A 26-year-old University of Manchester graduate has officially become the UK’s youngest self-made billionaire.
Sydney-born Mechanical Engineering graduate Johnny Boufarhat has found success with his video conferencing app Hopin, – which he launched just as the UK entered its first national lockdown.
The idea initially came about two years prior to the pandemic when, after graduating in 2018, Jonny was diagnosed with a “mystery” autoimmune disease that left him unable to get out of bed.
It was while he was bedridden at his girlfriend’s flat that the idea of a virtual meeting app was born.
He got straight to work and began coding the programme.
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Johnny Boufarhat launched the video conferencing applast March/ Credit: Hopin
While Hopin may not have been Jonny’s first foray into the world of application development – having already creating a student discount app – it’s certainly proven to be a profitable one.
After finally launching the service last year, Hopin’s user-base has rocketed to over five million and 80,000 organisations worldwide – with American Express and Hewelett-Packard among clients – which has given it a value of £4.1 billion.
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The company’s soaring repuation has left Boufarhat with a net worth of £1.5 billion, placing him in 113th place in the Sunday Times Rich List – a tally of Britain’s wealthiest individuals.
He is forecast to rake in £130 million in 2021 alone.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CPIkB9FNNvK/
Hopin is a firm registered in the UK, although it has no offices and Boufarhat now lives in Barcelona with his fiancée, who works with him.
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The company currently employs around 500 staff members, who are mostly in the US and UK.
Speaking to the Sunday Times last month, Jonny said: “I’m very, very work-focused. I just want to be as impactful as I can, in a positive way for the world… I’m boring – I don’t drink, I don’t do anything like that.
“I make sure all my food is organic – that’s the biggest change I’ve made.
“I’m very, very work-focused.”
Hopin’s user-base has rocketed to over five million and 80,000 organisations worldwide / Credit: Hopin
You can read the Sunday Times Rich List 2021 here, and you can find more information about Hopin via its website.
Featured Image – Hopin
UK News
Discount flights from Manchester up for grabs as easyJet’s ‘Big Orange Sale’ returns for 2026
Danny Jones
Get ready to book in some annual leave, because easyJet’s ‘Big Orange Sale’ is BACK for 2026, with cheap flights from Manchester and more up for grabs.
Not only can you get affordable trips from Manchester Airport, specifically, but there are discounts across the board by the operator.
The Big Orange Sale is becoming an increasingly popular annual occurrence for Brits, with countless holidaymakers, rather fittingly, making the most of the offer.
In fact, you might have already seen the advert yourselves:
Packing our bags already.
Just as the ad explains, those travelling via easyJet can get up to 20% discount on flights to a load of different destinations across the globe.
Yes, the company are knocking up to a fifth off the price on flights over the course of nearly 10 months’ worth of travel from the UK, provided the trip is booked within the right window.
Seeing savings on more than 730,000 seats, the time frame itself is also one of the longest cut-price periods you’ll come across this year, not to mention well into 2027.
Better still, it doesn’t just stop at flying itself…
Get this, the flight operators and travel agents are offering up to £400 off on package holidays, meaning those old faithful all-inclusives are about to become even more bang for your buck.
Featuring not only countless mainland European favourites on the list, but also the likes of the Canary Islands, Morocco, and numerous popular skiing hotspots, just to name a few.
In ideal news for all you lot, approximately 90,000 of these reduced seats are on flights from Manchester Airport, with the operators also having just added 30 new locations to the areas they service.
Allowing you to book trips departing between 1 May 2026 and 14 March 2027, it’s a huge travel window for you to get extra value-for-money deals on your next getaway.
You can find the full list of flights and package holidays on easyJet’s Big Orange Sale right HERE.
Speaking of airports, you’ll also be glad to hear that public transport infrastructure is also getting a big upgrade to make your next holiday even easier:
Featured Images — The Manc Group/Anna Zvereva (via Flickr)
UK News
Rochdale AFC vs York City is set upto be one of the most blockbuster title-deciding matches ever
Danny Jones
In case you haven’t been keeping track of the absolutely incredible story that’s been unfolding in the National League, local club Rochdale AFC and York City have put on one of THE very best season-long shows in recent memory, and it’s all set to be decided this Saturday, 25 April.
Despite both teams having surpassed the 100-point mark and only losing 10 games between them – just four in the case of current ‘favourites’, York – it’s still anyone’s guess as to who could win the title.
One of the most divisive but undeniable dramatic things about non-league‘s top division is that only one team is promoted: the one that wins the lot and lifts the trophy.
At present, the table toppers need just a draw to claim victory and wrap up what has been nothing short of an incredible 2025/26 term, but Rochdale need all three points to pip them to the post after an equally praiseworthy campaign. We can all agree it would make for quite the Hollywood ending.
We’re obviously biased towards the Greater Manchester hopeful, but it’s worth mentioning that The Dale have been just as good value for money in terms of entertainment this year.
Having most recently finished with yet another late goal in (get this) the 99th minute of extra time against Braintree last weekend, it’s basically become a habit for them over the past few months.
Mani Dieseruvwe’s winner is just the latest in a long line of similar blockbuster moments for Rochdalians, both home and away: Luke Hannant won it in the 90th minute to beat Wealdstone in the previous game, Ian Henderson netted in the 97th against Sutton United before that.
There’s also been plenty of goals post the 80-minute mark, and so on and so forth.
Honestly, there have been so many of these at-the-death moments during the 25/26 contest; here’s just one of many examples that produced unbelievable limbs in recent weeks…
York City beat these boys 4-1 in the reverse fixture, but how will they fare on the road?
Weren’t not exaggerating when we say there’s been so much last-minute bedlam from both outfits that you’d think the novelty might have possibly worn off by now – a bit Ross and Rachel, ‘will they, won’t they?’. Rest assured, it absolutely hasn’t.
Not a little bit.
Currently sitting just two points behind their Yorkshire title rivals, with a goal difference of nearly 50 to boot, in most instances, this would be far and away enough to make it over the line most years.
However, the Minstermen have had other ideas, leading the pack pretty much from day one, not only racking up 107 points but also amassing a whopping 105 goals so far – quite literally the same number of points that Jimmy McNulty’s squad have in their entirety up to this point.
Truly staggering stuff, and not just in terms of the stats themselves, but because this could still prove not enough to lift the all-important piece of silverware and secure a place back in the EFL. It’s already produced plenty of hold-your-breath level viral clips on social media:
York City’s players reactions to Rochdale’s 99th minute winner to deny them winning the league😂😂😂
With that in mind, it’s no surprise that Rochdale have sold all of their home tickets to fill the max capacity of the 10,249-seater stadium as they prepare to host the league leaders at the Crown Oil Arena.
Equally, the entire 850 allocation afforded to fans travelling from York was snapped up in less than 10 minutes earlier this month, with supporters queuing around the ground at the crack of dawn to secure their spot in what will be an unforgettable and no doubt crucial away end.
We have no idea how things are going to pan out, especially given all the players and plot points that have made this one of the most box office title sporting contests ever (you heard), but we do know that it’ll be a day that stays with all those involved forever.
The two sides have even penned a joint statement ahead of this highly anticipated conclusion, reiterating this as the best advert for the tier teetering on the edge of the professional pyramid: “This Saturday’s game brings an end to one of the most thrilling, exciting and unpredictable title races in football history.
Both ourselves and Rochdale have the chance to write our names in National League history. The National League is no longer a non-league competition. It is effectively a League 3, with fully professional clubs operating at a level equal to or higher than many of those in League 2.”
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They all know how much this one game means not just for the respective organisations and fan bases, but their communities, culture and native areas on the whole.
Kyron Gordon wants Rochdale fans to bring the energy tomorrow 💥 An exclusive Kyron Gordon interview features in NL72 | Promotion Race Preview, which is free to watch on DAZN with no sign up required ▶️
It continues: “We both understand how important this game is to both clubs and supporters. We both pledge now that whatever happens tomorrow, we will both continue to fight for 3UP.
“Both clubs sit on over 100 points. One of us will have to fight once more in the National League Play-Offs. However, we both strongly believe that this shouldn’t have to be the case.
“We call on the National League, Football Regulator, EFL and Premier League to come together immediately and resolve this issue, so that we do not have to highlight this injustice year after year.”
Rousing stuff, to be sure.
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They sign off by adding: “For both sets of supporters attending the Crown Oil Arena this weekend, we say thank you for being with us all season. The passion you’ve shown for both clubs has been felt across the world. This game will be seen far and wide.
“We want to showcase this league for all its potential. Keep your support in the stands, not on the pitch, and let’s all protect the game we love. Thank you! Rochdale AFC & York City FC.”
Naturally, we’re wishing all the best for Rochdale, but who do you fancy to put a ribbon on this truly unreal title race?
Emily Sergeant -
27th May 2021 
