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Law firm achieves major eco-friendly office hub transformation
Reclaimed pallet-clad walls, booth seating with sustainably sourced fabric, and tables made from recycled yoghurt pots are some of the eco-friendly features found in Shakespeare Martineau’s first revamped office hub in Stratford-upon-Avon.
The law firm has been operating from the historic medieval town since 2013. The space – located in Bridgeway House, just off the A3400 and near the River Avon – is the first in Shakespeare Martineau’s property portfolio to undergo a major makeover to reflect modern, new ways of working.
More than 80% of the materials used as part of the refurbishment were sustainably sourced, recycled or reused – supporting Shakespeare Martineau’s pending B Corporate status and 30 responsible business pledges, including achieving net zero by 2025 and becoming carbon negative by 2030.
The firm also ensured there was minimal impact on landfill by donating all items of furniture that were unable to be reused or upcycled to local charities, religious groups, schools and community groups.
Chief transformation officer Karen Walker said: “We’re delighted with the finished look of our Stratford hub. It reflects our personality and aspirations, while demonstrating our investment in and commitment to our people, the town and Warwickshire.”
It also reinforces the firm’s ‘empowered work principles’, which encourage a true work-life balance and focus on outputs rather than where or when they are delivered. The principles act as a guide for enabling people to manage their own time and working patterns, while ensuring the needs of their clients, colleagues and team are met.
Chief marketing and people officer Ben Buckton said: “We also know that empowering people is the best motivation. Our positive, high-performance work culture is already attracting top talent and expertise from across the UK which, in turn, delivers the best quality service for our clients.”
Two firms land historic first
Two Midlands companies have help land an historic first in the drive to help the UK move towards a carbon-neutral future.
PeakGen, a Leamington-based specialist in generation, transmission and distribution energy networks, has become the first private sector company in the UK to win a major contract as part of a move to open up the energy market.
The firm has won a contract to supply power services to the National Grid Electricity System Operator in the Mersey region. It involves the supply and operation of a shunt reactor which allows the grid to operate more efficiently by absorbing unusable energy from the system and maintaining consistent voltage levels.
It is the first contract won under the Pathfinder programme, which is designed to open up the market to a wider range of private companies to encourage innovation and competitive pricing.
PeakGen, which employs 18 staff, used law firm Wright Hassall to undertake the legal work on the lease of the land adjacent to the Frodsham 400kV substation.
Ian Graves, CEO of PeakGen, said: “We’re delighted to have won a contract under the Mersey Pathfinder to deliver the solution for the electricity system operator. It really is a major milestone for PeakGen and we hope it puts us in a good position to compete for and win similar contracts that are coming through the Pathfinder programme across the UK.”
PeakGen pitched successfully against 14 other companies to win the contract, and the legal aspects were handled by Bhavika Patel, part of Wright Hassall’s commercial real estate team.
She said: “This is not only a real achievement for Ian and his team but also a major milestone as the energy industry looks to open its markets to private companies. The matter was more complicated than we first anticipated due to the site being part of unregistered land and the fact that we were dealing with the form of lease being the first agreement of its type.”
Left to right: Nick Sillito (PeakGen), Matthew Roberts (PeakGen), Bhavika Patel (Wright Hassall), Ian Graves (PeakGen), Nisha Kandola (PeakGen)
O.R. Jones & Sons ‘go paperless’ with TruTac’s CPT software
Coach operator O.R. Jones & Sons has sharpened up its vehicle inspections and gone paperless with the help of TruTac’s CPT (Confederation of Passenger Transport) approved dedicated PSV software.
Based near Holyhead, Anglesey, the company was established in 1936 and is one of North Wales’s oldest coach specialists. It has a fleet of 30 vehicles – around a third of which are minibuses and the remainder multiseater coaches – and undertakes tours, local bus services, school runs and private hire, among other services. It is also accredited by the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT).
O.R. Jones has been a TruTac customer since 2017 and uses the CPT Tacho Analysis, CPT Fleet Management and CPT Daily Checks systems across its three depots. The CPT Daily Checks software is its most recent addition and was, in part, a way for the company to ditch physical documents when the pandemic set in.
PSV technician Martyn Owens said: “During lockdown, I looked into doing the checks digitally. It seemed like a good idea, both operationally and because it meant we could go paperless.
“From there, we decided to do the vehicles’ Preventative Maintenance Inspection (PMI) checks digitally. Before that, we had to fill in a form, scan it and send it on, but TruTac and CPT introduced a new system that allowed us to do the full PMI check on a smartphone. It’s very good software; any updates from the DVSA are automatically added, so you don’t need to worry about them.”
In addition to the biosecurity benefits, going paperless has speeded up O.R. Jones’s approach to vehicle checks and improved its record-keeping. Transport managers at each of its sites have instant access to vehicle status and the age-old headaches with physical documents just do not exist.
PLMR acquires Midlands PR firm
PLMR, one of the UK’s most successful and fast-growing communications agencies, has acquired Coventry-based Advent Communications as it expands its footprint in the Midlands and further develops the breadth and quality of the services it offers to its clients.
PLMR has been based in the region since 2017, with its office in Birmingham part of a network also spanning London, Chelmsford, and Glasgow. The agency already works with many clients in the Midlands including the University of Warwick, West Midlands Combined Authority, Coventry City Council and several major property developers.
Advent Communications is one of the region’s most well-respected communications agencies, with organisations including Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, Fisher German, UK City of Culture, CWLEP, the Deeley Group and Wasps Group on its client roster.
The acquisition of Advent Communications in a seven-figure deal will bring together its many strengths with PLMR’s existing capabilities in the region to form one of the largest communications agencies in the Midlands, with a range of marketleading skills to offer to clients. Advent will continue to trade under its current name and brand from its Coventry base.
Will Savage, who will head PLMR’s Midlands team, said: “Since we were founded in 2017, PLMR’s Midlands office has been proud to support many leading organisations in the region. Over the years, we’ve worked closely with Advent on a number of projects so coming together is both a natural progression for us and will be transformative in the way we serve our clients in the region.”
Adam Dent, managing director of Advent Communications, who will stay with the company, said: “This is a really progressive move for Advent, our team and our clients. It’s great that we’re joining such a highly-regarded national group which will allow us to add to our services and help grow our client base. We’ve worked with PLMR and it’s a very natural fit for both companies.”
NI increase could fund social care and the NHS
In September the proposals for social care funding in England were announced, featuring a new lifetime cap of £86,000 on the amount individuals will be expected to pay for their personal care. The actual amount paid could total more than £86,000 because the cap excludes the so called “hotel costs” in respect of accommodation and meals.
To fund the costs, it is proposed to add an extra 1.25% to the rates of national insurance from April 2022, with 1.25% added to the tax rates on dividends.
Someone with a salary (or profits) of £50,000 will face an additional tax charge of £505 per year rising to £1,130 at a salary of £100,000. From April 2023 the extra 1.25% will be payable by those still working and over state pension age.
Therefore, it’s good housekeeping to maximise ISAs and/or pensions to protect savings from income tax and capital gains tax. Couples could also ensure that assets are split to make the most of personal allowances and tax bands.
The rate of employer National Insurance will also rise by 1.25% to 15.05%.
This increase in tax is combined with an increase in corporation tax rates from 1 April 2023 with the main rate being set at 25% for businesses with profits above £250,000. A small profits rate of 19% will be introduced for companies with profits of £50,000 or less. The rate for companies with profits between £50,000 and £250,000 will gradually increase from 19% to 25%.
The increase in the dividend rate, coupled with the rise in corporation tax, could have a significant impact when you are making future decisions on how to take profits out of your business.
For more information, please contact Integrity Wealth Solutions at www.integritywealth.co.uk.
A taste of Christmas
A new selection of corporate gifts, showcasing artisan food and drink producers from across the Midlands, is now available from British Regional Hampers.
The Henley-in-Arden-based company can customise requests for just ten boxes upwards, ideal for small-tomedium sized businesses looking for unique employee rewards or client gifts this Christmas. Large orders can also be catered for.
Working to a pre-agreed budget, the hampers contain a selection of products tailored to the preferences of the client and its employees/customers, including wines, spirits, cheeses, meats, smoked products, accompaniments, chocolates and desserts.
Other options include colourcoordinated and branded packaging and customised magazines with a message from the CEO, company profile, and a personal thank-you to staff and/or clients.
British Regional Hampers offers the best of UK food and drink from highquality independent suppliers, many of whom work alone or in small teams, selling via farmers’ markets, in local shops or online, and offering products not usually available in the mass retail market.
Local specialities from Warwickshire and Worcestershire in the corporate Christmas hampers can include a rosé wine produced on land once owned by Shakespeare’s family, a vintage clothbound cheese from the oldest cheesemakers in Britain, an exceptional elderflower liqueur from the Ragley Estate, an aubergine pickle whose sales help support Worcester Cathedral, and a black salt developed in conjunction with Moseley’s Michelin-starred chef Brad Carter.
