Feature - page 52

The Sovereign Group is delighted to announce that it has now
completed the transition of its headquarters office in Gibraltar from 143 to 117 Main Street (now renamed Sovereign Place), a move that marks a significant milestone in Sovereign’s journey and a substantial investment in the future of our business on the Rock.

Sovereign was founded in Gibraltar in 1987 and today it is the largest office within our global network. Sovereign now employs over 100 staff and is one of the most significant private sector employers in Gibraltar.

The renovation of Sovereign Place – the conversion of an historic family freehold within the Old Town of Gibraltar into a four-storey office providing 1,300sqm of Grade A office space – has taken some three years since the Development and Planning Commission first approved the development in June 2017.

Many of the original features have been retained in the refurbishment. As we feel strongly about the conservation of such a historic building, we have applied for it to be listed by the Gibraltar Heritage Trust. The features include the retention and refurbishment of the façade, the staircase, the mosaic wall tiling, the marble flooring, three fireplaces, doors, as well as the water well and the basement, which was the original water catchment area.

At the same time, the refurbishment has provided modern, well-equipped fully functional office space with disabled access that will give our staff the space and facilities they need to function and flourish, whilst also providing our clients with a much improved client experience.

As part of the process of transitioning the business to Sovereign Place, we have made some key appointments. John Blake, previously Director of Client Services and Business Development, was promoted to Managing Director of Sovereign Trust (Gibraltar) in December 2019.

John has primary responsibility for driving the growth of our Corporate Services and Private Client divisions through the Gibraltar office. He also sits on the board of Sovereign Trust International, which serves as trustee of our pensions and trust business in Gibraltar and holds individual director positions on several client companies that are controlled functions approved by the Gibraltar FSC.

John was instrumental in spearheading Sovereign’s response to Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) business. He wrote and implemented our group policy on DLT and virtual assets and also established and sits on Sovereign’s DLT Sector Committee, which acts as gatekeeper for business referred by group offices.

He started his career in the Isle of Man in 2004, where he gained a wide range of industry experience managing complex structures for corporate and high-net-worth private clients. Having relocated to London in 2014, he first joined Sovereign (UK) Limited in 2016 before relocating to Gibraltar.

John holds the Institute of Directors (IoD) Award in the role of the Director and the Board, the Diploma in International Trust Management from the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), the International Diploma in Governance, Risk and Compliance from the International Compliance Association (ICA) and is a professional member of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI).

Darren Whitley, formerly Director of Sovereign Pension Services, was promoted to Managing Director of Sovereign Pensions Services (Gibraltar) Limited earlier this year. Having started his career in international banking with HSBC Private Bank in Jersey, Darren has over 20 years’ experience in the industry.

Darren joined Sovereign in 2008 as Head of New Business for Sovereign Group (Europe) and was promoted to Business Development Director in 2015, when his focus switched to the retirement planning area of the business. Darren is instrumental in maintaining and growing our Occupational Pension offering in Gibraltar. He also serves as Business Development Director for Sovereign Pension Services, Malta.

Sovereign’s other regulated entities in Gibraltar, namely Sovereign Wealth and Sovereign Insurance Services are headed by Eamon Bermingham and Neil Entwistle respectively. They have each held the MD title for a number of years and are well known stakeholders locally.

As we know Gibraltar has enduring strengths that mean it can continue to prosper as a highly developed business services infrastructure where it is possible to passport financial services into the UK market, together with a highly competitive corporate tax rate and a stable Sterling-equivalent currency. Gibraltar offers a stable political and economic environment, fit-for-purpose regulations, a legal system that is modelled on the English

structure, a highly qualified workforce plus one of Europe’s most advanced fiber-optic communications networks.

Between Sovereign’s four licensed entities in Gibraltar the MDs work together closely armed with a compelling suite of services to drive growth and sustainability for Gibraltar businesses. Whether it’s establishing, or supporting an existing business, or perhaps just supporting its owners, our offering spans across employee benefit packages and incentive plans, trustee and director services, accounting, payroll, bespoke corporate and private client insurance, occupational and personal pension plans, obtaining local licenses & permits, plus company secretarial and management, Sovereign truly have the solution.

Despite massive disruptions created by the COVID-19 pandemic, Sovereign continues to make significant progress. We have had up to 400 of our 475 staff working from home across 18 different countries or territories, which is a fantastic achievement. Importantly we have managed to avoid any redundancies. Companies are still being incorporated, trusts are being established, pensions are being set up, payments are being made, and contracts or agreements are being signed.

We have made substantial investments in our systems and our staff and continue to seek out opportunities for acquisition. Sovereign has acquired five local businesses over the past five years and is geared towards further growth. We recently acquired the business of First Rock Trustees Limited, a licensed company and trust manager. First Rock Trustees was founded 30 years ago with an emphasis on private client work. First Rock Trustees will continue to trade under its own name and its client portfolio will continue to be managed by Emma Cooper, who joins Sovereign.

Our move to new premises coupled with an exemplary leadership team represents our dedication to growth in Gibraltar.

We are very proud to call Gibraltar our home.

‘Tis the season to be merry’! Let’s face it, Christmas may be a bit different this year to those of old, with smaller gatherings of close friends and family in the comfort of our homes and there is no better way to get into the Christmas spirit than with some traditional drinks to get you into the festive mood.

Wassail 

Wassail was a traditional Christmas and New Year toast, derived from the Anglo-Saxon words for “good health” – “waes hael”. The recipe of the same name is a hot, sweet spiced punch, made with apple cider with an added array of aromatic mulling spices. Another version is a frothy wassail, created by stirring beaten eggs into the warm, spiced mixture.  Wassailing is a Twelfth Night tradition that has its roots in a pagan custom of visiting orchards to sing to the trees and spirits in the hope of ensuring a good harvest the following season. During the visit a communal wassail bowl – filled with a warm spiced cider, perry or ale – would be shared amongst revellers. 

Mulled Wine (Glühwein)  

Tasting like Christmas in a glass, Mulled Wine contains traditional festive spices and is usually made with red wine. Different countries have different versions of the soothing, warming drink thought to have originated with the Greeks who added spices into wine left over after the harvest. From the Romans through to the Middle Ages and Victorian England, Mulled Wine recipes have evolved to modern-day versions which often contain orange, cinnamon, nutmeg, and dry red wine and a dash of port or brandy. 

Eggnog 

It is thought that eggnog originated from the early medieval Britain “posset,” a hot, milky, ale-like drink. By the 13th century, monks were known to drink a posset with eggs and figs. The basic recipe has not changed over the years (eggs are beaten with sugar, milk, cream, and some kind of distilled spirit), but it is not something for everybody’s palate and it is a love it or hate it type of drink. 

Christmas Punch 

This conjures up images of a large punch bowl with cups hanging from the side full to the brim with a mixture of alcohol and juices in which slices of fruit or berries float on top.  It is believed that the word punch was borrowed from the Hindi word for ‘five’, indicating the five central ingredients that a traditional punch consists of: spirit (rum), fruit juice, water, sweetener and spice. The drink was thought to have been introduced to England by employees of the English East India Company.  A big pan of warming punch is a great way to greet your guests at Christmas. 

Hot Toddy

If it’s chilly outside, there’s nothing better than warming your cockles with a hot toddy. This spiced whisky drink is usually made with whole spices, fresh herbs, and fruit. This recipe includes some honey which is the perfect addition to help combat a cold, cough or sore throat.

Take 50ml whisky, 3 tsp honey, 1 cinnamon stick, snapped in half, 1 lemon, (half juiced and half sliced) and 2 cloves. Whisk the whisky and honey together and split between 2 heatproof glasses. Add half the cinnamon stick to each, then top up with 200ml boiling water. Add a splash of lemon juice to each, then taste and add more to your preference. Finish each with a slice of lemon, studded with a clove, and serve immediately.

Champagne Punch

Perfect to serve at a Christmas Eve dinner or on New Year’s Day, Champagne Punch is a bubbly treat to add to your drinks repertoire. Think Great Gatsby and the roaring 1920s, where towers of champagne flutes would be filled with the punch that would cascade down like a waterfall to the delight of the spectators! Mix up 1 litre of apple juice (or apple cider), 1 bottle sparkling wine or champagne, 1 cinnamon stick, 4 cardamom pods (broken), 6 whole cloves and some ice with apple slices for garnish and serve in sugar coated glasses. 

Hot Chocolate with Rum

At the end of the day there is nothing more comforting than an indulgent cup of hot chocolate. Bring 400ml of milk to the boil. Remove from the heat and stir in 3 tablespoons of cocoa powder with a whisk, until it has dissolved. Add 1 tablespoon sugar, a pinch of cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg and stir well. Let it cool down a little bit and then stir in 20 ml of rum. Top with whipped cream, dust with cocoa powder and for a real treat add some mini marshmallows.

All these festive drinks can be made as kid-friendly non-alcoholic versions – just leave out the alcohol. Remember to drink in moderation and to pace yourself, because although the festive season is a great time to eat, drink and be merry, we have to remind you to drink responsibly because as we all know, drinking too much can have repercussions.

Christmas is such a magical time, especially for young children who look forward to Santa’s arrival on Christmas Eve and the presents that he leaves for them at the end of the bed or by the fireplace.  Most families have longstanding Christmas traditions that have been handed down over the years that are based on religious practices, rituals or folklore, and these are the same ones that parents usually try to continue with their own children.   

When you think back to your childhood Christmas, what do you remember most fondly? It probably involves some sort of tradition or custom that you have continued year after year.  It is the little things that we all do to celebrate Christmas with our families that we look forward to that evoke happy memories and help us to make new ones. 

If Father Christmas was a part of your childhood, it is more than likely that you have continued the tradition within your own family. From counting down the days to his arrival with an advent calendar and writing him letters, to the excitement of awaiting his visit on Christmas Eve then leaving out a plate of mince pies, carrots for the reindeer and maybe a glass of sherry or milk. When we are young, fantasy and reality blur into one, but this is a normal part of child development and believing in characters is a fundamental and joyous part of childhood. Keeping the magic of Santa alive and reliving our own childhood memories can create a strong connection with our children. 

Do you remember the thrill of waking up to see a twinkling, sparkling Christmas tree with presents surrounding it? Did you help to decorate the tree, just as your father or mother would have done with their parents? Many of us have Christmas ornaments that we hang on the tree every year, each one with a special memory connected to it. These are traditions that have been followed in families for generations. 

Whether you like it or not, sending Christmas cards is increasingly being replaced with digital messages and it’s not just the younger generation who have given up with buying and writing greetings cards. Swags of Christmas cards displayed on mantelpieces or pinned to ribbon that sagged with the weight and strung across the room were a feature of many of our homes. Once a staple of the Christmas season this tradition is now dying out, but the good news is that we are helping to save the planet and reducing waste. 

However, you don’t have to be a Grinch and there are ways of enjoying a greener Christmas. It is the little things that bring joy to children that don’t cost a lot of money or harm our environment. Snuggling up in front of the television under a cosy blanket, watching a favourite Christmas film with a mug of hot chocolate may be one of them.  Get the children to write a letter addressed to ‘Santa, North Pole’ or instead, in this digital age, there are several sites where you can write an email to Santa and get an instant reply. 

Music is an essential part of the Christmas season and one that many of us associate with a happy and special time. Whether you play jolly songs on the radio or gather round for a session of singing your favourite carols, this is one festive tradition that can have a really good impact on our mental health and lift our mood.  

There are also some new, modern Christmas traditions that are creeping into our lives, including wearing matching family pyjamas and that little mischievous elf that appears on a different shelf every day in the run up to Christmas Eve! Are you the family that wear novelty Christmas jumpers? All of these can be quite an expensive addition to the traditional Christmas customs. 

There’s still nothing quite as magical as the school nativity play for kids and parents alike, and although many schools are re-imagining the Christmas story and introducing contemporary characters, there is nothing more heart-warming than a cute collection of children singing and performing, no matter whether they are dressed as a star or a lobster!

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year and for some of us family traditions are an important part and without them special events or celebrations such as Christmas seem incomplete. Traditions can strengthen family bonds and create memories that last a lifetime.  Importantly, children get a sense of their family history and a feeling of belonging to a particular culture.  If we take these family traditions for granted and then for some reason we are not able to carry on with them anymore, it is then that we realise how important they are. Traditions can make Christmas magical and special. 

There is an old adage that a family that plays together stays together and there is no better time than Christmas to get together for some quality time and play a game that everyone can enjoy.  Apart from the well-loved board games that we all know, there are a host of ‘parlour games’ that are fun and stimulating, that will spark fun and laughter and hopefully fits of uncontrollable giggles. 

Charades

One player acts out a word or phrase by miming similar-sounding words, and the other players guess the word or phrase. The idea is to use signs and not words to convey the meaning.

You’re Never Fully Dressed without a Smile

One person is selected to be ‘it’ and that person is the only one in the group who is allowed to smile. They can do anything to try and get someone else to smile and if they succeed, they become ‘it.’ The person who never smiles is declared the winner.

Consequences 

This is a drawing version of the story game. The first player starts by drawing a head (whether human, animal, or mythical) on a sheet of paper, then folds it over to cover the creation. After passing it on, the next player draws a torso, the next legs, and so on. Once the sheet has made the rounds, players can unfold it to marvel at whatever monstrosity they created as a team.

Tray Game

Fill a tray with items (maybe Christmas objects) and allow players one minute to memorise them. Remove or cover the tray and ask them to write down as many as they can remember. The player who remembers the most items is the winner. 

Pictionary

Divide into teams and appoint one person to write down the items, phrases, etc. that players must draw. This person will also serve as the timer and judge. Give each team a name and distribute paper and a pen to each group. Each team chooses someone to draw. The judge prepares a one-minute timer and gives the player a card. The judge says “Go!” and starts the timer. The player begins to draw a picture of the word(s).  Whichever team guesses the word within the time frame wins a point.  

Christmas Hat Name Game

One person writes the name of a famous person, well-known figure or character, on each Christmas hat pulled out of a cracker and places it on the heads of the players without them seeing their own name. The hat wearer asks questions to which the players can only answer ‘Yes’ or ‘No’, and if they answer ‘No’ the questioning moves to the next hat wearer. If they answer ‘Yes’ the hat wearer can ask another question until they receive a ‘No’ or until their hat name is guessed. The first person guessed is the winner; the last person guessed is the loser!

When do you start your Christmas shopping? Do you leave it to the last minute or are you an early bird shopper and how much do you spend?

The holiday season is undoubtedly the biggest shopping spending period in many countries around the world with the busiest shopping day of the year no longer being Black Friday but the Saturday before Christmas, and it’s not just for gifts, think about the decorations, cards and food.

Statistics from the World Economic Forum show that shoppers in the USA spent over $1 trillion and in the UK people spent over £2 billion last year, whilst in some countries one-fifth of people go into debt to pay for Christmas gifts and festivities.

Gender

Shopping habits seem to be equal across gender as well as many of the age ranges, but something that many of us wouldn’t think true is that men tend to spend more than women! Apparently UK males spend over £410 on presents, whilst women only fork out £373. When it comes to generations, Generation X (those born between 1965 and 1980)spend the most, with Baby Boomers (1946 to 1964), spending the least.  

Recipients

Who do we buy gifts for? Most of us will buy presents for our family members and some special friends, but do you also buy for your colleagues and co-workers? It makes sense that shoppers spend seven times more on family than on colleagues, but what about your pets? Do they make your Christmas shopping list? Nearly a third of dog owners have said they are likely to spend more on their pooch than their partner at Christmas, with men more likely to do so than women. 

Do you treat yourself at Christmas?  Seemingly many of us do with the average shopper spending over £100 on presents such as perfume or clothing for themselves whilst out and about doing their Christmas shopping.

What do you buy?

There is so much to choose from in the shops in the run up to Christmas, with everything from toys and clothes to perfumes and electrical goods on offer, but even with the vast range of options available, most gift purchases fall into one of these categories:

• 61% of adults will purchase clothing and accessories
• 30% of consumers will spend money on electronics
• 20% of buyers will simply give cash as a gift
• 56% of people will purchase gift cards
• 44% will buy media items such as games, videos, books, or music
• 42% of shoppers buy toys 

Are you one of those people who leave your Christmas shopping until the last minute? 12% of UK shoppers panic-buy, with chocolate being the number one gift for adults and books or money for teenagers.

Spending

Most of us overextend our finances at Christmas, either borrowing money or running up huge credit card bills. The pressure to spend more than we reasonably should is all around us but there are also those people who will spend with abandon,regardless of the consequences, despite the fact that we are experiencing hard economic times. 

Romania, along with the UK, are the places where one-fifth of people go into the red due to their Christmas spending. Luxembourg is the country where people are least likely to go into debt. 

In order of the percentage of monthly income spent at Christmas, the top six countries are: Romania 32%, Czechia 25%, United Kingdom 15%, United States 15%, Italy 12% and Spain12%.

Environmental Impact

More and more of us are thinking about the impact on the environment when buying gifts, with some people choosing to make their own. Regardless of this, and despite our best efforts, the environmental footprint is potentially significant.

So, should we buy real or artificial Christmas trees? There are some groups that say using an artificial tree reduces its environmental impact because we bring it out year after year and that if you buy a real Christmas tree that is not locally sourced, then the process of transporting it can ramp up a hefty carbon footprint. However, the Carbon Trust says that a real Christmas tree has a “significantly lower” carbon footprint than an artificial tree, particularly if it is disposed of in a sensible manner.

One way to have a lower impact Christmas is to buy local. Supporting local shops and buying locally-made gifts not only boosts the local economy but it will have a lower environmental impact. With less festive parties to attend and fewer people able to get together for Christmas lunch, it is a good opportunity to kick-start habits that you can carry over to ensure that you have a waste-free new year. 

Giving Back 

In the season of giving, this Christmas will be one that will see more people involved with the community and helping out through charitable actions, and whether that is through donating time or money why not think about how you can help someone whose spirits might need a little extra lift this holiday season.

Christmas 2020

Christmas is inextricably linked to the act of giving and receiving presents and although 2020 may mean that we will not be able to physically be with all of our loved ones on Christmas Day, and coronavirus restrictions may mean that we have to make changes to the way in which we do our Christmas shopping, we can still get into the holiday spirit and spread good cheer amongst others with thoughtful and unusual gifts.

GFSB Supporting Local Businesses

The Gibraltar Federation of Small Businesses (GFSB) exists to help small businesses in Gibraltar to start, grow and thrive. Now in the run up to Christmas, one of their missions is to help their members by encouraging people to shop locally. 

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the message for every local town or city was to shop local, but it’s no secret that nearly every aspect of life has been upended because of coronavirus, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the retail sector. Think of the Lion King’s ‘Circle of Life’ and apply that analogy to businesses that are struggling and the knock-on effect for the local economy. If we spend our money locally this helps the local economy and, in turn, it generates taxes which pay for public services such as our health care and schools. 

Small businesses are facing huge pressures since the pandemic began and it is hoped that none have to close. They are adapting fast to secure livelihoods but they need help to ensure that they can maintain their staff and enable them to be able to pay mortgages and put food on the table. 

Consider that when you purchase goods elsewhere, either over the border in Spain or online, they may seem a couple of pounds cheaper or maybe even a little more expensive, but the GFSB has carried out some price comparisons and there are many items which are worth buying in Gibraltar, not forgetting that it is often better for the environment to shop locally and it also cuts down on your carbon footprint.  

The BEAT Covid assistance measures implemented by the Gibraltar Government aimed at protecting jobs and retaining employment have gone some way to helping and the GFSB has been proactive in assisting their members to understand how the BEAT measures work in practice. However, the tourism industry has been heavily affected by the pandemic, particularly the shops and restaurants in the town area and around Main Street. 

Although the GFSB’s responsibility is to the business community, they support the Government’s Green Gibraltar initiative, whilst at the same time maintaining the interests of their members. The introduction of charges for parking at Midtown Car Park that was previously free for all Gibraltar ID card holders was an example in case, but thanks to consultation with the GFSB and the Chamber,  the Government have waived parking fees for three hours. Now residents can come into town, have a coffee, maybe a meal and do some shopping. The message from the GFSB is that there are many different ways to shop locally, including walking or via bus, cycling or car. In fact, there are many towns and cities around the world where paying to park is the norm, and tourists coming into Gibraltar are often used to paying for parking, so locals are encouraged to take advantage of the introduction of the three hour free parking scheme.  

The Keep it Local Campaign, a joint effort between the GFSB, the Gibraltar Chamber of Commerce and the Gibraltar Government, has been in place for a few months already, but now the focus will be on Christmas with several ideas about how to help and incentivise people to stay local, including a discount scheme or gift vouchers that can be reclaimed at one of a number of stores.   

Christmas is usually a very important shopping time in Gibraltar and there is always a buzz along and around the Main Street area with people popping out to their local shops or restaurants, bumping into friends and stopping to chat. This year, although things may be a bit different, the Main Street Business Improvement District (BID) commissioned by the GFSB, once voted in will hopefully improve the identity of the town. The BID will look to develop a ‘uniquely Gibraltarian experience’, ensuring we provide a clean, green and welcoming area for tourists and locals alike. Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 situation, progress was interrupted but going forward it is an exciting way to help businesses take control of and improve their trading environment. This is something that will help the business community really focus its efforts and make the whole shopping experience that much better for both tourists and locals, hopefully attracting more tourists to come back in the New Year. 

These are extraordinary times but with your everyday choices you can support our home. Choose Gibraltar first and as it says on the Keep it Local website; ‘Spend your money where your heart is’.

www.keepitlocal.gi www.gfsb.gi

More than Just a Gaelic Football Club

Will Peters, Chairperson of the Gibraltar Gaels, came to Gibraltar four years ago and like many others hadn’t heard much about Gaelic football. “I didn’t know any of the rules,” he says “but I was encouraged to join the Gaels by a group of friends and I really enjoyed the team spirit and eventually I became hooked.”

Heralded as Ireland’s most popular sport, Gaelic football is one of the sports that is included in the “Gaelic games” (along with hurling, Gaelic handball, and rounders), which is controlled by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), however, you don’t have to be Irish to join the Gibraltar Gaels. “We have got approximately sixty members over both the men and women’s teams with a massive mix of nationalities including Irish, Danish, Spanish, Gibraltarian, English, Welsh, Scottish, Portuguese and Slovakian,” Will states.  There are also plans in the pipeline to set up a kid’s team and potentially a mini league in Gibraltar in a few years’ time.  

The club was formed in 2011 by a group of Irish ex-pats, Séamus Hayes, Ollie Gotmann and Peter Goulding, and has grown massively since its inception with the addition of the women’s team a couple of years ago. Next year will be its tenth anniversary and Will hopes that they will be able to celebrate, if restrictions allow, with a big event to include an open day. 

One question often asked is how is Gaelic football different to football. “The rules are completely different and it is like a mix between basketball, rugby and football all in one,” Will explains. “In Ireland it is a 15v15 format played on a pitch that is 40% longer than a football pitch, but over here we play 11v11 because of the small pitch sizes.” 

The aim of the game is to put the ball in your opponents’ net (worth three points) or between the posts and above the crossbar (for one point). Will explains that you can move the ball along the pitch by either kicking it out of your hands, along the ground or passing it to a team-mate by hitting it with your fist. With the ball, you can only run a maximum of four steps after which the ball must be either bounced or “solo-ed”, an action of dropping the ball onto the foot and kicking it back into the hand. You may not bounce the ball twice in a row. To score, you put the ball over the crossbar by foot, hand or fist for one point, or under the crossbar and into the net by foot, hand or fist in certain circumstances for a goal, the latter being the equivalent of three points. “It’s like a football and rugby goal all in one,” he says. 

The ramifications of COVID-19 have had an impact on many sporting clubs and the Gibraltar Gaels are no exception. “We play in the Andalucía Gaelic Football League and we weren’t able to finish last year or to start training again for this season,” Will says. The other two teams are Eire Og Seville and the Costa Gaels and because the season finished early it was agreed that whoever was at the top of the league would be dubbed the winners, and that was the team from Seville.

“In 2019 we won the league and went on to represent Andalucía and Gibraltar in the Iberia Cup which was held in Barcelona, so we went to play against teams from Galicia, Valencia, Barcelona, and Madrid along with others, and we got to the semi-finals,” Will says proudly. “The winner goes on to play in Ireland, so it was a massive achievement for us to get to the Iberian finals and we did really well.”

One of the reasons that people like to join the Gibraltar Gaels is for the social aspect, with several events taking place during the year. Will talks enthusiastically about a fund raising fancy dress Bingo night held last year at O’Reilly’s that raised over a couple of thousand pounds. “We have a wide range of memberships including for non-playing members or for those who just want to come to training to keep fit,” Will explains.   

Gaelic football is full contact, fun, fast and will improve your fitness. The Gibraltar Gaels play their games at Europa Point and currently train at the DTC on Wednesday evenings. If you are inspired to play the sport and want to meet new people, make friends and get active, you can get in touch with them via social media: Twitter – @GibGaels or Facebook- Gibraltar Gaels

Locally-based self-made multimillionaire, Ruth Parasol, has helped to spearhead a brand new bank in the UK, called Recognise. The investment will be channelled through RG Advisors. It joins the two other cornerstone investors, DV4 and Max Barney.

Ms Parasol has a number of investments spread across the world, including a significant portfolio focused on London, the United States and Israel – plus a number of further boutique investments in various jurisdictions. Ms Parasol, 53, is worth about £780 million, according to The Sunday Times Rich List.

Recognise will be led by Jason Oakley, former managing director of commercial banking and mortgages at Metro Bank, with Philip Jenks, a former HBoS banker, as chairman, and Bryce Glover, former commercial director at Nationwide building society, as deputy chief executive.

Recognise has been created with the purpose of providing working capital in the form of commercial loans, plus tailored commercial property lending. The bank will be initially based in Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham and London in the form of regional hubs. Target lending customers will, of course, be businesses – sole traders, partnerships and limited companies – with a viable business plan, who have been trading profitably for at least two years, and are run by experienced owners and entrepreneurs.

Ms Parasol was one of four founders of Party Gaming, an online casino software pioneer. It merged with an Austrian rival, Bwin, in a £2 billion deal. Bwin was then bought by GVC Holdings, which owns Ladbrokes.

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority has approved her £25 million overseas investment in the British embryonic lender and deposit-taker. It is one of the largest single commitments to the banking sector since the pandemic.

All Recognise’s processes and technology have been built around being able to offer a “private bank” style experience for SMEs. Traditional bank products often come in the form of “one size fits all”, which can be an inflexible approach in some instances that doesn’t reflect a specific business’s needs. Very often, SMEs are obliged to use online portals which automatically reject applications that don’t meet banks’ rigid criteria. This has especially been the case since 2008, and exacerbated by COVID.

It expects to receive its banking licence in the coming weeks. RG Advisors will be playing a full part in the bank’s strategy and success.

Hello!  You don’t know me; and just so you know, my intent is you never do.  We have become acquaintances through a business associate of mine.  Well I say business associate, what I actually mean is I bought a stack of stolen data from a vendor on the Dark Web. I have no idea who he is, it just so happens the data file had your email details.  I love the dark web, it is soooo easy to buy things these days.  It’s even simpler than popping down to the supermarket, and certainly safer during these Covid times.

Why is your personal data for sale on the Dark Web?  Well you can blame any number of businesses for that.  Chances are they did not invest and resource appropriately the security of your data and were then subject to a cyber breach by some of my fellow hacker comrades.  My comrades are now making money selling your data to any criminal like me who wants to buy it on the Dark Web. 

Oh, and it’s not just your email address, it’s your associated password, address, mobile number, IP address and any number of other bits of information – really useful in my line of work.  I wonder whether your business or employer is easily hackable – note to self, now that I have you email, I should check that later.

A little bit about me.  I don’t live in your country, but now I have your email and password I can access your life as easily as if I lived next door.  I work for myself and from home – don’t we all these days… LoL.  I don’t keep normal office hours, I operate 24/7; and actually, I outsource a lot of my work to my digital workforce – it’s a computer algorithm really, but I think of them as my team.  What is it that I do?   Well thanks for asking.  I am interested in you; your business; who you know, who they know and what I can steal from any or all of you.  Just so you know, this is not personal.  You are not special.  You are merely one of a number of individuals I am getting to know.   I really am a people person; I just don’t like meeting or talking to you.

One thing that fascinates me is the inherent laziness and naivety of human nature.  I love the fact that most people think “Oh it won’t happen to me…”.  Silly, silly!!  If your information is breached on the Dark Web, it is already happening to you.  You just don’t know it.  And not only by me, but any number of other hacker lovies that have bought your data.

Oh, before I forget, thank you for keeping your password the same for your email, your social media accounts and the majority of your other account logins.  I do appreciate it; you make my job much easier.  It really helps me to get to know all about my acquaintances quicker, and make new friends through you and your network of business associates, friends and family.  Sharing is caring!  It also saves me money by not having to buy more data on the Dark Web.  We all need to tighten our belts during these difficult times.  Right!?!  Also, thank you for not installing multi-factor authentication on your accounts.  You have no idea how much it helps to make sure we never meet, and you have no idea what I am doing.  Again, most grateful.

Just a quick overview on how I see our relationship developing.  Now that I have access to your email, I am going to set up an auto-forward rule on all your email traffic.  My team and I are going to record your business and personal contacts and start “making friends” with them.  We are going to review the contents of your emails to establish what information you deal with that may be of value to me, or I can sell on.  I am also interested to see whether any monetary transactions are passing through your account.  If so, I may contact the payer, simulating your witty and elegant writing style, and inform them that you have updated your bank account details.  Clearly these will be my bank account details.

Just so you know, I have real commitment issues and an acute fear of getting caught.  When I decide our relationship has no more value I am going to move on.  It’s not you, it’s me.  As a parting gift, I might infect your device with ransomware so I can bribe you for one last payment.  Think of it as something to remember me by.  We’ll see…

Oh, one last thing, please do not change your password.  I am making a pretty penny selling your details on, so my friends can also make friends with you.

Michael Wills is co-founder and chief data officer for CSS Platinum.  

For further information on the company and the services it provides to Gibraltar businesses and the international yachting industry,
please visit https://cssplatinum.com or email support@cssplatinum.com.

MH Bland recently announced that the Development & Planning Commission (DPC) had granted permission for the new Cable Car project to go ahead. The decision unlocks a multi-million-pound private investment in Gibraltar’s tourism sector. 

MH Bland Deputy Chairman George Gaggero tells Insight why this development is so important for Gibraltar, especially for the local tourism industry. 

“The concept of a cable car was dreamed up by my father early in 1960 when he visited Switzerland where he saw the early version of cable cars and subsequently brought the idea back to Gibraltar,” George Gaggero says. “At that period in time, locals had minimal access to the Upper Rock because what we now know as the nature reserve was military land, so he worked with the Ministry of Defence and the Government of the time and eventually got permission to build the cable car in 1962 and on the 1st April 1966 the cable car opened and was hailed as a great innovation for Gibraltar’s tourist product.”

The closure of the frontier in 1969 for fourteen years meant a loss of the potential tourism market, and George says that they struggled on until 1986 when they decided that the original cable car system had to be upgraded.  “We overhauled the carriages and all the technical aspects, and it is now time to go through the same process again because at this point the actual buildings and structures are no longer fit for purpose because of the volumes of passengers that Gibraltar now handles with the advent of cruise liners and cross-frontier tourism.”

The new project will deliver a modern, environmentally-friendly tourist attraction fit for the 21st Century using swiss architects and engineers, known the world over for their expertise in building cable cars. Still, the building process will also generate local employment opportunities. Explaining that the demolition work will commence sometime between July and October 2021, George says that will start at the top of the Rock with the restaurant area. “We plan to build a temporary aerial ropeway down the east side; essentially it will be a cage, which will then allow us to send down all the rubble from the rest of the building so that we don’t use the road network which will still be used by coaches and taxis.”

“We are extremely conscious of the environment, and we want to minimise lorries going on the Upper Rock as much as possible,” George states. “Once the top station is demolished we will then bring the new building materials up by the cage, and although there will be a time when the cable car itself will continue to operate, all passengers will go straight into the nature reserve.”Eventually, the cable car will be demolished and the process of building the bottom station, installing the new carriages and towers, will take place with the whole process taking up to two years. 

Technology has moved forward, and George states that the latest automated equipment will be put in. “Rather than having two arrival platforms, there will be a pioneering moving platform to accommodate each cable car which minimises the size of the footprint.” 

“Solar panels will generate up to 75% of the energy that we require from renewable energy and the cable cars also generate energy by going up and down so we are going to capture that energy and convert it and that will allow us not only to power our own systems but to put energy back into the Gibraltar grid,” he confirms.  

Elucidating on what this project means for MH Bland, George says that there is a huge legacy issue of which the company is extremely proud. “This is a project that my father started in the 1960s, and we are guardians of the name, the brand and the cable car product, and not to invest in the future would be irresponsible.” He goes on to say that the world had advanced enormously since the 1960s when his father had the cable car idea and that he doesn’t want his children or grandchildren looking back in fifty years asking why they hadn’t done this. “We are trying to futureproof it,” he states. 

“Gibraltar has its traditional tourist product which is the apes and the caves, and we are constantly in contact with the tour operators, the cruise liner companies etc. who are always looking for something new,” George states. “It is much easier to promote a new vibrant product rather than the same old offering, and certainly when it comes to cruise line passengers, more than 60% of those passengers coming ashore have been here before.”The new cable car project is one that George says will raise the standard of the tourist product, not only in the tourist attractions but in hotels, restaurants, bars and gift shops.  “We want to draw a higher level of clientele to Gibraltar and to do that we have got to offer them what those clients would expect in New York, Hong Kong, London, Paris or anywhere else –and we hope that by aiming and achieving high that others will follow our lead.”

“In granting permission for this project to proceed, Gibraltar is sending a message to the world that we are committed to investing in green and sustainable tourism.  It is our responsibility not only to improve our product but to do so responsibly and sensitively.”