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Former Daily Telegraph journalist launches PR agency for SMEs

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On The Up PR is targeting up-and-coming businesses across the region, according to founder Rob Stewart

Rob Stewart, launching his own Bristol based PR agency

Rob Stewart, launching his own Bristol based PR agency(Image: Andrew Higgins/Thousand Word Media Ltd)

A former national newspaper journalist has launched a public relations agency in Bristol for up-and-coming businesses. On The Up PR has been set up by ex-Daily Telegraph journo Rob Stewart and is aimed at SMEs across the South West business community.

The company will build on his experience working in regional and national media, he said, as well as a decade in charity communications with the Alzheimer’s Society and five years with local PR agencies.

“The South West is a real hotbed of entrepreneurial activity and that has inspired me to launch On The Up PR,” said Mr Stewart.

“I know from experience there are lots of amazing stories waiting to be told by the business leaders who are driving forward the region’s start-ups, scale-ups and more established companies.

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“And I’m really looking forward to working with those firms which are committed to using media activity as a vehicle for growth – sometimes for the first time.”

Mr Stewart, who is based in the Westbury Park area of Bristol, says he has been “on a steep learning curve” since moving away from full-time journalism but counts himself “lucky to have worked for some brilliant PR people in the South West and to have achieved what are regarded as amazing results for clients”.

“That success is down to the combination of my core journalistic skills and commercial PR know-how which means I’m now ideally positioned to help companies of all shapes and sizes share their stories to gain meaningful impact,” he added.

Mr Stewart has already secured customers including Enable Law, a South West-based medical negligence and personal injury law firm, and Bristol-based Burleigh Create design agency, while also helping launch a new pickleball enterprise in Surrey.

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Packaging producers respond to state packaging sustainability mandates

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Packaging producers respond to state packaging sustainability mandates

Food producers are hesitant to jump in on EPR rules as they are concerned that they could change.

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Turning Complex Ideas Into Lasting Impact

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Turning Complex Ideas Into Lasting Impact

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.

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“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.

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“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.

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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.”

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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.

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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.

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“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.

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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.

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‘Milestone’ deal as Palatine-backed waste manager Papilo buys Midlands group

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Expanded group will focus on companies with zero-waste strategies

Papilo has acquired Allwood Recycling Solutions

Allwood Recycling Solutions is based in Warwick(Image: Allwood Recycling Solutions)

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.

READ MORE: Palatine invests in tech logistics firm fulfilmentcrowd and its global expansion plansREAD MORE: Palatine backs AI and data consultancy Atombit as it makes three acquisitions

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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.”

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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).

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Nasdaq Extends Decline; AMD Sinks After Earnings

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Nasdaq Extends Decline; AMD Sinks After Earnings

The Nasdaq composite fell Wednesday as chip stocks came under fresh selling pressure and concerns lingered about potential AI disruption to software companies.

The tech-heavy index pared some losses in afternoon trading, but still finished 1.5% lower, its fourth down session in five trading days. Disappointing results from chip maker AMD sent its stock down 17%, its biggest pullback since 2017. Palantir, Micron and AppLovin all fell 9% or more.

Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

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Oddity Tech stock hits 52-week low at $28.78

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Oddity Tech stock hits 52-week low at $28.78

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BNP Paribas SA (BNP:CA) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript

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OneWater Marine Inc. (ONEW) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

BNP Paribas SA (BNP:CA) Q4 2025 Earnings Call February 5, 2026 8:00 AM EST

Company Participants

Jean-Laurent Bonnafe – MD, CEO & Director
Lars Machenil – Group Chief Financial Officer

Conference Call Participants

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Tarik El Mejjad – BofA Securities, Research Division
Delphine Lee – JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division
Giulia Miotto – Morgan Stanley, Research Division
Chris Hallam – Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Research Division
Jacques-Henri Gaulard – Kepler Cheuvreux, Research Division
Andrew Coombs – Citigroup Inc., Research Division
Flora Benhakoun Bocahut – Barclays Bank PLC, Research Division
Sharath Ramanathan – Deutsche Bank AG, Research Division
Pierre Chedeville – CIC Market Solutions, Research Division
Anke Reingen – RBC Capital Markets, Research Division
Jonathan Matthew Clark – Mediobanca – Banca di credito finanziario S.p.A., Research Division

Presentation

Operator

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Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the presentation of the BNP Paribas Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 results with Jean-Laurent Bonnafe, Group Chief Executive Officer; and Lars Machenil, Group Chief Financial Officer. For your information, this conference call is being recorded. Supporting slides are available on BNP Paribas IR website, invest.bnpparibas.com.

[Operator Instructions] I would like now to hand the call over to Jean-Laurent Bonnafe, Group Chief Executive Officer. Please go ahead, sir.

Jean-Laurent Bonnafe
MD, CEO & Director

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Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. We are pleased to present today our strong fourth quarter results, and we’ll provide some elements on our ’28 trajectory, which we are revising upwards given the strong revenue momentum at the launch of a transformation plan of our support functions.

I will start with our results on Slide 4. So our fourth quarter results confirmed the sharp acceleration we had expected. Revenues posted a strong 8% growth. Jaws effect was higher at 2.9 points and even reached 3.9 points when excluding AXA IM. Cost of fees stayed low at 34 bps well within our trajectory of below 40

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Restaurant owner ‘incredibly grateful’ after planning decision ends 12-year wrangle

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Spagó boss says decision ‘gives us the confidence to focus on the future’

Spagó restaurant, on Dicconson Terrace, Fleetwood

Spagó restaurant, on Dicconson Terrace, Fleetwood(Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)

The owner of one of Lytham’s most successful restaurants has spoken of his gratitude and relief over being able to keep its ‘vital’ canopy and glass balustrade after a long planning fight.

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Tony Vavoso, owner of Spagó restaurant, on Dicconson Terrace, applied for approval for a scheme to amend the glazed balustrade and canopy at the front of the premises, as the current structure was deemed unlawful and was the subject of a Planning Enforcement Notice.

Although his latest application to Fylde Council had been recommended for refusal by the planning officer over concerns it was detrimental to Lytham’s conservation area, councillors approved his proposals.

It was felt that if Mr Vavoso would have to take the structure down it could seriously undermine one of the town’s most long-standing and much loved eateries.

He told councillors that the extension allowed him to accommodate 40 extra customers, which was vital as the restaurant made its long recovery after the Covid lockdown.

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He said the planning wrangle had been ongoing for 12 years.

After the decision, Mr Vavoso stated in a social media message on the restaurant’s Facebook page: ” I am incredibly grateful to the council for approving the decision regarding our canopy and for recognising both the practical and economic realities facing hospitality businesses today.

“Spagó has been part of Lytham for over a decade, and this approval gives us the confidence to focus on the future – on our staff, our customers, and continuing to invest in the business.

“We’ve always tried to give back to the community that supports us, and the decision allows us to move forward positively and sustainably.

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“Thank you so much to everyone who has supported us along the way, and a special thank you to councillor Brenda Blackshaw and Kelly Farrington for the incredible support “

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Trio of tenants move into prime Leeds city centre office following renovation

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Ambler House in Trevelyan Square has recently undergone a complete refurnishment

The exterior of Ambler House in Leeds

The exterior of Ambler House in Leeds(Image: Knight Frank)

Three new tenants have moved into new city centre offices after signing up for space in a renovated Leeds building. Spire Barristers, engineering and talent consultancy Apera and software company Azzuu have all moved into Ambler House, based in the popular Trevelyan Square.

All three deals were brokered by the Leeds office of global property consultancy Knight Frank, acting on behalf of landlords Karrev.

Leigh Royall, senior clerk at Spire Barristers said: “Our decision to move our chambers to Ambler House was entirely down to its location in the heart of Leeds city centre along with the ideal size and layout of floorplan, which is giving us the opportunity to design a Barristers Chambers fit for the future. We’re proud and passionate about our expertise in family and public law which we use to help deliver justice and empower our communities.”

Meanwhile James Woodhead of Apera, which also has bases in Los Angeles and Manchester, said: “We chose Ambler House because it’s a beautiful, listed building with real character in a great location. The refit is to a very high standard and includes all the amenities we need.

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“The space is perfectly aligned to our Leeds growth plans. Both Knight Frank and landlords Karrev have been incredibly helpful. The whole process was straightforward and smooth in a way that office moves often are not.”

Inside Ambler House in Leeds

Inside Ambler House in Leeds(Image: Knight Frank)

Victoria Harris of Knight Frank said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome these three new flourishing companies to Ambler House. This hat-trick of lettings is a ringing endorsement of the quality of the building and its superb location. This is a winning combination.

“Ambler House provides characterful private offices by a quiet green square in Leeds city centre. A short walk from Leeds Station and with parking spaces available at Leeds Trinity car park, Ambler House is wonderfully connected for commuters.

“Having recently finished a complete refurbishment, the beautiful office spaces at Ambler House feature best-in-class traditional and fitted workspace, enabling companies to think about their office in the long term. Offering fully furnished and blank-canvas offices to let, this building is a perfect move for companies looking for a longer-term solution for their operation in Leeds.”

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She added: “Work is now beginning on the fourth floor at Ambler House. There is currently 2,576 sq ft of quality space remaining, which can be let as a whole or in two parts.”

Benn Dickinson of Karrev Real Estate said: “We bought Ambler House because we believed in its potential. Its quality as a building and its location, surrounded by green space, yet so close to the city’s professional core, was key. Now after a sensitive refurbishment, we have welcomed three new flourishing businesses and are looking forward to welcoming more, with two new quality office suites are being created on the fourth floor.”

Like this story? For more news from the commercial property scene around the regions, visit our dedicated section here for the latest news and analysis within the sector.

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US, Aus govt lenders offer Kalgoorlie nickel play $1bn debt

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US, Aus govt lenders offer Kalgoorlie nickel play $1bn debt

Kalgoorlie nickel aspirant Ardea Resources is poised for $1 billion in potential debt funding from Australian and US government financiers amid the push to break China’s critical minerals grasp.

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Mondelez offers cautious guidance for 2026

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Mondelez offers cautious guidance for 2026

After mixed 2025 results, CEO points to “challenging backdrop on several fronts.”

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