Business Connect Q1 2023

Local theatres get a slice of funding ‘Pi’

Arts Council England increases investment in cultural organisations

FEATURE: APPRENTICESHIPS, SKILLS & TRAINING

SECTOR FOCUS: INTERNATIONAL TRADE

PLUS: THE BUSINESS CASE FOR INNOVATION

PROMOTING ENTERPRISE IN SOUTH YORKSHIRE

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Front cover: Sheffield Theatres’ production of ‘Life of Pi’ Photo by Johan Persson

See pages 16-17

The next issue of BUSINESS CONNECT will be available in May 2023

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The perfect time to seize opportunities and go for growth

Anew year is always a time for optimism and renewal. We all make New Year’s Resolutions, but as a business owner, you might be going further than trying to get in shape or building healthier habits –maybe you’ve decided that 2023 is the year for growth, innovation and success.

Although the cost of living crisis is still a cause for concern, there are things you can do to revitalise your business. In our Enterprise & Innovation feature (pages 3334) we explore the benefits that creative thinking can bring and the first steps that any business looking to adopt a culture of innovation should take.

Another way to bring a boost to your business is to hire an apprentice. Apprenticeships have been developed to meet the exact needs of the employer and their

Laura Blake EDITOR, BUSINESS CONNECT

industry sector, meaning that an apprentice can plug existing skills gaps in your organisation. You’ll have someone on your team with the core skills you need, and your apprentice will learn on the job and earn a wage at the same time. It’s a win-win situation! Our Apprenticeships, Skills & Training feature, on pages 25-30, offers more information on how you can get on board with the apprenticeship scheme.

Finally, our cover story (pages 16-17) celebrates Arts Council England’s further investment in South Yorkshire. It funds local organisations –ranging from theatres and cultural centres to museums and libraries –that do vital work in the region, bringing people together, boosting the economy and supporting the community.

With this investment, that work will be able to continue in 2023... and beyond.

‘2023 is the year for growth, innovation and success’

Business News

SYMCA is working to make South Yorkshire a better place to live

South Yorkshire policy makers put climate plan into action

South Yorkshire policy makers have pledged to put climate change at the centre of regional plans, following an international day of action to prioritise net zero.

The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) has committed to achieving a Net Zero economy by 2040, following the declaration of a Climate and Environmental Emergency in South Yorkshire in 2019. South Yorkshire’s mayor Oliver Coppard said: “The climate crisis and how we tackle it is the biggest challenge we will face in our lifetimes. Climate breakdown is a big, urgent problem which requires big, bold thinking. We are working every day to make South Yorkshire a better place to live, and if we want to improve health and air quality, to grow our economy and create great new jobs, then reaching net zero by 2040 is crucial.

“Carbon Literacy Training offers us all the opportunity to not just understand the problem better, but learn how we can all overcome that problem together.”

The Carbon Literacy Action Day (CLAD) – the world’s largest mass training event on climate

change –took place on 7 November 2022, the date in which the international Conference of Parties (COP27) event began in Egypt.

Participants in the training, led by SYMCA’s Net Zero project director Richard Sulley, included transport planners, policy makers, business support advisors, and members of the mayoral marketing, communication, and engagement team across all seniority levels.

Chloe Shepherd, senior programme manager in SYMCA’s strategic transport team, said: “It really drove home the small amount of time we have to implement significant changes to the way we live and work if we are to prevent irreversible damage to the planet. Going forward I am keen to ensure the environmental aspect of projects, policies and programmes is given more discussion time and ultimately considered with the same weighting as economic issues, given the two are often interlinked.”

Gerry Masterson, health, safety, quality and environmental officer (Light Rail) in SYMCA’s Tram Team, said: “The course, at times, featured some alarming and grim statistics. Going forward I will endeavour to hold contractors working on tramway projects accountable for their environmental performance by scrutinising their Environmental Policies, Risk Assessments and Method Statements (RAMS) and Emergency Procedures in relation to environmental incident response.”

Carbon Literacy Training covers topics including the role of Local Authorities, International policy & summary of the Paris Agreement, current UK policy, personal carbon footprints, opportunities in our area, transforming change using the levers of influence, an action pledge and Britain talks climate activity.

This training is just the beginning for the MCA’s actions on Carbon Literacy with more events planned for the near future.

The

‘It really drove home the small amount of time we have’

transport scheme is underway

across South Yorkshire has begun at Parkgate, Rotherham.

South Yorkshire’s mayor Oliver Coppard and leader of Rotherham Council, councillor Chris Read, joined contractors at the Parkgate link road and Park & Ride scheme – part of the region’s £166m boost to cut congestion and create greener travel choices

The £12m investment at Parkgate includes a new link road, footway and cycleway from Aldwarke Lane into Parkgate Shopping (Stadium Way); highway improvements at Taylors Lane roundabout; and a new 300-space Park & Ride facility for the Parkgate Tram Train terminus, including electric vehicle bays.

Oliver Coppard said: “Fixing our public transport system means making sure we’re building the network South Yorkshire needs and deserves.

“This is the beginning of an exciting scheme improving transport links around Rotherham and will help us create the faster, smarter, greener public transport system we need.

“We need our trams, our buses and our trains to work together to create a fully

Donation helps Age UK Doncaster spread Christmas goodwill

Age UK Doncaster celebrated after receiving £1,000 in donations and Christmas gifts from a leading insurance company's local headquarters, Direct Line Group Doncaster.

The donations and gifts helped Age UK Doncaster provide vital support to local older people who needed help with home support, social isolation prevention and dementia care.

This generous donation from Direct Line Group Doncaster helped towards providing local older people with personal support, warmth, food and much more during this cost-of-living crisis. As well as this, the charity received 28 Christmas hamper bags filled with toiletries and winter warmers for those most vulnerable over the Christmas holidays. The Age UK Doncaster team delivered the hampers to those in need.

During the festive period, Direct Line Group Doncaster regularly donates gifts to Age UK Doncaster, and last year had generously donated a fantastic cash donation to support the great work the local charity does.

Gemma Allan-Jones, the motor team leader at Direct Line Group Doncaster said: “The gift appeal began during lockdown, when I felt isolated from others and realised that this could be an everyday reality for elderly people alone. As a business, Direct Line Group strives to be a force

our bodies healthier, our roads safer, and we’ll have more money in our pockets given the high price of fuel right now.

“That’s why fixing our public transport network is central to my vision of a greener, fairer and healthier South Yorkshire.”

Cllr Chris Read said: “The Parkgate park and ride scheme is the latest major investment in the borough that we’ve secured and residents will start to see more visible works taking place in the coming weeks.

“As well as improving access to the country’s first tram-train, the new access road will provide some welcome relief on the congested local road network.

“Close working between the council and the South Yorkshire mayor’s office has been key to unlocking this important transport scheme and we're really pleased to have works on site.”

Communities in Rotherham, Barnsley, Doncaster and Sheffield are set to benefit from transport, walking and cycling schemes at iPort, a new Tram Train stop and P&R at Magna, rail station improvements and road widening.

Construction of the Parkgate scheme is expected to open for use in January 2024.

for good, so when others saw my personal campaign, they wanted to get involved to help people in our community, so we donated to Age UK Doncaster and collected gifts to make a bigger difference.”

Lynne Coles, head of training and wellbeing at Age UK Doncaster said: “We as an organisation are extremely grateful for the support Direct Line Group Doncaster have given and the difference it will make to the lives of the very people we are here to support.”

Direct Line Group Doncaster with the Age UK Doncaster team

Extensive

‘This is the beginning of an exciting scheme improving transport links’

The investment includes a new link road, footway and cycleway

Why there’s no better time to get on the bus

By John Henshall (pictured), general manager, TravelMaster

2023 is shaping up to be an exciting year for public transport. The start of the year has seen the Department for Transport (DfT) launch its £2 single fare cap. In South Yorkshire, the mayor has supplemented this with additional funding, allowing the scheme to start two months early, back in November.

The scheme is scheduled to run until 31 March. If you’ve not used the bus for a while, I implore you to give it a go.

Using the bus and other forms of public transport can help you achieve some of those new year resolutions which you may have already started to let slip. The act of walking to the bus stop gets in some of those crucial steps and using public transport is better for the environment.

Using the bus is eas ier than ever with journey planning available via search engines, bespoke apps like Bus Checker UK or operator’s own apps (if you know who provides the service) along with live tracking available across many operators. Most buses also accept contactless cards now, so you don’t have to dig around for the right change.

While the fare cap won’t last forever, it’s a great way to try the bus and once you can see the benefits, there is an array of tickets for people. That’s where TravelMaster comes in, we’re here to cut through the complexity by providing a ticket that is valid on any bus, train, or tram within South Yorkshire. Our tickets can be selected for travel in one district or throughout South Yorkshire.

Email: sales@sytravelmaster.com

Call: 0114 478 2266

Data sales firm launches portal to support SMEs

ADoncaster businessman has launched a business-tobusiness data sales company, aimed at supporting small businesses with their marketing data.

BuyUKData.co.uk is the world’s first platform, which can gather large volumes of quality contact data at speed and at an unrivalled price point.

The company behind the innovative solution is a start-up business launched by Doncaster businessman Paul Smith. BuyUKData.co.uk was created after more than 2,000 hours of development work by one of the UK’s top digital agencies.

Users can get started by following a simple three-step process that allows them to build their own contact lists in seconds. They select a business sector, browse a map to select the county of interest and then complete their purchase.

The price of the quality data list is typically available from 8p per contact and so is up to 95% cheaper than rivals such as Credit Safe and Experian.

For example, businesses looking for contact details of architects in West Yorkshire, there are more than 400 available and the list costs around £120. Once the purchase is complete, the data is sent directly to an email inbox in a user-friendly format and can be used within 30 seconds of receipt.

The platform’s director Lewis Smith said: “The whole point of this is to be a disrupter in the market and to give people with small businesses an opportunity to purchase data in specific areas and sectors for a price point that was previously unachievable.

“We are already getting repeat orders on data requests from our customers, and this is because of the system’s ease of use and the quality of the data being provided. It is a completely new way to gather data that makes it accessible to everyone.

“Another huge benefit is

that the process is 100% automated from end to end so our customers have no interaction with salespeople.”

This powerful contact-generating engine helps organisations to build business-to-business data lists to drive their sales activities.

Paul Smith

S2S Group on recruitment drive

The remarkable growth of South Yorkshire-based S2S Group continues with 23 new jobs created in the last 12 months as a result of a big rise in turnover fuelled by new business gains.

Faye Fowler (pictured), HR manager, said: “Here at S2S Group acquiring the right talent is the most important key to our growth. 2022 has been an incredible year for the company, we have seen our overall headcount increase by 50%, with growth in all areas. It’s certainly been a challenge, given the national candidate shortage, however our recruitment drive over the last 12 months has enabled us to obtain new acquisitions in our HR, marketing, sales, resale, operations, and logistic teams.

We have also committed to developing our own talent, which we believe will shape the future of our workforce. To reinforce this, we have introduced a career pathway for existing employees and in addition have appointed four apprentices over the last 12 months.

“Our workforce is our future, and we are very excited to see what the future holds.”

Grant Barton, S2S Group CEO, added: “Alongside the company’s organic growth, our recent acquisitions of London and Glasgow operations have blended seamlessly into our business which will see the groups turnover topping £5m in 2023. Furthermore, this really does give our broad range of customers a full nationwide servicing capability.

“We are unique in offering a wide range of IT and mobile asset disposal, this including data erasure and destruction, on or off site for all types of media, recycling and disposal, imaging and redeployment, secure ecommissioning, resale and repairs and bespoke real time asset tracking using RFID technology. Our policy of maintaining the highest levels of approved accreditations which includes ADISA level 8, Blanco gold partner and all relevant ISO environmental compliance schemes, ensures complete peace of mind for our UK wide range of customers.”

S2S Group assists clients across the UK with secure and eco-friendly solutions for IT assets at the end of the lifecycle.

‘We are already getting repeat orders on data requests from our customers’

Richard Stubbs appointed chair of Local Enterprise Partnership

South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) have announced Richard Stubbs (pictured) as the new LEP chair.

Richard Stubbs takes over from Lucy Nickson, who has served as South Yorkshire LEP Board Interim Chair since January 2022. The LEP is responsible for representing private-sector businesses and setting the strategic direction for economic growth in South Yorkshire.

South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppard said: “Richard is a highly valued member of the LEP board and we are delighted to see him taking up the position as chair. I’d like to thank Lucy Nickson for being an excellent interim chair and, prior to that, vice chair of the LEP, during what was a challenging time for businesses. Richard has been an active LEP board member for many years and brings with him a huge amount of passion for helping us boost economic growth in the region. We look forward to him taking up his new role.”

Richard Stubbs is CEO of the Yorkshire & Humber AHSN (Yorkshire and Humber Academic Health Science Network), an organisation that supports the NHS to develop and adopt innovation that improves patient care.

Richard said: “It’s a great honour to be appointed as chair of South Yorkshire LEP. I am looking forward to continuing the work we’ve already been doing to make a positive impact in the local economy and community.

At this time of many economic challenges, the LEP has an important role in supporting our businesses and people and I’m committed to looking at innovative ways in which we can work even more closely with partners to transform our region for the benefit of all.”

Richard grew up and still lives in South Yorkshire. He holds a number of local roles that allow him to contribute to the region’s economic success including chairing the Strategic Advisory Board for the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre at Sheffield Hallam University, being a director of the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, and as a board trustee of Maltby Learning Trust, a multi-academy trust in Rotherham and Doncaster.

For more details about the South Yorkshire region, visit www.southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk

Plans on track to reopen ‘ghost railways’

Plans to bring back lost rail services and restore closed stations in South Yorkshire are gaining momentum, as the region moves forward with bids to level up and reconnect left behind communities.

Cases for funding have been put to government to reopen the Don Valley Line, between Sheffield and Stocksbridge, and the Askern Line, between Doncaster and Knottingley, for local passenger services. If given the green light, proposals will go to the next stage of the national ‘Restoring Your Railways’ programme to provide homes and education.

South Yorkshire’s mayor Oliver Coppard said: “There is huge support for our plans to reopen the Askern and Don Valley railway lines, because of the chance it gives us to level-up communities currently left behind because of poor public transport links.

“Fixing South Yorkshire’s public transport system has to include reopening our railways and better joining up our train, tram and bus networks. Because our communities rely on these links to access the work, education and social opportunities that everyone deserves.

“The government have set a timeframe for levelling up transport connectivity by 2030, but in order to achieve that goal we need them to deliver the full Northern Powerhouse Rail and match our energy for upgrading services. Projects such as ‘Restoring Your Railways’ offer a good starting point.”

South Yorkshire’s Askern and Don Valley Lines are two of 13 schemes shortlisted in October 2021 to progress to the next stage of the Government’s £500m Restoring Your Railway fund, designed to reinstate local rail services and restore closed stations. Sheffield City, Doncaster Derbyshire County, North East Derbyshire District and Chesterfield Borough councils and Network Rail will play a leading role in the delivery of the schemes.

Further plans to restore services on the Barrow Hill Line between Sheffield and Chesterfield are being developed by South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and Network Rail. It could see stations reinstated at Sheffield Victoria, Beighton, Killamarsh, Eckington/Reni shaw, Barrow Hill/Staveley and Whittington, and the return of a regular service, linking Sheffield, North East Derbyshire and Chesterfield.

In 2021 Richard was recognised as Business Leader of the Year in the Yorkshire Post’s prestigious Excellence in Business Awards.

A train at Deepcar Station on the Woodhead route

‘It’s a great honour to be appointed as Chair of South Yorkshire LEP’

Barnsley College supports students with food packs

A total of more than 140 food packs were created by the Student Services department at Barnsley College for students to take home over the Christmas period.

Led by Sasha Foyster from the Student Services department, the collection started back in October after it was identified that some students and their families may need food support over Christmas due to financial challenges and the cost-of-living crisis. The collection grew into what is now ‘The Pantry’ in the college’s Old Mill Lane campus – a hub where donations can be made, and students can collect their packs discreetly.

Many staff departments across the college made generous donations, including a large donation from the Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) Centre. There were also contributions made from Virgin Money Bank and Barnsley Card.

Students from the Learning for Living and Work (LfLW) department, which supports young people with additional needs, designed Christmas cards which were sold for £2 per pack, with all funds donated to The Pantry.

LfLW students, along with LfLW Work Skills Facilitator Phoebe

Salmon-Horner, also volunteered their time to help pack the food donations ready for the students to pick up. Each student collecting a food pack also had the option to collect a hygiene pack, which contained items such as toothpaste, shampoo, and body wash.

Sasha Foyster, a student services officer, said: “I wanted to offer some sort of food support for students over the Christmas break and I really wanted it to feel more like a gift than a typical ‘foodbank’.

“We and other departments identified that some students might need this type of support over Christmas and I thought it was important that we did something about it. We really hope these packs made a difference to the students.”

Sasha Foyster at ‘The Pantry’ with some of the donations

Some of the donations received to create food packs

‘We really hope these packs made a difference to

the

students’

Record-breaking growth for performance clothing brand

Sstrength sports, based in South Yorkshire, has experienced exponential growth from international trading and now supplies product to 46 countries around the world.

The company originally started out in London nine years ago, but relocated to Rotherham in 2017 to take advantage of more manufacturing space. The company sells its products online and through national events such as the British Powerlifting Championships and Giants Live Strongman events. SBD Apparel is also the title sponsor of the World’s Strongest Man, which has increased awareness of the business across Europe and the USA.

The company also sponsors the International Powerlifting Federation, 12 National Powerlifting teams, the British Weightlifting Team and the British Powerlifting Teams.

The company, which currently operates from five units, including four in Thurcroft, last year secured a £1.5m Business Investment Fund grant from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority towards a brand new 100,000 sq ft premises on the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Catcliffe. SBD Apparel is investing over £10m itself into the modern production facility.

The new facility, which will open in 2023, is expected to create 270 new jobs within three

one single site, while quadrupling its floor space and increasing current output capacity by up to eight times.

The company has experienced 44% sales growth in the last financial year and strong sales growth is expected to continue in 2023. In the last three years, the company has increased its number of international retailers by 33% and now sells in markets including Australia, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Germany, Spain, Italy, Norway and Iceland.

William Islip, commercial director at SBD Apparel, said: “We have experienced strong international demand for our products, 86% of our total sales are exported related and we currently have strong interest from additional retailers worldwide. We are looking forward to moving into our brand new headquarters next year. We want to attract the best talent so, as well as a modern factory environment, the building will have its own gym and leisure facilities and a creative centre for staff.

“We will be recruiting heavily next year and are working closely with local colleges and universities as well as launching our learning and development programmes.”

SBD Apparel has grown its international markets through the brand’s reputation for

from Games of Thrones, Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, and reigning World’s Strongest Man, Scotland’s Tom Stoltman.

SBD Apparel currently sponsors the World’s Strongest Man competition, broadcasted on Channel Five each year, and has done for the past six years, raising the profile of its brand across the globe. The company also attends fitness and strength sport exhibitions across the world. SBD Apparel has benefited from support through the South Yorkshire Growth Hub with identifying export opportunities and most suitable international markets.

To raise its profile even further and reinforce its position as a UK manufacturer and South Yorkshire company, SBD Apparel will be hosting its first international powerlifting event at Sheffield City Hall on 25 March 2023. This will be attended by over 2,000 spectators and the world’s strongest athletes will be competing. SBD will feature on high profile branding throughout the city during this time.

But SBD won’t rest on its laurels, as William said: “We’re always looking for what can we do better. How can we improve the customer experience? How can we improve the design of our products?”

Visit: www.sbdapparel.com

For support and guidance on international trade or growth through South Yorkshire Growth Hub visit: www.scrgrowthhub.co.uk

‘We’re always looking for what can we do better’

Tom Stoltman (left) and Luke Stoltman are both sponsored by SBD

What Arts Council England’s Investment Programme will mean for South Yorkshire

In South Yorkshire, Arts Council England is increasing it funding by £1.8m per year through the Arts Council’s Investment Programme, which supports a national portfolio of cultural organisations. Through this programme they will be investing a total of £21.2m in South Yorkshire over three years from 2023-2026.

This investment will go to 25 organisations in South Yorkshire, including Sheffield Theatres and Site Gallery in Sheffield, Barnsley Civic and Brass Bands England in Barnsley, Doncaster Museums and CAST in Doncaster and Grimm and Co and ROAR in Rotherham, offering more people across South Yorkshire the opportunity to take part in creative activities and enjoy highquality cultural work.

Arts Council England is also offering additional investment to four organisations in South Yorkshire, including Barnsley Civic and Grimm and Co in Rotherham. Newcomers to the portfolio in Barnsley include LUNG and Gary Clarke Company, both of which create compelling performance that is inspired by their communities.

Acclaimed dance artist and choreographer, Gary Clarke, who grew up in Grimethorpe, now leads a contemporary dance company producing high-quality cuttingedge dance theatre with a strong track record of widening access and increasing opportunity for less engaged communities.

Also in Barnsley, Arts Council England is offering additional funding to Barnsley Civic to support it to work with more communities across Barnsley, and increasing investment in Brass Bands England, which promotes, represents and supports brass bands across the country, and in the Culture, Health and Wellbeing Alliance which is a national membership organisation for organisations working to use creativity and culture to transform health and wellbeing.

In Doncaster, Arts Council England is continuing to support CAST, which presents world-class performing arts alongside providing opportunities for local and regional artists to research and develop their ideas, while also maintaining investment in Darts, an organisation that make highquality, inclusive, creative experiences across the borough which are open to everyone, particularly those who have the

least access to the arts. They are also renewing their support for those worldleading cultural organisations that are based in Sheffield, such as the inspirational and award-winning Sheffield Theatres, international contemporary art space Site Gallery and independent publisher of innovative contemporary writing from around the world And Other Stories, Music in the Round, a leading national promoter of

ABOVE: Full team of staff and young people before the Grimm Games. Photo supplied by Grimm & Co

INSET: ‘Here’s What She Said To Me’. Photo by Chris Saunders, supplied by Utopia Theatre

‘Creativity boosts the region’s economic growth’

chamber music, internationally recognised experimental theatre company Forced Entertainment, visual arts organisation Arts Catalyst and Yorkshire Artspace which provides studio space for over 160 Sheffield-based artists and makers.

Arts Council England has also welcomed into the portfolio Utopia Theatre, a Sheffield-based national and international touring theatre company whose work fuses African and Western performing traditions.

Arts Council England is keen to invest in more opportunities for children and young people from early years through to young adulthood, and to follow that through with investment to support creative skills, nurture talent and develop new creative career opportunities.

Rotherham Museums joins the portfolio at an exciting time for the borough. With strong connections to the surrounding communities and provision for learning they have a proven track record for inspiring young people using their collections. We are increasing our investment in Grimm and Co, in recognition of their acclaimed work supporting children and young

people with their confidence and writing in a truly astonishing and inspirational setting in the centre of Rotherham.

Museums and libraries are an important part of our national portfolio and, by bringing Rotherham Museums into the portfolio, we now invest in museums services across all local authorities in South Yorkshire, including Barnsley, Rotherham, Sheffield and Doncaster. Barnsley Library Service joins the portfolio, offering a range of exciting library and literary activities across its 15 sites. At the heart of its service is Lightbox, a state-of-the-art library and a dynamic community hub with spaces for workshops, dance, music-making, technology and creativity.

Other investment

The national portfolio awards are one strand of Arts Council England’s total investment in arts, culture and creativity. Through another strand, the Creative People and Places programme, they aim to transform access to arts and culture in places where engagement is low. They support two Creative People and Places

Heritage Doncaster delivers activities and workshops to build skills and improve wellbeing.

The full list of organisations in South Yorkshire which will be part of the national portfolio in 2023-26 is as follows:

• AA2A Limited

• And Other Stories Publishing CIC

• Arts Catalyst

• Barnsley Civic Enterprise Ltd

• Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council (Barnsley Library Service)

• Barnsley Museums

• Brass Bands England

• Cast

• Culture, Health & Wellbeing Alliance CIC

• darts (Doncaster Community Arts)

• Doncaster Heritage Services (Doncaster Museums)

• Forced Entertainment Ltd

• Gary Clarke Company Ltd

• Grimm & Co

• Invisible Flock Co

• LUNG Productions CIO

• Music in the Round

• PIPA (Parents & Carers in Performing Arts)

• Rotherham Museums, Arts & Heritage

• Rotherham Open Arts Renaissance (ROAR)

• Sheffield Museums Trust

• Sheffield Theatres Trust Ltd

• Site Gallery

• Utopia Theatre Limited

• Yorkshire Artspace Society Ltd

A full list of all the national portfolio organisations which will be funded in 2023-26 can be found at: www.artscouncil.org.uk/investment23

projects in South Yorkshire, Right Up Our Street in Doncaster and Flux in Rotherham.

Pete Massey, the Arts Council’s northern economy and partnerships director, said: “This investment will have a huge impact on the lives of people across Yorkshire and the Humber, helping to bring culture into the heart of more communities across the

region, and giving more people the chance to enjoy fantastic creative and cultural activities where they live. Creativity boosts the region’s economic growth, creates jobs, brings communities closer together and offers comfort and enjoyment, and we’re delighted to support all of the organisations that will form our national portfolio for the next three years.”

ABOVE:

Photo supplied by Heritage Doncaster

LEFT: Richard Peralta and the Company of ‘Much Ado About Nothing’. Photo by Johan Persson, supplied by Sheffield Theatres

Tree-mendous support for hospice service

Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice has issued a big ‘Thank You Fir Supporting Us’ to homeowners across the region.

The North Anston hospice raised a lofty £33,319 from its popular Christmas tree recycling service.

The scheme aims to save people the ‘tree-mendous’ hassle of ensuring their real trees get recycled and raise funds towards its task of caring for children and young adults with life-shortening and life-threatening conditions across South Yorkshire, North Derbyshire, North Nottinghamshire and parts of North Lincolnshire.

The operation has now raised over £80,000 and collected thousands of trees since launching in 2021 –and now there’s a plan to branch out and expand.

For the first time, bookings for the next post-Christmas collections can be made throughout the year, via the hospice’s website.

“We normally give people a three-month window from October to bag a collection spot, to enable us to plan some very complicated logistics,” said the hospice’s Christmas tree recycling project manager Beth Cole.

“The service has proved very popular with our supporters. There are always lots of late requests we have to say no to, so we know there are many more who would use it if they could.

“Giving people all year to sign up will hopefully mean we get to collect thousands more trees next January –and raise a much bigger sum. The hospice needs £5.1m every year just to open its doors. Many of us will be tightening our belts this year because of rising fuel bills and food costs. Charities will inevitably suffer as a result, but our Christmas tree recycling is providing a useful service for people and their donations is proving a big support for us.”

Most trees are taken to local recycling centres to be made into chippings destined for local forest schools and farms. Some head to Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice to make chippings for the gardens –and animals at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park have been known to benefit from the Christmas cast-offs.

“They end up in animal enclosures as ‘habitat enrichment’ Last year, a group of rhinos got some old trees to play with and it seems they had a lot of fun,” said Beth.

The service has been made possible thanks to kind-hearted local businesses who loan their vans and staff.

This year, 30 volunteer drivers from 25 local companies are collecting 30 trees a day up to January 17 across Doncaster, Chesterfield, Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley, Doncaster and Worksopcompanies willing to become collectors next January.

Email: regionalfundraisers@ bluebellwood.org

Lakeside Village enjoys 2022 sales boost

Doncaster’s leading shopping outlet, Lakeside Village, is celebrating a fantastic year of trading in 2022.

Sales were up 11% like for like compared to 2019, the last full comparable year due to the pandemic, and up six per cent like for like on 2021.

The Centre was also fully let by the end of the year with the recent additions of Benson’s Outlet –an exciting new pilot that brings high-quality items at fantastic value for money to customers in Doncaster and across Yorkshire –Charnwood Entertainments, and Calendar Club which occupied the last three empty units.

The run up to Christmas also proved to be a great hit with Santa’s Grotto visited by over 1,000 children which helped the centre raise a huge £4,300 for charity of the year, Doncaster Mind. A successful two-day festive Artisan Fayre saw more than 60 stalls attend and customers galore who enjoyed the fair as well as a host of other events and entertainment which were held every weekend in December.

Di Mellis (pictured, inset), centre manager at Lakeside Village, said: “Lakeside Village enjoyed one of our best years to date in 2022 with sales, average spend and the total number of transactions across all our stores all up on recent years which is great to see.

“But not only that we are creating a strong sense of community and inclusivity here at the centre that is really appreciated by our loyal customers both young and old. From the children’s play areas and highquality accessible facilities to the work we do supporting local charities

and initiatives to the expansion of our green recycling hub and hosting all the fairs, events and activities throughout the year, there is a buzz about the place.

“It is also important to recognise the major role we play in the local economy employing more than 500 people at the centre. All our stores and staff play such as huge part in what we have achieved and we all so excited to build on this in 2023 and go from strength-to-strength.”

For more information visit: www.lakeside-village.co.uk

‘The hospice needs £5.1m every year just to open its doors’

Top left: Beth Cole, Bluebell Wood’s Christmas tree recycling project manager. This year’s collectors also included Kim Martlew, marketing manager at Dinnington-based Pennine Pneumatic Services Sheffield (above), and Joseph Green Landscape Gardening of Rotherham (left)

Wentworth Woodhouse wins two national heritage awards

Rotherham stately home Wentworth Woodhouse is celebrating after winning prestigious national awards from two of the country’s leading heritage organisations.

The ‘unsung heroes’ caring daily for the Grade I listed country house won a Best Loved award from The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, and the 82-acre gardens have been named Historic Houses’ Garden of the Year 2022.

Entries by Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust, which is regenerating the entire site, impressed judges in both the award schemes to make it to their national finals. Then the decision-making was opened up to the publicand they voted for Wentworth Woodhouse in their thousands.

Sarah McLeod, CEO of the trust, which took over in 2017, said: “We are overwhelmed to have won two important and highly-contested awards. Restoring and regenerating Wentworth Woodhouse is a colossal task, but we are making huge strides thanks to the dedication of our truly brilliant staff, volunteers and trustees. They are the true winners of these awards.

“We are so grateful for the votes we received. They are proof the public is clearly with us on our journey and that makes us feel very proud indeed.”

The SPAB’s Heritage Awards celebrate excellence in building conservation. The Best Loved Public Building award celebrates the often unsung heroes who carry out the regular maintenance vital to the ongoing health of old buildings

When the trust moved in during 2017 it found a house being eaten from the outside-in by the elements after years of decline. Leaking roofs were the biggest culprits.

Around 60% of the East Front’s roofs and their ornate stonework, and 20% per cent of roofs at the Stables, have now been carefully repaired, which protects rooms beneath.

But a well-functioning roof rainwater system was equally vital. The system designed and fitted 250 years ago had fallen into decline and was trying to cope with an increase in rainfall caused by climate change.

The trust’s small maintenance team, and the band of talented volunteers it relies on, came up with ingenious solutions. Under the leadership of maintenance manager Julie Readman, they

designed and custom-made unique fittings for hopper heads, gulleys, weir shutes, roof sumps and hard-to-access gutters.

Their rainwater solutions went into place in autumn 2021 and have succeeded in preventing blockages and overflows which could cause rainwater to permeate the buildings. They are also saving time and money, negating the need to hire scaffolding or machinery to clear debris, leaves and birds’ nests.

Mary Kerrigan, Best Loved Awards judge, conservation architect and SPAB Scholar,

commented: “Exceptional thought by the maintenance team has gone into the design of a range of interventions which should save countless hours and effort as they carry out the annual inspections and follow-up maintenance a building of this size will demand. Their work exemplifies one of the SPAB’s core messages: maintenance, maintenance and more maintenance.”

Sarah McLeod said: Our award from the SPAB acknowledges the tireless efforts and the vast range of skills of our maintenance staff and volunteers. They play a vital role in ensuring Wentworth Woodhouse will be there for future generations to enjoy.”

Wentworth Woodhouse’s private gardens, which fully opened for the first time in 2020 to offer locals tranquil and beautiful spaces in the pandemic, triumphed over seven other contenders for the Historic Houses 2022 Garden of the Year crown.

Ben Cowell, director general, said: “The rescue of the house at Wentworth Woodhouse is one of the most significant heritage achievements of recent years. The work the team has done with the gardens is also nothing short of spectacular. We are thrilled to be able to recognise that work with this award, which is testament to the strong support Wentworth Woodhouse has from its local community.”

Maintenance manager Julie Readman, Dame Julie Kenny DBE DL, CEO Sarah McLeod and maintenance volunteer George Gomery-Emerton (back row) receive the award from SPAB judges Mary Kerrigan, Dr Susan O’Connor and Phineas Harper and Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud at London’s Conway Hall

Maintenance team member Oliver White (centre) and volunteers George Gomery-Emerton (left) and David Johnson custom-making a floating gutter hog

Picture credits: Joy Newbould, David Sowter

‘The public is clearly with us on our journey and that makes us feel very proud’

Feature: Apprenticeships, Skills & Training

Apprenticeships, Skills & Training

Enterprise & Innovation

Apprenticeships: giving skills for life

By James Godsell (

director of employer partnerships, RNN Group

This year’s National Apprenticeship Week theme is ‘skills for life’ and at RNN we see learners on all stages of their learning journey.

The benefits of apprenticeships are well established, however many employers and learners only look at apprentices for entry level and new staff positions.

Since the introduction of the apprenticeship levy we have seen an increase in the number of existing staff seeking to build their skills and knowledge using an apprenticeship, this ranges from technical training such as engineering right through to this article’s topic on management skills.

“The principles of management are stunningly simple, yet so few get it right,” said CMI chief executive Ann Francke. “Being a good manager is about training and practice. A natural runner may have a talent for running, but they won’t win a race or complete a marathon without practice and training. The same is true for a good manager.”

With the pandemic leading to significant employee movement for many businesses staff are benefiting from increased responsibility within their roles without the underpinning support to help them succeed.

This leads to what CMI (Chartered Management Institute) call the ‘accidental manager’, staff who are highly skilled

operators but now need to lead teams and manage process. The apprentice route for training these accidental managers is ideal because not only do they benefit from structured learning on the latest management techniques they also receive regular visits to help contextualise their learning in the workplace.

Apprenticeships in leadership and management range from team leaders taking their first steps into management through to degree apprenticeships teaching strategic leaders how to drive business improvements. Finding the right apprenticeship can be daunting and important to speak to professionals who can weigh up your skills needs and time commitments to make sure you get the most out of you training.

When looking at your own organisation’s skills needs, I’d ask you to be honest about where your leadership team is and the skills they need to move business where it needs to be. Research shows organisations with effective management and leadership development programmes have on average 23% better results and are 32% more productive.

So this year, consider how a better trained management team will not only give them skills for life but also help move business forward.

‘We have seen an increase in thenumber of existing staff seeking to build their skills’

pictured),

Feature: Apprenticeships, Skills & Training

Apprentices want to join your business –but are you ready for them?

By Barnsley College

As an employer, you can help an individual to kick start their career or progress to a higher level by sharing your expertise in the form of an apprenticeship.

Hiring an apprentice can benefit your organisation in multiple ways and our flexible course model allows you to recruit throughout the year. Employing an apprentice will help to grow your business, increase profitability and gain a competitive advantage.

Apprenticeships can help improve employee retention, as it is highly likely that apprentices will continue within your company as permanent staff members once they have qualified.

Over recent years, the government’s approach towards apprenticeships has changed drastically. Apprenticeships have become much more focused on meeting the needs of employers and their industry sector. This ensures that apprentices have the core skills, knowledge, and behaviours relevant to your business, enabling them to fulfil their job roles successfully and competently.

Barnsley College is one of the largest and

most successful training providers in South Yorkshire. Offering over 70 apprenticeship pathways for every business sector, the College provides a variety of apprenticeships ranging from Level 2 to Level 5. These are courses for everyone from school leavers to those seeking a career change, to senior managers who are already advanced within their chosen industry.

The courses range from Accountancy, Business Administration and Leadership and Management to Digital Marketing, Health and Social Care and Teaching. This provision is supported by around 1,500 employers across Yorkshire and even more beyond, with a growing team and portfolio of training courses that are designed to support the entire workforce development strategy.

Our specialist business development team can help an organisation of any size, in any sector, to assess where their training needs are and identify solutions.

By listening to your needs, the team will create a free bespoke recruitment plan that will develop your workforce and maximise your return on investment.

Helen Weatherston, head of business

development at Barnsley College, said: “Offering an individual the opportunity to work alongside experienced staff allows them to gain jobspecific skills and industry knowledge that will benefit them in their future careers.

“The combination of on-the-job experience and classroom training allows apprentices to have a taste of what their chosen work environment will be like. All whilst they achieve an industrybased qualification and earn a wage.”

Barnsley College supported National Apprenticeship Week 2023 through promoting the courses offered, benefits to businesses, the positives of studying an apprenticeship and more.

The college will be celebrating its apprentices, alumni and the employers it works with as well as sharing how it will continue to support people and communities.

To find out about workforce development and how Barnsley College can support your business to recruit new employees or to upskill existing staff, visit: www.barnsley.ac.uk/employers Alternatively, email employer@barnsley.ac.uk or call 01226 216 166.

‘Over recent years, the government’s approach towards apprenticeships has changed drastically’

Routes into rail for all

NCATI was set up in 2017 with support from employers across the rail and transport infrastructure sectors to train the technicians, analysts, project managers and engineers in the skills needed now and into the future.

This came in response to predictions of a profound skills shortage affecting the industry over the next decade, with problems relating to retention of current staff and to attraction of new recruits.

Five years on, and these challenges in retention and attraction remain – and are made all the more urgent by the government’s ongoing investment in transformational projects like Northern Powerhouse Rail, as well in existing railway infrastructure. These challenges sit at the heart of why NCATI was established, and why initiatives like the Fast Track to Rail Skills Bootcamps are so vital to the sector’s growth.

Fast-tracking skills

Set up and fully funded by the government, Skills Bootcamps are short and flexible courses that give adults aged 19 and above the opportunity to build up sector-specific skills and transition into new and in-demand careers. In this particular case, the Skills Bootcamps are expressly focused on attracting new

entrants into the rail industry by providing them with a 6week programme of learning at NCATI, followed by a guaranteed interview with a rail employer and access to an accelerated apprenticeship if successful.

As a ‘pathway to an accelerated apprenticeship’, the Skills Bootcamps provide learners with a stronger footing in the knowledge, skills and behaviours required by a rail apprenticeship, fast-tracking them through induction training, and essentially making candidates more attractive as apprentices.

Broadening access

What’s more, the Skills Bootcamps serve as an important case study for furthering NCATI’s mission, and supporting industry growth: they attract large numbers of people from diverse backgrounds to the sector, and quickly. After all, the Skills Bootcamps provide learners with flexibility (only six weeks long, and a mixture of on-campus and online learning) as well as accessibility (open to all adults aged 19 and above, whether they are employed, selfemployed, or recently unemployed), and have proven especially popular with underrepresented groups because of this break with more traditional and potentially inaccessible delivery methods.

The National College for Advanced Transport & Infrastructure (NCATI) is dedicated to closing the rail sector’s skills gap, and the Fast Track to Rail Skills Bootcamps are its latest solution for stimulating social inclusion and industry growth

Apprentices on a NCATI Skills Bootcamp in Birmingham

‘Fast Track to Rail Skills Bootcamps are vital to the sector’s growth’

Feature: Apprenticeships, Skills & Training

Delivered on NCATI’s two campuses in Birmingham and Doncaster, recruitment has been focused on enabling access by learners facing barriers and/or located in deprived areas in these regions. To this end, the Fast Track to Rail Skills Bootcamps have removed the biggest barrier to entry for most learners from under-represented backgrounds: cost.

The Skills Bootcamps are designed to offer people a ‘first step’ into the rail industry with targeted introduction to potential employers, de-emphasising strict academic requirements in favour of providing robust training and learner support that addresses any barriers and difficulties during the programme.

This support includes English and Maths tutoring, as well as a ‘Personal Brand Camp’, which targets personal and communication skills in preparation for interviews with rail employers.

Closing the skills gap

Just like the skills shortage affecting the rail sector, NCATI’s mission is twofold, aiming to deliver the skilled workforce of tomorrow by: encouraging more people into the rail sector to address skills shortages; and offering them varied pathways to address skills gaps.

The brevity and accessibility of this latest pathway offered by NCATI provides a greater number of people from more diverse backgrounds the opportunity to take their first step into an industry they have likely never considered before. In this way, the Fast Track to Rail Skills Bootcamps may prove to be an excellent model for closing the industry’s skills gap, and delivering social value in the process.

If you’re interested in engaging with us as an employer partner in the Skills Bootcamps or other training opportunities, please get in touch.

Visit:www.ncati.ac.uk

Call: 0330 120 0375

Email: enquiries@ncati.ac.uk

Apprentices on a Skills Bootcamp in Doncaster

Making the business case for innovation

The successful implementation of new ideas is crucial to helping a business retain its competitive edge. But how can a business adopt a culture of innovation?

Why innovate?

Innovation is vital for any businesses. It can help keep a company at the forefront of new developments and technology, which in turn can help it stay ahead of its competition, exploit new markets and improve its profitability. It can also create opportunities for greater efficiency, establish new partnerships and produce a more engaged and productive workforce. Innovation can mean a standalone breakthrough – a totally new product or service, for example, or a series of smaller changes.

Start with your customers

Don’t innovate for innovation’s sake – you can waste a lot of time and money developing a service that your customers don’t want or need. A great starting point is finding out exactly what your customers like about your product or service, and what can be improved. Are there any gaps in their lives that your service could fill? Could your product be cheaper, or easier to use? Conduct customer surveys and market research to generate constructive criticism and get an insight on what they want.

Get everyone involved

You may think that to be innovative, you need to assemble a top team of creatives, or that it should be left in the hands of the board or upper management. However, you shouldn’t limit your opportunities to be innovative before you’ve even begun. Bringing different departments together can spark conversation, which in turn can lead to creation, as your staff mix with people they might not usually interact with. You may find that some of them have been waiting for an opportunity to have their ideas heard, or that a change of scenery can trigger new ways of thinking. Reward innovative ideas, as incentives can help encourage staff to think more creatively.

Figure out if technology is for you

New technology can present incredible opportunities for businesses looking to innovate. Embracing technology can be as simple as moving paper-based systems to the cloud, selling your product online, or as technical as adopting cutting-edge tools such as artificial intelligence or virtual/augmented reality.

However, consider the fact that you don’t necessarily have to invest in the latest tech to be innovative. Coming up with a better way to streamline your workforce or generate new sales is just as innovative, and can be just as dramatic on your bottom line as developing world-changing technology.

Don’t be afraid of failure

Adopting a culture of innovation requires businesses to be open to experimentation, but businesses must also acknowledge that not every experiment will prove to be fruitful. Don’t let the fear of failure put you off however – even the most successful companies have made mistakes or had projects fail. It is important to learn from your mistakes and use that knowledge to refine your ideas.

You must encourage risk taking and experimentation among your staff too; create a support environment where your employees feel free to express their ideas without criticism, and don’t penalise those who try new ideas and fail.

‘Don’t let the fear of failure put you off… even the most successful companies have made mistakes’

Are you thinking about investing in property in 2023?

By Rochelle Gilburn (pictured), managing director, Gilburn Investment Group

The beginning of the year is always a popular time for people to take action on investing in property. However, much like the gym, not many see it through.

From what I hear from my clients, there are a few reasons for giving up:

•It is taking up too much of their time

•They don’t really know what they are looking for

•Procrastination.

Property is a numbers game. You have to work out your figures, view plenty of properties and get the offers in to get an offer accepted.

Once you have made a decision to invest in property, your next step needs to be deciding on your criteria.

• How much money have you got to invest?

• Can you afford to invest in your local area or do you need to look further a field?

• Do you need to use a mortgage or can you buy cash?

• Are you looking for a project or something that is ready to go?

• How much of a return are you looking to get on the money you invest?

These are just a few of the questions you need to be asking yourself.

Once you have decided on your criteria, its time to book some viewings. However it is essential to do due diligence. Due diligence can mean a variety of things but in this context, we are talking about looking at the figures of the property to see if it will give you the return you are looking for.

The due diligence is like a jigsaw puzzle. We are finding out lots of information about the property and piecing it together to give a clearer picture

Current market value

The first thing to look at is what it is worth now in it’s current condition. The asking price isn’t always a true reflection of this. You need to look at other houses in the area, how much they have sold for and how much new listings are going on for.

End market value

Then we can look at what the property could potentially be worth if we were to renovate it or add an extension. Again, we are comparing it to similar properties in a close proximity that have recently sold.

Refurb costs

Next, work out how much you think the refurb will be. If you’ve never done a renovation before, this can be a tricky part. A lot of people either massively underestimate, leaving them in a tricky situation or they over estimate and miss out on some good opportunities. It’s a good idea to talk to some builders to get a rough idea of what it will cost. Rent

Now it’s time to work out how much rent the property will get. You can do this by looking at properties up for rent on places like Rightmove and talking to letting agents. Even if your plan is to sell the property, its always a good idea to look at what rent it would achieve if you were unable to sell. You should always have a back up plan.

Calculations

Now it’s time to put all your calculations together and decide whether it’s a deal for you.

You will need to include Stamp Duty and legal fees. You may want to include broker fees, letting agent fees and insurance too.

Here’s an example of what our figures can look like in Barnsley, South Yorkshire…

Refurbishments can dramatically improve the value of a property, but make sure you speak to builders to get an idea of the costs involved

The latest news from South Yorkshire businesses operating in the Corporate Hospitality, Digital & Technology, International Trade, Finance, Manufacturing & Engineering,and Skills & Training sectors.

Get 2023 off to a winning start with a healthy Q1

By Paul Stewart, hotel & events marketing manager

Many of us set out fitness New Year’s Resolutions only to find they fall by the wayside before February arrives. However, getting your team and your business into shape for the year ahead maybe a regime worth prioritising and sticking to.

Supporting good mental, physical and nutritional health in the workplace creates an environment that can help decrease personal and professional stress while fitness, nutrition, mindfulness and meditation all offer scientifically proven ways of reducing and managing stress.

Wellness initiatives create a shared goal and purpose for people inside and outside of work; this brings teams and colleagues together and strengthens morale and confidence, which ultimately impacts positively on performance.

This thinking can be integrated into the DDR and Conference packages offered to the venue hire sector with many organisations offering hirers a range of creative, meditative and fitness bolt-ons to inspire your Staff along with healthy menu choices to suit all tastes.

Activities aimed at stimulating the mind and body include artistic & creative, country pursuits like archery, shooting and fencing and Group Fitness designed for all levels.

Arena Racing Company

Stretch your legs and your mind

Choosing a venue that benefits from a rural setting with wide open space and spectacular views offers great opportunities to get away from the working space and join with colleagues for an organised walk. Often, the grounds Staff will be on hand to give you their insight, things to look out for and answer any questions.

This is a simple, creative way of breaking up a busy agenda ensuring you and your colleagues have a much-needed diversion before returning to the second part of the meeting refreshed and energised.

Eat without guilt

Developing a nutritious and healthy alternative food range full of protein, vitamins and low on calories for delegates is also something venues can offer. You can still probably opt for pastries, chocolate brownies and sandwiches but we think that once you’ve tried a bowl of pearl cous cous and protein yoghurts with berries, there’ll be no going back!

Burn off your brunch

After enjoying a special menu, why not join colleagues with a group fitness session?

Whether indoors or outdoors, even light physical exercise can help to combat stress, depression and anxiety. Sessions should focus on improving strength, flexibility and ‘aerobic ability’ to boost energy and sharpen the senses while improving endurance, agility and balance.

Make sure all the equipment is provided and that activities can be tailored to suit different group sizes and levels of ability.

So, whether it’s walking, yoga or nature trails, your healthy 2023 couldn’t get off to a better start.

You can download your Healthy Q1 brochure with a full list of activities, menus and more inspiration from YourVENUE, a portfolio of 16 UK racecourse locations by visiting: yourvenue.co.uk/news

‘Wellness initiatives create a shared goal and purpose for people inside and outside

at

Protect your business from cyber crime

By Mike Smith (

), director at Twenty Four IT

Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting devices, networks, and data from unauthorised access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction.

In today’s digital world, where so much of our business operations and customer interactions are online, it is crucial for businesses to be aware of the potential risks and take steps to protect themselves against cyber attacks.

There are several factors that make businesses vulnerable to cyber-attacks.

For example, businesses with a large amount of sensitive and valuable information, such as customer data and financial records, can be attractive targets for attackers.

Additionally, businesses with complex legacy networks and systems, not to mention digitisation of the shop floor, can create entry

points for attackers to exploit.

Phishing, malware, ransomware, cryptolockers, denial of service attacks, spearphishing, man in the middle attacks… hackers can be individuals, automated programs, groups, even state sponsored terrorists to cause you to lose money, data, access to your systems and records, perhaps even stop your company from operating effectively.

I’ll bet you know someone who has had an attempt on their credit card, received odd phone calls claiming to be the police, Amazon, or the bank, asking about things that seem plausible, but feel wrong somehow. Well, this is the same, but aimed at the digital world. You might know a company who has been caught out – or you might not, as most companies who get entangled do not want the publicity.

Within seconds, a ransomware

programme can encrypt data across your entire network or Cloud platform, leaving a screen giving you days to pay ‘x’ bitcoin or permanently lose the data.

Think what that might mean to you and your business if you drove in, and… no systems!

Reverting to purely manual operations while frantically seeking professional help, hoping against hope you have insurance cover!

The good news is that there are a variety of things you can do to help yourselves to mitigate your risk. This includes simple instructions for your staff, such as, if you receive a link on an email you are not expecting, do not click it.

If an email seems to come from a supplier/customer, but the address looks slightly wrong, immediately

get your IT department or IT support company to check it. In the current climate, you will not look foolish.

You can take on cybersecurity services if you feel that you are in a business where if you lost your access to your systems, lost your data, or were data breached in some way, the downside would be expensive (think accountants, legal firms, logistics providers, transport, manufacturing, industry 4.0 etc.).

You can mitigate the insurance industries risk and increase your chances of pay-out should the worst (or the inevitable) occur. Statistics are arising to indicate how over 40% of smaller SMEs may not survive an attack...

Unless they have planned a mitigation strategy.

Crysp in new partnership with Ascensor

Leeds’ digital agency Ascensor has developed its partnership with Yorkshire-based property compliance platform, Crysp, to embed their place in the education sector.

Co-director Pete Mills said: “Crysp is property compliance, simplified. Keeping buildings operational and safe is a significant task, so we developed a solution that enables property managers to move from mislaid documents and outdated manual systems, to a digital platform enabling all safety requirements and records to be centrally managed.

“We are the leading software as a service (SaaS) provider for organisations wanting to manage their health and safety compliance online. The Crysp portal provides a simple to use digital platform which aids the monitoring of compliance, document management, and the building of online forms.”

Crysp can serve single site premises, though their clients are often multi-site organisations, which would otherwise struggle to plan and manage the demanding maintenance and safety compliance requirements associated with a large operation. Ascensor was appointed by Crysp in 2021 to evolve their software service. Their work has helped Crysp customise the solution in partnership with key clients who require unique modules, including Yorkshire’s Trinity Multi Academy Trust. The software development has enabled the onboarding of over 1,000 client users onto the portal.

Pete added: “Property managers tell us that Crysp saves them time

and reduces their risk of non-compliance. Budgets for schools and universities are under increasing pressure. The current environment amplifies the value that Crysp’s compliance software can offer. It means that our educational clients can focus on core compliance issues, and manage reactive maintenance and planned preventative maintenance.”

‘There are several factors that make businesses vulnerable to cyber-attacks’

CRYSP’s Pete Mills (third from left) with members of the joint team

pictured

Freight industry affected by crisis

By William Sweeney (pictured), branch operations, Davies

The UK is going through unprecedented times right now. Cost of living is at an all-time high, while we see how this affects the everyday household, there is a direct correlation with the freight industry.

What is the cost of living crisis you may ask? Well, the name speaks for itself really. The cost of living in the UK has reached an astronomical level like we’ve not seen for many years –unfortunately people are s truggling to put food on the table and heat their homes.

Due to the crisis, the freight industry has seen a downturn in business throughout all freight modes, as the economy is so unstable companies have reduced the stock they are ordering to ensure no unsold products.

The general cost of ocean freight from the Far East has reduced by 30% with most shipping lines, which is a great positive. However, because of the crisis and the crashing economy, buying stock in a foreign currency such as USD just wipes away this reduce in cost – there is often delays at sea due to the strikes so the usual longer lead time becomes detrimental to satisfying customers.

Employees of manufacturers and

freight ports are demanding higher wages, as seen with various strikes in 2022 in various industries, and some companies aren’t prepared to take a chunk out of their profit to provide this.

So what does that mean? Prices of goods are going up, but

increased prices lead to less sales, which means less goods need to be imported/exported.

As more and more obstacles seem to hit the freight industry, it does make us wonder, when will times become better for the logistics industry?

Turner & Co Ltd

‘The freight industry has seen a downturn in business throughout all freight modes’

Sector Focus: Finance

Don’t dwell on the downturn

Local independent financial planners, Belmayne, are reassuring investors there is no need to change their retirement plans because of current market volatility.

The Dronfield-based firm is urging people not to concentrate on recent market news, but to review their retirement objectives and focus on making sure their plan is on target.

Belmayne partner Jon Stevens said: “Investing is not about trying to enter or exit the markets at the right moment, it is the time spent in the markets that matters. If the headlines in your life haven’t changed, then neither should your investments.”

The professional financial planning process enables investors to establish goals and build an achievable plan, taking into account variable levels of returns in good and bad years.

Belmayne advocates evidence-based investing and gives clients access to a highly diversified, low-cost suite of solutions.

Jon added: “Planning for retirement is a detailed process and there are many moving parts. We use cashflow forecasting tools to demonstrate how markets will vary and how we can protect your finances from this volatility.

“It is easy to get lost in the ‘noise’ surrounding the recent economic turbulence, but by focusing on long-term goals, we can ensure investments remain on track.”

Belmayne recommends reviewing retirement plans every year or after any major life events. For more information about its independent financial advice, telephone (01246) 298181, visit www.belmayne-ifa.com or follow the firm on Twitter, @belmayneifa.

KodyPay taps Adyen tech to help customers

Global financial technology platform Adyen has partnered with Yorkshire-based KodyPay, the fully integrated ordering and payment platform for businesses.

Adyen’s financial technology will support the growth of hospitality businesses by powering seamless payments, data analytics and frictionless finance.

KodyPay is an aggregated ordering and payments system built to create a better experience for customers beginning with restaurants, cafés and takeaways.

Inspired by the point-of-sale frustrations experienced from school canteens, the platform brings together fragmented payments that can be difficult to manage, aggregating multiple tools for ease of the end-user.

This partnership builds upon existing work between the two firms following the trial of a QR code system launched in October 2021. Thanks to the match of co strategy and technical development, this has flourished into an extended integration. This has since enabled KodyPay to exceed US$100m annualised gross payment volume in only five months.

A particular area of focus for Adyen and KodyPay’s next chapter includes improving access to financing for small businesses, with Adyen’s newly-launched embedded financial products.

“To share the same values and vision with a business partner is of the highest importance to us at KodyPay, it’s essential for building a brand and a solution that propel us forwards and onto our ambitious growth journey,” said Yoyo Chang, founder and CEO at

“What’s more, it is a difficult time for our customers especially those within the hospitality industry as they are put under the extraordinary pressure of the st-of-living squeeze.

“As a trusted platform for many businesses, we want to support the hospitality industry to thrive with technology-enabled solutions that improve customer retention, loyalty and empower smart business decisions.

“We look forward to seeing the impact Adyen has on the platform and what our customers are able to achieve with these new capabilities.”

Colin Neil, MD at Adyen UK, said: “This artnership represents a culmination of a shared vision and mission between Adyen

“When we launched embedded financial products one of our driving forces was to be able to support SMEs with their business plans by offering innovative financial technology solutions via our marketplace and platform customers.

“Our extended partnership means KodyPay’s customers will not only be able to access our embedded finance solutions, but also benefit from enhanced data and analytics that comes with our financial technology platform.”

Jon Stevens

‘We want to support the hospitality industry to thrive’

The cost of building a more sustainable future

New data from Time Finance reveals that one in three businesses see effective monitoring of their impact on the environment to be the most crucial step in building a more sustainable future

The findings form part of Time Finance’s annual Going Green survey which looks to uncover progress and priorities behind UK businesses’ environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments. ‘Tracking progress’ was ranked the top priority for delivering an effective sustainability strategy this year, followed by ‘engaging employees’ for 26% of business owners, ‘defining a mission and values’ as well as ‘setting targets’ for 21%.

The spotlight on sustainability and the target to become Net Zero by 2050 has encouraged both businesses and consumers to become more conscious of their purchasing decisions, with 70% now conside ring a business’ green footprint in their buying process. As a result, half of UK SMEs are anticipated to invest in their sustainability strategy in 2023 as pressure mounts to report their carbon emissions.

Ed Rimmer (pictured), CEO at Time Finance, said: “The importance of

sustainability has the potential to create a real shift in businesses’ focus for 2023 and subsequently, their investment plans. We already know that 50% of SMEs will prioritise investment in operations and technology this year, and what this data reveals is a clear opportunity for them to explore investment opportunities which help them to bring in effective monitoring processes and technology.

“These findings, while promising, come against the backdrop of rising costs and for many, concerns around affordability may hold them back from not only making investments in their monitoring processes, but also in energyefficient equipment and machinery, or resource and personnel.

“Ensuring that businesses have access to finance helps to maintain this momentum and give businesses the confidence to put their sustainability strategy higher up the agenda. Whether that’s by enabling investment in new technology, systems or machinery through asset finance, or simply injecting working capital into the business through invoice finance or business loans.”

International Stones expands with help from property law specialist

International Stones UK, a privately-owned importer and wholesale supplier of granite, quartz, marble, limestone, travertine and slate, is set for growth following the purchase of four industrial units at The Ickles in Rotherham.

The units will now be developed into a brand-new warehouse, head office and customer showroom for the company which is an importer and wholesale supplier of quality stone slabs. The company, which was established in 2009, currently employs 11 people. Following the move to the new site, International Stones has plans to create further jobs and introduce new lifting technology to the warehouse to aid efficiency.

Sheffield property law specialist Mason Thomas Law assisted International Stones UK with the acquisition of the new units, which follows a four-year search by the business for larger premises.

Mat Bacon, managing director of International Stones UK explained: “The super site at The Ickles will give us an additional 50,000 sq ft of space which will enable us to move all areas of the business to one location which is more accessible for both staff and customers.

“Additionally, the site is just 70 metres from a freight terminal,

which is ideal for the products we import. The new site at The Ickles gives us an ideal platform to grow the business significantly as well as enable us to operate more efficiently.”

Currently the business operates from two sites - Beeley Wood in Sheffield and a single unit at The Ickles which was purchased in 2020. The acquisition of the additional units will now enable International Stones to consolidate the business and relocate it from multiple locations to a single

purpose-built site which benefits from close proximity to junctions 33 and 34 of the M1 which will enable easy access for customers.

Mason Thomas Law also assisted with the purchase of the first unit at The Ickles in 2020.

Mat added: “Purchasing the new units was a complicated and drawn-out process but Mason Thomas Law really kept things moving and helped us navigate various obstacles we encountered. We’re now ready to go and looking forward to having more space and

being able to develop the business further as well as welcome customers to the site.”

International Stones is one of a few independent and privately owned British wholesalers of stone slabs. It supplies the most diverse range of granite, composite quartz and porcelain in the UK.

Divorce coach launches online support

Sheffield-based divorce specialist Danielle Barbereau has launched an online programme designed to help people understand and deal with the emotional side of a separation.

Danielle has specialised in divorce coaching since 2010 and has worked with more than 1,000 clients. The new Emerge and Recover online course is based on her one-to-one coaching and will work alongside the divorce process to give people the emotional support they need to make the right decisions for themselves and their families.

To mark the launch of the programme, and her 12th anniversary in business, Danielle will donate £20 from every online course booking to Sands, a charity supporting people whose lives have been affected by the death of a baby, in memory of her grandson James Pierre.

“People come to me when they are at their lowest ebb,” Danielle said. “They are often reeling with shock, confusion, and pain, and no longer feel in control of their lives. Many are going through a divorce, but do not trust themselves to make the right choices. My coaching provides practical and emotional support to help them survive the immediate aftermath of a breakup, emerge from the

turmoil, focus on the practicalities, make better decisions, and give clearer instructions to their lawyer.

“One-to-one coaching isn’t for everyone, and so I decided to make this practical information available online for people to work through at their own pace. The Emerge and Recover programme is based on my one-to-one coaching

and will help people make sense of what has happened, regain control, make informed decisions, deal with damaging emotions, maintain their self-respect and dignity, and prepare to move forward.”

Many of Danielle’s clients are referred by family lawyers, including Michaela Evans, head of the matrimonial team at Taylor Emmet Solicitors in Sheffield.

She said: “I recall very the first lady I referred to Danielle. She was struggling significantly with her emotions and she cried throughout every meeting or telephone conversation that we had. This was impacting upon my ability to advise her and her ability to hear advice and make decisions based on anything other than hurt and pain.

“I recommended that she meet with Danielle, and the impact was instant. She was able to focus on finding a way forward, listen to advice and make informed decisions based on fact and practical considerations rather than emotion.

“I began giving Danielle’s name to every new client that I met and, without exception, everyone who has taken up the suggestion has felt the benefit of working with her.”

Members of the team at International Stones UK

‘The new site at The Ickles gives us an ideal platform to grow the business’

Danielle Barbereau

Sills & Betteridge adds new firm to growing group

Sills & Betteridge has continued its expansion drive with the acquisition of Sheffield city centre practice Acclaimed Family Law.

Acclaimed Family Law will continue to operate under its own well-established name from Cathedral Chambers, Campo Lane in the city.

The award-winning niche firm deals exclusively with private divorce and family law matters. It will now make available to its clients the full range of personal and commercial services provided by Sills & Betteridge.

Explaining the acquisition, Sills & Betteridge chief executive Martyn Hall said: “This move is a strong strategic fit both for our existing operations in Yorkshire and our ongoing investment aspirations.

“Family Law director Michelle Cooper and her team are dynamic and enterprising and share our service-first culture. We are

delighted to have them onboard and look forward to building on the strong foundations both firms already have in the area.”

Michelle commented: “We will continue to provide the exceptional service we are renowned for as Acclaimed Family law under the Sills & Betteridge umbrella so our clients will benefit from direct access to other departments, including commercial, probate and conveyancing, to provide them with an enhanced service from beginning to end, which other standalone family teams cannot offer.”

The acquisition sees Sills & Betteridge’s Yorkshire network grow to five offices since it first opened a small family practice in Doncaster in 2018. It later acquired South Yorkshire full-service firm Bridge Sanderson Munro and Rawson Family Law, also of Sheffield, and in 2022 opened the doors to its first office in the East Riding of Yorkshire, in Howden near Hull.

Sills & Betteridge chief executive Martyn Hall and Acclaimed Family Law director Michelle Cooper celebrate the acquisition

Skills Bank supports staff development for Barnsley manufacturer

Barnsley-based manufacturer of Swarf conveyors for the machine tool industry, LNS Turbo, has benefited from partfunded training through South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority’s Skills Bank as it continues on a programme of expansion, which has seen it achieve 25% growth in 2022.

LNS Turbo, which is part of LNS Europe, with companies in Switzerland, Italy, Japan and China, invested in 15 employees undertaking Lean Tools & Techniques training with Brook Corporate Developments, through Skills Bank. The training focused on Lean Management and 5S techniques - a five-step methodology for creating a more organised and productive workspace (Sort, Straighten, Shine, Standardise, and Sustain).

The training was undertaken by members of LNS Turbo’s manufacturing team, including operators and supervisors, as part of working towards improving manufacturing processes and increase efficiency.

The training enabled production staff to understand how to investigate a problem and offer solutions, which has led to improved efficiencies across the business and has reduced the risks of any problems reoccurring.

The Lean Tools & Techniques training has also helped the manufacturing team to improve the working environment at LNS Turbo, which has positively impacted productivity.

Mark Scanlan, operations manager for LNS Turbo, said: “The Skills Bank training has made a

huge difference to our manufacturing team. It allowed them to take a step back and identify where problems were occurring and to look at how to overcome them.

“As a business, we have benefited enormously from the Skills Bank training through process improvements which increase productivity, enhance quality and drive down rejects.

“The Lean Tools & Techniques training has provided opportunities for employees to develop and understand how they can impact their working environment, including practices and processes, as part of keeping one step ahead of our competitors.”

The Skills Bank training has become very important in the new controlled parts manufacturing area where LNS Turbo has recently invested £850k in plant and equipment. Here, Lean thinking and 5S is integral to how the area operates and thanks to the Lean Tools & Techniques training, the team has been able to optimise control of the whole area and to maximise the production of parts through the manufacturing process.

Mark added: “We believe in investing in training as part of our employee development programme and our management team and supervisors have also recently completed an Accelerated Leadership Programme.

“Investing in upskilling people helps to retain staff within our business in what is a difficult labour market.”

Mark Scanlan

What is the Skills Bank and how can it help?

Skills Bank provides employers across South Yorkshire with access to high quality training and funding to support skills training that will enable them to develop their business.

Skills Bank is part of South Yorkshire Growth Hub, a service which exists to help businesses to find the best possible support to grow, whether that is investment in Skills and Training, access to finance options, support with innovation or export or even helping new businesses to get off the ground.

South Yorkshire Growth Hub skills advisors are available across the region to support and assist businesses with their needs. The Growth Hub supports the aims of the South Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership to create jobs and drive economic growth by providing local businesses with the tools they need to succeed.

The Skills Bank Programme has been extended until 2025 by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority. The extension is in recognition of the needs of local businesses and as part of the support to boost South Yorkshire’s post pandemic recovery and renewal.

For details of support for business growth available in South Yorkshire, visit: skillsbankscr.co.uk

‘The Skills Bank training has made a huge difference’

College principal awarded an OBE

Barnsley College principal and CEO, Yiannis Koursis, has expressed his gratitude after officially being awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) Honour by His Majesty King Charles III.

The Investiture ceremony was held on Tuesday 29 November at Windsor Castle.

Yiannis was named in The Queen’s Birthday Honours List in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Year in recognition of his services to Further Education. The announcement was made in June and marked the last time Her Majesty would release the list of Honours before her passing in September.

His commitment to helping transform the lives of students spans more than 14 years, during which time he has held senior further education roles in colleges across the UK.

He was also awarded a fellowship by the Royal Society of Arts for his outstanding achievements in social progress and development, championing the power of Further Education to transform lives.

He is a dedicated national advocate for the sector and works tirelessly to reinforce the college’s position as a force for opportunity and growth, resulting in Barnsley College receiving an Outstanding rating from Ofsted and winning an Association of Colleges Beacon Award.

After receiving his Honour, Yiannis Koursis OBE, principal and CEO at Barnsley College, said: “Receiving this honour is the achievement of a lifetime, and I have been truly humbled by the experience. I would like to once again thank those who felt I was a fitting candidate to receive this accolade. I would not have been able to make this contribution to public service throughout my career without the support of my family and colleagues.”

Apprenticeship helps Aneeka turn life around

Aneeka Zarah was an angry schoolgirl with no future. Now she is one of the top apprentices in Yorkshire and the Humber and reached the finals of the 2022 National Apprenticeship Awards in November.

Anneka, 19, of Broom, Rotherham, turned her life around thanks to a Steps To Work Traineeship programme at The Source Skills Academy.

Aneeka had left Oakwood School at 16 with barely any GCSEs. The Source’s six-month programme gave her new qualifications and boosted her self-belief. Most teaching was one-to-one and for the first time in years, she found herself wanting to learn.

Tutors at the Sheffield academy, which is a registered charity, helped her step away from her past and found her a 10-week placement with property lettings and management specialists Yorkshire Accommodation Bureau (YAB) Ltd in Wellgate, Rotherham.

The company was so impressed with her they set her on as a customer service apprentice. She passed her qualification in late 2021, is now their star employee and is tipped for management.

As well as reaching the finals of the National Apprenticeships, held in London in November, in 2022 Aneeka was also named best intermediate apprentice in Yorkshire and the Humber, was highly-commended at Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber’s Apprenticeship Awards and made the finals of South Yorkshire’s awards and the Rotherham Advertiser’s.

“I feel very proud of everything I’ve achieved,” said Aneeka. “I hated school; I was angry, got into fights and left believing I had no future.

“My traineeship and work placement changed me as a person. I got praise and people showed belief in me. That made me happy and want to try harder. When I was offered an apprenticeship at YAB I saw it as a huge opportunity.

“I found a love of learning and developed skills I never believed I’d have. I relish new challenges and responsibilities and YAB believes I have management

potential. Now I want to tell kids like me it is possible to change and make a good future for yourself.

“Without the team at the Source and the opportunity YAB gave me, most likely I would be doing nothing and still feeling negative and angry.”

Kash Walayat at YAB said: “We offered Aneeka an apprenticeship because we felt she had the commitment and drive to work - if young people have that, everything else will follow. The key is giving them that chance and asking them to take on responsibility.”

Dale Robinson, director of business development at The Source, said: “Our traineeships programme strives to turn young people’s lives around. Aneeka is a vibrant, intelligent young woman who has now found self-belief and a determination to succeed.”

Yiannis Koursis received his OBE from His Majesty King Charles III at Windsor Castle

Top: Aneeka Zarar (second from left) on stage with her winner’s trophy after being named the best intermediate apprentice in Yorkshire and the Humber. Above: Aneeka at YAB with her manager Laura Else

‘My traineeship and work placement changed me as a person’