Business Network June 24

THE RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

THE FIRST WORD

To quote long-since departed former PM Theresa May, the country needs “strong and stable” Government. Whoever comes to power on July 4, the next Prime Minister has an obligation to ensure the people of Britain, rich and poor, as well as its schools, hospitals, Armed Service, police and its businesses, get the help they need to prosper.

And after a tumultuous few years, the country needs all the help it can get.

Only four years ago Covid threatened to devastate the economy – and it was something of a minor miracle that we made it through to the other side shaken, but not broken.

Brexit was another seismic shift, leading to a new, often costly, way of doing business with our European neighbours.

Then there was the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with a tragic loss of life that continues as well as the constant fear of escalation. Thankfully our support for Ukraine continues.

Fuel costs, meanwhile, went through the roof – though at least inflation is now heading in the right direction.

It’s a lot for a Prime Minister to deal with. And among other big issues that need tackling are skills and employment, which will need to be at the centre of the next Government’s agenda if Britain is to have a fair chance of competing on the global stage.

It’s apt that this edition of Business Network should have a skills theme – in part to publicise the East Midlands People and Skills Summit, taking place at Nottingham Trent University on 12 June. Interest has been so great this year that as we go to press it is on the verge of being sold out –it goes without saying that the next UK Government will be a hot topic on the day.

As well as looking ahead to the summit, this edition hears from the businesspeople searching for skilled tradespeople, and the experts who can tell us just where the labour market is right now.

There is also news from the team at music licensing body PPL PRS which has gone out of its way to show how much it values its workers.

The subject of our Big Interview is Joanne Werth, group people director at Samworth Brothers, one of the region’s biggest employers, who tells us about the efforts they go to to keep their 10,500-plus workers invested in the business. It’s an interesting read.

One of the things she shares is Samworth’s belief that that treating people well will get the best results – something the next PM could do well to remember.

Tom Pegden, Editor, Business Network

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BUSINESS NETWORK is produced on behalf of East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire) by Kemps Publishing Ltd and is distributed to members without charge. The Chamber and the publisher are committed to achieving the highest quality standards. While every care has been taken to ensure that the information it contains is accurate, neither the Chamber nor the publisher can accept any responsibility for any omission or inaccuracies that might

JUNE 2024

NEWS UPDATE

4MEMBER NEWS

East Midlands set to be a key battleground for General Election

24APPOINTMENTS

Former Chamber chair named High Sheriff of Derbyshire

THE BIG INTERVIEW

27 Joanne Werth, group people director at Samworth Brothers

32 STRATEGIC PARTNERS AND PATRONS

NASA executive visits Space Park Leicester

36CHAMBER NEWS

Generation Next Awards finalists unveiled

EVENTS

48 July deadline for entries to East Midlands Chamber Business Awards

SUSTAINABLE EAST MIDLANDS

52 Continued growth for green energy supplier

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

54 BCC welcomes ratification of CPTPP deal

POLITICS

56 Mayor wants to unleash region’s potential

FEATURES

58BUSINESS CRIME & PREVENTION

Protecting your business from cyber crime

62 The benefits of an intrusion detection system

64FOCUS

With the People and Skills Summit taking place this month, we round-up the issues surrounding skills and the skills crisis

70PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Why your brand matters

74 Improving your vision with laser surgery

DIGITAL & TECHNOLOGY

78 Investment in film-making in Nottingham

BUSINESS SUPPORT

80LEGAL

Family lawyer earns top accolade

82FINANCE

Changes to rules on R&D Tax Relief

84SKILLS

College forges business links

86PROPERTY

Pick Everard best bar none for prison design

88MOTORING

Nick Jones is suitably impressed with the latest Range Rover Sport PHEV

THE LAST WORD

90 Chamber president Stuart Dawkins on the potential impact of AI in the workplace

Election manifestos must take note of ours

Voters in the East Midlands will choose the next Government when the country goes to the polls on 4 July.

It will be the first General Election to be called since Boris Johnson took power in December 2019 – and results in the East Midlands could be key in determining the next occupant of Number 10.

Incumbent Rishi Sunak has promised “a clear plan and bold action to chart a course to a secure future”, while Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is promising “economic stability, secure borders and strong defence”.

‘Regardless of who is in power, we’re clear in the East Midlands of the policy reform that we need to see to enable business growth’

Scott Knowles East Midlands Chamber chief executive

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said he would like an opportunity to sort out the economy and the health system. At the same time the other parties will also be fighting in many of the region’s constituencies on their own agendas.

Health, the economy, education, net zero, migration, inflation and the Armed Forces will be key parts of many of the manifestos.

Responding to the announcement, East Midlands Chamber chief executive Scott

Knowles said: “Confirmation that the General Election will be held on 4 July is something we welcome as a politically uncertain environment can hinder planning and decisionmaking for businesses.

“Regardless of who is in power, we’re clear in the East Midlands of the policy reform that we need to see to enable business growth.

“For too long our region has been overlooked when it comes to investment, despite the fantastic businesses we have here and our status as a Centre of Trading Excellence – making, moving and innovating the goods and services that make our country tick.

“Earlier this year we went to Westminster to present our asks directly to the government in our Manifesto for Growth 2024.

“The Manifesto is the direct result of what businesses have been telling us they need from the next UK Government and provides

a clear blueprint for the things that would support our growth and success.

“The document details specific policy asks across four key areas –People and Skills, Infrastructure and Connectivity, Planning, Taxation and Regulation.

“We look forward to continuing our conversations with all of those standing to represent communities in the East Midlands over the coming weeks and ensuring they understand the ways that, if successful, they can support our local businesses to deliver the growth and success that the whole country wants to see.”

The Chamber’s member-led priorities were launched in the Houses of Parliament in March and will continue to be promoted throughout the campaign.

To read the manifesto go to: is.gd/4RWKr4

ABOVE: Derby County owner David Clowe joins the party

BELOW: Mansfield Town celebrate gaining promotion to League One

The main candidates campaigning for General Election votes, from left: Rishi Sunak, Sir Keir Starmer and Ed Davey

East Midlands Chamber wants the next occupant of Number 10 to oversee policy reforms that make business growth a priority

Success on the pitch will also have a positive impact off it

Lthe Premier League and Derby County’s rise to the Sky Bet Championship are set to have a big impact on the economy of their cities, according to the chief executive of East Midlands Chamber.

Their successes followed Chesterfield FC’s return to the English Football League and Mansfield Town going up to League One.

Chamber chief executive Scott Knowles said: “These promotions showcase the sheer talent we have at our clubs across the East Midlands. Four football teams celebrating simultaneously is just fantastic for this region.

“I send my warmest congratulations to the outstanding players, coaches, managers and staff

– everyone that backs and supports their club week in, week out. There were jubilant scenes in Chesterfield and Mansfield as they celebrated. To then see Derby County promoted to the Sky Bet Championship and Leicester return to the Premier League capped off a superb time for sport in the East Midlands.

“The injection the economy gets when a football club is promoted cannot be underestimated. We can expect increased ticket and merchandise sales at all four clubs, but then the wider economy and supply chains benefit too. You get increased hotel occupancy and the whole hospitality sector gets buoyed as crowds flock to restaurants and food outlets.

“The feelgood factor encourages spending, while being in higher leagues gains recognition on a bigger stage, including overseas. That can only be good for the economy.”

Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough said the character of his squad was central to the Stags being promoted after 11 years in League Two.

Reflecting on an “absolutely incredible” season, he said: “To do it, you have to show many different qualities. Character is the main one.

That’s what you need to get over the line. If you’d have offered us third place, on goal difference, at the start of the season I think everybody would have snapped your hand off.

“So to do it with two games to spare and to do it in the company of Stockport and Wrexham –everybody knows about their resources, and the manner in which we’ve done it – I think we’ve played some brilliant stuff.

“We’ve scored some brilliant goals this season and to see the fans before and after the game and to thank them and see a smile on their face is great. Home and away, they’ve been brilliant. They’ve backed us all season, right from Crewe on the first day.”

Thousands turned out in Leicester city centre to celebrate the Foxes return to the top division a day after winning the Championship trophy at King Power Stadium.

Manager Enzo Maresca said: “It’s huge. I’m very proud. We work every day to live these kind of days.

“To share them with the fans, it’s fantastic. We’ve given them back what they deserve. The owners are fantastic as well, we’re all very happy.”

Leicester City celebrate winning the Championship

Photo courtesy of LCFC/Plumb Images

Local businesses earn the Royal seal of approval

Some 16 businesses from across Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire were commended in the 2024 King’s Awards for Enterprise.

The awards are considered the most prestigious a business can be presented with, giving permission to fly the King’s Awards for Enterprise flag and use the emblem in marketing.

There were twice as many regional winners than in 2023, with 11 going to Chamber members –recipients were recognised for achievements in innovation,

international trade and sustainable development.

Chamber chief executive Scott Knowles said: “It’s wonderful that this year an even greater number of businesses in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire have been commended with this top-level honour and I offer my congratulations to each of them for their outstanding achievement.

“This recognition further reinforces the East Midlands as a leading light for innovation, international trade and sustainability.

“We know the importance of new approaches to production, of

KING’S AWARDS FOR ENTERPRISE 2024 EAST MIDLANDS WINNERS

DERBYSHIRE

• HSG UK, Derby – Innovation Award for its washroom technologies

• Whitehouse Construction Co, Ashbourne – Innovation Award for its flood prevention tech

• McGhee Investments, Belper – International Trade Award for its graphite products manufacturing, machining, recycling, testing and distribution

• Heraeus Electro-Nite (UK), Chesterfield – International Trade Award for its steel industry measurement tech

• United Cast Bar (UK), Chesterfield – International Trade Award for its cast iron bar production

• Global Brands, Chesterfield – International Trade Award for its alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks

• Midland Lead (ML Operations Ltd), Woodville – Sustainable Development Award for recycled lead sheets

LEICESTERSHIRE

• Zeeko Ltd, Coalville – Innovation Award and International Trade Award for its lens polishing machines

• NMS International, Market Harborough – International Trade Award for infrastructure projects in Africa

• Learn Well Trading, Oakham – International Trade Award for playbased learning in homes and classrooms

• Winbro Group Technologies, Coalville – Innovation Award for its high-precision machines

• CMS Cepcor, Coalville – International Trade Award for quarry machine parts supply

• deVOL Kitchens Ltd, Loughborough – International Trade Award for its kitchens, furniture and accessories

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

• Halo Solutions, Newark – Innovation Award for lifesaving event safety software

• Halliday Lighting, Kirkby in Ashfield – International Trade Award for sports, ports, airports, and industrial outdoor lighting

• Doff Portland, Hucknall – International Trade Award for environmentally responsible horticultural products

being inventive, of drawing on the full potential of emerging international markets.

“The three counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire are a centre of trading excellence and these winning businesses underline the East Midlands as a resourceful region with inventive thinking at the forefront.”

Nottinghamshire Deputy Lieutenant Mark Goldby is his county’s lead on promoting the awards on behalf of the King's Awards Office at the Department for Business & Trade.

He said: “The King's Awards are the most prestigious awards that can be bestowed on a UK business – it’s almost like a royal endorsement for your business.

“The majority of winners go on to have further commercial success and in doing so stand apart from their competitors and peers while the enhanced PR profile they deservedly receive often helps with staff retention, morale and recruitment."

All winners receive an invitation to a royal reception, a crystal trophy and an official certificate, known as a Grant of Appointment.

Tony Walker CBE DL, who chairs the Derbyshire King’s Awards for Enterprise panel, said: “They provide the highest level of endorsement for a business, giving nationally and internationally recognised confirmation of the credibility of the business and the product or service which the business offers. They're not easy to attain but are well worth the effort.”

Applications for the 2025 King’s Awards are open until 12 September. For details call 020 4551 0081 or email kingsawards@ businessandtrade.gov.uk

deVOL directors Robin McLellan, Helen Parker and Paul O’Leary

The HSG team with their earlier Queen’s Award presented by the previous Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire William Tucker

Hotel launches new luxury suite

Nottingham Venues’ Orchard Hotel has launched new luxury accommodation –which it has called the Signature Suite.

The new 726 sq ft suite is on the top floor of the four-star Orchard Hotel, offering views over the parkland of the University of

Nottingham Campus. It features a big terrace and an option for private dining and small events. There is also a living space along with a sofa bed.

It has been designed and constructed by Nottinghamshirebased Arracol, with inspiration taken from its environment, using

local suppliers and trades where possible.

Management hope it will help them tap into a bigger share of the city’s business and leisure tourism market

Hotel manager Peter Bartlett said: “Nottingham attracts a huge number of visitors annually but

there are a few accommodation options for those tourists looking for a more luxurious stay.

“We wanted to add a luxury hotel suite to our existing 4-star accommodation offering and provide this option for our business and leisure guests and those parents visiting Nottingham to visit their children at university.

“We are delighted with our new hotel suite, and we expect it to appeal to the many business clients we welcome to the East Midlands Conference Centre.

“We believe this is the only hotel suite of its type in Nottingham and that, combined with the private location, means we might even attract some of the celebrities and sports stars we welcome to our city each year.”

Nottingham Venues is a subsidiary of the University of Nottingham and operates venues across the University Park, Jubilee and Sutton Bonington campuses. It has conference space –including the East Midlands Conference Centre – meeting rooms and exhibition space as well as 300 bedrooms across the Orchard Hotel and Jubilee Hotel.

The Orchard Hotel Signature Suite

Transplant Games keep focus on organ donation

Athletes from across the region will be taking part in the national Westfield Health British Transplant Games in Nottingham this August.

The games, which are being promoted by the Chamber, are held to raise awareness of the life-saving benefits of organ donation.

More than 1,000 transplant recipients will compete, with a further 2,000 participants – including donors, donor families and official supporters – joining the celebrations.

This year’s event, running from 14 August, is particularly special for the Nottingham adults and children’s teams, and one person who knows the value of the British Transplant Games community is Simon Elmore, 48.

Simon received a life-changing kidney transplant at Nottingham City Hospital in January 2015, and has been on a mission to spread the word about the importance of organ donation ever since. He was diagnosed with kidney failure at the age of 33, and had to spend

more than 80 hours a week travelling to and from his home in Belper to Royal Derby Hospital for dialysis.

The call that a donor kidney was available came on 21 January 2015 and he had his transplant the next day at Nottingham City Hospital.

As part of his recuperation, he began training for the 2015 British and World Transplant Games and

went on to win medals for Team GB at the World Games.

He now leads the Nottingham adults’ team, which is supported by Kidney Care UK.

Meanwhile, Henry Entwistle, six, from Mansfield, is competing with the Nottingham childrens’ team. Henry received a live kidney donation from his grandad after doctors discovered he would need a new kidney before he was born.

He had a transplant at Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham when he was just 18 months old, but suffered serious complications during and after the operation.

His parents were told he might never walk, but he went on to take part in his first British Transplant Games in 2023, where he was one of the youngest competitors.

A games spokeswoman said: “His parents are passionate about spreading the message that everyone should be an organ donor – and tackling the misconception that it is just the elderly that need transplants.”

To find out more visit: www.britishtransplantgames.co.uk

Merger enables major expansion in Ireland

East Midlands audit, tax and business advisers MHA is merging with Ireland accountancy and advisory firm Roberts Nathan.

The deal will be effective as of 1 July, and create a new business called Baker Tilly Ireland, with 70 staff and partners based at offices in Dublin and Cork.

It caps a busy 12 months for MHA, which has new offices in Scotland and Wales and also recently merged with MHA Moore & Smalley.

This latest move will combine

Roberts Nathan's local expertise with a strong international presence, and management hope it will lead to 100 new jobs in the Ireland teams over the next two years.

Rakesh Shaunak, managing partner and chairman of MHA, said: “Expanding into Ireland is a significant step in MHA’s strategic growth plans given the country’s strong trading ties and business connections with the UK and mainland Europe, as well as its thriving business community, and resilient economy.”

Eighth safety award for switchgear firm

A business that makes switchgear and control panels has won a national safety award – for the eighth year in a row.

Michael Smith Switchgear, in Leicester, has won an internationallyrecognised gold medal award from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) for its continued commitment to health and safety in its procedures.

Managing director Sean Smith said: “Keeping our teams safe is always the priority for us, so I’m proud that our ongoing commitment has been recognised with an eighth consecutive award. The fact that we’ve been awarded gold again shows how important it is for us to create a safe and modern working environment for our people.”

The RoSPA Awards have almost 2,000 entries annually from more than 50 countries, impacting more than 7m workers.

Julia Small, RoSPA’s achievements director, said: "Workplace accidents don't just pose financial risks and operational disruptions –they significantly impact the quality of life for individuals.

“This is why acknowledging and rewarding excellent safety performance is vital.”

Rakesh Shaunak of MHA (left) with Vivian Nathan, Baker Tilly Ireland regional chief operations officer

Members of the Michael Smith Switchgear team with managing director Sean Smith (centre)

Henry Entwistle, six, from Mansfield

The 2023 Westfield Health British Transplant Games in Coventry

Chamber annual dinner this month

The premier event in the Chamber’s annual calendar –the annual dinner – is set to take place this month.

The formal dinner is on 20 June at Goosedale, Nottingham, and tickets are available to businesses across the East Midlands.

This evening event brings together prominent business leaders from across our three counties, to reflect on the past year and look to the year ahead.

This year’s guest speaker is AI expert Katie King, a member of the AllParliamentary Group Taskforce on Artificial Intelligence, CEO of AI in Business and bestselling author.

She will share insight on embracing the potential of AI when she joins the annual event.

Reservations can be made at https://is.gd/RbOVYO.

No sign of growing panes for window firm

Unique Window Systems in Leicester is preparing for the next chapter in its story.

The company – which won business of the year at the 2023 East Midlands Chamber Business Awards – is one of the UK’s fastest growing fabricators of PVCu and aluminium windows, doors, and curtain walling.

It has now rebranded, unveiling a new identity that management hope will help position it for further evolution and expansion.

Joint managing director Sunil Patel said: “Unique’s previous brand identity has served us well having bee n in place since our incorporation almost 20 years ago.

“During that time, we have enjoyed incredible success and growth, which includes our turnover surging from £20.8m to £39.2m between 2020 and 2022.

“Times and design styles change however, and it’s important for us as a business to

L-R: Daniel Atchinson (NatWest), Amelia Rowan (NatWest), Stacy Phillips

Liam Douglas (NatWest), Adrian Wesbroom (BullsEye), Paul Trudgill (Knights), Scott Godfrey (Bullseye), Peter Turk (Knights), Samantha Simpson (BullsEye), Laura Hayes (Shorts) and Andy Ryder (Shorts)

Family car parts firm sold to its employees

A family-owned car parts and accessories retailer and motor factor has been sold to an employee-owned trust.

The eight-figure deal, financed by NatWest, is a significant milestone for South Yorkshireheadquartered BullsEye Superfactors and its workforce of around 160 people.

Established in 1981 the business has become a prominent player in the automotive aftermarket industry, with 18 high street branches across Yorkshire, four large motor factor sites serving the garage trade, and a significant online presence.

The company has an extensive inventory of more than 150,000 car

change with them.

“Our new brand identity is more reflective of the company we have become and better epitomises our position as a large, highly professional, and quality-focused organisation.”

The business said the new Unique brand was undergoing a soft launch, being introduced

gradually as existing assets and materials are replaced or updated. They said there were concerns a hard launch had the potential to create unnecessary waste.

As part of the rebrand, the Unique Window Systems name remains and is now complemented with the addi tion of a distinctive U brand mark.

Relive sports day at city’s

Business Games

parts and accessories, catering to the diverse needs of its customers.

It has an annual turnover of around £17m.

NatWest relationship director Liam Douglas said: “We are thrilled to support BullsEye in this transformative journey to employee ownership, supporting a local company with big ambitions in the hands of employees who are rooted in the community.

“We recognise the importance of nurturing local businesses and empowering their workforce to drive sustainable growth. This deal not only secures the future of BullsEye, but also reinforces our commitment to supporting businesses to start, scale and grow.”

Companies and organisations are being invited to recapture their childhoods and compete in a series of fun sporting challenges based on the traditional school sports day.

The Derby Business Games return this summer after a six-year gap and will be held at Derby Rugby Club in Haslams Lane, Darley Abbey from 4pm on Thursday 4 July.

Teams of eight will compete in a rounders tournament followed by individuals and pairs going head-to-head in mini events from wheelbarrow races to the egg and spoon.

The afternoon will finish with tug of war and a welly wanging finale.

The games are being organised by Will Evans who was behind the original Business Games in 2017, and are supported by Marketing Derby with a percentage of the profits donated to Derbyshire specialist child exploitation charity Safe and Sound.

Will Evans said: “The feel of the event is an old-school sports day for grown-ups that should know better.

“The events are planned so that there is something for everyone to get involved in and enjoy.”

The cost is £300 per team with free entry for family, friends and colleagues who are invited to cheer on their teams.

For more information, email willevanssport@sky.com

(BullsEye),

Unique Windows was one of the Business Awards winners in 2023

SF Recruitment chief executive Saira Demmer Agency named a

top place to work

A Midlands recruitment agency has been recognised on the 2024 Sunday Times Best Places to Work list.

SF Recruitment, which has offices in Nottingham, Leicester, Birmingham, Manchester and London, is featured in the medium sized company category.

This year, the Sunday Times honoured more than 500 organisations from various industries for their exceptional workplace environments.

The awards commend not only general excellence but also the creation of supportive workplaces for diverse community groups, including women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, disabled employees, ethnic minorities, and workers of various ages, with a special emphasis on wellbeing.

‘Be

collaborative, be pioneering, be insightful, be human, be the best’

Using a set of 26 questions crafted by employeeexperience platform WorkL, which draw on the expertise of behavioural scientists, psychologists, and business leaders, businesses were surveyed on measures including employee engagement, wellbeing, and effort. SF Recruitment secured an 92% overall workplace happiness score, compared to the industry benchmark of 73%.

Chief executive Saira Demmer said: “This recognition as one of the Sunday Times Best Places to Work reinforces our commitment to our core values – be collaborative, be pioneering, be insightful, be human, be the best.

“It drives us to maintain these principles, fostering a culture of continual innovation and improvement.”

Business takes the lead in securing school IT systems

ADerby firm has been making the IT systems of schools in the East Midlands more secure – at a time when new data suggests educational institutions are more likely to suffer cyber security breaches or attacks than the average UK business.

L.E.A.D. IT Services has worked closely with Embark Federation to provide all of its schools – including Aldercar High School in Nottinghamshire, Horsley Woodhouse Primary School over the border in Derbyshire, and Chesterfield-based Parkside Community School – with a fullymanaged IT support package.

The work includes standardising broadband and setting up filtering and monitoring systems and backup software across the schools network.

L.E.A.D. IT Services has also built a system to keep an eye on student data safely and will look after the device and cyber security management of the schools’ iPads.

The business recently moved to new premises in Pride Park, Derby.

Managing director Lee Jepson said: “It has been a smooth process working with Embark Federation and we look forward to building on this relationship.

“We have created an IT strategy for them with the goal to enhance organisational functions and learning outcomes for all. We are

also in the process of developing a HR/payroll analysis system.

“I’d like to thank my team for being so brilliant, and Embark Federation for being a great client to work with.”

Embark Federation chief executive Matt Crawford praised the business for its professionalism and service.

He said: “We are aware of the increase in cyber-attacks on education providers and have full confidence in the service provided by L.E.A.D. IT Services.

“They worked diligently to create a communication strategy for the trust by creating an intranet network and introducing telephony across all our schools.”

Flats give hope to rough sleepers

People living on the streets of Nottingham are being given a chance to move into permanent accommodation named in honour of the businessmen whose vision provided the funds to make the building possible.

A block of eight purpose-built flats in Hyson Green recently opened, officially named Akins House after George and Sean Akins – the directors of Nottinghambased live music promoter DHP Family

In 2018 the pair launched Beat The Streets – an annual one-day music festival dedicated to raising funds for the Framework charity, which helps rough sleepers.

‘We’re very pleased to see the tangible difference the festival is making’

The £89,500 raised at Beat The Streets in January 2023 was essential in supporting the £1.4m building project –completing the funding required for the project at a time when prices were rising steeply.

It was the first time Beat The Streets funds have been used to support a capital project.

Work began on the building last summer and the flats now offer a home with personalised support to help each resident live independently – including

access to drug, alcohol and mental health support and employment guidance.

Framework deputy chief executive Claire McGonigle said: “In naming our new accommodation Akins House we are paying tribute to the thousands of people who have bought into George and Sean’s vision for Beat The Streets over the years and played a part in making each year's event such a special occasion.”

Matt Crawford of Embark Federation (left) with L.E.A.D. IT director Lee Jepson

DHP Family MD George Akins and Director Sean Akins (centre) help cut the ribbon

Photos have the power to inspire

One of the newest members of East Midlands Chamber has shared some of her photographic work to highlight some of the creative talent the region has to offer.

Commercial photographer and ex-Press photographer Beth Walsh has 19 years’ experience behind the lens, having landed her first job at the Leicester Mercury back in 2004, where she took hard news pictures and shot for publications including Business Monthly, More magazine and Life magazine.

She has also had her work featured in nationals including The Guardian, The Times and Daily Mail

This year she is celebrating eight years running her own successful photography business, working across subjects including events,

festivals, portraiture, construction, tourism, education and healthcare.

She said career highlights so far included photographing Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll three times, capturing the 2014 Leicester

City Premier league victory celebrations, recording the reinterment of Richard III and working on a commission to brighten up the walls of the Loros Hospice with her pictures of Leicestershire. She has also taught students at De Montfort University.

‘Photography has always had the power to inspire’

She said: “The calibre of my photography is creative, bold and vibrant. We live in a visually driven world so having still and moving images to showcase products and services in the best possible light can only be a massive positive.

“Photography has always had the power to inspire, evoke

emotions and tell compelling stories. I love telling those stories.

“When I see my photography work used to communicate a brand message, a feature story or to highlight a marketing campaign –whether that be in printed form or online – it pushes me to keep doing what I do best, taking pictures and nurturing that drive by improving each and every day. I never stop learning. I recently joined East Midlands Chamber after my client George Oliver at 1284 explained to me the benefits.

“I am now very keen to get involved with the networking events, meeting potential new clients as well as fellow creatives. I am also looking forward to finding out more about the Enterprising Women network as well as listening to inspiring speakers.”

Beth Walsh

Examples of Beth’s creative photographic work

Tritax to operate rail freight terminal

Commercial land developer

Tritax Symmetry has struck a deal with UK transport provider Maritime Transport to develop, lease and operate the rail terminal at its planned £750m Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange (HNRFI).

Tritax said pending planning consent Maritime Transport, a road and rail freight logistics specialist, will develop the 40-acre strategic rail freight interchange (SRFI) at the site, which would be capable of handling 16 trains a day.

The new terminal would sit alongside 7m sq ft of warehouse facilities on the rail line between Leicester and Hinckley with a new access on to the M69 motorway.

Tritax said it has the potential to strengthen rail freight connections between the Midlands and the ports of Felixstowe, Liverpool, London Gateway, Southampton, Teesport and Mossend in Scotland.

Maritime Transport has its headquarters at Felixstowe, the UK’s biggest container terminal.

Because the plans are of national significance, they will be determined by the Secretary of State for Transport rather than local councillors. A decision is expected this September.

Tritax Symmetry director Jonathan Wallis said: “Maritime Transport’s commitment to an SRFI at this early stage is a significant first in the sector and reflects

ultimate confidence in the location’s suitability for rail freight from the leading road and rail freight location provider in the UK.

“Alongside Maritime Transport’s fully fledged support, we are excited by the potential of this prime location for rail-linked logistics, which we believe will see strong demand for large scale, flexible, modern, low carbon space.”

John Williams, executive chairman of Maritime Transport, said: “We are delighted to agree terms with Tritax Symmetry to become the long-term operator of the new SRFI, in planning, at HNRFI. This development will strengthen our rail-connected

network and our strategy of decarbonising the full load supply chain in the UK, moving cargo closer to the end user by rail.”

“Our strategy of decarbonising the supply chain will extend to the introduction of BEV (Battery Electric Vehicles) to perform first and final mile transport, creating the most sustainable full load networked, intermodal logistics offering for occupiers at HNRFI and beyond.”

Maritime Transport operates more than 40 logistics sites across the UK with rail freight terminals in Birmingham, Hams Hall, Kegworth, Manchester, Mossend, Northampton, London (Tilbury) and Wakefield.

IDSL is based just outside Mansfield town centre

Photo courtesy of iStock/Oscar Hill

Investment opens doors to growth

LDC has invested in a Mansfield doorset specialist to help it grow.

The private equity investor, which is part of Lloyds Banking Group, has invested in Integrated Doorset Solutions Limited (IDSL), which was founded in 2015, and makes performance doorsets such as fire and security doors, for use in buildings such as hospitals, schools, student accommodation, commercial and residential properties.

It operates two manufacturing facilities and has 286 employees.

LDC is backing IDSL’s existing management team, led by founder and managing director Ash Malhan.

The transaction was led by LDC’s team in the East Midlands, including partner and head of East Midlands and East of England David Bains, investment director John Green and investment manager Mikayil Salahov.

NEW MEMBERS

In April 2024 the Chamber welcomed 24 new members:

• Approach IQ

• Army Benevolent Fund

• Balanced Funding Solutions

• Beth Walsh Photography

• Children's Sensory Therapy

• Chutney Ivy Restaurant

• Derby Theatre

• Disability Direct

• Fair Chance Business Alliance

• The Gleevolution Factory

• Gordon Ellis & Co

• Junction Arts

• Khaos Control Solutions

• Messy Senses

• Midpoint Security Systems

• MJE Projects

• NLight

• Poppy PR

• Mentor Software UK

• RSViP

• StoreFeeder

• Teesh

• Wytech

• Xerotag

Healthy eating consultancy offers real food for thought

An entrepreneur has launched a healthy eating consultancy after seeing the benefits on her own health and wants to share her knowledge with businesses across the region.

Becky Brown launched SimpliciB after seeing the positive feedback she was getting after posting her ideas for good quality, quick and simple meals on social media.

She is now running workshops helping individuals and companies improve the quality of the food they serve and eat – by extension improving their health and mental wellbeing.

She said one of the biggest hurdles to overcome was the temptation for busy workers and families to opt for easy-to-make but low in nutrition fast-food in favour of sensible, above all, good value meals which are also easy to prepare.

Becky said before launching the business she had “fallen out of love” with food due to her own personal circumstances.

But she said: “When lockdown happened and I was seeing panic-buying it really upset me, partly because I thought all those people probably had 10 meals worth of food in their cupboards.

“So I started sharing really quick and easy recipes using cupboard items on Facebook. People were commenting that they must cost a fortune, but I was telling them each one was taking ten minutes and cost £3.

“I think there’s a real lack of awareness in the UK about food and the real culprit is clever marketing and branding which makes us believe we’re making a good choice in our diets when actually we’re not.

“A couple of years ago I realised more how food was related to wellbeing so decided to try doing workshops for businesses and it’s spiralled from there. I give people information that opens their eyes. I mainly work with businesses but I would like to get into education and the blue light family.”

She said it was proven that our eating habits impact our moods – slow-release

energy foods such as bananas are great at certain times of the day, releasing energy slowly.

“Food and mood is the most popular workshop, but I also do a cost-of-living one which is based on showing people how to budget your time and skill to eat healthily,” she added.

Becky currently works full time in business process improvement, but hopes to get to a point where she can dedicate herself to her healthy eating business full-time.

For details email Rebecca-brown@virginmedia.com or visit simplicib.co.uk

Having a ball for Air Ambulance

Community events group Love

Castle Donington has raised £3,200 for the Air Ambulance service with a recent ball held at The Priest House in the town.

The money raised –from a raffle, auction and donations for the work of a caricaturist –has the potential to fund a flight as well as providing equipment.

Emma Prosser, who was born and raised in Castle Donington and sits on the Love Castle Donington committee, said: “The Air Ambulance is a charity that is close to the heart of one of our committee members.

“With the committee’s support for this worthy cause, combined with this close connection, we decided that the Air Ambulance should be the beneficiary of our charity work through our first ever ball.”

From left: John Manley, Emma Harrison, Tracey Pearsall, Alex Manley, Emma Prosser, Barbara Jones, Janet Morris, Bill Johnson from Love Castle Donington with Tracey Jones from the Air Ambulance (centre)

Asian-founded businesses get network boost

Anew UK network to help Asian-founded businesses scale up and innovate has been launched in the East Midlands.

The Asian Founders Community Meet will see hundreds of businesses attend events around the country – from Scotland to Southampton – run in partnership between Barclays Eagle Labs and De Montfort University Leicester (DMU).

Entrepreneurs, business owners, mentors and funders came together for a 2024 launch event at Winstanley House in Braunstone.

The group was devised by Eagle Labs ecosystem manager Poonam Sharma and Nimesh Kanani, city leader for Barclays Leicester to offer targeted support and networking opportunities.

Poonam said they would be hosting get-togethers at eight other cities across the UK over the coming months.

She said: “Supporting and empowering Asian entrepreneurs is vitally important and for Barclays Eagle Labs to launch the initiative here in Leicester, a city which boasts so many successful Asian businesses, is very exciting indeed.”

Helen Donnellan, director of research, business and innovation at DMU, said the university was proud to be involved.

She said: “At DMU, we believe that diversity inspires innovation.

“Different approaches are taken, different ideas shared and exciting

things happen when you empower people to succeed.

“That is why Asian Founders Community Meet is so important in showcasing and connecting founders and creating opportunity for everyone.”

During the first meeting, Chandila Fernando of Innovate UKRI, Jaz Kaur of Fraser Stretton Property Group, Shahid Sheikh OBE of Clifton Packaging Group and designer Jay Gill, founder of Jheez Clothing, shared their stories and experiences of starting and running successful businesses and pitching to investors.

Taruna Mistry, chief executive of CIC Leicester Community Links, which supports well-being projects, said: “Events like this are really important – hearing other people’s stories gives you ideas and I have already made connections that will help my business.”

Keynote speaker Anuj Ashar, a 22year-old entrepreneur who has already managed several businesses, said: “I am such a supporter of the Asian Founders programme and to hear events will be held around the country is brilliant.

“It’s so important to come together as a community and support each other through sharing our expertise or our contacts or our skills to help each other.”

DMU’s Innovation Centre, home to the only Eagle Lab in the East Midlands, hosted the first event last year when the idea was trialled with three events.

Nimesh Kanani, city leader for Barclays Leicester (left) with Eagle Labs ecosystem manager Poonam Sharma

Helen Donnellan, director of research, business and innovation at DMU with Chandila Fernando, of Innovate UKRI

Entrepreneur and coach Payal Walker

Entrepreneurs celebrated at awards event

The Real Entrepreneurs' Club hosted its third annual awards ceremony at Nottingham Business School.

BBC Radio Leicester presenter Jo Hayward compered the event and presented 10 awards to some of the region’s top entrepreneurs and thought leaders.

Event organisers Cross Productions brought more than 160 high-flying business owners from across the East Midlands together, giving the winners a forum for their brands to be seen and heard outside of their home cities.

Headline sponsor was independent financial adviser and mortgage broker Furnley House and the panel of judges included The Alternative Divorce Company’s

Dr Glynis Wright MBE; Nelsons’ Rik Pancholi; Premier Logistics’ Macauley Christopher; Red Monkey Play’s Simon Winfield and the University of Derby’s Samantha Deakin.

East Midlands Chamber was among the category sponsors.

The event saw the return of the Pitching Platform, where three start-ups pitched to the room for a chance to win £10,000 worth of corporate legal and marketing advice and investment from Rik Pancholi at Nelsons and marketing agency Cross Productions.

They also won the support of a non-executive board made up of Rik, Jenny Cross of Cross Productions, Paul Bevan of Breeze Corporate Finance and Ian Cooper of RBC Brewin Dolphin.

THIS YEAR’S AWARD WINNERS:

• Start-up entrepreneur of the year Rahkesh Thakkar, Vets4U

• Entrepreneurial collaborator Joe Nixon, Arch Creative;

• Entrepreneur for good Rahoul Naik, Jetpack Marketing

• Entrepreneurial spirit Louise Anne, female empowerment coach

• International entrepreneur of the year Gordon Docherty, Druck

• Food & drink entrepreneur of the year Jake Karia, Jake & Nayns’

• Innovation in entrepreneurship Sébastien de La Hamayde, Designeering

• Entrepreneurial educator Samantha Deakin, University of Derby

• Scale-up entrepreneur of the year, Utkarsh Thakkar, RUUT GROUP of Companies

• The entrepreneur's entrepreneur, Leanne Bonner-Cooke MBE, LBC Mentoring.

Katie Michaels of Moti Me was 2024’s Pitching Platform winner, for her product which encourages children with disabilities to practice physiotherapy exercises. She was up against Henry Brogan of SmartForm AI and Natalie Weir of Playivity.

Cross Productions chief executive Jenny Cross said: “I’m very proud of what The Real Entrepreneurs’ Awards has achieved in its three years

“During this time, The Real Entrepreneurs’ Awards has totalled 90 finalists, 30 winners, and six Pitching Platform contestants – all in the name of entrepreneurship and promoting the impressive and industry-leading work that’s happening in the East Midlands.

“This event wouldn’t have been possible without our impassioned headline sponsor Furnley House, whose team has embraced every aspect of the awards process with undeniable enthusiasm.”

Furnley House co-founder and managing director Stefan Fura said:

“I’m fiercely committed to the notions of community and sustainability and imbued with the belief that people, when properly looked after, can achieve amazing things, delivering positive and lifeenhancing outcomes for all.

The Cross Productions team with compere Jo Hayward (second from right)

Stefan Fura of Furnley House Katie Michaels of Moti Me

Unique service: Davies Turner provides the only direct rail import/export FAK consol services in the UK market, offering considerable transit time savings compared to ocean freight and substantial cost savings of up to 70% in comparison to air freight biweekly service approx. 20-25 days transit time.

Nominated for the BIFA Rail Freight Operator of the Year Award 2023.

WE CAN ARRANGE AIRFREIGHT TOO IF YOU NEED A FASTER DESPATCH

Chamber chair is new High Sheriff

A former chair of East Midlands Chamber has become High Sheriff of Derbyshire for the coming 12 months.

Ian Morgan was installed in a ceremony at the Derbyshire County Cricket Ground, taking on the formal role which dates back at least 1,000 years.

The original ‘Shire Reeves’ were Royal officials appointed to enforce the Monarch’s interests in a county, particularly tax collection and enforcing law and order.

Today, there are 55 High Sheriffs serving the counties of England and Wales, whose duties include attending Royal visits and supporting High Court Judges.

‘Our society relies heavily on an army of people who give up their spare time, their energy and

their endeavour to help others’

They also give active support to the police, emergency probation and prison services and to other agencies involved in crime prevention, particularly among young people.

Ian said he is determined to play an active role in promoting a range of voluntary work and to supporting crime prevention projects. He said: “Our society relies heavily on an army of people who give up their spare time, their energy and their endeavour to help others and I want to meet as many as I can during my year to recognise and acknowledge their efforts and to sincerely thank them on behalf of all of us.”

New recruits are a smart move as IT firm builds

A Derby smart building and IT infrastructure business has made two key appointments to help it meet a growing demand from firms looking to technology to help make their premises more energy efficient.

Scenariio, based in Siddals Road, has recruited software engineer Conor Taylor and sales manager Lee Taylor as it responds to an industry-wide increase in awareness of how smart building innovations can save companies money and cut energy use, as well as boost workers’ wellbeing.

Innovations include daylightharvesting LED lights, movement sensors and air quality monitors, all of which can be used to send data such as room occupancy figures, CO2 levels and electricity consumption to a central hub, giving operators a snapshot of how their building is performing.

Conor’s role will be to configure

and set up these data systems on behalf of clients, while Lee will be using his 30 years of sales experience to seek out new customers.

Established in 2013, Scenariio has

Loughborough College names its new principal

Loughborough College has appointed Corrie Harris as its new principal and CEO.

Corrie previously held the same titles at Moulton College, in Northamptonshire, and will lead her new college’s strategy of “Shaping Futures, Transforming Lives and Broadening Horizons”, driving its commitment to meeting local and national skills needs.

A key part of this is working with employers and stakeholders in delivering its curriculum, through initiatives including mentoring, guest speaking and project assignments.

Corrie said she was delighted to take on the role.

She said: “Loughborough has achieved so much, and I look forward to leading the college and to building upon its many successes.”

Stuart Lindeman, who chairs the college governors, said: “We are thrilled to announce Corrie as our new principal and CEO, whose energy, vision and experience make her the ideal person to lead the college and build on our successes. Corrie is joining the college at a truly exciting and ambitious time of growth and development, taking the reins as we open three new teaching buildings in the coming years.

“We very much look forward to welcoming Corrie to our vibrant and inclusive community and wish her the best of luck for her future with us.”

installed IT cabling and smart building technology at premises across the UK on behalf of wellknown clients including Severn Trent Water, Tarmac, Derby College and Treetops Hospice.

David has top role at bus operator

Five times UK bus operator of the year, Nottingham City Transport has welcomed David Conway (pictured) as its new head of operations. Nottinghamshire born David joins NCT from Cardiff Bus, where he was service delivery director, guiding the business out of the pandemic and introducing 55 electric buses into service in the Welsh capital.

He joined the industry through the Stagecoach graduate scheme in 2008, which led to work in Devon, Lincolnshire, Manchester, South Wales and the London Olympics in 2012. David now has responsibility for the operations, service delivery and service planning departments at the city transport group.

He said: “After eight-and-ahalf years across the border in Wales, I’m delighted to have returned home to join an operator that inspired me to take up a career in the bus industry.”

Corrie Harris

Sales manager Lee Taylor (left) and software engineer Conor Taylor have joined Derby smart building and IT infrastructure firm Scenariio

Ian Morgan

Alex to lead digital team at Nottingham agency

PR and marketing agency Cartwright Communications has appointed Alex Jones to lead its digital team.

Alex joins the Nottingham-headquartered agency as head of digital, to spearhead work across its digital services and help produce innovative and engaging campaigns.

He has more than a decade of experience in digital marketing, having worked at agencies both in the Midlands and London.

He has specialist expertise in digital PR and content marketing, but has managed and developed full-service digital marketing teams with awardwinning SEO, digital PR, paid media, and social media services.

The growing Cartwright digital team includes social media account director Becky Cleary, SEO manager Jotdeep Drarh, social media account manager Elizabeth Songhurst, senior digital executive Maria Potter and social media executive Chantai Bravo.

Digital and social media clients include construction consultancy Naismiths, MSite, Permagroup and one of the UK’s biggest potato providers, Branston.

President role for Chamber member

An active member of the Chamber has been appointed East Midlands president of the Professional Speaking Association (PSA).

Rachael EdmondsonClarke (pictured) has taken on the role hot on the heels of being awarded the title PSA national ambassador of the year at the organisation’s spring conference in London.

Alex said: “I’m looking forward to playing a key role in helping to shape and support their long-term business growth objectives.”

Cartwright now has offices in Birmingham and London and boasts a 30-strong team of PR, digital, social media, brand and marketing experts.

Happy returns as Emma pops back

Castle Donington-based Poppy PR has attracted back one of its first members of staff, Emma Turner, to help provide on-call support for its expanding client list.

Emma first joined the company as a PR executive in 2015 after graduating with a master’s degree in magazine journalism at Nottingham Trent University, and re-joins the team with 10 years of communications experience.

Tina Clough – who has lectured in PR at both the University of Derby and Nottingham Trent University –runs Poppy PR alongside business partner Phil Stubbs.

She said: “Emma brings with her

bags of magazine, marketing and feature-writing experience which adds another string to Poppy PR’s bow, and we can’t wait to work more closely with her over the coming year.”

The firm, founded in 2010, won top prize in the creative & media category at last year’s East Midlands Business Masters Awards in Nottingham.

Emma said: “Poppy PR is where I fell in love with writing and sharing stories, so when I saw that they were looking to expand their team, it felt like the perfect opportunity to get in touch with Tina and meet for a catch-up.”

Designer joins interiors specialist

Workplace consultants and interior fit-out specialists Blueprint Interiors has appointed Caitlin Houlbrook as a workplace designer.

Caitlin is relocating to the East Midlands having worked in similar roles for leading London-based office designers and is a WELL Accredited Professional, who has a BA in product design from Nottingham Trent University.

WELL AP practitioners are recognised for their expertise in the WELL Building Standard (WELL) which aims to advance human health and wellness in buildings

and communities around the world.

Blueprint already has one WELL AP practitioner and its HQ in Ashby de la Zouch was the first business in the East Midlands to achieve the WELL Health-Safety rating. It recently helped East Midlands Chamber achieve the WELL HealthSafety Rating at its Chesterfield and Nottingham offices.

Caitlin said: “As a WELL AP I am looking forward to using my skills in a business that supports and promotes these standards when creating workplaces that support healthy and happy employees.”

She said: “I’m thrilled to be taking up the presidential role, and it comes at an exciting time for the organisation. My theme this year is ‘Courageous Growth: Do it messy, do it scared, do it anyway’, and I’m encouraging the speaking community to embrace bold changes, and inspiring them with a line-up of some of the very best speakers in the country.”

Rachael will be hosting workshops, coaching sessions and groups aimed at supporting continuous professional growth, alongside a line-up of speakers for this year’s regional events.

• Read more about Rachael’s work on p68.

EMMN adds Debbie to team of advisers

A seasoned marketing and business development professional and CIM chartered marketer has been appointed as the new East Midlands Manufacturing Network adviser.

Debbie Rogers (pictured) has worked in manufacturing for SMEs and multinationals in sectors such as engineering, print and packaging, construction and chemical products. She moved into regional business support in 2021 at the University of Derby and in her new role will be responsible for organising and supporting regular forum meetings and engaging with members as a point of contact for business support. She will also help bring in new members.

Debbie said: “I have always been passionate about manufacturing –not only from working in the sector but also from supporting manufacturers across the region to achieve their growth goals.”

EMMN members can meet Debbie at one of the upcoming forums or can email her at deborah.rogers@emc-dnl.co.uk

Emma Turner

Alex Jones, the new head of digital at Cartwright Communications

Caitlin Houlbrook

‘The secret to success is treat your people well’

Joanne Werth, group people director at Samworth Brothers – one of the biggest sandwich makers in Britain- and Walker & Son pork pies talks to Tim Smith about how people are at the heart of the business.

Afourth-generation family business, Samworth Brothers has always sought to make a positive impact on the planet, society and communities –and owning a business of scale gives the owners to achieve that.

The culture at Samworth Brothers has been shaped by work that Charles Handy did, an expert on organisational development brought in by Sir David Samworth.

Group people director Joanne Werth explains how Handy’s work went on to shape the company’s current approach to people and skills. A set of principles was created from that work that are as solid today as they were 30-40 years ago.

“The concept centres on the premise that if you treat your people well, they respond by delivering great products and services for your customers.

“They then delight your customers, who continue to want to do business with you. That gives you a profitable model.

“Those profits are then invested back into the business to develop the people and create new innovations for customers.

Recipe for success: Joanne Werth

“It becomes a virtuous circle of a business treating its people well; they treat customers well.”

Melton Mowbray-based Samworth Brothers has found innovative ways to make its sites feel warm and welcoming – and using language that is more congenial than corporate has created a comfortable environment for its thousands of workers.

Joanne said: “We've got large bakeries, but we don't call them ‘factories’ because a factory conjures up an image of people just being a number – going in and doing a day's work and being gone.

“We call our sites ‘bakeries’ so that when you go to a Samworth Brothers site you instantly know it’s our business.

“You see beautifully curated gardens, nice car parking and it's safe. You get out of your car and hear the birds singing.

“Many companies call their restaurant a ‘canteen.’ For us they're always called restaurants, not canteens because they are for our colleagues that have worked hard to take a break and be able to buy an affordable meal.

‘We do a people survey every year, where we ask for everyone’s opinions and then work on action plans from the results’

“We subsidise them heavily to achieve that. If you walk into one of our restaurants, they’re more like walking into a Starbucks or a Costa.”

With 10,500 colleagues and an additional 2,000 to 5,000 people joining the workforce at busy times like Christmas, Samworth Brothers makes a point of ensuring every single person working with them can feel part of the family.

To create that feeling of inclusivity, Joanne said management conduct their own research and act on the findings.

She said: “In 2019 we went into the organisation for a check-in on the culture and whether we were doing the right things.

“We do a people survey every year, where we ask for everyone’s opinions and then work on action plans from the results.

“Just before the Covid-19 pandemic, we carried out research that was similar to the work Charles Handy had done decades earlier.

“We asked lots of people in different roles, different ages and ethnicities right across the business for their positive stories about working for Samworth Brothers.”

She said the findings from the survey highlighted three key themes underpinning the

Samworth Brothers takes great pride in the quality of its food –as well as the workplace atmosphere for its employees

feelings of staff at Samworth Brothers – centred around family, a strong sense of pride and action-taking, to make things happen.

She tells the story of how staff pulled together to support a colleague who had to go into hospital for a last-minute operation that would keep them off for several weeks.

“While our colleague was in hospital, the people who had worked alongside him every day took his wife shopping every week.

“They went to visit him in hospital. They checked in on his wife and family to make sure that while their friend and colleague was in hospital, his family were looked after.

“That tells you something about the people we have. We’ve got so many stories like that.

“Family is our number one value. Pride is our second value. Throughout Covid-19 our colleagues were coming in as frontline workers to keep Britain fed – day in, day out.

“The third value is about making things happen, no matter what the challenge.

“People care about what they do and the people they work with. They care about customers and will do anything to make things happen. Whatever challenge is thrown at us, people come together and support each other to deliver.”

Training and opportunities for career progression have helped build an engaged workforce, she said.

On her very first day at a Samworth Brothers site, Joanne was immediately impressed by the strong, uplifting vibe, even while arriving for her own job interview.

She said: “I’d not worked in the food industry and was a little bit nervous coming in.

“I'd worked in the cement and building materials industry before for 20 years and was a little anxious about going into a food facility – it was such a different industry.

“I walked into the bakery and saw all these big smiles.

“Every person I spoke to had joined as a production operative and had progressed their careers.

“They had the most wonderful stories of where they had been given an opportunity, given training and were able to develop and progress.”

The sense of pride that Joanne highlights from colleagues is not confined only to learning and progression, she said.

With 98 different nationalities making up the workforce at Samworth Brothers, festivals like Diwali and Eid are celebrated.

The business has created a ‘culture framework’ which works by hearing the needs of its people.

She said: “We asked people to tell us where we could do better. We listened to everyone and got lots of insight into how to improve.

“As a result, we came up with our ‘culture framework.’ It’s essentially a list of commitments and actions that we've been working hard to ensure are in place, wherever anyone works across the UK.

L-R: Caroline Millam - senior lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University, Ashley RobsonBeasmore - Samworth Brothers people partner early careers & apprenticeships, with Joanne at Samworth Brothers National Apprentice Week Celebration Event

“We celebrate the festivals that are important to our people. During Diwali, for example, it's wonderful when people bring in their own food they've made from home and tell stories about why Diwali is important.”

Skill development is very much at the core of the approach Samworth Brothers has toward staff retention.

In recent years the company has embraced the learning and development 70/20/10 concept and growth mindset, which is based on an idea that there is nothing that cannot be learnt.

“Anybody can learn to play the piano.

“You can learn a language. You can learn to be a great manager.

“A lot of learning to be good at something is actually doing it, practising it and then taking on board feedback.

“Nobody gets in a car and is immediately a brilliant driver. You will only become a good driver and improve your driving if you're taking on board feedback.

“We use that approach when we deliver all our training.

‘We've committed to take on 60 engineering apprentices, 12 a year over five years’

“We offer opportunities for anyone across the business to apply for and be trained up to be an HGV driver, for example.

“This is our ‘Bakery to Wheels Programme’, and we also have a ‘Bakery to Warehouse Programme.’

“Anybody can apply for those as a way of learning new skills.”

Samworth Brothers also advocates apprenticeships and the benefit they bring both to the business and to the skill development of their colleagues.

The company has created a set of options people can take at different stages of their career.

She said: “We partnered with Birmingham Metropolitan College for FDEM Engineering apprenticeships and we're now in the third year.

“We've committed to take on 60 engineering apprentices, 12 a year over five years.

“Of those 12 apprentices we recruit, there will always be a proportion that have come from our bakeries.

“I was talking to one of the engineering apprentices at our recent apprenticeship celebration event.

“He'd been at Samworth Brothers for more than 15 years and now we're training him to be a fully qualified engineer.

“We've got a butchery school too which has absolutely amazing, skilled butchers. They look like King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table because they've got fabulous chainmail outfits.

“They have what look like scabbards with swords – their knife, really.

“Watching them is so impressive as you see the meticulous level of detail and care, as they cut into the meat with such precision that they get the very best cuts.

“They are so focused on the task, with a beautiful flow in the way they all work together. It's a very special skill.”

Another popular early careers scheme aims to help people develop the skills, attitudes and experience needed to excel as a professional.

“We have about 45 young people on a placement year from university.

“We've got various types of graduates in the business, like commercial or technical.

“This is due to us introducing higher level apprenticeships about four or five years ago for these technical and commercial operations.

“We believe that it's better to grow our own rather than simply buy those skills in and that’s why apprenticeships are so important to us. Our apprentices benefit from actual work-based training over three years, and we pay all their fees and a competitive adult salary at the same time. Thanks to our funding, the apprentices don't finish their degree with any student loans to worry about.

“When they go for their modular study, we cover their accommodation and travel costs too.

“We've now partnered with an organisation to offer higher level apprenticeships in finance.

“The apprentices on that programme are graduates and their apprenticeship will take them through their finance qualifications.

“They get the experience of the role and their tuition and qualification paid for. There are opportunities for HR apprenticeships and supply chain apprenticeships too, that we have recently introduced. One person in our people team had previously worked in the stores department at one of our sites but had strong Excel skills.

“They started working on a project and six years later have completed a Level Four Data Scientist apprenticeship.

Joanne Werth is also member of Samworth Brothers Group Executive Board. Speaking here at the Leadership Team Annual Conference

“That person is one of the most capable people you could ever imagine.”

Private healthcare is offered to all colleagues at Samworth Brothers, not just those in the most senior roles.

“There was a very moving story of a colleague at Walkers Deli and Sausage Co who was diagnosed with cancer.

“Due to his access to our private healthcare, it was possible for him to have experimental treatment.

“He said afterwards that if it wasn’t for that healthcare from Samworth Brothers, he wouldn’t be here.

“Within our private healthcare scheme, we also have access to mental health support.

“People don't need a GP referral. It means you can access counselling if you need it and there’s an employee assistance programme too.

“If you’re struggling and want some advice and guidance or are concerned about finances, for example, the service can advise.”

Samworth Brothers has taken an innovative approach to the support it offers for anyone with worries – and a television personality sparked a fresh idea that became a big success.

Joanne said: “It can be quite overwhelming when you join an organisation at the induction.

‘We saw a number of colleagues join our pension scheme because they understood the benefit of long-term saving’

“People might be told about various services, but sometimes it's hard to remember what support is available or how to access it.

“You want something to be easy for people and useful. We came up with the concept we initially called ‘Martin Lewis on Legs’.

“The idea was that an adviser with the kind of insight and knowledge Martin Lewis is known for, could be made available for our people to speak to.

“It would be somebody that our colleagues could sit down with in person, and say ‘look, I'm really worried. I’ve had a letter to say that my rent's going up and I'm struggling to work out my budgeting’.

“We put together a proposal to employ two advisers to be our ‘Martin Lewis on Legs’ and be on hand to give in-person advice.

“We wanted physical people who could go out into the restaurants or could see people at weekends and on night shifts because we have people working 24/7.

“The advisers would not simply signpost

where to get advice; they would talk directly to our people about what was available in terms of benefits or from local government.

“As a result of this one-to-one support, we saw a number of colleagues join our pension scheme because they understood the benefit of long-term saving.

“Being able to sit down and talk to our advisers Ellie and Trishna helped colleagues understand what the advice really meant.

“It all came from thinking about Martin Lewis being a man of the people, full of information, with ideas.

“We found a way to personalise support and it proved very effective.”

Joanne believes the themes of family, of colleagues looking after each other and taking pride in work are something all businesses can benefit from.

“Treat your people well. If you do, they'll work really hard to produce great products and services and delight your customers.

“Everybody goes to work to do a good job, and for the workforce to be given the tools, skills and support they need to do a great job is the best thing a business can do.”

The company’s brands produce a wide range of food, including the local speciality

NASA expert finds inspiration at Space Park

NASA’s head of science has toured Space Park Leicester to see the work going on to support hi-tech companies and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.

Dr Nicola Fox, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, toured the University of Leicester’s pioneering £100m science and innovation park, and saw some of the facilit ies helping a range of projects and missions and companies in the space sector.

Dr Fox was briefed on current projects at Leicester spanning earth observation, planetary science, astrophysics, space instrumentation and technology.

Researchers also told her about Leicester’s contributions to

missions such as the ESA-JAXA BepiColombo mission to Mercury and the joint NASA-ESA Mars Sample Return programme.

The University of Leicester has been involved with NASA missions for several decades, most recently providing the mechanical engineering lead for the MidInfrared Instrument (MIRI) on the James Webb Space Telescope .

The university is also home to the only formal UK science lead for NASA’s Juno mission to Jupiter and hosts the UK Swift Science Data Centre for the NASA-led Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory.

Dr Fox, who is based in Washington DC, said: “Inspiring the hearts and minds of the next generation of STEM students across the world is paramount for the future.

Acquisition gives Air IT a Scottish hub

Private equity-backed Air IT has bought SoConnect, establishing a regional hub in Scotland and further increasing its share of the UK SME market.

It follows last month's acquisition of Lincolnshire-based SCS Technology Solutions and means that, with the support of August Equity, Air IT has acquired 13 businesses to date. SoConnect is its first one in Scotland.

Air IT was founded in 2005 and employs 570 people providing round-the-clock IT support – including cloud infrastructure, cyber security and business intelligence – to 2,900 SMEs.

Founded in 2011, SoConnect has delivered strong year-on-year growth and built a client base of 500 companies.

Air IT chief executive James Steventon said: "SoConnect are a fantastic addition to Air IT, and we're delighted to have them on board.

“With a mission to make IT feel effortless, SoConnect is a great cultural fit with an accomplished team that shares our values and commitment to delivering an exceptional client experience.”

“The power of education at research institutions like the University of Leicester produce the ideas today that will lead to breakthroughs in space exploration, scientific discovery and innovation tomorrow.

“There is space for everyone in humanity’s exploration of our universe and beyond, and it was wonderful to see that the students

at Space Park were not only focused on science and engineering, but also in exploring other interests like law, business and design.”

Dr Fox directs more than 100 NASA missions to explore the secrets of the universe.

Members of the Space Park Leicester team recently visited NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

Prestigious award for law school’s IP team

need in the community.

The Intellectual Property team at Nottingham Law School’s teaching law firm NLS Legal was crowned team of the year 2024 at the Nottinghamshire Law Society Awards for its work supporting small businesses with complex legal matters.

The award recognises things such as consistent, outstanding performance, leadership in a field, dedication to clients, and the contribution they make to the legal community.

The four-person IP team at NLS Legal is supported by student volunteers and offers free advice to individuals, sole traders and startups, addressing an unmet legal

It acts across trademarks, designs and copyright, providing support on contentious and noncontentious matters, and is reported to be the only team in England and Wales providing IP advice and representation on a completely pro-bono basis.

In the past 12 months, the team of lawyers and students have helped 27 clients across 45 matters, including supporting small businesses and start-ups in successful legal challenges against much larger organisations, covering issues such as trademark applications and branding disputes.

NASA head of science Dr Nicola Fox speaking with Dr Sarah Casewell from the University of Leicester

The NLS Legal IP team, from left: Callum Scott, Professor Jane Jarman, Matilda Kapala and Peter Vaughan

James Steventon, CEO of Air IT (centre) with Campbell Fraser, executive chairman of SoConnect (left) and Gordon Sayers, its CEO

Freight expectations for airport as cargo expands

Law firm’s offices undergo a refresh

Management at East Midlands Airport (EMA) say tens of thousands of jobs and billions of pounds in economic value are set to be unlocked by growth in its cargo operations.

They say a new study suggests the Castle Donington airport has a unique combination of strengths that make it perfectly placed to support increased demand for air freight in the coming years – including its central location, proximity to major road and rail networks, and proximity to so many big warehouse sites.

It sits within 125 miles of 80% of all large-scale warehousing in England and Wales, compared to 53% for Heathrow.

Another strength is its specialism in express air freight – where cargo is carried in dedicated planes rather than the holds of passenger planes.

Management said EMA also has capacity to accommodate more

‘This report confirms EMA’s status as the UK’s most important express air freight hub’

cargo flights as the economy grows, while other big airports are constrained. They cited a recent example of its potential as the move by British cargo airline One Air from Heathrow to EMA.

The study by specialist air travel consultants York Aviation says air cargo growth at EMA will support between £687m and £1.8bn in additional GVA – or economic contribution – and between 2,700 and 12,600 extra jobs by 2030.

The report says Heathrow’s market share fell by 3% between 2012 and 2022, while EMA’s grew by 7%, suggesting its position as an alternative to London’s congested and flight slot constrained airports.

EMA currently contributes around £443m GVA to the regional economy, handling around 400,000 tonnes of cargo and 4m passengers every year.

DHL, UPS and Fedex all have their main UK hubs at EMA, and the report suggests the airport supports around 100 top corporates in the East Midlands region with a combined turnover of more than £16bn.

Managing director Steve Griffiths said: “This report confirms EMA’s status as the UK’s most important express air freight hub, powering seamless trade for the whole of the country. What’s really encouraging is that it spells out the potential for EMA to meet growing demand for air cargo as London airports, whose cargo operations rely on passenger flights subject to greater restrictions, become congested and reach capacity.”

Law firm Geldards is carrying out a three-month refurbishment of offices at Derby’s One Pride Park facility, which is managed by Cubo.

It is the second collaboration with Cubo following Geldards’ recent relocation to its Standard Court facility in Nottingham.

Geldards chairman David Williams (pictured) said: “We have worked with Cubo for over a year to develop our East Midlands property strategy.

“Having successfully achieved our first move for the Nottingham office, it was time to do the same for our Derby practice.”

The refurbishment of Number One Pride Park started in April and will feature 18,000 sqft of office accommodation on three floors, with 450 desks available.

When Geldards returns to One Pride Park it will become the flagship occupier of the refurbished building.

University earns top grades for start-up activity

De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) has been ranked among the top 10 British universities with the most start-ups by students and graduates for the fourth year in a row.

Figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency showed there were 104 businesses started in the 2022/23 academic year, placing DMU ninth in the national league table. The

university was also the highest ranked university in the Midlands.

The entrepreneurial students have been helped by the newly rebranded DMU Made team, which mentors hundreds of students and graduates each year through a variety of in-person and online events – helping them into selfemployment, freelancing or learning entrepreneurial skills.

The team supports programmes

and initiatives including an annual Pitch2Win competition, the Enterprise Placement Year, SelfEmployment Catapult, international online Entrepreneurship Summer School and the annual DMU Made Entrepreneurship Awards.

DMU Made manager Simon Baines said: “For more than 100 students and recent graduates to have launched a new business is incredible.”

CHAMBER IS HONOURED BY THE SUPPORT OF ITS STRATEGIC PARTNERS AND PATRONS

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Embracing the entrepreneurial spirit

The drive to become a business owner

By Martin Russell Hughes (pictured), founder, Executive Insight Exchange.

The entrepreneurial spirit is a powerful force that drives individuals to venture into the unknown, take risks, and create something meaningful.

The desire to be a business owner is fuelled by a combination of ambition, innovation, and a yearning for independence. In this article, we will delve into the essence of the entrepreneurial spirit, exploring the motivations and characteristics that propel individuals towards the challenging yet rewarding path of entrepreneurship.

THE CALL OF INDEPENDENCE

One of the fundamental aspects of the entrepreneurial spirit is the pursuit of independence. Many aspiring business owners are drawn to the idea of controlling their destiny, breaking free from the constraints of traditional employment, and creating a path that aligns with their values and vision. The ability to make decisions autonomously and shape the direction of a business is a driving force that fuels the entrepreneurial journey.

PASSION AND PURPOSE

Entrepreneurs are often deeply passionate about their ideas, products, or services. This passion underpins their driving force, pushing them to overcome obstacles and persist in the face of challenges. The desire to make a meaningful impact on the world, solve a problem, or contribute to a specific industry often serves as the foundation for an entrepreneurial venture. This passion not only sustains entrepreneurs through tough times but also inspires others to join them on their journey.

RISK TAKING AND RESILIENCE

The entrepreneurial path is inherently risky, as it involves stepping into the unknown and navigating uncertainties. The willingness to take calculated risks and the ability to bounce back from failures are key components of the entrepreneurial spirit. Entrepreneurs understand that setbacks are inevitable, but it is their resilience and determination that distinguish them. The ability to learn from failures and adapt to changing circumstances is essential for success in the dynamic world of business ownership.

INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY

Entrepreneurs are often driven by a desire to innovate and create something new. Whether it's introducing a groundbreaking product, revolutionising an industry, or improving existing processes, the entrepreneurial spirit thrives on creativity. The ability to think differently and find innovative solutions to problems is a hallmark of successful entrepreneurs. This constant pursuit of improvement and differentiation keeps businesses competitive and relevant.

ADAPTABILITY IN A CHANGING LANDSCAPE

The business landscape is constantly evolving, influenced by technological advancements, economic shifts, and societal changes. Entrepreneurs possess a unique ability to adapt to these fluctuations and turn challenges into

opportunities. The capacity to embrace change, pivot when necessary, and stay ahead of trends is crucial for long-term success in the entrepreneurial world.

The entrepreneurial spirit is a powerful force that drives individuals to pursue their dreams, create something meaningful, and contribute to the world in their unique way. The desire to be a business owner is fuelled by a combination of independence, passion, risk taking, innovation, and adaptability. Despite the challenges, entrepreneurs embark on this journey with a vision and a determination to make a lasting impact. As we celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit, we recognise the individuals who dare to dream, take risks, and shape the future through their unwavering commitment to being business owners.

2024 GENERATION NEXT AWARD NOMINEES

APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR

SPONSORED BY LOUGHBOROUGH COLLEGE

Alice Taylor –Your IT Department

Ben Taylor –Preci-Spark

Cerys Goodson –E.ON

Emily Barnes –Donaldson Filtration GB

Evie Culligan –The Fidelity Group

George Archer –OceanLED

Hannah Pritchard –Turner & Townsend

Rav Jackson –Stephen Eve Financial Planning

Rosie Summers –Caterpillar UK

William Murphy – Electrician

CREATORS AND MAKERS AWARD

Olivia Waldron –MHA

Katie Michaels –Moti Me

Ollie Henderson –Purpose Media

Max Palfrey –Comfa

Alistair Bullock –Purpose Media

Ewan Johnson –Botso

Morgan Jones –Hardy Signs

Jamie Quince Starkey –Down to Earth Derby

CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD

Benjamin Wileman –Select Car Leasing East Midlands

Elliot Pipes –Sort Legal

Daniel Burke –Delta 74 Private Investigations

Hayley Cousins – Loughborough College

Jack Marshall –Select Car Leasing East Midlands

Jenny White –Rosie May Foundation / Think Pink

Jessica Kelleher –Halborns

Matthew Robinson –RBC Brewin Dolphin

Nicole Perkins – Futures Housing Group

Loredana Budhan –Rosie May Foundation / Think Pink

Stephen Atkinson –Longbow Venues

Rebecca Cliff – Nottingham Trent University

Thomas Shaw –Shaw Spark Electrical and Property Services

ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

Joshua Leach-Aslam –Two Chevrons Group / Two Chevrons CIC

Oliver Smith –Miroproducts

Luke Beastall –Musclecoach UK

Katie Michaels –Moti Me

Ewan Johnson –Botso

David Allerton –SE-LF

Emma Morris –Headway Derby

Jiten Anand –Inspirate

Stephen Atkinson –Longbow Venues

Jamie Quince Starkey –Down to Earth Derby

ENVIRONMENTAL WARRIOR AWARD

SPONSORED BY HYDROPATH TECHNOLOGY

Ewan Johnson –Botso

George Pritchard –Scenariio

David Allerton –SE-LF

Jamie Quince Starkey –Down to Earth Derby

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSIVITY AWARD

SPONSORED BY FUTURES HOUSING GROUP

Emma Sharpe –Menphys

Katie Michaels –Moti Me

Max Palfrey –Comfa

Brogan Lees-Collier –Forsyth Barnes

Laura Till –AMBITION Sports Coaching

Fraser Annis –Anniseeds

Michaela Castillo-Williams –Epic Partners

Jiten Anand –Inspirate

Finalists unveiled for Generation Next Awards

The finalists in the Chamber’s 2024 Generation Next Awards were announced at a networking afternoon held at the new Box Nottingham Sports Bar and Kitchen.

The annual awards celebrate the best young talent from across the East Midlands, and are open to young people working in businesses ranging from big corporates to boutique creative agencies and single-person startups.

The winners will be revealed at the Chocolate Factory at Bustler Market, Derby on 4 July.

Generation Next is a membership network run by the Chamber for young professionals in Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire. It runs social events and webinars for its members to help build skills, connect with likeminded individuals and thrive in their careers.

Chamber director of resources and Generation Next lead Lucy Robinson, who helped introduce the Nottingham event, said it was a pleasure to celebrate the region’s amazing young people and the work they do.

She said: “To win a prestigious Generation Next Award is something quite special.

“It shines a light on a young person as being someone that has impressed in the East Midlands business community.

“The wide range of categories means that whether someone you

‘It shines a light on a young person as being someone that has impressed in the East Midlands business community’

know has a special skill, great ideas or has some real sparkle that shows in their work, there might be a Generation Next award with their name on it.”

Daniel Nikolla, marketing manager at Hardy Signs, heads up the Generation Next board. He said the organisation was launched because the Chamber and other business leaders recognised a lack of representation for young business talent in the region.

These will be the fourth awards to be held.

Guest speaker at the presentation was Derby animator, entrepreneur and mental health worker Nathan Addai who won the 2023 equality, diversity and inclusivity award.

He runs Mental Roots, an ethical, for-profit brand that uses creativity and media to destigmatise and improve mental health support for underrepresented communities.

He said Generation Next was a brilliant organisation that empowered future business leaders to share their knowledge and skills with others.

He said: “I want to congratulate every one of the finalists regardless

of what stage they have reached in their career – their voice has power – so a massive well-done has to go to all those who have been recognised.”

Entertainment was provided by Leicestershire singer/songwriter Mason Bailey, 24, who said he was impressed by the high calibre of the young professionals who attended and the nominees.

He said: “It’s great to be able to network and show off my music at the same time.”

The headline sponsor of the 2024 Generation Next awards is the University of Derby.

Tickets for the presentation evening – which includes £20 to spend behind the bar the chance to sample street food from Bustler’s vendors – cost £70 for Generation Next members (or £300 for five people) and £85 for non-members (£400 for five) (plus VAT).

To find out more, get in touch with the team at gennext@emcdnl.co.uk

2024 GENERATION NEXT AWARD NOMINEES

INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY AWARD

SPONSORED BY HARDY SIGNS

Jake Ridgway –Design Only Gardens

Josh Donnell –Purpose Media

Finn Riggott –Cosy Direct

Max Palfrey –Comfa

Elizabeth Ashton –Loughborough University

INVESTING IN YOUNG TALENT AWARD

Futures Housing Group

MHA

Your IT Department

Base 51

Purpose Media

De Montfort University Careers Team

Innovation Nottinghamshire

Longbow Venues

RISING STAR AWARD

SPONSORED BY NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY

Adhinav Jain –Head of Enactus Derby

Amy Curtis –Loughborough College

Evie Culligan –The Fidelity Group

Fern Ritchie –Your IT Department

Jemima Prater –The Maynard (Part of Longbow Venues)

Lucy Hilton –Cosy Direct

Lydia McDonald –Treat Kitchen

Nicole Perkins – Futures Housing Group

Sarif Sarker –Growthack Digital

Scarlet McCourt –trentbarton

START-UP AWARD

SPONSORED BY NOTTINGHAM UNIVERSITY

BUSINESS SCHOOL

Alex Taylor –Endeavours Adventures

Danielle & Ben Slater –Stephen Eve Financial Planning

Jamie Quince Starkey –Down to Earth Derby

Katie Michaels –Moti Me

Laura Holland –Ecotech Engineers

Max Palfrey –Comfa

VOLUNTEERING & CHARITABLE IMPACT AWARD

SPONSORED BY ITS TECHNOLOGY GROUP

Joshua Leach-Aslam –Two Chevrons Group / Two Chevrons CIC

Bradley Hall –Turner & Townsend

Emma Sharpe –Menphys

Alicia Anderson –Reuseabox

Katie Michaels –Moti Me

Jenny White –Rosie May Foundation / Think Pink

Loredana Budhan –Rosie May Foundation / Think Pink

David Allerton –SE-LF

Michaela Castillo-Williams –Epic Partners

FUTURE LEADER AWARD

SPONSORED BY UNIVERSITY OF DERBY

Chris Allcoat –Turner & Townsend

Samantha O’Neill –The Derby Conference Centre

Jamie Quince Starkey –Down to Earth Derby

Katie Michaels –Moti Me

Jack Brewin –Hays Specialist Recruitment

Emma Sharpe – Menphys

Nicole Perkins – Futures Housing Group

Ruby Birks – Purpose Media

Taylor Wayne Gee –Design Only Gardens

Chamber among the main sponsors for Derby Book Festival

East Midlands Chamber is supporting the annual Derby Book Festival along with some of the region’s other big business names.

The Chamber is sponsoring this year’s festival, which runs until 5 June. It will see a programme of more than 100 book-related events and activities for all ages and interests, held in venues across the city – including writers’ talks, children’s storytelling sessions, workshops and a host of other creative events helping to bring books to life.

It is run by a small group of staff supported by a charitable team of more than 80 volunteers.

The festival is funded by the University of Derby, the Arts Council England, and local business sponsors such as law firm Geldards, with 2024 its tenth year as a sponsor.

Geldards sponsorship will support a number of writer talks, including Guardian journalist Polly Toynbee who is discussing ‘An Uneasy Inheritance’ – her heartfelt memoir exploring class equality.

LBC radio host James O’Brien will talk about his bestseller ‘How they Broke Britain’, which considers recent UK political events.

Mick Conefrey’s ‘Fallen’, meanwhile, examines the mystery surrounding world-famous explorer George Mallory who disappeared on Mount Everest in 1924.

Tickets are on sale now from www.derbybookfestival.co.uk.

Geldards chairman David Williams said: “It is hard to believe that Geldards has been supporting Derby Book Festival for a whole decade! Just think how many young readers have been inspired during that time.

“The festival plays an important role in Derby’s cultural calendar, attracting visitors to the city and celebrating our diverse and talented literary community.

“Geldards is pleased to be supporting such a wide variety of writers’ discussions, bringing to life some very pertinent and stimulating topics. We look forward to enjoying the many interesting events the festival offers and are delighted to be part of this success story for Derby.”

2023 Award winner Nathan Addai addresses event attendees

Kenneth Clarke at 2023’s event

Chamber backs Business Festival

East Midlands Chamber has signed up as a key partner for Leicester Business Festival 2024.

The festival celebrates its tenth anniversary this year, taking place from 4-15 November, when it will feature around 80 events.

Businesses across Leicestershire will be taking part in the two weeks of celebrations, holding events ranging from seminars and expert panel discussions to workshops and conferences – and the fortnight will also include the East Midlands Chamber Leicestershire Business Awards, on 8 November.

In the 10 years since the first festival there have been 938 events, which the organisers say have been attended by an estimated 43,000 people. The mixture of digital and in-person sessions over the years has included roundtable discussions, product demonstrations, quizzes, showroom tours and even stand-up comedy.

Alongside the Chamber, key partners for 2024 include the

University of Leicester, Everards Brewery, The Sir Thomas White Loan Charity, Leicester Hospitals Charity and TheMusicLicence, by PPL PRS Ltd.

East Midlands Chamber chief executive Scott Knowles said: “I very much look forward to supporting Leicester Business Festival once again.

“Our partnership is longstanding and year-after-year the festival has given us the opportunity to champion the economic vitality of Leicestershire.

achievements of the county’s businesses.”

Richard Osborn, regional director of Excello Law, chairs the LBF Community interest Company (CiC). He said: “Sponsoring Leicester Business Festival 2024 is a genuine commitment towards enhancing the wider business community.

“The festival is an effective platform to share knowledge and ideas and for businesses to learn from each other and network. East Midlands Chamber is a leading advocate of the business community across Leicestershire so it’s always beneficial being able to engage with many businesses of different sizes and industries at the festival.

“The timing couldn’t be better this year, as the Chamber’s Leicestershire Business Awards take place on 8 November when the limelight will be on the outstanding

“Sponsors are not just backers; they enable the festival to happen with a real impact. As well as gaining exposure for their own business their sponsorship helps to establish a bigger, better, and stronger collaborative force within the wider business network.”

Businesses which support LBF play a pivotal part in ensuring the festival addresses the needs and interests of the business community as well as contributing to the high-quality set of events within the festival programme.

Businesses wishing to take part can find the application form and criteria on the website at www.leicesterbusinessfestival.com

Nominations roll in for region’s PA Awards

Organisers of the 2024 East Midlands PA Awards said they have received more than 160 nominations – a big achievement in what is only the second year of the awards.

They wanted to share a “huge and heartfelt thank you” with everyone who took the time to put forward their nominations for the awards, which are run by Midlands events organiser, sector support body and networking specialist PA Forum with support from the Chamber.

The committee said they were overjoyed with the positive response and support from organisations and individuals across the East Midlands, which this year include: Aggrandise, Amazon, Apt Virtual Assistance, Armstrong Aviation Clothing, Arup, Baker Hughes, Base 51, Bloom VA, Carla Smith Virtual PA, College of Science and Engineering, University of Leicester, CR Smith Virtual PA, David Ross Education Trust, De Courcy Alexander, De Montfort University, Druck, Eversheds Sutherland LLP, Flogas Britain, Galliford Try Services, Loughborough University, Loughborough University, School of Science, Lucy Hicks –Virtual Assistant, Mattioli Woods PLC,

Motorsport UK, National Grid Ventures, NHS England, PwC, Shoosmiths LLP, Smallbizbod, Stella, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust: R&I, University of Leicester, University of Leicester School of Business and VM & CO.

The nominees were invited to an evening of celebrations at Hilton East Midlands to raise a glass in celebration and bring together executive and business support professionals across the region. The finalists for each of the seven categories will be invited to meet a panel of industry professionals to share more about

their career and achievements on 17 June, at Burleigh Court in Loughborough, before enjoying a finalists networking event. The awards evening itself is being held on 12 September at Athena in Leicester.

To find out more about the East Midlands PA Awards and East Midlands PA Forum, contact forum founder Daniel Skermer at Daniel@paforum.co.uk or Lesley Young, executive support manager at East Midlands Chamber at Lesley.Young@emc-dnl.co.uk

Scott Knowles spoke at the event

Some of last year’s attendees

Chamber executive support manager Lesley Young and PA Forum founder Dan Skermer

PA Forum awards nominee Sebastian Rotaru from Amazon

What a pleasure to watch this region develop

Chris Hobson (pictured), the Chamber’s director of policy & insight, is leaving the organisation at the end of this month to start a new life with his family in Canada. Here he reflects on what it has been like shaping a decade of East Midlands policy.

As many know, June marks my last month with the Chamber before I head on to pastures (very) new in Canada.

The last 10 years have been fantastic and I’ve loved every minute of the time spent with colleagues, members and partners, many of whom have become great friends.

I’m also delighted to be handing over the reins to Rick Blackmore, who is no stranger to businesses across the patch and I know will do an amazing job in representing all the organisations that make the East Midlands such a great place to live and work.

It's hard not to feel slightly reflective at such a juncture in life, but – embracing that – it can be useful to look back on the events that have shaped the region over the past decade, how that’s got us to where we are and where we may be heading in the future.

Starting with the region itself and what it means to be the ‘East Midlands’.

One of the early pieces I led on concerned East Midlands identity –English devolution as a concept was nascent, with the first metro mayors not in place until 2015.

Unsurprisingly, back in 2014 when we first engaged members on this it wasn’t high up on people’s priorities. Fast forward to 2024 and we have our first Mayoral Combined County Authority, covering

Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, and the Chamber is well placed to support the new mayor and her team as she seeks to grow the area over the coming years.

However, while the devolution of powers and funding is something we’ve championed, the naming of the authority – East Midlands MCCA – is somewhat uncomfortable.

‘Above all else it’s the people that make the East Midlands such a special place to be’

The concept of an East Midlands region has always been fluid, although if the aim is to enact policy based on optimal economic geographies then for me the three cities and three counties represent the true East Midlands, a view that I believe is becoming increasingly mainstream in Government and media.

How Leicester and Leicestershire navigate a continued push to greater devolution over the coming years is a conversation that the Chamber and its members will undoubtedly play a big role in.

So what are our regional opportunities and how have they developed over the years? In 2018 the Chamber took a group of members down to Westminster to

launch ‘Delivering a Great Future’, calling on politicians to deliver our ‘Big Opportunity’ to create a zone of ultra-high growth in advanced manufacturing and logistics, hinged around East Midlands Airport.

Many conversations later, in March 2021 the Government gave the green light for eight freeport locations in the UK, including the sole inland freeport here in the East Midlands centred around the airport. The freeport is now coming into its own, creating a focal point for attracting international investment and opportunity.

If we’re to realise our potential as a region then the success of the freeport has to play an important role in that.

Earlier this year the Chamber was again in Parliament, launching our latest Manifesto for Growth.

Our Big Opportunity this time calls on Government to develop the future of energy production, storage and provision here in the East Midlands – building on our existing infrastructure and expertise to deliver the solutions to Britain’s energy challenges and export these around the world.

We have all the raw ingredients to succeed and it’s an opportunity the Chamber will continue to champion.

It would be impossible to do a proper look back at recent years and not mention the two biggest events to have shaped our economy – the UK’s departure from the EU and the pandemic.

There isn’t the space to do justice to the fundamentals that have changed as a result, and people will have their own business and personal stories to tell, for better and worse.

But without focusing on specifics I would reflect on the resilience and creativity that has been shown by businesses across what for many were incredibly trying times – a resilience and creativity that continues to impress just as much now as it did when I first started talking to members more than 10 years ago.

Indeed, when I’m asked why I love the job, top of the list has always been the opportunity it’s given me to be welcomed into people’s businesses, see behind the closed doors and get an insight into the passion and dedication that makes our region tick. It’s these attributes that will continue to stand the East Midlands in good stead for the next decade and many more after that.

There have been other policy wins, losses, and those that you could argue either way.

But to end where I started, above all else it’s the people that make the East Midlands such a special place to be.

Thanks to all of you for your support over the years. For now, I’m excited to continue to follow the region’s growth and successes over the coming decade and beyond, albeit from slightly further afield.

Chris (far right) discusses last year’s Autumn Statement with local business leaders at a Chamber roundtable event

Teaming up to provide mental health courses

East Midlands Chamber has partnered with Loates Workplace Wellbeing to provide mental health courses, accredited by MHFA England.

The collaboration was launched during Mental Health Awareness Week and will provide businesses with access to mental health first-aider training, either in person or online.

The courses help delegates gain the knowledge and skills to spot signs of people experiencing poor mental health, be confident enough to start a conversation and signpost a person to appropriate support.

The initiative reinforces East Midland's Chamber’s CSR commitment as courses are provided in partnership with regional charities across the East Midlands.

Since 2022, Loates Workplace Wellbeing has provided complimentary MHFA training for

‘Collaboration with Loates Workplace Wellbeing has enabled us to raise the profile of Nottinghamshire Hospice’

Derby County Community Trust, Nottinghamshire Hospice and from 2024, Rainbows Hospice in Leicestershire.

East Midlands Chamber head of leadership and training programmes Vicki Thompson said:

“We see this as a natural extension to the broad training programme we already offer.

“The mental health first aider courses can also be booked by businesses as an in-house course.”

Loates Workplace Wellbeing’s Annie Litchfield said: “The charity partnerships foster a culture of

wellbeing in the workplace while raising awareness of the valuable work and vital services each charity undertakes.”

Nottinghamshire Hospice communications and marketing manager Hollie Anderson (pictured) said: “The collaboration with Loates Workplace Wellbeing

has enabled us to raise the profile of Nottinghamshire Hospice among a wider group of organisations.

“By offering their mental health first aid courses in our training room, we provide essential training to our team and showcase the hospice’s vital work to a broader audience.”

Scheme offers support for disabled workers

People living with physical and mental health disabilities can get help finding and retaining work in Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire, thanks to a new scheme.

The Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care (IPSPC) scheme – known locally as Working Well East Midlands – supports disabled adults move into employment.

In-work support is also available to working people who need help to maintain their job.

East Midlands Chamber, alongside subcontractors Futures Advice, Skills and Employment Limited and Inspire, is delivering the programme in Nottingham City, Broxtowe, Gedling and Rushcliffe.

In Ashfield, Bassetlaw, Mansfield and Newark and Sherwood, the programme will be delivered by Standguide. Teams are now in place across the city and county and will work

closely with NHS Primary Care clinical teams to offer wraparound support.

Commissioned by Nottingham City Council and funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), the programme aims to help 2,600 adults across the region between now and March 2025.

Working Well East Midlands will be delivered as part of the Chamber’s wider suite of health and employment initiatives. The programme aims to help people move into work quickly with personalised employment support and advice integrated with their normal health treatment.

Participants receive ‘place and train’ employment support and they are referred to the scheme by healthcare professionals such as GPs or can self-refer.

Employment specialists will offer flexible

one-to-one tailored support, including rapid job search, liaising with employers, help with benefits and bespoke career advice based on skills and abilities.

Diane Beresford, the Chamber’s deputy chief executive, said: “What really sets IPSPC Working Well East Midlands apart is its holistic approach. Our team of dedicated employment specialists will be integrated into NHS teams to ensure that physical and mental health needs are considered every step of the way.

“This means that when, for instance, a GP refers an individual to an NHS clinician for mental health support, our specialists will work closely with the healthcare professional to provide tailored employment assistance.”

More information on the initiative is available at workingwelleastmidlands.co.uk

Photo courtesy of iStock

Inflation decrease should see Bank cut interest rates

The base interest rate from the Bank of England remained static at 5.25% in May, though the team at East Midlands Chamber is optimistic about cuts on the horizon.

Head of special projects Richard Blackmore said: “A drop in the interest rate does feel like it’s not just on the horizon, but almost in touching distance. We could see that happen soon, especially when you consider the recent dip in inflation.

‘While the signs are generally encouraging in the East Midlands, borrowing costs remain a hurdle’

“Our Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) further underlines a buoyant outlook for the East Midlands where 59% of respondents reported an anticipated increase in turnover over the next 12 months and 45% expect a lift in profitability over the same period. A fall in inflation looks very likely but factors like GDP and labour market figures will play into where we get to – and when – with the interest rate. While the signs are generally encouraging in the East Midlands, borrowing costs remain a hurdle for business so I’d urge the Bank of England to hear the needs of businesses and ensure a rate cut is imminent.

“Our Manifesto for Growth 2024 sets out the key asks, specifically for the East Midlands, that are needed to take the region’s economy forward.”

Businesses across the region are invited to participate in the research for the Chamber’s QES for the second quarter of 2024. The last chance to share your thoughts is 10 June.

Richard said: “The QES is about the most effective indicator we have on the economic performance and trends in the East Midlands.

“What gives this research such significance is that it’s focused purely on this region, where the picture is totally different to other parts of the UK.”

To participate in the Q2 2024 QES, search is.gd/VgQixL

Business support network for Gedling

Businesses trading in and around Gedling can get a helping hand through the new Gedling Business Support Network.

The new network is being funded by Gedling Borough Council’s share of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) – and delivered by East Midlands Chamber. Its aim is to enable local businesses to work together, learn new skills and stay up-to-date on relevant local, regional and national support.

Gedling Borough Council economic and growth portfolio holder Cllr Jenny Hollingsworth said: “It is of particular relevance to businesses who want to grow Gedling’s reputation as a place to do business.”

East Midlands Chamber deputy chief executive Diane Beresford said: “We’ve put together a series of interactive exercises to really drill down to what’s keeping Gedling businesses awake at night and how the Chamber and council can address those issues, both through the network and through support delivered through the Gedling Accelerator project and our routes into national programmes.”

Businesses can book their place at d2n2growthhub.co.uk

Richard Blackmore

Business Peak District (BPD) is a membership organisation for businesses in the area covered by the Peak District National Park, High Peak, Staffordshire Moorlands and Derbyshire Dales. Membership is free. Its principal supporter is East Midlands Chamber, however it also works closely with relevant local authorities, the Peak District National Park Authority, Visit Peak District and Derbyshire and the University of Derby. BPD has over 700 members and it works with the aforementioned organisations to deliver its vision of a Peak District that has a distinctive, high quality, rural environment with an enterprising, growing and sustainable economy, in which businesses act with a social and environmental conscience. Here we continue our regular series featuring businesses who have benefitted from the support BPD offers.

We’re digging this great

Established in 2004, Archaeological Research Services Ltd provides archaeological and heritage services for construction and development, as well as the public and third sectors.

We undertake archaeological and built heritage surveys and produce reports to help customers obtain planning permission. We also undertake archaeological excavations and historic building recording to discharge planning permission conditions.

Our customers range from large infrastructure projects – such as rail or road schemes, schools and hospitals – to the minerals industry, energy, utilities, residential and other construction sectors, as well as private individuals.

‘The Peak District provides some great opportunities for business’

We have pioneered several developments in archaeological assessment and survey practices that improve the ability to detect archaeological remains, save time and cost, while reducing carbon output compared to more traditional techniques.

We won the 2022 FSB High Growth Business of the Year awards and in 2023 were the first archaeological company to win the King's Award for Enterprise in the innovation category.

We have developed techniques for rapidly surveying large areas of land intended for construction to

Name of business: Archaeological Research Services

Location: Angel House, Portland Square, Bakewell, Derbyshire

Number of employees: 80

Spokesperson: Clive Waddington, managing director

test for archaeological sites undetected by other methods. Our techniques help us establish the optimal amount of further ground investigation required to work out the degree of survival of belowground archaeological remains.

We have also developed a ‘carbon calculator’ to quantify the carbon emissions from our archaeological works and a recording app which enables us to make digital field records to input directly into reports, cutting paper use.

Our location in the Peak District has meant that we have had the opportunity to trial and test our techniques at various locations in and immediately adjacent to the Peak District and this gave considerable help in developing and testing our techniques and making them fit for market.

Doing business in the Peak District is fun and all my commutes, from whatever direction, are delightful experiences, surrounded by stunning countryside and views.

Working in the heart of Bakewell provides a busy market-town

location

to the wider world through our high-speed internet connection.

The Peak District provides some great opportunities for business as it can offer lifestyle and surroundings that provide an antidote to the cyber world so many people at work inhabit. It also provides a more interesting half day or day visit for clients and other stakeholders.

Being located in this serene working environment also provides a great place to think and develop ideas and this has supported out innovative culture.

The biggest challenges to doing business from the Peak District have been the cost of getting highspeed broadband installed and recruitment and retention of staff.

Recruitment is a much wider societal challenge affected by different cultural attitudes towards work, rapidly changing demographics, long-term decline in the number of archaeology graduates and the availability of affordable housing and travel.

Being connected to the construction industry, archaeology can be vulnerable to economic shocks just like the wider industry of which it is a part and the last four years since the start of Covid has seen plenty of those.

Many of these are macro external shocks over which we have little control, but developing long-term trusted relationships with customers is key, together with innovation, adaptation and people development.

A local networking group like Business Peak District helps us keep up to date with local suppliers and customers. It also provides the opportunity to discuss and share challenges, solutions and new ideas which can really help businesses navigate common problems, and provide resilience in what is a very rapidly changing world.

Business Peak District also gives a unified voice for the region and shines a light on our area, attracting business support and investment and develop links with Sheffield, Derby and Manchester as well as further afield.

backdrop whilst directly connected

Join Pattrn Data's new AI initiative to propel SME growth

Rohit Parmar-Mistry (pictured), owner of Pattrn Data, unveils an exciting opportunity for SMEs to join a pioneering proof of concept project. This initiative aims to integrate and enhance SME data analysis and marketing efficiency.

Centralising SME data

Pattrn Data's upcoming project is set to revolutionise SME operations by centralising all business data into one accessible platform. This integration allows SMEs to efficiently manage their data, enabling quick access and comprehensive analysis to inform strategic decisions and streamline operations.

Advanced visualisation for immediate insights

The platform will not only centralise data but also transform it into dynamic visualisations. These insights will allow SMEs to understand their

current business standing and market dynamics instantly. By providing a clear view of real-time business performance, SMEs can adapt swiftly to changing market conditions and opportunities.

AI-driven marketing optimisation

A core feature of the new platform is its AI capabilities tailored to optimise marketing expenditures. The AI models will analyse lead sources and revenue contributions to recommend the most effective marketing channels. This targeted approach promises to enhance marketing ROI, focusing spend on the most profitable activities.

Strategic lead conversion enhancement

Further, the platform will enhance lead management by identifying the most promising

leads and the best times for engagement, thus improving conversion rates. This strategic tool is designed to maximise sales efficiency and boost revenue, supporting sustained business growth.

Be at the forefront of SME innovation with Pattrn Data. We're inviting SMEs to participate in our proof of concept phase. This is your chance to shape solutions that cater directly to your needs. Visit Pattrn Data’s website to join us on this transformative journey and to learn more about how you can be part of this pioneering project.

Discover how Pattrn Data can transform your customer engagement.

Visit pattrndata.io for more insights and solutions.

Get your Awards entries in!

Businesses have until the second half of July to get their entries in for the 2024 East Midlands Chamber Business Awards. Companies across Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire are being encouraged to get their applications in for the categories which cover things ranging from innovation and growth to small business of the year and environmental impact.

Each of the counties has its own, separate awards ceremony with the Derbyshire Business Awards being held on 25 October, the Nottinghamshire Awards on 1 November and the Leicestershire Awards on 8 November. TV presenter Emma Jesson will be hosting each of the evenings.

A Business of the Year is chosen from the winners in each county and selected firms will go through to the regional and national British Chambers of Commerce Awards.

Entries need to be submitted by 19 July and the shortlist of finalists will be revealed at the East Midlands Chamber President's Summer Celebration event on 21 August.

There are numerous reasons for entering the annual awards. Taking part helps raise your company profile and gain valuable exposure and brand awareness. They can also enhance the credibility and reputation of your company –boosting a company’s standing in the regional and national business community.

The awards can also help with employee motivation and retention – helping foster a sense of pride and accomplishment in your organisation. Added to all that, the process of applying often encourages business leaders to re-evaluate their operations, products, services, and performance, potentially identifying areas for improvement.

Chamber chief executive Scott Knowles said the awards helped show how the region’s resilience, creativity and innovation continue to shine through despite the many headwinds battering the UK economy.

He said: “I’d like to extend my thanks to Emma Jesson for hosting this year and to all the sponsors that help make the Business Awards such an outstanding event each year.”

Sponsorship opportunities can be discussed by emailing trace.voss@emc-dnl.co.uk

For more information and to enter visit www.emc-dnl.co.uk/services/business-awards

EAST MIDLANDS CHAMBER

BUSINESS AWARDS 2024 CATEGORIES:

• Business Improvement Through Technology

• Community Impact Award

• Outstanding Growth Award

• Environmental Impact Award

• Commitment to People Development Award

• Apprentice of the Year

• Entrepreneur of the Year

• Education and Business Partnership Award

• Excellence in Customer Service

• Excellence in International Trade

• Small Business of the Year

• Excellence in Innovation

• Excellence in Collaboration

The 2023 Businesses of the Year

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

Energy and water consultancy BFY Group was picked by the judges for the quality of the work it does with the UK energy retail market, helping suppliers onboard millions of customers. It also stood out for guiding energy suppliers through the price crisis in order to reduce debt and support its customers.

DERBYSHIRE

Midland Lead, which supplies construction firms across the world with building products made from recycled lead, was crowned the 2023 Derbyshire winner.

The Swadlincote-based, family-run company – which produces more than 15,000 tonnes of lead per year – also won the Commitment to People Development category after transforming company culture and making long-term investments in its workforce.

LEICESTERSHIRE

Unique Window Systems – a designer, fabricator and installer of uPVC and aluminium windows, doors and curtain walling – was picked as the overall winner for its work with the trade, new house build and commercial markets.

Enterprising Women finalists to be unveiled

Finalists for the 2024 Enterprising Women awards are set to be announced on 13 June at Kilworth House Hotel in Leicestershire. Ten categories will showcase women in the East Midlands who excel in business, while a newly introduced award for 2024 will recognise emerging leaders.

The announcement of finalists forms the centrepiece of Enterprising Women’s annual Summer Networking Event, ahead of the award ceremony in September.

Enterprising Women co-chair Eileen Perry MBE DL said: “The breadth of skill and sheer business brilliance we have amongst East

Midlands women is what we shine the light on in these awards and the nail-biting wait each year for the finalists to be revealed and find out who’s gone through is exciting.

“Each year the judging panel are bowled over by the strength of applications and the wide range of categories women can be nominated in,

covers all kinds of ways to have positive impact in the business world.

“The moment the envelopes are opened is a thrill as we find out who the 2024 finalists are –and what better place than with an afternoon tea in the sunshine at our Summer Networking Event.

“This year we’re delighted to have the surroundings of the stunning Kilworth House Hotel, a great setting to network with business leaders across the East Midlands.”

To secure a place at the summer networking event click here: is.gd/8mskL5

Emma Jesson will host the awards evenings

Make the most of our training options

The Chamber’s bespoke training service manages businesses’ training requirements from start to finish, choosing which approach best addresses their needs and aligns with their objectives. Here, Chamber head of leadership and training Vicki Thompson (pictured) discusses ways members use the service.

INTERNAL SYSTEMS SUPPORT

We can provide training bespoke to the internal systems within organisations, such as the Microsoft Office and Google suites, and even on methods to extend the efficiency of those systems through artificial intelligence applications and programmes.

For businesses that require help in understanding the capabilities of their own IT systems and internal processes, the Chamber's trainers can review them to create specific training exercises and support.

BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION SUPPORT

Once the trainer has completed their review of an organisation’s internal systems, they can also identify ways to streamline processes to ensure teams and systems are working more efficiently.

train together in a format that best suits their diaries – be that online, one-to-one or group sessions – and programmes can be customised to align to a department's core objectives.

ALIGNING TRAINING PROGRAMMES WITH COMPANY CULTURE

The improvements made to processes and systems can contribute to transforming the way employees work, creating a happier and more profitable workforce.

JOB-SPECIFIC PROGRAMMES

Whether it's director or management development, marketing and sales or health and safety training, the Chamber can curate training programmes specific to the skills needs of a department or individual.

The bespoke offer allows team members to

By sourcing training programmes through the bespoke offer, the Chamber's trainers will use a consistent approach that is responsive to the organisation's needs in order to create an outcome aligned to the culture of the organisation. This ensures all employees are on the same page and working together towards unified goals.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

Businesses might also want to consider bespoke training for their international trade operations. This could involve dedicated delivery of our flagship programme, the International Trade Operations and Procedures (ITOPS) course, to the relevant team or providing export documentation training specific to a company's processes.

To discuss your organisation’s bespoke training requirements, get in touch with the Chamber's head of leadership and training Vicki Thompson at vicki.thompson@emc-dnl.co.uk

FOCUS ON – LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT

Training will offer key business skills

Directors and senior managers can gain key skills needed to lead teams at a five-day training programme run by the Chamber.

The Director Development Programme, which begins on 17 September and runs until 12 November, is designed for individuals who want to support and grow their business, or the department they lead. The objective is to equip them with the skills and confidence needed to achieve objectives that will ultimately drive the business forward.

Delivered as a five-day modular programme with each session roughly two weeks apart, it covers the following topic headings:

Day One – 17 September

Developing Vision, Values & Strategy

Day Two – 1 October

Planning and Direction

Day Three – 15 October

Finance for Non–Finance Directors

Day Four – 29 October

People Management Approaches

Day Five – 12 November

Driving Performance & Leading Change

The course will run at East Midlands Chamber's head office in Chesterfield, S41 8ND.

The course is structured as progressive stages in a business development process, with participants having specific action steps to begin during the session and complete between each one.

At each subsequent session, participants will be expected to discuss how they have applied the material covered during the previous instalment.

The cost is £1,550 for members and £1,950 for non-members – follow this link to find out more or sign up: https://bit.ly/3T9bemg

Mid-term review of the Accelerator project

By

When the Chamber won the contract to deliver the Accelerator project on behalf of 16 local authorities across the East Midlands, our intention was two-fold. Firstly, we sought to offer support tailored to the needs of businesses in each of those areas, whether that be a strong focus on sectors such as manufacturing, the high street or tourism, or running workshops in rural areas.

Secondly, we wanted to ensure businesses signing up to the project were introduced to the wealth of additional support available to them from other regional and national sources.

This includes Innovate UK Business Growth, the UK Innovation agency’s resource for innovative SMEs from any sector looking to grow and scale up. Innovation and growth specialists work with leadership teams to identify the most effective strategies to accelerate growth and maximise potential.

ACHIEVEMENTS SO FAR….

•More than 1,000 businesses have been engaged and are working with a business adviser to boost growth

•102 growth vouchers awarded (up to the value of £2,000) helping businesses access tailored, 1-2-1 consultancy support

•300 workshops and webinars successfully delivered attracting over 7,000 delegates

•44 energy saving and improvement audits approved helping businesses create an action plan to cut costs and save money.

ROUTES INTO NATIONAL SUPPORT

Chamber and D2N2 Growth Hub support is at its best when businesses are given a helping hand to apply for support from other sources, including grant funding and pitching for investor support. Trans-Sport.tv in Bassetlaw is one example of an Accelerator business that has been referred to the Made Smarter programme and has accessed road mapping, grant funding and leadership support as a result.

FLEXIBILITY IN DELIVERY

Made Smarter is another national support programme that micro and SME firms can tap into locally.

Digital experts provide advice and support to manufacturing businesses on how to switch to advanced and automated technologies. Services include digital road mapping, access to digital technology advice and grant funding.

In addition to the above, based on the specific needs of the business identified through a business adviser, 1-2-1 consultancy services provide tailored support through a Growth Voucher. This grant of up to £2,000 can be used for specialist support and training needed by the business.

At this half point of the project, we have achieved both original objectives and lots more besides. Of particular note are the following:

From our launch events onwards, we’ve listened to what businesses want in terms of what, where, when and how they would like to access Accelerator support. We’ve set up drop-in surgeries and in Gedling we’re working with the Council to launch a new Gedling Business Support Network for businesses based in or offering products or services to the district. We’ve also set up a new Leicestershire Manufacturing Network. Forum meetings will be held at Loughborough University, with the first taking place on 5 July. The Accelerator project has some challenging targets including the creation and safeguarding of jobs, creating new enterprises, accessing new technologies or processes and engagement in knowledge transfer activity. We’re certainly on the right trajectory to achieve that and for any business yet to sign up, I would urge them to seize the opportunity before the project ends in March of next year.

Diane Beresford (pictured), deputy chief executive of East Midlands Chamber.

Aiding expansion plans in Ashfield

Ashfield Accelerator is designed to help established businesses based in the District of Ashfield.

Precision engineering business Tybro (pictured above) is one of many taking advantage of Accelerator support, with funding from Ashfield District Council’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). The support is being used to improve the firm’s commercial operations and support sustainable growth.

‘The grant received will help us increase our manufacturing capability’

Tybro is expanding its turning department and the imminent arrival of a new CNC lathe with live tooling will take its machine shop to more than 30 machines. The investment has been helped by the assistance of a £20,000 Made Smarter grant and support from the Chamber and levelling up funds from Lincolnshire County Council and Ashfield District Council.

The fourth-generation independent business was founded in 1914 and provides high-quality precision engineering for a range of industries. Its key selling point is its ability to manufacture bespoke, out-of-the-ordinary items which relies heavily upon the skillset of its team.

The business faces two key challenges: finding skilled staff to deliver the precision work required by its customers and remaining at the forefront of technological changes to provide the best possible customer service.

As a business committed to reducing its carbon footprint and, in turn, that of its customers and their end users, it has also invested in implementing significant changes to aid this journey.

The business continues to rise to the challenge of being a critical manufacturing partner to several companies that are creating new green environmental projects such as fusion, hydrogen and electrification.

First and foremost, the business has benefitted from expert support from Chamber business adviser David Smith.

David has identified the right support to meet the business’ needs and challenging growth plans, working closely with Mandy Tyler, who took over as managing director in 2021. Introductions have been made to key partners such as the University of Derby’s apprenticeship team and Made Smarter for automation advice and funding. The injection of Made Smarter funding will support the business to invest in new machinery, thereby helping to increase its manufacturing speed and efficiency.

Mandy said: “David introduced us to Made Smarter and was on hand throughout the grant process, helping me to demonstrate what impact the investment would have on the business. The grant received will help us increase our manufacturing capability.

“Our new machine has additional features that our current turning machines don’t, enabling us to undertake multiple operations in one setting rather than manufacturing on multiple machines.”

ABOUT THE UK SHARED PROSPERITY FUND

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6bn of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.

Plans for business hub galloping ahead

A multi-million pound project to open a stateof-the-art small business hub in Erewash has taken a huge leap forward.

A Long Eaton building known as the old Stable Block is being refurbished by the borough council to become a centre for commerce and innovation.

Work originally got under way last year but had to be put on hold when Nottingham construction giant J Tomlinson Ltd – which won the contract – went bust.

Erewash Borough Council was among a string of local authorities and government bodies that were left having to find new builders to complete projects.

It meant fresh negotiations – and Derbyshirebased Trident Construction Services has been engaged to complete the work.

The Stable Block project is being funded by government levelling-up cash as part of a £24.8m “Town Deal” that the council helped win for Long Eaton.

This showcase project is among several that will help transform Long Eaton

Offices, meeting spaces and workshops will be available when the building next to Long Eaton Town Hall reopens. The new business centre aims to create more than 30 jobs.

Borough council leader James Dawson said: “This showcase project is among several that will help transform Long Eaton thanks to the council securing huge government investment to revitalise the town.

“The collapse of the original builder was a blow but we are pleased to be back on course.”

The old stables form part of what is known the “curtilage” of the Grade II* listed town hall, which was built in 1778 by Joseph Pickford of Derby. Back then the town hall was a house for “gentleman farmer” Henry Howitt.

Richard Ledger, chair of the Long Eaton Town Deal Board, said: “We have been pulling out all the stops to minimise delays to the refurbishment of the old stables, which will enhance Long Eaton as a place to do business.

“The project will create the kind of modern hub that we know there is a demand for.”

www.emc-dnl.co.uk/sustainability

College invests in green initiatives

Nottingham College is investing millions of pounds in decarbonisation and energy efficiency initiatives across its estate over the next two years.

The college has won £2.6m from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. Some £2m will fund decarbonising work within the Adams Building in the Lace Market, and £660,000 has been allocated towards Highfields, part of Nottingham Science Park.

The funding will be used to upgrade the two campuses’ heating and ventilation systems and lighting, replace boilers, improve insulation and introduce measures to cut water use and reliance on other consumables.

The college has pledged to become carbon neutral by 2030. Work will start on the Adams project this autumn and take two years, while the Highfields project works will begin in 2025 and should take a year.

College chief executive and principal Janet Smith said they were delighted to get the funding. She said: “As a college with a rich heritage and wide range of facilities across the city, this funding will help us on our journey to be carbon net zero by 2030.

“The College’s Zero campaign has seen us make great strides over the past 12 months with a 30% reduction in our carbon footprint so far – but we know there is more to do.

“As an education and employment leader in our city we have a significant part to play in reducing the college’s impact on the environment. To highlight our commitment to this, sustainability is one of the key pillars of our new five-year strategy.

“Nottingham is a city that is taking climate change seriously with the city aiming to be the first UK net zero city through the city council’s CN28 project. As such, funding like this is going to make an excellent contribution to that objective.”

Accountants support regeneration project

Derby accountancy firm Vibrant has chosen Down To Earth as the winner of its community growth programme, providing it with support to upscale its business.

Down To Earth is a nature-based communityinterest regeneration company which is helping transform Derby city centre into an urban metropolis.

It is behind the Electric Daisy community garden and event space on the former Prince’s supermarket site, in Bold Lane.

Bev said: “We will be supporting Down To Earth with tailored business support that includes strategic planning sessions, cash flow forecasting, mentoring and regular profit and cash flow improvement meetings.

“For us, Down To Earth tick so many boxes. They are a sustainable organisation at the heart of the community, and we feel that, with the support that we are giving them at Vibrant Accountancy, they will be able to put their visionary plans into action.

The Down To Earth Derby project is linked with Cornwall’s Eden Project, underscoring its emphasis on sustainable and communityfocused urban regeneration.

It is committed to transforming city spaces to enhance community well-being and environmental health through educational programmes, events and promoting interaction with nature.

Vibrant Accountancy, led by founder Bev Wakefield, opened up entries for the programme earlier this year, offering to mentor and support companies, charities and non-profit organisations that make a positive impact in Derby.

“Like us, Down To Earth are disruptors and we are looking forward to working with them as they continue their excellent work in Derby city.”

Vibrant chose two other organisations – the Empowered Parenting Programme and a community supermarket initiative that will be run at Reach Events, near Pride Park – to receive free coaching sessions at the company’s Lodge Lane headquarters.

Bev added: “Vibrant Accountancy’s mission statement is to make an impact, and that’s what we hope we can do with the Community Growth programme.”

Octopus Energy founder Greg Jackson

Nottingham College Highfields site

Octopus Energy spreads it tentacles

Octopus Energy says it was the only large energy supplier to increase its market share over the past year, citing recent data from Ofgem.

The energy supplier – which has a big presence in the region and a main office in Leicester – said it had more than 1.9 million more customers at the end of the year than at the start, giving it a market share of 22%. It said 6.8 million households were served by the company by the end of 2023.

‘I

hope that we can

inspire both entrepreneurs and existing companies’

The company said it led the switching market last year, with more than 800,000 customers choosing to join from other suppliers – or one new customer per minute.

In addition, 1.3 million households transferred over from Shell Energy Retail following Octopus’ takeover of the business in late 2023. Octopus said it was now the UK’s largest electricity supplier – only eight years after launching to the market – and said it continues to come top in rankings by Which?, Trustpilot and Money Saving Expert.

It is also the only energy supplier to be named Which? Recommended Provider for seven years in a row.

Elsewhere, TIME Magazine named it one of the world’s ‘100 Most Influential Companies’ while the UK government recently featured it in its ‘GREAT’ campaign to attract foreign investment into the UK.

Octopus has also expanded across the world and is now active in 18 countries, looking after almost eight million households globally.

It is also one of the largest investors in renewables in Europe, managing a portfolio worth £7bn.

The technology which enabled Octopus to do this – its Kraken customer service platform – is now licensed to 54 million client accounts across 16 countries, and is increasingly being adopted in other sectors such as water and broadband.

Octopus Energy Group founder Greg Jackson said the business had invested relentlessly in its people and technology to deliver better customer service and lower costs.

He said: “I hope that we can inspire both entrepreneurs and existing companies that by investing for the long-term, and truly focusing on customers, they can deliver success for themselves and for those they serve.”

IT company gives out cups of cheer

A Derby firm is helping spread the message about saving the planet by handing out 1,600 bamboo-fibre cups to local charities and organisations.

Family-owned Barron McCann, which provides IT services to customers throughout the UK and Europe, handed out the eco-friendly cups to YMCA Derbyshire, Treetops Hospice, Derby County Community Trust, Derby Women’s Centre and Bridge The Gap C.I.C so that users can enjoy a hot drink and know that they are doing their bit for the planet.

Barron McCann were gifted the mugs –created by British homeware and gifting company Milly Green – by Hampshire-based Cable Talk, which is part of the same group. Each mug is made from 100% bamboo and is fully recyclable.

Lucy Laughton, Barron McCann’s business support and social values co-ordinator, delivered the mugs to the five charitable organisations.

Finding ways to harness the power of waste heat

East Midlands engineers are helping develop an electrothermal energy storage system to harness the power of waste heat.

The academics at the University of Leicester are helping the SEHRENE (Store Electricity and Heat foR climatE Neutral Europe) initiative to develop an efficient new way of holding on to green electricity and energy.

They hope to create a system that is cheaper than pumped hydro-electric power and stores energy for eight to 10 times longer than existing Li-ion batteries.

By using the technology to capture heat lost

in industrial settings or as part of a geothermal power facility, for example, that heat can be reused or converted into electricity. The system would do that by extracting then storing the heat created when a material changes its physical structure as a result of being made hotter or colder by the waste energy. The Materials Innovation Centre (MatIC) – an R&D partnership between the university and Cambridge materials specialist TWI – is analysing the effects of corrosion, aging, stress and thermal cycles on the materials used in the module.

Paul Taylor of YMCA Derbyshire receives cups from Lucy Laughton of Barron McCann

Bev Wakefield with Ross Nicholson (left) and Jamie Quince-Starkey of Vibrant

Huge amounts of energy are wasted through industrial processes

Photo Courtesy of iStock

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) have welcomed ratification of a new deal to join the Comprehensive and Progressive agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

The UK will be the first European member and first new member since CPTPP was created, with the Government calling it a gateway to the IndoPacific – a region set to account for the majority of global growth and around half of the world’s middle-class consumers in the coming decades.

William Bain, head of trade policy at the BCC, said: “There are few multi-national trade agreements like this one. The UK’s addition to this bloc will open up new opportunities for both inward and outward investment.

“Trade rules will be more favourable for manufacturers looking to sell products to other member countries and data transfers for firms in the services sector will also be more straightforward.

“Crucially, it will also give the UK a say in the bloc’s future development, making it a deal that will work for our traders both now and in the future.”

Chambers in the BCC’s international network also hailed this latest step forward.

British Malaysian Chamber of Commerce CEO Jennifer Lopez said: “The ratification of the CPTPP is a pivotal milestone as it symbolises the first free trade agreement between the UK and Malaysia.

“This historic agreement not only fosters trade liberalisation but also offers expanded market access, boosts to GDP, and strategic influence, particularly benefiting sectors such as services and digital trade for both British and Malaysian enterprises.

“This also promises enhanced options and affordability for consumers and businesses alike, heralding a new era of economic dynamism and collaboration.”

British Chamber of Commerce Singapore executive director David Kelly also said it was a “step in the right direction.”

He said: “Being ‘on the ground’, we see every day how vibrant and alive with opportunity the British business community is within Southeast

Multi-national trade deal will lead the way forward

Rotary club to help school in Nepal

Members of an East Midlands Rotary club are helping change the lives of children in Nepal.

Chesterfield Rotary Club is running an appeal to extend a primary school in the town of Pokhara, a popular tourist area about 125 miles north-west of Kathmandu.

The project will help expand an already exceptional school, cutting class sizes and increasing the number of children that can be taught there.

The club is raising £41,800 for the project – it has already brought in £18,000 – and the work is being overseen by members of the Pokhara Rotary, which will also cover the additional costs of engineering consultations.

Management consultant Lee Kemp is leading the Nepal project for the Chesterfield group, supported by individuals including businessman Ricky Sanderson – who is also a key sponsor of Chamber member Aquabox, which provides safe drinking water and humanitarian aid to people affected by natural disasters, extreme weather and conflicts.

Lee said they had been supporting children in Nepal for a number of years, but had recently changed course to support the Shree Dharmasthti Basic School, in Pokhara.

He said: “A lot of the schools in Nepal were

devastated in the 2015 earthquake. The government has put money into some, but others have not had the investment they need.

“This particular one is short of four classrooms and a playground.

“I went to Nepal in 2018 and made a humanitarian visit to Pokhara, and came back

basically wanting to change the world. That’s when I decided to join the Rotary club and be the lead for this particular project.”

To find out more contact Lee Kemp at leefibc@gmail.com or visit: justgiving.com/campaign/nepalschool

Nepalese children who have been sponsored by Chesterfield and Dronfield Rotary clubs with Lee Kemp in the back on the right

The CPTPP will open up the way for trade with Malaysia and its capital Kuala Lumpur

Asia, and we look forward to championing the UK’s interests alongside our colleagues throughout the CPTPP trading bloc.”

British Chamber of Commerce in Japan executive director Sarah Backley said: “The UK’s ratification of the CPTPP signifies an important achievement for the business world, presenting a valuable opportunity for the UK, Japan and the other 11 member countries to come together in setting the benchmarks for global trade standards.

“We look forward to the avenues for fresh opportunities and collaborations this will unlock, paving the way for enhanced economic partnerships and growth opportunities for our members in the UKJapan, and wider regional ecosystem.

Australian British Chamber of Commerce CEO Ticky Fullerton said: “Our chamber welcomes news of the UK’s ratification of the CPTPP. With its respected position in global affairs, the UK is a valuable addition to this very important partnership in our region. We look forward to the strengthening ties of CPTPP members in trade, investment and in regional security.”

Get your export paperwork right

The Chamber has a comprehensive range of courses which focus on the compliance side of trading internationally – for example Incoterms® 2020, Customs Procedures and Documentation, Understanding Commodity Coding and IP/ OPR-Inward/Outward Processing Relief.

A spokeswoman for the Chamber said: “Our most popular course is Export Documentation which covers what documents are required and how to complete them correctly.

“We also run our flagship qualification –ITOPS – International Trade Operations and Procedures. This is one of the most practical and relevant international qualifications designed to prove that candidates have the necessary skills to accurately operate the administration procedures in an international trade administration environment.”

Contact Julie Whiting or Theresa Hewitt on internationaltraining@emc-dnl.co.uk for an eligibility check.

Q1 sees decline in exports to EU

New ONS trade figures suggest that export values to the EU fell by 3.5% (£1.6bn) during the first three months of 2024 (after removing inflation).

They showed the main falls were in machinery and transport equipment (cars to Turkey and mechanical machinery to Germany), and material manufactures exports.

Non-EU goods exports fell by a lower amount – 1.6% (£700m) over the same period, driven by lower fuels (crude oil to China) and chemicals exports (medicines and pharmaceutical products exported to the US).

An overall fall of 0.3% (£100m) was reported for UK goods exports volumes in March, with a 0.9% (£100m) rise in sales to the EU offset by a 1.4% (£200m) fall in exports to the rest of the world.

UK services exports values, adjusted for inflation, increased by 1.1% (£1.3bn) led by increases in travel and transport, but offset by declines in construction and other business services exports.

Services import values, by contrast, fell by 0.4% over the first quarter of 2024 – mainly due to falls in insurance, pensions and intellectual property services.

In the month of March, the volume of UK services exports increased by 0.7% (£200m) – the same in percentage terms on values of services exported.

Imports of services increased by 0.3% (£100m) on the chained volumes measure, exactly the same as on the value of traded services measure.

Overall goods imports were down by 2.8% (£1.1bn) from February to March. Imports from the EU fell by 5.3% (£1.2bn), affected by lower transport and machinery imports (ships from Italy, aircraft from France).

Non-EU imports volumes fell by 0.6% (£100m) driven by lower fuel imports from the US and Kuwait, although car imports from China and aircraft imports from the US both rose.

ITOPS

The Chamber’s flagship international trade qualification starts on 1 October 2024. Successful candidates receive an ITOPS certificate and also the BCC Foundation Award in International Trade which is a recognised national qualification.

The International Trade Operations and Procedures (ITOPS) qualification is a BCCAccredited and highly practical, relevant qualification designed to prove that candidates have the necessary skills to accurately operate the administration procedures in an international trade environment - whether that of a manufacturer/supplier or freight forwarder. It concentrates on training staff in the key areas of:

• Export documentation

• Freight moving

UPCOMING

TRADE TRAINING COURSES

Select, Monitor and Maintain International Shipments

TIME: 10am-11am

DATE: 3 June

International Trade Operations and Procedures BCC Accredited, TIME: 9am-12.30pm

DATE: 5 June

Incoterms® 2020 TIME: 9am-12.30pm DATE: 6 June

Letters of Credit TIME: 9.30am-4.30pm

DATE: 11 June

An Introduction to Export Controls and Licensing TIME: 9.30am-12.30pm

DATE: 25 June

Import Procedures TIME: 9.30am-3.30pm

DATE: 9 July

Understanding Commodity Coding TIME: 9am-12.30pm

DATE: 10 July

Incoterms® 2020 TIME: 1.30pm-4.30pm

DATE: 10 July

Export Documentation TIME: 9am-4.30pm

DATE: 11 July

Rules of Origin TIME: 9am-4pm

DATE: 17 July

NB: All courses are online

For

• Customs and official procedures

• International payment methods

WHY IS IT SO SUCCESSFUL?

The ITOPS award has always followed four main principles and is

• Practical

• Current

• Relevant

• Enjoyable

The course is delivered in partnership with Fidelitas Training. Candidates also have the opportunity of a Freight Forwarder placement with Kranlee Logistics Ltd –sponsors of the course.

course back in October

On 2 May Claire Ward was elected mayor of the new East Midlands Combined County Authority, puttingher at the head of a body which represents 2.2m people. Her background includes serving as a local councillor, constituency party chair and as an MP and minister in the last Labour Government. She will now begin the process of deciding where to spend more than a billion pounds over the next three decades, devolved from Westminster for priorities such as transport, education and skills, housing, the environment and economic development. Claire told Business Network about her plans and how it feels to play such a central role in the devolution of the East Midlands.

It is an immense privilege to be elected as the very-first East Midlands mayor. On 2 May, people across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby and Nottingham not only put their faith in me – they put their faith in our region as a whole, as we move decision-making powers and funding out of Westminster, and closer to home.

And now the real work starts.

We’ve been held back as a region for too many years. Always at the bottom of the queue for investment from Government, we’ve been overlooked and underfunded.

Yet our region is the proud home to industrial giants, world-leading research in life sciences and aerospace, the UK’s most important airport for express freight, and pioneering approaches to hydrogen and fusion technologies, right here

on our doorstep. There is so much economic potential in every corner of our region, which is why one of my key priorities as mayor is to deliver real economic transformation for our people, our businesses and our communities.

But to make our region’s economy more productive, greener and fairer, with a highly skilled workforce, I know that the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), which I lead and chair, must harness the expertise, entrepreneurship and innovation of our business community.

We must work together with business and other partners to co-produce strategies to attract more national and international investment. We will ensure business representation on EMCCA’s board, and set up a business advisory group, ensuring the voice of

business is at the heart of decision-making.

It’s time to make good on our region’s potential Expert backs our growth manifesto

A respected figure on the regional business scene is backing the East Midlands Chamber’s manifesto for Growth 2024.

Anjuu Trevedi MBE heads up knowledge exchange and innovation at De Montfort University (DMU) – which sees her building R&D and innovation-led collaborations with the private and public sector, especially SMEs. She is also Twycross Zoo’s senior partnerships development manager for the new National Science and Conservation Centre (NSCC) – a £19.1m biodiversity conservation mini-higher education campus being built next to the zoo with Levelling Up funding.

Anjuu was part of the Chamber’s spring delegation to Westminster to launch the manifesto, which is part of the continuing process of lobbying Government on the demands and needs of the region’s businesses. She said: “The 2024 manifesto, and other essential work the Chamber does to promote the East Midlands economy, plays a critical role in

shaping policy and future investment decisions for the East Midlands – and in helping to overcome the hurdles that have inhibited growth in our region.

‘It was really important for me to join the delegation and to lend my support for the Chamber’

“The manifesto is looking to eliminate the barriers to doing business, it is asking for a more equitable and fair business environment, incentives for businesses to upskill and retain their people, and of course support for innovation and productivity measures to deliver greater regional business growth.

“It was really important for me to join the delegation and to lend my support for the Chamber and the manifesto launch, as one of

During my campaign, I visited so many fantastic places and met so many inspirational people. I saw that our small and independent businesses are the lifeblood of our villages, our towns and our cities, despite often operating in challenging economic conditions. As mayor, I will back our high streets and work hard to revitalise our local economies.

On my first day as mayor, I visited the stunning Bolsover Castle – one of the many gems in our region.

I wanted to set the tone of my mayoralty by making this visit; we have so much untapped potential in our visitor economy. One of my first major campaigns will be ‘Visit East Midlands’ to showcase all we have to offer as a region, attract more tourism and boost our local economies. Our region has a proud history of being at the forefront of innovation and transformation. We are the home of the industrial revolution – we should celebrate our rich heritage and be ambitious when it comes to our future.

I am looking forward to building strong relationships with East Midlands Chamber and its members. Collaboration and teamwork are part of my DNA, and this will be a cornerstone of my mayoralty.

There is a lot of work to do, but together, we can make the East Midlands the best place to live, to work and to learn.

the few vehicles and organisations representing the needs of our region.”

Anjuu said there was lots of change for business to navigate right now – such as devolution, the creation of combined authorities and transitions of the LEPs so it was especially important that industry has a joined-up and unified voice within the region.

Anjuu Trevedi MBE

‘We must work together with business and other partners to co-produce strategies to attract more national and international investment’

She said: “For me the Chamber, through the manifesto, is doing that essential function. It looks forward, plans for the future and puts the needs of our region first.”

Anjuu said the document’s stand-out points are:

SKILLS

Looking at the manifesto specifically she said: “The push for flexible incentives for businesses investing in staff training is important to ensure our people are able to upskill.

“The local skills plan was also important to help respond to business needs – particularly for micro businesses facing staff shortages and limited resources to invest in training.

“Working for a university you would expect me to say this, but giving graduates work experience while in education is essential for them, our future workforce and economy.

“Many businesses approach us looking for free student placements and internships. At DMU we have a fully-funded six-week internship scheme for 120 of our graduates annually over summer.

“Other important points in the manifesto include the principle of life-long loans to help upskill the ageing workforce, for example, learn new skills and move into the digital economy.

“There is a need for more flexibility with visas, the current restrictions are making it challenging to recruit skilled workforce required especially from Europe.”

TRANSPORT & DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Anjuu said: “Better connectivity and competitive fares are needed to make it easier to do business and travel east-to-west on the trains.

“The Nottingham and Leicester to Coventry line needs to be reinstated. As big cities we should be working more collectively together.

“The ‘tap and cap’ smart ticketing system, linked to the £2 fare cap scheme, encouraging people back on to public transport, has got to be the way forward. Driving around in cars is not the solution for business with gridlocked roads or for our planet.”

TAXATION & REGULATION

She said: “We should be aligning business taxation with long-term policy decisions.

“It’s difficult to plan and invest, business needs certainty, they need to know that the plans they are putting in today will be relevant in six months or a couple of years.

“Also, business rate needs reviewing to make it more equitable for retailers operating from premises to stop even more businesses moving out of the high street. The R&D tax credits system needed simplifying to make it easier for more companies to invest and claim the tax credits.”

She also agreed that public sector procurement needed to be made more straightforward to encourage more SMEs to take on the burden of going after public tenders.

Council leader to take up new role

Mel Barrett, the chief executive of Nottingham City Council, is leaving to take up a new role heading up Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing, one of country’s biggest housing associations.

Mel joined the council in September 2020 when it faced significant challenges such as ensuring people were protected and supported during the Covid-19 pandemic and dealing with the council’s financial difficulties.

The latter has involved seeing a Government-appointed improvement and assurance board and more recently commissioners brought in.

He said: “The job is not yet done and we know that the pace of improvement will increase, however progress made in a number of key areas including supporting vulnerable children, becoming a more open and transparent organisation and continuing to work with others to support the vibrancy and dynamism of our city and improve the life chances of our citizens despite the continuing financial challenges faced by local government.

‘I am confident that he has created the right foundation for us to continue to build on in Nottingham’

Nottingham City Council leader Cllr David Mellen, said: “I would like to thank Mel for all of his work and dedication since he joined the council in 2020.

“He has used his knowledge and experience of local government to lead our journey of improvement and make important changes to the way we work.

“I am confident that he has created the right foundation for us to continue to build on in Nottingham. I wish him every success for the future.”

Discussions are taking place between the commissioners, executive councillors and senior officers on what arrangements will be put in place in relation to the chief executive role.

Mel Barratt

Photo courtesy of Tracey Whitefoot

East Midlands mayor Claire Ward

Protect your business against cyber crime

Many small and medium business owners operate under the belief that they are too small to be a victim of cyber crime – then find out too late that this belief is completely incorrect. While it is true that an SME might not have as much to steal as a large, national or global company, they also often tend to have less secure networks, as cyber security isn’t seen as a priority, making it much easier for cybercriminals to attack.

A lack of time or a worry about the cost are often the reasons cited for why a business’ cyber security efforts aren’t up to scratch – but there are many ways to protect businesses and avoid being a victim of cyber crime without breaking the bank.

USE A FIREWALL

One of your first lines of defence against a cyber-attack should be a firewall, as it sets up a barrier between your data and cybercriminals. Don’t just focus on your work computers – make sure you install a firewall on all company laptops and home networks if any of your staff work from home.

ANTI-MALWARE SOFTWARE

Alongside a firewall, install anti-malware software. It’s easy to assume that your employees would never interact with a phishing email or open a suspicious file; however,

Continues on page 60...

cybercriminals are getting more sophisticated, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to tell the difference between a genuine email and a dangerous one.

PASSWORDS

Data breaches aren’t always the result of someone inadvertently clicking on a dangerous link – weak or stolen passwords can also result in a significant loss of data. As well as making sure that all devices and networks are password protected, get your staff in the habit of changing their passwords regularly. The most secure passwords contain a range of upper and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols.

MULTIFACTOR AUTHENTICATION

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is a security system that verifies identity by requiring multiple credentials; for example, rather than just asking for a username and password, MFA will also ask for additional verification, such as a timed response to an email, a code sent to the account holder’s phone, the answer to a security question, a fingerprint, or facial recognition. MFA is a simple tool that adds an extra layer of protection – while a cyber thief might have cracked an employee’s password, it’s extremely unlikely they will also have access to their email account, phone or fingerprints. Best of all, most email accounts,

smart phones and networks already have a built-in MFA setting; all you have to do is activate it.

BACK UP DATA

While it’s important to prevent attacks, never assume that your efforts will work 100% of the time. With this in mind, it’s important to back up all of your data regularly, in case malware completely wipes your network; backups should either be stored in a separate location, in case of physical theft, fire or flood, or on the cloud. It’s also worth noting that you should check your backup regularly, to ensure that it is functioning correctly.

POLICY AND EDUCATION

It’s essential that all of your employees that access your networks are trained in cyber security best practices. Cybercrime is, unfortunately, constantly evolving, so it’s important that you and your staff stay up-to-date with the different types of cyber crime and how everyone can help protect the business.

It would also be prudent to draw up cyber security policies and make sure that all staff are aware of what is expected from them to help deter cyber threats, and the correct protocols to follow should your business fall victim to cyber crime.

‘It’s important to back up all of your data regularly’

intrusion detection system

Why an isn’t as complicated as you think

By David George (pictured), technical sales manager, Detection Technologies

There’s a tendency to believe that advanced technology is rather incomprehensible to the average person, even experienced facility managers, security personnel and installers.

To be honest, the primary concern when choosing intrusion detection systems should always be whether it provides complete and unfailing coverage, allowing you to monitor every type of potential threat to your site. For this, vibrational sensors are essential.

How superb results are achieved is interesting and potentially a great deal more straightforward than you may think. In fact, the design and innovation behind high performance perimeter intrusion detection (PIDS) systems also explains why they are “head and shoulders above” the alternatives.

ARRAY OF VIBRATIONAL SENSORS

The way more advanced perimeter intrusion detection equipment works is based on a more expansive reach and greater accuracy in controlling the data received.

This involves inbuilt sensor cables that provide perimeter fences with an uninterrupted feed across your site. These cables monitor the minute

vibrations caused as an intruder attempts to defeat the perimeter barrier (be it fence or wall).

This could be a substantial attempt to intrude – such as someone trying to cut through or dismantle the fence. However, the sensors are arrayed and configured to measure even slight changes in the structure, such as someone covertly scaling the fence.

DETECTING INTRUDERS WITHOUT FAIL

The system is also carefully programmed to know the difference between expected and unexpected vibrational changes. So, climatic conditions, foliage and passing traffic won’t interfere with its effectiveness or your inclusive security control.

When the PID senses vibrational change, which exceeds pre-determined thresholds, it triggers an alert. It also sends audio signals that enable you to listen to what’s happening. All of this information is transmitted seamlessly from the system analyser to your security management system. The best vibration-based intrusion detection systems integrate easily with all other security technology you may choose to use. This includes CCTV, even helping you to point cameras in the right direction.

This all means that from one central point, the entire security network can provide extremely accurate intel. How accurate? There are even devices in the Detection Technologies range that can pick up additional heartbeats in specific areas or within vehicles passing through perimeter fencing.

IMPLEMENTING YOUR INTRUSION DETECTION SYSTEM

If you have made the decision to boost your site's security with a new intruder detection system, you may well be wondering just how it should be implemented. Making the step up with a perimeter security system takes the protection of your business to the next level. However, you need to know exactly how that system works in order for it to be effective - and your security staff need to understand it as well.

WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING AN INTRUSION DETECTION PRODUCT

When deciding which perimeter intrusion detection (PIDS) system to buy, a lot depends on just how security conscious you are aiming to be, and how determined you are to protect the entire external environment around your property.

ESSENTIAL “DOS AND DON’TS” TO HELP YOU TO FIND THE RIGHT TYPE OF PID

Do take time to map it out: This is a substantial investment and needs to be a wholly reliable and durable solution. Map out the site carefully and find the right level of equipment for complete security, but also commission installers who know their stuff.

Don’t take shortcuts: As with any technological solution, there are shortcuts. There are also installers who can “cobble something together”. This could include CCTV cameras and motion sensors periodically erected along your fence in an attempt to catch intruders. Of course, this risks the possibility of blind spots or imagery and audio feeds that are unintelligible.

Coming together to help bridge skills gap

Skills are at the heart of any good business – but the UK is facing one of the tightest labour markets in years. For productivity and GDP to grow, businesses need to get their recruitment and skills policies right – but it is not just a case of advertising and hoping the right candidates come forward.

Now more than ever, employers have to up their game and work even harder with educators and organisations such as East Midlands Chamber to get their staff balance right. Training and skills development should be at the heart of that.

This month’s Business Network has a skills and people focus, highlighting the work underway to get the region – and country as a whole – through its current period of economic uncertainty.

Akey event in the Chamber’s annual calendar takes place in Nottingham on June 12. The 2024 East Midlands People and Skills Summit will take place this year at Nottingham Trent University, bringing together delegates from across the region to hear the latest thoughts on skills, training and employment – and to share their experiences of ensuring the right people are at the centre of any good business.

The Chamber plays a key role in helping firms navigate aspects of employment such as new technology, modern working practices, skills shortages and training and retaining workers –and the People and Skills Summit can play a big part in that work.

Central to the day will be a focus on the Chamber’s “Manifesto for Growth 2024 –Business policy priorities ahead of the next General Election.”

The day’s discussions will consider some of the points of the recently launched manifesto, including targeting skills for the demands of the modern workforce, the role of Local Skills Improvement Plans, building on the success of the Kickstart Scheme and the importance of embedding work experience in education.

‘We’re looking forward to great conversations with new connections being formed’

Topics on the agenda will take into account recent Chamber Quarterly Economic Survey data that shows recruiting and retaining employees remains one of the major challenges for businesses – with roughly two-thirds of respondents consistently reporting difficulties in filling vacancies.

Recent survey results suggest those issues are being compounded by a flatlining of investment in capital equipment and training – which threaten to stifle economic growth.

Chamber director of policy and insight Chris

Hobson said it was vital that businesses and organisations invest as much in their workforce as any other part of their operations.

He said: “This year’s People & Skills Summit tackles two of the biggest skills questions facing the country – how businesses and educators can better work together and how we can make sure our workforces are fit for the realities of doing business in the modern world.

“We have a really exciting, expert line up of speakers to share their thoughts and ideas on the day, along with a range of hands-on workshops for delegates to attend, ensuring everyone will have some practical takeaways.

“Most importantly, there’s going to be a fantastic range of businesses, educators, policymakers – plus some students – in the room, so we’re looking forward to great conversations with new connections being formed.

“I also want to give a big thank-you to our partners for the conference, Samworth Brothers, Freeths and Nottingham Business School at Nottingham Trent University – we look forward to seeing a full room on the day.”

The day will have presentations from experts

including business leaders, representatives of Nottingham Business School, Ofsted and the Department for Education.

There will also be workshop sessions looking at issues such as untangling apprenticeship and adult skills funding for business, as well as how business can help unpaid carers within their workforce.

There will be panel discussions as well, looking at areas such as the importance of building better collaboration between educators and businesses and how businesses can get the best out of their workers.

One will be chaired by Dr Gareth Thomas, managing director of Skills & Employment Support Ltd, with panellists including Laura Shepherd, director of strategic partnerships and external engagement at Loughborough College; Melanie Collins, head of local skills improvement policy at the Department for Education; and Paul Wilson, principal of Wyggeston & Queen Elizabeth I Sixth Form College.

The summit is open to all businesses and free to attend – book at is.gd/q9VCNm

2023 Skills Summit

Training is the way to keep businesses and staff on track

The jobs and skills markets are changing. For many the thought of a job for life is a thing of the past –while reskilling mid-career is no longer that unusual. Meanwhile, businesses now have to work harder to stop their skilled workers leaving for pastures new.

The nature of jobs in some areas – such as IT and technology – seems to change by the week, while AI appears to be threatening everything from advertising and legal work to graphic design, accounting and customer service.

At the same time roles in high street retail have been impacted by online shopping which, in turn, has supported growth in logistics (an area which is itself affected by a skills shortage).

Then there is the growth in demand for apprenticeships which seem to be having a resurgence – often as an alternative to university education – despite the shortcomings of the Government’s Apprenticeship Levy scheme.

Employment has never looked more complicated.

Eileen Perry MBE DL, founder and managing director of ER Recruitment, works with big regional names such as PPL PRS, Everards, Bloor Homes, Flogas, Unique Windows.

She is also currently working in partnership with Breedon Consulting to provide a joint, broader level of service to clients around their HR, recruitment, retaining and training needs.

She said: “Retention is a big part of the work we do with our clients – we work directly with a company’s leaders to look at everything from remote working to what their on-boarding looks like and how they engage with their staff.

“Recruitment is an issue, but for me that’s because a lot of people aren’t retaining their staff. Take logistics, for instance. They are bringing people in and training them up, but then once they’re qualified, they are headhunted for more money. We’re seeing that in roles from entry level to senior board level.

“Keeping those people is the key thing. Whether that’s offering them more training or

sharing with them the purpose of the business –showing what they can do in terms of being part of the community or helping the environment.

“It’s about ensuring businesses are aware of doing the right thing to retain their staff – and that’s not always easy because what’s important to one person isn’t always important to somebody else.

“There are so many reasons people want to leave a business. So, when we go in, we cover a whole host of things – it’s really about understanding the culture of the business.”

Eileen said many companies are focussed too much on their service or product at the expense of their staff – and they are the ones that risk losing valuable team members to competitors.

‘We can see from working with apprenticeship provider EMA Training that businesses are investing more in cross-skill training’

“Many businesses fail to brand themselves as an employer of choice. It works the other way too –some businesses do loads of good stuff whether it’s community or charity work, training, staff away days, but if you go on their website all you will see is something about their product or the service that they offer. It’s so basic, but so many businesses get that wrong.”

She said stand-out companies in the region, when it comes to keeping their staff happy, include Leicester music licensing business PPL PRS.

“I think what they have got right is that they celebrate success and individuals. It’s a great working environment and they walk the talk, whether it’s ESG or doing things in the community, they have people at all levels of the

organisation involved in the culture of the business and their own focus group, so people working there feel like they have a voice.

“They’re great at celebrating success. And they work really well with us too so that we understand the challenges of the business and the opportunities that they make. It means we can shout about that when we are advertising for them.”

Eileen said the skills shortage meant many businesses were now more open to apprenticeships and more inclined to bring people in for their potential, rather than existing skills.

She said: “We can see from working with apprenticeship provider EMA Training that businesses are investing more in cross-skill training, not just on-the-job training, and in specific individual training whether that’s leadership or something else, to ensure that if a role comes up that individual has had some level of training for it.

“This highlights the importance of getting the attraction right in the recruitment process, which is why we offer recruitment interview training to businesses to ensure leaders are skilled enough to hire great people in the first place, onboard them and keep them.”

She said the changing economy – post-Brexit, post-Covid and with the impact of the war in Ukraine – meant clever companies were collaborating more and considering more longterm strategies.

“I think the skills shortage, cost of living, rises in the minimum wage – while that last one is good news – all come at a huge cost to businesses.”

“People are managing cashflow in a different way and people are outsourcing more – whether that’s recruitment, marketing, HR...

“The businesses that are thriving have taken a lot of those things into consideration but are also thinking about what makes theirs a good place to work.”

CIC is determined to have a Positive impact on children

Ensuring young adults have the best opportunities in life has to start early – whether that means a healthy family life, solid pre-school support, inclusive schooling, practical work experience and careers advice, even afterschool clubs. It all helps build resilience for future life.

With cuts to local authority budgets, the amount of support on offer has dropped in recent years.

At the same time mental health issues in the young are a growing concern and often it is left to charities and community groups to step in and help children overcome today’s anxieties.

One such group is Positively Empowered Kids, a Nottingham-based community interest company (CIC), which has supported thousands of children over the last four years and is gearing up for its next big event this summer.

The company launched on the back of its first children’s festival at Nottingham Racecourse in 2019, which helped kids and their parents work through the wellbeing issues many young people face at such a critical time in life – and give them the emotional tools needed to start their journeys into adulthood.

Hundreds of people attended, enjoying everything from an open mike stage to yoga sessions, drumming and holistic therapies.

Co-founders Claire Clements and Jackie

Wilson are planning their next festival at Nottingham Arboretum on 23 June and have this year partnered with Your Health Notts – and are calling on Chamber members to help.

The free festival will include walks with Alpacas, inflatable slide, storytelling, sensory area, archery, performances and wellbeing demonstrations. Sponsors include Blueprint Interiors, MOMM and h2o digital with funding contributions from Postcode Places Trust, National Lottery Community Fund and Nottingham Community Foundation.

‘The idea was to shine a light on all the things children can learn to help their mental health’

Claire said fundraising had always been hard, but things were particularly tough after a cut in the number of available grants.

She is appealing for volunteers, sponsorship, donations and other funding to ensure they can keep providing the same level of help and for the event to remain free.

Claire said: “Even though we are fairly new enterprise we have achieved quite a lot.

“There are four of us within the team including two who joined us through the government

Kickstart Scheme, and work 10 hours a week doing social media and events.

“Jackie and I both have our own wellbeing businesses for children and want to encourage young people to thrive through good mental health. Five years ago, we decided to do our first event to help kids and that was the first Positively Empowered Kids Festival.

“That surpassed expectations, with about 500 in attendance. The idea was to shine a light on all the things children can learn to help their mental health – it’s very much about early intervention, for each child to find something to help them when they’re feeling stressed or fed up.

“The main target audience is 6-11 so that we’re reaching them before things become a problem, helping them keep that confidence children have when they are little, however this year we have expanded to include a tots and a teen zone too.

“We decided to become a social enterprise in the December of that year because we realised there were a lot of children that could have been at the festival but would not have been able to afford a ticket – so that meant we could start applying for funding.”

The festivals returned to the raceground after lockdown breaks, and last year’s free event attracted 2,300 people.

Claire said: “The thing is we can only do that with the support of sponsors.

“It costs around £50,000 to put a festival on and some on the funding we were able to apply for in previous years just isn’t available so we’ve got a shortfall to make up to ensure everyone has access to the best that Nottingham has to offer.

Positively Empowered Kids founders Jackie Wilson (left) and Claire Clements

Training facility aims to combat skills crisis

ALeicestershire flooring firm is laying the foundations for better training within the industry to help tackle to a major shortage of skilled tradespeople.

Abacus Flooring Solutions is launching an apprentice training facility at its new plant in Loughborough in an effort to encourage a more diverse mix of candidates into the field.

The resin flooring specialist is looking for potential workers who like to travel, work hard and avoid a desk job.

Management say young flooring installers can earn up to £25,000 a year once qualified, and the more experienced tradespeople could earn £50-60,000.

Managing director Nick Megson said his sector suffered the same shortage of skilled workers that other areas were current facing.

He said: “We’re in serious need of good trades people, and we’re actively looking for new recruits who we can train up – no experience necessary.

“We’re open to all applicants and would love to have a more diverse team - we’re just looking for candidates with an eagerness to learn.

‘We see this as an investment in the future, not only for our staff and the industry as a whole’

"We would love to see more women take up a career in resin flooring too. To date, I have only ever met two female installers and the gender skills gap in our industry is huge."

Nick said that his firm will finance all the training required to help the right candidates reach NVQ Level 5, which is a degree equivalent.

He said: “We see this as an investment in the future, not only for our staff and the industry as a whole, but in creating more sustainable, forward-thinking commercial spaces.”

In 2023, Hannah Chinn, operations director at Abacus Flooring Solutions, was the first woman ever to win the FeRFA Young Achiever Award –an award presented by the Resin Flooring Association.

The win reinforces the opportunity for more women to pursue a career in the industry to help fill the current shortage.

FeRFA chief executive Tracey Glew said: “I’m pleased to see Abacus Flooring Solutions spotlighting the critical issue of diversity in trades, particularly the underrepresentation of women - which is a topic quite close to my heart.

“The question of why it is challenging to attract more individuals, especially women, into trades, is multifaceted.

“A significant factor is the pervasive stereotype that manual and technical roles are not suited for women. These stereotypes are not just external but are often also internalised, leading many women to self-select out of considering careers in our field.

“With a lack of visible role models and mentors for women in trades, it is understandably difficult for women and girls to imagine themselves building credible careers and thriving in our sector.

“Industry leaders, trade bodies and associations must shine a light on the varied and rewarding careers in our specialist sector, from on-the-tools roles to sales and office careers, making it clear to women, girls, and those from diverse backgrounds that a future in resin flooring is welcoming, achievable and most importantly – rewarding.”

Business school

is top of the class

Nottingham Business School (NBS) has joined the 1% of business schools in the world to hold triple accreditation for excellence after receiving a global mark of recognition for its MBA and Masters courses from the Association of MBAs (AMBA).

NBS, part of Nottingham Trent University, already holds AACSB and EQUIS accreditation, two of the most important marks of quality in business educationand is now one of only 129 universities across the globe to have been awarded all three.

Its latest accolade demonstrates that NBS has met the highest standards in teaching, learning and curriculum design, career development and employability, and student, alumni and employer interaction. AMBA only accredits programmes from the top 2% of business schools and limits the number of institutions to 300.

The assessment also led to Business Graduates Association (BGA) accreditation, which recognises positive impact, responsible management, and lifelong learning.

An international expert panel visited NBS to examine its MBA, Executive MBA and new Global Executive MBA programmes, along with its MSc Finance course as an example of the school’s Masters offer.

The assessors particularly noted the significant experience of the NBS faculty and its supportive working environment, as well as the school’s achievement of “consistently exceeding student expectations in the delivery of a very positive student experience.”

Executive dean of Nottingham Business School, Professor Baback Yazdani, said: “Achieving triple crown accreditation is the highest benchmark of international excellence for business schools. It is not only further worldwide recognition for NBS as an institution, but also for our graduates who will be considered top talent by employers.

“It also demonstrates the commitment of everyone within NBS to delivering innovative, personalised and effective leadership education to our students, so they become globally responsible citizens.”

Nottingham Trent University

Photo courtesy of Peter James Sampson/ iStock

Abacus managing director Nick Megson

The ground keepers' store at Wembley Stadium, which has commissioned Abacus for a number of projects using its 100% recycled waste plastic flooring system Abaplas

Leaders need support too

A profile and business tips from Rachael Edmondson-Clarke (pictured), a Nottingham-based leadership development specialist and consultant for a number of high-profile brands.

Tell us about your background?

My work is dedicated to helping leaders navigate the complex demands of their roles, creating environments where both they and their teams can thrive sustainably.

I have a corporate background, and 20 years of experience in the practical psychology and biology that enables us to make changes to our behaviour in a way that positively impacts our results. I love helping people do this without resistance, so they get the results they want and enjoy themselves along the way.

I work with clients in ways including individual coaching, experiential learning events for teams and I speak to larger audiences who want actionable, practical insights too.

What businesses do you work with?

I work with organisations in sectors including manufacturing, retail, financial services, and consultancy. There's a lot of similarities in the challenges leaders are facing so the strategies I develop transfer effectively across different sectors. I typically work with senior leaders in larger organisations.

What are the key issues holding back leaders?

The world of work is continuing to change at pace. Many leaders find themselves struggling with outdated practices that are no longer effective. I commonly encounter leaders who feel frustrated, overwhelmed, uncertain and fatigued as they attempt to apply old rules in a new and far more dynamic work environment.

‘I believe we have entered into an exceptionally exciting time for understanding human potential’

My approach centres on fostering co-elevation within teams. This means cultivating a mutual commitment to support each other and the shared mission, which is crucial in today’s interconnected workspaces. The process begins with leaders gaining a deeper understanding of themselves and their behaviours, including the underlying psychological and biological drivers that influence their actions and decisions.

By helping leaders enhance their selfawareness and adapt to modern leadership dynamics, I enable them to create supportive and sustainable cultures. These cultures not only address and alleviate the pressures of today’s rapidly changing marketplaces but also propel their teams towards collective success.

Is coaching and leadership psychology new?

The coaching industry is growing rapidly. PwC reported it is the second-fastest growing sector in the world. It’s expected to reach $6.2bn by the end of this year.

Coaching has its roots in sports and performance psychology dating back to the mid1900s. Its principles have increasingly influenced the business sector.

I believe we have entered an exceptionally exciting time for understanding human potential. With advances in neuroscience and technology, we are gaining unprecedented insights into the human brain and behaviour, and it’s revolutionising our approach to leadership development. We’re fundamentally transforming how leaders think, react, and manage under pressure. This shift towards a more anti-fragile, adaptive and human leadership is essential in today’s fastevolving business landscape.

Can you give specific examples of ways you have helped business people and businesses improve?

One leader was struggling with imposter syndrome and self-doubt. Through our one-on-one coaching sessions, they found the confidence to voice their opinions, challenge unhelpful feedback, and navigate difficult conversations with ease. This not only boosted their personal performance but also set a powerful example for others around them, fostering a culture of openness and proactive engagement.

Another example is from a workshop I ran on ‘Difficult Conversations’. The participants from a wellknown corporate firm, learned strategies for giving and receiving feedback that transformed how they worked together. Years later, I still hear from some attendees about how these lessons continue to influence their professional environments positively.

What are your three key tips to help business leaders succeed?

1. Prioritise self-care and understand your biology.

2. Embrace vulnerability – it’s perfectly okay to admit when you don't have all the answers.

3. Stay curious and committed to learning – continuous learning is vital for personal and professional growth.

Is there anything else you’d like to add? I’d like to acknowledge that leadership, while rewarding, is not without its challenges. It can often be lonely at the top, but it’s important to remember no leader succeeds in isolation. Surrounding yourself with capable, supportive people inside and outside your organisation can make all the difference.

Contact Rachael at rachael@edmondsonclarke.co.uk

Employees will always be our greatest asset

Business Network meets Nimira Kassam (pictured), people services director at PPL PRS, who believes in the power and importance of employee support and engagement.

What do you think of when you hear the words ‘workplace culture’? Is it diversity and inclusivity? Is it the benefits package you offer? Training and development programmes? In truth, workplace culture encompasses everything that your people experience from the moment they walk through the door of your business.

So, how do you create a culture that helps the teams you currently have to flourish and stay, but one that will also attract fresh new talent?

PPL PRS provides a single licence for businesses that play live and recorded music. Royalties collected go to musicians, publishers and songwriters.

It has been shortlisted for, and won, awards for the culture at their Leicester office, which currently has around 200 employees.

The smart office – with its glass walls, huge music-inspired mural and bright logos – fits the business brilliantly.

We spoke to people services director Nimira Kassam to understand what they are doing right – and what they have learnt from getting it wrong.

Workplace Culture is often boxed into being about Diversity and Inclusion. We know it’s not just down to that, but what are you doing at PPL PRS to ensure that the business welcomes and includes people from all walks of life?

The East Midlands is a very diverse area of the country, and we are lucky enough to be based in the heart of that, in Leicester, so diversity and inclusion are very high on our agenda.

But it’s not just ethnicity that we consider, we

provide support for our neurodiverse colleagues, working parents, and more recently we signed a pledge to provide both practical and emotional support for anyone dealing with the menopause and its symptoms.

For a person looking to build a career at PPL PRS, what could that look like?

We have a fantastic learning and development team and programme here at PPL PRS. Just as a snapshot of the last 12 months we launched a Future Leaders programme in collaboration with Leicester University Business School which has resulted in a number of promotions (four out of nine who took part have since been promoted).

‘All of our people took part in Insights workshops as part of their teams helping us to deliver better team effectiveness’

We have a career pathways programme within the business and 33 employees have levelled up using this development plan, which is a huge number of people progressing through the business considering we have around 200 employees.

We also focus on ensuring our teams work well together, and collaboratively, and to do that they need the tools to understand how their colleagues think, feel, respond and learn.

All of our people took part in Insights workshops as part of their teams helping us to

deliver better team effectiveness, and this was the highest performing category in our staff survey.

A current hot topic in the workplace is ‘wellness’ – how are PPL PRS ensuring their employees feel cared for and supported?

Wellness at PPL PRS isn’t just a buzzword – it’s at the heart of our employee engagement.

Last year we recognised more than 40 awareness days to develop a culture of inclusivity, including Pride, Eid, time off to donate blood, Mental Health Awareness Week, Menopause Awareness Month and free flu jabs.

And it’s not just physical and mental wellness we looked at. We introduced financial wellness workshops with MDG Wealth to help our people plan for the future, and have a healthy relationship with the money they earn.

This programme of support is starting to be reflected in our absence figures as well, with absence down to 3.76% against the previous year which was at 4.1%.

How do you measure your success with your employee engagement?

Recognition of our people is key – the You Rock awards are presented to those who have gone above and beyond

Measurement is key to the success of anything we do for our employees – we need to know what works and what doesn’t – so we conduct regular surveys to check the ‘temperature’ of how we are doing and adjust it accordingly.

In our annual survey we had a 70% engagement score which is calculated by combining the number of responses that ‘strongly agree’ or ‘mostly agree’ with the following statement: “My overall experience at PPL PRS has been positive this year”.

Finally, what are the future workplace culture plans for PPL PRS?

We have a number of exciting initiatives coming up in 2024, including:

• Plans to report on the ethnicity pay gap

• Attracting a more diverse workforce

• Revamping the induction scheme revamped to ensure an even warmer welcome into the business

• A review of the benefits and incentive scheme

• Launching management and soft skills development programmes

• Introducing an EDI framework

• Introducing an ESG framework.

For more information on what it’s like to work at PPL PRS, visit pplprs.co.uk/working-for-pplprs

Why your brand matters

By Natalie Sullivan (pictured), director/partner at One Studio.

In a world full of advertising and competitors, how do you set your business apart? Beyond a service or product, the answer is branding.

Branding is about much more than a logo. It’s about more than your identity. It’s about how you’re seen and how you show up – from the captions and photos you share on social media, to the way your staff answers the phone, to the colour of your shopfront.

Every touchpoint of your business is part of your brand –and whether you’re online or off, SME or global titan, big spender or small, branding should be part of your DNA.

• It’s a way to make you instantly recognisable and memorable. The Apple stamp, the Nike Swoosh, McDonald’s golden arches and the Louis Vuitton monogram are all fantastic examples. But you have to think bigger than a logo – McDonald’s also have their iconic Happy Meal and ‘I’m Lovin’ It’ jingle.

• It builds trust, loyalty and an audience. When branding is done consistently well, customers know exactly what they’re getting with your product or service. To them, your business is comfortable, familiar, and – in time –nostalgic. Why go anywhere else?

• It brings in top talent. If you’re a business with a wellthought-out, brilliantly-executed brand, you’ll be fighting off some of the brightest minds (not to mention taking a shortcut to their loyalty). Bigger than that, though, a consistent brand gives your employees something even more valuable – a thing to believe in.

When you’re dreaming up your brand, there are lots of things to bear in mind. Here are just a few of them:

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1. SET CLEAR GOALS

Everything in business has a number attached, one way or another. And everything is done with a purpose – whether it’s to get more customers through the doors or more Alexas in the home.

Branding is no different. It’s fed by all those moving parts – your vision, your product, where you are now and where you want to go next – and is the oil that gets the cogs in motion.

2.KNOW YOURSELF, KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE, KNOW YOUR COMPETITION

Where would any business be without a little research? Hone in on your demographic and find out what appeals to them. Unearth what they love about the other brands they’re already buying into. In short, meet them where they are.

And speaking of the competition, keep your finger on the pulse by keeping tabs on all their channels and activity, so you can do one better.

Finally, know what works for you and what doesn’t –whether it’s how you want to look, how you want to sound, or even what you want to stand for.

3.KEEP IT CONSISTENT

Brands can do well when they pull something different out of the bag every now and then, but what resonates with customers the most is a sense of continuity. They know that they’ll get the same gold-standard customer service, whether they tweet you or call up.

Every touchpoint matters, because customers know that they’re seeing the real, genuine thing when you always show up the same way – whether in print, online or in person.

And finally, celebrate what makes you different. With so many brands out there in your sector – some older, more established, or more popular than you – what are you going to do to set yourself apart?

‘Hone in on your demographic and find out what appeals to them’

The One Studio team

Improving your vision

Good eye health is vitally important to our overall health and wellbeing. If you have eyesight problems, such as astigmatism or long/short sightedness, you may be a good candidate for laser eye surgery. But what are the pros and cons of the surgery, and how does it all work? Vijay Savant (pictured), consultant ophthalmologist, consultant ophthalmologist and lead clinician for Emergency Eye Services, University Hospitals of Leicester offers more details.

WHAT IS LASER EYE SURGERY?

The cornea is the front transparent structure of the eye, which is responsible for focusing light to the back of the eye in order to give you perfect vision. Any change in the shape of the cornea results in people being long-sighted or shortsighted. Corneal laser eye surgery can correct long and short-sightedness by changing the shape of the cornea.

Corneal laser eye surgery uses an excimer laser to reshape the cornea in order to correct a refractive error. There are two main procedures in laser refractive surgery –PRK/LASEK and LASIK. A new treatment called SMILE gives you more options to treat higher prescriptions and is a developing technology with great promise.

PRK/LASEK is one of the oldest treatments in corneal laser refractive surgery. PRK (photorefractive keratomileusis) involves removing the outer layer of the cornea called the epithelium. Once this is done, the laser reshapes the cornea to correct the prescription.

LASIK involves using femtosecond laser to create a very thin flap involving the epithelium and the stroma. The flap is then lifted by the surgeon followed by excimer laser treatment to the cornea to reshape the cornea. The flap is then repositioned, followed by a bandage contact lens.

WHAT ARE THE PROS AND CONS OF PRK/LASEK VERSUS LASIK?

PRK/LASEK:

Pros:

1. The most time-tested procedure in corneal refractive surgery. Safety includes, no complication involving the flap.

Cons:

1. Higher incidence of pain.

2. Visual recovery can take up to one-two weeks.

3. Dry eye symptoms are likely to persist for up to six months.

‘A new treatment called SMILE gives you more options to treat higher prescriptions and is a developing technology with great promise’

LASIK:

Pros:

1. Less or no pain.

2. Faster visual recovery

Cons:

1. Complications and the risk of flap include; wrinkling of the flap needing repositioning, tearing of the flap if there is an injury in the future, corneal inflammation and epithelium growing in the interface on the flap.

With either procedure, the final visual outcome in terms of gaining vision is the same.

IS THERE ANOTHER WAY?

Another type of corneal laser eye surgery, known as SMILE procedure, involves using a femtosecond laser to create a small lenticule of tissue within the cornea and with a small incision removing this lenticule. This procedure offers great promise in terms of treating higher prescriptions and maintaining the integrity of the cornea.

AM I SUITABLE FOR CORNEAL LASER EYE SURGERY?

At The Stoneygate Eye Hospital we offer the most advanced diagnostic equipment in order to determine accurately suitability of patients and also predicting patients who may have trouble after laser surgery. Hence, it is a very robust method of evaluating patients and only considering laser surgery for the best suited candidates.

In good hands with

Dedicated to protecting people and premises through CCTV systems, System Q’s array of products covers a large area of fields, from avoiding “bilking” – fuel theft from petrol stations – to protecting vulnerable premises and compounds when the CCTV system has no operator. Mike Isherwood (pictured), managing director, explains why System Q is a great choice for trade installers committed to keeping your premises safe.

With more than 30 years of teaching and supplying trade customers, System Q is the security distributor of choice for electricians and security installers.

System Q offers its own products and custom CCTV solutions to its trade-only clients, and has an extensive range of services attached to the purchases, all for the benefit of its clients. These main features are backed up by an amazing knowledgeable team and customer support, throughout extended opening hours, to make sure the team is reachable for any CCTV-related queries.

New owner, new perks

Mike Isherwood is the new owner of the company and in his first year of steering the company, he already introduced new policies, beneficial for the customers, to make their CCTV installs as smooth as possible. Next-day delivery is one of its advantages, and having an extended warranty on some items for up to three years and 180-day returns, plus an amazing dedicated technical support team, is something System Q couldn’t be more proud of.

These services to the customer are the most important assets that add value to the beauty and professionalism of the products themselves.

Tough and reliable

Tested and double-tested, each product individually, making sure the quality is at its highest level for every item, System Q’s cameras and recorders are built in a strong metal case, to ensure the durability and toughness required to

do their job, which is to give you peace of mind, knowing that you are in safe hands with System Q’s surveillance systems.

Everything that System Q does is based on integrity and transparency. We don’t just say this ourselves. Five-stars Trustpilot and Google reviews for our services and products stay witness of it all.

Besides, even if you’re a novice in CCTV, System Q is there to help you choose the right products for protecting your premises and install them. On the other hand, if you are a professional installer, System Q’s advanced Pro range is fully equipped with iSense AI features, such as Facial and Vehicle Recognition, Google and Alexa integration, has the 4K’s crystal-clear imagery and high-end technology that can be used even on old systems.

‘We have a promising future ahead’

CCTV made easy

System Q collaborates with schools, police, and other government bodies, which shows the highend level and trust that System Q is proud to have achieved over the years. “We have a promising future ahead. We’ve enhanced our services and product lines, all meant for an easy process of installing CCTV. That’s why our slogan is: ‘We make security simple’, because we do.” says System Q’s dynamic new managing director, Mike Isherwood.

Discover it yourself

“Chesterfield is not only my hometown, but its strategic position at the centre of the UK map makes it an ideal location for a distributor. The sense of close community and networking events – be it business or simply socialising, its location at the edge of the magnificent Peak District, makes it a very attractive place to do business in.”

System Q’s trade showroom is open every working day and welcomes you with a warm drink and a friendly team, ready to answer your most stringent questions.

We provide fortnightly training sessions and if you require more in-depth knowledge about CCTV, we provide tailor-made training specific to your needs.

Visit us or call and we will offer you a solution to your protection and surveillance needs.

Whether you are a CCTV installer, or you own a business that needs to find a security installer, you couldn’t be in better hands. We match installers to projects, and vice-versa. Feel free to call System Q or visit its website at systemq.com for more info on our products and services.

T: 01246 200 000 W: systemq.com

Partnership to share AI benefits

Loughborough College has announced a partnership with Graffio Arts’ Institute to help local businesses use artificial intelligence and digital technologies for growth.

The link-up with Loughborough-based institute is the result of an Innovate UK grant secured by the college to help local businesses through AI and digital development.

The pioneering programme is designed to equip small and medium sized businesses with the tools and knowledge they need to thrive in the digital age. Central to it is the collaboration with Institute, a prominent local hub specialising in art, design, and digital technology.

‘We

aim to provide enterprises with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed’

Institute managing director Steve Barradell said: “Institute was created to explore the nature of media technology and we are excited to be able to collaborate on the development of knowledge and the acquisition of digital skills that will enable progressive local businesses to thrive.”

Heather Clarke, who has been acting principal and chief executive of Loughborough College, said: “We are committed to supporting the growth and development of local businesses.

“Through this programme, we aim to provide enterprises with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world.

“We are thrilled to partner with Institute to deliver this transformative initiative to the businesses in our community.”

The courses will be delivered out of Loughborough’s dedicated Careers and Enterprise Hub, and will cover the fundamentals of artificial intelligence, data collection, pre-processing, machine learning, and predictive analysis.

Arts investment will be a driving force

Hollywood technology used in Disney’s The Mandalorian will be available for filmmakers in Nottingham thanks to big investment digital arts by Nottingham Trent University (NTU).

Professional filmmakers and university students alike will be able to access one of the most advanced virtual production suites in the UK when the new Design & Digital Arts (D&DA) building opens in September.

The technology – used in the epic Star Wars spinoff – will cost £1.3m and enable actors to perform in front of a huge LED screen which can virtually transport the audience to anywhere in the world, or beyond, in an instant.

The 30ft wide, 13ft tall display features almost 10 million pixels, making 2D and 3D moving images and special effects appear lifelike, both in-person and oncamera.

The suite has the same level of high-quality sound and camera systems used by professionals around the world, and a lighting system designed to ensure that fine details, such as skin tones and colour reproduction, appear authentic in the LED environment.

The suite is being delivered in collaboration with audiovisual technology specialists Creative Technology and ARRI Solutions.

Included in the collaboration is a green screen studio –complete with state-of-the-art lighting and rigging systems – allowing students to get to grips with the technologies used by professionals, before they embark on their own creative careers.

Students will also be able to learn studio techniques for lighting, cameras, motion capture and more, and there will be a recording studio and control room for audio work.

The Creative Technology and ARRI Solutions teams will provide support and assistance in virtual production as part of the collaboration.

Michael Marsden, executive dean of the Nottingham School of Art & Design at NTU, said: “This investment has the potential to inspire a renaissance in Nottingham’s filmmaking industry, the likes of which that hasn’t been seen since the days of the former Central and Carlton television studios.

‘This investment has the potential to inspire a renaissance in Nottingham’s filmmaking industry’

“We’re making available some of the most advanced filmmaking technology in the world that could change the way local filmmakers work, and attract new ones to the city, leading to previously unimagined possibilities.

“At the same time, we will become a global leader in digital arts and filmmaking education, creating a rich talent pool of young creatives who will graduate with sector-leading expertise and hands-on industry experience.

“This is an exciting development in our 180-year history which will help position NTU, and the city as a whole, as the most innovative hotbed for digital art and design talent in the UK.”

The D&DA building is part of an ambitious plan to build on NTU’s reputation as one of the world’s leading art and design schools.

As well as digital filmmaking, the space will enable the university to build its credentials in animation, UX (user experience) design, gaming, graphic design and illustration, together with traditional design.

Tom Burford, the UK director of technical services at Creative Technology, said: “The delivery of NTU’s virtual production space will be borne out of experience of being at the cutting edge of technology, workflows and language that has developed at a huge rate of knots over the past few years. With all of this experience our purpose at Creative Technology has always been to share, educate and inspire.”

Kevin Schwutke, senior vice president and head of business-unit solutions at ARRI, said: “The Design & Digital Arts building, and its studio facilities stand as a landmark development, not only for NTU, but also for the city’s creative industries.

“This productive partnership between the university and industry partners has delivered a facility which not only assures the highest production values, but also enables students to gain invaluable hands-on experience in an environment mirroring the professional settings found in top-tier film sets.”

Major accolade for family lawyer

Geldards family law solicitor Natalie Haydon-Yeung was named Solicitor of the Year at Nottinghamshire Law Society’s annual awards dinner.

The awards, which took place at East Midlands Conference Centre, are the main event in the society’s calendar attended by the great and good of the legal world and the hotly contested Solicitor of the Year Award is presented to someone who has shown outstanding performance, excellence in their legal work, fostered the development of their colleagues and developed an outstanding business initiative within their firm.

Natalie joined Geldards’ family team almost a decade ago and deals with a range of family matters. She has experience dealing with high-net worth financial settlements and complex children matters.

One of her passions is providing

Natalie Haydon-Yeung receives her award, with from left: Philip Turton, of Ropewalk Chambers, Derby & District Law Society president Oliver Maxwell and Nottinghamshire Law Society president Stephen Luke

support and advice to Hong Kong nationals settling in the UK.

Drawing on her Chinese heritage and interest in the UK’s visa system

LEGAL APPOINTMENTS

Freeths has appointed corporate partner Martin Smith (pictured), formally of Knights, to grow and develop its operations across the East Midlands.

Martin has more than 25 years’ experience advising UK and international clients in various sectors on all aspects of mergers and acquisitions – including high value private and public equity transactions, fund raisings and restructurings.

In this new role he will work alongside partner and head of corporate Leon Arnold and corporate partner John Heaphy.

His appointment is the first of several significant senior hires in the East Midlands corporate team for Freeths over the coming months.

Martin said: “This new role will give me the opportunity to utilise my experience in helping Freeths really embed and expand its corporate practice in such a thriving region.

“I’m incredibly eager to hit the ground running at such a prominent national firm.”

Corporate lawyer David Kaplan (pictured) has joined Rothera Bray to lead its Derby office, bringing almost three decades of experience to the firm.

He joins from Nelsons with a background in general M&A, private equity and banking and finance.

He said: “I am excited to join such an innovative practice and am looking forward to working with my fellow corporate partners in developing further Rothera Bray’s corporate offering in Derby, Nottingham and Leicester, while at the same time increasing the reach of Rothera Bray’s other legal services in the Derby marketplace.

“My appointment shows Rothera Bray’s commitment to Derby, and we are very keen to continue with the expansion of the Derby office with further strategic appointments.”

Rothera Bray, chief executive Christina Yardley, said: “David’s wealth of experience and expertise will be invaluable as we expand our corporate offerings in Derby and beyond.”

for Hong Kong British National Overseas, she established a dedicated team, including professional advisors, to offer

support to help citizens relocating from Hong Kong. She regularly promotes this service within the wider Chinese community.

Law firm enjoys period of growth

Management at niche commercial law firm CMP Legal said it experienced substantial growth last year, advising on 28 corporate transactions with a combined deal value in excess of £85m.

The firm launched three years ago and specialises in corporate, commercial, dispute resolution and employment law.

Over the year, it acted across a variety of sectors, notably earning a nationwide reputation for its expertise in the dental and pharmacy sectors. It also acted on two largescale employee ownership trust agreements, and worked closely with other professional services companies on their acquisitions.

CMP Legal executive director Anna Cattee said: “It’s testament to our small but uniquely focused team, to have been able to achieve the level and value of the deals in such a short space of time, we’re continually growing and investing into our infrastructure to enable us to be able to provide such high-level services to our clients and continue to meet the demand.

“The team is growing year-on-year and while it’s been an undeniably, fantastic year, we’re not seeing any slow-down in instructions as we head into year four.”

CMP Legal advises on all forms of corporate transactions, across all industries, including mergers and acquisitions, disposals, private equity transactions, joint ventures, shareholder agreements and more.

Amelia Bacon, Anna Cattee and Harrison Easley of CMP Legal

Photo credit: Jay Glenn Show Photography

How changes to R&D tax relief will hit small firms

By Darryl Hoy (pictured), technical director, in the Radius team at Shorts Chartered Accountants

The 2023 Autumn Statement announced a new merged R&D Tax Relief scheme would launch on 1 April 2024. For many smaller businesses, this means no longer being able to claim under the SME scheme as the new scheme will incorporate both tax reliefs for qualifying SMEs and large companies.

HOW THE NEW MERGED RDEC SCHEME WORKS

For accounting periods beginning on or after 1 April 2024, businesses will claim qualifying R&D expenditure under the new merged scheme, offering a flat rate RDEC of 20%. That means a significant tax advantage depending on your company’s profits and R&D spending. Most profitable companies receive a 15% net tax benefit for their R&D spending (around £15,000 for every £100,000 invested in R&D). For

loss-making companies, it can be slightly more.

RDEC is treated as the company’s taxable income, and a notional tax rate is applied against the gross RDEC figure at the current rate of Corporation tax –the main rate being 25% since 1 April 2023. However, for lossmaking companies and those with profits below £50k, the notional tax rate applied to the RDEC is 19%. This can increase the net tax benefit to 16.2% or £16,200 for every £100,000 spent on R&D. Loss-making SMEs that heavily invest in R&D qualify for another scheme if their R&D expenses make up at least 30% of total expenditure. This scheme (which also applies to companies meeting a 40% threshold between 1 April, 2023, and 31 March, 2024) offers benefits similar to those of the previous SME scheme. Under the merged RDEC scheme it’s extremely important to make

sure you are aware of the options available and you should pay special attention to your company’s accounting period. You might need to start claiming under the new merged scheme immediately depending on your financial reporting cycle.

UPDATED RULES FOR R&D THAT IS CONTRACTED OUT

The 1 April changes include important updates relating to contracting out of R&D activities –generally it will be the customer rather than the supplier that can claim the R&D costs.

This is where it is clear that the customer “contemplated or intended” that R&D of that sort would need to be performed by the supplier. But where the customer does not contemplate the R&D activity and it is the supplier that initiates the R&D, then the supplier may claim.

NEW RULES FOR OVERSEAS R&D EXPENDITURE

Expenditure on overseas R&D activities performed by contractors or third parties will generally no longer be allowed. The exception is where conditions necessary for the R&D are not present in the UK.

If you have staff on the UK payroll, paying UK PAYE, then their costs are not affected by these new rules, and it is still fine if some of their R&D activity is performed abroad – an example might be a site visit to a laboratory overseas that undertakes some testing.

There are a lot of R&D tax relief scheme changes to consider, and there is a good chance further changes will be announced in the future. The key to success is understanding what projects qualify and who can claim the costs.

FINANCE APPOINTMENTS

Spencer (pictured) has been appointed as a corporate finance partner at PKF Smith Cooper.

Nici returns to Haines Watts, bringing with her extensive experience and understanding of complex tax issues, including crossborder taxation, UK and international individual and trust taxes, residency and domicile matters. She is also highly experienced in the emerging fields of cryptocurrency and NFT taxation.

East Midlands managing director Martin Bowles said: “I’m thrilled to be announcing Nici’s appointment as Haines Watts Midlands Tax Advisory director – having a fantastic team to work with and depend on for our continued growth in the region makes it all worthwhile.”

She has 25 years’ experience in mid-market transactions as well as expertise in private equity and cross-border deals. Her experience spans a number of sectors, including business services, industrial, food, consumer and technology.

Some of her recent notable deals include advising private equity investor RJD Partners on their exit from Midlands-based engineering, helping surveying and monitoring services provider Survey Solutions, and assisting in the sale of school transport provider Kura to global transit-tech company Zeelo.

Before joining PKF, Claire was a co-founding partner for an independent corporate finance firm.

Nicola Goldsmith (pictured) has joined Haines Watts Midlands Tax Advisory as a director.

Claire

Data: An unseen ticking time bomb?

Data – specifically un/mismanaged data –in financial services can lead to problems that many companies are not aware of. These issues include compliance breaches, jeopardised regulatory adherence and hefty fines. Additionally, inaccurate or outdated data can compromise financial analyses, leading to flawed decision-making and potential financial losses for the company.

In this article, Suja Shyamsundar (pictured), founder of 4S Business Support, articulates how the ‘Essential Trio’ of database management, CRM systems, and skilled IT support serves as a solution to the issues posed by unmanaged or mismanaged data in financial services. Moreover, she explains how this comprehensive approach fosters an environment conducive to growth and innovation in financial services.

1.DATABASE MANAGEMENT: BUILDING A FOUNDATION OF KNOWLEDGE

As companies grow, the volume and complexity of data expand exponentially, necessitating a robust database management strategy. Effective database management entails the organisation, storage, and retrieval of data in a manner that is both efficient and secure.

Investing in scalable database solutions lays a

solid foundation for growth, while rigorous data governance practices ensure accuracy and accessibility. This enables informed decisionmaking and seamless access to critical information throughout the organisation.

2. CRM SYSTEMS: CULTIVATING LASTING CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS

As one’s customer base expands, nurturing and maintaining meaningful relationships become paramount.

‘CRM systems are crucial, helping companies manage customer interactions efficiently. CRM systems offer a suite of tools for tracking customer preferences, automating marketing, and streamlining sales to enhance engagement and drive revenue growth’

By investing in tailored CRM solutions, companies can deepen customer relationships, anticipate needs, and deliver personalised experiences that enhance loyalty and advocacy.

3. SKILLED IT SUPPORT: ENABLING SEAMLESS OPERATIONS

Finally, a robust IT infrastructure forms the backbone of business operations, providing the technological scaffolding upon which growth can flourish. As companies scale, the demand for reliable IT support becomes increasingly pronounced, encompassing everything from system integration and network security to software maintenance and user support. By investing in dedicated IT resources or leveraging outsourced support services, companies can ensure the uninterrupted flow of operations, minimise downtime, and adapt quickly to evolving technological needs - laying the groundwork for sustained growth and innovation.

At 4S Business Support, we understand the criticality of the Essential Trio in enabling businesses to solve data challenges and thrive in a competitive landscape.

We have a proven track record in database management and data transitions across multiple CRM systems in the financial services sector. Various examples of systems that have been integrated are Intelligent Office, Xplan, Zoho, Sales Force, and Ekeeper.

We offer highly skilled resources, such as data analysts, IT engineers, and Power BI specialists who have been instrumental in driving growth and innovation for multiple organisations in the past.

“Working with 4S Business Support has been a game-changer for our business. As we ventured into expanding our team globally, finding skilled Business Intelligence Developers was our top priority. We engaged 4S Business Support due to their expertise in the market and they made the entire process seamless and efficient. They proved to be a reliable partner in supporting with on-going HR services, providing i nvaluable guidance and assistance every step of the way.”

Director of Meesh Consulting

4S Business Support offers a strategic edge through fully managed outsourcing solutions tailored to your organisation’s needs. We provide a detailed consultation free of charge where we do an in-depth analysis of your processes to see where we can support your growth.

Get in touch for more information: T: 07771 638842

E: suja@4sbusiness-support.co.uk

W: 4sbusiness-support.co.uk

SKILLS

Chamber support for Reserve Forces

East Midlands Chamber is supporting the national Reserves Day on Wednesday 26 June, which celebrates the work of the thousands of people who give up their spare time to serve in the Reserve Forces.

Reservists balance their civilian life with a military career to ensure that should their country require them, they would be ready to serve in the military.

Reserve Forces make up approximately one-sixth of our Armed Forces personnel so are integral to protecting the nation’s security at home and overseas, particularly in specialist areas such as medical work and cyber security.

The contribution they make often goes unrecognised – which was why the Reserves Day was created, when reservists can wear their uniform in their civilian life.

The Ministry of Defence is asking employers to thank Reservists across the UK for their dedication, professionalism and commitment.

A spokeswoman said: “Whether you are a large organisation, small business, charity or self-employed, show your support on 26 June by holding a workplace talk, organising an event or just publicly showing your support to celebrate Reserves Day.”

As an employer, you can demonstrate your commitment to supporting Reservists and the wider Armed Forces community by adding your organisation’s name to the Armed Forces Covenant.

Read more about it at armedforcescovenant.gov.uk

More people are economically active

The amount of economically active people (aged 16-64) in the East Midlands has risen to almost eightin-10 according to latest estimates from the Office for National Statistics.

Chamber head of special projects Richard Blackmore said: “The continuing lift in the number of economically active people returning to work in the East Midlands is encouraging and will help in driving up overall employment across the region.

“With a 2.8% drop in vacancies across the country there have been fewer jobs for the taking.

“Our most recent Quarterly Economic Survey showed 64% of respondents that had been actively trying to recruit staff found it difficult to find a suitable candidate.

“When you combine the drop in vacancies with a lack of people with matching skills needed when there is a role available, you get a picture of the obstacles faced.”

Membership provides opportunity to educate

East Midlands Chamber is running a Joining the Dots publicity campaign to make it easier for members to navigate the services it offers – and members have been sharing their thoughts on what the Chamber means to them. This month we hear from Laura Shepherd (pictured), director of strategic partnerships and external relationships at Loughborough College.

Ihave been in the role since 2022, building and enhancing external relationships with key stakeholders, including local employers, bluechip industry bodies, educational establishments, and government officials.

Loughborough College, based in the heart of Leicestershire was established over 100 years ago in 1909. Our strategy focuses on broadening horizons, transforming lives, and shaping futures. We have more than 1,000 staff, and 10,000 students, across our further education, higher education, and apprenticeship offers.

Since 2022, we have partnered with Loughborough University to be the home of the prestigious NFL (National Football League) Academy. We are so proud of our alumni, who have gone on to incredible careers across a range of industries, and our graduates include sports superstars like Ellie Simmonds, Jude Bellingham and Steph Houghton.

‘We are excited to have some really innovative and pioneering changes coming’

Last year, our state-of-the-art T Level Centre was opened by the Minister for Skills, Robert Halfon MP. We also announced the ground-breaking of a cuttingedge building, part of the wider East Midlands Institute of Technology (EMIoT), which focuses on green energy and a sustainable workforce for the future.

We are excited to have some really innovative and pioneering changes coming to the college.

The EMIoT is due to open its doors in 2025. This major new learning hub will advance the East Midlands as a destination for the skills of tomorrow, while embracing the advanced skills required for the evolution of artificial intelligence and an increasingly data-driven economy.

The building will also respond to the local and regional skills demand, giving students the clean and sustainable digital tech skills to tackle the challenges

of the future, and become the next generation of forward thinkers.

Our internationally renowned elite sport offer is what sets us apart, and we were one of only 62 colleges across the country to be successful in a £9.91m bid to enhance our offering with a new stateof-the-art sports hub.

We joined East Midlands Chamber in 2016. In order to continue to deliver on our strategy, we needed to understand businesses, and really understand what they needed to deliver the workforce of the future.

We saw a huge opportunity to collaborate, engage with the local community, and work with those businesses that the Chamber was working with to create and lead meaningful change together.

We also saw this as an opportunity to increase awareness of the power of further education, the development of skills, and the role colleges play in supporting local communities within the Chamber and local businesses.

This partnership allows these conversations to be at the forefront of local policy development and investment propositions.

Being a Chamber patron has enabled us to continue to deliver educational excellence through our curriculum. We have worked closely with the Chamber on the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), which has in turn allowed us to collaborate with other local colleges and continue to drive excellence in education.

We have been able to build connections throughout the East Midlands, and work with other Chamber members to create meaningful and influential change to local policy. Being a patron has also allowed the college to have a say in the work the Chamber does, and having this gateway of communication has strengthened our relationships and networks.

We also sponsor several awards focused on celebrating the significant achievements of young people across the East Midlands. Highlighting the fantastic work of these young people is an important part of our patronage and plays a key role in our goals to develop the workforce of the future.

Police service offers variety of career options

Derbyshire Police is recruiting new members of staff all the time. This month Gavin, a project manager with the force, outlines the work involved in one of the more hidden staff roles.

He said: “I worked lots of normal jobs, I went to university and did the usual path that people within IT do.

“I got my degree in ICT and after university found myself as a first line analyst at an electronics company dealing with end-to-end hospitality & retail technology in the private sector. I was enjoying it but like many others, I lost my job during the credit crunch and didn’t know where to turn next.

“I used this time to re-assess my career and where I wanted to go. I liked the idea of working on projects which utilised elements of my technical and business knowledge, so I joined Derbyshire Constabulary as a programme support officer.

“My basic role was to support project managers in delivering projects, focusing on the administrative tasks, and offering support in order to keep projects moving forward.”

‘The full spectrum of projects and project management approaches’

Gavin continued to develop his skills for the next ten years. He said: “While in the role, I learnt a lot about project delivery, in particular about risk management, issue tracking and reporting and was exposed to lots of new skills, experiences and people.

“Through my exposure to new business areas and the relationships I formed with colleagues, I saw the full spectrum

of projects and project management approaches over that period, which has helped to form my approach today.

“I got to the point where I wanted to grow and continue to develop, so began to look for secondments in different departments to broaden my experience, I wanted to try something new and take on more responsibility.

“During a six-month period in information services I learnt even more and expanded my understanding of the organisation, the business processes and the

different skills required to become a successful project manager.”

After applying for a role as project manager in the business change and innovation department, Gavin achieved his goal and has never looked back.

He said: “I now run some really interesting and largescale projects for the force and know that I have the confidence and experience to deliver.”

To find out about IT and other roles within the force visit: careers.derbyshire.police.uk

Gavin is a project manager at Derbyshire Police

Warehouse park work under way

Work has started on a 761,000 sq ft speculative unit at Europe’s biggest warehouse park.

GLP has started building the warehouse – which will be known as MPN 761 – on the north part of its 1,400-acre Magna Park site near Lutterworth.

The developer said MPN 761 will have BREEAM energy efficiency accreditation along with wide service yards, lots of HGV and car allocations, level access doors, lots of natural light and electric vehicle charging.

The building will also be designed to WELL principles which should create a more productive and pleasant working environment.

GLP will support future tenants through a complimentary Planet Mark program to help monitor, track and reduce their carbon footprint.

Construction is expected to be completed in June 2025.

Magna Park North, an extension to the existing Magna Park Lutterworth development, has brought forward more than 4.5 million sq ft of additional land for development along with a 200-acre country park.

‘The development of MPN 761 will be an excellent addition to our existing units’

The first phase of development at Magna Park North Lutterworth was three speculative units covering 1m sq ft which were all leased ahead of completion.

A further build-to-suit development of 310,000 sq ft has been let to global logistics company LX Pantos.

Other new tenants at Magna Park Lutterworth, which now has 49 buildings covering 12m sq ft, include Bleckmann, Iron Mountain, Unipart and Centrica.

Joe Garwood, senior development director at GLP said: “We embed customercentricity at the outset of any development alongside aligning environmental and social concerns. This site is a great example of that and at the cutting edge of the warehouse market in the UK.”

Pick Everard could nick award for prison design

Pick Everard has been shortlisted for a prestigious industry award for its work on one of the biggest and greenest prisons in the country.

HMP Fosse Way and its project team have been nominated in the project of the year over £50m category at the Construction News Awards.

The winners will be announced at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London, on Thursday 11 July.

The Category C prison, in Glen Parva, Leicester, was completed last July and uses a blueprint design programme Pick Everard established with HMP Five Wells, which sees it work closely with the Ministry of Justice on a new sustainable vision for its prison estate.

Pick Everard was lead designer for the 16 acre, £286m project, which houses 1,715 prisoners and which is powered by renewable energy.

Pick Everard director Ali Ratcliffe said they had created a new standard for prison design that her firm was proud to help deliver.

She said: “Everyone at Pick Everard is delighted with this shortlisting, which is testament to the hard work and reputation of excellence we have established in the UK justice sector.”

During construction HMP Fosse Way supported more than 490 jobs, with 73 serving prisoners and exoffenders employed on site.

Nike will ‘just do it’ at Magna Park

Nike has signed a 20-year lease on a state-of-the-art UK logistics campus and national supply chain hub at Chamber member GLP’s site at Magna Park Corby.

The complex will span more than 1.3m sq ft of warehousing, offices, sport and recreation facilities in a single building – and will target a BREEAM ‘outstanding’ energy rating and be net zero carbon in construction.

Legal & General is partnering in the project having previously acted as strategic partner for the delivery of Waitrose’s first national distribution centre at Magna Park in Milton Keynes in 2014.

Prioritising sport and wellbeing, the new facility in Corby will be designed with wellness in mind –

with outdoor features including running tracks, open-air gyms, a multi-use game areas and recreation areas. The scheme will also include a 3.6-mile exercise

route, 1.2-mile natural trail and 2.3 miles of other footpaths and the new campus will provide access to protected woodlands, with designated cycle routes.

A computer generated image of Nike’s planned logistics campus and supply chain hub at Magna Park Corby

Before and after images of the Pick Everard-designed prison at HMP Fosse Way in Glen Parva

A classy ride - on the road and off it

Journalist Nick Jones tests the latest offering from Range Rover – the Sport PHEV.

Half a century on from its inception, the Range Rover has gone from being an agricultural, somewhat ill-equipped workhorse to becoming a luxury transport that is a great way of getting from A to B, and fit for the Royal family.

This is an expensive piece of kit, nowadays costing over £100,000, but exudes luxury in abundance paired with safety traits –something everyone needs on the road. I’m pretty sure an EV will follow suit soon, but in the meantime the plug-in hybrid is a decent steppingstone on the road to electrification.

The whole driving experience is sublime, and the suspension works well despite it wearing enormous 23-inch wheels

FACTFILE

MODEL

Range Rover Sport PHEV

PRICE OTR

Mine here is a three-litre twin turbo monster of a motor with an electric motor that is both quiet and civilised, and handles remarkably well considering it weighs-in at nearly three tonnes.

Despite this, reaching 60 miles an hour takes just under five-and-a-half seconds and it can achieve nearly 150 miles per hour, given appropriate conditions.

The whole driving experience is sublime, and the suspension works well despite it wearing enormous 23inch wheels while absorbing the questionable surfaces and potholes which are very much part of everyday driving.

The interior finish is sumptuous and the huge seats are as comfortable as you’d expect with loads of footspace and headroom in both the front and the rear.

I’m not complaining, but it is quite a good old way up to gain access to the cabin though, should you be vertically-challenged.

Technology is comprehensive, dominated by a 13inch touchscreen which displays everything for your fingertips to peruse but it does take a while to get used to the incredible inventory it has.

This is a car that oozes class but let’s not forget it’s a Range Rover so one could be forgiven for dismissing its off-road capabilities.

It’s very accomplished and deals with mud, slippy slopes and the like with consummate ease – but I’m guessing drivers will stick to the roads safe in the knowledge should conditions dictate, it’ll be absolutely fine.

Expensive, yes – but what a big, burly ultimate cruiser.

CHECK CLEANDRY is easy with Bio Mate

Bassetlaw-based company Charlie and Jane LTD, as part of their Mud Mate brand, have developed an innovative and unique portable cleaning kit. Bio Mate Water Sports enables paddle-sport participants to CHECK CLEAN DRY their paddleboards, kayaks and equipment at the water’s edge to help prevent the spread of harmful Invasive Non Native Species (INNS) in our waterways.

Designed and developed by director Nolan Freebury, Bio Mate is a unique product on the market and has already been made an Official Partner of Paddle UK, the Nottingham-based UK governing body for paddlesports, which help raise awareness of biosecurity among the paddle-sport community and helps protect our blue spaces from INNS.

INNS are plants and animals introduced into an area outside of their natural habitats, and many even come from different continents. Once these harmful species become present they can negatively impact our health and the environment by reducing water quality, slowing down the flow of rivers, increasing the threat of flooding and clogging whole waterways preventing recreational use.

Paddlesports, especially stand up paddleboarding, are becoming increasing popular and many paddlers don’t realise that they play a vital role in keeping our waters free of these harmful species by making sure they

don’t transfer them between different waterways on their paddleboards, kayaks and equipment. Led by Paddle UK, there is a campaign called CHECK CLEAN DRY, which aims to encourage paddlesport participants to do just that:

CHECK! After leaving the water check boats, boards and equipment for mud, aquatic animals and plant material. Remove anything you find and leave it at the site

CLEAN! Thoroughly clean everything as soon as you can. Pay attention to the insides of your boat, and areas that are damp and easy to access. Check your kit, including clothing and buoyancy aids.

DRY! Dry every part of your board or boat before leaving the site (some invasive species can survive for two weeks in damp conditions).

BIO MATE IS THE PERFECT TOOL TO CHECK CLEAN DRY

The Bio Mate is a stiff bristled brush with an integrated tap and mud scraper that can be used on top of a bottle or on a standard hosepipe fitting, making it incredibly portable and versatile. The Bio Mate kit enables paddlers to remove mud, weed and sand and get everything clean, dry and biosecure before leaving any waterway.

Each kit comes with the Bio Mate brush, 500ml bottle, hose pipe adapter, sponge, drying cloth and waterproof bag, making it the ideal kit for the any responsible paddlesport enthusiast.

Ben Seal, Paddle UK's head of access and environment, said: “There are invasive non-native species across the country and they can be transported easily across waterways. As paddlers we have a responsibility to make sure that doesn't happen.

“For example, with floating pennywort, it only requires a small bit of leaf, node or stem and they can very quickly regrow.

“There's lots of other species that can potentially create an issue or problem. As a water user you have to be bio-secure to protect the environment. Bio-Mate Water Sports is a fantastic cleaning kit for paddleboards, kayaks and all water sports equipment.”

Nolan Freebury, Bio-Mate sales director, said: “We are incredibly proud of Bio Mate and especially as Paddle UK have made us an official partner. They recognise Bio Mate will help promote its Clear Access, Clear Waters campaign and the Check, Clean, Dry message. As paddlers, we all have a responsibility to help look after our waterways. By using Bio Mate after every paddle not only are we looking after our craft and equipment but we are helping to keep our rivers, lakes and canals free from INNS.”

More information about Bio Mate can be found at www.biomate.uk or by visiting the Paddle UK members’ area. Members can benefit from a 15% discount when purchasing a kit by using their exclusive code in the members’ dashboard.

Further reading on INNS and Check clean dry is available at the Non Native Species Secretariat: www.nonnativespecies.org/non-native-species or at Paddle UK: www.paddleuk.org.uk

Bio Mate Water Sports is the essential portable bio-secure cleaning kit for cleaning paddleboards, kayaks and all water sports equipment!

THE LAST WORD

Skills, recruitment and employee rentention are perennial discussion topics, but AI is likely to have a say in the workplace too, says Chamber president Stuart Dawkins

In this magazine 12 months ago, I stated that skills, recruitment and retention have been major topics at almost every discussion I have chaired for the Chamber for many years.

I looked back at the themes I wrote about last year – the changing nature of work, the experience and expectations of different generations and the impact of the internet and social media. Would I change that list of topics a year later? Well, on reflection I think the answer is ‘No’ and ‘Yes’.

A year ago, conversation about the changing nature of work was often focused on the balance between remote working and working from home.

This dilemma continues, but I sense that the last year has led to more specific policies and practices by employers that aim to keep ‘being in the office’ as a core part of ‘being at work’. There is a recognition that the social nature of human beings requires and is best served by proximity, and by the learning and serendipity that being in the same physical space as others can bring.

This is by no means a problem which has been solved, but it is less a topic of current conversation.

How about the differing expectations of different generations? Well, I would hazard a guess that this topic has been a constant since society developed enough for there to be a meaningful separation of concepts like adulthood, childhood and teenage.

Social media and the online world have changed it quite profoundly though. Anyone below the age of about 25 will have known no other world than one that is very materially online and immediate. This need not be a bad thing, but it is certainly a thing, and we are still working through its impact.

So, what is new in the current conversation about all of this?

There is increased discussion about artificial intelligence. I’m looking forward to the Annual President’s dinner in June when I have chosen our guest speaker to be Katie King, an expert in this field.

In advance of that, what are my musings on AI? Well, at present the concept seems to be progressing on the twin-tracks that often accompany the next-big-thing in technology and economic development. Track one is that those who market and finance new ideas badge everything as being ‘AI’. Complex algorithms have been used for a long time. A moderately complex algorithm is not AI, but if badging it that makes it look more saleable or more financeable, who am I to complain?

The other, more significant, track is that computing power has advanced so far that – put simply – if you feed it enough data it will spot statistical patterns in that data. There is a fine philosophical debate about whether pattern recognition and the ability to predict based on those patterns is, in any way, ‘intelligence’. It is, though, indubitably true that being able to do so with a speed and accuracy that massively outweighs that of humans does change things.

‘The Chamber and others are calling for significant change in the way that work skills are developed through the apprenticeship system’

The interesting questions include how good the data is that is used to find the patterns, who owns that data in the first place, what biases the process invokes, and the big one of how much we trust this technology with life-critical and lifeimpacting decisions. AI will change things. We have yet to see by how much.

I mentioned a couple of months ago in this magazine a meeting I chaired last year. Its main theme was that many of the developments discussed above suggest a future in which the skills required for most work will shift from the ability to do and manage processes efficiently, to those skills required when most processes are automated. These skills include creativity and curiosity and confidence in making judgements.

The more I think about that, the more I realise this is quite a shift.

It implies a profound change in education –starting with the curriculum and much else. I declare an interest here: I chaired a successful sixth form college for five years and am on the board of a university. There is much good work being done by forward-thinking institutions to adapt education to this challenge. But I have an underlying concern. In my business career, I formed very few general rules of management, but one of them was this – making significant and lasting change to an organisation and culture can generally only be done either in the face of an existential crisis or by explicitly ringfencing specific recourses to plan and implement that change. Without one of these two driving factors, organisations tend to change by increments, and I’m not sure incremental change is enough to face the challenge in this case.

The way that education is being under-funded at present suggests, implicitly, that our current society is content to have the sector try to adapt by the first of these routes. Many education providers are facing circumstances that are coming close to an existential crisis. Personally, of the two possible routes to catalyse change, that is not the one I would have chosen.

A few other observations seem relevant, although I am reaching my word count for this article, so will be brief. The Chamber and others are calling for significant change in the way that work skills are developed through the apprenticeship system. The current system is not working for many sectors and employers.

And I have not even mentioned the opportunities and threats caused by climate change and the, partially connected, issue of the extent to which younger generations take account of green and community matters when making their workplace choices.

There is, as ever, much to mull over related to skills, and I am sure these and more will feature In the Chamber’s People & Skills Summit on 12 June. Sadly, I am double-booked and cannot be there, but I hope many of you can be and that it goes well.