Heather Croft and Vanessa Slater have struck a deal to become the new directors of KES Solutions UK

Two recruitment consultants have announced plans to grow their North East business after completing a management buy out. Heather Croft and Vanessa Slater are the new directors of KES Solutions UK after the firm’s founder revealed plans to pursue new opportunities, giving the two consultants the chance to step up.

The firm provides recruitment services to industries including automotive, manufacturing chemicals and petrochemicals, warehousing and logistics, and technical and engineering, with a turnover of £3.7m. Based at Houghton-le-Spring, the company was launched in 2007 and now employs seven people. Founder Kelly Swann offered the opportunity to purchase the business to her two most experienced consultants.

Ms Croft, from Peterlee, said: “When we were given the chance to buy the business from Kelly, we were both so excited, but we also knew it was going to be a big challenge for us as working for a business and running it are very different.

“However, Vanessa and I knew the business inside out and I think Kelly was happy that she was handing it over to people who cared as much about it as she had done. When we told our team there were tears. Everyone was so happy for us and that gave us a real confidence boost that we had done the right thing.”

Ms Slater, from South Shields, said: “Although it was a big decision, ultimately the management buy out was a no brainer for us. We just knew it was the right time, personally and professionally, and the right thing for the team too.

“The biggest challenge we faced was getting our heads round the things that come with running a business, for example the finances, the management, and the business development.

“Heather and I work so well together and over the past few months, we’ve really started to understand everything. We are feeling so positive about what the future holds for KES Solutions UK.

“We’re both ambitious and want to help the business to grow, but in the right way. Not too fast, too soon. It has to be right so that we can deliver what we promise and every client always feels as valued and important as the next.”

Ms Croft, added: “We’ve now formed a firm plan of what we’d like to achieve. Our approach is to make subtle changes and targeting organic growth. The business is well established and we’re very good at what we do so we don’t need to try and fix something that isn’t broken. It’s simply about doing what we do but better if we can.”

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Nike’s Mind platform is one of the brand’s most ambitious innovations yet, blending neuroscience, design and sport psychology into a new category of “sensory footwear.” Here are 10 things you need to know about Nike Mind — and why it matters for the future of performance.

1. Nike Mind is Nike’s first neuroscience-based footwear platform

Nike Mind is not just another cushioning or performance foam; it is Nike’s first footwear platform explicitly built around neuroscience and how the brain responds to sensory input from the feet. Developed inside the Nike Mind Science Department, a branch of the Nike Sport Research Lab, the project spent about a decade in research and prototyping before its public debut.

Unlike traditional performance shoes that focus on speed, propulsion or impact protection, Nike Mind is designed to change how athletes feel mentally by stimulating specific neural pathways through underfoot contact. Nike describes it as a “new sensory footwear concept that helps reawaken the foot, the body and the mind,” signaling a shift from pure physical performance to mind–body integration.​

2. It’s built around 22 anatomically mapped foam nodes

At the heart of Nike Mind technology is a system of 22 foam “nodes” mapped to key regions under the foot. These nodes are attached to a flexible base and function like tiny pistons or gimbals that move independently as you walk, stand or shift your weight.

The idea is to target pressure points and mechanoreceptors on the sole, which are directly linked to sensory regions of the brain. By constantly changing the pattern of underfoot stimulation, the nodes amplify sensation and mimic a more natural, varied interaction with the ground than flat cushioning normally provides.

3. It’s designed for pre-game priming and post-game recovery

Nike Mind shoes are explicitly framed as “pre-game and post-game” tools rather than race-day or in-game performance footwear. Nike says the platform is meant to help athletes prime their nervous systems before competition and then reset or decompress afterward.

During pre-game routines, the sensory stimulation is intended to sharpen focus, heighten awareness and mentally prepare athletes to compete. Post-game, the same technology aims to support recovery by helping the brain and body shift out of high-alert competition mode and into a calmer, more grounded state.

4. Nike Mind 001 and Mind 002 launch the line

The first products to feature the technology are Nike Mind 001 and Nike Mind 002. Mind 001 is described as a slip-on mule with a minimalist, “directionless” design that’s easy to slide into before or after training. Mind 002 takes the same sensory system and wraps it into a more structured sneaker silhouette for everyday movement and more active use.

Both styles share the 22-node underfoot system, but they target slightly different use cases: the mule emphasizes simplicity and transition, while the sneaker emphasizes stability and versatility for walking, light training and daily wear.

5. The goal is to quiet the brain’s “default mode network”

One of the most striking claims behind Nike Mind is neurological: the shoes are designed to help disengage the brain’s default mode network (DMN) and activate the sensorimotor network. The DMN is associated with mind-wandering, ruminating and self-referential thoughts, while the sensorimotor network is linked to movement, touch and present-moment engagement.

Nike’s researchers report that in trials, the underfoot sensory pattern from the foam nodes increased activity in brain regions responsible for processing touch and boosted alpha-wave activity associated with meditative or calm-but-alert states. In practical terms, that translates to feeling more grounded, less distracted and more “in the moment” before or after competition.

6. Nike built a dedicated Mind Science Department

To create Nike Mind, the company formed a specialized Mind Science Department inside its existing Nike Sport Research Lab. This team combines neuroscientists, biomechanists, engineers and designers who study how mechanical inputs at the foot translate into electrical signals in muscles and brain rhythms.

During development, athletes and test subjects were wired to EEGs and other sensors while using Mind prototypes, logging tens of thousands of hours of wear and generating large datasets on how underfoot stimuli shape perception, attention and emotional state. Nike’s Chief Science Officer, Dr. Matthew Nurse, describes the project as an expansion from “studying the body in motion” to studying perception and attention as core elements of performance itself.

7. Top athletes like Erling Haaland tested the shoes

Elite athletes were heavily involved in Nike Mind’s validation. Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is cited as a key tester; he reportedly praised the shoes for helping him “bring balance to my game,” referencing a feeling of improved mental stability and focus.

Across hundreds of trials with professional athletes, healthcare workers and therapists, wearers consistently reported heightened awareness, sharper focus and a sense of being more grounded and in control. Those subjective reports line up with the neuroscientific data showing shifts in sensory networks and meditation-like brain activity when Mind shoes are used properly.

8. Mind is about mental engagement, not max speed

Nike is clear that Mind 001 and Mind 002 are not racing shoes or performance trainers in the traditional sense. Instead, the design brief focuses on mental engagement, flow state and recovery—what Nike calls “holistic performance.”​

The footwear is “directionless by design,” which means it’s not optimized for a specific gait pattern or sprinting efficiency but for free movement, shifting weight, micro-adjustments and sensory exploration. The goal is to give athletes and everyday wearers a tool they can use before, between or after high-intensity sessions to re-center mentally, rather than something to shave seconds off a race.

9. The design language is minimal, tactile and “mindful”

Aesthetically, Nike Mind 001 and 002 lean into a clean, futuristic minimalism that underscores their role as sensory tools rather than flashy performance sneakers. The uppers favor simple lines, soft materials and easy entries, while the visible underfoot node structure and flexible base signal the technology underneath.

Materials were chosen for comfort and “consciousness”—soft yet supportive foams, flexible platforms and water-resistant bonding that allow the nodes to move freely in all directions. Every design choice is meant to keep your attention on how the shoe feels, not just how it looks, reinforcing Nike’s pitch that Mind is about reconnecting the wearer with their own body and environment.

10. Nike sees Mind as “chapter one” of brain-focused gear

Nike executives repeatedly describe Mind as just the beginning of a much larger move into brain-centered performance products. Dr. Matthew Nurse has called Mind 001 and 002 “chapter one of the feet,” suggesting that future chapters may target other parts of the body and broader emotional or cognitive states.

The company frames Mind as a “sensory intervention” and hints at expanding neuro-informed design into apparel and accessories that influence how we feel—calm, energized, focused—through touch, pressure, temperature and other stimuli. That vision positions Nike not just as a maker of shoes and clothing, but as an early player in consumer neurotechnology, where what you wear is deliberately engineered to shape your mind as much as your muscles.

In short, Nike Mind is less about running faster and more about feeling more present, focused and resilient—using your feet as a direct doorway into your brain.

Jason Goldberg Winnipeg has built a career around clarity. In a field known for complexity, he has focused on making big ideas work in the real world. Not with noise or headlines, but with structure, discipline, and long-term thinking.

Based in Winnipeg, Jason is a partner at MLT Aikins, the largest law firm in Manitoba and Western Canada. His work sits at the intersection of tax law, business strategy, and transition planning. Over time, he has helped shape transactions and structures that allow businesses and families to move forward with confidence.

“I’ve always believed that good ideas only matter if they can be implemented,” Jason says. “Execution is where value is created.”

Early Influences and a Winnipeg Foundation

Jason Goldberg Winnipeg

grew up in Winnipeg, a city that values loyalty and community. Sports and culture were a constant presence. From the historic Winnipeg Arena to today’s Canada Life Centre, he learned early that showing up matters.

“Winnipeg teaches you to stay committed,” he says. “You don’t chase trends. You build something solid.”

That mindset shaped his early ambitions. In 1989, Jason received a YTV Achievement Award for Entrepreneurship. It was an early signal of his interest in how ideas become sustainable ventures.

He went on to earn a BA from the University of Manitoba in 1993, followed by a law degree from the University of Western Ontario in 1997. He was called to the Manitoba Bar in 1998.

Finding His Path in Tax and Business Law

Early in his legal career, Jason gravitated toward tax law. It was not about numbers alone. It was about how decisions ripple across time.

“Tax law forces you to think ahead,” he says. “You can’t just look at today. You have to understand what happens five or ten years down the road.”

To deepen his expertise, Jason completed the CICA In-Depth Tax Course in 2006, along with advanced training in corporate reorganisations and tax law. These programmes are known for their rigour and practical focus.

“You learn very quickly that precision matters,” he says. “Small details can shape very large outcomes.”

Bringing Big Ideas to Life in Practice

Jason’s work focuses on corporate tax planning, acquisitions and divestitures, reorganisations, and estate and succession planning. Much of it involves closely held and family-owned businesses facing moments of change.

These moments often come with pressure. Emotions run high. Timelines are tight.

“My role is to bring creativity and stamina to a complex problem,” Jason explains. “A concept needs space to be tested before they are put into motion.”

He is known for helping clients translate complex strategies into workable steps. Not by oversimplifying, but by asking the right questions early.

“Good planning is about alignment,” he says. “When structure and intent match, things tend to hold.”

Leadership Through Clarity and Collaboration

As a partner at MLT Aikins, Jason works closely with lawyers, accountants, and advisors across disciplines. Transactions rarely succeed in isolation.

“Everyone brings a piece of the puzzle,” he says. “Leadership is making sure those pieces fit together.”

Jason is also active in professional education. He has written papers for Continuing Legal Education and the Canadian Tax Foundation and presented for organisations such as the Business Development Bank of Canada.

Teaching, he believes, keeps his thinking sharp.

“If you can explain a complex idea in plain language, you can understand it,” he says.

Life Beyond the Office

Outside of work, Jason remains deeply connected to sports and the arts as a supporter. He is a lifelong fan of the NHL and NBA. At home, he supports the Winnipeg Jets. From afar, he follows the New York Rangers. The Phoenix Suns and Vancouver Canucks are also favourites.

“Sports are a shared experience,” he says. “They bring people together in a way few things can.”

That same belief draws him to the arts. Jason regularly attends the Vancouver International Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival. He enjoys discovering new voices and perspectives.

He also supports institutions such as the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Phoenix Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Art Gallery, Phoenix Art Museum, the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art and the Agassiz Chamber Music Festival.

“Art challenges how you see the world,” he says. “That’s valuable in any profession.”

Investing in Education and the Future

Jason is an advocate for education and youth development. He actively supports Balmoral Hall School and programmes that encourage leadership, curiosity, and character.

“Education is one of the few investments that always pays forward,” he says.

That belief mirrors his professional philosophy. Focus on fundamentals. Build with care. Let results compound over time.

A Career Defined by Thoughtful Execution

Jason Goldberg’s career is not defined by bold claims. It is defined by follow-through and working the details. By taking complex ideas and turning them into structures that last.

“Success is usually quiet,” he says. “If things are working, you’re probably doing something right.”

From his roots in Winnipeg to his leadership role today, Jason continues to show that innovative concepts and implementation adds value for clients.

Expanded group will focus on companies with zero-waste strategies

A waste management firm backed by investment group Palatine has acquired a Midlands firm in a “milestone” deal that will create a £60m revenue business with more than 200 employees. Swinton’s Papilo has taken over Warwick-based Allwood Recycling Solutions in its second acquisition since it secured the backing of Palatine’s Impact Fund.

Allwood was founded in 2010 by Darren Wheeler and has been led since 2025 by Gavin Ebery. Both will continue with the Papilo group with the rest of the Allwood team.

The Midlands business focuses on the distribution and logistics sector and manages more than 150,000 tonnes of material each year.

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Paul Hodgkiss, CEO of Papilo said: “The Allwood team are hugely well-regarded in the industry and I am delighted to welcome Gavin, Darren and the wider Allwood team to Papilo. They bring outstanding experience, technical knowledge and from the outset, it was clear that we share a common purpose where sustainability, and the circular economy, sit at the centre of every service.

“This is a milestone acquisition for the group and will be a major platform for growth.”

Gavin Ebery, managing director of Allwood Recycling Solutions said: “This deal brings together two purpose-driven, like-minded businesses and I’m very excited about the opportunities it will bring to our customers and our people.

“We look forward to a new phase of growth as part of Papilo in a market where increasing numbers of blue-chip companies are rolling out zero waste strategies.”

Greg Holmes, senior investment director at Palatine Impact Fund, said: “This is an important strategic acquisition for Papilo, broadening our service capabilities and brings new experience and technical knowledge into the business.

“We are delighted to have supported on Papilo’s second acquisition in the last eight months and look forward to identifying other suitable targets that will further enhance Papilo’s growth.”

The deal, the value of which was not disclosed, was funded by Palatine Impact II, Kartesia and Virgin Money. Papilo was advised by Gateley Plc (legal), Fellwood Advisory (debt advisory), Forvis Mazars (financial and tax due diligence) and Luminii Consulting (commercial due diligence). Advisors to Allwood included HNH Advisors (corporate finance) and Burges Salmon (legal).