EME Outlook - Issue 21

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ISSUE 21

For more than 50 years businesses have relied on Ford Transit to get the job done, and the Company is more determined than ever to maintain that tradition as the industry moves into the electric age

BUSINESS TRAVEL GUIDE 28

Ras al-Khaimah: The Forgotten Emirate

BEP EUROPE 78 Combining the automotive revolution with traditional engineering

ALSO FEATURING: J D A / C E N T I R O

QVANTEL 84 Providing a step-by-step guide to successful business transformation

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UNIVERSITY OF EXETER 94 Enhancing the face-to-face learning experience to create a digital edge

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Business Travel Guides

A complete guide to EME’s leading business travel destinations

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M O R A V I A

s the easternmost province in the Czech Republic, Moravia is full of rolling hills, beautiful landscapes and breathtaking architecture. The province’s capital city, Brno is home to a plethora of museums and the Moravia Convention Bureau (MCB), which was established in 2007 to support event organisers and planners in the region.

The objective of the MCB was to directly increase the number of conferences, trade fairs and other events in the somewhat sleepy region, while showcasing the City of Brno as

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Moravia

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Moravia is the perfect combination of spectacular rolling hills and cultural excellence, and is now excelling in the world of business tourism with thanks to the Moravia Convention Bureau Writer: Phoebe Calver | Project Manager: Joe Palliser

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an ideal congress destination.

The capital city provides a lively hub of activity, full of students attending the local university, museums, microbreweries and some of the country’s best restaurants.

“We are proud to see that the past few years have brought about a positive change to the quality of our infrastructure and services,” explains Petr Ryšánek, Project Manager at the Moravia Convention Bureau. “The city of Brno and the region in general have massively strengthened their position as an important centre for trade fairs and exhibitions.

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“We have the capabilities to provide a professional, cooperative and progressive environment that is sought after by the modern business traveller.”

Over the past decade Brno has experienced a new chapter of development, reaffirming its status as a cultural hub with theatres, theatres, cinemas, entertainment in the streets, and a relaxed atmosphere.

As the region is becoming more developed in the growing business of computer technology, telecommunications and software development it is quickly heading into the top 50 most innovative places in Europe.

FACTS & FIGURES

Language: Area: Population: Currency:

Czech

Time zone: Dialling code: Internet TLD:

UTC +1

22,348.87 km2 3,100,000 Bohemian and Moravian Koruna 420 .cz

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40 See page

Our Business Travel section not only gives executives the complete guide to the world’s most popular and populous locations, but also gives said locations the perfect opportunity to showcase their own businesses, events, venues and services to a truly international audience and readership of more than 395,000 each month.

To share in this unrivalled exposure and to put your own offering on our map, then please contact our Sales Managers, Joe Palliser or Ryan Gray to find out more.

joe.palliser@outlookpublishing.com

+44 (0)1603 959 676

ryan.gray@outlookpublishing.com

+44 (0)1603 959 672

W E L C O M E Keeping Britain Moving

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Devoting a publication to our own front doorstep of the UK has been a somewhat rare occurrence in EME Outlook over the past four years, but when we do divert our attentions a little more domestically; we do so in style.

And, usually, we do so by taking a position in the driving seat of some of the biggest brands in automotive history.

For more than 50 years businesses have relied on Ford Transit to get the Earlier this year, we set this tone via an job done, and the Company is more determined than ever to maintain that tradition as the industry moves into the electric age interview with Aston Martin CEO, Andy Palmer; at which point we promised that this would be the start of an exciting and prolonged focus on the wider sector’s key protagonists. Low and behold, we are now privileged to welcome - in our final issue of 2017 - Ford, arguably the world’s most renowned manufacturer that has been ‘Going Further’ in the UK for more than 100 years.

Ford UK’s Chairman and MD, Andy Barratt details not just the Company’s centenary in the country, but more specifically the Ford Transit’s 50-year influence on British vehicles, and its equally renowned Fiesta model; both brands set to receive a technological and environmental shift into the next era of motoring.

Digitisation is a common theme throughout our November instalment, with the University of Exeter also on hand to provide a fresh and fascinating perspective on how advanced technologies are helping to shape the UK’s future workforce.

Meanwhile, we round up our UK focus with a look at the country’s top five sporting venues.

Back in the tech world, we begin to venture across Central Europe courtesy of Qvantel, BEP Europe, Benify and F-Secure, before reaching the border of Czech Republic and more specifically, Moravia where our bimonthly business travel assortment begins.

Ras Al Khaimah then picks up the baton for the Middle East as we explore the forgotten Emirate’s corporate credentials.

Finally, it would be rude to sign off from a year without wishing everyone a very merry holiday period, and we look to get the business world in the festive spirit courtesy of JDA and Centiro’s ‘Click & Collect’ report, and Deputy Editor, Phoebe Calver’s stroll through Europe’s top Christmas markets.

ISSUE 21

BUSINESS TRAVEL GUIDE 00

Ras al-Khaimah: The Forgotten Emirate

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BEP EUROPE 00 Combining the automotive revolution with traditional engineering

ALSO FEATURING: J D A / C E N T I R O

QVANTEL 00 Providing a step-by-step guide to successful business transformation

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UNIVERSITY OF EXETER 00 Enhancing the face-to-face learning experience to create a digital edge

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EDITORIAL Editorial Director: Matthew Staff matthew.staff@outlookpublishing.com Deputy Editor: Phoebe Calver phoebe.calver@outlookpublishing.com

PRODUCTION Production Manager: Daniel George daniel.george@outlookpublishing.com Art Director: Stephen Giles steve.giles@outlookpublishing.com Advert Designer: Devon Collins devon.collins@outlookpublishing.com IMAGES: www.thinkstockphotos.co.uk

BUSINESS Sales Director: Nick Norris nick.norris@outlookpublishing.com Operations Director: James Mitchell james.mitchell@outlookpublishing.com Heads of Projects: Joshua Mann joshua.mann@outlookpublishing.com Kane Weller kane.weller@outlookpublishing.com Tom Cullum tom.cullum@outlookpublishing.com Training & Development Manager: Eddie Clinton eddie.clinton@outlookpublishing.com Sales Managers: Joe Palliser joe.palliser@outlookpublishing.com Ryan Gray ryan.gray@outlookpublishing.com Project Managers: Donovan Smith donovan.smith@outlookpublishing.com Jamie Sutherland jamie.sutherland@outlookpublishing.com Josh Hyland josh.hyland@outlookpublishing.com Richard Thomas richard.thomas@outlookpublishing.com Stuart Parker stuart.parker@outlookpublishing.com Tom Arnold thomas.arnold@outlookpublishing.com Vivek Valmiki vivek.valmiki@outlookpublishing.com

ADMINISTRATION Finance Director: Suzanne Welsh suzanne.welsh@outlookpublishing.com Office & Finance Manager: Sophia Curran sophia.curran@outlookpublishing.com DIGITAL & IT: Hamit Saka HELPDESK: James Le-May

OUTLOOK PUBLISHING Managing Director: Ben Weaver ben.weaver@outlookpublishing.com Chairman: Mark Weaver

CONTACT Europe & Middle East Outlook Woburn House, 84 St Benedicts Street, Norwich, Norfolk, NR2 4AB, United Kingdom Sales: +44 (0) 1603 959 652 Editorial: +44 (0) 1603 959 655 SUBSCRIPTIONS Tel: +44 (0)1603 959 655 Email: matthew.staff@outlookpublishing.com

www.emeoutlookmag.com Follow us on Twitter - @EME_Outlook Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/emeoutlook

Matthew Staff

Editorial Director, Outlook Publishing

Enjoy the issue, and see you in 2018!

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In this issue...

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NEWS

All the latest top stories from Europe and the Middle East

S P E C I A L F E AT U R E S

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SPORT

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CHRISTMAS RETAIL

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CHRISTMAS RETAIL

The UK’s Top Five Sporting Venues British sporting grandeur means business Europe’s Top 10 Christmas Markets A European festive extravaganza Click & Collect Isn’t Just for Christmas Christmas calls for a successful blend of physical and digital retailing

S E C TO R

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F O C U S

TECHNOLOGY

Securing Society Man and Machine combine to tackle the cyber threat

BUSINESS TRAVEL GUIDES

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RAS AL KHAIMAH The Forgotten Emirate

MORAVIA

Czech Republic’s Hidden Gem

EME 50

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SHOWCASING LEADING COMPANIES Tell us your story and we’ll tell the world

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BIG 5 DUBAI

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SOLAR POWER EUROPE

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24TH WORLD ISLAMIC BANKING CONFERENCE

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HVACR EXPO SAUDI

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THE BIG 5 HEAVY

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FUTURE CITIES SHOW

MANUFACTURING

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FORD UK

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BEP EUROPE

Keeping Britain Moving ‘Going Further’ in the UK for more than a century Active Leaders Combining the automotive revolution with traditional engineering

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F O C U S

The Middle East’s largest and most influential event for the construction industry

BENIFY

Show Love, Think Ahead, Exceed Expectations Introducing the world’s smartest compensation and benefits portal

IBM GERMANY 106 Shaping the Future

The Power of Technology

CONSTRUCTION

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FIRST QATAR REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY

Expertise and Excellence A true testament to high standards in real estate

Shaping the continent’s power, heat and transport sectors

Shaping the future discourse of the Islamic finance industry

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QVANTEL

Digital Pioneer Providing a step-by-step guide to successful business transformation

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KHIDMAH LLC

We Are the Service Exceeding expectations in facilities management

UNIVERSITY OF EXETER Making the Exceptional Happen Enhancing the face-to-face learning experience to create a digital edge

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Showcasing the most innovative HVAC-R solutions and equipment from around the world The largest exhibition dedicated to the infrastructure and heavy construction industry in the Middle East Showcasing solutions for a smart sustainable future

KINGSPAN ENVIRONMENTAL

Breaking Barriers Pioneering new technologies to preserve and protect energy and water

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Outlook Creative Services Complementing the production of Africa Outlook, Asia Outlook and Europe & Middle East Outlook magazines, Outlook Publishing’s award-winning in-house team is now utilising these same specialist production skills to offer a full and bespoke range of editorial, design and marketing services via its new Outlook Creative Services division.

For more information on how we can work with you in providing a plethora of completely flexible and customisable production services, please visit www.outlookpublishing.com/creative-services

CONTACT DESIGN: Stephen Giles +44 (0) 1603 959 656 steve.giles@outlookpublishing.com

E D I TO R I A L : Matthew Staff +44 (0) 1603 959 655 matthew.staff@outlookpublishing.com

Devon Collins +44 (0) 1603 959 661 devon.collins@outlookpublishing.com

Phoebe Calver +44 (0) 1603 959 660 phoebe.calver@outlookpublishing.com

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OIL & GAS

OPEC Oil Output Falls Led by Drop in Iraqi Exports

the country’s economic woes - slipped further below its OPEC target, with both exports and refinery operations lower in October this year.

Nigerian output slipped by 70,000 bpd. Exports of Bonny Light crude were under force majeure for part of the month and traders said loadings of some other grades, including Qua Iboe OPEC oil output fell recently by by about 1.2 million bpd until March, ad Forcados, faced delays.

80,000 barrels per day (bpd) - a 2018, as part of a deal with Russia and In other countries with rising Reuters survey found - as exports other producers that have committed output, the largest increase was in from northern Iraq dropped and other to production cuts.

Angola where October exports were producers maintained adherence to a “With both the Saudi and Russian scheduled to reach a 13-month high. supply cut deal. leadership in favour of prolonging Top exporter Saudi Arabia added OPEC’s adherence to its pledged supply curbs, the next OPEC meeting 30,000 bpd to supply, with exports supply curbs rose to 92 percent from is shaping up to be a non-event,” rising and crude use at domestic power September’s 86 percent, the survey said Stephen Brennock of oil broker, plants declining seasonally. found, as top exporter, Saudi Arabia PVM.“That is unless the oil cartel OPEC last year announced a continued to pump below its OPEC announces deeper output cuts or production target of 32.5 million bpd, target and output. In Venezuela, provisions for exempted members, based on low figures for Libya and economic depression continued to Libya and Nigeria.”

Nigeria. The target includes Indonesia, decline.

The biggest drop in output in October, which has since left OPEC, and does The drop in Iraqi output has helped of 120,000 bpd, came from Iraq. Output not include Equatorial Guinea, the support prices. Benchmark Brent crude and exports in northern Iraq fell midlatest country to join. on Friday topped $60 a barrel LCOc1, a month when Iraqi forces retook control According to the survey, output in price that Saudi Arabia sees as a good of oilfields from Kurdish fighters who October has averaged 32.65 million level, for the first time since 2015. had been there since 2014. bpd, about 900,000 bpd above the The Organisation of the Petroleum Production in Venezuela - where the target adjusted to remove Indonesia Exporting Countries is reducing output oil industry is starved of funds due to and not including Equatorial Guinea.

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GO TO WWW.EMEOUTLOOKMAG.COM/NEWS FOR ALL OF THE LATEST NEWS FROM EUROPE & MIDDLE EAST

EME TRANSPORT

EasyJet Clinches Parts of Air Berlin for German Expansion EasyJet has strengthened its position in Germany by agreeing to buy part of Air Berlin’s operations at Berlin Tegel airport, ending uncertainty over the fate of the failed airline’s remaining assets.

EasyJet said it would enter into leases for up to 25 A320 aircraft, acquire take-off and landing slots, and offer jobs to staff.

The purchase price is €40 million ($46.43 million), but this does not include any transition costs and because Air Berlin planes are leased.

Air Berlin said that the deal meant it had successfully closed all negotiations for its carve-up. It added sale talks with easyJet had been held since the early summer.

The deal will make easyJet - which currently operates only out of Berlin Schoenefeld airport - the leading

OIL & GAS

Oil Eases but Saudi Tensions Remain High Oil eased recently after having posted its largest gain in six weeks, while tension flared between Saudi Arabia and Iran as the Saudi crown prince tightened his grip on power.

Brent crude futures LCOc1 were down 19 cents at $64.08 a barrel by 0940 GMT, having closed 3.5 percent higher, marking the biggest percentage gain in about six weeks.

Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman moved to shore-up his power base with the arrest of royals, ministers and investors, which an official described as part of phase one

carrier in the German capital.

“This will enable easyJet to operate the leading short haul network at Tegel connecting passengers to and from destinations across Germany and the rest of Europe,” easyJet said in a statement.

Air Berlin was founded nearly 40 years ago and carried around 30 million passengers a year. It was beloved by Germans for its flights to

holiday island Mallorca and also for the chocolate hearts it gives out after each flight, but filed for administration in August after years of losses.

The airline will look to recruit around 1,000 Air Berlin pilots and cabin crew, on local contracts and has also written to crew at its Hamburg base which it is closing, to say there is a place for them in Tegel if they want.

of the crackdown.

“Saudi Arabia is really going all-in again against Iran and that is for me more the focus than the domestic issue,” Petromatrix strategist, Olivier Jakob said.

“On the one hand, it increases the global geopolitical risk level, but it also increases the difficulty of keeping consensus within OPEC.” The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, led by Saudi Arabia, has agreed to restrain crude output by 1.8 million barrels per day together with 10 other nations including Russia until March, 2018.

Even a distant threat of disruption to Middle East crude supplies from any conflict is likely to support the price, but with money managers now

sitting on a record bullish bet on Brent, discord within OPEC could force their hand.

“What’s happening in Saudi Arabia does not change the strategic energy priorities of the Saudis and the market is likely to dismiss this noise,” UBS said in a note.

GO TO WWW.EMEOUTLOOKMAG.COM/NEWS FOR ALL OF THE LATEST NEWS FROM EUROPE & MIDDLE EAST

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Germany Rebuffs Speculation over Airbus CEO Germany sought to dispel speculation about the future of Airbus and its Chief Executive, Tom Enders, after media reports of a French campaign to oust him and restore greater political influence four years after its management won independence from government interference.

The intervention was the first official attempt to steady the boat as the Company faces accusations of an internal witch-hunt following Enders’ decision to report past irregularities in the use of commercial sales agents to the UK authorities, sparking a corruption probe.

French satirical weekly, Le Canard Enchaine said that French President, Emmanuel Macron hoped to find a French replacement for Enders, with German Chancellor, Angela Merkel’s support, amid growing turmoil at the Company.

“We have a shareholder structure for Airbus that works and there is at the moment no reason from the perspective of the federal government as a shareholder to work on a change of either the stakes or the rules,” spokesman, Steffen Seibert, told a regular government news conference.

ECONOMY

Saudi Purge Worries Investors A purge of Saudi Arabia’s political and business elites briefly dragged down the Kingdom’s stock market recently, but prices recovered to a higher closing position as some investors bet the crackdown could bolster reforms in the long run.

The size of the purge amounted to 11 princes, four ministers and tens of former ministers were detained by a newly created anti-corruption committee headed by Crown

T R A N S P O R T

Deal-Hungry Qatar Airways Aims to create virtual megacarrier Qatar Airways wants to create a virtual mega-carrier that will benefit from economies of scale in negotiations on fuel and aircraft purchases while it boosts investment in other airlines, its Chief Executive said.

The Qatari carrier announced a $661 million deal to buy a 9.61 percent stake in Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways to broaden its reach and potentially

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Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, raising questions about the stability and predictability of the Saudi Government.

For foreigners, a major shock was the detention of flamboyant billionaire, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, who is a big investor in top Western companies such as Citigroup as the international face of Saudi business.

Local investors, meanwhile, worried about whether a sustained investigation into corruption could turn up scandals in the Kingdom’s opaque business world, forcing people implicated to sell off their equity holdings. allow the oneworld alliance member to increase traffic through its Doha hub.

Qatar Airways has been unable to fly to the previously lucrative markets of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia because of an airspace rights dispute, prompting investment elsewhere.

The airline has acquired 20 percent of British Airways’ parent International Consolidated Airlines Group, 10 percent of South America’s LATAM Airlines Group LTM.SN and 49 percent of Italy’s Meridiana.

The Chief Executive added that Qatar Airways wants shareholdings to be exchanged between itself and its portfolio airlines as it seeks to become a virtual mega-carrier.

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EME Bombardier Transportation, Hitachi Rail Europe and Spain’s Patentes Talgo are also on the shortlist of bidders for the £2.75 billion contract.

The contract is to build at least 54 trains for the network, which is set to link London to the north of England from 2026, and it also covers the design France’s Alstom and Germany’s and maintenance of the fleet.

Siemens are among the firms The new trains will operate at speeds shortlisted to make trains to run on of up to 225 miles per hour, HS2 said, Britain’s new High Speed 2 network, the adding that the rail project as a whole railway’s developer said. would create around 25,000 jobs.

M A N U FA C T U R I N G

Alstom and Siemens among Bidders for British High-Speed Train Contract

ENERGY & UTILITIES

French Wind Power Capacity to Overtake UK and Spain by 2030 France is set to become Europe’s second biggest generator of electricity from wind power behind Germany by 2030, overtaking the UK and Spain thanks to policies being put in place by the current Government.

WindEurope’s chief executive, Giles Dickson, told a conference in Paris that France’s outlook for offshore and onshore wind power projects was the best in Europe.

“France is number four in terms of installed capacity and we estimate that by 2030, thanks to the policies of the current Government, France will overtake the United Kingdom and Spain in terms of installed capacity,” Dickson said.

E C O N O M Y

EU Plans to Raise Tax Bill of Online Giants

O I L & G A S

Saudi Aramco, SABIC receive bids for oil-tochemicals project Saudi Aramco and Saudi Basic Industries Corp have received project management consultancy bids for a planned joint venture oilto-chemicals project.

The two partners are expected to

sign a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop the complex.

The $20 billion plus project would be the first major scheme involving the two companies and is part of Saudi Aramco’s plans to expand in petrochemicals.

Bids were submitted mid-October, 2017 for project management consultancy (PMC) of the whole project including pre-front end engineering and design work (pre-FEED) and FEED, sources familiar with the matter said.

Nearly one third of European Union states backed a plan to tax digital multinationals on their turnover, as the EU weighs a range of other measures to increase the tax bill of companies like Google and Amazon.

The moves are part of a growing campaign in the EU to claim tax revenues that online giants are accused of skirting by routing most of their profits to low tax rate states, like Ireland and Luxembourg.

“The digital economy should be taxed as the rest of the economy,” the EU commissioner for taxation, Pierre Moscovici, told reporters upon his arrival to a meeting of euro zone and EU finance ministers in Tallinn, the Estonian capital.

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TELL US YOUR STORY

AND WE’LL TELL THE WORLD E U R O P E & M I D D L E E A S T O U T L O O K is a digital and print product aimed at boardroom and hands-on decision-makers across a wide range of industries in the EME region.

With content compiled by our experienced editorial team, complemented by an in-house design and production team ensuring delivery to the highest standards, we look to promote the latest in engaging news, industry trends and success stories from the length and breadth of Europe and the Middle East.

Reaching a combined audience of more than 395,000 people, Europe & Middle East Outlook covers a full range of industrial sectors: mining; oil & gas; logistics; resources; manufacturing; construction; engineering; technology; food & drink; retail; finance; and healthcare.

In joining the leading industry heavyweights already enjoying the exposure we can provide, you can benefit from free coverage across both digital and print platforms, a free marketing brochure, extensive social media saturation, enhanced B2B networking opportunities, and a readymade forum to attract new investment and to grow your business.

To get involved, please contact Outlook Publishing’s Managing Director, Ben Weaver, who can provide further details on how to feature your company, for free, in one of our upcoming editions.

W W W. E M E O U T LO O K M A G . C O M Tel: +44 (0) 1603 959 650 Email: ben.weaver@outlookpublishing.com

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TOP FIVE Sporting VENUES

Sport is deeply embedded into British culture, as are the venues that represent it, but which stadia really rule the roost when it comes to the country’s sporting elite?

Writer: Matthew Staff

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the Pavilion or Nursery End, the sense of occasion, pomp and circumstance As the most historic and archetypally is engulfed into the fabric of the British of the country’s national building, and in combining this with the sporting venues, Lord’s has forever nature of cricket itself; the result is an focused on style over substance; its experience that naturally lends itself to traditions and prestige far outweighing the business community. its subtle 28,000 capacity.

Especially poignant for test cricket, The home of English cricket - and the ability to dip in and out of a day’s arguably, cricket as a sport - has play, or even rock up to the venue remained one of the most appealing after work hours only adds to the stadiums on a global scale as a attraction of cricket to the executive consequence of its history which dates crowd, and Lord’s is chief among the back to 1814. Whether you’re sat in sport’s hosts.

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4 All England Lawn

lends itself to a more corporate standard of attendee thanks to the duration of the Championships each June/July. The two week spectacle only includes one non-playing day, thus providing London’s elite the opportunity to take in at least a day of professional competitive sport in one of the world’s most iconic stadia.

The only UK venue that is able to challenge Lord’s in terms of tradition and history is the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club; more affectionately referred to as ‘Wimbledon’, virtue of the tennis grand slam it hosts each year.

Since 1899, the Club has become the sport’s flagship location, with its own set of cute traditions and familiarities that embrace stereotypically English notions of strawberries and cream, royalty and terrible weather, among others.

Also like Lord’s though, the venue

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IMAGE: SPIRALZ

Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon

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3 Wembley Stadium As the national sport, you’d perhaps expect football’s home to be at number one, but it’s fair to say that the reconstruction of soccer’s most renowned stadium has taken away a percentage of the appeal that its predecessor possessed.

That being said, the new arched version of one of England’s most famous constructs still serves as world-class facility, not just for football, but also for American Football, music events and pretty much anything else that deserves such limelight.

From a business perspective however, it is Wembley’s literal catering for the wealthiest supporters that detracts a little from its modern day appeal; the socalled ‘prawn sandwich brigade’ proving every bit as divisive in the country, as its football team.

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PHOTO BY DAVID ILIFF. LICENSE: CC-BY-SA 3.0

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2 Twickenham Stadium The old adage states that ‘football is a gentleman’s game played by thugs, and rugby is a thug’s game played by gentlemen’. Typically a middle-class sport, rugby union in England has since 1909 - been housed by an equally refined and iconic venue in the form of Twickenham Stadium.

This notion of unwavering quality is consequently backed up by the sport that is played there too. While Wembley often plays host to an England football team that is expected to win the majority of its qualification matches and so-called friendlies, Twickenham is rarely graced by such foregone conclusions and instead has overseen some of the most dramatic events in recent, British sporting history.

As the flagship for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, every Six Nations match or Autumn international that has taken place before or since brings its own tension and unpredictability with it; a feature that is set to continue at the end of 2017 when England welcomes Argentina, Australia and Samoa to its capital.

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Silverstone Circuit

When asked for the UK’s highest capacity sporting venue, few would actually provide the correct answer.

While Wembley and Twickenham dominate the majority of quiz sheets, the actual answer would be Silverstone, one of motor racing’s most recognisable and exciting arenas.

Situated in Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire, the venue attracts more than 150,000 people each day, across an entire Formula 1 race weekend that includes practice sessions, qualifying and the race itself.

Often battling against the inevitable summer rain, racing enthusiasts turn out in their droves,

adorned in merchandise and umbrellas, to soak up the unrivalled noise and adrenaline that comes from the on-track spectacle. And as one of the fastest tracks on the F1 calendar, the three-and-a-half mile venue equally attracts international visitors aplenty as they look to share in the history of one of the sport’s longest standing and prestigious races.

Despite numerous threats to ditch the British Grand Prix, Silverstone has now become intrinsically linked to Formula 1 as a sport as well as a host of adjacent racing codes - and as such, is set to remain King among racing, and indeed British sport, for many years to come.

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TOP 10

MARKETS Zagreb, Croatia When: 2 December-7 January Perhaps one of the lesser-known Christmas markets, the two-time winner of European Best Christmas Market and capital of Croatia is one of the best destinations to travel to in the lead up to Christmas.

The Croatian capital is increasingly visited by an abundance of tourists in December and through to the New Year, enjoying the picturesque themed programmes that take place all over the city in its streets and squares surrounding the city centre.

Zagreb offers the kind of atmosphere that absolutely has to be experienced at this magical time of year, where you are surrounded by an extraordinary array of holiday fun. Let your hair down in the main square where you and your friends can partake in singing and dancing, as well as all the traditional delicacies you could ever want all in one place.

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Europe is home to some of the world’s most beautiful Christmas markets, each encouraging you to fully immerse yourself in the cultural delights and festive spirit that are in plentiful supply Writer: Phoebe Calver

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Budapest, Hungary When: 24 November-1 January The Budapest Christmas market - also known as the Advent Feast at the Basilica - is a sight to behold, situated in front of the city’s grandest cathedral.

Full to the brim with exciting gifts, delicious Hungarian delicacies and an extensive range of international food, the open-air festival will bring out your festive sprit.

Whether you are travelling with friends or family, there is fun for all ages with free attractions that include free ice-skating on the central rink which surrounds the focal Christmas tree.

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EME Prague, Czech Republic When: 2 December-6 January When you take into account the already incredible atmosphere that you find in Prague daily, Christmas in the city will not disappoint. Beginning in early December, the city’s historical squares are festively decorated and an array of Christmas markets are brought to life.

The market is made especially unique by Prague’s medieval centre, with the Old Town Square always proving to be popular amongst guests. As one of the smaller Christmas markets, the city has a very comforting familiarity about it, making the whole experience unique and memorable.

Strasbourg, France When: 25 November-1 January Closely behind Zagreb, Strasbourg has also been awarded European Best Christmas Market in both 2014 and 2015 and is known as the capital of Christmas.

Known to many as Christkindelsmarik and the oldest Christmas market located in Europe, the first market was held in 1570. This authenticity is seen at every-one of the 300 stalls spread across the city centre, with the warmth and festive spirit that will provide you with a cultural trip through time.

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Brussels, Belgium

Leipzig, Germany

When: 24 November-31 December

Dating back to 1458, the Leipzig Christmas market is an extraordinary piece of living history and culture, with six areas set up to complement the incredible scenery of the city centre. More than 250 stalls line the streets, fitting in harmoniously with the local architecture that makes Leipzig unique.

As one of the largest and oldest Christmas markets to be found in Germany, visitors won’t be disappointed by the festive delights on offer and will be sure to return.

For five weeks of the year, Brussels is adorned with colourful market stalls, beautiful gifts and local tasting sessions. The atmosphere is undeniably festive, with visitors dazzled in lights and the winter wonders that have made this market legendary are not to be missed.

A trip to Brussels at this time of year will include a light and sound show, festive Christmas parade and of course the traditional ferris wheel.

When: 28 November-23 December

Amsterdam, Netherlands When: late November-early January In Amsterdam you really will be spoilt for choice when it comes to its Christmas market offering, with 26 separate markets spread across the city.

The city’s year-round markets are decorated with tinsel and lights, filling Amsterdam with festive spirit. Some of the favourite suggestions for where to head first include Leidesplein and Museumplein; there you will be greeted by wooden chalets and a plethora of hearty Christmas delights to warm you up.

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Copenhagen, Denmark When: 18 November-22 December Copenhagen provides true class when it comes to Europe’s Christmas market offerings, providing you with an array of beautifully knitted crafts, fine leather and both modern and traditional Christmas decorations.

You will find some of the best displays in Tivoli Gardens, with 60 different stalls and daily illuminations. Alongside the traditional stalls there are 27 different rides for the thrill-seekers amongst you, as well as a chance to meet Santa to check which list you’ve made it onto this year.

Bruges, Belgium

Vienna, Austria

When: 24 November-1 January

Perhaps one of the longest-running Christmas markets in Europe, the already beautiful Vienna is transformed into a Christmas spectacular.

Vienna is perhaps one of the most well-known markets, with a mixed aroma of Christmas baked goods and mulled wine in the air to make you feel especially festive. As one of the more traditional markets in our selection, you will find Christmas gifts, tree decorations, sweets and warming drinks to enjoy while you wait for your turn on the carousel.

Bruges’ main square provides one of the most picturesque Christmas markets in Europe, where you will find everything from traditional leather goods, to handmade jewellery and a medieval Belfort tower from which you can gain extensive views of the market and city.

Surrounding the market are plenty of traditional pubs where you can warm up by an open fire, before heading back out for a spin on the Simon Stevinplein ice rink.

When: 13 November-23 December

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Click & Collect Isn’t Just for Christmas The latest JDA/Centiro European Customer Pulse 2017 Survey highlights click & collect as a pivotal driver for additional in-store sales as the festive period approaches Writer: Matthew Staff he third annual JDA/ Centiro Customer Pulse Report Europe 2017, conducted by YouGov, has revealed that click & collect is driving further upsell opportunities for retailers. Almost a quarter (24 percent) of European adults online in countries surveyed who used click & collect bought another item while picking up their order, according to data from the JDA/ Centiro Customer Pulse Report Europe 2017. Further, more than two-fifths (42 percent) of respondents who have shopped online in the past 12 months have used click & collect.

The survey of 8,238 adults online across the UK, Germany, France and Sweden reveals that click & collect continues to be of significant strategic importance for retailers, and will be a key battleground this Christmas. Use was particularly high in the UK, where more than half (54 percent) used click & collect, a big contrast to Germany, where click & collect usage was only 28 percent.

The figures suggest a wider trend for customers spending more time in store. Once inside a retailer’s four walls, European adults online are increasingly likely to use a mobile device. The survey reveals that more than half (56 percent) of respondents across the European countries

surveyed use their mobile devices in stores, a figure that leaps to 69 percent in Sweden. The main reasons cited among the four markets for using a mobile device in-store are to check or compare prices (30 percent), read product/service reviews (22 percent) and to access and redeem offers (15 percent).

“Physical footfall is becoming important again, and click & collect represents an important vehicle for retailers to make the most of all the hard work they’re putting into the in-store experience. An effective click & collect operation isn’t just for Christmas, however: it can help boost sales throughout the year,” said Lee Gill, Group Vice President, global retail strategy at JDA. “It’s hardly surprising that the majority of European adults are using mobile devices in-store, whether that’s for seeking out special offers and discounts, or simply for entertainment while queuing.

“To make the most of this, retailers must be making every effort to

weave mobile interactions into the instore experience, for example through the use of mobile ‘push offers’ and beacons.”

Barriers to a better customer experience

The report reveals there are still a number of customer experience issues that retailers need to resolve. In particular, service levels are suffering as retailers struggle to keep pace with home delivery demands: more than half (55 percent) of European adults online in countries surveyed experienced a problem with an online order during the past 12 months, up from 51 percent a year previously.

The number experiencing problems is even higher in Germany (57 percent) and the UK (56 percent).

This will have negative knock-on effect for retailers: almost two-thirds of European adults online (63 percent) stated they would

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likely switch to an alternative retailer next time shopping online as a result of a poor experience with ordering an item.

Despite click & collect remaining popular with shoppers, the research reveals that retailers still have work to do when it comes to delivering a consistently good experience. More than half (56 percent) of European adults surveyed online who used the service experienced an issue with a click & collect order in the past 12 months. France in particular is experiencing growing pains, posting a 10 percent increase on problems since last year (from 56 percent to 66 percent). Across the continent, it appears countries have different click & collect areas to sharpen up; the UK needs to focus on staffing issues, as more than a quarter (26 percent) of UK respondents who used click & collect and had an issue experienced long waiting times due to a lack of staff.

However, in other countries more work is needed on the supply chain side. In both Germany and France, 18 percent of respondents who experienced issues found items were no longer available after placing an order. There were further problems in France, with 17 percent of respondents who used click & collect experiencing a damaged item, and 12 percent being sent the wrong item.

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“...something as simple as giving customers instant email or SMS updates on their returns can go a long way towards building and maintaining customer loyalty” Returns becoming increasingly critical

shopping, they are likely to follow suit in factoring return experiences into Product returns is another key area to their choice of retailer. focus on. Across the European markets “For retailers today, returns are surveyed, almost three quarters (70 much more than just a cost-recovery percent) of respondents online across exercise, they are another important Europe say the ease of being able to customer touch point,” said Niklas return items factors into which retailer Hedin, CEO of Centiro. “By providing they choose to shop online with; a customers with more options and number that rises as high as 77 percent greater visibility into returns, retailers in Germany. This is only set to become will increase customer satisfaction. a growing trend, with European online For example, something as simple as retail sales continuing at double digit giving customers instant email or SMS rates of growth. As European shoppers updates on their returns can go a long grow increasingly well-versed in online way towards building and maintaining

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customer loyalty.”

Gill concluded: “As it continues to evolve, omni-channel continues to prove both a blessing and a curse for European retailers, who need to balance not only the technologies and options they have at their disposal, but also the expectations of their customers.

“In particular, this means they need to tighten up on delivery and ensure any issues are resolved, eradicate any problems they are having with click & collect

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services, provide a great product returns service, and use mobile engagement to provide a great service. At the same time, the store is once again playing an important part in the customer journey, meaning that to succeed, retailers need to be able to blend physical and digital elements together.

“Those that are able to do this will put themselves in a great position for success during the Christmas period and beyond.”

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F O C U S

Securing Society ackling one of the most pressing technological challenges in the modern business world, F-Secure has evolved over the past 30 years to serve as a cyber security pioneer.

Developing from an antivirus specialist into a turnkey provider - with numerous acquisitions, innovations, unveilings and expansions inbetween - the business’ most recent diversification entailed the acquisition of hardware security experts, Inverse Path; and thus, the resultant super group is better prepared than ever to tackle the cyber threat head-on.

“Helping companies meet the challenges of today’s cyber threat landscape where motivated attackers use not only malware but various other tactics and tools to infiltrate companies, F-Secure now offers an array of products and services to address each stage of the cyber security process,” explains the Company’s Executive Vice President for

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F-Secure is leading the charge against the formidable cyber security challenges that continue to engulf the business world Writer: Matthew Staff Strategy & Corporate Development, Jyrki Tulokas. “Prediction, prevention, detection, and response: This is our journey from antivirus vendor to fullyfledged cyber security provider, and our goal is to become a global leader.”

Through its three core subsidiaries - Corporate Security, Cyber Security Services, and Consumer Security F-Secure caters for both businesses and consumers and in doing so, helps to negotiate every facet of the modern-day digital minefield.

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Tulokas spoke to EME Outlook about the long road ahead to overcome the ever-broadening difficulties associated with cyber security.

Jyrki Tulokas (JT): Almost everything we do in our world today is somehow linked to digital goods or services and our society is dependent on the internet and computers working. In this fast-developing and complex digital world, security is a key ingredient; but unfortunately, it is often neglected, an afterthought.

The quickly developing market landscape combined with increased security threats and hacking offers security companies multiple growth possibilities in consumer security as well as with the business-to-business segment.

Trustworthiness and best-in-class products and services are key to our customers. To meet these demands, F-Secure employs hundreds of the world’s best-known security experts and white hat hackers. Our security experts work in security research as well as directly with customers.

Hundreds of our security consultants work directly with our customers daily in advising them how to build more secure products or services.

Our consultants also provide customers security incident investigation and forensics work in cases where the customer has been breached.

These ‘on the field’ investigations act as one key ingredient to improve our products and services that we build for our customers for predicting security problems, preventing attacks, detecting potential breaches and finally responding to any issues we find. We combine the knowhow of our human security experts with our extensive data sources, intelligence feeds and artificial intelligence assets. The combination of man and machine is needed to build effective security products and services.

This sets us apart from companies that provide either only consulting or only products.

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EME Outlook (EME): Given the current market and the exposure given to cyber security now, your market is an expanding and competitive one, so what do you feel are the hallmarks of a relevant and successful cyber security solutions provider?

JT: Customers are looking for trusted vendors who have the ability to provide best-in-class effectiveness in products. This requires clear evidence of vendor capabilities as well as visibility of a vendor’s long-term commitment to the market. Currently there are too many vendors in the market with very confusing and even over-promising marketing messages.

Most of the vendors in the market are small and not financially solid and the logic to their existence is investor exit rather than long-term sustainability. Customers should be and are looking for vendors that: A) provide real value on top of existing security spending; B) can clearly demonstrate effectiveness of their products/services; C) have security experts in-house that understand the real customer issues; D) have enough data sources to build effective intelligence and feed the necessary artificial intelligence; E) provide excellent customer service in the regions you operate; and, F) are financially solid.

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JT: F-Secure’s track record in the industry is among the best in the world. We consistently receive the highest scores in independent security product tests (like AV-TEST).

We employ more than 1,100 security professionals, giving us the required knowhow to build great products and services. We are able to serve our customers globally but also have the local expertise and market understanding.

Our dedication to our customers and channel partners has resulted in us continuously receiving high marks in net promoter score. Unlike our competitors, we don’t provide just products, but we are able to provide a hands-on service to our customers regarding anything from security strategy advisory to very complex security assessments and incident response.

“Unlike our competitors, we don’t provide just products, but we are able to provide a hands-on service to our customers... “

EME: How do you foresee the climate surrounding cyber security progressing in the future, and what do you feel needs to be implemented, on a general note, to improve the situation and to keep ahead of the industry curve?

JT: Cybercrime, industrial cyber espionage and nation state cyber offenses are all becoming more and more common and things appear to be getting worse, not better.

Coping with these very real issues requires work on multiple levels, from governmental policy and regulation setting to technology and product innovation; but also training and educating consumers and employees on cyber security matters. The current talent shortage in the market needs to be addressed both by education as well as industry, providing more learning opportunities for young people who want to work in the field of cyber security. Cyber security will

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Jyrki Tulokas, Vice President for Strategy & Corporate Development

“F-Secure has a great partner network of more than 200 telcos and more than 5,000 resellers and service providers; and we continue to expand our global presence.”

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become more and more a matter of securing a society, hence defence, law enforcement and critical infrastructure security spending is increasing.

One of the core elements in providing efficient security is access to the right data and intelligence sources.

In the future, data will be even more important as artificial intelligence and machine learning take on an even bigger role than they occupy today, and effective AI is only as good as the data it has access to.

EME: How do you foresee F-Secure growing as a Company over the coming years, within this given climate then?

JT: Our growth is built on several great assets. Firstly, the great talent we have and continue to retain in both security research as well as R&D fuels our product innovation, which is generating new sellable items as well as improving security for existing customers. Secondly, F-Secure has a great partner network of more than 200 telcos and more than 5,000 resellers and service providers; and we continue to expand our global presence. And thirdly, F-Secure is active in acquisitions, as we have shown in the past few years with several deals. We continue to seek companies that provide us great new talent, technology, product innovation, and global scale.

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Ras Al Khaimah

As Ras Al Khaimah edges closer to reaching its one million visitor target by the end of 2018, its Tourism Development Authority affirms the Emirate’s role as an ideal destination for events, congresses and conventions Writer: Matthew Staff | Project Manager: Ryan Gray hile Dubai and Abu Dhabi continue to grab headlines, attract celebrities and boast the limelight amid the UAE’s surge to prominence, one of the remaining seven emirates is slowly evolving as a hidden gem; leveraging more natural attributes to catch the attention of tourists and business travellers alike.

Its name deriving from the meaning, ‘headland of the small huts’, Ras Al Khaimah actually attempts to stay true

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to this more humble of origins rather than ditching its indigenous appeal in preference of more modern glitz.

Split between Old Ras Al Khaimah and Nakheel on either side of the creek that runs through the northern Emirate, its beaches, mountainous terrain and hospitable inhabitants make for much more of a quaint, picturesque, adventurous experience in comparison to some of its counterparts’ Rivieraesque make-up.

That being said, some facets do remain consistent across the entire

UAE contingent; namely the hot and arid desert climate, and the religious influences on both the country’s people and infrastructure.

But whereas the familiar visitor stomping grounds of Abu Dhabi and Dubai have then gone to great lengths to modernise and westernise its spectacular offerings, Ras Al Khaimah offers a much more grounded - if not equally refined and developed environment.

And people’s heads are turning.

On the tourism side, outdoor pursuit

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enthusiasts and adventurers are arriving to the Emirate in their droves, eager to soak in the stunning scenery across ‘RAK’s hot springs, sun-baked desert, sandy beaches, and striking mountains.

And inevitably, the same attractions also serve as effective pastimes for the executive and corporate community, which Ras Al Khaimah is looking to capitalise on more and more in the years to come.

Haitham Matter of the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) says: “As Ras Al Khaimah

edges closer to reaching its one million visitor target by the end of 2018, RAKTDA is pursuing expansion plans to enhance the destination and broaden our offering by drawing up a dynamic events calendar.

“With an abundance of natural landscapes, coastline, mountains, adventure activities, history and culture - as well as the world-class hotel offering - Ras Al Khaimah is the ideal destination for hosting a wide variety of boutique incentive events, international congresses and conventions.”

Languages: Arabic, English, Persian, Urdu, Hindi Area: 650 square miles Population (2008): 263,000 Currency: UAE dirham Time zone: UTC+4 Dialling code: +971 Internet TLD: .ae Climate: Desert Highest recorded temperature: 48.1 °C

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The Business End PERHAPS THE reason for Ras Al Khaimah’s dissimilar evolution to the likes of Dubai and Abu Dhabi is its historical economic influencers.

Untouched by the riches that the oil industry has brought its neighbours, the Emirate has instead developed virtue of a more diversified business infrastructure which has more recently incorporated areas of real estate, construction, manufacturing, technology,

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professional services, finance, agriculture and - of course - tourism.

Capitalising on its growing appeal, the latter sector has bloomed over the past few years across sub-sectors of hospitality, catering, leisure and adventure tours to create a more holistic offering to visitors of all kinds.

Four and five-star hotels have risen in abundance; usually to complement the natural beaches, mountains, oases and sea views to help blend aspects of nature and nurture.

And ultimately, the result is now a tourist destination akin to anything you’d find in the Caribbean or Southern Europe, albeit maintaining the essence of Middle Eastern culture that has become so popular over the past decade.

From an ongoing business perspective, the enhancement of its trade and transport routes have further compounded RAK’s progression; Saqr Port and Ras Al Khaimah International Airport especially bridging the Emirate to the rest of the world from a bulk, cargo, container and passenger perspective to cater for the area’s growing appeal.

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HILTON GARDEN INN RAS AL KHAIMAH

T: +971 (0)7 228 8888

AL HAMRA RESIDENCE & VILLAGE

T: +971 (0)7 206 7222

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Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority T H E R A S Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) was established in May, 2011 as a Government entity of Ras Al Khaimah.

RAKTDA’s main purpose was and is to develop and promote the Emirate’s tourism infrastructure and potential both domestically and abroad, and to establish Ras Al Khaimah as a destination that delivers a comprehensive set of offerings to visitors, from luxury through to affordable travel.

In order to achieve its goals, RAKTDA has a Government mandate to license, regulate and monitor the Emirate’s tourism and hospitality industry, to develop the Emirate’s tourism infrastructure and attractions, and to generate and encourage direct tourism investment and investment opportunities into Ras Al Khaimah.

RAKTDA’s ambition is therefore to advance the development of a sustainable and competitive tourism industry by working with the industry and other stakeholders to achieve its targets for visitor numbers, revenue and job creation.

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EME Outlook (EME): Since inception, how has the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority developed and progressed in terms of its key objectives and the messages it tries to get across?

Haitham Matter, RAKTDA (HM): Ras Al Khaimah is now one of the fastest growing tourism destinations. In 2016, we welcomed 820,772 visitors, a 10.9 percent year-on-year increase. Full year figures show impressive growth from all our top markets; Germany, UK, Russia and India.

In addition to double-digit year-onyear growth in international guest arrivals during H1, 2017, average hotel occupancy jumped to 72.7 percent, an increase of 4.7 percent on the corresponding six-month period in 2016.

Robust H1 growth was posted across all key performance indicators with total guest nights up 17 percent, the average length of stay up by 10.5 percent and room revenue up by 13.3 percent.

These strong performance figures indicate that Ras Al Khaimah is on track to welcome 900,000 visitors in 2017. By the end of 2018, our target is to reach one million visitors.

EME: Taking a more general industry stance, how would you evaluate the tourism sector in Ras Al Khaimah now compared to its condition when the Tourism Development Authority began?

HM: Ras Al Khaimah’s tourism strategy involves attracting high-yield segments from core target markets to create a more sustainable destination.

These core markets include the UAE, Germany, Russia & CIS, UK, India and Western and Northern Europe.

Furthermore, we will target both consumer (cultural explorers, adventurers and wellness seekers) and corporate (travel trade, investors, industry, government and community) audiences.

These markets not only outline our product differentiation, but they also

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allow us to promote Ras Al Khaimah’s USPs, including 64 kilometres of pristine beaches, the highest mountains in the UAE, hot springs, mangroves and a terracotta desert.

[Meanwhile], a key area for hotel growth is Al Marjan Island, an archipelago stretching 4.5 kilometres out to sea. Already boasting the Rixos Bab Al Bahr, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Resort & Spa Marjan Island, and Marjan Island Resort & Spa, managed

by AccorHotels, the island has been earmarked for an additional 20 hotels by 2025.

Working with independent assessors, we have outlined strong return on beach and mountain properties. Looking at beach resorts in particular, existing hotels have shown high profit conversion when compared to similar regional markets.

EME: What is in store for Ras Al Khaimah for the remainder of 2017 and beyond to continue the good work already commenced and to enhance its

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reputation as a tourism and business travel hub further in the future?

HM: For the rest of 2017, we will be promoting Destination Jebel Jais, which includes development projects focused on the UAE’s highest mountain. These projects spearhead a drive to transform Jebel Jais into an adventure activity hub: including the Jebel Jais Via Ferrata, the Gulf’s first commercial iron path; the Jebel Jais Viewing Deck overlooking the Hajar Mountains; and in Q4, the world’s longest zip line.

All of our upcoming tourism products have been designed to enhance our natural assets and protect the environment. For example, construction on our observation deck utilises environmentally-friendly resources, such as LED lighting, solar panels and photovoltaic fabric materials to allow for clean energy operations.

Looking to the future, we plan to achieve continued growth from all our key markets. Specifically, we look forward to welcoming one million

visitors by the end of 2018.

Meanwhile, new product launches, representation offices and trade partners, along with increased marketing and promotional activities and overseas roadshows with trade and media, will all help to raise awareness, boost visitor arrivals and diversify our source markets.

EME: Finally, what progress and development would you hope and expect to be able to report back in the future for both the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority and Ras Al Khaimah as a whole?

HM: Our vision is to create a sustainable and competitive tourism destination and a leading contributor to the Ras Al Khaimah economy. We will inspire people from around the world to visit the Emirate and grow tourism into Ras Al Khaimah’s leading socio-economic driver, enhancing the quality of life for residents and offering investors attractive and sustainable opportunities across multiple sectors.

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Outlook Recommends “Ras Al Khaimah will be a compelling destination for both business travellers and leisure visitors seeking authentic cultural, historical and natural Arabian experiences.”

- Haitham Matter, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority

SPORT & LEISURE

HOSPITALITY

Hilton Al Hamra Beach & Golf Resort Blending the global recognition and prestige of Hilton Hotels & Resorts, with the local feel and ambience of Ras Al Khaimah, the former’s Al Hamra Beach & Golf Resort capitalises on the great love of the outdoors that exists within the Emirate. Mixing pleasure with leisure, the hotel was nominated for UAE’s Leading Beach Resort at 2017’s World Travel Awards.

Ras Al Khaimah Hotel Al Nakheel Hotel Apartments

HISTORY Sheba’s Palace

Al Hayl Fort

RETAIL Old Souq

Al Sawan Camel Race Track Ice Land Water Park

Tower Links Golf Club

FOOD & DRINK

Marjan Bedouin Oasis Camp 36

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Fish Market

Al Waha

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Transport Links AS MENTIONED, travelling around Ras Al Khaimah couldn’t be simpler, and neither could your entry into the Emirate. Citizens from most countries are able to enter via a free of charge visa, to the Ras Al Khaimah International Airport which is situated just 20 minutes from the city centre.

And from that point on, especially on your business travels, it’s probably best to keep a reputable taxi company’s number nearby.

Without a railway system to speak of, and unless you fancy getting by under your own steam through a car rental, the metered taxi network is by far the best way to go and this all begins from your airport pick-up which you can arrange prior to arrival.

The other less glamorous option is to opt for the comprehensive bus service that runs not just around Ras Al Khaimah but between Ras Al Khaimah and the neighbouring cities of Al Quwain, Ajman, Sharjah and Dubai too.

Again though, while the taxis are on meters and costs can mount up, nowhere is so far away that it’s not worth taking the stress out of a journey between these bordering locations.

Ras AL Khaimah Hotel, Khozam Road, P.O.Box: 56- Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates

Oasis of Heritage and Culture

Tel: (+971) 072362999, Fax: (+971) 072362990 Email: reservations@rasalkhaimahhotel.com

www.rasalkhaimahhotel.com

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Out & About ATTRACTIVE OPPORTUNITIES inevitably come about by trying to create an ‘everyman’ appeal, and this is indeed how a lot of tourist hotspots or business travel destinations stake their claim to the international community.

However, in Ras Al Khaimah’s case, the focus has conversely been on retaining authenticity and originality, and upon your visit, you will be encouraged to embrace typically Islamic and Arabian culture.

This stands for architecture, music, attire, cuisine and lifestyle, before becoming localised furthermore when you turn towards its rugged mountains and white beaches.

The Hajjar Mountains have now become a familiar hunting ground for avid hikers and explorers, while on the calmer ground, fishing, golf and picnicking are among the most popular pursuits and may fit more suitably into a work-visit dynamic.

The Ras Al Khaimah Golf Club and Hilton’s Al Hamra Golf Club go one step further in bridging the hospitalityleisure gap in becoming two of the most sought-after resorts in the area.

Thrill seeking between meetings isn’t

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beyond possible either with the majority of the Emirate’s attractions within short bus, car or walking distances, and the Ice Land Waterpark, Al Sawan Camel Race Track, quad biking, parachuting and micro-light flying are just a select few of the more frivolous options to this end. Finally, falling under the ‘must-do’ category, Corniche Road ties in all of the above quite nicely.

And there’s more to come too.

Matter adds: “Over the past 12 months, RAKTDA has increased its focus on Jebel Jais, the UAE’s highest mountain, to attract active adventurers from around the world.

With further products to be introduced later this year, there is no shortage of opportunities to develop luxury mountain resorts and wellness retreats in Ras Al Khaimah.

“RAKTDA has also announced an anticipated 4,445 new rooms to open over the coming years, ranging from three-five star properties; thanks to growing hotel occupancy levels and growing RevPAR rates, as well as the low cost of land in Ras Al Khaimah compared to neighbouring destinations.”

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Landmark Attractions Al Jazirah Al Hamra

“Frozen in time and coated with a layer of ochre desert sand, Al Jazirat Al Hamra is a hamlet of perfectly-preserved Ras Al Khaimah history. And dust isn’t the only thing covering the town; it’s shrouded in mystery, surrounded by rumours and possibly even haunted by ancient ghosts... It can’t compete with Dubai – and doesn’t want to, anyway. Ras Al Khaimah has a rich and fascinating history, which it’s proudly determined to preserve.”

- The Travel Hack

The National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah

“Today the ‘Late Fort ‘ exhibits historical, ethnographical and archaeological material relating to the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah and provides an interesting insight into the history and traditions of this area... Like all other traditional houses in Ras Al Khaimah Old Town the ‘Late Fort’ was originally constructed from coral stone, a fossil building material originating from the sea. Although being fairly lightweight it possesses excellent insulation qualities, keeping buildings cool in summer and warm in winter. Today the massive rectangular tower represents the oldest part of the ‘Late Fort’.”

- Ras Al Khaimah Heritage

Dhayah Fort

“With a backdrop of steep mountains, the bay of Dhayah has always been a very fertile area and has been settled in at least since the third millennium BC. A conical shaped hill at the edge of the palm gardens and at the foot of the mountains, served as a natural defence post for the oasis. People have used this hill since prehistoric times for settlement and fortification alike... It is the only hilltop fort still existing in the UAE and offers a fantastic view of the lush palm gardens, the sea and the dramatic mountains.”

- Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority

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M O R A V I A

s the easternmost province in the Czech Republic, Moravia is full of rolling hills, beautiful landscapes and breathtaking architecture. The province’s capital city, Brno is home to a plethora of museums and the Moravia Convention Bureau (MCB), which was established in 2007 to support event organisers and planners in the region.

The objective of the MCB was to directly increase the number of conferences, trade fairs and other events in the somewhat sleepy region, while showcasing the City of Brno as

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Moravia is the perfect combination of spectacular rolling hills and cultural excellence, and is now excelling in the world of business tourism with thanks to the Moravia Convention Bureau Writer: Phoebe Calver | Project Manager: Joe Palliser

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an ideal congress destination.

The capital city provides a lively hub of activity, full of students attending the local university, museums, microbreweries and some of the country’s best restaurants.

“We are proud to see that the past few years have brought about a positive change to the quality of our infrastructure and services,” explains Petr Ryšánek, Project Manager at the Moravia Convention Bureau. “The city of Brno and the region in general have massively strengthened their position as an important centre for trade fairs and exhibitions.

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“We have the capabilities to provide a professional, cooperative and progressive environment that is sought after by the modern business traveller.”

Over the past decade Brno has experienced a new chapter of development, reaffirming its status as a cultural hub with theatres, theatres, cinemas, entertainment in the streets, and a relaxed atmosphere.

As the region is becoming more developed in the growing business of computer technology, telecommunications and software development it is quickly heading into the top 50 most innovative places in Europe.

FACTS & FIGURES

Language: Area: Population: Currency:

Czech

Time zone: Dialling code: Internet TLD:

UTC +1

22,348.87 km2 3,100,000 Bohemian and Moravian Koruna 420 .cz

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M O R A V I A

The Business End BEFORE THE establishment of the MCB, the region and the city of Brno in particular were already attractive destinations for travel with thanks to its long and rich history.

Brno has a beautiful and diverse nature about it, alongside astonishing historical and architectural feats that make the city particularly memorable.

Perhaps one of the biggest changes seen over the years is the utilisation of the local people to leverage the potential found in the region and enhancing it.

In the present day, Moravia combines its history with the new modern and innovative thinking being developed there.

The capital city in particular has developed over the years into a dynamic and developed centre of industry, trade,

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science, technology and innovation with research centres of excellence.

These centres include CEITEC (Central European Institute of Technology), RECETOX (Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment) and ICRC (International Clinical Research Centre) among many more.

Alongside the developments being made to industry in the region, the rehabilitation of the city’s greenery and expansion of Brno’s rebirth in particular is making way for the business travel industry as well as general tourism.

The popularity of the region as a business travel and tourist hotspot has greatly increased in recent times, making for an exciting time for MCB in particular as it looks to continue its mission for evolution in the region.

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Opening up new prospects Trade Fairs Brno Congresses | Conferences | Seminars

Holiday Inn Brno is 4* Superior hotel which offers high-standard accommodation, attractive meeting and conference spaces and innovative gastronomy pleasure for all your senses.

The right place for your business stay and meetings in Brno.

120 rooms Meeting rooms for up to 130 persons Info and Booking: Holiday Inn Brno, Krizkovskeho 20, CZ 603 00 Brno T: 00420 543 122 018-019 | E: reservations@hibrno.cz Web | Virtual Tour | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

For reservations contact us on: hotel@vista-hotel.cz | www.vista-hotel.cz Vista City hotel Brno, Hudcova 72, 621 00 Brno, Czech Republic

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M O R A V I A

Moravia Convention Bureau THE MORAVIA Convention Bureau (MCB) was established in 2007 with the main goal of creating an organisation within the region that would work as contact and support for businesses.

MCB is a specialised department within the Tourist Authority South Moravia, with the founders and members of the organisation located in the South Moravian region. All activities conducted within MCB are non-profit and are within the scope of Congress, Trade Fair and Incentive Tourism in the Southern Moravian Region, supported by the European Union.

Petr Ryšánek, Project Manager at the Moravia Convention Bureau explains to EME Outlook the plans for MCB’s future progress.

EME Outlook (EME): Since inception, how has Moravia Convention Bureau developed and progressed in terms of its key objectives and the messages it tries to get across?

Petr Ryšánek (PR): Our mission has

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remained consistent over the years, aiming to provide assistance and impartial information necessary for congress planning, business meeting or incentive events. Experienced staff are on-hand to help organise your event, suggest suitable venues, supply contacts you require or recommend an additional programme and the Moravia Convention Bureau will also provide printed or electronic promotion materials.

It is currently very hard to get the message out about everything our region and capital city has to offer as the competition in the field of the meeting industry is getting stronger and stronger, both in Europe and in the world. We are focusing on less expensive but efficient marketing activities such as online communication, our target market being the Czech Republic, UK and neighbouring countries such as Austria, Germany, Poland and Slovakia.

EME: To this end, how would you say Moravia has developed in recent years as a business travel hub and what are the key reasons behind its growing appeal?

PR: Brno is exceptional when taking into account the number of educational and scientific institutions we have, with 13 universities in the city with more than 30 faculties where 80,000 students learn. After 1989 the city was re-established as the capital of the Czech judicial power.

South Moravia and the city of Brno are located in the heart of Europe, very close to the capitals and large central European cities. For example, in order to travel to Vienna or Bratislava it is only a 90 minutes drive; the city of Prague you can reach in two hours; and to Budapest and Krakow it takes three to four hours to drive.

In the last few years Brno and South Moravian Region have tried hard to improve the region‘s accessibility by looking for new connections between the international airport in Brno and

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important hub airports. The new direct line connecting Brno and Munich was launched in November, 2015 and has proven to be extremely important for us.

Now you can take the connecting flight to dozens of destinations all around the world, while our road and rail transport have also expanded substantially.

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of the MCB. One of these activities being considered is the improvement in cooperation with local scientists and potential congress ambassadors.

In 2018, Brno will be celebrating 90 years since the first exhibition (Exhibition of Contemporary Culture) was held on the premises of the Brno Exhibition Centre so the city of Brno is preparing a large festival, exhibitions and other events as commemoration of this significant anniversary.

a suitable and attractive destination for holding congresses, conferences, trade fairs and incentive programmes.

With this goal in mind, we try to build a partnership network in which private and public sector cooperate and collaborate efficiently. We would be very glad if Moravia Convention Bureau continues to be seen as firm and reliable part of EME: What is in store for Moravia this network, an important contact and over the course of 2017 and information point which not only actively beyond to continue the good work promotes cooperation but is also a already commenced and to enhance its positive and favourable factor when the reputation as a tourism and business EME: Finally, looking forward, if potential organiser decides whether to we were to speak again in launch a campaign for an event. travel hub further in the future?

PR: At MCB we do our best to attract three-five years’ time, what progress As for the business travel industry, we more business travellers to our region and development would you hope and hope to see that sector to be a strong and ensure that congress delegates expect to be able to report back, both in and stable contributor to both the come back in the future as regular regards to the Moravia Convention region and city’s economy. We hope Bureau as an entity, and in regards to the Moravia and Brno will be an established tourists.

In the near future, we will continue business travel industry in Moravia as a and renowned destination for business with the commenced successful whole? travellers which is able to offer not only promotional activities such as attending PR: Generally speaking, our goal a high quality of required services but also something more, something special the international trade fairs like IMEX and is to contribute to the economic IBTM, and organising press and FAM trips. development and wellbeing of Brno which would encourage the visitors to On the other hand, we would like and South Moravia. Specifically, we come back, either to work or to enjoy a promote Southern Moravia and Brno as lovely holiday stay. to extend the role and the activities

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M O R A V I A

Outlook Recommends “There are few regions in the world which offer their visitors such a combination of architectural gems, wonderful countryside and traditions that are hundreds of years old.” - czechtourism.com

EVENTS

BVV Trade Fairs Brno

LEISURE

HOSPITALITY Orea Hotel Voronez Maximus Resort Hotel Continental Brno

Old Town Hall Moravian Museum City Zoological Garden

FOOD & DRINK

RETAIL

Borgo Agnese Amphone Soul Bistro

Gallery Vaňkovka

National Theatre Brno

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AVION Shopping Olympia Brno

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Out & About MORAVIA’S CAPITAL city, Brno is one of the most historic cities in the Czech Republic, providing you with an experience to tantalise all the senses. Today the city is home to an array of institutions related to both the history and culture at the heart of the region, while also representing an administrative centre and the headquarters of the republic’s judiciary system.

Placed just a short drive from the Austrian border, the capital is perfectly situated for business and pleasure

in a beautifully natural environment between the South Moravian vineyards and Moravian Karst.

Unlike a trip to Prague, Brno is still relatively unknown in terms of tourist activity which makes the crowds minimal and manageable for a busy schedule.

Brno is quickly becoming a hub for business tourism, with the Moravia Convention Bureau making moves to introduce more events and conferences into the region in the likes of BVV Trade Fairs Brno. With that in

mind, the capital city has seen an influx in hotels displaying a more corporate style of hospitality that welcomes business travellers.

However, despite its newly found corporate nature, the city and Moravia in general is still full to the brim of cultural wonders that will fill up your spare time perfectly. You will also find a surprising array of culinary delights to test out during your time in the region, including the renowned Borgo Agnese which provides a selection of seasonal treats.

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M O R A V I A

IMAGE: ŠJŮ

Transport Links

IMAGE: MARTIN HEFNER

IMAGE: RALF ROLETSCHEK / ROLETSCHEK.AT

There are nearly 1,200 km of motorways in the Czech Republic

RegioJet is one of Brno’s more recognisable bus carriers

Cycling is very popular in Moravia

RegioJet, a popular private train service

THE VAST majority of the Southern Moravia region is covered by the Integrated Transport System, including an extensive network of local trains, trams, buses and trolleybuses. Brno is a terminal stop for many of the trains originating in Prague and an important stop for journeys on the Prague to Vienna line.

You will find there are a plethora of options for travel, the extent of which ranging from the region of your trip

to the length of your trip. If you are staying in the capital city it is divided into two zones, and IDS JMK tickets are available for use on both buses and trains in each zone.

Public transportation in Moravia on the whole is cheap and relatively easy to use, with tickets available at every major bus and tram stop.

The city centre is also incredibly bike friendly, with bike paths all over the city and the possibility to rent from

one of two bike-sharing companies located there.

If you’re in the region for a longer period of time and plan to do a little more exploring outside of the city, there is also the option to rent a car from one of the independent car rental companies spread across the capital city. If extensive travel around the region will be limited, taxis are readily available and reasonably priced.

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Landmark Attractions Villa Tungndhat

“The Villa of Greta and Fritz Tugendhat, designed by the architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and built in 1929–1930, is a monument of modern architecture, and is the only example of modern architecture in the Czech Republic inscribed in the list of UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites.”

- tugendhat.eu

Capuchin Monastery

IMAGE: MORGAN DAVIS FROM SEATTLE, USA

“The Capuchin monastery with the Finding of the Holy Cross Church in Brno is a unique monument which will inspire every lover of history and art. In the original early Baroque building you can admire the valuable Capuchin library with the original Rococo inventory and a ceiling fresco

by Josef Stern. Anyone who likes spooky experiences will certainly want to head to the cellar of the monastery, which offers a rarity of European importance – a Capuchin crypt from the 18th century where the naturally mummified remains of members of the Capuchin order, their patrons and prominent personalities of Brno lie.”

- czechtourism.com

Špilberk Castle

IMAGE: KIRK

“For over seven centuries, Špilberk Castle has dominated the skyline of Brno, a reminder of the safety and protection it provided. However, there have been times in the history of Brno when the fortress inspired fear, and represented oppression for the citizens of the city.”

- spilberk.cz

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is a leading business-to-business publication promoting and showcasing the leading companies across an array of sectors in the EME region.

Appearing in both digital and print, the publication is aimed at boardroom members and hands-on decision makers, reaching a combined audience of more than 395,000 business executives.

Every other month we feature leading companies and business executives by profiling their operations and success stories. Covering areas of best practice, capital investments, the supply chain, innovation and continuous improvement, we aim to promote all that is good about the industry and the region, with your company taking centre stage throughout it all.

Producing business profiles across the full range of sectors and every corner of the continent, Europe & Middle East Outlook is the platform to promote your business success.

Read on for this month’s profiles.

Phoebe Calver, Deputy Editor phoebe.calver@outlookpublishing.com

If you want to enjoy the exposure and coverage we can offer, please feel free to contact us to discuss the opportunity further.

Tell us your story and we’ll tell the world.

Matthew Staff, Editorial Director Tel: +44 (0) 1603 959 655 matthew.staff@outlookpublishing.com

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Keeping Britain

MOVING

For more than 50 years businesses have relied on Ford Transit to get the job done, and the Company is more determined than ever to maintain that tradition as the industry moves into the electric age Writer: Matthew Staff | Project Manager: Tom Arnold

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EME o be an outstanding global entity in a given industry is one thing, but to then hone in on more localised success over a sustained period of time is a whole other prospect; and one that Ford has achieved unwaveringly for more than 100 years in the UK. As the renowned automotive manufacturer’s third largest global market, accounting for around 30 percent of all sales in Europe, the UK has long served as a continental flagship for the Henry Fordinitiated pioneer. But by no means is this a one-way street of country empowering company; with the latter also enriching each presence point far beyond just its products offering.

In essence, and as the Company correctly and proudly states, “Ford has a social responsibility to keep Britain moving” and this responsibility is carried out on a daily basis across more than five million customers in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

“People rely on us consistently delivering class-leading products and services that allow them to run their lives and their businesses,” affirms and introduces Ford UK’s Chairman and Managing Director (MD), Andy Barratt. “Our position as the UK market leader is recognised and valued, with the Company frequently asked to comment - supporting Government and industry bodies - on key issues such as the future of UK automotive manufacturing, skills, research & development, and the air quality agenda.”

A facilitator of development and multi-industry growth - as well as simply customer satisfaction - Ford has held the mantle of passenger car sales leader in the UK for 40 consecutive years; and commercial vehicle sales leader for an even more impressive 51 years.

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PEPA TORRES ROMAGUERA, CEO OF WALKERPACK

“Winning the future together” - Our main goal is to be the best partner for Ford Motor Company

www.walkerpackmpl.com

Pepa Torres Romaguera is the current CEO of Walkerpack MPL, and under her leadership the Company aims to be the best logistic partner to Ford and its Valencia operations.

T: 0034 607 509 826 F: 0034 96 178 89 33 E: PTORRES@WALKERPACKMPL.COM

The Company currently manages part of the logistics chain, developing and implementing advanced procedures and offering the following services:

JUAN CARLOS I AVDA DE LA FOIA, Nº 20 ALMUSSAFES VALENCIA 46440 SPAIN

• • • • •

Storage Sequencing Quality inspection Stock control Software development

All services are provided using the Company’s own transportation.

WE ARE IN THE INDUSTRIAL PARK

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industry and Government initiative to help the UK maintain a leading position in defining the future of personal transport.”

A national positive

Ford Fiesta - the country’s best-selling car for eight consecutive years

Additionally, a Ford model has been officially named as the best-selling car in the UK for the past 44 years, with its flagship Fiesta brand thriving as the country’s best-selling car for eight consecutive years.

More than just a sales hub, however, the UK and Ford have formed a harmonious partnership throughout the value chain; the former lending itself as a breeding ground to the latter, and the latter repaying such hospitality with its aforementioned market dominance and consumer offering.

“The UK plays a crucial role for Ford, globally, in terms of research & development and high-value manufacturing, as the centre of excellence for the engineering, design and manufacture of low-emission powertrains as well as the design and development of commercial vehicles (CV),” Barratt emphasises. “Ford is a leading partner in the UK’s APC (Advanced Propulsion Centre), a joint

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One Ford:

One Team, One Plan, One Goal “Accelerating the development of new products that customers want and value is a key component of the One Ford plan. From fun-to-drive, fuel-efficient cars to versatile, capable utility vehicles and tough, durable trucks that work harder and last longer, Ford offers a full range of high-quality products with global appeal.”

The notion of “defining the future of personal transport” comes with its challenges and responsibilities of course, but never has this been more pressurised and important in the UK than in the present day, as uncertainties around Brexit and the UK’s economic connection to the wider world come to the fore.

It is a reassuring comfort therefore that a name like Ford has helped to bridge international trends, preferences and manufacturing ideologies for more than a century.

“In contrast to most European markets, UK new car registrations returned to pre-recession levels in 2014 and 2015, as confidence in the economy expanded and consumer demand for the latest models and technology grew consistently,” Barratt recalls. “Last year the UK passenger car and commercial vehicle markets continued to grow, but 2017 is seeing a decline amidst mounting concerns about the UK economy and uncertainties around Brexit.”

Thankfully, Ford’s presence in the UK is established enough to both ride this wave of uncertainty, and indeed to remain a national positive amid a backdrop of largely negative business connotations.

At present, the Company can boast around the country: 110 transit centres; 187 transit service dealers, 456 car dealerships; 69 FordStores; and 472 sales points. Meanwhile, from an employment perspective; Warley, Dagenham, Dunton, Bridgend, Southampton, Halewood and Daventry are all graced with the familiar Ford logo, and are also complemented by a 788-strong Ford Financial division, and a TrustFord UK (Ford Retail) workforce of more than 3,000.

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ver the past three years, the Spanish Company, Walkerpack MPL S.L., a logistics partner of the Ford Motor Company, has developed into one of the main logistics suppliers for Ford Valencia.

Walkerpack develops real-time sequencing for production lines, in correct quantities and at the necessary time, through its proprietary system of synchronisation in sequence (SSS), for the Valencia assembly plant.

The firm currently handles more than 3,500 references in different centres. This involves supplying 5,000 parts to the point of feed (pof) every hour and at 80 different points, including the door line, trim and chassis.

Currently, Ford Valencia manufactures five different vehicles: the Transit Connect, Kuga, Mondeo, S-Max and Galaxy. It’s possible that Valencia is the most flexible plant in Europe, and possibly the world.

Walkerpack has been working for Ford in Valencia since 2005, but the past five years in particular have proven especially significant. The Company has been able to grow at the astonishing rate of 900 percent to meet Ford’s needs in the Valencia plant.

Starting out with just 50 employees; today the business comprises 500 workers in the Almussafes industrial park.

Walkerpack is working on a number of Ford installations including its 2nd row seat; via a conveyor which serves both the S-Max and Galaxy models manufactured by Faurecia. All foam produced by the foam plant in Valencia also derives from this conveyor.

Pepa Torres, Walkerpack’s Chief Executive Officer, stepped up to meet the formidable challenge of serving Ford, and she’s now

working with her team to develop further improvements.

To do this, the Company has invested in more resources, the latest technology and staff training to offer the best services at the best price.

The professional team has been working in the automotive sector for more than 10 years, and both the Company’s technology and partners are capable of taking on new challenges every year.

Walkerpack is also developing and implementing advanced procedures based on continuous improvement, lean manufacturing and a corporate culture. In short, the firm’s main goal is to satisfy customers by offering ‘just in time’ solutions, as needed.

The Company´s objective is now to build a logistics centre close Ford Valencia to unify three sequencing centres, in order to obtain synergies and savings. Its intention is to be the best logistics partner in Valencia and to introduce itself to other Ford plants in Europe in the near future.

For this reason, and based on its successful experience, Walkerpack wishes to introduce the Company in the UK to potential new customers, including companies that are seeking an automotive logistics partner.

T 0034 607 509 826 E ptorres@walkerpackmpl.com www.walkerpackmpl.com

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Easy and enjoyable

“Headquartered in Brentwood, Essex, we have more than 14,000 people employed across our UK operations, which includes TrustFord, a dedicated Ford dealer group,” Barratt affirms in defining the sheer scale that Ford enjoys in the UK. “Our research & development centre, the Dunton Technical Centre, also in Essex, is one of the largest of its type in the UK. “Home to more than 4,000 highly skilled designers, engineers and support staff, it is Ford’s global Centre of Excellence for Powertrain and Commercial Vehicle engineering and design.”

In terms of the Company’s manufacturing footprint in the UK there are two engine plants; Bridgend, in South Wales, and Dagenham.

Between the two, there is the capacity to produce more than two million engines a year; a target that reached

almost 75 percent accountability in 2016 when Ford UK’s plants rolled more than 1.4 million engines off the production line.

“85 percent of the engines built were exported,” Barratt adds, “with a combined export value exceeding £1 billion.”

The MD continues: “In 2014 we also began a transformation of the customer experience with the creation of FordStores, which offer a new way to shop and experience Ford.

“Designed to make buying a new Ford easy and enjoyable, the dealerships arrange vehicles in distinct zones and, with the growth of personalisation, customers can use our life-size configurator. The technology allows near life-size configurations to be shown on an HD Power Wall, viewable inside and out, from all angles to ensure that it’s exactly what they want.”

ALUDEC

S

ince 1984, ALUDEC has engineered and produced decorative solutions for the automotive industry.

The Company’s core capabilities involve the design, engineering and manufacture of high quality parts for vehicle interiors and exteriors.

The Company owns all processes (plastic injection, chrome plating, in-moldforming, assembly, and silk screening) and has expertise of all materials (steel, aluminium, plastics, resins, adhesives and inks) involved in the productions of emblems, monograms, interior trims and protection bumpers amongst other parts.

The Company’s premises are conveniently located close to our clients’ decision centres in Spain, France, Germany, Sweden and the USA. Hence, the Company is able to deliver parts to more than 600 assembly plants worldwide.

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Andy Barratt at the UK Focus RS media launch

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www.aludec.com Xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx

BE CR E ATIV E TO BE UNIQUE ALUDEC engineers and produces automotive interior components and exterior decorative parts meeting the highest industry demands of the world’s car manufacturers. Our objectives are aligned in order to deliver superior value through operational excellence.

www.aludec.com

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AXALTA COATING SYSTEMS AXALTA COATING SYSTEMS CONGRATULATES FORD ON ITS 100-YEAR HISTORY IN THE UK

A Mark Harvey with the Transit Custom PHEV, Dunton

Benchmark global best practices

It is this customer-oriented ethos that has driven Ford’s continuous improvement over the years, both in the passenger car sales and commercial vehicle sales domains. The latter in particular has seen a doubling of Ford’s CV sales since 2011, coinciding with the introduction of the Ford Transit Centre.

The word ‘transit’ is so intrinsically linked to the Ford name, and this latest unveiling has capitalised on the brand’s popularity through the creation of a one-stop shop for commercial vehicle customers.

Ford UK presence points • Transit centres

110

• Transit service dealers 187 • Car dealerships

456

• FordStores

69

• Sales points

472

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Barratt details: “With repairs, maintenance and support all under one roof, plus extended opening hours for greater flexibility, Transit Centres are designed to maximise the productivity and efficiency of people who rely on our products to run their businesses.

“We also rolled out our Ford Mobile Service programme, nationwide, following a successful trial around Greater London.”

The programme was initially developed to minimise disruption to fleet operators by reducing vehicle down time, and already the Company’s initiative has now evolved to comprise more than 100 speciallyliveried Ford Transit units; all equipped to handle a wide range of servicing, maintenance and repairs.

“It means, for example, a plastering company or landscaping business can continue to earn money on site while we service their van in the car park,” Barratt explains.

‘Continuous improvement’ in this sense, and indeed in most Ford applications, focuses largely on a refinement of service and customer interaction as opposed to simply improving internal processes and end products. In essence, all aforementioned factors are intertwined, with the latter manufacturing enhancements

xalta Coating Systems, a leading global supplier of liquid and powder coatings, congratulates the Ford Motor Company on its 100-year milestone in the UK. Axalta is proud to have a decades-long global relationship with Ford and is the exterior coatings supplier to the production of the Ford GT. Ford and Axalta developed eight colours synonymous with Ford: Shadow Black, Frozen White, Ingot Silver, Triple Yellow, Liquid Red, Liquid Blue, Liquid Gray and Matte Black. Axalta’s coatings have been formulated to meet the specifications of the Ford GT’s carbon fibre body. A special Axalta primer followed by a topcoat brings the colour to life. A clearcoat gives gloss and protection.

In 2017 the relationship between Ford and Axalta took another step forward: Axalta became an Official Associate Sponsor of Ford Chip Ganassi Racing.

Under the agreement, the Ford GT race cars feature Axalta’s logo as they compete in the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) series.

With 150 years of experience in the coatings industry, Axalta supplies its more than 100,000 customers in 130 Xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx countries with innovative, colourful, sustainable and technically-advanced solutions that are designed to prevent corrosion, to increase productivity and to enable the coated materials to look better and to last longer.

For more information visit www.axalta. com or follow us on Twitter @axalta and on LinkedIn.

Xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx

We Live Coatings.

Innovative refinish systems recognised and trusted by bodyshop customers around the world.

Under the lens of Axalta, colours come to life.

Š2017. Axalta Coating Systems. All rights reserved.

Visit us at www.axalta.com

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driven by the commitment to meet - and exceed - customer needs and expectations.

The One Ford strategy is a further example of this bridging of the manufacturer-consumer gap, as well as highlighting the advantage that Ford has as a truly global entity.

Barratt explains: “The One Ford strategy has allowed us to benchmark global best practices and leverage our current portfolio; bringing products like Edge, Mustang and KA+ to the UK. “Similarly, it’s enabled us to export our expertise with the introduction of the Transit, designed and engineered here in the UK, and now launched in the US.”

Simply outstanding

Just as 100-plus years of industry development lends itself to enhanced

modern-day operational excellence, the resultant continuous improvement strategies have similarly catalysed ongoing product improvements; completing a successful, and profitable, cycle.

In the UK, this process is epitomised by the evolution of the Fiesta which has been ever-popular on the country’s roads since 1976 in different guises; each model further cementing its status as a national automotive icon.

“As the UK’s best-selling car ever, and the market leader for the past eight years consecutively, the Fiesta has to be the product that has driven the Company forward in the UK,” Barratt affirms. “The very first Fiesta was groundbreaking - as the first front-wheel drive Ford, the first transverse-engined Ford, and the smallest capacity Ford since the 1950s

The Ford Story “Henry Ford has changed the way of life for many people with his vision to make owning a car both practical and affordable. The moving assembly line and mass production techniques that he developed, set the standard for worldwide industrial practice in the first half of the 20th Century.”

BRUGOLA OEB INDUSTRIALE SPA LISSONE, ITALY, PLYMOUTH AND USA

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rugola OEB Industriale SpA is a leading critical fasteners supplier of any fixing element to the automotive industry worldwide. The Company was founded in 1926, has four production plants in Italy, a brand new production facility in Michigan, USA and 11 logistic centres worldwide.

The Company produces 800 different types of bolts and manufactures seven million bolts every day and 420 employees contribute every day to the Company’s success.

The Company provides full support in engineering and development from the first stages of the project to the launch of the programme, including full logistics service from material production to line feed.

For more than 30 years, the Company have proudly supplied automotive manufacturers worldwide and are a full service provider for the Ford European Powertrain plants.

In May, 2016, the Company received Ford’s 2016 World Excellence Award for Supplier Performance within the “Special Recognition” category, which is reserved for those suppliers that delivered results that exceeded expectations.

With a strong belief in its values, Xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx the Company continues to evolve constantly, obtaining important results which it is very proud of.

The Company is building its future with quality and defends it with the utmost commitment, “Always”.

Xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx

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world’s

best

engine

fasteners

SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE LISSONE - ITALIA

Brugola OEB Industriale SpA is a leading critical fasteners supplier of any fixing element to the automotive industry worldwide. The Company was founded in 1926, has four production plants in Italy, a brand new production facility in Michigan-USA and 11 logistics centers in the world. We produce 800 different types of bolts and we manufacture 7 million bolts every day. 420 employees contribute every day to the success of our Company.

Brugola OEB provides full support in engineering and development from the first stages of the project to the launch of the program including full logistic service from material production to line feed.

Since more than 30 years we proudly supply the

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automotive manufacturers worldwide and we are Full Service Provider for the Ford European Powertrain Plants.

In May last we received the 2016 Ford’s World Excellence Award for Supplier’s performance within the “Special Recognition” category which is reserved for those suppliers that delivered results that exceeded expectations.

With a strong belief in its values, Brugola OEB Industriale spa has continued to evolve constantly, obtaining, throughout the years, important results which we are proud of.

We build our future with Quality and we defend it with our commitment, always”.

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HANON SYSTEMS

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anon Systems is a full-line supplier of automotive thermal energy management solutions.

Products include heating ventilation and air conditioning; powertrain cooling; compressors; fluid transport; and thermal and emissions solutions for conventional and electric, hybrid, fuel cell and autonomous vehicles.

Automakers rely on Hanon Systems as an expert in the field of automotive thermal management, creating value in an endless commitment to innovation and striving for excellence. Through its differentiated product portfolio, abundant experience and business acumen, the Company is focused on strengthening its position as a leader in innovative thermal and energy management solutions in the global automotive market.

with 957cc and 1,117cc engines - and it quickly became Europe’s fastest-selling car.

“Every successive Fiesta model has improved on the one before, and this year we have launched an all-new Fiesta range. Not only it is it our most technologically-advanced Fiesta ever; it is also the most expansive model range. From the sporty looking ST-Line and luxurious Vignale models, to the hotly anticipated ST and - for the first time in its history - a crossover model: the Fiesta Active.”

The latter milestone model delivers “rugged SUV-inspired styling including raised ride height” and will arrive in the UK in 2018.

“The all-new Fiesta is simply outstanding,” Barratt continues. “It has the most sophisticated range of driver assistance features ever in a small volume car in Europe and is the first Ford in Europe to benefit from computer simulation crash tests of a complete vehicle.

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2016 market shares “We have a market share of around 12 percent on passenger cars and more than 30 percent on commercial vehicles.”

CARS: Ford Vauxhall VW Nissan

11.8 percent 9.3 percent 7.7 percent 5.7 percent

LCV: Ford VW Mercedes Vauxhall

30.6 percent 12.3 percent 9.4 percent 10.1 percent

TOTAL VEHICLES: Ford 14.2 percent

(436,316 vehicles)

The Company is committed to delivering automotive solutions that address government, consumer and industry trends through connected, integrated, controlled and optimised designs that meet individual needs of automakers in the development of next-generation vehicles. The value Hanon Systems brings is in the supply of solutions that not only deliver cabin comfort and enhance powertrain efficiency, but also maintain optimal operating temperatures for these devices.

With deep technical expertise and a suite of solutions to respond to the changing demands of the fast-paced automotive industry, Hanon Systems Xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx is continuously expanding its scope of product innovations to reinforce mechatronics and eMobility solutions that are designed to deliver even greater value to automakers and lead the technology of tomorrow.

The Company operates 40 manufacturing and 18 engineering sites across 20 countries, and employs more than 16,500 people. To learn more, visit www.hanonsystems.com or email info@hanonsystems.com.

Xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx

Ford Motor Company May your 100+ years of leadership in the U.K. continue to be a successful, never-ending journey.

CONGRATULATIONS, Ford Motor Company, on over a century of success in the U.K. We appreciate our long-term partnership with you, and look forward to the road ahead.

HVAC | Powertrain Cooling | Thermal & Emissions | Compressor | Fluid Transport | eMobility

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“It is also the first Ford vehicle to feature an exclusive, premium B&O PLAY sound system, and for the first time offers an opening panoramic glass roof.

“It is part of the most comprehensive Fiesta range ever, meeting growing consumer demand for greater choice and more personalisation. Put simply, it is a brilliant new car, bringing style, technology and refinement that has never been seen in a small car before.”

Delivering pure driving pleasure

As always, the new Fiesta models reflect the ongoing research & development that occurs behind the scenes at Ford, but more poignantly epitomise the Company’s dedication to customer satisfaction; something which also shines through its luxurious Vignale range.

The Vignale’s recent introduction was specifically in response to the growth in customer demand for the highest specification series’ available; Barratt noting that buyer feedback regularly called for an even higher spec and service.

“The Mondeo Vignale was our first offering and we’ve added it to the S-MAX, Edge, Galaxy, Kuga and now the all-new Fiesta,” he notes. “We know that buyers consider high levels

of customer service a key difference between a mainstream and upmarket experience, while showroom appearance and quality of hospitality are factors that influence customer expectations.”

The past two years has seen Ford launch its widest ever range of products. The iconic and oft lustedafter Mustang finally arrived in the UK for the first time in its 50-year history; complete with right-hand drive for the full UK experience.

In addition, the Company also launched its flagship SUV, the Edge; laden with modern driver-assist technologies.

Barratt adds: “We also have a line-up of vehicles that truly demonstrate our performance prowess and innovation.

The all-new Ford GT and the third generation Focus RS are two cars that showcase our strength and credentials for delivering pure driving pleasure; truly exemplifying the Ford DNA. “More recently we announced the plan to introduce a new plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) Transit Custom van, designed to help improve local air quality by running solely on electric power for the majority of city journeys.”

The ‘electric age’ represents the next era for global automotive

INDUSTRIAS ALEGRE S.A

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ndustrias Alegre S.A was founded in 1953 as a plastic injection and mold workshop, and these activities still continue today under 100 percent family and Valencian ownership. This, together with the expertise of its engineering team, makes the Company an excellence reference in its sector.

From its Spanish headquarters, the Company manufactures and supplies parts for customers across Europe and non-European countries such as Russia, Mexico, Brazil and India.

Its core business as a manufacturer and global supplier of plastic parts for the automotive sector focuses on the creation of interior plastic parts.

From the upper and lower pillars and boot pieces to components of the instrument panel, consoles and seats, the range of plastic parts manufactured by the Company covers the total plastic content of the interior of the vehicles.

In addition, the Company’s R&D department has developed a packaging solution called HybridBox, which is a packaging solution that is reusable and waste free. Pieces are placed in individual cells when manufactured, optimising the space of the packaging in its folded position as well as unfolded, saving time and money in addition to being respectful to the environment.

The first Fiesta that Ford manufactured at the Valencia plant in 1976 already carried parts made by the Company, and it has continued to offer its products Xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx and services to the model range since then, including the latest generation Fiesta, launched at the Ford Cologne plant in April this year.

T +34 96 122 02 00 E ialegre@ialegre.com

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KOSTAL MECHATRONICS FOR PEOPLE!

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he dimmed headlights, the rain sensor, the anti-pinch protection system for electric windows, the first automatic emergency braking function based on a mono camera: KOSTAL invented them all.

KOSTAL Automotive Electrical Systems is the largest of the four divisions of the KOSTAL Group: a Company run by the fourth generation of the family that owns it and with headquarters in Lüdenscheid, in Germany’s Sauerland region. It would be hard to find a car on the road anywhere in the world that doesn’t have a single KOSTAL product installed in it.

The PHEV Transit

manufacturing so it comes as no surprise that Ford is plotting its route into the sub-sector with great care.

To this end, the PHEV Transit Custom van is scheduled for volume production in 2019, as part of the wider Company’s global promise to provide customers with not just access to the electric vehicle world; but affordable and realistic access to this new technology.

“Ford is the first volume manufacturer to offer PHEV technology in this segment and the vehicles will start testing at the end of this year,” Barratt says. “The London fleet trial project is supported by Transport for London, and features a cross-section of city-based businesses, including Metropolitan Police, British Gas and Clancy Plant, that will integrate the vans into their day-today operations.”

Ease congestion and broaden mobility

Prior to production, Ford has gone to extensive lengths to analyse the

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significance of PHEV Transits in the UK, kick-started by the trial of 20 units mounted with an advanced telematics system.

Subsequently gaining an understanding of the benefits that electric vehicles present, and how these benefits can be further maximised, the system will provide real-time data on the vans’ performance; ultimately ensuring that Ford fully understands each customer’s needs.

“We, of course, continually monitor trends and adapt to the needs of consumers and anticipate future customer requirements,” Barratt emphasises to this end. “The growth in SUVs, for instance, continues and we’ve strengthened our product line-up with EcoSport, Kuga and Edge, which will be joined by the Fiesta Active next year.”

Technology also - predictably, yet importantly - continues to play a crucial role in Ford’s continuous improvement psyche; with special emphasis now placed on making “smart and connected” vehicles.

The Company develops and manufactures innovative, reliable and cost-optimised products for the global automotive industry. With more than 17,000 employees in 21 countries on four continents and an annual turnover of €2.4 billion KOSTAL is among the top 100 automotive suppliers in the world.

The Company’s history goes back more than 100 years and is visible evidence of the long-term, reliable and cooperative relationship that KOSTAL Automotive Electrical Systems enjoys with its customers, employees and everyone connected to us.

The three business fields of Mechatronic Modules, Switch Panels & Switches Xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx and Electronic Control Unitsxxxxxxxxx act with corporate responsibility in a way which is not only quality, customer and product-oriented, it is also costefficient. This guarantees smooth and comprehensive cooperation between all participants in the global process chain.

With its innovative focus in areas such as autonomous driving, electric mobility and new HMI concepts, KOSTAL is shaping the future today.

Xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx

Innovative. Intelligent. Intuitive.

KOSTAL Switch Panels and Switches

Mechatronics for People! www.kostal.com

Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG, An der Bellmerei 10, 58513 LĂźdenscheid, Germany, Phone: +49 2351 16 - 0

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METHODE ELECTRONICS A LONGSTANDING PARTNER WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY

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ethode Electronics, Inc. is a US Chicago-based international global developer of engineered user interface, sensor, switch, power and ambient lighting solutions with design, testing and manufacturing facilities in the United States, Canada, Germany, Malta, Belgium, Mexico, China, Egypt, India, Italy, Lebanon, Singapore, Switzerland, the United Kingdom.

The Company’s products are in the primary end automobile markets, designed and produced for worldwide renowned brands. This includes the FORD Motor Company with whom the Company nurtures an excellent long standing relationship.

All-new Fiesta

Barratt continues: “We are pursuing more transportation research partnerships to look at the cities of the future, and how people, goods and services will move in the future.

“We continue to expand our resources in autonomous vehicle research, with the recent announcement of our partnership with Lyft and the $1 billion investment in Argo AI combining Ford’s autonomous vehicle development expertise with Argo AI’s robotics experience and artificial intelligence software to further advance autonomous vehicles.”

Ford has also opened a new Ford Smart Mobility Innovation Office on the former Olympic Park at Stratford in London.

Once again addressing the trend of smart mobility and advanced technologies, the new office has provided a dedicated team of ford specialists - led by smart mobility Director, Sarah-Jayne Williams -

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Methode Electronics supplies FORD worldwide from its three main campuses in China, Malta and Mexico.

From its European location in Malta, Methode has supplied hidden switches to FORD since the early 1980s and continues to do so until today.

easy access to world-class digital companies, leading academic institutions, nimble start-ups, and existing partners.

“Ford continues to work on projects with the city to help improve air quality, ease congestion and broaden mobility for Londoners,” Barratt affirms. “Having an office in London offers Ford close proximity to its projects and partners; including the plug-in hybrid Transit trial due to launch later this year.”

By the end of 2018, Methode Europe will have supplied more than 65 million ignition starter switches to Ford worldwide, ever since the launch of the first Focus (C170) in 1997. Methode Electronics Europe pioneered the first integrated centre stack assembly with Aston Martin of the Premier Automotive Group and later launched Electronic Xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx Face Plates for various US car lines from its plant in Mexico.

Today, the product capabilities have broadened to include interior and exterior mechatronic and electronic modules and endless modular solutions for every part of the automobile.

Xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx

methode.com

Another exciting day MECHATRONICS AND AMBIENT LIGHTING SOLUTIONS Endless sensor and ergonomic solutions for interior and exterior user interface controls, pedal box, ignition, chassis, suspension, transmission and powertrain.

GET IN TOUCH AND DISCOVER HOW ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

Methode is possibilities...

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RHENUS AUTOMOTIVE

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henus Automotive is an international service provider of logistics, assembly and engineering services. We focus on high quality and flexible services to create value for our customers in the US and Europe. Decades of strong cooperation shaped the trust that enables us to develop new ideas and create efficient solutions with our partners: the leading automotive producers and innovative automotive suppliers.

Our assembly expertise includes a vast range of modules pony pack, engine dress-up front and rear axles, front corner headliner, cockpit, center console exterior and interior parts auto glass

The 2018 Ford Mustang

Clear benefits to local communities

The concept of ‘responsibility’ can often be seen as a tenuous one in the industrial world, with financial implications and business success understandably taking precedence for the majority of SMEs and even larger, but less-established businesses.

For Ford though, once again, the ability to act responsibly in the UK - and indeed across its entire footprint - has been integral to its longevity; whether as a natural contributor to the country’s talent pool and engineering acumen, or through less industrial-focused initiatives that are often associated with the Ford of Britain Trust.

Barratt describes: “A wide number of initiatives are supported through the Ford of Britain Trust, which was established in 1975 and provides funding for local charities and NGOs. “We pay special attention to projects focusing on education, the environment, children, the disabled, youth activities, and projects that provide clear benefits

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Ford UK employment, 2016 Ford of Britain Warley

10,033 831

Dagenham 2,910 Dunton

3,119

Bridgend

1,928

Southampton

186

Halewood

656

Daventry

353

Our mission is to reduce complexity for our customers through innovative logistics and value-added assembly solutions. Our technologies and business practices build sustainable, long-term partnerships. By improving our processes day by day we are able to deliver better performance at all our sites. Rhenus Automotive constantly invests in innovation; aiming to identify, develop and implement ideas that support our customers’ success.

Ford always had an important role for our growth in Europe. Due to decades of tight partnership in Cologne, Saarlouis, and Valencia we are able to Xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx contribute a high level of value to most of the Ford models seen on the streets today. Strong bonds to Ford are the basis for highest performance – every day.

Other 50 Ford Financial

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www.rhenus-automotive.com Xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx

RHENUS AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS

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SERTEC

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ith more than five decades of experience, The Sertec Group has become renowned as a manufacturer of excellence in aluminium and steel.

Quality and customer satisfaction is at the heart of Sertec and it is no surprise that growth has been dramatic in recent years through strategic expansion, acquisition and new customer gains.

With six factories in the UK, one in each of Germany and Hungary and a tooling operation in China, Sertec is a major force in automotive manufacturing supply. A recent £16 million investment in a brand new press shop in Birmingham has increased its stampings capacity, with transfer and progression presses ranging from 250 to 1,000 tonnes. But expertise extends to a much broader range of capabilities than purely presswork.

The Ford Fund also provides Ford Driving Skills for Life

to the local communities close to our UK locations.”

One recent example showcases Ford UK’s partnership with Primary Engineer, a non-profit organisation that runs a variety of engineeringbased courses for children of primary school age. Collaborating with 20 schools across Essex, Ford’s engineers work with each to provide teacher and project support to help make the idea of engineering fun and exciting to inspire the next generation of industrial artisans.

“Another example is Ford’s work with Enactus, a global non-profit organisation and community of students, academics and business leaders,” Barratt adds. “In the UK, the Ford UK Innovation Challenge supports young people by encouraging social entrepreneurship through the implementation of sustainable community solutions.

“It’s also part of the global Ford College Community Challenge (Ford

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C3), a programme from Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of the Company.”

The Ford Fund also provides Ford Driving Skills for Life (DSFL), a global advanced safety training programme specifically designed for newly licensed drives, aged 18-24.

Barratt comments: “The free training helps young drivers to develop skills in four key areas: hazard recognition, speed and space awareness, vehicle handling, and driver distraction including the simulated effects of drugs and alcohol.”

Sertec is leading the way in lightweight joining technologies, with both robotic and manual operation of welding and riveting processes. From raw material to OEM delivery of complex assembled components, Sertec has the project management expertise and the quality engineering performance required to supply the most stringent of global automotive manufacturers.

Wire frame assemblies for seat structures is a further speciality at Sertec, alongside other wire forming capabilities in bending wire from 0.1mm up to 17mm diameter. Add to this, Xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx expertise in deep drawing, tubular assemblies, fine blanking and precision stampings; Sertec is the complete supplier in Body In White engineering to the automotive market...globally.

Doing things the right way

Such corporate social responsibility adherence - like most aspects of Ford’s operations - hasn’t gone unnoticed, and in 2017, Ethisphere Institute named the Company in its list of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the eighth year in a row.

Recognising not only Ford’s personnel and community enrichment

T +44 (0)1675 436600 E sertec.group@sertec.co.uk

sertec.co.uk

Xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx

Manufacturing excellence...global supply

The Sertec Group has a 20 year history of supplying The Ford Motor Company. Once recognised primarily for Stampings, winning both Silver and Gold in Ford’s World Excellence Awards, Sertec has grown to become a world class manufacturer in many other disciplines.

A leading exponent of lightweight material joining technologies for assembled components, plus wire frame structures, precision engineering and much, much more, Sertec is a major force in automotive manufacturing supply in the UK and beyond.

PROUD

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SEGURA

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RUPO SEGURA is an industrial Group dedicated to the design, development and manufacturing of metal components for automobiles, mainly using stamping, welding and assembly processes.

The design allow its clients to manufacture safer, lighter and more ecological vehicles, contributing to optimising gas consumption and minimising environmental impact.

Having grown in partnership with Ford, developing its own culture and values, the Company is now stronger and more sustainable.

The Company would like to thank Ford for their support over the last 100 years, and look forward to many more exciting years ahead!

T +34 963 465 090 E mmontalban@fsegura.com

Clay modelling the Transit at Dunton

initiatives, the accolade also sheds light on the Company’s ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability.

Inevitably set to strengthen even more in the coming years through the inception of its electric range of vehicles, Ford has already proven itself as an ecopioneer; especially by virtue of its supply chain management strategy.

“As a company, it’s important that we make quality products and minimise the impact on the environment by doing things the right way”

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www.fsegura.com Driven by the Company’s role within the ‘Partnership for a Cleaner Environment’ (PACE) programme, Ford proudly operates as en entity committed to creating a better world.

“As a company, it’s important that we make quality products and minimise the impact on the environment by doing things the right way,” said Mary Wroten, senior manager of Ford Supply Chain Sustainability upon the 2017 unveiling by the Ethisphere Institute. “Having suppliers that want to share that responsibility shows we can work together to reduce our collective environmental footprint, while still continuing to deliver great products.”

PACE encourages consistency in best practices as well as supplier transparency and sustainability; subsequently working collaboratively throughout the value chain to save an estimated 550 million gallons of water over the next five years according to 2016 data.

CASCO

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ith a long history of automotive sensor and module development, Casco offers a wide range of invehicle electronics for an enhanced driving experience. The Company’s tradition of innovation continues today with cutting-edge products for power delivery and management, environmental sensing, connectivity and electromechanical interfaces.

From sensing when to turn your headlights on, to charging your cell phone on the way home, to helping your vehicle manage the energy of its 48V battery system, the Company’s global footprint and over 1,200 dedicated employees support its customers with truly “power-full” solutions.

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ILUNION

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LUNION, the group of social enterprises of ONCE and its Foundation, is a socially responsible business project that develops its activity with criteria of economic and social profitability. It has a workforce of 36,540 employees, of which 40.8 percent are people with disabilities.

ILUNION Servicios Industriales Automoción was founded in 2002. With 1,065 employees, of which 90 percent are people with disabilities, it is the TIER 1 logistics service provider of Ford España. Its centre is in Valencia province and takes up a total area of 40,000m².

T +34 902 90 41 11 E contacto@ilunion.com

Ford is serious about environmentally sustainable manufacturing

To play its part, Ford provides suppliers with a ‘PACE toolkit’ which consists of 350 leading practices across areas of energy, water, air emissions and waste.

One such supplier, DENSO has participated in the PACE initiative alongside FORD in 38 countries since 2014 and the Company’s Senior Manager for Safety, Health and Environment in North America, Jim Laney further commented on the relationship and vision during this year’s unveiling.

“We are serious about protecting lives and preserving the planet, and sharing best practices with Ford helps further that mission to sustain the environment globally,” he said.

Putting the customers at the heart

Wider industry involvement and collaboration has been pivotal to Ford’s knowledge expansion and its influence on the sector over the years, and has been compounded in

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recent times by becoming the first automotive manufacturer to join the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition (“a non-profit organisation dedicated to improving social, environmental and ethical conditions in their members’ global supply chains”).

Such adherence to sustainability - and environmental enrichment especially - can largely be attributed to Ford’s ‘Blueprint for the Road’ motto which homes in on outstanding fuel economy and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from its products.

“They’re very much part of our corporate responsibility policy, too,” Ford UK elaborates on its website.” So we’re always researching, evaluating and developing initiatives that create value; value that’s consistent with the long-term preservation and enhancement of environmental, social and financial capital. To define these actions and incorporate many other

programmes, we established our ‘Blueprint for Sustainability.’

“This Blueprint encapsulates our sustainability strategy as a whole, reflecting the fact that sustainability issues are part of a complex system that interconnects our products, plants, people and the communities in which we operate.

“As well as being the right thing to do, sustainability is a core part of Ford’s business strategy. With smart and sustainable manufacturing solutions and an exciting range of technologically advanced, fuel-efficient vehicles, we’re creating foundations that will ensure our long-term success in Europe.”

By virtue of this philosophy, Ford also enforces its core, initial vision to bring long-term benefits and satisfaction to a customer base that has become so familiar with the brand’s innovation and influence over the decades.

And as the business now looks forward to replicating its dedication to

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development over the coming years, its UK operations will continue to serve as an example of Ford’s global competitive advantage.

“Our overarching strategy is putting the customer at the heart of everything we do. Our dealer network in Britain is one of the strongest in the world and remains a competitive advantage,” Barratt concludes. “[In the coming years] there will certainly be growth in digital and connectivity trends with the likes of car-to-car and car-to infrastructure communications. Increasing demand for the development and implementation of smart mobility solutions that are right for the consumer will certainly shape and transform our business.

“As an industry we therefore need to ensure that manufacturers and retailers are positioned to meet the needs in a rapidly changing world, where traditional models may no longer be valid.

“As such, customers will move even further into the heart of everything we do.”

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“We simply need to WANT IT, believe it is possible; find the way and CONQUER IT.” Alberto Durán Vice President of ONCE Foundation and President of Ilunion

BBB SERVICES LTD

Proud supplier of all critical and non-critical powertrain fasteners to Ford programmes globally

Honoured at 19th Annual Ford World Excellence Awards 2016

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E U R O P E

Active Leaders BEP Europe (BEPE), a Burke Porter Group company, has perfected its skills in the development of machines, branching out into the development of autonomous driving as well as innovation in life sciences and advanced manufacturing Writer: Phoebe Calver Project Manager: Tom Arnold

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EME urke Porter Group’s intriguing approach to industry progression is not to become inventors, but to closely follow trends and disruptions to the market to ready themselves for forthcoming advancements.

In order to achieve this, the Group has accomplished strategic acquisitions before integrating these companies to become active leaders in new high-growth niches. This creates extensive and sustainable growth opportunities for the future of the Company, while maintaining a strong market-leading position in the automotive industry.

As part of the Burke Porter Group, BEP Europe (BEPE) works together with other companies within the group to build intelligent machines for automotive, life science and advanced manufacturing markets. Until 2009 BEPE focused exclusively on end-ofline test installations for automotive assembly plants, with some of its biggest customers including PSA and the VW Group.

“Today our position in the market is a far more diverse one, although end-of-line tests still remain our main revenue generator,” begins Ward Van de Walle, Chief Technology Officer at Burke Porter Group. “Alongside BEP Europe’s original customers, the larger group now works with the likes of BMW, Mercedes, Fiat and JLR, offering full vehicle End-of-Line testing, axle testing and component testing.”

In addition to its automotive test installations, BEP Europe is skilled in the development of new machine technology. The majority of its R&D (research and development) work in recent years was based on the Organic Rankine Cycle - converting waste heat into electricity - with these machines commercialised under the brand name, E-Rational as part of its constantly developing portfolio.

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SWEP

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WEP is the world’s leading supplier of compact brazed plate heat exchangers (BPHEs), used when heat needs to be transferred efficiently in air conditioning, refrigeration, heating and industrial applications.

Close to its customers, SWEP is represented in +50 countries and has a dedicated sales force in +20 countries.

Highly efficient production units in Sweden, USA, Malaysia, Slovakia and China enable SWEP to serve customers globally.

SWEP is part of the Dover Corporation, a multi-billion-dollar, NYSE-traded, diversified manufacturer of proprietary products and components for industrial and commercial use.

Focus on autonomous driving product development

T +46 418 40 04 00 E info@swep.net

www.swep.net

Organic growth

As previously mentioned, Burke Porter Group (BPG) focuses its energy on both organic growth and growth through company acquisitions. The past two years has seen the acquisition of six companies, including Universal Balancing, CIMAT, Epic Equipment, Kleinknecht, Korvis and Lismar, all of which have brought new product lines and technologies to the Company.

“For our automotive business line, we have invested in new product development with a main focus on autonomous driving, the electrification of powertrain in cars and NVH testing,” explains Van de Walle. “There are vast amounts of disruptions today that are driven solely by technology and that is a factor that we are attempting to tackle in our work.”

Recently this work has included real-time sensor feedback, specifically the inspection and calibration of driver assistance systems, which is fuelling the autonomous revolution

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with innovations including driverless cars, trucks, drones and auto-piloted planes. There is a huge margin for growth in intelligent sensors and driver assistance systems, providing BEP with more opportunities for end-of-line testing.

“The demand for autonomous innovation is also supported by the ever-thinning line between robots and humans,” continues Van de Walle. “Robots are becoming more intelligent, sensitive and collaborative.

With such rapid development, humans are increasingly better equipped to live alongside them.”

Entrepreneurial mindset

The Company has a long history in the automotive domain, adding huge amounts of value to the industry through serving large-scale OEM’s and Tier 1 suppliers across the globe.

“The requirements placed upon car platforms from our customers appear to be globally converging at present,”

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SUSTAINABLE ENERGY PRODUCTION HAS NO HEAT TO WASTE Why waste energy? You can make energy production more sustainable by recovering heat from otherwise discarded hot water and steam from industrial processes, from municipal waste incinerators and biomass combustion, and from stationary engines and geothermal applications.

Together, SWEP and key partner BEP Europe have developed reliable ORC systems that turn lowtemperature waste heat into green electricity.

These systems impose high demands on the heat transfer equipment, and SWEP meets the challenge with the highest capacity brazed plate heat exchangers on the market: compact, robust units with unparalleled performance.

SWEP Box 105, SE-261 22 Landskrona, Sweden Tel: +46 418 40 04 00, Fax: +46 418 292 95 info@swep.net www.swep.net

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B E P

E U R O P E

Additional work is ongoing with agricultural equipment

continues Van de Walle. “Next to passenger cars we are now also focusing on off-road equipment and agricultural equipment; features such as autonomous driving are already being accepted into these niche markets.

“Our focus at BPG has always been, first and foremost, on customer service, adapting and developing our services to meet their requirements.

Wherever they are located in the world we aim, to assist them quickly and preferably in their native language.”

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The combined mindset at BPG is incredibly entrepreneurial, allowing us to diversify into other business segments...

The Company has ensured this through having more than 30 locations worldwide, emphasising the need to remain innovative while investing in new products and business development.

“The combined mindset at BPG is incredibly entrepreneurial, allowing us to diversify into other business segments that we expect will provide us with interesting growth opportunities and that will utilise our extensive intelligent machine building qualities,” Van de Walle adds.

BPG’s aforementioned entrepreneurial mindset has driven its diversification into the design and production of life science equipment, as well as the advanced manufacturing market.

“As you can gather our Company is engineering-driven, with our employees as our most valuable asset,” affirms Van de Walle. “They consistently come up with new ideas

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Due to company growth, there is always room for expansion

that enable us to solve the problems our customers are facing.

“It’s incredibly difficult to find people that hold the right skill-set, making training and retention even more important. By the speed we are growing, there is a continuous need to look into expanding our personnel.”

Transformative engineering

Working with business partners that support the Company through the addition of invaluable knowledge

is part of the strategy. This enables BPG to support its growth, preferably looking for global partnerships that can serve all the regions in which BPG is active.

Van de Walle adds: “We are an incredibly unique Company, still relatively small with around 1,100 employees but globally active in the production of high-tech equipment.”

With thanks to the support of its parent company and well-established network, BEP Europe works as an

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especially agile SME and has the flexibility to serve customers globally taking advantage of the 32 BPG locations.

“During the past few years, our Company has transformed from an almost purely automotive niche player into a more diversified entity that can provide high-tech intelligent machines for life science, advanced manufacturing and automotive markets,” concludes Van de Walle. “Since this diversification, our revenue has more than tripled and we are confident that continuing in that manner we will become a billiondollar company.

“During the next three to five years we will keep focusing on cutting-edge technologies, while remaining the engineering-driven business that has brought us success up to this point in time.”

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Ove Anebygd, Qvantel’s Chief Executive Officer

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Digital PIONEERS Working closely with some of the world’s largest telecommunications operators, Qvantel is accelerating the path to digitalisation Writer: Phoebe Calver | Project Manager: Vivek Valmiki

hen Qvantel opened its doors in 1995 in Jyväskylä, Finland, internet connectivity was yet to come to mobile devices and some of the biggest growth for mobile industry was still ahead. The new Company’s journey started by providing billing software to Finnish telecommunications operators and then quickly expanded to Norway, Sweden and Denmark, where it began its pioneering billing and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions for Scandinavian operators.

In the following years, Qvantel continued to grow and expand into new markets by addressing the biggest pain points of Communication Service Providers (CSPs). To put it simply, Qvantel handles the most critical assets of the CSP’s business including customers, revenue streams and products and the ways CSPs interact with their customers.

“We have built both a solid reputation and loyal customer base thanks to our success with digital transformations for CSPs,” explains Ove Anebygd, Qvantel’s Chief Executive Officer. “Our work over

the years has enabled operators to maximize business efficiency and reduce operational costs, resulting in up to 80 percent reduction in BSS System OPEX. “Today we are one of the fastest growing Finnish companies with teams spread across Finland, Estonia, India, Italy, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine and the US.” Over time, Qvantel has expanded its portfolio to address the needs of its customers. These products and solutions helped position the Company for future opportunities with technologies that ensure the business is compatible with a variety of partner solutions.

“Our extensive knowledge and experience in the industry has established Qvantel up as a desirable partner, and has opened doors leading to industry leaders such as Ericsson to licence Qvantel’s world class software designed for CSPs digital customer facing touchpoints,” adds Anebygd.

“Our consistent growth in revenues as well as high quality of work is what I believe helped us be recognised on the London Stock Exchange’s 1,000 Companies to Inspire 2017.”

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Scale fast with Scalac Lukasz Kuczera, CEO of Scalac, explains how functional programming is leading in a new era of enterprise software.

When I started my adventure with Scala, there was hardly anyone considering it as a mature platform.

Over the course of the past few years however, the platform has evolved to be a proven, robust and comprehensive language that is

years, we are proud to cooperate with banks across the globe, and companies such as SAP and Qvantel - one of our strategic partners. Since the beginning of 2017, we have been working with Qvantel as an external partner and we have successfully accomplished one project and have just started a new one.

Scale your team Qvantel’s rapid growth led to doubling the number of employees which, back

Java-compatible, and allows modern enterprises to be more competitive and flexible.This has been the driving force behind Scalac; a company that I founded in 2014 together with other Scala hAkkers. Now, after three

The team did impressive job under the technical guidance of our Solution Architects. The code has proven to be reliable, robust and low in bugs. Job well done in quality, timely and attitude manner, including comprehensive documentation.

Mika Erola, Project Manager

then, was 400 people. Such extension of the company in just one year was an enormous challenge. Providing existing teams with experienced, communicative and well-performing members was the main goal we wanted to achieve. Scalac and its focus on functional programming language Scala, was a perfect fit. We significantly reduced the risks of onboarding unskilled people and almost instantly were able to work hand-in-hand with the rest of Qvantel teams.

Scale your products Qvantel has chosen Scala as the primary language and Scalac was the perfect match, as it is our strategy to deliver the best Scala-based systems.Our experienced consultants were faced with two projects: high throughput (thousands of messages per second) and low latency processing events in real time. These were the biggest challenges in our first project - Real Time Event Manager.

The implemented solution based on Akka streams was scalable and allowed Qvantel to quickly deploy another instance of our application, without having to be concerned with high memory or synchronisationrelated problems.

Our second project is Mobile API Adapter. The main goal here is to build a highly reliable, scalable, and unified interface for the crucial part of Qvantel’s payment products.

Our team is responsible for the architecture of the solution and direct communication with Qvantel clients.

Industry experts Scalac focuses on a few critical industry branches and partners with companies across the globe. Building Business Support Solutions with Qvantel allows us to better understand the challenges of modern telecoms service providers. Through our work with Finnova from Switzerland and with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, we gained significant experience in building next generation Fintech solutions. Our latest project, Ethereum client application, built as an open-source library, puts us on the edge of the latest financial revolution: Blockchain. By working on one of the biggest ecommerce platforms in the United Arab Emirates we mastered our technical and industry knowledge.

Our work with SAP gave us the opportunity to learn how to work with big enterprises, leading them towards cutting-edge technology.

On the edge of technology Due to working with these enterprises, we see an enormous opportunity to amplify their systems with advanced data engineering, machine learning and distributed systems. Our Company heavily invests in building unique expertise in these sectors by working with research companies whose primary goal is to build their

Scalac did an amazing job understanding all of our existing algorhythmns and implementing new ones. They very quickly saw that we need a very robust A.I. engine with no downtime.

Dr. Ioana Ghergulescu, Head of Research and Adaptive Learning

competitive advantage with the use of AI/ML solutions. One of the examples of such organisations is Adaptemy, an Irish company that builds personalised learning for today’s teachers and students. Together, we work on the world’s most effective learning programmes for educational publishers.

A company with mission Scalac organises its own programming workshops (basic and advanced level) and Functional Tricity meet-ups to gather all Scala enthusiasts in one place and talk about the news and perks surrounding Scala, as we love discussing functional programming. We supply our clients and partners with a wide range of technology consulting services, with an emphasis on Scala programming and its ecosystem. We created the Scala Wave conference with a mission to share knowledge and experience considering Scala, and introduce new audiences to the concept of functional programming.

The conference takes place in a beautiful city, Gdansk; a place that connects historical landscapes and innovation, where solidarity was born and, that was later a host city of Euro 2012 football matches. Over two days of lectures and workshops, in a unique atmosphere, we give you a chance to learn about Scala and understand its surrounding ecosystem. Are you ready to have your Gdansk adventure?

Learn more about the event at: contact@scalawave.io What do we do?

As a company, Scalac provides highly specialized consulting, training services and software development.

It specializes in Scala and related technologies - Spark, Akka, Spray, Play, Slick, Cassandra, PostgreSQL, React.js, Angular, REDIS, Kafka. Scalac is the largest company specialized in Scala in Poland, based in Gdansk, and offering its services worldwide.We also have offices in San Francisco and the main cities of Poland, including: Warszawa, Krakow, Wroclaw and Rzeszow. Scalac applies cuttingedge technologies to deliver high quality software, provides support for in-house development teams (on site and remotely) and helps with seamless transition to Scala platform.

FINTECH BLOCKCHAIN ECOMMERCE DATA ENGINEERING SUPPLY CHAIN

info@scalac.io www.scalac.io ph.no. +48 730 030 492 Connect with us at: /scalac.io /scalac_io /company/scalac

and check out our BLOG

blog.scalac.io

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METOSIN

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etosin is a Finnish hightech Company consulting in digital business and process development. The Company has extensive knowledge in BSS development and system integration using agile delivery methods and modern technologies.

The Company works with leading Nordic telecom companies to digitalise and streamline their business processes.

Mr Kai Keinänen, Head of Sofware Development at Qvantel, comments on their working relationship:

Digital Acceleration

At present, telecom companies are faced with an increasingly tough market, with digitalisation reshaping the industry landscape.

The aforementioned companies know they must replace inefficient and expensive legacy systems with digital solutions for the opportunity to rebuild their market positions, reimaging business systems and creating innovative offerings for customers.

But with industry rates of over 70 percent of digital transformations expected to fail, CSPs are cautious and looking for partners with a history of success and plans to mitigate the risk “At Qvantel we are able to offer multiple pathways to digitalisation, fitting the various needs and timelines of our customers,” adds Anebygd. “We are trusted because we have successfully done this for many customers already.”

“For example, Qvantel’s Digital Accelerator provides low risk digital transformation with fast results. We create an environment where CSPs can enable Front-end digitalisation without the need for a large-scale transformation of the legacy charging, billing, provisioning and mediation layers. This makes it possible for the

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CSPs to fully benefit from digitalisation, whilst the legacy can be modernized with a lower risk at the customer’s own schedule and pace.”

Its Digital Channels deliver a unified omni-channel experience with optimised customer journeys and lower touch point costs. The main value drivers include significantly improved customer experiences, enhanced ability to upsell and drive high margin growth and to reduce or eliminate cost from manual operations.

“Our Digital BSS Core (Intelligent Offer Management) which is targeted to operators seeking consolidation and modernization of their BSS back-end for the digital era,” adds Anebygd.

“We believe this is the most open and intelligent BSS core for smarter offer management, catalogue driven business and optimized monetization of digital services.”

“And we offer Full-Stack BSS as a Service. This is usually done in phases, but from day one we provide CSPs with the most modern Digital Front End, with proven integration to an intelligent BSS back-end. The Qvantel service model also provides a suite of business process services for agile and efficient operations.”

“We contracted Metosin to implement a component in a domain we did not yet have enough in-house experience with. We knew from their references that they were skilled with business processes and technologies related to document management, and agreed on a pilot scheme that turned into a full development project.”

Keinänen continues: “We were very pleased that Metosin was able to provide the UX, implementation, integration and testing capabilities required for the project.”

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RP INTERNATIONAL LTD

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P International (RPI) is a global search and strategic recruitment firm, focusing on the provision of C-suite, senior management and specialist technology professionals supporting major transformation programmes across the world.

Operating internationally since 1998, RPI benefits from a mature network of industry professionals and leading organisations, acquiring a reputation for exceptional quality of service and specialist expertise.

The wealth of experience at the executive level coupled with offices in Europe, MEA, APAC and the Americas; RPI ensures a 24-seven operation to provide talent solutions to their diverse client range of start-ups to MNCs. RPI has partnered with organisations in 100+ countries primarily within the telecommunications, media, technology, aviation and automotive industries as they embrace the advancement of technology transforming the world we live in.

“Today we are using cutting-edge technology which includes predictive analytics and rule engines, enabling automated manual processes that deliver exceptional customer experience and significantly reduce costs.”

Predictive Analytics

As with many companies in this industry, it is the in-house talent that drives the innovative and futuristic thinking which drives the vision and deliverables.

“We are extremely passionate about the opportunities that digitalisation is providing,” explains Anebygd. “We have seen the great value for many customers, including Masmovil, where we created a step-change in growth

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applying Qvantel technology in the core of their operations.”

The costs of contact to CSR (Call Centers) have become an excessive burden to operators and in order to solve this problem, Qvantel designed a strategy and roadmap for a clear path and vision for Zero CSR. “The challenge we face is how to reduce manual processes with digital while at the same time ensuring that the end users feel the service is

improved,“ affirms Anebygd. “Today we are using cutting-edge technology which includes predictive analytics and rule engines, enabling automated manual processes that deliver exceptional customer experience and significantly reduce costs. We are now delivering the next generation of automated support and care to our customers.”

Hard work has been a real defining factor for Qvantel and its reputation, with customers noticing and appreciating the commitment to innovation. Recently Qvantel was presented with the VEON award for Best Vendor alongside its partner, Ericsson - a category focusing on

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collaboration and innovation recognising both Companies for their drive to push industry progression as a whole.

“We are proud to be recognised with our partner, Ericsson with Veon’s Best Vendor award,” states Anebygd. “ We are pleased to live up to our reputation to deliver exceptional quality at one of the fastest rates in the industry for true digital transformation acceleration and look forward to our continued collaboration and innovation for Veon.”

Investments and value-added service

With the extensive work carried out on innovation over the past few years in particular, the Company has significantly increased its R&D investments to continue providing customers with new opportunities.

“Some of the specific areas that we are now seeing breakthroughs in are our machine learning algorithms, data

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analytics engines and omni-channel set-ups,” comments Anebygd. “It is here that we see measurable value being created during the next few years. We hope that through these innovations we will continue to evolve and provide improved logic all the time, achieving lower-cost operations for the same functionality.”

Developing experts

After many years of experience in the market both locally and globally, Qvantel has a very entrepreneurial set-up. Its decision making is often achieved in a very short space of time, which has led to the need for empowerment of employees and the programmes that they are running.

“Our employees are working in a fast-paced and constantly changing environment, meaning our employees are challenged to learn and develop quickly to be experts in the field,” adds Anebygd. “In such a dynamic environment, all contributions matter

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and innovation will quickly become a reality.”

Each employee is carefully trained in order to stay at the forefront of trends, tools and best practices within the industry. Qvantel has an exceptional team with an abundance of skills which it has been able to retain over the years, providing some of the best proof that it is an exciting proposition to be working with.

Alongside providing an excellent experience for its staff, the Company consistently provides excellent customer service and this is well recognised as a part of Qvantel’s DNA. “We are able to offer more exciting and value-oriented services than you would usually see in the market,” concludes Anebygd. “Our clients are truly excited by the capabilities that we are able to provide them with and we also like to think that we can make the entire experience more fun and enjoyable than your average company in the market.”

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MAKING THE

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ince receiving its Charter and full University status in 1955, the University of Exeter has evolved into one of the UK’s leading academic institutions; diversifying and expanding in line with the most contemporary of trends, technologies and demands in order to remain a consistently relevant and thriving option for both national and international students.

Joining the prestigious Russell Group of research-led establishments in 2009 affirmed this dedication to modernity and innovation, and in no way is this better demonstrated than through its commitment to technology over the decades.

In recent years, this has culminated in a series of significant investments in the University’s IT infrastructure, specifically targeted at optimum performance across computing in research; in particular, focusing on areas of electromagnetic materials, nanomaterials and graphene.

“We have, in-house, all the stateof-the-art materials, nanofabrication and characterisation facilities required by our researchers and students,” affirms and introduces the University of Exeter’s Chief Information and Digital Officer, Alan Hill. “This includes e-beam lithography, thin film

As one of the UK’s leading higher education institutions, The University of Exeter’s appeal as a centre of learning is established, but it is its technological prowess that continues to drive its role as a centre of global research Writer: Matthew Staff Project Manager: Jamie Sutherland

deposition, plasma-etching systems, and associated photonic laboratories; through to a suite of 3D printers and fully-equipped microwave and acoustics laboratories. This work has been directly supported by our Zen supercomputer and Beowulf clusters.”

Mirroring the growth of the institution’s technological prowess has been the size of the University itself; four campuses now making up the entire offering. Across each campus, a series of significant investments have been made in recent years.

“At the Falmouth campus a £30 million investment was made in 2013 to create the Environment and Sustainability Institute, which delivers cutting-edge, inter-disciplinary environmental research and innovative business practices; while in 2016 a £50 million investment created the Living Systems Institute (LSI), a worldclass, next generation, collaborative research community to revolutionise the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses,” Hill continues. “The LSI will enable our researchers across mathematics, biology, evolutionary genetics, biochemistry, and physics to work in combination to generate new knowledge.”

Chief Information and Digital Officer

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High impact transformation in Education with Microsoft Services Today’s world reects a brand new reality: technology is ubiquitous, with friction-free access to digital services.

This enables new ways to engage students, empower educators & researchers, optimise institutions and reimagine teaching & learning.

Capitalising on this phenomenon is key to innovation and growth.

Microsoft Services: empowering customers to accelerate business value imagined and realised from their digital experiences.

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High quality research labs, bioimaging facilities, physics spaces, and high performance computing further enables the LSI to be a hub for the analysis of the precise operation of living systems and once again epitomises the University’s drive to achieve productive and sustainable results for both students and wider industry.

Hill adds: “The world-class academics, facilities, and students can make a real difference to businesses and we provide skilled support to make sure that solutions are tailored to the needs of the business and deliver optimum results.

“For research, recent results place the University of Exeter 16th nationally for world-leading publications. This

level of investment enables the University to meet its strategic vision of “Making the exceptional happen”.”

Isca

and by investing significant sums in this on-site facility it demonstrates a strategic level of commitment to high performance computing in support of research and education.

“It represents a £3 million investment by the University, designed to serve the advanced computing requirements of all research disciplines. Isca combines a traditional computing cluster with a virtualised cluster environment, providing a range of node types in a single machine, and as such is the first of its kind in a UK University.”

As a globally-recognised centre of research excellence, the University is especially renowned for its collaborations with, and impacts on, areas including astrophysics, healthcare, biotech, culture, government, advanced engineering, data science, energy, mining, the environment, and food security.

Supporting research into all of these facets in the past few months has been a recently acquired state-of-the-art The student experience supercomputer named ‘Isca’.

Of course, such innovation and Hill explains: “Isca is housed in our technological intelligence in an recently modernised data centre, academic domain would have been unthinkable upon the University of Exeter’s inception in 1955 when just four faculties of arts, science, social studies and law were offered; or even through the fast-developing Overseas projects are particularly popular 1960s which saw the unveiling of Professor Tim Frayling is using Isca in his role as its postgraduate medical school.

Professor of Human Genetics at the University of Exeter However, since the arrival of Professor Medical School to investigate type 2 diabetes and Sir Steve Smith in 2002, the University’s obesity. He says: “Scientists have spent the past 10 years pace of progression has accelerated making steady progress to increase our understanding of the dramatically and the evolution of its research base has encapsulated this genetic variation that influences all human traits; including birth mission most aptly. weight, obesity, smoking addiction, male baldness, cancer, diabetes, As Hill details, a key to this concerted Alzheimer’s disease, and many others. expansion and diversification of “We’ve done this by pooling genetic data from hundreds of studies academic influence has been the around the world - each of a few hundred to a few thousand strategic partnerships entered into with equally market-leading entities. individuals - to generate total sample sizes of a few hundred “Collaboration is at the heart of thousand. Now that we have the UK Biobank data (500,000 research and education and to support records), we can perform analyses, that previously took a few years, this, the University has invested in a few days.” in Microsoft Office 365 and the collaboration tools such as Sharepoint, Teams and One Drive for Business,” he confirms to this end. “This can be used effectively to support international collaboration, which is so important in achieving world-class research. A direct impact of this is to help prepare students for the changing workplace where collaboration is vital and automation is increasingly seen in business models.

Isca Case Study

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lease meet Ella. Ella is a Microsoft UK Apprentice currently enjoying her time as a valued member of the devices team at the world-renowned tech pioneer.

Having previously declined two university placements in preference of grasping this opportunity, Ella serves as an example of an emerging trend in the tech world, as well as of Microsoft’s continued appeal as an employer and partner.

This isn’t to say that the notion of university education is dying out, however; rather that Microsoft is bridging the gap between on-thejob learning and academia through carefully constructed relationships with institutions such as the University of Exeter.

It is recognised that professionals with relevant technological skills will enjoy high-value, high-growth employment, and the transformation journey being undertaken by many universities must support this change in focus areas. Consequently, the University of Exeter has taken significant steps to establish the institution as a transformation leader, with Microsoft at its side.

Digital transformation in education Digital transformation revolves around driving technology and new ways of working into the lifeblood of a university to both disrupt and influence positive change. The instilment of 21st Century skills, enhanced wellbeing, enriched community engagement,

and optimised admin efficiency is compounded by excellent research facilitation to truly capitalise on the service provider-university relationship.

Microsoft subsequently addresses not just the student element, but also the teaching, administration and post-education facets of university life through its transformation services; leveraging the belief that universities’ value increase by emulating the business world.

The offering, in essence: is not just technology for people to use, but to make people useful; is not just technology that people are made to use, but love to use; and is not just technology for technology’s sake, but true empowerment.

Microsoft Services To fully realise this ethos, Microsoft is redoubling its higher education strategic focus; by investing in fullstructure, local, account-aligned teams in addition to its global centre of excellence which comprises highly experienced CTO-level personnel tasked with enabling transformation where it matters most: the student, lecturers, learning materials, and culture.

Microsoft Services is eager to invest in tight collaborations with selected universities that are prime for transformation, such as in Exeter; adopting an approach to co-create a voyage towards quantifiable, highimpact, high-value outcomes.

An efficient, holistic and effective technology framework shapes such a plan before encouraging partners to take ownership of the strategy in line with their own educational and business goals; Microsoft all the while remaining on hand to flexibly upgrade, fine-tune or amend the chosen systems and technologies as the journey progresses.

Ultimately, business transformation can be overwhelming, and Microsoft continues to help navigate these complexities towards quick and significant victories on the way to longer-term transformations.

If you are planning such a transformation, then ask yourself these questions?

Does senior leadership endorse your transformational aspirations and timelines?

Do Microsoft technologies underpin substantial areas of your business?

Are you keen to engage in a partnership with Microsoft (and selected Gold-Partners) backed by senior stakeholders to achieve high-impact, high-value, transformational success?

If the answer is ‘yes’ to all three, then please contact Microsoft Services: msukservices@microsoft.com

msukservices@microsoft.com www.microsoft.com/services

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“The IT department is poised and ready to respond, but to also act as a catalyst for change.”

“Digital and IT services play a significant part in the student experience.”

“We have also invested in ‘back office’ systems for our student information system, HR and finance in order to automate and modernise in the most efficient way. These systems of record form the basis on which we set out to build a more differentiated approach that builds on the uniqueness of the University of Exeter.”

Connecting the data in the aforementioned systems to the powerful WSO2 open source integration layer, enables new services to be created at pace; inevitably a benefit for students whose advanced education lifecycle lasts just three-four years in most cases.

“Digital and IT services play a significant part in the student experience,” Hill notes before discussing some of most significant enablers on offer at the University of Exeter. “The lecture capture capability is used to automatically record academic presentations and content.

This can be viewed later by students to support their understanding and revision. A recent change of supplier to Panopto has created a cloud-based service that has seen a significant increase in viewings equivalent to 50 views per student over a year.

“This is set to grow and is already becoming an area to consider for further enhancement. Students view these videos in the Moodle virtual learning environment, which holds all the information and content for their courses.”

Digital edge

“In the future, we would expect to be an IT organisation that focuses primarily on delivering digital services that are palpably delivering value to academics and students.”

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In the day-to-day life of the student, there is a web and mobile app named iExeter, that gives them the information they need for their activities, while emails and timetables are easily accessible alongside a record of their grades, café opening times, maps, transport information, sports centre availability, etc as part of this ExLibris platform. Used, on average, eight times a day by every student, iExeter serves as

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attract the very best talent.

“For the future, we are focusing on moving more services to the cloud; improving data analytics as a way to improve student success; expanding virtual reality in different subjects; and focusing hard on the overall student experience whenever they interact with the digital services,” Hill concludes as he glances towards the next stage of development. “In the future, we would expect to be an IT organisation that focuses primarily on delivering digital services that are palpably delivering value to academics and students. Hardware, network 2D and 3D simulation of a young star (Pratt et al. 2017, A&A, 604, 125) and storage will be streamlined yet another significant digital channel high-profile relationships with industry and delivered mainly by suppliers emphasising the role that digitalisation heavyweights, provides the University to provide a resilient and secure plays in higher education. with a “digital edge” in the most digital environment that just works.

“We are actively optimising our “We have built research power of eras. supplier network so that we can focus significantly over the past few years, “The IT department is poised and on digital service integration and work ready to respond, but to also act as supported by Exeter IT, and with an to create a differentiating ‘digital edge’ a catalyst for change,” Hill states. equal focus on education and learning, over our competitors,” Hill affirms. we will create the ‘digital edge’ that “This requires a modernisation of the “Supporting these digital services is a technology platforms and a change to enhances the face-to-face learning high bandwidth network with in-depth the organisational structure and skills experience and directly contribute to expertise supplied by Axians; and high that are needed. making the exceptional happen.” quality Wi-Fi coverage for all campuses “Tackling this, while ensuring and residences.” business as usual is not impaired, is Ultimately, this combination of always going to be a challenge, but it is internal technological knowhow and absolutely necessary if the University is entrepreneurial ambition, paired with to deliver real value and to continue to

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B E N I F Y

Show Love, Think Ahead,

XCEED

EXPECTATIONS pholding core values of love, foresight and client satisfaction, Benify has grown from humble beginnings to become one of Europe’s leading innovators across human resource technology. It has expanded globally over the years and continues to spread its expertise and ethos worldwide.

Encouraging the notion of “employees participating in what their employers offer”, the Company’s vision

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Benify has evolved from a facilitator of employee wants, to employee needs; progressing from a Swedish borne tech idea to a global human resource enabler Writer: Matthew Staff Project Manager: Jamie Sutherland

since day one has been to spread its knowledge and expertise of the inner cultures of a workplace beginning with benefits and the employment offer; this expertise deriving from an initial inspiration among just three pioneers.

“It started with an idea among three cofounders,” introduces the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Markus Kullendorff. “One of us was working for a start-up company in early 2000 and he was trying to help a particular German company grow in

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Markus Kullendorff, CEO, Benify

Sweden; a part of his role was to try and recruit talent to grow the local staff. He began wondering about the benefits aspects of the employment offer. He asked his current company’s payroll provider if they could help guide him, and soon he realised that richness of benefits is important but arranging them was a difficulty.

“From his own personal experience, he involved the rest of us and a few years later, we presented our business plan before soon launching Benify. We

wanted to help companies solve this problem of compensation and benefits administration.”

Benify’s first client was an industrial enterprise comprising 1,200 employees, many of whom were completely unaware of the benefits they could enjoy; and it was this realisation that affirmed the Company’s belief that not only were benefits cumbersome to manage for HR, but there was a lack of knowledge among the employees about what was

on offer. The founders uncovered a gap that smart technology could solve both in terms of benefit administration and communication.

“We started in our home market of Sweden, being one of the first start-ups to rise in the Stockholm technology scene. In 2010, we entered the global arena by opening an office in Amsterdam, in the Netherlands and have been expanding globally ever since. Now, in 2017 we operate worldwide with 10 offices including San

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Francisco in the West and Singapore in the East. We are proud to be able to continue bringing our high quality software as a service (SaaS) to employers and employees around the world.”

Showing love, thinking ahead and exceeding expectations, Benify has evolved as an entity that believes in not just hiring exceptional talent but then giving individuals the freedom to grow, to experience new things, and to be entrepreneurial in their own right.

“One smart HR director we were working with about 10 years ago advised us to only hire happy people,” Kullendorff continues. “Happiness is contagious and makes work fun for colleagues and for the clients, too. We now number 400 people across our 10 offices.

“We have created an energetic, entrepreneurial culture because of how we started and keeping it fun motivates both our talent and our customers, so we try to maintain this.

Fresh perspective, energy, enthusiasm, and a can-do attitude have marked our culture, and these characteristics help us keep competitive.”

The most flexible compensation and benefits platform

In being a pioneer of such a new concept in the industry, there were inevitably difficulties in finding experienced personnel to join the Benify team, but in a way this enhanced the culture of the business;

Creating an energetic, entrepreneurial, motivational culture

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Our interface is designed with the employee experience in mind: easy to engage, navigate, control, participate, and enrol in benefits and activities

hiring talent with fresh perspectives and empowering them to take ownership and express their ideas.

In terms of how this translates into an effective client-based solution, Benify employees collaborate with each other and with customers to provide the best proposition. The Company aims to make it easier for employers to communicate with their employees and to reveal the true value of their investments into their workforce.

This is done via Benify’s portal which is available via an App so that employees have access - anytime and anywhere - to salient employee and benefits information. They can also see the value of their employment offer via the total rewards statement.

Kullendorff explains: “Our offering encourages transparency, control and

engagement and it involves running very customer-centric innovations.

“We have the most flexible compensation and benefits platform thanks to input and ideas from our customers. In this way, we modify and improve our offerings based on real needs, not just on trends or reaction to competitors. When we started the Company 14 years ago, none of us had a background in human resources.

Instead, we observed and listened, and we still do. This is why we are leaders in this space.

“We focus on the end user - the employee - and have a 97 percent retention rate in serving clients which also include Volvo, Coca-Cola and L’Oréal,” Kullendorff adds. “We’re really good at making our solutions customer-specific. Adding the local

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benefits into the portal and ensuring the branding matches the employer identity is important; and ultimately, our aim is to make employees excited to be part of their organisation.”

Household name clients over the years that Benify has designed benefit approaches and employee portals for have included Scania (Scania Job Bus), Mercedes Benz (booking tool for carpooling), PEAB (eligibility for ordering of work clothes), and H&M (‘My commuter choice’). The success of each relationship is testament to the personalised, customised approach that Benify has to finding the optimum solution.

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innovative, and expanded its knowledge base into areas of benefits, insurance, pensions, employee engagement, and employer branding.

A goal of adding 10 offices including expanding presence in the AsiaPacific region is also testament to the Company’s ongoing global vision; thriving as the last-standing compensation and benefits portal not owned by an insurance carrier or benefits brokerage.

“This means that buying our portal does not come with strings attached.

Each employer chooses their own benefits and group insurances, and we visualise those offers and their value to the employees through the Anytime, anywhere access to the portal,” Kullendorff details. “We employment offer do not take commissions on any Benify’s proposition equally gives a enrolments by employees, nor do we Company’s HR team a way to measure force employers to populate the portal and report on its personnel strategies in with recommended insurances and order to calculate returns on investment benefits. We are truly independent and for employees, before applying this data are loyal only to our customers and to potential new programmes, initiatives their needs. and hiring activities.

“We have stayed true to our mission To cater for this ever-growing and of bringing real value to the employee diversifying list of variables, Benify while making HR’s job easier in terms has - in turn - expanded its reach, of administration, oversight, and has become more technologically reporting.”

EME As a result, HR as a department can act more strategically with their policies, and can more easily explain and motivate their decisions in management meetings. With the Benify solution, they become fully aware of their employees’ participation in programmes, offers, and benefits around the world and can understand correlations between retention rates and attractiveness of employment offers. With integrated data, they gain the flexibility to fine-tune their Company’s approach to new initiatives, investments and can also optimise communication channels.

“Plus, with the exporting function, we empower the HR Director to report on strategies up to the executive team based on accurate data,” Kullendorff adds.

Perhaps even more significantly, such business agility also lends itself to multinational operations, as managing employees across borders brings additional communication challenges.

“A big problem for international companies is unifying their employees who work in different countries, time zones, and languages; and when employees come from different cultures, it adds another layer of difficulty in communicating what it means to work at the company,” the CEO concludes. “Presenting all employees the employer value proposition through an engaging interface like our portal - a place where employees want to click around and explore - solves this.

“Our interface is designed with the employee experience in mind: easy to engage, navigate, control, participate, and enrol in benefits and activities.

Plus, with the App and because it is a cloud platform, employees do not need to be at a desktop to be in touch with their employment offer.

“The portal can be accessed anytime and anywhere, and this ‘anytime, anywhere’ access also gives HR the flexibility to push out messages and communication.”

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Shaping the

FUTURE IBM’s influence in Germany is epitomised by the levels of R&D and technological innovation being driven across the country, subsequently attracting some of the biggest names in global business as they begin their own digital transformations Writer: Matthew Staff Project Manager: Jamie Sutherland

BM is focusing on the most modern and pressing of strategic technological trends as it looks to expand its solution portfolio and its progressive transformation vision to become a holistic cognitive solutions and cloud platform provider.

Focusing on growth initiatives such as business analytics, cloud computing, mobile enterprise, social business and security, the goal is to do what IBM has always done in the tech era: to assist companies with their own digital transformations and to harness the potential of digitalisation.

In Germany, such innovation emanates from the Company’s Research & Development Centre in Boeblingen; one of the largest of its kind outside of the US. “Established in 1953, the Centre runs IT development and research projects for the global market,” introduces Managing Director for the Daimler Group, Christian Klezl. “Today, around 1,800 computer scientists, electrical engineers and physicists from more than 30 countries operate on site as well as in other cities in Germany.

All-told we are working on more than 70 hardware and software projects in close cooperation with other IBM research & development centres around the globe.

“The project topics range from cloud computing to data analytics; from software for business process management and data centre

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optimisation to Web 2.0 technologies; and to hardware, firmware and operating systems for IBM systems.”

In addition to its core portfolio of cutting-edge hardware and software, IBM has long been known for its niches in the market and its ability to deviate from the ordinary, and its Global Business Consulting Services arm furthers the Company’s remit to this end via aspects of business design, process design and operations, enterprise applications, security and resiliency, HR, and cloud application services.

“IBM Global Technology Services provides mobility services, networking services, resiliency services, system services and technology support services,” Klezl adds. “Moreover, there is IBM Financial Services and Industry Expertise Services supporting enterprises in their transformation, for example in the banking and insurance industry, automotive or retail.

“While IBM usually draws from a globally consistent portfolio of capabilities, specific services differ from the wider global model if and where markets and industries differ.”

A poignant example in Germany specifically alludes to the ever-strong manufacturing and automotive sectors, which IBM has worked hard to capitalise on. And its appeal as a provider then derives not just from such a customisable, turnkey offering, but its ongoing role as one of the world’s pioneering tech entities.

“Earlier this year, IBM opened its worldwide headquarters for Watson Internet of Things (IoT) in Munich, Germany,” Klezl offers as a prime example. “Assembling global expertise across R&D, consulting, sales and delivery under one roof - and in close collaboration with key clients - the headquarters allows IBM to develop, design and deliver state-of-the-art solutions addressing the business opportunities arising from IoT (Industry 4.0).”

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Shifting to the next generation

Every transition and evolution of focus for IBM derives from its dedication to its clients’ success, taking personal responsibility in the relationships formed and driving innovation that matters in each specific case.

Subsequently culminating in an R&Ddriven portfolio that is second to none in the private sector, IBM - over more than a century - has addressed some of the most pressing business problems and societal challenges through this approach to technological solutions.

“Recently the Company has led the industry in shifting to the next generation of insight and solutions driven by data, leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities,” Klezl details in reference to a more modern example. “Those “cognitive solutions” usually require a scalable, distributed and secure infrastructure architecture. Therefore, cloud solutions and services are one of

Evolution and growth “IBM’s roots in Germany go back to 1910 when it was founded as DEHOMAG by Herman Hollerith, with the focus on punched cards. No one back then could have anticipated the Company’s evolution and growth in the century to follow, focusing on IT as well as business services, software and hardware. Today, IBM Germany is one of the largest foreign subsidiaries with its headquarters near Stuttgart in Ehningen and more than 25 subsidiaries all over Germany.”

avantum consult AG

a

vantum consult is a business analytics specialist. We design and implement integrated performance management systems to increase our customer’s performance.

Based on classical and state of the art Data Warehousing and Big Data technologies combined with Advanced Analytics technologies for Planning, Prediction and Optimization we design and implement solutions for management control.

To do so, we use IBM Big Insights, IBM PureData for Analytics, IBM Planning Analytics, IBM Cognos Analytics, IBM CPlex, IBM SPSS. Our preconfigured and ready to use solution “APOLLO” combines Planning functionalities with Prediction and Optimization functionalities.

our strategic topics and data security and data privacy play an essential role in the decision for a supplier.

“Thus, we not only opened a Cloud Data Centre in Frankfurt at the end of 2014 that allowed German companies and clients to benefit from in-country data storage - a requirement in many industries to comply with German data protection laws - but we are also one of the founding members for the European Union Code of Conduct for Cloud Services Providers and are consequently certifying each of our cloud Services.”

In December, 2017 IBM will go one step further and launch the EUManaged Cloud, a combination of technology and process improvements to IBM cloud, designed to allow EU clients to store and process their most sensitive data in Europe.

Inevitably, such considerations and influences become all the more attractive as a partner or provider proposition; especially in Germany

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IBM Germany’s head office in Stuttgart

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A global brand “IBM carries one of the best known global brands and a reputation of innovation, B2B solutions and services expertise, which helps to facilitate any communication with prospects and customers.

With a global workforce of 380,000, IBM has a presence in more than 170 countries around the world to engage in dialogue with its existing and potential new customers. Operating in an increasingly digital world requires IBM to establish and continuously expand a multi-channel model for sales and marketing, leveraging its strong digital presence, industry - and market - specific portals and platforms, and its latest digital marketing and sales activities complementing the activities of IBM’s global workforce.”

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*Designates a location where IBM operates multiple cloud data centers

where numerous high profile relationships have been formed as a consequence.

“In June, IBM became a pilot partner of BMW CarData that will allow up to 8.5 million BMW ConnectedDrive customers globally to make use of third party services in a secure and transparent way,” Klezl explains. “As a pilot partner, IBM has integrated its cloud platform with the BMW CarData platform. Vehicle data will be enhanced by IBM Watson IoT, using cognitive and data analytics services to enable third parties, such as automotive repair shops or insurance companies, to develop entirely new customer experiences.

“IBM’s cloud platform also gives developers access to the entire service catalogue from IBM and its ecosystem

partners to build and run innovative new service offerings. Customers will have to actively agree to share their encrypted telematics data when they want to use a specific service from a service provider.”

Shape and improve the future for all

A blockchain technology-based initiative alongside UBS has encouraged similarly standout operators to call upon IBM in Germany - in Bavaria, and in the finance sector in this case - including Bank of Montreal, CaixaBank, Commerzbank and Erste Group.

Helping to transform global trade, ‘Batavia’ is a further indication of the Company’s attraction to the global business elite, and indeed its own

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“...there is IBM Financial Services and Industry Expertise Services supporting enterprises in their transformation, for example in the banking and insurance industry, automotive or retail.”

“IBM is rapidly transforming itself into a cognitive solutions and cloud platform company and is well advanced on this journey.”

“For a long time IBM has been investing more in R&D and advanced technologies than any other private sector business...”

dedication to the ever-changing business world.

“For a long time IBM has been investing more in R&D and advanced technologies than any other private sector business, generating a constant stream of innovation and for many years the world’s strongest record of patents, including several Nobel prize laureates,” Klezl emphasises. “For example, we are investing US$3 billion to bring Watson to IoT - allocating $200 million in our new Munich Watson IoT Center alone - which represents IBM’s largest investment in Europe in more than two decades.

“And we are continuously investing in new cloud data centres. Right now we have 60 across 19 countries so that clients around the world can take advantage of a secure cloud that

is tuned for cognitive and big data workloads while offering flexibility to store data however and wherever they choose.”

IBM’s 106 years in the industry is unmatched by most in the business world, let alone in the IT domain, but the vision ultimately remains the same. Constantly leveraging the latest technologies through unmatched R&D resources for its ever-growing client base’s benefit has been a winning combination throughout the Company’s tenure; and in the digital world of

today, IBM will continue to apply its global expertise to the German market by identifying, building and enriching networks and platforms that span entire markets and industries.

Klezl concludes: “IBM is rapidly transforming itself into a cognitive solutions and cloud platform company and is well advanced on this journey.

Our major goal is to shape and improve the future for all of us; for instance by providing advanced solutions for the health sector, energy, global mobility or environmental protection.”

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FIRST QATAR REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY

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Expertise and

EXCELLENCE he longstanding philosophy of First Qatar Real Estate Development Company (FQ) involves developing projects that meet with the direct needs of clients, while educating a world-renowned team to carry out each specific requirement.

Its projects have become synonymous with luxury after years of work dedicated to building that reputation, and subsequently when clients hear the name ‘First Qatar’ in association with a development, they expect luxury.

“Our executive management and leadership teams have worked consistently to sustain such repute by ensuring that we always deliver the product we market,” begins Michael El-Jarouch, Vice President of First Qatar Real Estate Development Company.

“We value the fact that our strategy has to begin with the dedication of a highly-motivated corporate team, creating unrivalled real estate developments and investment opportunities for future growth.”

Currently the main objective for FQ is to drive commitment to high-quality standards, positioning the Company perfectly as a unique real estate developer in the region. And since the Company was founded in 2005, it has

First Qatar Real Estate Development Company has nurtured a diverse and dedicated workforce to drive forward both the local and global real estate industry

Presence in emerging markets

FQ is headquartered in Kuwait while also operating branch offices in Qatar and Oman. Ensuring close proximity to its clients has been pivotally important and enables the Company to provide a practical, hands-on service.

“Creating an active presence in emerging markets has helped us to pave the way into sub-markets and Writer: Phoebe Calver segments with thanks to our proactive approach to industry development,” Project Manager: Richard Thomas adds El-Jarouch. “Our strength and ability to achieve in this area has come directly from our team, strong leadership and fast decision making.”

With thanks to its professional and experienced team, FQ is able to coordinate investments through creating both corporate and brand strategies early on in the process.

Perfectly positioned as a unique real estate developer The vision for the Company has been steadily expanding with thanks to always been to achieve a strategic management team that works hard these aforementioned standards.

“Our past selection of projects, to ensure that each investment and combined with the lengthy experience development will achieve a long-term of our team makes us one of the most sustainable income. experienced professional companies One of these aforementioned in the industry,” explains First Qatar projects is the current development Real Estate Development Company taking place on the Hilton Panorama Chairman, Fahad Al-Ghunaim. “We Residences, located in the Pearl in are one part of a highly successful Qatar. The property provides access corporate group which has allowed us to two beach-fronts and one of the the privilege of knowledge far beyond largest swimming pools in the region. our years.”

“The Hilton Panorama stands out

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as one-of-a-kind, combing the luxuries you would find in a five-star hotel with the comforts of home,” El-Jarouch describes. “We are truly proud of what we have been able to design and achieve with the Hilton Panorama and we are confident that this project will be an immediate success.

“In order to achieve the best possible results, we brought in a design team of international consultants and a reputable contractor within Qatar, all of which are under the supervision of FQ and the Hilton Worldwide management team to ensure the delivery of our trademark luxury.”

Dedicated brand development

In order to maintain and increase customer loyalty over the years, FQ

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unfailingly strives to ensure equity strength as well as diversity and network strength.

“We are in a constant cycle of searching for new technologies and carrying out research in building design, as well as functionality to ensure customer satisfaction and the continued positive reputation of the brand,” continues Al-Ghunaim.

“Subsequently we have to be extremely focused on allocating the right team for each project in every location, guaranteeing the satisfaction of our shareholders at the end.”

As previously mentioned the Company constantly seeks to identify potential projects through the optimisation of its dedicated team, all of whom work around the clock

Hilton Panorama project, Qatar Steel fixings and formworks for columns and core walls; level 12-13

Steel fixings and formworks for columns and core walls; level 4

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“We are in a constant cycle of searching for new technologies and carrying out research in building design, as well as functionality to ensure customer satisfaction and the continued positive reputation of the brand.”

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across areas of research, analysis and investment prospects.

“Currently a real driver for change is not to limit ourselves to one particular region, although we do tend to focus our efforts on the GCC due to our current relations in our operating countries,” adds El-Jarouch. “This will undoubtedly aid us in our status as a renowned brand in the real estate industry, delivering first-class service at all times.”

The Company motto ‘if we don’t live in it, we don’t rent it or sell it’ is a true testament to the type of organisation FQ is and the amount of care and precision that goes into each development under the brand name.

Evolving technologies and training

When studying the Company closely the teams operating within it have developed a family dynamic, while working within a diverse and multicultural environment with staff from all over the globe.

We are in a constant cycle of searching for new technologies and carrying out research in building design, as well as functionality to ensure customer satisfaction and the continued positive reputation of the brand

“The majority of our employees have been with the Company for more than 10 years, which gives a good indication as to the way that our management team looks after each employee,” affirms El-Jarouch. “Staff training and development is equally important in this area, encouraging them to enrol in courses that will benefit their career progression.”

The real estate world is always evolving with new technologies and training, and it is essential to adhere to these trends and improvements in order remain at the top of the game; especially when it comes to continuously providing an excellent service to clients.

“I hope that continuing in this vein will enable our beloved Company to grow and develop through the completion of successful projects such as the Hilton Panorama,” concludes AlGhunaim. “This is an incredibly exciting time for us and I look forward to the expansion of the brand to deliver the First Qatar message internationally.”

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SERVICE Khidmah LLC has developed a business model that is well respected by housing authorities all over the world, delivering a first-class service and pioneering property management projects Writer: Phoebe Calver | Project Manager: Richard Thomas

hidmah LLC effortlessly delivers excellence through its comprehensive services, providing a single-point of contact to some of the finest properties and most prestigious clients located in the Middle East and further afield.

When the Company was first established, the market it began operating in was full of opportunities for expansion. As an Emirati owned and

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operated entity, every member of the Khidmah team understands the everfluctuating needs of its customers.

“Our business model translates into any language, culture and industry,” explains the Company on its website.

“We consistently recognise the need to remain competitive across the diverse marketplaces. In doing so Khidmah’s capability to deliver outstanding service to our clients is done so at exceedingly good value.

“This is one of the factors that has made us genuinely unique within the market and has spurred on our growth to go from strength to strength.”

In the present day the Company is working to set the benchmark for standards for integrated service solutions, adding sustainable value to its stakeholders’ assets and providing them with the peace of mind that enables them to concentrate on their core business.

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Over the years Khidmah has been presented with numerous awards for its services within the industry, last year obtaining two awards simultaneously at the Facilities Management Middle East Awards (fmME Awards) held at the Conrad, Dubai.

“The annual fmME Awards provides a leading platform in the industry, in which achievements of the GCC’s facilities are recognised,” continues

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the Company. “It is always an honour to be presented with accolades such as these, demonstrating the success of our ongoing strategy to establish Khidmah as a leading facilities management provider and company of choice for top-quality services.

“We are incredibly proud of the employees that received the awards, highlighting the dedicated team of staff that we have working with us and the extent that they are willing to go

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to in order to meet the ever-changing demands of clients.”

Spurred on by its recent successes the Company continues to establish itself as one of the leading players in the constantly evolving facilities management market. Khidmah still produces innovative and cost-effective solutions that will support any client’s needs.

“Perhaps one of our more notable offerings is Khadamati,” adds the

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EXALOGIC CONSULTING

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xalogic is a premium IT consulting company offering solutions and services across Europe, Middle East, Africa and the Asia Pacific regions.

The Company’s award winning team of top technologists and business leaders deliver tangible, exceptional and simple solutions for various organisations.

The Company’s deeply engrained heritage with technology is utilised to its fullest business application and creative expression, giving clients something that, in today’s business climate, they simply can’t succeed without - the ability to quickly and confidently adapt to everchanging conditions.

www.exalogic.co

Company. “We offer premium maintenance services to homeowners, business owners and residents with comprehensive and preventative knowledge that will inevitably add value to homes and properties.”

Some of the aforementioned measures include planned preventative maintenance, landscaping maintenance and design, housekeeping, duct cleaning, handyman services and car cleaning. Over the years the Company’s facilities management portfolio has grown extensively, now including a range of service lines which include

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concierge services and dust-mite related services.

The Company affirms: “Our expertise is now widely recognised by our industry peers and leaders, highlighting our solid position as an integrated facilities solution provider.”

Planned preventative maintenance

Alongside its numerous accolades over the years Khidmah has signed a memorandum of understanding with Abu Dhabi Housing Authority, promising to provide special packages of planned preventative maintenance

for local accommodations. This work is part of a new vision from the Abu Dhabi Government to work as a singular system in order to achieve Abu Dhabi Vision 2030, enhancing the cooperation and understanding that stands between the public and private sectors.

Khidmah’s memorandum stipulated that the Abu Dhabi Housing Authority should facilitate the signing agreements between the Company and the prospective Emirati Home Buyers. Khidmah then has the responsibility of providing preventative maintenance of each new home, including plans that raise the awareness of the importance of investing in planned preventative maintenance to maintain equipment and mechanisms within the unit which reduces costs associated with repairs.

“Our main concern now is providing the best possible service throughout the entire length of the contract period, pioneering the property management industry,” explains

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the Company. “We feel extremely honoured to be a part of such a major agreement and our partnership with the authority is a key indicator of our success and continued growth.

“We look forward to living up to and exceeding the expectations put upon our Company by this agreement and the Housing Authority as a whole.”

Shared core values

In order to have achieved such success over the years in the industry, gaining recognition both globally and locally the Company has had to value and encourage innovation. This innovation is supported and strengthened by a creative and committed team that aims to achieve sustainability across quality service provision, as well as a quality lifestyle environment for its clients and partners through continuous improvement.

“We demonstrate incredible team spirit within all of our operations,” the Company states. “We value mutual

Our main concern now is providing the best possible service throughout the entire length of the contract period, pioneering the property management industry

respect, while also honouring the dignity of each individual and nurturing a civil and ethical environment.

“We greatly value learning as a lifelong process, striving to adapt and be responsive to new challenges and opportunities and working as one to constantly achieve.”

It is through the encouragement of innovation, creativity and commitment to achieving sustainability that Khidmah has achieved such heights and is continuing to grow its workforce at a spectacular rate.

“Moving forward we hope to continue valuing ourselves as unique individuals, celebrating both our similarities and differences through the promotion of open communication and driving collaboration of ideas,” concludes the Company. “In the age of constant change that we are operating in, we value that it is imperative to maintain an up-to-date, relevant and respected repertoire that our clients and partners require.”

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Breaking

Barriers Kingspan Environmental has established a loyal client base across Europe, the UK and Ireland over the past four decades, and is now looking to replicate its market-leading approach to energy and water solutions on a truly global scale Writer: Matthew Staff | Project Manager: Richard Thomas

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reating an industryleading set of products is one thing, but to do so by addressing and solving one of the most significant, and rapidly evolving multi-sector trends adds a whole other dimension to the Kingspan Environmental success story.

Producing a host of services and solutions to cater for the energy and water sector, the Company’s resultant portfolio not only meets the needs of a customer demographic that ranges

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from the homeowner to the corporate heavyweight; but is compounded by a longevity and R&D expertise that tops anything else that the market has to offer.

Now, proven experts and innovators across energy storage solutions, wastewater treatment, rainwater harvesting, wind and solar energy generation, and the monitoring of all the above; the Kingspan Group subsidiary is now looking to replicate its more than four decades of success, outside of its core Europe, UK and Ireland markets.

EME “From an environmental perspective, the predecessor company started off by manufacturing water tanks back in the 1970s and evolved as such until it was acquired by Kingspan in 1996,” introduces Commercial Director, Mark Vaughan. “Becoming a separate division two years later, the business has evolved over the years by leading change and developing new solutions that break the barriers that are out there in the environmental space.

“We have achieved numerous industry and world firsts, continuously developing new technologies and products through innovation and in line with local legislators to improve standards across a number of areas.”

Such areas have incorporated rainwater, wastewater and surface water (through its sewage treatment plants, septic tanks and pumping stations) on the water side of the division; and energy storage (comprising diesel storage, AdBlue & fertiliser tanks, oil tanks, custom moulding solutions and many more containers) on the energy side.

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“Overarching both of these are our monitoring, service and telemetry capabilities, as well as our renewable technology solutions which complement the portfolio and are targeted towards a customer demographic which includes anyone from distribution clients, to construction, road haulage and even the domestic homeowner as well,” adds Marketing Director, Cheryl Graham.

“We offer value for money solutions and services, and everything we do is with an environmentally responsible approach.”

The full PLC approach

Such an approach, as alluded to, has no barriers in terms of its reach, with eco friendliness and sustainability a pressing trend for all in the developed world. As a consequence, Kingspan Environmental has worked alongside an ever-expanding list of clients over numerous years as the business helps

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We’re a profitable business with a lot of talented people; we have the best team among peers and competing companies; and we’re seen as a market leader through our innovation Mark Vaughan, Commercial Director

these companies, entrepreneurs or residents with their own energy efficiency and environmental goals.

“Most of the time, our customers are looking to buy our products for resale rather than for personal use,” Vaughan adds. “They see the opportunity to resell these products as a return on investment, and this is a consequence of offering technically proven products.

“That’s the main point of difference for us too; this quality provides peace of mind for a client, whether it’s a reseller or the end user.”

Peace of mind is compounded once again with clients safe in the knowledge that Kingspan Environmental are in it for the long haul, and will be on hand to see through their sustainability evolution for the next 10 years and beyond.

“It becomes a repeatable business model for both us and the clients,” Vaughan continues, “because the client knows we’ll be behind them

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Corcoran Chemicals operating out of Dublin City since 1950’s, our business covers Food/Agri/ Pharma and Polymer industries, with our sister company, Corcoran Products, distributing rigid packaging products and installation products.

We invested in a start-up company Reduction Plastics Ltd, located in Lurgan, Northern Ireland to target the rotational mouldingCindustry. was O R C O Lurgan RAN C H Eclosest M I C AtoLthe S middle ground between the two largest moulders, one of which is Kingspan.

WEIGHT SAVINGS Corcoran’s produce compound colour to meet TUV UV8 (TP007 & 3581) approved for fuel polyethylene tanks and have worked closely with our principle supplier to develop a high density material of polyethylene to bring weight savings of tanks without losing the high performance, mechanical performance of the materials also offering the materials against cross linked polyethylene’s.

HIGH PERFORMANCE More and more moulders are looking for high performance materials and we have a Nylon 6 offer for the Rotational Moulding for Automotive Application/ Off road vehicles and electrical housing units working in high temperature conditions (Nylene 494). Performance PE – for the transport of hazardous or storage tanks we have a high performance Polyethylene, 3421.

NEW TO OUR RANGE We also have a PPm (Metallocene) Polypropylene 028 for large hot water tank application, ducting etc. where the customers have ADR approval.

WE OPERATE ACROSS EUROPE WITHSALES IN SEVERAL COUNTRIES. We have warehouse locations in Dublin, Manchester and Antwerp.

We can serve all our customers and develop new opportunities.

We look forward to further developing our relationship with Kingspan and support Kingspan’s continued growth in Europe.

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every step of the way working on more innovative solutions both for them, and in partnership with them.

Graham affirms: “We’re probably the only company in the world that offers the full ‘PLC’ approach to the sector which brings a lot of credibility in terms of continued innovation and being environmentally responsible; clients safe in the knowledge that we’ll still be here long into the future to stand over our service and warranty.”

The next level

Environmental responsibility, innovation and longevity are joined by quality and customer service excellence to complete what Graham calls the “five strands of our value proposition”.

Naturally, this ethos is applicable on

BlueMaster capacity varies from 1,200-9,000 litres

a global scale should the opportunities become available. Poland kick-started the broadening and has since become a centralised hub for the Company’s influence in mainland Europe, and Vaughan has since expanded the search to also include Australasia, the Middle East, South America and North America.

“Acquisition is a huge focus for us and while organic growth will take us some of the way, it is these acquisitions, such as those recently seen in Australia, that will help to make the massive leap,” Graham says. “In each new country we have to start from scratch to an extent but we have faith in our products and the Kingspan brand, experience and reputation does a lot of work in terms of marketing our products and technology.”

Back at ‘base camp’, the Company

Energy Storage Solutions

Kingspan—Your Fuel and Energy Storage Partner

“We are committed to innovation, sustainability, and the environments in which we work but most importantly we are committed to you— our partners”

WO RKIN G TO GE THER TO POWER BUSINESS AND LIVES

Energy Storage Solutions

Kingspan Group' and change the text to 'The Kingspan Group is a dynamic, diverse business, with a global reach.

Our comprehensive portfolio of products will meet your energy storage and environmental needs, and strengthen your built environment.

Energy Storage Solutions part of Kingspan Group has over 40 years experience designing and manufacturing innovative ways to store, dispense and protect Diesel, AdBlue, Fertiliser and Oil. We pioneered the worlds first environmentally responsible bunded tank - leading change in our sector and setting industry standards around the world.

Operating in over 100 countries, we deliver pioneering technology, design and manufacturing, backed by a worldwide distribution network and experienced sales and customer service teams.

As a global leader, we understand your requirements and are driven to design and deliver innovations that exceed your expectations, time and again.

Kingspan brings you the confidence of quality and support that only true authority can deliver.

The Expert Support Package

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Kingspan creates the products of the future, today. We innovate so you never have to compromise on style, efficiency, sustainability or safety Kingspan Group

Nationwide Distribution

Global Innovation Centre

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R & D Centres

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Manufacturing Facilities

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Countries of Sale

40

Years’ Experience

As established leaders in our field, our range of innovative and environmentally responsible plastic storage solutions offer a choice of equipment specifications with tank management and monitoring systems - ideal for a wide variety of applications.

10,000 Employees Worldwide

Kingspan gives you the confidence and support over the lifetime of your product and beyond more than that we power business and lives through total mind.

Kingspan Group PLC

Manufacturing Excellence

→ Trust

→ Global innovations in R&D

→ Confidence → Peace of mind

→ Quality assurance— ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001

Scalability

Support

→ Worldwide distribution network

→ Design & engineering expertise

→ Global manufacturing facilities

→ Market Specific Customer Service Teams

→ Network of international service partners

→ Full technical and after-sales support

→ Industry compliance— KIWA, AIDIMA and DIBT

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Fully Integrated Diesel and AdBlue Storage and Dispensing Solutions FuelMaster

1,200—9,000 Litres

TruckMaster 200—900 Litres

BlueMaster

1,200—9,000 Litres

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continues to work equally hard to ensure that its internal infrastructure is strong enough to leverage such extensive external development. A vast part of this strategy is accounted for by an ongoing capital expenditure programme which will take on new impetus in 2018, and is compounded by its role in the Advancing Net Zero programme which will see the business practice what it preaches in becoming carbon zero by 2020.

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“In terms of direct examples contributing to the initiative, our head office in County Armagh has a 1.1MW solar installation and we also have combined heat units, and use green gas; and we’re currently at 57 percent of the 100 percent goal,” Vaughan explains. “We have project managers at every business unit dedicated to the cause and who provide progress reports on a monthly basis.”

It’s all about the people

It will take a multitude of tactics, technologies and contributors in order to achieve its carbon zero goal, but the main enabler - as ever- will be Kingspan Environmental’s people.

“There are always a number of discussions that go on regarding this and indeed our supply chain and research etc, but it’s ultimately the people that make our difference,” Vaughan emphasises. “Our MD always

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EME says it’s about the people and it is. They can either be the enabler or the disruptor of a business but we’ve been lucky in that we’ve recruited well, hiring very strong, energetic people; many of which who have come through our graduate programme.

“Every year we have an intake of graduates across the Group and Environmental division and this cream of local education - and increasingly, international education - takes us to the next level.”

Graham adds: “It demonstrates strong leadership skills too, being able to bring these people in, develop them, and feed off their energy and fresh ideas.”

In just three series’, 80 new and exciting talents have been brought into the Company via the graduate programme; setting the business up perfectly for the exciting years of expansion and diversification that lie ahead.

“We’re a profitable business with a lot of talented people; we have the best team among peers and competing companies; and we’re seen as a market leader through our innovation,” Vaughan concludes.

“Our customers have been with us for decades in a lot of cases and we enjoy the close relationships we have with them. It sounds like clichés, but we live it, and make sure that we collaborate with these guys extensively, often face-to-face.

“Some we operate with are big companies but a lot are smaller with just 20-30 people working for them.

We started as a small company ourselves though and can empathise with what they’re looking for.

“They need to know they’re working with a reputable, experienced company, but also that we’ll be here for the long-term future to aid them in their own journeys; and that’s what we can guarantee though our existing and expanding networks.”

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BIG

5

DUBAI

E V E N T

F O C U S

The Middle East’s largest and most influential event for the construction industry

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Event Details WHEN: 26-29 November WHERE: Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, UAE WEBSITE: www.thebig5.ae

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RUNNING FROM 26-29 November, 2017 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, The Big 5 is the Middle East’s largest and most influential event for the construction industry. Organised by dmg events Middle East, Asia & Africa, the exhibition showcases 360-degree building solutions clustered in five product sectors: MEP services, Building Interiors & Finishes, Building Envelope & Special Construction, Construction Tools & Building Materials, and Construction Technology & Innovation.

Last year’s edition of The Big 5 was the largest to date, attracting 78,579 participants from 142 countries, and 2,586 exhibiting companies. In 2017, on its 38th edition, the event introduces a new dedicated area for the HVAC-R sector, and a brand new co-located

event, The Big 5 Solar, while returning features include the Live Product Demonstrations, and The Gaia Awards which celebrates its 10th anniversary.

Gathering buyers and manufacturers of construction products from around the world, The Big 5 2017 also offers a broad educational agenda, with two high-level conferences and 70-plus CPDcertified Big 5 talks.

CO-LOCATED WITH:

26 - 29 NOVEMBER 2017

THE FUTURE OF CONSTRUCTION BEGINS HERE Visit The Largest Construction Event in The Middle East

NEW

The Big 5 Solar Dedicated HVAC-R Hall Smart Technology Focus Product Sector Talks

Construct Technology & Innovation

Construction Tools & Building Materials

Building Envelope & Special Construction

Building Interiors & Finishes

MEP Services

REGISTER FREE & SAVE AED 200 | www.thebig5.ae/register Platinum Sponsors

Piping Solutions Partner

Aluminium Extrusions Partner

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Air Conditioning Partner

Industry Partner

Supporting Partner

Organised by

SOLAR

POWER

EUROPE

E V E N T

F O C U S

Courtesy of Tiago Fioreze

Shaping the continent’s power, heat and transport sectors SET IN THE amazing BMW World venue in Munich, this first of its kind event will unite the key stakeholders in solar, energy storage and digitalisation

Event Details WHEN: 4-5 December WHERE: BMW World, Munich, Germany WEBSITE: www.digitalsolar-storage.org/

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Europe and the International Battery Energy & Storage Alliance are hoping to broaden the horizons of traditional players in the industry and to pave the way for the European energy transition.

The two-day event kicks off on 4 December by inviting eight exciting from Europe to establish a crossstart-ups to discuss innovative products sectoral platform in areas that will for energy suppliers in a distributed shape the power, heat and transport power and heat market. This afternoon sectors. will be followed by an exclusive dinner Conceptualised by SolarPower debate, supported by the event’s Europe, the continent’s leading lobby strategic partners - Solarwatt, SMA association in solar and battery storage, and Sonnen - who are all leaders in the and co-organised by the International intersection between storage and Battery Energy & Storage Alliance, this digitalisation in the solar industry. event will cover the full spectrum of On 5 December, the cutting-edge challenges and opportunities impacting conference will discuss the latest trends all three industries from a policy, market in the Digital Solar & Storage through and technological perspective. five thematic sessions with more than High-level players in the sector will 30 speakers from the industry’s leading discuss market trends, identify new companies. business models and highlight how To enjoy top-level networking digitalisation and storage can benefit opportunities and frontline consumers to put forward a long-term commercial, legal and technological vision for the industry. insights, register to the event before By bringing together the highly 4 December, 2017. We look forward to complementary sectors of solar, having you join us in shaping the future storage and digitalisation, SolarPower of energy.

Digital Solar & Storage 4-5 DECEMBER I BMW WORLD I MUNICH I GERMANY

Discover the future of smart energy Learn about the issues impacƟng the smart energy industries

Network with key solar stakeholders across Europe

REGISTER NOW #digitalsolarstorage www.digitalsolar-storage.org ORGANISERS

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Image: SOLARWATT GmbH

Discover the opportuniƟes and barriers for digital solar and storage

24TH

WORLD

ISLAMIC

BANKING

E V E N T

CONFERENCE

F O C U S Key Features at the 24th WIBC include: • Governors’ Addresses • a high profile regulatory debate among central bankers • CEO panel on growth and profitability • CIO-focused panel session; discussions on Sukuks vs Bonds • VAT • financial inclusion • regional economic outlook • sustainable investing; & more.

Shaping the future discourse of the Islamic finance industry

Event Details WHEN: 4-6 December WHERE: Art Rotana Hotel & Resort, Amwaj Islands, Bahrain WEBSITE: www.wibc2017.com

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CONVENED BY LEADING financial intelligence platform, Middle East Global Advisors in strategic partnership with the Central Bank of Bahrain, the 24th World Islamic Banking Conference, will take shape under the theme of “Drivers of Economic Growth & Risks: Policymakers & Regulators” on 4-6 December at the ART Rotana Hotel, Amwaj Islands, Kingdom of Bahrain.

Join H.E. Rasheed Mohammed Al Maraj, Governor, Central Bank of Bahrain and more than 1,300 distinguished Islamic finance veterans from across 50 countries, and deliberate on key issues critical to shaping the future discourse of the Islamic finance industry.

It will also include an exclusive WIBC knowledge-sharing series focusing on topic issues like aviation financing, renewable energy financing, the halal ecosystem & more; a WIBC gala dinner & performance awards; and an exclusive launch of financial intelligence reports.

For 24 years, the World Islamic Banking Conference (WIBC) has solidified its reputation as the indisputable compass for the global Islamic finance and banking industry, building a robust platform that comprises leading bankers, institutional investors, asset managers, policy makers, academics and other stakeholders from across the globe.

WIBC 2016 registered participation from a staggering 1,300 delegates, 98 partners, and 135 high profile speakers from across 50 countries, further boosting the powerful WIBC brand and its legacy. The distinguished line-up of speakers over the years includes H.E. Rasheed Mohammed Al Maraj, Governor, Central Bank of Bahrain; H.E. Dr. Kairat Kelimbetov, Governor, Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC); H.E. Dr. Ahmed Abdulkarim Alkholifey, Governor, Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency; Kishore Mahbubani, Dean, Professor in the Practice of Public Policy; Lee Kuan Yew, School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore; and H.E. Hamood Sangour Al-Zadjali, Executive President, Central Bank of Oman, amongst others.

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HVACR

EXPO

SAUDI

E V E N T

F O C U S

Showcasing the most innovative HVAC-R solutions and equipment from around the world Event Details WHEN: 14-16 January, 2018 WHERE: Jeddah Centre for Forums & Events, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia WEBSITE: www.hvacrexposaudi.com

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RUNNING FROM 14-16 January, 2018 at the Jeddah Centre for Forums & Events, HVACR Expo Saudi is Saudi Arabia’s largest dedicated indoor climate and refrigeration event. An unmissable platform for HVAC-R industry professionals to network, do business and discover new technologies and trends, HVACR Expo Saudi brings together the most innovative HVAC-R solutions and equipment from local and international manufacturers.

More than just an exhibition, the event offers a broad education agenda featuring free to attend and CPD-certified workshops curated by trusted regional experts sharing their insight into some of the industry’s most pressing issues.

The second edition of HVACR Expo Saudi in 2017 proved to be a great success, attracting a total of 5,960 participants from the HVAC-R engineering and contracting sector.

Top global brands such as Carrier, Al Zamil, Trane, York and Johnson Controls were present and all reported excellent contacts and business conducted across the three days of the event.

In addition to the exhibitors, HVACR Expo Saudi hosted a comprehensive educational programme of 15 packed workshops.

Organised by MICE Arabia and coorganised by dmg events Middle East, Asia & Africa, the event is co-located with FM Expo Saudi and Saudi Clean Expo.

EXHIBITION WORKSHOPS 14 – 16 January 2018 Jeddah Centre for Forums & Events

CONFERENCE

SAUDI ARABIA'S LARGEST DEDICATED EVENT FOR HVAC&R

ï REFRIGERATION ï AIR CONDITION ï COLD CHAIN ï FOOD STORAGE & TRANSPORTATION

LICENSE NUMBER: 17/6849

Register for FREE Entry: www.hvacrexposaudi.com PLATINUM PARTNER:

GOLD SPONSOR:

HOST VENUE:

SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION:

ORGANISED BY:

CO ORGANISED BY:

THE

BIG

5

HEAVY

E V E N T

F O C U S

The largest exhibition dedicated to the infrastructure and heavy construction industry in the Middle East

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Event Details WHEN: 26-28 March, 2018 WHERE: Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, UAE WEBSITE: www.thebig5heavy.com

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THE BIG 5 Heavy is the largest exhibition dedicated to the infrastructure and heavy construction industry in the Middle East. Running from 26-28 March, 2018 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, the event will host hundreds of local and international companies showcasing innovative solutions and products clustered into five sectors: Middle East Concrete, PMV Live, Foundations & Geotechnical, Mining & Quarrying, and Road Construction.

The Big 5 Heavy will also feature a broad educational agenda with CPD-certified talks, a live demo area, the brand new innovation trail, the scaffolding climbing challenge, the inspiring infrastructure award and The Big 5 Heavy product award.

Organised by dmg events Middle East, Asia & Africa, the event is the re-launch of the former Middle East Concrete and PMV Live shows, part of The Big 5 portfolio of events, and will give you direct access to thousands of architects, interior designers, engineers, contractors and real estate developers actively seeking new and innovative heavy machinery and construction products.

For more information, visit the website: www.thebig5heavy.com

26 - 28 MARCH 2018 DUBAI WORLD TRADE CENTRE www.thebig5heavy.com

THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENT FOR THE

REGION´S HEAVY CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

INCLUDES FIVE DEDICATED AND FOCUSED EVENTS UNDER ONE WORLD CLASS BRAND!

SECURE NEW CLIENTS AND PROJECTS

BY EXHIBITING AT THE BIG 5 HEAVY. For enquiries, contact: Richard Pavitt, Event Director +971 4 445 3682 +971 50 6545595

RichardPavitt@dmgeventsme.com

FUTURE

CITIES

SHOW

E V E N T

F O C U S

Showcasing solutions for a smart sustainable future Event Details WHEN: 9-11 April, 2018 WHERE: Dubai, UAE WEBSITE: www.futurecitiesshow.com

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THE SECOND EDITION of the Future Cities Show is set to take place from 9-11 April, 2018 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The show will highlight the latest and the most innovative technologies, which are set to change the future This show is based on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which were set by the United Nations and was adopted by 193 countries in September, 2015. The show also incorporates the 10X Dubai directives, which were set

by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. This is a radical program that seeks to establish “X Labs� in every government entity, and position Dubai 10 years ahead of the rest of the world.

The Future Cities Show is going to be a great platform for local and international institutions from various industries to showcase their latest technologies which are going to redefine the way we live. The show will focus on three pillars which are Sustainability, Innovation, and Happiness.

FCS 2018 aims to bring together environmentalists, sustainability leaders, innovators, solution providers, healthcare practitioners, security vendors, energy consultants, manufacturers, bankers, builders, urban developers, architects, investors, mayors, mobility players and students under one roof to interact, discuss and showcase solutions for a smart sustainable future.

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Hall 7 stand 391

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