This major milestone follows Topps’ acquisition of exclusive trading-card rights to the Premier League, with new products expected to debut for the 2025/2026 season. The company also holds exclusive rights for UEFA national and club competitions and plans to produce licensed NBA trading cards later this year.

A Unique Retail Experience

Spanning 803 square metres (8,647 square feet), the store promises an immersive experience for collectors. The centrepiece will feature a display of rare and sought-after trading cards, crowned by a suspended circular screen. The flagship will offer exclusive products, including single cards, retail boxes, and high-end hobby releases, catering to collectors of all levels.

The space is designed to foster community engagement, hosting events such as monthly trade nights, kids’ card-ripping sessions, athlete signings, and partner activations. Additionally, collectors will benefit from on-site facilities like a state-of-the-art breaking studio for live and recorded card pack openings, interactive educational touchpoints, and a personal card creation suite.

Building a Community Hub

David Leiner, Topps President of Trading Cards, expressed excitement about the store’s opening. “We are thrilled to introduce this dynamic retail space, a hub for collectors and fans in Europe. This flagship will be a destination for millions of visitors, offering a unique platform for collectors and our internal and team partners to showcase and celebrate the hobby.”

The store will also serve as a drop-off point for Fanatics Collect, a trading card marketplace connecting buyers and sellers. This initiative is expected to strengthen the trading-card community in the UK and Europe, where only a handful of Topps-partner shops currently exist. Regent Street, with an annual footfall of over 70 million people, is poised to become a new hotspot for trading-card enthusiasts.

Beyond Trading Cards

While trading cards are the primary focus, the store will also offer other merchandise, including apparel from Topps and Fanatics-owned Mitchell & Ness, as well as signed memorabilia such as jerseys, kits, and equipment. The trading-card selection will encompass sports such as football, baseball, basketball, and F1, along with sports gaming cards like Match Attax and entertainment franchises including Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, and Stranger Things.

With its blend of exclusive products, community-driven events, and state-of-the-art facilities, the Fanatics Collectibles flagship store aims to be a game-changer for the hobby in Europe.

The post Fanatics to Open Flagship Trading Card Store in London 2025 appeared first on EMC UK.

The tech community and online platforms group, CogX Group Ltd, is making waves in the knowledge management landscape with the launch of Proxxi AI, an innovative “expert-in-the-loop” platform designed to connect users with specialists across various fields. The platform, introduced at the CogX’s London Leadership Summit today, leverages advanced artificial intelligence to deliver bespoke answers to users’ inquiries, blending the efficiency of AI with the nuance of human expertise.

Proxxi AI works by understanding user questions and identifying the most suitable experts available to provide answers. Using an AI-driven model that incorporates each expert’s own “proxxi,” the platform can deliver a comprehensive range of responses across numerous subjects, ensuring that users receive informed insights with human oversight.

The live stream of the summit is available on YouTube, starting at 10 am, allowing a global audience to engage with the innovative offerings being presented.

The global knowledge management marketplace is projected to exceed $1 trillion by 2026, according to MarketsandMarkets. Proxxi AI aims to meet the increasing demand from organisations seeking faster, more reliable, and cost-effective ways to access expertise. By integrating the latest large language models (LLMs), the platform will continually learn and enhance each expert’s proxxi and ranking, ensuring users always receive the most relevant information.

Initially, Proxxi AI will be accessible via popular platforms like Slack and Teams, as well as the CogX Insights app. In the near future, it will also be available via API for web and mobile app developers, expanding its reach to startups, enterprises, governments, universities, and research institutions.

Throughout the Leadership Summit, CogX is showcasing Proxxi AI, allowing attendees to experience its capabilities first-hand. The introduction of Proxxi AI is part of a broader organisational restructure, with CogX Group Ltd now encompassing CogX Ltd (which manages UK events and the CogX Insights app) and Proxxi AI as a dedicated knowledge network. This reorganisation aims to enhance the community’s ability to connect both in-person at events and through its digital platforms.

Charlie Muirhead, Founder and CEO of CogX, expressed enthusiasm about the new platform. “CogX’s mission is to convene our community to address the question: How do we get the next 10 years right?” he said. “To do so, we need to connect the right people to the right expertise, just when they need it.”

Muirhead further highlighted the significance of Proxxi AI, stating, “We are hugely excited to be sharing Proxxi AI today at the Leadership Summit, which will instantly connect people to subject specialists through Slack, Teams, and our own CogX Insights app, and shortly after via our API for web and mobile app developers. By blending AI-driven insights with trusted expert oversight, we will empower organisations, large and small, to better navigate the rapid technological changes taking place and enhance their overall performance.”

As the demand for knowledge management solutions continues to rise, Proxxi AI positions itself as a vital tool for organisations striving to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

The post CogX Launches Proxxi AI at London Leadership Summit appeared first on EMC UK.

In 2022, Veolia SLWP, in partnership with the charity Groundwork, delivered 65 fruit trees to 13 schools across these four London boroughs. This year, the initiative aims to expand, offering schools the chance to apply for free fruit trees or strawberry plants, supporting their efforts in environmental education and biodiversity.

Veolia launched the orchard programme as part of its mission to encourage young people to engage with nature and learn valuable skills in maintaining local ecosystems. Already, 100 schools across the UK are participating in the scheme, with thousands of pupils learning about tree planting, care, and the broader benefits to local biodiversity.

Each Veolia Orchard consists of five young fruit trees, while schools with limited space can opt for ten strawberry plants that can grow in pots, bringing nature to even the smallest of playgrounds. The initiative is designed to make it easy for schools to join, regardless of space constraints, and to offer pupils a hands-on learning experience.

Schools in the SLWP boroughs can apply online for the orchards between Monday 5 June and Monday 24 July. Successful applicants will be informed in September, with deliveries of the trees and plants scheduled for October and November. Alongside the trees, each school will receive a detailed information pack explaining how to plant and care for the trees, as well as how to harvest the fruit, creating a valuable educational opportunity for pupils.

Pascal Hauret, Managing Director of Municipal at Veolia, expressed excitement about the project’s growth: “It only takes five fruit trees to make an orchard, but it takes a nation to build a network of trees that can help us fight climate change and improve air quality for our children. Last year, we were thrilled to see the initiative take root. This year, we are eager to see it expand, with 100 schools already participating. We encourage more schools in Croydon, Kingston, Merton, and Sutton to join us in fostering ecological transformation, one orchard at a time.”

Groundwork’s UK Partnerships Manager, Joe McIndoe, added: “Groundwork is delighted to collaborate with Veolia once again on this impactful project. It’s a simple yet effective way of providing fruit trees and strawberry plants to schools, allowing children to enjoy picking and eating fresh fruit while supporting local biodiversity. With this year set to double the number of schools benefitting, we are excited to see more children involved.”

Andrea Keys, Partnership Director at the South London Waste Partnership, emphasised the significance of the project: “Engaging local schools in sustainability is crucial. Veolia’s ‘Recycling Rockstars’ programme has already made a difference in encouraging pupils and families to recycle more and waste less. The Veolia Orchard project builds on this, highlighting biodiversity, sustainable food production, and the importance of caring for our natural environment.”

The initiative is expected to have a lasting impact on schools and students, promoting a deeper connection with nature and supporting the development of sustainable habits among young people.

For more details, visit slwp.org.uk/your-services

The post Veolia Orchard returns to boost biodiversity in London schools appeared first on EMC UK.

The post Wilson Sonsini Expands London Office to Meet Rising UK and EU Tech Demand appeared first on EMC UK.

The campaign seeks to highlight key cultural and natural attractions, including the Taiwan Lantern Festival, the Solar Festival, tea culture tours, and the island’s renowned hot springs. By promoting these experiences, the Tourism Administration aims to attract a broader audience and position Taiwan as a top destination for international travellers.

The launch event was marked by a speech from Linda Yu-Shan Lin, Director of the Taiwan Tourism Administration’s London Office, who underscored the importance of the UK market in Taiwan’s tourism strategy. The event was attended by prominent figures including Pei-Yu Yen, Team Manager of the Taipei Representative Office in the UK; Hung-Mei Huang, General Manager of China Airlines UK Branch; Yen-Cheng Lai, Marketing and Sales Manager of EVA Air UK Branch; and Evelyn Lee, President of the UK Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce.

In her remarks, Director Lin emphasised the growing significance of British tourists to Taiwan and outlined a series of initiatives aimed at increasing the island’s visibility in the UK. These efforts include advertising campaigns across various platforms, such as the London Underground, taxis, and buses. The Tourism Administration also plans to strengthen its partnerships with airlines and travel agencies to enhance the overall travel experience for British visitors.

Pei-Yu Yen highlighted Taiwan’s rich cultural heritage, friendly locals, and convenient amenities, making it an ideal destination for working holidays. In a move to encourage cultural exchange, both the UK and Taiwan have recently opened 1,000 working holiday visa slots, providing young people with a unique opportunity to experience life in Taiwan.

The event at Battersea Power Station featured an interactive art installation inspired by the Taiwan Lantern Festival, with large sky lanterns symbolising the island’s vibrant culture. Visitors were treated to elements of Taiwanese hospitality, including displays of natural hot springs, traditional banquets, and night market pinball games, offering a glimpse into the rich and varied experiences Taiwan has to offer.

Taiwan’s efforts to promote itself as a premier travel destination have not gone unnoticed. Recently, the island was awarded “Best Leisure Destination in Asia” at the 12th Leisure Lifestyle Awards by Global Traveler. Building on this success, the Taiwan Tourism Administration plans to continue its promotional efforts with similar events in Paris and New York, aiming to attract more visitors from Europe and America.

As Taiwan continues to broaden its appeal, the “Waves of Wonder” campaign represents a significant step in showcasing the island’s unique charm to the world.

The post Taiwan Unveils New Tourism Brand “Waves of Wonder” in London appeared first on EMC UK.