Tag: 3BL

CHARLOTTE, N.C., September 15, 2026 /3BL/ – Discovery Education today released Education Insights 2026-2027: Learning with Purpose, a national research report conducted with Hanover Research. Drawing on insights from more than 1,000 K–12 leaders, educators, and students across the U.S., the report shows a clear gap between career-readiness goals and classroom reality: students often form career interests well before high school, but experience career-connected learning later, and less often, than educators believe they do.

Across every role and grade band surveyed, both teachers and administrators (99%) and students (91%) agreed that schools have an important part to play in preparing students for their futures. That consensus, however, does not translate into a consistent classroom experience. Administrators report weekly career learning at nearly four times the rate students do (71% versus 19%), and they are also more likely than teachers to say schools effectively prepare students for future careers (92% versus 68%). Just 10% of middle school students report learning about careers in class every week, the lowest share of any grade band.

States, employers, and educators increasingly agree on the need to prepare students for life beyond graduation. Already, 43 states have added at least one career-focused indicator in their accountability systems. In the workplace, 84% of hiring managers say most high school students are not prepared to enter the workforce, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Yet teachers say they need more support to make career connections a consistent part of everyday instruction, with 95% reporting a need for additional resources. The gap between ambition and reality means that most students aren’t offered structured career learning until after interests have formed.

“When career-connected learning meets students’ curiosity as early as kindergarten, we see the kind of deep engagement that fuels academic rigor and prepares students for what comes after graduation,” said Amy Nakamoto, Chief Commercial Officer at Discovery Education. “This research confirms that career readiness can’t be confined to a single program or grade band. It must be a design principle built into standards-aligned instruction across every grade, so students can grow from early exploration to confidence in their skills and choices.”

Educators Want More Classroom-Ready Support

More than nine in 10 educators say career readiness is as important to measure as academic achievement, yet only 37% say career readiness is embedded in instruction and 77% say bringing it into core learning is difficult in practice. With 93% of teachers also calling for more frequent career exploration at school, the report points to a clear need for practical support educators can use within everyday instruction.

Career Interests Start Before High School

The data shows career curiosity starts early and often outpaces the support schools provide. Among students surveyed, 78% say they discovered a career that genuinely interested them before reaching high school, including 54% who trace that interest back to elementary school. And 81% of students say career exploration should begin before high school altogether.

Middle School Is a Critical Gap

Middle school is a high-pressure, low-support moment: nearly 90% of middle school teachers believe students learn about careers too late, more than half of middle school students say they do not know much about options beyond college, and 58% feel pressure to pursue college even when another path might fit them better.

Career Connections Work Best Inside Daily Instruction

The report points to a clear path forward. Isolated career events register as the least influential factor in shaping student career interest: just 6% of students named field trips as a top influence on their career aspirations. By contrast, skill-building was named one of the most effective career-readiness effort by students (70%), teachers (84%), and administrators (92%), suggesting that career readiness resonates most when it is built into what students are already learning and doing in class, rather than treated as a separate initiative.

Hands-On Learning and Future-Ready Skills Matter Most

Teachers rank real-world, hands-on learning opportunities as the top resource that would improve career instruction, 10 percentage points above any other option. Those experiences can help students build not only career awareness, but also the durable skills needed for success in a changing workforce. As AI transforms how people work, 93% of educators and 82% of students say knowing how to work with AI tools will matter for future careers, while students continue to prioritize communication, problem-solving, adaptability, and creativity.

The report’s findings were reinforced by educators who participated in the research, many of whom described the importance of introducing career exploration earlier and making future connections more visible in everyday learning.

“Connecting learning to future careers gives students a reason to stay engaged and see the value in what they’re learning,” said Tavauna Owens, a fifth-grade math and science teacher in Broward County Public Schools, Florida. “Introducing career awareness early helps build confidence, spark curiosity, and show students that the skills they develop today can lead to exciting opportunities in the future.”

Education Insights 2026-2027: Learning with Purpose builds on a point of view Discovery Education has been developing across its work with schools nationwide: that career-connected learning works best as a design principle woven into daily, standards-aligned instruction from kindergarten forward, not a separate program bolted onto the school year. Solutions such as Discovery Education Experience and Career Connect bring that thinking into the classroom, embedding real-world relevance, standards-aligned career exploration, and future-ready skill-building directly into daily instruction.

The full report, including detailed findings by grade band and educator role, is available at discoveryeducation.com/education-insights.

Methodology

The survey was conducted by Hanover Research on behalf of Discovery Education in May 2026 and included 1,009 K-12 superintendents, principals, curriculum directors, teachers, and students across the United States. Hanover Research also conducted live interviews with stakeholder groups to add depth to the survey findings.

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About Discovery Education

Discovery Education is a global education technology leader whose innovative solutions empower educators and progress student learning. Discovery Education’s solutions have served more than 100 million students globally, supporting effective teaching and learning in 45% of U.S. K-12 schools and in 100+ countries and territories. The company’s portfolio includes award-winning core and supplemental curriculum, high-quality standards-aligned content, and AI-enabled teaching and learning tools. Solutions span math, science, literacy, social studies, and career-connected learning, including instructionally aligned content developed through one-of-a-kind partnerships with industry leaders to bring real-world relevance into every lesson. Learn more at www.discoveryeducation.com.

About Hanover Research

Founded in 2003, Hanover Research is a global research and analytics firm. Hanover was named a Top 50 Market Research Firm by the American Marketing Association. Learn more at www.hanoverresearch.com.

Media Contact

Ali Koper
Discovery Education
akoper@discoveryed.com

ROSEMONT, Ill., September 15, 2026 /3BL/ — In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month  (September 15–October 15) and as part of its ongoing commitment to workforce development, ISSA, The Association for Cleaning and Facility Solutions, in partnership with Tork, an Essity brand, today announced the launch of Frontline Excellence: Delivering Clean, Safe, and Welcoming Spaces via the Inclusive Hygiene Framework, a new online bilingual course developed for frontline cleaning professionals.

Available in both English and Spanish, the 30-minute, self-paced course fills an important need by providing training that reflects the realities of today’s diverse workforce and recognizes the essential role cleaning professionals play. The course equips frontline cleaning professionals with practical skills and confidence to deliver hygiene services that go beyond appearance, helping create environments that are clean, safe, accessible and welcoming for everyone who uses them. Designed for today’s diverse workforce, the course provides practical, real-world guidance that cleaning professionals can immediately apply in the facilities they service.

The launch also aligns with ISSA’s continued investment in professional development through its VEO Conference, taking place September 28–29 in Dallas. By offering the course in both English and Spanish, ISSA and Tork are expanding access to high-quality education while supporting one of the industry’s most diverse and essential workforces.

“Frontline cleaning professionals have never played a more important role in protecting public health while creating positive experiences in the built environment,” said ISSA Executive Director Kim Althoff. “This new training reflects ISSA’s commitment to providing practical, accessible education that helps professionals build confidence, strengthen their skills, and elevate the important work they perform every day. Offering the course in both English and Spanish allows us to reach even more of the dedicated professionals who keep our facilities healthy, safe and welcoming.”

This enhanced course integrates key insights from the Tork Inclusive Hygiene Playbook to provide a more holistic approach to hygiene – one that recognizes that people experience and access spaces differently. Built on the expertise of the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a Division of ISSA, the training empowers cleaning professionals to deliver more consistent, high-quality hygiene outcomes that benefit both facility users and employers.

The course includes five interactive learning modules:

• Infectious Disease & Workplace Hygiene
• Cleaning, Disinfection & Chemicals
• Risk Assessment & Personal Protective Equipment
• Equipment & Tools
• Communication, Training & Validation

Designed for frontline cleaning technicians, supervisors, site leaders, facility managers, building service contractors, and organizations investing in workforce development, the course is well suited for onboarding, upskilling and continuing education programs.

Tork research highlights a clear opportunity for facility managers to better support and empower cleaning professionals. With 70% of cleaners reporting inadequate employer support and 38% leaving roles due to burnout or a lack of recognition , investing in training and professional development can have a meaningful impact. Helping cleaners build new skills while strengthening their connection to the purpose and value of their work can increase engagement, improve retention, and support more consistent, high-quality hygiene outcomes for building occupants.

“Cleaning professionals are essential to the health, safety and experience of every facility they serve,” said Amy Bellcourt, VP of Communications at Essity. “Inclusive hygiene is about designing and maintaining spaces that work for as many people as possible. By partnering with ISSA to deliver this comprehensive training, we’re equipping frontline teams with the tools to succeed—improving retention, raising cleaning quality, and creating better experiences for facility users.” 

The course is available through the ISSA Academy and is free for ISSA members and $50 for nonmembers.

For more information or to enroll, visit the ISSA Academy. Organizations can also learn more about building a comprehensive approach to inclusive hygiene at torkglobal.com/us/en/about/inclusive-hygiene.

About ISSA

ISSA is The Association for the Cleaning and Facility Solutions, representing more than 11,000 member organizations and professionals worldwide—including manufacturers, manufacturer representatives, wholesalers, distributors building service contractors, in-house service providers, residential cleaners, and associate service members. The association is committed to elevating the built environment by providing its members with the business tools they need to promote cleaning as an investment in human health, the environment, and an improved bottom line. Headquartered in Rosemont, Ill., USA, the association has regional offices in Milan, Italy; Toronto, Canada; Sydney, Australia; Seoul, South Korea; and Shanghai, China. For more information about ISSA, visit www.issa.com or call 800-225-4772 (North America) or 847-982-0800. Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

About Tork

The Tork brand offers professional hygiene products and services to customers worldwide ranging from restaurants and healthcare facilities to offices, schools and industries. Our products include dispensers, paper towels, toilet tissues, soap, napkins and wipers, but also software solutions for data-driven cleaning. Through expertise in hygiene, functional design and sustainability, Tork has become a market leader that supports customers to think ahead so they’re always ready for business. Tork is a global brand of Essity and a committed partner to customers in more than 110 countries. To keep up with the latest Tork news and innovations, please visit www.torkglobal.com/us/en/.

About Essity

Essity is a global, leading hygiene and health company. Every day, our products, solutions and services are used by a billion people around the world. Our purpose is to break barriers to well-being for the benefit of consumers, patients, caregivers, customers and society. Sales are conducted in approximately 150 countries under the leading global brands TENA and Tork, and other strong brands such as Actimove, Cutimed, JOBST, Knix, Leukoplast, Libero, Libresse, Lotus, Modibodi, Nosotras, Saba, Tempo, TOM Organic and Zewa. In 2025, Essity had net sales of approximately SEK 138bn (EUR 13bn) and employed 36,000 people. The company’s headquarters is located in Stockholm, Sweden and Essity is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. More information at essity.com.Tork Contact: FH-Tork NA FHTork@fleishman.com
 

Last month, CVS Health, Aetna Better Health of Illinois, Oak Street Health and community leaders gathered at Grace Manor in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood to host a resident-focused resource fair designed to support health, wellness, education and economic opportunity. The event brought together residents, local leaders and community organizations for a day of health services, resource connections and family-friendly activities. Elected officials in attendance included State Senator Lakesia Collins, Alderperson Monique Scott and Cook County Commissioner Michael Scott Jr.

The event marked a return to Grace Manor, a 65-unit affordable housing community for families that opened in November 2025 with nearly $18 million in investment from CVS Health. The gathering reflected the company’s continued commitment to supporting residents beyond housing by connecting individuals and families with resources that promote overall well-being.

One highlight of the day was the presentation of a CVS Health grant to Windy City Harvest, the Chicago Botanic Garden’s urban agriculture and workforce development program. Located near Grace Manor, Windy City Harvest works to expand food access, create career opportunities and improve community health across Chicago’s West and South Sides.

Ahead of the event, CVS Health colleagues volunteered at Windy City Harvest’s Rodeo Farm, helping harvest fresh produce and support ongoing farm operations. During the grant presentation, attendees learned that produce harvested through the volunteer effort was included in VeggieRx boxes distributed to Grace Manor residents at the wellness fair.

Residents had access to a variety of services and activities throughout the event, including:

• Free health screenings through Project Health
• Vaccination services provided by CVS Pharmacy
• Community resource information from Oak Street Health and Aetna Better Health of Illinois
• A healthy cooking demonstration from Real Foods Collective
• Back-to-school backpack distribution and school supply activities
• Complimentary barber and hair-braiding services
• Healthy snacks from Well Market
• Produce-filled VeggieRx boxes provided through Windy City Harvest

The event showcased the power of collaboration among health care providers, community organizations and local leaders to address the social and economic factors that influence health outcomes.

“Our investment in Grace Manor and Windy City Harvest reflect a long-term commitment to the neighborhoods we serve,” said Melanie Fernando, CEO of Aetna Better Health of Illinois. “We’re proud to support that work through collaborations and investments that advance whole-person health and address the factors that influence health outcomes.”

Through the company’s ongoing affordable housing investments and work with organizations like Windy City Harvest, CVS Health and Aetna are helping connect people with resources, services and opportunities that support their well-being. Events like this demonstrate how community partnerships can strengthen families, enrich neighborhoods and create lasting impact.

CINCINNATI, September 15, 2026 /3BL/ – Charmin Ultra Bamboo has been recognized with a 2026 Business Intelligence Group Sustainability Award in the Sustainability Squad category. The award recognizes teams delivering measurable sustainability progress through innovation, collaboration and business impact.

The Charmin Ultra Bamboo team was honored for bringing to market a first-of-its-kind bamboo toilet tissue that combines responsible fiber sourcing and paper-based packaging with the softness, strength and absorbency consumers expect from the Charmin brand. Developed through a cross-functional team that operated like a startup, integrating product innovation, manufacturing adaptation, branding and consumer testing to rapidly bring the product to market.

Charmin Ultra Bamboo is made with 100% FSC-certified bamboo fiber and reflects P&G’s broader efforts to explore innovative non-wood fibers and advance responsible sourcing.

“Sustainability used to mean a pledge. Now it means a number,” said Russ Fordyce, Chief Recognition Officer of the Business Intelligence Group. “What stood out this year was how many of these winners could point to a specific, verified outcome. Sustainability leadership in 2026 isn’t about intent. It’s about the receipts.”

The Sustainability Awards recognize organizations, products, teams and individuals driving measurable environmental and social impact across industries around the world. Winners are selected by independent judges based on demonstrated outcomes and progress.

ATHENS, Greece, September 15, 2026 /3BL/ – Cascale, the global nonprofit industry alliance uniting more than 300 members across the consumer goods industry, today opened its 2026 Annual Meeting in Athens, where chief executive officer Ying McGuire used her first Annual Meeting address to launch a member-led process to set the alliance’s direction for the next decade. Rather than present a finished strategy, McGuire invited members to help build an industry system map that will lead to Cascale’s 10-year vision, 2030 strategy, and 2027 priorities — work that will be drawn directly from the membership over the days ahead and finalized in December.

“Athens is not where I unveil Cascale’s next strategy,” said McGuire. “Athens is where we start drawing it together. I want you to look at that strategy in December and say: I can see my fingerprints on it. Because Cascale does not belong to the CEO. It belongs to this community.”

Key Takeaways

• McGuire opened her first Annual Meeting as CEO by launching a member-led process to shape an industry system map leading to Cascale’s 10-year vision, 2030 strategy, and 2027 priorities, to be finalized in December.
• The approach follows a 90-day listening effort spanning roughly 150 conversations across the value chain, after which she committed to sharpening Cascale’s value proposition, clarifying roles across a fragmented industry landscape, and bringing manufacturers to the table as partners.
• She positioned Cascale’s role as the “passage” for collective action — the shared system brands, retailers, manufacturers, investors, NGOs, and policymakers move through together — rather than a body that dictates the route.
• She framed the alliance’s next chapter as turning measurement into action: “A thermometer can tell us we have a fever. It cannot cure us.”
• Members joining in Athens and online will shape the strategy directly through a systems-mapping exercise feeding Cascale’s 2030 strategy and 2027 priorities.

A Strategy Shaped By Members

McGuire framed her opening as the start of a shared agenda. In her first months as CEO, she met every member of the Cascale team and spoke with nearly 150 organizations across the value chain, asking what is working, what is getting in the way, and what members would change. The answers were consistent: members value Cascale’s convening power and the shared infrastructure built over fifteen years, and they want a sharper value proposition, clearer roles across a fragmented field of initiatives, and manufacturers treated as partners rather than measured from a distance.

That input now feeds a systems-mapping exercise, led by systems thinkers over the course of the meeting, in which members in Athens and online are asked to identify where the system is working, where it is stuck, and which levers matter most. The output will shape Cascale’s 2030 strategy and 2027 priorities directly.

Cascale as the “Passage” for Collective Action

Drawing on the collective engineering effort behind the Panama Canal, McGuire offered a metaphor in the passage itself. “That is the role I believe Cascale can play,” she said. “Not the ship. Not the captain. The passage.” Every vessel flies its own flag and sets its own destination, she noted, yet all depend on the same shared system to get through.

For Cascale, that means being the place where the industry can make the system visible, see where it is stuck, identify the levers that matter most, and build a way through together — convening brands, retailers, manufacturers, investors, NGOs, service providers, policymakers, and academia around the frameworks and shared intelligence the industry relies on. McGuire was explicit that this includes clarity about where Cascale leads, where it convenes and partners, and where it steps back.

From Measurement to Action

McGuire pointed to the scale of the shared system the industry has built over fifteen years of Higg Index frameworks, stewarded by Cascale and deployed to members and stakeholders through the Worldly platform. This data covers hundreds of millions of metric tons of carbon emissions, trillions of liters of water, and the working lives of millions of people across the global supply chain. “That is not just a database,” she said. “That is an enormous responsibility.”

She was candid that measurement alone is not enough. “A thermometer can tell us we have a fever. It cannot cure us,” she said. “Our next chapter is about turning measurement into treatment — insight into investment, action, and measurable results.” She recast the investment members make in Cascale not as a cost to minimize but as shared infrastructure no single company should have to build alone — strengthening common frameworks, reducing duplication, and accelerating outcomes no company could reach by itself.

Closing, McGuire returned to a recent member question about who in the industry would raise a flag to guide it. Her answer: the flag is carried by everyone in the system. “We raise it together.”

This is the ambition she asked members to rally around: turning the largest shared sustainability and risk-management intelligence in the industry into its most powerful engine for collective action — data into decisions, investment into solutions, and ambition into measurable progress, for a resilient supply chain, a thriving industry, a livable planet, and decent work for the people whose hands make this industry possible.

The 2026 Cascale Annual Meeting is proudly supported by lead sponsor Worldly; co-chaired by VF Corporation and TAL Apparel Limited; additional sponsors include Nike Inc., Target Corporation, Epic Group, Better Cotton, Fair Wear Foundation, European Cotton Alliance, GSCS International, HQTS, Inspectorio, Lenzing, Solidaridad, ZDHC, and many more.

Media Contact: Forster Communications, cascaleforster@forster.co.uk

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ABOUT CASCALE

Cascale is the global nonprofit industry alliance where consumer goods organizations turn shared sustainability ambitions into measurable progress at scale to combat climate change and support decent work for all. We unite 300 Corporate and Affiliate members in pre-competitive collaboration, turning shared measurement and collective action into reduced risk, stronger credibility, and long-term resilience. Our work is anchored by Cascale’s stewardship of the Higg Index frameworks (accessed through the Worldly technology platform), along with the Better Buying and Sustainable Furnishings Council tools.

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Key Points

• The National Private Trucking Council selected Marathon Petroleum for Gold, Silver and Bronze Safety Seal Awards in its 2026 Fleet Safety Awards program.
• Twenty Marathon Petroleum trucking fleets earned recognition based on their 2025 vehicle accident performance.
• The awards recognize trucking fleets with no accidents, significant reductions in accident frequency rates or continued safety progress in private fleet operations.

September 14, 2026 /3BL/ – Twenty Marathon Petroleum trucking fleets earned 2026 Safety Seal Awards from the National Private Trucking Council (NPTC), recognizing strong performance and continued progress in private fleet safety. Marathon Petroleum was honored during the NPTC Driver Hall of Fame and Fleet Safety Awards at the Annual Education Management Conference & Exhibition.

“This recognition reflects the focus and discipline our teams bring to every mile,” said Jocko Langlois, Marathon Petroleum’s Trucking & Rail – East Transport Operations Director. “Safe fleet performance takes consistent effort from drivers, leaders and support teams across our organization. These awards are a credit to the employees who make safety part of every decision and every delivery.”

Gold Seal Award – Certificate of Achievement

This certificate is awarded to a company and its employees for outstanding safety performance in the operations of its private fleet. It is awarded to a trucking fleet that did not experience a single accident during the previous year. This year’s three Gold Seal Award recipients set an MPC fleet record, surpassing the previous record of two fleets earning the recognition.

• Champaign LP, Illinois
• Mason Crude, Texas
• Midland LP, Pennsylvania

Silver Seal Award – Certificate of Merit

This certificate is awarded to a company and its employees for an improved safety record in the operations of its private fleet. It is awarded to a trucking fleet that reduces its accident frequency rate by 40% or more, compared with its record of the previous year.

• Argo LP, Illinois
• Bay City LP/Flint LP, Michigan
• East Hynes LP, California
• Garyville Sulfur, Louisiana
• Indianapolis LP, Indiana
• Lexington LP, Kentucky
• Muncie LP, Indiana
• North Muskegon LP, Michigan
• Phoenix LP, Arizona
• San Diego LP, California
• Tucson LP, Arizona

Bronze Seal Award – Certificate of Progress

This certificate is awarded to a company and its employees for safety progress in the operations of its private fleet. It is awarded to a trucking fleet that reduced its accident frequency rate by 20% to 39% compared with its record of the previous year.

• Bloomfield Crude, New Mexico
• Cadiz Crude Region, Ohio
• Covington LP, Kentucky
• Dayton LP, Ohio
• Marietta Crude, Ohio
• Vinvale LP, California

The 2026 recognition builds on Marathon Petroleum’s previous NPTC Safety Seal honors and underscores the company’s continued focus on safe, reliable transportation operations across its trucking fleet.

Interested in driving for MPC?

Marathon Petroleum drivers work in many different unique environments throughout the country. Find career opportunities as a transport driver today.

COMPLIMENTARY WEBINAR

Beyond the Standard: Turning LSRS & FLAG Into Supply-Chain Advantage in 2027

September 30, 2026

11AM PT | 2PM ET

REGISTER

 

The new Land Sector and Removals Standard (LSRS) takes effect January 1, 2027, and most food, agriculture, retail, and CPG companies are still determining how to operationalize compliance across complex supply chains. At the same time, evolving climate disclosure expectations and increasing demand for auditable, verifiable, defensible environmental data are raising the stakes for organizations that source from land-intensive value chains. 

Running in tandem, the Science Based Targets initiative’s (SBTi) Forest, Land and Agriculture (FLAG) Target-Setting Guidance’s recent update in March 2026 now is well-aligned with LSRS, adding a new layer of uncharted actionability and corporate accountability for companies in many sectors. 

Companies are challenged with figuring out how to navigate these two frameworks and find ways to make adoption beneficial to their corporate goals,  

Fresh off Climate Week NYC, SCS Consulting’s Director of Climate Solutions, Nick Betts, will go past the “what” of LSRS and FLAG to the part nobody’s solving: how do you actually implement LSRS and FLAG without it collapsing into a painful reporting exercise? 

In 20 minutes, Nick will unpack the four barriers that will make or break 2027 programs: 

• Data and Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) readiness  
• Diluted impact across supply sheds  
• Multiple companies reporting on the same farms  
• Farmer economics that are often underfunded   

Nick will lay out a practical path through each barrier, built on pre-competitive, supply-shed collaboration that’s already working in the field. 

You’ll leave with:  

• A clear read on what LSRS actually changes 
• The five moves to make before 2027  
• A smarter way to build supply chains that are more resilient, traceable, and defensible   

Join us Wednesday, September 30, 2026 · 2:00 PM ET — the week after Climate Week NYC · 20-min talk + 10-min live Q&A. 

REGISTER

by Kristin Hull, CEO of Nia Impact Capital 

There is a moment in every major economic transition when the early movers look prescient, and the late movers look like they simply were not paying attention. We are in that moment right now with renewables, and we are excited about the potential.

Despite headlines in the US that might lead us to believe otherwise, the global energy transition is no longer a distant promise. The shift away from oil, coal and gas to renewable energy sources is the defining economic shift of our time, already underway and accelerating. As fossil fuel extraction grows more expensive and complex, as governments worldwide tighten emissions targets, as technology costs continue to fall, and as institutional capital floods into clean infrastructure, renewable energy has evolved from a niche ethical investment into a mainstream sector with compelling financial fundamentals.

At Nia Impact Capital, we have invested in this transition to a more sustainable economy since inception, grounded in our straightforward conviction: companies aligned with the long arc of human and environmental flourishing will outperform over time. We see renewable energy solutions as sitting at the center of that arc.

Learn more in this article including: why Renewables win over the long term; the structural forces driving this shift, all of which are accelerating; and take a look across the Technology spectrum. Read the full article here- https://greenmoney.com/the-energy-transition-is-here-why-renewable-energy-is-one-of-the-most-compelling-investment-opportunities-of-our-time

 

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LONDON, September 14 2026 /3BL/ Some of the UK’s small satellite cities are experiencing rapid small business growth, as entrepreneurs move outside of their larger neighbours, new research shows.

Salford in the North West of England (population ~130,000) – just two miles from Manchester (population ~550,000) – is officially the UK’s most entrepreneurial city, with its concentration of small businesses increasing by 15.4% in the last twelve months.

The figures come from GoDaddy’s new Most Entrepreneurial City rankings, informed by data from the company’s Small Business Research Lab. Each place with city status in the UK is given a microbusiness density growth count, based on the number of new start-ups for each 100 people.

 

The big rise of the small city

Four of the top five Most Entrepreneurial Cities were found to be satellite cities. Ely, located 14 miles north of Cambridge, was the second most entrepreneurial city. Its microbusiness density score increased by 14.9%, more than double that of its larger neighbour Cambridge (+7.1%).

Bangor in Northern Ireland (+12.9%) and Milton Keynes in England (+11.7%) also featured in the top five, and their growth significantly outpaced that of their nearby capital cities of Belfast (+3.2%) and London (+9.8) respectively.

Local investment fuelling the boom

Salford’s emergence as a small business powerhouse has not come around by accident. The city has invested deliberately in becoming a digital and innovation-led enterprise hub, anchored by HOST Salford at MediaCity.

Backed by Salford City Council and public funding, including £846,900 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, it has supported over 300 businesses and upskilled over 5,000 individuals. This is enhanced through programmes including “EnterprisingYou” and “Build a Business” which support aspiring entrepreneurs in building and launching new ventures.

Cheaper property rents, advancing technology and lower start-up costs improve opportunities in satellite cities

Satellite cities are perfect for entrepreneurs in today’s challenging economic climate.They often offer materially-cheaper cost bases for outgoings like property rent – the average rent in Salford is around £2,500 cheaper per year than in Manchester, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Technology has also advanced to a point where being in the thick of the action is no longer a key consideration for entrepreneurs. Over half (52%) utilise generative AI to support their business, gaining the biggest time-saving benefits from using it for content creation (62%), marketing (40%), and business advice (39%).

In parallel, the average amount of capital needed to launch a business has shrunk. In GoDaddy’s latest Small Business Research Lab survey, the majority (53%) of UK entrepreneurs said they’d created a new venture with under £1,000 of initial investment.

Mr. Meisner, 48, has been running the New York Laundrette in Salford for seven years, he commented:

“I’ve lived in Salford for more than 20 years and run New York Laundrette with my brother, serving the local community. When we took over the laundrette, we started with a relatively small customer base, but by investing in the business, improving the customer experience and putting customer service at the heart of everything we do, we’ve been able to grow tremendously.

I’ve seen first-hand what makes this city such a great place to build a business. Salford has a real sense of community. It’s a diverse place where people from different backgrounds support each other and genuinely want to see local businesses succeed. It doesn’t surprise me that so many new businesses are starting up in the area. Finding the right location is everything, and Salford can offer lower premise costs that would be harder to find in Manchester.”

Yvonne Sampson, Director of Enterprise at GM Business Growth Hub that delivers the EnterprisingYou Programme, said: 

“The growth in Salford has been over a decade in the making, leveraging commercial and residential investment to create an environment for thriving entrepreneurship. The City has fantastic strengths – from the University to MediaCity and the longstanding partnerships between Salford Council and support organisations like ours, GM Business Growth Hub. 

“Not only does it have a well-established digital, creative and technology sector, but recent investment in the City’s high streets has meant there has been some incredible growth in the everyday business economy. Working with hundreds of new businesses in Salford, through EnterprisingYou and our Scale Up programmes, it’s clear that there is a real desire to succeed at all levels.”

Alexandra Rosen, Economist and Head of the GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab, said:

“Entrepreneurship is no longer tied to major city centres. Better digital infrastructure, the rise of AI tools and lower start-up costs have changed the economics of building a business, making it possible for founders to launch and scale from places that may previously have been overlooked. What we are seeing is a more distributed model of growth, where smaller cities and towns are becoming increasingly important parts of the UK’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.”

To explore the 2026 Most Entrepreneurial Provinces rankings or learn more about GoDaddy’s Small Business Research Lab, visit GoDaddy Research.

About GoDaddy 

GoDaddy, the world’s largest domain name registrar, helps millions of entrepreneurs globally start, grow, and scale their businesses. People come to GoDaddy to name their idea, build a website and logo, sell their products and services and accept payments. Airo™, the company’s agentic operating system for small businesses, helps entrepreneurs get their idea online, run their business day-to-day, and grow through an integrated identity, presence and commerce experience. GoDaddy’s expert guides are available 24/7 to provide assistance. To learn more about the company, visit www.GoDaddy.com.

About GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab 

GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab is a multi-year research initiative, which analyses data from over 600,000 UK microbusinesses, conducted by GoDaddy to quantify the impact of these microbusinesses on the UK economy and their local communities.

 

 

Originally published on Guiding Stars Health & Nutrition News

There are many reasons why you may need to cook with limited equipment or without a full kitchen. Maybe you have a very small space, or it doesn’t make sense to heat up a large oven. Or possibly you’re navigating irregular schedules in your home, prefer snack-style meals, or have little time. With simple, realistic strategies you can still build a nutritious plate, regardless of your kitchen size or access to cooking equipment.

Build Your Shopping Cart

The key to building simple meals is shopping for foods that require little or no preparation. This means less kitchen tools, quicker preparation, and fewer steps between you and your finished dish. In some cases, these foods may be more expensive than options that aren’t trimmed, cut, or otherwise made more convenient. But if this half-scratch approach means less take-out or restaurant meals, it’s still likely to save you money.

Proteins: Pick up thinly sliced or trimmed lean meats, chicken tenders, and fish filets, along with deveined shrimp. Add tofu, no-salt-added beans (cans or pouches), tinned fish, and Guiding Stars-earning prepared meatballs, breaded chicken, or fish.

Vegetables: Rely on pre-washed greens, colorful fruit and vegetables, steam-in-bag or mini potatoes, and pre-cut produce.

Grains: Go for a variety of grains, including some microwavable products. If possible, include options high in plant protein like quinoa, whole wheat pasta, whole grain flatbreads, and bean-based noodles.

Dairy: Choose the dairy/dairy alternative foods that work best for you. Include plain, protein-rich, low- or non-fat Greek yogurt. Its versatility makes it perfect for a variety of recipes, marinades, dips, or sour cream replacement.

Miscellaneous: Round out your cart with helpful seasoning blends, oil (olive, sesame, vegetable), vinegar (balsamic, rice, red wine) and versatile, lower-sodium sauces or dressings that add flavor and elevate a simple plate. You don’t need to store many items if the ones you pick are helpful for a variety of dishes.

Small, but Useful Equipment

You don’t need a large kitchen or full-size equipment. With the right tools, you can prepare almost any recipe. Consider these versatile, small kitchen appliances.

• Toaster oven/air fryer (most will allow you to toast, bake, and air fry a variety of foods)
• Hot plate (can replace a full-size stove)
• Microwave (possibly with a convection oven feature)
• Blender (for sauces, smoothies, and soups)
• Mini food processor (ideal for chopping in small spaces and making dips)
• Grill pan (to make “grilled” dishes on a hot plate)

Easy Recipes

Try these easy-to-prepare recipes made with less steps and fewer ingredients:

Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Fresh Marinara Linguine

Chinese Chicken Patties

Sheet Pan Maple Salmon Bake

Chicken Spinach Wraps

About Guiding Stars

Guiding Stars is an objective, evidence-based, nutrition guidance program that evaluates foods and beverages to make nutritious choices simple. Products that meet transparent nutrition criteria earn a 1, 2, or 3 star rating for good, better, and best nutrition. Guiding Stars can be found in more than 2,000 grocery stores, in Circana’ Attribute Marketplace, and through the Guiding Stars Food Finder app.