Hull, Yorkshire: new family business LIFERYDER has achieved a nationwide hit with the development of a brand new stylish ‘Go Anywhere’ kid’s scooter. The growing list of positive customer reviews and feedback for the ‘made in the UK’ brand is set to switch-up the UK market.

Dads Allan Haagensen and Chris Dobson have drawn inspiration from their young children. The former Aerospace engineers have created a patented scooter design. The LIFERYDER Infinity scooter is built to last, made from a recyclable plastic composite.

Allan says “We saw a gap in the market for a scooter that was built to last, which can work on all terrains with the ability to grow and change with the rider’s individuality.

“The 12-inch (30 cm) wheels provide high ground clearance, and off-road tyres mean that the Infinity scooter can be used in all the places enjoyed by children and their families, such as parks, woodland trails and beaches.”

“And because this scooter is designed to be used in many different locations, close to home and further afield, we have made this the first large wheel scooter that is fully foldable, so it can easily be transported in a car.”

Physical and mental health benefits of being outdoors

Chris says: “We have our own young families, so we understand the physical and mental health benefits of being outdoors. We have created a scooter with high-speed bearings and low rolling resistant air tyres. It’s fast and exciting to ride.”

“So, children and teenagers aged 5 to 15 can enjoy the exercise provided by being on their scooters. They’re keeping fit and burning calories without realising it. They are also away from their phones, screens and gaming consoles.”

Challenging the throwaway mentality and landfill culture

The LIFERYDER Infinity scooter has been three years in development, with 21 prototypes. In designing the stylish new scooter, the engineering duo had an eye on the planet as well as performance.

Allan explains: “We set out to create a stylish scooter, but not at the expense of the planet. We have built a scooter which will last. This is a real break from a throwaway mentality and landfill culture and reflects our intention to design a scooter for a circular economy.”

“There are two reasons why parents change scooters for their children – they outgrow them, or the child wants a new look to the scooter.”

The LIFERYDER Infinity scooter is designed to be stylish and grow with a child. It’s fully adjustable for riders 110 cm to 160 cm tall and a maximum weight of 50 kg, aged 5 to 15 years.

Allan continues: “We know that style is important, and we have more than 35 different graphics to enable riders to customise the look of their scooters. As children grow, and their style changes, they can peel off the current graphics and switch them up to a new design. So, our scooters will last for longer.”

“Feedback from parents and children tells us that we’ve achieved the cool stylish look we planned.  One parent described her child’s scooter as ‘the Lamborghini of scooters.’ We’re happy with that compliment!”

Internet hit with viral and social media marketing

The LIFERYDER team have already scored an internet hit with viral and social media marketing, helping them to sell thousands of the innovative lightweight scooter.

Chris comments: “The response through social media and word of mouth recommendations has been tremendous. You can only purchase our scooters from our website, and we’ve had online orders from families across the whole of the United Kingdom, from Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.  We are now starting to see overseas buyers from Germany and Poland too.”

He adds: “There are literally Liferyders starting to pop up all over the country which is an amazing achievement from our humble start-up business.”

Chris says: “Feedback tells us that parents value a quality product. The Infinity scooter is the only scooter produced in the UK and reflects our commitment to high standard and quality engineering.”

“It’s been important to get the design and quality right.  Our patented frame design is safe and engineered to last.  It’s also tested to the rigorous British Standard EN14619:2019.”

IWC Schaffhausen joins forces with Airspeeder, the world’s first electric flying car racing series, in a new engineering and timekeeping partnership. Combining the passion both companies share for technological progress, human endeavour and sustainability, they will work together in pioneering this new form of motorsport to fast-track a new era of clean-air mobility.

The Airspeeder racing series is the brainchild of founder Matt Pearson, who also runs Alauda, the world’s first performance electric flying car manufacturer. Taking inspiration from the role sport has traditionally played in advancing the cause of technology, Pearson’s visionary idea is to create a new kind of motorsport to accelerate the advanced air mobility revolution and transform passenger, logistical and even medical transportation.

The planned global race series will eventually see a full grid of eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) craft, manufactured by Alauda, managed by individual teams and operated by elite pilots, compete at heights of up to 40m off the ground and at top speeds of 200km/h. The air races will take place on electronically-created tracks and be streamed globally, minimising the environmental impact of more complex logistics and infrastructure.

Christoph Grainger-Herr, IWC CEO “It’s fantastic to play a part in bringing Matt’s bold vision to life. The Airspeeder team are true pioneers of aviation and they are bringing together two things that are really close to IWC’s heart.

“From making some of the planet’s best pilots’ watches for the last eighty years to the cut and thrust of modern automotive design and racing, we have always equipped and inspired those who dare to dream. We are proud to collaborate on an endeavour that will make such a progressive impact on society.”

From its technical base in South Australia, the Airspeeder project has brought together some of the brightest minds in aviation, motor racing and performance automotive engineering from across the world. Charged with envisioning a better future, the diverse team of engineers, specialists and pilots are encouraged to think innovatively to push the boundaries of technical excellence, a philosophy which IWC also shares. The new partnership reflects this common purpose and will establish a knowledge exchange to prompt technological progress within the engineering departments of both organisations.

Matthew Pearson, Founder, Airspeeder and Alauda said: “Time and again, IWC has enabled dreams and nurtured innovation. Like us, they see beyond the known horizon towards something different, bolder and more inventive. This commitment to progress is something we also value, and we are delighted that the entire team at Schaffhausen believes in our vision. Whether the result is a beautifully designed watch or a revolutionary flying car, we all rely on human and technical endeavour to make truly impactful change through giant technical leaps. I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together.”

Airspeeder developed its first small-scale prototype performance eVTOL in 2017 and has continued to finesse the design ever since through computer modelling and simulation, as well as extensive testing.

The newest vehicle, the Mk3, is the world’s first fully functional electric flying racing car. With an overall aesthetic reminiscent of classic 1950s sportscars combined with racing drones, the speeders feature an octocopter layout, airfoil-profiled rotor arms, cutting- edge carbon-fibre composites and the latest EV battery technology. New advances in safety are delivered through a suite of technologies and engineering elements never before seen on an eVTOL craft. These innovations include LiDAR and Radar collision avoidance systems that create a ‘virtual force field’ around the craft to ensure close but ultimately safe racing. Designed for maximum performance and aerial agility, they move through the air with precision and pace.

An entire grid of these remotely piloted Mk3s is currently being built by Airspeeder, ahead of this year’s competitive pilotless events. The Mk4 is expected to launch in 2022, before the inaugural crewed season gets underway.

The London Festival has announced a landmark partnership with Knights Security Group (KSG) to deliver a Covid safe event in 2023. The London Festival is an extravaganza of live music performances, cultural events, engaging new technology and feel-good entertainment.

Knights Security Group will work in collaboration with The London Festival to deliver a strategic and fully comprehensive 360-degree Covid-safe blueprint. It will deploy their wide range of COV-RID products across multiple locations in the festival to keep festival goers safe. Planning is already under way and will continue as arrangements are made to kick off the inaugural event.

With significant experience in dealing with high traffic locations, the KSG Team will ensure that over 250 hand sanitiser stations are kept in operation throughout the two-week festival, regular thermal fogging will be deployed to ensure that all attractions are clean and safe. Going above and beyond, The London Festival will offer free 50ml hand sanitiser bottles to families with young children free of charge on entry to the festival.

All COV-RID products to be used during the London Festival are alcohol-free and are specifically designed to be non-toxic and non-hazardous to use. The COV-RID products are natural and friendly to the environment as they are derived from plants and biodegradable.

Achieving the gold standard for disinfecting locations with lots of visitors and people, KSG will become an integral part of The London Festival team throughout the event with pre-tested teams continually disinfecting all areas of the immersive and technologically advanced event at regular intervals.

Mr Andrew Knights, CEO of Knights Security Group Ltd said: “The London Festival will be provided with the full range of COV-RID products to achieve levels of hygiene and cleanliness that no big event has experienced before.

“All products planned for the festival are alcohol-free, non-toxic and non-Hazardous. By thermally fogging all of the exposed surfaces in the enclosed locations the London Festival will ensure they are disinfected and safe for the whole family.”

The London Festival is organised by Empower London Foundation in partnership with the Nascent Vek Group.

Lockdown should be the worst environment for a rising live band to emerge from, but Junodream have been flourishing in recent months. They were recently named Radio 1 Future Artists Tune of the Week and Jack Saunders has consistently championed the band, highlighting them in both the Next Wave and Future Artists segments, while other key airplay has included John Kennedy at Radio X plus BBC Introducing. Meanwhile, they’ve just sold-out their headline show at London Omeara and streaming support has constantly grown, culminating in two big cover moments: Hot New Bands at Spotify and Indie Britain at TIDAL. 
 
Junodream now crown their recent achievements with the release of their brand new mixtape ‘Travel Guide’. The band’s most ambitious body of work to date, the mixtape is released alongside the new single ‘White Sunday’. 
 
The ‘Travel Guide’ mixtape is informed by new ideas and sounds. Set to a wider hybrid of influences from synth-pop to punk and even prog, Junodream take us back to 2000 and the potential for a bright new future that was promised by the new millennium. The benefits of an increasingly digital world are countered by the claustrophobia of 24/7 rolling news and the constant demands of progressively more polarising social media. On a more personal level, it also looks at how perceptions change during the transition from childhood to adulthood, and the realisation that seemingly innocent events often had a darker undercurrent.
 
Junodream commented, “Everything now feels charged with a doomsday atmosphere, like Y2K twenty years on. We wanted to capture that anxiety: climate change, advertising, destructive tourism and paranoia. it’s a soundtrack to the end of the world. We’re also at that point where childhood innocence has almost completely evaporated, so being a bit cynical with nostalgia is really revealing. There’s a darker layer you can never be aware of as a kid.”
 
These themes are prevalent throughout the previous singles ‘Let Me Breathe Again’, ‘Eden Burns’ and ‘Travel Guide’. In contrast to the wilder sounds that preceded it, the new single ‘White Sunday’ is a beautiful cinematic ballad that feels akin to an unlikely merger between Radiohead and George Harrison.
 
The band added, “‘White Sunday’ tells the story of a guest who is struggling to deal with a hangover at a family wedding. His inner turmoil is ramped by the purity of the wedding as he realises his own life is lacking any emotional fulfillment. Riddled with shame and anxiety, he just falls apart.”
 
The ‘Travel Guide’ mixtape is completed by two new pieces of music. The expansive instrumental ‘NY2000’ establishes the mood of a world on the cusp of change, while the interlude ‘Niugnep’ captures the anxiety and confusion as those hopes spin off into very different realities. 
 
After recently playing the virtual Great Escape, Junodream are set to make up for lost time with a mixture of festivals and headline shows throughout the remainder of the year.

Following his critically-acclaimed project ‘Bettie James’, the chart-topping, platinum-selling recording artist and current ACM New Male Artist of the Year Jimmie Allen will release his new album ‘Bettie James Gold Edition’ on June 25th via BBR Music Group/Stoney Creek Records/BMG. The 16-track album doubles down on Allen’s expansive love for music across genres, with nine brand new collaborations in addition to the seven previously featured on ‘Bettie James’. The album is available to pre-add or pre-save. The original project has amassed more than 155 million streams along with critical acclaim, and further established Allen as country’s next superstar.
 
Newly featured artists on ‘Bettie James Gold Edition’ include Babyface, BRELAND, Keith Urban, LANCO, Lat han Warlick, Lindsay Ell, Little Big Town, LOCASH, Monica, Neon Union, Pitbull, teamwork and Vikina.
 
“When it comes to music I love, I don’t really get wrapped up in boundaries or genres. I thought we were gonna stop with the collaborations with ‘Bettie James’, and then I was like man, there’s so much music out there that I love, so many artists that I love, and I just wasn’t done,” Allen says. “There’s some pop, there’s some rock, there’s some country, there’s some R&B. I got a chance to work with legends! When I was writing some of the songs, I was trying to picture each moment. I went to each artist to work with them so they could be who they are on the song and bring their greatness to the song – I feel like that’s what makes the songs better. I’m super proud of the body of work of this album and can’t wait for people to hear it.”
 
‘Bettie James Gold Edition’ is a continued homage to Allen’s late father, James Allen, and late grandmother, Bettie Snead, who passed away in September 2019 and February 2014 respectively. It follows the monumental success of ‘Bettie James’, a seven-track project released in July 2020 which featured a wide array of artists from across genres and generations including Brad Paisley, Charley Pride, Darius Rucker, Mickey Guyton, Nelly, Noah Cyrus, The Oak Ridge Boys, Rita Wilson, Tauren Wells and Tim McGraw.
 
The album includes his current single ‘Freedom Was A Highway’, which features Brad Paisley. Recently playlisted at Radio 2, the track is currently Top 30 at US country radio and topped Taste of Country’s 10 Hottest Songs For Summer 2021. Jimmie Allen and Brad Paisley subsequently performed together on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’, and Paisley also surprised Allen during his performance of the song at the ACM Awards, days after Allen was crowned New Male Artist of the Year.
 
Another highlight is ‘Why Things Happen’, a collaboration with Darius Rucker and Charley Pride, which Rolling Stone included in their 10 Best Country Collaborations of 2020. They stated; “There’s nothing outwardly political about the song’s pious searching for higher meaning amidst tragedy, but released during nationwide protests against police brutality in a surging pandemic, ‘Why Things Happen’ perfectly captured a broken nation in mourning.”
 
Jimmie Allen will publish his debut picture book, ‘My Voice Is A Trumpet’, on July 13th. It’s a powerful story about speaking up for what you believe in (at any age) and celebrates the many types of voices that can affect change.
 
He has been blazing trails since the beginning of his career. He made history as the first Black artist to debut with two consecutive #1 hits: ‘Best Shot’, which spent three weeks at #1 on country radio, and ‘Make Me Want To’. Both songs featured on his 2018 debut album ‘Memory Lane’, which The New York Times dubbed as one of the strongest of the year. Building on that breakthrough, ‘Bettie James’ and the new ‘Gold Edition’ add to a career that has accumulated more than 850 million streams. 
 

Empower London Foundation has formally announced plans for a vibrant new festival of arts, music and culture which will take place in the capital to raise money for a host of the city’s charities: The London Festival. The showcase promises to be an extravaganza of live music performances, city-wide cultural events, engaging new technology and feel-good entertainment.

A fully immersive and technologically advanced event the likes of which the capital has never seen before, visitors will be invited to step back into the past in six spectacular fully-sized ‘festival lands’ which trace the city’s evolution its Roman beginnings, through the often gruesome medieval period and on to the later Georgian and Victorian periods. Thrill-seekers and modern history buffs can also revisit the wartime spirit of the capital with remarkable reconstructions and interactive, immersive sets which enable visitors to see and experience the capital like never before thanks to augmented reality.

With plenty to see and do, visitors can sneak a glimpse of the technology of the future at the innovation hub, shop ’til they drop at the London Market which will showcase the creative wares of over 200 of London’s vibrant independent retailers and designers or even get involved in a plethora of community-led classes and creative workshops at the outreach zone. There are also a variety of cultural treats on offer including an interactive art gallery where viewers can ‘step inside’ art to enjoy a fresh perspective on the piece and a new world pavilion where the culture of Hawaii will be the focus of the 2023 launch event.

For music and performance lovers, a selection of bands, performance artists and VIP special guests will be on hand to perform each day, with the twist being that visitors will have the deciding vote on the final line-up thanks to an online, real-time voting system. To underline the ethos of support for creativity, all amateur performers and bands will receive grants to help them further their careers and continue to support the creativity of Londoners.

With a firm emphasis on education and accessibility for all, The London Festival‘s organisers have also created a dedicated safe zone for children with animations, a play area and baby zone staffed with childcare professionals. The London Festival will take place in the capital across a two-week period in summer 2023 with 100% of all funds raised dedicated to providing vital financial support to organisations running educational programmes, offering support for entrepreneurs and rolling out public awareness campaigns to underprivileged communities, under-realised individuals and disadvantaged children across the capital.

The initiative has already received strong support from most London MPs and Assembly members with organizers now approaching the Government to involve them in the overall project.

David Knights, an Empower London Trustee said “Bold, brave and completely different to anything that’s ever been done in the capital before, we’ve got big plans to make The London Festival one of the not-to-be-missed events in the capital and attract visitors from all over the world. With an ambitious goal of raising £150M for charitable causes over 10 years from ticket sales alone, the London Festival is set to be inclusive, exciting, immersive and aims to celebrate the best that the capital has to offer thanks to our unique partnership with event experts the Nascent Vek Group and support from government officials and local community groups.”