Latest news with #GGS
Daily Mirror
30-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Gardeners urged to use one thing to ensure their blue hydrangeas stay blue
Blue hydrangeas can turn a shade of pink if they're not looked after properly, but there's one simple thing gardeners can do to make sure they keep their vibrant blue hue Gardeners eager to preserve the striking blue colour of their hydrangeas can now rely on a simple tip from horticultural experts. Many gardeners have been dismayed to find their once vivid blue hydrangeas turning pink, a transformation attributed to soil PH levels by fervent gardening enthusiasts. There are measures you can take to prevent this colour shift, including a slight adjustment in your watering method. While some may routinely use a garden hose or a watering can, it's the variety of water and your geographical location that can significantly influence the growth outcome of hydrangeas. Indeed, for blue hydrangeas, the care they receive can lead to a bounty of different shades. If you're in an area with hard water, the tap water's alkaline nature could be why your blue blooms are changing to pink. Conversely, rainwater, with its inherently more acidic quality, encourages the blossoming of blue flowers in hydrangeas. The German quality assurance body for plant substrates, Gütegemeinschaft Substrate für Pflanzen e. V (GGS), advises gardeners to use rainwater. For "special care" to maintain that evocative blue colour, GGS suggests positioning hydrangeas in a "shaded or partially shaded spot to maintain the blue flower colour" since intense sun exposure can also influence the flower colour. "Water regularly and use exclusively rainwater with a low calcium content," GGS advises, pointing out that "water with a high level of calcium content will increase the soil pH level in the medium term", potentially altering the colour of your cherished blooms. "As a result, aluminium ions will no longer be available to the plants and consequently not reach the flowers." The guidance also suggests exclusively using special hydrangea fertiliser, which aids in "maintain the soil's acidity and also contain aluminium sulphate". According to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), as detailed on their website, you can gather rainwater "from the roofs of homes, garages, greenhouses and other garden structures as long as they have gutters and a down pipe that enters the drain at ground level". This water can then be stored in a water butt for use on your plants, reports the Express. On another note, if you're seeking an additional straightforward method to enhance the vibrancy of your hydrangeas, Susan Conforte McNeill, a seasoned gardener and the brains behind Susan Said What, has divulged a clever trick involving an item you might never have considered.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Paragon Bank supports UK SMEs with over $41m in funding
Paragon Bank has offered more than £31m ($41.8m) in funding to more than 200 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through the British Business Bank's Growth Guarantee Scheme (GGS). This initiative, part of the UK Government's broader support for British enterprise, has allowed Paragon to extend financial support to businesses across various sectors, including agriculture, construction, manufacturing and transport. Paragon said the scheme's impact has been 'significant', allowing it to facilitate business investments that would likely have been unfeasible without this support. The GGS offers unsecured loans and asset-based finance, with the volume of lending and the number of businesses supported growing daily. The scheme is set to run until March 2026, offering Paragon insights to inform future credit appetite and broaden its customer reach. Earlier this month, the government announced an additional £10.3bn in funding for the British Business Bank, including £500m in extra lending capacity for the GGS. Paragon continues to collaborate with the British Business Bank to allocate more GGS funding, supporting both existing and new customers. Paragon Bank's SME lending deputy managing director Phil Hughes said: 'The Growth Guarantee Scheme has been a powerful tool and resounding success in helping us extend more support to ambitious UK businesses who need it. 'We have already seen what a difference it can make in unlocking funding, especially for sectors vital to the economy and productivity, such as construction and agriculture, where upfront investment can be a major barrier. The early success and scale of demand speak volumes – and with the right backing, we are ready to do even more.' In the first half of its fiscal year, Paragon noted a 7.3% rise in new loans within its SME lending sector. For the six months ending 31 March 2025, the bank recorded £247m in SME lending loans, up from £230.2m in the same timeframe the previous year. Asset finance, a core element of the division, grew by 11.1% to £169.9m, outperforming the market average growth of 6.4%. "Paragon Bank supports UK SMEs with over $41m in funding" was originally created and published by Leasing Life, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
India Gazette
16-05-2025
- General
- India Gazette
Fire breaks out at chemical warehouse in Delhi's Mundka
ANI 16 May 2025, 04:29 GMT+10 New Delhi [India], May 16 (ANI): A fire broke out at a chemical warehouse in Delhi's Mundka. Upon receiving the information, fire tenders were rushed to the spot to douse the details are awaited. Earlier, a massive fire broke out at Sri Guru Gobind Singh (GGS) College of Commerce in Pitampura, officials said on Thursday. According to the Delhi Fire Service, 11 fire tenders rushed to the site to douse the flames. The fire, which broke out in the college library, was brought under control around 9:40 AM. There were no reports of any injuries. (ANI)
India Gazette
15-05-2025
- General
- India Gazette
Telangana: Private bus catches fire in Medchal; no casualties reported
ANI 15 May 2025, 20:46 GMT+10 Medchal-Malkajgiri (Telangana) [India], May 15 (ANI): A private travel bus caught fire on Thursday morning while it was moving through the Medchal police station limits in Telangana's Medchal-Malkajgiri district. According to police, the incident occurred around 10:30 AM. A fire vehicle reached the spot promptly and managed to bring the flames under control. No injuries or casualties were reported. 'There were no casualties reported in this fire, and the cause of the fire is suspected to be a short circuit,' a police official said. Further investigation is underway to confirm the exact reason behind the fire. In a separate incident which took place earlier today in morning, a massive fire broke out at Sri Guru Gobind Singh (GGS) College of Commerce in Delhi's Pitampura. According to the Delhi Fire Service, 11 fire tenders rushed to the site to douse the flames. The fire, which broke out in the college library, was brought under control around 9:40 AM. (ANI)
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
US tariffs prompt BBB to expand Growth Guarantee Scheme
The Chancellor has announced an additional £500 million in lending capacity under the Growth Guarantee Scheme (GGS) to support smaller UK businesses dealing with cashflow difficulties linked to recent changes in global tariff rates. Delivered through the British Business Bank (BBB) and around 50 accredited lenders, the scheme has already enabled £2.1 billion in finance via 13,447 facilities. The new funding will be channelled into term loans, overdrafts and similar financial products to support smaller businesses affected by global trade disruptions. The scheme offers facilities of up to £2 million per business group for firms outside the scope of the Northern Ireland Protocol, and up to £1 million for businesses within it. Each facility is backed by a 70% government guarantee, though borrowers remain fully liable for the debt. Businesses must demonstrate they can afford the additional finance, which can be used for a range of purposes including working capital and cashflow management. Lenders retain discretion over loan approvals and will apply their usual credit and fraud checks. Interest rates and fees will vary based on the specific terms offered by each lender and will reflect the benefit of the government-backed guarantee. Reinald de Monchy, Co-Chief Banking Officer at the British Business Bank, stated that the scheme has historically supported smaller firms during periods of economic uncertainty and that the new funding would help maintain access to finance at a time of global market disruption. The additional capacity follows the Autumn Budget 2024, in which the government confirmed more than £1 billion in funding for the British Business Bank's initiatives through 2025/26. This included continued support for Start Up Loans, the ENABLE Build programme for smaller housebuilders, and equity programmes targeted at high-growth sectors such as life sciences. Information about accredited lenders is available on the British Business Bank website. Businesses are encouraged to first contact their current finance provider or explore alternative lenders if necessary. "US tariffs prompt BBB to expand Growth Guarantee Scheme" was originally created and published by Leasing Life, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
