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BUSINESS
Keep up to date on latest developments at
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MAY 2021
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LIFTING RESTRICTIONS LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL FOR HOSPITALITY & TOURISM?
INTERVIEW
POLITICS
SANJAY FOODS CEO ATUL LAKHANI ON PIVOTING HIS BUSINESS DURING COVID
NEW IMAGES POINT TO BRIGHT FUTURE FOR KEY EAST MIDLANDS SITES
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THE FIRST WORD
CONTENTS MAY 2021
NEWS UPDATE 4
MEMBER NEWS Acquisition secures jobs and growth
20 APPOINTMENTS New chair to lead tourism board’s recovery plan
fter more than three months of locked-down hardship and boredom, it was a pleasant surprise to see the sun glistening as pubs, restaurants and cafés reopened to outdoor customers on 12 April. While there may have been worries a continuation of the wintry start to spring would keep people inside, the warm weather that greeted stage two of the Government’s roadmap to recovery reflected the light at the end of the tunnel many businesses can now see. Businesses, particularly in hospitality, could hardly be blamed for feeling cautious about the future but the Chamber, both via conversations with members and raw data in our latest Quarterly Economic Survey, has detected optimism for what summer and beyond will bring. Uncertainty continues elsewhere, not least for international travel, but there’s at least hope this could create a domestic tourism boom among the region’s attractions. Given how well represented the region’s economy is by hospitality and tourism, these two industries take the spotlight for this issue of Business Network. Chatsworth, the stately home and estate in the Derbyshire Dales, joins Leicester-based pub operator Everards Brewery and Nottingham-headquartered coffee merchant 200 Degrees in our focus feature (p52), which takes a wide-angle view of the short and long-term prospects for viable businesses ravaged by the pandemic. But what often gets lost in this dialogue is the knock-on effects their closures have on the supply chain. Sanjay Foods, for instance, was riding the crest of a wave as it acquired a prestigious conference centre in February last year, amid big plans for growing its business as a caterer for Indian weddings and other high-profile events such as car shows. Since then, the Leicester company lost 90% of its revenue and has largely slipped through the net of Government support – although CEO Atul Lakhani explains in the big interview (p22) how he’s stayed upbeat and worked harder than ever to diversify into new income streams. Optimism for the future can be found in other places, too. Leaders behind the successful East Midlands freeport bid explain the next steps on p42, while there’s some exciting new images on p44 showing how key sites within the East Midlands Development Corporation vision could look. With so much going on, why not read up about it sat in a beer garden or outside a coffee shop?
A
THE BIG INTERVIEW 22 Atul Lakhani, CEO of Sanjay Foods 26 PATRONS The importance of language education 28 CHAMBER NEWS Get the right people at the right time
SUSTAINABLE EAST MIDLANDS 40 How to make lasting cost-saving changes
INTERNATIONAL TRADE 42 What a freeport means for the East Midlands
POLITICS 44 Landmark sites will unlock growth and new opportunities for the region
FEATURES 47 GROWING YOUR BUSINESS Researching your business 50 The fearless organisation 52 FOCUS FEATURE Hospitality and tourism bounce back 57 CONFERENCES & EVENTS Events – that feeling
Best wishes, Dan Robinson, Editor, Business Network
58 Bridging the gap from virtual to live events
TRAINING & EVENTS 60 Leading remotely: What managers need to keep teams engaged
DIGITAL & TECHNOLOGY Editor Dan Robinson T: 07764 431028 E: dan.robinson@emc-dnl.co.uk Contributor Jasmine Thompson All Submissions E: magazine@emc-dnl.co.uk Chamber Membership E: membership@emc-dnl.co.uk Follow the Chamber W: www.emc-dnl.co.uk Twitter: @EMChamberNews
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62 Customer relationship management software
BUSINESS SUPPORT 65 LEGAL Protect your family’s future 66 FINANCE Planning for currency risks 68 SKILLS Firms sign up to support degree apprenticeship 70 PROPERTY Derby shows ‘Cannes do’ attitude 72 MOTORING Nick Jones tests the Volvo XC90 T8 73 INFORMATION Communication and a successful return to the workplace
COMMENT 74 THE LAST WORD Chamber president Eileen Richards MBE on hospitality and leisure collaboration business network May 2021
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MEMBER NEWS
Acquisition secures jobs and growth Aerofab Fabrications has acquired fellow Leicester company Paton Precision Engineering in a move that secures 18 jobs and creates a platform for growth opportunities for both companies. Oadby-based Paton Precision Engineering has had a longstanding relationship with Aerofab Fabrications – which employs 40 people and designs, manufactures and installs bespoke metalwork, ranging from assembly lines for food producers to bespoke sculptures for boutique hotels. It will become part of the Wigston fabricator’s group of companies, although it will retain its name and stay at the same site in Kenilworth Drive. Peter James, managing director of family-run Aerofab, said the acquisition, for an undisclosed sum, benefits both companies. “We have worked closely with Paton Precision Engineering for more than 20 years, and the opportunity to bring it into the fold of Aerofab Fabrications ticks every box for both of us,” he said. “This acquisition is a landmark for our
business and opens the door to a lot of exciting new opportunities. “Its experience in precision machining is second to none, and we are gaining an incredible amount of additional expertise that will enable us to strengthen our proposition for customers.
‘This acquisition is a landmark for our business’ “The team at Paton Precision Engineering is just like us in the fact it can come up with solutions for customers that other engineering companies either don’t think are possible or simply can’t deliver.” The deal strengthens the positions of both businesses, which have traded strongly through 2020 and are optimistic about the future. Aerofab in particular has recorded growth from its existing customer base and is also establishing itself in new markets. As part of the acquisition, Phil Curtis and Ian Wynter, of Paton, will remain within the business and
From left: Phil Curtis, Peter James and Ian Wynter
continue heading up the management team. Aerofab also plans an investment package for Paton that will include new IT infrastructure and software. Phil said: “We’re delighted to become part of Aerofab Fabrications’ group. The companies are already closely aligned, with a can-do
attitude for finding bespoke machining and fabrication solutions.” Ian added: “Paton Precision Engineering has been established for many years, and we are very pleased that the name will continue as we have built up a good reputation as a machining company.”
Professor appointed as High Sheriff
The new £250,000 lab at Healthy Stuff
Healthy Stuff invests in new lab Castle Donington-based Healthy Stuff has invested in a new £250,000 lab as part of an “aggressive” investment strategy that has already paid dividends throughout the pandemic. The new lab will allow the health testing company to increase its testing capacity by 300% and reduce the demand for staff supervision by enabling it to run 24-hour testing. While many other companies have been forced to scale back spending over the past 12 months, Healthy Stuff has continued to invest, resulting in profits growing. Managing director Jason Wootton said: “We have rapidly become a global market leader in allergy and intolerance testing. We continue to develop new health tests available to people easily and affordably from our state-of-the-art laboratory and exclusive technology platform.” 4
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Established in 2008, Healthy Stuff has helped more than 450,000 people discover their food sensitivities and take steps to improve their relationship with their diet. Its new lab will also feature airtight technology to prevent the risk of Covid-19 spreading from within the team. The company, which won the Business Improvement through Technology award at last year’s Derbyshire Business Awards run by the Chamber, has also employed a scientific adviser as part of its growth strategy. Jason added: “Our growth has been supported by highly skilled and dedicated team members that ensure our customers receive the very best advice and support through their wellness journey.”
A leading eye expert based at the University of Nottingham has been appointed as High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire. Professor Harminder Singh Dua CBE was installed as High Sheriff at a ceremony in March after his name was approved by the Queen during a meeting of the Privy Council. He will remain in post for the next year. The High Sheriff is one of the oldest roles in the country going back more than 1,000 years – and pre-dating Robin Hood by several hundred years. Professor Dua said: “Being High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire is a high honour and rare privilege. I will work to support charities and local voluntary organisations, and focus on community health, religion and the environment. To care for those who serve us and for those who we serve.” Professor Dua’s most famous contribution to ophthalmology was his research group’s discovery of a previously undetected layer of the human cornea in 2013, which has informed three new surgical techniques and made lamellar corneal transplantation safer. University of Nottingham president and vice-chancellor Professor Shearer West said: “Professionally, Professor Dua has already achieved so much, and he is respected by everyone in his field and all of us at the university.”
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MEMBER NEWS
Training and research centre set for Lutterworth North Notts food festival is returning
The East Midlands logistics sector is set to benefit from a dedicated new training and research centre that has been developed through a partnership between industry and education providers. Based at the Magna Park logistics park in Lutterworth and due to launch this summer, the Centre for Logistics Education and Research (CLEAR) will help the sector to address key challenges as the UK moves towards economic recovery and renewed growth following the pandemic. North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College (NWSLC) is working in collaboration with logistics warehouse developer GLP, logistics provider Wincanton and Aston University to provide skills training and professional development at all levels across the spectrum of logistics and supply chain roles. The ambitions of the centre were revealed at a webinar in February hosted by Richard Atkinson CBE, a teaching fellow at Aston University, and included NWSLC principal and chief executive Marion Plant OBE FCGI as a speaker. Marion said: “Our ambitions for CLEAR are based on offering a holistic one-stop-shop training service both from its base at Magna Park and also remotely to meet the needs of specific businesses and providing individuals with well-defined opportunities to progress their careers. “Businesses can train one or many members of their team with flexible start dates and bespoke provision and students will be able to move seamlessly between training partners as their development needs progress.
“CLEAR can get training programmes up and running very quickly as it already has systems in place to fulfil training design briefs at all levels. Commissioning training through CLEAR will bring shorter lead times between the identification of training needs and students starting their courses or programmes.”
‘Businesses can train one or many members of their team with flexible start dates and bespoke provision’ Magna Park Lutterworth has been developed by GLP over the past 30 years and is currently home to more than 27 blue chip businesses within 33 buildings. The first phase of provision, starting when CLEAR opens its doors this summer, will include an educational base with a campus planned to accommodate 1,000 students, as well as applied research and associated facilities. The training centre will initially be based at Bittesby House, in the Magna Park Northern extension, eventually moving to a bespoke facility within the broader Magna Park Lutterworth development. GLP planning director Gwyn Stubbings said: “As the UK and Europe’s largest and most successful dedicated logistics park, it is fantastic to be able to deliver CLEAR within that environment. This is a truly pioneering and exciting initiative that is focused on logistics-led research, innovation, education and training at the heart of Magna Park.”
North Notts BID has started its plans for this summer’s North Notts Food Festival as the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown continues. Located in the old market square in Worksop, the free event on Saturday 3 July aims to attract people to the town centre to enjoy a range of activities, including live demonstrations by celebrity chefs, competitions and entertainment. Multi-Michelin star and 5/5 AA rosette-winning chef, author and restauranteur Jean-Christophe Novelli (pictured) will hold live demonstrations. He will be joined by young local chef Laurence Henry, a former Masterchef winner based in Nottingham. Laurence has previously worked for Michelin Star chef Sat Bains and is currently working towards the opening of his own restaurant. Food economist Teresa Bovey and “Snobby Butcher” Johnny Pusztai will also make an appearance, and the comedy chefs of Liver Cottage will return. Sally Gillborn, chief executive at North Notts BID, said: “We’re so excited about the possibility of being able to hold the food festival this year. “We were devastated when we had to cancel our event last summer, so this glimmer of hope from the government means that we can start to prepare for restrictions to be lifted and work towards bringing the community back together again.”
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Delivering vital digital skills Chesterfield-based GBS Apprenticeships will deliver digital and IT skills training for public services contractor Serco's Derbyshire-based staff in a new partnership. The specialist training provider will deliver training on behalf of Serco’s Skills Support for the Workforce (SSW) programme, upskilling employees across pathways including digital marketing and IT. These programmes will be delivered remotely over eight weeks, with the option of returning to face-to-face delivery. GBS director John Cusworth said: “We are really pleased to have been selected to work in partnership with Serco to deliver the SSW programme. The partnership provides GBS with a fantastic opportunity to support the local skills agenda and enrich lives with new digital and IT skills in the Derbyshire area.” At the end of the programme, delegates will receive accredited certification with either the Northern Council for Further Education or the British Computer Society, both of which can lead to further progression such as higher-level apprenticeships in digital marketing or IT. John added: “Being able to offer short course provision in a sector in which we specialise can really benefit our network of employers, and at the same time complement our existing offering of apprenticeships and more recently ‘digital bootcamps’.”
Centre manager Hannah Hickman (right) with Sarah Noble, who runs its on-site café Sarah’s Kitchen
Innovation centre is thriving as new firms join Mansfield Innovation Centre has welcomed four new companies to its thriving business community during the latest lockdown – and continues to receive a high level of enquiries. Like many other workplaces across the region, the centre has adapted its working practices and implemented safety measures for its roster of more than 30 growing businesses due to Covid-19. Now, as the easing of restrictions continues and major parts of the economy reopen, it is anticipating businesses to be keen on returning to the office environment. Centre manager Hannah Hickman said: “Businesses are evolving to meet the demands of the times we are in, and new working practices such as remote and flexible working are becoming more commonplace
as the situation continues to unfold. “However, many of our customers are keen to return to their offices as the latest lockdown starts to wind down, finding they are more productive when working as a team, and they miss the dayto-day collaboration with colleagues and other businesses.”
‘They miss the dayto-day collaboration with colleagues’ The centre, which is located in the town’s Oakham Business Park, remained available to key workers only during the first national lockdown, before reopening in July 2020. Its workspace has been reconfigured to comply with the
latest Covid-secure guidelines and continues to offer flexible terms, including easy in and out access, hot desking, extra cleaning, and short-term licences to help ease the transition back to full-time working. Mansfield Innovation Centre‘s innovation director David Smith also provides on-site business support to help tenants respond and adapt to the changing economic environment. Hannah added: “It’s testament to the strength and resilience of local businesses that demand for our workspace remains high. “The fact we’ve recently welcomed four new customers into the centre recently reflects just how crucial it is for businesses to be able to access high-quality workspace that gives them the capacity to innovate and grow.”
On-demand buses for new housing development
From left: John Keenan and Robin Pointon of Go Travel Solutions, Paul Hickinbottom of Arriva, Martin Ward of The Drummond Estate, Louise Hryniw and John Richardson of Blaby District Council
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The Drummond Estate has re-appointed Leicester-based Go Travel Solutions to continue co-ordinating transport planning at the 4,250home New Lubbesthorpe development. The three-year contract will see the sustainable travel specialist develop and promote new public transport options. This includes the ArrivaClick on-demand bus service, which enables residents to request a bus journey at the click of a button, as well as free access to travel offers via membership of LocalGo. Go Travel Solutions managing director Robin Pointon said: “Our work in New Lubbesthorpe focuses on the promotion and development of sustainable travel.” The company has fulfilled the role of travel plan co-ordinator since 2018 and was asked to speak at the national Quality Bus Transit Conference in February due to the success of the
on-demand bus service. Robin added: “Working with the Drummond Estate over the past three years has been based on close collaboration and partnership working. “More than anything else, it has been underpinned by shared values on wanting to help New Lubbesthorpe be a truly sustainable 21st century community.” Once completed, the New Lubbesthorpe development will also feature a business park capable of creating 1,000 jobs, three schools, community centres and health facilities. Martin Ward, a spokesman for the Drummond Estate, said: “New Lubbesthorpe is a sustainable new community and Go Travel Solutions has successfully helped to roll out initiatives which provide attractive and viable alternatives to using the car. We are keen to see its great work continue to ensure that this continues to be a pioneering development.”
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MEMBER NEWS
Marketing course helps graduates set up businesses A Nottinghamshire-based marketing expert has helped more than 60 graduates to get the skills they need to set up their own business as part of a vision to encourage entrepreneurship in the region. Victoria Prince, who has 16 years of experience working for marketing teams within iconic British brands Thorntons and BMI Baby, launched her “marketing mavericks” course last year after seeing graduate roles cut due to the pandemic.
‘The current climate is probably one of the most challenging job markets for graduates’ She said: “The current climate is probably one of the most challenging job markets for graduates. With graduate roles cut and many employers reducing their staff levels rather than hiring, finding a new role can prove difficult despite the wealth of expertise and knowledge our graduates possess. “For many graduates, it is confidence that holds them back from looking at self-employment. Further learning or graduate roles are often seen as the natural
Raj Taak
progression.” Statistics from the Institute of Student Employers (ISE) show that in 2020, graduate jobs dropped by 12%, with the majority of employers anticipating further decline this year, according to the Student Recruitment Survey 2020. It is the largest fall in graduate recruitment since 2008/09, when the market contracted by 25%. Raj Taak was one of the first students to complete the “marketing mavericks” course. When he was made redundant, it meant he had to rethink his career path and find the skills to set up his own business with the help of Victoria. Covering everything from the basics of setting up a company to understanding how selfemployment works and marketing your business, the course is designed to give talented graduates the confidence to be the
Victoria Prince has helped more than 60 graduates to set up their own businesses
entrepreneurs of the future – and within two months, Raj was using his learnings to run his own marketing consultancy, Taak Marketing. Raj said: “Without Victoria’s help, I don’t think I would have had the confidence to set up my own business at this time in my career. “Setting up my own business was something I had planned on doing further down the line, but it is probably one of the best things I could have done. I am finding more fellow graduates are seeing it as an option as the current jobs market means we are having to relook at options and be more innovative in
our approach.” Since setting up eight months ago, the course has been trialled within universities, including Nottingham Trent University, to help graduates get the skills they need to set up their own business. Victoria hopes that more universities will follow suit and encourage graduates to see selfemployment as a viable option. Victoria added: “I want to show graduates that with the right help and support, starting their own business can be a great way of forging their own career path and developing a business which works for them.”
Queen’s Awards for Chamber members Four Chamber members have won a Queen’s Award for Enterprise, the UK’s most prestigious business awards. Swadlincote-based vitamin manufacturer Brunel Healthcare (international trade), Leicesterbased Indian snack brand Cofresh Snack Foods (international trade), Derby-based sportswear brand HUUB (innovation) and Ashbourne-based electric tugs manufacturer MasterMover (international trade) were among 205 winners. The awards – established in 1965 and judged by senior Whitehall officials and experts from industry, academia and the third sector – recognised firms across a diverse range of sectors. MasterMover, which started trading in 2009, is a global leader in the design and manufacture of compact, powerful, battery-operated tugs that allow its customers to safely move wheeled loads ranging in weight from 50kg to more than 100,000 kg. It works in sectors including manufacturing, pharmaceutical, healthcare, food production, retail and logistics. The company has subsidiaries in North America, Germany and
L-R: HUUB founder Dean Jackson, and MasterMover partners Andy Owen and James Jones
France alongside a global sales partner network, and was recognised for outstanding continuous growth in overseas sales over the past six years. Managing director Andy Owen said: “Receiving the Queen's Award is a recognition of the hard work and dedication of everybody in the company and the journey so far that we've been on together.” HUUB, founded by Dean Jackson nine years ago, has used science to innovate wetsuits now used by the world’s elite triathletes, including Olympic medallists, as well as keep-fit enthusiasts and amateur competitors.
Dean, who left school with two O levels, said: “I would never have dreamed when starting this business on my kitchen table nine years ago that we would be recognised for what really makes HUUB special – our innovation. We constantly strive to make athletes better and faster, and our sport more fulfilling.” This year’s four award categories were innovation, international trade, sustainable development and promoting opportunity through social mobility. Winners are permitted use of the esteemed Queen’s Awards emblem for the next five years. Other winners in the region were Novametrics (international trade), Total Saddle Solutions (innovation), Apption Labs (innovation and international trade), EarthSense Systems (innovation), GH Hurt & Son (international trade), and ONYX InSight (innovation and international trade). Businesses can enter the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise 2022 now at www.gov.uk/queensawards-for-enterprise. business network May 2021
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Liniar partners with Investors in Community Derbyshire-based Liniar says it is committed to “doing the right thing” after joining the Investors in Community platform. The company, which specialises in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) windows, doors and conservatories, will use the programme to find charities and organisations to support while also offering volunteering help to good causes.
‘During the past 12 months, Liniar has made a positive difference to many’ Organisations including the Chamber, Specsavers and Balfour Beatty also use the platform to carry out their CSR activity. Liniar group managing director Martin Thurley said: “During the past 12 months, Liniar has made a positive difference to many lives by donating more than 35,000 protective visors to key workers. “We see the Investors in Community platform as a streamlined way to expand the support we can offer as a business – we were particularly drawn to the way the charities receive 100% of any fundraising money. “Our team will be able to find volunteering opportunities and other ways to ‘give back’ and the platform also offers the means for us to measure and track the impact of our CSR activity.” Liniar, based in Denby Hall
Philip Webb Liniar is one of a number of companies to make a commitment to help others
PLATFORM BOOSTS IIC'S TEAM Business Park, is part of the Quanex group of companies across the world and employs 500 people. It includes “communities” as one of its four key pillars. Chesterfield-based Investors in Community’s platform is designed to connect businesses with charities and good causes in their local areas. It has helped facilitate hundreds of measurable volunteering hours, donations, and fundraising projects by firms across the country. Managing director Philip Webb said: “The reality is there are thousands of charities and community groups across the country doing amazing work in places like Derbyshire. However, there’s still the tendency for corporate giving to be focused on the bigger charities. “It is great to be working with Martin and the team and to hear they want to extend the work they have done in the past to make a real difference in their local community and to make connections that have a lasting impact.”
Investors in Community (IIC) has expanded its team after witnessing a 68% increase in the number of charities using the platform since March last year. The Teenage Cancer Trust, British Heart Foundation and Mind are among the organisations to use it for connecting with businesses and individuals. Donations have increased by 600% since the first national lockdown as traditional methods of fundraising were disrupted, while the number of businesses and individuals using the platform have risen by 50% and 100% respectively. The growth has resulted in two new additions to the Investors in Community team, with Juliet Thompson and Nadea Van Der Merwe appointed as relationship manager and executive assistant respectively.
Businesses must build links with communities Businesses can thrive postpandemic if they continue to diversify and build links with their communities, says a Derby accountancy firm as the UK continues to ease lockdown restrictions. Many companies have adapted throughout the past year to survive and Beverley Wakefield, co-founder of Duffield Road-based Vibrant Accountancy, believes a constant stream of new ideas will be important if they are to continue blossoming. Beverley, who set up the company with business partner Ian Ball just four months before the first coronavirus lockdown, said: “We all need to continue to support 8
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Beverley Wakefield with business partner Ian Ball
local and build on our community – but not close the door to global as there are more opportunities out there and with technology being so advanced these days, it’s so easy to create new relationships with
people around the world. “There have been some great examples of businesses altering and doing things that their customers want – some online experiences supported by physical presence, a mix of services and new products. Let’s continue to challenge and change, and keep that human approach which has been so warming to see during the pandemic.” Over the past 12 months, Beverley has supported clients by dissecting Government legislation and guidance for them, as well as simplifying furlough policies. She believes business owners must budget carefully going forward with different savings pots
to make informed decisions. “Know the ‘pinch points’, when you need funding and when you need to drive more revenue to create yourself new sales targets,” Beverley added. “The grants that have been received as a lifeline are also taxable, so remember to plot in when your corporation tax will be payable. Also factor in when you need to pay your ongoing VAT, plus anything else that you have deferred to pay at a later date. “We need to ensure that we’re able to make the most of this and the new roadmap to ensure that our businesses are starting on the front foot – cash-rich businesses do not fail.”
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Report calls for smarter social housing A Derby construction firm has published a report describing how the UK could build its way out of a looming post-Covid recession and save billions of pounds for the taxpayer. Hodgkinson Builders has produced its first Annual Social Housing Report in conjunction with support and research from the University of Derby. The 96-page white paper paints a “warts-and-all” picture of the current state of the construction industry, including the deep-seated problems caused by skills shortages and poor construction methods. But its main focus is to highlight the crisis surrounding a lack of social housing. Managing director Ian Hodgkinson is urging businesses and governments to use smarter, more sustainable methods to build much-needed social housing quickly – and in doing so, reap rewards for society as a whole. He said: “Never has there been a better time to improve housing and social housing in the UK. Faced with the economic challenges caused by the current pandemic, this is an area that could drive our economy in the right direction and give us a chance to build our way out of a crisis.” The report explains that every affordable home built in the UK
Netbiz Group to offer new service Digital agency Netbiz Group has added a new branding service to its portfolio. The new branch adds to Netbiz’s current specialisms, which span across a range of digital services from website design and hosting to digital marketing and PR. With offices in Nottingham, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Manchester, Birmingham and Inverness, the agency’s 22strong team will offer bespoke services such as brand identity and strategy development, logo design, rebranding, brand guidelines, and product branding. Brand manager Jessica Oliver said: “Introducing branding as a service in its own entirety is super exciting for me. Having worked on branding projects in the past, it’s great to be able to bring my knowledge and expertise to help more clients in this area.”
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Ian Hodgkinson with the Annual Social Housing Report
generates an additional £108,000 for the economy, due to the creation of jobs and boost to businesses in that area. It also details why improving the housing stock for people on low incomes will cut billions in unnecessary expenditure from the NHS bill.
Ian said that with so many people struggling financially, and with the benefits system funding increasingly expensive temporary housing solutions for homeless families, it was imperative that efforts were made to remove the stigma of social housing. Investment in social and affordable
housing has profound benefits for the economy, for people’s health and wellbeing, and for the adhesion of local communities,” he said. “I hope this white paper helps to sort out the facts from the myths in such a way that we can achieve the goal of providing every person with a solid roof over their head.”
Colleague Box in collaboration with Derbyshire businesses Personalised gift service Colleague Box has joined forces with three other Derbyshire businesses to create a new product range. The company, which was established at the peak of the first lockdown last year, has collaborated with fellow Chaddesden start-ups Derby Brewing Company and Mr Shaw 75, a menswear brand, as well as Long Eaton meat jerky manufacturer The House of Jerky, to launch The Hop Drop Box. It features three premium 500ml bottles of real ale, a 50g bag of home-cured jerky and a 15% off voucher for Mr Shaw’s “Hop Drop” clothing range.
‘It is a fantastic collaboration between two highly respected Derby brands that sell premium products from the city’ Colleague Box CEO Adam Bamford, who set up the business with wife Natalie, said: “I'm a fan of Derby Brewing Company and have, for a few years now, enjoyed its real ales both at the local pub and at home. “I have followed the Mr Shaw brand and watched as it has grown over the past few years. It is a fantastic collaboration between two highly respected Derby brands that sell premium products from the city. “The House of Jerky – which makes the best jerky
I’ve ever tasted – seemed the perfect accompaniment to give The Hop Drop Box that finishing touch. “We believe that this box is great not just for the good people of Derby looking to support four local businesses but for anyone who appreciates fine things.” Mr Shaw founder Karl Shaw, who is also owner of graphic design company Silver Birch Creative, added: “Derby has a rich heritage and is also home to several superb independent, innovative small businesses that are creating a buzz. The Hop Drop Box captures the essence of this and it’s an exciting collaboration.”
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MEMBER NEWS
UK Swap Shop reaches milestone More than 300 swaps have now been made across a free serviceswapping platform that launched in Derby a year ago. The UK Swap Shop, which started life as Derby Swap Shop at the peak of the first lockdown in May last year before a national rollout, is now being used by businesses, sole traders and charities in 33 counties. Based on the Multi-Coloured Swap Shop 1970s TV show hosted by Noel Edmonds, organisations from different sectors have used the online platform to trade services for free during the pandemic rather than spending money. Rachel Hayward, a Derby entrepreneur who is one of the cofounders, said: “We knew when we launched nationally that there was further demand for our services. “This isn’t new – small businesses have always helped each other by sharing expertise, free samples, or just their experiences – but the pandemic has made this even more valuable, indeed essential.” The original idea for the venture
was borrowed from the much-loved Multi-Coloured Swap Shop children’s TV programme, broadcast between 1976 and 1982, in which children would exchange toys and collectors’ items. Tracy Harrison, CEO of the charity Safe and Sound, suggested the idea of creating a platform where businesses and organisations could “swap” goods and services.
‘We are determined that this is just the start for Swap Shop’ The idea was subsequently developed by Rachel’s business, bid-writing consultancy Ask the Chameleon, along with Dean Jackson from triathlon kit specialist HUUB and Lee Marples, a partner at creative design agency think3. The Swap Shop expanded first into Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire, before launching a national version that now has 730 members – 58% of which are female – stretching from Scotland to Devon, and Norfolk to Wales.
The Swap Shop team
The trio has witnessed a 40% boost in membership since launching a Saturday morning show on the drop-in audio app Clubhouse, which has bolstered exposure beyond the East Midlands. Lee added: “We are determined that this is just the start for Swap Shop. The easing of restrictions is exciting for businesses, yet we know this is a marathon – getting back to business and building back better will be achieved together. It’s a new era of collaboration and Swap Shop is at the very heart, making this possible through a swap.”
Natalie Bamford, creative director of Derby-based gift box service Colleague Box, was among the first to sign up with an initial swap of five free boxes in return for PR support. It landed the company local and national media exposure, and helped it to reach more than £1m in turnover in its first year. Natalie said: “Swap Shop has been a huge catalyst in our success and started our wonderful partnership with Penguin PR, without which we wouldn’t be where we are today. “It really is a great service for small businesses, and one which I’ll always be grateful for.”
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MEMBER NEWS
Legal experts join forces to create new firm A group of solicitors has joined forces to launch a new Derbyshire law firm that pledges to deliver a fresh approach to clients. Solicitors Anna Cattee, Jason Skelton, Neil Brown and Stacey Pocock have pooled together their legal knowledge to set up CMP Legal at The Bridge Business Centre in Chesterfield. The niche commercial law firm will deliver expert services to clients located in Chesterfield, Sheffield and across the country in areas such as corporate, commercial, dispute resolution and employment. Anna, an expert in corporate and commercial affairs, is well known among the Chesterfield and
New Derby office for Freeths National law firm Freeths has moved its Derby base into a new office at Cardinal Square. The firm has reviewed its office portfolio, taking into account the efficiency of agile working, the preferences of employees and clients, as well as accommodating the firm’s ongoing growth. It concluded that, while remote working is likely to remain a core element in the future, the ability for clients and staff alike to physically come together and collaborate, will remain important to the Freeths offering post-Covid. Janet Rhodes, managing partner at Freeths’ Derby office, said: “The pandemic has proven we can still offer excellent and immediate service, while working remotely. “Moving to a more modern and progressive office platform will ensure benefits for both clients and our people, which is why we feel it is important to move forward and continue to embrace the office and all the benefits which technology offers.” Landlord Nurton Developments’ asset manager David Dyas said: “Freeths has been a long-standing occupier and we’re pleased to accommodate them.”
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Sheffield business community for her practical approach.
‘Our investment in digital systems offers clients complete flexibility in the delivery of the services they require’ She said: “Each of us has significant experience in our specialist area of practice and the chance to break the mould through the creation of a fresh clientfocused firm was an opportunity none of us wanted to miss. Being passionate about delivering our
The CMP Legal team
expertise in a clear and concise way, we understood there was a better way of working with improved technology geared for a national reach. Our investment in digital systems offers clients complete flexibility in the delivery of the services they require.” Neil is an experienced dispute resolution and employment solicitor. He has a strong client base, and a reputation for pragmatic and professional advice. Jason, who has been practising in the Derbyshire area for more than 25 years, is a well-respected
dispute resolution solicitor for businesses and has a particular specialism in contentious probate matters. Stacey has more than 16 years’ experience having practiced within the Sheffield and South Yorkshire area throughout her career. She is known for her excellent communication with clients and her down-to-earth approach. Jason said: “I fully believe that this offering will be met with great enthusiasm by the business community and we have ambitious plans for the future.”
GB star Niamh driving for gold with backing from Yappl
Niamh Emerson
GB Olympic medal hope Niamh Emerson has signed a sponsorship deal with telecoms company Yappl, the business arm of A1 Comms. The deal means heptathlete Niamh will have a new specialised car that helps her to maintain correct body posture and is large enough to store her equipment. The company, which is based in Alfreton, will also provide her with the most up-to-date phone technology so she can keep in touch with family and friends while she’s based in Tokyo for this summer’s postponed Olympic Games. Yappl managing director Steve Heald said: “We are
very excited to be sponsoring Niamh leading into the Olympics. “We can’t wait to watch her in the Olympics, cheer her to success and receive that call of celebration on a Yappl phone.” Derbyshire-based Niamh was confirmed as part of British Athletics’ Olympic and Paralympic World Class Programme in November. She said: “I am really honoured and grateful to be given this sponsorship by Yappl. This is my job and my life, and being supported by a great business really takes the pressure off.”
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MEMBER NEWS
Email: info@breedonconsulting.co.uk to book a FREE CONSULTATION to discuss how Breedon can increase your engagement levels.
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MEMBER NEWS
Looking with a fresh perspective TJ Duncan-Moir (pictured), a former director at a family-run manufacturer, now acts as an improvement and growth consultant to other companies as owner of Business Glu. She explains why it pays to have a different set of eyes viewing a business from outside. During my 30 years gathering the experience I have, by working my way up through a business from bottom to most senior, I started to understand that while “in” the business, you’re so busy firefighting that you can only ever see and know what’s directly in front of you. Business leaders often get the year off to a positive start with all the things you’re going to accomplish throughout the year. Two weeks in, you’re back with your nose to the grind doing what you’ve always done, the way you’ve always done it. It’s so easy to become operationally blind. Getting a new pair of eyes, which don’t get distracted by other urgent tasks, to help is a real gamechanger – and a skilful way of becoming unstuck while bringing new excitement to your team. Understanding this position has made me passionate about helping
others to achieve results they didn’t think possible and creating awareness of how beneficial outside help can be to a company.
HOW EXTERNAL SUPPORT CAN BE BENEFICIAL Businesses rarely recognise when change is necessary because getting the work out the door is a challenge in itself. Engaging with an external specialist, with their own set of skills, knowledge and experience, can open new doors – while bringing new and innovative ideas to the table that internal members probably wouldn’t have been able to see on their own. Many challenges faced are often put off for another day. But having someone plan with you – prompting you to achieve your objections, using the correct tools in a controlled way and working with you to keep everything on track – quickly realises a return on your investment.
Clients’ eyes are opened to new plans, opportunities, products, markets and processes, all while the business continues. Nobody is taken away from their day job, morale is boosted and the change that worries leaders will not be rejected. It becomes the norm as the team feels part of the improvements and a sense of achievement is enjoyed across the organisation.
BOTTOM LINE IMPACT Reviewing departments, processes and areas of the business that don’t usually get considered can be rewarded with huge cost savings.
Clients benefit from an objective, unbiased evaluation that drives them forward and has a positive impact on their bottom line. This is driven without involvement in office politics or making savings on employee costs, and the only objective for the external specialist is the continuity plans of the business and its success. The management team is relieved of the pains faced with running a company. It has the confidence that someone has their back and has learned new skills it can continue to use long after the external involvement has left the building.
Outlet shopping offers chance to reconnect While the plight of Arcadia and Debenhams has thrown into sharp focus the struggles facing bricks and mortar retail, there’s still plenty of opportunities for the industry, believes the manager of a major shopping centre in the region. David Jackson (pictured), centre manager at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet East Midlands, said he feels “extremely optimistic about the future of retail” despite mounting shop closures during the pandemic. The South Normanton mall, which offers discounts of up to 60% compared to high street prices across more than 70 brands, witnessed an increase in visitor numbers. After non-essential retail opened once more last month, David said he expected outlet shopping to be popular again as shoppers seek to get out and reconnect with loved ones. “In the long term, outlet shopping will become a larger part of the retail landscape as consumer shopping habits continue to evolve,” he said. “Our guests have applauded the offers and selection available across our retailers, as well as the health and safety measures implemented at the centre, and I predict that going forward, more consumers will look to enjoy similar experiences. “The outlet market will also become more viable for a number of major retailers over the next few years, as such stores tend to be the most profitable – meaning we will see more brands engaging with the sector as desire grows for brand names at great value.” McArthurGlen, which owns 26 centres in 10 countries, has plans to enhance its food and drink offer in the future as part of its strategy to “revaluate the customer experience” for post-Covid shopping habits. David added: “The key challenge that has emerged for our industry over the past 20 years is the threat of online retail. “However, it’s important to examine the situation and rethink instead 14
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how our physical assets can actually target potential customers, as well as support e-commerce through digital experiences to offer everyone more choice.” But after three brands joined the centre’s brand line-up last year, David believes this “highlights there is still demand for physical retail”.
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MEMBER NEWS
Nottingham expansion for recruiter National recruitment agency Encore Personnel has launched a new Nottingham division dedicated to recruiting drivers for clients in the East Midlands. The new division strengthens Encore’s existing offering in the sector and further establishes its network within the logistics and driving candidate pool. The business operates a driving division in five locations across the UK, making Nottingham its sixth hub of driving recruitment expertise.
‘We have very ambitious and exciting plans in place for our driving division, starting with the opening of our Nottingham branch this month’ Operations director Ed Vigars, who has worked for the company for more than 17 years, is responsible for directing growth across its driving and industrial divisions.
Encore Personnel has celebrated the achievements of its staff over the past 12 months during an annual awards ceremony. Committed to maintaining its longstanding tradition of holding an annual celebration to shine the spotlight on employee achievements, the recruitment firm’s directors arranged an online event this year. They handed out trophies in 12 categories, including Outstanding Leadership and Outstanding Client Service, to teams and individuals who had gone above and beyond in 2020. Managing director Pete Taylor said: “Our annual awards ceremony has long been a milestone date in the diary, as we give hearty business-wide recognition to the success of our staff in front of their colleagues. “It really was a celebration of the pure determination, creativity, dedication and perseverance of our people. We were thrilled to announce a record turnover for the business, increasing year on year to now stand at £77m, which is down to the commitment of our dedicated and talented staff.”
He said: “We have very ambitious and exciting plans in place for our driving division, starting with the opening of our Nottingham branch. “We chose Nottingham as the next expansion site because we found the perfect candidate for the role and, geographically, this location will really complement our Leicester and Derby driving team’s successful track record. The stronger our network of candidates, the better our offering is to our existing and new clients.” The new Nottingham division will be headed up by John Epton, who has more than 18 years’ experience sourcing high-quality drivers in an area spanning from Rugby to Doncaster. Ed added: “John was the perfect person for the role. His knowledge and expertise set him apart, as did his understanding of the priorities and values of the driver population and our clients regionally. “John will be responsible for developing our offering in Nottingham and will have scope to grow his team significantly throughout this year and next. He will work out of our existing Nottingham office.”
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MEMBER FOCUS: VEROTAPES Chesterfield-based sole trader and Verotapes owner Ian McQueen (pictured) tells Business Network about the changes to his customer base since entering the protection film industry 39 years ago – and talks about how Chamber membership helps him stay connected to the wider business community. Tell us what your company does and a brief overview of its history? Verotapes manufactures temporary surface protection films and acts as the sole agent for the UK and Ireland for Pregis SRL, which is based just north of Milan, Italy. Pregis produces a wide range of temporary surface protection films. These films can be used by a variety of industries in the manufacturing process, during distribution and transportation, and it ensures the products arrive with their customers in pristine condition. I established Verotapes in 2009 when the company I had been working for closed, and the Italian manufacturer which had been supplying that company suggested I started working with it as an agent.
Who are your main customers and what is your USP to them? From the early days of supplying the likes of British Steel, Hotpoint, and RTZ with wide rolls, the market has now changed. Our customers today are in construction and housebuilding, steel stockholders and some bigname automotive manufacturers. We supply unplasticised polyvinyl chloride (uPVC) extruders to glass companies and housebuilders – all of whom want bespoke sizes, which is not something everyone can offer. Although it sounds easy, the products we offer are very technical and high in specification, so you need a company that has the expertise, knowledge and ability to react to the changing market requirements.
App reaches millionjourney milestone Bus company trentbarton’s mango app has surpassed a major milestone – with more than one million bus journeys made using its smartphone tickets since launching last summer. The mango app has been downloaded by more than 42,000 trentbarton customers and used to pay for more than £2m of bus fares since its launch – which means a third of fare-paying journeys are now made using the app. Commercial director Tom Morgan said: “When we launched the mango app over last August’s bank holiday weekend and we had high hopes that customers would quickly embrace it. “To have now sped past the one million journey milestone during the pandemic is a huge achievement and shows that customers were comfortable with switching to their smartphones for bus ticketing.” The scan-on, scan-off app has a daily, weekly and 28-day cap function on charges and shows the customer’s balance, journey history and enables them to top up instantly. Tom added: “The exciting thing is that mango has so much more 16
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potential for us to enhance what it can do for customers. Together with our customers we have pioneered a genuine world first way of paying for public transport.”
What is your position in the business and what does your day-to-day role involve? I have worked in the protection film industry since 1982. In my heyday, I was travelling around 40,000 miles a year visiting all types of industry as the growth and demand for protection films grew. Nowadays, my usual day consists of talking to current customers, making sure orders are processed and arrive on time, and since Brexit, that they have the correct paperwork. I also promote Pregis and talk to potential customers. As we offer a very wide portfolio of products, it’s necessary to drill down and get the detail, asking lots of questions. How have you fared during the Covid-19 pandemic? The past 12 months have been very interesting as many of our UK
customers chose to close production. Today we are starting to recover, and we are seeing demand for orders start to build. What do you believe is the most important role of a Chamber of Commerce? When I first started Verotapes, my agenda included joining the local Chamber of Commerce as soon as possible. Being a sole trader, I felt I needed the range of support the Chamber offered. In the early days, I attended many networking events, which were good for meeting new contacts and a change from working alone.
NEW MEMBERS In March, the Chamber welcomed 47 new members: • AA Priceless Protein • Almerimar Business Solutions Limited T/A The Olive Branch • ASEC Export Supplies Limited (International) • Asking Better Questions Ltd • Bridge & Stitch Ltd • BSI Group • Capella Professional • Casa Mila • Cavendish Filters Ltd • Cawarden Co Ltd • CBH Language Learners • Ceeceec • Charnwood Regency Guest House (Ltd) • CMP Legal • Cresco Innovation Ltd • Derwent Pharmacy • Flow Science UK Ltd • Free Your Ostrich Ltd • High Growth • Hitz Rao Photography • Kennedy-Little Associates • Leicestershire Action for Mental Health Project • Maggie's Nottingham • MikiMayo Art Studio • Mobile Air Traffic Control
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Systems Limited (International) Money and Pensions Service Mount St Bernard Abbey MP Bio Science Ltd (International) Paragon Sales Solutions Pattersons Commercial Law PDSA Nottingham Royds Mill Studios Sai Water UK Ltd Savage Marine Limited (International) Sky Recruitment Solutions Stevie Davies Glass Studio4.6 Synergy Procurement Solutions The Food Incubator Ltd The Little Survey Company The Salespeople‘s Charity The Workplace Depot Limited Total Industrial Engraving Limited VishwArt Ltd Weavers of Nottingham Wesley Hall Community Centre WK3 Electrical Services
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MEMBER NEWS
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MEMBER NEWS
Charitable efforts rewarded A Derbyshire firm whose staff have given up time to raise thousands of pounds for charity has been recognised for its contribution to the community. Invictus Group, based in Derby Road, Melbourne, has been awarded a CSR-A Associate accreditation by a fellow Chamber member in return for its employees’ efforts in supporting good causes across the country. They include managing director Jonny McPhee, who has pledged to run the London Marathon in aid of the Rosie May Foundation – a charity the company has supported for a number of years alongside its ongoing involvement in Derby’s annual Christmas Cheer project. Invictus was given the award on behalf of social responsibility company CSR-A by Payaro – a newly-established ethical supplier of electronic payment systems. Jonny said: “We have always done our bit to raise money for good causes and help in the community when we can, so it is very rewarding to have had that commitment formally recognised.” The award coincides with a commitment from both companies to work together, with Invictus to
supply the technology needed to connect Payaro’s point-of-sale machines to the internet. Burton-based Payaro plans to use its payment systems to donate a percentage of every financial transaction to the Buddy Bag Foundation. It also hopes to create town centre loyalty schemes, where customers can earn points by buying goods or services at one
business and then cash them in at a neighbouring outlet. Daniel Dunne, owner of Payaro, added: “CSR is really important to us because by encouraging companies to be more aware of the impact of their business on the rest of society, they will contribute to sustainable development by delivering economic, social and environmental benefits for all stakeholders.”
Jonny McPhee (left) is presented with Invictus Group's CSR-A Associate certificate by Payaro's Daniel Dunne
IN BRIEF
Local hospice unveils new brand and logo After reaching out to its supporters, Derbyshire hospice Treetops has unveiled a new brand and logo – thanks to the generosity of its business “supporters”. The rebrand comes after feedback from 300 of its backers showed the old brand “no longer reflected the progressive care” Treetops had undertaken in lockdown. The charity welcomed support from several businesses to help cover rebrand costs through donations of products and services. Chief executive Julie Heath said: “It’s widely accepted that people are more likely to donate to a strong brand, but we couldn’t justify the spend, especially on big things like the design and the shop signs – then some wonderful businesses stepped in to help”.
Building Heroes helps veterans start careers
LRS supports the community as it comes out of lockdown As lockdown restrictions have eased, thousands of small businesses and community organisations linked to grassroots sports have reopened across Leicestershire – many of them supported by LeicesterShire and Rutland Sport (LRS). The not-for-profit group, one of 43 active partnerships in England to deliver sports development and physical activity programmes at county level, has helped organisations in the sector to adapt to shifting lockdown restrictions that presented significant challenges to business models. Indoor and outdoor activity restarted in April, with leisure centres and gyms then reopening, and mixed classes due to resume in May. But it came after a year in which many organisations absorbed mounting costs
while simultaneously unable to bring in revenue through events and training. LRS offered support throughout the pandemic through its Sports Organisation Support (SOS) work. It advised organisations, many of them early stage, as they attempted to access central support and helped them pivot to new styles of business. Ali Clements, economy and sport growth manager, said: “The sector and the local area as a whole has had a really tough time. Sports businesses across the area will need a good summer to kickstart their recovery. “We will continue to help organisations navigate the extensive support available through the sport sector, and the business sector, and act as a sounding board as we all progress through the road map out of lockdown.”
A new partnership between Vision West Nottinghamshire College and Building Heroes will help veterans and service leavers in the East Midlands build a new career in construction. Building Heroes provides skills training for service leavers, veterans and their close family members with support into employment in the building or engineering trades. The new partnership will see the college – which specialises in serving the needs of the construction and building services industries – deliver accredited courses in construction and safety throughout the academic year. Phil Clark, assistant principal of construction and building services at the college, said: “To play a part in the re-training and resettlement of current servicewomen and men is something our curriculum is very proud of. “With a dedicated workshop and staff team in place, we fully expect the Building Heroes programme to go from strength to strength and look forward to welcoming future cohorts.”
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APPOINTMENTS
New chair to lead tourism board’s recovery plan Sustainable tourism will play a vital role in driving the recovery of the Peak District and Derbyshire’s visitor economy, paving the way for a brighter future for those who live, work and visit. That is the message from Sir Richard FitzHerbert, who has been appointed as the new chair of the area’s official tourist board. In his new role, Sir Richard will support Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire’s aims to grow and develop a successful and sustainable visitor economy – helping businesses to recover, rebuild and bounce back from the pandemic. A keen advocate for the tourism and hospitality industry, Sir Richard brings a wealth of experience to the role as the owner of the Tissington Estate, near Ashbourne. He said: “I am delighted to be
appointed chair of the Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire board, and I am thrilled that the team is pursuing a sustainable tourism policy as we all bounce back after the past 12 months. “At Tissington Hall, we welcome thousands of visitors to our holiday lets, tearooms and our Grade II home every year and our team greets them with a huge Peak District smile. “As the new chair, I am looking forward to assisting with the local economy’s rural recovery and highlighting our outdoor and wellbeing offer, as well as our attractions and hospitality venues. We have a great product and I look forward to visiting and promoting our tourism partners in my term as chair.” Sir Richard’s appointment comes as Marketing Peak District &
Sir Richard FitzHerbert (right) pictured with Jo Dilley at Tissington Hall
Derbyshire prepares to launch its “five-year tourism recovery plan”, outlining a set of strategic priorities developed with partners to support the recovery of the sector. Active travel and green tourism will be highlighted as top priorities alongside revitalising market towns, promoting corporate wellness breaks and bidding to become a “tourism zone” to drive economic growth. Boosting domestic breaks, extending the tourism season and increasing overnight stays through
innovative marketing campaigns will remain a key focus as the destination looks to capitalise on the growing demand for UK holidays. Managing director Jo Dilley added: “We are delighted to welcome Sir Richard as our new chair as we prepare for a successful recovery. 2021 is going to be a great year for domestic UK holidays and there are enormous opportunities for the visitor economy to play a crucial role in the area’s economic recovery.”
Air IT welcomes Tulbir Dosanjh Managed service provider Air IT has continued to expand with a new appointment that will enhance its business intelligence (BI) service. Air IT, a Chamber strategic partner, has welcomed Tulbir Dosanjh as its new business intelligence sales lead. With expertise gained from almost 20 years in the technology sector, Tulbir joins from Phocas Software where he spent nine years as a business intelligence consultant. Tulbir said: “Joining Air IT at a time of significant growth is really exciting. I am passionate about helping SMEs take their business to the next level by introducing tools and solutions that can refine the huge amount of data available to them. The fact that Air IT offers a fully managed BI service is unique in the field.” CEO John Whitty said: “Air IT prides itself on maintaining the highest of standards, which is made possible thanks to our talented colleagues. “The addition of Tulbir will be a great asset to Air IT - his extensive experience will further enhance our BI division and help more clients benefit from the power of data.”
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TOP ROW, L-R: Senior associates Emily Weston, Natalie Abbott and Chris Powell BOTTOM ROW, L-R: Associates Adam Cotterill and Luke Smith
Raft of promotions at Rotheras Nottingham law firm Rotheras has announced a number of promotions across its departments. Chris Powell, Emily Weston and Natalie Abbott have all been promoted to senior associate. Road transport lawyer Chris, who joined Rotheras in 2019, has particular experience acting for large European hauliers and transport undertakings on cross border matters. Residential conveyancing associate solicitor Emily assists clients with all aspects of conveyancing from sales, purchases re-mortgages and help to buy to shared equity and right to buy.
Natalie joined from Massers Solicitors in January 2020 and has over 10 years’ experience working in employment law. Meanwhile, Adam Cotterill and Luke Smith have been promoted to associate, supporting the wills and probate and commercial property teams respectively. Rotheras CEO Christina Yardley said: “We’re very fortunate to be able to announce five internal promotions that reflect the outstanding commitment each has shown to the firm including providing great service, proactively developing their client base and mentoring trainees and paralegals within their teams.”
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APPOINTMENTS
Purpose Media appoints head of client growth Experienced business development and sales professional Grace Golden has joined Derbyshire-based web development, creative and digital marketing agency Purpose Media in a newly-created role as head of client growth. Grace has more than eight years’ experience in sales and marketing roles, and joins the company having previously worked at Motorpoint Derby, Champions UK and Status Social. She said: “Purpose Media has always been well-known as a professional agency. Its values and culture shine through and I admire the work that has already been done to create a great infrastructure for bringing clients on board. “The company is renowned for ‘telling it as it is’ and it is clear its clients respect this honest and advice-driven approach, which has obviously been successful at retaining clients and staff over the past 12 months.” Managing director Matt Wheatcroft added: “Grace will be working with new and existing clients to diagnose and solve business challenges, maximise opportunities and provide a solution that adds long-term value and growth. She has some great experience which will enhance the sales team and improve our sales processes so that we are able to identify and win more new business opportunities.” Grace Golden
New role creates data-driven insights Creating data-driven insights about the East Midlands economy is the task for a postgraduate research associate based at the Chamber – after the role was created in partnership with De Montfort University (DMU). Harsh Shah (pictured) begun his role as knowledge transfer partnership (KTP) associate last month and works out of the Chamber’s Friars Mill office in Leicester. The KTP between the Chamber and DMU will create a regional business intelligence unit that aims to improve competitiveness and productivity across the East Midlands, while highlighting business strengths and, ultimately, win more investment. Harsh, who has a background in computer engineering, said: “The KTP provides a unique opportunity to work as a professional in the business environment and at the same time working as a researcher with the university. “This element of working in both areas is what motivated me to apply for the role. The real potential lies in the ownership that the project facilitates. “I am hoping to deliver informed data-driven insights across the East Midlands through a ‘continuous improvement, continuous learning’ approach. Improving internal processes through standardisation of data, and developing automated approaches and accurate insights, will be key to a successful outcome of the role for me.” A recent master’s graduate from DMU in business intelligence and data mining, Harsh previously spent two years working for Vodafone
Shared Services India, where he was awarded the company’s Top Employee of the Year 2018-19 award for his work in automating a number of processes to support multiple teams. The intelligence unit that will be developed in his new role will provide insights about the East Midlands to the Midlands Engine Research Observatory, with the aim of establishing a unified Midlands-wide voice to compete alongside other regions when engaging with Government and investors. Overseeing his role at the Chamber is director of policy and external affairs Chris Hobson. He said: “The pandemic has presented unprecedented economic challenges that have affected each town, city and sector differently. “To overcome these challenges, businesses are expected to rethink strategies via innovation, effective management and investments. “The unique insights that Harsh will create can give us the evidence base we need to help these organisations work towards their objectives, while also informing policymakers whose decisions impact on our region’s economic prospects.” Dr Rhianna Briars, senior knowledge exchange officer at DMU, added: "The KTP project that Harsh is working on with the Chamber has exciting prospects for the East Midlands as a region and its business community. “Deepening the insights and regional data-led intelligence will improve decision-making for local businesses and strengthen the links to policymakers. “We expect this to make our region more
competitive and attract higher levels of investment, which will improve our recovery from the pandemic and tackle the underlying socio-economic issues that affect individual lives. “I am really pleased to see this project get funded and now start with Harsh on board – I’m anticipating a bright future for the whole East Midlands as a result.” business network May 2021
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THE BIG INTERVIEW
The
taste of success It’s no secret that 2020 – and the beginning of this year – have been incredibly tough on the hospitality, leisure and event industries. Leicesterbased catering business Sanjay Foods is no exception, losing 90% of its usual revenue as live events have been off limits, but founder and CEO Atul Lakhani has been savvy enough to diversify his offering with a new takeaway service and virtual cooking lessons to survive. He explains to Dan Robinson how he’s never worked harder than over the past year – and what the future holds. “You’re only as good as your last event” has been a favourite tagline for Atul Lakhani throughout his entrepreneurial life. It’s carried him far as his catering business Sanjay Foods became a powerhouse in the Midlands events industry and landed him an exclusive contract at a polo club. But over the past 14 months, as live events closed down and he was forced to look at alternative income streams including a takeaway service and virtual cooking lessons, there’s been a subtle variation on his mantra. “The pandemic has taught us we can’t take anything for granted in life,” says Atul. “But it hasn’t changed our outlook, and we’ve stayed true to our values. “From the onset of starting our takeaway service in Leicester, I said to the team that the ethos must be exactly the same as it’s always been when we’ve served lots of people at big events. “In the events game, you can do 50 amazing events and one bad one, which is unfortunately the one that’s remembered. “The only difference during the pandemic has been that we’re only as good as our last takeaway. “And that’s so important because one poor takeaway will reflect upon our brand that we’ve given our lives to building.” ATUL HAS HIS family to thank for his resilience, in particular his Indian-born father Bhagwanji, who had to start from scratch when he brought his young family – including a five-year-old Atul, his mother and four older sisters (his younger brother arrived three months later) – to Leicester from Uganda in the 1970s. Although Bhagwanji lost all his money in a number of businesses, he set up the renowned pure vegetarian restaurant Bobby’s in 1976, introducing Atul to the hospitality business. “I’m young enough to harbour my own entrepreneurial instincts but I’m old enough to remember the commitment the first generation of immigrants made – the sacrifice and perseverance,” says the married father-of-four. After studying economics and politics at the University of Greenwich, he set up Sanjay Foods in 2001. It has evolved beyond merely a catering business into an event management company, helping clients to plan, design and deliver weddings, corporate parties 22
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The caterer's menu now includes Indian, Lebanese, Arabic, IndoChinese and Thai dishes
Sanjay Foods has built a reputation for catering at large-scale weddings
and charity events. The food offer has expanded too from primarily Indian dishes to now include Lebanese, Arabic, Indo-Chinese, Thai and English cuisine. The company has the catering rights at more than 180 venues spanning the breadth of the UK and has built a particular reputation for working at luxury Indian weddings. Arguably its biggest moment arrived in 2014. Having already been one of seven caterers at the IXL Events Centre, a multi-million-pound conference and wedding venue set in a 600-acre estate at the Dallas Burston Polo Club in rural Warwickshire, Sanjay Foods was appointed the exclusive caterer. Five years later, Atul’s company took another step forward and acquired the conference centre, which is a popular location for weddings, car launches and other big events such as at Christmas. “Dallas Burston Polo Club is a prestigious, quintessentially English setting in the countryside just outside Royal Leamington Spa, so it was a real feather in our cap,” says Atul. “To go from being one of seven caterers to win the exclusive rights – and then go on to take it over – wasn’t something we’d ever expected and it still blows me away, to be honest. “I look back and remember how we couldn’t even charge what we were worth in the early days, but it
Atul Lakhani pictured outside IXL Events Centre
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THE BIG INTERVIEW
‘YOU DON’T HIRE SMART PEOPLE TO TEACH THEM WHAT TO DO’ Empowering his staff to uphold his high standards has been a crucial component of Sanjay Foods’ success, believes Atul. While he is the sole director of the business, he encourages his core team – which works alongside agency staff at large events – to feel the same pride in their work as he does. He recalls a conversation with Dr Dallas Burston, owner of the polo club that houses the IXL Events Centre now owned by Atul. He says: “Dr Dallas once said to me that quality, execution and standard was something he’d always advocated, which was very much in line with my ethos of what my business needs to be all about. It’s important to get the commitment of the core team and empowering our people to feel an ownership of the business.” Atul, whose team includes several people who have been with the company for more than 15 years, tries to lead by example in showing the same commitment to running the business. He adds: “We have a very transparent opendoor policy and we run our management team as a democratic process. So there will be times when I’m overruled in decisions, which is a progression from when you start a business and think everything you do is right. “I remember a while ago reading about how you don’t employ smart people to teach them what to do. But we also invest heavily in training to develop the understanding that we’re only as good as our last meal or event.”
‘I’m young enough to harbour my own entrepreneurial instincts but I’m old enough to remember the commitment the first generation of immigrants made’
was such a competitive market and we had to sustain our business. “It’s often said that if you keep knocking on the door for long enough, something will open – and I think the commitment we’ve shown to ‘chefmanship’, organising fantastic events and the never-say-die attitude led us ultimately to the polo club.” The club, which has plans for luxury lodges, yurts and a hotel, is owned by Dr Dallas Burston, a retired GP and pharma entrepreneur with an estimated wealth of £120m in 2018. Atul adds: “He travels all around the world, owns properties in numerous countries and is used to the finest things money can buy. “And yet he’ll tell all and sundry that he has the best caterers in the world at his polo club in the Midlands.” THE PAPERWORK CONFIRMING the purchase of IXL Events Centre landed on Atul’s desk in February 2020. Within a month, it shut down amid lockdown and a year that begun with such promise ended as a damp squib, as it did for so many in the hospitality and events industries. “The rug was swept from under our feet,” recalls Atul, who spent the first couple of months reflecting before turning his attention to finding ways of pivoting the business. business network May 2021
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THE BIG INTERVIEW
In June last year, he launched the Sanjay’s Express home dining and takeaway service from the company’s kitchen at Belgrave Industrial Centre, just off Leicester’s Golden Mile strip. Having used the base as a launchpad for serving event guests from Newcastle to Devon, and then focusing efforts on the polo club in the West Midlands, it offered an opportunity for Sanjay Foods to re-engage with its Leicester roots. There may have been opportunities for serving customers from further afield but geography was restricted due to the city’s local lockdown. Atul says: “There was a time when people said you could only get Sanjay Foods at a great event or wedding, but now people were getting their food delivered to their door.” The next idea arrived shortly after the takeaway take-off as Sanjay Foods embraced the Zoom revolution with virtual live cooking experiences. It evolved from a previous service it had provided to several law firms, in which spice kits were sent to the companies and, after adding fresh meat and vegetables, Sanjay chefs taught them how to cook an Indian dish.
‘I wanted that Jamie Oliver or Nigella Lawson experience with a proper kitchen environment, rather than a commercial setting’ The concept throughout lockdown has been similar but executed online. It has the potential to become a fixture of the business and, alongside the takeaway, helped to land the company the Excellence in Customer Service award at the Chamber’s Leicestershire Business Awards last year. “I wanted that Jamie Oliver or Nigella Lawson experience with a proper kitchen environment, rather than a commercial setting,” explains Atul. “To the layman, it feels like something that can be replicated at home.” While the furlough scheme has helped Sanjay Foods to get by and there was a drop in permanent headcount from 25 to 14, these services also sustained employment for many of the remaining team. Atul recites a quote from Askhari Johnson Hodari, an American black history academic who said, “if everyone helps to hold up the sky, then one person does not become tired”. He adds: “The virtual cooking experiences and the takeaway have been a great way to keep going throughout the pandemic. I’ve probably done more work in this past year than the previous four, but I’ve really needed my core team to help me to hold up the sky.” THE TAKEAWAY SERVICE is being phased out as the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown offers hope of bringing large-scale events back from 21 June. In reality, Atul predicts it’ll be 2022 until the shoots of recovery are truly evident – with a “boom period” expected due to the large savings many workers have accumulated over lockdown and the jobs market being
Virtual cooking experiences were launched by Sanjay Foods during the pandemic
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Large indoor events have been banned since March 2020
‘I WANT TO FIND JUSTICE FOR OUR INDUSTRY’ A “perfect storm” of Covid-19 restrictions and gaps in funding support means catering companies like Sanjay Foods have been among the hardest hit during the pandemic. Atul, who until recently chaired the Large-Scale Weddings Working Group within the UK Weddings Taskforce to provide industry representation with Government, says: “Throughout this period, I’ve wanted to find justice for our industry. “As a caterer, we were excluded from all grants because we weren’t deemed to be hospitality. “We were caught in a perfect storm. Firstly, we were prohibited from trading so there was a blanket ban on large-scale weddings and events, and we didn’t benefit from the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme. “Secondly, we didn’t receive a penny in business interruption payouts even though we were still spending so much money across the business, and we also had to make full refunds to clients – with the Competition and Markets Authority making no allowance for the time, money and effort that went into planning big events and food tastings. “On top of that, despite proactively advising clients to take wedding insurance, the insurers that paid out to our clients made our lives hell on the basis of subrogation rights, which allowed them to pursue third parties such as ourselves. “And even though some service providers we use, such as our telecoms provider, insisted on full payment, we’ve operated in a spirit of co-operation by behaving ethically with our own suppliers.” The acquisition of IXL Events Centre on the dawn of the first lockdown has proven to be a costly exercise, with running costs totalling £50,000 per month despite remaining closed. Local restrictions grants have been available, along with business rates relief and the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, but it’s only plugged a small gap in a large income hole – with revenue down 90% on pre-Covid levels. “From a relatively strong business with no borrowing, it’s made us vulnerable because the supply chain is totally excluded from hospitality support,” says Atul. “The longer this carries on, the worse it becomes. But we’re resilient people so we’ll get through this.”
propped up by the furlough scheme. But he predicts the future for hospitality and events could look a lot different to the one that preceded the pandemic. “The market will change substantially,” he says. “Clients will become a lot more risk-averse and no-one will take anything for granted. “I can see weddings downsizing and the lead time being shorter than the usual 18 months because people want more certainty. The greatest challenge to business is uncertainty.” There are concerns over a post-Covid “brain drain” from the hospitality industry due to the job insecurity of the past year and a reluctance for people to return to weekend work. Atul has also noticed lots of suppliers – particularly solo female-led services such as cake makers and wedding dress makers – have shut down, with traders swapping their business for full-time employment. He adds: “The diehard hospitality people, where it runs through their veins, will come back. “But certainly, it will be survival of the fittest – and we have no plans of giving up.”
Atul is optimistic about the future for the hospitality industry
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BUSINESS NETWORK
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Build language skills and build connections Today the importance of intercultural and language skills for social, political and economic development is widely recognised. It’s perhaps less well known, however, that English skills and the ability to create, maintain and develop business exchanges are enhanced by the exposure to other cultures and by the knowledge of at least one other language. Dr Marion Krauthaker Coombes (pictured), senior lecturer in modern languages at De Montfort University (DMU), explains why. Research shows that language education, even limited to basic levels, is proven to increase cognitive skills and generate more confident, open-minded and adaptable individuals who can respond more efficiently, adapt to challenges and work more flexibly around complex situations. When it comes to recruitment, in a variety of sectors, businesses are wise to this fact and often favour candidates with languages skills. The Higher Education Statistics Agency consistently shows that language graduates have one of the lowest unemployment rates, are on average 10% to 15% better paid and have more varied career options. In the UK, the need for multilingual communication, especially for businesses, has been dramatically accelerated by the reconfigurations required for a post-Brexit society and market, as well as the challenges from the 2020 health crisis. A recent joint statement by five prestigious academies worldwide – including the British Academy – confirmed that clear
communication across borders is paramount to the health and security of every nation during a global health crisis. More than ever, diplomatic, political, educational and business bodies must have the tools to interact and communicate in real-time through the help of new technologies.
UK LAGS BEHIND IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE SKILLS In the UK, however, the issues of a lack of available foreign languages speakers has been increasing for years and is making the country more vulnerable. The Department of Business, Innovation and Skills already warned businesses in 2013 that close to £50bn is lost to the economy every year due to lacking language skills. To improve the situation, two areas appear as key – the national education system and migration. The former needs to produce more bilingual graduates, while the latter has the capacity to attract more speakers of other languages. However, latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures confirm that in the Brexit context, migration
is now at its lowest in years. While the young generation of pupils and students may benefit from refocused policies and programmes making language a part of every future citizen and worker’s education, the current workforce remains in dire need for professional development in this area. So, what can businesses do here and now to meet the multilingual needs of the 21st Century market?
FOREIGN LANGUAGE MEDIA AND BOOTCAMPS CAN BE FIRST STEPS Businesses that may not have prioritised languages as part of their past recruitment strategies still have options. Companies already working with overseas clients, or looking to enter new global markets while navigating the ongoing obstacles generated by Brexit and Covid-19, can find ways to reintroduce learning opportunities for their employees who have some language background. Here are some top tips for employees to improve business language skills in a relaxed way:
• Watch your favourite shows and movies dubbed in a foreign language to improve your general language skills • Find business-oriented foreign documentaries and programmes with subtitles to increase your specialist vocabulary and comprehension skills • Read foreign newspapers, magazines, articles, blogs or social media content every day to develop your linguistic and cultural knowledge • Create real-life opportunities to practice inside or outside the workplace – for example, organise foreign languages lunches with colleagues and find a language exchange buddy • Ask your employer to plan a customised language bootcamp for you and your colleagues via a reliable language provider. At DMU, our highly trained language specialists also offer bespoke business language courses to support employers and employees in developing their skills and gaining confidence in doing business here or abroad.
University designs non-electric ventilator A team of engineers at Loughborough University has designed and built a unique low-cost, non-electric ventilator in response to the pandemic. The ShiVent system was created to allow nonspecialised workers to treat patients with coronavirus. The team, featuring Yusuf Bilesanmi, Ricardo Nascimento, Dr Yusuf Shittu, Gaurav Nanajkar and Pawel Nycz, designed the ventilator with four key features: • Simple to use – by the average health worker and takes only 30 minutes of training • Low-cost – can be produced at a very small fraction of the price of the average ventilator • Non-electric – making it suitable for hospital settings with unreliable power 26
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• Oxygen-efficient – requiring almost as little as a third of the average oxygen consumption of High Flow Oxygen systems After successful tests in hospitals, a shipment of five ShiVent units were sent last month to Lagos, Nigeria, with more heading for Pune, India, soon for further trials. The plan willthen be to roll out the system in subSaharan Africa, Asia and potentially South America. Yusuf, a Nigerian who enrolled for his PhD at Loughborough in 2019, said: “ShiVent is designed for under-resourced areas where mechanical ventilators are scarce and expensive, with unreliable electricity supply and limited specialist knowledge.”
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Industry can’t take off without clarity Simplicity and clarity are crucial if the travel industry is to begin its recovery this year, believes East Midlands Airport (EMA). International leisure travel from the UK may resume on 17 May, with a “traffic light” system that assigns red, amber or green to every overseas country mooted to combat coronavirus variants from being imported. But with a negative PCR test likely to be among the requirements for many countries and expensive hotel quarantines for others, there are concerns this could turn away many potential holidaymakers. EMA head of media Ioan ReedAspley said: “The point we’ve made consistently throughout the pandemic is we need clarity from Government about what we can expect. For consumer confidence to return, people need reassurance
Planes remain grounded at East Midlands Airport
that when they travel to a country, the requirements won’t suddenly change to mean they’ll need to quarantine for long periods when they return, or that expensive tests will be required. “It needs to be as simple and cheap as possible. The ultimate
goal is to get to as many destinations as possible that are restriction-free.” The Government’s international travel framework announced in April, which featured the traffic light system, didn’t include a category for restriction-free travel –
something the airport said “represents a backward step from the travel corridors in place last year”. “Building strong partnerships with foreign countries and sharing data about variants of concern is key to removing the need for testing on return, and should be the Government’s primary focus,” added Ioan. In a typical year, EMA welcomes 4.5 million passengers but numbers were down by more than 90% last year. Yet the aviation industry hasn’t received any tailored financial support from the Government, with the only help coming in the form of business rates relief and the Job Retention Scheme. “Our main income streams have been turned off like a tap,” said Ioan. “It’s going to take three or four years for the aviation sector to get back to pre-Covid levels.”
Dr Nik named on Power List 2021 The chairman of a Leicestershire pharmaceuticals business has been selected as one of 60 international leaders and innovators in a top industry influencer list. Dr Nik Kotecha OBE, founder of medicines manufacturer and supplier Morningside Pharmaceuticals, which based in Loughborough, has made The Medicine Maker magazine’s Power List 2021. It celebrates the success stories of the best and brightest individuals in three distinct categories including small molecules, biopharmaceuticals and advanced medicine. Dr Kotecha features in the small molecules category alongside senior executives from global drugs companies, as well as a number of esteemed academics from some of the world’s leading research-focused universities. Dr Kotecha, a Department for International Trade “export champion” who is also chair of trustees for the Randal Charitable Foundation, said: “It’s a real honour to be included in the Power List 2021 alongside so many great and inspirational minds who have contributed so much to the development and manufacture of new and existing medicinal products.” The magazine’s editor Stephanie Sutton said everyone on the list “is playing a key role in moving us all towards a healthier world, from developing ground-breaking new treatments to devising new manufacturing strategies”.
Dr Nik Kotecha OBE
THE CHAMBER IS HONOURED BY THE SUPPORT OF ITS STRATEGIC PARTNERS AND PATRONS
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CHAMBER NEWS
Get the right people at the
right time In the March issue of Business Network, the Chamber’s head of employment services Paul Needham (pictured) explained how his team supports unemployed people to find work – a service that has grown in importance during the pandemic. Here, he turns his attention to how the team supports businesses and encourages them to hire people who are often from long-term unemployed backgrounds.
I’ve previously written about the importance of getting into the mindset of individuals who are unemployed in order to change their attitudes to the world of work. Encouraging people to have a more positive outlook on their job prospects is only one side of the equation, however, as businesses may need to be persuaded to hire someone without experience – either in their industry or, sometimes, in any form of regular work. Just as we take a tailored approach to the individual jobseeker, it’s important to treat every business and its needs on a unique basis.
WHAT DOES THE BUSINESS NEED? Understanding what the business wants is the most important aspect of any journey to sustainable employment. Otherwise, the person being recruited won’t last too long. We’ll help to prepare individuals by sifting out those who aren’t the right fit for a particular job, while we also offer training to tailor their CVs and equipping them with interview skills. To help a business decide on a candidate, we’ll arrange for them to do a few days of work experience to demonstrate they can do the role. It’s a risk-free opportunity for the company, which doesn’t need to pay wages for a short period of work, while we ensure the individual continues to receive outof-work benefits during this time. The Chamber will also remunerate them for any expenses. 28
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This is particularly useful when the jobseeker’s background doesn’t match the job. For example, they may have previously worked in office-based roles but an industrial cleaning company has vacancies. As the job would require an understanding of chemicals, specialist equipment, and health and safety measures, we can offer training on the fundamentals before they do a work placement. The employer can then make a decision on whether to hire the person.
SUPPORT FOR BUSINESSES AFTER HIRING AN INDIVIDUAL When someone starts a job following our support, we don’t just step away immediately. We’ll create in-work action plans to ensure the individual stays focused and becomes a crucial part of the team. But we also support the business, which may not be equipped to deal with that person depending on their circumstances. It might not have employed someone with a disability, for example, so our team will work with the company to ensure it can accommodate that individual. The Chamber holds Disability Confident Leader status, which recognises organisations that support disabled people and those with long-term health conditions into employment, so in this situation we provide detailed assistance to the employer. We can also help it to access the Government’s Access to Work programme, which offers grants to help cover the costs of practical support in the workplace, such as
special equipment and adaptations, as well as to support people experiencing mental health issues in the workplace. This support is very wide and varied, but may include adjustable height desks, specialist chairs, stair lifts or ramps at entrances. It may not even involve new equipment and could just adapt the rhythm of work to suit individual needs. For example, if a factory worker has a physical impairment and struggles to stand for long periods, rather than asking them to do a job on their feet for six hours, they
could do two hours stood up and then four hours sat down carrying out another task.
BENEFITS FOR BOTH SIDES Ultimately, it’s not just individuals who benefit from support that gets them back into work. Businesses are keen to have someone who is keen, eager and possesses some spark. The world of work is changing and there’s more people coming into the labour market with lowlevel barriers, so companies need to be a little sharper and more agile because one size doesn’t always fit.
Supporting businesses Business Network speaks to Nick Perry, director of recruitment company Total Support Recruitment, who has worked with the Chamber’s employment services team to find Covid marshalling work for jobseekers. How did you first come into contact with the employment services team? I received a call from Dan Worthington at the Chamber, who had seen an advert I had issued and we have worked together brilliantly ever since. What was the result of the support you received from the Chamber? We’ve now got about 30 people into work. Dan supported me with screening and vetting customers, and kept participants warm when work on site was delayed. Has it changed your perspective on the types of people you now employ? It hasn’t because I would always be happy to use people that are out of work. I like to make a difference to people’s lives and therefore I usually prioritise the people who are out of work. How important is it to offer job opportunities to people who may otherwise be at risk of long-term unemployment? It’s very important – otherwise they can get into a routine of not working and this can have an effect on their morale.
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CHAMBER NEWS
Employment figures are ‘heading in right direction’ More people in the East Midlands are now in jobs than at the tail end of last year – but the unemployment rate remains above the national average, according to the latest Government figures. Between December 2020 and February 2021, the region’s unemployment rate was 5.1%, down from 5.6% in the three months to November 2020, the Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) labour market statistics show. Only three regions had a higher unemployment rate during the most recent reported period, with the UK average at 4.9%. But the Chamber’s chief executive Scott Knowles (pictured) pointed out that the figures are heading in the right direction. He said: “While the East Midlands has clearly been disproportionately affected during the pandemic in terms of unemployment – largely due to the fact our economy is well represented by many of the industries that have been shut
down, including hospitality, tourism and retail – these latest labour market statistics should give us confidence about what the future holds. “The falling unemployment rate may be a result of the successful vaccine rollout programme giving businesses the assurance they need to begin employing people again. “Our latest Quarterly Economic Survey for Q1 2021, which received a record 539 responses from East Midlands businesses between 15 February and 8 March, showed that
while a net 2% of firms decreased headcount over the previous three months, a net 26% expected to increase their workforce over the next three months. “With the Government presenting its roadmap out of lockdown in late February and the vaccine rollout continuing strongly, we can expect to see recruitment intentions speed up over the coming months – with the unemployment rate falling further as a result.” In March, the Office for Budget Responsibility revised downwards its forecast for peak UK unemployment later this year from 7.5% to 6.5%. But with the projection still 1.6% above the current national unemployment rate, Scott warned further action – such as a temporary cut in employer national insurance contributions – will be needed to support the labour marked once the Job Retention Scheme is wound down.
Chamber in tribute to Duke Chamber chief executive Scott Knowles has paid tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh after his death on 9 April, aged 99. He said: “Prince Philip was a fantastic public servant and will be remembered fondly for his great commitment and devotion to our country, while the business community will recognise him as a strong advocate for UK enterprise. “We offer our deepest sympathies to Her Majesty the Queen and all members of the Royal Family at this time.”
Full occupancy for Chamber workspaces Spring marked an important milestone for the Chamber’s managed workspaces portfolio as full occupancy was achieved in its 55 units across three sites. There are now zero vacancies at Brian Clough Business Centre in Derby, Leicester Food Park and Friars Mill in Leicester – which have remained open and Covid-secure throughout the pandemic – despite the significant challenges affecting businesses and working habits since the first lockdown. Brian Clough Business Centre, which has been managed by the Chamber since 2005 and incorporates the John Smith Enterprise Hub, has attracted a number of new tenants to its offices, workshops and light industrial spaces in recent months. One of these was estate and letting agent Your Choice Property, a new business seeking a centrally-located, high-quality and cost-effective workspace.
Brian Clough Business Centre
Friars Mill
‘Business support remains a cornerstone of Chamber activity’ Director Ashley Hancock said: “The John Smith Enterprise Hub offers everything we need to effectively manage property, has client parking, and is a great place for connections, as well as offering flexible contracts.” Centre manager Ed Sims said: “Covid-19 has had a significant impact upon every business, so being on site to provide practical help and support has been essential.” Friars Mill, at the heart of Leicester’s Waterside regeneration area, is managed by the Chamber on behalf of Leicester City Council and offers 15 “follow-on” office spaces. Workspace manager Tom Munro said: “Offices on site are larger than in other managed workspaces across the city, so provide opportunities for businesses to graduate to something bigger without losing the raft of benefits that serviced office space and city centre life brings. Business support remains a cornerstone of Chamber activity, so being able to advise and support tenant businesses while providing staff with welcoming and safe workspaces has been critical to achieving this milestone.” Chris Tandy, business development director at Dynamic Personnel Ltd, which has recently moved to Friars Mill, added: “As a recruitment agency
specialising in the industrial and warehousing sector, we wanted our East Midlands office to reflect historically the industrial heritage of Leicester and its workers. “Friars Mill being Leicester’s oldest surviving factory, combining history with modern facilities and on-site business support fit the bill perfectly.” Leicester Food Park, in Hamilton, is managed in partnership with The Food & Drink Forum, also on behalf of the city council. The campus provides nine food-grade manufacturing spaces with office and break-out facilities, ranging in sizes to allow progression on site. In addition to business support offered by the Chamber, tenant businesses benefit from technical advice and guidance from qualified staff on site. business network May 2021
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Tourism bosses call for new ways of thinking Tourism and leisure operators in the region are realistic about what success will look like in the immediate future – but collaboration and new ways of thinking will be crucial to their long-term prospects. Businesses including Heights of Abraham, Vine Hotels and Leicester Tigers RFC discussed the sector’s challenges and opportunities as lockdown restrictions ease – but with capacity remaining limited – at the second Chamber president’s dinner of the year, hosted by Eileen Richards MBE. Rupert Pugh, director at the Heights of Abraham cable car attraction in Matlock, said a positive summer was dependent on the Government’s roadmap to recovery being delivered in full and on time. “If we’re allowed to go back to effectively the situation of last
Stephen Gould
autumn, which is similar to the next stage of the roadmap, we can have a reasonable year. If we can open things further in June, there’s the potential to have a very good year. “But when will things get back to normal? That’s the big question. I know the Government is pushing hard for this to be in June but there seems to be a lot of rhetoric that things are getting back to normal, although with all these provisos in place. If, as people predict, we’re only allowed 50% capacity in June, that’ll be very challenging unless you’re lucky enough to have a very big venue.” Garin Davies, chief executive at Vine Hotels, whose Whirlow Brook Hall venue is on the north-eastern edge of the Peaks, has had the confidence to buy three new properties in the past year despite turnover being less than a fifth of usual levels in 2020/21.
“Our view is the leisure sector will grow quite rapidly but corporate use of hotels and hospitality will remain low for some time,” he added. For Scott Charlish, who oversees the East Midlands financial planning team at wealth management firm Brewin Dolphin, the sector’s shortterm success relies on creating an economic climate that encourages people to spend. He said: “We need to stimulate the spending capacity of consumers, who might otherwise want to hold on to the savings they’ve built up. Let’s not miss the opportunity of having that money spent in our towns and cities too as businesses need it to provide employment.”
Andrea Pinchen
LONGER-TERM OPPORTUNITIES may well be found by thinking outside the box and collaborating with traditional competitors, according to some business leaders. The president’s dinner guest speaker Stephen Gould, managing director of family-owned Everards Brewery, has overseen an ambitious project to create a new brewery complex at Everards Meadows in Leicester that will house a 40,000 sq ft glass-fronted beer hall, shop and offices. It’s due to open by the
Heights of Abraham
Transformation of Nottingham Castle Robin Hood will take centre stage at Nottingham Castle when it reopens next month after a £30m redevelopment. The tourist attraction’s historic Ducal Palace and grounds will welcome members of the public from Monday 21 June. It will feature a dedicated exhibition, an adventure playground and family-friendly activities linked to the famous outlaw. Sara Blair-Manning, chief executive of Nottingham Castle Trust, said: “Nottingham Castle has been transformed into a world-class heritage site.” The three-year redevelopment and conservation project followed a £30m investment from National Heritage Lottery Fund, Nottingham City Council, D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership and Arts Council England, plus fundraising by the trust. It includes a new visitor centre comprising a coffee shop and gift shop, and a terrace café at the Ducal Palace that offers panoramic views of the city. Nottingham City Council portfolio holder for culture, Councillor Dave Trimble, said: “It will bring new opportunities for jobs and volunteering, enhance tourism and boost the local economy, as well as spearheading the wider regeneration of Nottingham City centre.”
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Robin Hood’s Hideout at Nottingham Castle
end of this month and follows completed work at the park to create cycling tracks, while future plans include a hotel. Stephen said the mixed-use approach highlighted how, “in leisure and tourism, there’s increasingly an opportunity to stretch customer occasions and think more broadly to insure against peaks and troughs in trading”. Collaboration has been found at two of the region’s sports clubs during the pandemic. At Derbyshire County Cricket Club, not only have more than 80% of members either donated subscriptions to the club or allowed them to be deferred until the following season, but clubs have joined forces to create a closer “cricket community”, believes chairman Ian Morgan. And at Leicester Tigers, Andrea Pinchen believed this was a key part of turning around the club’s on and off-field fortunes after being appointed as chief executive in May 2020. She said: “The culture had eroded within the club so we had a lot of work to do to bring that transparency back. So employees weren’t just treated as employees, but as a unit, so we were all in this together.”
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CHAMBER NEWS
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Chamber offices will adopt the WELL Health-Safety Rating with the help of Blueprint Interiors, headed up chairman by Rob Day (right)
Seal of safety for Chamber offices The Chamber has signed up to a new building health and safety accreditation to ensure its offices have a recognised safety seal in time for the anticipated return of employees and visitors after lockdown. The organisation’s offices in Chesterfield, Nottingham, Derby and Leicester will be assessed according to the WELL HealthSafety Rating. Established by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) public benefit corporation, it provides a thirdparty verified rating focusing on operational policies, maintenance protocols and design strategies to address a post-Covid environment. Office fit-out specialist and workplace consultant Blueprint Interiors is working with organisations across the East Midlands to roll out the accreditation and the Chamber is the first to sign up. East Midlands Chamber chief executive Scott Knowles said: “After such a considerable period
of working from home, we wanted to ensure we could display a certificate that is an internationallyrecognised seal of approval that our workplaces are safe.
‘Businesses that achieve the WELL Health-Safety Rating seal have to demonstrate that they have met the highest health and safety standards’ “When Blueprint Interiors approached us, we jumped at the chance to be the first organisation in the East Midlands to sign up to achieve the WELL Health-Safety Rating and we will be encouraging all Chamber members to consider the reassurances this seal of approval can provide.” The WELL Health-Safety Rating was created with input from IWBI’s
WELL Building Standard and more than 600 experts within its Covid-19 Task Force, in addition to guidance developed by groups including the World Health Organisation. It helps building managers and organisations address the health, safety and wellbeing of their people via 22 strategies, including sanitising spaces, assessing air and water quality, and communicating health and safety efforts. The accreditation is a visible indication of confidence and trust as the WELL Health-Safety Rating communicates to everyone entering a space that evidence-based measures have been adopted and verified by a third party. Blueprint Interiors is a longstanding Chamber member and patron. In 2017, the company completed the fit-out of the Chamber's Chesterfield head office, which was designed to provide more agile workspaces. It has also revamped the organisation's Leicester and Derby offices. It was this early foresight and investment
that enabled Chamber employees to adapt easily to work from home during the pandemic. The company is now advising businesses in the region on how to achieve the WELL Health-Safety Rating. Blueprint is also redeveloping its own office in Ashby-de-la-Zouch to illustrate the benefits of safe and agile working, in a project called WorkLife Central. Founder and chairman Rob Day said: “As people begin to plan their return to work, a lot of businesses are rethinking their needs and discussing how to create compelling reasons for their most valued asset – their people – to return to work safely. “Businesses that achieve the WELL Health-Safety Rating seal have to demonstrate that they have met the highest health and safety standards, and therefore employees and visitors will feel confident knowing the space they are entering is managed by an organisation that believes in putting health first.”
Partnership to boost recruitment A new partnership between the Chamber and Business 2 Business (B2B), a Leicester-based employability company, will aim to boost recruitment across Leicestershire. The organisations have signed a memorandum of understanding that involves a variety of schemes aimed at supporting employers to get more people into work during and after the pandemic. These include a collaboration on the Kickstart scheme; skills development of the city and county’s current and future workforce; and joint bidding for future Department of Work & Pensions programmes that help people made redundant during the pandemic to find sustainable employment. Chamber deputy chief executive Diane Beresford said: “We know many people have unfortunately found themselves out of work due to the economic impact of the pandemic, and it’s imperative we do all we can to support these people to find jobs as soon as possible. 32
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“With more than 4,000 employers in our membership, we’re in a great position to engage with the organisations that can offer these opportunities. “By linking up with B2B, which has an established reputation in giving individuals the support they need to take advantage of job openings, we’ll be able to streamline and accelerate recruitment processes – allowing businesses to expand their business while increasing Leicestershire’s productivity and prosperity.” A long-standing Chamber member, B2B was set up 35 years ago to tackle unemployment and social exclusion. It recognised local people weren’t often able to benefit from jobs in the Leicester economy and has offered the additional support needed, such as upskilling and addressing barriers to employment. Veejay Patel, managing director of B2B, said: “We get tremendous satisfaction from finding the right candidates for local employers, and watching their businesses grow and prosper.”
Diane Beresford
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CHAMBER NEWS
Expanding opportunities for children An innovative programme aimed at raising aspirations among primary school pupils in seven of Derby’s most deprived wards engaged more than 12,500 children and teachers in its first 18 months, a new report shows. Our Future Derby, which brought together a unique consortium of education providers and employers including the Chamber, delivered career-based learning at 32 schools between April 2019 and December 2020, with the goal of expanding opportunities, improving gender equality and enhancing social mobility.
‘We believe that collaboration between schools, families and businesses will help children to gain a better understanding of world of work’ In an evaluation and impact assessment report published last month, it was found that after taking part in activities as part of the £250,000 Government-funded
project, 81% of children said they had learned about at least five new jobs. Meanwhile, 93% agreed that “people like me can do any job they want when they grow up”. Pieter Eksteen, the Chamber’s education and business partnerships manager, said: “Research shows children’s aspirations are often shaped, moulded, and restricted by gender stereotyping, socio-economic background and the people they meet in their local area. We believe that collaboration between schools, families and businesses will help
children to gain a better understanding of world of work and the opportunities that are out there.” The Our Future Derby project began in summer 2019 to link children and schools in the seven wards – Abbey, Arboretum, Boulton, Chaddesden, Derwent, Normanton and Sinfin – to the world of work. Commissioned and funded by the Department for Education’s Opportunity Area Board, the programme works in partnership with 32 primary schools and is led by a partnership
including dmh associates, East Midlands Chamber, Education and Employers, Forum Talent Potential and Learn by Design. Dr Deirdre Hughes OBE, research programme director at dmh associates, conducted the evaluation for the Our Future Derby Report 2020, which found that 68% of children initially indicated the main influencers of their job ideas were from parents or other close family members. She said: “Children can’t be what they can’t see – therefore, broadening horizons and raising aspirations from an early age is essential. Derby city primary schools and business links are leading the way in being highly innovative to inspire children to have brighter futures.” As part of its aim to connect employers in the region with their future workforce, East Midlands Chamber launched the Chamber Schools programme in September 2019, with more than 130 secondary schools signed up for free membership. For more information, visit https://www.emcdnl.co.uk/chamber-schools/
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CHAMBER NEWS
Opening a ‘Pandora’s box of growth’ with D2N2 UpScaler
FSG Tableware managing director Lynn Johnson
New waste disposal techniques are being explored by a Nottinghambased eco-focused foodservice equipment distributor as it seeks a platform to reach the next level – with the support of a Chamber-run growth programme. FSG Tableware, which supplies public sector and commercial catering operations across the UK and Europe with innovative, eco-friendly foodservice products, is carrying out product development for a new modular bin system to be used in catering establishments and piloting a new digital system to help improve its recycling processes.
‘The amount of support I’ve received has been overwhelming and has really helped me to focus my efforts on the future of the business’ It has been aided by the D2N2 UpScaler project, which is delivered in partnership by the Chamber and Nottingham Business School, based at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) – which founder and managing director Lynn Johnson compared to “opening a Pandora’s box of growth support”. She said: “The amount of support I’ve received has been overwhelming and has really helped me to focus my efforts on the future of the business and what I need to do to get there. “Thanks to the programme, I feel that we have grown as a business, but I have also grown as a person too.” FSG Tableware, which employs six people based at Southglade Business Park, is the exclusive UK importer for some of the world’s leading food display and tableware manufacturers. Products – which are distributed via a network of catering equipment distributor – include healthcare-adapted dinnerware to improve nutrition and hydration, eye-catching buffet displays and reusable alternatives to single-use food and drink containers.
While it had experienced solid organic growth since it was founded in 2009, Lynn was keen to take it to the next level but, playing a hands-on role as the head of a small team, was limited by time. She was introduced to UpScaler through NTU’s Leading to Grow programme, which funded an initial business diagnostic and “helicopter” business plan, as well as identifying the biggest opportunities for growth. Lynn attended UpScaler workshops and benefited from one-to-one coaching. The programme connected her with Chamber patron RDS Global, which is developing a new digital solution for FSG Tableware, and signposted her to funding opportunities for help with new product development. Lynn plans to recruit new sales staff this year to service the projected growth and hopes to bring manufacturing of some products to the UK. The D2N2 UpScaler project has supported 250 SMEs – with a combined workforce of 3,550 people and £435m turnover – across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire since November 2018 and comes to an end in June. This consists of 2,733 hours of support and £175,000 worth of grants committed. For more information visit d2n2lep.org/project/upscaler
Support for local food and drink businesses Food and drink producers in Leicestershire have navigated a steep learning curve with support from the Business Gateway Growth Hub. As businesses turned to online, takeaway and delivery services, they have been forced to get to grips with digital technology, social media and additional safety requirements. To support producers and manufacturers, the Growth Hub and its delivery partner The Food and Drink Forum has created a free webinar programme that runs until December this year. Topics include selling online, finance, diversification, supply chain management, labelling and packing, business continuity and resilience, and workforce management. Growth Hub manager Jon Egley said: “I am amazed by the innovation and speed with which local food and drink businesses have adapted during this pandemic. This funded programme 34
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Gokul Foods business manager Rajal Rajpra
is about working with them to fill any gaps in their knowledge.” Rajal Rajpra, business manager at Gokul Foods, received support from Growth Hub advisor Joanna Moore to develop her vegetarian catering business specialising in Indian sweets and snacks. Upcoming food and drink webinars include: 12 May – The art of cashflow forecasting; 19 May – Building a resilient workforce to plan for new ways of working; 26 May – Getting started with food photography and styling; 2 June – Planning product diversification for new markets; 9 June – Flexible workforce development plans. For more information about free support for Leicestershire-based food and drink producers and the webinar programme, visit bit.ly/3dHICxv, email growthhub@bizgateway.org.uk or call 0116 366 8487.
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CHAMBER NEWS
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CHAMBER NEWS
Chamber reveals Generation Next board of champions Generation Next, the new Chamber network for young professionals, has launched a board of “champions” to help shape its offer. The group of 11 individuals will take an active role in the development of the network’s activity and profile. Generation Next supports professionals and the next generation of business leaders aged between 18 and 35, based in Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire. It features a series of networking events and educational workshops led by a range of East Midlandsbased companies and specialist advisers, with the goal of developing its members’ professional networks and skills. The Chamber’s director of resources and Generation Next lead Lucy Robinson said: “We are thrilled to be launching the Generation Next board ‘champions’. “It features 11 truly fantastic young professionals, representing a range of sectors and backgrounds, and we look forward to working closely with them all. “Generation Next is passionate about developing and retaining young talent in the East Midlands so it is crucial for our activities to be as relevant as possible for our target audience – and what better a way to achieve this than involving those people in our strategy planning.”
The champions will meet with the Generation Next team quarterly to inform the network’s future direction. The group will also be involved in the judging process of the Generation Next Awards, which will be held virtually on 16 July. Emma Baumback, an independent financial planner at Future Life Wealth Management, has been elected as chair of the board. She said: “Working in the financial services industry and being a young woman in business, I am in a fortunate position to help to deliver the Generation Next mission and I’m thrilled to be joining the board. “From experience, I know that confidence can play a huge part in shaping what people in our younger generation decide they want to do in life and how to progress their careers and ambitions. Generation Next’s vibrant community is the perfect vehicle to help develop our skills
and get the support from our amazing role models out there. “Having the opportunity to work with like-minded young professionals to deliver this mission is a humbling and inspiring opportunity and I will put my all into making a real change for the next generation of business leaders in our region.” Generation Next headline partner the University of Derby will also put forward two members of its student base to sit on the board. Shortlisting is currently underway and the successful applicants will be confirmed in the coming months.
To become a member of the network, visit generationnextemc.co.uk/ become-a-member or email the team at gennext@emc-dnl.co.uk. You can also keep up with the network via LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
‘Generation Next is passionate about developing and retaining young talent in the East Midlands’
Meet the Generation Next champions
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1. EMMA BAUMBACK (CHAIR)
3. BYRON BURGHART
Emma is an independent financial planner at Future Life Wealth Management. She has recently been listed in the Top 35 Next Generation Advisers in the prestigious list compiled by New Model Adviser and was also shortlisted for Rising Star of the Year in the 2020 Women in Investment Awards.
Byron is an investment manager at Brewin Dolphin and works with people from a variety of backgrounds to help them make the most of their finances. He has recently completed an MBA at Cranfield University.
2. BETH BEARDER
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Beth is a senior associate solicitor at Keebles specialising in employment law. Beth advises on a range of employment law matters including claims for unfair dismissal, harassment, breach of contract and misconduct investigations – with expertise advising on disability discrimination and the exit of senior executives.
4. CHATHURA SUDHARSHAN Chathura is the founder of digital fashion technology business Chanodil. He has both a fashion design and product development bachelor’s degree at the University of Moratuwa in Sri Lanka, and a master’s degree in entrepreneurship and business operations at Nottingham Trent University.
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CHAMBER NEWS
5. DANIEL NIKOLLA Daniel is the marketing manager at professional and digital signage company Hardy Signs. Last year, he was awarded Generation Next Young Professional of the Year at the Derbyshire Business Awards.
6. HOPE THORLEY Hope is a senior resourcing advisor at multi-disciplinary construction and property consultancy Pick Everard – and is responsible for sourcing and attracting talent for the firm. Prior to working within recruitment, Hope worked within the hospitality sector both in the UK and overseas.
7. KATIE GILBERT
term supporter of the Chamber’s Enterprising Women network.
9. LEE TOMES Lee is an award-winning filmmaker and managing director of video storytelling company Orange Fox Studios. Lee has had various projects screened at national film festivals as both a director and cinematographer. His most recent triumph came at the 2018 Birmingham International Film Festival when his collaborative short film Martin Sharpe is Sorry scooped Best Micro Short. He is also the winner of Generation Next Young Professional of the Year category at the Chamber’s Leicestershire Business Awards.
Katie is the head of product development at food gifting company, TTK Confectionery. Accolades to her name include the Rising Star Award at the Nottingham Post’s Women in Business Awards and the Chamber's Enterprising Women Awards Team of the Year 2020.
10. RUBINA LOKAT
8. KATRINA STARKIE
11. SCARLETT TINSLEY
Katrina is the space and community manager at the new Dryden Enterprise Centre at Nottingham Trent University. The centre is a new home for entrepreneurs, startups and SMEs at the university. Katrina is also on the board for the D2N2 Growth Hub and is a long-
Scarlett is the brand and marketing executive at Leicester-based recruitment consultancy ER Recruitment. Scarlett initially joined the business as an intern while studying at De Montfort University and has since worked on some incredible campaigns and projects.
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Rubina Lokat is an accomplished management accountant with a specific eye for design combined with a drive for results. She is the managing director of PrintPrint, a Leicester-based design and print house.
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CHAMBER NEWS
Charity offers support to people from all walks of life Each year, the Chamber president chooses three charities across our three counties to support with a series of fundraising activities. In 2021, these organisations are Chesterfield Samaritans, Help the Homeless Leicester and Nottinghamshire Hospice. In this issue, Business Network speaks to the founder of Help the Homeless Leicester.
The success of our virtual events Once again, the Enterprising Women group is entering the brighter months with a spring in our step. There have been a variety of incredibly successful events, each of which have been well attended with some outstanding guest speakers involved. Attendees of the most recent Enterprising Women event featuring guest speaker Natalie Fahy (pictured), editor of Nottinghamshire Live and Derbyshire Live, described the event as “honest”, “inspiring” and “immensely eye-opening to the journalism industry”.
‘We have been delighted with the engagement and attendance from our members’ We now have our sights set on upcoming events over the summer, including an event on 22 May to announce the Enterprising Women Awards finalists, featuring with Chamber vicepresident and Futures Housing Group chief executive Lindsey Williams as guest speaker. Despite events having to have been run virtually over the past year, we have been delighted with the engagement and attendance from our members. The interaction, collaboration and connectivity has remained consistent for group members and as a network we have supported each other. Members are always welcome to join our network, and we look forward to seeing both familiar and new faces at our next event. Eileen Richards MBE and Jean Mountain, co-chairs of Enterprising Women
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Who are you and what’s your role within the charity? My name is Arif Voraji and I founded the charity. I’m also in charge of highlighting our work to the public, businesses and anyone in general who may be in treated in working with us or supporting us. I am the “hob knobber” and thrive in networking, although this is very restricted at present.
still in accommodation supported by the council.
What is the background to your charity? I started the movement from the boot of my car in 2014 with 14 pairs of jeans, before fully registering in March 2018. I took inspiration from a Facebook video of a friend in Bolton helping someone with clothing and replicated that in Leicester.
What does the future hold for your charity? We’ll continue to grow internally, with more staff, and we’re currently looking at moving into a bigger headquarters to help this growth.
Who do you support? We support homeless people from all walks of life – street homeless, people being evicted and prisoners being released to no fixed address – to find accommodation by working with Leicester City Council. The majority of our referrals come via professional services or organisations, and we also help anyone struggling with white or material goods, as well as delivering food parcels to people’s doorsteps every Wednesday.
How important a role do businesses have to play in supporting your charity? Their role is very important. We appreciate all monetary donations of any size as I firmly believe it all adds up, but when businesses join our 2020 Club, which costs £460 per year, it’s a great cash injection.
How has Covid-19 affected the work of the charity? We have become busier with provisions, such as food parcel deliveries, but the housing advocacy work slowed down as the majority of homeless people are
For more information on how businesses can support Help the Homeless Leicester, contact av@hthleicester.co.uk
The Chamber is supporting Help the Homeless Leicester by encouraging businesses to take part in the charity’s Sox & Box campaign. Organisations and individuals can donate new socks and boxer shorts, which will then be handed out to service users. Help the Homeless Leicester will make collections from business premises in Derbyshire on Tuesday 25 May, Nottinghamshire on Wednesday 26 May and Leicestershire on Thursday 27 May. To book a collection from your premises, email Help@HTHLeicester.co.uk. Alternatively, send items directly to Help the Homeless Leicester Sox & Box Campaign, 9 Abbey Street, Leicester, LE1 3TE.
Face mask sales support charities A healthcare equipment manufacturer has pledged to donate a proportion of proceeds from every face mask it sells to the three charities being supported by the Chamber. International Biomedical Limited, based in Nottingham, makes CEapproved masks, including the medical-grade Type IIR coverings. It has set a fundraising target of £5,000 by donating 50p towards the Chamber’s charity pot – to be split between Chesterfield Samaritans, Help the Homeless Leicester and Nottinghamshire Hospice – from every £7.50 box of 50. Chamber members can also benefit from an exclusive discount of 50p per box. The company’s director Steven von Kohorn said: “We are delighted to offer a double benefit to Chamber members and the Chamber-supported charities, which really will make a difference in these troubled times. “Type IIR medical masks are still the most essential barrier between us and rising infection rates. These specific masks are the ones chosen by the NHS to protect frontline workers.” For more information about the member offer, visit internationalbiomedical.co.uk/chamber
Steven von Kohorn
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CHAMBER NEWS
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SUSTAINABLE EAST MIDLANDS
www.emc-dnl.co.uk/sustainability DIPT, owner of ProTrade, used the grant for LED lights
Derby businesses are benefiting from carbon-saving grants Companies across Derby have received grants to help cut their carbon emissions as part of the DE-Carbonise project. The scheme provides eligible businesses with support to reduce their energy bills and carbon footprint. Grants of between £1,000 and £20,000 are distributed by Derby City Council, covering up to 40% of the cost of energycutting measures if the carbon savings are high enough. Chamber members DIPT Ltd, ASG Group, Choices Health Club and Tidyco are among those to have received funding towards improvements such as LED lighting, efficient heating systems, new machinery and solar panels. DIPT Ltd, the company behind Protrade in Derby, invested in LED lighting with help from a previous grant scheme run by the team and is looking at further improvements with support from DE-Carbonise to install electric vehicle charging points. Managing director Matt Bradshaw said: “We have set targets to continually lessen the impact of our group of companies on the environment and believe the key to continual improvement will be through raising awareness of the company’s desire to have as low an impact on the environment as is reasonably practicable.” He said the grant funding for LED lighting had “significantly reduced” carbon emissions and effectively paid for itself within 18 months. DE-Carbonise, previously known as the D2EE Low Carbon project, is a partnership between the University of Derby, Derby City Council and Derbyshire County Council. It is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and runs until November 2022. The team advises businesses on likely carbon savings and each step of the grant application process, as well as offering bespoke technical expertise and oversight of the decarbonisation initiatives. For more information, SMEs in Derbyshire can contact Gemma Sylva on gemma.sylva@derby.gov.uk or complete an expression of interest form at www.derby.gov.uk/decarbonise
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How to make lasting cost-saving changes Businesses will eventually play a major part in helping the UK to achieve net zero by 2050, but there’s already plenty of ingenious ways that SMEs can make a significant difference – not only to reducing the environmental impact of their operations, but cutting costs too. Dr Gary Wright (pictured), senior researcher in low-carbon technology at the University of Derby and a member of the DE-Carbonise business support programme, explains. For those familiar with the film Love Actually, there is a scene with Rowan Atkinson and Alan Rickman, where Alan’s character is shopping for a Christmas gift and does not want a gift bag. Rowan’s character replies: “This is so much more than a bag.” The act of switching off the lights when we leave the office, the factory or the warehouse is just cost-saving, right? No. It is so much more than that. In a world where we are becoming more aware of where our goods and services are sourced, how we handle our energy consumption should be no different. It could be said that if the energy is from renewable sources, then leaving the light on doesn’t matter. One could argue this case, but in essence it is this same argument that ends with litter on the streets, careless waste disposal and polluted waterways. This, therefore, is about behavioural change and a willingness to focus on the operation. In any business, the operation will involve energy usage and any opportunity to reduce this will lead to cost savings. It will also reduce the carbon footprint, and the approach can be extended beyond light switches to consider other aspects of the business. These can include, but are not limited to: • Energy – renewables and heat recovery • Building energy management – heating and cooling • Transport – modal shift and electric vehicles • Product and process – manufacturing and end-of-life management
PRACTICAL STEPS FOR BUSINESS Over the past year, the University of Derby and councils have worked with businesses on the DECarbonise project to identify areas that can practically reduce energy consumption and, therefore, their carbon footprint. These include
some areas where the potential carbon savings have been quantified. Energy • Installing solar panels or solar thermal • Investing in a biomass boiler could result in significant CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) savings as this has been described as carbonneutral Building energy management • Investing in better insulation and more efficient lighting to save more than two tonnes of CO2e per annum • Investing in new, more efficient boilers and retrofitting your business premises could result in CO2e savings of 10% to 40% of energy use Transportation • Repurposing your business travel routes could result in a CO2e saving of hundreds of tonnes per annum • Driving around 2,000 miles equates to 550kg of CO2e based on a medium-sized car. Moving to an electric vehicle can reduce this by more than 95% Product and process • Investments in new and more efficient equipment and machinery could result in about five tonnes of CO2e saving, based on changing a single step in the manufacturing process • Replacement of an existing compressed air system and heat recovery has seen about eight tonnes of CO2e saved per annum. The areas outlined above start with the practical first step of gathering or measuring data. Based on the data, a baseline carbon footprint can be established, and any proposed changes can be quantified from there. What are you waiting for?
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SUSTAINABLE EAST MIDLANDS
College opts for renewable energy Two of the newest buildings at North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College (NWSLC) are now powered by biomass boilers in a move that will reduce their carbon footprint. The clean energy system has been installed at the Hinckley and Wigston campuses and follows the launch of a plan by the college to address its environmental impact. The biomass fuel is created from wood chips, plant materials and other organic matter. This type of fuel removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as it grows and stores it in soil, plants and trees.
‘A rigorous plan that will transform the way we operate at all our campuses’ Biomass currently represents about 11% of all renewable energy in the UK and saves emissions equivalent to taking 1.3 million cars off the road. Marion Plant OBE, principal and chief executive of NWSLC, said: “We all have a responsibility to help the UK meet its target to bring greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. “The college has risen to the challenge, and has put in place a robust sustainability policy and a rigorous plan that will transform the way we operate at all our campuses. “We welcome the move to using biomass fuels to power our Wigston and Hinckley campuses as part of our efforts to reduce the college’s carbon footprint.
“The activities set out in our development plan will help to make a significant contribution to our own green agenda while also simultaneously contributing to wider UK and global goals, and to educate our students.” About 12,000 students are enrolled at NWSLC across six campuses. The Wigston Campus opened in 2010 and its creative arts Hinckley Campus was launched the following year. Both buildings were constructed to maximise energy efficiency and their design also makes use of natural daylight, creating an engaging and spacious learning environment. The use of biomass fuels, which will reduce the college’s consumption of gas, is part of a
wider sustainable development action plan. This will include opportunities for students to develop their environmental credentials by taking part in a student green council and working with local community organisations on environmental volunteering opportunities. Other ongoing sustainability measures at the college include reducing single-use plastic consumption and a target for zero waste sent to landfill. Further planned improvements include LED and sensor-controlled lighting, a more efficient building management system and more recycling bins, while the college has also committed to replacing its vehicles with electric or hybrid alternatives as leases expire.
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INTERNATIONAL TRADE
What a freeport means for the East Midlands In the spring budget, Chancellor Rishi Sunak confirmed East Midlands Airport would be the location for one of eight freeports. After a successful bid involving political and business leaders across the region, the hard work starts now. Some of those involved in the project, including the Chamber, discussed the opportunities it will provide during a webinar hosted by Insider Media. An “enterprise zone on steroids” is one of the descriptions given to a freeport, a designated area for international trade that will soon be located at East Midlands Airport. While it will feature similar benefits to enterprise zones, which provide tax breaks, Government support and a hub for doing business between companies in similar sectors – such as the life sciences and advanced manufacturing clusters in Nottingham and Derby respectively – there are hopes the freeport’s value will extend much further. “Yes, it’ll feature reduced tax and regulation, but the important point is it’s about creating new opportunities,” says Chris Hobson, the Chamber’s director of policy and external affairs. “Since the Chancellor’s announcement, we’ve had many businesses getting in touch wanting to get involved. The reason businesses are so excited about this right now is that as we come out of the past 12 months, they’re starting to look afresh at where their supply chains are constructed and which markets – whether its geographical or sectoral – they want to be in. “Having this zone slap bang in the middle of the country, where they can invest and realise some of those amazing opportunities – and we’ve seen in our most recent Quarterly Economic Survey that businesses want to invest in big capex projects – is really exciting.”
Sajeeda Rose
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THE SUCCESSFUL EAST Midlands freeport bid was led by the region’s two local enterprise partnerships, D2N2 and LLEP, with strong backing from cross-party MPs and the Chamber – which had campaigned for a free trade zone linked to the airport since 2018, when it presented the Delivering a Great Future manifesto at Westminster including “The Big Opportunity” this would create for the region. The pandemic has highlighted the value of the airport’s express freight hub.
‘The incentives package clearly puts the region on the map and is an accelerant to a lot of the growth we’re looking for’ It was already the busiest pure cargo airport in the UK and while growth was expected, it’s been brought forward by coronavirus due to the online shopping boom and reduced passenger flights globally narrowing bellyhold alternatives. Managing director Clare James says: “At the heart of the country, we have this cracking intermodal capability with rail and road networks built around the airport. When you add the inland freeport zone, it’s a very compelling and
unique offer.” Explaining what the freeport area will involve at the East Midlands Freeport - Opportunities in the New Superhub webinar hosted by Insider Media, D2N2 chief executive Sajeeda Rose calls it a “special economic zone” featuring a series of incentives and benefits. She says: “It will provide customs-free access and streamlined customs arrangements for goods to be imported, processed, used in manufacturing and then exported without any trading costs or bureaucracy. “In addition, there’s a suite of fiscal incentives for businesses in those sites, such as business rates reduction, and National Insurance and stamp duty exemptions – with the intention being this package will attract new investment into the freeport site.” It will be based around the East Midlands Airport and Gateway Industrial Cluster in North-West Leicestershire, while also bringing in Uniper’s nearby Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station in Nottinghamshire
Chris Hobson
and the East Midlands Intermodal Park (EMIP) in South Derbyshire. “Collectively, they represent a major opportunity to attract major investment in more than 500 hectares of land and development, expanding the three counties in the East Midlands,” adds Sajeeda, who is now working alongside LLEP on a business case that will require Government endorsement to set up the freeport structures. AS THE ONLY inland freeport in England, it will have unrivalled rail connectivity from EMIP to all UK ports, and there’s ambitions for a transformed Ratcliffe site – which will be decommissioned by 2025 – to drive innovation into alternative energy sources and green technologies. It could create nearly 60,000 new skilled jobs and an annual £2bn economic uplift in the region, with investors potentially attracted to the region’s strengths and opportunities in areas such as lowcarbon manufacturing. The freeport complements well with the East Midlands Development Corporation, a separate project that also seeks to take advantage of the airport and Ratcliffe sites, but also draws in the potential of the Toton HS2 hub station and redevelopment of the nearby Chetwynd Barracks, with the aim of creating 84,000 jobs and adding £4.8bn to the region’s economy. “The incentives package clearly puts the region on the map and is an accelerant to a lot of the growth we’re looking for in the region,” says Ken Harrison, director of the Midlands Engine-led Development Corporation programme. “While we’ve identified the
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An exporting timeline in five stages from A to B Getting exporting right has perhaps never been more complex in a post-Brexit world. Lucy Granger (pictured), the Chamber’s international services team leader, explains the process – and where her team’s expertise can help. potential for 4,500 homes and 6,500 jobs in Toton and Chetwynd, we’re also looking at the wider area and the potential it has to create a model for living, working, making and moving. We want to connect our citizens across our cities, towns and villages to the opportunities in the freeport area.” AT A MACRO level, it sounds like a perfectly reasonable jigsaw to piece together, but Peter Ware warns of the need to engage small businesses on the ground with the big opportunities available. The head of government sector at Nottinghamheadquartered law firm Browne Jacobson says: “We shouldn’t just be talking to businesses about the relaxation of the regulatory regime and the tax incentives, but how there’s some real benefits just from being there – not only is it in a great geographical location but they’d also be surrounded by fantastic businesses.” And it’s not just those within the freeport that stand to benefit, as it’s estimated the economic impact could be felt across a 45km radius. Chamber director Chris Hobson adds: “This sphere of influence will create opportunities for businesses but we’ll also see other infrastructure built around it, such as in skills. “There will be other investment in hard infrastructure like road and rail. Investment begets investment, so we’ll see the benefits spilling over in many ways across the wider region.
STAGE ONE Order placed by overseas customer
STAGE TWO Order is prepared for export, and is packed and weighed
STAGE THREE Transport is arranged and any documents or licence required is applied for or prepared
At the point the customs declaration is required, stage three, this is the time to contact your customs broker. You will need to give them clearance instructions if your agent is acting as a direct representative. Your customs broker will need the following information as a minimum: - Commercial invoice and packing list, including EORI number and eight-digit commodity codes - Information about the mode of transport: Sea – vessel name; air – flight number and date; road and roll-on/roll-off ships – vehicle registration number and nationality - Port of exit (where the goods are leaving GB from) - You may also need to provide further information if your goods require an export licence, dual use licence, or any other approval before the goods can be exported. This can be found on the UK Trade Tariff at www.gov.uk/trade-tariff. Once your agent has completed the customs declaration, they will provide an export accompanying document (EAD), the C88. This is required by the port to ensure goods have permission to leave GB. The EAD will give you a movement reference number (MRN), entry number and the date of entry – all unique to your export.
STAGE FOUR Customs declaration is submitted before the goods can leave GB
STAGE FIVE Goods are now ready for export
(seller). For more information on Incoterms 2020, take a look at the Chamber’s international training courses. If the goods are moving by road freight, you may need to apply for a transit document called a T1. This will need to be done after the customs declaration has been submitted. It’s important to keep a copy of your EAD/C88 as this will allow you to prove to customs that the goods have been exported.
If you are trying to find a customs broker, get in touch with the ChamberCustoms team at East Midlands Chamber. ChamberCustoms is a nationwide complianceled service that covers all ports in the UK, meaning the Chamber can act on any import instruction for goods arriving by sea, road or air to facilitate the rapid clearance of the goods. ChamberCustoms takes the information you provide on the export instructions, and translates the information so that customs can understand. Email chambercustoms@emc-dnl.co.uk or call 0333 320 0333.
INCOTERMS AND EXPORTING RESPONSIBILITIES The responsibility of the export declaration depends on the incoterm being used. EXW (ex works) puts the responsibility on the buyer of the goods (importer), although some buyers may struggle with this process if they don’t have a UK agent. All other incoterms put the export declaration responsibility on the exporter business network May 2021
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POLITICS
Landmark sites will unlock growth and new opportunities new vision for the long-term future of the East Midlands economy has been revealed – with images showing how landmark sites could together deliver tens of thousands of new jobs and drive a futuristic recovery from the pandemic. They show how three major zones – covering areas around East Midlands Airport, the HS2 station at Toton, and Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station – might be transformed by major developments that would boost growth to levels which drive large-scale job creation and unlock a new era of “green” growth for the regional economy. Artist impressions have been released as the region takes a decisive step towards setting up the organisation that will help drive the vision’s progress – after Chancellor Rishi Sunak backed the region’s bid to host a trade-boosting inland freeport. The five councils covered by the three zones have come together to fund an interim body, which will begin the work of the planned East Midlands Development Corporation before Parliament formally approves what will be a pioneering new model for upping the pace of regional growth. The interim body will help masterplan and enable development, working with businesses, investors and universities to help get projects off the ground. It has now submitted a business case to Government, outlining what investment in the sites could deliver for the region – 84,000 jobs, more than £4.8bn in added value, and thousands of new homes. Midlands Engine chairman Sir John Peace – one of the region’s most senior business figures – has chaired the group that led development of the new body. He said: “What we have in front of us is one of the biggest opportunities the UK has ever seen to not just build on the potential of some major economic assets, but to transform the economy of an entire region in the process. “The sites themselves are collectively the size of three London Olympic Parks and the vision for their growth is both ambitious and futuristic, embracing our net zero future and unlocking new opportunities which range from international trade to community-level growth. “We must begin the work to unlock that potential now, and we start with the launch of the interim body.”
Artist's impression of development around the Toton hub station
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THE EAST MIDLANDS Development Corporation is one of the key projects of the Midlands Engine, the partnership of private and public sector organisations that works to promote investment and growth across the region. It was formally launched in October after securing an initial £235m in funding from Government to finalise these proposals. 44
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The airport site
The business case submission to Government throws a spotlight on the key role prominent regional economic assets like East Midlands Airport will play in driving economic growth. It is home to the UK’s largest dedicated air freight handling operation. By attracting private-sector investment, the three sites will have the capacity to shift the dial of productivity for the regional economy. They are: • East Midlands Airport area Supporting the region’s status as a centre for advanced manufacturing and research, this national and international logistics gateway will be at the heart of the new freeport zone • Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station site Transforming part of the site of the UK’s last coal-fired power stations into a national centre for carbon zero technologies and manufacturing innovations, which is also in the freeport zone • Toton and Chetwynd Creating a new, connected community that will centre on a “garden of innovation” and the proposed HS2 hub station.
“The East Midlands economy now has in front of it a series of major opportunities, which must play a decisive role in both the recovery of the region in the wake of the pandemic and in unlocking the commercial opportunities presented by our digital and carbon zero future. “Government’s decision to award a freeport to the East Midlands is a huge vote of confidence in our prospects. “The Development Corporation and the partnership behind it give us an additional opportunity to drive joined-up progress faster than ever before – and to turn the region into the UK’s investment destination of choice. “It’s vital that the whole region now gets behind these opportunities and makes the most of their potential.” East Midlands Chamber chief executive Scott Knowles
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POLITICS
Cities will play a part in recovery
Development around Toton and Chetwynd
“We are united in our support for the proposed East Midlands Development Corporation as this is our opportunity to unlock growth and create tens of thousands of new jobs to benefit generations to come. We are asking the Government to invest in our communities as we have built a vision to attract inward investors from all over the world – for every £1 invested, we will deliver £2 back.” Nottinghamshire County Council outgoing leader Councillor Kay Cutts Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station is earmarked for redevelopment for green energy use
“When the region does well, so too does the airport and vice versa. It’s therefore in all of our interests that the East Midlands prospers – and the airport, which is our doorway to the world, will continue to play a key role in this.” East Midlands Airport managing director Clare James
The business case will be considered by Government, which revealed in the budget that the East Midlands had been chosen as the site of one of eight new freeports in England. While it requires Westminster approval, the organisation will be locally-led and supported by cash from local business rates – giving the region’s businesses a stake in its progress. The five councils initially backing the interim vehicle are Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire county councils, together with Rushcliffe and Broxtowe borough councils, and North West Leicestershire District Council. Talks on how the model can be extended further into the East Midlands are continuing.
“These are bold plans designed to transform the East Midlands and unlock thousands of much-needed new jobs and investment. And by advancing our green technology sector, they create a good opportunity to put our region firmly on the map. Like other areas, our economy has taken a big hit during the pandemic and I’m keen we seize every opportunity to bolster Covid recovery and support our businesses to bounce back quickly.” Leicestershire County Council leader Councillor Nick Rushton “The freeport has been a fantastic win for the region and we are now working with partners to deliver it at pace. The proposed East Midlands Development Corporation will provide significant investments to accelerate and sustain our region’s economic recovery and growth.” D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership chair Elizabeth Fagan CBE “The goal of the Development Corporation is to ensure the East Midlands is equipped to take full advantage of the boundless business opportunities of the future, and to make our region the place for long-term investment.” Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership chair Kevin Harris
Covid-19 has brought the so-called “jobs miracle” of the previous decade to an abrupt halt – and cities will play a key role if the UK is to return to this period of economic strength, believes the Centre for Cities. Between 2013 and 2019, 19.3 million positions were created in the private sector, generating a net of 2.7 million new jobs – of which 63.9% were generated within British cities – the think-tank’s research found. Since then, the pandemic’s economic damage has triggered the deepest economic recession on record in the UK and reversed the “jobs miracle” by increasing the number of unemployed people by 1.3 million between March and November 2020. To get these people back into work, an estimated 9.4 million jobs will need to be created, presuming a similar churn pattern persists post-pandemic. The Centre for Cities presented its findings from a report, titled Building back better: How to recover from Covid-19, during a webinar in late March. Senior analyst Kathrin Enenkel (pictured), co-author of the report, said in an accompanying podcast: “About seven jobs were created to generate a net single private sector role, so this churn of jobs will have an impact on how we think about the recovery after the crisis. “When we look at our 62 cities and large towns across the UK, they had a very big contribution to job creation in the UK.” She said the 10 largest cities, including London, accounted for 3.5% of UK land mass but half of private sector jobs created between 2013 and 2019. New businesses were the engines of this job growth, creating 3.7 million more positions than they lost during this period, while existing firms lost just short of a million than they created. At sector level, “local services” companies in industries such as construction and hospitality accounted for two-thirds of the new roles, with “exporting services” such as car manufacturing and investment banking generating a smaller share. “When we look at the crisis, we find that sectors affected by coronavirus lockdown restrictions were large contributors to prepandemic job creation,” added Kathrin. “Their recovery is likely to have a big impact on how many jobs are created after the pandemic.” While the Centre for Cities report urged Government to support job creation in these sectors with consumer incentives and skills development, it also highlighted a productivity problem that needs to be addressed – with output just 2.3% higher in 2019 than 2013 despite the “jobs miracle”. To boost productivity, it recommended measures such as supporting R&D via more generous grants and tax credits, and removing the business rates liability from plant and machinery to encourage more investment. business network May 2021
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GROWING YOUR BUSINESS
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GROWING YOUR BUSINESS
FEATURE
Researching your business Whether you’re just starting out or looking to grow, research is all-important to ensure you put your investment in the right place and impress potential funders. Putting in the time and effort before you start on a project can pay dividends down the line – and potentially save you money. Ruth Hawley, senior library officer at Nottingham Library, offers some step-by-step advice. MARKET RESEARCH Know your audience and sector. Is there demand for your product or service? You can obtain professional market research reports for a range of sectors that show recent and projected trends, key players in your sector and useful statistics on consumer activity.
‘Consider if you need any form of licence or local registration for your business’
Your county or city council will have lots of open access data such as mapping, demographic information (due to be updated following the 2021 census), strategic plans, reports and analysis of statistics for your area on a wide range of topics.
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS COMPANY INFORMATION Looking for your competitors, collaborators, B2B supply chain opportunities or potential customers? Company information databases can help you find out who’s doing what and where, and how to contact them.
LOCAL INFORMATION Deciding where to locate your business premises? Want to know more about the population of your target area? Local information can give you the tools to find your target market and evidence the need for your business to potential funders.
Keeping your paperwork in order is crucial, so make sure you’re up to speed with your legal obligations. Companies House (for business registration) and HMRC (for tax) are good places to start. Also consider if you need any form of licence or local registration for your business, such as for food and entertainment, taxi driving, health and beauty, campsites or animal welfare. Contact your district or city council for licensing matters. And don’t forget music licensing if you want to play recorded music on your business premises. TheMusicLicence is issued by Chamber strategic partner PPL PRS. business network May 2021
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LIBRARIES – NOT JUST BOOKS You might not have thought about libraries as the go-to place for your business information needs but there are many resources available – from books, e-books and eaudio on a range of topics, to free access to newspapers and magazines online. Your local library service can also help you find information and signpost you to sources of local support. Additionally, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire library members can access a range of specialist resources including COBRA (Complete Business Reference Advisor), which has factsheets on all aspects of running a business, as well as other information sources referred to elsewhere in this article.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: WHAT IS IT AND WHY DOES IT MATTER? The majority of businesses will have intellectual property, whether branding such as a logo or name, product designs, artwork or written work under copyright. Protecting your IP means that other people can’t use it without your permission, preventing others from capitalising on your great idea. On the other side of the coin, you need to make sure that someone hasn’t already had the same lightbulb moment as you, as infringing their rights could prove very costly. There are three main types of intellectual property which can be registered with the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) – patents, trademarks and registered designs. Patents protect things that can be made or used; trademarks protect branding, such as a name or logo; and registered designs cover the “look” of a product. There is a charge for registering these. Copyright protection is an automatic right and free of charge. It covers written work – both literary and otherwise – sound and visual recordings, artistic works and broadcasts. But before you get to registration of a patent, trademark or design, you need to carry out searches on the relevant database to see if anyone is already using something similar to your idea. You’ll need to think outside the box and use a variety of search terms to ensure a through scan for what is known as “prior art” – in other words, whether your idea is unique to you and not too close to anything already registered by someone else. In the case of trademarks, these are registered according to a number of classes dependent on the intended scope of usage, so think about how you may want to expand your business, as it is cheaper to apply for multiple classes at once. For example, if you run a coffee shop, there is one class for the retail outlet itself, but if you wanted to sell mugs featuring your branding, you’d need a second class to cover that. The main places to do these free searches for UK registration are as follows:
PATENTS worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search
TRADEMARKS www.gov.uk/search-for-trademark
REGISTERED DESIGNS www.gov.uk/search-registered-design
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The fearless organisation Psychologically-safe workplaces and high-performance teams By Richard Reid, CEO and founder of Pinnacle Wellbeing
here's nothing new about the idea that there's a strong link between employees' happiness and a company's productivity. For decades, HR directors have been working on programmes for their teams to ensure employees remain content, well-resourced and motivated when they come to work.
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PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY Reading the HR articles and features over the past 12 months, you might be aware that there's been some recent developments on this theme with the concept of psychological safety. Psychological safety within a group of people is the belief that the environment is safe for those people to express themselves appropriately, and that they feel able to speak up when needed with relevant ideas, questions or concerns without the fear of being shut down in some way. We all know recruitment is expensive and timeconsuming so there's now an even greater emphasis on employee retention. Could creating psychological safe environments be the key to retaining good people and driving company performance?
THE FEARLESS ORGANISATION As I've touched on above. individuals, teams and organisations need environments where their unique talents and differences can be expressed and leveraged. Teams with high psychological safety foster greater trust, creativity, collaboration, and innovation. The ultimate goal could be described as the fearless organisation. Psychological safety is a shared belief held by members of a team that the team is safe for interpersonal risk-taking. Too many organisational cultures and systems prevent people from challenging the status quo, speaking about blunt truths and difficult issues, admitting that mistakes were made, offering new ideas, taking risks, or trying new approaches to challenges faced. Without sufficient psychological safety at work, individuals and teams are not leveraging their full potential. It can therefore be suggested that psychological safety can improve employee loyalty and be a key factor that influences someone to remain with a company rather than look to the market for more opportunities. So, as a business leader or a manager of a team, what steps can you take and what behaviours can you encourage to create this type of environment?
KEY STEPS TO CREATE A PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFE ENVIRONMENT • Opinions welcome: It's important you show that leaders don't have all the answers in group situations, so involve employees by encouraging questions and asking for opinions. 50
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• Be vulnerable and fallible: Demonstrating to your team that no-one is perfect and it’s okay to make mistakes can have a positive impact on your team and remove fears. • Curiosity and humbleness: A high-performing team is one where team members can be humble when facing significant challenges and have the time to be curious to explore opportunities. • Failure is okay: Creating an environment where it's okay to fail and responding positively when failures occur. Work as a group to understand how the error occurred and how it can be avoided next time round. • Feedback is key: As a business leader or line manager, if you can demonstrate the ability to be humble with a willingness to learn, it can have a profound impact on organisational culture. Talking to your teams and line managers about these simple steps can be a great starting point to creating a psychologically safe environment. Try it out in your next team meeting. Demonstrate that it's okay to make mistakes and only through failure can we learn from the experience collectively and put processes in place to avoid them happening again. Once these ideas are woven into the fabric of your organisation, notice the difference it makes. Monitor how your employees and teams work together and the positive impact it has on employee happiness, motivation levels and productivity.
‘Individuals, teams and organisations need environments where their unique talents and differences can be expressed and leveraged’
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HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM
Hospitality and tourism bounce back While bars, restaurants and cafes are able to serve outdoors, 17 May is the big date for many as venues can finally welcome customers indoors. Dan Robinson finds out what the future holds for hospitality, travel and tourism – some of the industries hit hardest by the pandemic. ood takeaway services, village shops and car park markets are just some of the ways the 168 pubs in the Everards Brewery stable pivoted their offer during lockdown. There’s also been tales of pub owners delivering Christmas dinners to the elderly and making donations to the NHS. One of those was Sam Hagger, who runs three Leicestershire venues under the Beautiful Pubs Collective banner, which leases from Everards. “We’ve been the hardest-hit sector and yet we were the people who stepped up,” he says. “There will be a lot of pubs that have made new friends in their communities. A lot of what we’ve done during the pandemic has been about staying in people’s hearts and minds.” Sam, who has been in the pub trade for 22 years and set up his company in 2008, has often spoken about needing to prepare for the “Black Swan” surprise moments in business, but even he was taken aback at how quickly everything unravelled in March last year. His usual £4m turnover was cut to £1.6m, although he admits the Job Retention Scheme, which protected the majority of his 70 employees with an estimated furlough bill of about £780,000, has helped him survive. So has the decision to diversify his offer at The Forge Inn, Knight + Garter and The Rutland & Derby pubs, which between them have launched themed supper and brunch clubs, virtual cabaret nights and a delicatessen. They were business ideas he’d never have contemplated 14 months ago but now he thinks it will be a crucial part of the post-Covid pub. “A lot of pub operators, including ourselves, have realised we can do so much more with our properties,” says Sam, who admits there are still tough times ahead for hospitality. “People have created new habits – they’re going for morning walks and will grab a coffee – and we’ve realised there’s so much we hadn’t considered. Going back to what we previously did would feel boring.”
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“WHAT A YEAR it’s been,” says Emma Roderick, operations director for pubs at Everards. The family-run brewery’s two main income streams – rent and trade from its 168 pubs, which are run by “business owners” – was cut off overnight in March last year. Furlough has been a saving grace for its 70 head office staff, but with its commercial health intrinsically linked to its pubs, the company cancelled 73% of its rent roll. Yet no pubs were permanently shut, with only a small number sold, and about two-thirds were 52
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The Forge Inn (above) is run by Sam Hagger (inset)
Emma Roderick
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Chatsworth House
Domestic tourism set for busy year
‘A lot of what we’ve done during the pandemic has been about staying in people’s hearts and minds’
On Saturday 21 March 2020, after the usual threemonth closure for conservation and maintenance, the 105-acre Chatsworth Garden in the Derbyshire Dales reopened to the public. The next day, on the eve of Boris Johnson’s announcement that the UK would enter national lockdown for the first time, it shut again. “We were geared up for a normal year so were as shocked as anyone at the speed at which things evolved,” says marketing manager Jonathan Fish (pictured). The 14 months since have been plagued by a stop-start approach for tourism attractions like Chatsworth, which is run by a charitable trust, making a huge dent in its ability to generate an income. About 600,000 annual visitors usually pour into the 17th century house, as well as its garden, park and farmyard, but lockdown restrictions have wiped out just over half of those. It typically employs between 400 and 500 people at peak times but a huge chunk have either not been contracted during the usual seasonal period or placed on furlough. The impact was compounded by the cancellation of key events, including the international horse trials and Chatsworth Country Fair – which together welcome in the region of another 85,000 people – and the Christmas at Chatsworth festivities. Jonathan says: “Our team had been ploughing ahead with the preparations for Christmas because there had been little reason during the summer and early autumn to believe it wouldn’t be able to go ahead, albeit with a limited capacity. But the second lockdown meant all the wonderful Christmas displays in the house were never seen by a single visitor.” But there is light on the horizon for Chatsworth, which fully reopens on 18 May. The garden has been a “saving grace” as it remained accessible throughout much of the pandemic and, along with an outdoor festive lights display, brought a new, younger demographic as people have looked for things to do without being able to travel far. And with holidays abroad shrouded in uncertainty, it could offer opportunities for domestic tourism. Jonathan adds: “We’re gearing up for a very busy year. With the vaccine rollout meaning people are more relaxed about going out, combined with the restrictions on international travel, we expect there could be huge demand. Usually, annual outbound tourism in the UK is about double the numbers we see of inbound tourists, so the ongoing international travel restrictions could provide a big boost for the UK tourism industry.
“Like many organisations, the Chatsworth House Trust suffered massively in 2020 but we’re feeling much more positive about 2021.” ANOTHER PERSON KEEPING a watchful eye on the return of events and the evolving international travel situation is Nisha Pahuja. She owns the 18-bedroom Charnwood Regency Guest House, in Loughborough, which relies on not just the nearby university’s graduation ceremonies but major gatherings like Download Festival, in nearby Castle Donington, for demand. Nisha, who also works full-time as an occupational therapist, says: “We’re all hopeful of getting back towards normality within the next 12 to 18 months, and I know our sector will bounce back strongly. “I’m a strong believer in pumping into your own economy, so I think there will be lots of domestic tourism this year that we can benefit from.” Charnwood has been one of the few guesthouses to remain open during the pandemic as larger chain hotels and other smaller accommodation have opted to close, enabling it to take on their business and support key workers in the area while being Covid-secure. A reasonable occupancy level has not only allowed all six staff to remain employed, but it’s given Nisha the confidence and funds to invest in an ambitious £250,000 renovation project that aims to turn the venue into a boutique hotel. “We decided that while we were relatively quiet but lucky enough to still have people staying here, it would be a good time to give the guesthouse an update,” says Nisha, who also plans to eventually host networking events for business groups in the area. “Lockdown has caused challenges with suppliers and contractors, but I’ve completed six rooms so far, along with some other work in common areas, and the idea is to make sure every single one is unique, including our disability-friendly rooms. “I haven’t been able to find any boutique hotels in Loughborough so I’m excited about what this could do for our business.”
Charnwood Regency Guest House
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HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM
able to reopen to outdoor customers from 12 April this year. Emma says: “Since we had the roadmap out of lockdown, there’s been a surge of positivity as we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. When we reopened last time, there was the pressure of going back into another lockdown, but this time we’re cautiously optimistic and we’re seeing customers who haven’t been to the pub for over a year returning after having their first or second jabs.” This spring will mark a double celebration for Everards as its new state-of-the-art brewery, beer hall and shop is primed for opening. The Everards Meadows site, next to Fosse Park in Leicester, will become a destination for customers to meet, eat and drink while taking in all the action of the brewery and its spectacular views. It will look to attract regulars and a new type of customer. Emma adds: “Consumer behaviours have changed and the bar for their expectations has probably also risen. There’s a lot of opportunities for our industry if we adopt the right mindset to embrace them.” WHEN 200 DEGREES opened its doors in a 17th Century coaching inn just off Nottingham’s Old Market Square in 2014, to many passers-by it was probably just another coffee shop – named after the Fahrenheit temperature its beans are roasted at – at a time when cities were full of them. It didn’t take long for this one to stand out from the crowd, backed by a burgeoning reputation for some of the best brews in the business and an ambitious vision, with a second later arriving in Nottingham and followed by outlets in cities including Leeds, Birmingham, Leicester, Cardiff, Lincoln and Liverpool over the next five years. Its 11th shop opened at the McArthurGlen East Midlands Designer Outlet shopping centre in November 2019 but then the brakes were pressed. “As with all businesses, we’ve had to re-evaluate the new way of the world,” says commercial director Will Kenney (pictured). For a business with premises in the busiest city centres, the impact of the pandemic has clearly been huge. A significant chunk of its 100-strong workforce has been furloughed as its coffee shops were forced to close – or at best serve only takeaway food and drink – over the past year.
ATTRACTING NEW BUSINESS The tourism industry remains vitally important to the Peak District – but the national park has a great opportunity to attract new types of businesses after the pandemic. That’s the view of Robin Eyre (pictured), chairman of the Business Peak District representative body, who believes an appetite for people to live near nature and increased remote working could lead to interest from small businesses looking to relocate to the area. “Part of our economic recovery is going to involve attracting businesses – particularly in creative sectors like web designers and architects, which can be based anywhere – to the Peak District,” says Robin, who runs his own business Trailblazer360 Marketing from an office space at Cromford Creative, near Matlock. “We have some great office space, including Cromford Creative, Hathersage Business Centre, Glossop Cromford Creative Gas Works and Via Gelia Mills. “But to take advantage, we need better public transport and housing supply for those people.” Each year, the Peak District and Derbyshire’s tourism industry generates £2.5bn for the local economy, supporting 31,000 jobs and attracting 45 million visitors, according to the STEAM tourism economic impact model. This spans a range of sectors, including accommodation, hospitality, attractions, leisure and retail. “Those businesses have all closed so the effect has been very significant as the towns and villages would usually thrive on the visitor economy,” adds Robin, who like many people in the Peaks owns a holiday home he’s been unable to rent out for much of the past 14 months. “This year, staycations could offer a big opportunity to increase profits from the higher demand but if social distancing continues to limit capacity in venues, it could take a couple of seasons until we get back to the profitability they had a few years ago.”
‘Sometimes coffee shops are doubling up as the ‘third place’ where people meet and spend time, after the home and workplace’ Its wholesale business, which has commercial contracts to supply offices from a roastery next to Notts County’s Meadow Lane stadium, fell to 20% of pre-Covid levels. The consensus among office-based businesses points towards a hybrid future of remote and on-premise-based work, but Will is confident city centres will emerge strongly from the pandemic. “I’m confident people will want to come back to city centres. Sometimes coffee shops are doubling up as the ‘third place’ where people meet and spend time, after the home and workplace. But no matter what you’re doing, businesses in the city centre will have to work harder to make sure our customers have a great experience when they walk through our doors.” Perhaps surprisingly, given the times we’re in, 200 Degrees has announced it will finally open its 12th shop – an 80-seat venue in Manchester’s Mosley Street – in May, with plans for number 13 in the near future. Will says it’s been a “target city” for a while and is particularly excited given the long lead time to its latest venue. “We’ve now got a roadmap out of lockdown and, if we can stick to that, we think there’s a huge appetite among 54
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200 Degrees will soon have 12 coffee shops
consumers who want to get back out on the high street, and see friends and family again,” he adds. IN THE DAYS after pubs were allowed to reopen, Sam Hagger recalls speaking to a widower whose wife had succumbed to coronavirus. “He said he was excited about his son coming to visit him that weekend so he could share the experiences he’d had with his wife in that pub,” says Sam. “It just showed to me that we can build as many garden sheds serving beer as we like, but there’s no replacement for a pub and the sense of community it brings. “Good hospitality isn’t just built on great food and drink – it’s built on great people too.”
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CONFERENCES & EVENTS
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FEATURE
Events: that feeling Going into 2020, corporate event management company Eventologists was looking forward to a full calendar for the year ahead. Of course, that was scuppered by Covid-19 and 2021 continues to be affected. But that hasn’t stopped Jacob Scroby (pictured), account manager at the Oadbybased business, from looking ahead to the feeling that live events bring.
ow, we loved what we did and we quite like to think that our continued success and many repeat customers thought the same too. We are slowly but surely creeping back into planning and some preliminary bookings, and hope things take off again sooner rather than later. So, what was it like? We all miss getting together, we all miss our families, and we begrudge the missed birthdays and missed social events. Some of us even missed being at work. We can all do our bit to help everyone get back on their feet, whether it be a trip to the pub and buy a drink or two to let the landlords and landladies know you missed them. Buy some food from the food truck or trailer that comes around your village and, where possible, pop to the local shop to get your cards, gifts and cakes because it has been a struggle for many in lots of different ways.
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For those unable to adapt and overcome, they’ve struggled through to get to this point and continue to trade.
A FEELING YOU WON’T FORGET Experiences matter for live events, and we hope and pray that one day we will be able to see smiles on people’s faces when they enter the room we have decorated, the staff at the end of the night who waited around to tell us how good the band and décor was, and for the thank you communications years down the line – all from live events that you never forget. Events are not only about the look, touch, taste and smell, it is about the feeling you get and the memories that stay with you. This is what we all miss – that feeling is what we all can’t wait to get back in our lives and we hope that you are all able to do that soon and safely.
THE TOUCH AND FEEL OF THE PHYSICAL Eventologists thrives on face-to-face business – the way in which we create the magic and the drama for the events is with the theming and décor, the entertainment, and the food and drink. We work best portraying that to clients and customers through our passion for what we do. We know many of your working ways will have now had to change. We understand how hybrid events and virtual get-togethers have, and will, transform the way events are held for many years to come. We also know that many people have worked from home, and the office may now need to be a more desirable space to work in. There are many ways to make the office feel as welcoming as possible with the use of real or artificial foliage, comfortable seating and a splash of colour around the place. Virtual and hybrid events, have you tried one? Was your attendance obligatory? Our advice is to embrace them all in any way that they are delivered. The people behind the event are likely to have had an element of worry over the past year regarding one of the UK’s largest industries, hospitality. business network May 2021
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Bridging the gap from virtual to live events Like other sectors, the impact of the pandemic on the events industry has been extensive. While it has fought back with a virtual offering, the easing of restrictions allows organisers to finally imagine a return to live events. Olivia Alsop (pictured), director at Derby-based audio visual services company TecLive Ltd, explains why they remain important and how to make them happen again. n-person events were, at the time of the first national lockdown, effectively written off and replaced with virtual meetings on platforms such as Zoom, Portal and Teams. It was clear as the crisis developed that virtual was to be the way forward and the use of 3D modelling software and virtualisation platforms allowed for some incredible virtual events to be created. These impressive creations provide attendees with an interactive and visually dynamic exhibition or trade show.
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events and only 15% wishing for virtual events to continue with no physical contact. This may be so low because people are excited to get out of lockdown and engage with more people, but also many users have reported the so called “Zoom fatigue” when going from one video call to another, and many admit they surf the web in the background rather than watch a presentation.
PREPARING FOR A LIVE RETURN BENEFITS OF VIRTUAL EVENTS The use of production studios has permitted presenters to host from a staged area with full branded backgrounds, flying titles and picture-in-picture. These technologies have allowed businesses to continue hosting events, promoting products and delivering national team meetings otherwise impossible due to the national restrictions. Virtual events offer a cost-effective solution while also being mostly sustainable, offering powerful marketing and brand presence for what can be a large audience, especially if you are also live streaming the event. They will have a positive effect on the environment, resulting in fewer people travelling to various destinations across the country, and this can easily be incorporated into a live event by using a live streaming solution.
PITFALLS OF A PURELY VIRTUAL WORLD On the other hand, reducing the size of events means people are not arranging accommodation within the hospitality sector and fewer people will use public transport In time, this may negatively impact on these industries’ contribution to the economy. A recent poll showed more than 60% of people would prefer the return of live events, with 25% preferring hybrid 58
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If live events are to move forward, we all need to ensure the correct Covid-19 procedures are followed as it will be these regulations that instrumental to the survival of live and hybrid events. The question is whether virtual platforms will lead the way for the whole industry in the future. In-person events are vital – while they do present a higher cost, the full experience and interaction benefits for attendees, as well as organisers, will always give them an advantage. These are the experiences that drive businesses forward, connecting them to potential future clients and colleagues, making friends and learning from other people’s own stories. They enable you to read the audience, from body language to general feedback. Live events are exciting and many people look forward to travelling to an event – getting out the office, collecting the merchandise, and talking face-to-face over a fresh coffee and iced bun. The experience of the sound and lighting all excites the senses and empowers us as humans. It’s why we attend the theatre, festivals and cinema screenings, and why we’ll ultimately want to return to live business events too.
‘In-person events are vital – while they do present a higher cost, the full experience and interaction benefits for attendees, as well as organisers’
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Leading remotely What managers need to keep teams engaged As the skills needs for managers and leaders have changed with the onset of remote working, so have the training courses offered by the Chamber, as business training manager Vicki Thompson (pictured) explains. anaging remotely can be difficult and complicated – and, to be honest, most of us have been doing a fair job at it over the past year when as businesses have transitioned into a partial or fully remote working environment due to Covid-19. But as we move forward along the Government’s roadmap, it is becoming clear that many businesses are actively moving forward with a hybrid or agile working environment, allowing far more opportunities for their teams to work from home, especially while social distancing will still be required within workplaces.
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‘Managing remotely gives your teams the opportunity to work to their strengths’ In fact, many businesses have found that their employees have worked much more effectively from home, with reduced commuting and less disturbance. Of course, not all managers view remote working in the same way – some will have embraced this and have already been busy decorating their home office space, while others will resent the feeling of disconnection and isolation.
HOW TO GET REMOTE MANAGEMENT RIGHT In response to this, it is now essential that managers and leaders are equipped with the tools they need to ensure they are able to manage their teams effectively while working remotely from them. Understanding what those people need to lead remotely is a must, as well as supporting them within their roles, moving forward. There are a number of things that should be fully understood by leaders for remote management to work. These include: 1. Every team member is an individual and will have certain requirements or issues when 60
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working at home (childcare issues, poor broadband, no dedicated work area), so the rules we followed in the office will no longer suit everyone. 2. How we communicate with our colleagues when we are no longer seeing them face-to-face and there is no body language available to soften the communication. Is a Teams chat the best way forward? Or did that email sound too harsh? 3. How do you hold your teams accountable for their workload and their actions? Doing this away from the workplace can make it much harder to monitor workloads and productivity but this still needs to be done. One of the most important things to remember is that managing remotely gives your teams the opportunity to work to their strengths, get creative and engage with each other in different and meaningful ways. Trust and evolution are areas that need to be considered along with being open to new ideas, listening to your team’s thoughts, looking at technology and good communication.
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT The Chamber has always run a full and active leadership and management programme of training courses. Over the past year, these have been re-written and re-designed to ensure they are supportive and meet the changing needs of businesses. The required skills for management and leadership have changed – maybe forever. Whatever your leadership and management needs are – from first-time team leader or manager, right through to senior leadership – we are able to offer support with development to meet the changing requirements we are currently working with.
LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT TRAINING PROGRAMME The Chamber’s leadership and management courses, many of which are accredited, take place over several weeks or months to run alongside day-to-day business. Listed below are the available courses and programmes, as well as the next available dates:
ACCREDITED COURSES • 2 Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) award in effective team member skills (10 September) • Level 2 ILM award in leadership and team skills (3 November) • Level 2 ILM award in customer awareness (6 May and 11 November) • Level 3 ILM award in coaching (8 November) • Level 3 ILM certificate in leadership and management (7 September) • Level 5 ILM certificate in leadership and management (30 September) • Level 5 ILM certificate in coaching and mentoring (15 September) • CIPD award and certificate in HR
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES • Director development programme (14 May and 12 October) • Manager development programme (10 May and 1 November) • Advanced sales excellence (24 May and 30 September)
MANAGEMENT, TEAM LEADER AND SUPERVISORY COURSES • Become a skilled communicator (20 May, 20 July, 21 September and 18 November) • Effective team leader (8 July, 8 September and 10 November) • Friend to supervisor – establishing authority (22 June, 9 August, 5 October and 7 December) • Project management (17 June and 23 November) • Time management (16 July and 16 November) • Virtual presenting skills (12 May and 9 September) The full suite of leadership and management training courses can be viewed at www.emc-dnl.co.uk/developing-skills/leadership-andmanagement. All courses are available as a bespoke option. For more information, contact Vicki Thompson on vicki.thompson@emcdnl.co.uk or call 0333 320 0333 (ext 2153).
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EVENTS
Identifying the skills of the future Equipping the East Midlands’ workforce with future skills needed for digital-era jobs that don’t yet exist is top of the agenda for the Chamber’s next major event series. Skills & People Week, taking place on the week commencing Monday 14 June, will explore how the region can address the challenges businesses continue to face in relation to accessing people with the right skills. Featuring a series of online workshops, seminars and a centrepiece summit, the week’s activities will focus on how to create an environment where policymakers, employers, educators and individuals can work together to ensure everyone can respond to the seismic shift taking place in the local jobs market. Chamber chief executive Scott Knowles said: “With the economy emerging from the impact of the past 12 months, the Chamber’s People & Skills Week 2021 will explore which skills are required to support recovery and growth, to what extent they exist in the region, and how we can work collectively to deliver skills for the economy beyond the recovery.” The week will be anchored by
CONFIRMED WORKSHOPS INCLUDE: • 14 June, 10-11: Building skills for net zero (Construction Industry Training Board) • 15 June, 2-3: Employer guide to traineeships (Education & Skills Funding Agency) • 17 June, 10-11: How to reset recruitment to attract future generations in a post-pandemic world (Access Generation) • 17 June, 2-3: Employer guide to T Levels (Strategic Development Network and Derby College Group) • 18 June, 10-11: HS2 supply chain readiness, skills, employment and education (HS2 Ltd)
the People and Skills Summit 2021: The Skills Landscape Beyond Recovery on Wednesday 16 June. It will include speakers from education providers and Government giving policy updates about the future of further education, as well as a panel discussion featuring leaders from the Chamber, Access Training, the
Education and Employers charity, Morningside Pharmaceuticals, Loughborough College, RDS Global and ER Recruitment. People & Skills Week is held in partnership with Loughborough College, Morningside Pharmaceuticals and RDS Global. RDS Global CEO Andy Flinn said the event was strategically aligned to his company’s goals of developing transferrable skills. “This allows us to continue on with the development of our academy, placement and apprenticeship programmes that we have in the company, which is primarily focused on retaining and
further enhancing the talent pool in the local business community,” he said. Morningside Pharmaceuticals chairman Dr Nik Kotecha OBE is a keen advocate of preparing young people for the world of work and promoting education to disadvantaged communities. He added: “The so called ‘skills gap’ is a challenge in the East Midlands, which is why we’re pleased to be sponsoring this event because it is focusing on ways that the business community can support and develop our future workforce, which is essential for the continued economic and social prosperity of our region.” For more information about People & Skills Week 2021, visit bit.ly/SkillsWeek21
Invest Midlands line-up announced
Understanding the benefits of CSR Business leaders can find out how to further activities that bring community and social benefits – while maximising the commercial benefits of doing so – at an upcoming Chamber event. Titled the Corporate Social Responsibility Summit: Where Good Business Makes Good Sense, the two-hour session later this month features speakers from companies including Futures Housing Group, Morningside Pharmaceuticals, Capital One and TTK Confectionery. They will speak about topics including the different routes available for businesses wanting to engage with communities, how CSR activities can support the achievement of wider business goals, and the link between responsible business and successful procurement. At the event, the Chamber will unveil unique research about CSR among East Midlands businesses and launch a campaign encouraging more businesses to do more with communities – and in a more impactful way.
Chamber chief executive Scott Knowles said: “As the East Midlands economy continues its recovery from the impact of Covid-19, the importance of ‘growing back better’ carries additional significance. “Research from the Chamber suggests that while the number of businesses engaged in community activity is nearing two-thirds of our membership, there is still confusion over how to do this in a way that can maximise the impact for both the community and the business. “This event is designed to support them in understanding the benefits of engaging with their communities, and the practical steps to take when implementing activities.” The Chamber’s Corporate Social Responsibility Summit takes place on Friday 28 May from 10am to 12pm and is free to attend. To register, visit bit.ly/CSRSummit21
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng will make a keynote address at the Invest Midlands conference on 26 May. He will outline his ambition for the Midlands and look towards its post-pandemic future as an engine for growth. Other speakers at The Business Desk’s virtual event, in which the Chamber is a channel partner, include Midlands Engine chairman Sir John Peace and leaders from East Midlands Airport, British Business Bank, Network Rail, Midlands Connect and MAKE UK. Alan Barratt, the founder and CEO of sports nutrition firm Grenade, will take part in an interview on how he built and sold the company to multinational giant Mondelez, while topics for discussion include “big ideas to change the Midlands” and “selling the Midlands to the world”. To book a ticket, visit www.investmidlands.uk
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DIGITAL & TECHNOLOGY
Customer relationship management software: What’s holding you back? Adopting customer relationship management (CRM) software could be transformational in how businesses manage clients, but they still aren’t being used by many SMEs. Digital Growth Programme consultant Martin Broadhurst (pictured), the Chamber’s CRM and automation expert, shares some interesting findings on why this might be – along with advice on overcoming some of the barriers companies face when trying to adopt new technology.
spreadsheets will struggle to keep you on-track of sales and account management at a certain point.
BENEFITS OF A CRM SYSTEM
survey conducted by Capterra, a software review website, found only 31% of UK SMEs have a CRM system in place. This result, while not surprising, did leave me wondering what is preventing SMEs from adopting CRM technology. After all, CRM systems make the process of managing sales and retaining customers simpler and more effective. So what’s holding businesses back?
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ALTERNATIVES TO CRM? The same study asked business owners about how they manage and track customer data. The most popular response was spreadsheets (32% of respondents), with a CRM (24%) coming second and email clients, such as Outlook or G Suite, placed third (20%). Surprisingly, 15% of respondents still use pen and paper to track this information. While all these methods can, and evidently do, work, for many businesses they simply aren’t effective for supporting sustainable growth. Some of the methods, such as paper and pen, as well as Outlook or G Suite, are restricted to one person – only the person in possession of the paper, or with access to the Outlook address book, can see the customer data. This presents a challenge for ensuring data accuracy and visibility throughout the business. For any growing business, with a need to retain customer accounts and bring on board new customers, the complexity soon outgrows the capability of paper and pen or Outlook address books. Even 62
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Every new employee in your business, and every new customer that you service, adds to the level of complexity in your business. Trying to understand your customers becomes increasingly difficult. This is where CRM software can help. By providing a single view of the customer – as well as details of all the companies, contacts and deals that your business is currently engaged with – CRM software provides full visibility of the information that matter to all your employees. In fact, the Capterra study found that 79% of respondents said their CRM system helped them to better understand their customers well or extremely well.
BARRIERS TO ADOPTION What has stopped businesses adopting CRM? A common issue is cost. CRM has historically been perceived as an expensive piece of software designed for enterprise organisations and a “nice to have” for SMEs. When asked how much they would be prepared to pay, many respondents said they would only consider free software (24%) or they would pay up to £10 per user each month (33%). While I would agree that CRM was once the preserve of enterprise organisations, there has been a shift in recent years towards lowcost, or even free, CRM systems that can greatly improve sales and marketing performance. For example, there are a raft of free CRM systems that provide all the basic functionality a growing business needs. Options such as HubSpot, Zoho, or Bitrix24 all have free cloud-based CRM options that scale as your business requires.
If you’re interested in which free CRM is best suited for your business, read this blog: zapier.com/blog/best-free-crm. In 2021, there really is no reason not to have a CRM system in place. Whether you are a solo entrepreneur or a sales director overseeing a team of sales professionals, a CRM is an essential
product to help your business thrive in the years ahead. To hear more from Martin, join the next Digital Growth Programme webinar on Setting up a CRM on 9 June. To book a place or to see the full schedule of digital themed workshops, visit www.leicsdigital.co.uk/events
HOW TO FIND OUT MORE If you’re a business looking to invest in a CRM system and need digital advice, you may be eligible for one of our technology grants and support from one of our digital business advisers. For more information, contact our events and engagement officers on Kam.Atker@emc-dnl.co.uk or Collette.Degia@emc-dnl.co.uk The Digital Growth Programme is designed to help SMEs located in Leicester and Leicestershire to improve productivity and growth using digital technology via themed action planning workshops, grants and digital advice. It is part-funded by the Chamber, European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Leicestershire County Council. Visit www.leics-digital.co.uk Businesses based in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire can access similar support by visiting www.d2n2growthhub.co.uk High-growth businesses across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire can access knowledge and investment support to scale up through embracing new technologies via the Digital Upscaler programme, part-funded by the ERDF. Visit www.emc-dnl.co.uk/digitalupscaler
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LEGAL
Law firm supports coaching firm acquisition
Time to focus your mind and plan for your family’s future Having a will is arguably one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your family, says Satwinder Sidhu (pictured), director of Leicester-based Paradigm Wills. Not only can it legally protect your spouse, children, and assets, he explains, but it can also spell out exactly how you would like things handled after you have passed away. A will is the most important single document for your family. It will not only give you peace of mind but also makes sure your family will inherit as smoothly as possible and that your wishes are followed because without a will, nobody knows what you want.
IMPORTANCE OF MAKING A WILL If you do not have a will, you have no say over what happens to your assets when you die, and this can cause difficulties for those you care about most. Because of this, everyone should have a will; this is particularly true if you own property, are married, have entered a civil partnership or have a long-term partner. It also applies if you have children or other dependants, or if you wish to leave something to someone who is not a close family member. It is a common belief that, if you are married or in a civil partnership, your spouse or civil partner will automatically inherit everything you own when you die. In fact, they do not – the law sets out rules that determine how your assets are to be divided if you should die without making a will, which means your spouse may not inherit automatically and children could also lose out on their inheritance if it’s not structured properly. Equally, the rules make no provision for a partner if you are not married or in a civil partnership, so the only way you can make sure you look after each other is by way of a will.
ASK YOURSELF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A WILL: • • • • •
Is it up to date and relevant? Does it still say what you want it to say? Does it protect your home from care costs? Does it minimise your liability to inheritance tax? Does it protect your children if your partner remarries? If the answer is no to any of the above, it may be time to act now and review your will.
‘If you do not have a will, you have no say over what happens to your assets when you die’
FACTS ABOUT WILLS • Dying “intestate” (without a will) means your possessions will be distributed according to the law of intestacy • In your will, you can appoint a guardian – a person of your choice – to look after your children if they are under 18 • Administering an estate – with a grant of probate and where there is a will – is far quicker and cheaper than without a will • It is commonly believed that husbands and wives are automatically entitled to inherit everything from each other, but this is not the case • If you are not married or in a civil partnership, your partner will not inherit from you unless you have a will • A carefully prepared will – drafted with appropriate trusts – can minimise the amount of inheritance tax paid • You may want to prevent certain members of your family benefiting from your estate; this can only be done through a will • You may want to leave something to friends, colleagues or charities; this will only happen if you make a will.
The East Midlands corporate team at law firm Shakespeare Martineau played a key role in the multimillion-pound acquisition of a financial coaching business. It supported Adam Price, the founder of financial planning firm Hatch Financial Planning, throughout the takeover by Octopus Group on all its legal aspects. Hatch, which works with the likes of MoneySuperMarket, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Epson, and Experian in offering affordable expert financial coaching, will rebrand to Octopus Moneycoach. Ambitious plans are in place to grow the business from 30 to 200 employees over the next two years and to bring financial coaching to the mass market, with both AI and human advice services available to customers. Partnering with other established financial advice businesses already housed within the Octopus Group – one of the UK’s fastest growing financial services companies – Octopus Moneycoach will focus on offering financial coaching and planning to the employees of businesses looking to further support their workforce. Shakespeare Martineau corporate partner Michael Squirrel, who led the legal support team, said: “It was a pleasure to act for Adam on the sale, playing our small part in this important step forward on Hatch’s mission. The creation of Octopus Moneycoach to complement Octopus’s existing financial services businesses is the perfect next stage for Hatch.” Adam Price, founder and CEO of London-based Hatch, added: “I am hugely grateful to Michael and the rest of the corporate team at Shakespeare Martineau, whose expertise and guidance made the acquisition as smooth as possible.” The Shakespeare Martineau team involved in the acquisition comprised Michael Squirrell, Oliver Gutman, Sam Naunton, Oscar Ciaurro and Tait Grundy.
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FINANCE
Recognition for Professor Duygun Professor Meryem Duygun, of the University Nottingham, has been recognised as one of the most influential women leading innovation in the UK financial services industry. Innovate Finance named her in its Women in FinTech Powerlist 2020, within the policymakers and regulatory experts category. She is one of two academics on this year’s Powerlist, which recognises the pioneering women championing financial innovation. FinTech – the combination of finance and technology – is a fast-growing global industry now worth more than £11bn a year to the UK economy. Dr Duygun, a professor of banking and finance at Nottingham University Business School, established the International Finance and Banking Society at the height of the 2008 financial crisis to provide a collaborative platform for academia, industry and policymakers. It now has more than 5,000 members in 64 countries. Prof Duygyn said: “I’m dedicated to impactful FinTech research on both national and global scale and supporting the young colleagues of today in becoming the FinTech leaders of tomorrow.”
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Planning for currency risks As the world slowly begins to open up again, businesses engaged in international travel should consider currency risk strategies. That’s the view of a senior figure at international payments firm Western Union Business Solutions (WUBU), who has urged companies to assess how they make cross-border payments as part of wider cost-saving measures. International travel is expected to resume from 17 May as part of a “traffic light” system that will categorise countries based on coronavirus infection risk and a set of scaled travel restrictions. David Prendeville, WUBU’s UK head of foreign exchange, said: “We help many companies in travel and tourism to plan their foreign exchange needs, whether that’s related to booking holidays or overseas expenses. “The funds are often booked months in advance, with a carefully thought-out strategy to minimise the uncertainties of exchange rate fluctuations.
“We are having to look at new, more flexible strategies to make sure they are not left exposed, whenever the huge pent-up demand for travel is released.” The first step for businesses, according to David, is to gain visibility on their currency exposure by using tools that can assess the impact of market movements on short-term needs. This provides better insight on immediate goals and, as a result, helps them better understand longer-term risk. Developing a plan of action should be the next step, using clear metrics to assess progress and measure results against budget or exchange rate targets. David added: “This added clarity, combined with a simple decision-making matrix, can help our clients to empower their team members to respond faster to market movements. “For now, it might be a waiting game, but this time can be used for vital planning.”
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FINANCE
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SKILLS
Firms sign up to support degree apprenticeship Siemens Gamesa, the renewable energy arm of the multinational manufacturing conglomerate, is among the firms to have signed up to a new University of Nottingham degree apprenticeship that aims to create a new pipeline of businessready engineering talent. The university believes its electro-mechanical engineering course will transform the way companies attract recruits and upskill existing staff – ultimately producing apprentices who can solve business-specific problems with both mechanical and electrical engineering expertise. Starting in September this year, the degree apprenticeship develops technical skills in design, testing and analysis, as well as the soft skills that enable graduates to be effective members of an engineering team. Employer-specific project work is a major theme throughout the blended learning and block release programme – empowering apprentices to foster skills, knowledge and behaviours by solving engineering challenges that are unique to their place of work. Dr Rowland Travis, associate professor and programme director, said: “This is a brand-new degree apprenticeship standard and we wanted to be quick out of the blocks offering it. “It is for anyone looking to develop core analytical skills in electro-mechanical engineering,
‘This bridges the gap between academic theory and practical skills learned in the workplace’ including the fundamental mathematical techniques they will need to utilise, concepts of signals, analogue and digital systems, and later on in areas such as solid mechanics and dynamics, thermofluids, power and energy, electrical energy conversion, energy conditioning and energy sustainability. “This expertise is sought after in industries spanning aerospace, energy, and oil and gas, to mainstream engineering firms and equipment manufacturers. The transferability of skills acquired on this course will be a huge asset.” Many businesses, large and small, are already on board with the new degree apprenticeship, including Siemens Gamesa. The company’s graduate and apprentice co-ordinator Lynn Morris said the company could offer students work experience, a salary and sponsorship for their degree. “The main benefit to the company is that this bridges the gap between academic theory and practical skills learned in the workplace,” she added. “The result is an individual who is work-ready with commercial
awareness, high level workplace skills and a degree. “Offering this type of apprenticeship, we hope to attract enthusiastic, inquisitive students with a passion for renewable energy who might be looking for an alternative route to a bright career in engineering.” For employers, degree apprenticeships provide a costeffective approach to workforce development. Businesses with a wage bill exceeding £3m can fund the programme from their apprenticeship levy. Firms whose wage bill is under this threshold can still access this programme for their employees, and may be eligible for 95% Government co-investment. The university said it also means they can invest in the technical skills of staff who will drive the innovation abilities of their
organisation for years to come, and attract and retain top talent by giving employees the opportunity to gain a degree without paying tuition fees. Adam Clare, faculty lead for apprenticeships and professor of manufacturing engineering at the University of Nottingham, added: “The challenge for many organisations is how to keep young people and train them to deliver value in their future. “What the degree apprenticeship route offers is elite skills development for everyone, providing an attractive path to recruiting new staff and a way to upskill current employees while solving workplace-specific challenges in the process. “Apprentices will have the opportunity to study alongside engineers form other leading businesses, developing their own contacts.”
Training to help post-pandemic recovery Adults can now retrain at advanced level in subjects vital to help the UK’s post-pandemic recovery for free as part of the Government’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee. Since 1 April, any adult aged 24 and over who wants to achieve their first full Level 3 qualification, which is equivalent to an advanced technical certificate or diploma, or two A levels, will be able to access dozens of fully-funded courses. Those aged 19 to 23 will continue to be eligible for their first full Level 3 at no cost, as before. North Warwickshire & South Leicestershire College (NWSLC) is one of the Chamber members offering fulltime courses in the priority sectors of construction, engineering, automotive, digital skills, computing and business, as well as health and social care. Advanced level courses available to study remotely online on a part-time basis include accounting (AAT),
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management (ILM), autism, dementia and mental health. Sally Denning, director for adult education at NWSLC, said: “We know that many individuals are facing challenging circumstances including redundancy as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and hope that we will be able to offer them a lifeline with a route into a new career. “The Government is targeting support to those areas of the economy that are forecast to grow and are most heavily impacted by current skills shortages, meaning that job roles are likely to be available. “Colleges are leading the way to help re-energise the UK economy and NWSLC is in a great position to make links between organisations that need skills and individuals looking for work. “It is our mission to introduce skilled and workready individuals to employers across the region.”
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Help our economy to ‘build back better’ through inclusive recruitment In a year of unforeseen challenges, there have also been countless stories of businesses and communities supporting each other in ways never seen before. But while organisations have rallied to tackle issues such as food poverty and isolation, disabled people remain one of the most socioeconomically disadvantaged groups. Dr Mark Dale (pictured), principal and CEO of Portland College, which specialises in supporting disabled people, argues the case for a greater emphasis on inclusive recruitment. Pre-pandemic estimates of the percentage of people with disabilities living in poverty was 50% higher than for people without disabilities. The lack of employment of opportunities for disabled people who can work is the key factor here. Derbyshire County Council estimates that disabled people are eight-times more likely to be unemployed. The Government’s own estimates place the disability employment gap at just under 30% – put another way, about half of disabled adults are economically active, compared with 80% for their nondisabled peers. It wants to halve the gap by 2027 but the only way that is going to happen in sufficient numbers is if we, the employers, recruit more disabled people.
THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM Most employers know it is illegal to discriminate against disabled people. Understandably, some employers are nervous – worried about getting things wrong, the costs involved and, ultimately, the impact on productivity and profit. At Portland College, we have supported many hundreds of disabled people into employment. They and the businesses they work for are thriving. The benefits are huge:
‘Derbyshire County Council estimates that disabled people are eight-times more likely to be unemployed’ • Access to a wider talent pool of motivated people • Proven higher retention rates • Mirror the diversity of your customers • Enhance your reputation • Positive impact on disabled people
SO JUST WHAT CAN EMPLOYERS DO? Assess how inclusive your business is already and consider how you can encourage more disabled applicants for your next role. Some 23% of working age adults in the UK are disabled. How closely does the diversity of your workforce match this? Evaluate how accessible your recruitment processes are and look at simple modifications, such as: • Have two short documents: one for the job description profile and one for the person specification. At Portland, the maximum length for the job description is two pages and the person specification is one page
• Keep the number of essential requirements to a minimum; don’t ask for things you don’t actually need • Offer equivalent qualifications and skills or experience if possible. Don’t be afraid to ask candidates what they need to make the recruitment process more accessible and consider providing a work placement through a supported internship or work experience. Often, it doesn’t cost any more
to employ a person with disabilities, but the Department of Work and Pensions offers the Access to Work scheme, which can pay for any extra costs. Businesses can also sign up to the Disability Confident Scheme, which tells customers and prospective employees that you are thinking about them. By sharing your success stories, you can help raise awareness and support other businesses to become more accessible.
Help is at hand In 2017, Portland College launched an innovative programme aimed at supporting disabled people into work. Its triple award-winning Portland Pathways offers a range of free services to help bridge the disability employment gap. • Recovery college – In partnership with the NHS, these courses give people with mental health difficulties strategies and techniques to support them in the workplace and daily life, meaning mental health should no longer be a barrier for people wanting to find a job. • Preparing for work – A specialist team helps people prepare for work with employability training, interview preparation and support with job searching. • Support for employers – The college can help businesses find the right person for roles, as well as with applications for Access to Work funding and to become a Disability Confident Employer. For more information about employing people with disabilities or applying for Access to Work funding, contact Portland Pathways on 01623 499193. Businesses can also support young people with disabilities via CSR activities or making Portland College their charity of the year. To discuss how to support the college, call 01623 499100.
RAF partners with Air & Space Training Institute
Artist’s impression of the IASTI Newark campus
The Royal Air Force will be an official partner in a new International Air & Space Training Institute (IASTI) in Newark. Backed by part of the £25m grant that Newark received in the Government’s Towns Fund initiative, construction work is due to start next year on a dedicated £10m campus that will open in 2023 – with courses to be delivered elsewhere from September this year.
IASTI Newark, which will offer pilot, engineering and ground crew courses designed with industry input to fit job roles in the air and space sector, will be the first of a national network. Midlands Engine chairman Sir John Peace joined other dignitaries including Local Government Secretary and Newark MP Robert Jenrick and RAF Air Marshal Andrew Turner in launching the centre in March.
Gary Headland, CEO of Lincoln College Group, which will run IASTI Newark, said discussions were ongoing with other aviation industry organisations to join the RAF as a partner. He added: “This ground-breaking new approach to training in the sector will dramatically widen participation, opening up highly skilled, exciting and lucrative careers to people from all backgrounds.” business network May 2021
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PROPERTY
Derby shows ‘Cannes do’ attitude It may not have been the sunshine and blue skies of Cannes, but the first-ever online Derby City Embassy showed a bright future ahead for the East Midlands city. More than 200 delegates logged on to the virtual event in March for an exclusive insight into the city’s economic recovery strategy. They heard from representatives of two major Derby investors, Cale Street and St James Securities, who explained why they were heavily backing the city. The Embassy, which showcases Derby’s major schemes and investment opportunities, is normally held during the MIPIM international property investment show, on the French Riviera, but was moved online following its postponement due to the pandemic. It began with the event’s host, Marketing Derby managing director John Forkin, citing two influential reports that both predict a strong economic recovery for the city following the impact of the coronavirus crisis. The PwC-Demos Good Growth for Cities study ranked Derby as a top 10 city for post-Covid economic recovery, while the UK Powerhouse report by legal and financial advisor Irwin Mitchell predicted Derby’s GVA would increase by 25% in the second quarter of this year. Mr Forkin said: “The strength of Derby is measured by the strength of our economy – and Derby punches above its economic weight. “These studies show others believe that too. Pulled together, this forms the basis of our pitch to investors and the wider world as to why Derby is the place to invest.”
‘We need to plan for change. Our city centre needs to be adaptable’ Councillor Matthew Holmes, deputy leader of Derby City Council, shared a plan for the city’s recovery based on three key elements – confidence, diversification and decarbonisation – and stated the local authority was eager to collaborate with businesses and investors. He explained how Derby had attracted £267m of public investment to support key local projects, including the Becketwell area regeneration (£45m) and SmartParc food manufacturing campus development (£17m), which would leverage a further £750m of private sector cash. Many of Derby’s key projects are included in a recently-published online Investment Prospectus, which showcases 17 major investment opportunities at various stages of development with the potential for a major economic boost. During the pandemic, Derby received a significant vote of confidence when major investors reaffirmed their commitment to ploughing almost half a billion pounds into key schemes in the city. Among those investors was Cale Street, the London-based Kuwait Investment Fund, which last year took full ownership of the Derbion shopping centre from Intu and has pledged further investments. Ken Ford, an advisor to Cale Street, explained how the fund was drawn to Derby because of its “macro fundamentals”, such as
Becketwell Arena is a key part of the redevelopment of Derby city centre (below)
location, infrastructure and its highly-skilled and highly-paid population. But he also said the city’s wider regeneration “gave us confidence”, adding “what’s good for Derby, is good for Derbion”. The Embassy also heard from Paul Morris, director at St James Securities, the developer behind the £200m Becketwell regeneration scheme, which will include a new 3,500-capacity performance venue. Work on the first phase is due to begin soon and he explained how the scheme would create a new
“beating heart” in the city centre, built on the ethos of “work, live and play”. He said: “This is how city centres are having to evolve – and it is an ethos at the heart of our vision for the site.” Derby City Council’s new director of city development and growth, David Fletcher, explained how the authority was creating a framework for change, designed to help meet evolving consumer behaviours and working habits, boost the city’s cultural offer, encourage city living, improve mobility and make it greener, while bringing in new industries and creating jobs. He added: “We need to plan for change. Our city centre needs to be adaptable. We cannot assume that the future will be like the present. We want to inspire confidence and have a clear sense of direction for the city centre.”
Development could put Matlock on the map
The new Matlock Spa residential development. Inset: Mary Gharmount
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A new residential development in Matlock could help it rival other spa towns, believes a lawyer who helped the first homes complete. Mary Gharmount, a solicitor at law firm Nelsons, made the comments after the first homes were placed on the market at the Matlock Spa site, which will eventually comprise 494 apartments and houses across five distinctive spa villages, creating a community of about 2,000 people – roughly 10% of the Peak District town’s population. Nelsons has been closely involved in setting up the site and overseeing sales, the first of which was a £465,000 penthouse in the first Gateway Spa phase of the Rifkind Associates development. Mary, a senior associate in Nelsons’ commercial property team, said: “This is a significant development for Matlock. A new residential development of this size is exactly what people wanting to move away from the city and into a more rural area are looking for. “It will no doubt generate a rivalry to those living in other spa towns of Bath and Buxton.” Alongside the residential aspect of the development – where homes are built using locally-sourced Birchover stone – Matlock Spa will also boast a new country park and embrace the “healthy town” model, promoting fit and active lifestyles while simultaneously protecting local ecology and Derbyshire heritage.
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MOTORING
A hybrid of comfort and performance More and more vehicles we see on the road today are a mix of both electric and hybrid. The introduction of this technology is adding to the huge influx of new SUV vehicles like the Volvo XC90 T8. Motoring journalist Nick Jones sees how it shapes up
FACTFILE MODEL Volvo XC90 T8 Hybrid
If you’re not sure what exactly a “hybrid” is, let me explain… it simply means that rather than running on only petrol or battery power, the car calls on a combination of the two. In the Volvo’s case here, it has a four-cylinder petrol engine that pumps out 320 horsepower, and an electric motor that in turn generates a further 87 horsepower – giving it a combined output of nearly 400 horses. There are five different driving modes that deliver a range of performance and efficiency-enhancing characteristics, which are named “hybrid”, “pure electric”, “power mode”, “AWD” and “save”. The eight-speed automatic gearbox is incredibly smooth, selecting gears seamlessly, ensuring you can’t feel it do so. Having chosen the “pure electric” mode for as long as possible, I can drive the car without the need to use the engine for nearly 30 miles on a single charge, but driving along silently is really spooky and quite eerie until you get used to the silence. More impressive still is the 63g/km emission figure, not to mention the combined fuel consumption rate of 100 miles per gallon – even the first year of vehicle excise duty is really cheap. Next up is “hybrid” mode, under which I achieved 31 miles per gallon and a range of nearly 300 miles. Switching between the engine and electric motor is very smooth, and under normal acceleration, the transition is barely noticeable. “Power mode” is quite a different story, however – the Volvo reaches a top speed of 112mph, with 60mph taking just 5.5 seconds, which is not shabby at all. It takes around four hours to charge the Volvo from the supplied lead, whereas the normal “three-pin plug” option takes nearly 6, as it only accepts a measly 3.7 kilowatts. If you’re looking for a comfortable car to sit in, then they don’t come much better than this one – it’s uncluttered and emanates a typical, polished design brief, and the huge bonus of having seven seats to boot. Everything’s to hand in here, with the centre console and huge nine-inch touchscreen facility the highlight. 72
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PERFORMANCE Top speed: 112mph 0-60 mph: 5.5 seconds
CO2 EMISSIONS 63g/km
COMBINED MPG F100.9
PRICE OTR From £65,975
It’s a bit like having an iPad, where it’s easy to navigate your way through the selection of menus and find apps for features such as climate control, satellite navigation and in-car entertainment. Specify the optional Apple CarPlay, you can then add your own tunes from external devices. Priced from £65,975, the T8 here came in R-Design specification. However, the XC90 range starts at around £51,275, which will put you behind the wheel of the diesel-powered D5 variant.
‘If you’re looking for a comfortable car to sit in, then they don’t come much better than this one’
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INFORMATION
Communication and a successful return to the workplace As the gradual return towards a sense of normality begins with the easing of lockdown, many will wonder what this means for the world of work. For some it will mean an eventual return to the workplace, while for others it may involve permanent homeworking. The key factor for businesses in how they manage either process is communication, says Rachael Moyers, HR business partner at My HR Hub. She explores how best to manage communication with staff, wherever they will be based. USING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES Having a Covid-secure workplace policy is a great way to inform staff of the measures you have taken to help prevent the spread of Covid-19 at work and of any procedures employees need to follow – for example, what to do if they come down with Covid symptoms. This should be accompanied by your Covid-19 risk assessment, which should also be shared with employees in advance of their return to the workplace. Employees may also question if the company plans to have on-site Covid testing or if they are allowed time off to have the vaccine. Having a vaccine and Covid testing policy in
place can help answer these questions. It’s vital you don’t forget about your homeworkers – consider them when writing your policies and share these with them so they are kept informed about what is happening within the business.
RETURN TO WORK DISCUSSIONS Some employees may feel anxious about returning to work, especially those who have been required to shield during the pandemic. Having return-to-work discussions with all employees will allow them the opportunity to address any concerns they may have about returning to the workplace or continuing to work from home.
HOMEWORKING CONSULTATION While employees may have agreed to work from home on a temporary basis, if this is to become a permanent arrangement, you will need to consult them about this change. If both parties agree to permanent homeworking, you will need to confirm the new terms in writing to the employee, either via an updated contract of employment or a “variation to terms” letter.
ENDING FURLOUGH If you are bringing employees back to work from furlough, then you will need to discuss this with them beforehand to confirm the date and
Rachael Moyers
arrangements of their return. They may be feeling nervous about returning, especially if they have been on furlough for a while, so this discussion is a good opportunity to address any concerns they may have. Arrangements for the employees’ return to work should be followed up in writing to them.
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COMMENT
THE LAST WORD Chamber president and ER Recruitment owner EILEEN RICHARDS MBE on how hospitality and leisure is fighting back through collaboration n unexpected outcome of the pandemic has been business leaders seeking collaboration with traditional competitors. In a way, it’s a logical development. Whole sectors have, after all, found themselves at the extremes of what Brewin Dolphin’s Scott Charlish described at last month’s President’s Dinner as “the polarising effect of the pandemic”. At one end of the spectrum, the impact on leisure and hospitality has, of course, been particularly stark: year-on-year revenue is down 90% or more at some East Midlands organisations. The associated toll on employees has been great. Jobs furloughed and lost. The same is true of the leaders tasked with guiding their organisations through. We’ve heard inspirational stories of how leaders have not just kept going but how they have also doubled down on efforts to work with others. As Stephen Gould, managing director at Everards, noted: “You can enhance a reputation in a crisis.”
A
SUPPORTING EACH OTHER THROUGH CRISIS Meaningful collaboration has been a fundamental way of doing so. Local businesses supporting each other, customers supporting local businesses and truly authentic local businesses supporting their communities. How so? Well, one example from Ian Morgan, speaking as chairman of Derbyshire County Cricket Club, was of players ringing up members to check on their welfare. Emotional ties have seen only a fifth of season ticket holders request their money back. Meanwhile, at Leicester Tigers, new CEO Andrea Pinchen has described being humbled by the genuine offers of support to ensure the future prosperity of her organisation. That, for me, has been the most striking aspect of collaboration – leaders reaching out to competitors. It is both concerning and encouraging. Concerning because of the huge pressure our leaders have been under – and will remain under for several years to come. 74
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Yet, it’s simultaneously encouraging because the crisis is breaking down traditional expectations of leaders to work in isolation. Atul Lakhani, CEO at Sanjay Foods, described how he has made a number of new contacts and friends through being open about his situation. It feels as though it’s finally becoming okay for business leaders to be people as well.
As I suggest above, it’s important not to forget the impact on people as individuals – but it’s also important to recognise the impact that people have on their organisation.
GROWING POWERFUL LOCAL NETWORKS
The Chamber’s final Quarterly Economic Survey of 2020 was a picture of a local economy treading water, with a caution that the first six months of 2021 would be essential. It was, therefore, encouraging to read in the results of a more bullish Q1 2021 survey. It showed that, while individual experience remained mixed, results “suggest businesses are up for the challenge”. New ways of working forced by the pandemic have brought forward innovation. New operating models, markets, processes and products are being introduced across the region as businesses position themselves to succeed once restrictions lift. There’s plenty to look forward to. There’s the planned reopening in June of the landmark Nottingham Castle. Also opening soon is the Everards Meadows brewery and beer hall development in Leicester (for which I must declare an interest in supporting recruitment of 70 new staff). Of course, the Government is striking a more cautious tone this time around. There has been much talk by national commentators of “pent-up demand” but, as pointed out by Robert Pugh, director at the Heights of Abraham tourist attraction, such consumer spending is dependent upon the roadmap playing out as planned. For now, it’s been wonderful to see the optimism as shops and restaurants cautiously begin to reopen for business. Members returning to doing what they do best – and, to be welcomed once again, having a cold drink in a sunny beer garden.
The value of stretching the offer – or diversifying it completely – has been one of the ways we’ve seen hospitality businesses bring in alternative income. Doug Ryan, wealth management director at Mattioli Woods, notes the extent to which businesses are changing the way they operate. In hospitality, for example, there has been some amazingly creative thinking – pop-ups in pub car parks, home deliveries of pre-cooked fine dining and new subscription services. In diversification, local networks matter. Any marketer will extol the value of relationships, word of mouth and brand advocates. Retail Week reports how Pinterest reported a 351% increase in searches for “support for small businesses” in April 2020. As noted by Lindsey Williams, chief executive of Futures Housing Group and the Chamber’s vice-president, effective entrepreneurship supports communities. It would seem communities respond accordingly.
MEMBER-TO-MEMBER RELATIONSHIPS ARE KEY That’s why growing the Chamber network is one of my main priorities as president. To serve as an effective facilitator for members, the Chamber needs a diverse range of other businesses. It’s why we’ve been focused on work to contact existing and lapsed members – as well as to bring new organisations on board. This activity has increased the network into which we can lead member-to-member introductions – thus keeping benefit within our own community. Meanwhile, the work done by Scott Knowles, Chris Hobson and the Chamber team over the past year has been fabulous.
QES SHOWS THAT BUSINESSES ARE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC
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