"United Nations
World Creativity and Innovation Day
21 April
Creativity and innovation in problem-solving
There may be no universal understanding of creativity. The concept is open to interpretation from artistic expression to problem-solving in the context of economic, social and sustainable development. Therefore, the United Nations designated 21 April as World Creativity and Innovation Day to raise the awareness of the role of creativity and innovation in all aspects of human development. ...
Growth through green innovation
Achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 SDGs - the most ambitious development agenda in human history – requires both creativity and innovation. Green technologies – those used to produce goods and services with smaller carbon footprints – are growing and providing increasing economic opportunities but many developing countries could miss them without decisive action. Through its Technology and Innovation Report 2023, UNCTAD calls on governments to align environmental, science, technology, innovation and industrial policies."
https://www.un.org/en/observances/zero-waste-day
Today, i.e. World Creativity and Innovation Day 2024, is a day just made for Newmark Security - "The Innovators of Security":-
"The Innovators of Security
For over 25 years, Newmark has empowered organisations to create secure environments for their people.
We design and manufacture physical security products, intelligent access control, timekeeping, and identity management solutions delivered seamlessly through the cloud.
Listed on AIM, we consistently invest in innovation to ensure our technology meets the evolving needs of our blue-chip customers. Operating out of the UK and US, our subsidiaries Safetell and Grosvenor Technology are strategically positioned to capitalise on the rising global demand for security and data protection.
Safe. Seamless. Secure. It’s the Newmark way."
https://newmarksecurity.com/
15th Apr 2024 4:41 pm RNS Notice of AGM
"Aura Renewable Acquisitions plc announces that it has today sent its Annual Report and Financial Statements for the period ended 31 December 2023 (the "Annual Report 2023") and its Notice of Annual General Meeting (the "Notice") to shareholders.
The Company's second Annual General Meeting will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, 15 May 2024 at the offices of CFPro Cosec Limited, First floor, Holborn Gate, 330 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7QH.
In accordance with Listing Rule 9.6.1R, copies of the following documents will soon be submitted to the Financial Conduct Authority's National Storage Mechanism and will shortly be available for inspection at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism.
- Annual Report and Accounts 2023; and
- Notice of Annual General Meeting.
Publication on website
Copies of the Annual Report 2023 and the Notice of Annual General Meeting are available on the Company's website at https://aurarenewables.com/. "
https://www.lse.co.uk/rns/ARA/notice-of-agm-xfra62u3x4zdzfk.html
"Building a Technology Ecosystem: What You Need to Know
... You’re looking for tools that interact seamlessly — that know how to communicate. ..."
"Apple ecosystem
... Privacy is also considered a major perk of the ecosystem, as Apple markets its products with high standards of privacy, sometimes using it as a selling point over competitors. ..."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_ecosystem
So two key desideratum of a tech ecosystem are seamlessness & data privacy-security.
And these two traits are at the core of Newmark's products-services ethos, as set out right at the top of the company's home page:-
"Safe, Seamless, Secure.
Helping organisations protect human capital in safe work spaces, with secure cloud control of access, timekeeping, and identity data."
https://newmarksecurity.com/
And from Newmark's 2023 final results presentation, Sept. 2023:-
"Safe spaces, Seamless operations, Secure data."
So if the future belongs to ecosystems, then Newmark's prospects must be married to a very powerful momentum:-
From the inside front cover of Newmark's 2023 annual report & accounts, September 2023:-
"Our mission is to protect human capital in safe spaces by creating trusted ecosystems in the workplace using best-in-class security products enabled by SaaS based cloud control and enterprise-class services.
With our 2025 strategy firmly in focus, we continue to take bold steps to achieving our goals, demonstrating resilience to global impacts, a long-term sustainable business model and a strong will to win.
Marie-Claire Dwek, CEO"
https://newmarksecurity.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Newmark-Annual-Report-30-April-2023.pdf
https://newmarksecurity.com/investor-relations/reports-and-presentations/
And from Newmark's September 2023 final results statement:-
26th Sep 2023 7:00 am RNS Final Results
" ... Last year's innovation efforts, in particular the development and adaptation of products and services aimed at generating increasing and new recurring revenues, has produced extremely positive results.
Specifically, the launch of GT Connect has enabled us to begin to realise our vision to create larger trusted ecosystems in the workplace that more broadly connect security device hardware with our secure cloud services, including Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) tablets and third-party products that greatly extend the reach of our solutions.
This key software enhancement enables us to push forward with our strategy, executing with a collective focus to attach services to all our products and this is yielding a dramatic increase in the recurring proportion of our revenues, creating a critical foundation and with much further growth to come. ..."
https://www.lse.co.uk/rns/NWT/final-results-s32ymd0rnewx4w0.html
"The Future Belongs To Ecosystems
... • Coopetition Opens The Door To New Markets: Open solutions enable companies to partner in areas where they would otherwise never be able to play. This allows solutions to expand to new customer bases and new markets, fitting your offering for a new purpose.
Today’s consumers are looking for the solutions that can help them grow, improve and meet business goals and evolving industry dynamics. For example, M&A activity isn’t slowing down, and companies that are open and can easily integrate with other solutions are going to gain a competitive advantage. That’s because end-user organizations don’t want to completely reinvent their systems when one solution they’re using gets acquired. Successful solution providers are willing to integrate and co-mingle their offerings with others to deliver this value.
My company recently introduced the Open Voice Transcription Standard (OVTS), which allows organizations to use their preferred or existing speech recognition vendor within our platform. For example, South Africa has 11 official languages. Organizations in that region — or those expanding there — can easily ingest any language that is relevant to their customers by leveraging local, language-specific vendors. It doesn’t matter to us where that data comes from, just that it’s in the right format. This interoperability isn’t just for our benefit — it’s about helping organizations embrace the power of open enterprise applications.
Another example is the Session Recording Protocol (SIPREC), which is an open SIP-based protocol for call recording. The standard allows copies of phone calls from connected SBCs to be routed to organizations for recording or analytics. Similarly, HTML 5 is a standard that is embraced by browser makers so that third parties can extend the functionality of browsers within a standard so that all browsers can be supported for an application.
These type of standards and protocols are the backbone of today’s emerging and expanding ecosystems.
Successful business ecosystems benefit everyone involved. By expanding products, services and capabilities through cooperation and collaboration, enterprises create solutions based on true customer needs, rather than system availability. Additionally, ecosystems allow organizations to broaden their reach into different markets.
I believe that the future of enterprise technology is rooted in ecosystems. Long gone are the days when vendors could operate in silos. My hope is that more companies will lean into openness — it doesn’t just deliver better solutions for customers; it also opens up previously untapped opportunities for them."
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2021/07/23/the-future-belongs-to-ecosystems/?sh=63492cbc5b2a
"The Future Belongs To Ecosystems
Forbes Technology Council
Jeff Gallino Forbes Councils Member
Forbes Technology Council COUNCIL POST| Membership (Fee-Based)
Jul 23, 2021, 09:10am EDT
CTO and Founder at CallMiner. Responsible for strategic direction across business development, research and artificial intelligence.
In our digitally disrupted world, driving success requires more than developing a strong solution alone. It’s not only what your product can do, but also who you partner or integrate with. After all, having agile, responsive and open technology is crucial to gaining and keeping a strategic advantage.
The walled garden of monolithic, enterprise offerings is simply too siloed in this environment of broad choices. The future of business belongs to ecosystems.
Open solutions, capable of interacting and interoperating with multiple vendors and third parties, allow for the creation of new ecosystems. I consider an ecosystem an interacting network of providers, suppliers, distributors and competitors that understand the value of and are committed to interoperability. When an ecosystem thrives, it’s because its shareholders streamline the flow of data, services, ideas or capital.
This enables organizations to select the product or solution that works best for their unique needs, without worrying whether it will negatively impact other technology investments. When products or solutions work seamlessly together in a technology stack, it enables organizations to be more innovative and successful.
When most people think of technology ecosystems today, companies like Google and Amazon come to mind. They’re establishing what I call a DIY ecosystem — they supply the components and frameworks, and others (like Solution Integrators) put it together for enterprises or enterprises do it themselves.
But ecosystems are more than DIY. We’re also seeing emerging technology ecosystems that encompass complementary and even competing solutions, all working together to make it easier for organizations to use and benefit from a diverse tech stack.
Technology ecosystems make the following scenarios possible:
• Creates Stickier Solutions: It all comes down to choice, and people want it their way. By interoperating with a range of competing and non-competing technologies, you create new opportunities for wider target buyers who are interested in purchasing just a slice of the workflow at the enterprise level. Open solutions allow this a-la-carte approach, so customers of all sizes can benefit from a particular product without leaving their current ecosystem.
• Lowers The Barrier For Entry: The power of open source levels the playing field for companies both big and small. It offers a neutral environment that fuels and allows companies to innovate and evolve. ..."
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2021/07/23/the-future-belongs-to-ecosystems/?sh=63492cbc5b2a
From the HubSpot.com website:-
"Building a Technology Ecosystem: What You Need to Know
Learn More About HubSpot Operations Hub Software
Luna Campos Published: October 31, 2023
Your technology ecosystem is an indispensable part of daily business operations. You already know that no single app or platform can comprehensively address all organizational needs. That’s where the technology ecosystem comes into play. Think of your technology ecosystem as the fundamental infrastructure of your business operations ...
What is a technology ecosystem?
The term “technology ecosystem” can mean multiple things. If you Google it, you’ll probably come across a variety of definitions. The term can describe the tech scene in a physical location, like London or San Francisco. Or, in the context of this article, a technology ecosystem is the collection of tech solutions a company uses to run its business, and how these solutions connect with each other. This is the definition we’ll be working with here.
The reason we call it an ecosystem — as opposed to just “collection of apps” or “app stack,” for example — is because the term “ecosystem” describes not only what tools you’re using, but also how they interact with one another. The term “ecosystem” was first used in the field of ecology to describe a community of living organisms, factors, and elements — such as plants, animals, soil, climate, etc. — and how every one of these elements are linked together.
That same principle can be applied to your technology ecosystem: The key is to figure out how all the elements in it work together. The most successful technology ecosystems are integrated in real time, enabling you to build more functionalities onto your core tools and expand its uses. You’re looking for tools that interact seamlessly — that know how to communicate. Ultimately, that communication translates to effective collaboration between different departments in your organization.
For example, let’s say you run an online pet supplies store. You sell things like pet food, treats, toys, beds, accessories, cat litter, dog harnesses, etc. You likely need an ecommerce tool to run your business, as well as a payment gateway to process customer payments, an accounting tool to keep track of your business finances, an email marketing app to send out newsletters, a CRM tool as a database for your customer data … and the list goes on. These tools are all part of your company’s technology ecosystem. ...
Your business needs are what matter most.
The best apps and integration for you won’t necessarily be the most popular, expensive, or comprehensive ones. Make sure to adjust your tech ecosystem until it fits you just right, and it will help you exceed your goals and boost your performance. With the right apps for you and the right integrations between them, you’ll be in the best position to run your business as smoothly as possible."
"Why Warren Buffett invested in Apple - and it’s still paying off
Published 3 November 2023
Tom Stevenson
Fidelity International
... Three years ago, in an interview with Yahoo, Buffett said of Apple: “I just think of the utility of those products to an ecosystem that is demographically terrific and finds that instrument useful dozens and dozens of times a day. It’s almost indispensable, not only to individuals, business, I mean, everything.” ..."
https://www.fidelity.co.uk/markets-insights/investing-ideas/investing-ideas/why-warren-buffett-invested-in-apple-and-its-still-paying-off/
"Apple ecosystem"
"From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Apple ecosystem is a term used to describe Apple Inc.'s digital ecosystem of products, including the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, HomePod etc.[1] It is often praised for its seamless integration and optimization between various networks of devices, software and services,[2] and is largely emphasized by Apple's focus on privacy,[3][4] but criticized for its closed system and lack of consumer control.[5][6]
Apple products often unlock extra features when paired with other Apple products, as opposed to alternatives.[7] Privacy is also considered a major perk of the ecosystem, as Apple markets its products with high standards of privacy, sometimes using it as a selling point over competitors.[8][9][10][11]
"Walled garden"
See also: Closed platform
Apple's ecosystem is often described as a walled garden.[12][13] While peripherals such as AirPods, HomePods and AirTags integrate complementarily into the ecosystem, with products such as the iPhone, it does not function as well or with as many features with competitive devices such as Android smartphones.[7] Also, it is not easy to switch from the ecosystem once users have immersed themselves into it, as it is designed to keep users from leaving.[5][6]"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_ecosystem
So Warren Buffett was attracted by Apple's digital-technological 'ecosystem' ... and has been rewarded handsomely for his insight.
Which suggests that such 'ecosystems' can be a very good business model for investors to look out for.
(N.B. This type of technology products-services ecosystem is distinct from a technology business-investment ecosystem - the latter being e.g. a network of organisations and individuals involved in funding development-stage tech companies.)
8th Apr 2024 7:00 am RNS Final Results
" ... - In the UK, the Electricity System Operator emphasised the importance of wind power as it unveiled in March 2024 a £58 billion investment in the electricity grid to decarbonise power while meeting growing energy demand by 2035.
- On 27 March 2024 the UK electricity regulator Ofgem announced a £3.4 billion funding package for a proposed 2GW 'electricity superhighway' between Scotland and Yorkshire, to help harness the potential of Britain's offshore wind, powering up to 2 million homes.
- Also in March 2024, the UK Government announced initiatives to improve energy market efficiency, while further investments in renewable energy transmission and distribution have been announced by both SP Energy Networks and ScottishPower. Meanwhile, demand for both solar PV and heat pump small-scale installations has risen substantially.
Against this highly positive background, our investment horizon is wide within our chosen sector, and we will continue to assess and qualify what we believe to be value accretive opportunities wherever they arise. When our ongoing evaluation and investigation result in the potential for a transaction, the Company will give the market appropriate notice.
John Croft, the Chairman of Aura commented:
"The ongoing economic and political uncertainty caused by supply chain issues, inflation, interest rate rises, hostilities in Europe and further afield, continued to restrict capital market activity during 2023. However, early signs of interest rate reductions on the back of lower inflation figures should have a positive impact on markets. We remain confident that the renewable energy sector will offer excellent opportunities for acquisitive and organic growth and are committed to ensure that the Company and its stakeholders have the chance to share in these opportunities. We believe our strategic approach to finding the right transaction, while closely controlling overheads will prove successful."
Publication on website
A copy of this announcement is also available on the Company's website at http://www.aurarenewables.com.
Enquiries
Aura Renewable Acquisitions Plc
John Croft (Non-Executive Chairman) 07785 315588
Robin Stevens (Non-Executive Director) 07787 112059
Media enquiries
Allerton Communications
Peter Curtain 020 3633 1730
aurarenewables@allertoncomms.co.uk "
https://www.lse.co.uk/rns/ARA/final-results-8v6yjp6nfm3suyk.html
8th Apr 2024 7:00 am RNS Final Results
"8 April 2024 - Aura Renewable Acquisitions plc, a UK-based company whose objective is to build shareholder value by investing in the global renewable energy supply chain, announces its results for the year ended 31 December 2023.
The Company has continued to seek suitable acquisition and investment targets while operating with minimal overheads following its admission to the Standard Segment of the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange in April 2022, raising gross proceeds of £1,000,000 from a placing and subscription. In the year to 31 December 2023, the Company incurred a loss before taxation of £153,000 (2022: £236,000). At 31 December 2023, the Company retained cash resources of £661,000 (2022: £809,000).
Aura was established to acquire then act as the holding company for targeted businesses operating in the Global Renewable Energy Sector Supply Chain, particularly participants in the battery, wind, solar, biomass, hydropower, carbon capture, waste management, smart grids and green hydrogen supply chain, and their sub-sectors. These potential targets could range from raw materials resourcing to power generation, energy storage and recycling.
During the year the board has met and assessed potential acquisition targets in the UK and overseas while maintaining close connections with potential business introducers from within the Board's professional and business networks. By reinforcing the board's intentions and objectives to these potential introducers of opportunities, we have maintained a pipeline of potentially significant targets and held early and encouraging discussions with a number of companies in a range of sectors and jurisdictions.
Internationally, governments and policy makers continue to affirm their collective commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy in order to limit climate change - while seeking to balance energy sustainability, affordability and security. By way of example:
- In March 2024 the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the International Energy Agency underlined their joint approach to addressing climate change.
- As announced in November 2023, the EU contributed €28.5 billion in climate finance from public sources and mobilised a further €11.9 billion of private finance in 2022 to support developing countries in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change.
- The United States government remains engaged in multiple sectors to meet its climate goals, its Inflation Reduction Act delivering large emission reductions at manageable cost. ..."
https://www.lse.co.uk/rns/ARA/final-results-8v6yjp6nfm3suyk.html
On International Day of Zero Waste 2024, it's worth reflecting on the huge investment implications of the move towards net zero.
From Hargreaves Lansdown "Investment Times", Issue 157 - winter 2023-2024:-
"The mega-trends driving 2024 and beyond"
"Transition to net zero
Net zero is going to drive a lot of investment. Whether we reach it or not, there's enough legislation in place already in major economies to ensure that a lot of things are going to change.
Power generation is decarbonising, which means new grids must be built. Total generation capacity needs to rise to allow electricity to replace fossil fuels from transport systems.
We'll need vast amounts of minerals and metals to enable electrification. There are legitimate questions as to whether this is physically possible with the resources we currently have. And battery technology needs to make some huge leaps before it can enable renewables to truly fulfil the central role they must play in a decarbonised economy.
Every industrial process, every day-to-day activity will need to be re-engineered to reduce energy intensity and material consumption to even get close to net zero.
These are huge challenges, but present huge opportunities.
As carbon intensity falls, efficiencies will rise, which has never been a bad thing for business. Of course, there will be losers along the way. Carbon pricing will punish the inefficient and create competitive advantage for the best of breed players in every sector.
Insulating portfolios from carbon pricing is a core challenge for funds. Our focus on capital-light, IP and technology-rich businesses in the HL Select portfolios means they have below average carbon intensity, which should stand us in good stead".
[N.B. The H.L. article identified just three mega-trends, with net zero being the first. The other two were artificial intelligence (AI) and more technology on the road.]
The quotation at the end of my previous post was a Cree prophecy.
"United Nations
International Day of Zero Waste
30 March
Addressing the waste crisis
Humanity’s unsustainable production and consumption practices are driving the planet towards destruction.
Households, small businesses and public service providers generate between 2.1 billion and 2.3 billion tons of municipal solid waste every year – from packaging and electronics to plastics and food. However, global waste management services are ill-equipped to handle this, with 2.7 billion people lacking access to solid waste collection and only 61–62 per cent of municipal solid waste being managed in controlled facilities. Humanity must act urgently to address the waste crisis.
The second annual International Day of Zero Waste highlights both the critical need to bolster waste management globally and the importance of sustainable production and consumption practices. It celebrates zero-waste initiatives at all levels, which contribute to the advancement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Bolstering waste management and upstream solutions
Improving collection, recycling and other forms of sound waste management remain an urgent priority.
But to solve the waste crisis, humanity must treat waste as a resource. This entails reducing waste generation and following the lifecycle approach. Resources should be reused or recovered as much as possible, and products should be designed to be durable and require fewer and low-impact materials. Upstream solutions like these can minimize pollution of air, land, and water and decrease the extraction of precious and limited natural resources.
Achieving zero-waste societies requires action at all levels from all stakeholders.
Consumers can change consumption habits and reuse and repair products as much as possible before properly disposing of them. Governments, communities, industries and other stakeholders must improve financing and policymaking, especially as the waste crisis disproportionately impacts the marginalized, urban poor, women and youth. ..."
https://www.un.org/en/observances/zero-waste-day
"Only after the last tree has been cut down.
Only after the last river has been poisoned.
Only after the last fish has been caught.
Only then will you find that money cannot be eaten."
And secondly, Newmark is taking a leading role in helping OTHERS to reduce their carbon footprints.
From February 2020, re Grosvenor Technology:-
"... We build products that last and platforms that can reduce a building’s energy consumption. ...
For all products we carefully consider how power consumption can be minimized during the design, influencing the choice of components and architecture. ... we have a strong track record of maintaining compatibility with our legacy products so as software moves on there is no necessity to replace existing hardware. ..."
Newmark also has a 'repair-not-replace' ethos for autodoor servicing:-
26th Sep 2023 7:00 am RNS Final Results
" ... Our record in repairing and upgrading customer doors rather than replacing them has continued to be an advantage. ..."
https://www.lse.co.uk/rns/NWT/final-results-s32ymd0rnewx4w0.html
And automatic doors are also an intrinsically more sustainable option, for several reasons:-
"WHY AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOORS ARE GOOD FOR COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES?
... A sustainable solution ...
Glazing options ...
Open up your space ...
Enhance natural light ...
Compact operation ..."
https://insights.safetell.co.uk/why-automatic-sliding-doors-are-good-for-commercial-properties
In addition, Newmark's products and services in general also promote overall efficiency and productivity:-
"But we don’t just stop at security. We understand that every business seeks to create an environment in which it can operate more efficiently and with greater levels of productivity. That’s why we strive to provide our clients with smart, safe, and secure workspaces that not only protect their people and assets, but also promote efficiency and productivity."
https://newmarksecurity.com/about/
Including from the advanced data insights provided by its access control and HCM (human capital management) systems:-
"This trend aligns with the broader growth of big data analytics, illustrating the increasing need for solutions that go beyond securing doors to providing operational insights."
http://newmarksecurity.com/insights/security-trends-to-watch-in-2024/
"The enhanced reporting and analytics that our HCM devices provide allow an organisation deeper insight into the aspects of their business that support strategic growth."
http://www.grosvenortechnology.com/human-capital-management/
In conclusion, Newmark has very long-standing and strong commitment to sustainability, both for itself and for enabling others, and it looks to be an absolute exemplar in its commitment to green best practice.
And as such it should be a top choice for investors seeking great investment returns while supporting net zero objectives.
"Safetell Commits to Carbon Reduction with Achilles Certification
... Safetell is currently participating in the Achilles Carbon Certification Programme, a global initiative that helps businesses reduce their carbon footprint and improve their sustainability performance.
Focusing on areas such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, waste management, and transport, the benefits of the certification include improved operational efficiency, reduced costs, improved public perception, and improved brand reputation.
Specifically, the programme aids businesses in the following ways:
• Measuring greenhouse gas emissions
• Managing and reducing emissions at the source
• Verifying inventory
• Mitigating carbon footprints
The Achilles Carbon Certification Programme also helps organisations to meet their environmental targets, increase their competitive advantage and gain recognition for their sustainability efforts. ...
Customer relationships
One of the primary benefits of carbon reduction for businesses is improved customer relationships. Customers are more aware than ever of the environmental impact of businesses, and want to work with companies taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint. By reducing carbon emissions, we are signposting our commitment to a cleaner environment and our status as a responsible partner and supplier.
In addition to improving customer relationships, reducing a business’s carbon footprint can also help to attract new businesses. Companies wanting to partner with new vendors often look for those who share their commitment to sustainability. By reducing their carbon footprint, we are not only demonstrating their commitment to the environment, but also our commitment to responsible decisions.
We’re also seeing a commitment to carbon reduction becoming a vital part of the tendering process. Private and public businesses understand how important reducing carbon footprints is, so we increasingly have to demonstrate our commitment to carbon reduction when bidding on new projects.
Saving money and energy
Carbon reduction is an important method for businesses to reduce their energy use and save money ..."
http://newmarksecurity.com/insights/safetell-commits-to-carbon-reduction-with-achilles-certification/
So what part is Newmark playing in this 'green revolution'?
Well firstly, Newmark is taking a leading role in reducing its OWN carbon footprint.
From February 2020, re Grosvenor Technology:-
"... Fundamental to the system architecture design of any product is the ability to monitor, diagnose and remedy issues remotely. This reduces and offer negates the need for unnecessary engineer site attendance and related carbon emissions. ...
With both staff and customers throughout the world, travel is an inevitable part of doing business. As well as choosing rail travel where possible, we have recently invested in improved online business communication tools further reducing fossil fuel consumption.
... We have recently launched an internal project to investigate energy efficiency at every level within our business. We are reviewing all vendors and analyzing the footprint of our entire supply chain. Finally, for now, we are researching an offsetting program connected to our industry and would welcome engagement from local organizations looking for support in this endeavor."
And from the spring of 2023:-
"Insights
Safetell Commits to Carbon Reduction with Achilles Certification
Newmark Security is taking a leading role in reducing its carbon footprint, with its subsidiary business Safetell committing to the Achilles Carbon Certification Programme.
As the world becomes more interconnected, businesses are increasingly evaluated on their sustainability approach and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Once something of a fringe consideration, they have become a primary focus for companies to remain competitive, attract and retain talent, drive innovation, and build brand loyalty.
Newmark Security knows how important it is to implement and maintain high standards of CSR and always looks at how we can be in constant improvement mode regarding sustainability. That runs throughout the whole business, right from the leadership of Newmark to our subsidiary businesses, Safetell and Grosvenor Technology. ..."
http://newmarksecurity.com/insights/safetell-commits-to-carbon-reduction-with-achilles-certification/
On International Day of Zero Waste 2024, it's worth reflecting on the huge investment implications of the move towards net zero.
And on the impressive 'Nwt zero' part that Newmark is playing in this process.
From Hargreaves Lansdown "Investment Times", Issue 157 - winter 2023-2024:-
"The mega-trends driving 2024 and beyond"
"Transition to net zero
Net zero is going to drive a lot of investment. Whether we reach it or not, there's enough legislation in place already in major economies to ensure that a lot of things are going to change.
Power generation is decarbonising, which means new grids must be built. Total generation capacity needs to rise to allow electricity to replace fossil fuels from transport systems.
We'll need vast amounts of minerals and metals to enable electrification. There are legitimate questions as to whether this is physically possible with the resources we currently have. And battery technology needs to make some huge leaps before it can enable renewables to truly fulfil the central role they must play in a decarbonised economy.
Every industrial process, every day-to-day activity will need to be re-engineered to reduce energy intensity and material consumption to even get close to net zero.
These are huge challenges, but present huge opportunities.
As carbon intensity falls, efficiencies will rise, which has never been a bad thing for business. Of course, there will be losers along the way. Carbon pricing will punish the inefficient and create competitive advantage for the best of breed players in every sector.
Insulating portfolios from carbon pricing is a core challenge for funds. Our focus on capital-light, IP and technology-rich businesses in the HL Select portfolios means they have below average carbon intensity, which should stand us in good stead".
[N.B. The H.L. article identified just three mega-trends, with net zero being the first. The other two were artificial intelligence (AI) and more technology on the road.]
"United Nations
International Day of Zero Waste
30 March
Addressing the waste crisis
Humanity’s unsustainable production and consumption practices are driving the planet towards destruction.
Households, small businesses and public service providers generate between 2.1 billion and 2.3 billion tons of municipal solid waste every year – from packaging and electronics to plastics and food. However, global waste management services are ill-equipped to handle this, with 2.7 billion people lacking access to solid waste collection and only 61–62 per cent of municipal solid waste being managed in controlled facilities. Humanity must act urgently to address the waste crisis.
The second annual International Day of Zero Waste highlights both the critical need to bolster waste management globally and the importance of sustainable production and consumption practices. It celebrates zero-waste initiatives at all levels, which contribute to the advancement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Bolstering waste management and upstream solutions
Improving collection, recycling and other forms of sound waste management remain an urgent priority.
But to solve the waste crisis, humanity must treat waste as a resource. This entails reducing waste generation and following the lifecycle approach. Resources should be reused or recovered as much as possible, and products should be designed to be durable and require fewer and low-impact materials. Upstream solutions like these can minimize pollution of air, land, and water and decrease the extraction of precious and limited natural resources.
Achieving zero-waste societies requires action at all levels from all stakeholders.
Consumers can change consumption habits and reuse and repair products as much as possible before properly disposing of them. Governments, communities, industries and other stakeholders must improve financing and policymaking, especially as the waste crisis disproportionately impacts the marginalized, urban poor, women and youth. ..."
https://www.un.org/en/observances/zero-waste-day
"Only after the last tree has been cut down.
Only after the last river has been poisoned.
Only after the last fish has been caught.
Only then will you find that money cannot be eaten."
Cree prophecy
"United Nations
International Day of Happiness
20 March
What is the International Day of Happiness?
It’s a day to be happy, of course! Happiness is a fundamental human goal. The United Nations General Assembly recognizes this goal and calls for “a more inclusive, equitable and balanced approach to economic growth that promotes the happiness and well-being of all peoples.”
Governments and international organizations should invest in conditions that support happiness by upholding human rights and incorporating well-being and environmental dimensions into policy frameworks, such as the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The effectiveness of governments in upholding peace and social order, as well as in the fields of taxation, legal institutions and delivery of public services, strongly correlates with average life satisfaction.
The United Nations invites each person of any age, plus every classroom, business and government to join in celebration of the International Day of Happiness. ..."
https://www.un.org/en/observances/happiness-day
"Nations Unies
Journée de la langue française
20 mars
Le 20 mars, l'ONU célèbre la Journée de la langue française
Les Journées des langues aux Nations Unies ont été introduites en 2010 pour célébrer le multilinguisme et la diversité culturelle. ..."
https://www.un.org/fr/observances/french-language-day/
Bang a gong! - It's TWO special UN international days today!
So sensibly, I will try to (New)Mark BOTH of them:-
VOULEZ-VOUS COMPRA NEWMARK AVEC MOI?!
ABBA - "Voulez-Vous"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65k36nvwbYA
Captain Sensible - "Happy Talk"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPt8uTX9loY
TIKTOK IN AMERICA: 'THE TIME CLOCK IS TICK TOCKING'
"US House passes bill that could ban TikTok nationwide
4 days ago
By Bernd Debusmann, Matt Murphy & Natalie Sherman
BBC News, in Congress, Washington DC & New York
The US House of Representatives has passed a landmark bill that could see TikTok banned in America.
It would give the social media giant's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, six months to sell its controlling stake or the app would be blocked in the US.
While the bill passed overwhelmingly in a bipartisan vote, it still needs to clear the Senate and be signed by the president to become law.
Lawmakers have long held concerns about China's influence over TikTok.
TikTok is owned by Chinese company ByteDance, founded in 2012. ...
Mike Gallagher, a Wisconsin Republican who co-authored the bill, said the US could not "take the risk of having a dominant news platform in America controlled or owned by a company that is beholden to the Chinese Communist Party".
Chinese companies are subject to a national security law requiring them to share data with the government on request. ..."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68556540
So similar to Martyn's Law in the UK, national security concerns should also help NWT's HCM (human capital management) business in the USA:-
dab808 Posts: 235 Price: 92.50 No Opinion
RE: Buffett: He Says HeSaaS 12 Mar 2024 11:59
"... The software and clocks approach with licences was the game changer ... The reseller model here is our big play, distribution is coming from partners confident in the product. It does the job and partners and customers are happy. Disruption is also hard (particularly as the Chinese product isn't liked in the US)..."
https://www.lse.co.uk/ShareChat.html?ShareTicker=NWT&share=Newmark-Security
The American moves against TikTok should magnify US wariness of Chinese tech in general, especially that involving sensitive data, like modern time clocks.
Far from paying to have a Chinese alternative, many US companies might prefer to pay NOT to have it, in view of the potential risks: including potential future regulation that could hit it.
This further reduces the risk of commodification.
And the fact that Grosvenor Technology is a British company must be a particular advantage in their American expansion.
Especially as the British-American 'Special Relationship' has been underscored recently by the combined UK-US military actions to combat Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.
In addition, Americans tend to view British hardware as a mark of quality ... rather like we Brits view Swiss watches, Belgian chocolates, etc.
"Delivering confidence in business intelligence
... With leading global businesses trusting Grosvenor Technology to manage and maintain even the most sensitive data, you can be confident that your tech can support operational control needs. ..."
http://www.grosvenortechnology.com/human-capital-management/
MARTYN'S LAW: THE CLOCK IS TICKING
"Open consultation
Martyn's Law: standard tier consultation
From: Home Office
Published 5 February 2024"
"Summary
We are consulting on the requirements imposed on standard tier premises under the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill.
This consultation closes at
11:59pm on 18 March 2024"
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/martyns-law-standard-tier-consultation
"Protect Duty Update
Statement made on 5 February 2024"
"Statement made by
Tom Tugendhat
The Minister of State for Security
Conservative"
"... The Government reaffirmed its commitment to introduce this important piece of legislation in the King’s Speech on 7 November 2023.
" ... Following an 18-week public consultation on proposals in 2021, the Government confirmed its intention to bring forward the Bill in December 2022. To ensure the measures can meaningfully enhance public safety whilst remaining proportionate, we requested the Home Affairs Select Committee (HASC) conduct pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Bill, which was published in May 2023. ..."
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2024-02-05/hcws240
"Martyn’s Law: Safeguarding public spaces with comprehensive security"
https://newmarksecurity.com/insights/martyns-law-safeguarding-public-spaces-with-comprehensive-security/
"Martyn’s Law and Access Control – Being Ready for The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill"
https://www.grosvenortechnology.com/insights/martyns-law-and-access-control-being-ready-for-the-terrorism-protection-of-premises-bill/
"The Impact of Martyn’s Law/Protect Duty on UK Businesses
28 June, 2023"
http://www.safetell.co.uk/insights/the-impact-of-martyns-law-protect-duty-on-uk-businesses/
14th Feb 2024 10:29 am RNS Issue of Equity
"Issuance of shares
Beacon Rise Holdings plc (the Company) announces that on 14 February 2024 it issued 58,333 ordinary shares of £1.00 each in the capital of the Company at a price of £1.20 per ordinary share (the Shares).
Following the issuance of the Shares, the Company's issued share capital comprises 1,180,333 ordinary shares.
The Company intends to apply for the admission of the Shares to the standard listing segment of the Official List of the Financial Conduct Authority and to trading on the main market for listed securities of the London Stock Exchange.
Enquiries
For further information, please visit www.beaconrise.uk or contact Kemp House, 160 City Road, London, EC1V 2NX."
https://www.lse.co.uk/rns/BRS/issue-of-equity-kwclayl71o5likg.html
An interesting recent fundraise by BRS.
Only c. £70K. raised, but the placing price of £1.20 is a hefty premium: 50% above the current BRS s.p. of 80p, and 60% more than the s.p. on 14th. February (75p).
Moreover, BRS's loss in its 6 months to 30.9.23 was only £19,714, at which point it still had cash of £328,900, and £358,991 net & net current assets.
The market cap. at 80p is £944,266, by these types of shells can arrange RTOs at multiples of their cash.
It looks to me like this placing could well be a prelude to an imminent proposed RTO, at a BRS s.p. of at least £1.20/share, but potentially a lot higher than that.
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