Category: 3. Business

Science & Exploration

20/11/2025
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New research^[1] from Aviva has revealed an increase in engagement with financial advice and also pointed to wider benefits for consumers, although the overall take-up rate has fallen from 13% to 11% over the past four years.

In the new Appetite for Advice report, launched today, Aviva has calculated an ‘appetite for advice’ index which shows that perceptions of advice and the value it can bring to people’s lives have improved across the board.

Although men are more likely to take advice, and rate its benefits more positively, the increase since 2021 in this measure for men has not been as steep as with women. If the relative rates of improvement continue at the same levels, we will see parity by 2042.

The Appetite for Advice index is calculated using feedback from a nationally representative sample of 2,000 consumers and then compared to the same factors measured in a previous survey conducted in 2021.  The Index is a composite score, with a maximum possible score of 100. It brings together responses to all questions which explore perceptions of advice and the value it offers, combined with actual behaviour in relation to taking advice, and the frequency with which people interact with their adviser.

In 2025, the overall Appetite for Advice Index measured 30, which is up from a score of 24 in 2021. This shows an overall increase in the level of engagement with advice across all consumers surveyed, advised and non-advised. For men, the score is 32, up from 26, and for women it is 29, up from 23.

This gives us a benchmark from which we can measure changes in engagement in the future, whilst identifying the factors which have most influence over changes in the score, and what action needs to be taken to make improvements.

Lorna Whalley, Director, Aviva Retail Platform, said: “Our research shows there has been a real shift over the last four years in the way financial advice is perceived. Even though fewer people said they are now taking advice than four years ago, the benefits of it, both for wealth and well-being, are felt much more than before. This is testament to the work advisers have been doing to help their clients with their financial, and wider, planning. Advice really delivers security and peace of mind for those who take it, and it’s important to get that message across to a wider audience, so that more people can benefit.”

Although the research shows that fewer people are taking financial advice in 2025 compared with 2021 (11% vs 13%), perceptions towards advice and the value it brings have risen amongst those who do. Financial benefits are acknowledged, with 81% (up 9%) of men and 71% (up 6%) of women agreeing^[2] that they are better off than they would be without advice. 81% of men, and 69% of women saying they have avoided mistakes they would have made without financial advice (an increase of 10% and 7% respectively).

However, the biggest increase has been seen in the ways financial advice provides wider benefit. 82% of advised men and 78% of advised women in our survey now agree that financial advice contributes to their overall well-being, up significantly from the 72% and 67% who said this in 2021.  

Lorna Whalley, said: “Our research shows that fewer women than men take financial advice, at 8% and 14% respectively, but it is encouraging to see that engagement with women has risen more strongly even if from a lower base. If this is sustained, engagement levels for men and women will be the same in seventeen years, but we should challenge ourselves to find effective ways to bring that date forward, by understanding how we can demonstrate the very real benefits advice can bring in a way which is meaningful to women, and in ways that resonate with them.”

-Ends-

References:

^1. _{Research carried out 21.05.2025 – 23.05.2025 by Censuswide, with 2001 nationally representative consumers. ‘Advised clients’ = those agreeing ‘I have an ongoing relationship with scheduled reviews’ in response to ‘Which of the following best describes your relationship with your adviser?’}

_{The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2,028 general consumers/2001 Nationally Representative Consumers. The data was collected between 04/01/21 – 06/01/21/21.05.2025-23.05.2025 . Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of the British Polling Council. [↑]}

^2. _{Combines ‘Strongly agree’ and ‘Somewhat agree’ [↑]}

Enquiries:

Squire Patton Boggs has advised Vital Energi, a leading provider of energy infrastructure solutions, on a £175 million fundraising through a Nordic Bond issue and the acquisition of the Port Clarence biomass facility in Teesside, marking a significant milestone in the company’s strategic asset ownership growth plans. The bond is one of the largest Sterling-denominated Nordic Bond raises in the UK energy infrastructure sector.

The multi-disciplinary Squire Patton Boggs team was led by Corporate partner James Fitzgibbon, and included Mariche Chambers, Matthew Ingram, Tom Cerdan and Caroline Morris (Financial Services), Darren Warburton, Louise Barber and Tom McClusky (Corporate), Patrick Ford and Alex Paterson (Tax Strategy and Benefits), Mark Barker, Rachel Koral and Holly Rowbottom (Real Estate), John Alderton and Vanessa Stuart (Restructuring and Insolvency), Ray O’Connor (Construction) and Kerry Lee (Intellectual Property and Technology).

Vital Energi specialises in heat networks, renewable generation, power distribution, and energy-from-waste facilities. The £175 million Nordic Bond was issued through the Oslo Børs (Oslo Stock Exchange) in August 2025, providing flexibility for future strategic investments and partnerships. The Port Clarence biomass facility was acquired from Nuveen Infrastructure / Glenmont Infrastructure and represents the next phase of Vital Energi’s evolution from energy solutions provider to significant asset owner.

Ashley Malin, managing director at Vital Energi, said: “Thanks to the team at Squire Patton Boggs for all of your support and going above and beyond on this fund raise and acquisition. We definitely couldn’t have done this without the support of the full team.”

James Fitzgibbon commented: “Having worked with Vital Energi over a number of years, we are proud to assist one of the industry leaders on a milestone project that furthers its strategy to develop and own critical renewable energy generating assets and support the UK’s transition to sustainable energy.

“This complex project involved specialist expertise from across the firm working together to structure and secure funding, manage the acquisition and development of the Port Clarence facility and assist with the company’s growth strategy. We look forward to continuing to support Vital Energi with its future plans.”

20^th of November 2025, Oslo (Norway), Rotterdam (Netherlands)

Norsk e-Fuel AS, a pioneer in Power-to-Liquid (PtL) technology, and Braskem, a global leader in polymers and biopolymers, have announced a strategic collaboration to explore the possible integration of e-Naphtha into the plastics value chain. This partnership aims to accelerate the development of plastics derived from carbon that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere, reinforcing both companies’ commitment to a circular future.

Norsk e-Fuel is driving the industrial rollout of PtL technology by building large-scale facilities that convert fossil-free electricity, water, and captured CO² into synthetic fuels and feedstocks. The company’s plan foresees at least three plants in operation by 2032, with a combined annual capacity of more than 200,000 tons of e-Fuels. Around a quarter of this output could be supplied as e-Naphtha – a versatile feedstock used to produce plastics.

Braskem’s sustainability strategy, “Keeping Carbon in the Loop”, focuses on retaining carbon within products and the economy through renewable, circular, and carbon-optimized solutions. The company already produces I’m green^TM bio-based polyethylene at an industrial scale-a renewable plastic made from sugarcane ethanol-and offers mass balance certified solutions for markets where segregated routes are not yet feasible. By potentially processing e-Naphtha into polypropylene and other essential materials, Braskem aims to expand its portfolio with innovative plastics that could have a significantly reduced climate footprint.

“e-Naphtha is more than a by-product; it is a valuable feedstock for creating long-lasting, circular products,” said Lars Bjørn Larsen, CCO of Norsk e-Fuel. “By capturing carbon and embedding it into durable, recyclable materials, we keep carbon in use and out of the atmosphere.”

“Plastics are essential to modern life, and by producing them with captured carbon, we keep that carbon in the economy-not in the air,” said Walmir Soller, Vice President for North America, Europe, and Asia (NAMEA) and CEO of Braskem BV. “This collaboration reflects our commitment to innovation and to building value chains that enable circularity and carbon neutrality.”

The collaboration will focus on developing a framework for integrating e-Naphtha into plastic production, assessing market opportunities, and engaging with customers seeking circular solutions. It also highlights the role of carbon capture utilization (CCU) in creating new value chains for the plastics industry, circulating carbon through products, not emissions.

—

Norsk e-Fuel in brief

Norsk e-Fuel was founded in 2019 to drive the transition to renewable aviation by establishing the industrial production of sustainable fuels based on CO₂ and water. As project developer, the company is establishing large-scale production sites to deliver synthetic fuels to the aviation industry. Supported by strategic investors and carefully selected partners, Norsk e-Fuel is set to bring Power-to-Liquid production to industrial scale and determined to develop a new value chain for sustainable fuels.

For more information, visit

www.norsk-e-fuel.com

Contact: Luisa Biesold, Head of Communications & Corp. Development,

lbiesold@norsk-e-fuel.com

Braskem in brief

With a global vision of the future oriented towards people and sustainability, Braskem is committed to contributing to the value chain for strengthening the Circular Economy. The petrochemical company’s almost 8,000 team members dedicate themselves every day to improving people’s lives through sustainable chemicals and plastics solutions. Braskem has an innovative DNA and a comprehensive portfolio of thermoplastic resins and chemical products for diverse segments, such as food packaging, construction, manufacturing, automotive, agribusiness, healthcare, and hygiene, among others. With 40 industrial units in Brazil, the United States, Mexico, and Germany, Braskem markets its products to clients in more than 70 countries. For more information, visit

www.braskem.com

.

 

Braskem on social media:                                                                    

www.facebook.com/BraskemGlobal

www.linkedin.com/company/braskem

 

For press information, please contact:

 

Braskem North America, Europe, and Asia

Stacy Torpey

Communications Director

 

 

 

stacy.torpey@braskem.com

 

Shell Plc (LON:SHEL) said on Wednesday it has struck a deal to offtake around 75% of the output of a 230-MW solar project in Germany to secure the electricity supply of its 100-MW Refhyne II proton-exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser.

The power purchase agreement (PPA) with Solarkraftwerk Halenbeck-Rohlsd has a 10-year term and complements a five-year deal for roughly a third of the output of the 332-MW Nordsee One offshore wind farm in the German North Sea.

The contracted photovoltaic (PV) project is currently under construction and will create two identical plants of 115 MW each. Its owner is 50%-owned by Deutsche Anlagen-Leasing (DAL).

The two PPAs signed by Shell Energy Europe Limited secure “a significant proportion” of the renewable electricity required for REFHYNE 2’s operations. The hydrogen electrolyser is currently being installed near the company’s Energy and Chemicals Park Rheinland near Cologne, Western Germany. Once in operation in 2027, it will have the capacity to produce up to 16,000 tonnes of renewable hydrogen every year for use to partly decarbonise Shell’s operations.

Click here to read more

As a starting point, the project begins with an ideas competition open to all young Spaniards aged between 18 and 35. Participants may enter via homesreset.es by submitting a video of up to three minutes, presenting a creative and inspiring proposal for what tomorrow’s homes should be like.

Homesreset is inspired by Pablo Picasso, an artist ahead of his time who surprised the world with his ability to see and interpret reality in new and different ways. With the support of the Museo Casa Natal Picasso, IKEA aims to promote a collective reflection on how to design spaces suited to the society of the future, encouraging us to look beyond the obvious and to challenge conventional ideas of living.

In the second phase of the initiative, the five winners of the ideas competition will take part in a Design Thinking conference to be held in Málaga during the third week of February. During this event, they will work with students from local design schools to develop projects on the home of the future from a range of regional and disciplinary perspectives.

A jury composed of specialists from IKEA, the Museo Casa Natal Picasso, and an independent expert will select the winning proposal, which will be presented at a closing ceremony in Málaga that same week. Each member of the winning group will receive a prize of €2,000.

The complete terms and conditions are available at homesreset.es.

 

About Ingka Group

With IKEA retail operations in 31 markets, Ingka Group is the largest IKEA retailer and represents 88% of IKEA retail sales. It is a strategic partner to develop and innovate the IKEA business and help define common IKEA strategies. Ingka Group owns and operates IKEA sales channels under franchise agreements with Inter IKEA Systems B.V. It has three business areas: IKEA Retail, Ingka Investments and Ingka Centres. Read more on Ingka.com.

Celebrating Positive Impact of Three-Year Collaboration

 

The Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) Graduation was held at Lerotholi Polytechnic (LP) in Maseru, Lesotho on 14 November 2025 where 27 C&P (Coding & Programming) and 14 AI (Artificial Intelligence) students were awarded their certificates. Dignitaries who addressed students at the event included representatives from Samsung, strategic education partners and key government officials.

 

 

The year 2025 marks the third (3^rd) year that the SIC programme has been in operation in Lesotho with 41 students graduating in this current cohort and cumulatively, a total of 145 students have benefitted from this initiative, including opportunities for employment. This graduation ceremony was a celebration of the beneficial effect of the three-year partnership between Samsung and LP, as well as the remarkable achievements of the current group of students who have completed the SIC programme.

 

The day’s proceedings were filled with moments of pride and inspiration as graduates received their official SIC certificates. Notably, top three (3) students from AI & C&P were awarded Samsung devices [Galaxy S25’s] as additional recognition for being best performers. In addition, the graduating students had an opportunity to showcase their cutting-edge tech projects in coding, AI and digital solutions designed to address real challenges in their communities. The day’s activities also included some uplifting stories from the beneficiaries as well as a display of cultural performances that reflected the vibrant Basotho spirit.

 

As part of the significant announcements made during the graduation ceremony, the CEO of Wasco — a Lesotho-based Water and Sewerage company and a strategic partner to LP — Mr Fallo Seboko, pledged their support to the SIC programme by officially offering employment to two students from this year’s graduating cohort.

 

For Samsung, ensuring gender diversity in its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes — particularly within its education and technology skills training efforts — has always been one of the key priorities. In this SIC programme in particular, it was important to ensure that there was equitable gender representation, fostering an environment where everyone had equal access to opportunities and resources.

 

The ultimate objective of the SIC programme in Lesotho has been to equip young people with practical digital and technological skills that enhance their employability and prepare them for the future workforce. Through training in areas such as coding, AI and problem-solving, the programme has been seeking to empower youth to become creators of innovative solutions that address local and global challenges.

 

Lefa Makgato, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager for Samsung Electronics in Southern Africa, said: “As Samsung, we are very proud of both the outstanding achievements of the graduating students as well as the overall, positive impact that this three-year milestone has had on the lives of 145 Lesotho students since inception.”

 

“We are pleased to note that 20 alumni students are employed, two (2) have started their own companies and about 40 opted to pursue their postgrad studies. As a socially responsible corporate in the African continent, we feel that by aligning with Lesotho’s education and digital transformation goals, the SIC programme has been able to bridge the skills gap, promote inclusive access to technology education and contribute to the country’s socio-economic development through youth empowerment and innovation.”

 

 

In addition, the 2025 version of the SIC programme included the AI Capstone Presentation which was formulated by five (5) groups. Each group had two or three members from the AI 2025 class. They had a month to idealise, code, create a prototype and a presentation for their prototype project. The capstone was of an open theme, thereby allowing students to target multiple sectors to solve their own community problems.

 

 

In his speech during the graduation ceremony, the Rector of Lerotholi Polytechnic, Professor Spirit Tlali, expressed the institution’s deepest gratitude to Samsung for its visionary partnership. He said: “Through the SIC programme, you have shown genuine commitment to equipping young people with the essential skills needed to thrive in the 4IR era. This collaboration stands as a model of how academia and industry can join hands to deliver education that is relevant, practical and transformative.

 

“Our C&P students have learnt to code as well as new ways of thinking. The AI graduates, on the other hand, now understand that it’s not about replacing human intelligence but rather enhancing it, amplifying creativity and solving problems that matter. We have now all learnt that technology, when guided by purpose, can uplift lives. Today, we have not only celebrated the achievements of young, bright minds but also innovation, resilience and the potential of our youth to shape the digital future of our nation and the globe.”

 

 

The Honourable Minister of Education, Prof Ntoi Rapapa, commended the graduates for their exceptional commitment and emphasised the transformative power of digital education in Lesotho. He had this to say to the graduates, “You are the pioneers of Digital Lesotho, the generation that will lead us into the future. The skills you have gained in coding, artificial intelligence and innovation are not just technical tools; they are instruments of change. Today’s celebration is a testament to the power of strategic partnerships and the brilliance of young minds transforming classroom knowledge into solutions that improve lives, create jobs and inspire hope. Your achievements embody the future we are building, one driven by innovation, creativity and technological mastery.”