M&S rolls out AgriSound technology boosting pollinator activity to 18 farms across the UK

Following two successful trials last year, M&S has announced an expansion of its partnership with agri-tech start-up AgriSound to an additional 18 sites across the UK. Last year M&S launched two in-field sensor trials that helped farmers better support pollinators like bumblebees and increased crop yields, and now the retailer is rolling the technology out to more M&S Select farms such as East Seaton Farm in Arbroath which supplies Red Diamond strawberries to the high-street retailer. AgriSound Polly technology allows farmers to track the number of pollinators visiting their farm in…

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M&S rolls-out braille range including industry-first gift card

M&S has launched a first of its kind ‘Happy Birthday’ braille gift card, developed in consultation with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB). Joining the gift card is a range of three braille greeting cards – covering different celebrations. The industry-first braille gift card features an embossed outer sleeve to communicate the ‘Happy Birthday’ message and an embossed gift card enclosed within the sleeve which can be used online or in over 700 M&S stores. RNIB estimates more than two million people in the UK are living with…

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M&S – Together with Wuka – Call on Government to remove VAT from period pants

Marks & Spencer has come together with period pants brand, WUKA, to ask the Government to remove the 20% VAT that applies to period pants – a reusable period product.   To launch, more than 50 signatories, including 35 MPs & peers and the charities Wellbeing of Women and Bloody Good Period, have put their name to a public letter to Victoria Atkins, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, requesting that period pants are classified as a garment in this year’s Autumn Statement. Say ‘Pants to the Tax’ will also call…

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M&S Launches First Pre-Loved Back-to-School Uniform Shop in Partnership With Oxfam and Ebay

Marks & Spencer has announced it is extending its long-standing Shwopping scheme with the roll-out of dedicated school uniform Shwop boxes in over 200 of its stores across the UK. Collaboration for change Through the new M&S Back-to-School Shwopping boxes, donated pre-loved school uniform – which passes the hand-me-down quality test – will be given a second life in an Oxfam shop and, for the first time, made available on a dedicated pre-loved school uniform shop on eBay. By partnering with eBay, M&S and Oxfam hope the pilot shop will…

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M&S adds to family support for colleagues with launch of industry-leading Neonatal Leave

Marks & Spencer has announced a new policy which will give families of premature babies or babies that need additional care when they are born, extra leave and pay to spend vital time with their new-born without colleagues having to worry about work or using up their maternity, paternity, or adoption leave. Every year, over 90,000 babies are cared for in neonatal units in the UK because they have either been born prematurely (before 37 weeks of pregnancy) or full term (after 37 weeks) but sick. This means that around…

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