Helping Techniquest stay connected with schools during lockdown with a digital outreach programme. What was intended as a stop gap until Techniquest could reopen has become a thriving online platform that continues to grow. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Techniquest knew they needed to adapt their approach – pronto. Wales’ leading science museum wanted a way to stay connected with schools during lockdown – and that’s where Vindico came in. Working with Techniquest, we developed a digital outreach platform that lets schools access fantastic science classes and materials. It’s simple, easy to navigate, and lets teachers access tons of relevant teaching materials and resources for their classroom. These include themed videos and teaching materials on a variety of science topics in both Welsh and English. Some materials are downloadable, whereas others are viewable only through the platform. We also developed a bespoke CMS (Content Management System) that allows Techniquest to manage its content, resources, and users. It also generates single-use redemption codes that can be purchased through Techniquest’s existing ticketing systems. With the pandemic shutting businesses overnight, time was of the essence for this project. In fact, we developed both the digital outreach platform and the bespoken CMS for Techniquest in just one month. Yes, you read that right – one month. It was good-to-go by September 2020, starting with just three online classes. Today, it has grown to over 20 science classes, with engagement still rising as schools adapt to the ‘new normal’. It’s become a key platform for spreading knowledge and STEM skills – and its accessible to every school in Wales. It’s now adopted by 131 schools across 21 Welsh counties, and a few over the border in England, too. To date, 15,385 pupils have accessed the fun and engaging classes – and these numbers continue to grow. “Vindico’s forward-thinking approach, and ability to work to an extremely tight deadline, helped us transform the idea into a digital solution that is now delivering content to pupils across Wales,”  says Gareth McTiffin, Head of Commercial Development at Techniquest. “The positive feedback we’ve received has been overwhelming – and we can’t wait to see the full scope of this digital platform as the project evolves.” Does your business need to raise its digital game – and fast? Drop us a line to see how Vindico’s #ThinkPurple solutions can help you

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) have chosen SWAPP to provide the smart level of safety they need for their Olympic qualifiers. The IIHF‘s adoption isn’t the first time SWAPP has been used for an ice hockey tournament. Our advanced screening platform and safety app was also adopted by the EIHL for their 2021 Elite Series, which took place behind closed doors. Read all about it here. This time SWAPP hit the ice, we quickly turned around a rebrand for the IIHF, making key changes that incorporated the essential processes and legislation for this Olympic qualifying tournament. Outside of ice hockey, SWAPP is already used by some of the biggest teams and leagues in sport – including the WRU, Cardiff Rugby, Scarlets Rugby, and Worcester Warriors. Read all about SWAPP’s latest features here. But this our collaboration with the IIHF is first time we’ve hit Olympic level. And it’s something Vindico MD is slightly excited about! “We’re committed to furthering our relationship with British ice hockey – and the International Ice Hockey Federation’s Olympic Qualifiers lets us do just that. “We’re not only proud sponsors – and supporters – of the Cardiff Devils, but also have a relationship with the EIHL, thanks to SWAPP’s involvement with the Elite Series. Now we can say we’ve taken it to Olympic level! “OLYMPIC! “How many times do you think I can use the word ‘Olympic’ before the content team tell me to stop? Olympic.” To find out more about SWAPP’s advanced screening platform and safety app – and how it can help your team, business, or event stay safe and compliant – drop us a line today. Image

SWAPP – our Safe Workplace App – adds stewarding, temporary staff management and accreditation features. Vindico’s talented development team have been busy creating some exciting new additions to SWAPP ahead of this year’s Autumn Internationals rugby tournament. The latest features introduced to SWAPP’s core platform include a staff management tool for all stewarding at the Principality Stadium, and a new accreditation system for all pass access. “We’re taking a process run by WhatsApp, email, and texts and bringing it all into on smart place – the SWAPP platform,” says Vindico MD, Jo Polson. “The SWAPP platform then provides the management team with live information on staff availability for all events – saving time, effort, and simply making the process easier and better.” These new additions now sit alongside SWAPP’s existing core features. These include a handy QR code scanner, contactless sign in / out access, valuable track and trace, live fire roll call, attendance dashboards, and pre-registration features. It also monitors industry standards, workplace regulations, and industry accreditations – ensuring all members of staff and contractors are up-to-date and meet the current required guidelines. “We used the Covid pandemic as a chance to not just tackle new problems, but solve old ones, too,” adds Jo. “What started as product for a public sector client quickly became an essential tool for changing workforces. And we’ve continuously updated features to stay one step ahead – adding contract management, track and trace, snagging, live fire roll call, and risk assessments to make workplaces safer and more efficient. Promoting digital knowledge transfer (which is more important now than ever before), SWAPP is now one of the most prominent safety apps used in Welsh sport and busines. “SWAPP has evolved rapidly in the last 12 months – going from something useful for providing safe working access to staff during the height of the pandemic, to becoming a key foundation platform that we can bolt on to existing systems, processes and problems. “Simple to use, and smart to run, SWAPP now provides a single portal for management to view essential live information. It also a provided an all-important audit trail of activity. “The WRU signing up for five years shows the faith they have in the platform, and there are yet more exciting plans ahead as we continue to work with the WRU on their development roadmap.” SWAPP originally caught the attention of the WRU in October 2020. It was adopted to safely bring us the Autumn Internationals and the Six Nations during the pandemic. Following its success, it was later adopted by Scarlets Rugby, Cardiff Rugby, Sale Sharks, and the Elite Ice Hockey League. Today it helps venues including Principality Stadium, Sixways for the Worcester Warriors, the Arms Park, and Parc Y Scarlets to safely manage staff, teams, contractors, and visitors. It’s also recently been adopted by Andrew Scott and Transport for Wales. For more information about SWAPP – and how it can help your team, business, or event stay safe and compliant – drop us a line

Vindico’s Head of R&D, Professor Paul Lewis, has been appointed regional Clean Air Champion for the UKRI and the Met Office’s Clean Air Programme. As a new regional Clean Air Champion, Paul Lewis joins the existing champions in supporting the national Clean Air Programme – a £42.5 million investment that supports high quality research and innovation to develop practical solutions for today’s air quality issues. It also equips the UK to proactively tackle future air quality challenges. As our Director of R&D here at Vindico, Professor Paul is already driving some of the most cutting-edge research, insights, and innovations around clean air and its impact on local communities. His most high-profile project to date is Think Air – Vindico’s self-funded background air quality monitoring and insights network – of which he is Co-Founder. Think Air is now the largest urban and rural background particulate network in Wales, covering the entire reach of the country. It provides air quality data  that supports agriculture, commercial, residential, and education environments. It’s also on track to being the largest non-governmental background air quality monitoring network in the UK by the end of 2022. Most importantly, it is collecting real-time data that is helping Professor Paul and the team to gain valuable data and insights into local air quality – what’s impacting it, and what we can do to improve it. “I am delighted to become the UKRI Regional Air Champion for Wales, supporting the work of the Clean Air Programme and Strategic Priorities Fund,” says Professor Paul. “The role will allow me to engage with key stakeholders from academia, industry, government, the NHS and third sector right across Wales to help develop new solutions and policies to reduce air pollution and the impacts on our health and wellbeing.” In addition to supporting the nationwide Clean Air programme, Professor Paul Lewis is a member of the Welsh Government Clean Air Panel. He’s also member of the Cross-Party Group for a new Clean Air Act, and sits on several advisory panels including the Wales Air Quality Direction Independent Review Panel and the Domestic Solid Fuel Burning in Wales, Task and Finish Group. You can fine out more about the Clean Air Programme and its regional champions

Vindico are finalists at this year’s Cardiff Business Awards. We’re excited to announce that Vindico been shortlisted at this year’s Cardiff Business Awards for a second year in a row. As a business at the forefront of tech and innovation in the UK, we’ve gained a lot of national publicity in the past year – but to be recognized in our motherland means a lot to us. It gives amazing recognition to the partnerships, projects, and client collaborations we’ve been part of – and we hope it will help us raise the profile of the exciting work we have in the pipeline, too. The past 12 months has seen us implement some of our most game-changing innovations to date – working with clients ranging from the WRU and Cardiff Rugby to Worcester Warriors and Transport for Wales. Click here to see our recent #ThinkPurple projects. The seventh annual Cardff Business Awards takes place on 26 November at Cardiff City Hall. And after last year’s shift to virtual events during the COVID pandemic, we couldn’t be happier to attend this year’s ceremony in person (MD Jo loves an excuse to get suited and booted). You can find out more about the awards – and its celebration of Wales’s best businesses

This week is National Coding Week – and it couldn’t be better timing for TASK. As its presence in Primary Schools continues to rise, TASK’s introduction to coding is helping pupils and teachers to embrace STEM in the classroom. But let’s rewind – what exactly is TASK? TASK is the UK’s first air quality activity kit designed just for kids. Pioneered Vindico’s Director of R&D, and UK air quality expert, Professor Paul Lewis, TASK is a science lab in a box that covers all areas of the curriculum in England and Wales. With a focus on learning by doing, TASK’s interactive experiences help raise awareness of air pollution in a way that’s easy to understand, measure, and report. It covers all six key areas of learning and experience in the Welsh curriculum, and supports numerous programmes of study in the UK curriculum. But back to coding. TASK’s drag-and-drop coding is the ideal introduction to computer coding and logic – and it’s been designed especially for key stage 1 and 2 (years 5 and 6). Once the air quality sensors are attached and operating, pupils can create alerts and triggers when different levels are exceeded. Imagine an alarm sounding when air quality drops, or a class becomes too rowdy! Beyond building the sensor, pupils use the same intuitive tool to create live dashboards (outputting via HDMI) with the same drag-and-drop interface. In fact, it uses the same methods and tools that create live sensor-based automation platforms in industry and construction. Pretty nifty, right? And the learning doesn’t stop there. When kids learn to code, they gain tons of other skills too. Coding helps primary school pupils to build their digital skills, communication skills, problem-solving skills, and teamworking skills. It also gives creative skills, too. TASK’s platform has also been designed to make sure knowledge is transferable to higher learning and activities beyond the classroom. If your classroom is new to coding and want to give it a go, you can find out more about TASK’s benefits

COVID has brought many new challenges for businesses. That’s where SWAPP (Smart Workplace Application) comes in. We’ve shouted a lot about SWAPP playing a crucial part in bringing British sport back safely. But SWAPP also provides the safety measures to keep staff, contractors, and visitors safe across all industries. But let’s rewind. What is SWAPP? SWAPP is our unique software platform that features a handy QR code scanner, contactless sign in / out access, valuable track and trace, and pre-registration features. It also monitors industry standards, workplace regulations, and industry accreditations. This makes sure that all members of staff and contractors are up-to-date and meet the current required guidelines. It’s also the app behind bringing many sporting events – including the Six Nations in Wales and the EIHL’s Elite Series – back safely in the UK. How did it come about? SWAPP was originally developed to meet the accreditation needs of Transport for Wales. But we used a new problem (COVID) as a catalyst to not just solve new issues but fix old ones, too. SWAPP then caught the attention of the WRU. So we developed it to meet the demands of sport during the pandemic. It was adopted to safely bring us the Autumn Internationals and the Six nations. Following its success, it was later adopted by Scarlets Rugby, Cardiff Rugby, Sale Sharks, and the Elite Ice Hockey League. Today it helps stadiums including Principality Stadium, the Arms Park and Parc Y Scarlets to safely manage staff, teams, contractors, and visitors. It’s also recently been adopted by Andrew Scott. “We used the Covid pandemic as a chance to not just tackle new problems, but solve old ones, too,” says Vindico MD, Jo Polson. “What started as product for a public sector client quickly became an essential tool for changing workforces. And we’ve continuously updated features to stay one step ahead.” New features and updates for SWAPP include contract management, track and trace, snagging, and risk assessments to make workplaces safer and more efficient. Promoting digital knowledge transfer (which is more important now than ever before), SWAPP is now one of the most prominent safety apps used in Welsh sport and business. It will also soon be rolled out at every train station in Wales, too! Got a business, venue, or team who could benefit from SWAPP? Click here to drop us a line.    

Vindico has made the prestigious Small Biz 100 line-up, which showcases inspiring, independent businesses from across the country. Now in its ninth year in the UK, Small Business Saturday celebrates small business success. It encourages us to ‘shop local’ and support businesses in our communities – especially as we navigate the pandemic. Vindico will be highlighted on social media on 4 December 2021 as part of the 100-day countdown to Small Business Saturday UK. “It’s been a challenging time for small businesses everywhere, and we’ve all had to work smarter and harder to make it through,” says Vindico MD, Jo Polson. “For us, making the Small Biz 100 line up is recognition that we are on the right path and are set up ready for the next stage of our growth and development. “It’s about more than just our story though, this is an opportunity to learn from and collaborate with 99 other fantastic small businesses in the UK – and that’s something that excites us massively!” This year, ahead of the UN Climate Summit COP26 in Glasgow, the Small Biz 100 features small firms with a passion for sustainability, to demonstrate the important part small businesses play in tackling climate change and helping the UK to achieve net zero. And our self-funded Think Air project is helping businesses and individuals to do just that.  It’s on track to being the UK’s largest live background air quality monitoring network – and it’s changing the way that schools, businesses, and the agricultural sector approach – and manage – activities related to air pollution. With a pledge to go net zero, Think Air is helping to raise awareness of air pollution and encourage positive behaviour change for better – more sustainable – outcomes. “Throughout the crisis we have been reminded of the special role that small firms play in local areas, looking after their customers, communities and the planet,” says Michelle Ovens CBE, Director of Small Business Saturday UK. “We are excited to be kicking off this year’s campaign to show our thanks to amazing small businesses like Vindico. As firms recover from the challenges of the pandemic we are calling upon everyone to get behind the campaign to make it our most impactful Small Business Saturday yet.” A grassroots, not-for-profit campaign, Small Business Saturday was originally founded by American Express in the U.S. in 2010. It remains the principal supporter of the campaign in the UK, as part of its ongoing championing the UK high street and commitment to encourage consumers to shop small. On Small Business Saturday, customers across the UK go out and support all types of small businesses, both online and in brick-and-mortar stores. Many small businesses take an active role in promoting the day by hosting events and offering promotions. Small Business Saturday attracts huge attention on the day itself, with an impact that last all year. Last year the campaign trended at number one in the UK on Twitter, with the Prime Minister, leader of the opposition and the Mayor of London among those publicly supporting the campaign. Over 90% of local councils also supported the campaign. Click here to get involved in Small Business Saturday

Think Air has officially launched – and we’d like to thank everyone who tuned in to support this virtual event.   This week saw Think Air officially launch – with hundreds of climate-conscious businesses tuning in to find out how they can make a difference to air quality in the UK.   The Welsh air quality sensor network – which has already been piloted at several locations, has had the thumbs-up from Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, and has been shortlisted for a national Small Award – is now rolling out to organisations, local authorities, research projects, and schools across the UK.   Hosted by Barry Kirby of K Sharp, the launch featured conversations with experts including:   Professor Paul Lewis – Head of R&D at Think Air and Professor Emeritus at Swansea University   Jo Polson – Award-Winning Tech Entrepreneur and MD of Think Air   Catherine Lloyd-Jenkins – Former Head Teacher, and Education Consultant to TASK   Sam Lewis – R&D at Think Air, and Swansea University PHD Student   Robin Cammish – Entrepreneur and Chairman of Think Air   The insightful one-hour virtual launch also highlighted the health, wellbeing, and environmental risks of air pollution – particularly PM2.5, PM10 and CO2 – as well as the benefits of real-time monitoring. Professor Paul Lewis also presented new and unique data and insights about air quality in Wales.   Of course, the focus always returned to the solutions – the three Think Air products being launched: Internal Air Quality Monitors, External Air Quality Monitors, and TASK (Think Air Schools Kit). The latter of which has been specially created with former head teacher Catherine Lloyd-Jenkins to fit seamlessly with the current national curriculum for Key Stage 2. It has also been developed to fill the STEM void in the current Welsh curriculum.   We’d like to, once again, thank everyone who joined us online for the Think Air launch event.   All three Think Air products are now available via the Think Air online store. You can also speak to one of the team to find out more about Think Air – and how it can help your business, organisation, or school – by clicking

Think Air will launch on 22nd June 2021 at Parc Y Scarlets with a FREE virtual event. Think Air has had quite the year so far. It now powers the largest non-governmental external Air Quality network in the UK. It’s also transforming public and private sector workplaces by internally monitoring CO2 for optimum health, wellbeing and performance. It made the shortlist at this year’s national Small Awards, and it was also presented to Prime Minister Boris Johnson at No 10 Downing Street.   Now – after a whirlwind 2021 so far – Think Air is officially launching – and we’re inviting forward-thinking organisation, individuals, and school who care about climate change to be the first to see why we need to think air.   Air pollution is a major concern in the UK – and this virtual event will reveal how the air around us is key to driving better outcomes – for businesses, stakeholders, schools, communities, and the next generation.   This free virtual launch event – which takes place on 22nd June 2021 – will give you an insight into: Air quality in the UK – and why it’s never been so important The benefits of external air quality monitoring (PM2.5 and particulate matter) Internal air quality monitoring (and the impact of CO2 on health and wellbeing) Think Air for Schools (TASK) and its seamless integration into the national curriculum (Key Stage 2)   You’ll also learn: What air quality monitoring can do for your business, your targets, your productivity, and your community How low-cost local monitors can help organisations drive measured improvement Why it’s crucial that we measure PM2.5 – and the need for background monitoring How it impacts the next generation – and what you can do to become a champion for change There will also be a live Q&A, where you’ll be encouraged to send questions in advance for: Professor Paul Lewis – Head of R&D at Think Air and Professor Emeritus at Swansea University Ryan Griffiths – Technical Director of Think Air Jo Polson – Award-Winning Tech Entrepreneur and MD of Think Air Catherine Lloyd-Jenkins – Former Head Teacher, and Education Consultant to TASK   We all have a responsibility to create a better future and now you’re invited to join other environmentally conscious organisations and see how you can play your part, too. Click here to get your