Member News

Dimensions funds 30,000 breakfasts

Castle Donington-based Dimensions has supported the Greggs Foundation Breakfast Club by funding 30,000 breakfasts at Roe Farm Primary School in Chaddesden, Derby.

The corporate clothing provider has been working with the national bakery’s charity since July 2014, supplying its workforce with branded uniform and then becoming a supporter of the breakfast club programme in 2016.

With commitment to a further two years of funding, Dimensions will have donated 30,000 breakfasts to the children who live in food insecure households at the school.

Lynne Hindmarch, Greggs Foundation Breakfast Club manager, said: “Food insecurity is a major issue in the UK and it is shocking to think that not every child in the country has access to breakfast.

“One in three children live in poverty in the UK, with an estimated 2.5 million living in food insecure households. Our support has never been more needed due to Covid-19 and the challenges this brings.”

To date, the Greggs Foundation has supported 600 school breakfast clubs nationally, over 39,000 pupils each school day and 7.1 million breakfasts a year.

Lynne added: “Our partners are critical to the success of this programme – each business will bring their own particular skills to the scheme and by coming together we share and learn from each other.”

Manufacturing a moment of rest for hospital workers

Key workers at eight Midlands hospitals hoping for a welldeserved rest after their efforts during the pandemic can take a seat on a bench created by a Derby-based manufacturer.

Eggleston Steel stepped up to the plate to make the outdoor furniture and donate them to local hospitals, including in Loughborough and Chesterfield, after responding to a Facebook campaign by Maria White.

The Derby resident was seeking to raise £1,200 from the community to provide an extra bench seat for the staff at Derby Royal Hospital.

Little did she then know her campaign soon became a regional wide phenomenon as her plea came to the attention of Richard Hewitt, managing director of 212year-old family firm Eggleston Steel.

The team at Eggleston Steel on the key workers' benches it manufactured for hospitals in response to a social media campaign

Within days, he asked operations director John Ready to design and lead on the manufacture of a unique key workers’ bench with the help of several local businesses, including Ripley firm The Gatemaker and Little Eaton-based Little Eaton Smithy – all for free.

Richard said: “It was a privilege to provide a lasting monument to the hospitals. I hope it allows patients and staff alike to rest and reflect.”

Holidays resume for disadvantaged children

A Leicester charity is taking disadvantaged children on adventure holidays again this summer after Covid-19 restrictions were relaxed.

And for the first time, Leicester Children’s Holidays, based in Highcross, has organised a match-funding scheme where companies and schools pay towards the trips, with the charity funding the rest.

Schools across Leicestershire are paying half the holiday costs for seven children so far this year, with the charity paying the rest.

Leicester Children’s Holidays manager Nicky Kandola said: “We have for a long time wanted to give companies and schools a chance to match-fund holidays with the charity making up the rest. It means we as a charity can pay more towards the holidays.

“We are on the look-out for companies to help us with donations or match-funding from as little as £100 to give a vulnerable child a much-needed holiday.”

To offer support, contact Nicky at nicky@leicesterchildrensholidays.co.uk

New chief to steer charity

Irshad Baqui (pictured) has been appointed as chief executive at Children First Derby – and will steer the charity’s drive to strengthen and further develop its support for vulnerable children and families.

Children First Derby provides three bespoke services – a family support service, mentoring service for youngsters aged between 10 and 18, and a supervised contact service for looked after children in the city.

With more than 15 years of charity management experience, Irshad’s most recent role was chief executive of the Muath Trust.

He said: “With my previous experience in charity management and growth, I’m looking forward to developing the charity further.”

THE EAST MIDLANDS: WHERE GOOD BUSINESS MAKES GOOD SENSE

The Chamber has launched the EMComingTogether campaign to raise awareness about the opportunities available for businesses to engage with their communities in a strategic way to foster a holistic relationship between commerce and community. Because when our communities thrive, our business does too.

Community engagement can take on many personas; from corporate social responsibility (CSR) to, more recently, environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG).

We want to go back to basics, where supporting the community you operate in just makes good business sense.

Firm adopts vulnerability charter

Keeley Woodcock Future Life Wealth Management has become one of the first financial planning firms in Britain to adopt the Personal Finance Society’s (PFS) new financial vulnerability charter.

The pledge demonstrates the Renishaw-based firm’s longstanding commitment to providing the best possible service for every client it works for.

The new charter aims to support the profession to better recognise and address the various forms of consumer vulnerability, improve client outcomes and increase access to financial advice.

Director of operations Keeley Woodcock said: “Protecting vulnerable clients and being sensitive to their individual requirements have always been priorities for us. When we discovered that the PFS was creating the financial vulnerability charter, we immediately wanted to demonstrate our commitment and we were delighted when we were subsequently among the first financial advisers in the country to be accepted.”

Future Life Wealth Management offers a bespoke financial planning service to generators of wealth –typically business owners, executives and professionals – and to receivers of wealth, such as inheritors, divorcees, widows and retirees.

The PFS is the professional body for the UK’s financial planning profession, which aims to lead the financial planning community towards higher levels of professionalism through technical knowledge, client service and ethical practice.

Keeley added: “The charter is about how we treat people and how we do business.

“We’ve always treated all our clients – including those who can be classed as vulnerable – with the utmost respect.

“For example, we regularly send colleagues on dementia awareness training courses which ensures that they can identify any clients in need of additional support or guidance quickly and appropriately.

“Our role means that some clients can be in a position of dependency on us. They trust us to act in their best interests - and this is what the entire team at Future Life Wealth Management is committed to.”

Find out why a Future Life Wealth Management financial adviser Emma Baumback is chairing Generation Next on p45.

Funeral director helps children cope with loss

Derby-based funeral director Wathall’s has created an illustrated activity book to support children and young people who have lost a loved one. It has been published as part of the family-owned company’s dandelions bereavement support service to gently explain what happens at both burial and cremation services, as well as highlighting the importance of sharing emotions following a bereavement.

Bereavement support co-ordinator and qualified counsellor Fay Bloor has worked with University of Derby graduate and freelance illustrator Michael Ashley to create the book, Missing Someone Special – Working Your Way Through Loss.

She said: “We hope that the children’s activity book and the booklet will be useful aides for families during what is a particularly difficult time in all their lives having lost a loved one. Adults often feel like they must protect children from the harsh reality of death and are obviously mourning a loss themselves. Avoiding the discussions can cause confusion and anxiety for the child. The activity book is therefore designed to gently explain what has happened and highlights the range of emotions that they may be feeling.”

The activity book costs £12.99, with at least £1 from the sale of each book given to Treetops Hospice and put towards its children’s bereavement service.

Treetops' Stacey Smaller (left) with Fay Bloor Adam Bamford with Silver Birch Creative founder Karl Shaw

Entrepreneur raises a glass to business club

A networking club for business owners to chat online over a few drinks has been launched by a Derby entrepreneur.

Adam Bamford, one half of Derby start-up Colleague Box, has launched the Beer and Business Club – an online get-together aimed at fellow entrepreneurs to give them time to network and have a chat.

At events, delegates sample some of the latest craft beers, which will have been carefully chosen by Adam and his team, and sent out to participants before the start of the meeting, along with selected snacks.

The venture is being launched as a subscription-led model, with the attendees paying £16 each month for the service.

Adam – who runs Colleague Box with his wife Natalie, and this year celebrated the 100,000th gift box since setting it up during lockdown – says that the idea came to him late one night after a busy day at work.

“I have longed to have a podcast but I didn’t think that was suitable for me; I don’t think that my monotone voice is really suitable,” said Adam. “So I created a platform whereby I can enjoy a few beers responsibly, we can all relax and chat about anything we want to.”

MEMBER FOCUS: M&E ACCIDENT REPAIR CENTRE

Leicester-based M&E Accident Repair Centre is a car bodywork specialist but has reached into new markets during the pandemic. Owner and technical director Marcin Ciesielski tells Business Network about how important diversification and risk has been to the business over the past 18 months, as well as the networking opportunities included in Chamber membership.

Tell us what your company does and a brief overview of its history?

We’re a “wet” coatings bodywork specialist with the skills, equipment and quality accreditations to prepare and spray a range of different surfaces using many different types of paint-based coatings. Our core experience is in automotive body repair and restoration where coatings and paintwork require the highest professional expertise.

I began my career as an engine mechanic in Gdansk, Poland, and came to the UK in 2006, getting a job at an accident repair company in Leicester.

I set up M&E in 2012 and we now employ 20 people with a modern 25,000 sq ft facility in Thurmaston, equipped with spray booths and baking ovens.

We’re a member of the Retail Motor Federation, the auto body professionals club, and were awarded the BS10125 kitemark for vehicle damage repair in 2014, which is important for quality assurance.

We became an approved supplier to Stellantis, owner of Peugeot, DS Citroen and Vauxhall, in 2016 – one of only two repair suppliers in Leicestershire – and for Kia UK in 2019. We work directly with Porsche Leicester, Lawman Commercials, DPD Vans and Enterprise Rent-A-Car. We also run a repair and restoration service for classic vehicles and do bespoke customer conversions using the VW Transporter camper van.

What is your role in the business and what does your day-today role involve?

I’m a hands-on owner, balancing business management with getting my hands dirty. I love the artistry that goes into repair, painting and expert coach working, and like to keep my skills sharp. We’ve got an experienced management team here and the division of responsibilities works well.

How have you fared during the Covid-19 pandemic?

Life is different – but still the same. It has taught us the importance of diverse operations that spread risk. We quickly realised that being able to coat intricate components of varying materials to the highest quality finish meant we could do the same with any solid surface.

What are the company’s plans for the future?

While automotive work is the core of our business, the pandemic has shown we can expand into other market niches that also need high quality coatings. We also handle timber for furniture and metal/UPVC window frames – and have done specialist work for luxury watch manufacturer Breitling.

Business club welcomes Nigel as new president

Nigel Rowlson has been unveiled as the new president of Nottingham City Business Club (NCBC).

He will carry out his presidency alongside his day job, where he is managing director at Nottinghambased creative agency The Dairy –which he set up in 2002.

Founded in 1924, NCBC is the oldest business club outside London and was created as a member organisation to provide a forum where people can discuss business and social interest matters through regular lunches.

Nigel said: “There are three key themes I’m looking to develop over the next year. First, I want to make the committee more diverse and representative.

“We also need to become stronger financially and build on our membership base. The pandemic has, understandably, affected numbers, so we need to build back up our position.

“Finally, we have a growing and dynamic network in and around the city, and I would love to hear more from local entrepreneurs and provide a platform for them to share their stories.”

Marcin Ciesielski (centre) with (left to right) consultant Ian Guyler and M&E colleagues Kamila Rorzkowska, Sim Yoxen and Marcin Lipinski

How long have you been a member of East Midlands Chamber and how has it helped your business?

We joined in November 2020 so we could develop our position within the East Midlands business community.

As we add other markets to our core automotive business, it’s been really helpful to meet other members, make new connections and explore new applications for what we do.

What do you believe is the most important role of a chamber of commerce?

Clearly it’s a facilitator for business links and the sharing of best practice. Our region is a major commercial hub for the country and an integrated network of members in touch with each other makes good business sense.

NEW MEMBERS

In May, the Chamber welcomed 37 new members:

• Acis Group • Almac Group • ALP Schools • AST Language Services Ltd • Fareshare Midlands • Feather Partnership • The FE People • Flanders Investment and Trade • Flexi-Films UK (International) • Focus Charity • Futures Advice, Skills and

Employment Limited • HealthNet Homecare (UK) Ltd • Home Curtains (UK) Limited • The Input Group • Jetpack Marketing Limited • Kobold Instruments Limited (International) • Laughtercise • Ljutzkanov Limited • Marriott Gibbs Rees Wallis

Limited • Meet Leicester & Leicestershire • Melton Foot Clinic Limited • Mergia Limited • Mimi's Soul Food & Lounge

Bar LTD • My Internal World • Nanpantan Hall • PacWolf Fulfilment Ltd • Nettl of Newark and Grantham • Project D • Rene House CIC • Sholes Wealth Management • Seven Restaurant & Café Bar • The Sporting Club Holdings

Ltd • TRY Ltd • Unipart Digital • Valve & Process Solutions

Limited (International) • Weird Wolf Ltd • Zaremba Marsden Ltd