Translink The Road From Cop26

EyeonTransport

Translink- the Road from COP26

It was a privilege for Translink to participate in the recent UN COP26 summit in Glasgow, where we updated a global stakeholder audience on the theme ‘Translink’s Transformative Journey to Decarbonise Public Transport in Northern Ireland’.

We joined businesses, academics and civil society organisations from across the world to contribute to the most important discussion facing our society today. COP26 has focused attention on the need to take climate action now to avoid the devastating impacts on people’s lives and while debate may continue on the final outcomes of the summit, there is no question that we all – individuals, businesses and governments alike – need to get to Net Zero as soon as possible. COP26 has proven that Translink’s #LetsChangeTogether message is timely, and the statistics back this up - in 2019, transport produced 27% of the UK’s total emissions – the large majority of this (91%) came from road transport. We want to play our part in the Race to Zero. It must also be remembered that the significant worldwide improvements in global air quality during the various lockdowns in 2020 took place while bus and rail services continued to operate, providing much-needed services to keep our society moving during an unprecedented period. It is clear that public transport is key to any Net Zero strategy, and Translink wants to work with stakeholders across Northern Ireland to deliver the necessary changes to achieve Net Zero. Our own Climate Positive Strategy outlines our plans to achieve a fully Net Zero bus and rail fleet across our network by 2040. Going further, we aim to be a Climate Positive business by 2050. We are already making strong progress – in late 2020, we introduced the first double deck hydrogen buses in Ireland, with more to follow in the coming months. We recently announced a £30m investment in Zero Emission battery-electric buses in Derry~Londonderry, which will make the Foyle Metro fleet fully Net Zero during 2023. A further 100 batteryelectric and hydrogen buses will enter service with Metro in Belfast in the coming months, making Translink the operator of the UK’s fourth-largest Zero Emission fleet by summer 2022. The entirety of the Belfast Metro fleet will be Zero Emission by 2030.

On the railways, our first intermediate Class 4000 carriages have entered service, reducing emissions and allowing us to introduce seven new walkthrough six-car sets. These will be operational on the NI Railways network by the end of summer 2022, providing an additional 1,600 seats every day. We are also participating in the All-Island Strategic Railway Review, looking at potential expansion and enhancement of the network, including examining the option of electrification.

Enhanced use of public transport will not only deliver environmental benefits; ending our reliance on the car will promote active travel and healthier lifestyles, as well as reducing social and environmental inequality and improving our economy.

A greater focus and investment in public transport will also reduce the number of cars on our roads, leading to a reduction in congestion and the rebirth of town and city centres as welcoming, environmentally friendly, active travel zones.

COP26 has been an incentive for businesses and organisations to come together and inspire others to climate action. Taking public transport or other sustainable forms, such as walking or cycling, is an easy and effective way to make a difference as an individual, while also freeing up space in urban areas for people and active travel.

Climate change is everyone’s business, not just Government. It’s time everyone took individual action as our legacy for future generations.

EyeonGifts

Wish Your Staff A Very Musgrave Christmas

The season of giving is fast approaching, and after another challenging year for organisations, both big and small across Northern Ireland, Musgrave MarketPlace has unveiled its extensive selection of luxury hampers and gifting options that are the perfect way to say ‘thank you’ this festive season.

The corporate landscape changed dramatically last year -businesses adopted a work from home approach as a result of the pandemic, and more gifting and less gathering became a key trend. Christmas parties were cancelled, which led to an increased demand in employers searching for appropriate gifts that would suitably demonstrate their gratitude towards their colleagues in place of a traditional social event.

This Christmas, Musgrave MarketPlace is once again making Christmas gifting an easy and stress-free task for organisations. Building on what became a sell-out range of hampers from 2020, the wholesale arm of Musgrave retail group has comprised a delectable offering of luxury food and drink hampers, perfect for all those corporate gifting needs.

Ranging from £18 to £90, there are options to suit all budgets. Beautifully presented and packed using bio-degradable pellets, these gifts are guaranteed to delight colleagues, family and friends.

The ‘Titanic Hamper’, presented in a luxury lined gift basket is the ultimate showstopper. Available from £90 (inc. vat), it features a mouth-watering assortment of biscuits and chocolates, including Thorntons Classic and Fox’s Fabulously Assorted biscuits, all complemented by a selection of speciality wines and a bottle of locally distilled Bushmills Whiskey.

From £40 (inc. vat), customers can opt for ‘The Lough Hamper’, a luxury gift box filled with a collection of biscuits, chocolates and 750ml bottles of red and white wine.

Additionally, the ‘Prosecco/Wine & Chocolate’ gift sets start from just £18 (inc. vat) and are presented in a gift bag, complete with premium chocolates, while the ‘Gin & Goodies’ gift set includes a 70cl bottle of Ninth Wave Gin, sourced locally from Hinch Distillery in County Down. There is also a nonalcoholic hamper option that is filled with delicious biscuits and chocolates.

Speaking of this year’s enhanced hamper range, Richard Mayne, Wholesale Director of Musgrave, said:

“We experienced a significant influx of orders for corporate hampers last year as businesses searched for alternative ways to thank their staff in a safe and responsible way. Our luxury hamper range has always been popular for organisations, but following the heightened demand in 2020, we set out to further expand on our offering, ensuring that customers had an excellent variety to choose from.

“The Christmas period is typically an exceptionally busy time for everyone – especially businesses who are trying to finish up for the year, and Musgrave MarketPlace is on hand to take the stress out of the festive gifting season and instead, give our customers the confidence in knowing they can successfully show their appreciation to colleagues in a hassle-free way.”

For added convenience, Musgrave MarketPlace also offers customers a delivery service to ensure the safe arrival of all corporate hampers and once again, take the stress out of the Christmas gifting period.

Corporate hampers can be purchased at the brand’s Belfast branch, located at Duncrue, which is also open to the public and offers unbeatable value for bulk-buying food, alcohol, cookware, decorations and gifts.

For further information on Musgrave MarketPlace’s delivery service and offering, please contact the team on 028 9078 4800, or email via BCS@musgrave.ie.

EyeonNews

Belfast design firm recognised for key role in delivering Children’s code design guidance

Pictured at Big Motive’s office in the Flat Iron building in Belfast are the team who worked on the ICO project (L-R):Maíra Rahme, Jonathan Willis, Carol McHugh, Rebecca Walsh, Rachel Orr & Stephen Shaw.

A Belfast design company has been recognised for the key role it has played in helping designers and product teams understand new rules aimed at making sure apps and internet services keep children safe online.

Big Motive has won two awards in the Irish Design Institute (IDI) Awards 2021 for its work creating design guidance for a new statutory code of practice launched by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) called the Children’s code, which sets out how apps, and online services likely to be accessed by children should protect them in the digital world. The Children’s code has already led to changes from Google, Facebook and TikTok.

The ICO is the independent UK authority that upholds information rights and data privacy for individuals. Its code says that children’s personal data should be given special treatment when using apps, games, social media platforms, marketplaces and websites and applies to any firm that processes the personal data of children in the UK. It sets out 15 standards organisations must meet to ensure children’s data is protected, such as providing high privacy settings by default, switching off geo-location services and not using nudge techniques or notifications that encourage children to share personal data.

The ICO engaged Big Motive to develop resources that would show how to apply the standards in practice and design services with children’s privacy in mind.

After collaborating with designers, data privacy experts and technology advisors, Big Motive realised every team creates distinct experiences for children in different genres in different ways. Working with the ICO, its response was to create a ‘design guidance service’ with a comprehensive toolkit, comprising do’s and don’ts, checklists, videos and tools that any digital team can use in their design process. Its resources focus on transparency, a common challenge for online services and a key standard within the Children’s code.

The Children’s code design guidance was shared with designers and product teams working on products and services used by children at the ICO’s first design and data protection conference. The event included panellists from a number of the biggest global digital brands, including Google, Facebook and TikTok.

Big Motive was recognised for its work with two awards from the IDI, the first for Service Design and the second in the Design for Good category.

Ali Shah, Head of Technology Policy at the ICO, said: “Big Motive has worked seamlessly with the ICO’s team to deliver the Children’s code UX guidance and we’re delighted that the value of the work has been recognised by the design community. It is gratifying that the judges acknowledged that the work will deliver lasting change that will serve the public interest by creating an open, transparent and safe place for children online.”

Rebecca Walsh, director of Big Motive, said: “One in five people who use the internet is a child but the internet was never designed with them in mind. Product teams now have an opportunity to reset how they design online services placing children’s privacy at the centre. The Big Motive team who worked with the ICO are really proud to have created resources that will support those responsible for designing better apps and services.”

Stephen Shaw, director of Big Motive, added: “Designers make important decisions that shape children’s interactions with online services. Applying the code opens up opportunities to design better experiences for children and create safe spaces for children to learn and grow in the digital world. With so much of life now lived online, it is important those who create apps and digital services approach this with an appropriate mindset.”

The Children’s code is viewed as a transformative code of practice that aims to better protect children in the digital world. Technology companies that don’t design services for children in line with new code can face enforcement action from the ICO.