Cheshire-based Boughey Distribution has taken delivery of its first electric vehicle, the Volvo FE Electric, which is now fully-operational in the company’s Palletline fleet.

Following a successful three-month trial of the FE Electric model earlier this year, Boughey took the decision to permanently introduce the vehicle to its fleet.

Supplied by Thomas Hardie Commercials, the vehicle features a specifically designed livery to promote Boughey’s commitment to a sustainable future. Aligned with the company’s efficiency goals, the vehicle’s standard 80% state-of-charge operating window guarantees peak performance, enabling a range of up to approximately 200km or 120 miles on a single charge.

Thomas Hardie’s new vehicle sales and marketing director, Steve Wilson, visited Boughey’s Wardle site to officially hand over the new vehicle to Boughey’s transport operations director, Neil Trotter, who said: “The delivery of our first electric vehicle represents a real milestone for us and we’d like to say a big thank you to Thomas Hardie for their support throughout the process of adding the Volvo FE to our fleet.

“Our ambition to become greener is a company-wide initiative, and we will continue to strive to take steps towards making our business better for the environment and our planet. We have recently set out on a journey to become B Corp certified and the vehicle’s arrival has coincided with the submission of our initial B Impact Assessment which is currently in the evaluation queue.”

Steve Wilson said: “The team at Boughey Distribution are setting a fantastic example by becoming an early adopter of this new generation of vehicles which are cleaner, greener and quieter – electrification is becoming a major consideration for operators, and it’s fantastic to see Boughey investing in this new technology.”

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Bright Minds For Kids, created by executive director Anna Stranack and specialising in Whole Brain Training for youngsters aged from six months to five years old, has opened in Liverpool.

Anna, 40, graduated from LIPA with a degree in acting before she embarked on a professional acting career from 2004. She then moved to Dubai in 2011 after being offered a teaching position at a prestigious theatre school. Anna, from Childwall, became curious about different ways of learning and how young brains work and in 2014, she delved into the realm of Whole Brain Training and the role that it plays in stimulating young minds under the age of five.

She became head of teaching at a Whole Brain Training centre in Dubai and her Bright Minds Institute has nurtured more than 1,000 eager minds, all under the tutelage of Anna and her team of teachers, with the company currently nurturing in excess of 200 students.

Currently employing two teachers who help deliver sessions, Anna hopes to replicate the same success in Liverpool and the wider Merseyside area that she has experienced in Dubai, to support young children with their development from an early age.

Anna said: “I’m so passionate about Whole Brain Training and giving children their first stepping stone to developing their creativity, empathy and critical thinking through our carefully crafted curriculum. It’s my goal to help every child grow into creative, thoughtful and intelligent young people. I really hope to replicate the same success throughout the Liverpool City Region as we’ve enjoyed so far in Dubai, with plans for expansion across Cheshire and the broader North West areas.”

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A jobs festival with a party atmosphere is to showcase hundreds of vacancies in Liverpool City Region’s booming visitor economy. The event at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena, on August 29, from 10am to 1pm and 1pm to 4pm, will host interactive skills sessions, including masterclasses by cocktail makers, making non-alcoholic mocktails, and baristas, in a push to recruit staff for the city region’s thriving hospitality and leisure sector.

Hundreds of jobseekers are expected to attend the ‘Skills and Recruitment Festival’ which again sees the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority join forces with the DWP, Liverpool City Council and Growth Platform to showcase current vacancies and long term careers, some attracting salaries of more than £30,000 a year. More than 500 vacancies will be available, and jobseekers will be offered the chance to try out relevant skills alongside informal ‘speed dating’ chats with employers.

The interactive show is the latest in a series of high profile jobs fairs aimed at filling vacancies in a sector which is worth £5bn each year to the local economy. It looks to build on the success of recruitment drives for Eurovision, Aintree and The Open – with the world-famous events attracting hundreds of thousands of extra visitors to the city region. Publicity surrounding Eurovision is predicted to increase visitor numbers by five per cent over the next few years.

Jobseekers do not need to register for the event and some job offers will be made on the day. Liverpool City Region Combined Authority executive director, policy strategy and government relations, Kirsty McLean said: “The Liverpool City Region visitor economy has continued to grow in the wake of Eurovision and targeted recruitment fairs have been both popular and very successful.

“This latest event is a jobs fair with a difference which aims to build on that momentum by giving people a real feel for some of the roles available but also showing that hospitality and leisure can be a stable, rewarding and long-term career.”

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B&S Group has been awarded a five-year Framework Agreement with Northern Ireland Electricity Networks, for the supply of 33kV Package Substations. The Framework Agreement was awarded to Chester-based B&S Group after the successful completion of an extensive evaluation process.

The group has been supplying 11kV asset protection electrical enclosures to NIE Networks since 2011, with the new award for the larger 33kV units cementing the ongoing partnership. Package substations from B&S Group are bespoke, self-contained units where switchgear and other critical electrical equipment can be housed. These substations are modular, and able to work in tandem across an entire network, improving reliability.

B&S Group has a team of dedicated switchgear engineers who work in partnership with customers to design fully bespoke package substations, suited for each precise specification. For more thann 30 years the group has worked closely with energy distributors to understand their network infrastructure operations, providing innovative power management solutions as well as field services.

Northern Ireland Electricity Networks owns the electricity networks that distributes power across Northern Ireland. Committed to growing and developing the network so that it meets the needs of their customers, NIE Networks manages more than 47,000km of electricity network, connecting around 9,000 homes and businesses each year.

Jason Wittenbrink, managing director at B&S Group, said: “This is a significant contract for B&S Group. We have held a Framework Agreement for the supply of 11kV Package Substations with NIE Networks for many years, but this additional Framework Agreement for the higher voltage substation is indicative of the work we have completed to position B&S Group as a supplier of choice to the energy and renewables sector.”

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Specialist business lending provider, Simply Asset Finance, has seen impressive profits of more than £3.2m, lent in excess of £152m to UK businesses and secured 1,786 new agreements, which has resulted in the business opening a new office in Liverpool and appointing 13 new hires this year alone to support its rapid growth trajectory and bolster the team.

Its newly opened Liverpool office is now home to six new business development executives. The team has also been bolstered across the UK with four area sales managers and two new additions to the head office support team.

This cohort of new talent has been strategically appointed to further enhance Simply’s partnerships with commercial brokers, while extending the business’s lending solutions to more fast-growing and established small businesses across the country.

CEO, Mike Randall, said: “Having had one of our strongest years yet at Simply, we are more dedicated than ever to serving SMEs and offering them the right support to thrive even during times of economic uncertainty and pressure. Our new hires across the business will bolster our team with new and diverse talent and further support us in this goal.

“Business sentiment remains strong amongst UK SMEs but it’s important they are given the necessary support and expertise for them to remain the heartbeat of the UK economy.”

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The Salford Community Stadium is one of eight stadia selected to host the women’s Rugby Union World Cup, subject to confirmation.

The 10th global tournament will kick off on August 22, 2025, and conclude with the World Cup final on September 27, 2025. Sixteen teams will be competing to be crowned world champions.

Canada, England, France and New Zealand have already qualified after finishing in the top four of RWC 2021, with the remaining positions to be filled via World Rugby’s new women’s international 15s tournament, WXV, and regional competitions in 2024.

World Rugby chairman, Sir Bill Beaumont, said: “Following the record-breaking success of Rugby World Cup 2021 in New Zealand, women’s rugby has built an incredibly strong foundation and as one of the fastest growing sports in the world. RWC 2025 is set to take the game to the next level as the biggest celebration of women’s rugby with fans and players very much at its heart.”

Other venues listed to stage games are: Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium; Ashton Gate, Bristol; Sandy Park, Exeter; Twickenham Stadium, London; Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton; Stadium of Light, Sunderland; York Community Stadium.