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CHARAC RECEIVES £1.2M FUNDING BOOST TO SUPPORT ITS MISSION OF SAVING THE UK’S COMMUNITY PHARMACIES

Fresh finance from the National Pharmacy Association and pharmacy owners follows a £1m investment from Royal Mail and discussions are on-going with leading VC firms for further funding
Over 400 pharmacies have already signed up to Charac’s innovative app with some 2,000 pharmacies projected to be using the app by next year
LONDON, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Charac, an NHS-integrated pharmacy app designed to lessen independent community pharmacies’ operational burdens and help them deliver on the Government’s Pharmacy First approach has raised some £1.2 million in debt and equity financing jointly from the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) and pharmacy owners, bringing total funding to date to £2.5 million.
With almost two pharmacies a week closing over the past two years the pharmacy sector is close to a state of crisis. There are now only 11,026 community pharmacies in England, according to data from the NHS Business Services Authority – the lowest number since 2015. Rising operational costs, staff shortages and reduced government financial support have all been blamed.
This comes at a time when pharmacies will soon be under further pressure because of the Government’s planned Pharmacy First approach. Under the new approach, patients suffering various ailments, such as sore throats or shingles, will be sent to local pharmacies first instead of GPs.
“Longer-term this is good news, but right now many pharmacies are focusing more on survival and will struggle to fulfil the new expanded role planned for them by the Government”, says Charac founder Santosh Sahu. “So many of Britain’s pharmacies are just not in the position they need to be to pick up the extra scope.”
Charac’s innovative approach to patient engagement and its focus on the digitalisation of the sector as a key initiative to improve its prospects is increasingly being welcomed by a growing number of pharmacies. Currently there are around 25,000 patients using Charac’s platform and that’s projected to rise to 100,000 by the end of its financial year (March 2024).
NPA, the trade association for 80% of independent pharmacies across the UK says the funding injection provides Charac’s with the financing to further enhance its app and the services it can offer. In 2022, the NPA agreed to a long-term partnership with Charac to accelerate the digital transition of independent community pharmacies.
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/charac-receives-1-2m-funding-boost-to-support-its-mission-of-saving-the-uks-community-pharmacies-301923386.html
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67% of larger hospitality operators are unhappy with their current tech stack: insights unveiled in new research report from Vita Mojo

New research from Vita Mojo and KAM reveals the shortcomings of modern restaurant tech, with over half of operators reporting inefficiencies are stopping them achieving business goals.
LONDON, Sept. 22, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Vita Mojo, the hospitality tech specialist, has launched a new research report into the impact of technology on the hospitality industry, shining a light on how operators feel about their current tech stack.
Commissioned by Vita Mojo and conducted by specialist hospitality market research agency KAM, the survey asked 81 executives from the leading quick-service restaurant (QSR) and coffee chain brands about their experiences with restaurant technology.
The resulting report – Hospitality Tech 2024: Bridging the efficiency and profitability gap – indicates that certain technologies are holding the industry back.
The survey results show that the hospitality sector is facing a number of challenges:
- A disconnect between efficiency and growth
56% of operators say that not having enough time is a significant barrier to achieving their business goals, but only 28% report fixing inefficiencies is a focus area for the business. - Frustrations with the complexity of technology
44% of operators don’t think they have the in-house skills to make the most out of their tech solutions, and 31% believe that too much training is needed to use digital solutions properly. - Missing out on data-driven decision-making
Two in three businesses are frustrated that they are not making the most of the data they collect through their tech solutions. Nearly 40% find it hard to use data because it’s split across siloed platforms. - Technical support is failing to deliver
Just one in four are very satisfied with the support or advice they receive from their providers.
“When tech works well, your restaurant works well,” says Vita Mojo’s co-founder and CEO, Nick Popovici. “But when it goes wrong – which is often – running a restaurant becomes an uphill struggle. By combining multiple point solutions from a range of different suppliers, the modern Point of Sale (POS) restaurant tech stack used by so many restaurants and chains has become a serious barrier to growth and success.”
“The results of this survey prove that the POS-centric model isn’t working for restaurants. From wasting time updating menus across multiple systems to spending countless hours updating pricing and site information, there are just too many ways in which restaurant tech isn’t making the grade.”
Along with insights from the survey results, Vita Mojo’s report includes real-life examples of exactly how restaurant brands are managing to overcome these tech challenges and fix inefficiencies, which has allowed them to operate and grow with new confidence.
About Vita Mojo
Vita Mojo transforms chaos into confidence for hospitality operators worldwide. Founded in 2016, Vita Mojo started life as the UK’s first cashless, digital-only restaurant, but it soon became clear the entire hospitality industry could benefit from its end-to-end, flexible Order Management System.
Today, Vita Mojo empowers over 130 brands across five countries (including LEON, YO!, tossed and GAIL’s Bakery) to streamline order management, improve guest relationships, seamlessly expand across channels, and grow their business.
For more information visit www.vitamojo.com
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/67-of-larger-hospitality-operators-are-unhappy-with-their-current-tech-stack-insights-unveiled-in-new-research-report-from-vita-mojo-301936223.html
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Ghana launches USD 550 billion Energy Transition and Investment Plan for achieving net-zero emissions, creating 400,000 jobs by 2060

President Nana Akufo-Addo unveils country’s roadmap for green growth and decarbonizing key economic sectors developed by Government of Ghana and SEforALL
NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana, launched the country’s new Energy Transition and Investment Plan yesterday during a Global Africa Business Initiative event in New York.
The plan marks Ghana’s commitment to fighting climate change and fostering economic development in tandem. It details a credible pathway for how Ghana can achieve net-zero energy-related carbon emissions by 2060 through the deployment of low-carbon solutions across key sectors of its economy, including oil and gas, industry, transport, cooking, and power.
Ghana’s government intends to use the plan as its main tool to engage the international community and investors for support with its energy transition. All measures suggested in the plan represent a USD 550 billion opportunity for the international community to invest in sustainable development in Ghana. If the plan is achieved in full, it would generate 400,000 net jobs within Ghana’s economy.
The country’s existing Energy Transition Framework previously set a target of net zero by 2070, but this new plan shows Ghana has increased its ambition and is targeting net zero by 2060.
Various sectoral changes and technologies are proposed in the plan. Four main decarbonization technologies – renewables, low-carbon hydrogen, battery electric vehicles and clean cookstoves – would cover over 90 percent of the targeted abatement by 2060.
Without pursuing the plan, under a business-as-usual scenario, Ghana’s emissions are expected to rise from 28 Mt CO2e in 2021 to over 140 Mt in 2050, with the bulk of emissions growth coming from transport, driven by population growth, GDP per capita growth, and vehicle ownership.
By implementing this plan, Ghana and its partners can instead bring the country’s energy-sector-related carbon emissions to net zero, while demonstrating that action against climate change does not need to come at the expense of economic development.
The Energy Transition and Investment Plan was developed by the Government of Ghana with technical support from Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL).
Supporting quotes
“This pioneering Energy Transition and Investment Plan maps out Ghana’s journey to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060 based on the latest data and evidence, ensuring that as our economy thrives, it does so in harmony with the environment. This plan is a testament to our dedication to fostering green industries, nurturing the evolution of cutting-edge low-carbon technologies, and propelling our nation towards a sustainable industrial revolution while giving equal growth opportunities to men and women.”
-His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana
“Ghana’s commitment to a just and equitable energy transition has translated to an ambitious plan that builds a case for low-carbon and energy-efficient solutions across Ghana’s entire energy system. These solutions present a tremendous opportunity for partners and investors from around the world to contribute to climate action and sustainable development in Ghana.”
–Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All, and Co-Chair of UN-Energy
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ghana-launches-usd-550-billion-energy-transition-and-investment-plan-for-achieving-net-zero-emissions-creating-400-000-jobs-by-2060–301936200.html
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World Investment Forum to incentivize global investment in sustainable development

ABU DHABI, UAE, Sept. 22, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Recognizing sustainability as the defining challenge of our time, the upcoming UNCTAD World Investment Forum (WIF), to be held from 16 to 20 October 2023 in the UAE’s capital Abu Dhabi, will serve as the perfect opportunity to facilitate the transition to a more sustainable economy, particularly for developing countries.
The 8th edition of the Forum, to be anchored on the overall theme of “Investing in Sustainable Development,” will bring together heads of state and ministers, CEOs of largest global companies, and other investment stakeholders from various countries to formulate policies and strategies that will address key and emerging investment-development challenges through a series of local and international forums and conferences.
Over 7,000 investment stakeholders from 160 countries will be participating in the 8th edition of WIF at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).
The UAE hosting WIF this year coincides with the country’s declaration of the year 2023 as the “Year of Sustainability,” which will encourage nationwide commitment to sustainable practices and innovative solutions to help address environmental issues on a global scale.
His Excellency Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, reaffirmed the country’s dedication to sustainability, saying that “the UAE is committed to playing a leading role in the global transition to a more sustainable future. We believe that WIF 2023 will provide a unique platform for international leaders to come together to mobilize the necessary investments to make this transition a reality.”
His Excellency Rashed Abdulkarim Al Blooshi, Undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) said: “Hosting WIF 2023 reflects Abu Dhabi’s approach and commitment to sustainable socio-economic development, which is based on strong beliefs and a long history of the wise use of resources. We will be working closely with all partners to ensure that the Forum’s conversations generate innovative ideas and solutions to create a more sustainable future for all.”
Some of the sustainability sessions include “Delivering Public Sector Investment for Sustainable Development” in partnership with ACCA; “Alignment of Investment in Sustainable Infrastructure with the Paris Agreement” with Middlesex University Dubai; and “Accelerating Green Investments in Tourism for Sustainable Development” with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
Media accreditation
Journalists wishing to cover the forum should apply online.
Media accreditation requirements are here.
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/world-investment-forum-to-incentivize-global-investment-in-sustainable-development-301936090.html
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