Author: Stuart Mitchell

WARC Global Ad Spend Forecast Q1 2026 update: Implications of the Gulf energy crisis

Stuart Mitchell

A new study from WARC, the experts in marketing effectiveness, has found that a prolonged conflict in the Middle East could threaten $49.9bn of global advertising growth this year, and $93.9bn over the next two years. A milder crisis still risks $19.0bn this year, with residual impacts lasting well into 2027.  James McDonald, Director of Data, Intelligence & Forecasting, WARC, and author of the research, says: “Even in a contained scenario, an oil shock of this nature acts like a tax on consumers – pushing up prices while eroding real spending power. In a…

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Opportunity to invest in the first-ever community-owned battery at one of the UK’s largest community-owned solar energy park

Stuart Mitchell

Low Carbon Hub, a social enterprise which develops community-owned renewable energy projects in Oxfordshire is inviting people to invest in the UK’s first community-owned solar energy battery at Ray Valley solar park in Arncott, near Bicester. Ray Valley, one of the UKs largest community-owned solar energy parks, was set up by Low Carbon Hub in 2022 and can generate enough clean electricity to power around 7,000 homes. Low Carbon Hub now plans to install battery storage at the park to ensure more clean energy is used, and more money is…

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Bureau Veritas expands its role as an Approved Verifier under the Climate Bonds Standard

Stuart Mitchell

Climate Bonds Initiative is pleased to announce that Bureau Veritas has expanded its geographical scope as an Approved Verifier under the Climate Bonds Standard and Certification Scheme, with additional offices in China, Japan, India and France now formally listed in the Climate Bonds Verifiers Directory. This update builds on Bureau Veritas’ long-standing role as an Approved Verifier, following the initial confirmation of its Brazilian office in 2020. The inclusion of these new locations reflects Bureau Veritas’ continued commitment to supporting issuers across key global markets in meeting the requirements of…

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IPA flags key measures in Government response to 2025 Late Payment Consultation

Stuart Mitchell

The IPA has highlighted the key measures contained with the government’s response to its public consultation of last year on the scourge of late payments by large UK businesses. Having responded on behalf of its members, the IPA welcome’s the government’s determination to tackle a problem which it says costs the UK economy £11 billion each year. Key measures highlighted within the Government’s “Time to Pay Up” response, that the IPA has flagged to its members, will include: maximum payment terms of 60 days, with only limited exceptions. The exceptions…

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£11,500 Sherlock Holmes first edition detected at Oxfam bookshop

Stuart Mitchell

A rare first edition of The Sign of Four by Arthur Conan Doyle has been uncovered at an Oxfam bookshop in Shrewsbury, selling for £11,520 at Bonhams auction house after staff pieced together clues about its value. The volume surfaced among routine donations, but the Oxfam team identified tell-tale signs that it was something out of the ordinary. Following a closer examination of its condition, provenance and distinguishing features, the book was referred for specialist assessment and later consigned to Bonhams, where competitive bidding drove the final sale price to…

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