Latest news with #Pioneering
South Wales Argus
3 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Monmouthshire Upcycle celebrates ten years in Chepstow
Chepstow is home to a vibrant upcycling initiative led by Monmouthshire Upcycle, a charitable project operated by the Forest Upcycling Project. Located at Station Yard Industrial Estate, next to the town's railway station, the site is an Aladdin's cave,not just of trinkets and bric-a-brac, but of solid furniture and practical goods. The busy hub runs vans for free removals of unwanted household furniture and offers affordable moving services. The reuse facility transforms donated items such as furniture, appliances, books, and more, into affordable goods for the community. It reduces waste while providing employment and training opportunities for those in need of a new start, work experience or just people with time to spare who want to help build and help communities. Speaking about the project's vision, founder Matt Jones said: 'We believe in second chances, not just for furniture, but for people and futures.' Locals can donate unwanted items or purchase refurbished ones at a fraction of the original cost. From wardrobes and lamps to kitchen tables and baby goods, the selection is wide-ranging and constantly evolving. Delivery services make sustainable living even more accessible. Mechanic led police on 'erratic' high-speed chase and stole petrol from garages 'Pioneering' charity founder steps down after more than 30 years of involvement Beyond retail, Chepstow's upcycling efforts promote circular economy values. The project's expansion reflects growing demand and community support, proving that sustainability and compassion go hand in hand. As Matt puts it: 'The more money we make, the more people we can employ.' Staff and volunteers are a vibrant, creative bunch. The on-site café hosts a Repair Café on the first Friday of each month, where locals bring broken items and volunteers help fix them, keeping goods out of landfill and building connections. At the heart of the café is Natalia Lutiaenko, a Ukrainian refugee from Odessa who's been in the UK for three years. She's managed the café for 18 months and also works in a local school. With fellow Ukrainian Liliya Onopa, Natalia now serves traditional dishes like borscht, plov, varenyky, and holubtsi on-site. She jokes: 'All you need to know, pre-Google, is don't eat borscht while wearing a white top.' She loves British humour—especially Philomena Cunk—and fondly recalls how warmly she and her children were welcomed by a British family and the happy way of life here. Joining them is retired teacher and ceramicist Mariam Eastwood: 'I retired to become my late mother's carer. As a neurodiverse person, there was no pressure here—it was so welcoming. I was dealing with grief, and this place helped. After that, I was asked if I wanted a job' What began in Chepstow has now grown into a cross-border concern, with outlets in Cwmbran, Cinderford, and Swindon.
Gulf Today
10-05-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
Dubai's unified service model drives govt excellence, improves people's lives: Hamdan
Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai awarded the Hamdan Flag to the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs, recognising its outstanding achievement in applying the Services 360 policy and delivering integrated, proactive services that anticipate future needs. "Guided by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, our government services not only meet expectations-they anticipate them. Services 360 is not a procedural enhancement; it is a comprehensive approach that strengthens the partnership between government, business, and society. It transforms data and digital integration into a seamless, human-centric experiences," Sheikh Hamdan said. "To date, 997 government services have been redesigned under the Services 360 policy, saving Dhs2.3 billion for customers and AED1.6 billion for government entities. These results are testament to Dubai's unified approach to service transformation. I am proud of the teams who have improved public services through collaboration and integration. Every entity that has contributed to this effort is part of Dubai's story of excellence." The General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs was recognised for placing the service user at the heart of every experience, embodying the one-government spirit that characterises Dubai's public service model. Sheikh Hamdan added: "The Hamdan Flag is awarded for real-world impact. I congratulate the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs for transforming its services into a model of efficiency, foresight and customer value." Sheikh Hamdan also congratulated Dubai Customs for winning Best Pioneering Initiative, and Dubai Police for winning the Best Digital City Experience. The Roads and Transport Authority achieved the highest customer trust score for the second consecutive year. Sheikh Hamdan hailed the beginning of a new phase of public service excellence, commending every shortlisted entity for its contribution. The winners were announced during the annual awards ceremony of the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Programme for Government Services, organised by the Dubai Model Centre under the General Secretariat of The Executive Council. The event was held in the presence of Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Deputy Chairman of The Executive Council, and Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Deputy Chairman of The Executive Council. The second phase of the Services 360 policy resulted in direct savings of Dhs2.3 billion for customers and Dhs1.6 billion for government entities, a 93% reduction in waiting times and the number of required visits, a 63% reduction in service requirements, a 59% cut in processing time, and a 56% overall reduction in service completion time. The nine finalists selected for the Hamdan Flag from 27 government entities, were: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Community Development Authority, Roads and Transport Authority, General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs-Dubai, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Police, Department of Economy and Tourism, Dubai Customs, and Mohammed Bin Rashid Housing Establishment. Dubai Customs received the Best Pioneering Initiative Award for its Cross-Border e-Commerce project, which enhances service efficiency and positions Dubai as a leading global hub for e-commerce through real-time customs clearance and pre-emptive solutions. Dubai Police was awarded the Best Digital City Experience for the Ahsan Allah Aza'akum initiative, digitising death related procedures for UAE citizens in Dubai (phase one), developed in partnership with key entities including the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Dubai Municipality, the Dubai Health Authority, the Community Development Authority, the Roads and Transport Authority, Dubai Civil Defence, and the Ministry of Health and Prevention. The initiative will expand in its second phase to include other population in the Digital City Experience category included: digitalisation of land grants and exchange (Mohammed Bin Rashid Housing Establishment), electric vehicle driving experience (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority), vehicle licensing (Roads and Transport Authority), and digitising death related procedures for UAE citizens in Dubai (Dubai Police). The Roads and Transport Authority was honoured for achieving the highest customer trust score for the second year in a row, underscoring the government's commitment to service excellence. The Hamdan Bin Mohammed Programme for Government Services follows a rigorous evaluation by the Dubai Model Centre and international experts, based on five core criteria: results and impact, whole-of-government approach, innovation, service culture, and sustainability. Residents also participated in customer feedback, reinforcing the customer's role in shaping future services. Abdulla Mohammed Al Basti, Secretary General of The Executive Council of Dubai, said: "The results of the Services 360 policy reflect the strength of Dubai's governance model, where the leadership's vision is translated into measurable, real-world outcomes. The Hamdan Flag celebrates government entities that create tangible improvements in people's lives, led by proactive design, institutional integration, innovation, and a commitment to exceeding public expectations." Hamad Al Mansoori, Director General of the Digital Dubai Authority said: "The new addition of the 'Digital City Experiences' category within the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Programme for Government Services reflects a genuine translation of cross-entity integration and unified government efforts under a shared vision to enhance quality of life in Dubai. Dubai Police's recognition in this category marks a new milestone in its journey and reaffirms its commitment to delivering seamless, customer-centric digital experiences that are both efficient and innovative." Dr. Hazza Khalfan Al Nuaimi, Assistant Secretary General for Excellence and Government Services Sector at the General Secretariat of The Executive Council of Dubai, said: "The Hamdan Bin Mohammed Programme for Government Services has become a comprehensive framework for designing, delivering, and assessing government services. The Hamdan Flag represents more than recognition-it marks the transformation of strategic ambition into operational excellence." Eman Al Suwaidi, Director of Assessment and Studies, General Secretariat of The Executive Council, said: "This year saw a marked improvement in proactive, integrated services across entities. The programme encourages continuous innovation, helping government entities redefine the customer journey using data, co-design, and digital collaboration." WAM
Tahawul Tech
06-03-2025
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
The Women in Tech Awards 2025 spotlights challenges in gender equity
The Women in Technology Forum and Awards 2025 took place at the spectacular Sofitel Dubai Downtown and sought to celebrate and empower women in the technology sector as hosted by CPI Media Group and tahawultech. This year's awards aligned seamlessly with the International Women's Day (IDW) 2025 campaign theme, 'Accelerate Action', which calls for collective efforts to drive gender equality in the workplace and beyond. In the spirit of Accelerating Action, the event aimed to break barriers, challenge biases and help foster a culture of inclusivity to create equitable opportunities for women in technology. The awards process involved the editorial team evaluating nominations from across the region with the goal of honouring female tech professionals, frontrunners and trailblazers. These accolades celebrate those who exemplify resilience, excellence and position themselves as a driving force to shape the future of technology. Sponsored by Supporting Partners- Commvault, Fortinet, Logitech and OPSWAT this prestigious event featured two expansive panel discussions with industry insiders and a fireside chat session with Loubna Imenchal, Vice President & Head of Enterprise Business – AMECA & Türkiye at Logitech, an accomplished professional with more than 20+ years' experience in sales, operations and business expansion. As Head of Enterprise Business at Logitech, she spoke about her mission to foster inclusive leadership, mentorship, and career advancement for women across the Africa, Middle East, Türkiye, and Central Asia region. Under the title of Empowering Women Leaders: Leveraging AI to Advance Careers the first panel saw the opinions of notable speakers including Esha D'Souza from Corporate Group; Loubna Imenchal from Logitech; Dr. Pallavi Ranjan from Murdoch University Dubai; Vasudha Khandeparkar from Grant Thornton – UAE and Zina Ashour from Women in Crypto Arabia (WIC). Our Second panel discussion, titled Pioneering Parity: UAE's Leadership in Empowering Women in Tech, featured insights from female thought-leaders such as, Mariana Missakian founder of The UNMUTE Project; Mary O'Leary a tax and sustainability expert and Suraya Turk from Legal Circle. The winners of the Women in Technology Forum and Awards 2025 are:
