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PURPLE CELEBRATES A DECADE OF SUCCESS WITH 1000TH CLIENT

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The Manchester-based technology company has seen rapid expansion since its inception in 2012. 

Manchester-based technology company, Purple, has signed its 1000th client, with the milestone marking ten years since it was first established.

Over the past decade, the WiFi specialist has expanded into 110 countries and after starting with a team of 12, it now boasts a global headcount of 115, welcoming 22 new starters in 2022 alone.

Backed by Sir Terry Leahy, former CEO of Tesco, Purple embarked on a rapid growth trajectory in 2015, with the aim of becoming the ultimate tool for businesses to keep up with the pace of digital innovation. A year later, Purple had reached 10 million WiFi users and, to-date has seen more than 15 billion visits across over 50,000 venues.

The North-West company began with just one type of WiFi hardware and now offers 157 hardware types – with an average of 748,000 users connecting to WiFi through Purple every day.

In 2017 Purple received a £5.4 million recruitment investment and relocated its UK headquarters to Oldham, as well as an additional UK hub in Bracknell, Berkshire.

Earlier this year, Purple welcomed former Executive Vice President (EVP) of Cisco, Chris Dedicoat, to the board as a non-executive director. Drawing on his 25 years of industry experience, Dedicoat is supporting Purple through a new period of strategic growth, which will see expansion into specific sectors and new territories worldwide.

Gavin Wheeldon, CEO of Purple, commented: “We’ve come a long way over the past decade and are extremely proud of our growth in this time – and achieving the 1000-client milestone is a great way to mark this success.

Our people are our best asset and this year alone, we were able to welcome 22 new starters to the team. Our fully remote working model allows us to recruit the very best talent from across the globe, ensuring we’re always ahead of the curve.

“The uncertainty of the economic landscape is putting pressure on businesses and consumers alike. Whilst there isn’t a one ‘fix-all’ solution, embracing the capabilities of technology will enable businesses to set themselves apart from their competitors.”

Founded out of frustration for poor guest WiFi connection, Purple works with businesses across a huge number of sectors including healthcare, retail, hospitality, leisure and transport to implement smart technology solutions which help bolster businesses.

Wheeldon continues: “When we set up Purple in 2012, our aim was to help businesses expand the capabilities of their existing tech to enhance visitor experience, optimise safety and ultimately drive revenue. Since then, we’ve continued to adapt and innovate to find new ways businesses can turn their venues into intelligent tech hubs.”

From facilitating hyper-personalised communication with customers to tracking valuable assets, Purple’s solutions provide businesses with a complete view of what is happening in real time, enabling them to make informed decisions and drive meaningful interactions.

Purple recently launched a new asset tracking platform aimed at helping the NHS reduce the £300m of medicine wasted every year and speed up operation waiting times.

The launch strengthens Purple’s ‘Intelligent Healthcare’ offering, created to help increase efficiency, reduce costs and improve patient experience for healthcare organisations in both the UK’s NHS and the USA’s healthcare system.

Wheeldon concludes: “Here at Purple, we will continue to support our clients in every way we can, implementing solutions that drive the best results for them.”

MANCHESTER CHARITY UP FOR FUNDING BOOST AT NATIONAL AWARDS

A Manchester charity supported by the ScottishPower Foundation could be in line for a funding boost this winter after being shortlisted for its annual awards.

Lorna Young Foundation has been shortlisted for the Community Engagement Award, Education Award, Charity Champion Award and Innovation Award thanks to its ‘Freeing Up Ethical Enterprise Training – NEETs and Not Just Us’ programme, which is designed to create opportunities for marginalised groups to help them move into further education and self-employment.

The project offers free-to-all access to Ethical Entrepreneurs (‘Not Just Us’) training resources to improve the economic and employment chances of NEETs (young people not engaged in education, employment or training), refugees and individuals experiencing homelessness, and fosters local ethical and environmental responsibility.

The charity was funded by the Foundation in 2022 and is now in with a chance of an additional boost with award winners receiving a further £5,000 to support their vital work and runners-up taking home £2,500.

In total, 23 inspirational charities are in the running for this year’s ScottishPower Foundation awards.

Melanie Hill, Executive Officer and Trustee at the ScottishPower Foundation said: “The value of the vital support charities provide to people and communities has never been more important. The work of Lorna Young Foundation is a great example of how our funding can help incredible charities transform lives across the country.

“These are tough times for many people, but the hard work of these charities continues every day to support, educate and inspire people across the country. They go above and beyond, so it’s fantastic to have the opportunity to give them further funding support in these difficult times.

“It’s a real privilege to help make a difference and that is all thanks to the £10 million the ScottishPower Foundation has provided in funding over the last nine years. I’m looking forward to celebrating the achievements of our finalists – and the legacy of the ScottishPower Foundation – on Awards Day next month.”

Christina Longden, Director of the Lorna Young Foundation, said: “We are thrilled to have received a shortlisting for this award. Our charity was named in memory of Lorna Young, the Scottish Fair Trade pioneer who challenged the business sector to adopt both ethical policies and practices.

We are so pleased that the Scottish Power Foundation are working with us to promote better ethics, a stronger and kinder society, and address climate change issues. We are the only education charity in the UK that focuses on supporting disadvantaged people to become ethical entrepreneurs and we are committed to ensuring that free and accessible ethical enterprise is available to all, regardless of background or disadvantage.”

The shortlists for all awards this year were selected by a judging panel made up of experts from the industry and the education sectors. This year’s judges were Melanie Hill, Executive Officer and Trustee of the ScottishPower Foundation; Sarah McNulty, HR Director at ScottishPower; Arthur McIvor, Senior Client Manager at EU Skills; and Marina Livingstone, Programmes Director at Strathclyde University Business School.

You can keep up to date with the winners and runners-up on Twitter @ScottishPower. The winners will be announced on 1 November.

For a full list of the shortlisted charities, go to www.scottishpowerfoundation.com.

Manchester local crowned National Rail’s ‘Chief Environment Officer’ to inspire Brits to take sustainable trips by train

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  • Demario Green from Manchester has won a National Rail competition to ditch the car and discover 10 sustainable trips by train around Britain by train – one of the greenest forms of public transport
  • Demario will visit places like Oxford, Cornwall, Reading, and Bath, amongst others, to reveal some of Britain’s best green destinations and champion sustainable travel by train
  • The three Chief Environment Officers were selected by a judging panel made up of explorer and broadcaster Simon Reeve and travel vloggers Wanderlust Chloe and An Adventurous World

Demario Green from Manchester has been crowned one of National Rail’s ‘Chief Environment Officers’ (CEOs) who will champion sustainable travel by train around Britain. Demario’s prize includes all expenses paid trips to ditch the car, discover 10 of Britain’s hidden green attractions and locations, and vlog his experiences to inspire others to make green journeys by train.

Demario has always had a passion for travel and transportation and is a huge advocate of sustainable travel with a particularly keen interest in new technological advancements for the transport system. His goal as Chief Environment Officer is to see how each destination around Britain has done their due diligence to the environment and what measures they have put into place to reduce their carbon footprint and ensure a greener future.

After finding the National Rail CEO competition on Facebook, Demario immediately knew he had to enter, recognising it as a good opportunity to explore post lockdown and an excellent opportunity to promote sustainable travel to his followers.

“I’m passionate about transport and the future of it, particularly in relation to developments around sustainability. I’m excited to learn more about this in my role as Chief Environment Officer, seeing what measures have been implemented around the country while getting the opportunity to explore the UK and meet new people”, Demario said.

The CEO competition was judged by explorer and broadcaster Simon Reeve, who said, “Demario’s CEO competition entry was visually stunning and authentically showed his passion for sustainable travel. I feel confident that his reviews of some of Britain’s best trips by train will inspire others to opt for green trips of their own, and I look forward to following along with his adventures.”

Travelling by train is one of the greenest forms of public transport and a ready-made solution for a low-carbon future where our roads are quieter and safer, and the air we breathe is cleaner. Taking the train already helps tackle climate change – it cuts carbon emissions by two-thirds compared to traveling by car – and it can do more in the future. That’s why National Rail began the search for three Chief Environment Officers and will be promoting their inspirational vlogs to inspire others to go green and get onboard.

Jacqueline Starr, CEO at Rail Delivery Group, comments, “Travelling by train cuts carbon emissions by two-thirds compared to driving, but many Brits are unaware of the sustainability credentials of rail. Therefore, we are proud to appoint Demario as one of our Chief Environment Officers who will champion sustainable travel and enjoy visiting some of Britain’s greenest and most beautiful destinations over the next three months.”

To see the sustainable destinations you can visit by train check out railcard.co.uk/maketracks, National Rail’s YouTube channel and follow @nationalrailenq on Facebook, Twitter, and national.rail on Instagram.

If you want to follow Demario on his adventure as National Rail’s CEO, follow his YouTube channel “De’s”.

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Aston Martin Lagonda notes a 30% increase in workflow efficiency thanks to digital transformation

According to a new report from technology consultancy ebb3, High-performance computing (HPC) is transforming automotive manufacturing. The tech group reviewed the impact of HPC with Aston Martin Lagonda and concluded it increased workflow efficiency by 30%.

The report considered the impacts of the HPC roll-out at Aston Martin. The benefits were numerous: integrating an updated HPC environment with a GPU-accelerated virtual desktop infrastructure improved speed and efficiency to enable the powertrain, aerodynamics, and body structures teams to work remotely and collaborate within a secure environment.

Lea Renaux, HPC solution lead at Aston Martin Lagonda, said:  “The new HPC environment delivered by ebb3 is meeting all of our requirements and is enabling the CAE teams to lead and innovate the design of our ultra-luxury models, supporting a 30% increase in workflow efficiency. We were looking for a solution that would improve the user experience drastically by providing a highly available, scalable and reliable system as well as burst capacity and proactive support.

“Thanks to our successful work with ebb3, we are now able to provide class-leading support as well as new cutting edge technologies to the CAE engineering teams in powertrain, aerodynamics and body structures departments.”

CAE is the use of computer software to simulate performance and is used to validate and improve product designs or assist in resolving engineering problems. A typical CAE process comprises pre-processing, solving, and post-processing steps.

During the pre-processing phase, engineers model the geometry (or representation) and the physical properties of the design from CAD models, as well as the environment in the form of applied loads or constraints. Next, the model is solved using an appropriate mathematical formulation of the underlying physics. The results of the solve are then presented to the engineer for review, which may result in further design changes to the CAD models. This iterative design process is carried out multiple times before manufacturing any physical components.

With the growth in hybrid, electric, autonomous, and fully connected vehicles, the role of HPC within an automotive manufacturer is changing. The development of Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) relies heavily on simulation to test rare situations that are unlikely to happen predictably in the real world. As vehicles become more connected, real-world data can then be fed into these simulations, effectively creating a digital twin to further improve fidelity, making ADAS technologies safer and more reliable.

Chris Brassington, CEO of ebb3, said: “The greater flexibility of HPC platforms will allow automotive manufacturers to explore the benefits of cloud computing. Where hyperconnectivity will enable devices, data and systems to talk constantly, enabling the use of digital twins, which allow the digital simulation of production facilities.

“The use of digital twins will radically shorten the amount of time it takes to develop a new model while also creating safer, more efficient vehicles.”

ebb3 has a wealth of experience that spans automotive and motorsport, government and education, retail and logistics, construction and manufacturing, media, research and healthcare, architecture and engineering. Indeed, whatever your industry, we are here to help you embrace digital transformation.

Work starts to enable first 350 new homes and public realm at Peel L&P’s Trafford Waters

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Work is underway to create a new mixed-use sustainable community of 3,000 homes, a primary school, offices, hotels and around 20 acres of new public open space at Peel L&P’s Trafford Waters development.

Partners from Homes England and Trafford Council joined Peel L&P at the 55-acre site between The Trafford Centre and the Manchester Ship Canal to celebrate breaking ground on the first phase of infrastructure works. 

A grant of £4.08m from Homes England’s Housing Infrastructure Fund match-funded by Peel L&P has helped to unlock work on the first 350 mixed-tenure homes by providing financial support for new roads, public realm and services to be built for the development.

The Government fund to improve vital infrastructure for new communities will help pave the way for up to 324,000 new homes across the country in areas of greatest housing demand.

Pauline Schaffer, Interim Director of Infrastructure Grants at Homes England, said: “We are committed to working with ambitious local authority partners seeking to meet their local housing needs with the support of key infrastructure.

“This funding will enable Peel L&P and Trafford Council to create vital travel links and public realm to support the development of new homes in this exciting development.”

Trafford Waters will take around 20 years to complete and will transform a brownfield site with a range of homes to suit different needs, including affordable housing, new retail and office opportunities, community facilities, green space and public realm.

The phase one infrastructure works will include tree-lined footpaths and cycleways and the first acre of public green space at the development. It will connect Trafford Waters via Trafford Way and Redclyffe Road connecting the site to Peel L&P’s wider TraffordCity retail and leisure destination.

The wider development proposals for Trafford Waters include a Central Park with large play spaces which will form the heart of a new community surrounded by four distinct areas to complement the natural characteristics of the site.

James Whittaker, Peel L&P’s Executive Director for Development said: “Trafford Waters will significantly transform the area into a new mixed-use sustainable waterfront community with much-needed homes to meet a mix of needs as well as creating more jobs and investment opportunities for the area.

“We’re pleased to have the support of Homes England and Trafford Council to accelerate the delivery of the new homes and we look forward to progressing the infrastructure works to complete the first homes in 2025.”

The Trafford Waters masterplan received outline planning permission from Trafford Council in 2018 and planning permission for the infrastructure works was recently received.

Cllr Liz Patel, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration, said: “This is a fantastic scheme which will lead to the creation of a brand new community made up of 3,000 homes, a school, offices, hotels and public open space. It will completely transform the area and create much-needed housing in a beautiful waterfront development.

“Trafford Council has supported and enabled this project from day one and we look forward to working closely with Peel and Homes England in bringing it forward.”   

Luddons has been appointed as the main contractor.

Emsy Fundraising goes from strength to strength

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Manchester based fundraising consultancy firm Emsy Fundraising is set for an amazing autumn and will be expanding its staff and client base while Founder/Director Marla Cunningham commences a new contract at Factory International as Development Director to help them develop the fundraising programme for the exciting new venue.

Factory International is a landmark new cultural space set to open in the heart of Manchester in June 2023, that will be programmed and operated by the team behind the the world famous Manchester International Festival (MIF). Designed to be ultra-flexible, Factory International will be a global destination for arts, music and culture, commissioning and presenting a year-round programme by leading artists from across the world.

This comes at a time of growth with new clients such as UK Youth, Girlguiding UK, Offset Projects CIC, and continuation of work with key cultural clients such as Manchester City of Literature and Sing for Pleasure too.

With further project work planned for later this year to support even more charities to generate much needed income, Emsy have expanded their team to include, Lisa Northey Dennis, who has over 18 years experience of the charity sector having previously raised over £12m for health and educational charities and working closely with Emsy during the Cultural Recovery Fundraising drive for the UK’s cultural institutions during Covid-19, which raised over £50m for the sector.

Director, Marla Cunningham, said;

“This is a pivotal time for Emsy Fundraising as charities are finally able to generate income after Covid-19. Now, with the Cost of Living Crisis impacting so many people, charities must maintain a strong focus on generating as much income from as many different sources as possible. Emsy Fundraising has helped our clients generate millions and we plan to continue to do this through 2022-23.”

“We are delighted to welcome Lisa Northey Dennis as an Associate.  She will help grow the business as I take a part time role at the Factory International helping to develop a year-round home for the Manchester International Festival, and a new stage and one of Europe’s most ambitious and adventurous year-round creative programmes. Factory International will be ultra-flexible, enabling large-scale artistic work of invention and ambition that isn’t made anywhere else and I’m excited to help develop the fundraising programme there. I’ll still be involved heavily with Emsy and with the new expanding team and I am looking forward to helping more charities this year.”

Assetz Capital strengthens team with appointment of Development Specialist

Specialist marketplace lender Assetz Capital have appointed Sinead Moynihan as Relationship Director, covering the whole of the UK.

In her new role, Sinead will be working directly with developers in addition to broker contacts helping deliver Assetz Capital’s ‘real world lending’ development finance, commercial mortgages, and bridging solutions to their borrower clients. Operating out of Cheshire, Sinead will be working as part of the company’s UK North Team directed by Regional Director Andrew Fraser.

Sinead brings extensive specialist development lending experience into the role, joining from Acre Lane Capital as Sales Director and following 4 years as Head of Sales at Mint Bridging.

Sinead commented: ‘I’m delighted to be joining the team at Assetz Capital and I’m really looking forward to working with all of my brokers and national housebuilder clients. The growth plans are really exciting, and I share the ambition – I can’t wait to get started.’

Commenting on her appointment, Andrew Fraser said: ‘Sinead’s specialist development focused lending experience made her a standout candidate for the role. Her national networks and exemplary relationship management skills will be a huge asset to the business and will help grow our developer client base.’

GARSTANG RESIDENTS ENJOY SWEET TREATS AND SULTRY SOUNDS WITH ANDREW LLOYD

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Retirees in Garstang were recently welcomed to McCarthy Stone Retirement Living development, Stanley Place, for a chocolate extravaganza with local chocolatier and entertainer Andrew Lloyd.

The Chocolate, Truffles & Treats event saw Andrew showcase a variety of chocolate-making techniques and of course supply samples for residents at the Kepple Lane development to enjoy.

Andrew also provided musical entertainment including favourites from the likes of Neil Diamond and Cliff Richard.

As well as residents, the event was open to visitors who had the opportunity to tour the development and discover more about the independent retirement lifestyle offered by McCarthy Stone.

Fiona Brooks, Divisional Sales and Marketing Director at McCarthy Stone, said: “It was a fantastic afternoon with so much to enjoy with Andrew’s combination of chocolate-making and music, and was a great example of the events we hold regularly for residents at Stanley Place. There was also great interest from visitors in the remaining apartments available at Stanley Place, who heard first hand how great an independent and active retirement at Stanley Place is!”

Bordering the beautiful River Wyre, Stanley Place is surrounded by countryside whilst being located in the popular market town of Garstang. A stylish communal lounge perfect for socialising with friends and neighbours and a hotel style guest suite which offers a home for family and friends, Stanley Place provides an ideal downsizing option for retirees.

Stanley Place offers a choice of one and two bedroom apartments tailor-made for those looking to downsize to a community of like-minded people where they can enjoy embracing the life they want to live.

At Stanley Place, a one-bedroom apartment is currently priced from £201,999 and a two-bedroom starts at £302,999. Rental and part-buy part-rent options are also available.

More than nine out of 10 customers would recommend McCarthy Stone to a friend, ensuring it has received the full Five Star award for customer satisfaction from the Home Builders Federation. McCarthy Stone is the only UK housebuilder of any size or type to achieve this rating every year we have taken part in the survey.

For more information about Stanley Place, please call 0800 002 1829 visit: www.mccarthystone.co.uk/stanley-place.

CLIMATE CHANGE CAREERS IS BACK FOR A SECOND YEAR

Agent Academy’s innovative Climate Change Careers conference is set to return for a second year, as the green economy becomes top priority for North West businesses. The event comes as part of an exciting partnership with Cheshire College South & West, North West Business Leadership Team, Net Zero North West, North West Route to Net Zero, Cheshire West and Chester Council and Cheshire and Warrington LEP.

Spearheaded by the inaugural Climate Change Careers, hosted in November 2021, this year’s event is set to mirror last year’s success in showcasing the opportunities available in the clean growth industry. This year, it’s part of a wider set of events and initiatives being led by the ‘North West Route to Net Zero’ collaboration as part of the legacy of COP26 – the major climate change summit held in Glasgow last November.

Last year saw more than 300 people attend, both in-person and online, who all made pledges to affect climate change positively going forward.

This year’s event, taking place on Thursday 20th October, will see a variety of special guest speakers, including business leaders from the likes of Unilever, United Utilities CGI and Peel L&P, and young talent already working in industry, who will share insight into the progress being made towards a greener future and how young people can seize the opportunities this brings.

Hosted by young people at the impressive Cheshire College South & West Ellesmere Port campus, the fast-paced content will inspire attendees to progress towards a future career that will make a difference to the planet.

The event comes in response to businesses looking for talent to fulfil their net zero plans, and young talent wanting to contribute to the climate change agenda. Research suggests that the global transition to a carbon-neutral economy is set to create many job opportunities in the labour market, often referred to as ‘green jobs’. Currently, around just 17% of jobs in the UK are directly or indirectly green. With this on the rise, Climate Change Careers will give young people the chance to learn about, appreciate, and embrace the future possibilities of the green economy.

Zoe Wallace, Director at Agent Academy, said:

“The green economy is more prevalent than ever and what’s clear to us, is that there is a significant need to connect talented young people who are seeking jobs, with the opportunities that are available to them right here in the North West.

“We know that many employers are focusing more and more on putting the green agenda at the top of their priority list, so finding the right people with the right skills is incredibly important, and can often be a challenge.

“We’re excited to have the opportunity to evolve this event for the second year, bringing young people and businesses together to lead the movement for change, gain insight into the progress being made towards a greener future and learning about how we can all play a part in making it happen.”

Councillor Matt Bryan, Cabinet Member for Housing, Planning and the Climate Emergency at Cheshire West and Chester Council, added:

“We’re pleased to be working in partnership alongside Cheshire College South and West and Agent Academy to host this exciting event in Ellesmere Port. The region has a concentration of fantastic low carbon businesses, providing a great opportunity for us to help connect people with roles in this sector.

“Sustainable and inclusive growth is vital to both the current and future economy of the borough, and I can’t wait to see what this event inspires our young people to achieve.”

The Climate Change Careers event is open to all young people, educators and businesses in the North West. Registration for the event is free via Eventbrite.

Clare Hayward, Chair of Cheshire and Warrington LEP, said:

“It’s almost a year since the UK was in the international spotlight hosting COP26, there was a real sense of urgency and a recognition that action was required to tackle the climate change crisis. 

“The North West is truly leading the way when it comes to cutting emissions through major low carbon investment projects and a consequence of that innovation and drive to transition to net zero means that there will be thousands of high quality, green jobs available across Cheshire and Warrington and in the North West. 

“We want to ensure that both the younger generations and those looking for new careers are aware of the varied roles and opportunities available and that the industries leading the way know that they will be able to employ people with the right skillsets to take up these roles as we transition to net zero. 

“We are thrilled that the Climate Change Careers event is being staged in Ellesmere Port this year and hope it sparks real enthusiasm about the varied future potential careers. This event is part of the North West’s wider programme to create a lasting legacy from COP26, to ensure we deliver on our commitments so that all our communities will benefit from.”

Should I use Shower Wall Kits for my DIY Project?

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There has never been a better time to get into Do it Yourself projects. With the recent boom in DIY projects, DIY suppliers are providing more and more new products and styles to suit the vision of DIY enthusiasts and newcomers to DIY. Not only can you improve the look, feel and practicality of your house, but you can even add value to your property. With some good ideas, the right materials and a bit of hard work, you can transform your home.

One great project DIY to consider is updating your shower wall. The shower is a very important part of your home, with everyone spending at least some of the day using it. You need a decent shower wall to protect your shower area from water damage and mould. Not only that but a good looking shower wall can add a spark to your morning shower. As with any upgrade to your home, you’ll add value to your property with the right design and fitting to your shower wall.

You may think that replacing or upgrading your shower wall is a daunting task but with shower wall kits like those supplied by Interior Panel Systems (ipsl) this can be an easy and fun project that adds a lot of value to your shower room. With shower wall kits you’ll be given everything you need to complete your project including the wall panels, wall panel trims and fitting accessories to simplify your DIY experience and cut out unnecessary purchases saving you time and money.

There are so many designs to choose from that you will easily find the style of shower walls to fit your home and complete your bathroom look. Interior Panel Systems have over 90 styles to choose from so you don’t need to go far to find the shower wall panel kit you need. The kits range in price from £229.98 to £749.99 depending on the size and style of kit so no matter what your budget is you can deck out your shower wall and add some impressive value to your property.

When it comes to your bathroom, it is very important to keep your walls waterproof and clean to prevent water damage and mould build up. With a good quality supplier like ipsl you can be sure that the panel walls are waterproof and designed to be easy to clean. With a 10 year guarantee you can be safe in the knowledge that the kit you buy will be a lasting and worthwhile improvement to your home.

Transform your bathroom into a serene oasis with stylish and functional bathroom furniture ideas that maximize space and elevate your daily self-care experience.