Posts in category: Featured News

HAIX has launched the CONNEXIS Go, the world’s first leisure shoe with active fascia stimulation to supercharge the foot muscles and prevent injury. The shoes support the natural functioning of the feet and prevent damage to the plantar fascia, the leading cause of heel pain in adults. 

The CONNEXIS Go is the world’s first leisure shoe with active fascia stimulation to supercharge the foot muscles and prevent injury. Developed by global footwear specialist, HAIX, the shoes support the natural functioning of the feet and prevent damage to the plantar fascia, the leading cause of heel pain in adults. 

The plantar fascia is a tough band of tissue that runs along the sole of the foot, connecting the heel bone to the toes. Ageing, high-intensity workouts, unsuitable footwear, and jobs that involve extended periods of standing or walking can all enhance the risk of damage to the plantar fascia.  

Offering a game-changer in foot health, the HAIX CONNEXIS Go is designed to loosen tight fascia and energise the muscles to boost performance and mobility, without compromising on style. 

To prevent plantar fascia damage and help reduce fatigue, the HAIX CONNEXIS Go features an innovative strap construction, called fascia tape, that runs around the foot and stimulates the fasciae and muscles in the foot sole to keep them elastic.   

Conventional shoes keep the foot rigid and as a result, fasciae tend to become tight and inflexible because the tissue is not sufficiently stressed, leading to pain. However, the last of the CONNEXIS Go is not curved downwards like conventional shoes but straight, ensuring that the ball of the foot does not sag and the toes have more space to support the foot. Designed in collaboration with leading health and footwear technology experts, the shoe’s structure takes into account the foot’s natural shape and its need to move freely.  

Maximising both comfort and performance, the HAIX CONNEXIS Go is made of breathable textile microfibre material. Inside, a waterproof GORE-TEX membrane sits between the outer fabric and inner lining to keep feet dry. In addition, the slip-resistant sole offers the wearer much-needed stability and protection from slips, trips and falls. 

All HAIX shoes are 100 per cent manufactured in Europe, reflecting the HAIX commitment to fair working conditions, sustainable practices and modern testing facilities. Its entire range is manufactured at state-of-the-art factories in Germany and Croatia, considered to be two of the world’s most modern shoe production facilities. 

Simon Ash, UK Sales Manager for HAIX, says, “Our feet will take us a distance that is equivalent to going around the world up to six times during our lifetime. Such a feat demands the right support. HAIX developed the CONNEXIS Go from decades of occupational health and safety expertise to help more people enhance performance and prevent damage to their feet, whenever their next steps may take them.” 

To view the CONNEXIS range, visit: https://www.haix.co.uk/connexis-go/  

The Secretary of State for the Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed two non-executive director Board appointments to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The two new additions to HSE’s Board bring with them a wealth of public service experience that will be welcomed into the existing team.

Debbie Gillatt CBE is currently a magistrate and Trustee at Penny Parks Charitable Trust. Previously she held NED roles with Companies House and Insolvency Service and was the Director of Business Frameworks at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

Within BEIS, she led the teams responsible for the UK’s company law, accounting standards and corporate governance rules, and those which lead on corporate transparency and anti-corruption initiatives. She also led on corporate responsibility and boardroom diversity initiatives.

Earlier in BEIS, Debbie managed a £3.2bn Government grant fund for business and led the cross-Whitehall team which supported Lord Heseltine in producing his report on the UK’s competitiveness. She also worked in the Cabinet Secretariat and managed The Secretary of State’s ministerial support team.

Her previous experience includes managing government’s relationship with a range of business sectors from production machinery to telecoms, and ground-breaking work in both economic regulation and inward investment.

Reverend Professor Gina Radford currently serves as Vicar in the Dart and Avon Mission Community in Devon. Between 2015 and 2019, she was Deputy Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for England. She is a member of the National Police Ethics Committee and chaired Public Health England’s COVID Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions Ethics Group.

Chair of HSE, Sarah Newton welcomed both appointments to the Board. She said: “I am delighted that Gina and Debbie will be joining us on the HSE Board. They both bring a wealth of knowledge and experience and I’m sure they will be a great asset to us.  I look forward to working with them.”

Around seven firefighters and ten fire engines are on the scene of a fire at a scrap yard near London City Airport.

Reports of a fire at Thames Road in Silvertown, Newham were confirmed by London Fire Brigade (LFB) at around 1am this morning. A statement released by LFB read: “Firefighters are tackling a fire at a scrap yard, where a pile of around 150 tonnes of scrap metal is partly alight. The fire is causing a significant amount of smoke and residents in the area are advised to keep their windows and doors shut. There are no reports of any injuries.”

“The Brigade was called at 2246. Fire crews from Plaistow, East Ham, Poplar, Stratford, Barking and other neighbouring fire stations are at the scene. The cause of the fire is not known at this stage.”

There is expected to be no disruption to services at London City Airport.

A fire at a London boatyard caused explosions to be set off across the scene as 100 firefighters tackled the blaze on Platt’s Eyot, Richmond upon Thames yesterday.

A statement released by London Fire Brigade read: “Fifteen fire engines and around 100 firefighters were called to a fire at three industrial units on Platt’s Eyot island in Hampton.

“Firefighters tackled a fire at three disused single-storey industrial units on the island, which were completely destroyed by the fire. One 30 foot cabin cruiser was also destroyed and a further four 30 foot cabin cruisers were damaged.”

A number of gas cylinders which were involved in the fire were cooled and removed by firefighters as some cylinders can explode when exposed to heat. One man was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation by London Ambulance Service crews.

Station Commander Brett Loft, who was at the scene, said: “It was a significant blaze which wasn’t helped by the high winds which fanned flames through the buildings and also created a lot of smoke, prompting more than 70 calls to our Control Officers.

“Crews used water  from a nearby reservoir to make the initial attack and firefighters carried equipment across the footbridge as it was only accessible on foot.  

“Our priority was to protect the neighbouring properties and boats that were moored which we did with covering jets.

“Along with our partners at the RNLI, our inflatable boats from the fire rescue units were able to move some of the other vessels out of harm’s way.

“Firefighters worked extremely hard in difficult conditions and manged to prevent any further fire spread, however sadly there was significant damage to a number of units, some of which were Grade-II listed, including one of the “little ships” which rescued World War Two soldiers during Dunkirk.”

Crews remain at the scene of the fire damping down this morning (Tuesday).

The fire is believed to have been accidental and caused by a stray ember from rubbish which was being burned nearby, carried by the high winds.

The oil and gas industry has said that £3bn lost investment during pandemic could threaten green recovery, and the UK’s energy transition could be under threat unless the government can provide vital support for the sector after it lost.

OGUK, the leading representative body for the UK offshore oil and gas industry, has stated that securing and sustaining investment in the sector is now critical to help the UK quickly realise a net-zero future.

The findings of OGUK’s 2021 Business Outlook show industry is facing a period of extreme uncertainty as it grapples with the after-effects of the pandemic, which has led to a significant decline in offshore activity levels and overall levels of expenditure falling by more than a quarter in the last year alone.

Despite the challenges of the pandemic and the severe economic downturn, production from UK waters still managed to safely meet around 70 per cent of the country’s oil and gas needs in 2020, evidencing the continued need for an indigenous supply. There are also some early signs of improved sentiment emerging, with new investors continuing to be attracted by the remaining potential of the North Sea.

To realise the UK’s shared climate goals, as well as maintaining affordable energy and a strong base for the UK’s energy supply chain to build from, OGUK reinforced that government policy and regulation must continue to prioritise domestic production over imported energy.

OGUK chief executive Deirdre Michie said: “£3bn worth of investment has been deferred from company plans in 2020 and 2021 – and the effects of COVID-19 have really undermined energy communities, causing a rise in unemployment and a slump in activity.

“A climate-friendly future needs significant investment in indigenous opportunities so companies right across the sector can continue to develop low-carbon solutions. That is why we are working with the government to deliver a transformational North Sea Transition deal, which will drive forward Carbon Capture and Storage, hydrogen and low-carbon projects across the UK.

“This is an industry which continues to play a critical role in the economy, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs in industrial heartlands across the nation, generating affordable energy for millions and providing billions in value to the economy.

“But we cannot continue on this trajectory without vital support. Companies are in a fragile state. We need the recognition that our industry is a key player in a successful energy transition – one which won’t be possible without the inclusion of our sector.”

The full report can be downloaded here.

In response to a story published in The Sunday Telegraph which suggests Ministers are considering declaring the beginning of the end for the North Sea oil industry with a ban on new exploration licences, OGUK have claimed that the industry is leading the way on green technologies.

Commenting on the story, OGUK Sustainability Director Mike Tholen said: “The UK’s offshore oil and gas industry recognises the urgent need for change and was one of the first sectors to commit to be a net-Zero industry by 2050, setting demanding interim targets to halve its own emissions by 2030.

“By working together, we can help deliver the energy transition, providing the oil and gas the UK will need for decades to come while cutting the impact on the environment.  Any curtailment of activity by licencing constraints risks impeding the UK’s ability to deliver a net-zero future, damaging our domestic supply chain and increasing energy imports whilst exporting the jobs and skills.

“Our industry is leading the way on green technologies including the switch to hydrogen and long-term storage of CO2. Achieving this through UK companies will require significant investment and we continue to work constructively with government to show this industry has the essential expertise and commitment to ensure delivery”.

The UK’s offshore oil and gas industry has today welcomed the Chancellor’s announcement that Scottish businesses are set to receive a boost to their green energy transition and further investment to create  local  jobs in key sectors with a more than £57 million investment in today’s budget.

The leading representative body for the sector, OGUK said its world-class supply chain has the expertise to deliver secure and affordable energy while driving low carbon solutions.

Deirdre Michie, OGUK’s chief executive, said: “This is an exciting announcement by the Chancellor that will create jobs and help position the UK as a global hub of green energy.

“The UK’s world-leading supply chain is at the heart of this country’s ability to transition to a net zero economy, so the timely announcement of these new investments is welcome, recognising the positive role this sector has to play in our energy future.

“This funding will help create employment opportunities in new technologies, support the reduction of emissions from production and enable our industry to become part of a new low carbon energy community. Key to this will be the North Sea Transition Deal which we look forward to working closely and quickly with government to finalise.”