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Shakespeare Martineau increases rankings in prestigious law guide
National law firm Shakespeare Martineau has increased its rankings in the 2021 edition of the Chambers High Net Worth Guide, a guide to the leading lawyers and law firms for private wealth law.
Consolidating its top tier rankings in Leicester and its strong showing in the Birmingham and surrounds category, the team ranked in Nottingham and surrounds for the first time. Commentators highlighted Shakespeare Martineau as “diligent, commercially aware and very keen to meet the aims of clients…keen to innovate”.
There was also individual recognition for several of the firm’s partners and lawyers including Suzanne Leggott, Mark Dunkley (ranked band 1), Lesley Davies, Anne Tromans, Virginia Harvey and Verity Kirby.
Partners Andrew Wilkinson, also ranked in band 1 and who leads the private wealth disputes team, and Debra Burton were also recognised and commended for their highly specialised work.
Suzanne Leggott, head of the private client team at Shakespeare Martineau, said: “This is great news for the teams across our offices, recognising the commitment of our lawyers to their clients and the level and quality of the advice and support we give. Our new Nottingham ranking consolidates our status as one the leading law firms for private wealth work across the Midlands and beyond.”
Butterflies set to light up skyline in memory of loved ones
This October, The Myton Hospices will be celebrating the lives of lost loved ones in a unique and wonderful way.
The Butterfly Effect will take flight at Coventry Broadgate and Warwick Market Square, with an incredible light installation featuring more than 1,000 individual photographs coming together as one Myton Butterfly.
The images will be projected onto a focal building in each location and will form a butterfly mosaic before dispersing into lots of smaller butterflies taking flight. This striking sequence will be repeated throughout the evening for six consecutive nights; three in each location.
You can make a donation to submit a photograph to be part of this beautiful light projection in memory of your loved ones. If you donate £30 or more, you will also receive a locally crafted, metal hanging Myton butterfly as a lasting keepsake.
Each photograph will form part of the spectacular light installation and everyone is welcome to visit at Coventry Broadgate from October 14-16 and Warwick Market Square from October 17-19 between 6pm and 9pm. There will be musical entertainment each evening and the opportunity to talk to members of the Myton team.
Charlotte Ingram, director of income generation and supporter development for The Myton Hospices, said: “After what has been an incredibly difficult time for so many, we want to come together and celebrate the lives of our loved ones in the most special way, whilst ensuring that we can continue our vital work, now and in the future.
“We passionately believe that everyone matters for every single moment of their life and, by supporting each other, we can create something amazing. This belief is at the heart of everything we do.”
Find out more and submit your photos at www.mytonhospice.org/butterfly
Rob Gerrard, director at Safetyflex Barriers, with Polly Merredew at Coventry Market
Public art can come in all forms, shapes and sizes — and for two Coventry artists it has led them into the unlikely world of safety and security.
Abstract artists Polly Merredew, aged 39, and Emily Hett, 26, have used the anti-terrorist barriers outside Coventry Market and The Wave, the city’s new
Artists use safety barriers to display their work
indoor waterpark, as canvasses for their latest work. The surface-mounted crash blocks are designed and manufactured by family-run Safetyflex Barriers, a premier manufacturer of anti-terrorism bollards, barriers and crash-rated street furniture which is also based in Coventry.
Polly and Emily were commissioned by Coventry City Council as part of a citywide project to look at innovative ways of showcasing the work of local artists in public places during and beyond its year as UK City of Culture. It is the art school graduates’ first foray into public art.
Polly said: “This is completely unusual and off the scale for me as I’ve only ever produced my work on a more conventional canvas, so to be doing a 3D public art project has been a steep learning curve, but really exciting at the same time.”
Emily added: “This is like nothing I’ve done before and to find out that the security barriers were made in Coventry too makes it extra special.”
Rob Gerrard, director of Safetyflex Barriers, said: “Our growing range of patented crash-rated products to stop vehicle attacks are innovative in the way they are designed, how they perform, and how we can transform them into attractive street furniture, so it’s interesting to see that they have evolved further to now become blank canvasses for the work of local artists.
“Polly and Emily have done a great job in bringing them to life in a way that we’d never really considered before.”
Outsourcing talent sticks for Glued Agency
Leamington Spa-based design agency, Glued, is sticking to its guns when it comes to outsourcing new talent to support its growth.
Glued partners David Wilson and Rob Harrison work with organisations of all sizes and were looking to expand their branding business when COVID hit.
The partners on boarded four new team members via outsourcing rather than recruiting employees.
Rob explained: “Outsourcing talent is the future of our business. Since COVID, there’s been a real challenge to recruit and we rose to it by outsourcing our team. In some ways, the pandemic has made it easier to engage virtually over Zoom and Skype, and we relished the opportunity to move forward using the virtual World.”
The outsourced team of four are social media expert, Cathy Wassell; Ruby Edwards, public relations specialist; virtual assistant, Sue Sanders; and Phil Ingle, financial trainer. Together, the additional talent will allow Glued to grow its services in line with demand.
David added: “Before this photo was taken, Rob and I had only met two of our four new team members in person. Outsourcing (and virtual outsourcing at that) has worked for Glued and we wonder if it might work for other businesses too.”
Glued has seen sales almost double since the pandemic hit and looks forward to a less sticky recruitment challenge with the outsourcing of talent.
The Glued team has expanded its service offerings and team using outsourced talent to support the growth of the business. L-R (standing) Phil Ingle, Rob Harrison, Sue Sanders (seated) David Wilson, Cathy Wassell and Ruby Edwards
EMKA’s awareness of its social responsibility is demonstrated by its attention to issues such as a clean water supply project in West Africa and the support of women and children in sport.
The company’s involvement at this level enables it to give something back to the wider community on the world and local stages.
EMKA sponsors top athletes and access to clean water by promoting social projects worldwide with local partners.
EMKA gives back around the world
EMKA sponsors Düsseldorf‘s YOU Foundation in its digital donation concept, referred to as the SmartAid app. Thanks to blockchain technology, donors can track the path of their money themselves – all the way to the intended recipient. The project’s agenda includes the construction of wells to provide clean water in West Africa.
The YOU Foundation is an initiative of UNESCO Special Ambassador Dr. h.c. Ute-Henriette Ohoven which is committed to the education of children in need worldwide. It follows UNESCO’s values and mission and its Education Agenda 2030, which includes ensuring water supplies.
In West Africa, the foundation is building urgently needed wells to supply the population with clean water.
Local groups of experts and community members analyse the best locations for modern wells, which are then constructed to ensure easy access. Continuous monitoring of the installations and the water quality then ensures that the local people can receive sufficient drinking water. Together with the software company Datarella, the YOU Foundation has developed a digital emergency aid app for social project projects – sponsored by the EMKA Group.
For many years, Goražde in Bosnia and Herzegovina has been an important EMKA production site where again EMKA is involved with supporting children in the community through sport. EMKA Bosnia primarily produces moulds as well as injection-moulded parts for the automotive and electrical industries.
Microlise to list on the London Stock Exchange
Microlise, a provider of transport management software to fleet operators, has listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange as Microlise Group plc.
The group raised £61.2 million from investors through the issue of shares at a placing price of 135 pence per share, meaning Microlise has been valued at £156.5 million.
The decision to list on AIM will support Microlise's next stage of development, including broadening the group's product offering and growing the business around the world.
Established in 1982, Microlise is an award-winning business with around 350 employees based at the group's headquarters in Nottingham, as part of a total staff of 500 globally. Microlise operates predominantly in the UK and has offices in France, India, and Australia.
Microlise's transport management software helps fleet operators improve efficiency, safety and reduce emissions. These improvements are delivered through reduced fuel use, reduced mileage travelled, improved driver performance, fewer accidents, elimination of paperwork and delivery of an enhanced customer experience.
The listing will help Microlise realise the significant revenue potential within its existing customer base and up-sell and cross-sell its products. The group is looking to penetrate new geographies and market segments, including the market for smaller fleet sizes and different vehicle types, such as light commercial vehicles. Furthermore, the listing provides the opportunity to accelerate the group's growth strategy through targeted M&A.
Nadeem Raza, CEO of Microlise, said: “With an established track record of growth, proven management, and a market-leading position in providing technology solutions to fleet operators, Microlise is well set to capitalise on what we believe to be a major growth opportunity. Our customers are under pressure to meet increased environmental regulations and want more integration across supply chains. In addition, the challenges of the pandemic and Brexit have raised even greater awareness of the need to optimise the movement of goods efficiently and sustainably.”
Gallagher moves into new European headquarters
Manufacturer in security technology, Gallagher, has officially moved into its new European headquarters in Warwick.
The completion of the new headquarters signifies Gallagher’s increasing customer base across Europe, and the company’s continued growth in the northern hemisphere.
Richard Huison, regional general manager for UK and Europe at Gallagher, said: “We’re so excited to officially be in our new building, and we can’t wait to welcome our partners and customers. We’ve grown at an impressive rate in recent years and fast outgrew our current premises. Our new building enables us to be better positioned from an operational perspective and provide a superior customer experience.”
Gallagher now operates offices and warehouses in ten countries across the globe, with more than 1,300 employees based throughout the world.
Mark Junge, global general manager for security at the company, said an important part of Gallagher’s strategic growth includes scaling its global distribution network and in-market presence.
He said: “It was necessary to increase our office, conference, and warehouse facilities so that our team can continue to grow, and our customers can see, first-hand, how Gallagher protects what matters most. This new building provides even greater scope to showcase our world-class technology, host events, and support our Channel, consultant, and customer network across the UK and Europe.
“With discussions well underway with several UK government agencies, and some significant recent successes with high security customers in the UK, this new facility provides the ideal base to support our continued investment in the development of solutions that support the UK and Europe.”
The 1,500 square meter (16,145sq ft) headquarters allows Gallagher to host prospective clients, hold large events, and better support Channel partners and joint customers with meeting, conference, and training facilities. The headquarters also includes a 670 square meter (7,211sq ft) warehouse, to streamline UK and Europe operations, and deliver greater efficiency to support a heightened demand for Gallagher’s solutions, with land available for future expansions.
Grand Designs and VAT savings!
It looks as though the housing market is bouncing back after the uncertain events of the past 18 months start to settle.
The Nationwide building society reported that house prices have risen by 13.4% in the year to June 2021, the largest annual increase since 2004!
This in part is due to people reassessing, during and post pandemic, exactly what they want from a home and where it should be located. Another driving factor has been the stamp duty holiday, which is planned for final withdrawal later this year.
As prices soar, increasing numbers of people are venturing into the self-build or conversion market to create their ideal homes. Whilst costs inevitably rise on such projects (as Kevin McCloud is always keen to highlight), savings on VAT should not be overlooked.
Whilst new self builds are widely known to be zero rated, a similar VAT scheme is available for conversions of buildings to residential property as follows: • The property must not previously have been used for residential purposes • All construction work will be at a reduced 5% VAT rate as opposed to 20% VAT • Materials supplied with contractor services will also be at 5% • Contractors cannot choose to charge 20% VAT, if it is a conversion, the reduced rate of 5% has to be charged • Materials purchased without a contractors fitting service will be at 20% VAT • On completion, providing the claim is submitted within 3 months, the VAT incurred on construction work and materials can be reclaimed • The property must be - Separate and self-contained - For you or your family to live or holiday in - Not to be for business purposes (work from home office is ok) • The scheme does not extend to professional fees, landscaping or certain costs not relating to the structure of the building • If an incorrect rate of VAT is charged, this will prevent a successful VAT reclaim
The scheme can produce significant VAT savings and record keeping is crucial, along with the timely submission of the claim.
If you would like further details, please do not hesitate to contact Mark Withington, mark.withington@dafferns.com or Brian Jukes, brian.jukes@dafferns.com. Dafferns Chartered Accountants
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