Year: 2026

Ambitious electricity grid investment would unlock significant economic growth, jobs, and energy security for the UK

Stuart Mitchell

£34bn investment in the grid over the next 15 years would unlock £194bn for the economy, a 4:1 return on investment, according to a new study from Arup. By modelling two investment scenarios, underpowered and supercharged, the study also concludes that an additional 92,000 extra jobs could be supported annually, if ambitious investment in the electricity grid is sustained to 2040. Arup’s modelling also showed that many sectors across the economy would benefit from investment in the grid, ranging from agriculture, property, through to construction.  The services sector could grow…

Read More

Industry-first nature-related target validated under SBTN

Stuart Mitchell

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield is the first real estate company globally to validate nature-related targets using the Science Based Targets Network (SBTN) methodology, achieving a major milestone in our Better Places sustainability roadmap. The validated nature-related target(1) aims at reducing water consumption across assets located in Spain, a region facing significant water stress. It was developed with the support of WWF France, building on the long-term strategic partnership between the Group and the NGO. As part of the SBTN’s process, we completed a materiality assessment and prioritisation of our impacts on nature across…

Read More

Urban Farm Shops combine Dutch greenhouse technology and food retail in one

Stuart Mitchell

LocalDutch, a The Hague-based agri-tech and food retail company, is ready to roll out a Dutch-grown model with a local result: a standardised, scalable model that integrates on-site food production with direct-to-consumer retail and local delivery in a single location. Reducing transportation costs, food waste, and operational complexity. The Dutch company calls the Urban Farm Shops the “LocalDutch Shop”: a compact set-up that combines controlled-environment agriculture with a neighbourhood-facing retail model. The ambition is straightforward and scalable—produce fresh vegetables year-round, sell them locally, and build a social meeting point around…

Read More

The One Club Promotes Adam Izen To New Chief Awards Officer Role

Stuart Mitchell

The One Club for Creativity announced the promotion of Adam Izen to the newly-created position of Chief Awards Officer, responsible for the vision, integrity, and impact of the nonprofit organization’s entire global and regional awards ecosystem.  Previously Director of The One Show awards, Izen now has executive oversight of that prestigious program as well as the Art Directors Club ADC Annual Awards, Art Directors Club of Europe ADC*E Awards, ONE Asia Creative Awards, Type Directors Club TDC competition,  Young Ones Student Awards, ADC Young Guns, and Next Creative Leaders program.…

Read More

UK citizens call for stronger safeguards as cultivated meat nears regulation

Stuart Mitchell

As cultivated meat moves closer to regulatory consideration in the UK, a new report has set out a series of public-led recommendations aimed at ensuring the technology contributes to a fairer, safer, and more transparent food system. Cultivated meat – which is grown from animal cells rather than produced through traditional livestock farming – has been developed over decades and is now transitioning from research into potential commercialisation. The Cellular Agriculture Manufacturing Hub (CARMA), a collaboration between the University of Bath, the Royal Agricultural University (RAU), University College London (UCL),…

Read More