Education – PR FIRE US

Actors Playground School of Theatre Celebrates 20 Years of Artistic Excellence, Empowerment, and Impact

niceuser — Fri, 02 May 2025 17:03:01 +0000

FREEHOLD, NEW JERSEY, USA. — May 2nd, 2025 — Actors Playground School of Theatre, a beloved creative hub in New Jersey known for its innovative curriculum and deep commitment to student support, proudly celebrates its 20th anniversary this May.

Since opening its doors in 2005 under the visionary leadership of Artistic Director Ralph Colombino, the school has become a cornerstone of theater education, transforming the lives of young artists and igniting the power of storytelling for social change.

Over the past two decades, Actors Playground has cultivated a culture where students feel safe, supported, and artistically challenged. “When a student truly feels supported, not just by their teacher, but by their classmates as well, their self-esteem will be strengthened,” says Colombino. “That’s when their work will skyrocket.”

A Legacy of Artistic Training and Personal Growth

Taught by working actors and educators with advanced theatre degrees, the Playground’s curriculum spans a wide range of acting styles and techniques. The school’s mission is to build confidence, encourage creativity, and inspire discovery. What sets it apart is its unwavering support outside the classroom: students receive free one-on-one coaching, including taping sessions for auditions and college prescreens – an unprecedented offering in performing arts education.

This commitment has paid off. Alumni have been accepted into every top-tier theater conservatory, including ten currently enrolled at Rutgers University’s prestigious Mason Gross School of the Arts. Notable students include Shea Grant, starring as Claudia in Stranger Things on Broadway, and Ryan Buggle, who has been playing Noah Benson on Law & Order SVU for eight years.

Theatre With a Mission: From Stage to Social Change

Actors Playground is also home to the Playground Theatre Project (PTP) – a socially conscious ensemble of student leaders who tour the country performing powerful original plays about pressing social issues, including bullying, racism, mental health, and violence. Their critically acclaimed piece Lost Angels has run for ten years and remains a poignant catalyst for conversation and healing among young audiences.

Following one recent performance at a teen wellness conference, Lanette Mantle, Adolescent Health/Suicide Prevention Program Manager, said: “Many kids said they finally understood what they were going through and wanted to know how to get help. This play gave them the words.”

The youngest branch of this mission-driven theatre work is the Mini Misfits, a peer-led troupe of elementary-aged performers delivering an anti-bullying message to young students across the region. With 15 years of performances and the distinction of being the youngest social issue theater company in the world, they embody the Playground’s ethos of using art to make the world better.

A Place to Belong

Actors Playground isn’t just a school – it’s a sanctuary. Countless testimonials from parents and students echo the same sentiment: here, young artists find family, confidence, acceptance, and purpose. Students return week after week, year after year, not just to train, but to belong.

“It’s not just a place where my son could study his craft, hone his skills, and feed his passion,” said one parent. “It’s a place where he could feel safe, encouraged, and cared for. AP ROCKS!”

Looking Ahead

As the Playground celebrates 20 years of creative excellence, its mission remains unchanged: to provide unmatched theater training in a nurturing environment, to empower students to reach their potential, and to use theatre as a force for good.

Here’s to the next 20 years—and to every student who walks through the doors ready to take a risk, tell their story, and find their voice.

ENDS

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Tandem Workforce and ForgeNow Partner to Transform Skilled Trades Workforce

niceuser — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 10:03:02 +0000

LAS VEGAS, USA. March 26th, 2025 – ForgeNow and Tandem Workforce today announced a groundbreaking partnership that is transforming how companies in the skilled trades sector build their workforce. This collaboration combines ForgeNow’s hands-on technical training with Tandem’s innovative employer-sponsored talent platform to address critical labor shortages in HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and related fields.

Breaking the Traditional Hiring Mold

The skilled trades industry faces an unprecedented talent crisis, with companies struggling to find and retain qualified technicians. Traditional approaches to workforce development have fallen short, leaving businesses with unfilled positions and costly turnover. ForgeNow and Tandem’s partnership directly tackles these challenges by creating a sustainable pipeline of job-ready technicians while providing employers with financial safeguards on their training investments.

How the Partnership Works

ForgeNow’s Hands-On Training: ForgeNow runs intensive training programs in HVAC, electrical, and plumbing that get people job-ready in just seven weeks. Students spend most of their time in workshops solving real problems, using actual tools and equipment they’ll encounter on the job. By the time they graduate, they’ve already fixed dozens of systems and earned certifications that tell employers they can contribute from day one.

Tandem’s Smart Risk Protection: Tandem takes the gamble out of training investments. Their approach means employers can sponsor training without the usual worry that employees will leave before the company recoups its investment. When incentives are lined up for everyone involved, companies see much better retention rates – and that means better business outcomes.

The Alliance Advantage:

Fast-Tracked Practical Expertise: ForgeNow’s intensive, hands-on training programs create technically proficient graduates prepared to contribute immediately, reducing the typical learning curve by months.
Investment Protection: Tandem’s employer-sponsored model includes protective measures that significantly reduce the financial risk of employee turnover, enabling businesses to confidently invest in training.
Demonstrated Retention Results: Early implementation has shown technicians developed through this alliance stay with their employers up to three times longer than traditionally hired staff.
Industry-Specific Focus: Programs specifically designed for HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and related technical trades ensure graduates have the exact skills employers need most.

Industry Leaders’ Perspectives

“The skilled trades gap continues to widen, with companies repeatedly telling us they can’t find enough qualified technicians to meet demand,” said John Voit, Employer Engagement Manager of ForgeNow. “By joining forces with Tandem, we’re not just training technicians – we’re changing how companies think about building their teams. Now employers can invest in people with confidence, knowing their new hires are ready to work and likely to stick around.”

Jeffrey Groeber, CEO of Tandem Workforce, said: “What makes ForgeNow special is how practical their training is. Their graduates know what they’re doing on day one. When we add our retention approach to that mix, we solve the biggest problem companies tell us about – finding good people who stick around. This partnership turns a big headache into a real business advantage.”

Redefining Technical Workforce Development

This partnership represents a major shift in how technical talent is developed and retained. Participating employers benefit from:

Immediate access to skilled technicians with practical, hands-on experience
Reduced onboarding time and costs
Increased employee retention
Higher return on training investments
Increased workforce stability and predictability

The ForgeNow-Tandem partnership is now open to employers in select markets, with plans to roll out across the country throughout 2025.

ENDS

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Tandem Workforce and Skilltrade Partner to Transform Healthcare Workforce

niceuser — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 09:03:01 +0000

[City,Date]– Tandem Workforce and Skilltrade are excited to go-to-market with a strategic partnership aimed at revolutionizing workforce development in the healthcare industry. By integrating Skilltrade’s proven hands-on + online hybrid training programs — Medical Assistant, Surgical Technologist, and Sterile Processing—with Tandem’s innovative retention-focused model, this collaboration equips healthcare employers with skilled professionals while reducing the financial risks of training investments.

Tackling Healthcare Staffing Challenges

The healthcare sector faces persistent staffing shortages, particularly in critical roles such as Medical Assistants, who handle clinical and administrative tasks; Surgical Technologists, who ensure smooth surgical procedures; and Sterile Processing Technicians, who maintain the safety of medical equipment through sterilization. High turnover and the costs associated with training often discourage employers from investing in new talent. This partnership addresses these challenges head-on by delivering job-ready graduates and ensuring they remain with employers long-term.

How the Partnership Works

Skilltrade’s Training Excellence: Skilltrade offers three targeted programs— Medical Assistant, Surgical Technologist, and Sterile Processing. These programs provide practical, hands-on training and industry-recognized certifications, preparing graduates to excel in healthcare settings from their first day on the job.
Tandem’s Retention Model: Tandem’s solution aligns incentives so employers can confidently sponsor training to fill open roles while also ensuring sponsored employees don’t turnover quickly. Tandem’s approach enables healthcare providers to see a strong return on their training investment, with retention rates potentially up to three times higher than traditional hiring methods.

Benefits for Healthcare Employers

Reduced Financial Risk: Tandem’s model safeguards training investments, making it cost-effective to hire and train new talent.
Immediate Workforce Impact: Skilltrade graduates bring certified skills and practical experience, minimizing onboarding time and enhancing patient care.
Long-Term Stability: Improved retention means a more consistent workforce, supporting operational efficiency and clinical excellence.

Voices from Leadership

Jason Aubrey, CEO of Skilltrade:

“ Partnering with Tandem gives employers a workforce they can count on. Our graduates are trained to excel, and Tandem’s retention model ensures they are committed to their employers, delivering long-term value where it’s needed most.”

Jeffrey Groeber, CEO of Tandem Workforce:

“We’re excited to be partnering with Skilltrade since its training sets the standard for healthcare talent. Coupled with our retention strategies, we collectively turn untrained talent into a stable, high-performing workforce – thereby solving staffing challenges with a solution built to last.”

Settinga New Standard

This partnership establishes a forward-thinking approach to healthcare workforce development. Employers gain access to a reliable pipeline of certified Medical Assistants, Surgical Technologists, and Sterile Processing Technicians— roles essential to patient safety and clinical operations. By combining Skilltrade’s practical education with Tandem’s retention strategies, healthcare providers can confidently address staffing gaps and build a future-ready team.

Get Involved

Healthcare employers interested in reducing turnover, improving ROI, and securing a skilled workforce are encouraged to explore this partnership.

– Skilltrade:
Jason Aubrey
Info@skilltrade.com

– Tandem Workforce:

Jeffrey Groeber

press@tandem.work

About Tandem Workforce

Tandem Workforce specializes in creating employer-sponsored training programs that accelerate hiring and retention. With a proven track record in healthcare and skilled trades, Tandem delivers high-retention talent more efficiently than traditional staffing solutions. Learn more at https://tandem.work.

About Skilltrade

Skilltrade is a premier provider of healthcare training, offering programs in Medical Assistant, Surgical Technologist, and Sterile Processing. With a focus on real-world skills and certifications, Skilltrade prepares graduates for immediate success in the medical field. Learn more at https://skilltrade.com.

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Renowned Sports Science Leader, Prof. David Morley, Appointed Chair of the IQF-IRC

niceuser — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 16:03:01 +0000

LEEDS, UK. February 5th, 2025 – The International Qualification Framework – Independent Regulatory Council (IQF-IRC) is proud to announce the appointment of Professor David Morley as its Chair. A distinguished leader in sports science and education, Professor Morley brings decades of experience and a proven track record in professional excellence to this pivotal role.

Professor Morley’s appointment marks a significant milestone for the IQF-IRC, an independent regulatory body dedicated to setting and maintaining global standards in exercise science and sports performance certifications. As Chair, he will oversee the council’s efforts to ensure qualifications meet the highest professional, academic, and ethical standards, fostering global recognition and credibility in the field.

A Visionary Leader in Sports Science
Professor Morley has held senior academic roles at leading institutions in the UK and Australia, including Dean and Associate Dean positions, where he championed innovation and quality in sports education. He has collaborated with global organisations such as Nike, Sport England, and the Australian Institute of Sport, shaping best practices in the industry.

“I am honoured to lead the IQF-IRC at a time when the need for global standards in exercise science has never been greater,” said Professor Morley. “Together, we aim to set a benchmark that ensures qualifications in this field meet the highest professional and ethical standards.”

Elevating Global Standards in Exercise Science
The IQF-IRC was founded to address the growing need for independent regulation in exercise science and sports performance. Drawing on extensive research published by the International Universities Strength and Conditioning Association (IUSCA), the IQF-IRC aligns its qualification framework with global best practices from leading organisations in the field, such as the NSCA, ASCA, and IUSCA.

Andrew Langford, Director of the IUSCA, said: “Professor Morley’s appointment is a seminal step forward for the industry. His leadership will ensure that the IQF-IRC continues to raise the bar for professional qualifications, providing confidence to employers, practitioners, and stakeholders worldwide.”

For more information about the IQF-IRC and its mission to revolutionise exercise science and sports performance certifications, visit iqf-irc.org.

ENDS

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Empowering Schools with AI: Welbee and Rittman Analytics Redefine Stakeholder Engagement

niceuser — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 14:03:01 +0000

BRIGHTON, UK. February 4th, 2025 – Welbee, a multi-award-winning company offering surveys to help trusts and schools collect stakeholder feedback and consolidate their data in one place, has partnered with Rittman Analytics, a boutique analytics consultancy specializing in AI-driven solutions, to develop an innovative proof of concept (PoC) for their Edu Intelligence platform.

This collaboration has resulted in an AI-powered assistant designed to transform how trusts and schools utilize stakeholder feedback and broader data to drive real change

The partnership focused on integrating advanced analytics and AI technologies to enhance how schools manage their data. Leveraging tools like Google BigQuery and Vertex AI, Rittman Analytics introduced a range of capabilities to empower Welbee to streamline analysis and uncover actionable insights, enabling faster, data-driven decision-making.

Key features of the technical solution include:

AI-Driven Pre-Analysis: Automates survey data processing to deliver insights immediately upon survey closure, eliminating manual analysis and accelerating time to action.
Text-to-SQL Chatbot: Allows users to query data conversationally, translating natural language into SQL queries for real-time insights without technical expertise.
Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) Integration: Combines survey data with contextual knowledge from Welbee’s Wellbeing Toolkit to provide comprehensive, actionable recommendations.

By integrating these innovations, schools can now:

Act on insights more rapidly.
Gain a deeper understanding through combining their stakeholder feedback with their wider data.
Empower users with a user-friendly platform for exploring their data.

“Working with Rittman Analytics to develop the AI capability of our new Edu Intelligence platform has been transformative for Welbee and our customers,” said Tim Handley, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Welbee. “Rittman Analytics’ expertise in AI and Google Cloud allowed us to help our customers unlock the true potential of their data, delivering faster, more actionable insights. The Rittman team has been a pleasure to work with, and they have a great level of knowledge, skill, and expertise in all things data analytics.”

This partnership reflects Rittman Analytics’ mission to empower organisations with cutting-edge analytics solutions. “Our goal was to deliver a solution that combines the best of AI and analytics to address real challenges in education,” said Mark Rittman, CEO at Rittman Analytics. “With Intelligent Ed, we’ve helped create a tool that not only simplifies data analysis, but also provides actionable insights schools can trust.”

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Cranfield University Pioneers Personal Change Management with Scared So What Ltd

niceuser — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 09:03:02 +0000

LONDON, UK. January 28th, 2025 – To enable groundbreaking collaboration, Cranfield University has awarded Dr. Grant Van Ulbrich, the visionary founder of Scared So What Ltd (SSW), a prestigious visiting fellowship which will enable him to contribute to Cranfield’s Masters programmes.

This collaboration will see, among others, the use of the innovative Personal Change Management (PCM) model and technology by SSW in the academic world. This fellowship marks the first time SSW’s PCM will be taught at a university level, setting a new benchmark in leadership and transformation education.

Dr. Van Ulbrich, an award-winning author, TEDx speaker, sales transformation coach, and Chief Researcher, developed the Scared So What personal change model and technology as a revolutionary approach to understanding and managing personal transformation. His groundbreaking model has gained global recognition for its practical applications, empowering individuals and organisations to navigate the complexities of change with clarity and confidence. Cranfield University’s use of the SSW PCM underscores its commitment to preparing future leaders to thrive in an era of unprecedented global challenges and rapid change.

Speaking of the fellowship, Dr. Van Ulbrich said: “Personal change is the foundation of effective leadership and organisational change and transformation success. The SSW PCM model equips individuals with the tools to understand and navigate their own journeys of transformation, which in turn fosters resilience, adaptability, and innovation. I am deeply honoured to collaborate with Cranfield University, a pioneer in executive education, to bring this cutting-edge model to the next generation of leaders.”

SSW PCM, encapsulated in Dr. Van Ulbrich’s acclaimed book Transforming Sales Management: Lead Sales Teams Through Change, and his widely celebrated TEDx talk, How Can You Manage Personal Change, has already transformed industries by enabling leaders to align personal growth with organisational goals. With this partnership, Cranfield students will gain exclusive access to SSW’s PCM proprietary tools and methodologies, bridging the gap between theory and practice in leadership and change management.

Cranfield University’s Andrew Hough expressed enthusiasm for the initiative. He said: “Cranfield has always been at the forefront of innovation in education and research. By using Dr. Van Ulbrich’s Personal Change Management model Scared So What in our programmes, we are providing our students with an unparalleled opportunity to master the dynamics of personal and organisational transformation. This collaboration embodies our mission to deliver cutting-edge solutions to real-world challenges.”

Dr. Van Ulbrich’s distinguished career spans over two decades, including his transformative work in the cruise industry and his service as a U.S. Navy veteran. Recognised by global platforms such as Forbes, MSN, Your Business, The Guardian, and Cover Entrepreneur’s 2024 Person of the Year, his thought leadership continues to inspire professionals worldwide. As a Fellow of Cranfield University, he brings his wealth of expertise and passion for sales transformation and pioneering inclusive change management to the academic community, shaping the leaders of tomorrow.

This fellowship effective from December 2024 will allow students to benefit from hands-on learning experiences, case studies, continuing research, and cutting-edge technology designed to cultivate the skills needed to drive impactful change in their careers and beyond.

For more information on this collaboration and the Scared So What offering, visit www.scaredsowhat.com.

ENDS

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Nikon and eLabNext collaborate to integrate the NIS-Elements imaging platform with eLabNext’s Digital Lab Platform in the US

niceuser — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 09:03:02 +0000

FRAMINGHAM, MA. December 9th, 2024 – Nikon and eLabNext partner to enhance data integration between NIS-Elements imaging software and eLabNext’s Digital Lab Platform.

The NIS-Elements eLabNext module allows users to seamlessly exchange experimental details between NIS-Elements and eLabNext’s Digital Lab Platform with high efficiency and minimal effort. This integration enables a comprehensive record of all data while reducing potential duplication and entry errors. Furthermore, it allows for easier replication of experimental protocols and allows the reuse of information for similar experiments.

“This partnership marks an exciting milestone for our company and the scientific community at large,” says Zareh Zurabyan, Head of eLabNext, Americas. “This innovative integration will impact day-to-day operations in the lab and provide unparalleled value to our customers. For the first time ever a complicated experiment workflow that is dependent on many sources of data can now be centralized and made more efficient with this Module, ultimately enhancing customer experience, boosting collaboration, and unlocking new features. Most importantly, this integration will help labs to scale up their operations in a compliant and secure environment which will help them to get to their breakthroughs much faster!”

“Nikon is excited to introduce this progressive integration to seamlessly synchronize experimental data with an electronic lab notebook” said Richard Gruskin, Senior General Manager, Software Systems. “This functionality augments the existing capabilities offered by NIS-Elements and offers a true digital experience by streamlining the exchange of experiment metadata and quantitative results while increasing productivity and experimental repeatability.”

Main Features*

• Upload experimental details and imaging conditions. Comprehensive experimental metadata, such as the complete list of microscope and peripheral hardware settings and any operator-defined custom metadata, can be uploaded from NIS-Elements directly into tables or as attachments to their own sections in the designated eLabJournal Experiment.

• Upload image thumbnails. Selected image thumbnails from the acquired microscope experiment data can be uploaded to eLabNext.

• Compatible with NIS-Elements JOBs and General Analysis (GA3) modules. The experiment acquisition and analysis protocols, analysis results and associated image data can automatically be uploaded from NIS-Elements to eLabNext.

• Ability to download experiment protocol directly into image metadata. Experimental protocols documented in selected eLabNext Experiment sections can be downloaded and saved directly in NIS-Elements’ ND2 image file format.

*This Module is available at no additional cost to NIS-Elements users in the eLabNext Marketplace. Please note there may be version requirements for compatibility and functionality which may require the purchase of additional NIS-Elements modules. The NIS-Elements eLabNext Module is currently only available in the US.

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Early-stage VC Emerge closes oversubscribed $73M second fund to invest in future of work and learning

niceuser — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 12:03:01 +0000

LONDON, UK. November 7th, 2024 – VC firm Emerge has closed $73M for its oversubscribed global early-stage Fund II, which is backed by 100+ of the world’s best future of work and learning operators. The second fund more than triples the investment from its first, bringing Emerge’s total assets under management to $100M.

Emerge’s partners are immigrants, working-class kids and refugees, for whom education was the path to a better life. They are on a mission to democratise access to opportunity by being a catalytic partner for pre-seed and seed founders whose companies are revolutionising access to learning and levelling the playing field for kids, helping people navigate their careers, and empowering them to use AI at work.

Investors in this fund include KfW Capital, Laerdal Invest, Jacobs Foundation and Southern New Hampshire University. Over the past 10 years, Emerge has made 80+ investments in companies now valued at over $2bn and impacting more than 31M people worldwide. Emerge’s portfolio has had multiple exits and now includes AI-powered investments transforming how we learn, work and navigate careers, such as Solvely, Colossyan and Popp.

Emerge is a thesis-driven and community-powered investor. Unlike other VCs, Emerge is supported by 100+ Venture Partners – operators who have built the world’s most successful future of work and learning companies and providers, including the co-founders and CEOs of Udemy, Degreed, Trilogy, Beamery, Go1, Coursera, Busuu, Kahoot, Andela, Docebo and Springboard, as well as the CHROs and CLOs of Fortune500 companies such as Kraft Heinz, IBM, Boeing and McDonalds.

These Venture Partners engage with portfolio companies throughout their entire lifecycle, focusing on accelerating their journey to product-market fit and Series A and beyond. They inform Emerge’s market research, source deals, support the diligence process, co-invest as angels, become advisors to companies, and even join their boards and become customers. More than half of the Venture Partner community is based in the US, powering Emerge’s strategy to find the best founders in Europe and turbocharge their expansion into the US and global markets.

The closing of Fund II follows multiple successful exits for Emerge, including Zavvy’s acquisition by Deel earlier this year, as well as numerous portfolio companies seeing significant up-rounds from leading investment firms. Examples include Yoto ($22M Series B led by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative); Edurino (€10.5M Series A led by DN Capital); Mattilda ($19M Series A led by GSV); and Unibuddy ($20M Series B led by Highland Europe).

Investments already out of Fund II include Colossyan, the AI video platform for workplace learning that enables users to create videos from text with AI avatars. In June this year, Colossyan announced a $22M Series A with new investors including Lakestar (known for their collaborations with leading companies such as Revolut and Spotify).

“AI is reshaping how we learn, find and do our jobs, and the companies that harness this shift will define the future. With the expertise of our Venture Partners – who’ve built some of the world’s leading future of work and learning companies – we’re equipping founders with the strategic insights they need to seize this unprecedented opportunity.”

– Jan Lynn-Matern, founder and GP

“The choices we make now about how to move forward as a society – whether we take everyone with us or not – will determine whether AI ultimately exacerbates or reduces inequalities. Working with Emerge to solve these challenges is one of the most rewarding experiences of my life: I get to do what I do best, coaching world-class entrepreneurs who are building companies that will define the future of work and learning. And it’s a pleasure to do so alongside a team that cares deeply about its mission and has access to the best entrepreneurs on the planet.”

– Christina Sass, CEO, International Youth Foundation; founder, Andela; Emerge VP

“Emerge has unrivalled dealflow and insights in this space, not to mention lived experience, which they bring together with a unique approach to investing: a world-leading Venture Partner community, gathered to support companies that help every individual adapt and thrive in an AI-powered world. It’s inspiring to be part of this community enabling me to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs to solve the biggest problems of our time.”

– Abakar Saidov, CEO, Beamery

“Emerge has been a great partner – their excellent reputation, deep understanding of the future of work and learning sector, ability to move quickly and the immense value added by their Venture Partners network were the main reasons we chose them over other funds at our Seed round.”

– Sean Hirons and Kharis Yanakidis, co-founders, MyEdSpa

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Damp Lab and eLabNext partner to launch software for easy ordering and outsourcing of molecular biology services

niceuser — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 08:03:01 +0000

BOSTON, MA. November 11th, 2024 – The Design, Automation, Manufacturing, and Processes (DAMP) Lab and eLabNext announced a formal partnership today to coincide with the kick-off of the International Workshop for BioManufacturing Automation 2024 at Boston University (BU). The cooperative plan will focus on building an ordering platform for the DAMP lab’s suite of molecular biology services, which will be called DAMP Lab Canvas, and integrating it with the eLabNext Digital Lab Platform (DLP).

“This initiative could provide an open-ecosystem software to biotech companies and the entire science community that could streamline their manufacturing and discovery processes,” explains Professor Douglas Densmore, PhD, Director of the DAMP Lab. “We chose to collaborate with eLabNext because the platform is so easy to use and the positive, supportive relationship we’ve developed over years of working alongside one another.”

For the past few years, the DAMP Lab and eLabNext have worked together, most notably during the COVID-19 pandemic, to process 2.4 million COVID-19 tests between 2020 and 2022 to limit the spread of the virus across the BU campus. The eLabNext DLP was integral in this effort, acting as a robust ELN & LIMS for protocol storage, inventory management, and sample tracking.

“This collaboration is rooted in an alignment on several foundational values, all to encourage innovation in the scientific community,” says Zareh Zurabyan, Head of eLabNext, Americas. “Creating the tools for any organization to build an ecosystem that connects all of their digital needs to optimize their physical lab operations is a win for everyone. On a more granular level, this collaboration simplifies the ordering process, connects customers directly with vendors, and facilitates the transfer of protocols and other information between eLabNext and other laboratory systems. Together, we hope to garner more engagement in automated LIMS management and ease the burden of order placement with the DAMP Lab.”

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ComputerXplorers relaunches under new leadership in US market

niceuser — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 09:03:01 +0000

HAMPSHIRE, UK. September 6th, 2024 – One of the world’s leading children’s computing education franchises, ComputerXplorers, is undergoing an exciting relaunch in the United States (US).

ComputerXplorers offers children aged three to 16 years a range of fun, interactive classes – through school lessons, after school clubs and holiday camps – to introduce them to a variety of exciting new technologies and platforms and prepare them for a digitally-driven future.

While the brand was initially established in the US in 1984, Stuart Harley, current CEO of ComputerXplorers, took over leadership in 2021, having first joined the business as a franchisee for Southampton, UK, in 2019.

The brand has grown rapidly in the UK, thanks to its unique turnkey business model, generous start-up support package and a clear ambition to bring high quality computing education to all children.

Since 2021, the UK franchise has experienced a 300% increase in turnover, with the number of franchisees having grown from 12 to 32, and the brand expanding internationally into four countries, with more poised to join this year.

Now, with its growing success and popularity, Stuart has taken the decision to relaunch ComputerXplorers in the US, aiming to repeat the great success he has had with the brand in the UK market.

The US relaunch begins with ComputerXplorer’s attendance at the two-day Franchise Expo South 2024 at the Fort Lauderdale Convention Centre in Florida. The team will be on Stand 216 to talk all things ComputerXplorers and the wealth of opportunities on offer.

Stuart comments: “With demand for children’s technology education exploding, we are incredibly excited to be relaunching ComputerXplorers in the US. We have a wealth of opportunities on offer for those looking to join us on this new journey, from area developers and multi-unit franchise operators to single unit franchisees.

“Those who come aboard with us can benefit from our highly successful start-up business model – as used in our UK market, and can look forward to being part of our highly innovative and supportive global network of franchisees, all whilst having the ability to manage your own business in a way that allows you a great work / life balance with a great income.”

Since taking over ComputerXplorers, Stuart has now expanded his work in franchising, setting up multi-brand franchise operator, XplorerGroup, in 2023 – with ComputerXplorers named as its original brand acquisition within its growing collection of innovative and popular brands.

For more information about the exciting opportunities available with ComputerXplorers, visit Stand 216 at the Franchise Expo South 2024 or visit https://computerxplorers.co.uk/international-opportunities/

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