Dig has appointed Ideal World co-founder Paul Wright to its executive board, adding a consumer retail entrepreneur to the leadership team of the savings platform.

Wright joined the board this week as Dig looks to expand its presence in consumer technology and financial tools. Founded by entrepreneur Ashley Bailey, the company uses artificial intelligence to help users find lower prices across new and second-hand markets.

He brings a long track record in television retail. As a co-founder of shopping channel Ideal World, Wright helped build the business into a significant player in UK home shopping.

Dig’s model centres on tools designed to help users save money. Dig Alert notifies users when an item reaches a chosen price, while Dig Live tracks live auctions and matches items to wishlists.

The company also offers Dig Routine, which searches for the best available price when a product is reordered, and Returns Drop, which gives Pro members early access to returned retailer stock at reduced prices.

Board move

Wright’s appointment points to a push for board-level support in marketing, customer engagement and commercial expansion as competition intensifies in consumer-facing fintech and comparison tools.

He said his decision to join reflected his view of the business and its prospects.

“Dig represents the future of consumer finance. Ashley and the team have created a platform with enormous potential. I’m thrilled to be joining the board and look forward to helping unlock the next stage of growth,” Wright said.

Bailey founded Dig to help households cut spending through automated product tracking and deal discovery. The business is focused on everyday shopping rather than traditional banking or lending, placing it in a growing area of fintech centred on household budgeting and price comparison.

That segment has attracted more attention as consumers look for ways to manage spending on groceries, household goods and discretionary purchases. Businesses in the space increasingly use automation and personalisation to retain users and encourage repeat use.

Dig’s focus on new and pre-loved markets also reflects a wider retail shift, as second-hand goods and returned stock become more visible parts of the consumer economy. For digital shopping platforms, this broadens the inventory available and creates more opportunities to match demand with lower-priced goods.

Growth plans

Bailey said Wright’s experience building consumer brands would be important as the company enters its next phase.

“Paul has an exceptional ability to turn great ideas into category leading businesses. His deep understanding of consumer behaviour and proven growth expertise make him the perfect fit for where Dig is heading. We’re incredibly excited to have him join us at such a pivotal moment,” Bailey said.

Wright’s arrival also gives Dig a board member with deep experience in direct-to-consumer selling, where customer retention, pricing strategy and product presentation are central. Those skills could prove useful for a platform seeking to make automated tools part of routine purchasing and bargain hunting.

Dig has not disclosed financial details related to the appointment or any funding plans. It has said leadership depth will be part of its push to scale its user base and strengthen its position in the digital savings tools market.

A Sutton Courtenay householder, who asked not to be named, said he has been enduring sewage invading his land and the surrounding footpaths for the past five years.

This has now prompted the UK’s largest water company to apologise.

A spokesperson said: “We apologise to residents of Sutton Courtenay who have experienced sewer flooding due to water ingress that has been caused by the heavy rain the county experienced at the beginning of the year. 

READ MORE: Faeces leaking out of manhole into Oxfordshire property

“Sutton Courtenay is highly susceptible to sewer flooding and flooding in general due to a combination of factors including its location in a low-lying valley, extremely high groundwater levels and runoff which then contribute to hydraulic overload.  

“Following reports of sewer flooding, our teams have historically and continue to attend the area to investigate the source of the problem as soon as it is reported.”

Sewage discharged along the path and into a neighbouring property in Sutton Courtenay (Image: Public)

This comes after the man said that when it rains he “always gets foul smelling liquid spurting up through the manhole cover which leaves raw sewage in the road and on the paths and in my drive”.

Villagers have also had a major discharge when it hadn’t rained, and he said that locals often have to clean toilet paper and other objects from the village path.

Speaking in March, he added: “I regularly get raw sewage pouring out of the manhole cover polluting the footpaths and pouring into my property.”

Sewage discharged along the path and into a neighbouring property in Sutton Courtenay (Image: Public)

The man claims the issues began five years ago when Thames Water connected some new houses to the sewage system outside his property.

The road still bears the marks of Thames Water’s work with the man calling it a “nightmare”.

He added: “These shouldn’t have been connected under this manhole cover as it also the point where a pump station connects.

“They should have connected it elsewhere or spent the money to widen the sewage pipe.

A recent overflow from the Sutton Courtenay manhole (Image: Public)

“Thames Water state that there is nothing that can be done as it’s just due to heavy rain. 

“However it happens when it hasn’t been raining and surely, it’s not right that sewage should squirt up out of the manhole cover.”

READ MORE: Campaigners behind acclaimed Channel 4 show in water referendum call

Thames Water pointed out that development matters ultimately fall within the local authority’s remit but said they were looking at a longer-term solution.

The spokesperson added: “For the time being to mitigate flooding and protect homes and the environment, the village is currently on a recurring maintenance regime for sewer cleaning.

“This ensures our assets remain free of debris and other materials so if any issues occur, they can be addressed promptly.

“To date, no blockages have been identified. However, due to the complexity of the issue investigations will continue to identify a long-term solution.” 

Jason Bradbury outlined smart home technology trends at the Ideal Home Show in London, focusing on the growing role of connected devices in everyday domestic life.

At the event’s Smart Home showcase, the TV presenter and technology commentator highlighted products across home fitness, cooking, home cinema and retro-inspired consumer electronics. He argued that the futuristic home is no longer a theoretical idea, as many of its defining tools are already on the market.

Bradbury’s appearance was part of the wider Ideal Home Show programme at Olympia, which has opened its 118th year with a line-up of television personalities and sector specialists. This year’s event includes areas dedicated to kitchens, smart home products, DIY, gardening and outdoor living.

The smart home section focused on a move away from single-purpose gadgets towards more integrated systems. Examples included cameras that can identify people and parcels, and locks with fingerprint access. The broader theme was that connected products are being designed to fit more naturally into routine household tasks such as security, deliveries and access control.

Retro influence

Alongside newer connected devices, Bradbury pointed to a revival of older design cues and analogue formats. He linked the trend to a wider movement in interiors and consumer technology, with tactile materials and vintage-inspired hardware returning to favour.

“We’re talking about the home of the future, but interestingly, the 70s is coming back. We’ve already revisited the 80s, and now design inspiration is shifting towards 70s aesthetics, from walnut tones to more tactile finishes. You’ll see that across the Ideal Home Show this year. As technology moves forward, culture often looks backwards, and that’s why cassette and vinyl are making such a strong comeback,” said Jason Bradbury, TV Presenter and Tech Expert, Ideal Home Show.

That blend of digital systems and retro design was one of the clearest themes in his presentation. Brands mentioned in the session included We Are Rewind and Philips, cited as examples of renewed interest in cassette players, vinyl playback and products that emphasise physical interaction as much as digital convenience.

At-home fitness

Bradbury also identified home fitness as a notable area of development in consumer technology. He pointed to equipment designed to offer a wider choice of workouts while monitoring user performance, reflecting a broader push towards more personalised health and wellness products in the home.

One example was the Speediance Gym Monster, a connected training system intended for domestic use. The underlying point was that exercise technology is being adapted for users who want structured routines without relying on gyms or studio classes.

Kitchen shift

In the kitchen, the focus was on appliances designed to reduce manual supervision and improve consistency. Bradbury highlighted tools that manage variables such as heat and moisture more precisely, with the aim of making complex dishes easier to prepare at home.

The Bora X BO oven was among the products referenced in that category. The wider trend is a move towards devices that remove guesswork from cooking by automating more of the preparation process and offering greater control over results.

Portable viewing

Home entertainment was another part of the session, with attention on portable projection systems that combine picture, audio and setup features in a single unit. Bradbury highlighted products aimed at users seeking a cinema-style viewing experience without committing to a permanent installation.

The Nebula X1 Pro was presented as an example of that approach. The emphasis was on flexibility, with equipment that can move between rooms or be taken elsewhere rather than remaining fixed in one part of the home.

Bradbury’s broader message was that smart home products are becoming less about novelty and more about how they fit into everyday routines. Rather than presenting the category as a distant concept, he argued that it has already entered the mainstream through tools for security, cooking, fitness and entertainment.

“I’ve curated these gadgets around the idea of the ‘home of the future’, but the truth is, this is the future and we’re already there,” said Bradbury.