Quinta do Lago Real Estate, the luxury residential resort in the Algarve, is delighted to announce its exclusive new partnership with Portugal Forbes Global Properties. Through this new partnership, properties in this premium location of Portugal will now be available through the luxury real estate platform Forbes Global Properties, sitting proudly alongside the world’s finest portfolio of high-end real estate.  

This innovative collaboration combines Quinta do Lago Real Estate’s years of local expertise with Forbes’ global recognition and prestige of Forbes’ luxury real estate agency in Portugal. Earlier this year, Forbes Global Properties expanded its international presence and opened in Portugal through luxury specialist, Modern, a full-service real estate agency assisting high net worth individuals, developers and investors in the luxury residential market. Focusing specifically on the top 1% of the market, Portugal Forbes Global Properties now represents the most coveted properties in desirable locations that include Cascais, Comporta, and, today, Quinta do Lago. 

According to Sean Moriarty, CEO of Quinta do Lago: “This partnership with Forbes is proof of our unwavering commitment to luxury, exclusivity, and offering unparalleled properties. The brand’s reputation and the demanding nature of Forbes’ high-end client network perfectly align with our lifestyle vision, strengthening our position as a unique destination for those seeking modern properties and quality of life.”

He adds: “This partnership highlights confidence in our expertise, reinforcing our position in the luxury real estate sector in Europe. Together, we are ready to redefine the lifestyle in the Algarve and elevate Quinta do Lago to new heights of global recognition.” 

Pedro Teixeira Santos, CEO of Modern and representative of Forbes Global Properties in Portugal, comments: “The partnership with Quinta do Lago is a significant achievement for Portugal Forbes Global Properties. Quinta do Lago is one of the best resorts in Europe, where local and international clients are attracted by the quality of the properties and the exclusive lifestyle offered. We found in Quinta do Lago Real Estate the ideal partner, who, as the developer of the resort, has an unparalleled level of local market expertise and shares the same service excellence philosophy our client’s demand. This strategic partnership reflects the joint commitment of both companies to raise the service quality in the luxury real estate market and meet the unique needs of clients,” he states. 

Considered one of the most highly regarded residential and golfing resorts in Europe, Quinta do Lago boasts a continuously developing real estate market with a premium portfolio of luxury properties ranging from resales to brand new developments. Despite boasting a variety of luxury homes that feature high-end amenities, the resort continues as a low-rise and low-density region that is ecologically driven and built with sustainability in mind. Quinta do Lago resort also boasts a state-of-the art high-performance centre, The Campus, along with three award-winning golf courses, a boutique hotel, called The Magnolia Hotel, its own Q Farm and a wide selection of restaurants. 

Established in 2020, Forbes Global Properties, founded and led by the world’s leading luxury residential brokers, is an exclusive consortium of top real estate firms representing many of the world’s finest homes and properties for sale.

For more information, please visit www.quintadolago.com/. 

For more information on Forbes Global Properties, please visit www.forbesglobalproperties.com/. 

• The company has taken 6,000 sq. ft. of office space on the top floor of 110 Pinehurst Square at Farnborough Business Park

Frasers Property UK has secured Zurich Insurance for a new 6,000 sq. ft. 10-year lease at Farnborough Business Park, Hampshire. 

The company, which insures local authorities, housing associations, charities and voluntary organisations, and the education sector, will be relocating its Zurich Municipal team from Geneva House in Farnborough. They are joined by colleagues from Claims, and the Customer Office, along with IT and Finance teams. The latter will be in great company at Farnborough Business Park, which has also recently seen leading technology company Lenovo take up residence. 

Amy Brettell, Managing Director, Zurich Municipal, Zurich Insurance, said: “We are delighted to move into our new Farnborough office space. Sustainability is such an important focus of our business, as it is for our customers, and so we wanted to find an office that supported our commitments. The office is BREEAM certified and provides some fantastic facilities to help our team make sustainable choices when commuting to work, including electric vehicle charging points, bike racks and bikes for hire.”

James Nicholson, Chief Claims Officer, Zurich Insurance UK, said: “We’re really excited to offer our staff an attractive place of work that fits with hybrid-working patterns. Break-out areas, a café and outdoor space give people the opportunity to collaborate as a team or focus independently when they need to. Zurich Insurance has had a strong and longstanding presence in Farnborough for many years and we’re excited to continue the next chapter in our new office.”

Christina Cosgrove, Senior Asset Manager at Frasers Property UK, said: “We know that the built environment plays an integral role in helping our occupiers create communities, social cohesion, wellness and more inclusive spaces for their staff. We are delighted to welcome a renowned, household name like Zurich Insurance to Farnborough Business Park; an estate that champions a rich, sustainable environment for all its occupiers. We look forward to building on our partnership with Zurich to develop a new environment where all their staff can work and thrive.”

Farnborough Business Park forms part of the asset portfolio of Frasers Logistics & Commercial Trust, and is a high-quality business park located in Farnborough, Blackwater Valley. Spanning 46.5 hectares, the business park comprises 14 commercial buildings, including nine office buildings, two car showrooms, a mixed-use office and industrial building and two cafes. Frasers Property UK, which supports Frasers Logistics & Commercial Trust in the asset management of Farnborough Business Park, was represented by Hollis Hockley and CBRE. Zurich Insurance was represented by JLL. 

A leading engineering design consultancy has announced the appointment of its 50^th graduate to its Global Graduate Pathway Programme.

Black & White Engineering (B&W), which specialises in sustainable MEP design services, operates in 44 countries worldwide. In the UK, it has offices in Edinburgh, Newcastle, Manchester and London.

The company’s graduate programme is a two-year, comprehensive initiative designed to attract and develop the brightest new talents in engineering design. With a focus on hands-on experience, the programme offers graduates a structured career path at B&W.

Catherine Allen, Global Learning & Development Partner at B&W, said: “The programme is pivotal in nurturing the skills, knowledge, and experience necessary in engineering design and decision-making. The initiative demonstrates B&W’s commitment to fostering the next generation of design engineering talents and cultivating a workforce that enjoys long and fulfilling careers at B&W, contributing significantly to our fields of expertise.”

Graduates are integrated into specific teams, such as the data centre team, where they focus on developing discipline-specific knowledge and skills. The programme’s unique structure includes a secondment to different teams, enabling graduates to broaden their experience and learn about new disciplines. This approach fosters a well-rounded understanding of B&W’s entire business and the services offered.

Steven Horn, UK and Europe Director at B&W, said: “Our graduate pathway programme highlights B&W’s foresight and commitment in shaping the future of the engineering design industry. In a field that’s rapidly evolving and facing significant recruitment challenges, the programme addresses these challenges and also plays a pivotal role in developing future design engineers.

“Through this programme, B&W is strategically investing in the people who will lead and drive our sector forward. It demonstrates our serious commitment to nurturing and harnessing the potential of new talents, ensuring that B&W remains at the forefront of engineering design.

“By equipping graduates with the real-world skills and experience they need, we are effectively building the foundation of an industry that remains robust, dynamic, and forward-thinking.”

The Global Graduate Pathway programme is open for applications year-round, and graduates can be based in any of B&W’s global locations.

Catriona Gluyas, a current Graduate Sustainability Consultant at B&W, said: “From the get-go, B&W’s dedication to my professional growth was evident. Within my first two weeks, I had already completed and passed the BREEAM Associate exam.

“Mentorship is also a cornerstone of the B&W graduate experience. My line manager, mentor, and ‘work buddy’ have been instrumental in helping me transition from university to professional life, offering guidance, support, and insights that have been crucial to my development.

“Overall, the combination of targeted training, personalised mentorship, and continual professional development opportunities has not only sharpened my skills but also prepared me for a promising career in sustainability design consulting. It’s great to be a part of such an exciting, rapidly growing organisation.”

For more information about the Global Graduate Pathway programme or B&W Engineering, please visit: https://bw-engineering.com/careers/

Eczacıbaşı Group’s VitrA Tiles has been applauded for its innovative use of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies, becoming the first ceramics producer to join the World Economic Forum’s Global Lighthouse Network, highlighting its pioneering role in 4IR adoption.

VitrA Tiles, the leading ceramics division of Türkiye’s Eczacıbaşı Group, is the latest member of the Global Lighthouse Network (GLN), recognised as a Factory Lighthouse among 21 new additions. This induction into the World Economic Forum’s initiative underlines their leadership in manufacturing innovation.

At the Davos Summit on January 15, 2024, CEOs Atalay Gümrah of Eczacıbaşı Group and Hasan Pehlivan of VitrA Tiles gave speeches at the award ceremony. They discussed the strategic scaling of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies across their production networks and the role of tech-enhanced operations in their success.

VitrA Tiles being the first in the ceramic tile sector to be acknowledged by the World Economic Forum for its use of 4IR technologies marks a significant industry landmark.

Innovation and Growth in Response to Challenges

Atalay Gümrah, CEO of Eczacıbaşı Holding, shared his joy on this achievement, stating, “We are thrilled that our Bozüyük Production Facility has been selected as one of GLN’s Factory Lighthouses, in recognition of the leadership we have shown in deploying Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies. Confronted with manufacturing disruptions from climate change, financial volatility, and geopolitical crises causing energy price fluctuations in Türkiye, this accolade emphasises our approach to transform these challenges into drivers of innovation and growth, leveraging 4IR to strengthen our operational competitiveness.”

The GLN consists of manufacturing leaders who have excelled in applying 4IR technologies to transform their factories, value chains, and business models, achieving remarkable financial and operational benefits. The Factory Lighthouses are testament to how manufacturing innovations have improved performance and enabled companies to navigate market volatility successfully.

Notable Achievements from Digital Transformation Initiatives

VitrA Tiles’ Bozüyük facility, following its digital transformation agenda focused on intelligent process and production controls, recorded a 19% increase in Overall Equipment Effectiveness, a 56% drop in scrap, a 14% reduction in energy usage, and a 43% increase in recycled material use in the past year.

Reflecting on this progress, Hasan Pehlivan, CEO of VitrA Tiles, remarked, “While our solutions might be unique, the challenges we face are global, and we recognise the importance of a global community in addressing these challenges. The future of manufacturing hinges on uniting global efforts to tackle significant challenges. The GLN is a vital part of this journey, and I am excited about this latest initiative from the World Economic Forum.”

AI and Machine Learning Revolutionising Global Manufacturing

As the world grapples with swift technological changes, geopolitical uncertainties, and climate challenges, Global Lighthouse Network members are adopting avant-garde technologies for enhanced productivity and sustainability. Employing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning, these Lighthouse factories are pioneering a global manufacturing revolution. Notably, 85% of Lighthouse factories experienced under a 10% revenue decline during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating a resilience not common among other manufacturers.

These Lighthouse factories are redefining global manufacturing standards, integrating innovative solutions across their networks, and leading the way towards a sustainable future and a new era of transformative change. This strategic emphasis on innovation is revolutionising the manufacturing landscape, demonstrating the impactful role of advanced technology in solving current global issues.