In Brief: Avacta; YorkshireCloud; Yurtshire; Harrogate Spring Water
AVACTA Group has announced this morning that it has signed a collaboration deal with UbiQ Bio.
The collaboration with UbiQ, a provider of high quality ubiquitylated peptide targets, provides Wetherby-based Avacta with access to a wide range of the targets needed for screening its Affimer library.
Alastair Smith, chief executive of Avacta, said: “This is probably the most important landmark in the Affimer story so far. Avacta is continuing to build a toolkit of Affimers for the study of ubiquitylation and will make them available as part of an on-line catalogue which will be launched during the summer of 2014.
“Despite huge efforts over the past ten years antibody companies have been unsuccessful in building libraries of ubiquitin specific antibodies. Within a few weeks we have generated Affimers to a specific ubiquitin chain. As a result of the recent financing and this collaboration with UbiQ, we now have the technology and resource and access to ubiquitin chains to create large libraries of ubiquitin specific Affimers. I expect to see a strong collaboration develop in this area with UbiQ and for us to grow a flagship catalogue of Affimers to serve this important application in the study of ubiquitylation.”
Alfred Nijkerk, chief executive of UbiQ, added: “We are very pleased to be working with Avacta to develop Affimers that bind specifically to ubiquitin chains. This is something that we have wanted to achieve with antibodies for a number of years but with no success, so we are delighted that Avacta has had success so early in our collaboration. We are very excited about the future of this partnership.”
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IT business YorkshireCloud has been appointed to provide cloud computing services by accountancy and business advice firm EuraAudit.
EuraAudit, which employs a team of 60 people, has a network of six sites across Yorkshire, including offices in Harrogate, Ripon and Bradford. The firm specialises in advising small businesses on tax reduction and business development, as well as providing general accountancy and tax advice.
Moving from networked computers to the cloud has brought a host of benefits to EuraAudit, including flexibility and remote access, according to Harrogate-based partner, Nick Price. “Yorkshire Cloud advised us that a migration across to cloud computing would be a savvy move for our business and it certainly has been,” he said. “The benefits have been multiple and immediate. Not only can our team access their full desktops from any location, whether that’s working from home or on train journeys to and from client meetings, but we now have immediate access to files and documents in meetings.”
The YorkshireCloud concept was launched in 2012 after managing director Jonathan Edwards found it impossible to source reputable and cost-effective cloud computing solutions for smaller business clients. With an in-house team of technical specialists, Edwards designed and built a bespoke cloud solution for smaller organisations, with data hosted on dedicated secure servers located in Leeds and Wakefield.
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YURTSHIRE, the yurt holiday specialist founded by Yorkshire born entrepreneur Tom Sterne, is getting ready to open two new sites.
Building on the success of the Camp Hill site in Kirklington, North Yorkshire, Umberslade Park, Warwickshire and Newburgh Priory, North Yorkshire are the latest locations to launch.
will be perfect for romantic breaks, family getaways or a weekend away with friends – the two majestic venues promise a magical getaway with a difference.
Founder Tom Sterne said: “It’s a pleasure to open two more fantastic locations for our yurt holiday accommodation. As a lover of the great outdoors, but also appreciating home comforts, I was inspired to create the perfect combination of comfort and getting back to nature with Yurtshire. Whilst offering an element of luxury, it’s still great value for money, so there’s no excuse not to get away with friends and family this summer. Watch this space for more Yurtshire sites to explore in the future.”
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HARROGATE Spring Water has signed a deal with Yorkshire County Cricket Club (YCCC) to become the team’s official bottled water partner.
Harrogate Spring Water, owned by Harrogate Water Brands, will provide the YCCC players with bottled water at every home match. The deal also includes branded merchandising and advertising boards at Headingley Cricket Ground.
Harrogate Water Brands is a family-owned company, which draws on a 400 year heritage to manage the Harrogate Spring Water brand.
Spring water was first discovered in Harrogate in 1571 and went on to become the original British bottled water from the original British spa town.
