Sainsbury’s has become the first retailer in the world to invest in new AI veterinary technology used to measure and enhance positive animal welfare on dairy farms, which could revolutionise the approach to cattle care.
In partnership with Vet Vision AI, a new spinout company from the University of Nottingham, Sainsbury’s is trialling new technology which has been designed to spot when cows are happy and healthy, and why. The cows are monitored through low cost and portable cameras which can be used by vets on multiple farms.
The AI works by recognising patterns in behaviour, analysing and turning video footage into real-time, accurate data. As well as monitoring behaviour, the AI will offer farmers suggestions on ways to further improve the animals’ lifestyles. Examples of this include housing improvements for better comfort and animal engagement and providing enrichment such as cow brushes, similar to a back scratcher, to reduce stress.
The ability for round the clock monitoring enables more informed decision making, as farmers will have unique insights into cow welfare that they may not be able to identify with standard vet visits. The continuous analysis of behaviour also allows for a ‘test and learn’ approach to the suggested welfare tactics.
The use of AI on farms is an expanding area, but what sets this technology apart is the ability to show when a cow is thriving, as opposed to just spotting illnesses and ailments. The constant monitoring can also identify diseases early, preventing vets having to treat disease later down the line.
Beyond the benefits for the animal, the tech promotes a step forward in farming efficiency as a healthy cow means a more productive cow. If, for example, the AI advises improving cow comfort through increased lying time, this then may lead to better leg health and more milk produced for the same amount of feed, as the cow is stronger on its hooves.
Currently on 30 of Sainsbury’s Dairy Development Group farms, the aim is to roll out the technology further next year. The SDDG was founded in 2007 to provide more support to farmers. It includes around 170 farms who supply Sainsbury’s with its own brand milk.
“I have begun to use this AI technology with dairy herd health clients as part of our routine monitoring of health and welfare. The ability of the system to observe the cows’ natural behaviours without disturbing the animals, and to turn these observations into hard outcomes, is of huge value when planning interventions to improve foot health, udder health, fertility performance and so on,” said Dr James Breen, Professor in Cattle Health at the University of Nottingham.
Dr Matt Turner, Vet and Agriculture Manager at Sainsbury’s, said: “Investing in British farming and continuously improving animal health and welfare are key priorities for us and this innovative new technology will mean we can help both farmer and animal.
“Our dairy farmers that are using the technology are already seeing real benefits and we look forward to expanding it to our wider network of Dairy Development Group farms soon.”
Dr Tom Angel, Veterinary Surgeon at Synergy Farm Health, said: “Vet Vision AI has allowed us to identify positive animal welfare on farms, such as increased lying times and cow comfort, as well as management factors that need addressing to improve these outputs. The use of the computer vision technology has then been able to assess the impact of any changes we have implemented, objectively revealing how the animals have responded positively to the environmental and management changes.”
Dave Bacon, dairy farmer at Gleadthorpe Farm, said: “I know that happy, comfortable cows produce more milk, but accurately measuring and knowing how to improve cow comfort can be challenging. Using Vet Vision AI, we were able to measure how comfort levels improved after we upgraded our housing and put new cow mattresses in. Knowing that my cows are more comfortable as a result means I can feel confident the investment was worth it.” Image Scan secures £3m contract with prominent defence contractor
Image Scan, the Leicestershire-based supplier of X-ray screening systems to the security and industrial inspection markets, has been selected for a contract with a prominent UK defence contractor, NP Aerospace Limited, for the supply of its ThreatScan® portable X-ray system.
The contract, subject to the finalisation of commercial terms, will commence with a three month trial and testing process expected to commence in September 2024. Once the trials are successfully concluded, Image Scan will commence delivery of its ThreatScan® portable X-ray systems.
The estimated contract value is £3 million over a 36 month period.
The ThreatScan® portable X-ray system is designed to empower bomb technicians, enabling them to conduct rapid and accurate threat assessments across a diverse range of operational scenarios. The system comprises a portable X-ray generator, a detection panel, and an operator’s workstation running the company’s image processing software. A customer-specific range of ancillary equipment complements the system.
Vince Deery, Image Scan’s Chief Executive, said: “I am delighted that we have secured this contract, which has been achieved against stiff international competition. This success stems directly from our revised product development strategy to focus on high performing portable systems and confirms our confidence in the strength of our extended portable X-ray product range within a competitive market.
“Image Scan remains committed to providing cutting-edge solutions in X-ray screening and reaffirms its dedication to meeting the evolving needs of the security inspection sector.”
Major apartment scheme tipped for approval in Derby
Amended plans from Wavensmere Homes and Wilson Bowden Developments for a major new apartment scheme in Derby have been recommended for approval.
Permission is sought for the erection of 195 residential apartments and a café on land off Full Street.
The proposed development would accommodate the residential apartments, café, residential amenity space, gym, private and public landscaping, car and cycle parking and new vehicular access on Full Street.
Located on the eastern side of Full Street, the application site is on the remaining development plot of the former Police Station site, which has remained vacant since its demolition in late November 2013.
The site already holds full planning permission for an office development, however a lack of market certainty and interest in office development has meant the site has sat vacant for over 10 years.
In recent years the site has been subject to fly-tipping and vandalism, but recently, more positively, has been a designated street art location.
The scheme will be considered at a planning meeting on 11 July.
Young East Midlands business talent celebrated
2024’s Generation Next Awards have taken place at a lively ceremony in Derby, showcasing the outstanding achievements of people aged 18-35 across the region.
12 awards were presented, covering a wide range of business areas such as innovation, creativity and customer service at Derby’s vibrant Bustler Market.
The prestigious Future Leader Award went to Emma Sharpe, Head of Services at Menphys. The judges said of Emma: “Aside from being accomplished and dedicated, Emma also represents what it means to be a great leader. Her leadership is embedded in her ethos, and she inspires others by leading through example.”
Other awards issued during the evening included the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award, which went to Laura Till from AMBITION Sports Coaching Ltd. The Rising Star Award, was presented to Scarlet McCourt of trentbarton.
TV presenter and BT Broadcast Journalist Kirsty Shelts hosted the event, while a range of speakers included Generation Next Vice Chair Scarlett Canavan. East Midlands Chamber President Stuart Dawkins addressed the audience at the opening of the ceremony, while High Sheriff of Derbyshire Ian Morgan OBE spoke of the importance of future leaders in the region.
In his speech Stuart Dawkins said: “Generation Next is a community in which to belong, in which to grow. It’s a valuable asset for the East Midlands. I would like to congratulate all the Generation Next Awards winners and all the finalists that got to this stage.”
DJ Beau Jack played an upbeat set to mark the occasion after the awards were announced, while winners and guests interacted among street food stalls, bars and arcade games as they celebrated their success.
Winner of the Future Leader Award, Emma Sharpe said: “I’ve got quite a large team in quite a small organisation so I really have to role model good leadership. It’s really nice that the judges have recognised that. Being someone that really advocates for your team regardless of their position is what makes a good leader, support your team members, care how they are. I’m glad that I’m able to show that. I’m really proud of winning this award.”
Generation Next Lead and East Midlands Chamber Director of Resources Lucy Robinson said: “The level of talent this year among all the winners and entrants was just off the scale. It’s tremendous to see the ingenuity of young people across the East Midlands. Generation Next does wonders in boosting confidence, we hear that all the time from our members, and enabling young people’s business skills to develop is something really special.
“While the country was racing to polling stations to decide who’ll lead it, we were celebrating the brightest-shining future leaders, entrepreneurs and creatives right here in the region, so I’m sure it was a memorable night for them.
“Bustler Market was the perfect place for the ceremony – Generation Next really values the benefits of networking with like-minded young people, so having an informal environment with street food stalls really added to that. I like to think the East Midlands will fare pretty well over the years ahead as the business stars we saw tonight will no doubt make their mark.”
Generation Next Awards 2024 Winners
Apprentice of the Year, sponsored by Loughborough College
- Emily Barnes – Donaldson Filtration GB
- Alistair Bullock – Purpose Media
- Hayley Cousins – Loughborough College
- Stephen Atkinson – Longbow Venues
- David Allerton – SE-LF
- Laura Till – AMBITION Sports Coaching Ltd
- Elizabeth Ashton – Loughborough University
- Longbow Venues
- Scarlet McCourt – trentbarton
- Danielle & Ben Slater – Stephen Eve Financial Planning Ltd
- Joshua Leach-Aslam – Two Chevrons Group / Two Chevrons CIC
- Emma Sharpe – Menphys
Labour wins UK general election
Keir Starmer is set to become the new Prime Minister after a landslide general election win for Labour.
It follows 14 years leading the country for the Conservatives, which saw major losses on election night, while Labour smashed the number of seats required for a majority. The Liberal Democrats also saw significant gains, while Nigel Farage became an MP as leader of Reform UK, and the Greens saw a good performance.
A number of high profile Conservatives saw themselves lose out, including previous Prime Minister Liz Truss, Grant Shapps, Penny Mordaunt, and Jacob Rees-Mogg. Rishi Sunak, however, held his seat in Richmond and Northallerton.
This morning Keir Starmer said to a cheering crowd: “We did it.
“You campaigned for it. You fought for it. You voted for it and now it has arrived. Change begins now.”
Local business leader reactions to follow.
£15m in regeneration funding to be spent across Bolsover District
Bolsover District Council is to spend £15m across the district as councillors agreed at a recent Executive meeting where the Regeneration Fund money would be allocated.
The majority of the money, some £5m, will be spent on public realm improvements in Bolsover town, as well as across key town centres. It will include landscaping and vehicle routes within pedestrian areas; street furniture and signage including high impact visual wayfinding and interpretation; improved welcome entry points; and improvements to open market squares so they become multi-use areas.
£1m has been agreed to improve facades and shop frontages that will help enhance the visual aspect of shops and attract visitors, increasing footfall. The scheme will directly benefit retail or commercial properties and will be delivered in the market towns of Bolsover, Clowne and South Normanton, and be extended to the larger villages of Creswell, Whitwell, Pinxton and Tibshelf.
£4.3m has been allocated to the purchase of and reconfiguration of prominent buildings in Bolsover Town including the former Co-op, former White Swan Public House and 36 and 36a Market Place that will provide creative, business and community facilities in the town.
Pinxton will receive around £700k to refurbish the former Church Hall providing a local community meeting house for community groups, a multi-purpose hall, community café as well as outdoor seating areas and a play area for young children and toddlers.
£4m will be spent in Shirebrook on constructing a Green Skills and Retrofit Skills Centre that will help facilitate training and knowledge transfer of the retrofit green skills and a new Market Place pavilion designed to enhance the visitor experience and encourage further footfall and increasing the amount of time people spend in the market square.
Chief Executive, Karen Hanson said: “When we received notification that this money was place-based, it was agreed to spread it across the district and benefit multiple areas. Places like Whitwell, Tibshelf, Pinxton and Creswell will now see this benefit alongside our major market towns as the projects we have identified and agreed will have a real impact in these areas.
“But it’s not just about enhancing the appearance of the area, it is about providing tangible benefits for businesses and opportunities for our residents where they gain new skills and improve their career prospects which is a key ambition of the Council’s.”
New contractor appointed for stalled Gedling housing development
Jigsaw Homes Midlands has appointed a new contractor to complete the development of 131 affordable homes at Rolleston Drive in Arnold.
Midlands-based Morro Partnerships was appointed following a procurement process and will start work on the scheme from July.
Morro will complete the homes, originally manufactured off site by ilke Homes before the company went into administration, and build the four remaining homes on site.
The Homes England-backed scheme, known as Birch Fields, will have 45 two-bedroom homes, 73 three-bedroom homes and 13 four-bedroom homes and will be available for either shared ownership or affordable rent.
Garnet Fazackerley, Operations Director of Development at Jigsaw Homes Group, said: “This has been an incredibly challenging time following the collapse of ilke Homes in June 2023.
“However, we remained committed and confident that we could find a suitable partner who could complete the scheme and provide much-needed affordable homes and we are delighted to be working with Morro Partnerships to complete this development.
“The homes will have NHBC warranty following stringent quality and compliance checks and will be finished to a high standard as they have been kept watertight and secure since the development stalled.
“We appreciate the patience from Gedling Borough Council, Homes England and local residents as we know this has been a frustrating time for all concerned, but we are now on the right track to deliver new homes for those most in need.”
Giovanni Corbo, Head of Technical and Design at Morro Partnerships, said: “Morro are delighted to have been selected on this project and to be working in partnership with Jigsaw Homes and Gedling Borough Council.
“As a sustainable partnerships’ developer, we are keen to showcase our delivery of affordable homes on this project and complete the homes on this much needed affordable housing scheme, though a modern and sustainable form of build system.
“Morro specialise in the delivery of affordable high efficiency homes developments in the Midlands for Registered Providers and Local Authorities, and our current pipeline of over 2,500 plots will help meet the growing demand for affordable housing across the region.
“We are exciting to be embarking on our first scheme with Jigsaw Homes and are looking forward to working with them on other developments to jointly deliver significant numbers of mixed tenure, highly efficient homes across the region.
“Works will commence on these high-performance modular homes in July 24 with phased handover of plots allowing new residents to occupy the homes within the first few months of our 12-month programme.
“We hope to engage with local subcontractors where possible as part of our sustainability policy.”
Chief Executive of Gedling Borough Council, Mike Hill said: “We’re very pleased to hear that the homes will be completed and we can get families, who have been waiting for such a long time, into these much needed affordable homes.
“This has been a very stressful time for families, and it has also impacted housing waiting lists in the borough, so we look forward to being able to reduce that list and get people out of temporary accommodation.
“We know that this has been an incredibly difficult time for Jigsaw Homes to resolve this exceptionally unfortunate situation and we welcome this news that Morro Partnerships will be delivering these homes for local people.”
The first homes are expected to be completed in October with the whole scheme aiming to complete by September 2025.
Light Science Technologies sees significant progress with “strong revenue growth” and “healthy committed order book”
Derbyshire-based Light Science Technologies Holdings (LSTH), comprising three divisions: controlled environment agriculture (CEA); contract electronics manufacturing (CEM) and passive fire protection (PFP), has hailed “significant progress” in a trading update for the six months ended 31 May 2024.
Revenue for the period is anticipated to be £5.2m, up by approximately 19.3% year-on-year, with consistent growth through all divisions of the business.
Meanwhile, trading is expected to be reported as EBITDA positive (H1 2023: £494,000 EBITDA loss), with comparative group net losses for the period more than halved to £334,000 (H1 2023: loss of £809,000), resulting from an increasingly strong-margin sales mix. During the period, the business focused on continuing solid momentum achieved during FY 2023, with new orders secured across all three divisions and the firm’s commercial development and pipeline progressing strongly. The group’s total quoted sales pipeline currently amounts to over £47m, with a committed orderbook currently worth nearly £5m.Simon Deacon, Chief Executive Officer at LSTH, said: “LSTH entered the period with a strong platform for growth and a realigned cost base having successfully navigated considerable global pressures.
“I am delighted to say that from that base we have seen significant progress – with strong revenue growth and a healthy committed order book, which is expected to increase in the coming months, currently worth nearly £5m, underpinning our goal of becoming an operationally self-funded, cash backed, group.
“As such, we are delighted to see a further reduction in losses, with the Company expected to report a positive EBITDA during the Period, for the first time in its history.
“The addition of Dr Graham Cooley and Richard Mills to our Board has given us an enormous pool of experience from which we can draw and has already had an impact on both our sales pipeline and corporate activity.
“In conjunction, we’ve seen improving performances across our divisions. PFP is now adding meaningful revenues, CEM has expanded into new markets, and CEA is strengthening through international partnerships and Tomtech revenues, more of which will also be recognised in H2.
“We aim to continue this trend and build on the strong start we’ve seen to the second half of our financial year. The Board expects to see continued momentum in PFP and CEM, and further international expansion of the CEA division.”
Panthers partner with Nottingham Trent University
A new partnership between the Nottingham Panthers and Nottingham Trent University will see Panthers players attend Nottingham Business School (NBS) to study a postgraduate degree.
NBS holds three globally recognised hallmarks of excellence and quality for business education, from EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA, putting it in the top one per cent of business schools in the world.
Panthers CEO, Omar Pacha, said: “We are very proud to be linking-up with Nottingham Trent University. It is a top-class university and Nottingham Business School is known throughout the world.
“We’re very lucky to have them in Nottingham and they put our city on the map. At the Panthers, we understand the value of being ambassadors in the city and it was important to team-up with someone who shares the same values and has a base in Nottingham.
“Having this deal with the University is a great tool in attracting high-calibre players to the Panthers. It’s great to have Hugo (Roy) and Matt (Spencer) as the first two players on courses at the Nottingham Business School.
“I have been lucky enough to visit the University and the facilities are simply outstanding. It’s clear that it’s a great environment for students to study in. I’d like to thank Baback and the team at Nottingham Business School for making this possible and we look forward to working with them very closely.”
Executive Dean of Nottingham Business School, Professor Baback Yazdani, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming Panthers’ representatives to NBS where they will each receive a personalised learning experience tailored to their ambition.
“Our triple crown accreditation means that they will enter the next stage of their career with a qualification which is internationally recognised as excellent and they will be acknowledged by employers as top talent in business as well as ice hockey.”
Loughborough University partners with MIT’s Center for Transportation and Logistics in UK first
Loughborough University has partnered with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Center for Transportation and Logistics (MIT CTL) to be the first UK member of its Global Supply Chain and Logistics Excellence (SCALE) Network.
The union will offer an exclusive Master’s degree program for hundreds of students each year, with time divided between both Loughborough and Massachusetts, in the United States.
The centre itself will focus on research and working with industry and will join the established SCALE Network which is already operating around the world in countries such as Spain, Luxembourg, China and Colombia.
Professor Jan Godsell, Dean of Loughborough Business School, said: “The UK is a small island so we have to think very carefully about how we ensure everybody in our country has access to the things that they need, when they need them, at a price that they can afford.
“The centre will be the go-to place to develop the next generation of supply chain talent.
“We’re bringing our expertise, particularly around the circular economy and also digitisation – and at its core is a flagship MSc program in supply chain, which involves time in Boston at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and an MIT certificate as well as a Loughborough degree.”
Loughborough’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Nick Jennings added: “Our partnership with MIT CTL really helps put us on a global stage – it’s a great partnership with a world-class university.”
The endeavour marks a significant expansion of the network, an international alliance of leading research and education centres dedicated to driving supply chain and logistics innovation through global collaboration.
With the inclusion of Loughborough University, the MIT Global SCALE Network now comprises six Centres of Excellence across four continents. These centres pool their expertise and collaborate on research projects that address real-world supply chain and logistics challenges, helping companies worldwide navigate an increasingly complex business environment.
“Loughborough University’s exceptional research capabilities and commitment to supply chain innovation make it a valuable addition to the MIT Global SCALE Network,” said Professor Yossi Sheffi, Director of MIT CTL. “Their expertise will enhance our collective ability to create cutting-edge solutions and educate the next generation of supply chain leaders.”
Loughborough University will join the network alongside existing centres: MIT CTL, the Zaragoza Logistics Center (ZLC, Spain), the Center for Latin-American Logistics Innovation (CLI, Colombia), the Luxembourg Centre for Logistics and Supply Chain Management (LCL), and the Ningbo China Institute for Supply Chain Innovation (NISCI).
The four university centres (MIT, ZLC, LCL, and NISCI) offer their own master’s programs, while CLI offers a Graduate Certificate in Logistics and Supply Chain Management (GCLOG). Together, these centres offer a comprehensive curriculum in supply chain management, fostering a global community of bold thinkers from both industry and academia.
“Joining the MIT Global SCALE Network is a tremendous opportunity for Loughborough University,” said Professor Ken Lee, Director of Postgraduate studies at Loughborough Business School. “I am particularly excited at the opportunity for our students to experience the unique MIT culture and interact with inspiring faculty and research during their time in Boston.”
The MIT Global SCALE Network was established in 2003 with the inauguration of the Zaragoza Logistics Center in Spain. Since then, it has expanded to include centres in Colombia, Luxembourg, China, and now the United Kingdom. The network supports over a dozen educational programs, engages more than 80 researchers and faculty, partners with 150 corporations, and boasts an alumni network of over 1,200 professionals worldwide.
Organisations partnering with the MIT Global SCALE Network gain access to expertise, innovative research, and a unique forum for knowledge exchange, while the network’s centres and students benefit from rich industry engagement and collaborative opportunities.
