January 2019
Pre-fab solves the UK housing crisis
Evolution of the high street
Robots have a positive impact on the workforce
Win ÂŁ2019 of vouchers to see the top events of the year
Contents 4-5
How will robots impact the future workforce?
6-7
Electric cars go mainstream
8-9
How can businesses detect cyber attacks early to minimise damage?
10-11 UK housing crisis 12-13 Toniq Life
16-17 Saving social care 18-19 High street evolution 20-21 Technology transforming lives 22
Is a smart and secure home a more vulnerable one?
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Top ten strategic technology trends
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Leading Edge
14-15 Go green
Structural shifts and the Year Ahead… As part of our Year Ahead programme, we have worked with our network of influencers and decision makers to provide you with some positive messages to keep you, your customers, staff and stakeholders motivated and inspired. We have also identified potential threats and what opportunities there are for business. We’re arguably living through one of the most significant periods of change in the history of our planet. “Structural shifts” are likely to have an impact on all our lives creating both opportunities and risks. Despite being bombarded on the TV, radio, print and social media by negative messages around Brexit, more extreme populism, a sluggish economy and robots replacing humans, we’ve identified the following structural shifts that will dominate the headlines in 2019 in a post-Brexit UK and have the most impact on our lives: • • • •
Electric vehicles and drones Robotics and AI Housing crisis Go green campaigns
• • • •
NHS and social care crisis Data privacy and cyber security High street retail crisis New medical advancements
There is no doubt that Brexit will continue to dominate the headlines; however UK businesses have endured worse. In the absence of a lack of leadership in politics, our business leaders need to fill the void of political initiative and leadership. The challenge for business leaders is to embrace new technological advances as a key differentiator, drive cultural change, and listen to customers and staff to provide solutions that meet their needs. If you have any feedback on the current issue please email us at aheadofthecurve@roydswithyking.com Following the Drone disruption at Gatwick Airport, Royds Withy King Head of Drone law Phil Banks-Welsh was asked to comment in major newspapers, including The FT and The Times. Listen to his podcast on drones at https://www.roydswithyking.com/the-ahead-of-the-curve-podcast/
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TedxBath – Lighting up the future Royds Withy King were one of the founding partners of the first TEDxBath event ‘Light up the Future’. The twelve speakers included experts covering innovative and thought-provoking topics including “The power in cities — using purpose to drive change” and “Will robots be our new best friends?” With over 100 people in the audience on the day, the talks were also live streamed to a wider group so more people could have the opportunity to participate. TED is a non-partisan, non-profit organisation devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks. TEDx brings the spirit of TED’s mission of ideas worth spreading to local communities around the globe. TEDx events are organised by curious individuals who seek to discover ideas and spark conversations in their own community.
City of Bristol College As part of our #giftexpertise programme, the City of Bristol College BTEC Graphic Design year two students designed the last edition. The students were thrilled to have been given the opportunity to produce a professional magazine: “This project helped us to understand the differences between a usual college and a professional brief.”
“This opportunity was very useful as well as stressful. We had to meet very specific needs of the client - and we had never designed a magazine before in our lives.” “At the beginning of the project, we were terrified by the brief and its reality. It was a real wake up moment! However, we gained a lot of confidence as we progressed. The designs look amazing and we are very proud of what we’ve produced.”
LEADING EDGE Every edition, we donate a bursary and the back cover of our magazine LEADING EDGE. This features one of our charity partners who work with people who have suffered as a result of medical negligence or personal injury to rebuild their lives. This is how Mesothelioma UK are using our bursary to help veterans and raise awareness of mesothelioma and the help that’s available. A big thank you from all at Meso UK! You may have seen an article about Mesothelioma UK charity in the LEADING EDGE feature of the October edition. Although you may not have heard of this awful asbestos-related cancer, the UK has the highest incidences of the disease in the world and the number of patients continues to grow. At Meso UK, we’re dedicated to supporting mesothelioma patients, their families and carers, and to working to find effective treatment for the disease. That’s why we were so delighted to hear that not only had Royds Withy King selected us to tell our story in their
magazine, but that we had qualified for an award of a £2,000 bursary. Meso UK runs entirely on donations and fundraising efforts, so awards such as this are vital to raising awareness of the disease, funding treatments from specialist nurses and researching new clinical trials. One of our key campaigns is ‘Supporting our Armed Services’. This has seen us establish a specialist information, advice and support service for armed forces veterans and serving personnel with mesothelioma. The funding from Royds Withy King will help us to showcase this work and we’re talking to potential partners about the development of an appropriate memorial to mesothelioma patients from the armed services community. For more information about mesothelioma or Mesothelioma UK, please visit www. mesothelioma.uk.com, email info@ mesothelioma.uk.com or follow us on social media at Facebook: @therealmeso or Twitter: @MesoUK Liz Darlison, Head Mesothelioma UK
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The winner will be selected at random and will be notified by 8 March 2019.
Win £2019 of ticketmaster® vouchers As part of our #RWKyearahead programme we are offering one lucky person the chance to win £2019 of ticketmaster® vouchers so you can attend key sporting and music events. To be entered into the draw, take a photo of yourself next to one of our Year Ahead theme boards at one of our Year Ahead events in January 2019 or photograph yourself with a background representing one of our Year Ahead themes and post on Twitter with the hashtag #RWKyearahead.
A flavour of the events you could look to attend in 2019 April 6th Grand National May 18th FA Cup Final May 30 - July 14th Cricket World Cup June 5-9th England in Nations Cup finals June 26-30th Glastonbury July 1st – 14th Wimbledon August 22nd The Ashes Sep 20th – Nov 2nd Rugby World Cup *Terms and conditions apply see https://www.roydswithyking.com/terms-conditions/
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WORKFORCE OF
THE
FUTURE
How will robots impact the future workforce? 1. THE ALGORITHM WAVE This is well underway, and we see machine learning technology widely deployed in the finance and technology sectors. AI powers Google’s search, Apple’s Siri, Facebook’s advertising and Netflix’s movies recommendations. The statistical analysis and predictive power of AI is well established.
2. THE AUGMENTATION WAVE
As we start to think about the next decade, analysts predict three overlapping waves: algorithm, augmentation and autonomy. When we think of robots, what generally comes to mind are the humanoid creations from movies such as The Terminator, or perhaps C3PO from Star Wars. On the other hand, when we imagine industrial robots, we remember those fast moving robotic arms used in the manufacture of cars. However, the truth is that robots come in all shapes and sizes, and are increasingly found in many workplace environments. A recent PwC report estimates that AI and robotic devices will contribute 14% of global GDP by 2030, equivalent to around $15 trillion at today’s values. A robot is simply an intelligent system, able to achieve some useful function by sensing the world and behaving intelligently. As Forest Gump pointed out, “stupid is as stupid does”. In the same vein, we can most usefully understand autonomous intelligence as “intelligence is as intelligence does” - we recognise intelligence simply by observation. However, a simple definition does not imply that building a useful robot is a simple job!
Expect to see AI functions added to familiar tools like Microsoft’s Excel spreadsheet or accounts packages like Sage and Xero soon. Also expect exciting new products able to rapidly classify, extract and summarise key facts from documents in Word or PDF formats. The productivity gains these AI tools will provide for sales managers, accountants and lawyers are obvious. In healthcare, we’ll see robotic testing of blood and tissue samples and AI analysing medical scans. Staff doing repetitive, data-based classification and administration tasks will need to rapidly re-train to make use of these new tools, and fewer clerical jobs are likely, as AI automates these functions.
3. THE AUTONOMY WAVE The arrival of robots in agriculture, healthcare, retail, transportation and hospitality sectors will characterise the autonomy wave. Although there are many pilot projects and a great deal of research activity in these areas, widespread adoption is unlikely until the end of the 2020s. Tasks requiring physical labour, manual dexterity or dealing with uncertain environments are currently very difficult, even for today’s most advanced robots. Sophisticated robots will require highly trained, skilled staff to design, commission, operate and maintain them. There may well be acute skills shortages, creating opportunities for small specialist suppliers and consultancies. There is huge investment in self driving vehicles at present, but fully autonomous (level 5) driving is a distant possibility, due to the social complexities of driving in urban areas. However, expect to see autonomous parking in fully automated car parks, and cars equipped with intelligent systems to further support the driver and improve vehicle safety.
At present, most mechanical robots are confined to fairly simple, repetitive tasks like moving stock around in a warehouse, sorting items on a production line or picking and packing products for dispatch. If we use our simple definition of a robot to cover chatbots and ‘smart speaker’ devices such as Amazon Alexa and Google Home, then we see that robotic devices are already commonplace in domestic environments. Looking ahead into the 2020s and beyond, analysts predict three overlapping waves of artificially intelligent systems.
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Dr Rob Wortham, Robotics & Autonomous Systems, University of Bath
STANDARDS, REGULATION AND SOCIETAL CONSTRAINTS The pace of adoption of AI and robotics beyond manufacturing and industrial settings will be affected not only by the rate of technical progress, but also by the need for standardisation. Standards are essential to provide a basis for interoperability, testing and product certification. Standards are an important driver of trust and product uptake. A British Standards Institution standard for robots already exists, and wider standards for accountability, responsibility and transparency of AI systems are actively being developed in conjunction with International Electrotechnical Commission/ International Organization for Standardization initiatives. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers has launched an initiative
for Ethically Aligned Design, and is also engaged in the creation of specific AI standards for robots and autonomous intelligent systems (AIS). The potential of AI to cause social harm is also becoming better understood and increasingly recognised. Many governments are actively considering their approach to regulation. The UK has an active All Party Parliamentary Group for AI taking expert evidence and suggesting priorities for government policy. AI is here, and robots are on their way. Expect to see substantial changes to the way we work, and to the jobs we’ll be doing, as intelligent systems become commonplace in the workplace.
AI AND ROBOTICS AT A GLANCE HERE TODAY: THE ALGORITHM WAVE • Machine learning technology widely deployed • Analyses huge data sets • Classifies images • Powers search engines • Beats humans at board games
ON THE HORIZON: THE AUTONOMY WAVE • Robots in agriculture, healthcare, retail, transportation and hospitality • Happening now: pilot projects and lots of research activity • However widespread adoption unlikely until the end of 2025/30 • Self driving cars: a distant possibility
54% OF EMPLOYERS UNDERSTAND THAT GETTING THE HUMAN-MACHINE COLLABORATION RIGHT IS CRITICAL TO ACHIEVING THEIR GOALS, BUT FEW COMPANIES HAVE WORKED OUT HOW TO DO THIS.
ARRIVING SOON: THE AUGMENTATION WAVE • AI functions added to familiar tools like Excel, Sage and Xero • Exciting new products able to rapidly classify, extract and summarise key facts • Staff doing repetitive, data-based administration tasks will need to rapidly re-train • Fewer administrative jobs in the future •
STANDARDS, REGULATION AND SOCIETAL CONSTRAINTS • Wide adoption of autonomous systems requires industry standards • Standards essential for interoperability, testing and certification • Standards drive trust and product uptake • A BSI standard for robots already exists • BSI IEC/ISO and IEEE initiatives underway • Potential of AI and robotics to cause social harm also becoming better understood and increasingly recognised. • Many governments actively considering regulation
63% OF EMPLOYERS FEEL THAT AI IN THE WORKPLACE WILL DRIVE NET JOB GAINS OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS 5
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Electric cars have been around for a while, but 2019 could be a real breakthrough year. Many cities are now planning to impose emission charges on the most polluting cars, which could add £9 a day to some journeys; with volatile petrol prices new car purchasers are more likely to consider going electric.
Future car purchasers need to think about new congestion charges in some cities coming in from 2020.
An electric car is a great way for you to save money on petrol. However, there are many other reasons why you should invest in an electric car.
ADVANTAGES
DISADVANTAGES
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Although the positive evidence is very clear, there are also some downsides to consider before investing in an electric car.
Electric cars are entirely charged by the electricity you provide, meaning you don’t need to buy petrol ever again. Driving fuel based cars can burn a hole in your pocket as the price of fuel has rocketed. Although electricity isn’t free, an electric car is far cheaper to run.
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Many new electric cars will offer great incentives for you to get money back from the Government for going green.
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They are 100% eco-friendly as they run on electrically powered engines. They are even better than hybrid cars as these produce emissions. You’ll be contributing to a healthy and green climate.
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Electric vehicles are growing in popularity with new and unique types of cars being put on the market providing you with a wealth of choices moving forward.
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Electric cars undergo the same fitness and procedures tests as fuel powered cars. If an accident occurs, airbags open up and the electricity supply to the battery is cut off. This can prevent passengers in the car from sustaining serious injuries.
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With more technological advancements, both cost and maintenance have gone down. The mass production of batteries and available tax incentives have further brought down the cost.
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As the engines are electrically powered, there is no need to lubricate the engine. The maintenance cost of your electric car will be lower, and it will also require servicing less frequently.
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Noise pollution is considerably lower. Electric motors are capable of providing a smooth drive with higher acceleration over longer distances.
Tesco to offer free charging for EV at stores in partnership with Volkswagen. They plan to install almost 2,500 charging bays at 600 stores by 2020.
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In 2019, manufacturers such as BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Hyundai and Jaguar will be releasing more new models, from small city models such as the new MINI Electric Vehicle (EV) to tall and rugged sports utility vehicles (SUVs).
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Electric fuelling stations are still in the development stages. Not a lot of places you go to on a daily basis will have electric fuelling stations for your vehicle, meaning that if you’re on a long trip and run out of charge, you may be stuck.
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Electric cars can also be a hassle on your energy bill if you haven’t considered the options carefully. Do your research into the electric car you want to purchase to avoid making an unwise investment.
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Electric cars are limited by a range and speed. Most of these cars have a range about 50-100 miles and need to be recharged again. Although the new SUVs being developed will have a range of over 200 miles.
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While it takes a couple of minutes to fuel your petrol car, an electric car takes about four to six hours to get fully charged.
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Silence can be a big disadvantage as people like to hear cars if they are coming from behind them. As electric cars are silent, this can lead to accidents.
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Depending on the type and usage of battery, batteries of almost all electric cars are required to be changed every three to ten years.
THE BEST ELECTRIC CARS COMING OUT IN 2019: • • • • • • • •
Audi E-tron Sportback Jaguar XJ Mini E Tesla Model 3 Volvo XC40 Electric Nissan IDS Audi Q6 e-tron quattro SUV Porsche Mission E
CHARGING POINTS In 2018, oil giant BP bought the UK's largest electric charging network, Chargemaster. Whilst BP runs 1,200 petrol forecourts, Chargemaster has 6,500 charging points and runs POLAR, the largest public charging network in the UK. It has more than 40,000 customers, some of whom pay by monthly subscription. Greg Callard, Real Estate lawyer at Royds With King, commented; “With estimates that electric vehicles could account for 1/3 of all vehicles in 20 years’ time, it will be attractive for retailers to step up the deployment of fast and ultra-fast chargers on UK forecourts to give those millions of drivers a reason to keep on visiting”.
£3,500 Government subsidy taken off vehicle price
Exempt from London Congestion Charge
£500 Homecharge scheme installation subsidy
Use of bus lanes
Save up to £300 annually on maintenance
Up to 5x cheaper to run than a fuel based car
Free or discounted parking in parts of the UK
Free resident parking permits in some cities The number of electric vehicles in the UK is set to grow from 135,000 at present to 12 million by 2040
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The good news is that you can improve your ability to identify attacks early and substantially reduce possible damage with quite straightforward activities:
How can businesses detect cyber attacks early to minimise damage? New malware variants are emerging on a yearly basis; cyber security professionals must adopt the necessary skills. There will also be an increasing shortage of IT professionals in 2019. There are many areas of the law that aren’t black or white. Grey Matters is our know-how programme to help you discuss those intricacies.
1. Install updates Research based on 80,000 European Magento websites found that 80% are vulnerable to cyber attacks and the main reason is a simple failure to install the latest updates. So patch or update all software!
2. Use threat detection services Specialist cyber security firms provide high–end Managed Detection and Response Services to cyber threats. As most companies struggle to detect the threats in the first place, this type of service is vital in reducing the likelihood of experiencing a catastrophic breach.
3. Use a honeypot Honeypots are decoys that appear to be legitimate components of a business’ network and contain valuable data. As soon as a honeypot has attracted the attention of the cyber criminal, a warning is triggered. Combining a honeypot with other security controls provides an additional layer of security and is highly recommended.
4. Train your employees The biggest cyber security weakness in any business is the people. Train your team, including non-technical staff. Keep everyone up to date with the latest cyber threats security and make them aware of how they can raise the alarm in case of an attack.
5. Monitor security alerts daily Ransomware attacks - such as WannaCry which affected an estimated 200,000 computers across 150 countries - might give the impression that cyber criminals want their pay-off immediately, says Benjamin Hosack, Chief Commercial Officer of cyber security firm Foregenix. However, this can be misleading and hackers often exploit security breaches over the course of months and even years in covert attacks which do far more damage. So what can you do to minimise the chance of your website being hacked? Benjamin outlines the steps you should take. Breaches of security are getting more expensive and it’s often SMEs that are worst affected although larger companies are by no means immune. It can take six months for an average business to realise they have been hacked, which means cyber criminals gain long-term access to highly sensitive personal identifiable information as well as financial data.
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Attack traffic usually has a very specific pattern and hacked systems can be detected quickly if security alerts are being monitored.
6. Learn from the past to predict future attacks Cyber criminals certainly do like to strike in the same place twice – and often by the same methods. Pre-emptive action and monitoring based on past attacks can lead to quick identification of a security breach. Businesses that take these actions will also reduce any potential damage, both financial and reputational. Foregenix are global leaders in digital forensics and information security. They work with a number of businesses including Betfair and McColl’s Retail Group and offer a website health check to secure your online business. For further information www.foregenix.com
Our cyber security and privacy expert Emma Banister Dean gives some practical advice on what to do when a breach occurs. Cyber threats arising from state-sponsored attack used to be the stuff of Hollywood films. From strategic trolling on social media targeted at influencing voters to cyber attacks on institutions to impede the investigation of alleged poisoning, the reality of organised cyber interference is now clear. In order to gear up cyber expertise, the Ministry of Defence has launched a cyber cadet training program (the first such initiative in any NATO country). The aim is for the program to produce up to 2000 cyber cadets a year. Interesting and concerning though these developments are, the likelihood of a state sponsored cyber attack on our organisations or homes is relatively remote. Boards and C-Level management are now looking to implement programs that help the business prepare for, quickly recover and reduce fallout from inevitable cyber incidents. Most cyber criminals are looking for the maximum financial return for the shortest investment of time. Some are also seeking to disrupt organisations due to grudges or political beliefs. As Benjamin states the weakest link in any network is its people.
There are consultants like Foregenix who specialise in human behaviour related to cyber security. They can help to identify risky behaviour within the organisation and to target staff training to minimise those risks. Software designed to flag up unusual keystrokes, access to parts of the server not required for day-to-day tasks or unexpected use of administrator functions helps to alert you to rogue employee activity which would otherwise only be discovered once the damage is done, being inside the firewall. Control over the use of portable devices and what files are uploaded to the network is also key. In many cases access is granted to cyber criminals by senior managers who think that their laptop or data stick are the exceptions to the rule. Whilst policies are essential to manage the risk, they are only as good as their implementation. If nuclear installations are shut down by cyber attacks made possible by infection from the laptops of third party contractors, it is hardly surprising that people forget their protocols in lower risk environments.
CLUES FROM 2018 •
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Cyber hacks of major corporate systems and websites continued apace and will be part of the 2019 cyber security scene Many well-known, international companies and namebrand organisations suffered significant breaches Beyond common corporate attacks, 2018 was marked by accelerated threat activity across a range of targets and victims.
”RESEARCH BASED ON 80,000 EUROPEAN MAGENTO WEBSITES FOUND THAT 80% ARE VULNERABLE TO CYBER ATTACKS”
When a cyber attack comes to light, preparation is the key to an effective response. Emma suggests the following: • • • • •
Set criteria for what personal data, if accessed, should trigger a report to the Information Commissioner Establish your thresholds for reporting to the data subjects themselves Prepare draft notification emails to data subjects and a press release for your website Have connections with forensic data experts who can act to stem the breach and report on its causes Implement best practice on segmenting your network under appropriate security.
Both at work and at home, we are all becoming far more aware of the value of our data and the significant financial risk that a breach poses. A small amount of focused effort now will be of very significant benefit in reducing your risks and losses later on.
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UK housing crisis The UK currently faces the largest housing shortage and the construction industry can’t keep up. The impact of Brexit will mean less bricks and fewer available EU workers.
Credit AluK
Construction methods have barely evolved in the last 100 years; with people still building the old fashioned way using materials from 1,000 years ago, laying a brick at a time. This makes construction very expensive, slow and detrimental to the environment. Technology must be used if the UK is going to overcome the housing crisis. The construction industry is ready for disruption, and RDA Modular is leading the way. “The problem is everything is done manually and it takes anywhere from six to nine months to build an average three to four bedroom house.” Ahad Miah, Executive Director, RDA Modular.
Offsite modular construction Offsite modular manufacture can achieve superior quality whilst reducing construction time, decreasing costs and improving sustainability. Today, these homes are characterised by their precision engineering, quality finish and eco credentials. They are almost unrecognisable from the ‘pre-fab homes’ of the past. It is evident that the manufacture of offsite modular housing is essential to tackle the current housing shortages. London Assembly’s Planning Committee outlined recommendations to Sadiq Khan in their report “Designed, sealed, delivered”, highlighting the benefits of pre-fab homes. RDA’s senior management team have collectively built over 37,500 units, of which 6,300 have been modular. The increasing interest in modular housing is definitely a positive step in the right direction, however it still comes with its issues. The manufacture of these units remains a manual process, total number of units produced per factory is limited, transportation of large modules is inefficient. Modular construction at its current state alone will struggle to meet the UK’s affordable housing demands.
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“We spent two years obsessively researching, with sleepless nights, burning the candle at both ends, ‘How can we improve the production of houses: while making them affordable and increasing quality?’” Romy Jardine, Chief Scientific Officer, RDA Modular. RDA 3D Modular have pioneered technology to mass manufacture modular housing. A technology disruptor, RDA have developed 3D injection and automation to produce housing at 40% of the cost of traditional construction methods. Over many years of research and development they have combined revolutionary technologies from industries such as automotive and aerospace, to develop their own production lines and dramatically reduce construction time to seven to ten days per home. RDA are designing and building factories to manufacture 10,000 houses per year and in the era of Industry 4.0, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Twin factories will scale production even further. “You would not build a car in a field — so why a house?” Romy Jardine Addressing eco-sustainability, RDA plan to use materials and methods which meet the Passiv Haus standards and reduce carbon emissions by 75%.
Orchard Village David Hudson, Chairman of RDA, has an enviable track record and build portfolio of over 25,000 homes, of which 4,000 are modular. As Chairman & MD of Innc UK, his latest project, Orchard Village in Rainham, is an affordable modular housing scheme. Formerly known as Mardyke Estate, Clarion Housing’s redevelopment is currently in its final phase of construction and will create 130 new homes for rent and shared ownership. The modular scheme will provide the foundations for improving construction quality, whilst meeting tight deadlines and budget.
“Construction is the final titan of all industries to be disrupted by technology. To make high quality houses that are significantly more affordable is quite the challenge; we had to think far outside the box.” David Hudson, Chairman, RDA Modular a new wave of affordable housing, offering low rents for social renters and private tenants as well as allowing registered housing providers funding to build more homes under their part buy / part rent funding from the government. For mortgage advisers and lawyers, however they have posed problems. Pre-fab houses have a bad reputation historically due to poor structural quality and associated construction problems which have required costly and lengthy remedial programmes”.
Over 300 steel modules have been manufactured offsite; an approach which David Miller Architects states will bring quality assurance to the development, whilst reducing waste, time on site, minimising disruption to residents and improving sustainability. “New construction and design processes have helped transform consumer attitudes towards new pre-fab homes, with many now actively choosing to live in this type of property. Whilst procurement and production processes are not always as streamlined as some hope, those opting for a pre-fab home can find the principles underpinning the development and the benefits of living in a prefab scheme outweigh any of these difficulties”. Alain Torri, Head of Architecture and Building Consultancy, Carter Jonas Royds Withy King residential property expert Zainab Dakhil comments; “Modular housing will be a good thing as it could form
Colleague Jo Kent goes on to add, “There is an emerging trend for new modern developments to use a pre-fab modular construction method and this seems to be gaining traction. It is not only cheaper but often more efficient and even possible to add extensions and conversions to existing properties in modular form. In order to build using this method of construction, you must own the land or plot as you would with any other build method. Whilst the quality of the craftsmanship and process may have significantly improved, the vast majority of mortgage lenders are still wary of pre-fab houses and obtaining finance for the construction may still be very difficult. Ensuring you choose a reputable company such as RDA Modular who offer expertise in not only the construction of the modules, but also of the installation is key. Some companies may offer a construction warranty which is important as once you have purchased the product, the maintenance will become your responsibility”. Images courtesy of David Miller Architects
The obstacles or challenges from a legal perspective are as follows:
1. Knowing the difference between the traditional construction and non-traditional construction 2. Planning and building regulations requirements 3. Mortgage lender’s requirements 4. Structural guarantees
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TONIQ Life toniqlife.com
Arron Collins-Thomas, owner of TONIQ, has been working as a personal trainer in and around Bath for over twelve years. Formerly the lead trainer at prestigious members’ club and hotel Babington House and now running his own boutique gym studio TONIQ Life in the Apthorpe Centre, he is a familiar face to many in the city. Launching a boutique gym studio in a challenging economic environment was a brave decision, Arron explains why:
“TONIQ Life is a concept and project I am very passionate about and seeing the new studio come to life over these last few months has been extremely exciting. This is going to be so much more than just another gym. TONIQ Life is about a dedicated, healthier way of living; one that doesn’t just make you look good, but feel good too”. Identifying a gap in the market, Arron saw the need for a more accessible, community-based and enjoyable type of fitness. TONIQ is about creating a community of people of all fitness abilities and backgrounds and providing them with a quality training experience that delivers the results of personal training at a fraction of the cost. Given the challenges facing the leisure sector, Arron added: “The decision to start up a new group fitness gym was a fairly simple one. With my experience in the industry and already owning a small gym I was ready to expand. The UK market has shown huge growth in the leisure sector and there was little competition to this kind of training. However, the reality of doing this was not quite so simple. The lack of decent sized commercial spaces and the huge rent and
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rates made it extremely difficult. Couple that with the lack of support from banks lending to businesses of my size and in my sector, I struggled to make my dream a reality. I was lucky enough to find some fantastic private investors who supported me in my dream and have allowed me to build the amazing facility we have today”. Taking residence at 5 Green Park, Arron and his team carried out an extensive refurbishment of the property which now boasts modern male and female changing facilities, including showers and vanity stations and a 1,200 sq ft purpose built, state of the art gym, designed specifically to provide people with the best possible option when it comes to class exercise. TONIQ offer six high energy workouts a day Monday to Friday with two trainers in each class providing the most effective and balanced workout. Having only recently opened, clients are already seeing massive improvements in not only the way they look but in the way they feel. TONIQ is fast making a name for itself as the coolest, most fun and effective workout in the city and boasts the best trainers, equipment and sound systems. Fitness classes are increasingly a social experience, and the setting plays a very important role. Toniq’s tailored group sessions in a highend environment reflect this wider trend. Class-led fitness communities are thriving across the UK, having arrived from the USA and Australia. The future of fitness sees increasing numbers of people working out in a group format. There are multiple benefits to community group exercise, including: • increased stamina and performance • better attendance • boosted moods and improved well being • better results than those who choose to only attend a standard gym. Many employers are starting to take a pro-active stance with their employees’ mental and physical well being. To support this TONIQ provides fantastic corporate packages to fit the majority of employee benefit structures. TONIQ is also able to offer one off or regular private workshops as team building, celebratory events, corporate hospitality and more. The workshops could be a TONIQ Sweat or Strong class, mindfulness, yoga, meditation or Gi Gong. Moving forward the aim for TONIQ is to work closely with other businesses to improve the health and wellbeing for as many people as possible. They have started offering free meditation sessions to their members as well as discounted yoga on top of a standard offering.
Top business tips for start-ups 1. Build a business plan that considers the market, geographical area, customer base, start-up and overhead costs 2. Set realistic financial projections with best-case, middle-case and worse-case scenarios 3. Consider outsourcing professional skills for negotiating lease space, setting up financial planning and record keeping to lawyers and/or accountants 4. Build the right financial foundation, in the case of businesses in Arron’s sector avoid membership offerings that don’t allow you to predict future revenues 5. Track your finances and learn to budget to measure your performance and ensure you are on track with your business plans and projections
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We have been distracted by Brexit. As we enter the next decade, we need to drastically change the way we live. We are running out of time - we are the first generation of humanity to recognise climate change and the last to be able to help stop it. A great, gob-smacking idea. A breathtaking piece of new technology. A leap-making product of genius.
Edison won, of course. His literally brilliant idea went on to change the world. Well most of it, sadly one billion of the world’s population still lives without access to electricity.
You know it when you see it. Brilliance leaves you with that wonderfully curious sensation, asking the inevitable question: why did nobody think of this before?
Like a panto villain, Rockefeller moved on to yet more skulduggery – and ran the idea of the electric car (being developed among others by Nikola Tesla – that surname might ring a bell) right off the road, in favour of noisy, smelly, polluting oil-burning piston power.
The truth is somebody probably did. New ideas – really great ideas - take time to establish. Even when they are ground-breaking and make life so much better. Take the now well-accepted notion that our Earth is round. Just knowing this means we need not fear to explore, to discover, to literally widen our horizons as a species - because there’s no danger we’ll fall off the side. The ancient Greeks proved the Earth was round with mathematics alone. Yet it took another 2,000 years or so for it to be commonly accepted by Western society. (The Earth is in fact an oblate spheroid – a slightly misshapen round.) Or let’s look at the humble umbrella. It took 50 years for this simple device to become socially acceptable in British society. It’s ‘inventor’, Joseph Hanway, had seen French ladies shielding themselves from the summer sun with parasols and thought it would be good to adopt the concept, make it more robust and waterproof and save Britons from frequent soakings. He did and was pilloried for his pioneering. He had rotten vegetables thrown at him as walked through the streets of London in the early 1700s, so ridiculous did people think the umbrella. And what about the lightbulb? Surely, this ingenious, glowing glass globe makes such sense that nobody could possibly have thought of it as a bad idea? Guess what… It took 70 years from its first incarnation to becoming commercially viable. Through relentless ambition, Thomas Edison, who was backed by a certain banker named JP Morgan, lit up New York with electric light in 1882, and built the world’s first power grid and industrial-scale generators. But at the time, just a mere 137 years ago, many thought it ridiculous and dangerous. Not all in the business community thought it a good idea either. For each home that converted to electric light was one less home John D Rockefeller, another giant of American industry and its most powerful oil baron, could sell his kerosene to. Fake news ensued, as Rockefeller ruthlessly seeded scare stories about the dangers of electric light in New York’s press.
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And here we are a century or so on… with the idea of the electric car becoming a rapid reality. Finally. With it will come clean air, quieter streets and a related interest in renewable electricity. If your new electric car is zero emissions at the tailpipe, as the Americans like to say, why on earth would you charge it with fossil-generated power at the plug? That would defeat the point. At Pure Planet, the new app-based renewable energy supplier, we’ve seen a massive uplift in people choosing fresh, clean energy to power their homes and cars. We’ve made choosing clean energy cheaper than old, fossil-based electricity. Yes, green is now cheaper. So why wouldn’t you choose renewables? We also carbon offset all your gas at Pure Planet. Put it another way: why would you spend more of your hard-earned cash to pollute and actually cause harm, to yourself, to all of us through the air we share and breathe, and to our Earth’s climate
that’s already warming way too much? But as much as a no-brainer renewables are – and as much as most Brits say they now favour renewables over any other energy source (around 80% according to the Government’s own data) – less than 10% of us have actually chosen a green tariff.
Five high impact ways to cut your carbon footprint:
Thankfully, after two decades of reluctance, that number is now growing rapidly. There’s a new breed of green suppliers that are creating change. The new green suppliers are better value, usually digital and much easier to deal with.
1. Have one fewer child
And the renewable choice they are now offering British consumers couldn’t be needed more. Climate scientists say we drastically need to change the way we live. We should aim for net zero carbon emissions by 2050 to keep global warming within 1.5 degrees warmer than pre-industrial levels. Even at 1.5 degrees we are going to see huge disruption to our environment. Today, in the UK, each of us emits about seven tonnes of carbon a year, so everything and anything each of us can do will help. Sir David Attenborough, raw with urgency, implored us to act at the UN’s Climate Change Convention in Poland recently: “Right now, we are facing a manmade disaster of global scale, our greatest threat in thousands of years: climate change. If we don’t take action, the collapse of our civilisations and the extinction of much of the natural world is on the horizon”.
2. Live car free
Did he just say we face the collapse of civilisation?
3. Avoid airline travel
Yes, he did. But don’t be frightened, do something about it. We are the first generation of humanity to recognise climate change and the last to be able to help stop it. Choosing renewables for your home is one of the easiest things you can do to help combat climate change. You can save tonnes of CO2 from going into our atmosphere every year. It’ll save you money. It’s quick. It takes just seconds to switch suppliers on Pure Planet’s app. And best of all, you’ll feel good about yourself. You’ll deserve to. You’ll have bought into a great idea. With just two elegant turns of the blades on a North Sea wind turbine you’ll be powering your home for a day.
4. Choose a renewable supplier for your home
No more flat earth, no more umbrella resistance, no more smelly kerosene lamps. Let’s choose a bright electric future. It’s an idea whose time has come.
Steven Day is a co-founder of Pure Planet, Britain’s first app-only renewable energy supplier www.purepla.net.
5. Eat your greens and avoid meat
Pure Planet is a Royds Withy King client. Steven gave a TEDx Talk in Brighton 2017 on renewable energy: https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=WNiWziEnfms
Source: Environmental Research Letters, Wynes andWritten Nicholas,by 2017. http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/aa7541/meta Joy Nazzari, Director,dn&co
(Tedx).
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Saving social care
In another of our Year Ahead 2019 features that looks at the social care crisis, we have two experts, Professor Martin Green, Chief Executive of Care England and Neil Eastwood, adviser to the Department of Health and Social Care and the author of “Saving Social Care”, give their views of what we must do to support a sustainable social care workforce. It is true to say that we live in very uncertain times with Brexit, the falling pound and the inability of the Government to put forward a long-term strategy for social care are all having an enormous impact on this sector. The State of Social Care Report, which was published by the Care Quality Commission, gave politicians yet another clear warning that the crisis in social care is happening now and the demographic change that we have talked about for the last 20 years is here. One of the biggest challenges that we face is how to secure the workforce that will be needed to support the growing number of people who will find themselves reliant on the care system.
Martin Green Brexit is already having an impact on social care with many nurses and social care workers leaving the country, not because they feel unwelcome, but because the value of the pound has dropped so significantly. There is no longer a reason to work in the United Kingdom, when the same amount of money can be secured on the mainland of Europe where travel between their home and host country is much easier. Faced with this enormous workforce challenge and the uncertainty, the Government needs to have a clear plan for the transition between the current reliance on overseas staff and their desire to make social care the career of choice for UK residents. The departure from the EU could provide us with an opportunity to recruit from the global pool of skilled and appropriate staff. However, we require the Government to change the criteria of the Migration Advisory Committee, and focus on skills shortages, not salary levels. There is a need for an integrated approach to the workforce across health and social care. We need the enormous budgets of Health Education England to be available to social care so that we develop a workforce that can move seamlessly across the system just as citizens requiring care do. The workforce issues are equally as challenging as the funding issues and unless we get a long-term solution for the funding and staffing of social care, we will not be able to deliver on the enormous and growing need.
Neil Eastwood Whilst I welcome the Government’s commitment to a National Recruitment Campaign, which I am advising on, social care needs a much more significant and long-term workforce investment to begin to change the perceptions of the public towards what it means to be a care worker. We know from experience of other national re-branding campaigns, how long it takes to move the needle in the minds of the public. We also need a workforce strategy that everyone can get behind, like the excellent one for Aged Care that Australia now have, thanks to the work of Professor John Pollaers. We can’t prevaricate, the time for action is now. I am firmly of the view that the only stakeholders who can get us out of this impending crisis are the care providers themselves. They are a constant long-term presence, while Local Authority and NHS commissioners and senior management come and go or posts are filled with interims. From my research and testing there is certainly the potential to meet current and future workforce needs by employers making simple changes to the way they recruit and retain. To achieve this Neil suggests some practical steps:
1. Every care provider needs to lean in. It is unacceptable for owners and directors of care businesses to be bystanders when what they do is so central to a civilised society. A good first step is for all Registered Managers to join a network such as that offered by Skills for Care, to access best practice and peer support.
2.
Employers must do better at stemming unnecessary staff loss, particularly in the first 90 days. Simple interventions, such as setting up a buddying scheme for new starters, have been proven to have a profound impact. Staff should be paid fairly and fully. There should be regular gratitude for care workers from supervisors.
3.
It is imperative recruiters diversify their sourcing away from an over-reliance on Internet job boards and towards proven high quality sources like word of mouth, employee referral schemes, family carers and returner programmes. Hire people who want to care, not those just looking for a job or to mollify their work coach at Job Centre Plus.
“We shouldn’t despair. Independent care providers are entrepreneurial and pragmatic. Yes, we are on a burning platform regarding workforce supply. But with some bold changes, universally and promptly applied, I am certain we can put the fire out.” 16
In the UK, regardless of Brexit we will need an extra 700,000 care roles by 2030
Client reaction Businesses thrive on certainty, yet in social care we have contrived to generate as much uncertainty as possible! Staffing is a particular area of concern. In Surrey, where Ashcroft Care operates learning disability services, the supply of outstanding people is constrained by the poor image of social care, low unemployment and the strangling effects of Brexit. Years of underfunding have driven a race to the bottom where skilled support workers are closing in on minimum wage. Given these pre-conditions we operators have to be at the top of our game. We must strive to: • Persuade the politicians to recognise the need to build the social care workforce, sourcing people from the UK and abroad. We must also keep fighting for fair funding, so we can pay people what they are worth. The work of Martin Green and others is so important here.
There is the potential to meet current and future workforce needs by employers making simple changes to the way they recruit and retain
• Shift perceptions in the labour market so people understand just how special a career in social care can be. At Ashcroft our managers meet with local school leavers to promote our sector as a positive and fulfilling career choice. • Open up the channels into employment in social care. In Surrey the Care Association’s Workforce Development Project is doing great work to attract the young, the rejoiners, the early-retired and others into the sector. • Become outstanding employers. We must embrace best practices in recruitment and retention, as championed by Neil Eastwood, and create vibrant workplaces in which people choose to spend their working lives. We have to do all this and more, and hope it is enough. David Holmes Chairman of Ashcroft Care Services and Surrey Care Association
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High street evolution The UK high street is facing unprecedented challenges from the combined threat of online shopping and the reduced spending of the squeezed consumer. The Government has shown support of the UK’s high street with the revamp of business rates and potential online digital retail tax. The challenge is to serve the needs of emerging consumer segments such as experience-seeking millennials and offer a differentiated physical proposition that online offerings can’t compete with. For the emerging consumer segments, the key is to think more deeply about how, when and what shoppers want to buy. The smartest retailers recognise that modern technology can be used to augment the in-store experience and provide a point of difference from online shopping. Ralph Lauren have introduced touch-screen mirrors in changing rooms in some of their flagship US stores which suggest other available sizes and colours for each item, recommend products based on what you have brought into the changing room and new ways to style them. You can even choose the lighting of the fitting room to your liking. Closer to home, and the high street, JD Sports is another retailer benefiting from the use of in-store technologies, such as 3D printing to create bespoke products, in-store integration with mobile apps and facilities for testing out new boots. They are focusing on using technology to streamline the customer experience and ensure that there are more employees on the shop floor to offer a more personal service. “Experience shopping” is now a growing trend, with retailers seeking to entice shoppers into their stores with more than just products. Beauty brand store Space NK has embraced experience shopping with a one-of-a-kind concept store exclusive to Regent Street. Shoppers can access the most innovative product launches, get the first pick of beauty must haves as well as enjoy unique experiences: meetings with brand founders, beauty tutorials and pre-order products previously only available online. Regent Street will be the first store to showcase these products, so shoppers will be the first to try and buy.
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Experience shopping might simply take the form of a small independent retailer providing a highly specific service and knowing the local market extremely well. Our client The Sampler, an independent wine merchant in London with shops on high streets in Islington, Putney and Wimbledon, holds regular wine tastings and tutorials to local customers to introduce their wine makers as well offer a food and wine matching service. Despite the sustained online pressure, Waterstones has opened 20 new shops over the past two years. Its business model is to focus on delivering an excellent customer experience. Managers are given the autonomy to run their shops almost like independent bookshops to reflect their individual personalities and the needs of the local community by connecting and engaging with customers through personal recommendations and author readings. Personalisation is another theme concentrating minds. There was a time when your local bank manager, butcher or grocer knew your name. Today’s online retailers with a wealth of data about their shoppers find it easier to interact with customers on a one-to-one basis than store staff do. However, technology will change that. Some retailers are now adopting tools that enable them to make real-time offers to shoppers in-store; a discount based on their purchasing history or an idea for a recipe using ingredients in their basket. Many of these developments are at an early stage, but they offer clues as to how the high street can compete. Waitrose Hot Ideas is a new incubator programme set up to identify and develop technological innovations that offer the potential to create a unique experience. The initiative is designed to put experimentation front and centre within the business; working collaboratively with customers at the early stages of product development to embed a culture that is exploratory and interactive.
Bharat Nahar, Royds Withy King retail expert comments: “In 2019 local councils can bid for a new £675m Government ‘Future High Streets’ fund. It will support local areas to prepare long-term strategies and adapt their high streets. It will also including funding a new High Streets Taskforce to provide expertise and hands-on support to local areas. This summer expressions of interest should be taken to stage two with local areas working up more detailed business cases”.
Royds Withy King client, Metro Bank, believes that empowering customers to bank whenever, wherever and however they choose, whether that’s online, on mobile, over the phone or in store is central to our model. Customers should have the choice to bank in a way that’s convenient to them, whether they’re on their way back from work and want to pop in to do their banking face-to-face or simply want to be able to do everything from their mobile. That’s why we invest in all our channels, including our high street presence, opening stores across the country that are easily accessible and located in prominent positions - often on the best corner sites and close to transport links. So whether customers are commuting into work or out doing their weekly shop, our stores are well located to fit in with their busy lives. But it’s not just about the location of our stores. It’s about what services they provide. And when. We offer customers tangible benefits, from printing new and replacement cards on-the-spot to free coin counters to count loose change. What’s more, we’re open at residents’ and businesses’ convenience, from first thing in the morning to last thing at night, seven days a week, 362 days a year. And we make the most of our high street presence, by creating a community hub. From free meeting space for local businesses, to hosting hundreds of networking and charity events throughout the year for local people, for us it’s about contributing to and enhancing the British high street.
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Technology transforming lives In 2019 technology - such as robotics and AI - will continue to evolve and help people with life-changing injuries, having a positive effect on both their physical and mental health.
The aim of all four products is to enable the patient to stand and walk utilising advanced robotics. Aside from that, there are many differences between each exoskeleton which can make identifying a suitable device challenging; particularly for non-clinicians such as legal professionals, or therapists that don’t have a history of working with exoskeletons. There are about twenty eight articles on the studies of the exoskeleton. Clinicians have found that the exoskeletons are helping to reduce muscle spasticity pain as well as influencing bladder and bowel action and improving sleep patterns. However, psychological wellbeing is the most beneficial and important. The Royal Bucks Hospital have developed a range of packages designed to independently assess patients‘ suitability for each exoskeleton device. Each assessment is bespoke to the patient and is carried out based on their personal and clinical aims. Some of the differences with the exoskeletons include how and where the devices can be used as well as recommendations for what support is required. So, for patients that have a goal of being more independent at home or being able to walk to the local shops, these criteria would straight away narrow down the available options.
Exoskeletons aren’t necessarily a new concept but are on the cusp of commercialisation. Advances in technology have resulted in a range of products that are designed for clinical and personal use and allow patients with neurological conditions the chance to stand and walk. Exoskeletons fall within the Great British Technology area of Robotics and Autonomous Systems, an area which has been the focus of significant public sector funding. It’s a market which is rapidly growing. It’s advancement is at the forefront of people’s minds and is starting to receive frequent coverage in national press. There are currently four types of exoskeletons available in the UK which have been approved for use: • The Rex Bionics • The Indego • The Rewalk • The Ekso Bionics
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Eva Sobonova, physiotherapist at the Royal Bucks comments, “We had a patient who had sustained a thoracic fracture who had the goal of returning to work. During his assessment he was able to try all four exoskeletons to establish which one would be most appropriate to meet his needs. The selection was narrowed down and he eventually chose the Indego device which is manufactured by Parker Hannifin. This particular device is the lightest, modular and therefore very easy to transport. It can be used both indoors and outdoors. Following his decision on the Indego device and with funds available to purchase one, it was then incorporated into the client’s therapy programme to get him used to using the device, to build his tolerance and monitor his reaction to it. This was all supported by a specialist therapist. After the required hours of training at the clinic, he felt confident using the device at home with support from his wife. With assistance of the exoskeleton he is able to stand and walk. He was able to use his device while on a cruise holiday with his family”.
• AI and robotics will help people with life changing injuries • A wearable bionic suit allows paralysed patients to regain their ability to stand upright and walk
Exoskeletons are one of the many examples of advancements in medical technology that can assist in rehabilitation. Watch out for our new PI Tech initiative coming soon where we look at the part technology plays in causing, avoiding and helping people recover from injuries. Find out more at: roydswithyking.com/pi-tech
Although the exoskeletons do provide patients with a much greater level of independence, it isn’t recommended that patients use the device on their own. For safety reasons, the user still requires somebody (who has undergone training) to walk with them and help with the necessary balance and stability. Eva goes on to add, “We also believe that the expertise we provide is invaluable to legal professionals and case managers working with clients on legal claims. Combining the experience and insight into the technology that is available and matching that with individual patient need provides a positive result for all parties involved”. For further information on the Royal Bucks Exoskeletons programmes, contact info@royalbucks.co.uk Ian Carrier, Head of Royds Withy King’s Spinal Injuries Team comments,“For our spinal cord injured clients, robotics and autonomous systems technology can be life-changing. It’s fantastic that Exoskeletons are becoming increasingly accessible and affordable and that increasing numbers of medical professionals are choosing to specialise in the exciting and rapidly advancing world of robotics technology.”
Prescription for productivity As we move into the next decade, in order to address waste in the healthcare system and the UK's ageing population there is now realisation that investment in technology for a productivity revolution is key.
Examples include: •
On-demand remote medical care and monitoring helping pressure on GPs
•
AI and data to support better diagnosis and support surgical demand planning
•
Less invasive surgical procedures leading to quicker recovery times
•
Automation to reduce costs and lower infection risks.
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IS A SMART AND SECURE HOME A MORE VULNERABLE ONE? The internet provides a treasure trove of information, held behind relatively weak security, for cyber criminals to take advantage of. The majority of individuals whose identities and financial information are for sale on the dark web have no idea that their security has even been breached. When we buy smart devices for the home, how many of us change the default or set a separate password for any administrator functions? Even if we do amend the default passwords, we often use the same ones as those used for more sensitive accounts, such as email or banks. By hacking through security simply designed to protect the information on the contents in your fridge, criminals can gain access to your finances. One particularly sensitive area is home security. Wireless burglar alarms and CCTV cameras installed in many homes are linked to a network. There are search engines enabling you to search for alarms connected to the internet. Motion sensors can then be disabled and alarms switched off. Those still using “admin” as the user name and password provide even easier access, but there are usually sufficient examples of any one system to make breaking the user name and password conventions relatively straightforward. In addition to alarms, CCTV cameras mounted inside peoples’ homes as part of security systems can make those homes far more insecure. As well as providing a view of the interior to facilitate burglars, they also provide unparalleled opportunities for cybercrime and ransomware demands. Clients have had ransomware demands for the return of CCTV footage taken of their homes, including a camera with a view into the bathroom. What is worse than the demand, however, is the knowledge that someone else has had control of viewing your private spaces.
Tell-tale signs Whilst the hacking of baby monitors may result in a strange voice coming from the monitor, the signs of CCTV camera hacking are more subtle. You may notice the camera moving to follow you around the room or a red light blinking on the camera when the alarm is not activated. You may also be able to see that the times and dates of data transferred from the camera do not correspond with times and dates when the alarm was monitoring any movement.
How to keep your home secure? Emma Banister Dean, our cyber security expert, suggests these very simple precautions: • Always change the user name and password from the default options. • Diarise updating passwords on a regular basis • Do not use the same user name and password as those. used for other apps or devices, particularly not email or bank accounts. • Do not use public WiFi to access your security accounts. • Monitor the dates and times of activity for unusual patterns.
Keep your information safe and secure Royds Withy King have created Life Safe® a legacy management portal where you can store all your legal documents and manage your wealth securely. You can store Wills, investment portfolios, details of chattels, digital assets and passwords. Our dual PIN system ensures that your files whether business, personal or legal - won’t be compromised.
Life Safe®
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TOP
10
STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGY TRENDS
Dave Eagle, Head of Client Solutions & Innovations, Royds Withy King
As part of our Year Ahead programme, we have worked with our network of technology influencers and decision makers to identify the top ten strategic technology trends for 2019. These trends have the potential to drive both significant disruption and deliver significant opportunity. Business leaders must evaluate these trends to identify opportunities, counter threats and create competitive advantage.
AI-driven development provides the developer with an ecosystem of AI algorithms, models, and development tools tailored to integrating AI capabilities into one solution.
Empowered edge refers to endpoint devices used by people or embedded in the world around us. Edge computing describes a computing topology in which information processing, and content collection and delivery, are placed closer to these endpoints.
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8 By 2020, there will be more than 20 billion connected sensors; endpoints and digital twins will exist for potentially billions of things. Organisations will implement digital twins simply at first. They will evolve them over time, improving their ability to collect and visualise the right data, apply the right analytics and respond effectively to business objectives.
3
1 Autonomous things: robots, drones and autonomous vehicles use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to automate functions previously performed by humans to deliver advanced behaviours that interact more naturally with their surroundings and people.
By 2022, at least 40 percent of new application development projects will have AI codevelopers on their team.
2 4 Digital twins refers to the digital representation of a real-world entity or system.
Digital ethics and privacy is a growing concern for individuals, organisations and governments. People are increasingly concerned about how their personal information is being used by organisations in both the public and private sector. The backlash will only increase for organisations that are not proactively addressing these concerns.
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6 Immersive experience: virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) are changing the way in which people perceive the digital world. This combined shift in perception and interaction models leads to the future immersive user experience. Blockchain promises to reshape industries by enabling trust, providing transparency and reducing friction across business ecosystems by potentially lowering costs, reducing transaction settlement times and improving cash flow. Today, trust is placed in banks, clearing houses, governments and many other institutions. This adds delays and friction costs (commissions, fees and the time value of money) to transactions. Blockchain provides an alternative trust mode and removes the need for central authorities in arbitrating transactions.
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Augmented analytics focuses on a specific area of augmented intelligence, using machine learning (ML) to transform how analytics content is developed, consumed and shared, thus eliminating the need for professional data scientists.
Smart spaces are physical or digital environments in which humans and technology-enabled systems interact in increasingly open, connected, coordinated and intelligent ecosystems. Multiple elements come together in a smart space to create a more immersive, interactive and automated experience for a target set of people and industry scenarios.
10 Quantum computing (QC) is a type of non-classical computing that operates on the quantum state of subatomic particles, e.g. electrons and ions, that represent information as elements denoted as quantum bits (qubits). Quantum computers excel with problems too complex for a traditional approach or where algorithms would take too long to find a solution. Industries such as automotive, financial, insurance, life sciences, military and research organisations have the most to gain from the advancements in QC.
In the life sciences sector, QC could be used to model molecular interactions at atomic levels to accelerate time to market for new cancer-treating drugs. 23
Lighting up lives In the UK, every 90 seconds someone is admitted to hospital with an acquired brain injury. Brain injuries have the potential to impact every aspect of life, irrespective of age, culture or social strata, and due to the complexities of the brain, every injury and recovery is unique. The impacts of brain injury are not limited to an individual. The effects are also felt by friends, family members, work colleagues, professionals and the wider community. The Silverlining Charity helps to rebuild and support the lives of all those affected by and living with brain injury. It helps to encourage a social support network for the injured, their family members, and the wider community while supporting projects to promote purpose and a sense of direction to a very skilled group of individuals. Our charity offers adult brain injury survivors unique opportunities to rebuild their lives through meaningful social events and opportunities. Membership is open to all abilities at absolutely no cost. We currently work with upwards of 500 brain injury survivors and family members in eight regions across England and Wales. Our Namibia Mission along with our activities and adventures are opportunities for our members to come together for friendship, growth, goal setting and, most of all, fun! Facilitated by clinicians, all our initiatives are open to all our members and accessible.
We believe strength comes from bringing groups together to give connection and widen our members’ self-confidence, ability to engage with their local community in charitable projects and step out of their comfort zone, safely. Trips like our Namibia Mission support those less fortunate and, in the process, grow and develop our members themselves. This comes by the team living and camping in the desert, working in a rural school completing maintenance, painting and holding lessons they have designed in addition to exploring the wildlife and the local area. An important part of this initiative is that all attendees must fundraise to cover the costs of their trip. You can read an account from one of the therapists who accompanied our members on the previous mission at https://www.thesilverlining.org.uk/namibia-therapy/ The Silverlining Charity relies entirely on donations and good old-fashioned fundraising by our members and likeminded supporters. We are enormously grateful to the wonderful people who take the time to raise money which facilitates our activities and groups. Feel free to set up fundraising initiative https://uk.virginmoneygiving. com/giving/ Check out our website thesilverlining.org.uk or follow us on social media at Facebook: @TheSilverliningCharity or Twitter: @SilverTweeters
Is your charity doing something innovative, enterprising or on the leading edge of the sector? Then how would you like to be in with a chance to tell our readers about it, using the back cover of this magazine? Contact aheadofthecurve@roydswithyking.com for more details.
