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Business Travel Momentum Flies with Increased Booking Days and Online Adoption

Though global inflation reached 8.8% in 2022, the number of business travellers in the UK has doubled in a year.

Q1-2023 has seen the positive momentum of H2-2022 continue in both business and leisure travel with demand across the world forecast to be at 85.5* per cent of 2019 levels this year, according to FCM Consulting’s latest Global Trends Report.

With inflation and the cost of living being front of mind throughout the UK, corporate travel is steadily returning to pre-pandemic levels. The report found meeting in person is cited to be the number one reason for corporate travel. For UK businesses, being able to travel again has meant relationships have been able to regain any momentum lost from previous years.

Although international airfare has increased in Europe by eight per cent for business class and 14 per cent for economy in the first two months of 2023, compared to the same period in 2019, there is still a high demand for business travel.

FCM UK Managing Director, Andy Hegley is pleased to have seen a significant rise in bookings compared to Q1-2022: “FCM UK has made more than double the amount of airline bookings in Q1-2023 than in the same quarter the year before. This demand alone shows UK businesses are looking to create more meaningful relationships with their clients, suppliers and partners. With global inflation predicted to fall this year to 6.6 per cent, it is predicted business travel will continue to see increased demand.

“FCM UK have also seen a rise and return of business travellers choosing London City Airport to depart the country from. In Q1-2022, it was the sixth most popular and in Q1- 2023 its second only to London Heathrow, which is the consistent top choice for UK airport,” added Mr Hegley.

Q1-2023 corporate travel demand remained strong despite the mixed economic conditions, with securing options and booking lower prices driving corporate travellers to book online, early.

For domestic booking trends during Q1-2023 versus Q1-2022, it saw a 27 per cent rise in online adoption, the advanced booking days extended from 17 to 19, and average days away held firm at 2.9.

On the accommodation side of things, Q1-2023 saw average room rates in Europe increase by seven per cent since Q1-2022, but by 19 per cent since the last quarter (Q4-2022). Manchester is one of three European destinations with a decrease in average room rate since Q4-2022.

Global hotel occupancy for the quarter was at 60.46 per cent, only four percentage points below the occupancy levels of 2019. There is a growing demand for one of the most successful traveller offerings in recent years – lifestyle hotels – focused on travellers who want a unique experience. Hotels with lobbies encouraging interactions, offering green initiatives, having slick technology, and well-being choices are some ingredients of a lifestyle hotel.

After 2022, a year full of significant imbalance of both supply and demand, air travel is predicted to stabilise this year, seeing added capacity in H1-2023 and airfares moderating in H2-2023. Data showing Q1-2023 seat capacity was up 2.1 per cent in Q4-2022 and down 6.8 per cent in Q1-2019.

Early forecasts show air capacity offered in 2023 will be just 2.5 per cent short of 2019 volumes. The region with the highest seat growth in Q1-2023 vs Q4-2019 was Asia with a 12.2 per cent increase, with most other regions averaging two per cent growth.

The exception to this was Europe which saw an 8.7 per cent decline as the region balanced changes in demand – but the Northern Hemisphere summer will drive demand in Q2 and Q3-2023.

Q1-2023 corporate travel demand remained strong despite the mixed economic conditions, with securing options and booking lower prices driving corporate travellers to book online, early.

Domestic booking trends for Q1-2023 versus Q1-2022 saw a 27 per cent rise in online adoption, the advanced booking days extended from 17 to 19, and average days away held firm at 2.9. The report also showed that in-person meetings were the leading reason for corporate travel.

Greggs Holds its Own Despite Unsavoury Economic Outlook

The UK’s leading food-on-the-go retailer, Greggs, has shared a trading update for the first 19 weeks of 2023 which saw like for-like sales rise by 17.1% and no change to the inflation outlook, with costs expected to rise by c. 9% this year. Despite this “considerable uncertainty” in the economy, however, 2023s full year expectations remail unchanged.

Charlie Huggins, Manager of the Quality Shares Portfolio at Wealth Club, commented:

“This is a solid performance from Greggs in a challenging economic environment, with little sign so far of consumers cutting back on sausage rolls and pasties.

The cost of raw materials, energy and wages are all rising rapidly and Greggs is significantly exposed to all three. However, at least inflation appears to have stabilised and isn’t getting worse. And crucially, sales are rising strongly, which is providing oxygen to help absorb cost pressures.

Some of that sales growth is explained by lapping the impact of Omnicron in the first nine weeks of last year. Even so, there is no doubt Greggs’ brand is resonating strongly with the UK consumer and is in fine fettle. 

Inflationary pressures will continue to bite in the rest of the year, holding back profits. However, Greggs is in a far better position than most retailers to weather the storm, and is more than holding its own. Should inflation start to moderate, the business looks well primed to return to profit growth.” 

More than 95 Million Europeans Predicted to Use Dating Services  in 2023, With the Market set to Gross £1.5bn

Though the two largest dating services markets are currently the US and China, amassing more than half of the global dating industry revenue, Europe is now seeing a surging demand for dating services.

According to data presented by OnlyAccounts.io, over 95 million Europeans will use dating services this year, or 3.5 million more than in 2022.

The Number of Dating App Users Grows, but Revenue Remains Below 2021 Levels

After their exploding popularity in 2020 and 2021 amid COVID-19 lockdowns, dating apps and websites suffered a significant revenue drop last year as life returned to normal. According to a Statista survey, dating industry revenue declined or remained unchanged across all major markets in 2022, and Europe was no exception.

Between 2017 and 2020, the revenue in the European dating services industry grew 35% and hit $1.35bn. A year later, this figure rose to an all-time high of $1.51bn before falling to $1.44bn in 2022. Statista expects the entire market to gross $1.5bn this year, which is still below the 2021 levels. Around 40% of that value, or $620 million, will come from online dating as the market`s largest revenue stream. Matchmaking and casual dating services follow with $590 million and $280 million in revenue, respectively. Statista expects the following years to witness steady growth, with Europe`s dating services revenue reaching $1.62bn by 2027.

On the other hand, the number of users in the European dating services market has been constantly growing. According to Statista, more than 33 million people in Europe tried their luck with dating apps and websites in the past five years, pushing the total user count to 91.6 million in 2022.

This figure is expected to grow by 4% to over 95 million in 2023. More than 80% of all users, or around 77.2 million, prefer online dating apps. Casual dating and matchmaking services follow with 23.3 million and 8.5 million users, respectively.

Only Three Apps Hold 45% of the Market

Dating apps have become increasingly popular over the past years, especially among younger generations, making it easier than ever for people to connect with potential partners. And while Europeans can choose from a variety of available dating apps, Tinder remains their top choice.

The Statista data show around 22% of all dating app users in Europe prefer Tinder, the number-one app in the market. Bumble ranked second with a 12% share last year. Badoo, LOVOO, and Happn follow with 11%, 5%, and 4% shares, respectively.

The full story and statistics can be found here:  https://onlyaccounts.io/blog/more-than-95-million-europeans-to-use-dating-services-in-2023-entire-market-to-gross-1-5b/

2023 Annual CILT (UK) Conference Ageneda and Chair Announced

CILT (UK) is delighted to share the comprehensive programme for this years annual conference, as well as 2023s Next Generation Conference Chair. The conference, titled ‘Future Capabilities’, is due to take place at Coombe Abbey, in Coventry, on June 8th.

This year’s conference will feature speakers discussing the skills and competencies required to thrive in the logistics and transport profession. The difficulties of developing technologies and decarbonisation will be debated throughout the day.

Topics covered include sustainability and ethics; technology and innovation; and skills and competence.

Professor Sarah Sharples, Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department for Transport will present the morning keynote speech. Also speaking in the afternoon will be Matt Lindley, a change management consultant, human performance factors specialist, and diversity keynote speaker. 

For the second year in a row, CILT(UK) searched for a Next Generation Conference Chair to lead its annual conference and Ryan Walters, Management Graduate at Great Bear has been named the Institute’s Next Generation Conference Chair for 2023.

Ryan is an active CILT(UK) member who participates as a Generation Logistics Ambassador as well as a CILT PRIDE Forum member. While at university, Ryan also participated in the NOVUS scheme and was chosen for this role by an esteemed judging panel.

Ryan impressed the judging panel as he conveyed his knowledge, passion, and commitment to the future of the logistics profession. Among the judges were Stephanie Ezra, Next Generation Forum Chair and previous Conference Chair, Rebecca Hicks.

This position which was open to all members who do not possess the CMILT or FCILT grades and the role is intended to nurture rising talent in logistics and transport. The appointment of a Chair is expected to continue to inspire young individuals in the business while also bringing new insights and ideas to the annual conference.

Sharon Kindleysides, Chief Executive at CILT(UK) said: “I’m looking forward to attending CILT’s annual conference. With such a broad line-up of speakers, it will be excellent to have a wide variety of interests represented. At CILT, we acknowledge that the next generation is critical to the future of our profession, therefore we want to provide as many chances as possible for young professionals to find an outlet as well as significant networking and professional development possibilities. I’m excited to watch Ryan perform in this capacity at conference.”

Ryan Walters, Management Graduate at Great Bear: “I’m delighted to chair this year’s CILT (UK) Conference. I want to thank everyone who has given me this chance, and I can’t wait to host the event. I feel extremely honoured to be able to introduce each panellist and speaker throughout the day, listen to them, express my thoughts at the end of their respective sessions and interact with the audience.”

To find out more and to book your place, visit: https://ciltuk.org.uk/Events/National-Events-2023/Conference-2023

To view the full agenda, click here.

Twice Round the Sandstone Trail: 12 of Bakkavor’s Team Raise Money for Grocery Aid 

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Yesterday, on Tuesday 10th May, the first half of a team of 12 staff from Bakkavor’s Cheshire sites began their walk of the Sandstone Trail in order to raise funds for Grocery Aid.

Over a 24-hour period, between them the two halves of the team walked the 34-mile trail both ways – 68 miles in a single day 

Colleagues from across Bakkavor’s sites in Crewe, Aston and Barton, followed the walk, streamed live in staff areas across the sites. Already, staff members have raised £2,500 for Grocery Aid, and that sum will grow further over the coming days.

The Sandstone Trail is one of the finest and most popular long-distance walks in North West England. The Trail stretches for 34 miles/55 kilometres along Cheshire’s Sandstone Ridge and offers superb, unbroken, and often elevated walking across the still largely green and pleasant English county of Cheshire. It runs from the ancient market town of Frodsham on the broad Mersey estuary, in the north, to Georgian Whitchurch in rural north Shropshire, in the south.

Senior managers from the region’s Bakkavor sites lead from the front for this fundraiser – David Brown, Head of Operations from Bakkavor Crewe leading the first team of seven on their 12-hour trek, along with Gavin Houghton, Site Manager from Bakkavor Aston and Cheshire’s Technical Manager Andrew Ticehurst, leading the second team of five for their return leg of 34 miles in 12 hours.

GroceryAid is a charity that supports people from all over the UK who have worked, or are working in the grocery industry, and who find they need extra support to get by. People in the grocery industry use GroceryAid for financial support and practical assistance. This includes support and guidance on health and wellbeing, personal issues, benefits, career, housing and legal issues.

Before heading off on the 68-mile fundraising walk with Bakkavor colleagues, David Brown Head of Operations at Bakkavor Crewe commented: “GroceryAid is something all our people have access to – and many have benefitted from. A fundraising walk seemed like an appropriate fundraising activity because it continues the wellbeing walks our staff started in the pandemic and have continued ever since. Health and wellbeing are important issues for us at Bakkavor and we are pleased to be raising money and giving something back to GroceryAid this week.”

To support the Bakkavor team and make a donation to GroceryAid visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/onecheshiresef?utm_source=copyLink&utm_medium=one_page&utm_content=page%2Fonecheshiresef&utm_campaign=pfp-share&utm_term=e7060c2f3d6a457795411b73c45df914

Folk Announces Third Battersea Site Coinciding with Rise in Co-Living Popularity

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Co-living brand, FOLK, has opened its third site in twelve months after an impressive uptake at Harrow and Earlsfield.

Folk (www.folkcoliving.com), the co-living brand on a mission to set a new standard for renting, is launching its third site in the capital, Florence Dock, in Battersea. The building, which already has a waiting list of 2000 people, is expected to be completed in April and open for renters to move in from June, and is located riverside in SW11, just a ten-minute walk from both Clapham Junction and Wandsworth Town Stations. Florence Dock will feature multiple roof terraces with views of London, a huge co-working space, high spec community kitchens, a gym, cinema room, gaming room, lounge and on-site bar for residents to enjoy. The building is the third in Folk’s co-living portfolio in the capital, and has been cleverly designed around the brand’s key pillars of community and connection, encouraging social interaction and the formation of new friendships and relationships.

Folk has conducted extensive research with renters and taken learnings from the brand’s first co-living spaces in Harrow and Earlsfield to design its Battersea building. Folk is continuing to disrupt the rental market by eradicating the traditional pain-points tenants face such as run-down accommodation, lack of outdoor or working-from-home space and rising cost of bills. Particularly attractive for London renters is the value the spaces provide – with the £1,695 per calendar month Studio price not only including access to all events and communal areas including gym, cinema and co-working space, but also covering all bills, removing the worry of rising costs which many are facing in the current climate.

Folk’s Florence Dock in Battersea is designed to impress: the building has 270 beautifully designed private studios and thoughtfully designed shared spaces for residents to come together and cook, enjoy social events, work-out and relax.

Paul Naylor, FOLK General Manager says, “The launch of Florence Dock in Battersea is an exciting next step in Folk’s journey as we continue to offer hassle-free co-living in London. As our brand has grown rapidly over the past year, we’ve been able to hone our offering, take all the best bits of co-living and combine them with state-of-the-art design and innovative technology to launch Florence Dock. We’ve balanced the indoor and outdoor spaces perfectly by working with architects and positioning the building riverside, and we are really excited for our first residents to sign up and move in!”

For more information, visit: www.folkcoliving.com

Drivers Warned Against Throwing Apples Out of the Window and More, at Risk of Hefty Fines

Drivers have been warned to not throw apple cores out of the window, amongst other common offences which could land them with hefty fines and penalties. 

Motoring experts at LeaseCar.uk are cautioning UK drivers that seemingly innocent driving acts could actually see them disqualified in extreme cases.

From flashing other vehicles to warn of speed cameras up ahead or getting angry behind the wheel, there are several surprising laws which can land motorists in hot water.

All of these driving acts can be seen out on UK roads daily, but more and more motorists are getting caught out by these Highway Code breaches. 

Tim Alcock from LeaseCar.uk said: “We’re all aware that we can receive a big fine for using our phones whilst driving, but many Brits are unaware that even holding a device which can connect to the internet will also land them extortionate fines – even if you’re not actively using your phone. 

“Another common driving act which could see you receive hefty penalties is smoking. Doing so whilst behind the wheel isn’t illegal in itself, but if you’re not careful, police can hand out on-the-spot fines for careless driving. It’s important to also note that smoking in the car with under 18s as passengers is against the law. 

“Make sure you’re wary of these more unusual common driving offences. Even though the majority of drivers would admit to breaking many of these laws, it is safe to say that most of us are completely unaware we can be fined or even disqualified from driving because of it.”

LeaseCar.uk have shared six common driving habits, which could result in a hefty penalty:

Throwing Out Apple Cores 

Drivers could be given an on-the-spot fine of up to £150 if caught throwing an old apple core out of the window. Although having a quick snack on the go is common for most drivers, throwing something outside can be classed as littering – even if the item is biodegradable or an animal comes along and eats it.

Smoking

Although the act of smoking whilst driving itself is not illegal, motorists who are distracted behind the wheel whilst smoking could be fined £100 for careless driving with three points on their licence. It is against the law, however, to smoke in the car whilst carrying passengers under the age of 18 – this ban was introduced in 2015 to protect younger ones from second hand smoke. 

Swearing

Most motorists can admit they are guilty of road rage, but getting excessively angry whilst driving may be classified as disorderly conduct – potentially resulting in hefty fines of up to £1000 for offensive hand gestures or verbal swearing. 

Driving with Pets 

Many drivers will happily travel around with their pets in the passenger seat, footwell or in the boot – but this could land them a £5000 fine. The Highway Code clearly states all animals must be suitably restrained, so as not to distract the driver. 

Flashing Headlights at Others

Flashing lights at vehicles in an attempt to warn others about speed cameras or police up ahead, is commonly seen on UK roads everyday. But this act could carry a penalty of £1000, as headlights should only be flashed by a driver to warn another driver of their presence.

Holding a Mobile Phone

Most drivers are aware that it is illegal to use and touch our mobile phones whilst behind the wheel, which comes with a fine of up to £1000 and a driving ban – but this law actually extends to even holding any device which can connect to the internet, even if not actually using it. 

To find out more about driving acts which could land you with a fine, head over to https://leasecar.uk/

Women-Friendly Wellbeing App Launched by Scottish Entrepreneur

Starting out as just a handful of women in a local Facebook group during the Covid lockdown, Robyn Drummond has since expanded the reach of her fitness, nutritional and positive mental attitude to food advice, and is now reaching new heights with the launch of a user-friendly mobile app.

Thanks to the launch of an all-new mobile application, the sphere of influence of Robyn Drummond’s unique combination of fitness, nutrition and psychological support for women continues to grow. IOS and Android compatible, the Robyn Drummond Fitness app is available at Apple’s App Store and Google Play.

Aged just 24, but already an established coach by the outbreak of Covid-19, the pandemic forced Drummond – reluctantly – online. With a friend’s help she began teaching to a Facebook community of just 20 women local to her home in Fife, Scotland. But word of her engaging approach to helping women improve their health and increase their confidence spread rapidly. Soon more than 1,000 women were subscribing, leading to the launch of her own website. The development of the Robyn Drummond Fitness app adds greater convenience and the scope for adding more services.

WomenFriendlyEnt 2

A Healthy Relationship with Food and Body Image:

With a growing community and rapidly expanding reach, Drummond’s app contains hundreds of pre-recorded workouts, nutritional guides, quick and unfussy recipes and education videos – all available on demand 24/7. Users can set their step goals, nutritional targets or chosen fitness programmes (E.g., improve fitness levels, 15-minute workouts, fat loss, tone up) and have it synced automatically to their app for their own exercise programme. There are routines for improving strength, cardiovascular, core, flexibility and mobility. Everything, in fact from someone who wants a high intensity workout, to getting toned, through pre-and-post natal routines, to workouts for women experiencing menopause and other seated routines for those with mobility struggles.

But it is in the nutritional tips and her more general advice about women’s relationship to food and dieting that sets the Robyn Drummond approach apart.

“A lot of our members are women aged between 30 and 55 who feel like they are carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders,” says Robyn Drummond. “They just want to eat healthily and quickly, but have tried every diet and are confused. Is it okay to eat after 8pm? Will I gain fat if I eat foods with fat in them? Are carbs good – or bad? There’s so much confusion – so we try to simplify things and debunk all these faddy ideas. It’s all about helping women develop a positive mindset when it comes to food and health and body image.

“It’s my mission to help women like themselves a little more,” continues Drummond. “That involves getting them a bit more active so they can enjoy life and not feel guilty about eating a bit of cake.”

The Robyn Drummond Fitness app integrates with health and fitness apps, such as Apple Health, MyFitnessPal, Chronometer etc. It is available on a subscription basis, for £14.99 a month.

B2BTradeCard Support Children’s Air Ambulance with Generous Fundraising Commitment

Chorley-based incentive, loyalty and advertising services solutions provider B2BTradeCard will raise funds to cover 10 missions (£3,500 per mission) for Children’s Air Ambulance over the next 12 months., as part of a generous fundraising commitment.

Starting with an immediate cash donation of £3,500, further funds will be raised with planned activities such as sponsored events organised by the charity, as well as the company’s own events, including its annual golf day and members event at the AO Arena, and also by enabling customers to donate using loyalty points from B2BTradeCard’s loyalty solutions.

The Children’s Air Ambulance is a lifesaving transfer service for critically ill babies and children. Its helicopters complete journeys four times faster than those taken by road, reducing the risk of further complications and helping to save lives.

When a child is too sick to travel, it can also fly medical teams and bespoke equipment to them from across the UK, so that they can receive specialist treatment at their local hospital.

B2BTradeCard CEO Craig Parsons said: “We’re really pleased to have chosen Children’s Air Ambulance as our charity partner for the next year. It’s their tenth anniversary, so we decided a good goal would be to cover the cost of ten lifesaving missions.

“Two of our team, account managers Alex and Bex, have already signed up to abseil from Liverpool Cathedral in July and we’re looking to complete a number of further major team events going forwards, and to get our members involved too.

“We’re also baking each week, in turn, and also currently collecting all our old clothes together to donate. The team have collectively got right behind the idea and we’re confident of achieving our goal for such a fantastic charity partner, saving children’s lives across the country.”

For more information go to https://theairambulanceservice.org.uk/childrens-air-ambulance/ or www.b2btradecard.com.

London Chef Celebrates the King’s Coronation With Sushi Making

Makiko Sano, a professional sushi chef and owner of The Suzu House restaurant and cooking school, is celebrating the King’s Coronation by spreading the joy of Japanese cuisine and honouring England’s influence on her personal and professional life. She’s offering a Coronation voucher that allows the holder to bring along a guest for free to take part in a sushi-making class at her popular London school. 

Based in Hammersmith, The Suzu House serves traditional Japanese cuisine in an intimate setting and also offers hands-on cooking classes. Through Makiko’s instruction, students of all ages can learn how to make popular Japanese dishes like sushi, ramen, dumplings and even mochi. 

A personal chef with years of experience, Makiko has catered private events and cooked for high-profile clients like Stanley Tucci and Hayley Atwell. She’s also a teacher specialising in delicious and healthy Japanese cuisine. In addition to her classes at The Suzu House, she also teaches at a sixth form college. 

Her decision to celebrate the King’s Coronation with a cooking class gift voucher isn’t based solely on her desire to spread happiness through cooking. Makiko has personal ties to England and Buckingham Palace.

Born in Japan, Makiko made the decision years ago to marry a foreigner and relocate to the UK. Her grandmother, the only person who gave her her blessing, was overjoyed with their decision to make England their new home. At 80, her grandmother travelled from Japan to London for Makiko’s wedding. During the trip, she visited Buckingham Palace, whereupon she bowed deeply with heartfelt gratitude toward Her Majesty on Makiko’s behalf.

In 2007, Makiko was invited to Buckingham Palace to cook and serve sushi, an experience that sticks with her to this day. She’s since been invited back three more times to prepare sushi. 

“I remain profoundly grateful for this incredible country which has given me both business opportunities as well as wonderful friendships throughout many memorable experiences. This month marks a momentous occasion – the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The joyous event will undoubtedly be felt by all.” – Makiko Sano

The versatile chef and teacher is also an author. She’s published three books on sushi and Japanese cuisine, two of which have been translated into many languages. Her fourth book, which focuses on ramen recipes, is being released in June of this year. 

While Makiko’s work is deeply rooted in Japanese culture and cuisine, she remains grateful for England and the opportunities she’s had since moving here. The Coronation voucher for The Suzu House is her way of celebrating the King’s reign and also giving people a way to embrace the art of sushi making. 

Learn more about Makiko Sano’s culinary work, teachings and books at  https://makikosano.com/