Major Milestone for Explore Learning & Buttle UK

Graphite Portfolio company, Explore Learning, the UK’s leading provider of centre-based and online tuition, has reached an incredible milestone: 100 referrals to the Big Dream Programme in partnership with Buttle UK.

The collaboration is making a real difference by bridging the education gap for vulnerable children, providing fully subsidised memberships to Explore Learning for both online and in-centre tuition.

Through Buttle UK's Chances for Children Grants, they’re ensuring that high-quality learning is accessible to those who need it most.

A huge well done to everyone involved in this impactful initiative.

Challenging the Status Quo: The Future of DEI in Corporate Sustainability

Tuesday evening’s Sustainable Futures Live sparked bold discussions on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), where it’s headed, the challenges it faces, and how businesses can drive real change.

Hosted by the fantastic Christina Lewis, our expert panel—Jamila Brown, Jonathan Hook FRSA, Fran Fish, and Mike Penrose—tackled one of today’s most pressing corporate sustainability issues.

Key Takeaways:

• Beyond statistics: It’s not just about the numbers; we need to truly understand what we’re trying to achieve.

• Inclusion & equity belong to everyone: Not just HR, but leadership and every individual in an organisation.

• DEI isn’t disappearing, it’s evolving: While headlines suggest rollbacks, many companies are re-strategising under new frameworks.

• Emotional literacy matters – Feeling included drives performance; understanding individual needs is key.

• Beyond quotas: It’s about fostering genuine inclusion, diverse perspectives, and cultural understanding.

• The impact of politics: DEI is becoming more polarised, but that makes these conversations even more essential.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for this insightful discussion!

FuturePlus at Defense & Security SME Innovation Showcase

This week our co-founder, Mike Penrose, spoke at Leonardo UK’s Defence & Security SME Innovation Showcase in partnership with Form1.

The showcase at the Royal Aeronautical Society featured various cutting edge technology SMEs which presented the latest developments in Encryption, Quantum Sensing, Artificial Intelligence and the wider ISTAR domain.

Sustainable innovation at Wildsmith Skin

FuturePlus member Wildsmith Skin has launched 100% compostable packaging that biodegrades in just one year.

Made from a plant-based biopolymer derived from natural microbes, the new packaging offers the durability of plastic but breaks down fully in compost, soil, or landfill within a year.

Starting next month, the Active Repair Copper Peptide Cream and Ceramide Repair Balm will debut in home-compostable Vivomer packaging, developed by sustainable packaging pioneers Shellworks. More products will transition throughout 2025 as existing glass packaging sells through.

With a strong commitment to sustainability, Wildsmith Skin is driving meaningful change, positively impacting 14 out of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals through its FuturePlus Roadmap.

Huge congratulations to the Wildsmith Skin team.

LEGO begins making tyres from sustainable materials

LEGO is taking a big step towards sustainability by introducing new tyres made from recycled materials! Starting with seven tyre pieces containing at least 30% recycled content, the company plans to expand this to 120 sets by the end of 2025.

This is part of LEGO’s mission to use sustainable materials in all major products by 2030. With only 9% of plastic being recycled globally, initiatives like this are crucial.

Beyond tyres, LEGO is also exploring bio-based materials like bio-PE and has invested DKK 1bn in R&D to drive innovation.

“This is an exciting step in our ambition to make LEGO products more sustainable and reduce our dependence on virgin fossil fuels," - Annette Stub, Chief Sustainability Officer, LEGO.