TopicUK south yorkshire edition October 2016 by Yorkshire BusinessWoman & TopicUK

Y O R K S H I R E

F R E E

B U S I N E S S

C O M M U N I T Y

M A G A Z I N E

ISSUE 7 NOVEMBER 2016

S O U T H

W W W.TO PI CU K .CO.U K

BUSINESS LEADERS

BATTLEGROUND TO TRAINING GROUND

BUSINESS WOMAN FLIES UPWARD

LAW FIRM SCOOPS TOP AWARD

dition hire E s k r o Y South

GREAT YORKSHIRE WAY

NEW MILESTONE

Philmore & Co Business Rescue, Recovery & Insolvency Yorkshire’s Business Rescue & Recovery Experts • At Philmore & Co Ltd, as Insolvency Practitioners, we have over 40 years combined experience in assisting businesses and individuals in times of financial difficulty, providing our specialist recovery and insolvency expertise. • Based in Huddersfield, the Practice offers informal and confidential advice, giving practical solutions to all types of businesses, including limited liability companies, partnerships and sole traders, as well as their creditors and other stakeholders in times of financial uncertaincy.

For an initial free consultation, please contact Paul Philmore or Diane Kinder. Unit 8D, Barnsley Business & Innovation Centre, Innovation Way, Wilthorpe, Barnsley S75 1JL. Tel: +44 (0)1226249590 Email: enquiries@philmoreandco.com www.philmoreandco.com

Independent Education for Boys & Girls Aged 3-18

Silcoates School An all-round education with an academic edge

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Contents & Comments Details of this Month‘s TopicUK, your Local Business Community Magazine

PICK UP YOUR COPY

As TopicUK grows, so does the number of pick up points. Below is a list of distribution points. If you would like to stock copies of TopicUK do get in touch and we’ll arrange to drop some off. •

National Coal Mining Museum New Road, Wakefield.

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Alhambra Shopping Centre Barnsley

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Civic Theatre Barnsley

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Oakwell Stadium Barnsley

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Holiday Inn Barnsley

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Barnsley Innovation Centre County

06 10 18

EXPORTING SUCCESS Ambitious expansion plans

KNITTING ENTREPRENEUR Secures Department Store Contract

GREAT YORKSHIRE WAY Reaches new milestone

Way, Barnsley •

Barnsley College

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Capital B Media Bullhouse Mill, Millhouse Green

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Lifetime FM Great Cliffe Court, Barnsley

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Toyota Barnsley Barugh Green, Barnsley

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Harris & Co Accountants Barnsley

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Sheffield United Bramall Lane Sheffield

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M2K PR Sheffield

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Cluck Services Sheffield

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Oaks Business Park Oaks Lane, Sheffield

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Sheffield Business Centre Europa Link Sheffield

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Barnsley Train Station Barnsley

 4

22 28 34 EMPLOYMENT BOOST In Engineering Sector

NEW DEVELOPMENT Attracts more business

BUSINESS LEADERS Battleground to training ground

Cover Image - Leigh Humpleby - image: Mark Skeet Photography

The views expressed by the contributors are not necessarily those held by the publishers and therefore no responsibility can be held by

November2016 - South Yorkshire Edition of this magazine without the express permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. the publisher for misinterpretation. Reproduction

Whilst every care is taken in the production of this magazine, the publisher/editor cannot accept any responsibility for errors in articles,

EDITORS NOTES Doncaster and of course Barnsley.

TopicUK GROUP EDITOR Gill Laidler

We introduce a new feature this month, with 60 seconds with… where we chat to a business owner within the region and get a sneak peak behind their public persona. If you would like to take part just drop me an email cat@topicuk.co.uk Our Local Hero in this issue is Leigh Humpleby. Leigh’s background is incredibly moving and shows that out of challenges can come brilliant things. I’ve met Leigh on a couple of occasions now and she’s always very unassuming and completely pragmatic about her role in the armed forces. Take a look on page 34 for the full story. Restaurant reviewer Anthony has been to Yummy Yorkshire this month and from the sounds of it, it won’t be his last visit! It’s so much more than ice cream these days. What’s nicer than a chunky vegetable soup on a nippy Autumn day?

elcome to issue 7 of TopicUK South Yorkshire. This issue marks a year since the magazine was brought to the region. Initially launching in Barnsley, it quickly established itself as a leading business to business news resource, so when I joined the TopicUK group in May we ventured further afield and now distribute throughout Sheffield, Rotherham,

I’m also very pleased to announce that TopicUK South Yorkshire has joined the Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber of Commerce. This exciting collaboration will mean Topic UK is available at most of their events and we have great plans for the future. As always, if you have any news or stories you would like to share, or if you’re looking to raise your profile then please do get in touch.

Cat Yaffe

EDITOR

CAT YAFFE

CREATIVE DIRECTOR ROB BLACKWELL

LOCAL HEROES EDITOR

THE ARTS

HELEN BALL, THE CIVIC BARNSLEY

FOOD & RESTAURANT REVIEW ANTHONY HEGNEY, ASPARAGUS GREEN

WANT TO PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS IN THE SOUTH YORKSHIRE AREA? TopicUK can reach thousands of readers using both our printed and digital media at costs affordable to any size of business. Full page advert £350.00 Half page advert £225.00 Quarter page advert £175.00 Should you want to become a sponsor, there are packages available that will give you a full page advert in every issue for one year, free editorial in each edition as well as free space on our website which currently enjoys up to 18,000 monthly visitors. To take advantage of the superb offers available, call us now on

07741 271 788 07711 539047 or

email cat@topicuk.co.uk Barnsley Business & Innovation Centre Innovation Way Barnsley South Yorkshire S75 1JL

Tel: 07741 271 788 - cat@topicuk.co.uk - www.topicuk.co.uk - Ghost Publishing Ltd - Suite 6 Unity Works Westgate Wakefield WF1 1EP advertisements or programme schedules. To subscribe to this magazine, submit an article or press release please contact Gill Laidler on: 07741 271 788 or email editor@topicuk.co.uk Published by Ghost Publishing Limited.

NewsUpdate

A second specialist for Resolve ResolveIT has appointed Graham Jackson as a second Technical Specialist to ensure the IT support provider continues to offer the most cutting edge tech solutions in the region.

Exporting success leads to job creation

Ambitious expansion plans A Barnsley manufacturing company that exports products to over 50 countries is looking to double its workforce after entering new markets and securing contract wins. Xtraflex Ltd cuts and assembles bespoke hoses for customers in diverse sectors including the pharmaceutical, marine and automotive industries. Its flexible hosing is used in the manufacture of products such as cosmetics, chocolate and other food stuffs. Currently employing a team of nine, the company is looking to double that to 18 by the end of 2017. Turnover is also set to grow from £1.8 million to reach just over £2.3 million by the end of 2017. The company has achieved this growth through winning more export deals and moving into the milk production market in the UK and Ireland. For example, the company has recently won a contract to supply a customer involved in milk-based production in

the West Midlands and in Ireland. Managing director, Simon Cooper, said: “We’re currently experiencing very exciting times here at Xtraflex. We’re always looking to push ourselves and grow as a business and we’re in the process of growing bigger and better than we’ve ever been. “Because of this, we’ve obviously started to give some thought about moving to new premises but we’re not going far. We want to stay in Barnsley. We get great support and the transport links are great and really help a regular exporter like ourselves.” Andy Arnold, business development manager at Enterprising Barnsley, said: “Xtraflex have some really exciting things going on at the moment from product innovation to new contract wins, so watch this space in the next year or so. “They’re a great example of a company that is thriving in Barnsley. They tell me of all their products and countries that they export to and it’s hard to keep up.” Enterprising Barnsley, the business development arm of Barnsley Council, provides specialist support to businesses with growth potential.

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Assisting an 18-strong technical team, Jackson is responsible for dealing with the most complex IT issues effecting businesses across South Yorkshire. He is also required to keep a close eye on the best new technology to guarantee customers have the best IT support possible. He says: “As Technical Specialist I get to help people fix the most difficult IT problems. I am also really interested in learning about new technologies and gaining new skills, so this role was perfect for me.” Jackson joins Alessandro Calamita on the Technical Specialist team. The expansion of this team places Resolve at the forefront of IT support in the region as it will enable them to tackle more problematic cases. It also demonstrates Resolve’s commitment to staying on top of the fast-paced tech industry. Founded in 2004 by Managing Director Andrew Seaton, Resolve has grown from a one-man-band to a team of 24 with responsibility for the IT support of over 75 businesses within South Yorkshire and beyond. He comments: “We wanted to employ a second Technical Specialist to further support our Account Managers who look after our customers, as well as allowing more time for us to focus on developing new products and services. Graham has been with Resolve for several years, and has proved to be great at supporting others and understanding new technologies – he is a real expert.”

prestigious awards is amazing, especially when one of them is for a national award. It is a fantastic end to what has been a helter-skelter six months. Business is going really well and we are taking on more and more clients.” The company has been shortlisted in the Excellence in Technology category in the Law Society awards, and in the Niche Law category in the Yorkshire Legal Awards, which take place at the Royal Armouries in Leeds.

Barnsley specialist law firm shortlisted for awards A specialist law firm in Barnsley has been shortlisted for two prestigious industry awards. DigitalLawUK is through to the final of the Law Society Excellence Awards 2016, to be held in London at the end of October. The company, which is based in the Digital Media Centre, is also shortlisted in the Yorkshire Legal Awards 2016. Believed to be the only specialist digital law firm in the country, DigitalLawUK gives advice on digital issues from data protection and e-commerce to social media policies and Freedom of Information. The company, which was set up by solicitor Peter Wright and his wife, US attorney Heather Anson, in March 2014, is being given free advice by support programme Enterprising Barnsley, which is run by Barnsley Council. Peter said: “Being shortlisted for two

Peter said: “The laws surrounding data and keeping it safe are very complex. It doesn’t matter what industry you are in, you need to make sure you comply with all the rules. It can be costly and damage your reputation if you get it wrong. “Cyber attacks are on the increase and they can cause all sorts of problems for all sorts of businesses. So you have to protect against those too.” Peter was commissioned by the Law Society to write a Cyber Security Toolkit which is being published next month. He has also spoken at conferences in the UK and abroad, including in Trieste and Stockholm, and is booked to speak in Prague and Brussels. Enterprising Barnsley has helped develop an app for DigitalLawUK’s clients and given the firm support with marketing, branding and business strategy. John Heckingbottom , of Enterprising Barnsley, said: “Peter truly is an expert in his field and the company is going places because they have found a niche market, but one that is really important for all businesses.

Network for a pot of cash As part of the new TopicUK business club, we are delighted to announce the launch of TopicTapas. This unique networking event will meet for the first time on 17 November at The National Coal Mining Museum from 12 noon to 2pm. This is not just another networking event. The aim will be to try and arrange for everyone attending, to meet every other person in the room whilst enjoying delicious tapas. And, the added advantage is, that for businesses joining each of the six planned events over the year, they will have the chance to apply for the profits from the event for their own use. Details of how they can do this will be explained at the first lunch. “This unique event is generating a lot of interest with almost 60 businesses already booked, with still a couple of weeks to go,” explained TopicUK editor and partner Gill Laidler. “as it’s proving popular, there could be a substantial amount of cash up for grabs this time next year.” The event is in partnership with Barclays; Yorkshire Telecommunications and Williams & Co Solicitors. If you would like to reserve a place contact: editor@topicuk.co.uk

“And being in the Digital Media Centre has been a great boost for the company because they are surrounded by similar companies. Having creative and digital industries together under one roof really helps companies grow.”

NewsUpdate

Meadowhall staff member shines at national award ceremony

Penistone FM Evolves

In a bold move last year, Penistone FM 95.7 the community radio station (not for profit) decided to move from above a High Street shop where it had been for the past six years to a newly constructed development by Dransfield Properties called Penistone 1. This building contains both new as well as established businesses in a modern setting. With the help of an Awards for All grant from the National Lottery they designed and constructed new studios plus transferred their equipment to begin broadcasting from the new home in June. Martin Sugden, Station Director said that the move was fantastic for the station with all the facilities on one level and is now DDA compatible to be more accessible to the community. The station currently has over forty volunteers undertaking a range of jobs from presenting shows, reporting on local events, interviewing people about community issues or local business initiatives. You may even meet one or two celebrities along the way. The station was recently nominated by The Big Lottery to take part in a regional competition run by The Peoples Projects and ITV’s Calendar News, where members

of the public were asked to vote for their chosen good cause. Penistone FM won one of the top prizes for South Yorkshire / Humberside and the money is being used to replace worn out equipment and create a new training studio.

A travel plan coordinator at Meadowhall in Sheffield has received a prestigious national award for her work to reduce carbon emissions by helping 760 members of staff to leave their cars at home and commute to work on public transport. Debbie Owen from Bradfield was crowned a winner at the British Land Excellence Awards in a glittering ceremony held in London’s The Leadenhall Building. The annual awards are held by British Land, co-owner of Meadowhall and 46 centres across the UK, in order to highlight colleagues who go above and beyond in their roles.

The studio will offer local people a chance to train on industry standard equipment so they can either go on to work in professional radio or help build their confidence or speaking and listening skills. The station is looking for new people with a passion for the local area, to take part in their new “Evolve Training” programme with no previous experience necessary. Martin outlined that it’s a great chance to experience something new, meet new friends and develop a set of transferrable skills for work or pleasure. Its great fun as well, so what are you waiting for? Contact training@penistonefm. co.uk for further details on courses or taster sessions.

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Meadowhall Staff Member Debbie Owen

Debbie, who has worked at Meadowhall since 2015, picked up her award in the ‘Future Proofing’ category after negotiating a month’s free public transport for 760 retail staff, encouraging them to leave their cars at home. After the trial, 75% of those surveyed continued to use public transport and benefitted from a 50% yearly discount that Debbie secured with First Group. Over recent years, Meadowhall has committed to being greener including saving enough water to fill 37 Olympic swimming pools, investing £1million per annum into public transport and cutting overall energy use by 42% in the last six years – saving 15,000 tonnes of carbon. Debbie said: “I’m really honoured to win this award and the

ceremony at The Leadenhall Building was a fantastic experience - the amazing views over London were a particular highlight! I think the award is a great way to demonstrate how Meadowhall is leading the way in terms of its commitment to sustainability and green energy. Darren Pierce, centre director at Meadowhall, said: “This is a brilliant endorsement for Debbie and our wider team ethos. It highlights the commitment we have to providing a first class shopping and working environment, as well as going the extra mile to ensure we remain an innovative leader when it comes to sustainability and future proofing. Debbie is a shining example of this and we’re over the moon for her.

Doncaster law firm scoops tops award Taylor Bracewell LLP won the award for ‘Commitment to People Development’ in the Yorkshire and Humber heats of the Chamber Business Awards 2016. The firm was recognised for being an ‘exemplary employer which invests in staff development to support the business and its growth’. They will now go forward to represent the region in the national finals, which take place in London in November. Alison Kitchman, partner and collaborative family lawyer, said: “We are very proud of all the people within our firm that make us as strong as we are.” Dan Fell, chief executive officer of Doncaster Chamber, added: “This is a prestigious achievement that highlights Doncaster has some of the region’s, if not the country’s, leading businesses. Doncaster businesses play an important part in driving the regional and British economy. Their exemplary practice, hard work and acumen are what makes them stand out and they deserve recognition for the crucial role that they play.” He added such award schemes offer the “perfect opportunity to celebrate our business community’s achievements.”

1NewsUpdate A former NHS manager who used knitting to destress has secured a contract to sell her wool products to John Lewis.

laire Gelder quit her high-pressure NHS job to set up Wool Couture. The company creates DIY knitting packs with giant needles and giant yarn, and also sells Merino wool yarn, handmade crochet hooks, and chunky scarves, hats, blankets and dog beds made by an army of knitters. The company has just moved into a new office at the Barnsley Business and Innovation Centre (BBIC) and is now receiving support from Enterprising Barnsley, the economic development arm of Barnsley Council, which provides specialist support to businesses with growth potential. John Lewis will retail the nine different DIY kits that Wool Couture creates. These include one for a chunky throw, which uses 50cm long knitting needles; a pom-pom hat that takes just two to three hours to make, and scarves which are knitted by hand in just half an hour. The kits will be sold at its Oxford Street store and online. Claire said: “Normal knitting means it can take six months to knit a scarf and I can’t wait six months for something to be done, I wanted it to be done in a weekend.

Knitting Entrepreneur Claire Gelder -image copyright gavin joynt photography

Claire Gelder Knitting out the knots!

Knitting entrepreneur secures department store contract So I started with small needles and then they just got bigger and bigger. And with the 30-minute and 60 minute scarf kits you don’t use needles at all; you use your arms and hands to do the knitting. This means you can produce a scarf over a weekend.” The Merino wool, which

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is imported from South America and South Africa, is coloured and baled in Yorkshire. The giant needles are made from tulipwood, which is light enough to be handled even if the needles are up to one metre long.

pairs of giant needles a week in Claire’s converted garage at her home in Wakefield. “I was about ten when someone gave me a crochet hook” said 43-year-old Claire. “Since then I have always knitted or crocheted.”

Wood turner Rob Ing makes 120

Claire started her career

working in the private sector for blue chip companies, before bringing up two children with health issues, which made her see the value of the NHS. She then worked for 15 years for the NHS in improvement, culminating in a role where she was director of transformation for a clinical commissioning unit. But her hobby changed her life about 12 months ago.

“I was in the pits of depression and doing a lot of knitting when a friend said you really need to sell these...

So I put a giant chunky scarf on the online shop Etsy and straightaway I was getting orders in. The fact that people wanted to buy my scarves was really uplifting for me.” The success prompted Claire at the age of 42, to take what she describes as a “huge leap of faith” to volunteer for redundancy. She set up Wool Couture and a health innovation centre at the same time. But with the orders coming in Claire soon decided to concentrate on Wool Couture. The company now has two other employees and various sub-contractors including a team of ten knitters. Wool Couture is receiving business support via the Sheffield City Region Launchpad scheme, a programme of start-up support for new companies being delivered through the Sheffield City Region Growth Hub and led by Enterprising Barnsley.

Further expansion for fast growth recruiter

Sheffield-based Affecto recruitment has announced the latest in a string of appointments following ‘ongoing demand for specialist talent within the technology sector’. The move sees experienced consultant Jasmin Fletcher join the team; bringing with her more than six years experience supporting organisations in candidate short sectors such as engineering, sales and technology. Tasked with growing and managing her own portfolio of clients she will initially work shoulder to shoulder with Senior Project & Programme Recruiter Kate Loach, before progressing into a more senior role, focussing on bringing her own clients on board.

in the digital economy, and that the North is now home to almost 300,000 tech workers; a figure Daniel says will help to further tackle the ‘perception only talent shortage’ that exists in the region. “It’s hardly surprising that key decision makers within businesses operating in this sector are looking to ensure they are talking to the candidates that can help drive their business forward. That, in turn, is leading to increased demand for our services,” said Daniel.

The company, which was founded in 2014 by Managing Director Daniel Koseoglu, partners with some of the region’s most well established brands.

“In order to ensure we continue to deliver not only a specialist recruitment service to our clients, but also valuable insight in to benchmark salaries and role feasibility studies, it’s incredibly important that we focus on building our own team of experts,” he continued. “Jasmin is a very welcome addition to the Affecto

The latest move coincides with a recent announcement by Tech North that 1-in-20 of the North’s workforce is employed

team, and we look forward to working with her as we further strengthen our network over the coming months.” Commenting on her appointment Jasmin said: “I am delighted to be joining Affecto as it continues to grow in line with demand from a very exciting and innovative industry. The team’s commitment to acting not only as recruiters but also advisors to both clients and candidates is unique, and it is evident from their success to date that this approach – matched with the consultants’ in-depth understanding of the technology industry – is appreciated across the board. “I’m looking forward to furthering my own understanding in the coming months and working alongside the senior team to help build the business.”

NewsUpdate Frances Day

The Bird Board

Business woman flies upwards to success

nlike many existing women’s networking groups, The Bird Board is not about just getting together for a chat or selling your business, but about a group of gifted and experienced women who together provide solutions to real life work issues. Whether you have a member of staff not pulling their weight or you are launching a new product to market and have come across a sticking point, the wealth of expertise in the groups give

Local business woman, Frances Day launched her new business networking venture, The Bird Board, in Sheffield during October and will continue to roll out new boards over the coming months throughout Yorkshire.

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a fresh, professional view to workplace problems. The Bird Board started in 2014 when Frances realised there was gap in the market for a support group of powerful, like minded business women. She said, “Although friends and family mean well, they don’t have the experience and knowledge that other business owners have. Women not only have their own unique business challenges, trying to balance work with family and home life, they also naturally have a nurturing and supportive personalities. It was important for me to create an environment where they felt safe in the knowledge that they could share anything that they needed to in a

confidential environment.” The first Bird Board in South Leeds is already flying and has been meeting regularly for the last two years. And with plans to have 10 boards up and running by the end of 2016, 35 boards by the end of 2017 and 3,000 business women all supporting one another by the end of 2018, Frances has big plans for growth. As Boards are limited to just 12 women members, the demand is high and Bird Board is expected to really fly this year with more groups planned across the Yorkshire region. If you are interested in joining a group visit www.birdboard. co.uk to find out more.

Cutting Edge

Laser Cutting Trophies for the Best in Design Yorkshire based laser specialist, Cutting Technologies has worked alongside award winning design agency, Hacksaw to create trophies for the design industry’s top prestigious awards. Cutting Technologies laser cut and engraved 33 awards in total for this year’s Brand Impact Awards. The awards recognise the very best in branding design in association with Computer Arts and Creative Bloq, with shortlisted companies having worked on projects for global names such as Aston Villa, Ascot, Coors Light, Argos and The University of Cambridge. The designs were created by Kyle Wilkinson, director of Hacksaw and saw Cutting Technologies laser cut the awards for winners, best in show and highly commended in brass, copper and stainless steel respectively. The trophies are made of 13 individual laser cut ‘fins’,

stunning trophies really take the awards ceremony to the next level, and we were flooded with positive feedback about them last year from the world’s top agencies.”

Image courtesy of Phil Tragen

with one coloured fin to signify highly commended, winner and best in show, the recipient was then laser engraved into the fin. Jane Robinson, director and co-founder of Cutting Technologies said: “We’re very proud to, once again, be involved with the development of these trophies. These

awards are for the very best in design, and it’s only fitting that the trophies Kyle designed are of such a high standard.” Nick Carson, Editor of Computer Arts said: “Following a hugely successful collaboration in 2015, we are delighted to be working with Kyle Wilkinson and Cutting Technologies again. Their

Kyle added: “The key to a successful and effective brand, is bringing together a variety of elements in a consistent and coherent package. That’s why the awards are made of individual segments that join together creating a futuristic and minimalistic trophy which can sit pride of place in any studio.” Winners were announced on Thursday, September 8 at Ham Yard Hotel, London.

Image courtesy of Kyle Wilkinson, Hacksaw.

NewsUpdate

Active Response continue their final success Twenty Sixteen has been a very successful year for Barnsley Based Active Response Security.

Businesses batter up for rounders event Businesses from across Yorkshire joined forces on the rounders field to raise money for Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice.

he event was organised by Huddersfield-based Code Blue Communications and Barnsleybased social enterprise Team Activ. Lawyers, accountants, architects, car dealers, estate agents and wealth managers were among those making up the teams which competed on five pitches at Leeds Road Sports Complex in Huddersfield. The tournament was won by Huddersfield refrigeration and air conditioning company Crowther and Shaw with the hard-hitting team from Audi coming a close second. Darren Padgett, director at Team Activ which provides a range of innovative corporate activities for businesses and schools, said the event was a resounding display of team spirit and sportsmanship.

“A total of 11 businesses competed and the atmosphere was brilliant,” said Darren. “We had a fabulous evening in the late summer sunshine and also managed to raise £660 for Forget Me Not. Russell Goldthorpe, Director at Code Blue Communications, who proposed the event for the Huddersfield business community, said: “‘We have worked with the Forget Me Not for five years and wanted to arrange a pretty unique but inclusive fund raising event.

“Rounders seemed like a great sport to bring back childhood memories, whilst being slightly competitive. It turned into a highly competitive but really enjoyable evening. Due to its success, everyone has been contacting us about the 2017 tournament.”

Any businesses looking to introduce sport leagues or develop alternative networking events should visit www. teamactiv.org for inspiration.

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News just released from the Security Excellence Awards in London has listed the Company in a further three categories. They Include a Corporate Social Responsibility of the Year Initiative, in part for their Safeguarding Campaign which began in Barnsley and took on a National interest. It was supported by the UK HSE and South Yorkshires Police and Crime Commissioner Dr Alan Billings. Asked what the formula for success was, Michelle told us: “We set a number of goals that would stretch us this year that relied on the blend of skills of our Team. We work together and grow together. We understand that the opinions that count are our customers and our peers, so we are proud to be getting such positive feedback. ©scottbairstow @scottbairstow

Batting for charity

Recognition has been received from far and wide and Managing Director Michelle Bailey was a recent Finalist in Women in Security Awards. This was followed by news that Michelle recently won Business Person of the year at the Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber of Commerce Business Awards as well as being nominated for a Digital and Creative award for the companies Bee Safe initiative to Safeguard Children.

This year’s Chamber Means Business exhibition was held at the Oakwell Stadium, where Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber welcomed numerous businesses and individuals to this high profile venue.

he exhibition (sponsored by Enterprising Barnsley, Barnsley College, Segmentation Group and Business Fire Safety) took place on 15th September, providing business people from across the region the opportunity to meet exhibitors, make new contacts and attend free seminars. Over 50 local businesses, from a broad spectrum of industries and markets, exhibited at the event to promote the excellent work they are doing within the region. The seminar programme started with Cllr. Sir Steve Houghton, who gave an overview of the work that was been carried out in Barnsley Town Centre. This was then followed by Barnsley College and the Business Fire Safety awareness project. During the day a number of stadium tours hosted by former Barnsley FC player, Barry Murphy, took place, which gave a behind the scenes look at

Chamber brings together the regions businesses the club and stadium. Mark Hannigan, Operations Manager said: “Being the 5th year of a combined Means Business exhibition, which once again was a sell-out, is testament to the longevity and positive outlook of this event from the business community of our region.

“We have once more given our members and the business community the opportunity to generate new contacts and create new business opportunities that would potentially take time to amass. We look forward to welcoming everyone again to the 2017 exhibition”.

Business Growth & strategy expert

Stop wasting your time on the usual suspects By Gary King - Managing Director of Tendo

Do you spend hours in meetings with people who don’t convert to customers? Do your proposals rarely come to fruition? Do your phone calls remain unanswered?

If you have answered yes to at least one of these questions, then there’s a reason - you’re not putting yourself in front of the right people. Even if you think you boast a healthy pipeline, dig deeper - are they really genuine prospects with a high potential of becoming a paying customer or are they actually suspects wasting your time? Here are five tell-tale signs that distinguish a prospect from a suspect. •

How do they perceive value vs. money? If they are making buying decisions based on pound notes instead of value, they are definitely in the suspect category.

•

Are they willing to share information? A prospect with a genuine interest will share critical information such

as relevant timescales for the project you’re discussing and budgets. A suspect almost certainly won’t. •

Have they provided a deadline? A lack of urgency – or of any timescale at all – will most likely translate into a lack of conversion.

•

Who are you dealing with? If they aren’t the decision-maker you’re wasting time unnecessarily. They might offer to tell the boss all about you, but there’s nothing as compelling as doing that yourself, so the time you’ll need to invest in getting the sale just doubled.

•

Do you know what their critical need is? A serious prospect will tell you what their issue is and that’s your opportunity to offer your services as the solution.

If you’re wasting too much time on suspects, struggling with strategy or frustrated by finance, give Gary a call for a no-obligation chat about how he can help on 0113 897 0900.

A South Yorkshire public relations and media training agency has won the Business Growth Award at the recent Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce Business Awards.

The agency, based in Millhouse Green near Penistone, celebrated its tenth anniversary this year with a number of new client wins across the public, private and third sectors. Capital B Media now provides PR and crisis communications services to local authorities, businesses and charities across the North and the Midlands. National media training clients

include the Care Quality Commission and The Pensions Regulator. Kate Betts, director of Capital B Media, said: “It’s wonderful to see our hard work being rewarded and I’m very proud of how far the business has come over the last few years. We’ve had a very successful 2016 so far and to be shortlisted for this award is the icing on the cake.”

Last month, Capital B Media was shortlisted in two categories in the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) PRide Awards for Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, including Outstanding Small Public Relations Consultancy. The winners are announced in November.

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AntonyoxleyPhotography

South Yorkshire PR firm wins Business Growth Award

Kate Betts, director of Capital B Media

Increased client demand prompts PES Performance expansion at the AMP Engineering design business Performance Engineered Solutions (PES) Ltd has expanded its presence at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP), following increased demand for its 3D scanning, quality inspection and reverse engineering services.

he PES Performance team have been involved in a number of projects over recent months, ranging from scanning a vintage aircraft and reverse engineering historic wood panelling from Winston Churchill’s room, to developing a new automotive product and using scanning to quality inspect components for the water and energy industries. The projects have taken them throughout the UK, to Europe and more recently to the US. This increase in business has prompted a move into a larger unit within the AMP Technology Centre. The new separate office and scanning centre facilities, enables client’s products to be more easily scanned. Direct access to the workshop allows vehicles, aerospace components and large industrial parts to be accommodated without difficulty. As Mike Maddock, managing director at PES Performance

comments; “Over the last 12 months, after we made an investment of £120k in a scanning and photogrammetry system, demand from clients for these services has increased significantly.

potential manufacturing defects in components and in reviewing critical tooling, jigs and fixtures.

We wanted to improve our facilities so that clients can choose whether to use our bureau scanning service here at the AMP or for our scanning team to visit their facilities.

“Our clients are continually looking to drive efficiencies in manufacturing to deliver repeatable quality and control. Once they understand how the technology can be used as a key tool in their business and see the cost benefits of our inspection and reporting support, on individual or multiple parts, our services have been in great demand.”

“Our clients utilise 3D scanning in a variety of ways; some for reverse engineering and design optimisation; whilst others use scanning to undertake quality assurance and inspection processes, identifying

Regarding the companies’ expansion at the AMP, Mike adds; “Initially it took some time to find the perfect facility for our requirements, but we have been determined to remain at the AMP. It is the ideal location for a high

performance business like ours, working in an innovative and collaborative environment and we have many clients and partners located on the AMP. “We are also able to access a wide range of the technical and support services we require on the Park and in the surrounding Rotherham / Sheffield area. We envisage further expansion of the business in the next twelve months, and having just appointed a key senior design engineer and we will be actively looking for the right people with the unique skills required to join our team.” From left: Mike Maddock, managing director PES Performance & Dan Fleetcroft, engineering design director

NewsUpdate

Accountants exam success An audit and accounts senior at a Barnsley accountancy firm is celebrating after qualifying as a chartered accountant. Chris Smith passed his final ACA chartered accountancy exam meaning he will now take on more responsibility for clients, training up staff members at Gibson Booth, as well as auditing some of the company’s most prestigious businesses.

Planning permission has been granted for the second phase of Great Yorkshire Way which will complete the link between the motorway network and Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

Coordinated by Doncaster Council and funded by the Sheffield City Region Investment Fund, the second stage of this regeneration route will create a one mile connection from Bawtry Road to Hurst Lane. Commenting on the Planning Committee’s decision, Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, said: “I am delighted we have reached the next stage of this key regeneration project. The final section will enhance the remarkable transformation this link road is having for Doncaster and particularly our international airport.” Great Yorkshire Way opened earlier this year and the three mile link from

junction three of the M18 to Parrot’s Corner at the A638 Bawtry Road has significantly reduced congestion in the south of Doncaster, cut journey times to the airport and has seen major private sector developments flourish. People across the borough and beyond are benefiting from the new road. The £500million iPort already has Fellowes, Amazon and CEVA confirmed as tenants. Harron Homes are building new homes at their Heatherfields development on the former Rossington Colliery site and sales are going well.

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Chris studied for his ACA chartered accountancy at specialist university BPP and has also gained his AAT qualification at Kaplan Financial Services. Managing director Robert Watson said: “We take great pride in taking on young professionals and training them up to the best of their ability. “Chris is another example of our dedication to allowing our staff members to study for their exams while doing a job for us and we are now building a strong young team that is capable of taking the company forward.”

AntonyoxleyPhotography

Great Yorkshire Way reaches new milestone

Chris joined Gibson Booth four years ago having previously worked for a West Yorkshire based firm of accountants.

South Yorkshire charity launches first PH Awareness Week A South Yorkshire charity is launching its first awareness week to help people understand more about Pulmonary Hypertension (PH). Pulmonary Hypertension Association UK (PHA UK) is based in Chapeltown and works nationally to support those with the heart and lung disease. Its inaugural PH Awareness Week will run from 19th – 27th November and aims to help people to understand the condition’s symptoms, and encourage conversations about what it feels like to live with the disease. Social media campaigns will use the hashtags #PHWeekUK and #LetsTalkPH and people are being urged to put up specially designed posters and write to their GPS and MPs to raise awareness of the condition. PHA UK is the only charity in the UK dedicated to supporting the PH community made up of patients, their family and carers and NHS professionals too. It provides information, support and advice; and funds thousands of pounds worth of medical research and health education initiatives to promote better awareness, diagnosis and treatment of the disease. There are nine NHS specialist PH centres based within hospitals in the United Kingdom, including the Sheffield Pulmonary Vascular Disease Unit at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital. You can find out more about PHA UK and PH Awareness Week by visiting www.phauk.org. If you would like to reserve a place contact: editor@topicuk.co.uk

Leading telematics firm The Floow has appointed a new telematics contract Account Director.

The Floow appoints Daniel Bird as Direct Line group account director The move sees the former BLG Group Ltd Partner Manager take over from Claire Sargeant, who was promoted to Head of Client Development earlier this month after two years with the business. Daniel is now the dedicated day-to-day point of contact for Direct Line – a key business partner for the business - which has appointed The Floow to deliver its smartphone applications and telematics data for the DrivePlus systems. He comes with more than nine years’ experience in the industry having worked for the affinity arm of the BGL Group, providing outsourcing services for major UK financial services and retail brands including RAC, Marks & Spencer Money and Lloyds Banking Group. His role also included overseeing proposition development and insurer relationships for O2 Drive and O2 Drive Box on Board. The latest appointment for The Floow - which recently received a Queen’s Award in recognition for its contribution to innovation in the telematics arena follows a period of rapid expansion for the company; with its growing number of global insurance customers now including Liberty Mutual, American International Group, Royal Sun Alliance and the American Automobile Association (AAA), amongst others. Daniel said: “I have followed The Floow’s growth since their creation and am delighted to have the opportunity to join them at this very exciting time. I’m looking forward to working with DLG and realising

the potential that The Floow and the UK’s largest motor insurer have together. The Floow’s ongoing innovation in the market and ability to attract brilliant people has quickly made them market-leaders and I’m keen to help continue this growth.” The Floow’s Head of Client Development, Claire Sargeant, who will now focus primarily on company’s long term strategy for growth and new customer acquisition, said: “The Floow has a track record for being a market disrupter and, as a result, we have enjoyed rapid growth over the last couple of years. “Daniel joins us at a very exciting time as the company reaches into new sectors and markets by diversifying our offering and continuing to drive an entrepreneurial and innovative culture. “His sector specific experience means he is ideally placed to continue to build on our existing and well-established relationship with DLG and we’re delighted to welcome him to the team.”

NewsUpdate

Christie & Co sells Barnsley nursery to growing regional operator Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has sold The Sandpit Nursery in Barnsley to 1st Safari Day Nurseries Ltd.

The nursery was sold after the previous owners, who both established and ran the business since 2003, decided to pursue other interests. The Sandpit Nursery is located within walking distance of Barnsley town centre. It has capacity for 88 children from 0-5 years. The site is an adapted and extended church building and includes purpose-built

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accommodation and fully enclosed outdoor play areas. The last OFSTED inspection rated the nursery good in all areas. Jonathan Wickens, Director in Christie & Co’s Leeds office comments, “We are pleased to see a regional operator expanding in the Yorkshire area and wish 1st Safari every success in their new venture. “Christie & Co is continuing to see high demand for day nurseries across the north of England with many regional operators looking to expand as well as a number of individuals looking to enter the market for the first time.” Nick Porter of 1st Safari

comments, “1st Safari would like to thank Christie & Co for the help and assistance in acquiring Sandpit Nursery. Since 2006 when we started operating, we have grown and developed our group throughout the Yorkshire region which now includes three nurseries in the Bradford region and one in Sheffield. “Sandpit Nursery in Barnsley brings our group to five nurseries and we are now busy with integrating it into the group. We continue to look for more acquisitions that will fit into our growth strategy and will look forward to further dealings with Christie & Co in the future.”

TopicTV is here TopicUK has teamed up with Sync Media in Leeds to bring another service into the TopicUK family - TopicTV.

Entries are now in for the prestigious Doncaster Business Awards 2016, sponsored by Origin Broadband. This year sees a large range of businesses entering who have never applied before and from a wide range of sectors.

Judging has now commenced by a panel of senior representatives from Doncaster Chamber, Doncaster Council, Sheffield Hallam University, Finance for Enterprise and the British Chambers of Commerce. They will read through over 90 applications to create a shortlist of finalists which was announced in October. The finalists in each of the 15 Award categories will receive a visit from a judging panel including a Doncaster Chamber representative and the Award sponsor, to make

a short presentation and discuss why their business should win. “Once again the judges are finding the entries to be of an especially high calibre which really shows that Doncaster businesses have a lot to shout about. The Awards are the perfect platform to celebrate the work that people are doing across a wide range of sectors from services to manufacturing and that Doncaster is THE place to do business,” says Amy Symon, Events & Membership Officer. All winners and runners-up will be announced at the Doncaster Business Awards night on Thursday 8 December at Doncaster Racecourse. This is Doncaster’s biggest business event of the year with over 900 guests celebrating their hard work and success. Tickets are now available for the Doncaster Business Awards 2016 via the Doncaster Chamber. Tel. 01302 640100 www.doncaster-chamber.co.uk

Businesses can now have a short film made about their business and have it featured on the TopicUK website as well as on their own site and across social media. “Film is a great way to promote your business. Our films are made professionally and to your brief so you can be sure of a quality product that can be used time and time again,” Gill added. “We have a large number of visitors on our website and of course we will also send out across social media on your behalf.” In addition, TopicUK will now be filming some of our business leaders articles that appear in each edition of TopicUK. If you are interested in appearing on TopicTV or would like to be considered for one of our Business Leaders articles, please call Gill on 07711 539047 or email editor@topicuk.co.uk

Allan Tisch - Sync Media

Judging has commenced

“TopicUK is all about connecting people, encouraging partnerships and using local services,” said TopicUK partner and group editor, Gill Laidler. “Our magazine is now well established both in print and digital, so we wanted to add interactive news and interviews.”

1Feature Job Boost

for Engineering

Employment boost in manufacturing and engineering sector Recruiters report a 32% increase in placements across the industry

placed 32% more candidates between April and June than the previous quarter; with senior level or management roles accounting for more than half of that total.

Job opportunities in the engineering and manufacturing sector across Yorkshire increased by almost a third over the second quarter this year, despite recent uncertainty within the steel industry, according to Elevation Recruitment Group.

The business has also reported particular growth within the building products and aerospace industries, with recovery also noted for the oil and gas sector which has seen ‘limited recruitment opportunities’ in recent years.

The business, which operates across eight specialist sectors, says its Engineering and Manufacturing division has

Senior Director and head of Elevation Recruitment Group’s Engineering and Manufacturing division, John Bohan, said:

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“The north is synonymous with manufacturing, and the last quarter demonstrates Yorkshire’s appetite to continue to drive success within the sector. “The fact that so many of the roles we are filling on behalf of our clients are at a senior level is also a reflection of the industry’s commitment to maintaining its reputation for excellence whilst driving efficiencies from within. “Over 50% of these roles have been in production and operations management, for example, demonstrating demand for leadership within growing businesses.”

1 Advertorial

Barnsley business

opens door to success through training staff A Barnsley door manufacturing company has secured funding to train their staff through the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP). Distinction Doors has grown from a standing start to be the UK’s leading composite door manufacturer for residential homes. Ranked in Sunday Times Fast Track 100 list 2014 the company have also seen a significant sales increase in the last three years. They approached the LEP’s skills service for funding and training support to achieve their longer term growth plans which include increasing staff and apprentiwces as well as tripling their turnover. Barnsley-based Distinction Doors have undergone transformational growth over the last 18 months, with the appointment of a new CEO, a new Board of Directors and increased staff numbers. Through the LEP’s skills service, they secured a grant of over £16,500 for staff to undertake a range of training including a management and leadership programme for the senior management team to support them to become more effective in driving decisions and in communicating effectively.

A team leading programme was also undertaken to equip a member of staff with specific skills to complete additional responsibilities previously carried out by Senior Managers. The Finance Director also benefitted from the funded training, and completed an Institute of Directors (IOD) Certificate in Company Directorship designed to increase skills in finance management and strategic planning. Other courses included Level 3 CIPD Certificate in Human Resource Practice to upskill an existing staff member to assist with HR duties, enabling the HR Director to hand over operational aspects of HR and concentrate on the more strategic aspects in order to grow the business. The Certification provided a good grounding in HR and opportunity to benefit the business by learning best practice from other HR professionals. Helen Lovack, HR Director at Distinction Doors, said: “We’re really excited about the opportunities that the grant from the LEP’s skills service has opened up.

trained to achieve their full potential, which will assist the company to reach our strategic objectives.” Stephanie Burras CBE, Chair of the LEP’s Employment and Skills Panel said: “We’re delighted that we’ve been able to give Distinction Doors the support that it needs to reach its financial aims with funding from the skills service. “The LEP is dedicated to ensuring that local businesses primed for growth have the skills to succeed. It’s fantastic that our skills service has been able to support businesses to train their staff and drive forward their growth ambitions. The LEP service to business is comprehensive and we have a team of advisors on hand to support employers with the paperwork, source appropriate training provision and submit their application for funding. Support is only available for a limited time therefore I really would urge companies to get in touch now to see how the LEP can help them.” To find out if your business is eligible and to apply, please visit: www.the-lep.com/skillsservice or call the team on 0113 386 1910.

“The company has been through some really positive changes in recent months, with the appointment of Andrew Fowlds as our new CEO. Staff can now be

TheArts

BY HELEN BALL CHIEF EXECUTIVE BARNSLEY CIVIC THEATRE

Women in the arts During September I travelled to London to a symposium focusing on Gender roles in the arts

in their appointments by ceasing to consider outdated social norms in relation to women’s suitability for senior positions.

Credits for images: Image 1: Northern Ballet workshop in Hope House School, Tortoise and the Hare, March 2016 Image2: Gracefool Collective, All female company part of The Civic Artist in Residency Programme 2016. Image 3: Natasha Holmes directs ‘Wave’ a Tell Tale Hearts production for children with P.M.L.D, Summer 2016 Image4: Linda Cheung, Leading Female entrepreneur in digital technology addresses delegates at Connected Business 2014, Enterprising Barnsley Conference.

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The symposium led by Tonic Theatre and their academic partners Central School of Speech and Drama was a sharing of findings, learning and experiences and an opportunity for myself and my peers from other companies, venues and organisations to discuss and explore what this subject area means for us and our practice. Whilst travelling it prompted me to think about how the Arts compares to other sectors in terms of the

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demographics of its workforce and leadership. It may surprise people to know that despite the arts often being considered to be vibrant, edgy, open and liberal in its makeup, the demographics of the people who make it happen in the UK are surprisingly narrow. From a global perspective campaigning is ongoing to increase female representation in the Board room, for more executive positions to be offered to women, for employers to become less biased

All of this is positive and necessary but is also a battle against long running and often deep rooted unconscious bias that exists all over the world. In western society despite much innovation and technological advancement we still have an extremely traditional approach to raising our children. Therefore on arrival in London I was intrigued to hear about this programme in my sector and discover more about its findings and development to date. And to critically see where the arts sit in this world of unconscious bias and learned behaviour. Tonic Theatre’s Advance programme has run twice, once in 2014 and once in 2016 and in both instances has worked with high profile, leading performing arts organisations and art forms where theoretically there should be many opportunities for all to progress and succeed. The participating performing arts organisations had been tasked with setting themselves

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shows that women are massively underrepresented both on stage and off, with the majority of main theatres having predominantly male staff in all of their creative production teams. It also highlights a lack of work written and created by women on our main stages despite women making up the largest proportion of theatre audiences nationally.

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a question to explore. This question in the majority of cases began as quite a narrow area of enquiry but soon opened up into a much broader experience with the participant organisations learning more about themselves, their art form and their practices than they had anticipated. One of the aspects that resonated with me the most was the statistics around female

representation in senior creative roles. How many female writers, choreographers, artistic directors and or conductors have their work shown in the main houses in the country in comparison to their male counterparts and what we are or arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t doing as a sector to support these creative and talented women to succeed. The research Tonic have completed

The debate that followed brought my thinking inevitably back to how children engage with the arts. Those of you who read my articles in Topic UK regularly will know I am a virulent champion of children and young people having the opportunity to explore their creative potential and access routes to succeed within the arts and creative industries. It occurred to me after attending this symposium that whilst the education system is marginalising creative subjects at the grass roots and at the top end of the performing arts sector in this country we are only just learning about imbalances in working practices, it falls to the organisations and people in the middle to push for change. I am now intrigued to learn more about how it works in other sectors and to consider what I as a leading female in a professional role can bring to this ongoing movement for change. I urge you all to do the same. The facts are quite startling when you begin to explore them. More detail can be found here www. tonictheatre-advance.co.uk.

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Food&Drink

A review with a difference! This month I thought I would have a change from the normal restaurants and try one of the high end cafes in one of our local attractions.

ummy Yorkshire based on the outskirts of Barnsley was established in 2007 when they started making ice cream from Delph house farm, soon after this it was very clear that they would have to build an ice cream parlour and coffee shop then in 2012 they expanded into the coffee shop that they currently occupy.

By Anthony Hegney Director at Asparagus Green

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a family business run by husband and wife Jeremy and Louise who have two young children and live on the farm. We went on a Wednesday afternoon in September. On arrival it looked pretty busy from the car park with the number of cars they had on site.

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We went into the cafĂŠ and it was pretty clear as there were no tables left that the reflection in the car park was matching up inside.

We asked at the till if there were any tables due to come free any time soon and the manager was unsure but did say we could order and sit in the “Udder Room” which is opposite the building, a substantial wooden structure with extra seating capacity, there is also the seating outside where you can eat. By the time we had a look over the menu a couple of tables had come free so no need to go outside. It’s a simple way of eating, order at the till and its waiter service. We opted for the autumnal soup to start, Mediterranean vegetable which was served with a chunk of local bread and butter. It wasn’t too long before this, along with our drinks was delivered, the soup was piping hot and was just what we needed on the first day of autumn with that nip in the air, it did the job, great texture and full of flavours with nice chunks of vegetables. The parlour is licensed so diners can have a glass of wine or a real ale with a meal, but on this occasion we opted for coffee and soft drinks. I had a flat white coffee while Glen chose a sparkling mineral water. After a short while the waitress cleared our table. She was very pleasant and asked us if everything had been ok. There was a constant trickle of customers coming into the parlour some for lunch others just for coffees and then the sensible ones for one of their amazing homemade ice creams. They have over 16 delicious flavours to choose from so why wouldn’t you? Some are seasonal which is even more amazing. The waitress returned with our main course. I opted for the Yummy Yorkshire speciality home reared Beef Brisket and blue cheese melt served on a doorstep of again locally sourced bread which came with a small salad

garnish and a bowl of slaw. Glen went for the Cheese and Pickle salad which was served in a white bowl perched on a piece of silver birch wood. Murray our Asparagus Green chef, also opted for one of the melts Chicken, chorizo and manchego again with a small salad garnish and bowl of slaw. My Brisket was full of flavour with the benefit of the blue cheese running through, sat on the toasted bread. I didn’t want it to end. Murray’s chicken was well cooked, sealed on the outside still with the moisture inside, mixed with the cheese & chorizo gave it great flavour. Glen being vegetarian had the cheese and pickle salad with a great selection of salad, with the cheese mixed in and topped off with the Yorkshire pickle this gave the dish a nice finished touch. The staff were very attentive without being imposing, always on hand if you needed them.

be no doubt we will be stocking it. Glen went for the create your own Yummy Yorkshire bucket sundae, he had Jaffa cake, caramel fudge topped off with salted caramel one of his favourites, I don’t need to say any more than clean dishes all round speaks for its self. The parlour at Yummy Yorkshire is open seven days a week from 9am to 5pm even if it’s just for a coffee and cake or to pick up some ice cream for the freezer at home, its well worth a visit. Take a look at the website as they have a range of seasonal events taking place down at the farm which are not to be missed. http:// www.yummyyorkshire.co.uk/ Trip advisor speaks for its self really with one review stating lovely as always. Yummy Yorkshire

Had we room for dessert they asked? How could we say no when we are in the best ice cream parlour around! I opted for the hot chocolate bucket fudge sundae which is chocolate in a bucket! Loads of chocolate ice cream, chocolate pieces’ hot chocolate sauce lashings of fresh cream topped off with a Cadburys 99 flake and a spoon! Wow I needed to roll up my sleeves and dive in! it was divine from start to finish even though I did struggle to finish it but there was no way it was going to defeat me and it didn’t! Murray being the chef went for the more creative option of create your own Yummy Yorkshire waffle sundae, with us about to open our second café at Pontefract Castle he went for Liquorice ice cream after all, its going to be named the liquorice café as its where liquorice comes from originally and with Murrays feedback there will

01226 762551 www.yummyyorkshire.co.uk

NewsUpdate partnership has a reputation for delivering good quality warehousing and industrial units across the north and we’ve had a great welcome here in Barnsley. We are now keen to work with Enterprising Barnsley and our partners to put Enterprise 36 on the map and attract new businesses to the local economy.” Barmston Developments’ outline plans include one unit at 40,000 sq ft, another at 70,000 and two at around 100,000 sq ft, which will be built to the specification of future occupiers. It is anticipated that, once occupied, the development in total could create 520 new jobs.

New development set to attract more business Detailed plans have been drawn up for development of a new business park near to junction 36 of the M1 in Barnsley.

Enterprise 36’, which will accommodate four large new industrial units, is now being promoted to potential tenants as a strategic UK location for manufacturing and distribution. Owners Barmston Developments, a joint venture partnership between Wilton Developments and Clugston Estates, acquired the 25 acre site formerly known as Gladman Park in June. They have now rebranded it as ‘Enterprise 36’ to reflect the development’s significance within the new Sheffield City Region Enterprise Zone (EZ) and its position less than a mile from junction 36 of the M1. The formerly disused business park has now been cleared and developers have secured full planning permission for four buildings totalling just over 300,000 square feet. These

new-build units are suitable for industrial or warehousing use. Barmston is now working closely with Enterprising Barnsley, the economic development arm of Barnsley Council, to advance the Enterprise 36 scheme and seek further development funding. Property agents CBRE of Leeds and CPP of Sheffield have been appointed to market the site nationally and regionally. Director at Barmston Developments Jason Stowe said: “Enterprise 36 is an attractive location for business on the M1 corridor, providing excellent nationwide connectivity. We have now thoroughly explored and scoped the potential of the site and are ready to begin serious discussions with occupiers on bringing this site forward. “Everyone involved in the Barmston

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Shaun Higginbottom, business investment manager at Enterprising Barnsley, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Barmston Developments’ investment in to this formerly dormant site in Barnsley and look forward to supporting its successful transformation into a vibrant business park. ”The area around junction 36 of the M1 has seen massive investment in infrastructure and commercial property development this year and is playing a key role in attracting inward investment and new jobs to Barnsley and the wider region.” Enterprise 36 sits within the established Wentworth Park Industrial Estate at Tankersley in Barnsley, which is already home to businesses such as Mercedes Benz, Volvo, Distinction Doors, ITAB, AECOM, HSBC and Pilkington Glass. Work has also commenced on a £17 million scheme to improve access and allow for increased commercial traffic around the M1 junction 36 roundabout, funded through the Sheffield City Region Investment Fund. This is Barmston’s second venture within an EZ development, having undertaken a similar scheme at Turbine Business Park in Sunderland’s Enterprise Zone two years ago.

Firm develops innovative safety solution for Tesco A Sheffield engineering firm has developed a bespoke maintenance solution for Tesco which aims to make working at height safer. PCT, a sub contract engineering firm employing 70, collaborated with safety specialists HCL Safety to develop a modular access system for Tesco which enables safe access from one roof-top to another allowing maintenance and cleaning. Engineers at PCT wwere challenged to design and manufacture a

companionway ladder system which could be adjusted to accommodate different heights. In addition to meeting stringent safety standards, the ladder also needed to be extremely light to allow for manual handling. James Harding-Terry, managing director of PCT, said: “We thrive on a challenge at PCT and this project allowed us to demonstrate both our design expertise and fabrication skills. “It’s important to get working at height right. Trips and falls whilst working at height account for 40 deaths and 4000 injuries each year. We’ve developed a range of working at height products

over the past few months and we’ve also seen an increase in demand for bespoke projects like the one for Tesco.” PCT, which is based at Holbrook, Sheffield, was founded in 1926 and has survived war, recession and numerous steel crises, to mark its 90th anniversary this year. The family-run business operates in a range of sectors including the construction and automotive industries and manufactures around 50,000 towbars each year. PCT has a turnover of more than £5m and also specialises in profiling, metal fabrication, tube manipulation and including prototype development.

NewsUpdate

Hot desking at Barnsley Business and Innovation Centre. I guess I’m kind of lucky really. I am the very proud owner of a garden office ‘Shed of Words’ which I had built in my garden about 3 years ago.

Accountants grows its team with 4 new recruits Four new recruits have joined Barnsley Chartered Accountants and Chartered Tax Advisers Harris & Co, bringing total staff numbers to 36. Leanne Revill joined as a payroll administrator and will be studying for a Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals Diploma. Matthew Lewis joined from a Big 4 accounting firm and will continue his training to become a Chartered Certified Accountant. Bethany Morgan-Mackenzie and Hannah McFadden have both joined as accounting apprentices from Barnsley College and will train to become Accounting Technicians. Partner Paul Hinchliffe said “We have shown continued strong growth in demand for our services in recent years, particularly over the last 18 months, reflecting both the success of our clients and also a number of excellent new client wins. This is great news for the local economy and for the wider Yorkshire region. We are delighted

that as a result of this growth and success we have been able to give the opportunity to 4 local young people to develop their careers with us, in addition to 3 new recruits in summer 2015.” Paul continued: “We have a strong record of providing excellent training and development for our team. In April 2016 we appointed 3 new Associate Partners: Ian Bragger, Nichola Hawden and Tom Wotton, who all joined the firm as graduates around 10 years ago. Earlier this year a previous accounting apprentice, Elspeth Jones, qualified as our youngest ever chartered accountant and another recent apprentice, Tori Hutton has just commenced her chartered accountancy studies. We are a Barnsleybased firm with a great reputation for excellent service, a track record of recruiting and developing high quality individuals and are proud to be supporting local businesses and young people.” Pictured (L to R) are Matthew Lewis, Bethany Morgan-Mackenzie, Hannah McFadden and Leanne Revill

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I love working from there but there is still the temptation to hang the washing out, play with the cats, snooze on the sofa and generally procrastinate! This changed when I took over the South Yorkshire edition of Topic UK magazine. I had to start getting out and about networking and getting my name as well as the magazine known within the business community. The hot desk area is situated right at the heart of the building so even if I nip to the loo I still bump into somebody that’s happy to say hello and have a quick natter. There’s also the Bistro on the ground floor, ideal for meeting for coffees and lovely lunches. There’s a manned reception so if I have any visitors I just leave word with reception and they buzz me when they arrive. There’s always a great atmosphere and I now plan my working week around when I can work there. As it’s just off the motorway and 5 minutes from the centre of Barnsley it’s a great base for me. Free parking is also a massive help, and there’s plenty of it too. There’s also a lot of business support available through the Genesis scheme, and when you’re ready to take an office there’s a wide choice at affordable prices. BBIC has been incredibly supportive of TopicUK South Yorkshire and you can pick up your free copy from their reception. If you do pop in, ask if I’m there and I’ll happily treat you to a coffee.Visit www.bbic.co.uk for further details.

Leading road tankers manufacturer expands

Sheffield’s City Taxis continues to grow Sheffield-based City Taxis becomes the UKs third largest independent taxi operator following its latest acquisition.

The UK’s leading road tankers manufacturer is investing in growth and creating more skilled manufacturing jobs in Barnsley. The UK’s leading road tankers manufacturer is investing in growth and creating more skilled manufacturing jobs in Barnsley. Road Tankers Northern, based at Platts Common Industrial Estate in Hoyland, designs, builds, services and inspects road tankers for carrying petroleum and LPG gas. Over the past 20 years, the company has become the dominant supplier of road tankers to the UK bulk liquid haulage industry, squeezing out foreign competitors and securing nearly 75 per cent of the domestic market. Increasing demand over the past two decades has seen the company double turnover to £15 million - and expand its workforce seven-fold to 150 employees. Now, RTN is embarking on a further period of expansion and aims to create around 15 new jobs within the next year in areas such as design, fabrication, welding, electronics, inspection and administration. The engineering company’s growth plans are being supported by Enterprising Barnsley, the economic

development arm of Barnsley Council. RTN Operations Director Don McKelvie said: “We have grown year-on-year since we moved to Barnsley in 1993 and are very proud to be creating more skilled, highvalue jobs in manufacturing right now. “A lot of people just don’t realise that Barnsley is the centre of the UK road tanker manufacturing industry – and it’s not happened here by accident, our growth has been down to sustained investment in plant, premises, workforce and innovation. “And the support we have had in Barnsley has been excellent. The Enterprising Barnsley team is fully committed to promoting the success of business in the borough and they’ve worked alongside us, in very practical terms, all the way.” branding and business strategy. John Heckingbottom , of Enterprising Barnsley, said: “Peter truly is an expert in his field and the company is going places because they have found a niche market, but one that is really important for all businesses.

City Taxis has purchased Club Taxis of Chesterfield under its new Northern Taxis brand. City, which merged with Sheffield’s Mercury Taxis just over a year ago, also bought Barnsley-based Ace Taxis in July, preserving all 55 drivers and call centre staff jobs. Arnie Singh, City’s managing director, commented: “Our first Derbyshire acquisition is the well-regarded Club Taxis in Chesterfield, Derbyshire’s market leader and another long established family business with 170 cars and 19 call centre staff.” Club operate to our own high service levels by embracing the latest technology in taxi dispatch and telephony services.” Scott Ashmore, Club Taxis managing director, added: “We see this as a progressive move for Club. All local jobs will be preserved and customers will find the same friendly, knowledgeable drivers and contact number they are used to. Plus, customers in neighboring towns will receive an improved service. The company will adopt the City name and livery but prices will stay the same.”

NewsUpdate

How to Manage Disciplinary Procedures by Jo Cairns - Independent HR Consultant

Why Should Your Business Have a Social Media Presence? It’s a very good question and there are many answers but the simple answer is it should be part of your digital marketing mix along with a website and blogs to help raise your business profile. But it’s not quite that simple for SME’s. As a business person, or entrepreneur, social media is one of those jobs you need to do and that is integral to the running of your business along with being an accountant, a marketing expert, a website designer and so on.

isciplinary procedures are used to deal with problems with employee conduct, performance, attitude and attendance. Managing disciplinary procedures in a fair and correct manner is therefore really important to minimising risk to the employer and making sure the outcome if fair to the employee. Here are my top tips to manage disciplinary procedures effectively: Be clear what the issues are - is the employee struggling to do their job due to competence or is their conduct at work unacceptable? Set out the disciplinary allegations clearly in writing to the employee and with reference to your disciplinary procedure. Inform the employee what the potential outcome/s could be in this letter. If the issue/s can be seen as potential gross misconduct, consider suspension pending the outcome of the investigation. Conduct a thorough and fair investigation, gathering as much relevant evidence as possible but don’t carry out

a ‘trawling’ exercise in which you ‘dig the dirt’ on the employee on matters not relevant to the disciplinary allegations. Give the employee fair notice of the disciplinary hearing and also inform of any evidence in advance of the meeting. Ensure you give the employee the right to statutory representation at the hearing and the right to respond to the allegations against them. Ensure that someone different and preferably more senior conducts the hearing and have someone to take notes of the meeting. Consider the evidence discussed at the hearing, including the employee’s defence, before reaching a decision. Inform the employee of the outcome and reasons for this in writing. Give the employee the right to an appeal if they are dismissed as a result of the disciplinary outcome. Jo Cairns is an experienced independent HR Consultant specialising in disciplinary and grievance management. For further advice or support, contact Jo on 07581677299.

November2016 - South Yorkshire Edition

All are jobs that you need to be an expert in, but in reality they aren’t the jobs that you really are an expert in. The headache of choosing the right social media platform for your business and then learning how to use it and on top of that to get results too! However social media is integral to any business and with time and regular posting not only will your raise your company and/or brand profile you will see traffic heading towards your website from your posts. You’ll also find it a useful tool for connecting with your clients and potential clients and also making it easier for them to find and connect with you. To find our more contact Rich at R3D2 on rich@r3d2.co.uk R3D2 Social Media was formed by Directors Rich Davies and Paula Shipley in May 2016 following feedback from companies they were working with in their spare time who either didn’t know how to use social media or who didn’t have the time.

cannot seem to find a way out of. Or, they may have suffered a bereavement/ loss or are facing some kind of crisis that is really getting them down, such as separation/divorce or some other major life issue. Unfortunately, there is still a stigma attached to counselling where some people feel you are deemed to have extreme mental health issues if you enter into counselling therapy.

What is the Difference Between Counselling and Life Coaching? By Jayne Briggs, - Life Solutions

There is a cross over between counselling and coaching insomuch as they are both ‘helping’ therapies. In both instances, the client is given a safe and confidential space to discuss their concerns with their counsellor or coach, who is qualified to help them find their way through exploration and self-reflection. Counselling People who seek the help of a counsellor have usually found themselves in a predicament they

Entering into counselling therapy is a courageous thing to do, because you are willing to face your issues and endeavour to work through them. However, for those who don’t feel they can face their demons, can often suffer for many years. Hence, they may suffer a mental breakdown. Counselling, therefore, helps you to clear out your emotional closet, put closure on the past and continue through life feeling so much lighter for having put down your burdens. Life Coaching Life Coaching helps people to focus on what they really want and then develop a plan of action, which is SMART (specific, measurable, realistic and time framed), enabling them to attain their goals. Coaching can also be deemed to be mentoring, especially when a client seeks the help of a coach to help them turn their business around, or work with staff who maybe experiencing conflict or challenges they are finding difficult to overcome. Those who seek the help of a life coach are usually ready to take control of their lives and hire assistance in helping them to achieve their aims. If you would like to know more about the holistic therapy services Jayne has to offer, then visit her website at www. lifesolutions-lifecoaching.co.uk or contact her on 07886 198 293.

60 Seconds with… Chris Stretton, Hyper1 Digital

Sixty seconds is a short interview with a local business person who tell us a little about themselves and their job.

If you would like to participate and promote your business, drop us a line at cat@topicuk.co.uk. In this issue we feature Chris Stretton, Managing Director of Hyper1Digital based in Sheffield. What was your first job? My first job was as an IT apprentice at Extra Computers in Barnsley back in the day of Windows 95/98 What do you enjoy about your current job? I enjoy the freedom of being creative with my products and services. How do you spend your time off? My time off is mostly spent with family and friends. If you could have a super power for one day, what would it be and why? I would have a super brain! After all, knowledge is power! Who is your biggest inspiration, either business or personal? My biggest inspiration is Apple and how it was built from a garage into a global phenomenon. What improvements would you like to see for businesses in South Yorkshire? I would like to see more support for businesses and start-up businesses. That little help to get them established more. We try and help with our web design service and provide start-ups with an online presence.

BusinessLeaders

From

Battleground to training ground Leigh Humpleby, former Combat Media and Operating Department Practioner talks to editor, Cat Yaffe about her experiences and how they influenced her business, Illuminate Training.

first met Leigh at a networking event where she delivered an insight into her background, and how she has used that experience to shape her business. Keen to find out more, I sat down with Leigh to discover a little bit more about this amazing lady who used her dramatic (and often shocking) story to drive her forward.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t set out to become a combat medic really. I wanted to join the police force but at the time they werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t recruiting in South Yorkshire. I had previously spent time volunteering with youth centres and was part of the Millennium Volunteers movement.

November2016 - South Yorkshire Edition

Images courtesy of Mark Skeet Photography

“I worked for 3 years as a Combat Medic, situated in Iraq. As a combat medic I was responsible for providing first aid and frontline trauma care on the battlefield. This meant dealing with British and NATO forces, as well as Taliban soldiers and lots of children who were caught in the cross fire. The kind of injuries we were dealing with were anything from gunshot and blasts wounds through to amputations of limbs. It was our job to put people back together.

“For example, I had to deal with a little girl of 2 or 3 years’ old who had been walking with her father and grandfather when her dad stood on a landmine and was killed. The grandad was badly burnt and the little girl lost both her legs. She was unconscious and came round to a room full of men and medical teams. Understandably she was overwhelmed but after clearing the room and spending some time with her, her resilience was amazing. A few days later I checked on her whilst she was on the ward and she was fine, such a strong little girl.

“These kind of injuries were very much the norm, wading through blood in the operating theatre was an everyday occurrence, and constantly cleaning it up. After serving 6 months in Iraq, I moved straight onto Afghanistan, though the memories of Iraq will stay with me. We were bombed 10 to 15 times a day, everyday. It just never stopped. On more than one occasion the accommodation we were staying in was blown up whilst we were sleeping and hospital was hit repeatedly.”

“I did a straight six months in Iraq with no R & R before heading to Afghanistan. Coming home was difficult, everyone expects you to be who you were before and that’s just not possible. Recently I’ve undergone three months with the charity Walking with The Wounded just to help

me process the memories and learn to live with it.

“I started my business Illuminate Training with the aim of teach medical and trauma skills to 3 main groups; young people, sporting community and business. First aid training needs to move away from the traditional one-size-fits-all. Whilst the training I deliver obviously covers the standard requirements, it’s pointless trying to apply a PowerPoint presentation to real life. When I work with young people for example, many of whom have had a tough start in life, we get out of the classroom and head to the woods. I create orienteering exercises and hide actors in the woods to play causalities! This gives a hands on experience but so much more; map reading, leadership, confidence building. First aid almost becomes secondary as we’re preparing students to get back into work, apply for their first job and also giving them an education.

“I apply the same principles when I work with sports clubs. Rugby clubs for example see a lot of head injuries, concussion and spinal injuries. Again, by role play it gives the club a chance to handle a ‘real-life’ situation. It’s much the same for businesses, construction is a prime example. Again head and spinal injuries are prominent but the modules we do are designed around that which makes it relevant to them.”

With 10 years’ experience in trauma medicine, dealing with situations that most of us wouldn’t see in ‘normal’ life, Leigh is such a positive role model. Pragmatic in her work, and with an understanding far beyond the everyday it’s no surprise that Leigh is very much in demand. If you are interested in finding out more you can contact Leigh on 07503 188657 or visit the website http://www. illuminatetrainingservices.co.uk/

InformationTechnology

The changing face of IT Recruitment The recruitment industry has changed, of that there is no doubt. Partly through the tough economic climate experienced in the last few years, but also due to the changing skill set needed in the work place.

owhere is this more prevalent than in the IT sector. With the skill set required by employers, and the lack of required talent available, there’s a shortfall of employees to employers. IT recruiters are facing a similar challenge as industry looks to them to find the necessary workforce. Have the days gone where the employer called the shots as they rely more and more on recruiters finding and nurturing the right talent? Wouldn’t it make more sense to go to the market place as a partnership? Andy Tyers from Sheffield based IT recruitment firm, Access Computer Consulting thinks so, “in years gone by the client would say jump and we would ask How High?’ he said, “But the market has changed. Clients are competing for each candidate now, so are actively involved in the sell opportunity.” Andy goes on to say, “It’s no coincidence that the fill rates and therefore success is higher with clients who subscribe to this viewpoint”. A new survey has shown that 45 per cent of IT workers are prepared to change companies if they are offered the right salary, even if they are not looking for a new job. Creating a relationship with the right recruitment agency is key to retaining a skilled workforce,

something that Access have been doing for successfully for a number of years. This means they are well placed to understand market trends, have the connections to source the right talent – all through working in partnership with their clients. Andy went on to say, “The historical need for multiple offices, gigantic databases & hugely inflated turnover figures has given way to delivery, honesty, & realistic business terms in one on one negotiations. The recruiters at Access PLC are, after all experts in their field, the recent acquisition of the experienced Dominic Parker adds to the knowledge & offering which their growing Client base can delve into for advice & guidance. The growing Client base of Access Consulting plc are benefitting from this added value service, whilst Access themselves continue to grow quarter on quarter. All Agency’s definitely are not the same.” Access Computer Consulting plc 6th Floor, The Balance, Pinfold Street, Sheffield, S1 2GU Office – 0114 384 0720 Direct – 0114 384 0721 Mobile – 0777 461 9420 Email – andy.tyers@accessplc.com http: //www.accessplc.com

November2016 - South Yorkshire Edition

Better Together

by Stephanie Osman

When I started running it was very much as a solo effort. I was inspired to start running by a friend but for the first few months it was very much me, my music and the road. I would get up at 5am, lace up my shoes and head out to put in anything between five and eight kilometres before getting ready for work. It was time for me to clear my mind and prepare myself for the day and, during the glorious summer months, it was easy. It also meant that by the time I arrived at my desk I had already achieved something, be it a new 5k time or a more challenging route, and was feeling pumped and ready to take on the day! However, as the nights began to draw in getting up at 5am just got harder and harder, who in their right mind wants to get out of a warm bed and head out on to the road in the sideways rain and wind? Also, solo road running at that time in a morning on busy main roads or on secluded back streets and lesser used routes raised some safety issues. My solution was to join the gym, which worked for a time. It was certainly warmer and safer but treadmill running is devastatingly boring, especially when training for longer runs. The same friend who inspired me to start running mentioned a running club she had joined called Strideout. I did my first Strideout run in around about October last year and from the moment I walked in the door the group were incredibly welcoming, there was no pressure or expectation, it was just a group of women all at different running levels, supporting each other. Since joining Strideout I have made so many new friends and I have seen parts of Sheffield that I didn’t know existed, completed two half marathons and am even part of a team running a 50mile relay race around Sheffield in September this year! Running can be lonely and, when you’re on your own it can be really hard as motivation can allude you. Coming home from work after a difficult day at work, it is so easy to just slob on the sofa and stew over everything you could have done differently or have got to face the next day. Having a team can make what might seem daunting so much easier. The value of having a team with whom you can share all of the trials and tribulations of the day as well as your huge milestones and achievements, cannot be overstated.

Commercial Property Partners named ‘Industrial Agency Team of the Year’ At the recent Yorkshire Property Industry awards, South Yorkshire-based Commercial Property Partners LLP (CPP) were named ‘Industrial Agency Team of the Year’, securing the title for the second time. The firm were awarded the title following a highlight year of transactions in the region, which included advising on the £21m forward funding acquisition of an 86.6 acre specialised car import/storage facility on behalf of Oxenwood Catalina (Logistics) Ltd; the letting of a 135,000 sq

gone from strength to strength at CPP, and feel honoured to have won this award for a second time since we established the business three years ago.”

ft last mile delivery centre to Amazon on behalf of Property Alliance Group, and securing a 165,000 sq ft pre-let to Universal Components (UC) to enable their relocation and business expansion on behalf of Ackroyd and Abbot Ltd.

The ceremony, hosted at the Royal Armouries Museum, was attended by almost 600 top professionals from the Yorkshire property sector and saw the presentation of 14 awards.

The judging panel noted that ‘since coming together just three years ago, CPP has done a great job and sustained it.’ They added that whilst the Sheffield agency has let 69 industrial properties and sold 18 in the past year, it was its ‘impressive continued growth’ that had set the firm apart from its competitors. Partner Roger Haworth said: “We have

Barnsley College’s Employer Engagement Initiative is celebrating its first year anniversary Since its launch a year ago, Talent United has generated over 1400 work-based opportunities for the students of Barnsley College thanks to the 194 businesses who have signed up to the initiative. These opportunities range from work placements, workplace tours, employability workshops, guest speaker sessions, workplace demonstrations, live projects, student mentoring and volunteering. If you would like to join the initiative and inspire the next generation please call +44 (0)1226 216 480 or email talentunited@barnsley.ac.uk. To see a list of all the Talent United businesses visit: www.barnsley.ac.uk/tu-partners

Recognised as Outstanding by Ofsted

Feature

Will you be able to put human capital on the balance sheet in 2017? Business owners have long professed that employees are their company’s greatest asset. But if they’re truly so valuable why aren’t they accounted for on an organisation’s balance sheet? There’s a distinct difference between

acknowledging the importance of the workforce and making provisions for its ‘worth’ in financial records. However, if this disconnect continues, it could become very costly for Yorkshire businesses. Gone are the days when merely traditional assets such as stock, property and equipment should be measured and disclosed. In an increasingly knowledge-based economy, people metrics need to be included too.

Organisations readily talk about the worth of customers and ‘goodwill’. Why should employees be any different? When a company is positioned for acquisition, the value of human capital is crucial in the purchaser’s decision making process. Why not measure and include that value in annual financial statements? Employees are the lifeblood of the organisation’s continued success after all. 

What mountains are you climbing? During the summer holidays I had the pleasure of a holiday in the Southern Highlands of Scotland, a place of undisputed beauty, the home to amazing wildlife and some pretty impressive hills and mountains.

By Lisa Walker White Apple Thinking

During our weeks stay it was decided that we would tackle not just one but two of the local ‘Munroes’ (Scottish mountains above 3000ft). Now, I may be enthusiastic but I’m certainly not a seasoned or particularly fit walker. What I lack in fitness though I more than make up for in tenacity. The walk was tough, with many people following the same path and overtaking me as I puffed my way up to firstly the summit of Beinn Glhas and then onto the summit of the mighty Ben Lawers. There were times throughout the climb that I looked up as the summits loomed ahead and it left me dizzy and full of nervous anticipation but to look back and see the progress made was exhilarating. Regardless of my slow and steady progress I made it to both summits, I didn’t deviate

November2016 - South Yorkshire Edition

from the path, I had a clear goal in my mind, I was well prepared, had the support of my husband and son and had absolute clarity on what I wanted to achieve. My questions to you are; what mountains are you climbing right now? What Obstacles might be in your way? What support might you need and are you really clear on where your own summit is? For me, when the going got tough I counted each step I took – I mentally celebrated each 10 steps for the achievement it was, after all small steps in the right direction can soon add up to an epic journey, whether physical or metaphoric. Tel: 07525 843015 E: lisa.walker@whiteapplethinking.co.uk W: www.whiteapplethinking.co.uk

International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) rules also now state that accrued holidays need to be reported on as a liability – another indication of the value of employees’ time. But what about the value of those employees when they’re in work? Many business owners will argue that they don’t account for human capital on the balance sheet because of the intangibility of the figure. Yet the sooner talent be can truly be valued as a financial metric, the sooner we’ll see genuinely people-centric cultures in organisations throughout the UK. Whilst an admittedly simplistic starting point, companies could begin by dividing their turnover by their workforce headcount, to reach a potential revenue contribution figure per employee. Multiply this by tenure – to reflect factors such as experience, intellectual property and contribution to the company’s ‘DNA’ – and that individual’s value soon becomes apparent. If, collectively, individuals make a great team, especially at senior level, the value rises exponentially. Of course, there are so many more variables to consider and perhaps, in the short term, a footnote on the balance sheet is more realistic. But human capital needs to be on there. And fast. By Oliver Shaw

Information Technology

IT Security prevention is better than the cure In the first in a series of articles on IT Security, Richard and Pam Hardy from the IT Men share some of the common issues that businesses have to deal with. By Pam Hardy The IT Men In today’s ever changing, increasingly demanding world of IT, there are many things which can happen. The security of your system starts with you and the people you allow access it. There isn’t just your company data at risk; there is that of your Customers or Clients and Suppliers. So what can you do to help to minimise the risk? Physical How safe is your office or place of work? Does it have good, stout locks, security alarms, CCTV? How many people do you issue keys to? Keep this to a minimum and only for senior, trusted staff. Personnel Do you really know the background of all the people you employ including your Management staff, Directors or

Partners? What level of security does your business require? Do you need to have clearance for working with vulnerable people, eg children, elderly, disabled? What sort of jobs have they done in the past? Does their experience reflect the job role as well as it should? Employee Awareness Have a written IT Policy outlining what staff can and cannot do. If you allow access to the Internet for personal reasons, eg banking, shopping, social media, etc, have specific times when they are allowed to do this, such as breaks and lunchtimes. Ensure it is on a dedicated PC or Laptop which is not on the network and that a trusted Manager oversees this. For further information contact The IT Men on 01909 512196 or visit www.it-men.co.uk

NewsUpdate

Doncaster Business Woman to appear on The Apprentice A Doncaster business woman who describes herself as a “feisty pocket rocket” has been unveiled as one of the contenders hoping to impress Lord Sugar on the new series of The Apprentice.

Children’s clothing company chief Frances Bishop, wife of Scunthorpe United midfielder Neal Bishop, has been named as one of the 18 hopefuls bidding to win the BBC1 series which returned on October 6. Frances, who runs Doncaster based clothes shop Pud, which is based in King’s Arcade, is one of nine women and nine men unveiled for the 12th series of the show where contestants take part in a series of tough business challenges to land a job alongside notoriously difficult to please Lord Sugar. She said: “I’m a pocket rocket.

I’m quite fiery and live by the rule ‘kill them with kindness’.” The 25-year–old also describes herself as “talkative with a feisty personality,” which she says has got her so far in the business world. She added that she wants to impress Lord Sugar with her “strong positive outlook.” Her husband, 35, has made 78 appearances for The Iron. The couple pair married in 2014. In 2015, Frances donated hundreds of items of children’s clothing in a bid to help with the Syrian refugee crisis. Staff donated around 600 items of sale stock to Save The Children

after being moved by the harrowing photograph of Syrian toddler Aylan Kurdi’s body washed up on a Turkish beach. She said: “We’ve been wanting to do something for charity for a while and the image of Aylan Kurdi on the beach was the catalyst for that. “As soon as I saw that picture it had a real effect on me. “His lifeless body brought home the reality of the humanitarian crisis facing Syrian refugees. “As parents ourselves, this image of an innocent little boy is beyond any imaginable comprehension. “Each day we are oblivious to the hardships faced by people here in our home country and across the world. “But we can all do something to help. “And that starts with kindness.”

Mrs Bishop, who has a twoyear-old son, Oscar, donated stock from her Doncaster store and her other branches in Newark and Nottingham.

40 November2016 - South Yorkshire Edition

New partnership for two of the Region’s business

Local radio host to spread the Chamber Christmas Cheer

Topic UK South Yorkshire and Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, have forged a new partnership to promote news to the Region’s businesses. The Chamber is keen to grow the relationship with Topic UK by providing content in the bimonthly publication on the latest City Region’s business news. The partnership will see both companies have a presence in the printed magazine and the Chambers interactive Bulletin publication. Mark Hannigan, Operations Manager of Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce said: “We are looking forward to working with Topic UK, by working together we are both able to publish important topics affecting the Region’s businesses. A vast majority of our members requested we publish our magazine online which we did earlier this year, however this partnership allows us to have a presence in a hard copy magazine, to our members and the community of Barnsley and Rotherham that we support”. Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce is a business support organisation which has links with over 1,200 businesses in the borough and provides a wide range of services to benefit members. For further details of the Chamber please visit www.brchamber.co.uk or contact us on 01709 386200.

The Chamber will be welcoming local and nationally renowned comedian and radio host, Toby Foster, to join the festive spirit in December. Toby is well known for presenting the BBC Radio Sheffield’s breakfast programme, he promotes and comperes at Sheffield’s Last Laugh comedy club, and is perhaps better known for appearing in Peter Kay’s sitcom’s; Phoenix Nights, That Peter Kay Thing and Max and Paddy’s Road to Nowhere.

region and his unique style brings out the best from callers and audiences alike. His comedy style is also well know given the roles he has had in some high profile television series. We’re looking forward to welcoming over a hundred guests to what is guaranteed to be a laughter filled evening”.

Diane Graham, Corporate Services Executive at Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce said: “We are really excited to have Toby hosting the evening. His voice is known across the

The Christmas Dinner will take place at Tankersley Manor Hotel on the 1st December 2016. If you would like to attend please visit our website for further details – www.brchamber.co.uk

Feature

Mark Skeet

With the rise of social media and the explosion of the connected household, the number of platforms on which you can get your message out has increased, seemingly exponentially, in the last few years. With Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram as well as your own web site your advertising channels are no longer restricted to TV, newspapers, magazines and direct mail. Indeed marketing has increasingly become a very visual medium. Combine this with an increasingly expectant and sophisticated consumer and the demand for high quality images has become a minimum expectation. But where to start? Below are some considerations to ensure you get the best imagery possible that serves you well, represents your brand correctly and most

Mark Skeet Commercial Photographer

How to make photography work for your business importantly, increases sales. Why do you need new photography? A prime reason may be for press releases. New starters, premises, products â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all subjects that offer the opportunity to spread good news and stand a better chance of publication with images. People buy from people. Encouraging a personal connection between your company the wider world,

November2016 - South Yorkshire Edition

Does Sport have something they can teach Business? By Neil Jagger Neil is a highly successful and profit-driven business leader. He is an unconventional thinker with a wide-ranging skill set, who is passionate about utilising his skills to help business owners through the trials and tribulations of running and growing a business.

either via a meet the team page or a regular blog where you showcase how your company can help solve whatever issues your target client faces, then strong creative visuals and people centred photography really enforce the message.

commercial photographer will usually cost a minimum of approx. £500/800 per full day of work. Most quote based on the parameters of a job. It can often be more cost effective to combine smaller jobs into a half or full day commission.

What do I want photography to say about my company?

Who should I work with? It’s really important to not just use the cheapest or first photographer you come across. Photographers are creative beings they will usually have a distinct style and this should appeal to you instintively before you commit to working with them.

After a phenomenal summer of Olympic sports, with world records being broken by Olympic athletes in Rio it raised a question in a recent focus group as to whether these outstanding athletes could teach a business owner something about focus, drive and determination; 3 traits that both must have but whilst many business owners strive for this level of success, sometimes they fail.

Most importantly though you really need to get on with your photographer. They are a professional like a solicitor or accountant not just a hired hand. They can provide lots of advice on how to best achieve the ideas you have. Ultimately you have to trust them with your vision, so make sure you feel they get you and your business’s identity.

The thought came to me again whilst watching a recent England vs. Pakistan ODI at Headingley. It struck me that even the best in the world can sometimes get it wrong and need help. There was a couple of instances through the game where the 3rd Umpire was called upon to make a decision and, after being contested, his first decision

You really need to understand what it is you want to say. Why do your loyal customers repeatedly buy from you? What marks you out from your competition? The answers to all of these questions are drivers for your visual identity (which is much more than your company logo and web site colour scheme). How much do I need to spend? Photography for your business is a part of your marketing activity and as a general rule of thumb marketing should be being given a minimum of 10% of your revenue. A decent

was wrong. Without the help or aide of a guide or an assistant the mistake would have been upheld. Many times in business we don’t have the choice to turn to a coach or guide for another opinion, as if doing so would be perceived as a self-imposed failure. But it is exactly that, self-imposed. At the end of the day, you know your business, that’s your area of expertise but if you’re thrown a curve ball it makes good business sense to look outside for help. After all, every one of those athletes winning medals will have had to accept help and advice when needed. So how do you know when you need advice? Ask someone for an assessment of your business, by someone suitably qualified to do so. It may cost you the price of a coffee but you will also learn something that is to your advantage, taking your business from Bronze to Gold. To find out more contact Neil on 07973 281881 or visit the website at www.jackroyddevelopments.co.uk

NewsUpdate

Hire a venue with a difference

The Civic, Barnsley

Eat as the Successful Dress!

By Zoe Fisher, nutritionist Mark Zuckerberg’s grey t-shirt & jeans, Steve Job’s black turtleneck & jeans, and Matilda Kahl’s (Saatchi & Saatchi Art Director) black trousers and white shirt. These are/were worn every day to reduce the number of decisions to be made about anything except their business priority. A lot of people lose weight but few keep it off and, if you try this concept for food it might help you over the festive period to maintain your weight. Why? So, why would you want to do that? It does mean you don’t need to spend too long thinking about what you are going to eat. It

becomes an automatic decision and that’s easier, passive, thinking. Importantly, those that stay a healthy weight don’t have iron willpower but they do have good habits. Predictable meals, at least for the majority of the week, can get you into a healthy routine. It could stop you eating too many office biscuits because you skipped lunch, or saying yes to a Friday McDonalds! How? A ‘food uniform’ I hear you say. How is that going to work? Isn’t it boring? When I worked in the food industry I had a boss who had the same sandwich and a mars bar every day for lunch. I’m not suggesting that combination! I have either porridge or a homemade granola with a banana every morning. For lunch I have a chunky soup or a big salad every day. If you find you are at a breakfast meeting or out for lunch with a client then go to your default choice and find something that fits with it. So if I can’t find a salad at lunch I’ll go for something similar, say

grilled chicken or fish (which I often have as the bulk in my salad) with vegetables instead of salad but skip the potatoes. Keep the principle for dinner so you might decide Monday is pasta, Tuesday is stir fry, Wednesday is vegetarian and Thursday is fish. Matilda Kahl dresses up at the weekends after the routine of black and white during the week. For food the weekend might be when you have more random meals. Let family members take turns to choose, or have a no-cook night. That way you don’t feel you are missing out and that food is too predictable. Matilda Wahl said about her work style ‘I not only feel great about what I wear, I don’t think about what I wear’. So try a ‘food uniform’ and see if you can feel great about food and keep a healthy weight. You can contact Zoe on 07957 426561 Email: zoe@zfnutrition.co.uk http://zfnutrition.co.uk/

BusinessAdvice

Yorkshire firms are missing out! R&D tax credits bonanza By Nichola Hawden

Research and development (R&D) Tax Relief, which is designed to foster innovation, can be a game-changer for SMEs, with an average amount claimed of £49,500. According to HMRC’s latest annual statistics for companies claiming R&D tax relief, businesses in Yorkshire and The Humber are losing out to other regions in Britain making only 6.8% of the total claims made and just 3.2% of the total value of UK R&D tax credits. In contrast, the south east of England had a disproportionately high number of claims. This is an alarming demonstration of just how much Yorkshire companies are losing out in terms of tax relief compared to companies throughout the rest of the UK. Of the 19,205 claims across the UK totaling £1.75billion in tax benefits, only 1,315 claims came from companies in Yorkshire and resulted in just £55 million back. Of the 1,315 Yorkshire claims, 1,145 were from SMEs, 75 were from large companies and 95 were dual claims across both schemes. There is no doubt that awareness of the government’s R&D tax relief programme is increasing. Whilst uptake is very healthy in certain regions, companies in Yorkshire are clearly not reaping the full benefits of the scheme which might be expected to

valuable source of funding? It’s as much to do with raising awareness as anything else; whilst more and more companies are becoming aware of the scheme, the majority of them don’t think they’re eligible, or that it’s just too complex.

accrue to them on a head of population basis. There is huge scope for a much more focused uptake by companies in Yorkshire. Many companies in Yorkshire have made significant gains following successful applications to HMRC, but many more could achieve returns which can often be game-changing for smaller innovative concerns. Independent estimates show that only 15% of the UK market potential is fully exploited. This is disheartening given that the UK R&D tax programme has two clear advantages for R&D performers: 1) R&D activities may be performed anywhere in the world. 2) No intellectual property restrictions apply or are tied into the R&D activity for a claim to be made. Why is Yorkshire missing out on this

So who is in fact eligible? Well, contrary to popular belief, the government’s R&D tax credits scheme isn’t just for companies with R&D departments and men in white coats. Any company that spends money trying to improve a product or service through a technological advance, using qualified staff and appropriate project controls, or where there’s doubt about how to achieve a project’s success, is likely to be eligible. All kinds of companies in a variety of different sectors are eligible, including those where Yorkshire has particular strengths, including electronics/ electrical engineering, food & drink, games, manufacturing, mechanical engineering, product design, oil & gas, and industrial design. There are millions of pounds worth of claims sitting in businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber, waiting to be filed with HMRC.

For further information about R&D tax relief contact Nichola Hawden, at Harris+Co, tel 01226 282461 or by email at n.hawden@harrisaccounts. co.uk.

Feature

Tax Matters

New trainer for revamped education programme

Nick Brook, TaxAssist Accountants Here Nick shares with us advice for small businesses on financial matters:

Safer Lone Working South Yorkshire lone worker experts Peoplesafe have taken on a new training coordinator to help roll out their revamped education programme.

oss Arrand will play a key role in delivering the new training courses, which have been designed to help employers look after lone workers and embed health and safety culture into the workplace. Ross has joined the Dinnington-based team from the Newcastle College Group, where he worked as a regional officer with a focus on learning and development functions. He said: “Educating employers around lone worker safety is vitally important and I’m delighted to be in a sector where good training is so valued. I’m looking forward to helping to deliver these new training sessions, which lead the way in terms of lone worker safety education.” Peoplesafe’s new CPD approved training courses range from two-hour executive briefings to one-day workshops, and cover seven topics including device training, solidifying culture, conflict management and creating personal safety champions. The structured sessions are available to anyone in the UK, regardless of whether they are existing Peoplesafe customers. And those already taking on the training

include employers and staff in industries such as housing, engineering and utilities. As well as delivering their own training courses, Peoplesafe also regularly work with national charity The Suzy Lamplugh Trust, delivering joint workshops around lone worker safety up and down the country. Jenny Barber, senior trainer at Peoplesafe, said: “Comprehensive training is essential if safety initiatives are to be successful, and education is an important part of the service we offer. We’re delighted to welcome Ross to the team as we roll out our new courses.” Peoplesafe, which has its headquarters on Church Lane, Dinnington, provide simple and lightweight equipment, monitoring services and safety training, aimed at keeping employees as safe as possible. They provide an NSI Gold accredited service, which is the highest possible industry recognition. The service is fully compliant with the British Standard for lone worker provision (BS8484). To find out more about the new training courses, visit www.peoplesafe.co.uk.

November2016 - South Yorkshire Edition

What is the Confirmation Statement? From 30th June the confirmation statement will replace the annual return. The confirmation statement serves roughly the same purpose as the annual return: for companies to provide up-to-date information for inclusion on the public register. However, one main difference is that rather than you providing a snapshot of your company data at a specific date, you’ll now ‘check and confirm’ the information we hold is accurate. Another difference is that in your first confirmation statement you’ll also need to include the information held in your register of people with significant control. To complete your confirmation statement, you just need to check the information that we hold about your company is correct and fully up to date. If you need to update your shareholders’ information, change your company’s SIC code or amend the statement of capital, you can do this with your confirmation statement. For any other changes, you will need to complete a separate form and submit it at the same time as your confirmation statement. Will this cost more than the annual return? The fee for the confirmation statement is the same as the annual return: £13 when filed online or £40 when filed on

paper. You only have to pay the fee once a year; irrespective of how many times you make updates to your confirmation statement. When do I need to file my confirmation statement? From 30 June onwards you’ll need to file a confirmation statement instead of an annual return. Additionally, please be aware that the 28-day grace period has changed to 14 days.

Top honour for Barnsley businesswoman

I currently have a VAT number as a sole trader but I am going to start trading as a limited company soon. Will the company need to apply for its own VAT number? If it meets certain conditions, the company may need to register for VAT from the date of transfer from the sole trade. You can opt to transfer a VAT registration from one business to another. For example, if you are changing the status of a business (like you are- going from sole trade to limited company) or if you take over a business and want to keep using its VAT number. The previous owner of the VAT number does not need to deregister. However, you may want to consider the benefits of not transferring the VAT registration number to the company. Firstly, if you have a history of filing or paying late, that legacy will be inherited by the company. Furthermore, if you are operating the Flat Rate Scheme, by opting for a new registration, you are able to take advantage of the 1% discount to your rate in the first year of VAT registration. Nick Brook specialises in managing tax and accountancy affairs for small businesses. For more information about the topics covered above contact 01226 449554 | www.taxassist.co.uk/ barnsley

A Barnsley woman will join the upper echelons of an influential and exclusive manufacturing organisation - the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire. After being accepted as a Freeman in 2014, Jane Robinson has now been elected to the position of Member of the Company which elevates her to the organisation’s governing body. Jane, a director of Barnsley-based laser firm Cutting Technologies, is just one of four women who make up the 33-strong Company of Cutlers governing body. Jane was formally installed a member on 4 October during the Master Cutler’s Installation ceremony at Sheffield’s Cutlers Hall and Sheffield Cathedral. Jane has taken on the role of Assistant and her responsibilities include assisting the Master in ensuring that the Company is well run and is

effective. This year’s Master Cutler is Richard Evans, former chairman of specialist tool company G & J Hall. Jane explained: “It is a huge honour to be chosen to represent the interests of the Sheffield City Rgion’s outstanding manufacturing community. The proud heritage of the Company is remarkable and its Members and Freemen embody the excellence in manufacturing in our region.” The Cutlers’ Company was established by a parliamentary Act of Incorporation in 1624 and for more than 400 years it has sought to maintain the standards and quality of Sheffield manufacturing. The Act gave the Company control over the organisation of the cutlery industry in Sheffield and surrounding areas. It operated to monitor and control apprenticeships, register Freemen and ensure the quality of goods manufactured.

1Advertorial

Burrows Means Business! Burrows Motor Company is well known throughout our region for its first class customer service and customer first focus. What you may NOT know is that in addition to its Dealership Showrooms, Burrows also has a specialist and dedicated Business Centre.

with local and national funding companies such as TCH Leasing and Ogilvie, Lex Autolease, GE Capital, Arval etc. So we really can cater for all your vehicle needs.

ocated beside our Barnsley Toyota Dealership, the Business Centre solely exists to work with our local businesses throughout the South Yorkshire Region, and beyond. As Burrows Fleet Division, we have a Team of 4 specialist advisors who concentrate on our local business community and a Team of 5 who look after our nationwide customers. Accordingly, we have strong partnerships

Leading the Local Business Team is Ian Johnstone, with Adam Hughes, Mark Taylor and Chris Williams as our Local Business Development Managers. Adam looks after the Sheffield, South Rotherham and Doncaster areas, Mark looks after Penistone, Wakefield, Barnsley and North Rotherham with Chris â&#x20AC;&#x201C; our Light Commercial Vehicle specialist â&#x20AC;&#x201C; covering the whole region for our Van and Pickup customers.

November2016 - South Yorkshire Edition

We also have a team of professional delivery drivers and our own transporter too, so distance really is no object!

Driving Value in Yorkshire So, whether you are a sole trader, new startup or more established, Limited Company, Partnership or even PLC; VAT registered or not, give us a call and letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s have a cuppa and a chat. Burrows Business Centre is here as your source of specialist support and advice for all your vehicle needs, from first discussion right through to helping you manage your vehicles, their servicing, repairs, disposal and replacement. Ian Johnstone Business Centre Manager email: ian.johnstone@burrowsmotorcompany.co.uk

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Tel: 079984 677733 or 01245720458

1) National Customer Service award for the second time in the last 3 years! This prestigious award is given to the best overall centre for all aspects of the customer journey and includes all departments, Business Centre included!

NewsFeature

Success for Sheffield Business Park’s green initiative More South Yorkshire commuters than ever are opting to leave their cars at home in favour of a growing number of sustainable transport methods, thanks to a green initiative being managed by the Sheffield Business Park.

The latest figures from a travel survey carried out by the site show that the total number of people driving to and from work alone has decreased over the last two years, whereas those choosing to car share have increased. In addition, the statistics show that people choosing to walk to the office is also on the

up, and cycling is a more popular choice than it was when the initiative was initially rolled out in 2004. The success of the programme was celebrated last week when workers from across the site – which is located just off Junction 33 of the M1 on the Sheffield Parkway - were invited to attend a Sustainable Travel Day at the park’s Business Centre. Some of the country’s biggest names in the development of more economic and environmentally friendly modes of transport were on hand to showcase the latest gadgets; including Nissan who bought their electric Leaf vehicle for people to test drive, as well as Sheffield Business

November2016 - South Yorkshire Edition

Park-based ITM Power who brought along a Hydrogen fuelled Toyota car. Sheffield Business Park manager Dawn Kennedy-Burns said: “Our sustainable Travel Day was a great opportunity to get together and celebrate the impact that the green initiative has had on the way people get to and from work. “What’s evident from the latest statistics is that commuters are thinking differently about the wider impact on the environment, their health and their pockets when it comes to choosing whether to walk, cycle, car share or catch public transport.” Further information for commuters interested in learning more about alternative methods of transport and the bike hire initiative can be found here: Inmotion!: http://www.inmotion.co.uk/; First Group: https://www.firstgroup.com/ south-yorkshirebusiness support and accommodation.

WAKEFIELD - KIRKLEES & CALDERDALE - south yorkshire - SOHO

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November2016 - South Yorkshire Edition