UK economy contracts 2% quarter-on-quarter in Q1 2020 amid increasing restrictions
The UK economy took a significant downward turn in March with record monthly GDP contraction of 5.8% month-on-month. GDP contracted 2% quarter-on-quarter in the first quarter, the largest decline since the fourth quarter of 2008.
Featurespace raises £30 million to drive growth
Featurespace, the leading provider of Adaptive Behavioral Analytics software for Enterprise Financial Crime prevention, has raised £30 million ($37.4 million) from a funding round led by Merian Chrysalis Investment Company Limited.
7 key steps to ensure your workspace is ready to re-integrate employees
Layrd Design is offering a free space planning consultation to all business owners requiring help to ensure their workspace is ready to re-integrate employees.
Online accelerator programme aims to fast-track resilience in times of disruption
The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership Accelerator launches Innovators for Change - an eight-week online programme to accelerate innovation that builds resilience and pioneers change towards a more sustainable future.
Cambridge caterers work with volunteers to feed families during lockdown
Hundreds of prepared, nutritious meals have been delivered to residents in Melbourn and Meldreth, thanks to local chefs, independent businesses and hospitality partners, the Melbourn Coronavirus Community Response, and South Cambridgeshire District Council – and the Council is offering to support others to do the same.
Cambridge firm helps create emergency face visors for healthcare workers
In response to the national shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Cambridge Design Partnership is working on a project to create 1,000 face visors a day
Researchers track impact of lockdown on alcohol, gambling and pornography use
Is the lockdown leading us to drink more alcohol or spend more time gambling online or watching pornography? Researchers have launched a survey aimed at tracking how our habits have changed in response to our forced isolation.
Social media influencers could encourage adolescents to follow social distancing guidelines, say researchers
Public health bodies should consider incentivising social media influencers to encourage adolescents to follow social distancing guidelines, say researchers. Many adolescents are choosing to ignore the guidelines set out by governments during the COVID-19 pandemic, and peer-to-peer campaigns are likely to be more successful in changing attitudes.
Testing suggests 3% of NHS hospital staff may be unknowingly infected with coronavirus
Hospital staff may be carrying SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 disease, without realising they are infected, according to a study by researchers at the University of Cambridge.
COVID-19 drugs trial rolled out across UK homes and communities
A UK trial – testing whether low-risk treatment in the community can help people at higher risk of complications from COVID-19 to get better quicker, reducing the need for hospital admission – is today announcing that older people who have had coronavirus symptoms for 15 days or less can now also screen for the trial online.
Over 150 participants recruited to new COVID-19 research programme
A “library” of valuable biological samples from people with COVID-19, which will help scientists globally fight the virus, has recruited its 150th participant.
Configurable analog semiconductor IP enables faster IoT chip design
Agile Analog, a leading provider of semiconductor analog IP, announced Palma Ceia SemiDesign, a provider of communication chips and IP for WiFi HaLow and Cellular NB-IoT applications, has selected Agile Analog’s data converter and power management IP for its next-generation of WiFi and cellular IoT products. Agile Analog’s innovative approach to analog IP generation enables Palma Ceia…
Government announces postponement to business rates revaluation
The government has announced that the revaluation of business rates will now take place in 2022 instead of 2021. According to the government, the postponement is aimed at helping “to reduce uncertainty for firms affected by the impacts of coronavirus”. Ceri Riddell of Hewitsons explains.
The (neuro)science behind storytelling in video ads
It's no mystery that humans like stories. In fact, our brain is evolutionarily wired to follow the connections between a series of events relying on cause and effect – that's in a nutshell what narratives are made of.
COEL team leads creative design on new apartment scheme
The COEL interiors team has produced the design scheme for Cherry Tree Apartments; an exciting new housing development in Cherry Hinton. Marcus Johnson of Kirly Group Holdings Ltd saw the potential in converting the former Carl Zeiss office building in Cherry Hinton into residential flats, providing much needed housing for the local region.
R&D collaboration across Arc offers hope in an age of uncertainty
While economists sought to rejig their models following the financial crisis, adjusting for a pandemic, the likelihood of a cure and a whole range of science and tech related variables in between presents a far greater challenge. Delving into how the Oxford-Cambridge Arc is performing during the current climate, Sue Foxley, Research Director at Bidwells, shares insight into how R&D…
New Greater Cambridge forum pledges to work with firms on road to recovery
A forum to support businesses through lockdown and on the road to economic recovery has been launched by South Cambridgeshire District and Cambridge City Councils.
‘Lawyers of the future’ offered professional training online by ThoughtRiver and F-Lex
The next generation of lawyers, which has seen careers and training disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, is now being offered professional training through a series of virtual webinars.
Cambridge Information and IP Meeting training courses go online
Would you like to update your skills while working from home during the pandemic, or from the office? Cambridge Information and IP Meeting's (CIIPM')s Commercial Patent Search and Analysis course will run as an online training starting on Wednesday 27 May.
Avacta ships SARS-COV-2 Affimer reagents to Cytiva and Adeptrix
Avacta Group plc, the developer of Affimer® biotherapeutics and reagents, is pleased to announce that it is shipping Affimer reagents for COVID-19 antigen testing to its diagnostic test development partners.
MBA students offer free consulting services
Has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted your business in a big way? Are you fighting against the difficult economic conditions? Cambridge MBA students offer to apply their professional experience, MBA learning and networks to undertake short-term, pro-bono consulting projects for UK businesses, to help withstand the current period and plan for the future.
Birketts shortlisted at the EAAA Inspiration Awards 2020 for title of Inspirational Business
Birketts has been shortlisted for the title of 'Inspirational Business' at the East Anglian Air Ambulance Inspiration Awards 2020. These awards recognise individuals and companies from the local community who inspire the EAAA team and keep the life-saving charity flying through their continued support.
Moderate exercise in middle and older age cuts time spent in hospital
Men and women aged 40–79 are at significantly lower (25–27%) risk of long or frequent hospital admissions if they do some form of physical activity, a new study suggests.
Repurposing existing drugs for COVID-19 a more rapid alternative to a vaccine, say researchers
Repurposing existing medicines focused on known drug targets is likely to offer a more rapid hope of tackling COVID-19 than developing and manufacturing a vaccine, argue an international team of scientists in the 'British Journal of Pharmacology'.
Comment on plans for next stage of Northstowe
Plans for the next part of the growing new town of Northstowe have been published – and local people are being encouraged to comment.