One of the North-West’s leading tech companies has partnered with Oasis Academy to give children in Oldham their very own iPad as part of a mission to make great education more accessible to everyone.
Sync – a longstanding local business that’s been charging-up Manchester for 30 years and counting – has supplied devices for all pupils and teachers at an Oldham primary school in a drive for equality.
Oldham Academy Clarksfield is part of the Oasis Community Learning family of schools – which has worked with Sync to pass along 450 iPads to local children.
The devices have helped to remove barriers some young people face in accessing learning resources outside of school.
Nigel Fowler, Principal at Oasis Academy Clarksfield, stated: “We are extremely excited to be part of the Oasis Community Learning Horizons project.
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“Every child now has access to a top end device enabling them to complete research, enhance their learning, and develop as learners.
“The project is digitally transforming Oasis Clarksfield, moving us to the cutting edge of technology and learning.
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“This project marries up the building project currently being undertaken and the result will be a learning environment and resources to enable us to help our children prepare for the 21st century.”
The iPad supply is part of a wider scheme titled Oasis Horizons – which is committed to delivering over 30,000 iPads to primary, secondary, sixth form students, and staff over a 12-month period.
The strategy involves improving the curriculum in Oasis academies and giving staff the chance to develop their skills within the classroom.
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Tom Crump, National Education Manager at Sync, explained: “The equitable delivery of education through digital means has never been more important.
“By equipping teachers and students with an iPad, OCL is preparing for the long-term delivery of equitable learning – whether students are in school or at home.
“We are proud to be working with OCL on their ground-breaking Horizons project – the largest provision of iPad in education happening in England to date.”
Sync has been part of the tech scene in Manchester for 30 years / Image: Sync
The work with Oasis Academy Clarksfield is just one example of the ways in which Sync is supporting local education.
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The company is focused on helping schools adopt and integrate technology – as well as setting up workshops and seminars for those eager to learn more about utilising tech in all kinds of educational arenas.
Sync offered free spaces to local business owners and entrepreneurs during the nationwide lockdown – including vital skills-based training courses designed for enhancing work and communication.
The Sync Deansgate site – a three-storey tech shop with an Apple desk, training suite, and conference centre – is open now with an information desk for anyone looking to find out more.
Additional information on training and events available at Sync can be found here.
Business
WeWork is closing its enormous office in Spinningfields, with tenants told to move out
Daisy Jackson
Co-working giant WeWork has announced the shock closure of its flagship space in Manchester, an enormous unit in the heart of Spinningfields.
Those who rent desks or offices within the space have been served notice to move out by the end of the month.
It’s understood that WeWork’s three remaining locations in Manchester are unaffected.
The US-based workspace company first moved into the 60,000sq ft unit at No.1 Spinningfields in 2017, offering flexible solutions to businesses of varying sizes.
But in the last few years it’s faced major financial difficulties, with WeWork eventually filing for bankruptcy in the States.
It was previously valued at $47 billion before its bankruptcy overseas.
On the closure of its huge Manchester office, a WeWork spokesperson said: “As part of WeWork’s efforts to achieve a sustainable capital structure and profitable business to serve our members for the long term, we have made the decision to stop operating at No1 Spinningfields in Manchester.
“We look forward to continuing to provide our members with flexible space solutions across our other locations in the city and the rest of the UK, which remains a key market for us.”
An email sent to tenants said: “After carefully evaluating our offerings in Manchester, we have made the decision to stop operating at WeWork No 1 Spinningfields… the move out will occur by 31 May 2024.
“We understand this may cause disruption to your business and are very sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.”
Have you been affected by WeWork’s Manchester closure? Email [email protected] who can help with central, flexible office spaces.
Business
Premier League agrees new spending cap after ‘majority of clubs’ vote in favour
Danny Jones
The Premier League has reached an agreement in principle on a new spending cap for all teams as the English top flight looks to replace the current Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Set to be installed from the 2025/26 season onwards once fully ratified, revised spending limits will placed on teams in the first division, the number for which will be calculated in relation to a multiple of the money earned in prize money and TV rights by the lowest-earning club in the Premier League.
If approved at the AGM (annual general meeting) this June, the new model will replace the existing PSR system under which multiple clubs have broken FFP and been charged with other breaches over recent years, with Everton and Nottingham Forest having already been deducted points this season.
Although 16 of the 20 Premier League clubs reportedly agreed to the newly proposed regulations, four clubs were not in favour, with Manchester City, Man United and Aston Villa all said to have voted against the decision, while Chelsea chose to abstain.
The new max-spending model is being referred to as ‘anchoring’ or ‘tethering’, which will take into account total amounts spent on buying players, weekly wages, agents’ fees and more.
If successful following a final vote in June and brought through the season after next, the aim is to curb the increasing financial gap between the top and bottom of the table by preventing things like big sponsorships which may otherwise see clubs assert massive spending power during transfer windows.
According to the Independent, cost controls will now “limit club expenditure on salaries, signing and fees to 85 per cent of total revenue” for those not competing in European competitions.
This comes after Premier League teams previously the latest UEFA rules that will see those playing in the likes of the Champions, Europa and Conference League only allowed to spend 70% of that revenue, given the added financial uplift from qualifying for these tournaments.
While 16 yeas were enough to see the initial vote move forward, it will only require 14 out of 20 clubs to agree to the rule change in June for the motion to be fully passed.
A Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) spokesperson said: “We will obviously wait to see further details of these specific proposals, but we have always been clear that we would oppose any measure that would place a ‘hard’ cap on player wages.
“There is an established process in place to ensure that proposals like this, which would directly impact our members, have to be properly consulted on.”