Blackpool scheme will include 19 shipping containers

New jobs are now on offer as Blackpool’s ambitious Southbeach Streetfood project moves closer.

The new food destination is located opposite the Sandcastle Waterpark on South Shore promenade and will feature 19 converted shipping containers.

It will include food concessions ranging from Thai and Mexican to Spanish tapas and wood fired pizza.

The site will offer seating for up to 400 diners, and be designed with entertainment space so it can host events and music, with screens to show big sporting occasions.

It was hoped the attraction would be ready to open in June but the physical preparations needed for the groundwork have taken longer than anticipated and now it looks set to launch in July.

FBS Engineering of Poulton has officially begun transforming the shipping containers that will form the backbone of the development after recently moving into a larger workshop to accommodate the scale of the project.

Jamie Willacy, Director of Southbeach Streetfood UK Limited, said a lot of work had been going on behind the scenes.

He said: “Things are moving forward again. Engineers will start work on the foundations next week, ready for the groundworks to begin, in preparation for the mezzanine floor to be put in place.

“In the background, work has already started on the first six of the 19 containers, cutting out the doors and lining the insides with insulation.

“There has been a slight delay in the preparation to make sure everything is absolutely correct, so we’re looking at July rather than June now.

“We’ll definitely be up and running in time for the summer holidays.”

The project places a strong emphasis on sustainability and ethical trading with menus designed to reduce food waste and ingredients sourced from local suppliers wherever possible.

Alongside the food offering, visitors can expect live music from local artists, children’s activities, dance showcases, live cookery demonstrations and a curated bar featuring beers, wines and spirits.

Jamie said: ” We’re also excited to announce new job opportunities for Southbeach Streetfood

“If anyone would love to be part of a fresh new food and hospitality destination on the Prom, now is the perfect time to take a look.

“Whether you’re experienced in customer service, hospitality or just ready for your next opportunity, this could be your chance to join something exciting from the very start.”

Those interested can apply here: https://southbeachstreetfood.co.uk/job-opportunities/

To find all the planning applications, traffic diversions, road layout changes, alcohol licence applications and more in your community, visit the Public Notices Portal.

Chevron CEO Mike Wirth warned that strain on the aviation industry could intensify in the coming weeks as jet fuel supplies tighten, driven by disruptions tied to the Iran war.

Appearing Sunday on CBS News’ “Face the Nation,” Wirth said jet fuel in key regions was already at seasonally low levels before the conflict began, leaving markets vulnerable to supply shocks.

“It’s not flowing today. So, we are seeing jet fuel tighten very quickly in Europe, in Asia, and we’re seeing airlines announce adjustments in their flight schedules,” Wirth said. “I think aviation is clearly an area where it’s going to probably get worse over the next few weeks.”

Jet fuel prices have surged sharply since late February, reflecting constrained shipping through the Strait of Hormuz – a critical oil transit choke point through which roughly one-fifth of global supply typically passes.

DEM LAWMAKER SAYS AMERICANS ‘GETTING FLEECED AT THE PUMP,’ PUSHES OIL EXPORT BAN AMID IRAN TENSIONS

Chevron CEO Mike Wirth. (Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images)

U.S. jet fuel prices have climbed from about $2.50 per gallon before the conflict to $4.19 per gallon as of April 24, according to Airlines for America. Globally, prices remain volatile, with the International Air Transport Association reporting a 6.7% week-over-week decline to $184.63 per barrel, even as broader supply pressures persist.

MAJOR AIRLINE AXES 20,000 ‘UNPROFITABLE’ FLIGHTS AS JET FUEL COSTS SOAR

Airlines are already adjusting operations in response to higher fuel costs. United Airlines said it plans to cut about 5% of its planned capacity this year, while Delta Air Lines has trimmed growth plans by roughly 3.5 percentage points.

U.S. jet fuel prices have climbed from about $2.50 per gallon before the conflict to $4.19 per gallon as of April 24. (Giuseppe Cacace/AFP via Getty Images)

Fuel typically accounts for about a quarter of airline operating costs, leaving carriers highly exposed to price swings. In response, airlines are reducing lower-margin routes and leaning on higher fares and fees to offset rising expenses.

Consumers are beginning to feel the impact. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows airfares rose month over month in March, a trend that could accelerate as carriers pass along higher fuel costs and limit capacity heading into the peak summer travel season.

UNITED AIRLINES RAISING TICKET PRICES UP TO 20% AS FUEL COSTS SURGE AMID IRAN WAR

Wirth said the core issue remains disrupted energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz. Reduced shipments from Middle Eastern refiners, which supply a significant share of global jet fuel, have tightened availability across Europe and Asia.

A Delta Air Lines flight in March 2026.  (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)

He added that the global energy system has lost much of its flexibility, with inventories that typically act as “shock absorbers” now depleted after weeks of disruption.

“The risks kind of skew to the upside right now,” Wirth said, noting that even if flows resume, it could take time for supply chains and inventories to normalize.

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In the meantime, airlines and travelers are likely to continue feeling the effects, as higher fuel costs ripple through flight schedules, pricing and availability.

Reuters contributed to this report. 

Dominik Prokop
Head of IR Department

Good morning. This is Dominik Prokop, on behalf of Alior Bank. May I welcome everyone to the results conference. We will talk about the first quarter 2026. And the first part, the bank’s results as well as the trends, they will be discussed by members of the Board, President, Piotr Zabski, who will sum up the most important trends and will tell us about business results, Deputy President, Marcin Ciszewski, who will tell us about Risk; and Deputy President, Zdzislaw Wojtera, who will tell us about finance.

After the end of the presentation, we will have a Q&A session. Before I hand over to Piotr, may I encourage everyone to ask questions already during the first part of the conference, which will help us smoothly move into the Q&A session.

Piotr, you have the floor.

Piotr Zabski
President of the Management Board & CEO

Good morning, everyone. The presentation will be composed of 4 parts. Firstly, operational activities with 2 business lines, the corporate and the individual customers, then the risk result and then financial results and other issues. So let me move on to the operational activities and about the first quarter. What you can see here is a slightly changed makeup of the presentation. We wanted to refer to our strategies. There are 3 pillars on the left, scaling up, high resilience, operational excellence. And it’s within these categories that I’d like to tell you about what went on in the first quarter.

‘It’s fairly obviously Government policy that we need solar energy, and that’s before the Middle East was set on fire’

Controversial plans for a new solar farm in Glazebury have been approved.

Duckinfield Solar Ltd’s application proposing the development of an up to 10mw solar farm and associated infrastructure on land at Duckinfield House Farm, on Hurst Lane, came before Warrington Borough Council’s development management committee on Thursday.

The site is located in the green belt. According to a report to the committee, the application site consists of two parcels of agricultural land which are approximately 16ha in size, with the fields bisected by a public right of way (PROW) which cuts across the site and runs along its northern boundary.

The report said: “This application proposes a 10 megawatt solar farm with associated infrastructure. The solar panels would be located in both of the fields forming the site either side of the PROW and would have a maximum height of 3.2m.

“An access track would be created from the farm into the larger field via the existing level crossing to provide access to the solar installation. To the north-eastern corner of this field there would be a customer substation, a district network operator substation, a storage container and office/welfare facility, as well as a weather station.

“Four transformer stations would be positioned along the proposed access track running along the eastern boundary of the site. The solar installation would be enclosed with 2.1m high deer fencing with CCTV towers at a maximum of 3m in height. A temporary construction compound is also proposed to the north-west of the existing farm buildings to the northern side of the railway line.”

The application was publicised by 29 neighbour notification letters, by site notice and by press notice.

According to the report, one letter of support was received with no reasons given in the response.

And objections were received from 43 addresses, as a result of the publicity given to the application.

The concerns raised, as summarised in the report, included inappropriate development in the green belt, loss of best and most versatile agricultural land, harm to outlook from nearby dwellings and the impact of glint and glare.

Ward councillor Matt Smith, ward councillor Cllr Neil Johnson and Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council also objected to the application.

But in the planning officer’s report, it said subject to conditions there would be ‘no unacceptable impacts’ on the local highway network, residential amenity and flood risk.

One of the conditions is that the planning permission will be limited to a period of 40 years.

Cllr Smith, speaking against the plans, expressed ‘strong concerns’ over the application.

He said: “While I understand the importance of renewable energy, this specific location for a sizeable solar farm will have a significant adverse impact along the valued and well-used public right of way that bisects the site.”

Cllr Smith also stated the period of 40 years is ‘not temporary in the context of a human lifetime, or the enjoyment of our local landscape’.

“We should not sacrifice Glazebury’s rural character and the quality of our public rights of way for a project that even the case officer admits causes significant landscape harm,” he added.

“There are undoubtedly more appropriate locations that would have less impact, or less than a substantial adverse impact, on the openness and amenity of our green spaces.”

Cllr Steve Parish, deputy chair of the development management committee, said: “I think it’s fairly obviously Government policy that we need solar energy, and that’s before the Middle East was set on fire.”

He also stated ‘we do have a climate emergency’.

Furthermore, Cllr Parish described the application as a ‘delicate one because of the planning balance’.

“But given the emphasis on the need and the idea that 40 years is temporary, and from what I know of other mitigations and other cases, I think we’d have little chance at appeal, frankly,” he added.

As recommended, the application was approved subject to conditions.

To find all the planning applications, traffic diversions, road layout changes, alcohol licence applications and more in your community, visit the Public Notices Portal.

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham celebrated the signing of her new three-year contract extension by getting baptized for the second time in a deeply personal ceremony that quickly went viral on social media, blending her renewed faith with a landmark moment in her professional basketball career.

The 29-year-old sharpshooter, who joined the Fever in a major offseason move, was baptized Sunday in a private ceremony at a local Indianapolis church just hours after finalizing a reported $4.2 million deal that keeps her in Indiana through the 2028 WNBA season. Video footage of the emotional moment, showing Cunningham emerging from the water with tears in her eyes while surrounded by teammates and family, spread rapidly across platforms and has been viewed millions of times.

“I feel brand new,” Cunningham said in a statement released Monday. “This contract gives me security and the chance to build something special here in Indiana. Getting baptized again was about recommitting my life to God and starting this next chapter with a clean heart and clear purpose.”

Cunningham first publicly shared her Christian faith several years ago, but she described the latest baptism as a “full-circle moment” following a turbulent period that included a high-profile trade and personal challenges. Teammates Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell were among those present at the ceremony, which was officiated by a pastor from a prominent Indianapolis megachurch.

A Career-Defining Contract

The extension represents a significant vote of confidence from the Fever organization. After being acquired from the Phoenix Mercury in a blockbuster trade, Cunningham has emerged as a key veteran presence alongside the league’s young stars. Her elite three-point shooting, defensive versatility and leadership have made her an ideal complement to Clark’s playmaking.

Fever general manager Lin Dunn praised the deal, saying Cunningham’s professionalism and work ethic made her a perfect fit for the team’s championship aspirations. “Sophie brings championship DNA and a winning mentality,” Dunn said. “We’re thrilled to have her locked in for the long term.”

The contract includes performance incentives tied to All-Star selections and playoff success, reflecting the Fever’s belief that Cunningham will play a central role as the franchise transitions from rebuilding to contending.

Faith at the Center

Cunningham has been open about how her Christian faith has guided her through the highs and lows of professional basketball. In a recent podcast appearance, she discussed struggling with identity after being traded and turning to prayer for clarity. The decision to be baptized again, she explained, was about rededicating her life and career to a higher purpose.

“Basketball is what I do, but it’s not who I am,” Cunningham said. “My identity is in Christ. This baptism was about surrendering everything — my contract, my platform, my future — back to Him.”

The moment has resonated strongly with Christian sports fans and the broader WNBA community. Many players from across the league sent messages of support, and the video of her baptism has been shared by prominent pastors and faith-based organizations.

Impact on the Indiana Fever

Cunningham’s return gives the Fever one of the most dynamic backcourts in the league. Her ability to stretch the floor with deep three-point shooting creates more driving lanes for Clark and opens opportunities for Boston in the paint. Coaches believe her veteran leadership will be crucial as the team aims for its first championship since 2012.

Head coach Stephanie White highlighted Cunningham’s character both on and off the court. “She’s not just a great player — she’s a great person who leads by example,” White said. “Having someone with her faith, work ethic and experience is invaluable for our young core.”

The Fever have been one of the most improved teams in the WNBA, drawing sellout crowds and national attention. Cunningham’s extension is seen as another step in solidifying the roster for long-term success.

Personal Journey and Public Influence

Cunningham’s openness about her faith has made her a role model for many young athletes. She frequently shares Bible verses and faith-based content on social media, using her platform to inspire others. The baptism video has been praised for its authenticity in an era when many celebrities carefully curate their public image.

Friends and family described the ceremony as deeply moving. Cunningham’s mother said her daughter had been praying about the decision for months and felt it was the right time to publicly reaffirm her commitment.

Looking Ahead

With training camp approaching, Cunningham is focused on preparing for the upcoming WNBA season. She expressed excitement about building chemistry with her new teammates and competing for a championship in Indiana.

The Fever open the regular season in May, and expectations are high. Cunningham’s presence, both on the court and through her public faith, is expected to play a significant role in the team’s identity and success.

As the video of her baptism continues circulating and inspiring conversations about faith and sports, Sophie Cunningham stands as an example of an athlete using her platform for something greater than basketball. Her new contract and renewed spiritual commitment mark the beginning of what many believe will be her most impactful chapter yet.

A British-backed robotics start-up promising to replace ageing offshore vessels and crews with always-on underwater machines has emerged from stealth with $5m (£3.95m) in pre-seed funding, signalling fresh investor appetite for so-called “physical AI” plays targeting the world’s most stubbornly analogue industries.

Bubble Robotics, founded in 2025 by former engineers from NASA and ETH Zürich, has secured the round from Episode 1 Ventures, Asterion Ventures and Norrsken Evolve, following its incubation through London-based talent investor Entrepreneur First. The company is already sitting on more than $4m of signed letters of intent across offshore wind, subsea infrastructure and maritime security, suggesting commercial pull is running well ahead of the typical pre-seed playbook.

The pitch is straightforward, if ambitious. Today, inspecting an offshore wind turbine, a buried data cable or a section of seabed pipework typically demands a chartered vessel, a specialist crew and a daily bill that can climb to $100,000. According to Bubble’s founders, between 80 and 90 per cent of those costs are tied up in the boat and the people on it, rather than in the inspection itself.

“By removing that dependency, we unlock a step change in cost, safety and operational frequency,” said Jean Crosetti, chief executive and co-founder. “What used to be episodic becomes continuous.”

The plan is to dispense with vessel-based missions altogether and instead deploy fleets of resident autonomous robots that live at sea for months at a time, continuously inspecting, monitoring and gathering data without human intervention. Crosetti likens the model to the satellite constellations that have transformed earth observation over the past decade, only pointed downward into the water column rather than up at the atmosphere.

The timing reflects a wider inflection point. Cheaper edge computing, more capable on-device AI and the rapid expansion of low-earth-orbit satellite connectivity have, between them, made persistent unmanned operations technically feasible in a way they were not even three years ago. The macro pull is equally significant: the offshore energy sector alone is forecast to need an additional 600,000 workers by 2030, a shortfall that no graduate scheme is going to plug in time.

Bubble is selling its capability on a robotics-as-a-service basis, sparing customers the upfront capital expenditure and offshore mobilisation costs that have traditionally locked smaller operators out of high-frequency inspection regimes. Target use cases span the inspection of wind turbine foundations, cables, pipes and subsea structures; benthic mapping, photogrammetry and biofouling monitoring for climate and biodiversity clients; and mine countermeasures, unexploded ordnance detection and continuous surveillance for defence and maritime security buyers.

That last category is increasingly pertinent. Recent incidents involving subsea data cables in the Baltic and North Sea have pushed the security of underwater infrastructure up the agenda for European governments and Nato, exposing how thinly monitored much of it remains. Persistent autonomous systems offer a way to maintain a continuous presence around sensitive assets without committing scarce naval resources.

Alice Bentinck, co-founder of Entrepreneur First, said the founders had stood out from the moment they met at one of the firm’s kick-off weekends. “Patricia and Jean formed a team around a shared belief and complementary skill-set: Patricia with world-class technical credibility in robotics, Jean with unusual commercial instinct and intensity. Their pace of iteration throughout the programme and strong customer obsession make Bubble Robotics a company to watch closely.”

For the wider SME ecosystem, Bubble’s emergence is a useful data point. It suggests that capital is still flowing into deep-tech start-ups with credible commercial traction, even as more speculative AI plays cool, and that the long-promised convergence of robotics, AI and connectivity is finally producing businesses with revenue lines attached, not just demos.

Jamie Young

Jamie is Senior Reporter at Business Matters, bringing over a decade of experience in UK SME business reporting.
Jamie holds a degree in Business Administration and regularly participates in industry conferences and workshops.

When not reporting on the latest business developments, Jamie is passionate about mentoring up-and-coming journalists and entrepreneurs to inspire the next generation of business leaders.