LSN : News : Almost half a million 16–24-year-olds in the UK are economically inactive

Petfolk is redefining veterinary care services for modern pet parents

Petfolk identity by Zero, US

US – The pet economy is booming with ownership rates rocketing over the past decade. While product categories have been keeping up with the momentum, the service industry has remained stagnant. Petfolk hopes to change this by introducing a new veterinary care service designed for modern pet parents.

Founded by a collective of vets with decades of clinical experience, the service offers a more thoughtful and proactive approach to pet health through compassionate leadership, tech-driven systems and a community of like-minded individuals. To bring Petfolk’s vision to life, the company hired New York-based agency Zero. The team was tasked with developing a holistic creative strategy including tone of voice, branding, art direction, content strategy and production, as well as web and social media design. The result is a comforting brand that feels familiar and professional.

’The consumerisation of healthcare and the humanisation of pets are two key trends that have shaped the veterinary market,’ says Chelsea Goldwell, partner and creative director at Zero. ‘When we looked around at the industry, none were built by vets or shared Audrey Wystrach's [co-founder] vision for how the space should be serving the pets, pet parents and veterinarians. Inspired by this, we aimed to make Petfolk stand out and feel different by making the brand feel warm, nurturing and community-orientated – infusing the brand with joy and making it feel less clinical than other brands in the space.’

Strategic opportunity

Over time, health services and settings have become softer and more emotional. The same should be considered for all other clinical destinations, including veterinary surgeries, medispas and beauty therapy centres.

Seymourpowell launches AR tourism app

Scotland – Stirling has become a fully augmented tourist destination thanks to a new AR app developed by renowned design agency Seymourpowell, which worked with British Telecom’s 5G connectivity and Google’s new geospatial platform.

The cutting-edge technology allows tourists to explore Stirling’s rich history via an immersive platform available from their smartphones, where the city is transformed into an interactive game to explore. This is the only instance where one application allows you to explore an entire city in this way, thanks to its investment in fibre and 5G connectivity infrastructure.

The project’s aim was to use tech to transform the way people experience a city, increasing dwell time, highlighting photogenic areas and encouraging social sharing to redirect movement through the city and attract new audiences, ultimately boosting tourism spending.

The gamification aspect gives visitors rewards and incentives to see more of the city. Visitors who, for example, climb the steps of the National Wallace Monument will be rewarded with a 3D model of the landmark, including a unique ‘view from the crown’ that can be enjoyed as a virtual souvenir after visiting. Photo opportunities can only be captured by visiting a site, so once posted on social media the opportunity for peer-to-peer influence is significant.

Read more about how our Future Cities will function and how e-Tourism is coming into its own.

Stirling by Stirling Council, BT and Seymourpowell, Scotland

Strategic opportunity

Improved connectivity is paving the way for wider implementation of augmented physical destinations using mobiles and, increasingly, heads-up displays. Look to opportunities to add an augmented layer to the physical, site-specific aspects of your business

Almost half a million 16–24-year-olds in the UK are economically inactive

Photography by Cottonbro

UK – The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed that between July and September 2022, 490,000 16–24-year-olds in the UK were classed as not in employment, education or training, and economically inactive, which is the highest number in five years.

Highlighted by the UK’s Labour Party, the increase has been attributed to the winding down of the Kickstart Scheme, a £2bn ($2.5bn, €2.3bn) government initiative designed to help 16–24-year-olds at risk of long-term unemployment by subsidising six-month job placements for young people, which underspent by £665m ($811m, €771m).

The Kickstart scheme was criticised for its lack of support and chaotic delivery, according to a Commons Public Accounts Committee ruling. The scheme is an example of how government initiatives are failing young people in the UK, failing to offer genuine employment support and fuelling future disenfranchisement.

Strategic opportunity

There are growing opportunities for brands to step into civic roles and nurture a future generation of employees, as we outline in Why Brands Are Next-gen Career Advisors