Leading hospitality and retail design agency UXUS announce the details of Luna, a new interior concept for McDonald’s designed to bring people together in a welcoming, playful and shareable environment. UXUS have developed a unique design language for McDonald’s inspired by the circle as a symbol of inclusivity, unity and
Family-run Seddon, which knows first-hand the importance of cancer treatment, is pledging to raise £175,000 toward a new state-of-the-art cancer centre. The Bolton-based construction firm has once again teamed up with The Christie charity to help raise funds – this time for the new Christie at Macclesfield cancer centre. Seddon
Multi award-winning student accommodation brand true student has been confirmed to operate and manage a landmark £100 million student accommodation development opening for guests this September. Occupying a prime 1.14-acre site on Erskine Street, the 999-bed development, within walking distance of both the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores
Westcountry homebuilder Cavanna Homes has secured its first virtual new home reservation from a couple looking to relocate from Australia. After almost 40 years of living overseas, the last 10 in rural Western Australia, Chris and Emma Brown are packing-up to move home to Devon – a 9,000 mile relocation
Midlands contractor G F Tomlinson has completed construction works on a new dual-site facility for Nottingham Trent University (NTU), which will facilitate vital research for medical devices and technology. Set across two sites, with one building located at the Boots site at the Nottingham Enterprise Zone, and the other at
An employee of Mansfield-based Rippon Homes has celebrated having transitioned from the developer’s sales team to its land department. Sophie Hopkinson, who lives in Lincoln, moved from her role as Sales Negotiator at Rippon’s Roman Meadow development in Welton to take up her new position as an Land Buyer. Having
According to a new research conducted by the University of Cologne, short-term rentals, such as Airbnb, are causing housing shortages and rent increases. The study, conducted by Felix Mindl and Dr Oliver Arentz, investigated the impact of short-term rentals on the Cologne housing market, with findings that come as a
The design of the new City Bridge in Drammen, Norway has been formally approved by the client, City of Drammen (Drammen Kommune). The 280m long crossing, co-designed by Knight Architects (UK), Saaha (NO), structural engineers Degree of Freedom (NO) and landscape architect Asplan Viak (NO) will replace an 84-year-old road
Dutch company Jan Snel BV, a pioneer in modular building, is bringing its commitment to smarter, swifter and more sustainable construction to the UK market. Jan Snel is a subsidiary of Japanese market leader Daiwa House, which provides industrialised modular and commercial buildings in Asia, North America and Australia. From
Christian Deilmann, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer at tado° outlines the measures needed to meet Europe’s and the UK’s climate targets. Heating and cooling in buildings and industry accounts for half of the energy consumption, and governments across Europe and the UK have begun to recognise the scale of this
Leading hospitality and retail design agency UXUS announce the details of Luna, a new interior concept for McDonald’s designed to bring people together in a welcoming, playful and shareable environment. UXUS have developed a unique design language for McDonald’s inspired by the circle as a symbol of inclusivity, unity and togetherness. Initially developed for the Chinese market, the Luna concept will now be rolled out globally. The hospitality experience developed by UXUS breaks expectations of traditional décor by incorporating new circular and semi-circular seating typologies symbolising inclusivity and connectivity, which allow people to come together in the round. Stools and free-seating encourage diners to shape their own experience, while layers of partitions and inviting ‘full-moon’ windows create transparency throughout the space, revealing the communal environment and connecting adjacent groups of diners. “Connecting is more important today than ever before. We continuously share moments of our lives with friends and family and search to connect with the world around us in meaningful ways. Luna embodies a sense of connectivity and togetherness, without compromising efficiency, durability or cost-effectiveness. The way the concept brings these together with new interior architecture, graphic elements and materiality using iconic circular shapes is a refreshed, contemporary expression of the brand that still feels very much grounded in McDonald’s familiar and much-loved brand language,” said George Gottl, Chief Creative Officer and Co-Founder of UXUS. UXUS have applied a new approach to materiality, colour and texture to amplify a sense of discovery. Wooden finishes, textured vinyl upholstery, perforated steel and concrete-look laminate create an immersive environment that engages the senses. In addition, lighting incorporating curved shapes and circles as well as illuminated surfaces and down-lit walls create depth and a warm, welcoming environment. The interior also features a playful take on McDonald’s iconic Golden Arches, with arch-inspired stools, bold graphics and lighting which reimagine iconic branded elements in surprising and unexpected ways. “We continually have our customers top of mind when we design spaces for them to come together to dine. Enjoying a meal with friends, family or colleagues is perhaps the most social of events and creating environments that can make that experience easy, convenient, safe and rewarding is what we constantly strive to achieve. Luna, as developed with UXUS, ticks those boxes and it is a concept we are starting to scale around the world. And when dine-in restrictions resulting from COVID become increasingly eased, we look forward to welcoming even more guests back to our dining areas to enjoy the McDonald’s experience and for some, the delights of Luna,“ commented Stephen Douglas, Senior Director, Global Development at McDonald’s.
Family-run Seddon, which knows first-hand the importance of cancer treatment, is pledging to raise £175,000 toward a new state-of-the-art cancer centre. The Bolton-based construction firm has once again teamed up with The Christie charity to help raise funds – this time for the new Christie at Macclesfield cancer centre. Seddon – which has been supporting The Christie charity for nearly 25 years – has pledged to donate £250 for every new house it sells nationwide under its Seddon Homes brand. The fundraising drive will run until the end of 2022,raising vital donations for the new £26m cancer centre, which is due to open at the end of the year. Seddon is aiming to sell nearly 700 homes nationwide to raise the incredible sum for the charity. The company hopes its fundraising model will inspire other local construction businesses to support The Christie in the same way. The Seddon family know all too well how important the work of The Christie is, with two family members receiving treatment at the specialist cancer hospital. Seddon began supporting The Christie charity in 1997 when, as part of Seddon’s centenary celebrations, staff raised many thousands of pounds that helped to fund two operating theatres. The partnership developed further in 2009/2010 when Seddon became a Christie charity corporate partner and raised more than £400k towards a revolutionary treatment called radioimmunotherapy or ‘Magic Bullet’ – a treatment that blasts tumours with radioactive material. During these two years, Seddon staff ran, cycled, swam and walked hundreds of miles in teambuilding and fundraising events. In 2017, Seddon committed to a further two-year fundraising partnership by making The Christie its Charity of Choice, with all national fundraising initiatives supporting the charity. Over the years the company has raised an incredible £875,000 and helped fund a wide variety of projects and contributed to the development of a range of pioneering treatments and valuable cancer research, including proton beam therapy research. “We are thrilled at this latest pledge of support from Seddon which is a much respected and longstanding supporter of our charity. It is through partnerships like this that we can bring the vision of a new cancer centre in Macclesfield to reality. It is an extremely generous pledge from Seddon which is very much appreciated and will directly improve services for a huge number of patients for many years to come,” said Marie Toller, head of major relationships at The Christie charity. The Christie at Macclesfield will transform cancer care in Cheshire, the High Peak area of Derbyshire and parts of North Staffordshire, providing care closer to home for more than 1,500 existing Christie patients a year. It will bring together essential cancer services into one purpose-built centre delivering local specialist access to radiotherapy, chemotherapy, holistic support and information services, outpatient care, palliative care and a wider range of clinical trials. Around 40,000 appointments per year will take place at the new centre. The Christie charity supports the work of The Christie NHS Foundation Trust providing enhanced services over and above what the NHS funds. This includes money for care and treatment, research, education and extra patient services. Gifts from the public make a huge difference to the care and treatment that The Christie is able to provide to patients and their families. The Christie NHS Foundation Trust was the first specialist trust to be rated as ‘Outstanding’ twice (in 2016 and 2018) by the health regulator the Care Quality Commission (CQC). It referred to The Christie as ‘a leader in cancer care’ and ‘a pioneer in developing innovative solutions to cancer care.’ The CQC praised the Trust’s staff which it said ‘go the extra mile to meet the needs of patients and their families’ and that they were ‘exceptionally kind and caring.’ In 2017, the CQC rated The Christie as the best specialist trust in the country, and one of the top three trusts overall in England.
Multi award-winning student accommodation brand true student has been confirmed to operate and manage a landmark £100 million student accommodation development opening for guests this September. Occupying a prime 1.14-acre site on Erskine Street, the 999-bed development, within walking distance of both the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University, will bring a unique offering to Liverpool’s vibrant student market. Liverpool remains one of the UK’s most popular locations for both UK and international students, creating a high demand for accommodation in the heart of the city, and yet the supply of high-quality purpose-built student accommodation within the city still remains relatively low. Fittingly situated within the Knowledge Quarter, true Liverpool will typify the brand’s core pillars of health, community and experience in order to become firmly established as the first choice for all-inclusive luxury student accommodation within the city. “We’re excited to be bringing our award-winning offering to Liverpool. The expansion into Liverpool’s thriving domestic and international student market marks another step in establishing the brand as a major player in the PBSA management arena. true Liverpool will exemplify the trueLife experience, working hard to not only provide world-class student accommodation but to support and encourage our student guests through a market-leading programme of opportunities focused on wellbeing and personal development,” said Ben Morley, Managing Director of true student. Guests will benefit from high-quality shared apartments and individual suites, enjoying a wide range of amenities which include a state-of-the-art gym, study rooms, a festival zone and cinema room, as well as a unique top floor sky lounge and terrace, offering stunning 360° panoramic views across the City. Wellbeing and mental health support are key aspects of the brand’s offering, along with free cleaning, all-inclusive bills and much more, and guests will also enjoy the amazing trueLifeevents calendar, packed full of compelling opportunities to learn, discover and explore. Owned by The Bricks Group, who currently operate across student, co-living and hotel sectors, the experience-led true student brand already operates more than 3,500 beds across the UK. Historically developer-operators, true Liverpool will mark the brand’s first engagement as property managers mid-construction, allowing the team to put the ‘true student’ stamp on a part-built development and optimise the rooms and spaces, creating the unique true student experience.
Westcountry homebuilder Cavanna Homes has secured its first virtual new home reservation from a couple looking to relocate from Australia. After almost 40 years of living overseas, the last 10 in rural Western Australia, Chris and Emma Brown are packing-up to move home to Devon – a 9,000 mile relocation to a brand new home they’ve chosen, reserved and fitted-out entirely online and via video calls. The global pandemic and lockdown forced the retired couple to consider exactly where they wanted to set down their roots, and a visit to Chris’ family hometown of Newton Abbot in 2019 where they noticed signage for Cavanna Homes’ new Wolborough Hill development led them to the local homebuilder’s website a year later. “My family are from Newton Abbot, so I know the area well and each year Emma and myself spend between three to six months in the UK visiting friends and family. When the lockdown was announced and we were unable to make our annual trip, we realised just how much we missed being in England. We spent time thinking about where we wanted to set-down our roots and call home, and it was the UK that won,” said Chris. Emma added: “On previous visits to Newton Abbot, we’d seen signs that Cavanna was building new homes at Wolborough Hill, so we took a look on their website and fell in love with the attractive style, design and finish of the homes – this certainly helped with our decision when choosing whether to stay in Australia or move to the UK.” Chris and Emma will be leaving behind their home in the town of Yallingup, near Margaret River, with kangaroos regularly jumping through the garden, to live at Cavanna @ Wolborough Hill with panoramic views over Newton Abbot and out towards Dartmoor and within easy reach of Decoy Country Park. With the help of Cavanna Homes’ Sales Advisors, Janine Dixon and Sarah Bowden, the couple did a virtual reservation of a modern four-bedroom Hampton style home, complete with underfloor heating, high-specification integrated appliances, a study, plus an integral garage with a private driveway and access to the development’s exclusive tennis court for residents. “We knew that trying to buy a house on the other side of the world and during a pandemic wasn’t going to be easy, but as soon as we spoke to the Sales Advisors, they were incredibly helpful and having good technology in place has made the process so much easier for us. “Due to the time difference, we had a lot of contact over email and Cavanna were brilliant with sending over any extra information we needed as we couldn’t visit in person. We had regular video calls over WhatsApp with the Sales Advisors and even chose our tile, carpet and kitchen choices over the phone with them! We also received lots of photos on the progress of our house, such as when the roof was being fitted, which was a lovely touch. “When it came to reserving, we were nowhere near as nervous as we should have been. Knowing the location well and having regular updates and support from the Sales Advisors was a huge help. We’re so excited to move to the UK and start our new life in our gorgeous new home. We’re hoping to complete by March 2021 and move in as soon as Covid restrictions allow, so fingers crossed”, explained Emma. Cavanna’s Sales Advisor, Janine Dixon, added: “This is our first virtual reservation, and with it being from Australia is incredible. It’s been a pleasure supporting Emma and Chris through the process of reserving a new home and choosing their fixtures and fittings online – it’s been a learning curve for us both, but it’s worked brilliantly. “We’re looking forward to welcoming Emma and Chris to Cavanna @ Wolborough Hill in the spring and we can’t wait to meet them in person to hand over the keys to their brand-new home. We’re now selling our final homes at Cavanna @ Wolborough Hill, so if anyone is looking to move to this fantastic location close to Newton Abbot town centre, get in touch today to book your appointment.”
Midlands contractor G F Tomlinson has completed construction works on a new dual-site facility for Nottingham Trent University (NTU), which will facilitate vital research for medical devices and technology. Set across two sites, with one building located at the Boots site at the Nottingham Enterprise Zone, and the other at Nottingham Trent University’s Clifton Campus – the new Medical Technologies Innovation Facility (MTIF) will accelerate innovation, allowing university researchers to come together with organisations and clinicians to develop ideas and progress them quickly to market. G F Tomlinson was the main contractor for the site at the Boots Nottingham Enterprise Zone, which will be dedicated to the development, clinical production and commercialisation of new medical technologies, as well as providing access to laboratories, clean rooms, technologies and expertise for processing, prototype development and preparing manufacturing processes. “It’s fantastic to announce that pivotal works on this landmark specialist facility have now been completed for Nottingham Trent University. The MTIF dual-site will facilitate life-changing research in medical development and modern scientific technology, enhancing the university’s current offering. We have a rich and varied portfolio of higher education projects and the completion of this facility, further strengthens our ongoing relationship with Nottingham Trent University. G F Tomlinson is delighted to be continually supporting learning and development across the Midlands,” said Chris Flint, director at G F Tomlinson. All works at the 1,687.4m2 Boots Enterprise Zone site were designed and constructed to a BREEAM Very Good rating, with all clean rooms designed and constructed to an ISO 6 standard. To accommodate specialist equipment, including a testing machine for nitrogen and compressed air, along with an oxygen sensor and a machine for digital microscopic work, G F Tomlinson constructed an isolated slab within the Metrology Room to house the laboratory equipment, to minimise its impact on the building and its users. To co-ordinate this process, G F Tomlinson’s project delivery team engaged with Nottingham Trent University at the start of the project, which helped ensure all specialist laboratory equipment had the correct level of power, data, water and gas supply, and also worked to ascertain the location of specialist equipment to be installed, ensuring one system did not adversely affect another in terms of usage. The Clifton Campus site will concentrate on research and development, linking academics with industry for the development of medical technology. The entire project was supported by the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, and the university received £9.7m in funding through its Local Growth Fund allocation. As part of the Midlands Engine, the facility is expected to become a major specialist innovation asset, supporting industry and enhancing the regional economy in the areas of life sciences and healthcare. “This is hugely exciting development for Nottingham and the wider region. MTIF will bring companies, clinicians and university researchers together to take their ideas from bench to bedside, accelerating the speed of innovation to improve patient care,” added MTIF Managing Director, Mike Hannay.
An employee of Mansfield-based Rippon Homes has celebrated having transitioned from the developer’s sales team to its land department. Sophie Hopkinson, who lives in Lincoln, moved from her role as Sales Negotiator at Rippon’s Roman Meadow development in Welton to take up her new position as an Land Buyer. Having worked for the housebuilder for the past three years, Sophie has previous experience as a Valuation Manager for an estate agent in Newark. “I decided to transition into the land department because I was eager to progress with Rippon and a build a career within the industry,” she explained. I saw that the job was being advertised and I applied for it in the normal way, following the standard interview procedure.” Now settled into her new role, Sophie says she is really enjoying the challenges she must face on a day-to-day basis, and the level of variety that comes with her responsibilities. “Working in land is completely different to being in my previous position on site,” she continues, “and though there is a lot to learn, I’m finding the experience of doing so really interesting. What I’m most looking forward to is having the chance to see a site grow and following that journey from start to finish – from first viewing it as a field, to gaining planning permission, then seeing the houses being built and ultimately watching our purchasers make it their forever home. There are so many opportunities in land and I really like that Rippon is so keen on helping people to learn and progress within their careers,” she added. In her spare time, Sophie enjoys spending time on the family farm, which is just a mile away from where she lives, socialising with friends, and going on walks in the countryside. “I congratulate Sophie on her successful transition from our sales team to our land department. Sophie has shown true dedication and skill in her work ever since joining us, and I am confident that she will continue to flourish in her new position,” commented Ian Dyke, Managing Director of Rippon Homes.
According to a new research conducted by the University of Cologne, short-term rentals, such as Airbnb, are causing housing shortages and rent increases. The study, conducted by Felix Mindl and Dr Oliver Arentz, investigated the impact of short-term rentals on the Cologne housing market, with findings that come as a stark warning to other urban areas. The research found that pressure on the housing market has been steadily increasing over the past 10 years, with the number of short-term rental accommodations in Cologne increasing from 500 to nearly 6,200 in the last five years alone. Of these accommodations, 41 percent are rated as professional of which 65 percent are owned by hosts with multiple accommodations. The average income from short-term rentals exceeds that of long-term rentals after only 90 booked days. “While a large proportion of hosts can be considered home sharers, we find an increasing proportion of providers who have developed a professional business model from short-term rentals. Professional short-term rentals are available to tourists throughout the year and thus compete directly with long-term tenants, for whom the rooms are then no longer available,” commented Felix Mindl. The research also found that 14.2 percent of overall rent increases within the study period can be attributed to short-term rentals – this results in a rent increase of around 320 Euros per year for new tenants. The authors suggest that a registration process for the hosts could make an important contribution to improving transparency of the market structure.
The design of the new City Bridge in Drammen, Norway has been formally approved by the client, City of Drammen (Drammen Kommune). The 280m long crossing, co-designed by Knight Architects (UK), Saaha (NO), structural engineers Degree of Freedom (NO) and landscape architect Asplan Viak (NO) will replace an 84-year-old road bridge across the river Drammenselva and the local rail station, becoming a vital link within the city’s infrastructure network. The landmark bridge project is a key element in the city’s successful redevelopment programme, turning a former industrial enclave into a modern city with high living standards. The new City Bridge starts at the station square in Strømsø, the southern part of the city, crossing the newly redeveloped Drammen Rail station, including four platforms and six rail tracks, before stepping over the 150m wide Drammenselva river and tying into the central public square of Bragernes, on the north side of the city. Six stair ramps will provide access to the platforms of the station and to the promenade along the south shore. The width of the bridge will be increased from the current 15m to 19.4 m, providing ample space for pedestrians and cyclists on both sides of the road deck. The central carriageway has been designed exclusively for public transport. The central element of the bridge, the main river crossing, will be a pair of low lying, shallow steel arches spanning 85m across the river, leaping dramatically between two narrow piers located close to the river shores. This distinctive shape will be emblematic for the city of Drammen. At both ends of the bridge, significant consideration has been taken to provide a seamless transition between the deck and the local pedestrian and cycle routes. This includes a terraced plaza stretching along the north riverbanks on Bragernes allowing easy access to the bankside promenade crossing underneath the bridge. The promenade on the south bank, providing fishing spots and mooring for small boats, will be accessed from the bridge via a bespoke lift. Being the pivotal link for commuters and leisure pedestrians alike, great attention has been given to the detailing of the crossing. High quality finishes including granite paving and Accoya handrails will be accompanied by bespoke furniture including benches and flag poles. Carefully designed lighting (by Light Bureau) will ensure user safety at night and illuminate the striking bridge silhouette. The development is a joint operation by the City of Drammen (Drammen Kommune) and the Norwegian rail authority Bane NOR which is carried out in two separate lots. Detailed design stage of the bridge will finish in March 2021 and the construction tender will be announced before summer 2021. Construction works, including the demolition of the existing bridge and the erection of a temporary crossing, will start in 2022. The opening of the new City Bridge is scheduled for 2025.
Dutch company Jan Snel BV, a pioneer in modular building, is bringing its commitment to smarter, swifter and more sustainable construction to the UK market. Jan Snel is a subsidiary of Japanese market leader Daiwa House, which provides industrialised modular and commercial buildings in Asia, North America and Australia. From their new waterfront offices in Swansea, Wales, the team at Jan Snel UK will focus on the residential market but work across the sectors to provide healthcare, education and commercial solutions. Ben Pemberton has been appointed as the UK manager, bringing over 25 years’ experience in the construction industry. He is the ideal person to shape the company’s further UK growth, supported by a team of industry professionals who are all passionate about what Jan Snel UK has to offer. With the opening of the new office, Jan Snel wants to set a high quality standard for modular building in the UK. “In the UK – particularly in the social housing sector – there is an urgent need for high-quality accommodation that can be delivered quickly,” notes Harry van Zandwijk, CEO of Jan Snel. “Modular construction is the ideal solution. By opening our UK office, we can meet this need expediently, combining our modular expertise with local market knowledge.” The Jan Snel UK team is already working on an exciting project with developer Abode Waterstone and Coastal Housing Group, one of Wales’ most innovative and forward-thinking housing associations. The project will provide affordable homes on the former oil refinery site, now the Coed Darcy urban village in South Wales. When completed, the site will create an entirely new community, one with comfortable and well-appointed homes, many of which will be eco-friendly. The development also includes schools and green open spaces. As a next step, Jan Snel UK is looking at opening a factory in Wales. The team is already discussing the possibilities with the Welsh Government. Ben says: “We want to bring more jobs to the area and make a positive contribution to the local economy, and we are incredibly excited about what lies ahead. Jan Snel’s product is head and shoulders above everything else in the modular market in terms of quality, and I am proud to represent the brand in the UK.”
Christian Deilmann, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer at tado° outlines the measures needed to meet Europe’s and the UK’s climate targets. Heating and cooling in buildings and industry accounts for half of the energy consumption, and governments across Europe and the UK have begun to recognise the scale of this challenge and opportunity through financial incentives and legislation to make homes greener. A rapid acceleration of energy-efficient measures and a comprehensive digital energy transition are required in 2021 and beyond. Energy efficiency, the Green Deal and Climate Change Act The European Green Deal and the UK’s Climate Change Act – Europe’s and the UK’s plan to go carbon neutral by 2050 – is calling for the doubling of the number of energy-efficient renovations in homes. This would mean 35m homes being renovated to a higher energy-efficiency standard by 2030 – but this still leaves the vast majority of the 200m+ homes as energy inefficient. One of the key challenges is the high cost of purchasing and retrofitting promoted measures like insulation, heat pumps, and solar panels. We need to make sure that we start with the low-hanging fruit which in this case is smart heating and cooling controls. A smart thermostat typically costs under £200 with a payback of one or two years through the energy saved. No other energy-efficiency measure in homes comes close to the energy efficiency impact, low cost, easy installation, and fast energy-savings return. Smart thermostats are part of various country-specific laws and subsidy programs but more consideration is needed in the huge and impactful European Green Deal and Climate Change Act. Electrification of heat and grid integration Heat pumps are already being installed as standard in large parts of new European and UK buildings and homes. This is exactly the right way to go. Heat pumps have the capability to only consume a fraction of primary energy compared to what gas or oil heating systems need. The connectivity of heat pumps and air conditioning systems in combination with intelligent algorithms can result in a paradigm shift. Smarter heating and cooling will revolutionise the way energy is consumed and provide a valuable source of flexibility for regional and national grids. Europe and the UK need a fully integrated, interconnected and digitised energy market. This flexibility provided to the energy grid paves the way for more renewable energy without the need for backup power plants. The consumption will then react to when the sun shines or the wind blows without affecting comfort inside buildings. This means rolling out demand response solutions and agile tariffs. Remote diagnostics to reduce physical repair visits Another part of digitisation is reducing repair and maintenance efforts by half. By remotely monitoring the health and performance of heating and cooling systems, energy utilities and repair service providers are able to increase operational efficiency. Rather than wait for a boiler to break down, remote monitoring can inform the user or energy supplier of the issue before it fully materialises. Incidents are minimised and when an engineer does need to do a repair, he/she already knows what the issue is and what parts are required. This reduces the need to visit the home twice – first to identify the issue, second to come back with the right spare parts for the actual repair. Remote diagnostics reduces costs, cuts transport emissions, and minimises unnecessary contact in the current COVID-19 situation. An open platform which works across any system from any manufacturer In order to achieve the wide-scale benefits of digitising the heating and cooling sector, a solution which works for all households independent of the brand or type of heating system is the key. tado° has partners who provide tens of millions of customers across Europe and the UK with energy and who also repair millions of heating systems every year. There is naturally a wide variety of heating systems from hundreds of manufacturers across large customer bases. With a cross-manufacturer compatible tado° solution, we tackle exactly this challenge with the goal that our partners have the chance to offer all of their customers the same connectivity solution and a uniform smartphone application. Moreover, this allows their service centres to manage all of their customers’ heating systems in one remote diagnostics tool, and all aggregated systems into one network of demand response load.