Every now and then fate deals us a good card. Excellent sales of across Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ catering outlets up to March mean that a third play pump can be set up to help communities in Malawi. One Water also has money left over to get well on the way to purchasing a fourth one! Thanks to all staff and visitors who have bought One Water for making this possible.

The playpumps use special technology so that while children have fun spinning on the playpump merry-go-round, clean water is pumped into a tank above ground.

I visited Lesotho last year and was enormously proud to see how this simple idea has completely changed the lives of people in these communities. I will be making a return trip to Malawi in July, along with Catering Manager Hilary Friel and Cutomer Service Director Kate Smith, to see first-hand the benefits that the new pumps will bring.

In preparation for the trip, Island Mastara from Media Village engineering has even been helping us with some language lessons - 'zikomo' Island! (Thank you!)

Well done to everyone who has supported the One Water initiative.

is Head of Corporate Real Estate for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Lots of people talk about the benefits of using video links to avoid the need for travel. In the main there is a fair degree of scepticism about the usefulness or otherwise of this technology, for example, 'it's expensive, the picture is poor and one needs a degree in rocket science to get the kit working!'

For the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ move to MediaCityUK in Salford we're working on the theme 'Salford - it's not as far away as you might think.' A key element of this is embracing video conferencing.

To help us get started we have installed 'the Tube', a permanent video link between the Manchester and London based project team. We have allocated two meeting rooms that work as a pair, enabling team members to drop in at any time to connect up. It's simple, requires no technical support and provides a richer form of interaction.

A sign of things to come.

is Head of Corporate Real Estate for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ