London-based start-up building a digital safety network that helps banks protect people from scams before payments happen

FALKIN uses AI to detect scams before money moves, analysing manipulation and deception across urgent messages, items for sale, payment requests and investment opportunities

Its digital safety tools are embedded directly into banking platforms, protecting customers inside the experiences they already use and trust.
FALKIN is launching Safety Labs to help community banks deploy scam prevention tools

Already tested by banks and tens of thousands of users across the US and UK – 78% say FALKIN makes them more confident online.

FALKIN’s $2 million pre-seed funding round was led by TriplePoint Ventures, with Notion Capital, BackFuture Ventures, Aviva/Founders Factory, Haatch, Found Capital, and Founders Capital. Leading fintech and cyber investors have also invested in the company.

LONDON, TUES 11 NOV 2025, 8AM GMT – FALKIN, a digital safety company that helps people stop scams before payments happen, has today announced it has secured $2 million in pre-seed funding. The round was led by TriplePoint Ventures, with participation from Notion Capital, BackFuture Ventures, Aviva/Founders Factory, Haatch, Found Capital, and Founders Capital. The round also included leading fintech and cyber investors such as Pierre Decote, Group Chief Risk Officer at Revolut and Ben Enckevort, CTO and Co-Founder of Metomic. The investment comes amid rising regulatory and consumer pressure for proactive scam-prevention measures as AI-powered fraud grows globally.

The funding will be used to accelerate hiring, product development, and integrations with financial institutions while supporting the launch of Safety Labs, which gives community banks and credit unions a structured way to easily deploy and evaluate customer-facing scam-prevention tools with minimal lift.

The company is also expanding its integration ecosystem, enabling financial institutions to embed FALKIN’s protection layer directly into digital-banking journeys and communication systems.

FALKIN has already been used by bank innovation teams and tens of thousands of consumers across the US and UK. 78% of users said FALKIN’s tools made them feel more confident engaging online, and more than half said prevention is more valuable than reimbursement. The results show that prevention-first tools that engage consumers before they make payments, significantly reduce risk and strengthen trust.

The company uses a range of AI digital safety tools that analyse manipulation techniques and signs of deception across various communication channels. These tools are embedded directly inside the popular digital tools people already trust, from mobile-banking apps to customer-service portals, so customers are protected before money leaves their account.

AI Scams: The New Frontier of Financial Fraud

Scams have become the defining financial threat of the AI era. Deloitte estimates U.S. losses from authorised push payment fraud could reach $15 billion by 2028, up from $8.3 billion in 2024. In the U.K., over seven million people were affected by scams last year, yet 71% of victims never report them. With prosecution rates below 1%, financial institutions are fighting an invisible enemy with incomplete data and no deterrent.

Despite billions spent annually on fraud and scam detection, most systems activate when money moves – missing the emotional manipulation and deception that causes scams in the first place. The institutional cost is staggering: the true cost of each fraud incident exceeds four times the stolen amount when legal fees, fines, remediation, and staff time are included.

AI has fundamentally changed the threat landscape. Scammers now deploy voice cloning, deepfake video, and sophisticated copywriting tools to create hyper-realistic impersonations at scale – making it nearly impossible for consumers to distinguish legitimate communications from fraud. What once required skilled social engineering can now be executed by anyone with an internet connection.

“AI has blurred the line between what’s real and what’s fake, and traditional systems aren’t built for that reality,” said Sam Stone of TriplePoint Ventures. “FALKIN’s vision to make proactive safety universal has the potential to redefine digital trust. We’re proud to back the team as they work to embed digital safety at the heart of modern finance.”

“The new battlefield isn’t payments – it’s persuasion,” said Boaz Valkin, Co-Founder of FALKIN. “Protection has to move earlier, to the moment before someone clicks, replies, or transfers. We’re turning AI from a weapon of deception into a tool for defense.”

“Modern scams are sophisticated, and no single red flag tells the whole story,” said Joel Frisch, co-founder and COO, FALKIN. “The key is to analyze all the signals that reveal deception to build a complete picture. When we embed that intelligence where trust already lives – inside the banking apps people use every day – protection becomes effortless.”

Barley Communications and Leadenhall Market have been recognised with the Communications and Marketing Award at the 2025 Innovation Excellence Awards, hosted by The Stationers’ Company.

The award celebrates the success of Revitalising a heritage brand: Bringing the markets back to Leadenhall — a campaign that reintroduced weekend market trading to the historic Leadenhall Market after a 40-year hiatus.

Working in partnership with the City of London Corporation, Barley led the strategic delivery of 13 Weekend Markets, transforming the Victorian landmark into a vibrant destination for culture, commerce and community. The campaign successfully addressed the challenge of low weekend footfall in the Square Mile by blending heritage storytelling with contemporary marketing, creating new reasons for Londoners, tourists and families to visit.

Through integrated communications — from strategic PR and influencer engagement to striking social media content — the campaign achieved a 109% year-on-year increase in weekend visitors and 150% growth in tenant turnover. It also delivered more than 684 million opportunities to see across media coverage, an 181% increase in followers on Leadenhall’s social channels, and the introduction of eight new tenants.

The revitalisation of Leadenhall Market has redefined how historic spaces can connect with modern audiences. By reimagining the market as a dynamic, inclusive and sustainable cultural hub, the campaign has set a new benchmark for place-based innovation in the City of London.

You can read more about the awards here.

Tonight’s the night for the Creative Retail Awards, and we’re delighted that our work with publicly owned Leadenhall Market has been shortlisted for the Leisure, Visitor or Exhibition Attraction award.

We create and deliver an ongoing events programme for the heritage destination in the heart of the City of London and amplify this through media relations, social media, website content and influencer engagement. In 2024, we brought the markets back to Leadenhall, with the introduction of regular craft and vintage fairs to attract weekend visitors to the City. We’ve been thrilled to see the impact on reach, engagement and ultimately footfall.

Read more about our creative placemaking here.

Alicia Murphy

In the age of algorithms, trends and constant content churn, it’s easy to fall into the trap of posting for the sake of posting – but without a clear objective behind your content, even the most creative assets can fall flat.

The most effective social media strategies don’t start with platforms or formats; they start with purpose.

As part of our recent Mini Masterclass series, I walked the team through a goal-led approach to planning content that not only performs better but also aligns with broader marketing objectives.

If everything is a priority, nothing is

When you create social media content without a clear purpose, you’re not building a strategy, you’re just creating noise. A goal led approach to planning and creating social content provides three key advantages:

Strategic clarity — goals can inform what content you produce, where you publish it and how you position it

Measurable outcomes — clear goals allow you to define success and track performance with the metrics that matter

Audience alignment — intentional content speaks more directly to the people you’re trying to reach

Social media can support your audiences across their entire journey – from first impression through to brand loyalty – but only when it’s built with intention.

Common social media goals to consider

Every brand is different – and so are their goals. It’s important to remember that social media goals aren’t always the same as overarching organisation’s goals (which tend to be broader) but there can certainly be some crossover. For example, your social media goals could be to:

Drive website traffic

Build community

Increase reach

Raise brand awareness

Generate leads

Boost engagement

Drive sales or conversions

Provide customer support

Establish thought leadership

Recruit or attract talent

Clarifying the ‘why’ behind your content is the first step toward results. Each of the above goals requires a different strategy in terms of platform selection, content type and success metrics.

Each platform has unique features, user behaviour patterns and content formats that influence how your message is received, for example:

Instagram: Offers high engagement and is ideal for community and visual storytelling

TikTok: Great for awareness and virality, authenticity is key

LinkedIn: Strong for B2B, lead generation and thought leadership

Pinterest: Excellent for evergreen traffic, especially in lifestyle niches

YouTube: Long-form, searchable content ideal for education or conversion

Facebook: Still relevant for Groups, events and local reach

Your platform choice should always follow your content goal – not the other way around.

Social media success doesn’t come from volume, it comes from intentionality. By starting with goals and building content that’s strategically aligned, you’ll not only improve your results but also gain clarity, confidence and consistency in your online presence.

If you’d like to find out more about our social media expertise, please email us on hello@barleycommunications.co.uk.

Since our inception as a social impact agency in 2016, Barley has been driven by a singular commitment: delivering communication that matters. As we usher in B Corp Month this March, it’s an opportune moment to delve into what it means to be a B Corp communications agency – part of “Gen B”, a generation of businesses committed to redefining success by prioritising purpose alongside profit.

Our B Corp Certification journey

In July 2023, Barley proudly joined the global B Corp community, achieving a commendable score of 114.1 in our certification assessment. This accomplishment reflects our unwavering commitment to purpose-driven communications and our continuous efforts to operate with integrity and transparency.

And we never planned to stop there, as is proven through Purpose Plus, where we bring together our focus on purposeful work. Through Purpose Plus, we continue to uphold and drive forward with these values in three core themes; people; work and our clients; the environment and wider world. 

Purpose: People

To make genuine impact, we work with some of the best talent there is, which is why our flexible working practices are designed to retain and attract some of the talented people who have otherwise been driven away from the industry. And since 2022, we’ve held an employee-owned structure, embedding this purpose into our organisational DNA and ensuring that our team members – who are integral to our success – have a vested interest in preserving and advancing our mission.

Purpose: Work and our clients

Barley exists to support clients on communication that matters and as such, we only ever accept briefs that are aligned to our values. Our impactful and behaviour-changing work has seen industry recognition at awards such as UK Green Business Awards, Global Good Awards, Third Sector Awards, Purpose Awards, Better Society Awards and The Drum Awards for Social Purpose.

Purpose: The environment and the wider world

Operating without a physical office is a cornerstone of our strategy to minimise environmental impact. As our team expanded globally, we recognised the need to proactively manage our environmental footprint. Partnering with Greenly, we have embarked on a three-year programme to monitor and mitigate our environmental impact, underscoring our commitment to sustainability.

Our annual team volunteering days enable us to give back and so far has seen us building habitats for insects in an inner-city park and pounding the streets of London to encourage restaurants, cafes, shops, hotels and more to sign up to donate any surplus food to Plan Zheroes.

Celebrating B Corp Month 2025

B Corp Month is an annual, global campaign where B Lab and the global B Corp community come together to celebrate the essence of being a B Corp. This year, the theme emphasises that B Corp Certification is more than just a mark; it’s a perspective, a way of seeing the world and leading for good.

Achieving B Corp Certification is not a final destination but a milestone in our ongoing journey towards greater social and environmental impact. It reinforces our dedication to conducting business in a manner that aligns with our core values and reminds us of the continuous improvements we can make. As we celebrate B Corp Month, at Barley, we are excited about the future and the opportunities that lie ahead.

We invite you to join us in embracing the ethos of Gen B, where businesses are a force for good, driving change and making a lasting impact on the world.

We’re honoured to announce that we’ve just been awarded The Stationers’ Company Warrant for our social purpose communications.

As the City of London Livery company for the communications and content industries, including journalism, PR, digital communications, copyright, stationery, bookbinding and printing, The Stationers’ Company launched its prestigious Warrant in 2014 to highlight excellence across our industries.

As a B Corp and an employee-owned communications consultancy working on a range of sectors including charity communications, sustainability communications, place based communications and many more, we’re proud of our award-winning work at Barley and receiving this award reflects our dedication to:

Delivering social impact communication that matters
Quality and creativity
Behaviour change communications: driving positive, tangible change that meets the needs of our clients
Protecting our environment
Inclusivity and diversity

We are delighted to receive the Warrant. We are very grateful to the Master Paul Wilson, Clerk Giles Fagan and Karyn Keating for hosting us in the stunning Stationers’ Hall – and for the opportunity to meet and connect with our fellow members.

We were proud to receive the Warrant alongside other companies, including Victor Stationery, Rose Calendars, Conway Stewart, Supadu, Integra Business Solutions Limited, Glassboxx, Westchester Education UK and International, Office Power, Stone Marketing Limited, Workplace360, Cupround, Haybrooke Associates Limited, Private Client Sports, The Stamford Notebook Company, Flashes & Flames and Contact Originators.

International Women’s Day (IWD) 2025 is calling on all of us to Accelerate Action towards gender equality. At the current rate of progress, it’ll take until 2158 to reach full gender parity—that’s five generations from now. We’re not willing to wait that long, and at Barley, we’re doing our bit to speed things up.

From how we build our team to the way we support each other in the workplace, we believe real change happens when action meets intent. So, this IWD, we’re celebrating the steps we’ve already taken—and recognising there’s still plenty more to do.

Leading by example

They say diversity at the top sets the tone for the rest of a business. That’s why we’re proud to have a majority-female board, with women making up 60% of our leadership team. We know that having more diverse voices at the table leads to better decision-making, richer perspectives, and a stronger, more inclusive business.

But leadership isn’t just about job titles—it’s about creating an environment where everyone, at every level, feels empowered to make an impact. That’s the kind of culture we’re building at Barley.

Supporting parents and carers in the corkplace

Balancing work and family life shouldn’t feel like an impossible juggling act. A significant portion of our team are parents or carers, and we know that flexibility is key to making things work. That’s why we support our people with flexible working arrangements that help them manage both their personal and professional commitments without compromise.

Life doesn’t fit neatly into a 9-5, and we don’t expect it to. Whether it’s school runs, doctor’s appointments, or just a bit of breathing space to be present for the moments that matter, we make sure our team has the support they need.

EDI in action: mentoring and opening doors

Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) is more than just a box-ticking exercise—it’s about actively creating opportunities for those who might otherwise be overlooked. That’s why we take part in mentoring programmes like Spear and The Girls’ Network to help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds develop the skills and confidence to thrive in the workplace.

Everyone deserves a chance to succeed, and sometimes, all it takes is someone in their corner to show them it’s possible. Through mentoring, we’re not just giving advice—we’re helping to open doors.

Championing menstrual and reproductive health

It’s 2025, and we’re still breaking taboos around menstrual and reproductive health. At Barley, we’re proud to be an Endometriosis Friendly Employer, working with Endometriosis UK to raise awareness and provide practical support for employees dealing with the condition.

Endometriosis can be debilitating, yet many suffer in silence due to stigma or a lack of understanding. By openly discussing menstrual health, sharing resources, and offering real workplace support, we’re making sure no one must struggle alone.

It’s on all of us to accelerate action

Gender equality isn’t something that happens on its own—it’s something we all have a role in driving forward. At Barley Communications, we’re committed to taking real, meaningful action that makes a difference for our team today and for future generations.

But there’s always more to do. This International Women’s Day, let’s ask ourselves: What can we each do to speed up the rate of progress? Because five generations is too long to wait.

#AccelerateAction #IWD2025 #EquityInAction

Pioneering zero-emission vessel named and launch date set for March 2025
New vessel increases crossing capacity, enabling over 150,000 passengers to cross every week

In a groundbreaking advancement for sustainable river transport, Uber Boat by Thames Clippers has announced that the UK’s first fully electric zero-emission cross-river passenger ferry, Orbit Clipper will launch in March 2025. Currently under construction at Wight Shipyard Co in East Cowes, Isle of Wight, this innovative vessel will provide an accessible, green and fast route across the Thames seven days a week, enabling over 20,000 Londoners and visitors to travel every weekday.

Orbit Clipper will operate between London’s Canary Wharf on the north side of the Thames and Rotherhithe on the south, offering an efficient and eco-friendly service for cross-river transport. The vessel will cross the river every 10 minutes from each side on weekdays and every 15 minutes at weekends. The 150-passenger ferry, with capacity for 100 bicycles, features a roll-on/roll-off design that enables automated docking on both sides. This innovation enhances accessibility, reduces journey times, and increases capacity for both foot and cycle passengers.

A commitment to a greener future

This zero-emission vessel is part of Uber Boat by Thames Clippers’ broader sustainable innovation initiative. Following the recent addition of three hybrid high-speed vessels to its main fleet of River Buses, each cutting emissions by up to 90%, Orbit Clipper underlines the business’s commitment to creating green transport solutions for London’s commuters and leisure travellers. The project is a significant step towards Uber Boat by Thames Clippers’ ambitious target of reducing carbon emissions by 50% by 2035 and achieving net-zero by 2050.

Sean Collins, co-founder and CEO of Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, said, “It’s a real British success story. All of our new boats are proudly built in the UK using the latest green technology at Wight Shipyard Co on the Isle of Wight. This new vessel will launch within our 25^th year of operation and it reaffirms our investment in both the local Isle of Wight economy and in London.

“This zero-emission solution also comes after the recent launch of our third hybrid boat – Mars Clipper – into our main River Bus fleet and is the next step on our journey to advancing sustainable maritime technology. The Thames is the lifeblood of our great capital and it’s our ambition to continue to push for further progression along the river – we’re calling upon London’s maritime businesses and government bodies to collaborate and ensure a greener future for all.”

Toby Mumford, CEO, Wight Shipyard, said: “At Wight Shipyard we’re thrilled to strengthen our partnership with Uber Boat by Thames Clippers by building its first zero-emission vessel. This was our first build accessing the Innovate UK grant funding in partnership with Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, Beckett Rankine and Aqua superPower. Having already delivered six vessels, of which three are hybrid boats, for the fleet, this milestone represents not only a significant step forward for sustainable maritime innovation in the UK but also highlights the international potential for British-built electric vessels. We hope and expect that it is the first of many.

“It’s an honour to contribute to Uber Boat by Thames Clippers’ 25-year legacy, and we’re proud that our work here on the Isle of Wight supports both the local economy and the evolution of cleaner, greener transport solutions for London and beyond.”

Tim Beckett, Director, Beckett Rankine, said: “It’s now five years since Beckett Rankine and Uber Boat by Thames Clippers came up with the concept for a zero-emission roll-on/roll-off ferry at Rotherhithe, as an alternative to the then proposed bridge. I am delighted that this vision is now being realised, with the aid of Wight Shipyard building the vessel and Aqua Superpower providing the shore power connections.

“Orbit Clipper is a groundbreaking vessel in many respects, not least in that it is a double-ended, self-docking, auto-mooring ferry. This has, in turn, required the design of a novel new pier for Rotherhithe and a pier extension for Canary Wharf. The new pier is designed with a gentle gradient to make the ferries accessible for cyclists and people with restricted mobility. Improved cycle access supports wider plans for e-cargo bike river crossings. Beckett Rankine is proud to have been responsible for the design and consenting of these pier works, on which construction is due to commence in January. As London extends eastward, there is an increasing need for cross-river pedestrian and cycle links across the Thames, so Orbit Clipper couldn’t be launching at a better time.”

Matt Holland, chief project engineer, Aqua superPower, said: “Aqua superPower is proud to contribute its marine fast-charging expertise to this pioneering project, which sets a benchmark for future initiatives. The launch of Orbit Clipper marks a significant step in decarbonising diesel ferries on the Thames, playing a vital role in London’s clean mobility efforts. Our involvement highlights Aqua’s commitment to marine electrification and cutting-edge infrastructure, and we are excited to collaborate with fellow industry leaders to drive this transformation forward.”

Orbit Clipper (designed by Aus Ships Group) will replace the current cross-river ferry service, continuing to serve the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Rotherhithe and meeting the demands of Canary Wharf’s growing employment centre and burgeoning residential neighbourhoods on both sides of the river. A new step free pontoon is being built on the south side as part of the project, and the existing pier at Canary Wharf will be modified to accommodate the new fully electric ferry berth. This initiative has been made possible through partial sponsorship from the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 3 (funded by the Department for Transport with Innovate UK), and with project partners high-speed aluminium ship builder, Wight Shipyard Company; maritime civil engineering consultants, Beckett Rankine; and electric infrastructure specialists, Aqua superPower.

For over 25 years, Uber Boat by Thames Clippers has spearheaded innovations in the marine sector, consistently supporting the Thames’ role in Greater London’s sustainable transport future. As part of this mission, the business has also been exploring advanced fuel options, including compressed hydrogen gas, liquid hydrogen, and methanol.

For more information about Uber Boat by Thames Clippers and its sustainability initiatives, please visit uberboatbythamesclippers.com.

We’re at the cusp of a whole bunch of awards celebrations and we have plenty to celebrate! We’re thrilled to have been shortlisted for multiple awards for our innovative communications solutions. Of course, the pride and glory of awards are always enjoyable, but more than anything, we’re pleased with what this recognition says about our work.

Having judged many awards ourselves, we know that creativity, innovation and impact are what’s needed to make an award entry stand out from the crowd. At Barley, we blend strategy, creativity, expertise and passion into social purpose communications that deliver real impact for our clients.

Here’s a snapshot of the work we’ve been shortlisted for:

Rebranding a charity for ETP

To mark a new era for ETP, we designed a bold visual identity that unifies perspectives, clarifies the organisation’s message and charts a course for the future. We developed a new website that’s been shortlisted for Best Website or App at the Memcom Excellence Awards and Best Marketing Initiative or Project at the Association Excellence Awards.

Membership organisation, EACTS

The European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) – a 4,000+ membership organisation for the cardiothoracic surgical community that aims to improve outcomes for heart and lung patients around the world – has been shortlisted for Best In-Person Event of the Year at the Memcom Excellence Awards.

The shortlist for EACTS is for the 37th EACTS Annual Meeting which took place in Vienna in 2023 – and we’re proud to support EACTS to deliver the flagship event. At Barley, our work includes managing organic and paid social media to drive over 5,000 participants to the event, publishing a daily newspaper over the four-day event and working with Go Forth Films to produce a daily highlights video. Barley is again supporting EACTS with this year’s Annual Meeting, which is being held in Lisbon from 9-12 October.

Environmental behaviour change campaign for Keep Britain Tidy

Based on eye-opening data about people’s buying habits, we created and delivered a topical campaign across digital and social platforms, setting our audience the task of buying nothing new for a month. This one is up for Behaviour Change Campaign of the Year at the Global Glood Awards and the Education, Training and Communication Award at the National Sustainability Awards.

Charity communications for Nordoff and Robbins

We’re shortlisted for PR Team of the Year at the Charity Times Awards for our strategic approach to media relations for the inaugural Northern Music Awards – helping Nordoff and Robbins raise their profile, raise funds and demonstrate the impact of their life-changing work as the UK largest provider of music therapy.

Local authority communications for Suffolk Waste Partnership

Our #ShakeItOut campaign to reduce recycling contamination has made a lasting impact, resonating with Suffolk households through eye-catching creative across multiple communications channels. This standout campaign of this year’s awards has so far been shortlisted a whopping eight times.

And there’s more! In addition to our client work, Barley has also been shortlisted for several agency awards, including the Women in Green Business Awards and the Association Excellence Awards.

This recognition is true testament to the dedication, imagination and enthusiasm our team brings to every project. And we’re ever appreciative of our marvellous clients for choosing Barley to deliver across a wide range of their communications needs.

Bring on the celebrations!

All three hybrid River Buses now in service on the Thames

Uber Boat by Thames Clippers’ brand new hybrid passenger ferry Mars Clipper has joined its fellow hybrid vessels Earth Clipper and Celestial Clipper to form an iconic trio – bringing sustainable river transport to more commuters and leisure travellers than ever before.

The capital’s first ever hybrid passenger ferry, Earth Clipper, was launched in September 2023 and was then joined by Celestial Clipper in March 2024. Mars Clipper will be Uber Boat by Thames Clippers’ third hybrid vessel to carry passengers in Central London on journeys with zero tailpipe emissions.

Built at the Isle of Wight’s Wight Shipyard, the three vessels’ innovative design delivers an almost 90 per cent reduction in CO2e compared to journeys taken solely using conventional marine diesel. Operating only on electric power in Central London – i.e. between Tower and Battersea Power Station piers – the hybrid boats recharge while using biofuelled power on the rest of their journey. This hybrid system results in an emissions reduction of 16.5 per cent per boat when compared with running on biofuel alone throughout all parts of the route.

Mars Clipper is the 20th high-speed catamaran to join the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers fleet, and the three hybrid vessels increase the River Bus’s total capacity by just under 700 passengers. More Londoners and visitors than ever will be able to travel to work or see the sights in style – sitting comfortably in a cabin that boasts a fully licensed café-bar, offering a range of Barista crafted coffees, soft and alcoholic drinks, as well as snacks. Plentiful seating and large windows offer unique views of London’s most iconic riverside sites, while a spacious, open back deck provides an impressive panoramic vantage point. Tickets can be purchased online, on the Thames Clippers Tickets and Uber apps, and at piers.

Sean Collins, Uber Boat by Thames Clippers co-founder and CEO said: “We want to make London’s river travel the best and most sustainable transport option in the world. We are immensely proud of being able to launch our third hybrid vessel in less than 12 months. Seeing these wonderful boats sail the Thames together is a momentous day for Uber Boat by Thames Clippers and this symbolises our commitment to achieve a net zero status by 2040. Going forward, all of our new vessels will use our hybrid system and where possible, fully electrified or zero emission technology. The design of the catamaran can also be made even greener in the future, when technology allows.”

“We are currently working to introduce London’s first fully electric Zero Emission Cross River Ferry between Canary Wharf and Rotherhithe by the spring of 2025 – the first of its kind in the UK.

“It’s a real British success story – our new boats are proudly built in the UK using the latest technology to create a comfortable and environmentally friendly way to get around our fantastic capital city.”

Uber Boat by Thames Clippers is committed to using the most advanced technology to meet its ambitious climate targets of reducing carbon emissions by 50 per cent by 2030, before achieving net zero by 2040.

All the hybrid vessels were built at Wight Shipyard Co in East Cowes on the Isle of Wight. Uber Boat by Thames Clippers’ investment has continued to be significant for the local economy on the Isle of Wight, with 65 people building the boats over the past year and 14 apprentices involved.

Uber Boat by Thames Clippers offers services that run as far east as Barking Riverside and out to Putney in the west. The business is celebrating 25 years of operation in 2024, and in 2023 alone, carried just below 5 million commuters and visitors through London on the river Thames.

For more information and to book, visit www.uberboatbythamesclippers.com.

Plus new limited-edition anniversary pale ale available on board to celebrate the capital’s leading River Bus service

London’s River Bus has been serving Londoners and tourists since May 1999, and is marking its silver anniversary by giving away 600 River Roamer tickets on 24 May, the official 25-year anniversary date. As well as the service’s biggest ever ticket giveaway, for a limited time over the summer months, Silver Tide, a specially commissioned new anniversary beer will be available from the boats’ onboard café bars to help celebrate this special occasion.

Every hour on 24 May, Uber Boat by Thames Clippers will be giving away 25 River Roamer tickets via its website*. These tickets offer a full day’s hop-on, hop-off service across all River Bus piers, which stretch from Putney in the West to Barking Riverside in the East. Together, 600 River Roamers will be given away, with a combined value of over £13,000.

Uber Boat by Thames Clippers will also be offering Silver Tide, a limited-edition pale ale with grape and citrusaromas and a gentle bitterness to celebrate its anniversary year. The easy-drinking ale will be on sale from 24 May for leisure passengers soaking in the riverside sights and commuters journeying home. Silver Tide is brewed for Uber Boat by Thames Clippers by London’s independent Portobello Brewing.

The past 25 years have seen Uber Boat by Thames Clippers grow from just one boat offering cross river services to a fleet of 20 high-speed catamarans serving piers across London. Over its 20-year history, Uber Boat by Thames Clippers has delivered over 60 million customer journeys. The latest, ground-breaking additions to the fleet have been three high-speed hybrid vessels, Earth, Celestial, and Mars Clipper, the latest of which joins later this spring. The first of their kind, the ferries operate solely using electric power in central London and use biofuel outside of the central zone. The vessels deliver an almost 90 per cent reduction in CO2e compared to journeys taken solely using conventional marine diesel.

As Uber Boat by Thames Clippers looks to the future, it remains committed to growing London’s river transport services, while remaining environmentally sustainable and achieving net zero by 2040. All new vessels have a future-friendly design, meaning the boats can be made greener as technology allows. The service is preparing to deliver its first fully electric boat – a Cross River Ferry between Canary Wharf and Rotherhithe – by spring 2025.

For a chance win one of the 600 River Roamer tickets visit: thamesclippers.com/25anniversary-giveaway

The brief

As a public sector communications agency, Barley was asked by National Trading Standards (NTS) to help raise awareness of a growing wave of ‘friend in need’ scams on WhatsApp — messages that appear to come from friends or family members requesting money or personal information. The objective was clear: equip consumers with simple, actionable steps to protect themselves and reduce the impact of these fast-increasing message-based scams.

Insights and approach

Working closely with NTS and WhatsApp, Barley helped frame the challenge and shape the campaign’s core advice: STOP. THINK. CALL. We provided context and insight into how ‘friend in need’ scams operate, ensuring the public messages were rooted in real behaviours and the evolving consumer protection landscape.

Our team:

Developed a bespoke landing page for the Friends Against Scams website to give consumers a trusted place to learn more and take action.
Ran a targeted media relations programme, complementing WhatsApp’s outreach and securing major national coverage including BBC News.
Provided strategic counsel throughout, reviewing content for TikTok and Instagram to strengthen the consistency, authority and clarity of campaign messaging.

By combining behavioural insight with trusted partners and clear public advice, the campaign delivered a unified and authoritative warning to millions of potential victims.

Results

The integrated campaign achieved significant national traction, helping consumers understand and spot this increasingly common scam. It generated 86 pieces of media coverage across outlets such as BBC News, ITV News, Sky News, Daily Mail, The Sun and Daily Mirror, with NTS’ Head of the Scams Team completing 11 broadcast interviews in one radio day alone.The campaign’s impact extended beyond media. Action Fraud adopted and amplified the messaging, launching their own guidance inspired by the campaign — strengthening consumer protection and extending the reach of the STOP. THINK. CALL. message. In total, a further 130 articles were published across national and regional press.

Get in touch

The brief

Insights and approach

Results