Parents are being urged to think carefully before buying sleep and feeding products marketed as ‘essential’, as some may pose serious safety risks including suffocation, choking and overheating.

With families already facing significant costs when preparing for a new baby, estimated at around £600 in just the first month after birth, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is warning that some products marketed to help with sleep and feeding may not only be unnecessary, but potentially dangerous.

RoSPA has identified a number of products that may present risks to babies, including:

• Self-feeding cushions (sometimes sold as ‘hands-free baby bottle holders’, ‘hands-free baby feeding bottles’ or ‘adjustable baby bottle holders’). These products are designed to hold a baby‘s bottle while they feed. This makes it harder for babies to control the flow of milk and increases the risk of choking.
• Baby sleep positioners (sometimes marketed as ‘baby pillows’, ‘cuddle cushions’, ‘hug cushion/pillows’, ‘ergonomic pillows’ or ‘anti-roll pillows’). These products are designed to keep babies in a particular position while they sleep. Restricting a baby’s movement and placing additional items in the sleep space can increase the risk of suffocation.
• In-cot sleep aids (sometimes marketed as ‘sleep aid pillows’). These products are intended to comfort or soothe babies while they sleep. Additional products placed in a baby’s sleep space can increase the risk of suffocation or overheating.

Widely available online, some of these products are sold without clear safety information or instructions explaining potential risks. RoSPA advises parents to look for CE or UKCA markings where appropriate and to be cautious of products that do not clearly explain how they have been assessed for safety. Some products have been recalled by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) because of the serious risks they pose to babies.

RoSPA emphasises that more products do not necessarily mean better sleep, and that proven risks often outweigh potential benefits of some baby products.

The charity’s advice is that simpler is safer when it comes to sleep. Babies should be placed on their backs in a clear space, such as a cot, Moses basket or bassinet with a firm, flat mattress and no unnecessary items. Babies should always be supervised by an adult during feeding.

Top tips for safer sleep

Keep your baby’s sleep space clear: 

• Lie your baby on their back.
• Use a firm, flat, waterproof mattress.
• Do not use sleep positioners, pillows, cushions, pods or nests.
• Do not use cot bumpers.
• To keep your baby at a comfortable temperature, if required, use a tucked-in blanket or a sleeping bag that meets BS EN 16781.
• Always read product labels, safety warnings and instructions before using a baby product.

Rebecca Guy, RoSPA Senior Policy Manager said:

‘Every parent wants what’s best for their baby, and it’s completely understandable to look for products that promise to make feeding or sleeping easier.

But some products can introduce risks that parents may not be aware of, particularly when they are marketed as must-have items.

The safest sleep spaces are often the simplest. Babies should sleep on their backs in a clear cot, Moses basket or bassinet with a firm, flat mattress and without extra items.

Before buying any product, take a moment to ask if you really need it and whether it could affect your baby’s safety. Keeping things simple can help protect your baby and save money at a time when family budgets are already under pressure.’

Convened by the UK Government’s Ayrton Fund, the Africa-Oxford Initiative (AfOx), the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the Transforming Energy Access Learning Partnership (TEA LP) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) – the Ayrton-Oxford Academic Symposium brought together experts from across the clean energy ecosystem, drawing on international expertise and interdisciplinary research to explore how stronger global learning partnerships generating evidence, insights, and innovations can drive sustainable economic growth, strengthen climate resilience and expand access to affordable, reliable energy.

To date, Ayrton-supported innovations have improved access to clean energy for 46 million people across emerging economies, leveraged more than £3 billion in public and private finance and supported more than 256,000 green jobs.

The wider Ayrton network now spans 100 countries and includes 78 universities, alongside more than 840 innovators, academics and delivery partners working to accelerate clean energy progress worldwide. Together, these collaborations have generated 191 technology patent applications and contributed to more than 2,400 research papers, helping transform scientific knowledge into practical solutions with real-world impact.

At a time when countries are seeking faster energy transition pathways to drive energy access and security and economic development, international collaboration is becoming increasingly important in translating research into scalable action. The symposium examined how both in the UK and overseas, universities, innovators, policymakers and investors can work more effectively together to overcome shared challenges, unlock greater impact and accelerate the transition to a more sustainable and inclusive energy future.

The symposium opened with a keynote address from Professor Sir John Edmunds, Chief Scientific Adviser at the FCDO, highlighting how the Ayrton Fund has fostered a growing network of research partnerships that combine UK expertise with locally-led knowledge, innovation and experience to deliver lasting impact. He emphasised the importance of further strengthening international collaboration to generate the evidence, insights and partnerships needed to support equitable energy transitions, accelerate innovation and build the institutional capacity required for long-term, sustainable change.

A diverse portfolio of Ayrton-supported programmes are advancing research, building institutional capacity and accelerating innovation. Through the Transforming Energy Access-Learning Partnership (TEA-LP), more than 30 universities across Africa, Asia and the Pacific Islands are helping to develop the next generation of clean energy leaders, strengthening research capability and expanding opportunities for international knowledge exchange. The TEA@SUNRISE network is driving the development and deployment of innovative clean energy technologies through collaborative research connecting more than 400 members across 40 countries and 80 universities in the UK, Africa and Asia. Meanwhile, the Faraday Institution is enhancing global expertise in energy storage, connecting researchers and future leaders through its world-leading battery research programmes and Battery Ambassadors network across 7 African Countries. Across the wider Ayrton Fund portfolio, programmes such as Climate Compatible Growth have built an ecosystem of open-source modelling tools, datasets and lecture materials which have been used by more than 50 universities, while Energy Catalyst and ZE-Gen programmes are helping to translate research into practice by connecting universities, clean energy innovators and industry partners to scale promising technologies with the potential to unlock social and economic benefits across essential sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture and transport.

Speaking at the event, Professor Sir John Edmunds, Chief Scientific Adviser at the FCDO, said: “There are huge challenges associated with climate change and with clean energy transition but there are also massive opportunities for the same thing. The UK Government is investing a huge amount in this area for research, development and scaling so that’s what the Ayrton Fund is all about. No one organisation can possibly do all of that on its own, and that is why we need partnerships.

“The purpose of the Ayrton-Oxford Academic Symposium is to bring academic researchers and other innovators together to form collaborations across countries. By drawing upon expertise in the UK, Africa and elsewhere, we can accelerate the development of solutions to the major problems that all of us face.

“We hope to generate robust and equitable partnerships that will stand the test of time and be available to address the next set of questions.”

Angus Vantoch-Wood, Programme Manager at the Carbon Trust, for FCDO funded Transforming Energy Access (TEA), said: “What stood out was the shared commitment to turning knowledge into action. Through the Carbon Trust’s work with the Ayrton Fund, we have seen how collaboration between UK and international researchers, innovators, businesses and policymakers can help transform ideas into solutions that improve lives, strengthen economies and expand access to clean energy. The challenge now is to build on these partnerships and accelerate the impact they can deliver in the years ahead.”

Professor Kevin Marsh, Director of the Africa Oxford Initiative, said: “African researchers will play a critical role in developing solutions which tackle global challenges such as energy access and green transitions. Translating this research into impact on the ground requires interdisciplinary collaboration between research, innovation and investment. This approach underpins the work the Africa Oxford Initiative has done over the past ten years supporting hundreds of outstanding African researchers, scholars and innovators.”

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There can surely be few more fitting places for a poetry festival than Port Sunlight. With its tree-lined roads, historic architecture, sweeping lawns and intriguing corners, the iconic village has a distinctly poetic quality of its own. This October, those surroundings will once again provide the backdrop for Wirral Poetry Festival — a celebration of poetry, creativity and the pleasure of sharing words with others.

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The 2026 festival continues Wirral Poetry Festival’s mission of promoting poetry on the Wirral and beyond, bringing people together through readings, performances, workshops and opportunities to discover new voices. Whether you’re a lifelong poetry enthusiast, an occasional reader, an aspiring writer or someone who simply fancies experiencing something different, the festival is a must.

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The festival combines established and emerging poetic voices with community participation, offering everything from readings and book launches to poetry walks, workshops, children’s activities, open-mic opportunities and the energy of a live poetry slam. At its heart is Poetry on the Green, bringing performances by local poets into the open air beside the Lady Lever Art Gallery.

This year’s extravaganza once again features many free events to attend and enjoy. In addition to this, some big hitting ticketed events are taking place including — a Performing Poetry Workshop, Slam Night, Leigh Lawson Poetry Night, An Audience With Jennifer Lee Tsai and Cathy Galvin, An Audience With Zoe Brooks, Caroline Smith and Barry Woods and An Audience With Sarah James.

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On Saturday 3rd October at 5.30pm, acclaimed actor Leigh Lawson will share stories and poems from his collection Now and Then at Saturday 3 October, 5.30pm at Port Sunlight Church Hall (tickets just £6). Meanwhile, Cathy Galvin (Ethnology: A Love Song for Connemara) and Jennnifer Lee Tsai (Melete) will read from their debut Bloodaxe Books collections at the same venue on Sunday 4th October at 7.30pm.

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Slam Night is always an incredible showcase of some of the region’s finest wordsmiths. Port Slam Night takes place on Saturday 3rd October at 7.30pm, again at Port Sunlight Church Hall. Tickets are just £6 and poets compete for the £100 prize! It’s an opportunity to witness some fantastic and diverse poetry and if you would like to take part please apply to enter on the Wirral Poetry Festival website.

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Young voices are also taking their place in the festival story. In 2026, Wirral Poetry Festival launched its first Youth Poetry Competition for young people aged 11 to 18 who live or attend school within the Liverpool City Region. Supported by the Christopher Salmon Foundation and held in memory of talented young Wirral poet Christopher Salmon, the competition invited entrants to write on the theme of “Home”.

Entries arrived from every borough of the Liverpool City Region, demonstrating both the appetite for creative writing among young people and poetry’s extraordinary ability to turn a simple word into something intensely personal. Eleven-year-old Amjad Sharif, a pupil at Oldershaw School in Wallasey, was named the competition winner, with Kai Lloyd Jones, aged 12, and Adriana Brandao, aged 17, selected as runners-up. Their prizes are due to be presented at a special celebration during Wirral Poetry Festival in Port Sunlight on the Saturday.

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Wirral Poetry Festival’s Alison Schultz said: “Living in such a digital age, there’s never been a more important time to celebrate poetry and literacy, and there’s no better setting than Port Sunlight. We’re really excited for this year’s festival and as ever, there will be so much going on and something for everyone. Whether you’re a poetry enthusiast or just fancy something different, we look forward to welcoming you.”

Kemal Houghton added: “Poetry can be quiet and reflective or funny, challenging and exhilarating. It can live on the printed page or come alive when performed in front of an audience. Bringing those different forms into Port Sunlight allows visitors to experience a historic village not simply as somewhere to look back at the past, but as somewhere contemporary culture is being made.”

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For local writers, the festival offers opportunities to connect with a wider creative community. For visitors, it offers the chance to encounter poetry away from the classroom or bookshelf. And for Port Sunlight itself, the festival adds another layer to a place already associated with art, architecture and ambitious ideas about how surroundings can enrich people’s lives.

Wirral Poetry Festival 2026 / 3rd & 4th October 2026, 10.30am-7.30pm / Port Sunlight Village, Various Venues

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The story began when Hewitson Limited identified a need to recruit eight Groundworker Apprentices to support the continued growth of the business.  To help meet this need, Derwentside College drew upon its extensive expertise in large-scale recruitment to design, plan and deliver a bespoke recruitment campaign on behalf of the employer.

Working closely with Hewitson Limited, the College managed the end-to-end recruitment process, promoting the opportunities, attracting suitable candidates and coordinating a dedicated recruitment day that brought together aspiring groundworkers from across the region.  The aim was to identify talented individuals with the commitment and potential to succeed in the construction industry.

The results exceeded expectations.

The quality of candidates presented through the recruitment process impressed Hewitsons’ management team so much that, despite initially having only eight vacancies available, they made the decision to recruit 12 apprentices, creating four additional opportunities for local young people to begin their careers through a Level 2 Groundworker Apprenticeship.

So far, the apprentices have received significant support from Hewitson Limited, including preparatory training and development activities designed to help them transition successfully into the workplace and prepare for the start of their apprenticeship programme.

The success of the initiative highlights the impact that can be achieved when employers and education providers work in partnership.  By combining Hewitsons’ commitment to investing in future talent with Derwentside College’s proven ability to attract, assess and recruit candidates at scale, the partnership has successfully connected local people with high-quality career opportunities in a sector facing significant skills demand.

As these 12 apprentices begin their careers, the initiative demonstrates how effective collaboration can help address workforce challenges while creating life-changing opportunities for young people across the North East.  It is a powerful example of how targeted recruitment and high-quality apprenticeship provision can support economic growth, develop future skills and strengthen the region’s talent pipeline.

Nicola Raine, Assistant Principal – Business Development & Technical Education at Derwentside College, said:  

“We’re proud to have led the recruitment process on behalf of Hewitson Limited and to have connected 12 talented young people with career opportunities in a sector where skills are in high demand.  This partnership demonstrates the positive impact that employers and colleges can achieve together.”

Paul Mathison, Director of Construction at Hewitson Limited said:

“Supporting young people into the construction industry is incredibly important to us.  We want to give individuals the opportunity to build rewarding careers, develop valuable skills and realise their potential.  The recruitment process delivered by Derwentside College introduced us to some outstanding candidates, and we’re looking forward to supporting them throughout their apprenticeship journey and beyond.”

The event marks the completion of a joint initiative between Leeds Well School Partnership (LWSP) and M2: Where Movement and Mindfulness meet, which provides a safe, judgement free space for primary school girls to engage in physical activity and build their confidence and resilience.

Funded by the Jane Tomlinson Appeal, the programme offers eight-sessions culminating in a 5km challenge. JTA funded programmes are also running in Sheffield, Hull, Derby, and Lincolnshire. 

The upcoming trip to London marks a major milestone—not only are these 90 girls representing Leeds on a national stage, but they are also the first cohort from the M2 programme to be given this opportunity. The experience has been made possible through LWSP’s relationship with the London Marathon Foundation.

“This opportunity was made possible through vital funding and strong partnerships,” said Jill Wilkinson, Leeds Well School Partnership Director. “We know this programme works—and we have the data to prove it. Taking 90 girls to a national event like this shows the scale of impact we’re achieving.”

The programme has already demonstrated measurable success, helping girls to develop healthier habits alongside increased confidence and resilience. 96% of M2 girls say they enjoy running and 80% say they feel more confident speaking up and having their voices heard. For many participants, the TCS Mini London Marathon will be their first experience of a major sporting event.

As well as celebrating achievement, the moment represents powerful visibility, with girls from Leeds proudly representing their city on a national platform.

“This is more than a one-off experience—this is the start of something bigger,” added Emma Mackenzie, Children & Young People Engagement Lead at London Marathon Foundation. “Through local collaborations like this and our own partnerships with The Daily Mile Foundation and Junior parkrun, we’re building a legacy- fostering an accessible and inspiring participation pathway that creates more opportunities for young girls to be active, confident, and inspired.”

Following on from the success and inspiration of the TCS Mini London Marathon, it is fantastic to see adult role models representing LWSP stepping up to take part in both the TCS London Marathon and the Rob Burrows Leeds Marathon. These dedicated individuals are not only pushing themselves to achieve incredible personal milestones, but are also proudly raising vital funds to support LWSP’s ongoing work with girls. 

“LWSP is incredibly proud of all those taking part and grateful for their dedication, which continues to inspire the next generation,” said Jill Wilkinson.

CO₂ EMISSIONS & CONSUMPTION.
WLTP energy consumption combined: 17,9 – 15,1 kWh/100 km; WLTP CO₂ emissions combined: 0 g/km; CO₂-class: A; WLTP electric range: 679 – 805 km.

Percentage of small businesses starting the New Year prioritising new growth initiatives to make their business stronger for the year ahead (results over time)

Following a challenging trading period during 2025, when the percentage of small business owners predicting growth fell over four consecutive quarters to 25%, the Novuna Business Finance data suggests UK small businesses are starting the New Year in a resilient mood.

Ahead of the New Year starting, Novuna Business Finance asked a nationally representative sample of 1,000 small business owners what growth initiatives, if any, they were prioritising to make their enterprises stronger for the year ahead. Across the UK, small businesses in London emerged as those most likely to be starting 2026 with plans to invest in new growth initiatives (90%) –  followed by small businesses in the East Midlands (89%) and the North West (84%).

Manufacturing is the UK industry sector where small businesses are most likely to be starting 2026 with plans to invest in new growth initiatives (94%). Across 10 industry sectors surveyed, there are year-on-year rises in the percentage of enterprises working on new growth plans for 2026 – with the retail and finance sectors unchanged on this time last year (79% and 84% respectively) and media, the only sector recording a year-on-year dip (down from 92% to 84%).

Sectors recording a year-on-year rise in the percentage of small businesses starting the New Year prioritising new growth initiatives to make their business stronger for the year ahead

Looking at the specific initiatives that small businesses are focusing on to make their enterprises stronger for the year ahead, increasing new business income remained the top priority (46%, up slightly on 43% a year ago). Beyond this, the Novuna Business Finance data reveals there were big year-on-year rises in other areas:

·      The percentage of small businesses prioritising the need to reduce fixed costs is up significantly on this time last year (up from 24% to 40%).

·      There is also an increase in the percentage of business owners prioritising the need to build up financial reserves for the year ahead (up from 23% to 31%).

·      A quarter of enterprises (25%) are placing greater emphasis on the need to diversify their business for 2026, in terms of new products and services – up from 20% a year ago.

·      Reviewing and looking for efficiencies in back-office operations is up from 12% to 20% for the year ahead.

·      More businesses are starting 2026 prioritising the need to have more contingency plans in the event of prolonged market uncertainty (17%, rising from 12% this time last year).

Jo Morris, Head of Insight at Novuna Business Finance comments: “As we all prepare to start a New Year, our data paints a picture of determination and resilience from UK small business owners. Last year was, for many, a low-point – with small business growth forecasts hitting a record low and many concerned about external factors, such as US tariffs and fears of tax rises in the Autumn Budget. Despite all this, more than eight in 10 small business owners are going into 2026 determined to find new ways to make their enterprises stronger and more resilient. We last saw this during the pandemic era and the determination of small business owners then to flex and adapt played out in a bounce-back of sector confidence in 2022. After an economically challenging 2025, the sheer scale of businesses prioritising plans to build strength into their enterprises for the year ahead will hopefully result in a much-needed upturn in positive growth outlook from the small business community in the early months of 2026.”

Novuna Business Finance provides business finance to SMEs and bigger corporations across the UK. This includes asset finance, stocking, block discounting and sustainable project finance provided through brokers, vendor organisations, manufacturers and direct to the business community.  With an asset portfolio of more than £1.9bn, the business is active across multiple sectors from transport and agriculture to construction and manufacturing.

Newcastle, 8 January 2026 – AND-E (Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Europe), one of the major employers at Quorum Business Park in Newcastle, has announced a major recruitment drive as it gears up for significant expansion in 2026. 

Supporting key brands including Toyota, Lexus, and Kwik Fit, the motor insurer plans to bring motor fleet claims handling in-house – a move that will see the number of claims managed by its Newcastle Claims Centre of Excellence double by the end of this year. To support this growth, the company is looking to recruit across a wide range of roles, with headcount in the claims team expected to increase by around 30% by the end of 2026. 

As Greg Cole, UK Claims Director at AND-E, explained, the company offers tremendous career opportunities for people living in the North-East: 

“As an award-winning employer¹ with a clear focus on personal development, we offer great prospects for people in Newcastle and the surrounding area. 

“Handling claims for a wide diversity of organisations and vehicles, from emergency services and charities to hospital trusts and construction, the roles we are recruiting for are both diverse and exciting. Colleagues also have the opportunity to work with advanced technology, including AI-driven solutions developed in partnership with Mind Foundry, an Oxford University spin-off, to strengthen fraud detection and improve claims efficiency. Alongside this, our Excellence Framework, a development programme designed specifically for claims colleagues, helps them build the skills, knowledge, and behaviours they need to excel in their roles and grow their careers.” 

AND-E has operated at Quorum Business Park for more than fifteen years, originally under the insurethebox brand – one of the UK’s pioneering telematics insurers – and more recently as part of the wider AND-E Group. In 2025, the business committed significant investment to develop its in-house fleet claims handling capability as part of its Newcastle Centre of Excellence. 

The specialist teams within the Centre manage all aspects of claims management – from initial loss notifications and vehicle repair assessments through to fraud investigation, bodily injury, and liability decisions. With a more integrated and data-driven service, the team has achieved market-leading results, including reducing average settlement times from 28 days to less than 9 – with most customers now paid within a week. 

“AND-E is setting the standard for best-in-class claims handling, and we’re looking for people who want to be part of that story,” added Greg. “With the next phase of our growth now underway, we’re excited to create more opportunities for people in the North East to build rewarding careers in a fast-changing, technology-led industry.” 

Several members of the AND-E team have shared their career stories which can be used with this announcement. Please click the link to download the case studies document.

To learn more about the roles being advertised, visit https://careers.and-e.uk/jobs .