Nissan develops car phone blocker
5 things we learned yesterday
1 Nissan is developing a new piece of kit which aims to save lives by stopping mobile phones from distracting drivers.
The Signal Shield blocks phone signals from reaching the driver’s smartphone when it is placed inside the car’s arm rest.
The new tech is being developed for use within new models of the Nissan Juke, which is manufactured at the firm’s plant in Sunderland.
2 White goods repair company Pacifica Group is targeting a record level of turnover after acquiring an independent competitor with a base in Gateshead.
The deal sees the Houghton-leSpring-based firm acquire Megan Technical Services, in a move which will increase the its headcount to over 350.
Megan Technical Services was founded in 2001 and specialises in repairing washing machines, cookers, and fridge-freezers for household brands such as Electrolux and AEG.
3 A new managing director has been appointed at leading leisure firm Wear Inns. The appointment follows the sudden death of John Weir last summer.
Mr Weir, 67, one of the firm’s founders, passed away at home in August following a heart attack, having become a popular face in the UK pub industry throughout a length career in the trade.
Finance director Simon Duckworth stepped in as interim MD, and he has now been confirmed as Wear Inns’ managing director on a permanent basis.
His appointment comes as the firm finalises year end accounts,
4 A new app, described as the ‘Pokemon Go for bars’, for those wanting to discover their perfect pub crawl is being launched in Newcastle.
Tipll is being developed by North East entrepreneur Grant Thompson, and allows users to plan a pub crawl route using their phone’s GPS and map software.
Users are able to type in what type of pub or bar they want to go to, how many people are in the group, and how old you are.
Tipll then pulls up a list of bars that you can select, and plans a route for you to follow on your night out.
5 Retail giant Next revealed that high street sales plunged by 8.1% in its first quarter and cut its profit outlook once again as it warned that trading would remain under pressure.
The worse-than-expected performance over the 13 weeks to April 29 came despite a boost from the later, warmer Easter this year, although Next said its Directory arm performed better, with sales up 3.3%.
This left total full-price sales 3% lower.
Next cut the top end of its profit guidance after the disappointing first quarter, with full-year profits now expected to fall by between 13.9% and 6.4%.