Latest news with #TheDrill
BBC News
22-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Lincoln Beer Festival downsizes amid shift in drinking habits
A city's beer festival has moved to a smaller venue blaming falling attendances and a major shift in drinking Lincoln Beer Festival has relocated to Southside, a former church on Colegrave Street, for its 43rd year and will run from Thursday until Mark Richards said the change reflected the shift in drinking behaviours, with people going out earlier and fewer younger people socialising since the pandemic."The younger generations in their 20s aren't really going out late at night so there is a lack of footfall in pubs and venues throughout the country in that," he said. The three-day event, offering beers, real ales and alcohol-free options, was previously held at The Drill on Free School Richards said it was "a great shame to leave" but said the festival had to "adjust" to changes in society."We've had to make the decision [to change venues] because our footfall reduced as a result of that," he said. Michael Thurlby, who owns three pubs in Stamford, had also noticed a change in people's drinking habits. "We've had to adapt the hours and the style of our businesses to offer what people want today and not what they wanted 20 years ago," he pub landlord added people were opting for a healthier living by going out earlier with family and drinking more alcohol-free believed attitudes shifted as a result of the 2007 smoking ban and the coronavirus pandemic. The BBC spoke to members of the public about their drinking habits. Bowen Jones, 19, was sat in a pub with a pint of apple juice. He said: "I've never drank, I just don't like the taste of alcohol."Mr Jones said he went out the night before until 04:00 BST, did not drink alcohol, then drove home. "People don't go to the pub so much like my parents used to do," he Jones' friend, Oliver De'ath, 18, said he only drinks on special occasions."I don't really see the enjoyment in it. Sometimes we go out for food instead, I go to the gym. I think it is more socially acceptable [not to drink]," Mr De'ath said. By starting at noon and offering alcohol-free options, organisers hoped to reflect changing drinking event, sponsored by Lincoln CAMRA, will run until 23:00 BST on Thursday and Friday and until 21:00 BST on Saturday. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Campaign ME
12-05-2025
- Business
- Campaign ME
Shakespeare Communications to handle regional PR for The Drill
Shakespeare Communications has been selected to manage public relations duties across the Gulf for The Drill, a crisis simulation platform developed in Australia. The Dubai-based boutique agency secured the account following a competitive pitch. The Drill, established in 2016, offers digital crisis simulation tools used by organisations to train staff and test response strategies under high-pressure scenarios. The platform has seen growing interest from sectors across the region, particularly in aviation, healthcare, government, oil and gas, and financial services. Gerry McCusker, Managing Director of The Drill, said: 'Having visited the GCC for work over the years, we'd become aware of and met Ananda and several of her team. We felt their knowledge of regional media, plus understanding of our platform would help us build brand awareness when the time was right. And that time is now.' The agency's remit will focus on increasing awareness of the platform in the GCC, where demand for crisis preparedness has grown in response to challenges ranging from cybersecurity and misinformation to operational disruptions. 'We are really looking forward to working with The Drill,' said Ananda Shakespeare, CEO of Shakespeare Communications, 'as it's an essential tool for any organisation which cares about having the right plans and skills for managing crises. As any business owner knows, being forewarned is being forearmed – and that ethos literally needs to be drilled into all issues, risk and crisis response staff. Preparedness before crises erupt is key, and we are helping The Drill get that strong message out across the region.' Earlier this year, The Drill launched an Arabic-language version of its platform, aimed at tailoring simulation experiences to the needs of Gulf-based clients. The Drill joins a growing client list at Shakespeare Communications, which provides media relations and strategic PR consultancy to companies operating in the UAE and wider Middle East region.
Campaign ME
25-04-2025
- Business
- Campaign ME
The Drill launches Arabic-language crisis simulator for GCC
The Drill crisis simulator has launched the Arabic-language version of its best-practice crisis management simulator. Arabic-speaking organisations across the GCC can now gain access to regionally specific, real-time crisis training technology. Established and developed in Australia in 2016, The Drill aims to redefine crisis preparedness, with customisable simulations that reflect the needs of key Gulf-based sectors, including aviation, banking, government, healthcare, oil and gas, and tourism. The Drill claims that demand for crisis readiness in the GCC is increasing in response to fast and ever-evolving threats, from cyberattacks and misinformation to environmental disruption and stakeholder unrest. Gerry McCusker, The Drill's Managing Director said: 'We recognise that many GCC organisations have local, regional and international stakeholders, so our fully customisable crisis simulator lets them practice their crisis responses in Arabic, as well as in English, just as they may be required to do in real life.' The new Arabic language version has been developed following the company's executive training engagements in the UAE, where the team identified the need for a more regionally responsive simulator. Now with a local presence and specialist support in the GCC, The Drill aims to offer on-site or remote access training to a secure, live-publishing platform for real-time scenario engagement. The Drill's Senior Advisor for the GCC, George Noon, said: 'Most organisations have crisis plans, but they're rarely reviewed or tested to cope with the instant speed of the global news cycle or emerging threats like fake news or AI-created risks. The Drill builds crisis response skills by interactive and live content creation.' 'We know learning by doing is the most effective training mode for knowledge retention; so in our 100% realistic and secure simulator, clients learn 'the crisis drill' by documenting, creating and publishing,' he added. With its expansion into Arabic, The Drill now offers GCC organisations bilingual, expert-led simulations that train teams for the realities of crisis before they make the headlines.
Zawya
24-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
The Drill launches first Arabic-language crisis simulator for GCC Markets
Dubai, UAE, The Drill™ crisis simulator, a world-class simulation platform trusted by global brands and institutions, has launched the first-to-market Arabic-language version of its best-practice crisis management simulator. For the first time, Arabic-speaking organisations across the GCC can now gain access to regionally specific, real-time crisis training technology. Established and developed in Australia in 2016, The Drill is redefining crisis preparedness, with tailored, immersive and fully customisable simulations that reflect the unique needs of key Gulf-based sectors, including aviation, banking, government, healthcare, oil and gas, and tourism. Demand for crisis readiness in the GCC is increasing in response to fast and ever-evolving threats, from cyberattacks and misinformation to environmental disruption and stakeholder unrest. The Drill's Arabic language version enables organisations to train in both Arabic and English, reflecting the complex linguistic realities of regional operations. The Drill Managing Director, Gerry McCusker, said: 'We recognise that many GCC organisations have local, regional and international stakeholders, so our fully customisable crisis simulator lets them practice their crisis responses in Arabic, as well as in English, just as they may be required to do in real life.' The new Arabic language version was developed following the company's leading executive training engagements in the UAE, where the team identified the need for a more regionally responsive simulator. Now with a local presence and specialist support in the GCC, The Drill delivers scalable, crisis simulations - offering on-site training or remote access to a secure, live-publishing platform for real-time scenario engagement. Unlike gamified apps or passive multiple-choice formats, The Drill emphasises experiential learning and practical team response, with scenarios built by veteran crisis and incident practitioners. Clients can test their plans, people, and performance under pressure - within a secure, realistic environment designed to mirror the speed and complexity of a real-world crisis. The Drill's Senior Advisor for the GCC, George Noon, said: 'Most organisations have crisis plans, but they're rarely reviewed or tested to cope with the instant speed of the global news cycle or emerging threats like fake news or AI-created risks. The Drill builds crisis response skills by interactive and live content creation.' Already aligned with key Australasian educational standards for crisis qualifications, The Drill is recognised as one of the most established crisis simulation tools in the market. Its methodology and functionality is indispensable, especially in high-stakes industries where reputation, human or operational risk is ever-present. 'We know learning by doing is the most effective training mode for knowledge retention; so in our 100% realistic and secure simulator, clients learn 'the crisis drill' by documenting, creating and publishing ' added GCC-based Noon. With its expansion into Arabic, The Drill now offers GCC organisations an invaluable advantage: bilingual, expert-led simulations that train teams for the realities of crisis before they ever make the headlines. About The Drill The Drill is an online crisis simulation platform for real-time crisis management preparation and response. Designed to test plans and train staff through live interactive publishing and event scenarios, The Drill replicates the high-pressure dynamics of modern stakeholder crises in a secure, password-protected training portal. It can be delivered in-house, supported remotely, or licensed for client use. Built on a proprietary Crisis Diagnostic model, and calibrated to best-in-class practices, The Drill is a scalable and flexible crisis simulator that strengthens organisational knowledge, builds skills equity, and enhances crisis decision-making and response skills.
Tahawul Tech
24-04-2025
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
The Drill launches first Arabic-language crisis simulator for GCC markets
Dubai — The Drill crisis simulator, a world-class simulation platform trusted by global brands and institutions, has launched the first-to-market Arabic-language version of its best-practice crisis management simulator. For the first time, Arabic-speaking organisations across the GCC can now gain access to regionally specific, real-time crisis training technology. Established and developed in Australia in 2016, The Drill is redefining crisis preparedness, with tailored, immersive and fully customisable simulations that reflect the unique needs of key Gulf-based sectors, including aviation, banking, government, healthcare, oil and gas, and tourism. Demand for crisis readiness in the GCC is increasing in response to fast and ever-evolving threats, from cyberattacks and misinformation to environmental disruption and stakeholder unrest. The Drill's Arabic language version enables organisations to train in both Arabic and English, reflecting the complex linguistic realities of regional operations. The Drill Managing Director, Gerry McCusker, said: 'We recognise that many GCC organisations have local, regional and international stakeholders, so our fully customisable crisis simulator lets them practice their crisis responses in Arabic, as well as in English, just as they may be required to do in real life.' The new Arabic language version was developed following the company's leading executive training engagements in the UAE, where the team identified the need for a more regionally responsive simulator. Now with a local presence and specialist support in the GCC, The Drill delivers scalable, crisis simulations – offering on-site training or remote access to a secure, live-publishing platform for real-time scenario engagement. Unlike gamified apps or passive multiple-choice formats, The Drill emphasises experiential learning and practical team response, with scenarios built by veteran crisis and incident practitioners. Clients can test their plans, people, and performance under pressure – within a secure, realistic environment designed to mirror the speed and complexity of a real-world crisis. The Drill's Senior Advisor for the GCC, George Noon, said: 'Most organisations have crisis plans, but they're rarely reviewed or tested to cope with the instant speed of the global news cycle or emerging threats like fake news or AI-created risks. The Drill builds crisis response skills by interactive and live content creation.' Already aligned with key Australasian educational standards for crisis qualifications, The Drill is recognised as one of the most established crisis simulation tools in the market. Its methodology and functionality is indispensable, especially in high-stakes industries where reputation, human or operational risk is ever-present. 'We know learning by doing is the most effective training mode for knowledge retention; so in our 100% realistic and secure simulator, clients learn 'the crisis drill' by documenting, creating and publishing ' added GCC-based Noon. With its expansion into Arabic, The Drill now offers GCC organisations an invaluable advantage: bilingual, expert-led simulations that train teams for the realities of crisis before they ever make the headlines.
