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Tesco’s UK CEO has thrown his weight behind a new petition calling on the Government to make violence or abuse against retail workers a standalone criminal offence. The petition which has been lodged with Parliament this week by a Tesco worker, calls for lawmakers to act and toughen up the laws protecting shop staff. It comes amid a rising tide of verbal abuse and assaults on retail workers, with Tesco reporting that violent incidents against its store workers are up by a third on this time last year and British Retail Consortium figures showing 850 incidents each day of violence and abuse towards British store staff. Tesco UK CEO Jason Tarry said: “I am fully behind the petition to make the abuse of retail workers a standalone offence. We want our colleagues to be safe at work. Creating a standalone offence not only sends a strong message to the small but violent group of people who abuse and attack shopworkers, but also makes it clear to shopworkers that as a nation we take protecting them seriously. I would encourage anyone who wants to see retail workers better protected to sign the petition, as every signature makes a difference.” The petition was started by Jenny Whyte, who works in Tesco convenience stores in the North of England. “Nobody should come to work afraid that they could be assaulted or abused for just doing their job,” she said. “Things have definitely got worse over the past few years, and some of the incidents that colleagues have had to deal with are truly shocking. The Government could show it is serious about protecting retail workers on the front line with a specific offence, and I hope this petition will encourage them to do that.” To tackle the increasing abuse of shopworkers, Tesco has brought in further measures to protect its colleagues, including body cameras that colleagues can choose to wear, and new toughened glass safety screens being fitted in more than 300 Tesco Express convenience stores and petrol station kiosks. Thousands of people across Britain have already backed the petition, and if the number of signatories passes 10,000 then the Government will have to respond to it. If it gathers 100,000 signatures it may be debated in Parliament. Find out more and sign the petition here The wording of the petition is: Make abuse or violence towards retail workers a standalone criminal offence. We are calling on the Government to make violence or abuse against retail workers a standalone criminal offence. This is necessary to send a strong signal to victims and perpetrators; to give workers the legal protection they deserve; and to tackle the scourge of abuse plaguing the retail sector. The British Retail Consortium’s crime survey found that violence and abuse against retail workers has almost doubled from more than 450 incidents per day in 2019-20 to over 850 last year. This is unacceptable. Last year, after a long-running campaign by retailers and USDAW, the UK Government made attacking shopworkers an aggravating factor in assault convictions. This was welcome but, one year on with the epidemic of violence against colleagues continuing, it is clear that we need to go further.

Marks & Spencer has announced it will be recruiting 10,000 new Customer Assistants to support in its stores over the festive period with these additional hires reflecting the retailer’s ongoing focus on delivering exceptional customer service. The number of vacancies is a more than 40 per cent increase on last year and reflects the additional investment M&S is making in colleague hours to support customers on the shop floor. A Customer Assistant at M&S is the face of the business and is responsible for delivering a great shopping experience for customers and championing and promoting products. From serving customers on the shop floor and at service points, ensuring the shelves and rails are always stocked with product to engaging with customers to understand their needs and make recommendations; a Customer Assistant role is varied and wide-ranging. Christmas colleagues also play in integral role in delivering M&S’ Christmas Food to Order service, ensuring millions of customers get their all-important festival essentials and treats on time. The new colleagues will join M&S from 19th November - with a range of start dates, variety of roles and flexible working patterns available. Colleagues will also enjoy a range of benefits, including 20 per cent colleague discount from day one. Sacha Berendji, Operations Director at M&S, said: “Our fantastic store colleagues play such a big part in delivering the magic of M&S at Christmas to our customers. And this year we’re recruiting even more colleagues to ensure there’s always someone on hand to offer support and recommendations." “The Christmas period is a busy but exciting time for M&S and no two days are the same – in fact, many colleagues started their M&S careers at Christmas and have since gone onto progress across the business. With a range of roles and flexible working patterns available, anyone who is interested in being part of something special this Christmas should visit our careers website to apply.” The Customer Service Assistant roles will span both Foods and Clothing & Home and are located all over the UK, with vacancies in every store. To apply, applicants should visit the recruitment page on the M&S website here where roles are now live and new vacancies being added all the time.

Heineken® has announced the extension of its sponsorship with the UEFA Champions League, Europe’s premier men’s club football competition, from 2024 through 2027. The extension will take the longstanding partnership to 33 years by the time the deal reaches its conclusion. The UEFA Champions League is at the forefront of football culture which the global brewer has always been a part of; from Zidane’s volley at Hampden Park to the miracle in Istanbul, the company has been included in the most iconic imagery of the beautiful game, helping to create unforgettable moments for fans. The longstanding alliance started in 1994 with the brand Amstel and moved to Heineken® in 2005. For this new extension, UEFA’s most iconic club tournament takes on a new and exciting single-league format. From the 2024/25 season, the competition will expand from 32 to 36 teams which will mean 189 matches instead of the current 125, giving the brand even more opportunities to deliver unforgettable experiences for fans. A core element of the partnership has been about bringing fans together around the world to develop meaningful experiences whilst promoting a positive message of inclusion, equality, and access for all fans. To support this drive, Heineken® activated the ‘Cheers To All Fans’ campaign across both UEFA Champions League and UEFA Women’s Champions League competitions from 2022 to 2023. The campaign highlighted inclusivity of the female fans and players through a series of stunts and activations. UEFA and the HEINEKEN company have spent the last 30 years growing the competition together beyond its European home, which has reached over 2.5 billion viewers around the world*. The strong relationship between the two brands is embodied by the fact that over 330 million fans who are aware of the sponsorship have consumed Heineken® beer in the 21-22 season. Heineken® has supported the global growth of the competition for decades through cross-market activations like the ‘UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour presented by Heineken®’ where the tour has taken the most iconic trophy in club football to over 30 countries around the world to meet fans in person. Heineken® continues to hold unique events around the world to support this growth and bring fans together - in 2023, for example, the brewer held a series of screenings showing the UEFA Champions League final in 12 cities, hosting over 20,000 supporters. As Dolf Van Den Brink, CEO at Heineken® explains, "Football and beer have a special power to bring people together and create unforgettable social moments. That’s why we are thrilled to extend our sponsorship of the UEFA Champions League until 2027 as the competition takes on an exciting new format. This change means more matches and more opportunities to bring fans together and create incredible memories for supporters around the world." Aleksander Čeferin, President of UEFA adds, "We are delighted to extend our partnership with Heineken, a company with such a well-established heritage in the world of sports. This new multi-year deal pinnacles an extraordinary relationship between two long-standing allies, lasting over a quarter of a century. Just like football and beer, our collaboration is a perfect match." The sponsorship will run alongside the brand’s sponsorship of the UEFA Women’s Champions League and UEFA Women’s EURO.

Brewers has announced the launch of their industry leading sustainability framework to support its journey to be a net zero business by 2040. As a family business trading for 120 years Brewers has always prided itself on taking a responsible approach to doing business, caring for its people and supporting the communities it operates in. To formalise this, 2023 is the year that they have set their goals, plans and actions into a sustainability framework that will inform the way they do business for the next 20 years. At the heart of the framework are 4 sustainability pledges: To decarbonise To consume less and eliminate waste To improve lives To develop the next generation To help them meet these pledges and measure progress towards them, they have established 6 primary targets: To be a net zero-carbon business by 2040. To reduce the total of our scope 1, scope 2 and transport related scope 3 emissions by 15% per annum from a 2022 base line. Through targeting a minimum volume reduction of 10% per annum, to phase out interior solvent borne decorative trim paint by 2030. To reduce, reuse, remanufacture or recycle all waste by 2030. To be an Accredited Living Wage Employer. To demonstrate a 10% annual improvement in social value through the TOMS (themes, outcomes & measures in social value) framework from a 2022 baseline. Mark Sandison, Head of Sustainability at Brewers explains more adding that "The first step has been to quantify where we currently are on our sustainability journey." "This proved to be quite challenging and we were pleased to work with our partner ‘PlanetMark’ to deep dive into the business and calculate our current carbon footprint and social value." "This has now given us a baseline upon which we can build future actions and seek continuous improvement. In the spirit of transparency, our full PlanetMark report can be viewed via our sustainability web page." "In planning our journey from this baseline, it has been vital to ensure that the whole business is involved and that we weigh three key elements – doing the right thing for the environment, doing the right thing for people and doing the right thing commercially. It’s a delicate balance but we believe the pathway we have set for the business achieves this and is, in itself, sustainable." "It has been very important to ensure that our sustainability framework is science based and fully verifiable. To ensure this we have worked with our specialist partners – PlanetMark and Resource Futures throughout the process." "Our sustainability framework is industry leading and will make a big contribution to helping to make the world a better place.” Visit their website here to find out more.

Arco , the UK’s leading safety products and services company, has announced the renewal of its long-standing relationship with FedEx, the world’s largest express transportation company. The exclusive multi-million-pound deal will ensure Arco’s commitment to deliver excellent customer service and remain at the forefront of logistics and supply chain excellence. Hull-based Arco provides a joined-up safety approach through equipment, expert knowledge, training and consultancy services. As the only safety partner to deliver a strategic end-to-end approach across the hierarchy of control, its collaboration with FedEx will continue to enhance the efficiency of its operation. Working across Arco’s operating bases including the National Distribution Centre in Hull, the Arco Clothing Centre in Preston and all other retail operations, FedEx currently processes over 7,500 parcels per day, for next day delivery. This collaboration has been a vital part of Arco’s supply chain, ensuring seamless logistics and timely deliveries to customers across the UK. The long-term close strategic relationship between Arco and FedEx first began in 2009 and has since been extended to December 2026. Throughout this relationship, FedEx has consistently demonstrated its ability to provide high-quality services, making them an ideal supplier for Arco's ongoing growth and development. Neil Griffiths, Divisional Director, Logistics and Supply Chain at Arco said: “Since we signed the original contract in 2009, FedEx has proven to be the perfect supplier for Arco." "With demonstrated excellence in reliability and customer service, we are delighted to extend this exclusive agreement through to the end of 2026. Both companies share the same values in terms of innovation and quality, and together we can build a positive future for our business and the customers we serve.” ‘’We are delighted to continue our long-standing relationship with Arco. We’ve been working closely with them to improve and optimise their supply chain to deliver outstanding customer experience whilst delighting Arco’s customers.” said Rob Peto, Vice President Ground Operations, FedEx Express.

JCB has announced it is set to build a new factory in North America which will create 1,500 new jobs over the next five years. The construction of the 720,000 sq ft (67,000m²) factory will begin early next year on a 400-acre site in San Antonio, Texas. The new facility will manufacture machines largely for customers in North America, the world’s biggest market for construction equipment. The plant will be the second JCB factory in North America, where the company began manufacturing in Savannah, Georgia, in 2001. JCB North America already employs 1,000 people. Details of the products to be manufactured at the new plant will be announced at a later date. JCB CEO Graeme Macdonald said: “North America is integral to the growth and success of JCB’s business in the future and the time is now right for JCB to expand its manufacturing presence there. Texas is a vibrant and growing economy, and the State offers great advantages in terms of a central location, as well as good highway and port access, The city of San Antonio also has a well-established skills base, which makes it a very attractive place to set up a factory.” JCB Chairman Lord Bamford said: “JCB has come a long way since selling its first machine to the US market in 1964 .This new investment is good news for our North American customers and is a fantastic platform on which JCB can build.” Richard Fox-Marrs, President & CEO of JCB North America, said: “The growth we’ve experienced in the past few years in North America has been extensive and demand for our products continues to grow. The decision to expand our manufacturing footprint will bring us even closer to our customers and will allow us to further capitalise on market opportunities in North America.” JCB has 22 factories around the world, including 11 in the UK, and others in India, Brazil, and China. The company will mark its 80th anniversary in 2025.

Winterhalter’s awards that recognise the unsung heroes of the kitchen are closing in on the climax to the tenth year of competition. Having deliberated, pondered and chewed things over, the Kitchen Porter of the Year judges have announced the top ten shortlist for the 2023 award. “This is our tenth KP of the Year award and, without doubt, it was the toughest yet in terms of judging, with outstanding entries from all over the UK,” said Stephen Kinkead, Managing Director of Winterhalter, the company behind the award. “Huge congratulations to everyone on our shortlist – you are the top ten of a very, very strong field.” The judging panel consisted of Lisa Jenkins, chief executive of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts; Matthew Marshall, executive chef, Royal Automobile Club; Paul Mattocks, executive chef, Victory Services Club; Ben Murphy, chef-patron, Launceston Place; and Stephen Kinkead. Paul commented, “What really struck me was the quality of the entries – there are so many really good KPs out there!” Lisa was similarly impressed, “The overall standard was very high,” she said. First time judge Ben underlined the importance of KPs, “So much stems from their work,” he said, and Matthew emphasised the point, saying “If a KP doesn’t turn up it’s a huge issue – they’re crucial!” Several of the judges commented on the way the work of the kitchen porter has changed over the ten years of Winterhalter’s KP of the Year award. “The entries show how involved they are in every aspect of the kitchen’s work and beyond,” said Stephen, “from running the vegetable garden to initiating sustainability programmes. There has also been a big shift in terms of how the KP is viewed – with many organisations offering clear career progressions, creating roles such as Head KP and KP Manager.” The finalists (in no particular order) are: Elisabetta Cenderello, kitchen porter, 21 Hospitality Group Trevor Cotton, kitchen porter, Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, Manchester Adrian Glass, kitchen porter, The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa, Bath Geoff Goater, kitchen porter, Rick Stein Winchester Consti Istrate, kitchen porter supervisor, Manchester Central Convention Complex Daniel Kassaye Melese, senior steward, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park London Mark Leishman, deputy chief steward, The Montague on the Gardens Hotel, London Alex Maphalala, Health Service Laboratories, BaxterStorey Micheal Neve, kitchen porter, Tallow, Tunbridge Wells Declan Quinn, kitchen porter supervisor, Gleneagles, Auchterarder The winner of the KP of the Year 2023 will be announced in the next few weeks. Their prize includes £1,000, a celebratory event with family and friends, and the prestigious KP of the Year trophy. They also win help with their work, since their establishment will receive a new Winterhalter dishwasher – which should make their life a bit easier! Two runners up receive cash prizes and everyone who has been entered will receive a celebratory KP of the Year apron in a presentation tin. For information on the KP of the Year competition visit the website here .

Hokulani Limited has acquired a stake in FA Women's National League club (3rd tier) Halifax FC Women Limited. Both sides have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. The former Brighouse Town team, which was rebranded in May 2023, is looking forward to a bright future. Director & Principal Investor, Daniel Thomas Loitz, added that "The world is looking at the development of women's football in the UK with envy at the moment. It has always been my dream to support a club in the homeland of football, having lived in the UK for ten years. My family and I have distributed donations and sponsorship to women's football in Ukraine, Finland, Romania and Germany through companies we control. Already in 2021, as a private individual, | wanted to acquire a stake in a women’s football club in the UK, and now I’ve come full circle with my investment firm." The support of Hokulani Limited aims to strengthen Halifax FC Women in the long term and integrate it into a satellite system of clubs, fulfilling its role and developing an identity. This role and identity will provide for the sporting and personal development of young talent from across Yorkshire and across the UK and Europe. In the long term, promotion to the Championship is a declared goal. Reaching for the Women Super League is an unrealistic goal that does not fit into the club's future identity. The declared goal in the next few years is to move to Halifax and build our own sports facility with a small stadium. First Team Manager, Rob Mitchell concluded that “This is an exciting and positive step forward for the club and everyone involved, our vision for the future and the environment we want to create will allow us to continue to compete whilst developing talented young players. We are delighted to be part of the Hokulani family and begin our new adventure together.”

Williams Racing is thrilled to announce a multi-year global partnership with sportswear giant PUMA from the 2024 Formula 1 season. This exciting collaboration will see PUMA come onboard as Official Partner of Williams Racing, which will see them providing official team kit and driver racewear as well as manufacturing and distributing replica apparel and accessories. As a global sports brand, PUMA has been at the forefront of athletic innovation for 75 years, and will provide a full teamwear service to Williams. With a rich history in motorsport spanning over two decades and renowned for supplying technical apparel that meets the highest FIA standards for fire protection without compromising on comfort, PUMA has consistently pushed the boundaries of innovation. Williams Racing, with an illustrious heritage that boasts an impressive 16 FIA Formula 1 World Championship titles, 114 race wins and 128 podium finishes, joins forces with PUMA to celebrate a shared passion for motorsport and a vision for the future. PUMA's partnership with Williams Racing marks a significant milestone in its ongoing journey in the world of Formula 1. Together, they aim to inspire a new generation of motorsport enthusiasts and showcase the perfect blend of performance and style. PUMA's subsidiary, stichd, will also play a pivotal fulfilment role in the partnership. stichd will leverage its global rights to design, produce, and distribute a range of Williams Racing replica apparel and accessories for fans of all ages. With the support of both PUMA and stichd, Williams Racing replica team kit, special edition team apparel and other Williams inspired items will be distributed trackside at races as well as within selected PUMA stores worldwide, further amplifying the global appeal and reach of the Williams Racing brand. Johan Adamsson, Global Director Sports Marketing & Sports Licensing, PUMA explains: “We are excited to start this new collaboration which is a perfect fit for PUMA with Williams Racing long-lasting and successful legacy in Formula One." "The iconic and prestigious attitude of Williams Racing supports and fosters PUMA´s visibility and approach to be the number one sports brand in Motorsport. We will supply the best standards of race gear and teamwear to the drivers and team and together with our subsidiary stichd we will offer replica and fanwear to the avid Williams Racing fans, consumers and Motorsport enthusiasts from 2024 onwards.” Paul Asencio, Chief Revenue Officer, Williams Racing added: “Williams Racing is honoured to welcome PUMA as an official partner. PUMA’s dedication to excellence and performance in motorsport perfectly complements our team's values. We look forward to bringing the thrill of Formula 1 closer to fans worldwide through an exciting new range of apparel and accessories from 2024 and beyond."

Cool Crutches founder wins National Women’s Enterprise Week Award and Secures Funding Amelia Peckham, the founder of Cool Crutches, has won the National Women’s Enterprise Week (NWEW) Women's Launch Lab Competition to secure funding for her innovative and inspiring business. York based Amelia started Cool Crutches in 2006 with her mother Clare, after she suffered a spinal injury in a quad bike accident that left her partially paralysed from the waist down. She was unhappy with the NHS crutches she had to use, which were uncomfortable, and not suitable for long-term use. She decided to create her own crutches that were lightweight, comfortable and stylish. Since then, Cool Crutches has grown into a successful online business that sells crutches and walking sticks in various designs and colours. The company has received positive feedback from customers who appreciate the quality, comfort and style of the products, and have been used by celebrities such as Amanda Holden, Olly Murs and Dame Prue Leith. Amelia was one of the 12 finalists of the NWEW 2023, the first UK-wide celebration of female-led businesses, which took place from the 20th-22nd June. She impressed the judges with her story of resilience, creativity and passion, and won the award and funding for her category. She says she is thrilled and honoured to receive the recognition and support from NWEW, and hopes to use the funding to expand her product range and reach more customers who need walking aids. “I’m very grateful for this opportunity and for all the people who have supported me,” she says. “I want to show that having a disability or a chronic condition doesn’t have to stop you from pursuing your dreams and making a difference!”

Twelve firms across the region are backing the launch of the first ever national golf academy designed specifically to provide mental performance coaching to future stars of the game. The new academy launched by Leeds-based Underpin Sports is uniquely focussed on improving the mental strength of amateur golfers in the early stages of their career - providing the foundations needed for them to achieve their goals and dreams of succeeding at the highest level of the professional game. Geared to help future Rory Mcllroys and Georgia Halls achieve their full potential, the academy is led by Underpin’s head coach Greg Robertson, whilst the financial costs of each player’s coaching is funded by the company’s network of corporate sponsors across Yorkshire. Firms backing the academy include Guiseley-based IT reseller and telecommunications business Just Ask Eden, Ilkley-based commercial finance brokers CFP Group and travel agent Tivoli Travel, located in Mirfield and Holmfirth. The Underpin Sports Academy is just one of two ways businesses can support the delivery of mental performance coaching across grass roots and professional golf. The entry-level academy complements Underpin’s established 72 Club which enables corporate members to benefit from bespoke golf and business events through to commercial networking opportunities. Founder and head coach of Underpin Sports, Greg Robertson said: “We’re really excited to be launching the first ever national golfing academy dedicated to improving the mental performance of amateur golfers at the very start of their career. “Having the right mental approach to handle high-pressure situations out on the course is essential at any age, however particularly within young players who have less experience and are not always equipped to handle the psychological challenges they’ll inevitably face." "The first five players already enrolled in the new academy include Sam Norman (17) who plays off +2 at Fulford Golf Club in North Yorkshire and was crowned St. Andrews Boys Open Champion last year. Another academy starlet is Amy Staveley (17) who plays off +2 at Ganton Golf Club which is situated just outside Scarborough." Greg added: “We’d like to extend a massive thanks to those corporate sponsors across the region that are already helping fund the academy and play their part in giving future stars the mental performance building blocks needed to turn pro and hopefully reach the very top of the professional game.” The Underpin Academy has ambitious growth plans and aims to recruit 20 players and 50 corporate sponsors within the next five years. Other businesses looking to support the academy and future stars of the game can become a corporate sponsor for just £100 a month.

Consult Red, a Shipley-based employee-owned consultancy and R&D partner for connected devices and systems, is thrilled to mark its 20th anniversary of continuous success, growth, and innovation. Over the past two decades, Consult Red has helped its clients transform the media, telecommunication and IoT technology landscapes. Since its inception in 2003, Consult Red has remained steadfast in its commitment to delivering trusted consultancy and high-quality engineering services, while embracing technological advancements and industry trends. Throughout the years, the company has built an enviable reputation for its dedication to excellence, customer satisfaction, and innovative solutions. "We’ve reached this significant milestone, thanks to our valued clients, and the work of our talented and dedicated team," said Raghu Venkatesam, CEO at Consult Red. " We are grateful for the long-term trust and support of our clients, partners, and stakeholders, who have been instrumental in our continued growth over the past two decades." Over the past 20 years, Consult Red has achieved numerous milestones and accomplishments, including: • Contributing to innovative product launches for key customers, including set-tops, connected TV devices and embedded software services for some of the world’s largest media and connectivity operators across Europe, the USA and Asia. • Delivering ground-breaking connected devices and systems for industrial and IoT applications, including vehicle charging, industrial vision, telehealth, power management, consumer devices and wireless connectivity. • Establishing Consult Red as an employee-owned company, giving employees a stake in the business, and ensuring long-term stability for clients. • Nurturing a talented and diverse global workforce that drives innovation and fosters a culture of collaboration and excellence. As Consult Red celebrates this milestone, it remains committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation and continuing to exceed customer expectations. The company's focus continues to be on delivering cutting-edge product design and development services. Looking ahead Consult Red will continue its growth trajectory and regional expansion, to further develop expertise in IoT, software containerisation, AI and Cloud, and address future customer needs. Reflecting on the journey so far, Stuart Griffin, COO and Co-Founder of Consult Red added, "As we celebrate this milestone, we are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. I’m so incredibly proud of where we are today, the journey has been fantastic from a start-up at The University of Bradford to where we are today, and the journey has been made by the people we’ve worked with along the way. With a strong foundation, a dedicated team, and the trust of our customers, we are well-positioned to continue driving innovation, expanding our global reach, and delivering great value for our clients.” Consult Red will mark its 20th anniversary with employee and customer-focused events throughout the year. The firm will also make a lasting contribution with the planting of commemorative trees near the Shipley office and other regional locations.