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Inspire • Inform • Connect EDITORIAL Simon Angear - Editor E: simon.angear@businessleader.co.uk Barney Cotton - Digital Editor E: barney.cotton@businessleader.co.uk DESIGN/PRODUCTION Adam Whittaker - Senior Designer E: adam.whittaker@businessleader.co.uk Melissa Larkin - Website Development E: melissa.larkin@businessleader.co.uk Ben Matthews - Digital Communications E: ben.matthews@businessleader.co.uk SALES Sam Clark - Business Development Manager E: sam.clark@businessleader.co.uk Emma Filby - Business Development Manager E: emma.filby@businessleader.co.uk CIRCULATION Adrian Warburton - Circulation Manager E: adrian.warburton@businessleader.co.uk ACCOUNTS Jo Meredith - Finance Manager E: joanne.meredith@businessleader.co.uk DIRECTORS Oli Ballard - Publishing Director E: oli.ballard@businessleader.co.uk Andrew Scott - Managing Director E: andrew@businessleader.co.uk No part of Business Leader Magazine may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the editor. Business Leader magazine will make every effort to return picture material, but this is at the owner’s risk. Due to the nature of the print process, images can be subject to colour variation of up to 15%, therefore Business Leader Magazine cannot be held responsible for such variations.
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Business Leader targets North after office expansion Business Leader’s ambitious growth plans have seen its parent company sign the lease on a second office building – as well as begin hunting for its first premises in the North of England. The Ascot Group – which comprises Purplex Marketing and Insight Data, as well as Business Leader – this month took possession of a new office block adjacent to its main headquarters. The move comes after the company enjoyed major growth in 2019; its 70-strong team has outgrown its former base and will now be split across the two sites. ‘Ascot Two’ will house 30 extra desk spaces, a conference/training cenre and a new boardroom. This in turn will free up space at HQ for a new tech, media and marketing hub, featuring a studio to record video content and podcasts. With plans to triple the size of the business in the next three years, expand the events team and launch several new ventures, projects and businesses, additional office space was vital – however, further steps in the growth journey are already in the pipeline.
Ascot Group CEO, Andrew Scott
Andrew Scott, CEO of Ascot Group, explained: “We have exciting plans to create a global media, marketing and tech business and our second home will help us build that. “We have employed a huge number of people in the last two years and Ascot Two will allow us to expand Purplex, Insight and Business Leader and continue our upward trajectory. It will help us develop our team skills further and attract the very best marketing, media and tech people. “And, after our successful opening in Bristol and London, Business Leader Magazine will now build on its presence in the Midlands and North by opening a dedicated office and recruiting an editorial and commercial team ‘on patch’. “The new office and team will spearhead a new era as we expand our editorial coverage and launch several major events to inform, connect and inspire entrepreneurs in the region.”
Challenger bank N26 to quit UK due to Brexit European challenger bank N26 will close accounts for UK customers on April 15. The bank is blaming difficulties created by the ongoing Brexit process. N26 began offering current accounts in the UK after the EU referendum in 2016, and currently has more than 200,000 users in the UK. However, the bank said that the ‘timing 2
and framework’ of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement made it impossible to continue. Thomas Grosse, Chief Banking Officer at N26 said: “While we respect the political decision that has been taken, it means that N26 will be unable to serve our customers in the UK and will have to leave the market.”
March - April 2020
