MEMBER NEWS
UK’s first digital food bank created
One of the UK’s first digital food banks has offered hope to people in need over the winter – after the project was assembled by a Leicestershire company. Meridian Digital Solutions, in Peckleton, worked with
global locker manufacturer Kern to help the charity Surviving the Streets to create self-service lockers that provide 24/7 access to food, sleeping bags and tents. The first of the contactless lockers was installed in
Hastings, Sussex, with the aim of keeping the charity’s staff and service users safe during the pandemic while also increasing the hours of operation without needing more volunteers.
‘The technology could easily be expanded to a national level to help with a problem that is common across our country’
Andy Viner, managing director of Meridian, said:
“Surviving the Streets carries out amazing work and we love what it does for the community. “Between ourselves and Kern, we have provided the
solution for a free trial initially to prove the concept and then the hope is that these units are rolled out in towns on the Sussex coastline. “The technology could easily be expanded to a
Meridian Digital Solutions’ customer success manager Connie Masini Amena led the project
national level to help with a problem that is common across our country, especially in these trying times. “Referrals for service users can come in at all times
of the day or night so the increased access provides an incredible new service.” Meridian’s customer success manager Connie Masini
Amena led the project and, working with Kern, helped Surviving the Streets understand what was achievable from installation, hardware and how the software could be used. The locker is set up to allow a service user to contact the charity via phone or email to receive a unique locker access code. Items available include long-life, tinned and dried
food packs for one to four people, lasting up to four days. Volunteers stock the locker and make the items
accessible 24 hours a day, rather than having to wait for shops, offices and support centres to open.
Timm Garratt ends his time at Innes England
Innes England chairman Tim Garratt has left the firm after 21 years. Tim, who previously spent
five years as managing director of the commercial property agency, left the business at the end of December 2020. Innes England MD Matthew
Hannah said: “We would like to thank Tim for his huge commitment to Innes England which spans more than two decades. He has been a well- known figure in the East Midlands property scene, and we wish him well.” Tim said: “I always knew
that having stepped down as MD, I needed to allow the remaining partners to run the business as they wanted to. I have had the privilege of working with some talented people and I will miss them all. I wish the business every success for the future and will be looking forward to working with Matt and the team on some projects going forward.”
business network February 2021
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