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Competition ...any other business A roundup of news from Chamber members
Software helps battle HIV rates
A software company is helping to combat HIV infection rates among infants in southern Africa. Software experts from
Formus Professional Software have stepped in to assist an American charity, the Elizabeth Glaser Paediatric AIDS Foundation, to improve how it collects vital medical data from its clinics in remote parts of Africa. Two of the Herefordshire-
based company’s technical consultants are heading out to eSwatini, formerly Swaziland, to deliver four free days of ‘train the trainer’ instruction on how to use Microsoft’s Power Apps platform. Power Apps has been
developed so that anyone can create their own apps, whether they’re technically minded or not. For Elizabeth Glaser, the idea
is for 30 of their staff from around the region to learn how to create their own apps for storing and uploading medical information when out in the field and then teaching their colleagues how to do the same. Glenn Powell, Formus
Professional Software’s founder and technical director, said: “When the call came, via our Microsoft networks, appealing for help on behalf of Elizabeth Glaser, I was keen to get involved. “I really do believe that
software is one of the best ways that you can help a company, any company, be more efficient or productive nowadays, to save money or to deploy valuable resources more effectively. “But this wasn’t really about
the technology. It was about an opportunity to work with an organisation that’s clearly so driven and motivated in its work. When you talk to the people at the foundation, they clearly care deeply about what they do. “Setting up this four-day
workshop and sending two of our team out there; it felt like the least we could do.”
102 CHAMBERLINK February 2020 Spelling it out: Plumbing apprentice Matthew Suddaby
College student set to turn up the heat in competition
A plumbing apprentice from Burton and South Derbyshire College is set to compete in the regional heats of an apprentice of the year competition. Matthew Suddaby, who is an
apprentice at Ashby Home Heating, will show off his skills in the competition which will be taking place this month. Run by ‘HIP Magazine’, the
competition is designed to find the UK’s best plumbing apprentice.
Now in its 12th year, the event is a great opportunity for trainee plumbers to showcase their skills, which Matthew appears to have done already, judging by the picture on this page. The winners of each heat will go
on to compete a grand final, which takes place at Cheltenham Innovation Training and Conference Centre. There are a range of prizes on offer worth up to £10,000. Matthew said: “My tutor
recommended me for the competition as I was ahead of my college work, so I thought I would give it a go. “I’m looking forward to it; I like a challenge and the chance to practice my skills to a high standard. I chose an apprenticeship as I’ve always been a practical, hands-on person. I like the variety of work involved and it’s good to be earning and learning at the same time.”
Endangered fish successfully bred
Six critically endangered Blackchin Guitarfish have been born at the National Sea Life Centre in Birmingham, known to be the first and only breeding programme of its kind in the UK. The population of Blackchin Guitarfish is in severe
decline and the IUCN Red List has now upgraded this species to critically endangered. The success of this breeding project is of global conservational importance. Jonny Rudd, curator at the aquarium, said: “This is
fantastic news for the species after another great breeding year. The babies and parents appear to be very healthy and active. The team here couldn’t be happier. “This endangered species are notoriously slow
breeders meaning they struggle to produce offspring.” The National Sea Life first had success in 2018 with a pioneering breeding project. However, chances of successful breeding are rare. The fact that there are now six born healthy and well
will be great support in the future of this crucial breeding programme. The babies are currently just 24cm long and weighing only 1lbs.
Threats to this species continue to grow in the wild
with over-fishing and pollution at the core, making this breeding success a crucial milestone. Currently listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ on the
IUCN red list, the species struggle to increase numbers due to their slow growth and low breeding rate. During the 18th century, Blackchin Guitarfish were
among the most popular species in Southern European fish markets.
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