A coroner has called for a change in the law after air pollution led to the death of nine-year-old Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah. Vindico’s Head of R&D, Professor Paul Lewis explains why this is the right decision. According to the BBC, the inquest found air pollution “made a material contribution” to her death, adding that there’s “no safe level of particulate matter”. And we couldn’t agree more. Ella is the first person in the UK to have air pollution listed as the cause of death on their death certificate. And it’s a trend we could see escalate if we continue to produce – and breathe in – particulate matter (PM2.5) at our current levels. But the report is a new milestone in the drive to get the UK government to adopt the WHO recommendation of a PM2.5 annual limit value of 10ug/m3. It means that some areas of the UK could be in breach of legislation in the future, and legal action could be taken against governments – in a similar way to what we have seen for NO2 over the last few years. The major area of concern from this report though is that people don’t know where to find information on air pollution. The adverse impacts of air pollution on patients are also not being communicated properly by carers and healthcare providers. We know that this needs to change, and we’re actively promoting air quality measuring and awareness through our Think Air network. Think Air is the only project in the UK to take on the challenge of understanding background and wide range air quality on this scale, and it’s changing the way we understand and measure the impact of toxic air – particularly PM2.5 – at a local level. Today, Think Air is on track to being the largest live air quality sensor network in Wales – and the largest in the UK by the end of 2021. To find out more about Think Air – and how your business can benefit – drop us

SWAPP Lite was originally developed for sporting arenas, but as society begins to open up – and small gatherings resume – there’s even more need for our track and trace technology.   Our SWAPP Lite app was originally developed for the for the Welsh Rugby Union back in 2020. It successfully allowed both the Autumn Internationals and the Six Nations Championship to go ahead at their home stadiums during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now it’s helping venues of all sizes to do the same beyond sport. SWAPP Lite is already used at Principality Stadium, Manchester Motorpoint Arena, the Arms Park, and Parc Y Scarlets. And, as we gradually ease lockdown rules, the safety app is quickly becoming an asset for corporate venues, hospitality, and events. But how does SWAPP Lite work? SWAPP (Safe Workplace APP) is a bespoke version of a technology we created for Transport for Wales. It features a handy QR code scanner, valuable track and trace, and pre-registration features. It also monitors standards and accreditations to make sure that all members of staff and contractors are up-to-date and meet the current required guidelines. Our developers are continually enhancing SWAPP Lite’s safety features. Area Access Control, fire roll call, and a new in / out board dashboard are among the latest app updates. We – like you – are eagerly waiting for crowds and gathering to return. We also know that it’s important for venues to optimise revenue streams by reintroducing corporate events, conferences, and general venue hire that’s safe and compliant. Adopting SWAPP Lite means that – along with the venue itself – any businesses or organisations hiring the venue will also be able to benefit from its safety features. For venues – it’s an attractive selling point that will put organisers, and attendees at ease. For event organisers – it provides an added dimension of safety and offers a clear vision of who is on site, and who’s compliant. Could your venue, team, or event benefit from our SWAPP Lite safety app? Drop us a line to find out how we can help you operate smoothly and safely both during and after

Vindico have been chosen as a finalist for Britain’s best environmentally sustainable business. Our commitment to air quality in the UK through our self-funded Think Air network means we’ve been shortlisted for the UK’s best environmentally sustainable small business at this year’s Small Awards. Think Air is on track to being the largest live air quality sensor network in the UK. It’s already helping to gather the data and insights we need to raise awareness and understanding of air quality and Pm2.5 levels across the country. And it’s also supported by Welsh organisations including Scarlets Rugby, Cardiff Devils, Niche, and Zip World. “It’s the only project in the UK to take on the challenge of understanding background and wide range air quality on this scale, and it’s changing the way we understand and measure the impact of toxic air at a local level,” Says Vindico MD, Jo Polson. Think Air’s success means that Vindico has been chosen as one of five finalists for the new ‘Net Hero’ Small Award, launched in the run-up to this November’s UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), to recognise small firms demonstrating exceptional commitment to environmental sustainability. Now in its fifth year, the Small Awards is a nationwide search for the smallest and greatest firms in the UK, across all sectors. It’s organised annually by Small Business Britain, which champions, inspires and accelerates small businesses in the UK. With eleven unique categories, the Small Awards celebrate the dynamism of the UK’s small business sector, across everything from longstanding family businesses and innovation-led start-ups, to social enterprise champions. “After what has been a difficult year for the whole small business community, it has been inspirational to hear about phenomenal small businesses across the UK,” said Michelle Ovens CBE, Founder of Small Business Britain. “The Small Awards exist to celebrate and champion the amazing contribution of fantastic small firms like Vindico. We received a record number of applications this year, with an incredibly high standard of entry, so all of the small businesses shortlisted should be rightly proud of this achievement.” Judged by a panel of leading enterprise experts, the winners of all award categories, along with the overall winner of Small Business of the Year, will be announced on 13th