Fintech player, Soft Space, has announced a new strategic partnership with Japan's only international payment brand, JCB.

JCB International has revealed substantial growth of JCB Contactless usage by cardmembers and adoption by retail partners.

JCB is leveraging Soft Space technological expertise to develop the Tap on Mobile programme for JCB contactless that capitalises on the wide availability of Android smartphones equipped with NFC (near-field communication).

The first ever electric digger has been developed by JCB in response to customer demands for a zero emissions machine which can work indoors, underground and close to people in urban areas. The 1.9 tonne mini excavator can be charged by simply plugging it into a standard 230V domestic electricity supply.

The EXCAVATOR giant JCB together with TV personality, Guy Martin engineered a tribute to all the tanks who played a helping role in changing the course of the First World War. Now the story of the tank’s role and its modern-day recreation will be told in a Channel Four documentary ‘Guy Martin’s WW1 One Tank’ on Sunday, 19th November at 8pm.

Almost 170 apprentices and graduates have been recruited by JCB as the company steps up investment in its Young Talent programme to record levels. This year, the Staffordshire-based company is ploughing £7.5 million into recruiting young people into the business to help meet future growth – triple the amount invested in the scheme when it started four years ago.