CV UK Corporate Excellence Awards 2016

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uk CORPORATE EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2016 Businesswoman

AWARDS 2016

excellence in recruitment

Lucy Walker Recruitment are a commercial recruitment consultancy, headquartered in Leeds, which specialise in providing quality business support staff to growing SME’s.

We spoke to Managing Director, Lucy Walker to find out more about the company.

Supplying Office TechNOLOGY to the Nation The Midshire Group was established over 25 years ago in the West Midlands, and is now one of the largest independent office technology resellers in the UK. Phil Powell, Managing Director, Sales Director, Kevin Tunley and Julian Stafford, Managing Director of the Stockport office all discuss their thoughts on the success of the company.

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WELCOME TO THE UK CORPORATE EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2016 It has been a challenging year for UK businesses, particularly with the uncertainty surrounding the situation between Britain and the European Union. However, despite all these challenges, this has not stopped UK businesses from achieving true excellence in their respective sectors.

Success takes many forms in the business world and ranges from the ability to consistently deliver high quality service and products, to being the driving force behind innovation in their industry, thus helping the everyone involved in their sector to thrive.

As such, the 2016 UK Corporate Excellence Awards focus on firms across the United Kingdom who have proved, without a doubt, that they have been achieving business excellence despite the challenging conditions that this year has presented.

Firms of all sizes, ages, specialisms and values are featured here; we believe in rewarding any firm that has created a reputation founded on their dedication to excellence, and which has shown that they are at the forefront of their sector.

THE WINNERS ARE...

4. Lucy Walker Recruitment - Recruitment Consultancy of the Year - West Yorkshire 6. The Midshire Group - Best Office Technology Supplier - UK 8. Arthouse Limited - Best for Interior Design Solutions 2016 - UK & Recognised Leader in Home Decorative Products - UK 9. AutoProtect - Best for Asset Protection Insurance - UK 10. Byworth Boilers Limited - Best Boiler Design & Manufacturing Business - UK 11. Camberyard - Best Interior Design Communications Advisor - UK 12. Circad Design Limited - Most Advanced PCB Design Company 2016 & Excellence Award for Product Re-Engineering Services 13. The Covent Garden Candle Co Ltd - Best Wholesale Candle Supplier - London 14. Cornerstone Business Solutions Ltd - Best IT Services Company - Northeast England 16. Creative-Web - Best Digital Marketing Agency - London & Award for Excellence Mobile Web Designs 17. DCE Group Ltd - Best Exhibition Stand Design/Build Company 2016 18. Devon Contract Waste - Best for Commercial & Trade Waste Recycling 2016 19. Ellemby Ltd - Best for Commercial Window Cleaning - Buckinghamshire 20. Fiscal Engineer Ltd - Best for Wealth Management Solutions - East Midlands 21. Global Heat Transfer - Best for Heat Transfer Maintenance 22. GlowBeanie - Best Handmade Headwear Producer - North Wales 23. iQela Mobile - Best SME Mobile Operator - UK 24. Lotus Flower Consultancy Ltd - Best Management Consultancy Boutique - UK 25. Lucre - Best PR & Events Agency - UK 26. Macs Hair Studio - Hair Salon of the Year 2016 - Glasgow 27. Millers Oils Ltd. - Best for Oil & Fuel Additive Blending - North England 28. Pro-Ad Limited - Best Corporate Clothing Company - UK 29. Saturn Security Installations Ltd - Nationwide Electronic Security Company of the Year 30. Spektar Surveillance and Private Investigation - Best Private Investigation Company 2016 & Recognised Leaders in Commercial Surveillance 32. SPP Solutions Ltd - Best Security Training Specialists - UK 33. SRN Associates Limited - Best Management Consultancy 2016 - South East 34. The Stress Management Society - Best Stress Management Specialists 2016 35. Working Capital Partners Ltd - Best for Flexible Finance Solutions - South East UK

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Recruitment Consultancy of the Year - West Yorkshire

Lucy Walker Recruitment are a commercial recruitment consultancy, headquartered in Leeds, which specialise in providing quality business support staff to growing SME’s throughout the West Yorkshire region.

At Lucy Walker Recruitment, our values as individuals influence us in every area of the service that we provide, from our candidates looking for work to our clients looking to recruit.

Our values are simple and effective. In 1992, on starting the business, Lucy Walker wanted to create a true recruitment consultancy which would do just that - be consultative in every element of service, focusing on honesty, integrity, professionalism and quality. We do believe that we have achieved this and that as our business continues to grow, we recognise that these simple but effective values at the heart of our business allow us to provide a consistent service for our clients and candidates every day. We feel this is where we excel.

Our company motto is ‘excellence in recruitment’, and this is the essence of Lucy Walker Recruitment. In an industry where quality has sometimes been questioned, we take pride in providing quality during every stage of the recruitment process. We believe this quality

along with strength in attention to detail allows us to stand out so clearly in the recruitment market and brings people back to us time and time again. Our sheer determination to offer the highest levels of service delights our clients and surpasses expectations. This is backed up by our excellent testimonials and retention rates.

The business has stood the test of time and maintained success, despite the challenges of the modern world, whilst also remaining at the forefront of commercial recruitment in West Yorkshire. Managing Director Lucy Walker commented, “Our clients know that by working with clarity and honesty and by keeping the process simple but effective, we will achieve our values. However, we work within a competitive market and I will continue to drive myself and my team to continue learning as individuals, developing as a business and improving our skills as a team, to maintain our brand and service levels that we have worked so very hard to achieve. “

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Company: Lucy Walker Recruitment Name: Lucy Walker – Managing Director Email: LucyW@Lucywalkerrecruitment.com Web: www.lucywalkerrecruitment.com Address: Fountain House, 4 South Parade, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5QX Telephone: 0113 367 2880

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Best Office Technology Supplier - UK

The Midshire Group was established over 25 years ago in the West Midlands, and is now one of the largest independent office technology resellers in the UK. Phil Powell, Managing Director, Sales Director, Kevin Tunley and Julian Stafford, Managing Director of the Stockport office all discuss their thoughts on the success of the company.

Priding itself on delivering exceptional service to its customers, The Midshire Group has grown organically over a quarter of a century, building its business on quality products, a friendly and reliable service and the very latest solutions to support business growth.

Midshire’s core business is the supply and maintenance of photocopiers and printers on a Managed Print Service, yet during its 26-year history, the opportunity to add additional services including: telecommunications, a comprehensive range of IT services and more recently, developing its own in-house, hosted-desktop solution – Desktop Monster, allows it to meet its customers ever growing needs.

From humble beginnings, Midshire now occupies four regional offices, including its flagship £2.2 million-pound service-centre located in West Bromwich, opened in March 2015.

Phil Powell, Midshire Managing Director explains, “Midshire has never acquired another company.

Our growth, from nothing to where we are today, has been driven purely by sticking to our core principles - looking after our existing customers and actively seeking new ones.

“I am extremely proud that Midshire has developed so much, to the point where it can be given a national award for its contribution to the technology industry. As a proud supplier to SMEs, schools, and all professional enterprises, this award for ‘Best Office Technology Supplier’ will allow us to help many more organisations in the years to come.”

“Planned preventative maintenance is an essential part of the service we deliver. It is proven to help us prevent breakdowns and means we do not lose human interaction, which is an essential part of delivering a personal customer service.”

The group of companies employs exactly 250 people and is set to exceed £30 million turnover this year for the first time in its history.

Julian Stafford, Managing Director of Midshire’s Stockport office explains why people are at the heart of its service-led organisation, saying, “From account managers who identify the solution and the logistics, and installation teams who ensure safe delivery and setup of the equipment, to our service-centre team and field engineers who look after our customers on-going needs, we aim to attract the best the industry has to offer. We conduct daily customer satisfaction surveys, to ensure customers are happy with our service and we use any feedback to make continued improvements.”

With a tenacious appetite to build strong, longterm relationships with its customers, Midshire’s Directors’ focus is to excel in all areas of business.

This vision to deliver added value services ensures customers stay put, benefitting from services, including its free Toner Recycling scheme, and the Callisto machine monitoring software which reports on toner levels and dispatches new toners when levels trigger a response.

As a key partner of the industry’s leading manufacturers, including: Ricoh, HP, Samsung, Sharp, Toshiba, Lexmark and RISO, Midshire is

Servicing over 12,000 installations across the UK, the company’s growth can also be attributed to expanding its portfolio of products and ensuring service levels never falter.

Sales Director, Kevin Tunley comments on service delivery, “Our Managed Print Service offers an average four-hour response from qualified field engineers, who carry a full stock of parts so we can effect a timely repair. Our customers want to focus on their core business and not have to worry about equipment being out of action, changing parts, or maintenance.

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involved in first-to-market product launches and were one of only a handful of resellers in the UK chosen to distribute the new HP PageWide multifunctional inkjet printers.

HP PageWide is a reliable, scalable print technology developed by HP, that has delivered more than 140 billion high-quality digital pages via HP printers including: large format printers and web presses. In addition to the lineup of A4 devices, HP will expand the reach of PageWide technology to redefine the copier market, with a new portfolio of A3 multifunction printers (MFPs) soon to be launched.

In recent years, Midshire has seen huge success in being one of the first resellers in the UK to adopt new lines of products from its existing print partners. One such success being the integration of multi-touch interactive screens developed by Sharp Business Systems UK PLC. The BigPad screen is effectively a giant 70” tablet/TV which can be used for collaborative working, client presentations, meetings and staff training. Seamless integration with a company’s IT infrastructure allows for work on screen to be printed straight to a Sharp printer/copier, it can be emailed to co-workers or shared via video conferencing, making it the ultimate tool for any modern, forward-thinking organisation.

Midshire will continue to build on the success of recent years by proudly promoting being awarded a Corporate Excellence Award for ‘Best Office Technology Supplier’ its first national award.

New HP PageWide print technology

Midshire logistics team organise a delivery

Below, Left to right: Directors, Simon Lister, Kevin Tunley, Phil Powell and Chris Powell

Company: The Midshire Group Offices: West Bromwich, Stockport, Sheffield, Cardiff.

Telephone: 03300 414 574 Email: press@midshiremarketing.co.uk Website: www.midshire.co.uk

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Best for Interior Design Solutions 2016 - UK & Recognised Leader in Home Decorative Products - UK Company: Arthouse Limited Address: St James Church, Bacup Road, Waterfoot, Rossendale, Lancashire, BB4 7JU, United Kingdom Phone: +44 (1706) 230077 Email: customerservices@arthouse.com Website: http://www.arthouse.com/

Arthouse is an interior design firm committed to creating innovative and stylish designs which will make any room stand out. We explore the wide array of wall papers, tiles, cushions, mirrors and more that the firm offers.

Established in 2000, Arthouse have been designing trend led product for the interiors market. The firm’s in house design studio has created collections inspired directly from the most current trends.

The way clients’ style their homes has become incredibly important as it reflects an extension of the individual’s personality, and as such Arthouse recognise that clients are going to demand a lot from their places of retreat.

Whether it is a stage on which to entertain, a sanctuary at the end of the day, or a more practical place to work, there will be a collection or product from Arthouse that will bring that little injection of colour and design into the client’s home which are both affordable and stylish.

Overall, Arthouse are one of the country’s leading suppliers of interior decor solutions, with collections centering around Wallcoverings and Home Decorative Products. These include the firm’s fantastic wall art collection, room dividers, mirrors, cushions, clocks, storage, animal heads, coving and tiles as well as the firm’s signature stag heads.

The portfolio of brands that Arthouse boast mean that there will be an option to suit any budget, design or colour preference. With a range of collections available in a variety of colours the company truly has something for everyone.

Ultimately it is the Arthouse’s eye for detail and dedication to providing quality products which has led it to its current success, and this will remain the firm’s ongoing focus as it looks towards 2017 and beyond.

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Best for Asset Protection Insurance - UK Company: AutoProtect (MBI) Limited Name: Mike Macaulay Email: sales@autoprotect.co.uk Web Address: www.autoprotect.co.uk Address: Warwick House, Roydon Road, Harlow, Essex CM19 5DY Telephone: 01279 456500

AutoProtect provides insurance products and dealer warranties to vehicle manufacturers and retailers of all types and sizes throughout the UK, Europe and South America. We caught up with Corporate Business Development Manager Mike Macaulay to learn more about the firm.

Since its inception in 2004, AutoProtect has grown consistently establishing a reputation for speed, imagination, delivery and, fundamentally, helping its clients and their customers to succeed through a high-integrity service-led ethos. Mike talks us through the firm’s dedication to client services and how this sets the firm apart from its competitors.

“Here at AutoProtect, what sets us apart is the accessibility of everyone within the business, from the very top downwards and a capacity to listen, learn and act. AutoProtect is an ‘outward-facing’ business. We look to the market and adapt and evolve accordingly to meet customer needs. Within this, we are proud to be both reactive and proactive, but above all ‘authentic’. We are proud to share our own views and insights honestly because we are subject experts and we want to provide our very best guidance at all times. Sometimes this will mean telling a client not what they want to hear but what they need to hear. It is an approach that ensures we hold a high level of credibility, something of which we are very proud.”

“Digitisation of the sales process and service delivery, both of which are seeing a shift towards consumer ‘self-serve’ activities, continues to be a major focus. Within the car retail distribution chain, it is clear that consumers control their own car buying journey and a very significant amount of this now takes place online. The industry is seeing a cultural and process shift away from selling to customers and towards enabling them to buy.

“Within this new paradigm, AutoProtect has been on the front foot to support retailers by developing a range of digital tools that support the customer, buying and usage process for protection products; re-designing products to suit and supporting long-term retention.”

Within the financial services market there has been a raft of new regulatory requirements over recent years, designed to increase transparency and help the consumer to gain a good outcome when selecting products. As such AutoProtect has embraced these new standards, viewing it as an opportunity for competitive advantage and establishing itself as a prominent voice within the automotive retail sector, guiding and supporting retailers and manufacturers on the development of best practices.

Moving forward, they will continue this innovative focus as it seeks to adapt around the latest industry changes, as Mike concludes.

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Best Boiler Design & Manufacturing Business - UK Company: Byworth Boilers Ltd. Web Address: www.byworth.co.uk

Byworth Boilers Limited Based in Keighley, West Yorkshire, Byworth Boilers, Ltd are committed to providing the most fuel efficient steam and hot water boiler solutions for industrial applications, whilst significantly reducing the carbon footprint in the UK and worldwide.

Byworth was founded in 1968 by Dennis Baldwin. Dennis used steam in his business process to grow Chrysanthemums. However, he soon realised that to find a product that truly fitted his requirements, he would need to build it himself. So Dennis set about building a product for himself, and ultimately for the customer.

With a keen eye for innovation, precision, advanced quality and effective use of steam, Dennis constructed his own bespoke boiler.

These values still remain in the present day, whereby Byworth produce solutions that fit the customer’s requirements, never offering a ‘one size’ fits all product. We know the challenges that organisations often face, and our team of experts allow us to work in partnership with companies delivering bespoke solutions with constant support for each individual customer.

Byworth Boilers understand that it is crucial the customer is getting the right product to meet their needs. This means that if the customer has to be told they need a smaller boiler than they requested, or in some cases, even referring them onto a technology that Byworth Boilers themselves do not produce, we are not afraid to do so. We always have our customers at the heart of everything we do.

Our aim is to be the preferred partner in providing efficient heat solutions. Byworth continue to achieve this through supportive design, British manufacturing, installation, service and maintenance of the highest quality. For us, it’s all about working with customers to help them achieve their goals. We are very proud to employ highly skilled designers, engineers and an extended workforce who have the ability to be flexible during the manufacturing stage. To ensure we create the best possible product for customers, we often build bespoke equipment or adjust a product; making it a better fit.

We recognise that buying a boiler is a long-term investment, so it is important that it is as efficient as possible and extremely easy to maintain, in order to maximise the investment and product lifecycle. Byworth have always strived to be at the forefront of technology from their humble beginnings over 50 years ago. Our innovation has always been maintained since those original Dennis Baldwin designs. Since then, we have turned our attention to looking at improvements in boiler-house control and management to support our new and existing customers.

Our latest innovative equipment Unity is Byworth’s revolutionary boiler control system, which harnesses the power of digital technology to transform the industrial boiler industry. By using process steam and hot water, Unity makes it easy to understand what is going on with their energy and operations and is a solution for any industry.

The system employs the Internet of Things (IoT) and advanced data analytics to systematically change boiler-related operations and services. Its skill is in its capability to significantly reduce cost, improve product and service performance and provide better value to Byworth customers.

Encompassing a range of smart data, predictive tools and engineering proficiency to obtain additional insight, Unity will help customers reduce fuel usage, increase operational efficiency and significantly reduce any potential downtime. Delivering a step-change in boiler servicing, the service helps to improve response time as well as enhancing onsite efficiency. All of its attributes support a vision of providing efficient heat solutions with each partner.

Aside from being proudly recognised as a winner in the 2016 UK Corporate Excellence Awards, Byworth won the recent Queen’s Award in innovation earlier this year - the highest accolade that can be associated with a business. These awards show the very nature of the Byworth brand and the story and success behind it.

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Best Interior Design Communications Advisor - UK Company: Camberyard - The Designers’ Advisor Phone: +44 (0)78 8974 8908 Email: polly@camberyard.com Website: http://camberyard.com/

Camberyard Polly Williams founded Camberyard in 2015, inspired by her love of working closely with interior design professionals across the industry, to help launch or streamline their business. Polly is The Designers’ Advisor, sharing her creative ideas and expertise and joining the dots with her extensive portfolio of talent and connections.

Polly is dedicated to offering bespoke interior design business solutions and mentoring to creative professionals across the industry and can advise clients on how to define their USP, promote their talent and make their business reach its full potential. Services offered include: launching new brands; streamlining and expanding a current business; mentoring designers; PR, marketing and events services; networking and brand partnerships; trade and retail shows; social media strategy; fee negotiations; as well as making introductions within the industry. Polly outlines the work she undertakes and how she aims to achieve the very best for every one of our clients.

“Back in November 2015, I established my new company, Camberyard - The Designers’ Advisor www.camberyard.com mentoring aspiring and established interior designers, designers, creative professionals and brands in the interiors sector to launch, streamline and grow their interiors business. I come from a holistic place of empowering designers to understand their business and USP, so that they can create and grow their company from the inside out; always considering a 360-degree framework to include lifestyle, ambition and ability.

designers, interior designers, brands, artists, garden designers and all manner of creative professionals who are launching, growing or expanding their design business.”

Moving forward, Polly is launching an exciting new project which will provide her with a number of great projects.

“In 2017, I will be launching the Camberyard Collective bringing together my designers, brands and creative professionals in a series of unique and bespoke networking events and workshops, so they can share their experiences and services and support one another, rather than compete. Brands and designers can collaborate and barter services in a unique environment to gain market exposure with bespoke industry introductions.”

“Through my work I collaborate, so they can grow their bespoke marketing, business, social media, career action plans, in order to drive their business over the next 12 months and focus on two to three core areas of growth. I work very closely using my Company Launch package, to understand how a business needs to work before they go ahead and launch. Then I mentor my clients, which is hugely rewarding. My clients graduate from the various Camberyard service packages they have chosen, and are mentored in a monthly consultation to keep them on track and provide valuable support in the interiors network. I work with furniture, lighting, fabric

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Most Advanced PCB Design Company 2016 & Excellence Award for Product Re-Engineering Services Company: Circad Design Limited Name: Chris Eiffert Email: chris@circad.co.uk Web Address: http://circad.co.uk Address: Unit 11A, Farthing Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 5AP

Manging Director of Circad Design Limited for over 15 years, Chris Eiffert profiles the firm and tells us why clients keep coming back to the award winning company.

Customers typically come to Circad with a concept for which they see potential but lack the skills to produce. We have the technical expertise to translate their requirements into product concepts, investigate possible solutions, then design and produce the electronics, helping them turn their idea into reality.

Circad provides electronic design, prototyping and full high volume production capability from our modern factory in Ipswich, Suffolk.

Our mission is to provide electronic solutions that save customers money and improve their products’ capability and reliability. Supplying the technology for you to be the market leader in your business sector.

We often help start-up companies compete with established multi-nationals in innovative electronic based products; our ability to cost effectively with a prototype PCB means we can quickly assess the viability and estimated cost of a potential product.

Circad becomes their R&D department, their testing facility and then their production facility, all with minimal financial investment.

Product failure and component obsolescence are a common challenge for many businesses. Our expertise in electronic failure analysis enables us to identify problems with component stress and inferior design practices. Our design review will propose remedial works to fix problems, or offer a complete re-design to create a superior, more robust product. Circad helps companies stay at the leading edge of product evolution and reliability, rather than risking letting competitors’ product evolving beyond their own.

We can also advise on component obsolescence and product cost reduction. This can affect all stages of a products life-cycle, but especially when something has been in production for several years, through component prices rises or difficulty and ultimately impossibility to source.

Circad often saves customers a significant amount of money in this area through cost reduction and efficiencies.

Our engineers have a wealth of experience with communications protocols and our firmware and application development experience encompasses numerous languages, environments and platforms.

But we’re not just about great design; we also offer a full component procurement, manufacturing and product test solution. Our state of the art surface mount assembly lines offers rapid production of complex circuit boards, from small batches through to large volume production runs. Dedicated teams complete final build and quality testing.

Our highly trained staff can also build complex surface mount technology PCB’s by hand to provide a low cost solution for prototyping.

This holistic approach invariably results in Circad becoming our customers’ partner for managing their electronic products’ life-cycle, and retaining them for many years. Circad solves all the problems of split responsibilities between manufacturer, designer and component supplier, by partnering with customers and taking complete responsibility for their electronic products.

Our business is focused on innovation, professionalism and service. These values are prominent in every team member and results in regular feedback that we exceed expectations in quality design, and cost effective on-time production.

Through our technology, systems and culture, we have developed a world class ability for resolving customer problems and providing innovative solutions that in turn provide significant growth to our customers in sectors ranging from life support to industrial control equipment to consumer electronics.

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Best Wholesale Candle Supplier - London Company: The Covent Garden Candle Co Ltd Name: Amanda Stahel Email: info@coventgardencandles.co.uk Web: www.coventgardencandles.co.uk Telephone: 020 7736 0740

Amanda Stahel, from The Covent Garden Candle Company (an established candle wholesaler), talks to us about how the firm has gone from strength to strength in the industry and what it is doing in the future to combat the challenges of future economic uncertainty.

The Covent Garden Candle Company is one of the leading wholesale supplier of candles to the catering and hospitality industry within London and across the UK. As a family run business, founded over 30 years ago, we pride ourselves in providing a personal and efficient service to hundreds of customers which include some of the biggest name hotels and restaurants in the country.

To help maintain our high standards, our staff are fully briefed about all our products to be able to help customers with questions and queries they may have. Due to the way in which we are set up, we are able to offer a fast and efficient service to our customers.

Our main challenge is ensuring that our customers are aware that, although there are cheaper products on the market, a majority of them are not of the same high quality that we provide. 99% of our orders are delivered within 24 hours (except weekends). Our stock is sourced from reputable European

manufacturers, which means peace of mind for our customers who can rely on quality long burning and clean candles at competitive prices.

With the topsy-turvy year London has experienced with the current economic climate, we at Covent Garden Candles are keeping an open and optimistic mind that 2017 will be a positive and productive year for the capital and the rest of the country.

We are confident that the catering and hospitality industry will grow from strength to strength and we are constantly looking for new products to add to our portfolio, to keep current and prospective customers up to date with ideas and trends and we have some wonderful new products planned for early in the New Year. In addition, we will be launching our new website in the first quarter of the new year. We hope that this will enhance our customers’ experience of purchasing from us online and lead us to a bright future in the industry.

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Best IT Services Company - Northeast England Company: Cornerstone Business Solutions ltd Name: Chris Petty Email: chris.petty@cornerstonebs.co.uk Web Address: www.cornerstonebs.co.uk Address: MAP House, 3 George Stephenson Court, Preston Farm, Stockton, TS183TG Telephone: 08452232400

‎ anaging Director at Cornerstone Business Solutions Ltd, Chris Petty, chats to M us about what has made the firm an award winning company in a fast growing region of the UK.

Cornerstone is a multi-award winning leading provider of business solutions based in the North East of England. They partner with global technology brands such as IBM, Lenovo, Microsoft, Cisco, Vmware, and Virgin to provide their clients with cutting edge business and mobile communications that are reliable, robust and supported by people who are experts in the design, implementation and maintenance of clients’ business critical systems.

The firms overall mission is to offer the best IT support in the North East. Chris explains what they have done to achieve this, along with the clients they work with.

“We have invested heavily in our staff and our systems to offer an unrivalled service offering.

We monitor every process each step of the way to make sure we are on track to deliver exceptional service. We look after over 3000 users in the North east including Middlesbrough

Football Club, TTE, Endeavour Partnership, Cameron’s Brewery & Butterwick Hospice.”

Chris explains the important role of staff and how they have helped Cornerstone differentiate themselves from their competitors.

“The internal culture has always been customer service to provide the best possible customer experience from the first port of call to the end solution. Training for engineers not only in technical but also customer service and how to interact with our customers is key.

“The way we react to our customer’s initial call, investing in the best systems and staff to analyse and follow that customer’s frustration to completing the call and letting the customer know is what makes us different.”

The North East is one of the fastest growing regions in the UK. Chris talks about the changes in the UK corporate landscape.

“Within our sector, regulations and legislation changes all the time. By partnering with only the leading brands, we have to make sure that we are up to date and at the forefront of any changes to be able to advise our customers so they can be up to date and current.”

Looking to the future, Chris explains what the firm is doing to ensure it maintains its current level of success.

“In terms of growth, we’ve steadily grown year on year since we started and we have also taken on a new apprentice each year over the last four years and have made them a permanent employee after their time. We don’t rest on our laurels and strive to be better and improve our service. This is what makes us win new business month on month.”

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Best Digital Marketing Agency - London & Award for Excellence Mobile Web Designs Company: Creative-Web Address: 1 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5AB Phone: +44 20 7117 2963 ext 1 Email: info@creative-webuk.com Website: www.creative-webuk.com

Creative-Web Creative-Web us a dedicated website design and online marketing firm offering dynamic and innovative solutions. We profile the firm and explore the secrets behind its success.

Creative-Web is a full service web design, development and marketing agency drawing on the vast experience of its staff to offer a wide array of services.

Within the web design space, the firm offers responsive web design which ensures that the same website will adapt to different devices and scale accordingly depending on the screen size.

Savvy designers know that the success of a Web design is not determined by the code or cool visuals. Designing a winning website needs a well-thought-out online strategy motivated on reaching organizational goals. That can be anything from attracting visitors to buy products to getting the public to understand an issue to introducing visitors to a new brand.

With joint efforts in Website Design the company utilize the most sophisticated tools ranging from adobe Photoshop, InDesign and illustrator while designing your website. Website design has lots of difficult processes, conceptualizing, layout, text styles, colors, structure, graphics, and image planning including interactive features used to convey web pages to your site visitors.

A website cannot be complete without all these elements as they all make up a website, and as such Creative-Web are able to offer the full array of solutions to create the perfect site to exactly meet the varied needs of its clients.

To structure your web content and brand your website appropriately, we set you up with a project manager who would work with you or a team in your company.

Alongside its web design solutions, the firm also offers a range of marketing services including social media support, email marketing and local, national and international SEO. Content management solutions, including CMS, CRM and ERP using many popular platforms including WordPress, Magento and Odoo.

Among the firm’s newest developments is its new Group-Office Control Panel, which provides users with instant access to their email, calendar, files, at all times. With a new design and improved usability, clients can start enjoying even more advantages right away, as well as enjoying free support.

Overall Creative-Web have helped hundreds of businesses to win online, and moving forward it will continue to innovate and adapt to the ever evolving market it operates in so that it can maintain its reputation for excellence.

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Best Exhibition Stand Design/Build Company 2016 Company: DCE Group Limited Name: David Cox Email: David@dcegroup.co.uk Web Address: www.DCEGroup.co.uk Address: Hambridge Business Park, Hambridge Lane, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 5TU Telephone: (+44) 01635 230020

DCE Group Ltd are a design and construction company that build experiential environments for major brands at exhibitions, airport activations, retail environments and conferences. David Cox, CEO of the firm, gives us an insight into how they are making an impact in the industry.

DCE Group Ltd was founded in 1990 and have continued to grow the business to operate globally. To assist with logistics, the firm has warehouse facilities in Cannes and Montreal and have developed strategic partnerships in USA India Canada and UAE. With the firm making huge strides in expanding markets and are continuing to invest, David explains what the firm is doing to adjust in an ever changing industry.

“We are constantly adapting to change, and currently are looking at incorporating new technology and whilst gaining further understanding on how the IOT will affect exhibitions as a whole. We are also aware of emerging compliance and regulations relating to builds and ensure our team are frequently trained to accommodate those changes.

“Our customers are our friends, and our team from the bottom up are applauded for their contributions. We have a good communication policy and everyone feels they have access to the Chairman or senior management team. We take a lot of pride in offering our staff regular training and facilitate personal development in the workplace.”

In the future, DCE Group ultimately plans to continue their growth through strategic partners in to new territories. David states, “We have recently rebranded the company with a sophisticated and professional image that we feel presents us where we are now and where we are going to – rather than where we have come from. This is an exciting time of change for us, and as our online presence develops we feel in a strong position to expand.”

“Within your region specifically what developments are affecting your business and clients? We are waiting to see the impact of Brexit on our business and for our clients and how this will affect us with export including free trade and additional paperwork.”

The internal culture of the firm involves following a strong inclusive ethos which was born out of the roots of the company, stemming from family values. David explains more.

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Best for Commercial & Trade Waste Recycling 2016 Company: Devon Contract Waste

We spoke to Simon Almond, Managing Director at Devon Contract Waste who told us all about how the company has transformed their industry through technology, making waste separation and collection more efficient than ever.

Now in its 27th year of operation, Devon Contract Waste in Exeter has set the standard for the most efficient collection and separation practices for commercial waste in the UK. The company has an enormous wealth of experience across all aspects of waste management both locally and internationally with our project in Africa.

Since we began, we have seen huge changes in the way waste is collected and processed.

However, our Managing Director was left frustrated by so many resources going to landfill waste, and therefore in 2010, we set about researching what could be done as an alternative.

Needless to say we came across lots of dead ends, negativity and more feedback on what cannot be done than anyone willing to listen.

For research, we hired a large warehouse, tipped out four full dustcart loads of mixed waste and spent two weeks sorting it by hand into sizes and types of material. From this, we discovered nearly 70% of the waste we collect and send to landfill could be recycled.

We then set out to find the technology that could sort this waste in high volumes and at speed.

We found a sorting technology to separate clean grades of plastic and then discovered this could be adapted for our mixed waste, but with careful consideration as to the order we separate the waste.

Fast forward to 2016 and we now operate the most efficient waste sorting plant in the UK. We are proud to say we are now one of five plants as other companies have built their plants on

the back of our design. It was a painful and expensive process with over £5 million invested and thousands of man hours perfecting the process. By January 2015, we were achieving 68% recovery on recycling at a throughput of 12 tonnes per hour. The remaining 32% is a high calorific fuel used in industry to create power and heat in place of fossil fuels and the resulting ash (3%) is made into construction products so nothing is wasted.

As we process the general waste at the same time as recycling, we recover everything that can be recycled. This has removed the need to collect the general waste and recycling separately with the exception of food and glass. The amount of CO2 saved every time a bin of recycling is collected (at the same time as a general waste bin) is 3.04 kilograms. In terms of customers’ contract schedules that’s 19.92 tonnes a year of CO2 stopped from going into the atmosphere.

In addition to this massive benefit, of course we separate everything for people to ensure no resources are wasted, not to mention the time saved. Since this process has started, we have reduced our fleet of refuse vehicles by five and yet our turnover has doubled.

The difference of using recycled waste compared to virgin material is much more frightening. We have been working with Exeter University to establish these facts which are not widely available and we were shocked to say the least. Of course if customers prefer, we can collect the recycling separately but it has to be processed anyway to ensure the high quality standards required are met. As a company, we are committed to reducing our carbon output.

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The question that is asked a lot is ‘does this confuse the message of recycling’, and the answer to that is simple - this takes the importance for protecting resources to another level. Our facility is available for any group or school to visit to see the process and understand more about protecting resources.

We host schools and other groups every month.

The message we give to our clients is to reduce the waste they produce as the first priority, and then look at the waste they have and try to find alternative materials that can be recycled to reduce their carbon impact in comparison to their waste being burned. This is such an important message for children as we need them to consider what they buy, look at how it’s packaged and push manufacturers to change, via the power of social media.

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Best for Commercial Window Cleaning - Buckinghamshire Company: Ellemby Ltd Name: Lucy Bates Email: enquiries@ellembyltd.com Web Address: http://www.ellembyltd.com/ Address: 44 Hill Rise Chalfont St Peter Bucks SL9 9BQ Telephone: 01753 482465

Ellemby Ltd is a Buckinghamshire based company that has provided a cleaning service of the highest quality for over 19 years. Managing Director at the firm, Lucy Bates outlines what makes Ellemby an award winning firm.

Lucy Bates started Ellemby at 19 years of age in 1997, providing domestic house cleaning services and in 2004 expanded into domestic and commercial window cleaning. She spoke to us about how she has built the company to become a successful option for clients, and her feelings at winning this prestigious award.

“I built the company on three core principles, which were trust, reliability and efficiency. Since inception, we have expanded into external cleaning including gutters, driveways, patio cleaning, alongside local property developers – for internal and external cleaning.

“I feel proud to have won this award. I know how hard I have worked to build up my business over the last 19 years, so to have a client recognise this and nominate me makes me feel very happy. “I hated school and being told what to do, so I knew I had to be my own boss from a young age.”

Lucy attributes “making personal sacrifices, being very disciplined, enjoying success when it comes and making the necessary changes when they arrive,” as key reasons for her success in the industry, “I am hard working, independent and determined to succeed.”

am fortunate to work within a wealthy pocket of the country. The only problem that I can foresee in the future is if there are any law changes which may affect EU residents working in the UK, as I employ a lot of wonderful Eastern European staff.

“I pay well, over the minimum wage and I expect my staff to work for it. I think paying staff their worth attracts the right, qualified people and it encourages them to stay, so I’ve always paid well.”

“Since the economic upturn, the construction industry is booming, once more, this provides Ellemby with a great deal of commercial cleaning work.”

As well as ensuring that Ellemby has the right people, Lucy ensures that the firm remain at the forefront of innovation through keeping up to date with the latest technologies. “The equipment we use has always been the best.

Investing in superior quality cleaning systems gives high yielding returns and keeps the customers happy.”

Staff are an integral part of Ellemby and Lucy tells us how she has cultivated a positive working atmosphere at her company, with hiring the right people.

“I lead by example. I treat my staff with the upmost respect and promote a culture of honesty and openness. I expect them to do the same with our clients and find this works very well. I have a good healthy working relationship with all my staff and my clients are always happy with my staff’s attitude, which is ‘can-do’ and ‘respectful’.

Lucy explains the firm’s overall mission and how they go about continuing this on a day to day basis. “It’s always been my aim to provide a good quality, reliable service and I think having the right staff is key, they are at the forefront of any business. I have attained the quality standard ISO 9001 certification, and this is our benchmark for quality to ensure our customers receive the very best service.”

The industry has been affected by economic changes in recent years. Lucy describes both the positives and negatives of these issues.

“The recession has hit us hard in the past but I

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Lucy ends the interview by explaining why she believes that Ellemby is the best possible option for clients. “I have always ensured I provide great customer service through personally building relationships with clients, responding in very quick time and always working toward my three core principles - trust, reliability and efficiency, which I truly believe are imperative in business.”

Ellemby plan to continue their success into 2017 and the firm can look forward to a prosperous future in the industry.

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Best for Wealth Management Solutions - East Midlands Company: Fiscal Engineer Ltd Name: Shane Mullins Email: info@fiscalengineers.com Web Address: www.fiscalengineers.com Address: 22a The Ropewalk, Nottingham, NG1 5DT Telephone: 0115 9555 600

Founded in May 2000, Fiscal Engineers Ltd, although still relatively small, is now one of the premier financial planning firms in the UK. Executive Chairman at the firm, Shane Mullins discusses how Fiscal Engineers helps clients have the perfect ‘money/life balance’.

Fiscal Engineers Ltd offers a true alternative to the traditional family office models without clients suffering significant upfront and ongoing costs. The firm provides independent, nonconflicted co-ordination of a family’s financial affairs for the efficient running of their investment strategies, tax management and planning, estate and succession planning and consolidated reporting.

Shane explains how the firm abides by their mission every day to assist clients, saying “Our mission is to give clients the perfect ‘money/ life balance’, helping them to manage, protect and grow their wealth. Our business is entirely focused on building deep and enduring relationships tailored to each individual client.

We are proud to represent the interests of our clients and remain passionate about seeing them flourish in their personal, professional and financial lives.”

industry, with an intense focus on risk. We have employed a top external risk consultant to review all of our working practices to ensure we’re as watertight as possible. We also consult expert firms on a number of issues, including compliance matters, VAT issues and operational matters to ensure we are being the best we can be.”

Fiscal Engineers is now going through a detailed re-design process of their wealth management reporting, initially with the help of an external consultant. Shane finishes by telling us the aim of this re-design. “The re-design of the investment client’s wealth plan is to personalise and improve the impact of our reporting, leveraging our understanding of each client and their own personal requirements. This will result in the reporting being even more individualised, linking to each client’s very particular reporting preferences.”

“We are leaders in what we do, because our service excellence is led by a culture of balanced innovation delivered with heart and always as a direct response to what our clients want,” says Shane. “We are relentless and restless in our pursuit of building trust, respect and admiration for what we do – not what we say.”

Regulations in the UK market can affect business growth and development. Therefore, Shane ensures his team are aware of any relevant corporate issues that can arise. Risk management is key to their internal and external operations.

“Our management and research teams spend a considerable portion of their time ensuring we are fully up to date with all current regulatory and compliance issues, as well as monitoring and researching the financial retail product

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Best for Heat Transfer Maintenance Visit www.globalheattransfer.co.uk Call +44 1785 760555 Email: enquiries@globalheattransfer.co.uk

Process manufacturing companies all over the world are always looking to improve product quality and reduce costs while complying with stringent health and safety regulations. Now they CAN do all three.

Global Heat Transfer is the Queen’s Award winning thermal fluid specialist supplying heat transfer fluid and allied engineering support services to processing manufacturing companies all over the world.

Thermocare® by Global Heat Transfer is the all-inclusive proactive maintenance support package for manufacturers from a range of sectors including food and beverage, pharmaceutical, chemical, solar, plastics and styrene, oil and gas, specialist chemicals, marine, wood, paper and packaging and industrial manufacturing.

Thermocare® not only reduces maintenance costs and energy consumption but also improves the health and safety of the workforce.

It allows manufacturers to accurately predict

costs and have better financial planning which, in turn, increases their ability to grow and confidently deliver product to their own customer base.

3 Steps to Success Thermocare® includes three service elements.

It starts with trained engineers conducting a site survey and drawing a live, hot, circulating thermal fluid sample, which then undergoes a unique eleven-point test and results in a clear evaluation of the thermal fluid. Thermocare® also includes engineering and technical support, as well as on-site heat transfer fluid maintenance. Thirdly, Thermocare® ensures specialist training to help engineers and health and safety professionals increase their understanding of thermal fluid.

Award Winning Thermocare® has gained recognition from a host of research and development organisations for its ground-breaking approach to solving everyday process manufacturing challenges.

And, most recently received the UKs most prestigious business award, the Queen’s Award for Innovation.

Global Heat Transfer offers manufacturers the unique Thermocare® Ultimate Maintenance plan, which takes complete responsibility for a company’s thermal fluid condition for the duration of the programme.

“Thermocare® leads to a significant cost reduction with some customers saving as much as 75 per cent over an extended period,” explained Clive Jones, managing director of Global Heat Transfer. “A proactive condition monitoring maintenance approach extends the life of thermal fluids to maximise productivity and minimise costly downtime.

“Global Heat Transfer has worked with thousands of engineers to increase their knowledge on how to use and maintain thermal fluids,” continued Jones. “Thermocare® reduces downtime, prolongs fluid life, reduces environmental impact and cuts maintenance costs.”

Thermal fluids are commonly used in process applications where manufacturers use heat.

Global Heat Transfer also supplies its own brand of thermal fluid, Globaltherm®, for a wide range of manufacturing applications.

Get In Touch Find out more about Global Heat Transfer, award winning Thermocare® condition monitoring programmes and the Globaltherm® range of heat transfer fluids.

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Best Handmade Headwear Producer - North Wales Company: GlowBeanie Name: Jane Beachell Email: jane@glowbeanie.co.uk Web Address: www.glowbeanie.co.uk Social Media: Facebook: www.facebook.com/glowbeanie Twitter: www.twitter.com@glow_beanie Address: Fern Hill, Mount Road, LLANFAIRFECHAN, Conwy, LL33 0DW Telephone: 07818 684338

For the past two years, Jane Beachell has run GlowBeanie, the innovative tech headwear company. Jane gives us an insight into how the firm’s personalised service has appealed to customers.

Established in 2014, GlowBeanie design and create handmade glow in the dark beanie hats and other accessories. Jane Beachell runs the company on her own, ensuring a first class personalised service is given to each and every customer, listening to their requirements and tailoring the GlowBeanie accordingly. The firms overall mission is to improve visibility of the wearer making them safer when out and about.

Jane explains how GlowBeanies work and why they appeal to all ages and sectors of society.

“By using a yarn that has a reflective thread running through it, all GlowBeanies bounce back light from passing traffic to make the wearer visible and safer. If you are out training, on the school run, walking the dog, nipping to the shops or simply going from A to B in all weathers, everyone needs a GlowBeanie.”

spend their limited disposable income on. This means we have to up our game in promoting our wares at every opportunity.”

GlowBeanie have recently expanded into wholesale with a view to promoting their products far and wide including at future trade shows. “We continue to work with local schools to encourage road safety and, as part of this, are corporate sponsors of Brake – the road safety charity – for whom we have created a special edition for their online shop. We also continue to attend craft fairs, both large and small, in the North Wales/Cheshire area and continually assess what cost effective avenues are available to branch into.”

Handmade to order, GlowBeanie’s personalised service would not be available in a larger company. “Due to the absence of availability of the materials (we have imported ours from Europe) in the UK it is unlikely that any other company is producing exactly the same as GlowBeanie,” says Jane. “This makes each product unique and provides greater satisfaction to the customer in knowing they have a ‘one-off’.”

The current corporate landscape has affected business for GlowBeanie but this has not deterred Jane from striving for continued success. “This year we have noticed that potential customers are being more careful with their finances and looking for the best deals to

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Best SME Mobile Operator - UK Company: iQela Business Mobile Name: Lorenza Brescia Email: Lorenza@iqelamobile.co.uk Web Address: www.iqelamobile.co.uk

iQela Mobile iQela Business Mobile is a unique mobile operator that is exclusively focused on the needs of business customers. We spoke to CEO, Lorenza Brescia to find out more about what the company does.

“At iQela, we make powerful services available at an affordable price,” says Lorenza. “These services help businesses communicate more effectively and enhance their productivity.”

Lorenza explains more in depth about what makes iQela stand out.

“We are an experienced team, with deep industry knowledge, that is committed to delivering excellence, both for our customers and for our staff. We believe in clarity and offer transparent pricing, with no hidden costs or surprises. We do not believe in long-term plans that reduce business choice or limit your flexibility.” iQela offers two services – Mobile Office, which is a unique, mobile-first way of managing business communication; and Mobile Call Recording, which provides people in the financial services industry with an FCA and MiFID II compliant solution. Clients choose iQela because of their approachability, the value they deliver through their services and the flexibility they offer. iQela targets clients come from all sectors, but we also have a specific focus on the financial services industry.

Lorenza talks us through the firm’s mission and what steps they take to achieve this, telling us how they want to bring the benefits of professional communication o business users that have been overlooked by the main operators.

“If you are a small business with, for example, ten people, you can seem just like a consumer to most mobile operators. They don’t treat you as you deserve to be treated and they don’t offer what you need. On the other hand, there are lots of VoIP providers but, in the same way, their products are not optimised for mobile. We want to bring you the best of mobile connectivity but in a way that is optimised for the needs of small business users.”

iQela has adapted to changes in the UK corporate landscape, including coping with the new EU MiFID II regulations, as Lorenza explains.

“A key driver that’s going to have an impact in the financial services industry is the new EU MiFID II regulations that basically mandate the recording of conversations held on a mobile in certain financial segments. The FCA has fully embraced this, with the result that companies – which increasingly use mobiles for their workforce – need to adopt mobile call recording. In fact, it’s difficult to do this in a way that ensures compliance, but we offer a simple, convenient and non-intrusive solution.

“In addition to MiFID requirements, mobility in general is the key. Why would people buy expensive on-premises solutions that don’t really help their business and which consume money today? There’s just no need for them.

The workplace has evolved and mobility has become a critical requirement. Every other business application is available for mobile, so why shouldn’t something so fundamental as business communications evolve too? We are introducing a proven solution, that has been wildly popular in Scandinavia, for example, to the UK market – it’s about time business communications caught up with the mobile age.”

Lorenza discusses how staff are all on message and understand the internal culture and vision of the company.

“We like to think we can get things done – which means being very focused and serious while also looking after each other and creating a supported environment. For service, it means we all try to be available so that we don’t get too far from our customers. We have to stay close in order to really understand them.”

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To ensure the firms remains at the forefront of innovation, iQela works closely with suppliers, partners and their marketing team to anticipate what’s likely to happen. They also track what happens in other markets, to see if developments in, for example, Belgium can be mirrored here in the UK. In the near future, the future corporate market will likely be affected by Brexit, however iQela is very prepared for the challenge. “Anyone buying goods or services from overseas is likely to see prices rise, which means buying local can be more attractive. We’re committed to maintaining our prices, to establish a fair brand and offer. In the future, we plan to extend some of the features as well as exploring some related services that are everything to do with communication.”

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Best Management Consultancy Boutique - UK Company: Lotus Flower Consultancy Ltd Name: Wendyanne Shapiro Web: www.lotusflowerconsultancy.com

Wendyanne Shapiro runs Lotus Flower Consultancy, a Midlands based management consultancy firm. In this engaging interview, Wendyanne’s enthusiasm and passion is evident throughout.

Lotus Flower Consultancy specialises in organisational design, leadership and management development. The company’s services vary from consultancy, design and delivery of training interventions and bespoke solutions. In addition, they provide mentoring and coaching for individuals and teams.

They get invited into small and medium sized businesses as a trusted partner, in various industries and sectors – both private and public, including financial services, healthcare, professional services, education, utility and manufacturing. Working predominately in the UK, the company is now stepping out into European and worldwide markets. Wendyanne explains the firm’s overall mission and what steps they take to achieve this.

“Our primary aims are to drive cultural change and to increase performance and efficiency, through the engagement and enablement of employees. Ultimately, we work with people within a business regardless of role or title and our alignment remains on corporate objectives, performance outputs and outcomes. We operate using a tripartite model, where we look at the individual, the team and the organisation and how to maximise the relationships between the three. An important factor for us is to work with individuals and encourage them to be the best that they can be, here success and results happen as a by-product.”

Whilst legislation can affect business, this has not deterred Wendyanne from continuing to help clients as she explains.

“Access to funding, support from local authorities and a general lack of skill, experience and resources are just some of the changes and challenges affecting our business. It is the ‘people strategy’ that is being most affected across the corporate landscape.

We are being asked more often to help with maximising efficiencies and running costs for businesses, and as most people know – training and development is usually the first

thing to disappear when finances get tight. We remain steadfast that our service is a longterm investment and that the true value will be realised when businesses have a multiskilled workforce that is not only compliant and competent but also futureproofed.”

Approximately 90% of Lotus’s business is coming to them direct from client recommendations, therefore the company’s reputation speaks for itself. Wendyanne discusses how Lotus stands out from their competitors.

“We help people to look at their business through a different lens. We are invited in to provide another perspective, to offer the eyes and ears of a critical friend. We want to develop positive business relationships for the long term and become accepted as a part of the team. Rather than listing a portfolio of products we can provide, we prefer to get to know and understand our clients - part of this involves orientation days and chemistry meetings. This enables us to offer bespoke advice and recommendations.”

Brexit and the impact on the economy is a concern for many businesses. However, at Lotus they believe that Brexit could be positive. “In general, the lack of clarity and uncertainty about what exiting means is having an adverse effect on the businesses we work with. Particularly as any change in legislation is likely to affect existing business relationships and will need to be considered for new markets. We are actively working with clients building their business readiness for pending changes, this includes focusing on commerciality, sustaining a competitive advantage, professionalising services and collaborating across differing environments.”

As well as Brexit, Wendyanne discusses the other challenges that Lotus is facing. “A common challenge for us is ensuring we understand exactly what businesses need,” says Wendyanne. “Our role is to act consciously and critically, considering broader aspects of the ever-changing world such as, discrimination, diversity and equality as well

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as highlighting new generation approaches and thinking. We will consult and challenge to clarify expectations and requirements then design and deliver around that.”

Lotus is looking to grow their portfolio in the future, as well as looking at how they can diversify as an organisation. As Wendyanne says herself, the firm want to remain “big enough to cope yet small enough to care.” With work in the UK and Europe, the firm also has work lined up in the United States and Singapore.

Wendyanne is thrilled to have won this award as she tells us how being recognised in the industry is fulfilling. “We are delighted to have been nominated and recognised for this award. We’ve worked incredibly hard to get our name out there and to be acknowledged in such a highly competitive industry is amazing. The heart of our business has been based across the Midlands so this is a great way of confirming our acceptance in that space. We have always considered that we have a privileged role and honestly love what we do, this award has provided the endorsement that we are doing it right.”

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Best PR & Events Agency - UK Company: LUCRE Name: Tamarind Wilson Email: loveus@lucre.co.uk Web Address: http://lucre.co.uk/ Address: 30 Park Square West, Leeds, LS1 2PF Telephone: 0113 243 1117

Lucre Lucre is a leading PR, social media and content agency, getting astounding results for their clients for over 11 years. Tamarind Wilson, company director, profiles the firm and details their future plans.

We understand the power of Google and have the expertise and tools to align activity with SEO objectives. Lucre offers the kind of PR that makes clients visible when and where they want to be, whilst driving awareness, telling brand stories and basically, making sure that if people are searching for a product or a service in its sphere, they will find it. We create high impact campaigns for businesses and brands, delivering highly measurable results across all channels. To sum it up, it’s Search savvy PR. We get under our clients’ skin; some of our colleagues work from client’s offices several days per month, genuinely functioning as part of the in-house team. Others receive product and sector specific training direct from the client.

That’s how we make sure we know exactly what they want, what they need, and how we can deliver it.

Our 30-strong consultancy has grown organically into an internationally successful agency, with offices in Leeds and London consistently delivering profitable growth. We deliver the same high standard of work to all our clients, whether they are global PR campaigns for household names or ‘cor-blimey’ stunts in a city centre for an airline.

Stonegate Pub Company, Yates, Wyndham Vacation Rentals, Park Plaza Hotels, Preferred Hotel and Resorts, English Lakes Hotels, Mira Showers, and Redrow.

We’ve also recently launched our new brand, Rich, which is where we create relevant, compelling content - the shareable kind that Google loves, and where we have branched out into channels such as Facebook, advertising married to effective social content. There are editors, videographers and digital experts involved, bringing together newsroom knowhow, terrific ideas and thrilling, social media talent. We are holding events with major players in our four sectors, our most recent, Provenance Vs Price, considered the impact of Brexit on the British food sector. This has already resulted in great content and real engagement with brands new to the agency. In addition, our video division Rich Reels (launched only eight months ago), is producing videos for everything from travel websites to national pub chains.

No business rests on its laurels; last year we repositioned the agency, streamlining our offering into four distinct sectors where we have a fine track record and knock-out knowledge: • Food and Drink • Home and Lifestyle • Travel and Leisure • Tech and Innovation Notable clients include Jet2.com, Jet2holidays, Holiday Extras, cottages.com, Superbreak, Hollands Pies, Dulux Trade, BIC, Berkeley Group, Matthew Walker Puddings, Cellar Trends,

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Hair Salon of the Year 2016 - Glasgow Company: Macs Hair Studio Name: Melissa McNaughton Web Address: www.macsglasgow.com Address: 15 De Courcy’s Arcade, Cresswell Lane. Glasgow. G12 8AA. Tel: 0141 357 5511 Telephone: 0141 357 5511

Macs Hair Studio Owner of Macs Glasgow Hair Salon, Melissa McNaughton chats to us about her award winning salon. With the help of the Princes Trust, Melissa has turned her life around to become an inspiration in her industry.

Back in the summer of 2011, when I converted an old ice cream shop into my dream salon, little did I know that by 2016 I would be celebrated in the UK Corporate Excellence Awards for Hair Salon of the Year: Glasgow. This is such an honour.

Way back then, I was considered ‘unemployable’ due to my ill health. So at 22 years old I decided to ‘go it alone’ and set up in business. I received valuable start up assistance from the Princes Trust who later saw the potential in me and I was offered to become one of their Young Ambassadors. This allowed me to share my experience with other young people wishing to start up in business. I rubbed shoulders with the Lord Provost of Glasgow, sitting around the table at the prestigious Glasgow City Chambers coming up with ideas on how to make it achievable for young entrepreneurs to follow in my footsteps. In year two of start-up, I came close to winning the Princes Trust Young Person of the Year: I was in the top three out of a possible 7,000 entries.

After my year with the Princes Trust, I had to put all my efforts into my business to ensure its longevity. After departing, I then became one of their case studies and to this day you will see me on their website. Around the same time, the business development in my area was taking shape, in which I became involved with a group

of local traders in helping them secure a BID (Business Improvement District) in our area, which is still in place to date.

Macs Glasgow Hair Salon is in a quirky, conservational area of Glasgow’s West End which I love and if there is ever an opportunity to help highlight the area, me and my team are first in line. In the summer, we took part in showcasing our hair and make-up in a local fashion show which was part of the West End Festival. Our salon strongly supports and sponsors many beauty pageants, helping young ladies develop into strong characters and encouraging them to help others along the way. My own charity and community work also helped me secure the Miss Scotland Inspiration and I am the current titleholder of Mrs Inspiration UK: a fitting title due to my background.

Over the past two years, the salon has taken shape and come into its own. We are now an award winning salon with ‘Hair Extensionist of the Year’ awards two years in a row and judged by professionals and trainers in our field. I am honoured to have received these awards as they have raised our profile and saw us as one of the leaders in the industry. Each time I introduce something new to the salon we must try and test it first and only when we are happy with the products we will introduce them to our clients.

This is what clients love about us - we will not try

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and pass something off to them that we would not be happy with for ourselves.

As soon as I found the right extensions for my salon, I was the first in Scotland to bring the celebrity brand over from Dublin. My relationship with the suppliers is second to none. They recognised my passion and asked me to be part of their team at UK wide hair shows and the icing on the cake for me was to become the first Scottish Ambassador of their Hair Extension Brand: Easilocks. The rest is history. I have people booking in with me from all over the UK, some as far as Europe and one customer gets her refits every few months when she is back in Glasgow and not globetrotting all around the world! We are known as the ‘GlamSquad’ who will think nothing of jumping in the car to fit these beautiful hair extensions on some of the UK’s celebrities up and down the country.

Customers keep coming back as they know that hair extension safety is my number one priority.

Our customer service and attention to detail is the best there can be.

I work hard and continue to do so, as having your own business is a 24/7 life. It has its ups and downs but I love having my own salon and seeing my team develop and flourish. Many thanks for the recognition and awarding us Hair Salon of the Year - Glasgow.

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Best for Oil & Fuel Additive Blending - North England Company: Millers Oils Ltd. Name: Jamie Ryan Web Address: www.millersoils.co.uk Address: Hillside Oil Works, Rastrick Common, Brighouse HD6 3DP Telephone: 01484 713201

As a leading independent blender of oil and fuel additives, Millers Oils is a global supplier to industrial, commercial vehicle and automotive markets, including the Far East, USA and South America. Millers Oils is focussed on delivering high quality products and services to customers and are dedicated to helping customer processes and vehicles run more efficiently and for longer.

Established nearly 130 years ago by John Watson Miller in Yorkshire, Millers Oils today remains a significant local employer. Millers Oils are a highly innovative, independent blender of market leading advanced oils, and fuel treatments with a history of providing creative lubrication solutions for some of the world’s best known brands. Our product portfolios cover myriad sectors including automotive, motorsport and classic vehicles, agricultural and commercial vehicles and a suite of highly advanced products for a wide variety of industrial applications.

Our company mission is to continually develop lubricants that will outperform our competitors for any given application. We will be known for our innovation, enthusiasm and integrity; our customers will see the difference both in the products that they use and the service that they receive. To win this award means we are achieving this mission.

There are also three principles that we encourage all Millers Oils staff to remember and be at the forefront of everything they do here. We refer to these principles as the 3 I’s Integrity, Innovative and Inclusive. For Millers Oils, innovation is the difference between success and mediocrity, and is the key to our success in the market place. One way in which we are able to remain at the forefront of innovation is through the use of our research and development laboratory. Having this on site

means that innovation and new technologies are always a driving force within the business, which gives us the edge over many competitors.

Our low friction Nanodrive oils are a perfect example of how we remain ultra-competitive in a crowded marketplace via our innovation and are a significant and growing part of our business with respect to our overall profitability. Our Nanodrive oils are a portfolio of ultra-low friction oils that significantly increase performance characteristics and reduce energy consumption.

They utilize bespoke chemistry formulations which incorporate the use of nano particle technology. The research and development centre is what made way for this innovation and meant the new formulations could undergo rigorous testing which in turn saw the outcome of this successful and innovative product.

Based in the small Yorkshire town of Brighouse since 1887, Millers Oils has a longstanding heritage which comes with an enduring trust and reputation. Over the years we have built relationships with people and this is something that only a prestigious heritage can build. We focus on market share of high value, high performance products and forming relationships with customers with this need who have a genuine passion for the products.

With regards to a recent award our Managing Director Jamie Ryan has won, he said that in his career he quickly learnt that the answer is in

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the people and this is an attitude that Jamie has carried through into his career at Millers Oils.

The company actively encourages progress and development so employees can continue to grow and thus the business can too. The recent NVQ in Team Leading which was offered to staff is an example of this. All team leaders were encouraged to gain this qualification and as a result of the enthusiasm, all of them successfully completed the course. We also have people with accredited qualifications from CIMA, NBA, CIPD as well as the auditing training and train a trainer. To be awarded as ‘Best for Oil & Fuel Additive Blending - North England’, our skilled workforce must be praised for their efforts in helping us win this award.

With Millers Oils entering its 130th year in business next year, there are a plethora of things in the pipeline to continually celebrate the brand – so keep your eyes peeled! We are continually striving to get the Millers Oils brand out there.

Having re-launched our classic range this year, we invested in a classic bus which has been branded in the classic colours.

We feel very thankful to have won this award.

Many of our customers and our team like to refer to us as ‘Yorkshire’s best kept secret’ so it is always warmly received when the work we are doing is noticed and furthermore, awarded.

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Best Corporate Clothing Company - UK Company: Pro-Ad Limited Address: Claremont House, 25 North Place, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 1DF Phone: 01670 518928 Fax: 01670 519101 Email: solutions@proad.co.uk Website: http://www.proad.co.uk/

Pro-Ad is a promotional merchandise, corporate clothing and workwear company with 35 years of experience and product knowledge. We spoke to Eleni Tsoumpeli to find out more.

Pro-Ad support companies across a vast spectrum of industries including companies from the utilities, education and hospitality industry. They are passionate about providing high impact promotional merchandise and corporate clothing that increase brand exposure and awareness. Eleni outlines how the firm works with clients to achieve the outcome they need.

“Here at Pro-Ad, we work in partnership with our clients to understand their brand and deliver effective, innovative solutions which in conjunction with their values reflect their goals.

As a family business we pride ourselves in our personal service, integrity, knowledge and team spirit, making Pro-Ad a great company to work with and work for.

“The key to our success is our team of promotional products and clothing experts. Our friendly Account Managers start every day with a big smile on their face and enthusiasm for all the exciting briefs they are working on. They work as part of our clients’ team and they never run out of ground-breaking ideas taking great pride in creating campaigns that stand out.

“Overall, we are dedicated in providing only the highest quality of promotional products and services. Throughout our 35 years in the promotional merchandise industry, we have established strong relationships with suppliers around the world and have an on the ground buying team in the Far East to manage our projects in this area of the world.”

The firm’s work in the corporate clothing market is something that it is particularly proud of, as Eleni highlights.

“Corporate clothing and workwear has always been a very important part of our business.

Our quality garments from polo shirts to Hi-Vis jackets and hardwearing trousers follow our clients’ brand guidelines and provide excellent value for money offering peace of mind and time savings.

“Helping E.ON for over six years with clothing for one of their biggest teams is a project we are particularly proud of. The services we provided them with included sourcing a big variety of garments from high quality waterproof jackets and shirts to beanie hats and T-shirts that upheld the E.ON brand values and were produced to match the team’s requirements.”

Looking ahead, Eleni is excited about the future as the firm seeks to build upon its current success and grow even further in 2017 and beyond.

“Going forward our mission is to grow further through successful partnership with our clients becoming their primary provider by offering value and quality with our products, clothing and services.”

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Nationwide Electronic Security Company of the Year Company: Saturn Security Installations Ltd Name: Lawrence Gregory Email: lawrence.gregory@saturnsecurity.co.uk Web Address: www.saturnsecurity.co.uk Address: 678, Aigburth Road, Liverpool L19 0NY Telephone: 0151 427 5977

As winners in Corporate Vision’s 2015 UK Corporate Excellence Awards, Saturn Security Installations have maintained their reputation in 2016 as the leading electrical security systems specialists in the UK. We got the chance to speak to them find out more about their company and how they have sustained their success.

Established in 1987, Saturn Security install and maintain security systems such as intruder and fire alarms, CCTV and access control systems.

Whatever the job may be, we exceed all of our customers’ insurance requirements, as we are NSI Gold IS0 9001:2008 Certificated, and have accreditations from bodies such as the BAFE, CHAS, ConstructionLine, SAFE and the FIA. Alongside this, our company are equipped with a wealth of experience and expertise. Our Managing Director, Lawrence Gregory has been an NSI Chairman for over 18 years in the North West/North Wales region, and it has always been our mission to protect property and people at an affordable cost.

It is these accreditations and the 29 years in business that make Saturn truly stand out from their competitors. In the current climate, there are a number of unlicensed companies that do not have the right work structure or accreditations that we have, but we firmly believe that security is an area where there is no room for compromise

and we only provide the very best services for our customers. As such, our staff undergo extensive training courses to ensure that we are up to speed with any developments in the areas of security and protection.

Our reputation has led us to conducting installations across the UK, but 80% of our work has been done within a 70-mile radius of the region. We find that many of our customers come from referrals, and our experience and expertise has served us well in terms of growing our client base.

Ultimately, Saturn Security are very proud to have won at the UK Corporate Excellence Awards for the second-year running. Our company has experienced continued success throughout the years, and 2016 is no exception.

This year Saturn Security have broken its record turnover rate this year and won more customers this year than any other year in our 29 years’ history. With all of these aspects in mind, the future looks very bright indeed!

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Best Private Investigation Company 2016 & Recognised Leaders in Commercial Surveillance Company: Spektar surveillance and private investigation Ltd Name: Derek Roberts Email: derek.roberts@spektar.co.uk Web Address: www.spektar.co.uk Address:7 Glyndwr ave, St Athan, Barry, CF62 4PN Telephone: 07714 61 81 312.

Spektar surveillance and private investigation Ltd Spektar provides a discreet and professional service to our client with the aim to assist in gathering information and evidence either by video, camera photography, voice recordings, reports and written statements within the boundaries of the law. Derek Roberts from the firm spoke to us about their success.

Spektar is a specialist surveillance and investigation company, that provide a bespoke service for both the commercial/ corporate sectors as well as private clients.

Their services include: - covert surveillance, process serving, background checks, locus reports, people tracing, asset finding and CFA sign ups. Their clients range from law firms, landlords, insurance companies, small and large companies. Derek outlines the firms mission and what they do to achieve this.

“Our mission is to provide an outstanding service for our clients and to ensure we get repeated business. We achieve this by complying with the law, following British Standards and ICO rules, and also ensure training is conducted for our operators to ensure there is no skill fade.”

Derek describes how the current UK corporate landscape is being affected by change and what Spektar is doing to combat this.

“The British Government are in the process of introducing licensing for private investigators and we fully support this. At Spektar, all of our operators are BTEC level 3 or 4 qualified, all have been background checked, all have a SIA Close protection license and all have up-to-date DBRS checks.

“We follow the code of practise/conduct of the Association of British Investigators, BS 102000 – 2013, and The Code of Practice for the provision of investigative services and BS 7858 – 2012. There is regular security screening of individuals employed in a security environment, and the company itself is ICO registered. All of our operators are BTEC 3 or 4 qualified in advance surveillance and private investigation.

All are also ex-military who have gained vast experience in the industry.”

Spektar promotes a positive working environment in their firm. Derek explains how the staff they employ are all equipped to provide the best possible service to clients.

“All of our staff are ex-military so we have an excellent working ethos. As we are up to date with technology, training and the law, we believe that our end product is second to none. Our background and qualifications is the magnet for attracting the best talent to our company. We not only provide a service to our clients, but we also try and establish a relationship with them that includes trust. We try our upmost best to keep the cost down for them too.”

Spektar stands out in their sector for various reasons as Derek explains.

“Our background and motivation to succeed keeps us ahead of other competitors. Our experience covers all aspects of surveillance.

By advertising, training, updating technology and forward planning we try and remain at the forefront of innovation.”

In the future, the firm aims to expand and exceed expectations within the industry. Heading into 2017, the future for Spektar looks bright.

Finally, Derek tells us how thrilled he is to have won such a prestigious award in his field, saying, “I am honoured to have won this prize as it shows the hard work that has been put into the company, has been recognised from an outside source.”

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Best Security Training Specialists - UK Company: SPP Solutions Ltd Name: James Sanderson Email: james_sanderson@sppsolutions.com Web Address: www.sppsolutions.com Address: Langstone Technology Park, Langstone Road, Havant, Hampshire PO9 1SA Telephone: 02392 41 55 40 Mobile: +44 7501 257 727

SPP Solutions was established in 2008 working predominantly in the security sector offering training and consultancy to both corporates and individuals.

As well as working in the security industry, SPP Solutions has an extensive background in health and safety and first aid, but security training and consultancy was, and still is our main revenue earner. Our mission and vision is our commitment to providing quality training.

Training is vital to the development of an organisation and its staff, so when a customer books and pays for training they expect the very best. That’s what we provide. As a training company, it’s important that, we stay ahead of the curve. What makes us stand out is the fact that we change, update and keep current all our training material. We work with the client to make sure we give them exactly what they want including training on the client’s site if possible.

At the end of our courses, we offer on-going support and help. This has led to us finding employment opportunities for people who we have trained.

or individuals who find themselves working in some of the world’s most hostile environments.

Currently, we are working in the Middle East giving courses on the use of surveillance equipment and running control rooms covering such topics as counter-terrorism, command and control and understanding human behaviour.

In the UK, we are involved in health and safety and first aid training and consultancy including advanced trauma training.

There are many companies that do what we do and anyone of their trainers can read a presentation off a screen but what makes a great trainer and training company is one where the trainer can talk about the subject, relating it to personal experience. As a company, we have over 2,000 pieces of independently verified customer feedback giving us a fivestar rating, something we are extremely proud of. This approach has seen us work with the likes of BSkyB, London Probation, Goodwood, HMRC and Lockheed Martin to name but a few. We were recently interviewed by the BBC to give opinion on the news that a Home Office recommendation was the use of door supervisors in churches in the wake of the ISIS motivated attack and killing of the French priest.

One area we are heavily involved in is Hostile Environment Training where we conduct classroom sessions and practical scenarios around situational awareness for corporates

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Best Management Consultancy 2016 - South East Company: SRN Associates Limited Name: Simon Nash Email: simon@srnassociates.co.uk Web Address: www.srnassociates.co.uk Address: 202, Milton Keynes Business Centre, Foxhunter Drive, Linford Wood, Milton Keynes, MK14 6GD Telephone: Office: 08452 26 28 25 Mobile: 07720 718521

Simon Nash, Managing Director at SRN Associates Ltd chatted to us about the company and their success. With over 20 years’ experience in senior strategic and financial management roles, he is well equipped for what challenges the industry throws at him.

SRN Associates Ltd. works with clients on all strategic matters relating to significant ‘future events’ such as business development, expansion, fund raising and mergers and acquisitions. The firm focuses on five key areas of added value – planning and strategy, financial management, corporate governance, funding and capital and M&A transaction planning.

Managing Director, Simon Nash talks to us about what SRN offers to its clients.

“We provide pro-active management and guidance on a project by project, or longterm basis to facilitate growth, realise future potential and crystallise value. We call this ‘Growth Navigation’, and it encompasses all

the disciplines required in order to build and optimise shareholder value.

“Our clients are typically companies with ambition for growth and eventual exit, and operate in sectors where rapid change is the norm. Size is not a constraint, but ambition is – we seek to work with companies who have the business model and ambition to realise an eventual exit of more than £10m. Our team has considerable experience with a large number of growth businesses in various sectors including technology, telecoms, IP and engineering.”

Simon explains how SRN take a more hands on approach when dealing with their clients, which gives them an edge in the market.

“We tend to work closely with companies and their management on a long term basis, helping them create value over time. Unlike many consultancies, we are also able to play a ‘hands on’ role as necessary, giving significant additional breadth to the management team. In addition, being a small consultancy ourselves, we are able to maintain 100% partner level engagement with every customer. This is highly valued, particularly by owner managers and smaller management teams that lack director level financial skills.”

SRN’s uniqueness stems from their ability to work closely with their customers. The firm plans to stay small and stay focused as a business. In doing so, SRN ensures that they continue to add maximum value to their clients by concentrating on quality, not quantity.

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Best Stress Management Specialists 2016 Company: The Stress Management Society Phone: 0203 142 8650 Email: info@stress.org.uk Website: http://www.stress.org.uk/

The Stress Management Society is a non-profit organisation dedicated to helping individuals and companies recognise and reduce stress. We profile the firm and explore how it achieves this vital aim.

Since the society’s inception in 2003, it has been dedicated to creating a happier, healthier, more resilient and sustainable world.

Founded by Neil Shah, best-selling author and award-winning entrepreneur back in 2003, he draws on his own personal experiences of stress to offer a support and services to everyone who works with his society.

His experiences with stress started when his multi-million-pound IT Recruitment business was failing in his twenties, leaving on the verge of a breakdown. He was extremely stressed, exhausted, depressed and physically ill. He tried therapy, life coaches, counsellors and healers.

Overwhelmed and under pressure, he realised he needed help to get his wellbeing back.

Problem was, he could not find anything or anyone to give him the specific support he so desperately needed. Therefore, he began his own personal journey to pull together tried and tested, practical, accessible resources for individuals like himself, leading to the birth of The Stress Management Society.

Today, Neil and his committed team are dedicated to leading effective universal change by maximising their clients’ resilience, happiness, productivity and success with their passionate approach to reducing stress and promoting wellbeing.

Having worked with major household names including Sky TV, Allianz, the Home Office and the NHS, the firm is well placed to support those working in a stressful or challenging environment. Services offered include stress risk audits, consultancy, training and focus groups.

Currently the firm acts in an ongoing capacity as a trusted advisor for many companies such as British Airways, Standard Life and Shell, guiding them through the mental wellbeing solution maze.

Overall, The Stress Management Society has strong experience empowering individuals to take charge of their wellbeing through its various workshops, guides and regular updates.

As such it is well placed to continue to support clients and provide them with expert advice and support.

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Best for Flexible Finance Solutions - South East UK Company: Working Capital Partners Ltd Name: Perry Burns Email: perry@workingcapitalpartners.co.uk Web: www.workingcapitalpartners.com Address: Buckingham House 45 Vivian Avenue Hendon NW4 3XA Telephone: 020 8203 6500

Founded in 2010, Working Capital Partners has completely re-engineered small business finance by offering a range of products that provides both affordable and flexible working capital facilities to smaller businesses. Managing Director, Perry Burns explains what the company has done to achieve its award winning success.

Until recently, Working Capital Partners has focused primarily on invoice finance. But with new funding available, the firm can now offer loans, leasing, HP, stock, trade and purchase order finance. Perry chats to us about how the firm helps clients: ““We are a family business and this is critical to the internal culture in the firm. We are a small team who support each other and work collectively to provide the best service to our clients. We pride ourselves on providing a fast, efficient but personal service and on making critical funding decisions quickly. These decisions and subsequent advice, along with ongoing personal support, are from business experts who understand business. We use computers of course, but don’t rely on them to make lending decisions for us. This is reflected in our TrustPilot rating of 9.2 – the highest rating for any direct invoice finance funder in our sector. We are also members of ABFA and fully compliant with their standards framework which gives our clients assurance that they have a safety net if anything goes wrong.

• A simple fixed fee with no ongoing administration charge • No termination charges • Selective invoice funding • Short term loans • Leasing for vehicles, plant and machinery • Export finance • Purchase order finance • Trade Finance • One off or regular use • Bad debt protection • Fast Decisions • Online real time system • Funding of certain Import and export transactions • Transaction based approach • Consideration of stage payments and applications • Facilities for established businesses, startups & pre-packs

“Our clients are usually SMEs across most industries within the United Kingdom, with an annual turnover of up to £5million. We have a vast array of clients ranging from recruitment consultants and construction companies to seaweed producers and animation designers.”

As evidenced above, Working Capital Partners’ overall mission is to become the ‘go-to’ funder for SMEs, offering the best cashflow solutions and first class customer service. Over the past six years, WCP has developed and expanded the suite of services they offer ranging from Selective Invoice Finance to Export Finance and Loans and Leasing. Furthermore, the outstanding service offered has been rewarded with a 5* (9.2) TrustPilot rating, the highest ranking Invoice Finance company in the UK.

Working Capital Partners cash flow solutions offers a customised solution built from one or more of the following.

Despite success, Perry explains how one of their challenges to business has been new legislation.

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“UK law specifically allows debt to be assigned to that of a third party unless there is a clause in the contract to the contrary. These provisions are known as Ban on Assignment, and were outlawed in the Small Business Enterprise and Employment Act 2015. However, although the Minister for Small Business, Margot James, has indicated her intention to activate these, so far it has not been implemented with serious consequences for small businesses seeking to stabilize their cashflow.

“There is also concern about the ease with which businesses can obtain P2P funding.

This is leading some inexperienced owners to take-on more debt than is sustainable which we believe may have some serious, adverse consequences for some small businesses.”

Working Capital Partners always puts clients at the forefront of their work and ensure that they provide excellent service at all times.

“WCP always puts the client and their needs first. We strive to find the best and most suitable cashflow solutions possible and refrain from the ‘computer says no’ mentality. We think of ourselves as our clients’ partners and our oneon-one superb service is shown through our fantastic testimonials and TrustPilot reviews.”

Looking forward, with new funding having been secured, Working Capital Partners is in the process of expanding the suite of services that they offer. The company wants to see themselves as cashflow partners of choice for all small businesses offering the best cashflow solutions and advice possible.