The women are among 100 around the country to be include in the latest Women in Innovation programme

Three female business leaders from the North East have won support to develop their firms from a Government-backed programme.

Innovate UK has announced 100 women to be included in its new Women in Innovation cohort, with those on the scheme getting a grant of £75,000 plus a 12-month package of business support.

Nationally, the programme has backed business leaders operating in a range of sectors, including manufacturing, digital tech and life sciences. Innovate UK said businesses around the UK were being backed.

In the North East, there is backing for Kate Murray, from County Durham firm Ubrix; Lou Willis-Keeler, from Souuthe; and Suzanne Vernazza, who has developed technology to help women manage pelvic floor issues.

Ubrix aims to tackle fragmentation in the construction sector, where sales, build and aftercare typically run on disconnected systems. The company’s software platform gives housebuilders, principal contractors, housing associations and local authorities one platform for the full lifecycle of each building plot.

Founder and CEO Kate Murray said: “This recognition is big news for Ubrix, but it is bigger news for housing. A national panel of innovation experts looked at how this industry delivers homes, saw the cost of fragmented systems, and backed our answer to it.

“Our development pipeline is shaped by the builders, contractors and aftercare teams who live this problem every day. This award tells them the way housing is delivered is changing, and it tells the industry where that change is coming from.”

Newcastle physio Suzanne Vernazza, who has built a sizeable social media following, has been backed to further develop an app to support pelvic health. She launched the Know Your Floors not-for-profit organisation in 2021 and has posted hundreds of “squeeze along” videos on platforms like TikTok designed to encourage people to do regular pelvic health exercises.

She said: “This funding is transformational for the project. It allows us to move from an idea with strong clinical foundations and community support to a properly tested, launch-ready product.

“We’ll be able to work alongside beta testers, refine the experience, and carefully validate the AI-supported information feature so we’re building something that is not only innovative, but clinically robust and worthy of people’s trust.”

Saltburn-based Souuthe has developed a device that calms the body’s stress response for people in palliative, dementia and child care. Lou Willis-Keeler founded the company after more than 25 years working in safeguarding and seeing a lack of tools to help people regulate their emotions.

A detailed application has now been submitted following a consultation process

Detailed plans to transform Swansea’s vast but “inward-facing” civic centre into flats, shops, cafes and an aquarium have been unveiled.

There’d be ground and first-floor commercial and leisure use of the seafront building with up to 138 one- to three-bedroom flats above.

Included in the mix is an events space and an aquarium hosting interactive displays, exhibitions and real-life double-height fish tanks.

A key aim is to maximise the civic centre’s bay-facing location and create a destination where people want to come and spend time – and the beachfront promenade would be widened and improved.

The UK Government is providing £20m towards the scheme, which is being taken forward following consultations by a council development partner called Urban Splash.

The company’s new change of use planning application described the civic centre, built in two phases between 1979 and 1984, as robust but “largely inward-looking” and occupying the land “in a defensive manner” like a castle surrounded by a moat. That will change if the plans are given the green light by the council.

Urban Splash development director David Warburton said: “We’re grateful to everyone who took part in the consultations and shared their feedback.

“We have taken those conversations on board and have now lodged our detailed planning application; it’s a significant step towards transforming this stretch of Swansea’s seafront into a vibrant hub that serves the local community and attracts visitors from across Wales and beyond.”

Planning documents said there has been overwhelming public support so far for retaining and re-purposing the four- to six-storey building, improving the connection between the city centre and seafront and enhancing greenery.

Referring to the proposed aquarium, the documents said visitors entering the operator-run attraction “are guided through a sequence of spaces designed to transform and deepen their understanding of marine life”. These spaces would feature a mix of digital and natural installations.

The aquarium’s first floor, meanwhile, would be geared more as an educational zone. From this floor visitors would pass through the gift shop before arriving at the building’s large central atrium, which would have food and retail outlets.

Some people living in the flats would have balconies and there’d also be a communal roof garden for them.

Parking for residents is planned onsite and through what the planning documents referred to as “managed use of the wider civic centre parking estate”, while no dedicated parking is proposed for people visiting the shops, cafes and aquarium.

There would be cycle storage for residents, visitors and staff. A new walking route is planned to the building from the indoor arena side of Oystermouth Road.

Further phases of redevelopment could create hundreds more flats in new buildings either side of the civic centre, and a saltwater lido is being explored at the bottom of the stepped coastal wall below.

Mr Warburton said: “We look forward to progressing the civic centre project and delivering something that Swansea can be proud of for decades to come.”

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service in February this year Mr Warburton said the building was in good condition and “eminently convertible”.

Referring to Urban Splash’s focus on regenerating existing sites, he said: “Our role is to recognise the inherent value in properties like this which others don’t.”

People will have the chance to comment on the application, which is being assessed by council planning officers.

Koh Tao in Surat Thani exemplifies the balance between tourism and marine conservation by using retired naval ships as artificial reefs. This initiative enhances underwater ecosystems and supports sustainable tourism practices, showcasing how environmental preservation can coincide with economic growth in the tourism sector.

Koh Tao, a renowned Thai island paradise, has recently enhanced its allure for diving enthusiasts by transforming sunken warships into captivating dive sites. These underwater attractions not only boost the island’s tourism but also contribute to marine conservation efforts. By repurposing decommissioned naval vessels, Koh Tao creates new habitats for marine life, allowing coral and other organisms to flourish.

This innovative project offers divers a unique opportunity to explore well-preserved pieces of history while experiencing vibrant underwater ecosystems. The sunken warships, strategically placed, serve as artificial reefs teeming with diverse marine species, providing both novice and experienced divers with unforgettable adventures. These sites are meticulously mapped, ensuring safe and enjoyable exploration for all visitors.

The initiative is also a testament to Koh Tao’s commitment to sustainable tourism and ecological restoration. Local authorities, in collaboration with diving centers, ensure that these sites are maintained responsibly, minimizing impact on existing marine habitats. As a result, Koh Tao continues to stand out as a premier diving destination, blending historical intrigue with natural beauty, and fostering a deeper appreciation for marine conservation.

source

Other People are Reading

An expansion proposal by the airport’s owners would enable it to accommodate 150m passengers per year. Heathrow said “the case for expansion has never been clearer”.

In a statement, it added: “Our plans will ensure the country gets the infrastructure it needs to stay competitive and will deliver all-important economic growth.”

The airport recorded 84.46 million passengers in 2025 and said 19 July was its busiest day of the year so far as many schools broke up for summer, with 267,000 passengers passing through.

It added that several new airlines began serving the airport last month, which demonstrates “clear demand for access to Heathrow”.

Last month, it was revealed Heathrow will be allowed to charge airlines more for its services to recover money spent on the early stages of its third runway project.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, external, X, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk, external

Company Participants

Flora Wood – VP of Investor Relations & Sustainability and Corporate Secretary
Stephanie Hussey – Chief Financial Officer
Brian Dalton – Co-Founder, CEO & Director
Ernie Ortiz Ortega – Co-Founder, President, CEO & Director

Conference Call Participants

Shane Nagle – National Bank Financial, Inc., Research Division
Gabriel Chu
MacMurray Whale – ATB Cormark Capital Markets Inc., Research Division

Presentation