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The Employee Ownership Association (EOA) has marked this year’s EO Day by releasing its latest update on the state of the sector. Produced in collaboration with the White Rose Centre for Employee Ownership (WREOC), the EOA’s figures show that there were 332 businesses that transitioned to employee ownership in the 2022 calendar year alone, and that as of June 2023 the total number of companies owned partially or fully by their employees has reached 1,418. This means another record year for growth of the sector, following a boom in recent years. To mark EO Day, where the employee owned community looks to celebrate and raise awareness of the impact of EO, the EOA has also released its annual list of the Top 50 largest employee owned businesses in the UK, produced in collaboration with RM2 Partnership. The John Lewis Partnership and Arup Group top the list, with several new businesses also joining the Top 50 this year, including EOA member Kingsland Drinks Group. Recent years have seen a continued boom for the EO sector. Between 2020 to 2022, the sector more than doubled in size to over 1,000 EO businesses. Growing awareness of employee ownership through high-profile transitions in recent years, such as those of retailer Richer Sounds and makers of Wallace and Gromit Aardman Animations, are partially credited with the rise. It’s thought that the increasing number of business owners reaching retirement age, coupled by deeper consideration of succession brought about by the pandemic, has also fueled interest in the model. James de le Vingne, CEO of the EOA, said: “Employee ownership has incredible power to unlock the potential of UK business. As the sector continues to grow, we want to highlight that EO produces results for businesses, employees, the economy and the planet. That’s why this year’s EO Day theme is #TheEOeffect – celebrating this fantastic impact is at the heart of our celebrations.” Riverford Organic Farmers, an EOA member whose founder Guy Singh-Watson recently sold his remaining shares to convert the company to 100% employee ownership, is featured in the Top 50 list. Charlotte Tickle, Director of People, Finance and Change at Riverford, said: “It’s great to see the continued growth of EO across the UK. Employee ownership is now central to Riverford’s culture, and ensures we stay true to our purpose and values. We’ve seen first-hand how it can support our business to be more resilient and profitable, whilst giving genuine power to those who have invested in our long-term success, allowing co-owners to be more happy, engaged, and productive by having a real stake and a say in the business.” This year’s EO Day campaign is sponsored by boutique legal practice Postlethwaite Solicitors, which specialises in advising companies on becoming employee owned. Robert Postlethwaite, founder and Managing Director of the firm, commented: “We’re delighted to have sponsored this year’s EO Day campaign. The latest figures on the growth of the EO sector powerfully illustrate the growing recognition of the positive effect EO can have on businesses, its people and our wider society. We strongly believe in the fantastic impact that employee ownership can have, which is why we ourselves transitioned to 100% employee ownership earlier this year.” CleanTEC, a cleaning services company featured in the EO Top 50 and employing more than 1,500 people, is an exemplar of this effect. “CleanTEC are proud to have become Employee Owned in 2021,” commented Ingrid Cherry, Sales & Marketing Manager at their Watford-based Head office, said. “Our EO allows us to give employees a real stake in how the company is run, making them happier and more engaged in knowing they are partners in delivering the company’s future success. EO can be transformational for workers in traditionally low-paid sectors such as cleaning, so we’re excited to see the continued growth of EO in years to come.”

Yorkshire-based retail and play destination, Tong Garden Centre has joined forces with Yorkshire Muddings forest school to offer children and their adults a brand new unique outdoor play session hidden in a secret woodland area on site. The venture at Grass Hoppers hopes to welcome an additional 2,500 children through the woodland doors in its first year. Founded in 2021, Yorkshire Muddings which is now open to the public, includes activities like mud kitchens, nature crafts, bug hunting, climbing, large loose parts play to ignite children’s imaginations, hammock swinging and every session ends with a story and a toasted marshmallow on the campfire. Also operating from a private woodland in Grange Moor, on the Wakefield/Huddersfield border, Yorkshire Muddings provides fully outdoor forest school and woodland play sessions predominantly for pre-school children. Since launching in November 2021, Yorkshire Muddings has gone from strength to strength and in its first 12 months has tripled its work force - including a new Director, and another Forest School Leader to run its second site at Tong Garden Centre. Matt Lowrey, Manager at Grass Hoppers said: “We’re thrilled to be able to make use of a woodland space that was previously unloved and a bit forgotten - the vision that Yorkshire Muddings had for the land was inspiring and we’re really excited to be working with them as they continue to promote the benefits of outdoor play." “We’re always looking for new ways to encourage families to get outside and to build on the success of our own play offering - Yorkshire Muddings has built a strong brand based on celebrating the joy of play and we know this partnership will be a great addition.” Owner and founder Victoria says: “Yorkshire Muddings has been really well received since the very first session, the aim was always to open multiple sites so that we’re able to encourage and nurture a love of outdoor play in a natural environment to as many children as possible - the positive feedback we’ve had about our play provision has been truly overwhelming." “This sort of play is what children are born to do; they are masters of our slow paced, investigative and explorative play in a natural setting. The woodland that we have given new life to at Grasshoppers is so beautiful - a huge chestnut tree provides beautiful dappled shade and is the perfect spot for playing in the mud kitchen.” Susannah Holroyd, Director and co-owner adds: “We’re so proud to have a site at Tong Garden Centre and within the already excellent Grasshoppers - creating a love of the great outdoors starts by giving children the chance to enjoy nature in its purest form, allowing them to play and create happy memories will foster a lifelong love and respect for the world we live in.” Sessions run at Grasshoppers on Wednesdays and Fridays, and at the Grange Moor woodland on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Suitable for confidently walking children up to age 7 within term time and children up to age 11 in school holidays.

Extreme weather events such as wildfires and droughts will accelerate change in stressed systems leading to quicker tipping points of ecological decline, according to a new study. Using computer modelling, the UK research team, which includes scientists from the University of Sheffield, looked at four ecosystems under threat to work out what factors might lead to tipping points, beyond which collapse was inevitable. In some systems, the combination of adding new extreme events on top of other ongoing stresses brought the timing of a predicted tipping point closer to the present by as much as 80 per cent. Ultimately, say the authors, a 'perfect storm' of continuous stress from factors such as unsustainable land use, agricultural expansion and climate change, when coupled with disruptive episodes like floods and fires, will act in concert to rapidly imperil natural systems. The team looked at two lake ecosystems and two forestry examples, including the historic collapse of the Easter Island (Rapa Nui) civilisation, widely thought to have been the result of over-population combined with unsustainable exploitation of tree cover. The models were run over 70,000 times for each ecosystem, with variables adjusted on each occasion. Up to 15 per cent of collapses occurred as a result of new stresses or extreme events, even while the main stress was kept constant. In other words, even if ecosystems are managed more sustainably by keeping the main stress levels like deforestation constant, new stresses like global warming and extreme weather events could still bring forward a collapse. “All four of the ecological systems we looked at showed the same overall outcomes,” said co-author Dr Gregory Cooper from the University of Sheffield’s Institute for Sustainable Food. “This has potentially profound implications for our perception of future ecological risks. While it is not currently possible to predict how climate-induced tipping points and the effects of local human actions on ecosystems will connect, our findings show the potential for each to reinforce the other. Any increasing pressure on ecosystems will be exceedingly detrimental and could have dangerous consequences.” The number of extreme climate events has increased since 1980 and global warming even at 1.5°C will increase those numbers further. Scientists are also concerned about possible knock-on effects as one collapsing ecosystem impacts on neighbouring ecosystems. “Over a fifth of ecosystems worldwide are in danger of collapsing,” said Professor Simon Willcock from Rothamsted and Bangor University, who co-led the study published in Nature Sustainability. “However, ongoing stresses and extreme events interact to accelerate rapid changes that may well be out of our control. Once these reach a tipping point, it’s too late.” He added: “In the past two years, the world has come together around the climate and ecological crises through the UN Climate Change and Biodiversity Conferences. But we should remember that the causes of the crises are interlinked – that they have already collided - and that inaction over both may result in dire consequences.” An example is the UN’s International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimate for a tipping point in the Amazon Forest prior to 2100. The new study suggests a breakdown may occur several decades earlier than predicted by the IPCC. For example, it is well known that the Amazon Forest is threatened by deforestation. However, it is easy to imagine how global warming and extreme climate events such as droughts and wildfires add to this stress. This may decrease the Amazon’s ability to generate its own rainfall, making it drier and more vulnerable – resulting in the ecosystem spiralling down in a doom-loop. “Previous studies of ecological tipping points suggest significant social and economic costs from the second half of the 21st century onwards. Our findings suggest the potential for these costs to occur much sooner,” added co-author Professor John Dearing, Emeritus Professor at the University of Southampton.

This year’s Agria Derby Trial saw two riders share top prize, in a repeat of what happened on this day at last year’s Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting. Twelve months ago it had been William Funnell (Billy Diamo) and Harriet Biddick (A Touch Imperious) who had shared the honours, while this year it was Britain’s Robert Whitaker and Brazil’s Carlos Ribas who opted not to jump-off against the clock but instead save their horses for Sunday’s Al Shira’aa Derby. Drawn 16th to go, Robert was the first of the 33 starters to produce a clear round, riding the 14-year-old gelding Evert. As the remaining riders followed him into the International Arena, it seemed no one was going to match Robert’s clear until Carlos, the very last rider to go, netted a faultless round with last year’s British Speed Derby runner-up Trix. Whitaker was quite happy to share the honours with Ribas. “My dad [John Whitaker] bred Trix, and Carlos bought him off us last year, so if it was anyone else, I wouldn’t be so happy!” he joked afterwards. The Agria Derby Trial is similar to Sunday’s grand finale in that it’s longer than the usual showjumping course, with more jumping efforts – plus it includes some of Hickstead’s iconic permanent fences such as the less steep side of the Derby Bank. But none of these fences cause Robert’s ride Evert any concern. “He just gets a bit hot, so if you can keep him quiet, then he jumps very well. I'm not worried about any of the higher fences, I’m just trying to keep him relaxed and try and get him in a good spot in front of the fence, and he'll do the work.” Carlos’s ride Trix would have been a formidable opponent had they jumped off against the clock, having proved himself super speedy in last year’s Speed Derby. The nine-year-old gelding has now stepped up to jumping the bigger tracks, and he marked himself as a serious Derby horse when winning one of the Hamburg Derby qualifiers last month. Having finished runner-up in both the Derby and the Speed Derby last year, Carlos was delighted to take the top spot in the Trial. “It’s such a good feeling. He knows this ring, and he loves it here – he’s already been around here as a seven-year-old, and last year, so he feels at home. He was awesome today. I rode the horse for the Whitakers for half a season, and I liked him so much that I ended up buying him myself – so thanks, Rob, for the good job! He has a lot of ingredients of a big jumper: he has a lot of scope, he’s careful, and he has a very big heart. He can be quite strong to ride sometimes because he wants to do so well, but we get on really well and I have a lot of fun on him.” Both riders are now in with a good chance of lifting Sunday’s Al Shira’aa Derby. If Robert wins, he would become the fourth member of his famous family to win the Boomerang Trophy, while Carlos would become the second Brazilian to win after the legendary Nelson Pessoa, who won in 1963, 1965 and 1996. “The Derby is a class that I have a lot of respect for,” said Carlos. “I want to be positive and confident, but I also don't want to overwhelm myself expecting too much, because you never know – the luck has to be on your side. But I'm prepared; I'm fit; my horses are fit. I’ve done everything that I can, so I'm going to try to enjoy Sunday afternoon here.” In the Agria Derby Two Phase, the 2019 Al Shira'aa Derby winner Mikey Pender took the top spot riding HHS Fortune. The pair finished less than 1sec quicker than Graham Gillespie and Veneno. “I'm just very lucky that my horse is so fast, and so when I do my job half decent, normally I'm there or thereabouts as she's so fast. I'm very lucky to have the ride on her.” The pair are formidable against the clock, and last year at Dublin Horse Show she was placed in several speed classes and won the Speed Derby. "She's just an amazing horse; she's such a fighter and she always tries her best," added Mikey, who is now aiming to win Hickstead's Speed Derby for the first time. Photo credit to Elli Birch/Boots and Hooves Photography.

Twenty-one year old Ella Dalton won the British Speed Derby at Hickstead, riding Quality Rubies N Diamonds. It was Kent-based Ella’s first ever attempt at the 1.45m world-ranking speed class, which features many of Hickstead’s unique obstacles. Drawn 11th to go out of the 26 starters, she set off in determined fashion, especially after an early fence down put pressure on. But even with the 4sec time penalty, she still finished in a time of 101.72sec to take the win. “I wasn't happy fence two came down, but I just thought, keep going really fast – it doesn’t matter,” said Ella. “It was quite incredible, and quite shocking that I managed to win!” The young rider has grown up competing in working hunter classes as well as eventing up to three-star level, which meant Hickstead’s permanent fences didn’t cause her much concern. So what did she make of her first trip round the course? “I was definitely just trying to enjoy it, but the bank’s actually quite high up, so I was quite scared about that! But when you’re on a horse that’s bold and brave, you get the confidence from that.” British riders filled the top four places, with second placed William Rekert (Concert Z) and third placed Jay Halim (Zuniek VD Tojopehoeve) each having a fence down apiece to finish on 104.79sec and 106.21sec respectively. William marked himself as one to watch for next year’s class, as Concert Z is a brand new ride. “We only picked him up last week, and this is literally the fourth time I’ve sat on him, so I’m very pleased!” he said. Ryan Lockwood (Hyperion VP Wisbecq) was third, and the 2019 Al Shira’aa Derby winner Michael Pender was the best of the Irish riders in fifth place, riding HHS Fortune. It was a class filled with thrills and spills – especially right at the end of the class. Three-time winner Harriet Biddick was looking like collecting another victory with the fantastic campaigner Silver Lift when her bridle broke over the Irish Bank three fences from home. The grey 18-year-old gamely carried on through the tricky treble of Hickstead planks despite Harriet having no bridle at all, but they were unable to jump the final fence and retired. Third place Jay Halim took a tumble early on course with second ride Gentle. “I actually thought he would be the one for the win, and it’s gone the other way,” he explained. “The mare is a new horse to me and I’ve only had her a few months. She was amazing, and I’m really pleased with this for her first attempt.” A total of 48 partnerships came forward for the £24,400 Agria Hickstead Master’s Trophy this afternoon, and just eight of those would nab an elusive clear round and qualify for the jump-off. For a significant chunk of the class, it looked as though the old adage, where there’s a will, there’s a way, might come true: William Whitaker, William Funnell, and Will Edwards each delivered the goods to sit at the business end of the leaderboard, with two of those – Whitaker and Edwards – logging the exact same jump-off speed, 46.21 seconds. But you can never discount the Irish at Hickstead, and two of them came in to break up the run of Wills. The first of those was Shane Breen, who snuck in with Scarteen behind then-leader William Funnell – and then it was the turn of Dermott Lennon. Riding Bronte Stables Ltd and Harry Marshall’s Millview Cicero, Dermott cantered into the ring fully aware of the standard the three Wills had set. “I knew the boys were quick, and it was very close, so there was no room for error,” said Dermott, who threw down an extraordinarily quick jump-off time of 42.75 to win by more than three seconds. “We like to try to beat the English on home ground! My horse was jumping super, and so it was easier to go fast – and for once, the jumps came to me in the right place.” Now the Irishman is looking ahead to a bright future with the nine-year-old, who he bought as a five-year-old from breeder Harry Marshall in Northern Ireland. “I’ve always believed he can do the very biggest stuff, and he’s doing some lovely things along the way to that. He’s jumped every day here and he’s gotten better every day, so I’m delighted with him. He makes me look better! The horse has a very easy scope, and he’s careful, so you can really ride him at the jumps. He’s brave, too – sometimes, the horses come to these big arenas for the first time and with so much going on, they can be a little bit intimidated, but he’s gone right in and taken it all on.” Photo credit Elli Birch/Boots and Hooves Photography.

Businesses could lose the battle for talent due to automation, warns leading workforce solutions provider, Reed Talent Solutions, with research showing that Gen Zs1 are more likely to prefer human interaction in the recruitment process. A survey of 1000 people who had secured a new job, with a new company, in the last 12 months, conducted by Reed Talent Solutions, found that the majority of Gen Zs (77%) felt frustrated with not being able to speak to someone directly during the recruitment process. In comparison, only 64% of Gen X and Boomers felt the same. On top of this, the research also found that Gen Zs were much more likely to pull out from the recruitment process, with six in ten (60%) withdrawing an application early – with the most common reasons being the process was too slow (45%) and they would rather deal with a real person opposed to automation (37%). In comparison, less than a half (46%) of the Gen X and Boomer generation have withdrawn their application early, with the top reasons being the process was too slow (51%) and that they weren’t fully aware of the job description and salary (31%); only 16% of this generation withdrew due to automation. “Businesses need to reconsider how they use automation throughout their recruitment processes to attract the next generation of talent. We all assume the younger generation prefers technology and its convenience – but in reality, the human element is so important,” says Julie Hinchcliffe, Managing Director of Contingent Workforce Solutions at Reed Talent Solutions. On top of this, when asked if they would prefer more or less automation during the recruitment process, less than a third of Gen Z (31%) and Gen X (24%) candidates wanted more automated processes, in comparison to nearly half (47%) of Boomers. Julie continues: “Automation can help some recruitment processes, making it faster and easier for both the candidate and the employer. If done well, you won’t lose talent by implementing automation, but what is key, is ensuring the time it takes between encountering automation and hearing back from a person is kept to a minimum. The longer you leave it, the more disengaged the candidate will be. “Those hiring also need to make sure candidates are given all the information they may desire throughout the process – from salary to the working environment – as without speaking to someone, if the information is not there, they are likely to be frustrated." “In a market where attracting talent is more of a competitive sport than a walk in the park, businesses need to regularly assess and evaluate their recruitment processes to ensure they’re as inclusive as possible.” When asked about the effectiveness of chatbots, Gen X and Boomers were the least impressed. Nearly half of Gen Zs (43%) stated chatbots were helpful, whereas only a quarter (25%) of the older generations agreed. The survey also found that different generations of workers preferred automation at different stages of the recruitment process. The Boomer generation were much more likely to prefer chatbots when trying to book an interview (51%), whereas only 29% of Gen Zs agreed. The research also found some key trends that were quite consistent for all generations. For example, the majority of people would prefer to be told they have secured an interview for their job from someone directly, as opposed to via an automated response. The top reason for this was due to it being more personal and engaging, and because a real person can provide clarification and additional information. “The survey brings some interesting differences to light that HR teams ought to consider. We found that Gen Z candidates are much more likely to want more human interaction during the interview stage, whereas Boomers prefer human assistance during the booking of interviews and tests, and during the reference and vetting process,” continues Julie. “Knowing when to implement human interaction or chatbot assistance, can really change the recruitment experience for potential candidates. If candidates leave you feeling heard, valued and respected for their time in the application process, they are much more likely to want to accept a job offer, or even try for another job with you in the future if unsuccessful.”

Six talented Harlequins will link up with the senior men’s squad this summer, Josh Bellamy (fly-half), Conor Byrne (fullback), Tom Humphreys (wing), Sean Kerr (centre), Franklin McMillan (centre) and Lucas Schmid (back-row). Head of Academy Chim Gale said: "We're delighted to welcome the next generation of Harlequins into our Academy and senior training environment. All six players are excellent young athletes, who are hugely talented and have been standout performers for their schools, clubs, and International teams." "We have seen an outstanding trend of Quins Academy graduates take their opportunities with both hands over the last few seasons, with the likes of Marcus Smith, Cadan Murley, Jack Kenningham and Louis Lynagh establishing themselves as regular performers in the Gallagher Premiership. I have no doubt these homegrown success stories will serve as huge inspiration to our latest group of Academy players, and we're excited to watch how they develop and grow over the next 12 months." "Finally, we must mention the huge contribution and support these players have had from their families, schools and clubs on their rugby journey to date. The six players would not be in this exciting position without their excellent guidance and support.” 2023/24 Academy Intake: Josh Bellamy Position: Fly-half School: Trinity School Club: Rosslyn Park Honours: England U19 Conor Byrne Position: Fullback School: Trinity School Club: Wimbledon Honours: England U18 Tom Humphreys Position: Wing School: RGS Guildford Club: Farnham Honours: England U19 Sean Kerr Position: Centre School: Whitgift School Club: Sutton & Epsom Honours: England U19 Franklin McMillan Position: Centre School: BHASVIC Club: Haywards Heath Honours: England U18 Lucas Schmid Position: Back-row School: Epsom College Club: Effingham & Leatherhead Honours: England U18

Leading UK plant nursery, Johnsons of Whixley, has provided £130k worth of plants for two luxury holiday park developments by Darwin Escapes, including a new self-catering retreat due to open on the Blenheim Palace Estate this summer. The Yorkshire-based horticultural business has been chosen as the primary supplier of plants for the project, which will see a collection of one, two and three-bedroom lodges constructed in the grounds of the historic Blenheim Palace Estate. The retreat will be the first venue of its kind on the grounds of a historic British palace. With a supply worth £100,000, Johnsons of Whixley has provided a diverse range of plants to enhance the outdoor areas of the Lodge Retreat, which is a blend of contemporary and traditional design in keeping with the Palace and its grounds. From Lavender, Euonymus and Hebe shrubs to vibrant Perennial plants including Rudbeckia, Geraniums, Iris and Salvia, the selection encompasses a rich variety of species, each carefully chosen to create a harmonious and captivating ambience. In addition to the Blenheim Palace project, Johnsons of Whixley is proud to have received a further order to supply the grounds of Plas Isaf Lodge Retreat, in North Wales, another recent project by Darwin Escapes, which opened its doors earlier this year. To date, the nursery has delivered plants worth £30,000 to Plas Isaf Lodge Retreat, encompassing a diverse range of species. The supplied plants include an assortment of hedging varieties, such as Acer campestre, Crataegus monogyna, Ilex aquifolium, Ligustrum vulgare, Pyracantha 'Red Column,' Prunus rotundifolia, Sambucus nigra, and Viburnum opulus. Johnsons of Whixley has a long-standing relationship with Darwin Escapes and has previously supplied plants for several of its notable projects, including Sandymouth, Woodside Beach, Keswick Reach Lodge Retreat, Canterbury Fields, Stratford Armouries, Norfolk Woods, and The Springs. Johnsons of Whixley marketing manager, Eleanor Richardson, said: “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Darwin Escapes and to have the opportunity to supply both Blenheim Palace Lodge Retreat and Plas Isaf Lodge Retreat." “Our team is dedicated to sourcing and supplying the finest quality plants, tailored to the unique requirements of each project to enhance the natural beauty and appeal of the landscape.” Lindsey Esse, Managing Director of Darwin Escapes added: "Johnsons of Whixley have once again supplied us with a beautiful range of plants which perfectly enhance the landscape of our two newest luxury lodge retreats”.

Glasgow Warriors will host fellow BKT United Rugby Championship side Zebre Parma at Scotstoun this September, as the Scottish-Italian Shield rivals face off ahead of the 2023/24 season in The Famous Grouse Pre-Season Friendly. The match will kick-off at 6pm on Saturday 30 September, and is included in all 2023/24 Season Ticket Memberships. The club has worked to align the fixture’s kick-off time with Scotland’s clash with Romania in the 2023 Rugby World Cup on the same day (kick-off 8pm BST in Lille), allowing supporters to cheer on their favourite Warriors in both matches. With several of Glasgow’s international contingent likely to be involved for their respective countries at this year’s Rugby World Cup, the fixture could potentially offer the Warrior Nation a chance to see the stars of the future in action for Franco Smith’s men. Last season’s clash with the Ayrshire Bulls in Inverness provided supporters with a first chance to see young talents including Alex Samuel and Euan Ferrie in Glasgow colours, alongside new arrivals such as Sione Vailanu and JP du Preez – each of whom went on to play key roles in the 2022/23 campaign. Packed with international quality of their own, however, the men from Parma will bring an attacking mindset to Scotstoun, with Italian back-rower Jake Polledri headlining the summer recruitment of a squad that also includes exciting young stars such as Simone Gesi and Alessandro Fusco. Full ticketing information for the match, as well as any potential broadcast information, will be confirmed in due course. Supporters can renew Season Tickets until 10am on Tuesday, with Warrior Nation Memberships also on sale.

Level 3 Business students at their afternoon tea fundraiser for Dogs Trust Selby College Business students have raised more than £650 for local and national dog charities through a number of community fundraising events. As part of their final assignment, Level 3 Business students were tasked with organising and hosting their own event. This saw a group of students hold a sold-out afternoon tea event at Selby Garden Centre, which also included a quiz and raffle to raise money for the Dog’s Trust – the UK's largest Dog Welfare Charity. The students arranged for prizes to be donated by local businesses including Boots, Morrisons and Tesco, as well as for the winner of the quiz to receive a portrait of their pet by local artist, Daniel Read. More than £480 was raised for the Dog’s Trust through ticket admission sales, raffle tickets and Just Giving page donations. Students also hosted a games night at St Wilfrid’s Church Hall, in Brayton, which raised more than £170 for the Hull Greyhound Rescue Centre via ticket admissions and a raffle. Hull Greyhound Rescue is an independent rescue charity run by volunteers and greyhound owners and relies on the generosity and kindness of supporters who also have a passion for greyhounds. Heidi Wilson, Business Lecturer at Selby College, said: “From booking the venue, to arranging catering, to promoting the events, the students were extremely enthusiastic and organised when planning and executing their events. The project has provided the students with invaluable experience in events planning, which I hope they will take with them as they continue their studies in Business and embark on a career in the industry. All the events were well received by the local community and raised a significant amount of money for local and national dog charities –they should be extremely proud of themselves.” At the College, students held a murder mystery themed experience where clues were displayed around the room and guests were encouraged to mingle with the suspects in the room to find out who was the murderer. The winners were then presented with an Amazon gift card. Another group of students planned and executed a sports activity event for Year 6 Pupils at Marshlands Primary School, in Goole. 35 children took part in a range of activities, including parachuting, cricket, hockey, hurdles, archery and Connect 4. At the end of the session, all children were presented with a certificate of participation, a medal and some sweets. Marshland Primary School Pupil’s after being presented with their medals James Wrafter, Deputy Headteacher at Marshlands Primary School, said: “I would like to say a huge thank you to the College and the business students who arranged and ran the sports event. All the children had a fantastic afternoon and were engaged and enthused throughout - which is not an easy task!” The Level 3 Business programme enables learners to develop practical and theoretical skills in Business, including managing an event, developing a marketing campaign, business-decision making and personal and business finance. Selby College offers Business courses from Level 2 right up to Level 6, meaning learners can gain a full degree at the College.

British adventurer and motivational speaker, Mark Agnew, is attempting a record-breaking Arctic voyage to kayak the 2000-mile Northwest Passage, an expedition that comes after a prolonged mental health crisis. On July 1, Mark and a team of three others will set off from Bylot Island, Nunavut, Canada, and hope to finish 90 days later at Tuktoyaktuk, an Inuit hamlet in Canada, as they follow the historic Arctic route that links the Atlantic and the Pacific. This will be the first time the entire route has ever been kayaked. It will also be the first time it is completed with just human power alone - no motors or sails - in any type of craft in a single summer. Mark, who is from Edinburgh and lives in London, has been preparing for his expedition by kayaking on the Thames with the Putney Bridge Canoe Club and training with polar region expedition paddler, Jeff Allen, who has been helping him to build his stamina and hone his kayaking skills at sea. Yoga is also an important aspect of Mark’s training and helps him prevent injuries. Mark attempted to set the world record for rowing across the Atlantic twice, but didn’t successfully cross the ocean, let alone set a world record. After two failed attempts to row across the Atlantic, Mark suffered a mental health spiral, with the devastation of failure making him feel worthless and unmotivated. After 12 months of feeling wretched, Mark researched resilience and realised that it can be trained and learned, so he began to set himself challenges and gradually his mindset began to change. Mark explained, “After failing to row the Atlantic twice, I felt utterly worthless. I was overcome with feelings of humiliation and failure. It began to seep into every aspect of my life, and I became lethargic. I wasn’t clinically depressed but the feeling of being pathetic became overwhelming. Eventually, I decided I needed to drag myself out of my hole by going on adventures again. I realised I had to focus on the experience and not the outcome." "I began to focus on camaraderie, discovery of beautiful landscapes and being at one with nature and not just on the aspect of winning or of gaining the world record. That said, I’m still motivated by the world first. In the Northwest Passage, pushing ourselves as a team for the common goal of the world first is important to facilitate our camaraderie and experience. These intrinsic goals are far more fulfilling than focusing on a single outcome.” Mark hopes to raise over £25,000 for Wilderness Foundation UK, a charity offering education and therapy programmes for young people and adults to help them reconnect to society and to themselves through outdoor facilitation adventures, therapy and mentoring. Mark said, “Getting out into nature and exercising was fundamental to re-finding my self-worth. I’ve been lucky my whole life to be able to get into nature. Wilderness Foundation UK helps countless people, particularly people from backgrounds that might not typically have easy access to the outdoors, re-connect to nature and feel empowered through their experience.” The route Mark and his team will follow is the same route sought by the British Arctic exploration voyage led by Sir John Franklin in 1845 aboard two ships, the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror. The expedition met with disaster as both ships became icebound and the crew of 129 men was lost. Mark’s team may even pass directly over the wreck of HMS Terror. Now, 178 years later, the Arctic’s ice conditions have changed with the region at the forefront of global warming, making this world first only possible as the sea ice melts and disappears. Mark continued, “This is really the ‘voyage that shouldn’t happen’. One hundred years ago the Northwest Passage would have been frozen almost all year-round, but now we are going to be able to kayak the 2000 miles in a single season. A rather devastating example of how much climate change has affected the planet.” Mark will be joined on the expedition by three Americans - expedition leader West Hansen, Jeff Wueste and Eileen Visser. The team will each consume between 4,000 to 6,000 calories per day and re-supply halfway in Cambridge Bay. Each night they will camp on shore. They will set up a tripwire to let off a bang if they are approached by polar bears as they sleep. Wilderness Foundation UK’s CEO Jo Roberts, said, “Wilderness Foundation UK has a history of patrons who have been iconic explorers and adventurers. Mark is no different to them in the challenges and hardships they endured and survived. His passion to challenge himself and the ocean links him to the greats of this world. By taking on the Northwest Passage, paddling into an unknown both within himself and the environment, he will be inspiring others to face their fears and embrace their inner strengths." “As a charity we work with children, teens and adults whose fears hold them back from trying, failing and succeeding - and they get stuck. Mark will be setting them an example of what it looks like to give life ‘a go’ and we will be following his paddle strokes and courage as he braves one of the most challenging and magnificent passages. Please follow and support him on his journey as he supports others who will undoubtedly take inspiration from his spirit of adventure.” The expedition can be followed online and with updates on social media and @adventureagnew on Twitter and Instagram. To donate to Mark’s cause for Wilderness Foundation UK please visit the fundraising page here

It is considered to one of the most decisive battles of its age which changed the course of world history. Very quickly after the Battle of Waterloo, the site became a destination not just for tourists, but leading artists and writers including Sir Walter Scott and Lord Bryon. Now over 200 years after the 1815 battle, an account by Thomas Ker, a Scottish merchant living in Brussels at the time, is being published for the first time in honour of his wishes to see his account go into print. In findings published today – 208 years after the historic conflict – in the peer-reviewed Journal of Conflict Archaeology, Professor Tony Pollard Professor of Conflict History and Archaeology at the University of Glasgow’s Centre for War Studies and Conflict Archaeology, says Ker was among the very earliest civilian visitors on the battlefield to have written about his experiences. Indeed, he was so profoundly affected by what he saw that the Scot visited the Battle of Waterloo a total of 18 times over the course of a few years. The Ker collection, made up of a series of letters and a hand-written book, was donated by his family in 2018 to the University of Glasgow and is now held in Archives and Special Collections. Professor Pollard says the Ker collection provides a valuable addition to the already rich body of work devoted to the aftermath of Waterloo. The research by Professor Pollard, who is also academic lead and a field director with the archaeological charity Waterloo Uncovered, considers the “context of previously unpublished papers, and in doing so sheds a fresh light on aspects of these early writings, including their relationship to the battlefield guidebook, which today is almost a sub-genre of military history." In the Journal of Conflict Archaeology, Professor Pollard writes that Ker’s letter and book ensure that “Ker writes himself into history, not by being a very early visitor to the battlefield, for there were others, but quite literally in putting pen to paper to record the experience." “The present author has read nothing as powerful in other visitor accounts, and it proposed here that this vivid description of the dead and dying marks his experience out as very different to that recorded by those who came after him…Most of the earliest civilian accounts to enjoy publication described visits to the battlefield which took place three weeks to a month after the battle. By this time the wounded had been removed and the dead disposed of.” Indeed Ker was there so soon after the battle, that he claims in his book to have had several men die in his arms. Ker writes movingly of the tragedy of war: “Arrived at Mont St John, or rather La Haye Sainte which is about two miles to the south of Waterloo (the village), this opened towards the field of tragedy, and which I cannot but faintly attempt to give reader a description of the scene of slaughter which the fields presented, or what any person possessed of the least spark of humanity must have felt, while he viewed the dreadful situation. No one who has not seen it can imagine how touching it was to see the dying, the wounded, and the dead, of the thousands around you, and all that were able to articulate calling for water to drink, and but little or none to be had for them. Allies and French were dying by the side of each other. The cries of all now demanded the compassion of the bystander without exception.” Ker’s narrative also includes descriptions of the battlefield, the clearance of battle debris, and the disposal of the dead. Professor Pollard says that from the writings he believes that “he (Ker) was on the field the day after the battle” making “him the earliest visitor known to have recorded their experiences by putting pen to paper”. Between 19 June, 1815 and 7 February, 1817 Ker made 18 visits to the battlefield. Professor Pollard says it is fitting on the anniversary of the battle that finally 208 years later, that Ker’s work is finally published for the public to learn more. He said: It’s obvious from Ker’s writings that being on the battlefield so soon after traumatised him. This didn’t stop him visiting the battlefield again and again though, he reckons 18 times, and this makes him by far the most regular visitor to have written about their experiences – most of the other, better known and published writings were based on single visits. As time passed, the battlefield healed, with the wounded removed, the dead buried or burned, and the debris collected up, and seeing this process advance might have helped him get over his trauma. His repeated exposure to the scene of his trauma is similar to what psychiatrists and others working with PTSD today call exposure therapy. I work with Waterloo Uncovered, which engages military veterans, some of whom have been traumatised by warfare, in the archaeological investigation of the battlefield, and despite its bloody history it is good to see the place can still have a beneficial impact on mental health and well-being.” Other accounts are also collated and discussed in Professor Pollard’s research, including those from Sir Walter Scott, who visited the field of Waterloo in August 1815, two months after the battle. James Simpson, a lawyer from Edinburgh and an acquaintance of Sir Walter Scott, was another visitor. Charlotte Eaton, one of the earliest published visitors to the battlefield, and Newman Smith, who wrote about his day trip to the battlefield on 22 June. The first visitors describe the whole field as being covered with soldier’s caps, shoes, gloves, belts, and scabbards, as well as books, and sentimental love-letters. These mementos, souvenirs, and trophies were collected by locals and then sold to visitors for a price. In fact British visitors regarded taking relics as an almost patriotic act, while locals who did so were depicted as ‘plunderers’. As far as trophies were concerned, the most sought after was the cuirass – a French piece of armour consisting of breastplate and backplate fastened together. The dark tourism industry around Waterloo was so profitable, that the market was soon added to with fake artefacts. There were rumours in the years following Waterloo that, as the real artefacts dried up, so fakes were produced to keep the market alive. The most popular of these beliefs was that by the 1830s a factory in Liege was producing fake buttons by the thousands. As time progressed there remained a market for souvenirs among the large numbers of tourists visiting the battlefield – which by 1839, according to Henry R. Addison, a veteran of the Dragoon Guards turned battlefield guide, included between 4000 to 5000 British visitors a year. It wasn’t just the collection and sale of war relics that took place. Locals served as guides, showing visitors around the site. This provided a source of income, which made battlefield tourism a pillar of the local economy for the first half of the nineteenth century and beyond. Due to this, travel accounts and guidebooks also sprang up, giving advice on how to travel to Waterloo, where to stay and eat etc. After Waterloo, British tourists began to visit the continent in larger numbers. Belgium, then still part of the Netherlands, therefore, was a very popular destination for these new middle-class tourists, and Waterloo soon became incorporated into guidebook volumes. You can view the full article - “I have been Eighteen times since that awful day,” the Ker papers, relic collecting, and the origins of battlefield tourism at Waterloo” by Professor Tony Pollard in the Journal of Conflict Archaeology here