Start Software's apps for Clean Up Britain appear on ITV's Good Morning Britain

We developed four apps for anti-litter campaign group Clean Up Britain and they have really taken off.

Start Software's apps for Clean Up Britain

Founder John Read was on Good Morning Britain this morning (he's a regular!) to talk about the litter problem in the UK, and so we briefed him on the amount of data the apps have now collected for the campaign.

John Read on Good Morning Britain today

For example, each week our apps collect more than 1,000 reports from road users reporting litter on the roadside.  Mount your phone so the camera is pointing at the verge, and our automated AI-powered "litter dashcam" app takes photos every few seconds and uses AI to grade the litter and log it to our database.  The information gathered is used to feed back to councils & National Highways and informs the national policy discussion.

Our Litter Dashcam app - https://roadside-litter.cleanupbritain.app/

Try the apps for yourself at https://cleanupbritain.app/ or use this QR code:

Scan to use the Clean Up Britain apps

Welcome Keith to the Support Desk!

We have a new member of staff on our Support Desk - welcome Keith!

Keith Saunders taking a call on the Support Desk

Keith has extensive experience of supporting software users and has mainly worked in large organisations such as HRMC.  Working in our smaller team will be a change of pace and approach - and hopefully won't be too "taxing" (see what I did there...).

Alpha Tracker asbestos software users have already been talking to Keith as he starts his training - and they have already benefited from his server and technical expertise.  We'll really pleased to have Keith board - do say hello when you next call.

Significant performance improvements are being seen with Alpha Tracker Release 42 beta

We are pleased to say that the beta version of Alpha Tracker Release 42 is already looking very encouraging.

Dan & Jack studying the Apdex results

A small number of clients have been trying the new release, and the early signs are positive. In particular, some clients are seeing their Apdex score improve by around 3 to 5 points.

That may sound like a small number, but in day-to-day use it can make a noticeable difference. It means Alpha Tracker is feeling quicker, smoother and more responsive for users, especially when carrying out regular tasks across the system.

There is still more testing to do before the full release, but these early results are a promising sign. We will continue to monitor performance closely during the beta period and fine-tune things where needed.

Thank you to everyone helping us test Release 42. Your feedback is already making a difference.

Robin's week in Newfoundland is over - Big C is now ready and waiting only for the right winds and tide

They say a watched kettle never boils.  At the end of Robin's week working and helping Andrew Bedwell prepare his tiny boat "Big C v2" to cross the Atlantic, it was starting to feel like a watched boat would never sail, either!  The wind never behaved and so the week was spent preparing the boat and testing equipment, not watching Andrew head off east.

Petty Harbour with Big C V2's crate

The first logistical challenge was to find Big C.  The logistics company knew that the boat was in Newfoundland, but not exactly where and so it took half the week to get the boat (still in its packing crate) to the quayside at Petty Harbour.  The boat then had to be uncrated, and hauled upright so that Andrew could continue to fit and test equipment inside.

Andrew starting the uncrating

Heave! We got it upright thanks to the help of several locals

Andrew could set of now at any time - he just needs a few days of the wind being in his favour.  Please do support him if you can (scan the QR code - easy) and donate, too.  Cancer Research is such an important charity - thanks for all your support and encouragement.

Scan to register your support

By the way, we built the Big C Atlantic Challenge app for Andrew as part of our sponsorship.  Could we build an app for you?  While Andrew is on his 90+ day journey, he will be using Alpha TransForm to send updates and receive messages from home.  At Start Software, we are expects in all things Alpha - take a look at our website to find out more: https://alpha-software-specialists.com/

And finally... this is the food that Andrew will be eating each and every day for 90+ days... minced up beefy jerky, raisins and fat.  It's calorie-packed and will also help to line and insulate the boat through the coldest seas.  And, yes, Robin did try it...

Imagine eating this for 90 days!

Special guest joining us for the drop-in Office Hours session on Monday. Join Kim & Zac to talk Alpha Tracker templates and document production

We've got a special guest joining us on Monday's Alpha Tracker "Office Hours" session.  We've been running "Office Hours" sessions this year so that any Alpha Tracker user can drop in and ask anything they want - it's informal, not recorded, and cameras-on!

On Monday's session, we've got Richard Blunt dropping by from Mesothelioma UK, our company-supported charity.  We've got plans to add features into Alpha Tracker to help Meso UK raise vital funds without adding extra admin to any process... and your ideas will be welcome!

Join Kim & Zac to chat Alpha Tracker

On this month's drop-in webinar, Kim & Zac will be talking about asbestos and water report templates and document production.  If you're interested in improving your reports, adding maps or charts, losing your report "queue" or just want to talk about how reports are produced, this is the session for you.  We'll also be talking about our new Alpha Tracker AI tools in case you haven't tried them yet.

Do join us on Monday 18 May, from 14:00-14:30, all you do is click this link - no pre-registration needed: https://whereby.com/alpha-tracker-office-hours.  See you then!

Only a week to go - Andrew & Robin meet to check his satellite phone and Big C Atlantic Challenge app

With only a week to go before his world record-attempting Atlantic crossing, it is all feeling very real for adventurer Andrew Bedwell.  He's planning to set off from St John's, Newfoundland to sail across the ocean back to the UK in a tiny boat, completely unsupported.  That's 90+ days of being alone in something not much bigger than a wheelie bin (see https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3w3jgqj0nno).

Andrew thinking about the challenges that lie ahead

Start Software is sponsoring Andrew as he tries to bring the record back to the UK and raise money for Cancer Research along the way.  Several of the Start team have been affected by cancer, and so this is a cause very close to our hearts.

Our director Robin met Andrew at the Anderton Boat Lift visitor centre yesterday to check his tech and the app we have built for him and his followers: https://big-c-atlantic-challenge.app/

Andrew & Robin with the satellite link on the desk

Andrew will be sending messages back to the Start team so that the app can be updated.  He'll be using the Alpha TransForm app which is tuned for low data bandwidth environments: https://www.alphasoftware.com/alpha-transform-overview.

Alpha TransForm in action

Please do register to follow Andrew's incredible voyage and to learn more about him and his endurance and determination.  You can go to https://big-c-atlantic-challenge.app/ on your laptop, or scan this QR code on your phone:

Scan this on your phone to register your support

PS Robin will be flying out to St John's at the weekend to help Andrew prepare to sail - watch out for updates then