Business Connect Q3

The first steps to wellbeing

Active Communities Programme will help people in the region to lead healthier lifestyles

Pages 16-17

FEATURE: New Investment Zone will create 8,000 jobs

SECTOR FOCUS: Spotlight on Digital & Technology

PLUS: The benefits of in-house legal services for SMEs

PROMOTING ENTERPRISE IN SOUTH YORKSHIRE

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Front cover: Places for People launches the Active Communities Programme

See pages 16-17

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

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The positive news keeps on coming in South Yorkshire

Despite an onslaught of wet weather, things certainly have been heating up in South Yorkshire this summer.

South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppard and leaders of Sheffield Council are thrilled to announce the creation of a Sheffield Policy Campus (page 6). The creation of this campus will not only help cement Sheffield’s position as a major centre for policy making, it will also provide career opportunities for the next generation of the region’s leaders.

There’s more good news as Sweaty Betty Foundation boss Nicola Marshall joins the Active Travel Programme as director (page 12). And if that wasn’t enough, our cover story this issue celebrates an initiative to deliver real social impact where it matters. On pages 16 and 17, you can read all about the work of Places for People - the UK’s leading social enterprise – and its

Laura Blake EDITOR, BUSINESS

newly launched Active Communities Programme, which will work on the ground to deliver social, exercise and wellbeing activity opportunities in local communities.

And the positive news keeps on coming! Our Made in South Yorkshire feature (pages 26-27) celebrates the announcement that the UK’s first ever Investment Zone will be built in South Yorkshire.

And speaking of celebrations… it’s never too early to get in the festive spirit, and in our Corporate Christmas feature (pages 28-31) offers top tips on what to look for in a party venue and provides some guidance on how to make sure embarrassing or inappropriate slip-ups don’t ruin the office Christmas party for everyone.

We hope you’ve had a great summer too. See you in our next issue.

Please send your press releases and images to laura.blake@kempspublishing.co.uk for consideration for the next issue.

CONNECT

‘Our cover story this issue celebrates an initiative to deliver real social impact’

Business News

South Yorkshire welcomes new Civil Service policy hub

South Yorkshire’s mayor and the leader of Sheffield City Council have welcomed the announcement of the new Sheffield Policy Campus.

The plan to create a major policy campus in Sheffield forms part of the wider work by the Civil Service to de-centralise policy and decision-making out of Whitehall.

Sheffield is already a leading location for policy making, and Yorkshire is home to one of the largest numbers of Civil Servants outside of London.

Oliver Coppard said: “Sheffield has been the hidden home of the Civil Service for years, so this announcement is both welcome recognition and a significant opportunity to build on our very real leadership in UK policy making.

“That new Policy Campus will not just offer thought leadership now, but a very real talent pipeline focused on the policy profession right here in our region. That will mean policy apprenticeships, piloting of a regional Fast Stream programme and high-quality learning across the board.

“This is a huge opportunity to help break down barriers between Whitehall and local and regional government and help us work together for the benefit of everyone across the UK. Step by

step, ‘stay near and go far’ is becoming a reality in South Yorkshire.”

Councillor Tom Hunt, leader of Sheffield City Council said: “Sheffield is the largest centre of policy making outside of London, with more than 1,000 people working in policy roles across the Department for Education, Department for Work and Pensions, the Home Office, and other departments. This is good for our city, for South Yorkshire and for the whole country. Policy that is designed by people who understand the challenges we face in our communities is better policy.

“The new Policy Campus is a fantastic opportunity to further develop Sheffield as a leading centre for policy making in the UK. I look forward to the Civil Service working alongside the council, local business, and communities to make better decisions.

“The campus is an important opportunity to unlock the skills and talents of our local people who may not have thought about a career in the civil service. We’re a city of innovators, makers and creators and we’re bursting with talent. Fresh ideas and news ways of thinking will help create better lives for the people of Sheffield and beyond.

“By providing a pipeline to a career in policy in Sheffield, the city

will retain more talent. Whether it is young people who can kickstart a career through T Levels or an apprenticeship or graduates who want to continue to live and work in Sheffield. Ensuring there are clear routes to senior leadership opportunities in the city means local people will not face pressure to move to London to grow their career. Lifelong opportunities will help Sheffield to become an even stronger hub for the most talented policy makers in the north and

become an even better place to live, work and invest.”

The Sheffield Policy Campus is being created in Sheffield with a view to creating a new talent pipeline.

The Cabinet Office is working with Sheffield City Council, the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, Business in the Community, both Sheffield Universities and Sheffield and Barnsley Colleges to develop the plan for the Campus.

Mayor to build plan to protect South Yorkshire’s wildlife and landscapes

Mayor Oliver Coppard has welcomed the news that the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) has been appointed the responsible authority for the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS), created under the Environment Act 2021.

Working with the councils in Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield and with the Peak District National Park Authority, SYMCA will now build a plan to protect and restore nature across the region.

Oliver Coppard (pictured) said: “South Yorkshire’s landscapes and natural environment are an unrivalled and precious asset. We desperately need to reverse the loss of wildlife, restore habitats and improve the natural environment of South Yorkshire for generations to come.

“The strategy we create, with our communities, will help us make the most of our natural capital. This is urgent work, with enormous opportunities; protecting and restoring our landscapes and wildlife will improve both our air and water quality, it will cut the risk of flooding, capture carbon and it will improve the health and wellbeing of our communities through better access to the stunning natural environment we’re so lucky to have on our doorstep.”

‘Sheffield has been the hidden home of the Civil Service for years’

Rotherham United proudly support Rotherham Hospice

Rotherham United are delighted to reveal that the design of their 2023/24 Primary Strip will have the Rotherham Hospice logo proudly emblazoned across the chest as a result of an innovative commercial deal which has seen six businesses come together as ‘Diamond Partners’.

This season’s jersey welcomes a return for a ‘proper’ polo neck collar, which, like the cuffs of the sleeves, is complemented by a red trim.

Following the success of the sublimation of imagery into last season’s design, the club were keen to once again give the red body of the shirt further detail and have this season turned to incorporating a silhouette of iconic floodlights of AESSEAL New York Stadium and roof of the Ben Bennett Family East

Stand into the shirt’s aesthetics.

The structures, which stand over the playing surface at the Millers’ home and are visible on the Rotherham skyline from vantage points some distance from the ground, serve as a metaphor for the Hospice – whose branding the shirt proudly carries – and the huge influence they carry in our town and with our supporters.

The ‘classic’ look continues to honour Rotherham United tradition with white sleeves accompanying the trademark red torso of the shirt, which has once again been created using Puma Teamwear’s dryCell performance technology, designed to wick moisture from the body and keep the wearer free from sweat during exercise.

The shirt is made up of 100% recycled material (excluding decorations) as both Puma and the

Rotherham Hospice

The Rotherham Hospice logo proudly sits front and centre on the new kit

‘This unique partnership will be the first of it’s kind in Rotherham United history’

club look towards a ‘greener’ existence.

The Rotherham United crest sits opposite the Puma Teamwear logo on the left and right upper of the shirt respectively.

The kit is completed by white shorts and red socks.

Rotherham United Commercial director Steve Coakley said: “This unique partnership will be the first

of its kind in Rotherham United history. It has allowed us as a club to provide a platform for an allegiance of business associates to unite in the name of charity to become our first ever Diamond Partners.”

Other Diamond Partners include AESSEAL, Equisolve Consulting Ltd, Hughie Construction Ltd, IPM Group, Mears and Steelphalt.

Diamond Partner supports social responsibility

AESSEAL is proud to be a Diamond Partner, supporting Rotherham United FC’s decision to put Rotherham Hospice on its championship shirts for the 2023/2024 season.

A total of six partners have provided sponsorship to back the club’s socially responsible decision to promote a charity while also securing the advertising income that it needs to operate in the championship.

AESSEAL is the stadium naming partner for the club’s AESSEAL New York Stadium so was one of the first approached about a new sponsorship concept for RUFC’s championship shirts.

The idea is that Rotherham Hospice gets visibility and other help in promoting itself, and the club has a name on its shirt that players can be proud to wear in the new season.

AESSEAL managing director Chris Rea said: “This is providing an example to businesses and football clubs all over the country – hopefully starting a trend? Clubs desperately need advertising funding, but this shows they don’t need to lend their names to the highest bidder.”

Chris Rea praised Rotherham United chairman Tony Stewart and the club’s commercial director Steve Coakley for putting forward the idea and also gave a thumbs up to the other Diamond Partners: Equisolve, Hughie Construction, IPM Group, Mears, and Steelphalt, for helping make it a reality.

Rotherham Hospice deputy clinical director Jayne Lowe said that by having the hospice front and centre on the RUFC shirts they can let people know they exist and are there to help.

“Our community nurses help people stay in their own homes wherever possible, and our In-Patient nurses help with symptom management and giving families a peaceful, calm place to spend time together. All of this we provide free of charge, but only with help from of our amazing supporters like Rotherham United.”

AESSEAL managing director Chris Rea

‘This is providing an example to businesses and football clubs all over the country’

Rob Shaw

Milestone party raises money for good cause

Rotherham-based recruitment agency, Glu Recruit, recently marked a significant milestone as it celebrated seven successful years in business.

Founded in 2016, Glu Recruit has quickly established itself as a leading recruitment agency, connecting employers with exceptional candidates and helping job seekers find fulfilling careers.

To commemorate this achievement, Glu Recruit hosted an anniversary event at Manahatta, a popular venue in Sheffield. Not only did the celebration provide an opportunity for reflection and gratitude, but it also allowed them to raise an impressive £1350 for The Master Cutler’s Challenge. The Master Cutler’s Challenge, organised by the Cutlers’ Company in Sheffield, invites businesses to utilise their entrepreneurial skills and creativity to generate funds for charitable causes.

Lakeside Village sets up foodbank donation point

Shoppers at Lakeside Village will now be able to donate items for a vital local foodbank while visiting the centre.

The shopping outlet, on White Rose Way, has set up a foodbank collection point in its indoor recycling area in guest services where people can drop off any food donations which will then be taken to St John The Evangelist Church’s ‘Given Freely, Freely Given’ multibank in Balby.

All non-perishable food is welcomed but items such as breakfast cereals, soup, pasta, rice, pasta sauce, tinned beans, tinned meat, tinned vegetables, tinned fruit, tea, coffee, sugar, biscuits, snacks, and UHT milk are particularly needed along with donations of toiletry items.

Sharon Fung, from Given Freely, Freely Given at St John’s, said: “We’re absolutely delighted that Lakeside

years’

Over the past few months, Glu Recruit have dedicated their efforts to raising money for the cause and their birthday celebration was the perfect place to continue fundraising.

Throughout the evening, guests participated in raffles and auctions. The incredible generosity displayed by the attendees result ed in an impressive total of £1,350 being raised.

Rob Shaw, managing director at Glu Recruit, said: “With the help of our lovely clients we raised a huge amount for the Master Cutler’s Challenge – money that will make such a difference.”

Village has decided to start a food bank collection point and that our multibank has been chosen to be the beneficiary. The need is great so as many donations as possible and link ups with local businesses like Lakeside Village are warmly appreciated.”

Di Mellis, centre manager at Lakeside Village, said: “Supporting the local community is very important to us all here at Lakeside Village and we are very aware how in demand foodbanks in Doncaster and across the UK are at the moment. “We wanted to help and felt opening up some space for people to drop off food items they would like to donate which we can then deliver to St John’s would be beneficial.”

Call: 07599 628324

Email: givenfreelyfreelygiven@outlook.com

Funding for airport CPO approved

Mayor and local leaders have approved a funding package to support the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

At the board meeting of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, £3.1m was agreed to help with the costs of building a case for the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) process currently being undertaken by the City of Doncaster Council.

Mayor Oliver Coppard and the leaders of the four South Yorkshire councils also agreed a funding package towards the purchase of the airport, should the CPO ultimately be successful.

Mayor Oliver Coppard said: “We haven’t given up on our fight to reopen DSA.

“Since Peel Group announced their intentions to close our airport, I’ve been working alongside partners from across the region to first keep it open, and now to bring it back into use. We’re not going to stop until we’ve exhausted every option.

“The CPO is our last, best hope to take back control of DSA, and that’s why we’ve agreed £3.1m from South Yorkshire’s MCA to support Doncaster in their pursuit of that CPO, and a funding package to purchase the site should the CPO –as we hope – be successful.

“There are no easy or quick answers in this process. The CPO could take up to two years, and there are loads of hurdles in the way. But across South Yorkshire we are determined to do everything we can to bring DSA back into use, and to make it the thriving regional airport we know it can be.”

Mayor of Doncaster Ros Jones said: “Having an airport in Doncaster is vitally important to our city. Businesses and communities in the region want to see a thriving airport so I am thankful for the support from SYMCA in helping with our efforts to secure its future.”

‘I am very proud to be only the second female Master in almost 400

‘Supporting the local community is very important to us all here at Lakeside Village’

Di Mellis, centre manager at Lakeside Village, at the donation point

Sweaty Betty Foundation boss joins Active Travel initiative

South Yorkshire’s mayor has announced the appointment of Nicola Marshall, leader of the Sweaty Betty Foundation, as the region’s new Active Travel programme director.

Working alongside mayor Oliver Coppard and Active Travel commissioner, Ed Clancy OBE, Nicola will drive ambitions to make walking, wheeling and cycling the first choice for everyday trips in South Yorkshire and lead on the development of the region’s cycling and walking network.

With over 20 years of experience at organisations including Cycling UK and Save the Children, Nicola has worked across multiple charity and sports sectors to empower individuals, families and communities. Leading the Sweaty

Betty Foundation - the corporate charity of the activewear brand, Sweaty Betty – Nicola’s most recent role specifically supported women and girls to get active, and stay active, for life.

Nicola, said: “I’m incredibly excited about the opportunity to make South Yorkshire the best place to walk and cycle in the UK. I passionately want my toddler to grow up thinking the first choice for every journey is on his feet, a scooter, or a bike. Creating safe places to walk and cycle is a brilliant start, but we also need to actively support people to choose to get on their feet or their bike.

“I love being active, but I know as a mum with limited time it often feels easier to jump in the car. My job will be about building on the amazing opportunities that are already out there in our region and supporting communities with what

can, sometimes, be tricky challenges around choosing active travel. I can't wait to start making it easy and cost effective for thousands more people to cycle and walk more every day, helping make South Yorkshire a better place to live."

Nicola brings a wealth of understanding from across the active travel sector to South Yorkshire, from her role as director of income generation at Cycling UK, where she supported the creation of cycle friendly environments. In her 10-year career at Save the Children, Nicola supported families in the UK to give the best start to their children, by linking up the public, private and third sectors to make a difference in communities and create change.

South Yorkshire’s mayor Oliver Coppard said: “I’ve been open about the challenges we still face in delivering on our ambitions for active travel, but I’m determined to build a better-connected, more sustainable and healthier South Yorkshire. People being able to walk or cycle where they want, when they want, is the foundation on which more liveable, healthier and wealthier communities are built.

“Nicola brings knowledge and expertise as we seek to step up our efforts to encourage walking and cycling schemes. We’ve been promised a London-style integrated transport network for South Yorkshire, and Nicola will be central to our work to drive change.”

Nicola joined South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority on 1 August to support delivery of the region’s Active Travel Implementation Plan for over 1,000km of walking and cycling routes, 800m of safe crossings and 230 sq. km. of low traffic neighbourhoods across the region by 2040.

‘I'm incredibly excited about the opportunity’

Nicola Marshall

Why we are prioritising the customer experience

By John Henshall (pictured), general manager at TravelMaster

When I joined TravelMaster just over a year ago, following over 17 years in transport and ticketing, it was of paramount importance to me to understand what customers thought of our tickets and processes. One area which stood out to me was the retail experience, particularly online. Whilst ground-breaking when first implemented the current process was disjointed and whilst workable included some very telling customer reviews:

“One of the worst system ever. Not sure why they couldn’t do everything in one place. … Stupidity at its finest!”

“Very bad and outdated interface but everything works”

“Great Flexibility but buying online confusing”

It’s fair to say customers don’t hold back when an experience doesn’t meet their expectations. So I went back to basics to understand what was possible when working with multiple different transport operators with different system capabilities and from this developed a Ticketing Technology Transformation Strategy.

This strategy has helped to deliver our latest customer app, putting the purchase and smartcard loading into a single app. It’s the first step on a journey (pardon the pun) to an easier ticketing experience.

To promote this, the team and I are out and about meeting customers at transport interchanges throughout South Yorkshire. At the interchanges there are ticket vending machines which continue to form a key part of the retail experience, for instance taking cash. However, for many customers this constitutes an additional trip, and, should an alternative arise, would likely move away either from TravelMaster tickets or away from public transport. Having the team in person to explain the new app has proven beneficial so far and customers have been engaged when discussing the new app.

Helping members of the public is just one benefit of this improvement. We are now able to offer a much more streamlined service to our B2B customers. While we have discount codes via the current website, we’ve been able to bring this into a single application using the apps built in coupon code

functionality. Demonstrating this to new customers such as Sheffield United Community Foundation has been invaluable to be able to show the process quickly and simply. The strapline for the new app is ‘Buy. Load. Go.’ and it is with that simplicity which we have focussed the process on. Over time functionality will be brought into the app focused on the customer. To ensure the customer is at the heart of the improvements we will be engaging with our customers as much as possible, keeping an eye on what our customers are saying through customer tickets and reviews, all within the boundaries of what is possible in multi-stakeholder environment.

Email: sales@sytravelmaster.com

Habitat Bank to boost biodiversity

around buildings on a development site. When this happens, biodiversity has to be delivered off site as well. The Red House Farm project will be funded with money from developers who, because of the new law, need to show they are providing more for wildlife.

The council also plans to bring forward four more ‘Biodiversity Net Gain’ projects over the next 18 months, in different parts of Doncaster. This will mean the chance to get close to nature can be shared by many more of our communities.

Cabinet member for Sustainability Mark Houlbrook said: “The Red House Farm ‘Habitat Bank’ and this commitment to bringing forward further projects to all four corners of Doncaster is yet another demonstration of our commitment to the climate and biodiversity emergencies. This is an exciting project which will see a significant area of wildflower grassland, species rich scrubland and woodland created right at the centre of Doncaster’s ‘Green Heart’, which will be managed and monitored over the next 30 years. This will be the first of several such sites for Doncaster and I am determined to see the benefits spread further afield so all our communities have enhanced opportunities for access to greenspace and to connect with nature.

“These ‘Habitat Bank’ projects build on much of the other great work for nature recovery being delivered by the council and our conservation partnerships to protect and enhance biodiversity across the city.”

Finance experts expand into new Sheffield office

Principle Finance, a leading commercial finance and residential mortgage brokerage who are part of the SMH Group, have announced the opening of a new office in Sheffield as a result of their continued business growth.

The new office, located at Stalker Walk, off Ecclesall Road in Sheffield, has been refurbished to meet the company’s requirements and will serve as Principle Finance’s hub for commercial finance operations.

The company’s expansion into their new office comes as a strategic move to allow for future growth of the team and to better serve clients in the region by providing a tailored approach to commercial finance.

James Furniss, head of commercial finance at Principle Finance, said: “We are thrilled to be opening our new office, which marks a significant milestone for the business. Our expansion is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, and the continued support of our clients.

“As a business, we are committed to providing the highest level of service to our clients, and our new office will enable us to work more closely as a team and to be more accessible to businesses across the whole region.

“We are excited about the opportunities this expansion will bring, and we look forward to continuing to provide our clients with the exceptional service they have come to expect.”

Dan Lukic, head of residential Mortgage at Principle Finance added: “Working under the Principle Finance brand allows us to offer a complete range of finance options to both businesses and individuals.

“The new office in Sheffield will be home to a team of experienced finance professionals, who will continue to work closely with

clients to provide tailored financial solutions to meet their specific needs.”

In addition to opening their new office, Principle Finance has also undergone a re-brand along with the development of a new website, which reflects the company’s commitment to providing innovative solutions and exceptional service to their clients.

Signum takes health and safety seriously

Doncaster-based Signum Facilities

Management has reinforced its commitment to health and safety excellence with a string of important team qualifications and accreditations.

The award-winning business, which specialises in managing and delivering building maintenance, has passed the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC) assessment which ensures that electrical work undertaken by the company meets the current national standards. It is the 11th year in a row Signum has achieved this accolade.

Signum has also become the only accredited RPZ Valve Testers in Doncaster after securing WIAPS, one of the largest six UK approved contractors schemes and administered by Water Regs UK on behalf of the 15 UK Water Undertakers. The scheme provides reassurance

that company staff are qualified plumbers who understand water fitting regulations and byelaws.

Supporting the successful team accreditations are some important individual qualifications that have been achieved by Signum staff so far this year.

Matthew Johnson, lead engineer/supervisor, has passed the Site Management Safety Training Scheme, which is a Construction Industry Training Board qualification.

Ryan Daines, engineer, has achieved the Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment while John Booth, senior electrical engineer and qualified supervisor, has completed the NICEIC Electric vehicle charging installation course.

Finally, Steve Egbury, operations manager, has gained the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) General Certificate.

Jill Wood, managing director of Signum FM, said: “2023 has been an incredibly busy year for Signum.

“Alongside this company growth, it is vital that we continue to deliver the excellent level of customer service we have become renowned for and an important part of that is investing in the training and development of our staff and making sure our health and safety standards are second to none.

“All this work ensures that we have the knowledge and skills throughout the business that support our commitment to health and safety.”

L-R: Matthew Johnson, Steve Egbury and Ryan Daines from Doncaster-based Signum Facilities Management

(L-R): James Hartley, Dan Lukic, James Furniss and Jonathon Dickens, of Principle Finance

‘It really is an exciting time for Signum’

A place for people to get healthier

Places for People - the UK’s leading social enterprise - has launched the Active Communities Programme –helping more people live healthier lifestyles in Sheffield.

Continuing the progress made from the Big Sister Project, and other successful projects including Still On The Go and Make Your Move, the Active Communities programme will focus on delivering and promoting work in local communities in Sheffield, Amber Valley, Norwich and Milton Keynes to bolster community engagement and investment initiatives.

Recently, Places for People partnered with four organisations – Places Leisure, Places Foundation, Women in Sport, and Hey Girls – to successfully deliver the Big Sister Project. A programme designed to support teenage girls to enjoy sport, exercise and physical activity during puberty while also alleviating period poverty by providing access to puberty education and free period products. There are currently 11 Places Leisure Centres delivering this project throughout this year and beyond.

Now, the Active Communities programme will work on the ground, with the aim of delivering further real social impact where it matters to support customers and communities to be more active, healthier and improve their wellbeing. The programme will foster local relationships and provide social, exercise and wellbeing activity opportunities by supporting at least 75 community organisations by March 2024. These organisations will be supported through a range of partnerships including with Places for People’s leisure provider Places Leisure and receive support with funding through the Places Foundation - an independent charity that is supported by the Places for People Group.

The first grant applications have already been received for projects across the country including a community craft group in Amber Valley, a girls’ health and fitness event in Sheffield, a games room in a retirement living scheme in Hampshire, a youth boxing project in Milton Keynes, and refugee football sessions in Norwich.

Marcus Hulme, Places for People’s director of places impact, said: “We are delighted to launch

our Active Communities Programme – helping to protect the health and wellbeing of people living in our communities in these initial target areas.

“Our team are already active on the ground implementing eight new projects which we aim to increase week-on-week. The team will continue to foster new partnerships and engage with those who share our passion for removing the obstacles that hinder peoples’ desire to live a healthy life.”

Active Communities has been shaped by real-world data gathered from Places for People customers through a national wellbeing survey. The survey revealed that only 20% of respondents were mostly or completely satisfied with their health, significantly lower than the UK average of 45%. Additionally, 59% of participating households had at least one person with a disability or limiting condition. These statistics have guided the decision-making process in developing the Active Communities programme.

Marcus added: “This data showed a clear demand from people within Places for People’s communities in Sheffield, Amber Valley, Norwich and Milton Keynes, as they aspire to get more active.

Active Communities is the latest in a wave of support from Places for People for customers in these regions, and builds on the recent Big Sister project; launched in May 2022 and supported by Women in Sport and social enterprise Hey Girls, Big Sister has already engaged more than 3,250 girls, 70 community partners and 68 schools –breaking down the prohibitive barriers of affordability, body confidence, managing periods or worrying about safety or harassment.

The Active Communities programme will work to deliver social impact where it matters

Marcus concluded: “Through investing in our Active Communities programme, we will continue to be able to help people protect their health and wellbeing. I’m delighted with what the new team has already achieved and look forward to supporting hundreds more people as we nurture active, thriving and engaged communities across the country.”

Find out more at www.placesforpeople.co.uk

‘We will continue to be able to help people protect their health and wellbeing’

The Big Sister project was a campaign delivered to alleviate period poverty and gives young girls access to puberty education and free period products

Call Me Sunday trains charity in social media advertising

Yorkshire-based agency Call Me Sunday Advertising has provided free training in social media advertising to support local charity, Aphasia Support.

The charity supports those with language difficulties that often follow a stroke, and, like many charities, they often struggle in finding funding to champion their cause.

Paid advertising is a powerful tool in engaging new donors and volunteers, but with a limited budget, Aphasia Support is unable to afford continual support from a paid advertising agency.

Aphasia Support CEO James Major said: “We rely on funding to be able to support the 360,000 people in the UK who suffer with aphasia, but paying for advertising has never been something we’ve been able to do.”

Mary Donne, of Call Me Sunday Advertising said: “When I met James, his cause really resonated with me, and I wanted to do what I could to help make a difference.

Aphasia Support doesn’t have a huge advertising budget, but I could certainly offer to train their

staff free of charge, enabling them to run their own successful social media advertising campaigns.”

“Organic social media posts can only go so far, and even if you have a large network, only five per cent of them will actually see your posts. Online ads can increase brand awareness by up to 80%, but only if they’re done properly. Many businesses try to do their own

without any training and 76% of these lose money by doing so.”

Mary has worked in advertising for over 20 years, working on one of the first ever digital campaigns, and she’s happy to share her expertise with those who will really benefit from it.

She added: “I make sure my training is highly practical with plenty of real world applications

Laundry, the smart way

Commercial laundry expert Wolf has launched the first and only endto-end smart laundry solution in the UK.

Barnsley-based Wolf Laundry brought serviceMaster, an end-to-end smart laundry solution, to the UK, in partnership with leading Swiss washing technology group Schulthess.

Wolf has more than 30 years’ experience within the laundry sector and provides bespoke commercial laundry equipment across the UK to heavy users including care homes, universities, and holiday parks.

In 2022, Wolf was announced as the exclusive UK supplier for Schulthess washing machines and now its partnership is taking flight as the Swiss company backs Wolf to roll out its new service.

The serviceMaster removes guesswork and provides easy control and optimisation. With innovative digital dashboards and analysis tools, users are empowered to boost efficiency, enhance machine availability, and achieve unparalleled results. Providing remote monitoring and control for providers, app-based user control, real-time notifications, and alerts, serviceMaster brings commercial laundry into the present.

Uniquely serviceMaster not only works for brand new installations of washing machines and dryers, but it can also be retrofitted into older machines, as well as those from other brands, to help providers make the best use of current machinery.

Josh Brown, Director at Wolf Laundry, (pictured inset) said: “The last year of partnership with Schulthess has grown organically, and as part of our commitment to our customers to provide the highest standard of laundry equipment, I am pleased that our unique partnership continues as we bring the highly innovative serviceMaster to the UK market.

“The service has many features that meet industry specific needs from our clients, from care homes and social housing to universities and laundrettes, serviceMaster boosts them all.”

and examples. That way James and his team will have an actionable plan to really attract their muchneeded funding.”

James said: “We were thrilled to receive such a generous offer from Mary and Call Me Sunday Advertising. It’s estimated that 85% of the UK population don’t even know what aphasia is, so advertising will really help to raise awareness.”

Mary Donne, Call Me Sunday Advertising, and James Major, plus members of the Aphasia Support team

connect PROFILES

Welcome to Connect Profiles, where local firms can tell our readers all about their business.

What advice would you give to someone starting out?

What does your organisation do?

Sheffield-based Mechan are specialists in the design, manufacture, installation and servicing of lifting and handling equipment for rail depots and workshops.

How did it all start?

Like most great love stories, in Doncaster! In the glamorous world of plastic pipe production. While I was an undergraduate at Salford University, I secured a placement at Polypipe. I ended up returning to the firm after graduation and working there for 12 years. It was the best education anyone could ever have. The pay was humble and the workload high, my mates made fun of me, but I worked with some of the most talented people I have ever met.

What’s your greatest achievement so far?

Professionally, I always wanted to lead a company by the time I was 40 and the CIM Groupe made that a reality last year. I’m pleased to say my first 12 months in charge at Mechan resulted in a sales record, both in terms of turnover and order intake, and we already have a strong order book for 2023.

Personally, I would say my family and a small cluster of very carefully selected friends are my greatest achievement. They comprise the only WhatsApp group I have that isn’t muted!

What has surprised you most in your job?

How bad the diet is of British workers! The country is run on £3 meal deals, instant coffee, and artificial colourings.

What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken – and did it work out?

Well risk and railways don’t mix, so I will have to share a personal experience.

My wife fell in love with an art-deco style property built in 1936. In our city, there are

only 20 of these houses spanning three streets – that’s it. After months of saving, selling possessions and borrowing, the only one we could afford was a derelict wreck and once we had moved in, we had £36 in our savings account. It paid off though, we still live there and are very happy with the end result.

What keeps you awake at night?

Like most people that run a business – everything! Everything keeps me up at night. From the traditional things associated with being in charge, like sales budgets, cashflow and inventory, to having enough milk in the office fridge.

If you could turn the clock back, what would you do differently?

I don’t think I would do anything differently, not because I am happy with all of my decisions, but if I have ever made a bad choice or failed, I have always learnt something and approached a similar situation differently. What is the saying? ‘You don’t lose, you learn.’

I overheard something at the time I was leaving university that wasn’t meant for me, but it stuck. It was a friend’s final year project and his lecturer said to him – no matter what happens at the beginning of your career, do something. If you do something it can lead to other things, if you are doing nothing, then nothing will happen.

I would urge someone starting out not to fall into the trap of delayed perfection. Don’t wait for everything to be exactly correct. If you find yourself somewhere you didn’t set out to go, don’t worry. You can point yourself in the right direction and lead yourself there one step at a time.

What exciting projects is your organisation working on?

We have three very large, bespoke commissions for lifting equipment in the workshop right now, with more due later in the year. We still have the capacity to increase our workload, but we are very thankful for the commitment our customers have made to us already.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

In my line of work there isn’t a lot of spare time. That isn’t a complaint by the way, I love my job and I know I am very lucky to be in this position. Many of the projects I am involved in are overseas, which is amazing, but far from sympathetic to spare time.

Out of necessity, I go to the gym whenever I have the opportunity – bad genetics rather than a chiselled physique, I hasten to add!

A silly little thing Mrs Dootson and I like to do and is to take a secret day off. We both book a random day off work and it starts with lunch in a pre-agreed location, usually Leeds, Manchester or York where we will have a couple of glasses of wine and then look around the shops a bit tipsy – daft, I know, but we enjoy it!

W: www.mechan.co.uk

E: info@mechan.co.uk

T: +44 (0) 114 257 0563

Twitter: @mechanuk

LinkedIn: Mechan Limited

YouTube: @mechancouk

‘I love my job and I know I am very lucky to be in this position’

Martin Dootson

Organisation:

Mechan, part of the CIM Groupe

Job Title: Managing director

Investment Zone to generate jobs in South Yorkshire

South Yorkshire Leaders and the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt have announced the first Investment Zone in the UK. It’s expected to create 8,000 new jobs for South Yorkshire and bring in £1.2bn worth of private investment by 2030.

Using government support worth £80m, the new Investment Zone will use the region’s success in advanced manufacturing and will help make South Yorkshire the best place to start, scale or relocate businesses from around the world, boosting the UK economy.

The first investment announced is a more than £80m Boeing-led research project into manufacturing lightweight structures for aeroplanes – a key part of making aviation more sustainable.

Compass (Composites at Speed and Scale) will be built as an extension to the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre’s Factory 2050. It will be built with support from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, Sheffield City Council and the High Value Manufacturing Catapult.

South Yorkshire’s mayor Oliver Coppard said: “Our Investment Zone will help put South Yorkshire back where we belong; at the forefront of this country’s manufacturing-led growth.

“Technology created in South Yorkshire built the modern world. Because in South Yorkshire we have always known how to deliver practical solutions to big challenges. Yesterday it was stainless steel and our coal industry, today it is AI, Robotics and creating lighter, stronger materials for Jet Zero.

“That’s why this new Investment Zone status is so important. Because with the support of partners like Boeing, and working with the government, we’re showing we have the tools, the technology and the confidence to build on our strengths as not just the world’s first, but the world’s best Advanced Manufacturing District.”

The Investment Zone – the first of 12 new zones built around universities and high-growth industries – will build on the success of South Yorkshire’s Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District (AMID), expanding it to incorporate Rotherham town centre and Sheffield city centre, with opportunity sites across Barnsley and Doncaster.

Investors, developers and start-ups will be offered a combination of targeted support and financial interventions to start, scale up and relocate their businesses including:

• Help with relocating through funding for capital, infrastructure and feasibility work.

• Help unlocking barriers to planning, with support from dedicated Investment Zone planning officers throughout the process.

• Skills support schemes to upskill workforces and boost opportunities for graduates whilst tackling issues around economic inactivity.

• Supply chain funding to build the capability and competitiveness of suppliers to access regional, national and international growth markets.

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council leader Cllr Sir Stephen Houghton CBE said: “Although the focus of the project covers Rotherham and Sheffield, the Investment Zone will bring strong benefits to the whole of South Yorkshire. The wider programme will provide us with new opportunities for growth and development in

Picture by Kirsty O'Connor/HM Treasury

MAIN PICTURE: Chancellor Jeremy Hunt walks on land purposed for redevelopment with President of Boeing UK Maria Laine, during a visit to Factory 2050

INSET LEFT: Jeremy Hunt with mayor of South Yorkshire Oliver Coppard (left) and CEO of AMRC Steve Foxley (right)

INSET RIGHT: Jeremy Hunt during a visit to Factory 2050 in South Yorkshire

Feature: Made in South Yorkshire

our borough. It will enable us to attract new businesses, provide scale up support to those already here, and create new jobs, which will bolster our local economy through opportunity sites at J36, J37 and in Goldthorpe.

“For The Seam, our digital campus in the town centre, South Yorkshire’s Investment Zone will bolster the already attractive offer for innovative businesses looking to make the most of our pre-existing cluster of digital and tech companies and strengthen the growing reputation for Barnsley as a destination for digital businesses.”

City of Doncaster Council leader mayor Ros Jones CBE said: “Doncaster is primed and ready to take advantage of the benefits being part of an Investment Zone will bring. We have the advantage of four large employment sites all with excellent connectivity and already designated in our Local Plan. Doncaster’s focus is on developing its industry strengths in engineering and manufacturing with specialised areas of rail, future mobility, and advanced materials. We are well placed to support the growth and expansion of business, jobs, and supply chains across the South Yorkshire region.”

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council leader Cllr Christopher Read said: “We always welcome any investment into our region, and as a Council we have already secured millions in funding into our borough for our communities. Today’s announcement builds on the successes of the Advanced Manufacturing Park and other big-name companies who have also chosen to invest here. Our new manufacturing economy is helping

to bring more high paid jobs to Rotherham and the Investment Zone agreed for South Yorkshire today demonstrates the national significance of this. We look forward to seeing how it will help us in achieving our aim of meeting the needs of our communities and building on the good work we are already doing in this area.”

Sheffield City Council leader Cllr Tom Hunt said: “The Investment Zone will unlock new opportunities and drive sustainable economic growth in Sheffield and across South Yorkshire.

“Sheffield is home to world-class research and development centres, global manufacturing firms, and start-ups and scale ups that thrive in a city which nurtures innovation. The Investment Zone will build on these foundations. It will connect big business to local supply chains and help us achieve long-term, sustainable growth for Sheffield.

“It is fantastic that South Yorkshire is the first Investment Zone to be announced in the UK. In Sheffield and our region, businesses and researchers are at the cutting edge of new developments in advanced manufacturing, green aerospace, advanced health and wellbeing, clean energy, and the digital sector. The investment zone will provide new opportunities to scale up businesses and create new opportunities for jobs and further investment.

“In Sheffield we have developed strong partnerships between the council, business, and academia to create a melting pot for ideas, innovation, and action. By working together with our colleagues in Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham to develop the Investment Zone, we will create new opportunities for the people of South Yorkshire.”

Picture by Kirsty O'Connor/HM Treasury

Picture by Kirsty O'Connor/HM Treasury

There’s more to Christmas parties than just Wham!

Corporate Christmas parties are the ideal way to bring staff together to look back on the year, let your hair down and watch your line manager dance to Wham! while wearing a paper hat. But is there a deeper, more strategic benefit that a Christmas party can bring to an organisation other than festive merriment?

It’s well known that boosting your team’s morale and strengthening internal relationships can build confidence especially among individuals or departments that don’t normally interact with each other. Taking a party out of the office is a way of removing the barriers and softening the hierarchy that may be a dominant force in some companies.

This can also be the ideal time to recognise achievement, reward performance or reveal future plans and goals. Many firms use the dance floor after dessert as a platform for a key message or simply saying ‘thank you’ to the team. As the corporate calendar of conferences, away days and events slowly regains some normality after the turmoil of the last few years, the close of 2023 could be recognised as the final curtain on a full year of normal trading since before the pandemic.

Being the party organiser is a thankless task in any company as they often have to juggle a list of food allergies, deposits and find a reputable taxi firm, so dealing with a party venue that has everything worked out to the last detail and having a person on the end of the phone to talk things through is a major win. Doncaster Racecourse are hosting Christmas LIVE parties at their racecourse throughout December and there couldn’t be a more fitting moralebooster. Guests will be made to feel like celebrities as they step onto the red carpet and take their first sip of fizz; from there, the party planner can relax and enjoy the cabaret, live music and food knowing their work has been done.

An often overlooked dynamic of the office party is that many of these evenings out are ‘shared nights’ and as such, provides those with a more sociable disposition an opportunity to meet other local companies. So, whatever your group size, it’s important to encourage as many of your team to come to the annual party and use the occasion to motivate and thank everyone for their efforts.

Paul Stewart, hotel & events marketing manager at Arena Racing Company, explains why...

Events such as Christmas LIVE at Doncaster Racecourse can be a real morale-booster

A social media policy for the holiday season

The office Christmas party is an opportunity for you to thank your staff for a year’s worth of hard work, and the chance for your staff to let their hair down and have fun. However, if the alcohol is flowing, spirits are up and professional guards are down, judgements may become impaired – and with the ubiquity of social media, missteps can be recorded and remembered long after the parry has ended.

Your employees may not realise the damage that could be done when using social media during the workplace Christmas party, but inappropriate content could have a negative impact on individuals and the company alike.

So how can you stop your staff from making an illadvised tweet or Facebook post that could put your company at stake? A social media policy is an easy and effective way of highlighting the dangers that social media can pose.

Do we need a social media policy?

You – or your employees – might ask if you really need a social media policy, but it’s important to remember that what is said online can have a lasting impact on your

business. What an employee considers to be ‘banter’ or a joke towards a colleague may constitute sexual harassment or gross misconduct. A seemingly harmless rant about your workplace could alienate potential customers.

Examples of bad social media behaviour can include uploading and/or sharing embarrassing or compromising photographs of colleagues, criticising the company or its clients or harassment or bullying – the latter of which could put you the employer in breach of your duty to provide a safe working environment. You may also be liable for any employee who uses social media to make discriminating or defamatory comments about a colleague, client or competitor. There could also be a serious risk of damage if an employee shares confidential or sensitive information. Therefore, a social media policy will outline what staff can post on social media – and more importantly, what they can’t.

What should a social media policy include?

Your first step is to decide how much, if any, personal use of social media is allowed in the workplace or on work equipment. Your policy should then set out the rules

‘Your employees may not realise the damage that could be done when using social media during the workplace Christmas party’

relating to appropriate use that will help protect not only your brand and reputation but also confidential or sensitive information.

If your staff are required to use social media as part of their regular duties, it may also be prudent to include safeguards that allow you or senior management to check and approve content before it is uploaded. However, it is important to focus on personal social media use – if staff harass or complain about a colleague or client, even on a private account, action can still be taken against them if what they post amounts to bullying/sexual harassment etc.

The policy should clarify if the company monitors social media activity and the purpose of such monitoring, in order to comply with data protection laws.

As well as highlighting the incorrect use of social media, your policy can also encourage effect use. In today’s modern world, social media can be an important tool for promoting your brand; staff should learn the best ways to facilitate this.

Finally, the consequences for breaching the policy should be clearly set out. This can be cross-referenced to your disciplinary policy.

The policy should be regularly reviewed and updated as necessary.

A timely reminder

As Christmas – and with it the Christmas party –approaches, it’s a good idea to refresh your staff on the key points of the policy. This can be easily be done in a number of ways; if you send out printed invites you can include the key points on the reverse or as a separate note, and if you’re sending e-vites you can include a link to the policy or simply copy and paste the policy into the body of the email.

Key points can include:

• Do not post pictures of colleagues without their permission

• Do not post or share inappropriate pictures of colleagues/clients/customers etc.

• Do not post or share negative comments about the company or its customers

• Do not post or share negative comments about colleagues.

Sector Focus

Pioneering technology praised at RISE Awards

ASheffield technology-focused infrastructure solutions provider is celebrating a double success at this year’s Railway Industry Supply Excellence (RISE) Awards, highlighting excellence within the sector.

L.B. Foster was the outright winner in the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Award category for its innovative British Sign Language (BSL) departures software for Network Rail. The breakthrough software and in-screen BSL interpreter provides the Deaf community with timely access to critical travel information and is currently deployed across 10 Network Rail stations. The company was also Highly Commended in the Partnership Award category for its collaborative work with Network Rail and the Deaf community.

Ian Beeley is head of digital display at L.B. Foster Europe. He says: “This is timely recognition of all the hard work behind the scenes to design, develop and deliver this unique and innovative technology that is now enhancing the journey experience for members of our Deaf community.

“Our advanced Inform Media software and Inform mobile and fixed screen technology means that

we can now host in-screen BSL interpreters that provide Deaf travellers with real-time access to critical journey information. Our smart software draws on real-time Network Rail data feeds. We are now delivering timely communications using BSL that really empowers the Deaf community to make informed decisions about travel.”

L.B. Foster partnered with Network Rail to bring the UK’s first in-screen British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters on fixed and mobile digital passenger information displays at London Euston station in 2021. British Sign Language is the preferred language of over 87,000 deaf people in the UK.

Adam Cousins is L.B. Foster’s head of business development. He explains: “We have taken Customer Information System (CIS) feeds for stations and translated the contents into BSL. Our Inform Media content software takes the live departures data and displays the name of the destination alongside the platform

and departure time. Any changes to normal operation, such as delays, cancellations, bus replacements or platform changes are reflected on screens.

“All BSL videos are hosted locally on the screens, so changes to information can be highlighted instantly, without any delays while new videos are generated. In parallel with the departure information, our Inform Messaging system allows station staff to send operational messages to screens along with BSL

translations to keep everyone up-todate with the status of the network and any incidents which could affect how it runs.”

Hosted by the Railway Industry Association (RIA), the RISE Awards ceremony took place at the Intercontinental Park Lane, Central London, with over 400 people in attendance.

For more information on L.B. Foster’s full range of rail technology solutions visit www.lbfoster.eu

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

‘This is timely recognition of all the hard work behind the scenes’

Protecting against new cyber threats

By Mike Smith, director, TwentyFour IT Services

Over the past few years there has been a major shift in the cyber security threats that people and businesses are facing on a daily basis, in the UK alone (as of a 2022 report) Businesses face a cyber security threat on average every one minute and ransomware attacks have nearly doubled from 2022-2023. Cyber threat actors are using new methods to be able to target businesses around t he world.

There was once a time when having an antivirus solution for your business devices was considered a suitable method to protect your business from potential threats. However, traditional signature based anti-virus is now only considered to be 30% - 50% effective against the latest cyber security threats. New and evolving tools such as AI, machine learning and large language models are able to avoid traditional signature based anti-virus detection.

Explained: signature based anti-virus and its disadvantages

Traditional signature based anti-virus looks for unique identifiers, or “signatures”, of virus/malware from a database of known signatures. If a match to a known virus signature is found, the anti-virus software is able to identify the code or file as malicious and then take action to block or remove it from an endpoint such as a computer or server.

Because signature based ant-virus can only protect against these “known” threats, if a cyber threat actor creates a new virus or alters an existing virus to avoid detection it means that your endpoints are still vulnerable.

Similarly, if a new vulnerability is detected in a software or operating system (known as “zero day threats”) it means that this could be vulnerable to attack by threat actors until the vulnerability is patched by way of an update, or until cyber security experts can create protection by targeting these vulnerabilities. Because of this, signature based anti-virus requires regular updates.

traditional signature based anti-virus, EDR uses AI and machine learning to monitor your endpoints for unusual, suspicious or malicious behaviours to be able to stop it in its tracks, i.e. is what I see, normal for this end point.

For example: A user in your business downloads what they believe is a legitimate PDF from an email. However, this file contains a new piece of malware that has been developed in an attempt to infect your devices, steal your data and encrypt your files.

Can

I get insured to mitigate the business risk?

Yes you can, however it is becoming more difficult as insurers are seeing an open-ended risk profile. They will only insure you against the consequences of cyber attack if you are genuinely doing what you can to protect yourself. A bit like house insurance, difficult to get if you cannot lock your doors and windows and have a note on the gate to that effect.

How can your business stay protected from the latest Cyber Security threats?

As cyber threat actors evolve with the latest technology available to, cyber defence must also evolve. endpoint detection & response (EDR) is the next level of cyber threat protection. Unlike

Anti Virus: As this is a new piece of malware that has not yet been detected by anti-virus there is no protection against this threat and the malware easily infects your devices, potentially wreaking havoc on your business.

EDR: Uses machine learning to see that this file is attempting to perform actions on your device that appear unusual and suspicious, blocking these actions and deleting the file. Along with this EDR is able to generate detailed information about these potential threats, allowing the relevant personnel to understand the threat that has been posed to the business, the nature of the attack and allows them to take the necessary actions to contain and prevent the attack. However, unless your business has its own team of cyber security experts, even with this information you could be left vulnerable to other threats. To be fair, you don’t need to be on your own.

Financial duo joins Belmayne team

Dronfield-based financial planners, Belmayne, are strengthening the services they offer to clients across the region with the appointment of two experienced advisers.

The independent firm is welcoming John Lomax and Andrew Boulton to its team, taking its total number of financial planners to nine.

John Lomax joined the financial services industry in 2001 and became an independent planner 16 years ago, offering a wide range of services to clients. He worked previously for a Retford-based firm and brings to Belmayne a wealth of expertise in savings, investments and pensions.

Before pursuing his interest in finance Andrew Boulton enjoyed a successful career in the technology sector. Since qualifying as a financial planner, he has worked at a large national advice firm and will now be using his local knowledge to deliver long-term investment advice to fellow residents of Dronfield and the surrounding areas.

Belmayne partner Martin Birch said: “It is an absolute pleasure to welcome John and Andy to the firm. Our core philosophy is to put clients at

the centre of everything we do and they both have a fantastic track record of providing holistic services that benefit entire families. I have no doubt their energy and enthusiasm will be a great boost to our friendly team and I look forward to working with them closely.”

Established in 2004, Belmayne focuses on the

Insolvencies are down, but firms must stay alert

Recent figures from the ONS have revealed a 15% drop in insolvencies in the last 12 months, with reports falling from 99,300 to 84,080.

While these stats reflect positivity, the report also points to an ongoing decline of business startups, with Q2 of 2023 being the eighth consecutive quarter where business births have been lower than business deaths. Chief executive at Time Finance, Ed Rimmer (pictured) reflects on the real impact of these statistics.

“The fall in numbers of businesses folding this year suggests the economy is in much better shape than we might have first thought. Only six months ago we were seeing some of the highest insolvency rates on record, so it’s clear to see that businesses are prevailing against the many challenges sent their way and there is certainly cause for optimism as we head further into Q3.

“The alternative finance industry has played a huge role in supporting small businesses and avoiding liquidation figures rising for viable businesses. While insolvencies are falling, it's now vital that we don’t take our foot off the gas. The next six months will continue to present challengesrising interest rates and inflationso it's important that business confidence does not waver.

“The alternative industry needs to continue to do what it does bestcoming together to provide a flexible and people-led approach to

aspects of financial planning that can be controlled, to deliver a fair, transparent proposition to clients. For further information about its services, or the career opportunities available, telephone (01246) 298181, visit www.belmayne-ifa.com or follow the firm on Twitter, @belmayneifa

specialist financing. Our job is to help businesses realise their ambitions; for some this is innovation and growth, but for many others it is simply to continue trading until they are able to once again think more long-term - but all the while keeping insolvency at bay.

“We often look to the number of startups as an indicator of a healthy economy, but with business

creations down 14% to 77,095 last quarter in comparison with the year prior, it’s clear there is still some work to be done to stabilise the economy and put fire in the belly of potential new entrepreneurs to take on their next venture. What these startups need right now is a more long-term plan to help stabilise the economy and create better growth conditions for new business.”

‘It is an absolute pleasure to welcome John and Andy to the firm’

Belmayne partner, Martin Birch (right) with new recruits, John Lomax (left) and Andrew Boulton (centre)

The economy is looking to be in better shape

A greener way to work

Going

green has many obvious advantages, such as

reducing

waste and cutting costs, but it can also positively affect employee health and productivity. If you are thinking of transforming your office into an environmentally friendly place of work, Business Connect explores some of the ways your business can create a work culture of sustainability.

Waste not

Reducing the amount of paper your business gets through can be an easy first-step to creating a sustainable culture. As well as encouraging people to think twice before printing emails and setting up a waste paper recycling point, you can also set up default doublesided printing, aiming to save half the use of paper by eliminating single page print-outs.

You can also set up a printer friendly email signature for each employee. This isn’t just sustainable; it is a clever way to let other businesses know you are doing your bit for the environment and encourages them to do the same.

Finally go one step further and install timers on printers so they automatically shut down during out of office hours. This is more reliable

than assigning an employee the role of turning off the printer (they might forget or be off work) and it has the additional advantage of reducing your electricity bill – and your environmental footprint.

Find a green host

Businesses looking to create a work culture of sustainability could benefit from switching web hosting to green hosting. Green web hosting uses renewable energy to power their data servers, and reduces indirect emissions from your carbon footprint. When looking for green web hosting companies, the most reliable will have proof of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). This is so they can use energy off the grid to power their data servers, and then purchase 100% renewable energy to put back onto the grid.

Ways to recycle

New equipment and furniture can be costly, so consider recycled or second hand furniture. It won’t necessarily be in poor condition –in fact there are many furniture firms that specialise in selling high quality, second hand items at a reduced cost.

And why stop there? Provide your staff with recycled, sustainable stationary, such as notepads, paper, pens and pencils, and recyclable or reusable drinks bottles.

A green makeover

A few small changes around the office can really make a difference. To start, remove all individual bins at desks and replacing them with a communal recycling system. Encourage employees to decorate their desks with houseplants to help improve air quality and create

a happier environment. Maximising natural light sources will help save on energy bills and also boost the mood of your staff. If you don’t a lot of natural light, consider installing LED lighting (ideally with sensors and timers).

Teamwork

In order to implement a green policy there needs to be teamwork, so get employees onboard and enthusiastic about a sustainable workplace.

Encourage your employees to share their ideas on how they, as a team, can make the office more environmentally friendly. You could offer an incentive for the best ideas, or set a monthly challenge, such as challenging staff to go 30 days without using single use plastic, and offer a reward to all those who stick to it.

Sheffield City Centre

By Chris Gibbons, public health principal, Sheffield City Council and Greg Fell, director of

Poor air quality makes people sick, worsens existing health conditions, increases pressure on the NHS, and can kill people before their time. Quantifying it is complicated.

Air pollution, for the most part, is an invisible danger that causes many life-threatening conditions, such as stroke, bronchus and lung cancer, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD).

There is almost no disease process that is not accelerated by one form of pollution or the other.

For injury or death caused by more obvious causes, such as being involved in a vehicle collision, falling off a cliff edge or being struck by a sharp object, it’s easy to see the immediate connection between an event and the cause of injury or death.

For alcohol or tobacco use, consumption of highly processed foods and breathing in air pollution, disease is caused by long-term exposure through complex but quite well understood biological processes and, although not everyone exposed will get sick, when large populations are exposed over long periods of time, the cost in sickness and death can mount quickly.

According to the World Health Organisation, in 2019, outdoor air pollution is estimated to have caused 4.2 million premature deaths worldwide

Sheffield City Council

Closer to home, air pollution contributes up to 36,000 deaths in the UK each year with road transport responsible for 80% of roadside NO2 pollution alone. More recent data suggests that the death toll in the UK is now rising closer to 40,000 mark each year.

Children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to the damage caused by air pollution. For children, damage occurs across a lifetime and the effects begin as early as the baby’s first weeks in the womb. People in poorer neighbourhoods can expect to die younger and live more of their lives in poor health because they often live, learn or work where they are exposed to higher levels of pollution.

The estimated annual cost of air pollution to the UK is £20bn. Improving air quality will help people to stay independent and well, easing the pressure on the NHS and social services.

Initiatives, such as the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) in Sheffield, will be a step towards cleaner air and a higher standard of health for local people. Through the CAZ we are working towards lowering harmful levels of NO2 in the city by reducing the number of older and heavier polluting vehicles driving around the wider Sheffield area.

Although we were legally mandated to implement the CAZ by central government, local government cannot and should not shirk our

responsibility either. With one in 20 deaths each year in Sheffield attributable to exposure to polluted air, we need to set a higher standard for the health of the people who live here. In years to come our children will ask us what we did about this known and preventable risk to our health.

The Clean Air Zone (CAZ) by itself is not a panacea, it will not alone get us to safe air. However, the evaluation coming from London clearly points to the positive impact for health. We owe it to our residents today, and to the next generation.

To learn more about the CAZ please visit the website: www.sheffield.gov.uk/cleanair

public health,

When it comes to air pollution the evidence is clear – there is no ‘safe limit’

In-house legal services for SMEs

What are the risks – and the options?

There are many reasons why an SME might not consider retaining the ongoing services of a lawyer, with cost being a key factor, and they may attempt ‘DIY’ methods of solving their legal issues before seeking out expert advice. However, this comes with considerable risk; you are not protecting your business against hidden threats and, if any should arise, to delay seeking help could be more costly in the long run than engaging assistance from the moment it is needed.

Employing an in-house lawyer brings many business and cost benefits, and many larger businesses will have already realised the advantages. But while SMEs may not be big enough, or have the finances to justify retaining fulltime legal service, there are still options available to them. For example, it is possible to come to an arrangement with a law firm to employ their services on a part-time basis or short-term contact. But what benefits will it bring?

Avoid threats

Your retained lawyer will work with you to identify and manage – or avoid –any hidden threat to your business that might cause significant disruption or delay your plans for the future. There are many legal considerations that you might not have considered before or factored into your business plan: risks can include renegotiating the terms and conditions of your lease, employment law issues, health and safety, data protection breaches and the modern slavery act. If you overlook or breach any of these issues, you can be faced with serious financial impacts that could have a knock-on effect on your operations – and your reputation.

Stay ahead of the game

Your consultant will be able to provide you with legal updates as you need them and conduct training, if necessary, for your staff. They will also be

able to check out any issues you’re unsure of – small worries that you might not want to incur the expense of instructing external solicitors on.

Knowing your business

Your in-house lawyer will know you and your business well, and so will be able to respond quickly and appropriately to your legal needs. As an expert in the field, they will take on a central role in the business, learning the ins and outs of your operation and anticipate your legal needs. You will build a solid relationship so you know you can rely on a personal service and remain certain of the quality of advice.

Cost control

While retaining a consultant lawyer might not entirely eliminate the need for outside legal advice, having your legal work carried out in-house comes with obvious and significant cost savings. If you do ever need to retain the services of an outside law firm, your in-house consultant can still be of assistance. They can source and even manage the services of an appropriate expert lawyer, ensuring that you get the advice you actually need. An added benefit includes having your adviser negotiating the best fee and terms on your behalf.

Despite the cost issues, the results do speak for themselves. The more you work with an in-house lawyer, the better protected your business will be. In the long run legal pitfalls can be avoided, risks can be mitigated, money can be saved and future plans can be fulfilled.

Getting legal advice when you start out on your journey as a business owner is essential for learning how to protect your business and how to avoid costly legal issues. But SMEs often only delay seeking legal advice, only employing a lawyer when they feel it is absolutely necessary. Business Connect explores the benefits of having in-house legal services and why they might be worth the expense.

‘Employing an in-house lawyer brings many business and cost benefits’

Sector Focus: Manufacturing & Engineering

3D printing expert joins team

An innovative design and additive manufacturing business based in Rotherham has added a key appointment to its team.

Dr Clint Bainbridge, from Chesterfield, has joined Addition Design’s AddParts team as a 3D printing technician which sees him take responsibility for the smooth-running of the print process and delivering customer requirements to spec and on time.

The company, based at the Advanced Manufacturing Park Technology Centre, Rotherham, was one of the first businesses in the country to invest in new 3D technology. It continues to push the boundaries to give customers a competitive advantage by reducing downtime on automated production lines across a number of sectors through the AddParts service

Dr Bainbridge, who has degree and PhD in Polymer Science from Manchester Metropolitan University, has worked in product design, materials and engineering for over 12 years including his last position at a R&D spinout company in Oxford looking at treating pyrolysis oil in order to turn plastics back into oil and ‘close the loop’.

Dr Bainbridge said: “As a material scientist, I’m interested in learning all about additive manufacturing and design for additive manufacture. As part of my new role, I’m looking forward to processing the prints for our customers - from parts for customer products to virtual inventory of digital spares which customers have stored on our portal.

“It is my responsibility to load and unload the printers and post-process parts once removed from the printers including breakout, blasting and dyeing. Along with this, I’m looking to make improvements to the materials that

the company uses, making them more suited to meeting the customer’s needs. I also get involved in the assembly and dispatch of parts to customers when ready so there has been a lot to learn!

“I’m really happy to be here and joining Addition Design at a time where the business is looking to expand and grow in new areas.”

Tom Fripp, director at Addition Design said: “We are really pleased to welcome Clint to Addition Design. He comes with a wealth of experience in the engineering, materials and design field which is of great benefit to us as we look to build on our innovative use of cutting-edge 3D printing across the UK’s medical, and pharmaceutical industries in particular.

“To have Clint on board is great for us and our customers alike.”

Agemaspark sets its sights on the stars

A precision-engineering company based in Doncaster is once again eyeing space, as it looks to develop its specialist services into that sector.

Agemaspark is no stranger to working in this industry, having already played their part in a mission to Mars. The company was commissioned to do specialist work on four engine casings that required 1.2mm diameter instrumentation holes created in 150 positions. The components were then sent some 33.9 million miles from Doncaster to the Red Planet.

Paul Stockhill, managing director of Agemaspark, said: “We don’t believe that the world is our oyster, we believe the opportunities go beyond that. We are keen to explore the opportunities to collaborate with key stakeholders in the space industry, providing unmatched expertise and cutting-edge solutions to meet the evolving demands of this dynamic field.

“Agemaspark is well-equipped to tackle the unique engineering challenges of the space sector and we see this as a great opportunity to drive innovation.”

‘I’m really happy to be here and joining Addition Design’

Dr Clint Bainbridge, 3D printing technician at Addition Design

Apprenticeship Hub to boost the economy

South Yorkshire’s mayor Oliver Coppard has announced plans to create 300 new apprenticeships in the region through a new Apprenticeship Hub.

The Apprenticeship Hub will launch later this year as a two-year pilot. It will be a one-stop shop for businesses, apprentices and anyone hoping to start an apprenticeship by providing:

Anorthern institution to hear about the life changing impact of adult education.

Barnsley Central MP Dan Jarvis MP was welcomed by staff at Northern College, which is the only adult residential college in the North of England.

The Ofsted graded ‘good’ college has a proud history of providing life changing opportunities to adults who have returned to learning.

During his visit, Dan completed a campus tour and heard about the impact of the college as well its recent positive Ofsted report and plans for the future.

Emma Beal, principal and chief executive, Northern College, said: “Northern College changes lives and is a unique and valuable regional asset. We are immensely proud of the work that we do with adult learners.

“Our focus is on raising aspirations and providing life changing opportunities that inspire our students to progress in education, employment and their careers. It was great to be able to share that with Dan Jarvis.”

of Barnsley’s proudest institutions and the only adult residential college in the North. Quite simply, it is an iconic part o f Yorkshire’s educational and cultural landscape.

“Institutions like Northern College create opportunities, they contribute to growing productivity and are vital to our future prosperity.

“It was great to meet with Emma and hear about how the college is ensuring our workforce is equipped to thrive in the Fourth Industrial Revolution and adapt to the ever-changing world of work.”

Based at Wentworth Castle, Barnsley, the college provides short community learning courses and longer accredited academic and vocational courses that enable students to progress on to further study, higher education or work.

Focused on addressing socio-economic disadvantage, the college educates hundreds of adults across South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and beyond, every year.

A lesson about benefits of adult education for MP College earns mark of quality

The Sheffield College has achieved a national quality mark for the training that it can provide to upskill staff in the adult social care sector.

The college has been recognised as a Skills for Care endorsed provider. Skills for Care is the strategic workforce development and planning body for adult social care in England.

The organisation works with employers, government, training providers and partners to ensure social care has the people, skills and support to deliver the highest quality care.

A bespoke quality mark, the Skills for Care endorsement is given to the best learning and development education and training providers within the adult social care sector.

It recognises that the college provides the appropriate development and skills for staff involved in delivering adult social care and support.

Being awarded the quality mark also helps adult social care employers to easily identify high quality training providers.

Andrew Hartley, deputy chief executive, The Sheffield College, said: “Adult social care is a fast growing sector and there is an urgent need for the workforce to

be upskilled. We are committed to supporting adult social care employers and are delighted to be recognised as among the best learning and development providers within the sector.

“We know that the adult social care employment landscape is broad with 16,000 people in Sheffield working across residential, day, domiciliary and community services. Our aim is to widen our engagement and reach with the 226 Care Quality Commission regulated employers within Sheffield. The Skills for Care quality mark demonstrates confidence in the quality and delivery of the training that we provide following a rigorous assessment process.”

The college, which is Ofsted graded ‘good’, works with approximately 2,450 employers. Of those, around 800 are involved in apprenticeships.

Visit: www.sheffcol.ac.uk/SkillsBootcamps

• Help for businesses (SMEs in particular) to acce ss technical talent across the region to tackle skills shortages

• Information, advice and guidance services to apprentices, parents and employers

• Progression pathways and opportunities into and out of high-quality Level 2 and 3 apprenticeships

• Help supporting development of a public sector approach to apprenticeships, including flexi-job apprenticeships.

The Hub is expected to deliver at least 300 new apprenticesh ips by 2026.

Oliver Coppard, said:

“South Yorkshire doesn’t just need a bigger economy, we need a better economy. But if we’re going to get there, and if everyone is going to be able to access the jobs and opportunities that new economy will bring, we need make sure people have the right education and skills. That’s what this new Apprenticeship Hub is all about; offering people, organisations and businesses a ‘one-stop shop’ for all the information and support they need to get the right skills, in the right place.”

The Hub will be based at the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMA) offices in Sheffield, and will be delivered through the South Yorkshire Colleges Partnership.

SYMA’s Strategy Economic Plan has a vision that South Yorkshire will recover and grow an economy that works for everyone.

Visit: www.southyorkshireca.gov.uk

Andrew Hartley, Deputy Chief Executive, The Sheffield College

Northern College

NRCServices wins top award

Sheffield-based NRC Services Ltd has been named as an award winner in the JTL Employer Recognition Awards. JTL, one of the leading apprenticeship providers in the building services engineering sector in England and Wales, runs the JTL Employer Recognition Awards on an annual basis to acknowledge employers that have shown remarkable levels of support and commitment towards their JTL apprentices.

Jamie Allen and Mark Oldale, representatives for NRC Services Ltd, were presented with a trophy by Ian Jervis, JTL’s Head of Learner Assessment for the eastern region, at the company’s offices in Sheffield. NRC Services Ltd was nominated by JTL training officer, Pablo Parra, for the outstanding care and consideration the employer provides for its apprentices.

NRC Services Ltd has been named among four other award winners, each regarded for a level of consistency and merit that had them stand out amongst JTL’s considerably large employer base.

JTL training officer Pablo Parra said: “NRC Services Ltd offers its learners a wide range of experience through their apprenticeships. The team are always willing to go the extra mile to give their apprentices the start they need in their professional careers.

“They pay a great deal of attention to how their learners are doing and regularly contact me to ask my opinion on any skills gaps the apprentices may have so they can put them on jobs that will help fill these.”

Mark Oldale, delighted with the news, added: “I was really pleased to learn that we had been chosen as a JTL Employer Recognition Award winner. I’m particularly grateful for the recognition as we’ve worked incredibly hard here to ensure our apprentices are a top priority, and I know we’d all like to give a special thanks to Pablo Parra for nominating us.”

Visit: www.jtltraining.com

A Mag-nificent home for The Source

After 20 years at landmark offices at Meadowhall, South Yorkshire’s Training Provider of the Year, The Source Skills Academy, is moving to Magna.

A Millennium Project designed to maintain the heritage of steelmaking in Rotherham and She ffield, Magna opened in spring

2000 after a £46m redevelopment of what was the largest electric arc steel producing facility in Europe until closure in 1993.

Magna’s five major indoor Science Centre attractions, including Big Melt, which simulates the working of an electric arc furnace, provide

hands-on STEM learning for primarily Key Stage 1 and 2 children, aged four-11.

The academy, which has transformed the lives of over 10,000 people since launching at Meadowhall Way in 2003, will take up residence in September in a move its CEO Tricia Smith describes as ‘a merging of likeminded organisations upskilling the young people of South Yorkshire’.

She commented: “Magna is a unique, immersive learning experience for children and is about to have an exciting revamp, thanks to Rotherham’’s successful bid for £20m from the Levelling Up Fund.

“It is an ideal place for us to be. As are we, Magna Trust is a notfor-profit charity; we have the same values and goals - helping young people t o find their best futures.”

Last year the award-winning science centre at Templeborough drew over 110,000 visitors, including 30,000 Key Stage 1 and 2 schoolchildren aged four-11, for whom it provides hands-on STEM learning.

Tricia added: “Many of the skills children use in its workshops are perfectly-suited to the apprenticeships we specialise in.

“We want to help Magna expand and deliver activities and worksh ops for Key Stage 4 and 5 pupils and post16s and be on hand to support those looking to apprenticeships.”

Magna launched in 2000 after a £46m Millennium Project transformed what was the largest electric arc steel producing facility in Europe into a science centre to maintain the heritage of steel-making in Rotherham and Sheffield.

Kevin Tomlinson, CEO of Magna, said: “Supporting the development of young people lie s at the very heart of our education offering.

“I am looking forward to welcoming The Source to their new home at Magna’s head office on Sheffield Road.

“There are clear synergies between the two organisations, in our common goal of helping to inspire and nurture the next generation.

“Collaboration can only enhance the services that these two major South Yorkshire- based charities bring to the area.”

Tricia con cluded: “Meadowhall had long been an ideal base for us but the world changed dramatically and as a charity with responsibility to its trustees, we have to be mindful of cost.”

L-R: Pablo Parra (JTL), Mark Oldale and Jamie Allen (NRC Services Ltd)

Tricia Smith, CEO of The Source, is pictured at Magna,which is soon to be the skills academy’s new home

‘Magna is a unique, immersive learning experience for children’