Latest news with #CharlieWood
Scotsman
07-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Disregard of Supreme Court ruling is no laughing matter
Underbelly at Bristo Square It would be easy to slip into the cliches about it being comedy season in Edinburgh, but the wilful disregard of the Supreme Court ruling on sex and gender by both the Jazz Festival and parts of the Fringe is no laughing matter. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The clear implication of the unanimous decision by five judges in the highest court in the land, that the Equalities Act referred to sex not gender, is that biological women are entitled to safe single sex spaces. But it seems these events organisers regard the law as optional, to be ignored if it doesn't fit with their outlook. Going by the last Census, some 99.5 per cent of women do not identify as trans, so anyone with a gramme of common sense would make sure, as there has been for as long as anyone has been alive, that venues will provide toilets for women only. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But not the Jazz Festival, where its main St Andrew Square venue informed customers that toilets were either 'seated' or 'seated and standing'. Unless gender wars have quickened female anatomical evolution to an astonishing extent, women do not stand in toilets and they certainly don't want to shuffle past urinating men on their way to the loo. Whoever dreamt up that wheeze to get round the law was either in need of a biology lesson, bonkers or was deliberately making their own pathetic statement. It was the same story at Underbelly on Bristo Square, where a sign invited people to use 'whichever toilet best fits your identity or expression'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad When the vast majority of women do not want to share toilet facilities with males, men were allowed to barge in, on the basis that they were just expressing themselves. Really? At sports fixtures and concerts, there are two simple explanations for huge queues snaking back from the female toilets while there is spare capacity at the gents. First, these places are never built with adequate facilities for women, and second most women really don't want to use the gents, even if a sign says it's an option. And in Edinburgh in Festival season, I doubt many men would bat an eyelash extension if a man dressed as a woman uses the same loo at an entertainment venue. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad I wrote to Underbelly founder Charlie Wood to ask that his company ensures that single sex toilets, based on biological sex, are provided at all their venues, particularly as the Underbelly is a temporary venue and constructed after the Supreme Court ruling. There was, therefore, no excuse for not providing a third set of facilities for anyone not comfortable with using either the gents or ladies, although I suspect it would be somewhat under used. Edinburgh Council is one of the Jazz Festival's main funders, with councillors guaranteed places on its board and they should make sure it is addressed before next year's event. I like to think my email to Charlie Wood had an effect, because although he didn't have the courtesy to reply, by Tuesday the signs at Underbelly were replaced with the, shall we say, bog standard Male and Female. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Hopefully all other Fringe operators will continue to provide legally compliant facilities, not forcing their audiences to participate in politically motivated stunts. The performative gestures should stay on the stage where they belong.
Scotsman
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Why Edinburgh Festival Fringe should always be global in its ambitions
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Ed Bartlam and Charlie Wood are two stalwarts of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Their live entertainment company, Underbelly, began with a single venue in the Cowgate in 2000 and has now grown into an international giant. So what they have to say about the Fringe deserves a hearing. According to them, rising costs are turning it into a 'more Scottish festival' with 70 per cent of Underbelly tickets sold to people with a Scottish postcode. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The big reason, they say, is the cost of accommodation. 'In order to maintain the brilliance and the diversity of the festival, both in terms of programme and the audience, these things need to be taken really, really seriously,' Wood says. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe would not be the same without shows like Macbeth on stilts, performed by Universal Arts and the Polish Cultural Institute (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell) | Getty Images The problem of a smaller platform It is important to say that becoming 'more Scottish' could have some benefits (as The Scotsman, we could hardly say anything less). For example, a larger domestic audience might diminish some of the hostility that has grown up towards the Fringe in some quarters. And giving more space to Scottish talent could add weight to the growing success of our homegrown entertainment industry. However, if the Fringe became a mainly Scottish event, with only a token number of performers from other countries, it would be significantly diminished and unlikely to remain the world's largest arts event for long. And that smaller platform might actually damage the prospects of Scottish acts. It would also be less funny, entertaining, moving and thought-provoking than it currently is. We would miss the hugely valuable and different perspectives brought by people from other countries, cultures and backgrounds. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Darwinian competition One of the reasons why the Fringe has been so successful over the years is that it is a global hive of ideas, all in competition with each other for audiences. This creates an almost Darwinian process in which only the fittest will survive for long. Laura Corcoran, one half of musical comedy double act Frisky and Mannish, has compared attending the Fringe to undergoing 'very intense training'. 'Once you get your brain into a place of critical thinking, the wealth of knowledge and research that is here, I would say, is equivalent to an MA [degree] and costs about the same,' she said.
Scotsman
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Why Edinburgh Festival Fringe should always be global in its ambitions
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Ed Bartlam and Charlie Wood are two stalwarts of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Their live entertainment company, Underbelly, began with a single venue in the Cowgate in 2000 and has now grown into an international giant. So what they have to say about the Fringe deserves a hearing. According to them, rising costs are turning it into a 'more Scottish festival' with 70 per cent of Underbelly tickets sold to people with a Scottish postcode. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The big reason, they say, is the cost of accommodation. 'In order to maintain the brilliance and the diversity of the festival, both in terms of programme and the audience, these things need to be taken really, really seriously,' Wood says. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe would not be the same without shows like Macbeth on stilts, performed by Universal Arts and the Polish Cultural Institute (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell) | Getty Images The problem of a smaller platform It is important to say that becoming 'more Scottish' could have some benefits (as The Scotsman, we could hardly say anything less). For example, a larger domestic audience might diminish some of the hostility that has grown up towards the Fringe in some quarters. And giving more space to Scottish talent could add weight to the growing success of our homegrown entertainment industry. However, if the Fringe became a mainly Scottish event, with only a token number of performers from other countries, it would be significantly diminished and unlikely to remain the world's largest arts event for long. And that smaller platform might actually damage the prospects of Scottish acts. It would also be less funny, entertaining, moving and thought-provoking than it currently is. We would miss the hugely valuable and different perspectives brought by people from other countries, cultures and backgrounds. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Darwinian competition One of the reasons why the Fringe has been so successful over the years is that it is a global hive of ideas, all in competition with each other for audiences. This creates an almost Darwinian process in which only the fittest will survive for long. Laura Corcoran, one half of musical comedy double act Frisky and Mannish, has compared attending the Fringe to undergoing 'very intense training'. 'Once you get your brain into a place of critical thinking, the wealth of knowledge and research that is here, I would say, is equivalent to an MA [degree] and costs about the same,' she said.
Toronto Sun
18-06-2025
- Business
- Toronto Sun
The completely correct guide to cleaning your toilet
Helium Ventures Plc - Result of GM PR Newswire LONDON, United Kingdom, June 18 Helium Ventures plc (to be renamed VaultZ Capital plc) ("Helium Ventures" or the "Company") Result of GM, Issue of Equity, Change of Name Director/PDMR Shareholding Adoption of Bitcoin Treasury Strategy Helium Ventures plc announces that at its general meeting ("GM") held earlier today, all resolutions were duly passed including resolutions to (1) approve the establishment of a bitcoin treasury, (2) the issue of new Ordinary Shares and (3) to change the Company's name to VaultZ Capital plc. Fundraise, Creditor Settlement, Consultancy Shares In aggregate the Company has issued 59,445,650 new Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Conditional Subscription, Creditor Settlement, Consultancy Shares and NewQube Shares (defined below) (together the "New Ordinary Shares"). Pursuant to the Conditional Subscription, the Company has raised gross proceeds of £721,950 through the issue of 36,097,500 new Ordinary Shares at the Subscription Price. Charlie Wood, Non-executive Director of the Company, has subscribed for 438,233 Ordinary Shares under the Conditional Subscription. Pursuant to the Creditor Settlement, the Company has issued 10,848,150 new Ordinary Shares to settle historic liabilities of approximately £216,963. Directors and related parties that have participated in the Creditor Settlement are: Name Fees to be settled in shares Shares to be issued in lieu of salary/fees Fungai Ndoro 35,689 1,784,450 Neil Ritson 35,689 1,784,450 Charlie Wood 32,229 1,611,450 Orana Corporate LLP1 51,356 2,567,800 Total 154,963 7,748,150 ¹ Charlie Wood is a Director and 33.3% shareholder of Orana Corporate LLP ("Orana"). Following the Conditional Subscription and Creditor Settlement the shareholdings of the Directors of the Company are set out in the table below: Name New Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Conditional Subscription & Creditor Settlement Number of Ordinary Shares on Admission Percentage of enlarged share capital on Admission Charlie Wood1 4,617,4831 7,779,2621 7.3% Fungai Ndoro 1,784,450 1,784,450 1.7% Neil Ritson 1,784,450 3,334,450 3.1% Total 8,186,383 12,898,162 12.0% ¹ Charlie Wood is a Director and 33.3% shareholder of Orana. 2,567,800 of the 4,617,473 Ordinary Shares were issued to Orana pursuant to the Creditor Settlement. 3,817,800 of the 7,779,252 Ordinary Shares are held by Orana. Pursuant to the Consultancy Shares, the Company has issued 10,000,000 new Ordinary Shares at the Subscription Price to third-party consultants. Following the passing of the resolutions at the GM, the Company has signed an investment management agreement with NewQube Capital Ltd ("NewQube") ("Agreement"), a Cayman Islands based specialist in providing institutional-grade Bitcoin and crypto-asset strategies, to establish a Bitcoin treasury function. This investment will be managed via a new special purpose vehicle, NQ InvestCo 2 (solely owned by Helium Ventures), to be renamed VaultZ Treasury, with NewQube appointed as Investment Manager. The Company has issued 2,500,000 new Ordinary Shares to NewQube pursuant to the Agreement. NewQube will receive an annual 0.5% management fee based on the value of the assets under management. Admission and Total Voting Rights: Application has been made for the 59,445,650 New Ordinary Shares to be admitted to trading on the AQSE Growth Market on or around 19 June 2025 ("Admission") and will rank pari passu with the Ordinary Shares of the Company in issue. Following Admission, the Company's issued share capital will comprise 107,250,650 Ordinary Shares of 1p each, with each share carrying the right to one vote, therefore the total number of voting rights in the Company will be 107,250,650. This figure may be used by shareholders as the denominator for calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in the Company, or a change to their interest in the Company, under the Financial Conduct Authority's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules. Risk Warning: Bitcoin is a highly volatile digital asset. Investors should be aware that holding or trading cryptocurrencies involves substantial risk and should consult an independent financial adviser before making any investment decisions. Change of Name to VaultZ Capital plc: Once the change of the Company's name to VaultZ Capital plc takes effect, the Company's ticker for AQSE will be V3TC (formerly HEV). The Company's new website address, containing the information required to be published pursuant to Rule 4.14 of the AQSE Growth Market Access Rulebook, will be announced in due course. Charlie Wood, Director of the Company, commented: " The successful completion of this General Meeting marks a pivotal moment for the Company. For years, digital assets, particularly Bitcoin, have been an underrepresented asset class in global investment portfolios. With our new name and expanded remit, we're excited to offer investors a unique opportunity to engage with this transformative technology ." Capitalised terms used in this announcement have the meaning given to them in the announcement dated 29 May 2025, unless otherwise defined in this announcement. This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of the UK Market Abuse Regulation. The Directors take responsibility for its release. Enquiries Helium Ventures plc Charlie Wood +44 (0)20 3475 6834 Cairn Financial Advisers LLP (AQSE Corporate Adviser) Liam Murray / Ludovico Lazzaretti +44 (0)20 7213 0880 Forward-looking statements Certain statements made in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts but rather are based on the Company's current expectations, estimates, and projections about its industry; its beliefs; and assumptions. Words such as 'anticipates,' 'expects,' 'intends,' 'plans,' 'believes,' 'seeks,' 'estimates,' and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not a guarantee of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, some of which are beyond the Company's control, are difficult to predict, and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements. The Company cautions security holders and prospective security holders not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect the view of the Company only as of the date of this announcement. The forward-looking statements made in this announcement relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. The Company will not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions or updates to these forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances, or unanticipated events occurring after the date of this announcement except as required by law or by any appropriate regulatory authority. Notification of a Transaction pursuant to Article 19(1) of Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 1 Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities/person closely associated a. Name A) Charlie Wood 2 Reason for notification a. Position/Status A) Director of the Company b. Initial notification/ Amendment Initial notification 3 Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor a. Name Helium Ventures plc b. LEI 213800FTI7HOEKR9DX55 4 Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted a. Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument Identification Code Ordinary shares of 1 pence each ISIN: GB00BLR8T846 b. Nature of the transaction Participation in the Subscription c. Price(s) and volume(s) Price(s) Volume(s) A) 2p 438,233 d. Aggregated information - Aggregated Volume - Price N/A e. Date of the transaction 18 June 2025 f. Place of the transaction AQSE Notification of a Transaction pursuant to Article 19(1) of Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 1 Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities/person closely associated a. Name A) Fungai Ndoro B) Neil Ritson C) Charlie Wood D) Orana Corporate LLP 2 Reason for notification a. Position/Status A) Director of the Company B) Director of the Company C) Director of the Company D) PCA to Charlie Wood b. Initial notification/ Amendment Initial notification 3 Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor a. Name Helium Ventures plc b. LEI 213800FTI7HOEKR9DX55 4 Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted a. Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument Identification Code Ordinary shares of 1 pence each ISIN: GB00BLR8T846 b. Nature of the transaction Participation in the Creditor Settlement c. Price(s) and volume(s) Price(s) Volume(s) A) 2p 1,784,450 B) 2p 1,784,450 C) 2p 1,611,450 D) 2p 2,567,800 d. Aggregated information - Aggregated Volume - Price N/A e. Date of the transaction 18 June 2025 f. Place of the transaction AQSE Zeitenwende! 3 Uranaktien vor der Neubewertung Ende Mai leitete US-Präsident Donald Trump mit der Unterzeichnung mehrerer Dekrete eine weitreichende Wende in der amerikanischen Energiepolitik ein. Im Fokus: der beschleunigte Ausbau der Kernenergie. Mit einem umfassenden Maßnahmenpaket sollen Genehmigungsprozesse reformiert, kleinere Reaktoren gefördert und der Anteil von Atomstrom in den USA massiv gesteigert werden. Auslöser ist der explodierende Energiebedarf durch KI-Rechenzentren, der eine stabile, CO₂-arme Grundlastversorgung zwingend notwendig macht. In unserem kostenlosen Spezialreport erfahren Sie, welche 3 Unternehmen jetzt im Zentrum dieser energiepolitischen Neuausrichtung stehen, und wer vom kommenden Boom der Nuklearindustrie besonders profitieren könnte. Holen Sie sich den neuesten Report! Verpassen Sie nicht, welche Aktien besonders von der Energiewende in den USA profitieren dürften, und laden Sie sich das Gratis-PDF jetzt kostenlos herunter. Dieses exklusive Angebot gilt aber nur für kurze Zeit! Daher jetzt downloaden!
Techday NZ
17-06-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
Wiise partners with Tasklet to boost warehouse management for SMEs
Wiise has announced a partnership with Tasklet Factory to integrate warehouse management capabilities into its enterprise resource planning platform for small and medium-sized businesses in Australia and New Zealand. The partnership will see Tasklet Factory's Warehouse Management System (WMS), which is in use globally with over 2,000 businesses, integrated into Wiise's ERP and accounting software. This integration is aimed at streamlining and digitising warehouse operations by providing end-to-end visibility across warehouse and wider business functions for small and medium-sized businesses across the region. Tasklet Factory's WMS is well-established in the market, powering barcode scanning solutions for sectors such as distribution, automation, healthcare, and retail. Its customer base includes organisations such as Baumer, Johnson & Johnson, Arsenal, and the IKEA Museum. Warehouse efficiency The collaboration addresses a growing demand for integrated mobile warehouse tools designed to reduce manual processes and establish a seamless connection to broader business systems. Industry trends indicate that small and medium-sized businesses are increasingly seeking solutions that give real-time data delivery and reduce operational complexity. Charlie Wood, Chief Executive Officer of Wiise, said: "Tasklet Factory brings deep expertise in mobile warehouse technology. Together, we're solving a real pain point for businesses that need to manage inventory and logistics more efficiently while navigating complex supply chains. This partnership means our customers can access a world-class warehouse solution that integrates seamlessly with Wiise's ERP platform." Claus Norwell Holmsgaard, Regional Director APAC at Tasklet Factory, said: "We've known of Wiise for years, and the timing is now right to come together. Our Mobile WMS is a great fit for Wiise's growing customer base, and we're excited to offer a combined solution that helps customers deliver better warehouse experiences." According to Wiise, over 300 businesses in Australia and New Zealand currently utilise its ERP platform, representing sectors such as wholesale distribution, manufacturing, financial and professional services. The platform is used to consolidate technology systems, enable real-time visibility, and enhance operational efficiency. Customer experience One such customer is Taipan, an Australian-owned business specialising in hydraulic hose system distribution, which has operated for more than two decades. Taipan previously relied on multiple systems to manage different business functions, including warehouse management. Linda Farrell, Administrative Chief Executive Officer at Taipan, said: "Our old system was server-based, which made it a struggle when you weren't in the building. Wiise's cloud-based solution has given us ongoing support and the assurance that we can keep growing, with Wiise's system there to support that growth." The new partnership is expected to help automation of manual processes by extending mobile WMS capabilities to customers who rely on Wiise's ERP as the central platform for their business management and accounting needs. Wiise and Tasklet Factory are focusing on the requirements of small and medium-sized businesses in Australia and New Zealand that are adopting digital tools to support post-pandemic shifts in supply chain management, e-commerce, and remote operations. The collaboration between Wiise and Tasklet Factory reflects ongoing developments in the warehouse management technology sector, as more businesses prioritise digital transformation to drive process efficiency and operational transparency.
