Bargate Murray, the multi-award winning Luxury Asset Law Firm is delighted to announce the appointment of Elliot Bishop as a Director with effect from 25th April 2023.
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Press Release
Expansion into Cayman
Affinity Group are delighted to announce our expansion into the Cayman Islands after successfully obtaining a Companies Management Licence from the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority.
Headed up by Garry Crossan, operations will now commence via our local subsidiary Affinity (Cayman) Limited. Garry has a longstanding relationship with Affinity having worked closely with our Malta and Isle of Man offices for many years. Resident in Cayman, Garry has enjoyed a career within the Offshore Financial Services Industry for over 30 years, holding executive positions within major International Banks and Trust Companies across multiple jurisdictions.
Working closely with the Affinity team during the formation and license application process over the past year, Garry brings both industry and local expertise to Affinity Cayman.
The Cayman Islands is an excellent fit for Affinity Group and our new licence will allow us to draw on our existing expertise whilst utilising our developed network of contacts and existing clients. Putting down roots with our new office puts us in an advantageous position moving forward.
The Cayman Islands offers a strong maritime hub which is ideally suited to our background. Our journey into the Yachting sector dates back to 2004, handling some of the very first Superyachts registered in the Isle of Man. Our success in the industry is borne from building a wealth of experience assisting high net worth clients, which require the highest level of service. Our personal approach provides our clients with a seamless experience; we act as a link for owners, managers and Captains to provide personal and bespoke guidance with support through the various regulatory requirements associated with yacht ownership.
Our offices in the Isle of Man, Malta and now Cayman deliver correlative benefits, complementing our overall service offering and giving us a real advantage that we can pass on to our clients.
Our experience and approach means we have nurtured many healthy and long term relationships with clients and industry peers alike, affording Affinity an impressive fleet of yachts under administration. Recognised as a leading Corporate Service Provider in the Yachting sector in the Isle of Man and Malta, our move into the Cayman Islands puts Affinity firmly on the map as a global presence with a truly international reach. Our expansion offers our clients, old and new, a further jurisdiction with even more opportunities and solutions to meet their needs with increased flexibility.
The Cayman Islands offer the same prestige Red Ensign Flag as the Isle of Man, recognised as one of the most prestigious flags in the Superyacht Industry and the first-rate jurisdiction for vessel registration. Synonymous with an excellent worldwide reputation and a comprehensive list of over 70 countries that qualify to own Cayman-flagged vessels, the benefits of Cayman are plenty. In addition, as a jurisdiction with a robust regulatory framework there are a diverse range of ownership structures available as well as a variety of registration types.
Our office in the Cayman Islands will be an extension of our tried and tested practices and expertise that have driven our success in the Yachting sector. Our new location in this renowned jurisdiction will present new opportunities for clients outside of the EU, with avenues such as Temporary Admission allowing non-EU yachts to sail in European waters for up to 18 months.
It is our organic growth that drives our expansion, stemming from our personal approach that is at the core of Affinity’s philosophy and is the driving force as we continue to expand our international reach. Our expert, friendly team are at the forefront of everything we do and maintain the highest level of service. We take pride in our roots and the journey to where we stand today. Affinity Group has a very exciting journey ahead.
Our initial success in the luxury asset sector has led us to diversify into multiple others such as Aviation, Trusts, E-Gaming, Family Office and Commercial property. Furthermore, we are at the forefront of emerging sectors such as Fintech and esports.
MIME Vital Signs
When they occur, in-flight medical emergencies are stressful and often complex situations for cabin crew to manage. Alexander Preston speaks to Anne Roberts, CEO of MIME Technologies, to discuss a new innovation to help the industry with onboard medical handling.
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MIME Technologies welcomes the new year with new aviation beginnings!
The latest startups to join the ATI Boeing Accelerator have been announced with 10 companies joining the programme.
The startups for the second cohort were selected from nearly 200 applications, from more than 40 countries and range from Hull to Queensland, and the US to Germany. Providing solutions for the aerospace industry such as software to support inflight medical events and emergencies and behavioural science technologies to reduce airlines’ greenhouse gas emissions.
To date, the nine companies that have been a part of the ATI Boeing Accelerator’s first cohort have raised over £8 million, created more than 60 jobs, and received £1.2m in grant funding in the final quarter of 2020. They have gone on to partner with businesses including Rolls-Royce and Chevron Technology Ventures. Most recently, Intellegens, part of the first cohort to join the programme, has announced it is leading a new project in partnership with Boeing and the University of Sheffield, applying its machine learning technology to make the additive manufacturing (AM) process of metallic alloys for aerospace cheaper and faster, to support net-zero targets for aviation.
The accelerator was created in partnership by the Aerospace Technology Institute and Boeing and is delivered by European accelerator Ignite. GKN Aerospace is the programme’s corporate sponsor and Rolls-Royce recently joined as a programme partner. The first cohort was in person in London and concluded just as Covid-related travel restrictions were beginning. The second cohort will be virtual.
Of the almost 200 applications, 90 per cent of the businesses applying were focussed on Industry 4.0 technologies and products, while 10% were providing sustainability-focussed solutions. 44% of the applicants were from outside the aerospace industry, 26% of the founders were female, 42% were minority-founded, and 33% were first-time founders.
Gabriela Matic, programme director of ATI Boeing Accelerator (pictured), said: “The quality of applications for our second cohort was exceptional and we’re delighted to welcome our 10 new startups to join the programme. Like everyone, we’ve had to adapt our ways of working due to the pandemic and we noticed an increase in the number of companies applying from outside the UK as virtual programming becomes more common due to restricted travel. This period in time also presents a great opportunity for startups, and for our partners in aerospace, to work together and solve industry problems.”
The startups benefit from a possible £100,000 equity investment from Boeing HorizonX Global Ventures and access to ATI, Boeing, GKN Aerospace and Rolls-Royce strategists and technical experts. Mentoring is available from a global network of experienced entrepreneurs, mentors and investors, and introductions will be made to the programme’s network of angel investors, venture capital firms and the wider aerospace industry.
The 10 startups joining the programme in January include:
Ai Build (London) Has developed an AI-powered software platform that delivers the world’s fastest and most reliable large-scale additive manufacturing
AireXpert (Buffalo & Minneapolis) Enables real-time collaboration tools for airlines and other aircraft operators to reduce delays, lower labour and operating costs, and reduce compliance risk
Datch (San Francisco) An intelligent voice AI for industry, enabling frontline workers to capture system information using voice in real-time and intelligently integrating into company databases
HiiROC (Hull) Unique and innovative plasma technology enables a low cost and low emission process for synthetic fuel and hydrogen generation
Makersite (Munich), A cloud-based product management platform that uses artificial intelligence and graph technologies to understand and improve products from the perspective of their regulatory compliance, environmental impact, supply risk and cost of production
MIME Technologies (Edinburgh & Inverness), Remote medical software to support inflight medical events and emergencies, specifically designed for altitude
Phycobloom (London) Using synthetic biology to reduce the cost of algae biofuels by forcing them to secrete their oil where it can be cheaply collected
Productive Machines (Sheffield, UK), Delivers software that maximises sustainability of machining processes by reducing costs, eliminating waste and improving productivity
SensaWeb (Queensland), Real-time radiation monitoring solution
Signol (London), The world’s first software to use behavioural science to reduce airlines’ greenhouse gas emissions and increase profits and job satisfaction
The second cohort comes from three continents, 40% are female and minority ethnic founded, 40% are first-time founders, 40% are from outside the aerospace industry and 20% are re-applicants. Six of the startups are sustainability-based, two are focused on Industry 4.0 and two are focused on energy. Collectively they have raised nearly £13m to date, with 20% at the pre-seed stage (bootstrapped or grant-funded), 40% at seed stage and 30% beyond the seed stage.
Brian Schettler, Boeing HorizonX Global Ventures, senior managing director, commented: “We’re thrilled to be leading this programme again with ATI, especially given the focus on sustainability. Boeing is committed to developing innovative technologies and solutions that allow for safe and sustainable air travel for generations to come but it takes partnerships and collaboration like this to be successful. Given the success of the first cohort, I’m confident that we will again work together with these startups and program partners to address our industry’s most critical issues.”
Gary Elliott, chief executive of the Aerospace Technology Institute, added: “The ATI are very excited to welcome ten innovative startups to the second cohort of the ATI Boeing Accelerator. This year’s programme will be in a different environment to last year’s. We have moved most of our content to the virtual world and we’ll be making connections digitally rather than in person. We’re also pleased to be joined by Rolls-Royce, who will provide an excellent team of mentors and experts alongside our existing programme sponsors – Boeing and GKN Aerospace.
“Despite the challenges that the sector continues to face, we must continue to find areas of innovation and growth as the world slowly but surely recovers from the pandemic. This accelerator programme is an opportunity to bring innovators, investors, experts and entrepreneurs together in the same (virtual) space. Good luck to each of the ten startups in this year’s cohort and we look forward to working with you in the coming months.”
Messe Düsseldorf cancels boot 2021 due to ongoing pandemic
Next boot Düsseldorf from 22 to 30 January 2022
21.01.2021
Messe Düsseldorf decided on Thursday, 21 January, to cancel boot Düsseldorf for 2021 due to the ongoing pandemic and the associated worldwide lockdown measures. The next boot, as scheduled in the trade fair calendar, will open its doors from 22 to 30 January 2022. Under the given circumstances, an implementation on the planned date in April is no longer guaranteed, says Wolfram N. Diener, CEO of Messe Düsseldorf: “The continuing high level of infection and the fact that the end of the lockdown is not foreseeable for the time being make a resumption of trade fair operations at the end of April appear increasingly unrealistic. We have reassessed the situation with our partners and jointly decided to cancel boot 2021 early. Our priority is the health and planning security of our exhibitors, visitors and service providers. All activities will now be focused on the successful staging of boot 2022.”
The aim, he said, is to return to the concept of boot Düsseldorf both as an event for all water sports enthusiasts and as a business and networking platform for the international trade audience. For 2022, he added, work is also underway on a hybrid trade fair experience that will, among other things, enable digital participation in seminars and events at boot Düsseldorf.
boot 2022 will start with the registration portal for interested companies in May this year.
The boot Düsseldorf team will be happy to answer any questions exhibitors, visitors and the media may have.
BBGA update on DfT/CAA progress post BREXIT
I would like to give you an update on our weekly discussions with the DfT negotiation team on permits. This week we have seen a range of responses from our members which are helping us and the negotiating team build a really good picture as to what is happening. There are certainly some member states who are being very supportive with the new process and we have seen permits being granted where that might not have been expected. Indeed, since the last brief, at least 6 Member States are now accepting permit free 3rd and 4th Freedom flights, so we are progressing, albeit slower than we would all wish.
Unfortunately, we have seen some member states being very process focused, making approvals somewhat protracted at best. However, the DfT have shared examples with us where they have helped facilitate 7th Freedom flights within the EU. So we just want to reinforce that the DfT team is available to help as per the contacts given previously.
The other important point to make is that there are particular efforts being made by some member states to deliver better service than the projected 48 hours detailed in the application. In fact we can confirm that the French have been supporting applications outside business hours, which is really positive to hear. Therefore, we encourage members not to be put off by the initial requirements that you might have seen: things are evolving and we urge you to make an approach rather than lose your business and advise us of the outcome. DfT can then use it as an example of best practice within the Trade and Cooperation Agreement when negotiating with less helpful member states.
The DfT team have been in discussion this week with member states and will also be having informal discussions with the EU, to see if anything can be done to simplify and standardise the process. They are also keen to ensure compliance with other EU requirements when finalising each bi-lateral agreement.
Please keep sending in your examples of good and bad permit applications, plus don’t forget anything that prevents you contracting for work you have previously secured. Finally if you find yourself utilising wet leases or sub-contracts to complete a task, then our colleagues at the DfT are very keen to hear examples.
Superyacht Values Launched
VesselsValue brings transparency to a traditionally opaque market with automated Superyacht values London based online valuation and data provider, VessesValue Ltd, have today launched their automated valuation platform for Superyachts, an industry first.
