Day: 4 March 2025

Future of net zero at stake if energy bills go up

Stuart Mitchell

The cost of living crisis is still the most pressing issue facing the country, with 90% of respondents concerned about rising energy prices, a new survey by Opinium shows*. Nine in ten (88%) identified energy bills as the top priority for the government to help reduce household expenses, ahead of supermarket prices and mortgage and rent costs. The UK’s net zero ambitions remain popular, but public support is at risk. While more than twice as many people support net zero than don’t (43% vs. 20%), seven out of ten supporters…

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UK ad spend rose 9.7% to £10.6bn in Q3 2024

Stuart Mitchell

The latest quarterly data from the Advertising Association and WARC’s Expenditure Report show UK ad spend rose 9.7% to £10.6bn during the third quarter of 2024. This marks the first time ad spend has exceeded the £10bn barrier in Q3, largely attributed to improved performance for search and robust growth for other online formats. The UK advertising market is forecast to have grown by 11.2% overall in 2024, an upgrade of 0.6 percentage points (pp) from the October forecast, with full year spend expected to reach £40.7bn. Channels expecting to…

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Samaritans Scotland launches Samaritartan on Burns Night to raise awareness of suicide prevention.

Stuart Mitchell

A brand-new tartan has been created by Samaritans Scotland to raise awareness of suicide prevention and the charity’s services in Scotland. Named ‘Samaritartan’, the new tartan was chosen by Samaritans volunteers across Scotland. A preview of the tartan took place at the Scottish Parliament this week ahead of Burns Night, a time where people all over the world are connected through Scotland’s iconic music, poetry, cuisine, and tartan as they celebrate the National Bard. MSPs from across political parties joined together to support suicide prevention and Samaritans Scotland’s commitment to…

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Fairtrade announces new Living Income Reference Prices for cocoa in West Africa

Stuart Mitchell

Following an extensive process of data analysis and consultation with farmers, cocoa experts, and chocolate brands, Fairtrade is publishing updated Living Income Reference Prices for cocoa from Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. Available as a reference for the chocolate industry, these prices are the minimum price a farmer should be paid to be able to attain a living income, meaning they can afford nutritious food, decent housing, education, transportation, and other essentials. The updated prices rely on the best available information about the necessary key variables, including yields, sustainable farming practices,…

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Waitrose partners with Land App to map the state of nature on UK farms

Stuart Mitchell

Waitrose is teaming up with digital mapping tool, Land App, to revolutionise sustainable farming and support farmers in the adoption of nature-friendly practices in the UK. The partnership will provide over 2,000 Waitrose farmers with free access to advanced mapping tools and expert advice, helping them to create bespoke land management plans that protect and enhance the environment.  The partnership is a key step in Waitrose’s Farming for Nature programme, which aims to support its British farmers to move to nature-friendly farming practices, helping to boost financial resilience of farms…

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