance on credit for essential needs.

“This partnership is about shared values,” added Shiona Crichton, CEO at Moneyline. “Evlo is acknowledging that a customers ability to afford the loan and provide a good outcome comes first and, by working with us, they’re helping customers take control of their financial journey even if it starts in a different direction.”

With rising costs of living and ongoing barriers to mainstream credit, non-prime and underserved households often turn to unregulated or harmful lending alternatives. By working together, Evlo and Moneyline aim to offer a safer, supported route, ensuring that people don’t fall through the cracks simply because of where they are on the credit spectrum.

Together, Evlo and Moneyline are demonstrating how collaboration between commercial and social lenders can improve access to credit, protect vulnerable consumers, and promote financial inclusion at scale.

UK Firms Better at Avoiding Online Scams but Still Vulnerable, Warns Temi UK

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According to a newly released report, UK businesses are becoming more adept at detecting and evading online scams, yet considerable shortcomings in cyber resilience persist.

Temi Odurinde, of Temi UK, an ICT specialist working extensively with sole traders and smaller companies, observes that understanding of phishing and other cyber risks has significantly improved over the past few years. Still, he cautions that without ongoing education and greater cyber security investment, a large number of organisations will remain exposed to threats.

Mr Odurinde, who advises clients on information security and a range of ICT solutions, has published a detailed analysis on his website outlining practical steps smaller enterprises can take to protect themselves. The article, Cost of Data Breach Report 2025, draws heavily on the IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report 2025, supported by insights from the UK Government’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025.

In the report, Mr Odurinde highlights that while more businesses are recognising suspicious emails and messages, sophisticated scams and targeted phishing attacks are on the rise. 

“Cyber criminals are constantly evolving their tactics,” he said. “A scam email today may be highly personalised, grammatically perfect, and appear to come from a trusted source. This makes it harder for even tech-savvy users to spot without proper training.”

The report also notes that many small businesses still underestimate the financial and reputational impact of a successful cyber attack. Industry data shows that the average cost of a data breach in the UK is now estimated at over £1 million for larger firms, with smaller businesses facing losses that can threaten their survival.

Mr Odurinde warns that complacency is the enemy of cyber safety. “The fact that more businesses are spotting scams is encouraging, but this shouldn’t lead to overconfidence. Cyber resilience is not a one-off project, it’s an ongoing process that requires regular training, system updates, and a culture of security awareness.”

The report provides actionable guidance, from implementing multi-factor authentication and secure password practices to running phishing simulation exercises. It also stresses the importance of creating an incident response plan so that, if an attack does occur, businesses can react quickly and limit the damage.

Mr Odurinde hopes his latest work will help more UK businesses stay ahead of the latest cyber threats. “I want small businesses to understand that cyber security isn’t just an IT issue, it’s a business survival issue,” he added.

The full report is available at: Cost of Data Breach Report 2025