ISE 2022 is a must-attend event for the AV industry. Offering a compelling show floor combined with a five-day conference programme, ISE 2022 provides an ideal opportunity to ‘Rise up. Reconnect. Ignite the future’ of AV. 

Visitor registration for ISE 2022 is now open, offering the international AV and systems integration community a long-awaited opportunity to ‘Rise up. Reconnect. Ignite the future’ at its new home at the Fira de Barcelona Gran Vía.

ISE 2022 will safely and securely reunite the AV industry and provide attendees with the chance to interact and experience world-leading technologies and solutions in person and at first hand. A new development for 2022 is a paperless approach to visitor registration in the form of digital badges issued via the new ISE app. The app will also be a rich source of additional information and content.

Mike Blackman, Integrated Systems Events Managing Director, stated: “As an in-person event, we are uniquely placed to bring all elements of the industry together under one roof. In the build-up to our return to Barcelona, along with our co-owners AVIXA and CEDIA, we have worked hard to ensure that ISE 2022 offers the industry a truly worthwhile experience – showcasing innovation, becoming inspired by some of the brightest in the business, and most importantly, meeting up after so many difficult months apart.”

Spread across five halls at the Fira Gran Vía, the show floor has been organised into five Technology Zones to provide a much-improved visitor experience. So far, over 700 companies have committed to exhibit. With wide aisles, an easy-to-navigate layout and industry-leading brands showcasing technology innovations and more, ISE 2022 will provide both the AV channel and end-users with plenty of inspiration and solutions for transforming their businesses.

The five Technology Zones are:

• Audio (Hall 7)
• Digital Signage & DooH (Hall 6)
• NEW: Lighting & Staging (Hall 7) – featuring special Lighting Demo Zone
• NEW: Residential & Smart Building (Hall 2) – newly combined zones
• NEW: Unified Communications & Education Technology (Hall 2) – newly combined zones

New to ISE

An innovation for 2022 is ISE’s Sound Xperience. Set just metres away from the Fira Gran Vía, this dedicated cinema complex offers twelve uniquely configured listening rooms to showcase audio with depth, accuracy and pin-point clarity. This initiative, in partnership with Eventos Filmax Cinema Gran Vía complex, is the ultimate setting to sample the signature sound of the world’s leading audio brands.

ISE has also greatly expanded its technology demonstration areas. There will be three new demo areas covering lighting and staging (within the Lighting & Staging Zone), audio and digital signage (both outdoors). Taking advantage of the expansive facilities at the venue, these new areas will allow visitors to experience these major multi-technology solutions in ‘real-life’ set-ups.

Inspiring conference and content programme

Renowned as a destination for inspiring content, ISE 2022 will provide plenty of opportunities for professional development through its five-day, multi-language content programme.

Combining a mix of paid-for and free sessions, the 2022 thought-leadership programme covers a wide variety of industry topics. Starting on Monday with two, full-day conferences, the programme will take place on three dedicated stages within Hall 1. The Forum, a free-to-access feature commencing with daily keynote sessions, will be hosted by futurist Amelia Kallman. There will also be Spanish content in the AV Experience Zone, produced with AVIXA, while the Catalan Pavilion, in association with ACCIO, promises a great experience for visitors from the local region.

“We’re excited to gather the AV community together at ISE’s new home in Barcelona, a vibrant city known for its creativity and innovation,” said Sarah Joyce, Chief Global Officer, AVIXA. “There will be many education opportunities for attendees to explore, including our CTS (Certified Technology Specialist) half-day workshops in multiple languages, along with member events such as the German CTS breakfast, Italian members’ breakfast, and AVIXA Women’s Council and AVIXA Diversity Council events. The AV Experience Zone returns with a two-day conference presented in Spanish that will explore AV in the retail, hospitality, and corporate markets. We can’t wait to see everyone at the show in 2022!”

Featuring expert speakers, presentations and panel discussions, the ISE Conference programme comprises:

• Smart Building Conference (Monday 31 January)
• Digital Signage Summit (Monday 31 January)
• Control Rooms Summit (Tuesday 1 February – am)
• NEW: Smart Workplace Summit (Tuesday 1 February – pm)
• Digital Learning Summit (Wednesday 2 February – pm)
• NEW: Live Events Summit (Thursday 3 February – pm)
• NEW: Superyacht Technology Conference (Friday 4 Feb – am)

Giles Sutton, Interim Co-CEO at CEDIA commented: “Along with the whole professional home integration community, CEDIA is very much looking forward to ISE 2022 in Barcelona. The event next year marks the beginning of a new and exciting era for our industry as we look beyond the challenges of the past eighteen months to a brighter future for us all. CEDIA will be running an extensive professional development programme at the show, providing a wide range of opportunities for attendees to learn new skills, grow their knowledge and build a vibrant, fulfilling career path in the industry. We can’t wait to re-connect with visitors from across the world at the Fira Gran Via in February 2022.”

Features and events

AV Career Day returns to ISE 2022, this year taking place on Thursday 2 February. Supported by AVIXA, CEDIA and ISE, this initiative is designed to showcase career opportunities throughout the AV industry and ensure that the next generation of AV professionals has the skills to meet the challenges of the future. A select group of technology students from universities and technical colleges across Europe will enjoy a hosted visit.

ISE is also working closely with the city of Barcelona, the Catalan government, and Spanish authorities. There will be some very enjoyable social events and features designed to showcase ISE’s new home in Barcelona. More details will follow.

Making its debut in Barcelona is the Inavation Awards, produced by IML. Long associated with ISE, these awards celebrate the projects and technologies deployed by systems integrators, consultants and technology managers. The Inavation Awards will take place on Tuesday 1 February and promise to be a great night out. The Stand Design Awards, which celebrate and acknowledge the efforts of ISE’s exhibitors in creating impactful and effective exhibition stands, will also take place during the show.

A safe environment

Covid safety measures will remain under constant review to ensure the most appropriate plans are in place for the situation in February 2022 as ISE continues to work closely with the venue, the city of Barcelona and the local and national health authorities. Potential measures could include the wearing of face masks, social distancing, and provision of enhanced sanitisation measures throughout the venue. A negative test, proof of vaccination or proof of recovery will be required to access the venue.

More details regarding these measures will be announced soon, but in the meantime, registration is now open – so go here to book your ticket: https://iseurope.org/register.php

Integrated Systems Europe, ISE 2022, will take place at the Fira de Barcelona Gran Vía on 1-4 February 2022. The ISE Conference programme runs from Monday 31 January through to Friday 4 February.

For more information, please visit www.iseurope.org

Howard de Walden signs the iconic Italian Delicatessen and Restaurant Lina Stores, set to open in early 2022

The Howard de Walden Estate is pleased to announce that it has signed a partnership with Lina Stores, the Italian delicatessen and restaurant, to add to the already acclaimed food and beverage offering across Marylebone Village.

Lina Stores is famous for its fresh handmade pasta as well as meats, cheeses and antipasti, all imported directly from regional Italy. First opened in 1944, it aims to provide diners with an authentic Italian experience. Guests can enjoy freshly prepared dishes cooked in the restaurant as well as delicatessen favourites to take away and enjoy at home.

The new Marylebone site will cover 5,250 sq ft, set over 2 floors and will sit in a prime corner location – at the entrance to The Howard de Walden Estate on Marylebone Lane.

Inspired by the original corner-store delicatessen in Soho, Lina Stores Marylebone Lane will feature an all day dining restaurant, delicatessen and bar.  The much loved pistachio green and white stripes still feature, in addition to traditional wood panelling, angled antique glass, original vintage bentwood, and terrazzo flooring.

Guests will be welcomed from morning until late to a ground floor open-theatre style kitchen. Lina Stores signature dishes will feature alongside new larger format sharing pasta and secondi. Delicatessen customers will enjoy panini, freshly baked goods, dolci, coffee and much more to eat in or take away. The lower ground floor bar will transport guests from day into evening with cocktails inspired by their extensive range of aperitivi and amari.

Jenny Casebourne, Retail & Leisure Director at Howard de Walden commented: “Lina Stores is a fantastic addition to the estate, joining an already impressive and carefully curated line-up of food and beverage offers across Marylebone Village. We look forward to welcoming the Lina Stores team and know our visitors and residents will be incredibly excited for the opening.

“Lina Stores arrival represents a further step in our vision for Marylebone Lane.  The new site will sit in a prime location – at the entrance of the estate.”

Surface Design Show, the UK’s event for architects and designers to explore the best in surface material innovation, is getting ready to welcome over 120 exhibitors to its 2022 show including over 35 confirmed New Talents.

In partnership with Canon UK and curated by Trendease International’s Jennifer Castodi, the New Talent exhibitors will feature a wide range of ‘start up’ designers all brought together to exhibit for the first time. Jennifer and her team travel to over 100 design events each year seeking out the most innovative and dynamic designs. The class of ‘22 have been sourced from showrooms, trade fairs, exhibits and design shows in major design capitals.

New Talents from Netherlands, Singapore and Spain will be participating.

Surface Design Show and Canon UK are dedicated to supporting the New Talent showcased in this important and increasingly popular sector of the show. Derek Joys Product Marketing Manager at Canon UK commented “We are delighted to be Partnering with the New Talent section of Surface Design Show and to have the opportunity to work with such talented new global designers.  From wallcoverings to textiles, digital printing plays a hugely important part in interior décor – we hope that through our involvement, we can pass on expert knowledge which will help these individuals to thrive in the future”.

The 2020 event featured talented new designers showing materials that included decorative panels, biomaterials, plastic waste tiles, flexible plaster and laser-cut biophilic surfaces. The 2022 show is set to be just as exciting with participants, offering a range of sophisticated and innovative designs, from textile designs featuring augmented reality to 3D tiles of eco resin and waste materials. Many of the participants this year also show a recurring theme of using natural materials and dyes.

“Once again Trendease International and I are delighted to bring together a diverse selection of new talent we have scouted from around the world.  Over 35 fresh faces will present their creations at the next edition of Surface Design Show ranging from 3D tiles and bioplastics, to wallpapers and textiles with circular design and well-being center stage.” commented Jennifer Castodi CEO/Chief Creative Director, Trendease International.

Amongst the New Talent designers for 2022 visitors will find surfaces using fruit waste, tiles using waste materials, a celebration of British wool and lighting using wood veneer.

Designer Ellie Preece brings her ‘Kitchen Archives’ project to the show, an exploration of biomaterials with the goal being to create alternative packaging. Ellie’s biomaterials have been produced using various fruits, many of which can be sourced from fruit waste. The results are that of an edible packaging material, along with a material that can be used in place of plastics.

Emily Hatton’s work consists of a collection of three dimensional tiles that are made using a combination of techniques including laser-cutting and hand construction with elements of laser etch and digital print that incorporate subtle pattern into the designs. Some of the tiles have then been further developed by mould making and casting with an eco-resin (Jesmonite) and waste materials. Each waste material is able to offer a unique surface texture to the resin. The three dimensional tiles can be applied to a range of applications including luxury wall panelling, unque wall art and adornments for furniture design.

Introduced for the first time to the New Talent section is a lighting design by Chloe Hook, developed using veneer the design celebrates the beauty of nature and the importance of it in any environment. Chloe chooses to work with wood because of its primitive familiarity, warmth of colour and its sustainability credentials.

Textile designer Cara Tomi introduces her project ‘The Psychology of Mandalas’, the mandala is a spiritual symbol from the Buddhist faith, it is a sacred, circular, symmetrical pattern that can be understood in two different ways: externally as a visual representation of the universe or internally as a guide for several practices that take place in many Asian traditions including meditation. The prints are made using the traditional Japanese technique of Shibori (stich resist) combined with the contemporary application of structure and form through Mandalas breathing new life into traditional designs.

Louisa Knapp of Knapp Textiles will showcase her stunning textiles whilst championing British wool, After watching the refreshing documentary Kiss the Ground, the important role sheep can play when implemented in a regenerative farming system highlighted their ability to aid carbon sequestration into the earth’s soil, reversing the effects of climate change. For Louisa this was unforgettably inspiring. Therefore, she aimed to investigate how wool could play a significant role in this regenerative period in our country’s economic and ecological reconfiguration.

Design enthusiasts are invited to discover this New Talent, along with enjoying some well-known, respected ones on 8-10 February 2022 at the Business Design Centre, London.

Smyths Toys has partnered with children’s charity Rays of Sunshine to help them continue to brighten the lives of seriously ill children by granting wishes, fulfilling hospital ward wishes, organising outings and events and providing entertainment for children during their time in hospital.

Smyths Toys, which has 134 stores across the UK & Ireland, provides the largest range of some of the latest and greatest toys, baby, outdoor and gaming products making it the perfect partner for Rays of Sunshine.

As part of its expanding hospital services programme, Rays of Sunshine has delivered over 127 sets of sensory bags to 53 hospitals, hospices, and community settings across the UK since 2019. The partnership with Smyths will enable the charity to further enhance these services by providing children with an additional specialised box of fidget toys. These toys are specially designed to help reduce anxiety and provide a valuable distraction for hundreds of children receiving treatment.

Smyths Toys have also donated an additional £50,000 to help fund a calendar of hospital ward wish initiatives which will improve and enhance hospital environments and provide much needed play resources on paediatric wards across the UK.

The magic and fun that this partnership is sure to bring will harness the power of play to enhance Rays of Sunshine’s existing hospital and wish services, as well as enabling the charity to reach more seriously ill children than ever before.

Nina Bradburn, Executive Director at Rays of Sunshine, commented on the partnership:

‘We are absolutely thrilled to be working with Smyths Toys and we can’t wait to see the positive impact it will have on our beneficiaries and families. We are incredibly grateful for the support and look forward to building the relationship in order to continue brightening lives of seriously ill children and their families across the UK.’

Sinead Byrne, Joint Head of Marketing at Smyths Toys, added:

‘We are proud to be partnering with Rays of Sunshine this year as our charity partner. We are looking forward to working with Rays of Sunshine and supporting them in providing much needed hospital services for seriously ill children from across the UK.’

Rays of Sunshine children’s charity was formed in 2003 to brighten the lives of seriously ill young people and their families across the UK by granting wishes and providing ongoing support in hospital and within the community. For more information, please visit: www.raysofsunshine.org.uk

Laings The Jewellers unveiled its stunning new-look showroom at Cardiff’s St David’s on Saturday 16th October as it officially relaunched.

The expansion project, which has seen the existing showroom more than treble in size to 4,735sq ft, features dedicated diamond and jewellery areas, providing guests with the opportunity to view carefully curated collections in an immersive environment. Building on its unrivalled offering of luxury watches and jewellery, Laings Cardiff will welcome esteemed brands such as Rolex and debut Patek Philippe in Wales for the very first time. Laings will also introduce revered luxury Maison, Fabergé, to Cardiff, with brand exclusivity in the city.

Designed by the Espirit Group, the showroom situated at The Hayes encapsulates the essence of the brands it represents, with unparalleled attention to detail, creating a truly engaging and elevated customer journey.

With a continued focus on providing first-class service, the team at St David’s has also grown by 38%, introducing eight new retail recruits. With bespoke design services available to Laings’ clients and an on-site watch workshop in the Cardiff showroom, the family business will also continue to invest in the traditional crafts of jewellery and watchmaking, safeguarding these artisan skills for the future.

Stuart McDowell, Managing Director of Laings, said: “This expansion reaffirms our commitment to in-store experiences – and to Cardiff, a vibrant city with a thriving retail scene. The showroom is the exclusive home to some of the most sought-after luxury brands and we’ve worked hand-in-hand with our partners to create a truly immersive environment for our clients. Being able to showcase these esteemed brands in our signature space is sure to inspire both our clientele and those working in the industry.”

Offering the public a chance to experience the true luxury of Laings during the relaunch weekend, visitors to St David’s were invited in to explore the showroom, with a glass of champagne from refreshments partner, Lanson. Those passing also had the opportunity to view a bespoke Laings diamond installation, created by celebrity florist and mixed-media installation artist Larry Walshe. Coming alive at night, the stunning 8ft diamond sculpture at The Hayes was on display throughout the relaunch weekend, with luxury Laings prizes on offer to those who captured and shared the best imagery on social using the hashtag #TheLaingsDiamond.

Russell Loveland, Senior Portfolio Director for Landsec, the co-owners and asset managers of St David’s, added: “The launch of the upgraded Laings showroom at St David’s exemplifies our approach to foster ongoing relationships with our retailers, providing opportunities for them to grow and thrive. As part of this portfolio-wide approach, we work closely with our brand partners to ensure they create a bespoke product choice for our guests, and something that sets each destination apart.”

The £3 million investment into the transformation of the family-run jewellers’ existing showroom at St David’s forms an integral part of Laings’ UK-wide expansion plan. Highlighting Cardiff as a key location for the business, Laings is expected to further build on its presence in the city as part of its longer-term growth plan over the next 18 months.

For more information on Laings, visit www.LaingsUK.com.

Home furnishings retailer Terrys has unveiled its brand-new online immersive shopping experience, which tailors shopping specifically by colour palette.

The family run business, which has a store in Staffordshire and an ecommerce site which serves customers across the UK, specialises in homewares and textiles.

The unique Shop by Colour concept has been months in the making, after the retailer experienced a huge surge in on-site searches for colour related terms. With shades such as ‘grey’, ‘blue’ and ‘green’ all featuring in the most popular terms searched from the homepage, the retailer set out to create an experience for its customers which is specifically tailored to their wants and needs.

The Shop by Colour concept brings together the most popular colours that Terrys’ customers regularly search for, all-in-one place. The online hub includes individual categories which incorporate Terrys full offering for each specific shade, inclusive of curtain fabric, made to measure curtains, made to measure blinds, ready-made blinds, bedding and cushions.

With most people short on time, Terrys are confident that this new way of shopping will act as a stress-free way to fully furnish a room. Where previously a customer may have needed to navigate between several different categories to be able to view different types of products in complimentary shades, this information is now available at the simple click of a button.

Gareth Coxall, Marketing and Creative Director at Terrys says “It’s been a really challenging 18-months for many, and with so many of us going back to work and juggling this with everyday life, we know time is of the essence.

“Being able to offer a unique service that we know our customers crave, whilst also making the customer journey easier, is a huge bonus for us. We’re absolutely thrilled with the feedback we’ve received so far on our new shopping experience and hope that it helps in aiding our customers to achieve their dream homes.”

This innovative expansion comes off the back of a record year in sales for Terrys, with the retailer posting a huge 109% yearly increase in revenue earlier this year following a huge surge in demand for homewares throughout lockdown.

The retailer has also continued to bolster its brand wins throughout 2021, broadening its already extensive offering to include popular designer collections such as Laurence Llewelyn Bowen and SkinnyDip, as well as celebrity collections including both Tess Daly and Paloma Faith’s ranges.

This autumn marks the launch of a new partnership between SUGi, Louis Vuitton and Cadogan, to create Central London’s first ‘Heritage Forest’. Located on Pont Street in Chelsea, South-West London, the project aims to restore biodiversity, reintroduce native species and reconnect people with nature.

SUGi, the globally renowned organisation dedicated to restoring 100% native forests in urban spaces, are joining forces with Louis Vuitton and Cadogan, who own and manage around 90 acres of Chelsea and Knightsbridge, to increase the neighbourhood’s biodoversity and demonstrate an innovative way for businesses and landowners to work together and make an impact with environmentally responsible planting in small urban spaces.

The 240sqm pocket forest in Chelsea, close to Louis Vuitton’s elegant store on Sloane Street and part of the Cadogan Estate, will see 630 native trees and shrubs (77 species) planted in total. It is intended to become self-sustaining within three years and is a blossoming example of urban rewilding and ecological sustainability, that will provide inspiration for further similar projects.

SUGi’s planting will follow the complex ‘Miyawaki’* methodology, giving its forests four ‘layers’ – shrubs, sub-trees, trees and a canopy – with at least three trees planted per sq metre. The native plants are selected based on flora and fauna research, a soil survey and vegetation report. Chelsea’s Heritage Forest will see species such as Red Campion, Sessile Oak, Hawthorn and a forest floor dense with shrubbery and wildflowers to create an ideal habitat for at least 80 species of insect. By using this variety of native species, the forest will require less maintenance and watering, alleviating the need for pesticides and artificial plant foods.

Louis Vuitton is committed to contributing to the local communities in which they operate. An internal Positive Impact Committee has been created to lead projects such as this one.

Through the Maison’s “Our Committed Journey” sustainable development plan, Louis Vuitton is dedicated to preserving natural resources by 2025 based on a set of quantitative targets.  In September 2021, the House’s climate objectives for 2030 were officially validated by the SBTi (the Science Based Targets initiative, a partnership between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute and the World Wide Fund for Nature), which drives ambitious climate action in the private sector by enabling companies to set science-based emissions reduction targets. This further consolidates Louis Vuitton’s ambitions for circular creativity and responsible sourcing, 2 of the 3 pillars of “Our Committed Journey”. Acting on Climate Change is the third pillar.

Cadogan has recently launched its 10-year sustainability strategy Chelsea 2030, which maps out ambitious targets contributing to a more sustainable city. These targets outline initiatives including a roadmap to net zero, improving air quality and enhancing green infrastructure and biodiversity across the estate, including an increase in Urban Greening Factor by 25% over the next decade.

Elise van Middelem, founder of SUGi says: “The forest will be a green space for local neighbours to find quiet moments of respite and to take in the joys of nature in a vibrant and busy city. Visitors can take in the changing colours of the trees, the aromas of the blossoms and the sound of rustling leaves. Thanks to its urban location, this forest will offer not only an individual experience but a communal one. We hope it becomes a recognised source of joy for all.”

Hugh Seaborn, CEO, Cadogan says: “This forest is certainly a complementary contrast to the 15 acres of more manicured gardens across the estate and our plans to make Sloane Street a dramatically greener boulevard from Knightsbridge to Sloane Square. It is vital that we try new opportunities to accelerate positive change and we believe this will be a beautiful and necessary addition, while offering inspiration for many similar opportunities – we look forward to monitoring its growth and impact in partnership with Louis Vuitton.”

*The Miyawaki methodology is based on the work of Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, whose method, tried and tested on over 3,000 sites, has a 97% success rate for tree survival with little to no maintenance

Homewares retailer Dunelm will reveal its Autumn advertising campaign on Friday, 15th October with a 60 second TV ad which will launch across ITV over the weekend.

‘Dun Your Way’, developed with newly appointed ad agency Creature, aims to empower Dunelm’s customers to defy expectation when it comes to creating and styling a home.

Directed by Stephen Pipe, the ad opens in a dystopian, washed-out street of sameness. The monotony is punctured by one defiant and confident Dunelm customer who arrives home with their new haul of purchases, setting off a chain reaction with neighbours who are inspired to start their own transformations.

Set to iconic track Do Your Thing by Basement Jaxx, the campaign sets a confident and vibrant attitude for Dunelm which will be implemented cross-channel on radio, social, in-store, digital and online.

Dunelm will be sharing an exclusive preview of the ad to customers through its Facebook community groups the evening before its official TV launch (Thursday, 14th October).

David Murdin, who led development of the campaign for Dunelm, said: “The launch of ‘Dun Your Way’ gives us an ownable brand and communications platform as well as a lively, bold tone of voice, which we hope will empower our customers to create a home which brings them joy, done their way and no one else’s.

“We’ll be encouraging both our colleagues and customers to share ‘their way’ with us over the next few months, showing us the Dunelm products they love and how they’ve done things their way when decorating and styling their homes.”

Ben Middleton, Chief Creative Officer at Creature, said: “”The launch of the Dun Your Way campaign is a big, bold, liberating leap forward, designed to inspire and delight the interior tastes of the masses and our mums. Making this work with the highly ambitious, ferociously smart team at Dunelm has been a ton of fun and now we are excitedly waiting to see everything from cushions to curtains changing all over the country.”

Media strategy, planning and buying has been handled by media agency Goodstuff, with key spots including The Chase, ITV News, Paul O’Grady’s Saturday Night Line Up and Grantchester.

To create further awareness around the new campaign, creative communications agency Tangerine will be delivering a series of supporting PR and influencer activity.

The Autumn campaign heralding the launch of Dun Your Way will be followed by a Christmas activation, which will further amplify the retailer’s new platform and be an exciting elevation of the brand’s annual Delivering Joy activity.

• The Co-op will create 135 Large Goods Vehicle driver apprenticeships on a 12-15 month programme in 2022 with the first intake starting in January
• A further 207 apprenticeships will be recruited for third party haulier services at Co-op sites
• Competitive starting salary and a permanent contract will be offered at the retailer, with costs of training covered as part of the scheme

The Co-op is creating over 300 LGV driver apprenticeships in response to the current driver crisis facing the nation. With a competitive starting salary and a permanent contract at the leading retailer, the apprenticeships offer the opportunity to work towards a Class 1 vehicle licence and kickstart a career in driving.

With start dates throughout 2022, the programme will run for 12-15 months in various locations nationwide and will be available to both internal and external candidates. Within three months, apprentices will become fully operational drivers, and receive a pay increase from the starting salary of between £23,753.60 to £25,584.00, depending on location.

In the first three months, apprentices will carry out practical and theoretical learning to help to obtain their LGV Class 1 licence, paid for by the Co-op, and study a range of modules including driving regulations and delivering great customer service.

Recruitment for the roles has already started and will continue throughout 2022. Anyone with a full UK/EU Car Driving Licence can apply and no professional driving experience is required.

The Co-op is also working with contract logistics providers, GXO and Wincanton, to create over 200 opportunities throughout 2022 at sites where they work on Co-op’s behalf.

Co-op Food CEO, Jo Whitfield, said: “The transport sector needs long-term sustainable change. Through our apprenticeship programme we’ll be able to help driver recruitment by attracting new talent and make the sector more appealing to younger people. These apprenticeships are part of our broader apprenticeship commitment at the Co-op to improve social mobility.

“I’m pleased to see the Co-op leading the way and the last few months have only stressed the importance of drivers who are not only providing a service that is so vital for our business but for society as a whole.”

Minister for Skills, Alex Burghart, said: “It’s great to see Co-op continuing to invest in apprenticeships with the creation of 300 LGV apprentice roles.

“Apprenticeships are a superb way to launch careers or upskill in a wide range of key industries, and crucially help to plug workforce shortages by providing people with high-quality training in the skills businesses need to thrive.”

Aron Marshall (pictured), an HGV Driver at the Co-op, who won Level 2 Apprentice of the Year, said: “Before taking the role I was working in an office setting with other drivers hearing about the different places they were going to, day to day, and I became really interested in learning something totally new and getting out there myself. It’s great to see the Co-op providing such a fantastic opportunity to start a career in driving. I’d really encourage people who are unsure about their future careers paths to consider re-training in one of the driver apprentice roles.

Through my training and qualifications, I feel like I’ve got a really bright future now, alongside a competitive salary and a good work/life balance.”

For anyone with a current drivers’ licence and an interest in developing a career in driving for the Co-op, more information about the new apprenticeship roles can be found here: https://jobs.coop.co.uk/lgv-driver-apprenticeship