Business Direction 64 by Distinctive Media Group Ltd

Business Direction

ADAPTING TO A GREENER ECONOMY Issue 64 November/December 2021

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FIRSTWORD

A GREENER ECONOMY

ction Business Dire

The subject of sustainability is certainly a hot topic for businesses. In the UK’s race to their net zero emissions goal, businesses will play a key part in making the UK a greener economy. Sustainability and climate change remain one of the biggest challenges for government and businesses in recent times. However, organisations and government must work together in order to meet their net zero goals and sustainability targets in order to address climate change challenges.

INGATO A TIN UK AP AD THE DY OM ONRL WO RGEC GIN EENE GR CHAN

Issue 63 cember 2021 November/De

BUSINESS DIRECTION Business Direction, Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce’s full colour bi-monthly publication. Designed and produced by business people for business people. Distributed to 4,000 businesses. Please send all submissions to businessdirection@hwchamber.co.uk

EDITOR

Rahim Bas 01905 673 639 businessdirection@hwchamber.co.uk

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businessdirection@hwchamber.co.uk 01905 673 639 www.hwchamber.co.uk/business-direction

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Disclaimer: Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy, the publisher accepts no responsibility for omissions or errors within this publication. Editorial submissions are included at the discretion of the editor. The opinions expressed in articles and letters within this publication are not necessarily those of the Chamber. All offers, promotions and competitions appearing in Business Direction are the sole responsibility of the advertiser/ promoting party and Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce does not accept any responsibility for any representations made within them.

First Word

Chamber News

Presidents Column

Business News

Policy News 11 Business News

Skills

Business News

Awards

We have already seen many businesses adapting their operations to become more environmentally friendly and this trend will only continue over the coming years.

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Chamber Training

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The British Chambers of Commerce have conducted a national Net Zero survey between 5 and 23 July 2021. 1072 businesses responded to the survey including 189 businesses from the West Midlands.

Cover Feature

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Business News

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In response to these findings, the British Chambers of Commerce and O2 have launched a free online hub to help businesses find out how to measure their carbon footprint, set targets and develop an overall Net Zero strategy. The new hub provides a one-stop-shop for businesses to find out everything they need to know about Net Zero. It is packed with information on how to apply for grants, where to seek specialist advice and practical tips from firms that have already acted. For more information please see www.britishchambers.org.uk/page/ net-zero-hub-2. Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce are working on a number of programs to help Members become greener. We are currently facilitating the Business Energy Efficiency Programme (BEEP), which can support 40% of the costs of energy or resource-saving projects that have not begun, with grant funding ranging between £2000 and £20,000. More information can be found here hwchamber.co.uk/support/advice/beep. November is a key month for the topic of sustainability, with the United Nations global climate summit, COP26 (Conference of the Parties). This year marks the 26th annual summit on climate change and brings together almost every country to discuss the important issues on climate change and how this can be tackled moving forward. This edition of COP is being held in Glasgow where world leaders have arrived in their thousands for 12 days of talks. During this time the Chamber will be running a month-long sustainability awareness campaign to help raise awareness of the role businesses will play in helping the UK reach its climate targets. A series of in-person and virtual sustainability events will be taking place where we will have industry experts speaking on topics such as climate change, sustainability and net zero. The Chamber have also created our own Sustainability Hub to help local businesses find useful resources and information on the latest sustainability topics. Businesses can view the hub here hwchamber. co.uk/sustainability-hub. This issue of Business Direction is jam-packed with sustainability case studies and top tips for businesses looking to reduce their environmental impact. We are pleased to welcome Chamber Award winners for excellence in sustainability, Indra Renewable technologies as our Big Interview, as well as Faun Zoeller UK, and Worcester Bosch as the cover features for this edition who discuss their sustainability achievements and what role businesses will play in a greener future for the UK. Best wishes Sharon

Big Interview 26-27

Events

Two Counties

Business News

Movers and Shakers

New Members Profile 41 International Trade

Member Benefits

Business News

Charity News 45 Business News

Worcestershire Works Well

People to do Business With 49 Last Word

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Our Patrons are:

November/December 2021

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

CHAMBERNEWS

EXPO RETURNS TO MALVERN THREE COUNTIES SHOWGROUND Thursday 7 October saw the return of the Chamber Business Expo where throughout the day over 700 people took part in a successful day of exhibiting and networking at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern. The opportunities for businesses to get together have been limited over the past 18 months, so this year’s business expo presented Herefordshire and Worcestershire companies with the chance to gain new connections and raise their brand profile at the first in-person Chamber Business Expo in over 18 months. The Malvern Three Counties Showground was filled with a buzz as businesses got the chance to showcase their brand through exhibiting as well as network with other business professionals. The main hall also included a dedicated Networking Zone, sponsored by Worcestershire Growth Hub, where many businesses conducted client meetings and made new connections. Overall the Chamber Business Expo was a huge success.

Many businesses commented on the atmosphere at the expo and were thankful for the opportunity to meet new people as well as generating sales leads. Attendees said that the opportunity to connect with so many people was vital especially after the past 18 months where meeting new people has been so hard. The next Chamber Business Expo is not far away, with the Spring Expo being held in March 2022, businesses can now book their stand at the next Chamber Business Expo by emailing events@hwchamber.co.uk.

CHAMBER GROWS PRESENCE IN HEREFORDSHIRE WITH NEW SHELL STORE OFFICE The Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce has expanded its presence in the Herefordshire area after it moved into a new office based in Hereford’s newly-renovated Shell Store. The Shell Store has a rich history, having been built in the First World War and used as an ordnance site during the Second World War. The £7.3m refurbishment of the building has established more than 2,100 sq metres of employment space, with room for new and growing businesses to set up and expand alongside facilities for development and innovation. The move will allow the Chamber to be at the heart of the county’s business community and be more accessible to companies based in the Herefordshire area.

CHAMBER GOES PINK FOR BREAST CANCER NOW On Wednesday 20 October, Chamber staff pulled out their best pink outfits to support #WearItPink Day, in support of Breast Cancer Now. The day is officially on Friday 22 October, but with most staff working from home on this day, the team brought forward their activities. Breast Cancer Now’s wear it pink day is one of the biggest fundraising events in the UK. Taking place during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, thousands of amazing people wear it pink in their communities,

schools or work places for the UK’s largest breast cancer charity, Breast Cancer Now. To raise money for the cause, staff contributed pink food and drink items to be enjoyed throughout the day, and raised a total of £80 for the charity. 2021 is the 20th year that we’ll all be wearing it pink, with over £36 million raised since 2002. Find out more and sign your business up to future Wear it Pink days here: www.wearitpink.org.

Sharon Smith, Chief Executive of Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, said: “Establishing more of a presence within the Herefordshire area has always been a priority for us. The Shell Store provides a perfect opportunity for the Chamber to be located at the heart of business activity within the area. The newly refurbished area has already attracted a number of business support organisations so it is fantastic that companies local to Herefordshire will have access to the support they may need.” If you are a Herefordshire business and would like to see how the Chamber can help support you, please call the Hereford office on 01432 803 236.

November/December 2021

PRESIDENTSCOLUMN

A GREEN FUTURE – BUSINESSES PART TO PLAY October saw the first in-person Chamber of Commerce Business Expo since March 2020, with businesses and individuals from across the 2 Counties jumping at the chance to network face to face once more. Those of us who attended the breakfast had the opportunity to hear from Mike Schooling, Founder and CTO of Indra Renewable Technologies, who talked about the fascinating journey of his company and the wider green agenda. With COP 26 taking place in Glasgow in early November, it was a timely reminder to the audience of the challenge that lies ahead and some of the practical things we can do – or indeed not do – as part of our individual commitments to a sustainable economy. We have seen bold statements from government in recent times regarding the investment in the green economy amidst the UK’s ambitious target of net zero by 2050…but what part in this do we have to play? From reducing meat consumption and always recycling in our domestic lives, to reviewing the environmental impact of our place of work, to perhaps proactively being part of the green economy, there are a range of ways in which we can contribute. Central government certainly needs to lead the way – although there are many who would say its recently published plans don’t go far enough – but there is no doubt it will take a collective approach of the powers that be, the business community and us as individuals to get to where we want to be. Across the 2 Counties there are many examples of well-established organisations pivoting to adapt to the changing landscape – Worcester Bosch lead the

way in research in to hydrogen boilers and heat pumps, FAUN Zoeller in Redditch are developing hydrogen powered vehicles… whilst across the border in Herefordshire the 100 year old Caplor Farm has diversified into a number of new markets, including with Caplor Energy, now one of the leading renewable and low carbon energy specialists in the West Midlands. At the other end of the scale you have small start-ups with lofty goals, not least of all the aforementioned Indra. From converting a Mazda RX8 to full electric to being at the forefront of smart EV charger with backing from the likes of Ovo Energy, its story shows the scale of what can be achieved in a short space of time when you combine talent and conviction and I have no doubt that there are many more “Indras” waiting to pop up across the region.

When we look at the advantages of embracing the green agenda it is clear that it can be about more than just saving the planet… although this is obviously a pretty good reason!

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

When we look at the advantages of embracing the green agenda it is clear that it can be about more than just saving the planet…although this is obviously a pretty good reason! According to a recent report by kMatrix, the UK’s low carbon economy is now worth over £200bn, with growth expected to quicken in the coming years. Not only can we help tackle the climate crisis but we can improve people’s quality of lives, generate sustainable jobs and create huge economic value. These are all things that Herefordshire & Worcestershire could benefit from as our own green economy continues to develop and thrive. Finally, as I said in my own opening words at the Expo, a commitment to sustainability and the green agenda can have the collateral benefit of boosting your attractiveness as an employer. A recent McKinsey report found that around 2/3 of Millennials considered a company’s environmental and societal commitments when looking where work… the talent is looking at your business as a whole, not just the salary on offer and in this hugely competitive market you need to be positioning yourself as an employer of choice. From saving the planet to creating economic prosperity…boosting your options as an employer to improving the quality of peoples’ lives…the future is most definitely green.

BUSINESSNEWS

TECH-UP FOR MIDLANDS GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES The Covid pandemic triggered a massive acceleration in digitalisation with the various lockdowns forcing businesses to transform, driving extraordinary demand for digital services and interconnectivity.

EV FUTURE SOLUTIONS COMPLETE PIONEERING COMMERCIAL JOB EV Future Solutions put the finishing touches on their biggest commercial venture to date to round off a remarkably successful August for the company. Lakes Showering Spaces HQ made the momentous decision to electrify their fleet of delivery, sales, and engineers staff vehicles throughout the country. To facilitate this innovative environmental initiative, they engaged EV Future Solutions, electric vehicle charger specialists based in Cheltenham, to design and implement a tailor-made solution. Following a comprehensive consultative site survey, the ambitious start-up installed 18 Easee EV chargers on individual concreted pads, mounted on custom made posts within their main car park. The project was conducted over several weeks, and EV Future Solutions Director, Dai Jeremiah, said: “It has been a real pleasure working closely with the Lakes team to design, develop and implement an innovative, eco-friendly solution.

Businesses investing in technology have flourished with more direct sales through the internet, improved online experiences, virtual meetings, and increased capacity for contactless payments. They are just brief examples and here, right on the doorstep of Herefordshire and Worcestershire, next year’s Commonwealth Games and the longer-term HS2 project are examples of unique opportunities for businesses within the region - with industry leaders urging businesses to make digital transformation a priority to take advantage of these events. If you are digitalising your operations, mfg Solicitors can help you set the legal landscape for those changes by supporting with: The preparation of terms and conditions for trade via website and mobile apps. Advice on software licences and other IT contracts. Assistance with protecting intellectual property innovations. Readers can contact Matt Allen at mfg Solicitors through matthew.allen@mfgsolicitors.com. www.mfgsolicitors.com

Malvern Panalytical recently launched a Global Values Program. Part of this is giving employees one day per year to volunteer in their local communities. In the UK, 17 of their employees (and family and friends) volunteered to work with The Washing Machine Project. The project is about providing people in displaced and low-income communities with off-grid (so no electricity needed) washing solutions so they don’t have to spend all day washing clothes by hand. This will help them to take charge over their lives and use the time they would have been hand washing to do other things – like cooking, gathering food, or even working for wages. The washing machine is called the ‘Divya,’ after the woman who inspired The Washing Machine Project. The model that the volunteers helped to assemble is the Divya 1.5, which is the latest iteration of the design. The volunteers helped manufacture and assemble 30 manual washing machines that were sent to Mamrashan Refugee Camp in Iraq on August 16.

It is fantastic to see how their employees stepped up to help others who need it. The volunteers jumped right in to make the splashes that will create lots of ripples. Each person, making small contributions, has really made a BIG difference in the refugees’ lives!

With dynamic load balancing, and free back-office software, the unit is packed with functionality offering a very flexible value for money future-proof solution.

THE WASHING MACHINE PROJECT: HELPING OTHERS TO HELP THEMSELVES

And on a sustainability note: all of the scrap metal will be taken to a scrap metal facility and the proceeds will be donated back to the project.

“This will make a real difference in the fight to reduce carbon emissions within the transport sector. Bev Brown and Mick Evans have taken a strong position within the market by modelling environmental leadership in a complicated sector.”

www.evfuturesolutions.co.uk

Divya 1.5

Matt Allen, mfg Solicitors

www.malvernpanalytical.com/en

November/December 2021

For you and your business

USING THE LAW TO DE-RISK YOUR PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT Stuart Price who is a solicitor and commercial director at Thursfields Solicitors based in Birmingham, gives an insight into how lawyers can add value to any such project, in areas that you might not expect. COMPANY STRUCTURE Launching any new Product is always going to be a risk, and lack of sales isn’t the only one. What if the Product doesn’t work as planned? The company will be exposed to not only reputational damage, but Product liability claims. In order to mitigate risk, think about whether the Product should be launched through a new division or by forming a subsidiary company.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS The way a Product looks, the way it operates, and what it is called can often be protected by intellectual property laws, but in order to maximise protection, many forms of intellectual property have to be registered. You should also carry out searches to ensure that the Product is not infringing the intellectual property rights of others.

COLLABORATION WITH THIRD PARTIES Many companies will want to collaborate with others. This is not without risk. Trade secrets or confidential information may

need to be exchanged or ideas shared and developed independently. Without having safeguards in place, this information may fall into the wrong hands. Non-Disclosure Agreements should be used to impose contractual restrictions on collaborating parties. Ownership of intellectual property is also a concern here. Whilst intellectual property rights created by employees of the company will generally vest in their employer automatically, this most certainly is not the case where self-employed contractors are engaged unless all parties have agreed who should own the rights.

SUPPLY CHAINS

CUSTOMER DATA

Bringing any new Product to market will involve having to have contractual relationships with third parties: manufacturers, logistics, sales agents and distributors, retailers etc. Each of these relationships will have contractual implications and either you will be doing business with them on their standard contractual terms, or fresh terms will need to be negotiated.

If you end up selling the new Product direct to customers, particularly over the internet, it is highly likely that you will collect personal data. The UK GDPR tightly regulates how personal data should be collected and how it should be used by organisations. Organisations collecting personal data should provide their customers with a privacy statement which should be made available before the customer is asked to impart their personal information.

SALES How are you going to get the Product to market? Online sales only, or will you be engaging distributors or sales agents in each territory to market and promote sales too. If you are employing agents or distributors, what terms of engagement do you have with them? Is that relationship exclusive or non-exclusive, will they commit to minimum sales obligations, are they going to be handling shipping costs, what about returns etc.

SUMMARY Engaging a lawyer as part of your product development team should help the company avoid some of the many pitfalls along the way. For advice contact Stuart Price via 0345 20 73 72 8 or email sprice@thursfields.co.uk www.thursfields.co.uk

TECHADVICE

Is now the right time for you to review your digital strategy? With all of the changes in attitudes towards previous working practices and different solutions being trialled over the past 18 months, now seems like the appropriate time for businesses to reconsider their digital strategy and bring it up to date with the new postlockdown working climate. A year and a half after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and the first National Lockdown in the UK, so much has changed in the world of work and businesses have had to adapt quickly, making huge changes to their day-to-day operations to keep up with new ways of working. Many aspects of traditional ways of working have been brought into question, including where people should work, how they should interact and even how they should dress for work, with people fervently challenging the old status quo. Such significant changes in working behaviours and habits due to the Coronavirus outbreak have brought a wave of digital transformation across a large number of different sectors. At the start of the pandemic, businesses had to react very quickly to equip their entire workforce with the hardware, software and connection solutions they needed to be able to work from home successfully on a full-time basis. At this point, companies were at various different stages on their remote/hybrid working journeys. Some were already semi-prepared for remote working when lockdown hit, with some of their colleagues already on

flexible working contracts, and so already had the equipment and infrastructure in place to support it, whereas others had to start more or less from scratch. There was a huge increase in uptake of the use of video conferencing and chat software, with platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom soaring in popularity. With these platforms replacing faceto-face client meetings, being able to use them without any hiccups became extremely important. Businesses started to find that they no longer had enough bandwidth to cope with this and so had to reassess the reliability and speed of their connection. Some found that the old infrastructure they had in place was starting to become overloaded and that managed cloud infrastructure was required now that their staff were regularly participating in hybrid or flexible working. Along with this came the need to increase their cyber security measures to ensure that all of their data was protected. Fast forward to Autumn 2021, it is time to look ahead to the future and develop a

digital strategy aligned with this new way of working, adopting a proactive approach rather than a reactive one as we have seen in recent times. It is time for businesses to create a medium to long term plan which will ensure that their post-lockdown IT needs are fulfilled as in the same direction over the coming years. If you would like some advice on how to futureproof your digital strategy, take a look at our range of IT services online at www.ebcgroup.co.uk or contact us on 0121 368 0154 or hello@ebcgroup.co.uk.

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Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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November/December 2021

POLICYNEWS

UK’S TEN-POINT PLAN FOR A GREENER ECONOMY Sustainability and climate change remain amongst the most important concerns both for businesses and governments around the world. Many companies are increasingly paying closer attention to their corporate social responsibility in their efforts to become greener and create positive change within society. Businesses in the energy, extractive, construction and transportation industries are the most likely to find themselves exposed to potential regulatory and natural resource constraints. The UK is hosting the COP26 annual conference in November 2021. It will present a ten-point plan for a greener economy to increase awareness of climate change and help reach targets to reduce carbon emissions by 68% by 2030. It is predicted that these actions will create 250,000 jobs. Additionally, the government are now taking steps towards net-zero with the ending of the sales of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. 7% of companies reported concerns identifying more sustainable materials to use for packaging in efforts to reduce plastic use. Government initiatives such as the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Alliance and the Global Plastics Action Partnership will help companies understand ways to reduce plastic and to help make the environment more sustainable. Last year the national Chamber network successfully worked with other business groups to release a report; ‘A Just Transition to Net Zero’, on how to reach their goal of a net-zero UK by 2050. In 2022 the Chamber will aim to deliver ‘sustainability’ policy roundtables with

companies and industry experts on the challenges of climate change and how organisations can become greener and more sustainable. The Chamber will also deliver the Business Energy and Efficiency Programme (BEEP) which can provide free support to identify cost saving opportunities and grant funding of up to £20,000 and 40% of project costs to allow these savings to happen. The Chamber will also look to challange their own costs and activities towards a more sustainable business. Finally the Chamber will be promoting more case studies of best practice, so businesses can see the practical steps they can take to contribute to this agenda. The Chamber of Commerce flagship survey, the Quarterly Economic Survey for quarter 4 2021 will feature a specialised report on sustainability and climate

Government initiatives such as the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Alliance and the Global Plastics Action Partnership will help companies understand ways to reduce plastic and to help make the environment more sustainable. Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

change, and how businesses can become greener. Within our 2021 business manifesto the policy department set out its vision for sustainability, which is to lobby government to involve businesses in the decision making processes and targets associated with climate change to ensure solutions to push this agenda forward are innovative and impactful as well as realistic and practical. Businesses are keen to get involved with sustainability and make a real social change, however most businesses are concerned around what systems and procedures are needed to put in place in order for businesses to become more sustainable and greener. The Chamber will continue to support Members moving forward and ensure businesses and government are able to connect together to make a real environmental and social change, whilst maximising opportunities for businesses to enter new markets. The Chamber have designed a dedicated Sustainability Hub which will advise how to adapt to a greener economy and provide useful resources to businesses in the race towards the government’s net zero emissions target. For more information please visit hwchamber.co.uk/sustainability-hub.

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BUSINESSSUPPORT

PERSHORE COLLEGE STRIKES APPRENTICESHIP PARTNERSHIP WITH NETWORK RAIL Krishna Parekh, Head of Business Development at WCG, added: “Our team has designed a bespoke programme which will support and develop a highly trained, engaged and flexible workforce for the off-track team.

A Worcestershire college will be helping to keep the country’s railways moving after striking an apprenticeship partnership with Network Rail. Pershore College, part of WCG, will be supporting the rail infrastructure company to develop its off-track technicians after winning a competitive tender process. The apprentices will work in teams that are responsible for maintaining the areas near the railway track, ensuring that services run smoothly across Britain.

The programme is a combination of two apprenticeship standards, arborist and fencing, which will be completed over four years.

Network Rail is training an initial 10 apprentices with Pershore College, with a second cohort of 12 apprentices starting the programme in November, as part of an annual rolling scheme.

Jyoti Jassi, Apprenticeship Delivery Manager at Network Rail, said: “We’re pleased to be working with Pershore College and WCG on the development of this apprenticeship scheme to train the railway workers of the future.”

It is the first time Network Rail have run a bespoke apprenticeship scheme for these roles and it joins the 46 apprenticeship programmes totalling more than 3,000 apprentices across the organisation.

WCG is the largest provider of apprenticeship training in the region, with over 2,500 apprentices training each year, working with over 1,100 employers across the Midlands and nationally.

“We are delighted to support Network Rail with their commitment to expand and develop their apprenticeship offer, which is in-line with the Transport Infrastructure Skills Strategy to create 30,000 new apprentices in the transport sector.” To find out more about WCG Apprenticeships, contact the WCG Business Development team: E: employerenquiries@wcg.ac.uk T: 0330 135 6940 W: wcg.ac.uk/employers

TAKING BUSINESSES FORWARD WITH EG PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT Whether you are planning as a business to continue with home working, a hybrid version of home/office or everyone is going to be returning to a work base, people will still need investment in their leadership talent and personal development. So, as a business owner, how can you ensure any investment you make in people’s development is worthwhile? Here are my five top tips for a great return on your investment.. 1. Identify clearly in terms of both skills and behaviours, exactly what is expected 2. Specifically detail what development is needed and how that is going to be met (coaching, mentoring, buddying, training, on-line development, conferences, research, shadowing etc) 3. Implement the appropriate learning & development intervention

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4. Ask for sharing of the learning – amongst colleagues for example, ask for planned actions for change, establish what will evidence changes in performance, support the changes in skills and behaviours with positive reinforcement and encourage repetition to embed the new learning 5. Provide feedback and undertake continuous reviews to ensure the new performance standards are being maintained. I love providing inspiration at stage 3 – whether coaching or training – however, the key to success lies in dedicating time in all 5 stages. This is why EG People Development work in partnership with businesses to ensure they maximise investment at every stage of the learning journey.

effective and achieve great results through your people. Please do check out a range of inspiring programmes on www.egpeopledevelopment.co.uk

EG People Development offer a wide range of Leadership Development Programmes and these aren’t just for managers! Everyone is a leader and if you maximise this capacity within your business, you’ll become more efficient,

November/December 2021

BUSINESSSUPPORT

WE HAVE MANY YEARS EXPERIENCE IN THE TRAINING INDUSTRY enSuda provides quality training and consultancy services to customers both locally within Hereford and Worcester but also nationally. We pride ourselves in our flexibility, quality, and service. We can offer online, classroom, blended or even remote learning experiences; combined with dealing with your time and workflow constraints. We can deliver training at your premises at mutually agreed times and days to fit in with your company’s shift patterns, day or night. The main industries we cover are Air Cargo Security, Workplace First Aid, Workplace Compliance, and the Care Industry, such as health & safety awareness, fire safety (inc. fire marshal / warden) food safety, manual handling,

COSHH, lone worker, care certificate etc. Offering you over 250 Online courses in additional to classroom courses Our Air Cargo Security services include Known Consignor and Regulated Agent training and consultancy/ audits and pre audits. There are a lot of major changes coming in over the next year that you may not be aware of yet, find out more by giving us a call to discuss this further. This training can be offered as in house or open course (our venue) including the online courses too. Our Workplace Compliance Services comprise of workplace first aid, manual handling, fire safety, and much more including Dangerous Goods by Road, Sea or Air, Lithium Batteries and Dangerous Goods awareness training. As mentioned, we can offer these as a classroom course at your premises, open course blended or again there are many with online options.

Mental Health in the workplace levels 1, 2 & 3 are offered as online, remote or classroom too. We have an independent network of over 1000 trainers and partners throughout the UK so if you have requirements nationally, we can still accommodate your needs.

Suppliers of Training in many subjects such as... Air Cargo Security Training (known Consignor and Regulated Agent) Dangerous Goods by road - Sea - Air and Lithium Batteries Mental Health in the Workplace First Aid - Manual Handling - Fire Safety ...and much more

T: 0330 124 4298 | E: learnmore@ensuda.co.uk | www.ensuda.co.uk Training courses available across the whole of Hereford and Worcester

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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BUSINESSNEWS

DRPG AWARDED BEST AGENCY AT INDUSTRY AWARDS Local Worcestershire based creative communications agency DRPG took home the gold award for Agency of the Year at the M&IT awards last week, which is the highest accolade in this category being recognised and voted for by clients and the industry. Fleur Lewis, Bishop Fleming Partner

BISHOP FLEMING COMMITS TO RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS FUTURE WITH BOARD APPOINTMENT Bishop Fleming has become a member of the largest business-led membership organisation dedicated to responsible business. The firm which delivers accounting, audit, tax and advisory services to businesses and individuals, has joined Business in the Community (BITC) and is undertaking a thorough, diagnostic process to put environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy at the heart of its business. Bishop Fleming Partner, Fleur Lewis has also been appointed to the BITC South West Leadership Board, where she will represent Bishop Fleming. BITC work with their members to continually improve their responsible business practice. It has over 600 organisation members including the likes of Google, Tesco and Nike. Fleur will work as part of a team of senior executives to provide strategic guidance, and work to identify the unique ways in which business’ can help innovate and create more sustainability in their communities. Fleur said: “I am delighted that Bishop Fleming has joined BITC, making a commitment to a better way of doing business. “I am particularly pleased to join the South West Leadership Board, where it brings like-minded organisations together, profiling best practice, sharing ideas and insight and making a difference to our people and our communities.” www.bishopfleming.co.uk

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Dale Parmenter, DRPG founder and CEO commented after attending the event: “These awards are particularly special for us because agencies cannot enter themselves, instead our achievements have been put forward, assessed and reviewed by industry peers. It’s fantastic to acknowledge the group as a whole and is a testament to not only the management team but every single team member that has worked tirelessly over the past 12 months to help us deliver thousands of events and communications for our clients.”

DRPG is one of the longest established and uniquely integrated communication and production specialists employing over 380 people across various sectors of the creative industry. www.drpgroup.com

ECARGO BIKE GRANT FUNDING The Energy Saving Trust are offering grant funding for eCargo bikes provided by the Department of Transport. £400,000 has been made available by the Department for Transport in 2021/22 for the purchase of ecargo bikes, to support businesses switching to a sustainable transport solution.

Further details and application can be found via the EST website: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/ grants-and-loans/ecargo-bike-fund. The application deadline is 14 December 2021.

An eCargo bike is an electrically assisted bike with a cargo carrying capacity (minimum 125 litres in this case) i.e. a large box or tray incorporated into the machine. One of the lowest carbon forms of transport. Grant funding will be 40% of the gross cost (total amount including VAT) of each ecargo bike, up to a maximum of £2,500 for two-wheel models and £4,500 for three-wheel models.

NEW GREEN TOURISM STAKEHOLDER ACTION GROUP TO BE SET UP IN MALVERN As part of their Visitor Economy Action Plan, Malvern Hills District Council are seeking tourism business owners and managers to join a new Green Tourism Stakeholder Action Group.

If you’re interested in finding out more about what is involved, please email Victoria Carman, Visitor Economy Officer, on victoria.carman@malvernhills.gov.uk.

The group will meet quarterly (online and/ or face-to-face), to discuss and steer the direction for The Malverns to become a recognised Green Tourism destination. Priorities for the group will include developing a benchmarking system to monitor improvements and measure success, as well as developing a new Green Tourism grants programme.

November/December 2021

For you and your business THURSFIELDS RECRUITING 20 NEW STAFF WITH MORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES TO FOLLOW Leading Midlands law firm Thursfields Solicitors has launched a major recruitment drive to fill 20 immediate opportunities with more expected to follow. Jade Linton, Thursfields’ HR director, said: “Despite what has been an uncertain time for businesses in the wake of the pandemic, our ambitions for growth have not waned. “We used the steadiness of lockdown to refocus, seek feedback, strategise and revisit our corporate aims in areas including internal branding, learning and development, client relationships and growth. “Our strategies have paid off and we are now well placed to add to our impressive community of lawyers and managers. “We seek technically robust lawyers to join our team. We do not mind if they are not the finished article. We commit to helping them get there with clear and kind feedback with a compassionate tone, mentorship and continuous development.” In spite of tough trading conditions, Thursfields has recorded double digit growth in the past 12 months with the corporate team leading the way with a record year. Gareth Burge, director and head of corporate, said: “The last 12 months have been our busiest-ever, and the team has worked incredibly hard to ensure all projects were finished to our usual high quality. “During the pandemic, we completed a total of 29 deals worth over £125 million and consolidated our position as a leading

legal adviser to the owner-managed business and SME market. “We look forward with real optimism. The local mergers and acquisitions market is looking increasingly buoyant and we have some fantastic new deals in the pipeline.” Strong growth was also achieved by the commercial property team, and the family and commercial litigation and insolvency divisions. Jade added: “Thursfields is increasingly becoming the law firm of choice for ambitious lawyers who appreciate our flexible and considered approach to all aspects of their employment. “They appreciate our approach to agile working – we have a hybrid working policy which addresses the need for flexibility and permits home working. “We have an active equality, diversity and inclusion committee and steering groups as part of our efforts to champion an inclusive culture dedicated to learning, widening access to the profession and a genuine sense of belonging. “We are also committed to supporting the development of mental health first aiders at each office.” Comments from current staff members support the firm’s drive for inclusion at all levels. Lorna Tipple, director in the family division, said: “At Thursfields I am valued not only as a senior manager and lawyer, but as a whole person. The flexibility and autonomy offered allows me to balance all aspects of life, so that there is no longer a stark and outdated choice between career progression and family life. Forwardthinking and people-oriented, Thursfields has a most refreshing approach and I am delighted to be part of this team.”

Harbinder Gosal, a senior associate in the family team, said: “The best thing about working at Thursfields is that the senior management team, including HR, is approachable, and just one phone call away whether it’s a professional matter or personal. “The firm embracing flexibility of agile and hybrid working has been refreshing to those with childcare commitments. As a recently single parent I would not have coped without the support.” And for those at the start of their career, Shoaib Hussain said: “Thursfields’ client-centric approach, staff inclusiveness and a ‘team thinker’ entrepreneurial culture makes Thursfields an excellent firm to undertake a training contract and begin your legal career.” Jade said: “I would urge anyone, either at the start of their career or contemplating their next move, to put Thursfields at the very top of their wish list and give us a call.” Jade Linton can be contacted on jlinton@thursfields.co.uk or call 0345 2073728.

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IS IT POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE HEATING AND HOT WATER FOR A LARGE PROPERTY WITHOUT GAS, OIL OR LPG? WHO CAN WE HELP?

Yes! Eco-Wright Energy can design, supply and install a renewable heating system into your home, office or work space no matter what the size, using a ground or air source heat pump to supply the entire properties heating and hot water. For example take a look at this 441Sq/m modern family home, with five bedrooms, five bathrooms, a large kitchen, multiple family/ living rooms and a gym it was designed to be a modern and stylish home that has minimum impact on the environment. We worked closely with the family, architect and builders to design a system that would provide heating and hot water for the entire property with out the need for gas, oil or LPG and with out the need for constantly running an immersion heater.

Property Owners and landlord Builders Architects Construction companies Self builders Developers Merchants looking for advice The ground source heat pump extracts heat from 3 boreholes that are 125 meters deep. Brine also known as glycol runs through the ground loop (boreholes), this takes naturally occurring heat from the ground which is usually between 8°C and 12°C. The extracted heat with in the heat pump moves along a refrigerant circuit and through a compressor this raises the temperature of the gas and the heat is then transferred to the properties heating and hot water circuit through the condenser/heat exchanger. This heat is then used to heat the water cylinder and the radiators or underfloor heating.

For more information on all our services and products visit www.ecowrightenergy.co.uk or find us on social media

REDUCE

YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT WITH STATE OF THE ART BIOMASS HEATING TECHNOLOGY

GILLES Biomass Heating Ltd | Unit 215b Holme Lacy Road | Hereford HR2 6BQ E-Mail: office@gilles-biomassheating.co.uk | www.gilles-biomassheating.co.uk | 01432 513777

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November/December 2021

CHAMBERNEWS

BENEFITS BEYOND CARBON SAVINGS Investing in green energy is important in the journey to net zero, but it also has many benefits beyond carbon savings. To support businesses considering the advantages of energy efficiency and renewable energy, Worcestershire County Council’s Clean Growth team is available with advice and grants for SME’s. Chris Atkinson, Clean Business Growth Manager for Worcestershire County Council, comments “Aside from the clear environmental benefits of investing in green energy, there are other benefits such as big tax incentives, improvements in process efficiencies, and saving money on energy bills.” Additionally, customers now pay more attention to green credentials of their suppliers, selecting who they work with based on environmental impact. For businesses interested in investing in solar or other renewable technologies like

heat pumps and biomass, The Low Carbon Opportunities Programme (LOCOP) offers renewable energy assessments and grants of up to £100,000 to businesses in eligible sectors. One business recently helped through LOCOP is First Service Frozen Foods, an ice cream and frozen food specialist based in Bromsgrove. They wanted to consider renewable energy options to reduce their energy spend. Following a report which recommended Solar PV, the business was awarded funding for a 45.54kWp system, saving them £5,221 per annum and 10.7t CO2e. Wayne Sambidge of First Service Frozen Foods Ltd said; “The solar panels will help us save money and carbon, and also help with our sustainability aims to be as green as possible - this is something which our customers really appreciate too.” Advice and grants are also available through LOCOP to help businesses develop and commercialise innovative ideas that help others to be green. The Business Energy Efficiency Programme (BEEP) offers grants up to £20,000 to businesses in Worcestershire and the Marches for energy efficiency improvements.

The Low Carbon Opportunities Programme and Business Energy Efficiency Programme are part funded by the European Regional Development Fund For more information: Email: sustainability@worcestershire.gov.uk Visit: https://www.business-central.co.uk/ clean-growth/ Call: 01905 677888

Low Carbon Opportunities Programme The Low carbon Opportunities Programme can provide grants of up to 40% of the total cost of a project (to a maximum contribution of £100,000 for capital projects, £30,000 for revenue) for business to install renewable energy systems or undertake low carbon innovation projects.

How does it work?

• Apply for business support to assess your business for renewable energy systems or to help with innovative low carbon product, process or service development • Receive free business support from experts • Apply for a grant to take the next steps

To qualify, your business must:

• Be situated in and trading from Worcestershire* • Employ fewer than 250 employees • Have a turnover of less than 50 million Euros per annum or a balance sheet of less than 43 million Euros *Grants for low carbon innovation are also available in Shropshire

(Please note – some industries such as primary agriculture and retail are not eligible. Other activities excluded are social welfare and education facilities, banking and insurance.)

Grants available for renewable energy projects such as: • Solar PV • Geothermal heat systems • Biomass boilers • Air, ground or water source heat pumps • Geothermal heat collectors or solar collectors • Heat networks • Renewable energy distribution technologies • Renewable energy storage

Grants available for low carbon innovation projects such as: • Low carbon product, process or service development • Commercialisation or implementation costs • Market research and assessment • IPR protection and accreditation • Prototyping, demonstration or testing of new products • Manufacturing scale up or market rollout • Plant, equipment and machinery

The Low Carbon Opportunities Programme is a partnership between: Worcestershire County Council • Bromsgrove District Council • Malvern Hills District Council • Redditch Borough Council • Shropshire Council • Worcester City Council • Wychavon District Council • Wyre Forest District Council

Find out more at www.business-central.co.uk/LOCOP Email info@business-central.co.uk or call 01905 677888

Clean Growth Worcestershire

The project is receiving up to £1,624,328 of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014–2020. For more information visit gov.uk/european-growth-funding. Updated July 2021.

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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SKILLS

SKILLS SUPPORT FOR THE WORKFORCE IN WORCESTERSHIRE Skills Support for the Workforce (SSW) is a programme developed to upskill employees within small and medium-sized businesses in the manufacturing sector in Worcestershire. SSW provides recognised accredited qualifications and bespoke training courses to enhance your employees’ skills, increase the competitiveness of your business and boost the local economy.

MARCHES LEP INVESTMENT IN SKILLS HELPING REGION TO RECOVER A multi-million pound investment in building skills across the Marches is playing a key part in helping the region’s fightback from the Covid pandemic, the leader of the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership said.

and knowledge across our workforce will be crucial to us as we move out of the pandemic period, helping to ensure businesses can adopt new technology, new working practices and seize the new opportunities which will emerge.

Marches LEP Chair, Mandy Thorn MBE said the organisation’s work over the last ten years to develop the skills base across Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, would pay huge dividends in the region’s recovery from lockdown.

“Through our Growth Deal Skills Capital Investment we have been able to target investment exactly where it is needed to help develop state-of-the-art facilities in which a new generation can be equipped with the skills needed to thrive for years to come.”

SSW is co-financed by the Education and Skills Funding Agency and the European Social Fund. This means you can access a wide range of training at no cost* to your business. *subject to eligibility

She said the LEP – which this year celebrates ten years since it was first launched – had a proud track record of investing more than £5million in improving skills across the region.

WHAT’S ON OFFER?

“The LEP has worked with schools, colleges and universities to ensure that the region has all the skills needed to lead the way in the modern world,” she said.

A training needs analysis for your business, identifying the skills you need to support your business ambitions Flexible training – pick full qualifications or mix and match individual units to suit your business On-the-job vocational training to meet individual and business needs including taught learning, workplace assessment, distance learning and online learning

SERCO BUSINESS

“The work we have done throughout a decade of delivery to improve skills

COLLEGE GROUP LANDS £1.2 MILLION FUNDING TO TRANSFORM CLASSROOMS AND WORKSHOPS

Learning pathways for your employees enabling them to progress within your organisation onto higher level qualifications or apprenticeships

Classrooms and workshops at a leading Midlands college group will be transformed to deliver new technical qualifications after receiving £1.2 Million of government funding.

Recognised accredited qualifications and training courses to enhance your employees’ skills

WCG (formerly Warwickshire College Group) has been granted the funding from the £50 million T Level Capital Fund.

SSW in Worcestershire is managed by Serco in partnership with Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (WLEP). Serco delivers the training through a network of expert training providers. Contact Serco’s SSW team today to find out about training for your business, email skillssupport@serco.com or visit www.serco-ese.com/skills-support-forthe-workforce/regions/worcestershire for further information.

Marches LEP Chair, Mandy Thorn MBE

T Levels are new national qualifications that form part of the government’s flagship reforms to technical education in England. The college group will be delivering T Levels in Engineering, Health & Science and Construction from September 2022.

suitable and modern environment in which learning can take place. “This funding is in addition to funding we have already received to invest in industry specialist equipment to support the delivery of our four T Level routes. “We will be investing the funding across our Pershore, Royal Leamington Spa and Rugby sites. “The work carried out at all three sites will allow us to cater for growth in student numbers while ensuring existing students have access to the best possible equipment and learning environment. www.wcg.ac.uk/tlevels

The courses combine classroom theory and practical learning with industry placements of at least nine weeks to give students real experience of the workplace. Peter Husband, Chief Operating Officer and Group Principal at WCG, said: “This successful bid for capital funds to support our T Level provision in 2022 and beyond will ensure we provide a

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November/December 2021

BUSINESSNEWS

UNIVERSITY SHORTLISTED FOR NATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY AWARD The University of Worcester has been shortlisted for a national award for its work on sustainability in the local community.

The UK government are proposing to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles cars from 2030. The alternative is electric.

The University is a finalist for a Green Gown Award in the Benefitting Society category, based on a recycling initiative working with local schools. The Green Gown Awards recognise exceptional sustainability initiatives by universities and colleges and best practice within the further and higher education sector. Winners will be announced at a ceremony later in the year. The University’s Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive, Professor David Green CBE DL, said: “The University of Worcester is deeply committed to ensuring that sustainability is embedded into all of our work at the University. We aim to inspire students, staff and the wider community to take action themselves. After a successful campaign on campus to increase recycling rates using specially designed posters and videos, students worked with the University’s sustainability experts to translate this idea into

Poster created by students at the Oldbury Park Primary RSA Academy

something similar in schools. University students delivered a session on recycling to members of the Eco Club at Oldbury Park Primary RSA Academy, improving pupils knowledge of what could be recycled, then got them to draw typical items for rubbish or recycling. Creative media students then used their artwork to create posters for pupils to put on display at home www.worcester.ac.uk

A TEN YEAR CELEBRATION FOR HAZELTON MOUNTFORD TEAM MEMBERS Trinny Gold and Andy Gormley celebrated 10 years with Hazelton Mountford by being presented with a special plaque, a Red Letter Day gift and a team lunch at Centenary Lounge. Directors Gordon Hazelton, Jake Mountford and Simeon Chapman wanted to show their appreciation for Trinny's and Andy's dedication to the company and share their successes with the rest of the team.

THE FUTURE OF DRIVING IS ELECTRIC – SO WHAT’S THE RISK?

team after such a tough couple of years, to see that our Directors acknowledge us for our length of service. And we look forward to the next team member racking up their decade with Hazelton Mountford!" www.hazeltonmountford.co.uk

Ofgem, has recently announced that it is investing £300 million to help triple the number of ultra-rapid charging points around the UK, including 1,800 ultra-rapid charging sites at motorway service stations. According to government figures, as of 1 April there were 22,790 public electric vehicle charging devices available in the UK, of which 4,259 were rapid chargers. There are still a limited number of EVs – also known as Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (ULEVs) – on the road at the end of 2020 there was just shy of 432,000, according to the Department for Transport. Numbers are increasing and will continue to as there is more education around battery powered vehicles and an increase in confidence with their range (how far they will travel without running out of battery power). For many businesses it will be essential that charging facilities are installed for their employees, customers and visitors to use when parking at their premises. There are risk considerations that need to be made in order to protect employees, reduce the risk and reduce the number of potential insurance claims. If you would like further information about how driving an electric vehicle could affect your future insurance requirements, Sutcliffe & Co are here to explain and can provide you with more info and guidance. www.sutcliffeinsurance.co.uk

Gordon says: “Too often we celebrate people leaving the business, to go embark on new ventures, and one of our company values is to celebrate people who stay with us in the longer term. Together we decided to honour and reward the people who've been with us for ten years in a memorable way." The team were surprised with the presentations and subsequent meal out. Trinny agrees: "It was a wonderful surprise and a good lift for the entire

Jake Mountford, Trinny Gold, Andy Gormley and Gordon Hazelton outside the Hazelton Mountford Office, Worcester

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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FOCUSONMARKETING

Hello! I'm Donna and would love to tell you more about my local business, Smile Box. We all like to feel appreciated in the workplace and here at Smile Box we can help support your wellbeing and recognition culture with fully branded Corporate Gift Boxes to make your staff smile, from just £12.95 a person! Smile Boxes include a selection of products all chosen to support wellbeing along with a selection of mental health resources, so you can ensure you're doing all you can to support your team and their wellbeing. We can also help with branded gift boxes for events, new clients, sales prospecting and new starters. If we can help or you'd like further information, please visit www.smile-box.co.uk or drop us an e-mail at hello@smile-box.co.uk as we'd love to tell you more!

Christmas Smile Boxes available for you to gift to your staff now!

What's included in your Smile Box?

6 Six products all chosen to improve wellbeing and promote self-care

A brochure showcasing products and featuring mental health resources

‘Positivity Postcards’ with practical mindfulness tips to support emotional resilience

A personalised letter from your CEO, branded with your company logo

Gift wrapped and packaged in tissue paper to feel like a real treat

What are the benefits of happy & healthy staff? Increased Productivity Lower Staff Turnover Higher Levels of Employee Engagement Reduced Sickness Absence Boost to staff morale Improved Emotional Wellbeing

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WWW.SMILE-BOX.CO.UK

November/December 2021

FOCUSONMARKETING

OUR CYBER FUTURE – HCR’S CYBER CONFERENCE COVERS THE WHOLE PICTURE Providing expertise on cyber security from the FBI to start-up tech companies, alongside risk management and commercial law specialists, HCR’s cyber conference drew in 250 delegates for online sessions tackling the issue from all angles. Drawing in experts nationally and internationally, the event has covered the issue in real depth and breadth. Speakers and industry experts have advised on everything from the most basic solutions, such as the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) to the use of artificial intelligence to monitor emails and texts to expose insider threats. Former FBI agent Jerry Bessette, Professor Pete Burnap of Cardiff University, Blacksmiths Group and ethical hacker Mike G led sessions, as did the firm’s own specialists, including our Head of Technology Nicola McNeely and Professor Dan Hyde. Nicola has been involved in supporting companies working with tech accelerator Betaden in Malvern, a role now carried out by Emma Kirkpatrick, a colleague in our commercial team. Dan is a leading cybersecurity lawyer and advised the Law Commission on its recent review of cybersecurity and data protection law in the UK. He authored the first UK published books on cybersecurity law and the international regulation and challenges of cryptocurrency and blockchain. Cyber issues affect both companies and individuals – getting policies right, finding the right cyber insurance and making sure that your data is safe are key for businesses. They also affect anyone who

Matt Burgess, Cllr Victoria Atherstone, Andy Bates, Tim Atkins, Kristine Scott (HCR), Bruce Gregory and Madeline Howard – speakers at the final event.

has digital assets such as bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies.

Meterian, and David Notley of Enclave, all introduced by Rob Kearney of Plexal.

Tackling these issues, as well as giving tech businesses a platform to showcase their innovations, the conference assembled over 45 speakers across 25 sessions, ending with an in-person event at Gloucestershire College’s Advanced Digital Academy (ADA).

The four start-ups tackle risk from different angles, supporting companies in an increasingly cyber-conscious world.

Krissy Scott, conference lead, speaking at the final event, said: “As part of the local cyber eco-system, it has been an invaluable experience to work with 27 partner organisations through our conference, demonstrating the benefits of working together and wider collaboration; we very much want initiatives like ADA to succeed.” The technology showcase, supported by cyber community organisation CyNam, brought together four exciting start-ups as part of the event. Showcasing their innovation and expertise were George B of PORGiESOFT, Ryan Heartfield of Exalens, Bruno Bossola of

Cyber issues affect both companies and individuals – getting policies right, finding the right cyber insurance and making sure that your data is safe are key for businesses. Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

Meterian’s platform prevents an enterprise’s own software application assets from becoming an Achilles’ heel as it automatically and continuously prevents risks buried in their software apps from causing financial and reputational. Its SaaS subscriptions are used by developers in the financial, tech, health, and cybersecurity sectors where companies want to ensure their software applications are secure by design. Exalens combines human cybersecurity expertise, physical system behaviour and processes and AI to respond to cyber threats automatically and swiftly. PORGiESOFT is on a mission to use AI to make every day time-consuming tasks in cyber-fraud detection easier and faster, building smart machines that can quickly carry out routine tasks and adapt in the process. Enclave aims to give IT professionals a simple way to build connectivity rapidly between any application, computer system, device, or infrastructure, regardless of the underlying network. Delegates also had the chance to meet the speakers virtually during the conference drop-in networking sessions. and the conference content is available via our website at www.hcrlaw.com

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AWARDS

CHAMBER BUSINESS AWARDS CELEBRATES THE BEST OF LOCAL BUSINESS The Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce were delighted to welcome guests back for the in-person Chamber Business Awards 2021, sponsored by Folk2Folk, for a dazzling display at the Worcester Arena on Thursday 2 September. Hosted by Magician Ben Hanlin, the Awards welcomed over 700 guests from businesses across the 2 counties. After 2 years without an in-person awards ceremony, businesses were keen to get out and celebrate their achievements and have the opportunity to catch up with old faces and recognise the determination and innovation shown over the past year. This year saw entries at an all-time high and ticket demand through the roof, with

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the event sold out months in advance. 15 awards were up for grabs, with the winners of each individual category entered into the final coveted award, Business of the Year. Prior to the awards ceremony, attendees had the chance to re-introduce themselves to fellow business professionals and meet new contacts during the Networking Drinks, sponsored by Yamazaki Mazak. After drinks and a three-course dinner, attention turned to the Awards where 15 categories winners and highly commended businesses were announced. The overall Business of the Year Award, sponsored by Folk2Folk was won by Malvern Panalytical. Sharon Smith, Chief Executive of Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, commented: “What a huge pleasure and delight to bring business together again for an evening of celebration and reward. It was great

to see so many businesses recognised at the awards ceremony. After such a tough period for companies, the innovation and determination shown by our two counties business community demonstrates resilience and resourcefulness that is unique to the Herefordshire and Worcestershire area. I would like to wish all of those businesses who were finalists, highly commended and proud winners on the night my sincere congratulations and I hope that everyone within their organisations can be proud of their achievements.” The rewards for being recognised with a business award are invaluable, including a great boost to staff morale, a platform to raise your business profile and a way to gain a competitive edge over your competitors. If this sounds useful to your business, entries to next year’s awards will open in early 2022, so do look out for further details coming soon.

November/December 2021

AWARDS THE FULL LIST OF WINNERS INCLUDED: Best Use of Technology Sponsored by TechTeam Amica24

Excellence in Customer Service Sponsored by Air Products Malvern Panalytical

Employer of the Year Sponsored by University of Worcester DRPG

Excellence in Innovation Sponsored by Malvern Hills Science Park D-RisQ

Excellence in Professional Services Sponsored by Worcestershire County Council Bishop Fleming LLP and 3WH (Joint winners)

Exporter of the Year Sponsored by Malvern Panalytical & High Growth Business of the Year Sponsored by EBC Group OLPRO

Health & Wellbeing in the Workplace Sponsored by Cargill Protein Europe New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE)

Manufacturer of the Year Sponsored by OGL Computers & Excellence in Sustainability Sponsored by Business Energy Efficiency Programme Indra Renewable Technologies Ltd

Micro Business of the Year Sponsored by Worcestershire Growth Hub SurfTech IT

Most Promising New Business Sponsored by mfg Solicitors LLP EVA Capital Management

Small Business of the Year Sponsored by OV Group Payara Services Ltd

Family Business of the Year Sponsored by Harrison Clark Rickerbys ISO Quality Services Ltd

Commitment to the Community Sponsored by Sanctuary Group Yeleni Therapy & Support

Business of the Year Sponsored by Folk2Folk Malvern Panalytical

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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CHAMBERTRAINING

VIRTUAL TRAINING – HOW WE CAN ALL DO OUR BIT TO HELP THE ENVIRONMENT “The greatest threat to our plant is the belief that someone else will save it” – Robert Swan The pandemic has brought about a lot of change mostly with a detrimental impact to businesses. Training companies especially were forced to rethink how they could engage with their customers and continue to trade safely whilst satisfying the business needs of not only their customers but also to stay afloat themselves during the Covid storm! By extending their business training offering from face to face classroom-based training to developing a virtual training offering, businesses were able to maintain a training service and continue to support businesses in providing continued professional development for their staff. Even staff placed on the Furlough scheme

were able to take advantage of being able to develop their skills. Training providers and higher education establishments were able to offer online training for business and students. There’s no doubt that virtual training has a positive environmental impact. Some of the advantages are: Employees no longer must travel to attend training, allowing staff to be more productive and manage their time more efficiently. The additional commute is avoided which lowers each person’s carbon footprint. There may also be a potential financial cost saving for both the training provider and the employer, in terms of reduced fees/free training. Preparation of course material reduces the need to print out course handouts

and certificates of attendance, saving on paper ink, electricity etc. Virtual delivery of documents/certificates also means they are available long after the training has been delivered, and if they are misplaced potentially a cost can be avoided by having certificates reprinted. Virtual training is sustainable and it’s here to stay. Many training providers have now adapted a hybrid service to accommodate not only the needs of their customers but also to support and adapting to a greener economy. The Chamber have a continued programme of virtual courses running over the coming months. Please scan the QR code to view the training calendar for further details.

All courses can be found here: www.hwchamber.co.uk/online-training-courses. Can’t find what you are looking for? Email training@hwchamber.co.uk with your course suggestions.

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November/December 2021

CHAMBERTRAINING NOVEMBER COURSE DATES Communicating for Success Wednesday 3 November - 9.00am-4.00pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members Advanced Microsoft Excel Thursday 4 November - 9.00am-4.00pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members Fire Marshall Training Tuesday 9 November - 9.00am-4.00pm £90+VAT Members £110+VAT Non-members 7 Steps to Closing the Deal Monday 15 November - 9.00am-4.00pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members

DECEMBER COURSE DATES Introduction to Digital Marketing & PR Tuesday 7 December - 9.00am-12.30pm FREE Members £110+VAT Non-members

Role of the Team Leader Wednesday 8 December - 9.00am-4.00pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members

IOSH Managing Occupational Health & Wellbeing Wednesday 8 December - 9.00am-4.00pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members

Successful Telesales Thursday 9 December - 9.00am-4.00pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members

Excel Masterclass Tuesday 14 December - 9.00am-4.00pm £200+VAT Members £250+VAT Non-members

Introduction to WordPress Tuesday 14 December - 9.00am-12.30pm £90+VAT Members £110+VAT Non-members

Conducting Effective Team Appraisals Wednesday 15 December - 9.00am-4.00pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members

Mailchimp & Email Marketing Tuesday 16 November - 9.00am-12.30pm £90+VAT Members £110+VAT Non-members Train the Trainer Tuesday 16 November - 9.00am-4.00pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members Advanced Microsoft Excel Wednesday 17 November - 9.00am-4.00pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members An Introduction to Finance for the Non-financial Manager Thursday 18 November - 9.00am-4.00pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members Digital Reporting and Google Analytics Tuesday 23 November - 9.00am-12.30pm £90+VAT Members £110+VAT Non-members IOSH Managing Safely Monday 29 November - 9.00am-4.00pm £495+VAT Members £595+VAT Non-members

Whilst we are continuously expanding our online offering, please let us know if there are any training courses you would like the Chamber to deliver in the future. All up to date courses can be found on our website: www.hwchamber.co.uk/events-and-training-calendar. We have now started welcoming delegates back to the Chamber office for our potfolio of training courses. For more information on any of our training courses, please see our website or email ourtraining department on training@hwchamber.co.uk.

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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BIG INTERVIEW

INDRA POWERS AHEAD WITH INNOVATION True homegrown success stories don’t come much better than INDRA Renewable Technologies. And after a Covid-induced lull, it’s back to business as usual for the smart electric vehicle (EV) charger and energy technology specialists. Quality, innovation and sustainability are the cornerstones of this Malvern-based manufacturer. These are not empty buzzwords, but solid foundations that the business continues to build on. Smart charging for cheaper driving is INDRA’s key message. “The switch to EV doesn’t have to be difficult, we want to break down the misconceptions that are holding some people back”, says Chief Operating Officer Ben Kelsey. In line with most local industry, the last 18 months have been challenging. But with trademark passion and ingenuity, INDRA has stayed focused on the positives, tweaked its operating model, and the future is suddenly looking very rosy (well, green!) again. As Ben adds, “It’s great to be back!” Earlier in the year, INDRA’s achievements were recognised with wins in the

Excellence in Sustainability and Manufacturer of the Year categories at the Chamber Business Awards. Ben explains, “We were shortlisted for four awards and won the two I was really hoping for, because manufacturing and sustainability are so core to our values. “Keeping good high-quality manufacturing jobs here in the county is really important. We’ve invested a lot in our team and our production facilities – in fact we’re upscaling again now. Plus, everyone is genuinely passionate about sustainability. It’s more than just a job, and it’s great to see the hard work paying off. “Our green forums have come up with loads of ideas to reduce our carbon footprint, from processes and operations down to encouraging suppliers to use reusable packing rather than cardboard and bubble wrap. Data is a major part to measure what we do, what we produce, how much carbon is in our products. It’s very difficult to trace back to source and work out how many kilos of CO2 are embedded in a complex electronic product. But we now know what we use as a business, directly through energy, and in our products, and how much we are saving not just for us but our customers.” Ben looks after the manufacturing / operations side, and he wants products that are built to last. “Focusing on longevity is the most valuable way to reduce waste in manufacturing. We want to deliver upgraded software features through our original units for as long as possible …ten years or more.” And with the UK electric car market flying, every sale is an opportunity for INDRA. Sales of their flagship products - the Smart Pro and Smart Pioneer chargers – look set to double from over 1000 per month now to 2000 next year. The Smart Pro is the UK’s market leader in terms of quality and ‘smart’ features, such as off-peak /

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solar charging, quick boost override, and personal charging preferences. The forecast looks set for growth into the 100,000’s if not millions long-term. Supply chain problems are well documented nationally, but INDRA had the foresight to secure supply of critical components early on “because we saw what was coming. Obviously, the broader supply chain for electronics products goes further afield, but we do as much as we can in the UK. All the build and test work, the PCBs, and circuit boards are assembled here or in Europe. “Our manufacturing plans weren’t disrupted as a result, and while we have seen fluctuations in components for our new designs, we remain really focused on sustaining momentum.” INDRA is concentrating on buoyant domestic demand and retaining its market-leading position in the UK for now. However, it has recently partnered with a distributor in Australia, and there’s planned expansion into Europe next year, where standards are reasonably aligned to ours. Although much of the design and build is done in the factory, INDRA’s specialism is software. Ben adds: “Clean technology is progressing very quickly and we are looking closely at how software and innovation can support the National Grid. “We can get really smart by steering away from the ‘dumb charger’ model, whereby the car is plugged in and starts charging

November/December 2021

BIG INTERVIEW

immediately. This tends to be when people get home from work and demand is high, so charging inevitably hits the gird at the worst time. “On top of that are soaring wholesale fuel prices, and unpredictable outputs from renewable energy sources. Our software seeks to take advantage of half hourly fluctuations in energy pricing and availability, so we can pause and start charging for best pricing, as quite a few energy providers offer different pricing for car charging versus powering the rest of a house.” Now that the government has rolled out EV charger availability to the 40 per cent of houses with driveways, the next focus of attention is supporting people without access to private parking, such as residents of flats and terraced housing who rely on on-street and communal parking. Ben explains, “The hardware is largely the same, but we can be intelligent with our

software solutions here too. For example, it’s unlikely everyone will be charging up simultaneously in a communal area, so we’re working on a number of models; charge points available on a first come, first served basis; free to user units; user IDs for tenants; or perhaps putting a charger on every parking space. Will this then be billed back or covered in building maintenance charges? These aren’t pressing issues at the moment, but will become more urgent as EV ownership becomes more mainstream, and we want to offer tailormade options at the right time.” INDRA is also looking at vehicle to grid bi-directional charging, whereby energy can be exported back to the grid. “The technology has been around for a while in places like Japan, and it’s definitely the next big step in the UK. INDRA is working on this, of course, and we currently have around 400 units across the country. It’s really useful at peak times; for example,

Focusing on longevity is the most valuable way to reduce waste in manufacturing.

if your car has half a battery when you get home, you simply plug it in, discharge the battery and get paid for it. Ultimately you’re helping to reduce demand of fossil fuels.” INDRA – like its industry compatriots – has made huge progress in a very short time, and looking ahead more than five years seems like a lifetime for Ben. However, he says, “Looking at the big picture, if the government sticks to its guns, we will certainly see a very rapid and large transition into electricification in everything from domestic energy use to transport, because it’s fundamentally easier to generate and make good use of renewable electricity, than to try and make hydrocarbons like natural gas carbon-neutral. He concludes, “INDRA’s focus is very much on the residential market at the moment, so we want everything to work together. Solar panels, heat pumps, EV chargers – they currently don’t talk to each other and integrate well. Our aim is for our products to talk to other products so the average person doesn’t need umpteen different apps in their home. Interoperability is a big challenge as not everyone in the industry talks the same language. We hope to lead in this field, work with other manufacturers, and define lasting standards.” Exciting times indeed! More information available at indra.co.uk.

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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COVERFEATURE

FAUN ZOELLER’S DRIVE TO TRANSFORM HEAVY TRANSPORT Waste management specialists FAUN Zoeller (FZUK) will co-host the Chamber’s next Sustainability Forum. CEO Simon Hyde explains how the company has gone the extra green mile towards decarbonisation. Sustainability isn’t idle chitchat at FZUK, which develops, manufactures and services refuse collection vehicles, bin lifters and mechanical Road Sweepers. Its Redditch-based division has been actively seeking out low carbon solutions for years – long before Net Zero became a trendy byword. In the Forum, on November 9, Simon will co-host an open debate on low carbon heavy vehicles, and how transport, waste, the environment, and public sector funding are inextricably linked in the move to decarbonisation. Simon explains, “As an engineer, I’ve always been an advocate of green technologies, but must admit to being a bit sceptical about climate change until Covid struck. When travel stopped, you could see a real difference in air and water quality. In fact, the pandemic was a game-changer for our whole company, not just me personally. “While it was business as usual with our public sector clients, we also saw a chance to bring in real innovative change. We just rolled up our sleeves and said, ‘Right, let’s focus on what we can do, not what we can’t’.” FZUK started by setting up a Customer Experience Centre, so that clients could stay in touch via social channels for product launches, webinars and training sessions. “We also spent a little bit south of £1/2 million putting in a paperless office, buying EV company cars, and installing EV chargers at work and home. We’ve got a fully integrated recycling management programme, and even put in low-energy active LED lighting (which is interesting if you sit still for 20 minutes, as all the lights go out!). Once the leases expire on the rest of the fleet, we’ll replace them with electric vehicles, and there’s even an EV Mini so all our

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employees can ‘experience’ what EV is like.” The company also recently set up a Net Zero committee, working with an external agency to gauge progress and plan future actions. FZUK’s biggest shift in direction, however, will be a wholesale switch from diesel to electric and hydrogen-powered products. Its new pride and joy is the ROTOPRESS, whose innovative rotating drum makes it the most economical refuse collection model on the market. The company’s lifting devices are also fully electric, marking a permanent move away from inefficient hydraulic systems. The company is particularly keen to develop strategic Net Zero partnerships with local authorities, as Simon explains, “FZUK don’t just want to sell trucks, but offer a full operational solution. We provide real data on vehicle use and performance to make sure our clients get the right products. While the technology has been around for a while, it is new to this sector, so it will take a while to bed in. “Local authorities generally do have an appetite for change. Yes, everyone falls into the trap of comparing capital costs, and upfront costs can seem considerably higher. But when you look at maintenance and service costs in the long term, you’re getting a vehicle that will last 10 years not five!” FZUK is part of the Kirchhoff Group, based in Germany, which specialises in automotive, tools and mobility. The

environment is high on its agenda too. “To be honest, Germany has always had more vision when it comes to the green economy, and the company was already discussing decarbonisation when I joined in 2000. We had developed a diesel electric truck by 2009, and I’m pleased to say those very first trucks are still operating today. I made a conscious decision to hold back on bringing the truck to the UK until it was fully tried and tested, but now we’ll be bringing the first one over in the third quarter of next year.” FZUK continues to collaborate with numerous agencies: “Although we have developed our own hydrogen fuel cell, we are technically agnostic, so are looking for partners to make electric and hydrogen chassis.” Simon also sits on the Westminster Clean Air Commission, which monitors current emissions. “Buses and refuse trucks are the biggest polluters, so clearly decarbonisation will have a positive health impact in our cities.” He is also on the board of governors at Kidderminster College, which is setting up a new electric automotive facility. “Our top priority is getting the right skills set and investing in knowledge for all generations. There’s still some way to go, but mindsets are definitely changing and the opportunities are huge.” ‘Transportation Transformation – Drive to Sustainability’ is the theme of the next Sustainability Forum, on 9 November, at FZUK HQ. Full details at hwchamber. co.uk

November/December 2021

COVERFEATURE

THE RACE FOR NEW ENERGY SOLUTIONS HEATS UP As the threat of soaring energy bills and winter blackouts fire up the headlines, Worcester Bosch’s pioneering work on sustainable heating is more topical than ever. When we last caught up with CEO Carl Arntzen, decarbonising the UK’s central heating network was top of the company agenda. Just a few short months later, reducing our entire carbon footprint – and reliance on costly, unreliable energy supplies – is topping the national agenda too. But, as Carl points out, it is impossible to predict which emerging heating technology will hold most market appeal in the future. “We’ll certainly see a much more diversified technology landscape than the current popular gas boiler solution. But there’s a huge debate around the best way forward: will it be electrification or hydrogen? I would say unequivocally that it’s both … with a few more technologies in the mix too. “It’s not up to us as a company to decide; it’s the customer’s choice. We will make the technologies available and if one in particular starts to dominate, then so be it.” While the company’s work on a hydrogen boiler prototype remains crucially important, they are also looking back to go forward. “We’ve just relaunched our first range of electric heat pumps, having first offered them in 2006 when the government was pushing the Green Deal and other renewable heat incentives. Unfortunately, demand fell when that support was pulled, but we now have a 2-3 year road map during which time we will introduce a range of heat pumps.” Worcester Bosch also continues to work with Hy4Heat, a government scheme looking at the feasibility of repurposing the gas network to hydrogen. “We’ve got a few prototype boilers in demonstration houses, and are currently producing 150 boilers for a final project in Fife, Scotland, which will see 300 houses powered by 100% hydrogen, including boilers, cookers and fires.” This will hopefully confirm the safety case, and resolve any remaining engineering and science-based issues, but Worcester Bosch is already more than happy with progress. “We’ve proved firstly that you can fire

100% hydrogen boilers safely in the home, and secondly designed a product that fits neatly into the same space as your existing boiler, meaning less disruption when it’s time to install a new appliance.” A government decision on using hydrogen-ready units in residential and commercial properties looks likely when trials finish at the end of 2022. If approved, the next step will be mandating that all boilers installed – most likely from 2025 – are hydrogen ready. This has led to speculation that all gas boilers will be banned in four years’ time; this isn’t the case, it simply means that all new boilers sold from 2025 must be hydrogen ready, meaning they will operate on natural gas until the gas network is ready to be switched to 100% hydrogen – a short conversion will then allow the boiler to fire hydrogen. (Unfortunately, it is very difficult to convert existing gas boilers, but they will be allowed to run their natural course until it’s time to replace). The scale of the task is huge, but Carl is very optimistic. Around 1.6million gas boilers are sold in the UK each year, and 26 million homes have a gas boiler. “But if you mandate that every boiler is hydrogen ready, you are pre-populating the housing stock with this type of boiler at the rate of 1.6 million per year. After 10 years, you’ve done 16 million – within 20 years, you’ve done the whole housing stock!” There are other challenges ahead, which lie out of the company’s hands, because while hydrogen is abundant in the natural world, extraction is difficult. Green hydrogen is

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

generated through renewable electricity but storage is essential because wind or solar energy is intermittent, and can’t always be produced on demand. Blue hydrogen is already in common use, but involves taking gas up to really high temperatures, making it a short-term, non-viable solution because of its dependence on fossil fuel and thus high carbon emissions. “I think blue hydrogen will serve as a transition to green hydrogen,” Carl adds. The Bosch group worldwide has long championed sustainability, achieving Scope 2 emissions compliance in 2020. Effectively this means all their energy supplies are drawn from green sources. The next step is scope 3 emissions, which will look at their entire supply chain, from the purchase of cups of coffee to steel. Carl concedes this will be a very lengthy process and will probably continue into the next decade. So what advice does Carl have for local companies about to take the sustainable route? “It’s a long road, meaning the sooner you start, the better. And while it’s very tempting to tackle the big issues straightaway, it’s actually all the small changes that can contribute as much to reducing emissions as the big ticket items.” Find out more about the company’s vision for New Dimensions – Sustainability 2025 at bosch.com/sustainability.

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BUSINESSNEWS

NEW MINI ECOBOOSTER SAVES WATER IN THE KITCHEN It’s always been a little harder to encourage water saving in the kitchen, understandably as we all want to be able to quickly fill our pans for cooking or kitchen sinks for washing up. However, this new innovation from Neoperl may hold the answer. The Mini Ecobooster is an aerator for the kitchen tap that can be switched from water-saving flow to full capacity in an instant allowing the tap to be on eco-mode for general use but boosted to a fuller flow when required. This new flow device, which can be easily retrofitted to most kitchen taps, protrudes slightly from the tap and can be switched easily into boost mode by pulling the sleeve upwards. After closing the tap, it always switches back into the default water saving mode. It solves any argument on a water saving device resulting in a lack of performance.

in Malvern in Worcestershire where they manufacture many different sizes of flow regulator. But they do advise that most UK taps and showers are compatible with just a handful of product sizes. So maybe stocking a small selection of these aerator products and advising your customers, accordingly, could have a significant effect on helping to hit our UK water saving targets. www.neoperl.net/en/start

FUNDING GETS GREEN LIGHT TO DEVELOP NEW ZERO EMISSION BATTERY ENCLOSURE FOR FREIGHT A collaborative project involving the University of Wolverhampton focusing on producing a lightweight, fire-safe battery enclosure for zero emission trucks, has been given the green light by Innovate UK.

overheating, short-circuits, impacts or collisions. Therefore, electric trucks with large LIBs present a potential risk of severe fire and injury, particularly when in urban areas, and/or carrying hazardous cargo.

The partnership has secured £183,000 of funding from the Department for Transport under a scheme aimed at boosting the UK’s transition to zero emission road freight. The nine-month project will be driven by Composites Evolution Ltd in collaboration with the University’s School of Engineering, MEP Technologies Ltd and Carr Reinforcements Ltd, and aims to develop a new high-temperature composite material suitable for large battery enclosures for electric freight vehicles.

“Current lightweight solutions struggle to withstand the high temperatures of such fires. This project will develop a new lightweight high-temperature composite material suitable for large battery enclosures. It will also prototype a battery module for an electric/hybrid truck with the aim being to develop a pack that is significantly lighter than current solutions whilst remaining fire-safe.”

“Lithium ion batteries (LIBs) present a fire hazard in the event of a thermal runaway caused, for example, by

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GL CHARGED AFTER AGREEING OEM DEAL WITH PROJECT EV Green Lighting Ltd (GL) are pleased to announce a supply partnership with market leading electric vehicle charger manufacturer Project EV.

Neoperl UK is a huge manufacturer of water devices. In the UK they are based

Brendon Weager, Technical Director at Composites Evolution Ltd, said: “Freight accounts for around 20% of road vehicle emissions so there is substantial interest in switching to zero-emission trucks to help meet the UK's target of net zero carbon by 2050. However, these trucks will need large, heavy batteries to provide sufficient range.

Anthony Ottway, MD of GL & Simon Peat, CEO of Project EV

www.wlv.ac.uk

Anthony Ottway, Managing Director of GL, commented: “To have the opportunity to take an established product to the house builder market doesn’t happen very often, we are delighted! We have sampled many different manufacturers, not one came close to the reliability and warranties offered by Project EV. The product range incorporates solutions that won’t require an earth spike and enable communal charging for mapartments, providing every solution that our clients will face”. GL have supplied the new build market for over two decades with lighting, alarms, and electrical accessories through direct specification. This exclusive deal to supply up to 50k units of GL branded chargers per annum is a timely one. With the pending introduction of Building Regulation Part S, EV chargers will become a standard within the house builder specification. The GL chargers will take on a new design that is an aesthetically pleasing solution required by the UK house builder. Since Covid, GL have worked closer than ever with their clients ensuring that forecasted stock is ring fenced. The same will apply to EV Chargers as they go into production. www.greenlighting.co.uk

November/December 2021

BUSINESSNEWS

ROYAL VISIT FOR FOSTER + FREEMAN foster+freeman, forensic science equipment manufacturer, were delighted to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to its Evesham headquarters on Friday 9 October. foster+freeman was selected for the Royal visit, primarily because of its role as a manufacturer of unique and innovative technologies within the field of forensic science and questioned document examination. The company’s position as a local employer of young graduates and skilled apprentices was also highlighted during the visit. Robert Dartnell – Chief Executive, foster+freeman, stated: “It has been an absolute pleasure to welcome Her Royal Highness Princess Anne to our R&D and manufacturing facility today and to explain how, for over 40-years, foster+freeman has contributed to the forensic investigation of crime

Courtney, Laura and Molly-Ann

worldwide. We are a unique company, not just locally but internationally, and it was with great pride that we were able to introduce our people and products to The Princess Royal.”

LOCAL BUSINESS EXPANDS TEAM WITH KICKSTARTER INITIATIVE

As Royal Patron of WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) and a strong proponent of promoting youth in STEM education, The Princess Royal took a keen interest in the people behind the products.

A Worcestershire business has

www.fosterfreeman.com

corporate wellbeing gift service which

created three new jobs for young people thanks to the Government’s Kickstart scheme. Smile Box is a subscription box and encourages people to focus more on self-care, wellbeing and positive mental health. The founder Donna Fisher an Entrepreneur and NLP Coach from Bromsgrove said, “To expand the Smile Box team so soon after launching the business is really exciting! We introduced the corporate side of the business first, and recently launched a monthly subscription service for consumers. Our boxes have been flying off the shelves, so growing the team has helped us keep

EBC GROUP CONTINUE SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP WITH BMW SUPERBIKES EBC Group are helping pave BMW Superbikes’ way to success by supporting them with their technology on and off the track, as demonstrated by their recent win at Portimão Circuit, Portugal. They have forged a strong working relationship with BMW over the past 3 seasons in the World Superbike Championships, enabling the BMW Motorrad WSBK team to gather and analyse data through their Cloud data storage, IT hardware and IT support services. Using the EBC Group Cloud, the BMW team are now able to transfer data

instantaneously and securely to their headquarters in Munich where a team of engineers can process the information and analyse it in real-time, meaning that they can make split-second crucial decisions regarding performance. “It has been a great relationship so far and one that we hope can continue for many more seasons, it has allowed us to take the successes that we’ve had on the track and replicate them off it.” Shaun Muir, Team Principal, BMW WorldSBK.

up with the demand. The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to create new jobs for 16 to 24 year olds on Universal Credit and was brought in to relieve the pressure on the job market caused by the Global Pandemic. Currently there are over 3.2 million UK employees supported by the Universal Credit scheme. Courtney, Laura and Molly-Ann all started in the last month and have already had such a positive impact on the Smile Box business. www.smile-box.co.uk

www.ebcgroup.co.uk

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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COVER FEATURE

ERDF LOGO A5 DOUBLE SIDED LEAFLET Front page high level information Marches Small Equipment Grant (SEG) Capital grants up to a maximum of £10,000 are available for SMEs to purchase new equipment that will create new jobs, boost productivity or develop new products and services pictures Find out more at

DO YOU NEED MORE BUILDING SPACE?

(https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/info/200139/community/393/community_funding_advice_and_ business_grants/14 - REDUCE LINK SIZE PLEASE Email: seg@herefordshire.gov.uk

WILL YOU BE CREATING NEW JOBS?

Call: 01432 261511 Bottom of Logos: LEP/ HC/ Teford and WC/ Shropshire C/ Midlands Engine Back page of Leaflet: Eligible Applicants: ✔ Businesses must be located in the Herefordshire, Shropshire or Telford and Wrekin area. ✔Employ fewer than 250 employees ✔Have a turnover of less than the equivalent of £50m euros p.a. or balance sheet less than £43m euros ✔Trade mainly on a business to business basis (B2B) SEG PAGE ADVERT HFD3648.indd 1 ✔HALF Will create new employment opportunities ✔ Will create a new product or service to be provided to other businesses ✘ Retail businesses are NOT eligible ✘ Farm businesses are NOT eligible ✘ Local Authorities, Social Welfare, Education establishments, Banks and Insurance companies/brokers are NOT eligible

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enquiries@wildenestates.co.uk

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November/December 2021

COVER FEATURE

Find your digital voice! Engaging your brand with audiences that matter.

www.be-everywhere.co.uk E: info@be-everywhere.co.uk T: 0191 580 5990

Offer a T Level Placement Designed with employers, T Levels give students aged 16-19 the practical skills, knowledge and attitude to excel in work and deliver the skills that organisations need. And what’s more, by offering a T Level industry placement you could have access to the brightest talent entering the market and improve your business overall. T Levels starting from September 2022 include: Digital Support Services

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0330 135 6940 | employerenquiries@wcg.ac.uk wcg.ac.uk/tlevelemployers

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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EVENTS

HR PROFESSIONALS CONFERENCE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HEWETT RECRUITMENT Following on from the previous successful events, Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce has again teamed up with Hewett Recruitment for their 8th annual HR Professionals Conference. The event is aimed at HR Professionals from companies of all sizes and sectors. It is a date not to be missed for those wanting to understand the current and future innovations and challenges facing

businesses. Speaker topics will include legal updates, diversity and inclusion and staff retention and engagement. There will also be plenty of networking opportunities and a two-course lunch. Date: Tuesday 23 November Time: 09.00am – 15.00pm Cost: £40.00+VAT Chamber members / £55.00+VAT Non-members Venue: Sixways Stadium, Warriors Way, Worcester WR3 8ZE To book scan here:

WORCESTERSHIRE NETWORKING BREAKFAST Thursday 11th November 7.30-9.30am Graham Hick Pavilion, Worcestershire County Cricket Club, New Road, Worcester WR2 4QQ Join fellow Chamber Members and business professionals from across the region for plenty of reconnecting and networking, a continental breakfast and guest speaker.

DATES FOR THE FOR THE CHAMBER BUSINESS AWARDS 2022

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Entries for the annual Chamber Business Awards will open on 10 January 2022 and close on at 4.00pm at Friday 25th March 2022. The black-tie ceremony with over 700 attendees will take place on Thursday 7 July 2022 at the Worcester Arena.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES

It is free to enter for Members and Non-members and the opportunities that come alongside entering an award are invaluable, including a great boost to staff morale, a powerful tool to raise your profile and a way to stand out against your competitors.

For more information about the Awards

Entries Open – Monday 10 January 2022 Entries Close – Friday 25 March 2022 Awards Date – Thursday 7 July 2022

please visit: hwchamber.co.uk/events/ business-awards and if you are interested in getting involved with sponsorship for this event, please email

VIRTUAL LUNCHTIME NETWORKING VIA ZOOM Thursday 18 November 12.00-1.00pm Sign up to the Virtual Lunchtime Networking to raise your business profile and make valuable business contacts. The session will provide the opportunity for each attendee to participate in a 60 second introduction and have further conversations in smaller groups in the breakout rooms. To view the full list of events please visit the Events calendar here hwchamber.co.uk/events-andtraining-calendar.

events@hwchamber.co.uk.

November/December 2021

TWOCOUNTIES

20 YEAR STRATEGY FOR WORCESTERSHIRE LAUNCHED Outlining the strategy towards 2040 in Worcestershire, the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), has launched its new Plan for Growth.

Rachel Laver

NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE APPOINTED FOR MARCHES LOCAL ENTERPRISE PARTNERSHIP A new Chief Executive has been appointed to lead The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership(LEP). Rachel Laver joins the Marches LEP from Cheshire and Warrington LEP where she had been director of programmes, managing more than £240 million of funding. She succeeds Gill Hamer, who stood down from the role at the end of July after six years. Marches LEP chair Mandy Thorn MBE said Rachel had been the outstanding candidate for the post, which had attracted high-quality applications from across the country. “Rachel brings with her a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience of the work of LEPs which will be invaluable over the coming months and years,” said Mandy. “Her record at the Cheshire and Warrington LEP, where she consistently achieved success, managed multi-million pound budgets and established new development funds to help meet strategic goals is particularly impressive. Her appointment will undoubtedly help us strengthen further the partnership working with our colleagues in the public sector and academia which is such an integral and unique part of the way the LEP operates.”

The Plan for Growth showcases the challenges facing the 5 key areas of the government’s Industrial Strategy which are, People, Place, Infrastructure, Business Environment, and Innovation. All of which have their own challenges which must be overcome to achieve the Worcestershire LEP’s vision of a connected, creative, dynamic economy for all. The Worcestershire LEP have built the Plan for Growth upon the successes from the previous strategy document, including achievements such as securing two Careers Hubs to help better engage the business community with schools and education, securing one of the six first wave government funded 5G testbeds and unlocking infrastructure through the introduction of the first rail station in over 100 years in the county, Worcestershire Parkway. It is important to note that the Plan for Growth strategy has been built working closely with numerous partners across the county, to ensure a coherent and united approach to delivering on the action points in the strategy.

Speaking on the launch of the Plan for Growth, Mark Stansfeld, Chair of the Worcestershire LEP, said: “So much has been delivered with the strategy we have had so far, this is all about our evolution of the strategy to the next stage, so I’m really, really excited about it and I think, let’s keep on building, let’s keep on delivering the numbers, to the benefit of everybody within the county. It’s got to be that everybody wins out of this, it’s not just about the businesses, it’s not just about the economy. The economy is about the people who live here so, they should see benefits of this new strategy in their lives.” To find out more about the new Plan for Growth document, visit the Worcestershire LEP website on the link here www.wlep.co.uk/plan-for-growth.

NEW CONFERENCE & MEETING SPACE AVAILABLE AT HEREFORD’S SHELL STORE Conference, meeting and boardroom facilities are now available to hire at the newly redeveloped Shell Store business incubation centre.

been shortlisted in the Commercial Development of the Year category of the Insider West Midlands Property Awards.

The development has seen 2,500 sq metres of flexible and lettable business space created under the site’s iconic roofline – a project developed and led by Herefordshire Council, the Hereford Enterprise Zone Board and partners to support new and growing enterprises.

A new 360 tour is now online to showcase the space available both for conferencing and for businesses looking for flexible office space. Anyone interested in space at the Shell Store should contact info@skylonpark.co.uk or call 01432 383616.

Businesses can take advantage of the unique space to host seminars, workshops and exhibitions, with smaller rooms available for breakout and client meetings. The £7.3m redevelopment of the Shell Store on Skylon Park has recently

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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BUSINESSNEWS

SMARTER CITIES ARE KEY FOR MEETING CLIMATE CHANGE TARGETS GJS DILLON’S RESIDENTIAL SURVEYS AND VALUATIONS ARE WORTH THEIR WEIGHT IN GOLD FOR HOMEBUYERS Worcestershire property consultancy GJS Dillon has launched a new website promoting its residential surveys and valuations service in Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, the Cotswolds and the wider West Midlands. John Dillon, GJS Dillon’s Managing Director, says: “Many people will be asking why GJS Dillon decided to form a dedicated residential survey and valuations business when the company has always been synonymous with providing award-winning local Commercial Property valuations and surveys. “The answer is simple. Many of our Surveyors who have worked on numerous Commercial buildings in the region also have a great deal of knowledge and experience in surveying domestic premises. “Home buyers want local knowledge and expertise on specific defects or issues that may affect their purchase” continues Mr Dillon, “Prior to the creation of our dedicated home surveying service, local potential purchasers had to rely on national surveying practices. These surveyors often do not know the area or adhere to our high standards.”

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With the UK hosting the COP26 UN climate change summit in November, many people will be expecting an update on the government's plans to achieve net zero carbon emissions. Helen Davenport, Partner at Gowling WLG suggests innovation and investment in smarter cities will be key to meeting the UK’s climate change targets if we are to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and move towards a net zero emissions economy.

such as self-learning buildings and intelligent technologies – but can they be implemented on a wider scale? And is it possible for microgeneration, in particular, to play a substantial part in reaching a net zero economy for our cities and towns? www.gowlingwlg.com/en

Many countries have made commitments to move to a net zero emissions economy in response to science showing that in order to halt climate change, carbon emissions cannot just reduce, they must stop. With the smarter cities agenda in mind, our cities need to function in a more sustainable way and to do this, we need to look at clean, innovative forms of energy generation, as well as how we change our own behaviours. Across the globe, there is a huge rise in smart green technology advances,

Helen Davenport, Partner at Gowling WLG

CHOOSING A GREENER PRINTING SOLUTION A paperless office is a great ideal to aspire

The 3 strong team of RICS Chartered Surveyors and Registered Valuers has already demonstrated the value of their expertise. In the case of one client in Shropshire, Jonathan Mountford, GJS Dillon’s Director of Valuation and Professional Services, identified structural issues which enabled the buyer to negotiate a purchase price reduction of £40,000 on his new property.

supports it.

reusing and remanufacturing parts. With rigorous testing, this results in a cost-effective machine that delivers quality, functionality and sustainability without compromising reliability or longevity.

Clarity Solutions’ robust recycling policy

www.claritysolutions.co.uk.

GJS Dillon’s residential services include the RICS Home Valuation Level 1, RICS Home Surveys Levels 2 and 3 and valuations for purchase, matrimonial, reinsurance and probate purposes.

reduced energy usage, but the Eco Direct

www.thehousesurveyors.co.uk

materials and resources by upcycling,

to, but with many sectors still relying on physical documents it’s important to pay attention to the environmental credentials of your office printer and the supplier who

sees all toner cartridges, end-of-life parts and machines broken down into components and recycled locally, along with all cardboard packaging. Popular manufacturers like Sharp and Sindoh have developed photocopiers with range of A3 printers go even further. These are produced as part of a Circular Economy, minimising the use of new raw

November/December 2021

TWOCOUNTIES

DEDICATION OF CARING TEAM EARNS BEST COMPANIES TO WORK FOR 2021 Severn Angels Healthcare is a nursing agency that supplies nurses, HCAs and other healthcare professionals across a range of health and care settings. Recently been listed as one of the Best Companies to work for 2021, Severn Angels Healthcare has proven itself to be a reliable provider of quality healthcare professionals. Spiwe Mhondiwa couldn’t be more proud. “We pride ourselves on recruiting and supplying only competent, committed and compassionate nurses and healthcare assistants,” said manager Spiwe Mhondiwa, “and our clients are very happy with our services.” A Registered Nurse with more than 15 years working in the health and social care sector under her belt, Spiwe Mhondiwa is an expert. She cares and is passionate about what she does.

OUR MISSION Our main mission at Severn Angels Healthcare is to be the number one nurse recruitment firm for providing top quality and effective care on an urgent basis, and especially where it’s needed the most. Whether you want one-off care, ongoing scheduled care or emergency care, we are always happy to help you find the best staff across the healthcare sector or help you fill a job vacancy suitable to your talents, skills and experience.

It is our core philosophy and something we integrate with every hire and job placement – that care should be provided in the most reliable, efficient, affordable and professional way to all those who need it. Quality healthcare is something we really need, especially since the pandemic, where specific kinds of people require it on a daily basis. We strive hard to supply staff who are caring, kind and empathetic, and who never shy away from treating those under their care with the utmost kindness, respect and dignity, no matter what their background, age, occupation or anything else, for that matter.

Spiwe Mhondiwa

We are now one of the leading framework agencies, supplying to Care homes, the NHS and private sector. We have more than 500 nurses and Carers in our books and 76% of our staff have been vaccinated as per the government guidelines. We were recently awarded

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

Best Companies to work for 2021, Recruitment's 40 Best Companies to work for 2021, The Midlands 100 Best Companies to work for 2021 and an Outstanding in employee engagement. The care sector is currently facing massive staffing shortages due to Brexit, IR35, mandatory vaccinations introduced by the government and coming into effect on the 11th of November however, we are trying our best to ensure we keep recruiting and follow COVID guidelines. Besides training, We also keep our staff updated with safe practises, Current COVID guidelines and information via our social networking sites. For more information, please visit www.severnangels.co.uk or call us on 01905-930707 and choose ‘option 1’.

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INTERNATIONALTRADE

No time for marketing?

We Are Marketing do. You work hard, so we work hard to be the best support. Whether developing marketing plans, finding creative ways to engage your customers or just being your ‘virtual’ marketing team, we pride ourselves on our flexibility, agility and the ability to scale for any requirements. Whatever size of business, you still need a marketing plan that delivers to your business goals. Chat to us to see how we can help you make your marketing happen.

“

I attended a one to one session ran by Heather. Her marketing knowledge was presented so well. The level of detail was really inciteful and gave me the tools I needed to help me in my role. Sometimes the concept of marketing can seem overwhelming but she helped to break it down and define a clear process. Thank you. Right Hand Woman, The Workplace

”

“

A forensic approach to identifying the right problem to solve and uncovering the right insights to delivery, tremendous value, always on time and on budget.

”

Head of User Experience, Cambridge University Press

For an informal chat about how we could help, contact Heather 07976 266 101 heather@wearemarketing.co.uk

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November/December 2021

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION - WHY DO I NEED A CURRENT STATE REVIEW? I hear many business owners talking about the need for digital transformation and the benefits of becoming a digitally enabled business.

complete a current state review and to take stock of the current business and capabilities. I am a firm believer of: “How can you determine where you want to go, and what direction to take, if you don’t know where you are starting?”

Though, far too often businesses will start their digital transformation journey without assessing their current state, often leading to the costly purchase of systems that are not right for the current or future business.

A current state review involves reviewing current customers and suppliers and the digital capabilities the business currently possesses. That includes reviewing current systems, integrations, available data, employee capabilities; basically, anything and everything that is used to make your business what it currently is.

Before starting any digital transformation journey, I always advise my clients to

By fully understanding and documenting your current state, it provides an agreed

How can you determine where you want to go, and what direction to take, if you don’t know where you are starting? Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

baseline and foundation of information to be able to make informed decisions. The output from a current state review can be used as the foundation for a digital strategy, or useful as a business description for software selection tenders. I find it wonderful to see how many business owners learn new things about their own business from a current state review. Over the last decade I have completed numerous current state reviews for businesses across multiple sectors and can honestly say that when presenting the current state report to business leaders, there has not been a single instance when they haven’t learnt at least one new thing about their current business. At Ballards, we have expert real-life experience of assisting our clients with their digital transformation journey. That includes assisting with current state reviews and creating a digital strategy via our Virtual CIO service, through to system selection, procurement assistance and project management services. For more information, please contact Sean Devlin on 01905 794 504 or email sean.devlin@ballardsllp.com

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MOVERSANDSHAKERS

Tristan Lewis, Sarah Ben-Tarifite, Giles Scott and Will Jones

Julia Giermaniuk

MFG EXPANDS PRIVATE CLIENT TEAM

WYEVALE NURSERIES’ OGL COMPUTER SERVICES WELCOMES NEW MANAGEMENT GROUP BOLSTERS SENIOR TEAM FOR UK-WIDE EXPANSION TRAINEE

mfg Solicitors has expanded its private client division with three new appointments following an increase in demand for services including will writing, probate and power of attorney. The law firm has announced the appointment of Tristan Lewis as a Senior Associate, with Will Jones joining at associate level and the third in the trio, Sarah Ben-Tarifite, joining the team as a Solicitor. Will and Sarah, both wills and estate administration specialists, are based at mfg’s Bromsgrove offices, while Tristan, a power of attorney, inheritance tax and wills expert, is based in Worcester. All three will report to Giles Scott, Partner and Head of Division. www.mfgsolicitors.com

Rosie Jenkins, Lindsey Hall, Abby Rudd

NEW ACCOUNT MANAGERS JOIN THE EBC GROUP TEAM EBC Group are delighted to welcome 3 new Account Managers to their team. Abby Rudd, Lindsey Hall and Rosie Jenkins join the company during an exciting period of growth. They will be responsible for managing and supporting EBC Group’s clients and ensuring they receive the very best service. Having previously worked in the IT sector, they will be able to offer EBC Group’s clients a wealth of experience as well as keeping them up to date on the latest technology and cyber security threats. www.ebcgroup.co.uk

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Julia Giermaniuk from Tarrington has recently joined one of the UK’s leading commercial nurseries in Hereford on its Management Trainee scheme. The 24-year-old has started a two-year programme at Wyevale Nurseries working across all departments of the family-run business including Supply Chain, Container Production, Transplants and its Head Offices. Julia said: “I’m very excited to be starting this programme. I was fortunate to join Wyevale Nurseries earlier this year in the spring, when I gained experience in growing, potting and propagation, so it’s wonderful now to be progressing in this way.

Charlie Grant and David Jubb

Kidderminster, 8 September 2021. OGL Computer Services Group has further expanded its senior team with the appointments of Charlie Grant and David Jubb in newly-created roles, as Head of Profit4 Operations and Head of Communications and Information Systems, respectively. Debbie Barton, Operations Director, OGL Computer Services Group, concluded: “We are delighted to welcome David and Charlie into these two newly-created roles. They will help us to continue delivering a first-class customer experience through the effective use of technology to streamline and automate everything we do.

“It will be great to continue expanding on my horticultural knowledge with such expertise around me and seeing how the other departments are run across the business.

The new hires form part of a senior-level recruitment drive across the company to capitalise on the business’ strong performance and deliver an ambitious five-year growth plan.

www.wyevalenurseries.co.uk

www.ogl.co.uk

BUSINESS LEADER JOINS UNIVERSITY OF WORCESTER AS INDEPENDENT GOVERNOR Business leader, Asif Noorani, has been appointed as an independent governor at the University of Worcester. Asif co-founded Epiphany Productions to foster creativity and collaboration across the domains of art, science, engineering, and design. He said he was delighted to become a Governor at the University at such a challenging time for the sector: “The Covid-19 pandemic has fundamentally changed the world, including higher education and good governance is at the heart of the higher education sector,” he said. “The University’s heritage in contributing to the skills and knowledge we need to manage

Asif Noorani

turbulence, indicates guiding principles and values close to my own.” www.worcester.ac.uk

November/December 2021

NEWMEMBERSPROFILE

SETTING THE STANDARD FOR LUXURY PROPERTIES IN WORCESTERSHIRE Fine and Country are a specialist estate agent dealing in the upper quartile market across the breadths of Worcestershire and Herefordshire, offering a personalised service aligned with the powerful marketing from their national brand.

EMINENT CRISIS MANAGEMENT GROUP Eminent Crisis Management Group is a well-established investigation, intelligence and security risk management company. Since its original inception, the business has grown to provide a full spectrum of investigation, intelligence, security and advisory services to businesses, the legal sector, governments and private clients worldwide. Being located at the prestigious Malvern Hills Science Park, the company can support local businesses by utilising its global network and experienced operators who emanate from both specialist police and military backgrounds. As part of their increased training provision, Eminent now offer Protect Duty and Activate Threat certified training, delivered by

Setting the new standard for estate agency, they focus on making a property as marketable as possible and achieving the best result for their clients. Their very specialist regional knowledge of this specific market ensures that you receive the very best service, whether you are buying or selling a property in Droitwich Spa or surrounding regions.

has established itself as an incredibly pro-active agent in these areas offering exceptional marketing to an unrivalled audience. For free valuation get in touch with bert.rogers@fineandcountry.com or call 07734955460. www.fineandcountry.com/uk/droitwich-spa

The Droitwich Spa office has built a strong presence in Worcestershire and

SALAD SKILLS HELPING BUSINESSES BUILD FUTURE WORKFORCES Salad Skills is an independent firm working ethically, innovatively and honestly to recruit both external apprentices and upskill internal staff through the government’s apprenticeship scheme. Funding for training is open to people from 16-60 plus years old.

Working across the UK and most industry sectors they can provide industry experts on apprenticeship funding for new hires as well as advisors on how to access funding to train existing members of your team particularly beneficial with the impending apprenticeship levy.

They provide an advisory and quality assurance service that’s completely impartial as they are not a training provider. Their nationwide network of training companies have been vetted to ensure they deliver the best training programmes for you; making sure it’s quality all the way.

www.saladskills.co.uk

counter terrorist specialists and CPD certified. Their immediate team consists of former members of UK Special Forces who have written and will deliver this input. The course aims to provide advice on nationally recognised procedures (in agreement with police and other emergency services) for personal safety in the event of an active threat situation occurring. The training will close the knowledge gap and increase the awareness that will enable the detection, the deterrent, and the response to an active threat situation. www.eminentgroup.net

FREELANCE VIDEO CONTENT PRODUCERS TOES IN Toes In Video Production provide an all-in one video production service that makes affordable, professional and tailored video content. They work with your business through the concept, production and editing stages ensuring you have the perfect video to grab the attention of your customers.

There are also a range of different services available to businesses, starting from £200 for a 1 minute introductory video to bespoke commissions. If you would like to utilise the opportunities that video marketing can bring, get in touch with Toes In Video Production. www.toesin.com

Video content has become a more popular tool in recent years for businesses to reach and communicate with their customers. Video has proven to be the most socially interactive method of boosting engagement on social media, through likes, shares and comments, your video is being shared to an almost unlimited audience.

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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INTERNATIONALTRADE

IMPORTING GOODS FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION For many organisations, international trade generally means the export of goods or services, but we can sometimes forget that it also includes the import of goods either for manufacturing purposes for the company to then subsequently export or for use of the product solely in the UK. Many small businesses during the period that the UK was a part of the Single European Market (for well over 20 years) had not thought about an “import” process for their goods from the EU to the UK - this just happened without any real paperwork involved. On 1st January 2021, after having left the EU, UK companies now have to “import” from the European Union and as such need to complete paperwork and an import declaration for HMRC purposes.

WHAT IS AN IMPORT OR EXPORT DECLARATION? They are legal documents that list the details of goods that are being exported to or imported from the UK and they help customs authorities to determine any tariffs due on imported goods and other restrictions that may apply. Types of Import and Export Customs Declarations Full frontier declaration (FFD): all legally required information presented at frontier Simplified frontier declaration (SFD): traders authorised to use Customs Freight Simplified Procedures (CFSP) can complete a streamlined import declaration at the frontier Supplementary declaration (SD): CFSP traders then must provide the remaining

required data via an SD by the fourth working day of the month after the goods movement

For more information go to: www.gov.uk/ guidance/making-an-entry-summarydeclaration

This means that all businesses, even those that import occasionally from the EU must now complete an Import Declaration.

You will still be able to use postponed VAT accounting (PVA) to account for import VAT on your VAT return. Find out more about using PVA at www.gov.uk/ guidance/check-when-you-can-accountforimport-vat-on-your-vat-return

Important Timelines and Import Declaration Obligations for the Import of Goods into the UK from the EU in 2021. If you’re an Importer of non-controlled goods, for goods you bring into GB from the EU in 2021, you have two choices. Either make a full customs declaration as the goods arrive into GB or delay your declarations see the link below for guidance: www.gov.uk/guidance/delayingdeclarations-for-eu-goods-brought-intogreat-britain However, as of 1 January 2022, businesses will need to do full customs declarations at the point of import for all goods. Also, from this date, you will need to provide pre-notification requirements and documentary checks, including phytosanitary certificates, for low-risk plants and plant products. Full safety and security declarations will also be required from your haulier or carrier.

The service is offered direct to businesses and through UK freight forwarders, ensuring that customs clearance is accurate, timely and avoids additional costs through delays or errors.

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If you are an importer or exporter you may be interested in the Chambers declaration service, Chamber Customs delivers a customs declaration service for UK importers and exporters of all sizes and in every region of the United Kingdom. With their extensive knowledge, reputation and first-class service in facilitating international trade, the Chamber can take the hassle out of your hands when it comes to exporting and importing goods. The service is offered direct to businesses and through UK freight forwarders, ensuring that customs clearance is accurate, timely and avoids additional costs through delays or errors. With direct links to the HMRC Customs handling system and all inventory linked ports, you can ensure that your goods, no matter where they enter or leave the UK, will be cleared for onward transportation smoothly. Should your business, whatever its size, be encountering issues with importing goods into the UK from the EU and/or requires import declarations to be completed, please contact the International Trade Team at the Chamber by emailing Internationaltrade@hwchamber.co.uk or visit the Chamber’s dedicated EU Exit Hub here www.hwchamber.co.uk/eu-exit-hub.

November/December 2021

MEMBERBENEFITS

ACCESS YOUR CHAMBER PRIMARY HEALTH PLAN WITH WESTFIELD HEALTH In the real world, it’s often difficult to determine who is a wellbeing and who isn’t. Someone may look like they’re coping really well, but the reality could be far different. That’s why Westfield Health have extended their offering from health cash plans and hospital treatment insurance to provide a more holistic approach, taking care of employees in both body and mind.

RAISING YOUR PROFILE As part of your Membership with Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, you have access to a wide range of Marketing & PR opportunities to help you shout about your success. With a wide-reaching network, now is the time to share your news and stories with us. This is a great way to grow awareness of your business or service. Perhaps you have an innovative offer to support businesses, or news of a company achievement. All stories are reviewed by our Press Office and could go live on the website and even into our Business Direction Magazine. From creating a buzz through to celebrating your achievements, the Chamber can support you when raising your business profile to connect you with companies across the two counties. The Chamber helps to promote Member companies across all sectors of business by providing:

Free listings in the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce Website Directory, complete with live hyperlinks to the Member’s own website and email account Opportunities to have free editorial published in the Chamber’s bi-monthly business magazine Business Direction Opportunities to take part in case studies and testimonials Promoting your Member to Member Offers on the Chamber website and access to another Member offers Access to a range of courses specialising in PR and Marketing, discounted for Chamber Members Two free places on an introductory course to Digital Marketing and PR opportunities Discounted advertising rates in Business Direction magazine (prices start from £250+VAT) and the Chamber’s website. Members receive a 20% discount off the media pack rates

Exclusively available to BCC accredited and affiliated member organisations of all sizes, the Chamber Primary Health Plan starts from just £6.13 per employee, per month and allows staff to claim money back, up to set limits, for things like sight tests and glasses, dental bills, therapy treatments and consultations. Westfield Health are committed to delivering evidence-based programmes of health and wellbeing, that help your people to be healthier and your business to perform better. Suitable for businesses of all types, sizes and budgets, our whole of workforce solutions encourage healthier behaviours that will empower your people to be the best they can be, through assessment, education and intervention. To find out more contact your Westfield Health Partner Sam Holdaway on 07921 067 858 or email sholdaway@westfieldhealth.com. further information can be found here www.westfieldhealth.com/ chamber.

Your good news stories featured in Business Direction Online and via monthly newsletters to business people in the two counties.

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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BUSINESSNEWS

SUSTAINABILITY & PR – IT’S TIME TO SHOUT ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS Sustainability is currently a big topic globally - for large corporate companies, SMEs and sole traders.

STRATEGIC GROWTH & INVESTMENT FOR TRUELINE PRODUCTS It’s an exciting time for Trueline Products who are currently celebrating the launch of their new branding, which encapsulates our vision for the future. Delivering the highest quality render beads, architectural fabrication solutions and accessories to the construction industry across the whole of the UK, with high quality craftsmanship, seamless communications and product delivery at the core of everything they do. With their head office based in Kidderminster, it goes without saying Trueline Products are extremely proud of their history and growth, but 27 years of industry experience is just the beginning. With an ambitious strategic growth plan through substantial investment and business development. They continue to expand and invest in new machinery and systems to streamline the business, with significant investment of £600k into new, state-of-the-art machinery over the last 12 months, even through the pandemic they have been rapidly expanding, and so is their team. As part of their plan for the future and building relationships within the local business community, the Chamber of Commerce are delighted to welcome Trueline Products as its newest Strategic Member. This opportunity allows businesses the chance to work with the Chamber more closely to achieve its vision to build local economic strength. www.truelineproducts.co.uk

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One local business at the heart of the sustainability topic is Worcester Bosch. They are fully aware of the sustainability challenges they face and are managing them accordingly. Carl Arntzen, CEO, Worcester Bosch, says: “At Worcester Bosch we strive to protect our planet for future generations, in the products we manufacture, the way we package and distribute them, and through the processes we use at our manufacturing plants.” But how does your SME jump aboard and survive in the current climate for change? Ben Kelsey, COO at Malvern based SME Indra Renewable Technologies, agrees: “Sustainability is central to what we do and increasingly business will align in that way.” Ben believes that there are societal shifts to support the use of sustainable ways of working and evidence to suggest that it's becoming a driving force. Ben continues: “It is viable to run a business where sustainability is at the core - even when increased costs are apparent - it pays us back and clients are not just looking at the costs and end product, they also want to align with a sustainable way of working.” You Do Better PR insist that now is the time to launch your innovative new business or plan to update your company's current plan. Apart from the feel-good factor - and actually making a positive impact on the environment - it is also a great opportunity to raise your brand profile with a little PR. So, if you're a business who takes sustainability seriously, get your story out there! Businesses and individuals want to know how you are affecting sustainability in a positive way! www.youdobetter.co.uk

OLPRO PLANT 3,292 TREES IN JUST 8 MONTHS OF TREE-PLANTING INITIATIVE Camping brand, OLPRO, has planted 3,292 trees in just 8 months after launching an initiative to plant one tree for each OLPRO tent or awning sold. OLPRO has contributed to reforestation projects across the world by planting a total of 2,004 trees in Madagascar, 1,284 trees in Mozambique and 4 trees in Nicaragua. After just 8 months, OLPRO looks set to achieve its ambition to plant thousands of trees within the first year of the initiative. OLPRO launched the tree-planting initiative in celebration of the company’s 10 year anniversary as a business. The company has run the initiative in partnership with tree planting and carbon offsetting specialists, Ecologi. Daniel Walton, Founder of OLPRO, said: “We’re proud to have planted such a significant number of trees in a relatively short amount of time. We take great pride as a company in doing our bit to give back to the great outdoors that we all love so much. “We also know that this is something our customers value and we’d like to think that’s one of the reasons why they’re so happy to buy their products from OLPRO. Our ultimate aim is to become a carbon-neutral company and we will continue to plant a tree for each OLPRO tent and awning sold.” www.olproshop.com

November/December 2021

CHARITYNEWS

LOCAL BANK BRANCHES BRING IN FUNDS FOR LIFESAVING CHARITY TSB Bank branches based within Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire have fundraised and helped make missions possible for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s lifesaving, pre-hospital emergency service through a range of charitable activities.

LITTLE PRINCESS TRUST MOVES INTO ITS NEW HOME

Staff have raised in excess of £2,100 funding nine missions in the charity’s two critical care cars, one of which is based in Worcestershire and attends incidents in and around Gloucestershire and Herefordshire.

Located in the heart of Hereford, Little Princess Trust’s (LPT) home houses a custom-built wig-fitting salon and a designated space that now allows the charity to physically knot the real hair wigs that make such a difference to their young recipients.

The TSB Bank branches initially started with Christmas collections throughout last year’s festive period and have built on that encouraging customers to donate foreign currency to the Cash4Coins initiative, and more recently, TSB Bank staff have supported some of Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s fundraising events. Kelly-Anne Archer, money confidence expert and community ambassador for TSB Bank’s local branches, said: “At TSB, we are looking forward to getting involved in future fundraisers within our branches and with corporate events to support Midlands Air Ambulance Charity. “We have had customers share stories of their experiences with the charity making the fundraising relatable; they are all interested in how we will fundraise next and how they can also get involved in supporting.” www.midlandsairambulance.com www.tsb.co.uk

(l-r) Simon Tarplee, Phil Brace and Wendy Tarplee-Morris

The site also has a conference room where many of the scientists and researchers funded by The Little Princess Trust will present on their work focused on finding kinder and more effective treatments for childhood cancers. This new premises means they can do so much more by increasing their own wig production, furthering our research and reaching more children and young people Dr Pam Kearns, Professor of Clinical Paediatric Oncology at the University of

Birmingham, said LPT’s new conference facility is “of national significance” and “demonstrates the charity’s ongoing commitment to change the lives of children with cancer.” “The space will be such a fantastic hub for paediatric cancer researchers, oncologists and the wider cancer community,” she added. “And it will act as a catalyst for collaboration to drive forward innovation in paediatric cancer research.” The Little Princess Trust was set up in memory of Hannah Tarplee in 2006 and the new premises has been named in her honour. www.littleprincesses.org.uk

HUMAN EVERYTHING TAKE ON THEIR BIGGEST CHALLENGE YET On 22 August 2021 over £7500 was raised for KEMP hospice by people jumping out a plane at 12,000ft, including Co-founder and Director of Kidderminster based company Human Everything, Colin Noble.

Colin Noble said: “I didn’t enjoy the flight up but the way down was exhilarating. The anxious feelings I felt on the way up pale in comparison to the anxiety of bereavement and the work KEMP does is really supportive of people’s mental wellbeing.”

Assembling by the single prop plane harnesses were attached and skydiving instructors paired with intrepid fundraisers.

Based in the Wyre Forest, KEMP Hospice provides a wide range of services, free of charge, to the people of Wyre Forest. They support individuals, families and carers experiencing life limiting conditions and through bereavement.

The plane taxied into position, accelerated, took off buffeted by the wind and circled and climbed. A red light came on. Then an amber light. Then green as the roller shutter came up and then people started disappearing out the door at 12,000ft.

www.humaneverything.co.uk

The initial stomach lurch subsides quickly to warm wind rushing in your face and a vista of clouds and fields during the forty seconds of freefall and then a parachute ride through the clouds and a gentle touchdown.

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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BUSINESSNEWS

ZERO CARBON TOUR BUS HOSTED BY UNIVERSITY ON WAY TO COP26 The University of Worcester has hosted the Zero Carbon Tour bus on its travels across the UK to raise awareness ahead of a crucial meeting of world leaders on the climate emergency. Planet Mark’s fully electric powered carbon battle bus is visiting 30 towns and cities across the UK and will finish its journey in Glasgow, the venue of the COP26 meeting in November. The Tour was brought to the County in partnership with Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership. It was stationed at the University of Worcester Arena and later the St John’s Campus on Monday 20 September. Katy Boom, Director of Sustainability at the University, said: “It was wonderful to welcome the Zero Carbon Bus onto campus and for the University to play its part in spreading awareness of COP26,

the climate emergency and the ways that businesses and all of us can help by acting now to reduce our carbon footprint. We were proud to be able to showcase what the University is doing on its way to meeting its sustainability commitments.” Local businesses, staff, students and the wider community were able to attend a series of presentations to find out about impactful projects to reduce their carbon emissions. Planet Mark, a leading sustainability and net zero certification group who led the event, demonstrated to Worcester businesses how they could set their own credible carbon reduction targets and implement plans to achieve them. The University of Worcester has a long-standing record on sustainability and was named Sustainability Institution of the Year at the 2019 Green Gown Awards, going on to be Globally Highly Commended at the International Green Gown Awards, at the United Nations

University of Worcester Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive, Professor David Green CBE DL, Hannah Dean-Wood, from Planet Mark, and Gary Woodman, Chief Executive of the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership.

in New York. The University, which has committed to cutting carbon emissions to net zero by 2030, is ranked 5th in the UK’s greenest universities in the People & Planet University League, in which it has been among the ‘First Class Honours’ ranked universities for more than 12 years. www.worcester.ac.uk

WORK SMARTER AND BE MORE PRODUCTIVE WITH A SMART METER Are you seeking smart solutions for your business? A smart meter could be just the ticket for you. Smart meters are the new generation of gas and electricity meters which can be an invaluable asset for firms in Legal services, Accounting and bookkeeping, Marketing consultancy, Architecture, IT services, and more. Businesses across Great Britain are already reaping the rewards by gaining better control of their energy bills. Are you ready to join them? What can smart meters do for your business? 1. Provide accurate bills enabling better cashflow 2. Make your bills simpler saving time for other tasks 3. Help you to do your bit for the environment

SAY GOODBYE TO ESTIMATED BILLS AND HELLO TO YOUR NEW SMART METER Estimated bills can be inaccurate and inefficient which means that you might be

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overpaying for the services you are using. Stay in control, save money, and save time by only paying for the energy your business uses.

SAVE TIME FOR OTHER TASKS Your company is innovative, trusted, responsible, and engaged so you need business solutions which are the same. The key to greater productivity is to work smarter, not harder. With a smart meter, you can continue to do what you do best, while your smart meter provides accurate bills, without needing to provide manual meter readings. This saves precious time and energy to focus on your business priorities.

BY USING A SMART METER, YOUR BUSINESS CAN POSITIVELY CONTRIBUTE TO A CLEANER AND GREENER WORLD From the moment your smart meter is installed, you are helping create a smart energy system which could ultimately help reduce our carbon emissions as a nation.

Businesses across Great Britain are working to positively contribute to a cleaner and greener world. Using a smart meter is a step in the right direction to help you cut down on energy waste and make your business more sustainable. Firms with 10 employees or less could be eligible and installations can be arranged at a convenient time to ensure minimal interruption to your business and your clients. Scan the QR code below to find out more about what a smart meter can do for your business. Contact your energy supplier or broker today and see if you are eligible.

November/December 2021

BUSINESSNEWS

KEEPING MENTAL HEALTH ON THE AGENDA ALL YEAR ROUND October’s World Mental Health Day may be over until next year, but looking after your team, and helping them to access healthcare and support, consistently for the other 364 days is just as important. That’s the message from the health and wellbeing specialists at Paycare, who have developed an employer checklist to ensure a continuous focus on wellbeing. Stephen Burton-Pye, Paycare’s Account Manager at the not-for-profit organisation, worked with Paycare’s own Wellbeing Manager, Kerry Mitchell to develop a list of actions which should be undertaken as a matter of course by team leaders and managers. “By regularly checking in on staff, updating wellbeing policies and procedures, and having genuine two-way conversations with their teams, organisations can ensure mental health isn’t simply a once-a-year focus but is an integral part of the culture. “The benefits to individuals are clear, but so too are the benefits for the organisation itself: lower absence rates, less presenteeism, raising team morale, attracting higher quality candidates, and much more. “That’s why we have developed our employer checklist, and why we’re here all year round to support team leaders and managers who want to gain knowledge about mental health, or need a helping hand to support the implementation of new policies and procedures.”

THE CHECKLIST: AT LEAST WEEKLY: Are you checking in on your team members? Not just asking ‘how are you’ as you pass in the corridor, but starting a meaningful conversation (you may need to ask them twice how they are to elicit the real answer) and querying their workload, stress levels and if there’s anything you can support them with. We could all do something better when it comes to our own wellbeing – and it’s important to model good habits yourself. If you’re staying late every night, eating lunch at your desk, and not getting enough fresh air then your team may think that’s expected of them too – whatever you’re telling them. Actions speak louder

than words, so regularly analysing the wellbeing behaviours you’re modelling for your team and the message that gives out can be really impactful.

such as bipolar or anxiety, they may need ongoing support from their workplace so do check whether what you’re offering meets their current needs.

AT LEAST MONTHLY:

AT LEAST YEARLY:

Depending on the size of the team, appointing a Wellbeing Champion or putting together a Wellbeing Focus Group can greatly assist in ensuring the needs of everyone in the team are put forward, alongside highlighting any areas of concern, and sharing opinions on new policies, practices or workplace benefits.

Do you have a range of Mental Health First Aiders? While their training may not need to be updated annually, staff turnover or team members moving into different department may mean more people could do with undertaking training.

Take a look at what opportunities are out there - whether that’s taking part in webinars or courses, bringing experts in to talk about key wellbeing issues, or putting on sessions centred around relaxation, mindfulness or a related topic.

EVERY FEW MONTHS: Sharing information within the workplace (digitally and in prominent places within the building) is a fantastic way of focusing on specific wellbeing topics, highlighting support available to the team, and encouraging an open culture around mental health. Changing this information regularly helps keep it current, and at the forefront of the team’s minds. While everyone has ‘mental health’, an estimated one in four people struggle with ‘mental ill health’ in any given year. Where people have a diagnosable condition

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

How’s your Workplace Wellbeing Policy looking? Over time, the needs of your team may change and that’s why a watchful eye over your policies is ideal. Through times of transition (like a merger, introduction of remote working, or a restructure for example) it can be even more important to evaluate whether your policy needs updating. Stephen suggested, “an easy task to tick off your checklist is reading Paycare’s Workplace Wellbeing Brochure, which is designed to share a range of policies and practices which would be of benefit to any organisation looking to introduce or strengthen their existing offering.” Visit www.paycare.org/ workplace-wellbeing to read the brochure, or read more about Paycare and how our Health Cash Plans could help your team at www.paycare.org, or give our team a call on 01902 371010.

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WORCESTERSHIRE WORKS WELL

Images from the Wellbeing Workshop

WELLBEING WORKSHOP FOR WORCESTERSHIRE BUSINESSES AT BI-ANNUAL EVENT Worcestershire Works Well, who have recently celebrated 10 years supporting businesses, held their first in-person event in 2 years. Over 50 business professionals from across Worcestershire attended the Three Counties Showground on Tuesday 14 September for the Worcestershire Works Well bi-annual event titled The New World of Work. The event covered topics around post-pandemic workplaces and the impact on both physical and mental health. The event started with a physical activity for attendees to participate in to reflect the importance of physical wellbeing in the new world of work. Lorea Sarobe, Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire held a virtual warm up for a busy day of wellbeing discussion and showed how a simple physical activity, that can be done whilst working from home, can keep workers active and benefit productivity. The day also saw a number of speakers discussing a range of informative topics around the new world of work. Sally Morris, Partner and Head of Employment at mfg Solicitors, discussed the legal obligations of homeworking that businesses may need to be aware of. Attendees were then given an update on the generational differences in the workplace by Lucy Barkas, Director and Principal Coach at 3WH.

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One of the biggest issues over the past 18 months for businesses and employees has been tackling mental health whilst employees have been away from the office. Mel Whistance, Public Health Practitioner at Worcestershire County Council, joined the event virtually to advise attendees on the best practises in managing and recognising loneliness. Mark Billau, Associate Public Health Practitioner and Louise McEvoy, Advanced Public Health Practitioner covered the important topic of suicide prevention in the workplace. A huge resource for businesses tackling mental health within the workplace has been the Time for Change team. Amanda Wright, Development Manager Health and Wellbeing Development Manager at Community First, shared information on the Time to Change initiative in Worcestershire and how this can help tackle the stigma surrounding mental health. Overall a useful and informative event that equipped attendees with a new perspective on how to manage this new way of working that we are currently finding ourselves in. Resources relating to wellbeing of workers has never been more important and schemes like Worcestershire Works Well have continued to support employers during this difficult time. Dawn Hardman, Director of HR at the Chamber of Commerce, who lead the project, said: “We were delighted to be

able to hold our bi-annual event this week at the Three Counties Showground. Our theme was ‘the new world of work’ and our event was delivered in ‘hybrid form’ with two of our speakers delivering their presentations virtually, one of them from Northern Spain! “Our thanks go to our speakers on the day for delivering such informative and valuable information and raising awareness of important health topics such as loneliness and suicide prevention. We now look forward to planning our next event which will take place during 2022.” The event finished with a celebration, with certificates presented to recently accredited level 1 businesses, Wilcox Matthews and Jacobs, the latter also being recognised as winners of the Southco Outstanding Achievement Award, presented by Sue Fitzmaurice, Compensation and Benefits Manager at Southco. Worcestershire Works Well is a free accreditation scheme designed to support businesses to improve the health and wellbeing of their employees. Improved employee health and wellbeing has been shown repeatedly to improve profitability and productivity of businesses. Business can obtain further information on the scheme here www.worcestershire.gov. uk/worcestershireworkswell.

November/December 2021

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LASTWORD

TOP TIPS FOR BUSINESSES LOOKING TO CUT CARBON EMISSIONS With ambitious greenhouse gas emission reduction targets enshrined in UK law and urgency of action seemingly increasing is it time for a change of mindset for all organisations from ‘Doing a bit’ to ‘Doing everything we can’ not just the easy or rapid payback measures? Here are some to tips and food for thought on reducing carbon emissions that can apply to many organisations; Monitor energy consumption with actual meter readings. Many bills still feature estimated readings. If you don’t measure how can you manage? Out of hours energy use when the business is not operating can represent a significant proportion. For a Monday to Friday 9 to 5 business, this could represent 70% of the time and a few kiloWatts left on unnecessarily can add up over the year to £1800. Take meter reads at end and start of the day to find out overnight and weekend usage. Do an end or start of day walk around to find equipment still running that does not need to be. Too often daylight is shut out or lights left on regardless of the natural light. Daylight is free, zero carbon and we have evolved to live with this broad spectrum illumination. Switch lights off in the middle of the day when skylights provide enough light in warehouse and production spaces or switch the row of office lights nearest the windows off in the middle of a bright day. If you have old motors running continuously, check their efficiency rating. Motors are classified as IE1 to IE4 from least to most energy efficient. A saving of over 2% can be the difference between each class. The energy a motor uses in a year can be ten times the capital cost, so it is important to consider energy consumption and lifecycle cost not just the upfront cost of purchase. The Business Energy Efficiency Programme (BEEP) can provide grant funding towards motor replacement for eligible businesses with less than 250 staff in Worcestershire & Herefordshire.

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Consider solar PV panels to generate low carbon electricity if you own the building, especially if you operate 6 or 7 days a week. Paybacks can be as low as 4 years with grants available and this technology can provide your business with a predictable electricity contribution for 20 years at a known cost. Goods and services bought in by an organisation almost all cause CO2 to be emitted somewhere, associated with energy to make or deliver it or at the end of a products life. Minimising resource use is a 100% CO2 saving associated with that avoided quantity. So for example if you reduced steel use by using a more advanced cutting machine that reduced scrap, saving a tonne of metal could reduce overall CO2 emissions by three tonnes. Start thinking about these wider impacts of your business activity and identify the biggest ones.

accelerates climate change mitigation action more support could be expected. Organisations such as the Chamber of Commerce tend to have their finger on the pulse of support available to businesses. Generous support is available to eligible Herefordshire & Worcestershire small/ medium businesses to help de-carbonise their organisation, including grants up to £20,000 for resource efficiency improvements, up to £1000,000 for renewable energy systems and up to £50,000 for innovating new products and services that will delivery greenhouse gas savings. For further information please visit www. hwchamber.co.uk/support/advice/ business-energy-efficiency-programme, email info@business-central.co.uk or call 01905 677888.

Check incentives regularly. Grant and other support schemes pop up for a year or so and then end. As the UK

November/December 2021

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MOTIVATE, INSPIRE, RETAIN

GROW YOUR OWN WORKFORCE As 2021 draws to a close, give your business a final boost by offering apprenticeships with WCG. Apprenticeships offer businesses a cost-effective route to harness fresh new talent. Apprentices can help your organisation to increase productivity, improve competitiveness and ensure you have a committed and competent workforce to meet future challenges.

WCG Apprenticeships are the only training provider in Worcestershire to offer apprenticeships in the following areas:

• • • •

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Agriculture Animal Care Arboriculture Horticulture Inc. Golf Greenkeeping & Sports Turf

Contact our Business Development team to find out more on how apprenticeships can benefit your business:

0330 135 6940 | employerenquiries@wcg.ac.uk

CENTRE FOR DIGITAL & CYBER TECHNOLOGY

wcg.ac.uk/worcsapprenticeships