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FIND A NEW JOB
IN THE HOT SEAT
WOMEN IN BUSINESS
Looking for a new job? Don’t miss our 8-page supplement – inside
The re-elected chairman of the FSB sets out his goals for the city – page 10
Boardrooms are missing out on huge pool of talented women – page 3
Business bristolpost.co.uk
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JAN 2014
ON THE MOVE
TRI AND MIGHTY Retail success story the Triathlon Shop gets bigger and better with a move to new premises as the sport’s popularity soars EPB-E01-S3
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Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Focus on start-ups | Sponsored by THEME SPONSOR’S NAME HERE.
Commercial feature
Hold-ups with MoTs drove us to set up our own vehicle test lane
Know how William Sanzo Director Eurotaxis
Gavin Thompson Assistant Editor (Business) gavin.thompson@b-nm.co.uk
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Further growth is very much achievable for us
YATE taxi and coach-hire company is opening its doors to other businesses after investing in a commercial vehicles MoT
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lane. Eurotaxis has been a phenomenal success story since it was founded by Juan Sanzo in 1980. It has grown from a one-man operation, after Juan bought a “battered old” Austin for £200. Now the firm has 180 vehicles – taxis, buses and coaches – and a turnover of £5 million a year. It employs 95 people and uses a number of other self-employed taxi drivers. That growth, however, caused Juan a headache. Every commercial vehicle has to be MoT-tested each year. And unlike with a personal car, you cannot take it to many garages. There are a select number of specialised testing lanes in Au-
“ You can never get an appointment – it was a real problem. And when you did it was taking four hours to take a vehicle for testing and then bring it back. So we decided to invest £150,000 in building our own lane to do it in-house. Juan Sanzo thorised Testing Facilities. Difficulties in getting Juan’s fleet of vehicles to the nearest centre, and lack of available appointments, prompted Eurotaxis to come up with a radical solution. Juan said: “You can never get an appointment – it was a real problem. And when you did it was taking four hours to take a vehicle for testing and then bring it back. “So we decided to invest £150,000 in building our own lane to do it in-house.” It took six months to get through the red tape and logistical hurdles. But the lane finally opened for business in November, just before the firm’s 33rd birthday. The benefits for Eurotaxis are the time and cost savings in not having to get its vehicles to the test centre.
● Eurotaxis directors Keith and William Sanzo And to cover the running costs and eventually recoup the investment, the firm has opened up the lane to other companies. It has a VOSA tester on site three days a week, but is hoping to extend that to Monday to Saturday once it has enough customers coming in – that could add up to 80 tests each week. Juan says the MoT lane will never be a big profit-maker for the company, but has mutual benefits for his business and other firms in the area that can make use of it, paying just a small pit fee on top of the VOSA charges. The MoT lane is just one of the
services Eurotaxis offers over and above a typical taxi firm. It runs a commercial-vehicle recovery service for breakdowns, can carry out repairs and maintenance work, and can collect and return vehicles for their MoTs. And its coach hire arm takes people across the UK and Europe. Eurotaxis undertakes around 8,000 to 10,000 taxi journeys every week, and buses about 5,000 children to and from school. Juan said: “The key to growing the business has been hard work and family.” His wife Anne is the managing director, sons Keith and William are
directors and son-in-law Toby runs the workshop. Juan said: “It is very important that it is a family business. It gives you trust, and know how, from length of service. For example, Keith has been with the business for about 20 years.” As to his own involvement as company secretary, Juan, 63, has no plans to retire. He said: “I enjoy this too much.” And he still gets behind the wheel regularly. Juan said: “I still drive every day – buses, taxis, whatever. I enjoy the driving. There is no hassle. There is no stress. Driving is driving.”
ITH the Government’s continuing frugality, it may seem that the transport industry has been regulated an exponential
amount. Rising costs of fuel coupled with increasing traffic congestion mean that for many operators profits are being squeezed like never before. Established more than 33 years ago and still a family-run taxi and PCV operator, Eurotaxis has seen many changes, the largest of which was amalgamating two sites and moving to a purpose-built transport yard in Yate. Only last year we were based on a small, dusty yard in Westerleigh with our maintenance facilities based eight miles away, and our nearest VOSA Authorised Testing Facility 16 miles away in Avonmouth. If you think that some PCV vehicles will only do eight miles per gallon, we were wasting a small fortune in fuel and wages commuting daily between the sites. After 13 years, we finally found a suitable location and moved to a purpose-built transport yard in Yate with on-site facilities. However, we still had the 32-mile round trip nearly twice a week for a PCV vehicle to go to the ATF for its MoT. We have invested £150,000 in a new ATF lane at our depot in Yate. The ATF lane is now open to the public and to other operators. Since its opening day we have seen all kinds of vehicles on site, from horseboxes to coaches, from HGVs to buses. Some individuals or operators who do not have maintenance facilities have even brought their vehicle to us for its MoT preparation where we have guaranteed it will pass its MoT. Alongside our ATF lane we have invested in our vehicle-recovery infrastructure with a Mercedes Actros and a Mercedes Atego. So far there have been numerous HGV and PCV operators who have used our maintenance and recovery services as a one-stop shop for their vehicles. Our other significant investment last year was building a classroom and becoming an authorised centre to give the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence. We see that growth – although difficult at the moment – is, with the right infrastructure and commitment, very much achievable.
Not Just Taxis
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eurotaxis.com 0333 666 66 66
Recovery & Repairs
Mini Buses & Coaches
Taxis & Weddings
ATF - HGV & PSV MOTs
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Wednesday, January 22, 2014
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Focus: Nuclear opportunities
POWER SURGE FOR CITY ECONOMY In the second of our features on what the new generation of nuclear power plants will mean for businesses in Bristol, Gavin Thompson looks at the impact on the city’s economy
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UILDING a new nuclear reactor in Somerset – and then potentially a second in South Gloucestershire – could have the biggest impact on Bristol’s economy since the Second Severn Crossing opened, according to a leading property expert. Ned Cussen, consultant at Jones Lang LaSalle, based in Berkeley Square, Bristol, said the economic benefits of such major projects should not be understated. “Major infrastructure projects are major drivers of the economy,” he said. “And the new nuclear reactor at Hinkley Point in Somerset is the largest infrastructure scheme in the whole of Britain.” Although the project is 50 miles down the motorway near Bridgwater, he said the scheme was so big, the ripple effect would be felt in Bristol and beyond. “The implications of major infrastructure development is demonstrated by what has happened on the north fringe of Bristol – the M4 and M5 motorway corridor produced an explosion of activity and growth,” said Mr Cussen. “The last major infrastructure scheme in this area was the Second Severn Crossing, which was completed in 1996.” He said that at Jones Lang LaSalle they were already receiving calls about office space in Bristol from technical consultants associated
“ It’s not just about the obvious jobs linked with building and running a nuclear power station, it’s the spend that comes through that association. Ned Cussen, right
● An artist’s impression of how Hinkley will look after the installation of its new reactors; below, the plant as it is now under way at Hinkley Point and the level of Government subsidies on the electricity produced from the plant have been agreed. It will be the first of the UK’s new generation of nuclear power plants, but won’t be the last. Further down the line is a plan for a new reactor at Oldbury, by Horizon, a subsidiary of Japanese firm Hitachi. Mr Cussen said the Oldbury site was the “best located in the UK” for such a development. Many such plants were deliberately out of the way, but Oldbury was relatively close to the M5. He said: “The land has been acquired, it is well placed on the grid and access for construction is excellent. Building another reactor here would be a real boost for this area. “It also makes the area more desirable for the businesses which might be drawn here because of Hinkley, to know that once that is finished there could be another major development requiring the same skills just up the road.” John Gilbert, head of strategy and development at Horizon, agreed. “Oldbury will be a multi-billion pound investment, comprising at least two reactors,” he said. “We believe there is an opportunity for 60 per cent of the value of the work on construction to go to UK firms and we will look to prioritise local companies where they can demonstrate they can
deliver the work to the right quality and cost. “As we explained at a supply chain event in 2013, the Oldbury development is still some way down the line. The exact timings are to be decided following the confirmation of the construction timetable for Horizon’s first power station, Wylfa Newydd, on the Isle of Anglesey. “However, this gives us time to assess and develop our supply chain, building on the wider regional expertise that is developing as a result of the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station project in Somerset. “In the meantime, we’d recommend companies register their interest with us (www.horizonnuclearpower.com/supplier-re gistration). “In the longer term, we expect a peak workforce at Oldbury itself of up to 6,000 and a permanent direct work-
force of up to 1,000 once the power station is operational.” Damian Whittard, senior economic lecturer from the University of the West of England, said the benefits of both projects would be felt in a number of ways, including technology, expertise and wages. On Hinkley, he said: “First, there’s the construction part. It will see the creation of 20,000 to 25,000 jobs. There is a spiral effect as that works through the economy.” He said the supply chain would see some of the investment and jobs filter down to local companies. “EDF’s figures suggest £85 million in wages will be paid over the lifetime of the construction, of which £32 million will be in the region,” said Mr Whittard. Technology developed for the project could have spin-off benefits later
● Hinkley Point C will be the first in a new generation of nuclear power stations across the UK ● It will be able to generate 3,260MW of electricity – around five million homes ● It will sit alongside the current Hinkley reactors, one still active and the other being decommissioned ● The site will include: – Two UK EPR nuclear reactors units – Two turbine halls – Cooling water infrastructure – Fuel and waste management facilities, including storage – Electricity transmission infrastructure – Service and ancillary buildings – A sea wall – A public information centre – Landscaping for the construction land. on, although the firms involved would not necessarily be in this region. But the region, with Bristol well placed as its economic capital, could see a cluster effect of expertise. “If you have a centre of expertise over time you may see more investment, domestic and foreign, and inward investment teams for the West of England will be targeting that,” said Mr Whittard. Peter Musgrove, director of commercial property consultant Lambert Smith Hampton in Bristol, said: “The long-term prospects for Bristol and the South West are very promising.” He said one of the biggest deals would be EDF taking space in the region, but felt they might be tempted to move closer to Hinkley Point in Somerset, rather than Bristol. However, he added: “The great thing about a nuclear power plant is that it is a very long-term project and a very large investment. As a result, there will be a lot of investment over a period of time coming down the M5 to areas such as Clevedon. “There will become, along the M5, a specialist nuclear hub. There will be offices for the major companies involved in the project, from construction firms to suppliers.”
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with the project. It is being delivered by French power firm EDF with a promise to create and use a local supply chain, and will bring direct benefits in terms of jobs in construction as the plant is built. But the economic benefit will be wider. “It’s not just about the obvious jobs linked with building and running a nuclear power station, it’s the spend that comes through that association,” said Mr Cussen. “It’s what is called the economic multiplier, which means that for every £1 spent, you generate as much as £8 in the economy.” Preparation works are already
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Wednesday, January 22, 2014
The Big Interview
MY AMBITION IS TO HELP THIS BUSINESS COMMUNITY GROW With four decades of experience as a retailer, Ken Simpson has the perfect credentials for his role as chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses. He tells of his passion to help start-up traders and how he thinks the high street can survive, as Rupert Janisch reports
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T’S been well over a year since Ken Simpson was elected Bristol chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses. Last November, when he was re-elected to serve another 12 months in the position, his election was unopposed. Partly, that was due to his success in promoting the FSB during the previous year of his tenure. Partly, he admits, it was because nobody else was in the running. Maybe that’s because the role is voluntary and requires a significant amount of dedication. But for Mr Simpson, who is 55 and also runs a retail consultancy called Make More Margin from his home in Whitchurch, the position is a rewarding one, for several reasons. “Part of it is about raising the profile of Make More Margin,” he says. “But I also want to give something back. I’ve spent 40 years in retail, I’ve learned a lot, and I want to help businesses operate and help this business community grow. “I also wanted to make the FSB far more visible to the public and its membership. “As a small business, if you’re not a member I’d question why not because there are so many benefits. “And in the last 12 months we’ve done a fair amount in terms of promoting the organisation, and gained quite a bit of publicity, which I’m really happy about.” Many FSB members – there are 1,830 companies in Bristol with the organisation – will remember the day the sales rep visited them to convince them that membership was a good thing. They’ll probably still recognise the benefits – free business banking, legal advice available, protection against investigation from the Inland Revenue, online resources including templates of business documents, to name but a few. But many will also feel that, having been given the sales patter, their investment in membership hasn’t exactly made a major impact on their business. Mr Simpson says: “That’s one of the things I’m really conscious of in Bristol, and why we have introduced monthly networking events to reach out to the membership. “Membership is static at 1,830 or thereabouts. I have an ambition to get it up towards 2,000 by this time next year because of the referral scheme we are going to start. “But it is quite difficult keeping in contact with membership, especially with data protection. “For example, I don’t have a database of my members – I have to go through the regional office.
“Having said that, we do have a weekly email newsletter which goes out. And we are working as hard as we can here to make the most of our members’ involvement with the organisation.” So what else does the FSB do? You may know that it specialises in supporting retailers and much of Mr Simpson’s limited time commitment has been involved in supporting shop owners in areas like Clifton, Cotham and Redland. He is currently spearheading a campaign called Winning Whiteladies, which is designed to revitalise the retail, business and community spirit in Whiteladies Road, Cotham Hill, Alma Road, Alma Vale Road,
Vital statistics Name: Ken Simpson Age: 55 Place of birth: Rochdale, Greater Manchester School: Balderstone, Rochdale First job: Saturday boy with Asda Hero or inspiration: Sir Winston Churchill. He managed to re-invent himself several times and was indefatigable despite overwhelming odds. He also had a great, intelligent sense of humour.
Lower Redland Road, Worral Road and Chandos Road. And with a high concentration of small businesses in the area, Whiteladies Road and its surrounds are also hotspots of wider issues which affect small firms across the city, like transport, business rates, refuse collection and, in particular, residents’ parking zones. “It’s is a thorny issue,” he says, “and while I don’t normally sit on the fence I can see both sides of the argument. But my concern primarily is that it doesn’t impact negatively on business. “So I’ve looked at the plans for both sides of Whiteladies Road with some interest because I’m setting up the traders’ association here, and I’ve suggested some improvements which will make it better for business while
not impacting adversely on the residents. There needs to be the right mixture of mixed use, pay and display and permit-only. “We’ve got 450 people who will be working at Simply Health at the old NatWest building at the top of Whiteladies Road at the end of this month. “There are only 40 parking spaces, so it’s going to be a bit of a challenge.” Residents’ parking is also an issue about transport policy – something which Mr Simpson also has views on. He says: “Public transport’s the only alternative, but in reality it’s pretty poor. “If we want to get people out of their cars we have to make public transport work. But I’ve tried to use public transport several times – the buses don’t turn up even when they’re scheduled to. “There needs to be better thinking about the use of park and rides – for example, making the one at Bath Road in south Bristol run the whole way through the city and down to the Portway, so that someone living in Keynsham but working in Clifton doesn’t have to change in the city centre. “There’s also a problem with weekends – local traders on places like Cotham Hill find that their potential customers can’t park nearby because the restrictions stop at 5pm on a Friday and residents park in the spaces all weekend.” Given the local nature of many of the concerns of FSB members, it’s unsurprising that Mr Simpson has a close relationship with Bristol City Council, sitting on a number of scrutiny panels to represent their interests. But he’s realistic about laying the blame for some policies, such as the oft-cited issue of business rates, away from the city council’s door. Where he believes the city council can make an impact is by offering flexibility in enforcing regulations which impact negatively on local traders, such as planning regulations for on-street advertising. “Currently, places like side-street cafes can’t advertise on corners because they don’t have the requisite planning permission. “The council really should take the rules and wonder whether they’d rather have the shops full and business rates or impose draconian laws which no one else is bothered about because the signs aren’t blocking the pavement. “Now’s the time that we need local authorities which support local businesses. “There’s a bit of a shift going on –
My downtime What’s your perfect weekend? Spending time with my wife Clair, ideally when it is dry or sunny so that I can get out in the garden. What’s your favourite book or film or TV show? There are too many great books to single any one out; but anything on local history, WW2, or by
Noel Barber, Bernard Cornwell, Ken Follett and Bryce Courtenay. My favourite films: The Mothman Prophecies and most WW2 films. My favourite TV shows: I quite like Grand Designs, Doctor Who (inset), Life on Mars (right) and Ashes to Ashes.
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Wednesday, January 22, 2014
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My working day You wake up at? It depends on what I am doing, but usually 7.30am What do you have for breakfast? Cup of tea What time do you start work? Again, it depends, but usually 9am What happens in your typical working day? There is no such thing, every day is different. What time do you go home? It varies, but usually between 5.30pm and 6.30pm Do you take work home/attend evening functions? Yes to both. I try to get to as many Neighbourhood Partnership meetings around Whiteladies Road as I can, as well as the management side of developing the traders’ association, FSB events, and late-night working if the client requires it. I often spend the evening catching up on the social media aspects of my various roles.
“ I’ve spent 40 years in retail, I’ve learned a lot, and I want to help businesses operate and help this business community grow. I also wanted to make the FSB far more visible to the public and its membership. As a small business, if you’re not a member I’d question why not because there are so many benefits. Ken Simpson, left
trading started as a Saturday worker for Asda in his original home town Rochdale. His first taste of Bristol was a cycling holiday in 1976 – he decided he liked it here and moved to the city in 1977. Now, through the FSB, he’s also focused on helping the next generation of retailers to get their foot on the ladder. “We’ve been quite heavily involved with the Young Enterprise scheme in schools,” he says, “helping students take on extra-curricular work setting up a proper company, issuing shares and so on. “We put up a prize for the best school in Bristol – £300 for seed cap-
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people are moving to online retail but they also want proper advice and genuine goods. “That’s what the high street needs to become, offering the specialist element.” But it’s not all criticism of the city council. “Whilst they can be a real pain in the sit-upon,” he says, “they are very good at promoting business in the city. “We’ve worked extensively with the city council over the past 12 months, doing things like running events where small businesses can get in front of big businesses, which have been hugely successful and will be repeated this year.” Mr Simpson’s life in four decades of
ital for this year and £200 for the winners, a school from Backwell, which they’ve actually put back into this year’s competition entry. “That shows how much the students put into this. “It’s a really good thing because it helps students get into the world of commerce and business, rather than going down an academic route. “Because some youngsters are ideally suited to running a business and it’s really inspiring to be involved with it. “We’ve done some funding, but we also have teams of businessmen who act as coaches to the schools that were involved. “It’s been happening in other areas, but I’ve promoted the FSB’s involvement with it in Bristol. “I was so blown away by the calibre of these kids that I thought it was something that we had to get behind, because they are our future members.” Mr Simpson also hopes, if possible, to realign the regional structure of the FSB so that it better fits the governmental structure of the area. Currently some areas of north Somerset, such as Clevedon and Nailsea, fall within his patch while other areas like Weston-super-Mare, which are covered by business organisations like the LEP, do not. There are currently more than 1,800 businesses in the Bristol branch of the FSB, comprising more than 8,000 employees. If Mr Simpson has his way, that number could soon become even more significant.
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Growth
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Commercial property
Manufacturing
Concern over new regulations on rent arrears
Best-ever quarter for new business launches ● A RECORD number of new companies were formed in Bristol during the third quarter of 2013, according to a new report. Company formation in Bristol reached an all-time high during the third quarter of the year, according to data released by Duport.co.uk. The latest Duport Business Confidence Report for the city shows there were 1,721 companies formed between July and September. This figure beats any other third quarter on record for the city and represents a 12 per cent rise on the same period in 2012. Net company growth – the number of company formations minus the number of company closures – also rose to 651, compared with 546 during the third quarter of 2012. Duport managing director, Peter Valaitis, pointed to developments over the past five years, including Cabot Circus shopping centre, and regeneration projects under way, such as the Canon’s Marsh development, which will include 450 new flats, homes and waterside offices. He said: “Bristol is a really exciting place for new businesses to set up, with high footfall and a dynamic city centre. “It’s no surprise that so many new companies are forming there – a trend which I expect to see continue in years to come.”
● Plasterboard maker Siniat has opened a lab at its Portbury flagship plant for testing and demonstrating its goods
New £250,000 lab gives Siniat a winning formula
Property
Confidence on the rise as office space filled ● TAKE-UP of office space in Bristol city centre in 2013 increased by nearly a quarter on the previous year, according to the latest figures released by The Bristol Office Agents Society. More than 504,500 sq ft of space was taken in the city centre, an increase of 23 per cent on 2012 and up on the five-year average. In the out-of-town market, take-up stood at 229,858 sq ft, giving an overall total for the city of 734,366 sq ft, compared to 660,598 sq ft in 2012. Richard Kidd, from GVA’s office agency team, said the “dramatic” uplift showed that occupier confidence had returned. Chris Grazier, of HTC, said the strong take-up left the city with a diminishing supply of quality space, which was good news for more speculative office development. Get the bigger picture. Business news from Bristol, Bath, Gloucestershire and Somerset. Scan to sign up for news direct to your inbox
Gavin Thompson Assistant Editor (Business) gavin.thompson@b-nm.co.uk
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MANUFACTURING firm has invested £250,000 in a new laboratory in Portbury. Plasterboard maker and supplier Siniat has built a state-of-the-art facility at its flagship plant. The lab provides a modern, high-specification environment for production, maintenance and quality assurance teams, which have been consolidated in one place at the heart of the plant. Building work began in May and is now complete, with the lab fully operational. The facility also acts as an area where Siniat can welcome customers and other visitors to discuss its innovations and show off its products’ capabilities, such as fire and water resistance. Plant manager Stephane Mettavant said the project was a step in a
long-term vision for improving the site. “We’ve embarked on an ambitious programme of change for our Bristol plant since becoming Siniat,” he said. “It’s focused on improving facilities for our customers and our employees and creating an environment in which we can share our expertise. “The programme has already delivered tangible results and helped us to streamline our processes throughout the plant. We have been successful in reducing the number of customer complaints we receive to industry-leading levels, and the new lab represents the next stage of reinforcing that quality assurance. “It conveys the values that we share at Siniat: it is open, modern, professional and innovative – and literally places quality at the heart of our operation. “The Bristol plant is Siniat’s biggest manufacturing facility and it’s really important that we make it a place where employees are proud to work and where customers feel wel-
● Stephane Mettavant come to come and see the production line for themselves.” Siniat was formerly known as Lafarge Plasterboard. It was acquired by the Etex group at the end of 2011 and began trading as Siniat in October 2012.
● PROPERTY experts are warning that new regulations governing the ways in which landlords can recover commercial rent arrears could upset relationships between owners and tenants. The new commercial rent arrears recovery (CRAR) procedure comes into force in April, replacing the common law remedy that has been in use for more than 800 years. Under the old rules, landlords could recover arrears of rent from their tenants by instructing bailiffs to seize their goods and sell them without going to court or giving the tenant any advance warning. But from April 6 landlords will have to give tenants seven days’ notice before entering the premises and only rent up to the date of the notice can be recovered. Angus Jackson, right, from Bruton Knowles, said the regulations had received a lukewarm reception from the recovering commercial property sector. He said: “The old regime was generally regarded by landlords as a quick and efficient method to recover rent arrears. “The new procedure is narrower in scope and is likely to be less useful to landlords. “Landlords will be particularly concerned regarding the prior notice requirement, which could give a tenant the opportunity to move any items of value to a secure location or to dispose of them. “Issues are also likely to arise in relation to where a notice must be served. It would appear that it can be served at the demised premises, at a company’s registered office or a place where the debtor tenant carries out a trade or business. “It may be better not to serve the notice at the demised premises, in the hope that it is overlooked or the occupiers of the demised property are not notified of the enforcement agent’s visit.” He added that it only applied to basic rent. Mr Jackson said: “We will have to wait and see how useful the new regulations are in practice, but at this stage it would appear that this could make the recovery of arrears a more time-consuming and costly process.”
Property
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Builders chosen for student flats POSH student flats developer Vita Ventures has appointed a contractor for a £14 million scheme in Bristol city centre. The appointment of Blackpool-based Create Construction to the Colston Avenue scheme shows how the student property market continues to boom in Bristol. The six-storey project should be ready for the 2014/2015 academic year. The flats are aimed at undergraduates from overseas, a growing demographic who tend to look for luxury accommodation. The project comprises 132 studio rooms, which are sold to private in-
vestors and then let out on their behalf to students. Since it was launched for sales in July 2013, all the rooms have been sold and many have already been reserved by students for the 2014/15 academic year. Chief executive, Trevor Moore, said: “Bristol was selected as the location for a luxury student accommodation scheme because it has a world-renowned university and attracts a high calibre of students from around the globe. “The demand we’ve experienced from both investors and students shows that our instincts about the scheme and the city were spot-on.”
● The Vita Ventures development in Colston Avenue, Bristol
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Wednesday, January 22, 2014
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Residential lettings
● Co-owner Jon Burrage and store manager Chris Newman will see The Triathlon Shop in major new premises on Millennium Square
On your marks Sports store set for move the store has recently made the final of the Britain’s Friendliest Business awards. Each finalist has to get as many Facebook “likes” as possible at facebook.com/BritainsFriendliestBiz, which will be considered by the judges. The new store will feature increased workshop capacity, a bio-mechanical and gait analysis studio, sports massage and injury rehab clinics, as well as a high-end “endless” pool for wetsuit testing and technique coaching. The shop will also have a comprehensive hire and demo programme, enabling customers to try bikes, saddles and wetsuits before they buy and to hire bike boxes and race wheels. As well as capitalising on its loc-
ation during major events such as the annual Bristol half marathon, which starts in the Harbourside, regular runs and rides will start from the shop, which will also host seminars and an in-store cafe area offering refreshments and live sports on screen.
SPORTS shop is set to mark its third anniversary with a move into a major new site on the city’s Harbourside. The Triathlon Shop opened in Temple Quay in April 2011, occupying 1,600 square feet at its store near Temple Meads railway station. But after capitalising on the growing popularity of the sport in the UK and outgrowing their current location, the store is about to move to 9,000 sq ft of premises in Millennium Square. The move will take place in the
early part of this year, in time for the new triathlon season. Triathlon is a sport which combines swimming, road cycling and running over distances ranging from short sprint events to marathon Ironman versions. Helped by the exploits of Olympic gold medallist Alistair Brownlee and bronze-winning brother Jonathan, the sport has seen more growth in the UK than any other in recent years. And with separate parts of the new store dedicated to each discipline, The Triathlon Shop co-owner Jon Burrage expects to see a diverse range of athletes coming through the doors. Mr Burrage, 29, from Staple Hill, runs the shop with his wife Holly, 27, alongside head mechanic Will Poole,
Sector
Architecture
Mitie’s care offering boosted by acquisition
Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen design success Search begins for the
Rupert Janisch Business@b-nm.co.uk
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ON YOUR MARKS: SPORTS STORE SET FOR MOVE
BUSINESS NEWS ON THE MOVE Our reporters file on the move, and you can keep up to date out and about via the mobile versions of our website bristolpost.co.uk/business
Business awards
top UK entrepreneurs
● A Base Structures employee works on a high frequency welding machine to the Copenhagen landscape.” Base is making prototypes of several panels to test and iron out any unforeseen technicalities. A site man-
ager will oversee the works and liaise with the main contractor. The Frederiksberg shopping centre is due to open in the autumn.
● ACCOUNTANTS EY are calling for nominations from business leaders in Bristol who have shown entrepreneurial flair while growing or turning around the fortunes of their organisations in the UK or overseas. Entries are open until March 7, with finalists announced in April. The programme starts at a regional level. Regional winners then progress to the UK finals, and the overall UK winner goes on to compete for the title of World Entrepreneur of the Year in Monte Carlo. Chris Gilbert, EY director and UK Entrepreneur of the Year leader in the South West, said: “With the increasing flow of good news and confidence in the economy, Britain is standing tall in the world and there has never been a better time to celebrate entrepreneurship. “EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year award programme is a great showcase that has really increased the visibility of British businessmen and women globally.”
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● BRISTOL-based outsourcing firm Mitie has bought home care services company Complete Care Holdings. Complete Care provides care at home to around 150 people with ongoing complex clinical healthcare needs. The business employs around 650 personal care assistants, including registered nurses. Mitie chief executive Ruby McGregor-Smith, pictured, said: “I am delighted to welcome all the people of Complete Care to Mitie, who bring with them the clinical capability to support individuals living at home with long-term, complex conditions. “The acquisition of Complete Care strengthens Mitie's offering in the growing healthcare market.”
A BRISTOL firm has won the bid to design, manufacture and install a major project at a new Danish shopping centre. Fabric architecture specialist Base Structures, which employs 50 people at its Feeder Road headquarters, will deliver a striking, multifaceted fabric facade and walkway metro link for Copenhagen’s flagship shopping centre, Frederiksberg. Architects KHR will not allow images of the designs to be published yet, but it is described as “edgy and geometric”, made up of fabric slabs at varying angles and planes to form a “unique textured fabric wrap”. Base Structures’ role is to design the steel and fabric elements as well as the fabrication and installation of all the fabric and fittings. Head of projects Mark Smith said: “There is simply nothing of this scale in terms of designed fabric in Denmark. It’s just not used to date as an architectural material. “We hope this will constitute a watershed moment for tensile fabric architecture in Denmark, but either way it will be an arresting addition
30, from Brislington, store manager Chris Newman, 24, from Cotham, and running and swimming expert Jon Gentle, 27, from Bedminster. Mrs Burrage said: “This move will not only allow us to show off our products in a more spacious and inviting environment, but will allow us to expand all the services that we have become so well known for. “Good customer service and an enjoyable customer experience is what sets us apart from many of the chain and online shops and we are keen to keep this at the heart of everything we do. “I am convinced that this new store will make us the best bike shop, best running shop, best swim shop and best triathlon shop in the UK.” That ethos is backed up by the fact
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www.bristolpost.co.uk/business
Business diary Wednesday@6: Bristol Institute of Directors informal free networking at The Radisson Blu from 6-8pm, today. Call 0117 3707785 to register. Become part of the skills solution, SMEs: Immersion sees LEP work with businesses and skills providers to seek alternative ways to traditional training approaches through creating a continuous dialogue between business and skills provision. 9am-1.30pm, tomorrow, Hands Price Conference Centre, Lower Church Road, Weston-super-Mare. Contact nicky.williams@woeskills.co.uk. Ask the adviser: Free speed-dating-style event for family businesses to meet specialist advisers, from 8.30am to 1pm on Friday, at Old Down Manor. To reserve a place, visit www.fibcommunity.com or email: office@fibcommunity.com. The Style Forum Bristol Runway Style Showcase: Bringing Bristol’s fashion, hair and beauty people together. 2pm-5.30pm, Monday, Berwick Lodge, Bristol. The Financial Expert: Manufacturing: A free event for SME manufacturers to update knowledge to support key decisions which underpin the future success of their business. Aimed at directors of businesses with a minimum turnover of £1 million. Tuesday, January 28, at Grant Thornton’s Bristol office at Hartwell House, 55-61 Victoria Street, from 9.15am-2pm. To book, call 0845 658 9600 or email eventssw@mymas.org. South West Infrastructure and Economic Question Time: RCIS-organised discussion around the challenges and opportunities facing the South West in funding and delivering infrastructure fit for the future, 3-6pm, Wednesday, January 29, Holiday Inn, Bristol. Old Down Manor Showcase: Complimentary showcase of venue for corporate events. Wednesday, January 29, 3.30pm-6pm. Email olivia@olddownmanor.co.uk. Spike Design: Open Wednesday Free business advice and hot-desking for creative start-ups. Wednesday, January 29. Call Jane on 0117 929 2266 to book. FSB South Gloucestershire seminar: How small businesses can get the best from Linked-in. Wednesday, January 29, 6.45pm-9.45pm, Aztec West Hotel, Almondsbury BS32 4TS. Register at www.fsb.org.uk.
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Get Connected Bristol: The Bristol’s Post’s first regular business networking event. Wednesday, February 5, 6-8pm, BDO offices, Finzel’s Reach, Bristol. Invitation only, contact gavin.thompson@b-nm.co.uk. Email your business events to gavin.thompson@b-nm.co.uk. Events are sometimes cancelled without us being notified so please check with organisers before travelling.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
TECHNOLOGY
Pillpod Work begins on breast cancer patient’s medical invention Vicki Mathias Business@b-nm.co.uk
L
ORNA Perks won a business competition with a device she came up with after chemotherapy for breast cancer – but it is in the 18 months since her win that the serious work on her project has really begun. The Ashley Down mum was certain that her Pillpod could make a difference to patients who can become confused when faced with a variety of different tablets. But, since winning the Orange Different Business competition, the single mum’s device has taken on a whole new direction. Winning the competition meant £200,000 of business support and has seen Lorna work with a host of different people on the product she came up with after her own experience with the “carrier bag full of tablets” she left hospital with after her first round of chemotherapy. Her idea was to have a device, linked into the NHS and pharmacies so that the information about each different pill and when it should be taken is programmed for the patient “You come up with what you think is a fantastic idea that is going to change the world but then you actually do the research properly,” Lorna, 50, said. “Working with the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design at the Royal College of Art talking to patients and doctors I worked out what I was trying to make was not what they wanted so it has slightly changed. “It is very hard when you have got something set in your mind and people are saying no, this is what the market wants. But what has come out of it is something even better so I am really pleased we did that.” Lorna said that working on the project has proved that other people had the same experience as she did with medication, but feedback from the medical profession showed that it would be useful for it to also gather information from patients about how they are feeling so that it can be used to gauge their health and wellbeing and also help with medical research. Lorna has continued to work with Orange since she was announced as
● Lorna Perks
THE COMPETITION ● LORNA Perks was picked from 150 different entries for a shortlist of ten for the Orange Different Business competition. A short clip explaining the Pillpod device was available on the competition website along with the nine other entries that went to a public vote. Lorna was then one of three finalists who had to pitch their business plan to a panel of judges in London and she was announced as the winner in July 2012. the winner of the competition in July last year. Now she has taken the final £46,000 from the prize pot to cover the cost of writing the software for the Pillpod.
“We are working with the Royal Marsden Hospital and have been approached by a few NHS trusts about it and they have been really positive,” Lorna, a mum of two. “When we show it to people they love it.” Lorna has also applied for a regional growth fund grant to support her efforts. And while progress has been slower than Lorna might have hoped with the Pillpod, she has seen another of the products she invented come to fruition. Smattais a play mat, which can be folded up and used to store toys with lots of little bits so that they do not leave a mess on the floor. Lorna has taken on an employee who had been unemployed for a long time and who is making the mats. “She’s absolutely brilliant and they are made in Bristol using organic Fairtrade cotton,” Lorna said.
“They were launched in July through the website and we have sold about 50 of them already. Lorna has some other inventions in mind ready for when she has finally launched the finished version of the Pillpod, and said the common theme is that they all focus on helping people. “It is just a fantastic feeling,” she said. “I think that a lot of people have ideas and don’t do anything with them. “One of the biggest fears with Smatta, which was why it took so long, was that I was frightened of putting it out to market because I was worried about people copying it but that stopped me doing anything with it, and then I thought ‘what’s the worst that can happen?’” Now her own businesses are Lor na’s job along with her sons, who she works around.
Technical services
Inviron’s platform for expansion FACILITIES management company Inviron has opened a new office in Bristol as part of its strategy to expand its business in the region. The office will be responsible for supporting existing contracts, including planned and reactive maintenance programmes it provides for clients including Cabot Circus owner Land Securities and aircraft manufacturer Airbus. Three people will be based in the Almondsbury office, managing a team of engineers across the region. The firm hopes to expand the team as it wins more local contracts. Inviron’s managing director, Neil Johnson, and regional director, Dave Webb, opened the office, the firm’s
first in the South West. It has eight other offices in the UK, spread from Birmingham to Glasgow to Ipswich. Andy Shepherd, who will manage the Bristol branch, said: “An important part of our overall strategy is to establish and expand upon the opportunities within the south west of England and South Wales. Moving into these new premises will support this strategy. “This will be the first time Inviron has had an office in the region and I’m confident that our existing clients will benefit from our presence.” Mr Johnson said: “Our vision is to become the most respected sustainable technical services business in the UK and Ireland.”
● Far left, contact manager Steve Nott, next to branch manager Andy Shepherd, will be based at the Bristol office. Far right, managing director Neil Picture: Dave Betts Johnson next to regional director Dave Webb
www.bristolpost.co.uk/business
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
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Awards
University Women are our best students – but don’t get promoted “ These awards
provide role models of successful women and how they managed to achieve that success. Professor Jane Harrington
Gavin Thompson Assistant Editor (Business) gavin.thompson@b-nm.co.uk
A
ROUND half of the talented graduates from the University of the West of England’s Faculty of Business and Law are women. But not enough are breaking through into the boardrooms of businesses. That’s why UWE Bristol is backing the inaugural Bristol and Bath Women in Business Awards as the main sponsor. Professor Jane Harrington, executive dean of the faculty and pro-vice Chancellor of the university, said: “If you look at students coming out of university, about 50 per cent of UWE students are women and yet when you get to senior level in business that becomes a much lower number. “In the legal profession, 50 per cent of our students are women and they perform slightly better than our male students. They perform well initially in their careers but then tail off. “We need to promote those very gifted young women and give them the confidence that they can achieve as they go through their careers. “These awards provide role models of successful women and how they managed to achieve that success.” Jane, 47, is a member of the Bristol Women’s Commission and the South West board of the Confederation of British Industry. Her role at UWE is similar to that of a chief executive of a branch of a large company. She has 200 academics working for her and about 6,500 students. “I have to deal with all the same
THE CATEGORIES ● Woman of the Year, sponsored by PPC
sponsored by HSBC Commercial Banking
● Young Entrepreneur of the Year
● Business of the Year, sponsored by City of Bristol College
● Mentor of the Year ● Contribution to the Community Award, for women who have made a difference to Bristol or Bath ● Women in the Workplace Award, sponsored by Crest Nicholson, for companies that show flexibility and adaptability to the employment of women ● New Business of the Year,
● Award for Innovation ● Marketing Campaign of the Year ● Female Apprentice Development Award, sponsored by the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership ● Outstanding Contribution to Business in Bristol or Bath sponsored by UWE Bristol
Best deals - How the numbers stack up Inflation (CPI) Business current Business savings accounts accounts 1.01% State Bank £10,000 deposit of India 0.25% £1 deposit 0.12% £1 deposit
Co-operative Bank
Cambridge & 1.80% Counties £10,000 deposit Bank United Trust Bank
1.55% £500 deposit
United Trust Bank
1.50% £500 deposit
0.10% Unity Trust £25,000 deposit Bank
1.50% Shawbrook £5,000 deposit Bank
0.05% £1 deposit
State Bank 1.49% of India £10,000 deposit
Allied Irish Bank (GB)
1.36% 0.05% National £500 deposit Counties BS £1,000 deposit
Weekly earnings
%
Corporation tax %
23 20 13 10
Main rate
%
Small profits rate – below £300,000
Base interest rate Employer NI rates .8% % Standard rate on Ave mortgage rate %
earnings above £148 per week
.4%
Employees in salary-related pension scheme earning up £770 p/w
Petrol prices .66p
129 137 137 70
Unleaded
.21p Diesel
.74p Super unleaded
.65p LPG
Source: PetrolPrices.com
er I have got to the stage where I was looking for the next challenge, I have been able to find it here.” Which sounds like something to celebrate. Jane said: “Celebrating women’s success in business is hugely important. “It’s important at all levels for the economy, for both financial and non-financial reasons. The economy prospers if they have the best talent and not to have the same percentage of women as you could have means you are missing out potentially on a huge pool of talent.”
● To enter (the deadline is February 21) visit www.bristolpost.co.uk/wiba, choose your category and fill in the form online.
Get in touch Assistant Editor (Business) Gavin Thompson Call 0117 934 3336 Email gavin.thompson @b-nm.co.uk Twitter @gavin_thompson1
Writer Rupert Janisch Email business@ b-nm.co.uk Advertising Robert Rodgerson Call07828 941469 Email robert.rodgerson @b-nm.co.uk Advertising Jane Chapman Call 01179 343025 Email jane.chapman @b-nm.co.uk Advertising Simon Coy Media Sales Executive - Business Call 07736 900 705. Email simon.coy @b-nm.co.uk
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Source: Business Moneyfacts moneyfacts.co.uk
2.0 1.1 0.5 3.99
%
issues like staffing, HR, finance, budgets, facilities, estates that a business does because we are running a business, it’s just that our business happens to be higher education,” said Jane. Her customers are the large numbers of students, from undergraduates through to PhD level. The faculty also works with businesses in a number of ways, from placing students in internships, working together to produce students to meet industry needs and providing tailored courses and programmes for companies. Jane herself is a role model, reaching one of the top positions in an organisation the size of UWE. She has been at the university since 1991, but staying in one place doesn’t denote any lack of ambition. “I’ve held pretty much every position within the faculty, from researcher up to executive dean,” she said. “I’ve been lucky in that whenev-
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www.bristolpost.co.uk/business
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
The Big Interview
MY AMBITION IS TO HELP THIS BUSINESS COMMUNITY GROW With four decades of experience as a retailer, Ken Simpson has the perfect credentials for his role as chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses. He tells of his passion to help start-up traders and how he thinks the high street can survive, as Rupert Janisch reports
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T’S been well over a year since Ken Simpson was elected Bristol chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses. Last November, when he was re-elected to serve another 12 months in the position, his election was unopposed. Partly, that was due to his success in promoting the FSB during the previous year of his tenure. Partly, he admits, it was because nobody else was in the running. Maybe that’s because the role is voluntary and requires a significant amount of dedication. But for Mr Simpson, who is 55 and also runs a retail consultancy called Make More Margin from his home in Whitchurch, the position is a rewarding one, for several reasons. “Part of it is about raising the profile of Make More Margin,” he says. “But I also want to give something back. I’ve spent 40 years in retail, I’ve learned a lot, and I want to help businesses operate and help this business community grow. “I also wanted to make the FSB far more visible to the public and its membership. “As a small business, if you’re not a member I’d question why not because there are so many benefits. “And in the last 12 months we’ve done a fair amount in terms of promoting the organisation, and gained quite a bit of publicity, which I’m really happy about.” Many FSB members – there are 1,830 companies in Bristol with the organisation – will remember the day the sales rep visited them to convince them that membership was a good thing. They’ll probably still recognise the benefits – free business banking, legal advice available, protection against investigation from the Inland Revenue, online resources including templates of business documents, to name but a few. But many will also feel that, having been given the sales patter, their investment in membership hasn’t exactly made a major impact on their business. Mr Simpson says: “That’s one of the things I’m really conscious of in Bristol, and why we have introduced monthly networking events to reach out to the membership. “Membership is static at 1,830 or thereabouts. I have an ambition to get it up towards 2,000 by this time next year because of the referral scheme we are going to start. “But it is quite difficult keeping in contact with membership, especially with data protection. “For example, I don’t have a database of my members – I have to go through the regional office.
“Having said that, we do have a weekly email newsletter which goes out. And we are working as hard as we can here to make the most of our members’ involvement with the organisation.” So what else does the FSB do? You may know that it specialises in supporting retailers and much of Mr Simpson’s limited time commitment has been involved in supporting shop owners in areas like Clifton, Cotham and Redland. He is currently spearheading a campaign called Winning Whiteladies, which is designed to revitalise the retail, business and community spirit in Whiteladies Road, Cotham Hill, Alma Road, Alma Vale Road,
Vital statistics Name: Ken Simpson Age: 55 Place of birth: Rochdale, Greater Manchester School: Balderstone, Rochdale First job: Saturday boy with Asda Hero or inspiration: Sir Winston Churchill. He managed to re-invent himself several times and was indefatigable despite overwhelming odds. He also had a great, intelligent sense of humour.
Lower Redland Road, Worral Road and Chandos Road. And with a high concentration of small businesses in the area, Whiteladies Road and its surrounds are also hotspots of wider issues which affect small firms across the city, like transport, business rates, refuse collection and, in particular, residents’ parking zones. “It’s is a thorny issue,” he says, “and while I don’t normally sit on the fence I can see both sides of the argument. But my concern primarily is that it doesn’t impact negatively on business. “So I’ve looked at the plans for both sides of Whiteladies Road with some interest because I’m setting up the traders’ association here, and I’ve suggested some improvements which will make it better for business while
not impacting adversely on the residents. There needs to be the right mixture of mixed use, pay and display and permit-only. “We’ve got 450 people who will be working at Simply Health at the old NatWest building at the top of Whiteladies Road at the end of this month. “There are only 40 parking spaces, so it’s going to be a bit of a challenge.” Residents’ parking is also an issue about transport policy – something which Mr Simpson also has views on. He says: “Public transport’s the only alternative, but in reality it’s pretty poor. “If we want to get people out of their cars we have to make public transport work. But I’ve tried to use public transport several times – the buses don’t turn up even when they’re scheduled to. “There needs to be better thinking about the use of park and rides – for example, making the one at Bath Road in south Bristol run the whole way through the city and down to the Portway, so that someone living in Keynsham but working in Clifton doesn’t have to change in the city centre. “There’s also a problem with weekends – local traders on places like Cotham Hill find that their potential customers can’t park nearby because the restrictions stop at 5pm on a Friday and residents park in the spaces all weekend.” Given the local nature of many of the concerns of FSB members, it’s unsurprising that Mr Simpson has a close relationship with Bristol City Council, sitting on a number of scrutiny panels to represent their interests. But he’s realistic about laying the blame for some policies, such as the oft-cited issue of business rates, away from the city council’s door. Where he believes the city council can make an impact is by offering flexibility in enforcing regulations which impact negatively on local traders, such as planning regulations for on-street advertising. “Currently, places like side-street cafes can’t advertise on corners because they don’t have the requisite planning permission. “The council really should take the rules and wonder whether they’d rather have the shops full and business rates or impose draconian laws which no one else is bothered about because the signs aren’t blocking the pavement. “Now’s the time that we need local authorities which support local businesses. “There’s a bit of a shift going on –
My downtime What’s your perfect weekend? Spending time with my wife Clair, ideally when it is dry or sunny so that I can get out in the garden. What’s your favourite book or film or TV show? There are too many great books to single any one out; but anything on local history, WW2, or by
Noel Barber, Bernard Cornwell, Ken Follett and Bryce Courtenay. My favourite films: The Mothman Prophecies and most WW2 films. My favourite TV shows: I quite like Grand Designs, Doctor Who (inset), Life on Mars (right) and Ashes to Ashes.
www.bristolpost.co.uk/business
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
11
My working day You wake up at? It depends on what I am doing, but usually 7.30am What do you have for breakfast? Cup of tea What time do you start work? Again, it depends, but usually 9am What happens in your typical working day? There is no such thing, every day is different. What time do you go home? It varies, but usually between 5.30pm and 6.30pm Do you take work home/attend evening functions? Yes to both. I try to get to as many Neighbourhood Partnership meetings around Whiteladies Road as I can, as well as the management side of developing the traders’ association, FSB events, and late-night working if the client requires it. I often spend the evening catching up on the social media aspects of my various roles.
“ I’ve spent 40 years in retail, I’ve learned a lot, and I want to help businesses operate and help this business community grow. I also wanted to make the FSB far more visible to the public and its membership. As a small business, if you’re not a member I’d question why not because there are so many benefits. Ken Simpson, left
trading started as a Saturday worker for Asda in his original home town Rochdale. His first taste of Bristol was a cycling holiday in 1976 – he decided he liked it here and moved to the city in 1977. Now, through the FSB, he’s also focused on helping the next generation of retailers to get their foot on the ladder. “We’ve been quite heavily involved with the Young Enterprise scheme in schools,” he says, “helping students take on extra-curricular work setting up a proper company, issuing shares and so on. “We put up a prize for the best school in Bristol – £300 for seed cap-
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people are moving to online retail but they also want proper advice and genuine goods. “That’s what the high street needs to become, offering the specialist element.” But it’s not all criticism of the city council. “Whilst they can be a real pain in the sit-upon,” he says, “they are very good at promoting business in the city. “We’ve worked extensively with the city council over the past 12 months, doing things like running events where small businesses can get in front of big businesses, which have been hugely successful and will be repeated this year.” Mr Simpson’s life in four decades of
ital for this year and £200 for the winners, a school from Backwell, which they’ve actually put back into this year’s competition entry. “That shows how much the students put into this. “It’s a really good thing because it helps students get into the world of commerce and business, rather than going down an academic route. “Because some youngsters are ideally suited to running a business and it’s really inspiring to be involved with it. “We’ve done some funding, but we also have teams of businessmen who act as coaches to the schools that were involved. “It’s been happening in other areas, but I’ve promoted the FSB’s involvement with it in Bristol. “I was so blown away by the calibre of these kids that I thought it was something that we had to get behind, because they are our future members.” Mr Simpson also hopes, if possible, to realign the regional structure of the FSB so that it better fits the governmental structure of the area. Currently some areas of north Somerset, such as Clevedon and Nailsea, fall within his patch while other areas like Weston-super-Mare, which are covered by business organisations like the LEP, do not. There are currently more than 1,800 businesses in the Bristol branch of the FSB, comprising more than 8,000 employees. If Mr Simpson has his way, that number could soon become even more significant.
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Introducing
PARTNERS IN BUSINESS…
We’re sure you already know us. We’re one of the largest further and higher education colleges in the UK, offering the widest range of academic and vocational qualifications in the area. But perhaps you don’t know that we’re also one of the largest training providers for business too? We have enormous business capability and resources and we’re keen to share it with you. That’s why we’ve created Partners in Business, a new employer-led initiative to ensure all local businesses - big or small - have access to effective recruitment and training solutions. We’d be delighted to form a partnership with you. Together, we can shape the future of your business and play a big part in boosting the economic prosperity of our region.
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For a face to face introduction to Partners in Business, call 0117 312 5020 to arrange an initial discussion.