FROMINTERVIEWFURLOUGHTO BUSINESS WOMAN OF THE YEAR: MEET COLLEAGUE BOX FOUNDER NATALIE BAMFORD HOWPOLITICSTOPUTEMPLOYERS AT THE CENTRE OF THE SKILLS AGENDA AND FILL STAFF SHORTAGES Keep up to date on latest developments SEPTEMBER2022www.emc-dnl.co.uk/newsat@EMChamberNews FEMALEFORMILESTONENETWORKCHAMPIONINGENTERPRISE
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The gala dinner takes place at Leicester Tigers’ Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium on Friday 30 September, and tickets are available at bit.ly/EWAwards22 We hope to see you there!
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The final thing for me to highlight is there’s still time to book your seat for the Enterprising Women Awards, which are held in partnership with headline sponsor Futures Housing Group.
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3September2022 business network CONTENTS SEPTEMBER 2022 NEWS 4MEMBERUPDATENEWS Partnership creates new training centre 28APPOINTMENTS Shake-up at marketing firm THE BIG INTERVIEW 29 Natalie Bamford, Colleague Box co-founder 34 STRATEGIC PARTNERS AND PATRONS Collaboration to support region's trading excellence campaign 36CHAMBER NEWS Business Awards finalists are revealed SUSTAINABLE EAST MIDLANDS 52 Rise in East Midlands firms selling green goods and services INTERNATIONAL TRADE 54 How businesses can prepare for the East Midlands Freeport 56POLITICS How can skills be improved in the East Midlands? 59CORPORATEFEATURES CHRISTMAS ‘Tis the season of giving 60 Festive fun or HR nightmare? 62FOCUS FEATURE Enterprising Women: A legacy that’s lasted for 25 years 69PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Why corporate workwear is important for your team 72 How a coach could help drive your business TRAINING & EVENTS 74 A round-up from the Generation Next Awards 2022 DIGITAL & TECHNOLOGY 78 Digital boost for high street stores BUSINESS SUPPORT 80LEGAL Holiday pay ruling may have huge impact 82FINANCE Borrowers in urban areas struggle most to pay mortgages 84SKILLS Employers are in driving seat on the skills agenda 86PROPERTY Derby Property Summit: Curate cities for people 88ENTERPRISING WOMEN M without the A – a more commercial approach? 90THECOMMENTLASTWORD Chamber president Lindsey Williams Discusses her experience as a woman in leadership
Like Alan Shearer and the Angel of the North, it’s obligatory for North East natives like myself to worship Ant & Dec, the famous Geordie double act who have graced our TV screens for a quarter of a century. So perhaps it’s little surprise I was instantly drawn to the East Midlands’ very own version in Eileen Perry MBE DL and Jean Mountain, the co-chairs of Enterprising Women – a hugely successful network that celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. These two business leaders, nicknamed Ant & Dec for their double-act personas on stage, have built a fantastic group that’s accessible for women, and indeed men, at every stop on their career journey. The inspirational speakers they attract to headline monthly networking events are of the highest calibre and the annual awards gala dinner is one of the Chamber’s most well-attended events every year. In this edition of Business Network, as we also look forward to the biggest-ever Enterprising Women Awards – it features 11 categories – this month, we pay tribute to Eileen and Jean’s amazing efforts while recapping the history of the network in our bumper focus feature (p62). We also shine a spotlight on enterprising women who are building great businesses across the region throughout this issue. Our big interview (p29) is with Natalie Bamford, last year’s Business Woman of the Year who turned around the uncertainty of being placed on furlough during the pandemic to start her own company, Colleague Box – which swiftly became a £1m turnover business.
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Sticking with our young professionals’ network, there’s three pages dedicated to our Generation Next Awards, which was held at Derby’s Bustler Market in July. Indeed, it’s been a busy summer since our last edition was published and our Chamber News section also looks back at the Annual Dinner (p48) and ahead to the Business Awards after finalists were announced (p36).
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The timing of this issue arrives perfectly, hot on the heels of England’s triumph at the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 football tournament, and Generation Next chair Emma Baumback explains what the Lionesses’ success means to her on p89.
Printers Warners (Midlands) plc
Two expert business coaches have formed a partnership to create a new coaching centre.
Duo teams up to develop new coaching centre
Bev Wakefield, who set up Vibrant Accountancy with Ian Ball in September 2019, will lead the business from September, with co-founder Ian moving to Pride Park-based CoMech Metrology to become its finance director.
Amanda Daly, who owns The Turnaround CEO, has founded The Daly Insight Centre, and joined forces with professional coach and trainer Dr Alex Morgan to run a fresh offering for business leaders and their teams.
Amanda said: “It’s fantastic to have Alex join me on this business venture. She adds a totally different dimension to business coaching with her skills and expertise.
It’s all change at a Derby accountancy company as one of its co-founders takes on sole ownership.
‘The centre’s approach is totally unique’ The centre brings coaches together who specialise in many areas of expertise such as scaling up, business growth, building teams, positive relationships, confidence and self-esteem to create a holistic coaching offer. Clients have the option to choose topics and coaches to suit their personal journey and needs at any given time.
She said: “It has been an incredible journey since starting Vibrant with Ian and I want to thank him for his support and friendship. “Together with my brilliant team, I want to continue the legacy and make an impact in an industry that has long been considered stuffy, impenetrable and dominated by well-established, big-name players. I want to continue to evolve and disrupt and I’m excited about the future.” Ian added: “Co-founding Vibrant was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I have enjoyed every minute of the journey with Bev, who is now ready to continue to drive the business forward and will ensure that our clients continue to receive the best service possible.”Oneof the recent highlights for Vibrant Accountancy has been winning the New Firm of the Year category at the Accounting Excellence Awards in November 2021. It was praised by judges in a strong field for “raising the bar” and Bev wants to build on that success by introducing new technologies to help her clients.Shesaid: “As a forward-thinking company, we know how important artificial intelligence is in our industry. We want to make the most of technology that is available to us, as well as continuing to introduce new initiatives such as money-saving app Reducer to our clients to help them in their day-today running of their companies.
Bev Wakefield Amanda Daly and Alex Morgan from The Daly Insight Centre
MEMBER NEWS
4 business network September 2022
Alex added: “The centre’s approach is totally unique. It’s something I’ve never seen before, so I’m excited to embark on this journey with Amanda.”
Now you can catch the goalkeeper’s bus!
Trentbarton managing director Jeff Counsell said: “The whole country is rightly enormously impressed by the Lionesses and all they have achieved for women and girls, the women’s game and for the nation’s football supporters. “Naming a mainline after Mary shows how proud we are as a local company of a local sporting hero.”
“The joint venture between Alex and myself will have the ability to challenge, inspire and motivate on a different level, which is exciting for both us and clients.” She is keen to improve the reputation of the coaching market, which is largely unregulated, by choosing qualified coaches to suit personal journeys and needs.
Bev says that she is excited about the future of Vibrant – with plans to participate in more seminars and re-introduce networking groups at the Lodge Lane-based business – and she thanked Ian for his support.
Bev takes the reins at accountants
“There will be a huge focus on business coaching – that is an area I’m particularly keen to expand on; I want to work with businesses and individuals that may need a little help with numbers and direction. They must be ambitious and brave, too.”
Amanda is a full member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, and an accredited executive coach with the Association for Coaching. Alex is also a qualified coach supervisor and former university lecturer.
Mary was ever-present during the Euros groups stages and knockout rounds all the way to the final, denying Austria and Spain at key moments. Mary was widely praised for two important saves in the semi-final against Sweden.
Trentbarton celebrated England’s triumph in the Women’s Euro 2022 by naming a bus after goalkeeper Mary Earps. The mainline bus will serve Mary’s childhood hometown of West Bridgford. Following the Lionesses’ 2-1 extra-time triumph over Germany at Wembley last July, trentbarton wanted to honour the team’s monumental win and in particular Mary’s roots in Nottinghamshire.
Now Cristina is designing and producing customisable eco-friendly clothing for small businesses and organisations to help promote their brands. She said: “I’m passionate about clothing and looking good. I started adjusting my own clothes since I was young. Years ago, I bought a mini sewing machine. All these made me think how much I’d like to do this on a larger scale.
Cristina, originally from Romania, moved to the UK in 2014 and joined the University of Derby as a journalism student and completed her master’s degree in marketing management.Currentlya digital marketing executive for a Derbyshire inward investment agency, Cristina is ploughing all her spare time into growing the fledgling business.
Derby was the only university to receive media accreditation from UEFA due to a long-standing relationship with the European football governing body and proven track record of reporting and promoting women’s football.
Victoria, who is lead of heritage regeneration, lettings and design at Spenbeck, added: “The workplace has changed immeasurably postpandemic and, with recruitment and wellbeing more important than ever, it’s an exciting time to work with clients to challenge their perceptions of what’s possible to create social hubs for people to come together to engage, work together and socialise.”
The sisters behind Nottinghambased property firm Spenbeck have launched a new interior design, sustainable and building health consultancy service. Second-generation owners Becky Valentine and Victoria Green are leveraging their combined 40 years’ expertise of curating bespoke and sustainable heritage offices to provide the new support. ‘We want to share our expertise and experience to enhance the wellbeing and sustainability of others’ Spenbeck was founded by Becky and Victoria’s father and uncle, Mich and Don Stevenson, in 1981 in Nottingham’s Lace Market. The business has become synonymous with the regeneration of the Lace Market along with other cultural and architectural heritage sites in the city, with Mich, now chairman of the company, known as “Mr Nottingham” in the 1990s.
Becky, who is lead of sustainability, wellbeing and building health at the company, said: “Spenbeck believes in a world where more holistic, healthy buildings are the norm; a vision which interweaves design, sustainability, inclusion and wellness.“Wewant to share our expertise and experience to enhance the wellbeing and sustainability of others. I’m relishing the opportunity to use my teaching skills from my previous career to help fellow SMEs in particular to simplify the overwhelm, and collaborate in the change management required for organisations to adopt the expected triple bottom-line approach of people, planet and profit.”
“Here I am – proudly launching my own business, yet still the same enthusiastic girl that got her energy from creating clothes for her dolls. I believe my background has given me the courage, passion and skills to launch my own creative business, which promises to offer customers unique and eco-friendly items, made from the heart.”
MEMBER NEWS 5September 2022 business network
Cristina Simion Custom-made to save the planet
Victoria Green and Becky Valentine Peter Lansley, senior lecturer in football journalism, with some of the students at the Women’s Euros
The young creative spotted a gap in the market, noting that many customisable clothing items are sourced from cheap, unethical factories.
Students roar on the Lionesses heroes
A group of football journalism students from the University of Derby watched the Lionesses make history after being given the opportunity to report on the 2022 UEFA Women’s Euros football tournament. Eleven students travelled up and down the country to work alongside professionals to cover the tournament throughout July, with two students able to report on the final from Wembley Stadium. During the course of the championships, the students attended matches, interviewed players and wrote features for the likes of England Football, Reach PLC, The Athletic and Manchester City’s website.
Sisters are doing it for themselves... and others
After completing the transformation of the Lace Market’s Birkin Building into eco-heritage offices early last year, the sisters, who are regulars at the Chamber’s Enterprising Women events, believe now is the right time to use their knowledge to help others via interior design, sustainability and building health support.
A Derby businesswoman has put an unusual birthday present to use by launching her own ethical fashion business.
Cristina Simion, 27, has launched sustainable and customisable fashion printing business Cosmos Prints following the gift of a heat printing press.
Football journalism senior lecturer Peter Lansley said: “The Women’s Euros has been the biggest, highest-profile event of the five tournaments football journalism has covered since we kicked off the course in 2016. “UEFA accredited us because of our commitment to redressing the gender imbalance within the industry. We seek to shape the hearts and minds of the next generation of football journalists.”
6 business network September 2022 MEMBER NEWS
Wathall’s managing director Helen Wathall MBE said: “DCCT and Wathall’s have much in common –not least a goal to support the health and wellbeing of people in our local communities who are at a low point in their lives. Becoming a formal trust partner of the charity was a natural progression for us.
A historic wall that divided Nottingham’s Old Market Square for 700 years has been recreated for the public to see in an augmented reality app. Nottingham Trent University and Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies have digitally recreated the historic Market Wall – which stood between 1068 and 1727 – so visitors in the square can see how it once looked and interact with it virtually.
The Market Wall was built to define the French Norman borough on the south-west, and the AngloSaxon borough on the north-east.
The two boroughs had different laws, sheriffs and administrations, and although the wall divided the two spaces physically, it had several openings and pedestrians were able to pass between the areas freely.
App recreates ancient Market Wall
“We hope to build on this pilot project and develop the research for the creation of a ‘city museum of intangible heritage’ featuring various other forms of augmented reality which bring Nottingham’s rich history and heritage to virtual life.”
• See DCCT managing director Emma Roberts win the headline Future Leader Award at the Generation Next Awards Ceremony 2022 on
page 74
“By sharing our expertise and resources with DCCT, I hope that we can add even greater value to the fantastic work that the trust does in our local communities.”
“Grief affects different people in different ways. However, losing a loved one – whether that is recent or historic – often leads to physical and mental ill health as well as loneliness and social isolation.
A Nottingham-based technology company that enables cricket fans to take to the stumps via augmented reality simulators has received a £250,000 investment. BatFast, which runs centres in Colwick and Doncaster, secured the loan from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF).
The funding, which is managed by Maven Capital Partners and backed by the Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS), will enable the company to invest in its sales and marketing resources, undertake further product development, expand internationally and create 15 new jobs.
Partnership offers support to bereaved Derby’s independentlongest-establishedfuneraldirectors has teamed up with Derby County Community Trust (DCCT) to widen access to support for people whose lives have been affected by bereavement. Wathall’s has joined DCCT’s trust partners programme. In the first instance, its bereavement support co-ordinator and qualified grief counsellor Fay Bloor is providing training and bereavement awareness sessions for DCCT staff. The aim is to enable staff to support colleagues as well as members of public – from children to older people – who benefit from the trust’s becommunitynationally-recognisedprogramme.DCCTgroupmemberswillalsosignpostedtoWathall’sDandelionsBereavementSupportservicesiftheyneedfurthersupportfollowingabereavement.Theseincludefreegriefjourneyprogrammesandsupportgroups in Derby and Likewise,Ashbourne.peoplewho have lost a loved one and are supported by Wathall’s will be put in touch with DCCT, whose community programmes focus on mental health and wellbeing, physical activity and activities to combat social isolation.
Principal investigator Dr Andrea Moneta, an expert in digital scenography at the Nottingham School of Art & Design, said: “The Market Wall is a fascinating and less well known part of Nottingham’s heritage, as many documents which could have detailed the history of Nottingham were destroyed by fire many centuries ago. “This app will provide people with the chance to learn more about the Market Wall, the Ducking Stool and the Malt Cross, and how Nottingham was in fact a dual city for hundreds of years with French and Anglo-Saxons living side-by-side.
Founded by ex-professional cricketer Runish Gudhka and cofounder Jignesh Patel, BatFast has supplied simulators to multientertainment centre operators globally and major cricket events, including during the 2019 Cricket World Cup and the 2021-22 Ashes series in Australia. CEO Runish said: “BatFast has a clear mission to use technology to drive increased global participation in sports. We are grateful for the support from MEIF and Maven Capital Partners and are excited about the opportunities this investment will create.” BatFast has developed a patented augmented reality sports simulator for cricket, tennis and baseball. The simulator aims to make team sports more accessible by reengineering pitches to fit inside urban entertainment or training spaces. The business also recently won Best Technology in Sports Participation and Fitness at the Global Sports Technology Awards in London.LewisStringer, senior manager for the East Midlands at the British Business Bank, said: “The MEIF supports SMEs across the Midlands with their growth, and this funding for BatFast is the perfect example of how this investment can support new job creation in the region and help companies to expand internationally.”
From left: Gin Rai, Dr Andrea Moneta and Yven Powell from the project's research team Credit: Marie Wilson
Investment will help tech firm extend boundaries
WathallHelen
BatFast co-founders Runish Gudhka and Jignesh Patel with Maven’s Jonathan Lowe
7September 2022 business network MEMBER NEWS
of earlycareer researchers in the School of Geography to conduct the investigation, working alongside Dr Nik Hammer at the University of Leicester and in-country partners in three international locations.
Dr Sabina Lawreniuk (pictured) has been recognised by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Future Leaders Fellowship programme and is among 84 promising early-career researchers that have received a fellowship, totalling £98m.
MEMBERNEWS
Founded in 2001, Tecserv UK employs more than 50 people across the UK installing and maintaining fire and intruder alarms, CCTV, access control and fire extinguishers.
This follows a previous collaboration between the two companies to launch a Derby County cycling collection two years ago. Huub is a premium endurance sport apparel brand worn by Olympic gold medallists, Ironman champions and amateur athletes.
“As recipients of the Queen’s Award for Innovation, we truly value every extra enhancement we can bring to athletes of all abilities.”
An academic at the University of Nottingham has been awarded almost £1.3m to investigate the specific threats posed to female clothes workers in supply chains across the world.
CEO and founder Dean Jackson said: “We couldn’t be more excited with this collaboration. Umbro has a rich history in providing sporting apparel to athletes, individuals and teams and in that time has developed well-respected partnerships.
Dr Lawreniuk, a research fellow in the School of Geography at the University of Nottingham, said: “Worldwide, 70 million people work producing clothing and shoes –80% of these workers are women. “The industry is worth $2trn per year, yet workers receive poverty wages to live and work in dangerous conditions. Malnutrition, mass fainting, reproductive and mental health crises, and sexual and physical abuse are all reported to be Shecommonplace.”willbuildateam
Tecserv UK CEO Graham Tilley said: “Tecserv is a great place to work and has a fantastic talented team driving it forward. “I am planning on retiring within the next few years, so by adopting an EOT as an exit strategy, instead of selling the business to a third party, we will be rewarding our staff for their hard work and loyalty with long-term security and brand continuity.”
With CEO Graham Tilley planning to retire within the next few years, it means employees are now able to buy out and own the Nottinghamshire-based company.
‘We truly value every extra enhancement we can bring to athletes of all abilities’
Clothing firm lets cyclists ride out in England gear
The long-term future of fire and security alarm system installation specialist Tecserv UK has been assured after the completion of an employee ownership trust (EOT).
The EOT was established with support from an East Midlands-based team of advisers, including Sky Corporate Finance, Shakespeare Martineau and Mazars’ Leicester office.
Alarm business’ future is now secure Endurance sport clothing specialist Huub has launched a new range of cycling clothes in collaboration with Umbro to enable England rugby fans to show their support while out on the road. Umbro is the official technical kit partner to England Rugby and has worked with Derbybased Huub to launch the bespoke collection, which consists of four unisex cycling items carrying England Rugby’s iconic rose as well as both firms’ logos.
Scott Watson, head of sports marketing Rugby and F1 at Umbro, added: “We are delighted to launch this bespoke England Rugby cycling range in collaboration with“LikeHuub.Huub, we have a focus on performance and innovation, and we are excited to see England Rugby fans showing their support while out on the road.”
The collection consists of two shortsleeve cycling jerseys that replicate the current white home and red alternative England men’s shirts, both of which are complemented with bib shorts.
The study will include in-depth and ethnographic investigation of women’s health and wellbeing at eight sites in each country, before examining the international organisation of labour and trade governance – to understand the institutional processes that make and unmake healthy working bodies. By assessing a cross-section of the global workforce, the team hopes to identify the complex, more-than-local factors that perpetuate women's vulnerability in garment work and target action to address the systemic causes of inequity within supply chains.
8 business network September 2022
The four-year research project will examine manufacturinggarmentinthe UK, as well as in Cambodia, Ethiopia and Jordan. These four producer differentrepresentcountriessitesintheevolutionofsupplychainoutsourcing,employingonemillionpeopleinmakingclothesand
shoes for brands including Marks & Spencer, Topshop and ASOS.
Dr Lawreniuk added: “Although workers in supply chains are vital to our everyday lives, we know very little about the women who make our clothes and shoes. Gendered data is not available and so these women are simply invisible.”
Funding support for research into safety
“Being asked to join them on the England Rugby cycling project is testament to our efforts in innovation within the sporting arena of endurance sports.
Graham Tilley
9September 2022 business network MEMBER NEWS
Two Derbyshire sisters have attributed their sibling bond to the success of their growing marketing agency.
The agency has also seen a near quadrupling of turnover over the past two years, and now has 14 staff. It has also partnered with fellow Derby company AV IT Media to offer photography and videography services to clients.
The Government has published the second Investing in Women Code annual progress report. Launched in 2019, the code is a commitment to supporting the advancement of women entrepreneurs in the UK by improving access to the tools, resources and finance needed. The report found 34% of venture capital deals made by code signatories were in companies with at least one female founder –but the industry average was 24%. The average amount of earlystage investment being sought by all-female teams (£791k) was very similar to all-male teams (£823k), which is a significant change from 2020, when all-female teams requested less than 50% of their male-only counterparts. British Business Bank CEO Catherine Lewis La Torre, a founding signatory of the code, said: “There are structural factors at play that hold women back when they are looking for finance. However, we also know that diversity is good for business and that’s why, as the UK’s economic development bank, the British Business Bank aims to break down barriers by improving access to finance for all entrepreneurs.”
Anna said: “Claire and I get on really well and I think the fact we’re sisters helps us run a business together. There’s full creative freedom to run ideas past each other and support them fully. That’s a boon that not all businesses have.”
Family connection is the heart of agency’s success
Report aims to back female entrepreneurs
Despite the pandemic, Anna and Claire managed to continue growing MacMartin by using their marketing talents to encourage business clients to pivot their offering, as well as maximising their digital shopfront. They have also focused on hiring the top talent, with one of MacMartin’s recruits Esme Wade being shortlisted for Apprentice of the Year at the Chamber’s Enterprising Women Awards. Claire added: “We really believe in apprenticeships at MacMartin and in the importance of investing in talent. Marketing is such a fluid industry and successful strategies are very dependent on social media, the online world, and constantly changing algorithms. Because they learn their trade while on the job with us, employing apprentices means we’re always at the cutting edge which is of great benefit to our clients.”
Anna Hutton and Claire MacDonald founded MacMartin five years ago, and since then, the agency has doubled in space – taking residence in the Derbyshire countryside in Church Broughton.
10 business network September 2022 MEMBERNEWS
An original oak table from the Victorian kitchen at Chatsworth has taken centre stage within a contemporary daytime dining offer that has opened on the edge of the Peak District.
Mansfield Innovation Centre provides a business base to more than 30 growing businesses. It offers fully serviced offices and workshops, a virtual office facility, hot desk area, and meeting and conference rooms.Kesseler director Ben Slater added: “The support we have received from David and the team at the centre has been invaluable. They’ve helped us navigate the process to give our application the best chance of success, and we’d have struggled to pull it together without David’s input.”
“Chatsworth Kitchen celebrates local produce, suppliers and makers, and we hope it will become a place for people to spend time together and enjoy great food, before exploring the many new shops opening at Peak Village.”
It also took up office space at Mansfield Innovation Centre in October last year to house its eight-person sales team. The centre’s innovation director David Smith supported its application, advising and helping create the paperwork and documentation.Davidsaid:“We were delighted to be able to successfully support Kesseler’s application for this grant. As well as providing high-quality office space in Mansfield, we also aim to provide all our customers with bespoke support to help them achieve their goals and overcome any issues or challenges they may be facing.”
Ben Slater (left) and David Smith Old kitchen inspires modern dining
11 MEMBER NEWS September 2022 business network
Chatsworth Kitchen, located within the retail and leisure park at Peak Village, in Rowsley, serves seasonal dishes sourced from the estate and a community of farmers, producers and makers from across the Derbyshire Dales. The new food and retail concept features a bespoke interior containing hundreds of items from the stores and kitchens at Chatsworth. Retail consultant Lady Burlington, who led the project, said: “We were inspired by the old kitchen at Chatsworth, and have brought a variety of pots, pans and artefacts from Chatsworth to the restaurant.
Kitchen manufacturer Kesseler is set to expand into new markets after securing grant funding to buy specialist machinery – with the support of Mansfield Innovation Centre.
Exclusive jewellery fit for Her Majesty Derbyshire-based C W Sellors collaborated with global company Fabergé on an exclusive jewellery piece to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
Blueprint Interiors fits out Wordline Beeston office
The crown surprise locket brings together the proud British jewellery heritage of C W Sellors, with the artistic craftsmanship and legacy of Fabergé.Inspired by the Imperial State Crown, the 18carat white gold locket is 12mm in height and delicatelyfeatures homagegemstonessetintothe
Tom Bamford, commercial director at TecInteractive; Hannah Dixon, lead project designer at Blueprint Interiors; James Bain, CEO of Worldline; Gemma Ryder, furniture project manager at Blueprint Interiors; Lee Jones, project manager at Worldline; and Chloe Sproston, of Blueprint Interiors
James Bain, CEO of Worldline UK&I, said: “The investment in making Beeston our new UK head office is a strategic decision. Its central location is ideal and we hope that by completely transforming the space, we will inspire and motivate our people, enabling them to collaborate, invent and work to the best of their abilities. The new space is better than I could have ever imagined. For me, this project wasn’t just about changing the way the office looked, but how it’s used to better support all our employees.”Therefurbishment has also led to the donation of £137,584 worth of office furniture to the community, resulting in 816 items diverted from landfill and 68,291kg of carbon dioxide equivalent avoided.
most famous gems set in the original headpiece, including rubies, diamonds, emeralds and blue sapphires.Thelocket has a Platinum Jubilee hallmark engraved on its base and, as sanctioned by the British Hallmarking Council, the product can only be sold until 31 December 2022.
Chloe Sproston, creative and commercial director at Blueprint Interiors, added: “Worldline has been totally committed to ensuring its people, strategic partners and customers have all the tools they need to collaborate and be inventive.“Wehave been delighted that our design consultancy, project management and fit-out expertise has helped turn its vision into reality and are really proud of the transformation we have been able to deliver on its behalf.”
Innovation centre supports expansion
Workplace consultancy and commercial office interior fit-out specialist Blueprint Interiors has completed a providerofficetransformationsix-figureattheBeestonofglobalpaymentservicesWorldline.
The firm, which designs and manufactures luxury kitchen furniture from a factory in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, is looking to break into the lucrative bedrooms market.Itrecently secured a £30,000 grant from the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership’s Business Innovation Fund towards the purchase of new manufacturing equipment to help increase production capacity.
The refurbished site will now become the company’s new HQ for all UK operations. It will create at least 50 new jobs for Nottingham and an all-East Midlands team of contractors carried out the refurbishments, which also included office technology provider TecInteractive, workplace refreshment specialist R&R Hub and 200 Degrees Coffee. At the heart of the 14,000 sq ft transformation is a learning and invention suite, where Worldline will host industry colleagues and customers in a state-of-the-art immersive experience.
The Liniar team
The agencyLoughborough-basednowgoesforwardtoOctober’sMidlandsfinaloftheannualevent.1284isbasedatLUinc,LoughboroughUniversity’sbusinessincubator.FounderGeorgeOliverwasalsorecentlyintroducedasentrepreneur-in-residenceattheUniversityofLeicester’sInnovationHub.Theformer
Seb Dance (fourth from left) visits Tidyco’s Derby factory
Housing sales division launched A housing development underway in Ashbourne has signalled a move by Hodgkinson Builders to launch its own home sales division. After more than 30 years of building and contracting, the team behind the Derby construction firm has set up Hodgkinson Homes, enabling the firm to sell its own new homes on the open market. Operations director Robert Hodgkinson made the announcement to coincide with the start of construction on Rosarium Heights, a forthcoming development10-homeoffClifton Road, in Ashbourne.Hodgkinson Builders, which is also involved in the construction of the new landmark apartment building on the site of the former Debenhams store in Derby’s Victoria Street, made its name in the development of mainly social housing projects, as well as the construction of family homes for other property clients.Robert said: “We are passionate about housing and building dreams. This makes perfect business sense as we have all the resources – and the demand for housing is there, so why not? “For many years, we’ve had the skillset, the labour and the enthusiasm to do this. It’s a natural progression to our core business that I’ve been keen to do for a Robertwhile.”saidone of the best things about the new sales division was the opportunities it would create apprenticeshipsviaand trade jobs.
Leicester Mercury editor started the business in summer 2020. He is a chartered PR practitioner, specialising in communicationsstrategicfortheinnovationandenterprisesector.1284alsosupportslocalstart-upsandsocialentrepreneurs,providingcopywritingandmediarelationsforwebsites,awardnominationsandfundingbids.
The visit was part of an effort to highlight to Government the importance and need for long-term funding, in order to protect the jobs of those companies across the country that supply and support the smooth running of Transport for London (TfL).
The President’s Service Award was awarded to supply chain teams across the Quanex Group, including Liniar’s procurement department, led by business services director Colin Sharpe.
Deputy transport mayor makes visit to Tidyco
Dance to its Derby factory.
“Throughout the Quanex Group, we want everyone to work in a safe and healthy environment, and the fact that Liniar has won two awards in this category is testament to the strong safety culture we are continually developing throughout theLiniarbusiness.”alsoscooped the performance-based Quanex Appreciation Award, demonstrating the ability of its team members to pull together and continue to deliver excellent customer service during one of the most challenging years the industry has faced.
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The tour also included a walk around its recently opened rail overhaul facility, where Mr Dance was shown how the building has improved the longevity of TfL’s assets, as well as ensuring cost savings over the duration of their contracts.
Liniar wins big at Quanex annual stakeholder awards
1284 shortlisted for industry award
The Tidyco team gave the deputy mayor a full tour of its facility to observe the production of hydraulic and pneumatic components, which the company supplies to the rail industry.
Strategic PR communicationsand agency 1284 has been shortlisted for Independent PR Practitioner of the Year at the CIPR PRide Awards.
He said: “I am so proud of my team. Its agility has been proven time and time again during the global supply chain issues, and it continues to work extremely hard to mitigate the ongoing issues within our supply chain to ensure that as a business, we can continue to deliver industry-leading customer service.”
Derbyshire-based Liniar has been awarded four accolades by its US parent company Quanex. The Quanex Annual Stakeholder Awards acknowledge and reward the efforts of its plants around the world.PVCu systems company Liniar has been a subsidiary of Quanex since 2015 and won four awards, including for safety recognition and improvements at its main site in Denby,GroupDerbyshire.managing director Martin Thurley said: “2021 presented many challenges including supply chain issues, raw material and labour shortages, as well as continuing to navigate the global pandemic, however at no point did we ever compromise on safety.
Rail division director Paul Jacks said: “We are extremely proud to have been able to welcome Seb Dance and the other delegates to Tidyco. We feel it really shows how much of a huge impact an SME can have on a concern like TfL and we look forward to continually supporting it.”
13September 2022 business network MEMBER NEWS Contact us now T: 01623 825516 E: nfsl@notts-fire.co.uk
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Jo Maher, principal and chief executive at Loughborough College, said: “We’re delighted our bid for DfE funding was successful. It will help us deliver our bold and ambitious estates strategy, which aims to further enhance the experience for students and staff on campus, especially our brilliant sports team and world-class athletes.
A specialist consultancy firm is celebrating its biggest ever year after supporting town and city centres to rebuild in the postpandemic world.
College’ssuccessinfundingbid
... and signs major technology deal BPR Medical has signed an agreement with Medclair to gain exclusive rights to supply the Swedish company with mobile nitrous oxide conversion technology to the UK and Ireland. Under the agreement, BPR will distribute and provide support for Medclair’s MDU device, which when combined with BPR’s Ultraflow demand valve and a gas scavenging system, captures nitrous oxide and converts 99% of the gas to harmless nitrogen and oxygen.
The introduction of these devices, which are made by Medclair in partnership with gas control specialist BPR Medical, is the latest effort by St George’s to reduce its carbon footprint.
“Our agreement with Medclair means we can continue to help more trusts play their part in achieving net zero goals and meet audit standards.”
The college has secured £9.91m from the Department for Education (DfE) to create a new three-storey, 3,000 square metre facility as part of a wide range of multi-million-pound improvements on its Radmoor Road campus. The new building will house a modern sports hall with viewing terrace and outstanding changing facilities. It will also feature contemporary classrooms, flexible learning spaces and breakout areas.
Vicky Grayson, lead midwife for St George’s midwifery led birth unit
Richard Radford said: “The NHS has one of the most developed nitrous oxide programmes in the world. It delivers safe, efficient pain relief to hundreds of patients every day. But the gas has a significant impact on the environment and can also affect working conditions for staff.
In the past year, the Derby-based business has launched a new place management service to help local authorities with research, partnerships, BIDs and strategies to improve town and city centres, grown to a team of 14, and increased its loyal client base by 67%, as more and more businesses and organisations need help to overcome challenges caused by Covid. Ian Ferguson, director at pfbb UK and a Government expert for the High Street Task Force, said: “Making places better is at the heart of what we do, and our experience of working in town centres for the past 20 years has put us in an excellent position to help local authorities and businesses adapt to the changes brought by the pandemic.
Nitrous oxide, regularly combined with oxygen to produce Entonox, provides sedation in dental and emergency procedures, as well as pain relief in labour. The gas has almost 300-times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide. ‘The device handles exhaled nitrous oxide in a way that is both climate-friendly and convenient to the patient’
Helping towns build back better and stronger Ian Ferguson
The college was one of only 62 colleges nationwide to be successful in bids for grant funding.
Dental patients and women in labour will be given “green gas and air” at St George’s Hospital, reducing pain on the planet as well as during childbirth and tooth extractions. In a UK first, St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is investing in a device at its dental unit dubbed the “catalytic converter of gas and air.”
BPR Medical managing director Richard Radford said: “We are delighted to be working to provide a sustainable and environmentally-friendly pain relief solution for patients at St George’s. The device handles exhaled nitrous oxide in a way that is both climatefriendly and convenient to the patient, while giving them safe and efficient pain relief.”
“It is such an exciting time to be part of the college community as we are investing millions in improvements such as our new T Level Centre, Institute of Technology building and new Digital Skills Hub.”
The mobile nitrous oxide conversion unit at St George’s will be the first in the UK to be trialled in a dental department, and breaks gas down into harmless oxygen and nitrogen before it is released, thereby reducing its impact on the environment as well as staff exposure to the medical gas. It is already being used in the hospital’s endoscopy and midwifery-led birth units.
15September 2022 business network MEMBER NEWS
“The way people use town centres has changed dramatically in the past two years, and we have the experience and skills to ensure masterplans are delivered on the ground.”
BPR gives patients green pain relief
A new state-of-the-art sports hub is set to further enhance elite-level training facilities offered at Loughborough College.
Partnerships for Better Business (pfbb UK) works with local authorities and businesses across the country to implement and manage effective business improvement districts (BIDs) in their areas, focusing on partnership and investment opportunities, and creating better places for shoppers and visitors to enjoy.
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MIRA Technology Park managing director Tim Nathan said: “We’re continually investing in maintaining our position as a leading hub for the development of low carbon technologies and R&D. “With the industry undergoing a revolution in mobility technologies, these investments futureproof our capability ensuring we can best support businesses across the technology, engineering, and advanced manufacturing sectors.”
The Eight Plus team How the MIRA Low Carbon Innovation Hub will look Innovation hub plans approved
development of low carbon technologies, the site has made significant investment in facilities for testing autonomous vehicles.
Lance said: “It has inline folding and will probably double the speed of what we currently have. It’s programmatic and takes out a process, it can take an A4 and fold it to DL or A5, and enclose it in one operation.”
Lance said the move was a “natural progression” as EDWPS already outsourced its web and sheetfed litho work to complement its digital Separately,offering.thecompany has installed an intelligent enclosing machine.The£120,000 MS Series 12 Envelope Inserter from Polish manufacturer Mailing System is the first to be installed at a UK print operation – coupled with its new division, the firm is set to break the £10m sales barrier this year.
“The BID team has worked tirelessly to deliver enormous value across business support services and operations, project management, marketing and in an ambassadorial capacity.”
Eight Days a Week rolls out brand new division
North Notts BID has successfully secured a second term to deliver business improvement projects and services for the benefit of organisations and communities across North Nottinghamshire’s towns and villages. Following an initial five-year term, North Notts BID received a 62.6% majority of “yes” votes, with a 69.7% majority by rateable value, in June’s postal ballot with business owners voting for a continuation of the business improvement district’s services and delivery of projects. George Buchanan, chair of North Notts BID and owner of Hodsock Priory, said: “It is fantastic that businesses have voted in favour of a second term. North Notts BID was tremendously important for businesses, especially during lockdown, and has achieved some amazing results for North Notts so far, investing more than £3.7m locally since 2017. “Business owners have recognised the BID’s invaluable contributions in helping to improve the district over the past five years, and have supported our ambitious plans to further secure, strengthen and showcase North Notts as we now head towards a second term.
The successful North Notts BID team North Notts Bid secures vote to continue work
The new Low Carbon Innovation Hub will entail the £2.5m refurbishment by HORIBA MIRA of the existing technology building. This will be supported the installation of significant electric vehicle (EV) and hydrogen infrastructure, which will aid safe testing and handling of EV and related systems at the Leicestershire Enterprise Zone site.
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Eight Days a Week Print Solutions has scored a UK first with its biggest investment in technology yet, as it also rolls out new outsourcing and print management division Eight Plus. The Eight Plus division came about after a major magazine printer in Yorkshire, YM Group, went into administration in the last quarter of 2021, resulting in many customers requiring print services. “Last autumn a lot of YM customers were let down, and our Eight Plus offering evolved from that,” said EDWPS managing director Lance Hill. “We’re a financially sound business and there was definitely an appetite from customers, and an opportunity for us to give them a plan B.”
Plans have been approved for a £5m green infrastructure that will support tech companies as they focus on developing low carbon technologies. Funding has been agreed which will transform an existing building at MIRA Technology Park into a low carbon research centre, bringing with it transformational charging and testing infrastructure for electric and hydrogen vehicles. The investment will be made through a partnership between the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP), Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council and site owner MIRA Technology Park.
LLEP interim chair Andy Reed OBE said: “The Low Carbon Innovation Hub supports the LLEP’s goal for coming years of supporting economic growth through sustainability and innovation.“Thesite offers world-class facilities to the mobility sector. Projects such as this will help it continue bringing in employers and creating quality jobs while also supporting wider low carbon testing and technologyCompaniesdevelopment.”basedattheparkareattheforefrontofthelatestautomotivetechnologies.Itisalocationofchoiceforattractingforeigndirectinvestment.Aswellasinvestmentinthe
The centre is based at Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park (LUSEP) and co-located with the Sports Technology Institute, a £15m facility housing the university’s research on the design, simulation, testing and manufacture of sporting goods.
The PING Performance Research Centre has launched at Loughborough University to advance cutting-edge technology and innovation in the world of golf. It deepens the university’s partnership with US-based manufacturer PING, a globallyrenowned brand specialising in golf equipment, clubs and bags.
A topping out ceremony has taken place to celebrate the latest milestone in the creation of a 21,000 sq ft four-storey pavilion to University’sLoughboroughexpandSportPark.
A new adult education centre and pavilion space that aims to transform the entrance to The Meadows estate in Nottingham was among hundreds of innovative architectural creations that went on display to the public.
Nottingham Trent University (NTU) researcher Professor Eiman Kanjo has been named among the Top 50 Women in Engineering by The Women’s Engineering Society (WES).
The £9m project at LUSEP, which is being built to Passivhaus classic standardaccreditationtosignificantly reduce CO2 emissions, is scheduled for completion at the end of the year.
Prof Kanjo (pictured), a professor of pervasive sensing and head of the smart sensing lab in NTU’s School of Science and Technology, researches topics including mobile sensing, edge computing, data science and technology for wellbeing.Herteam won NTU’s 2021 ViceChancellor’s Outstanding Research Award. She is also the award lead of the new NTU-Turing Data Science Network funded by the Alan Turing Institute. She said: “My hope is that engineers and technologists, female and male, play a more prominent role in shaping the world's future. We design and develop systems that respond to local communities’ needs and we work hand in hand with end users’ organisations to understand what we can do.”
Professor among top 50 women in engineering Student work on display
Representatives from Loughborough University’s SportPark Pavilion 4 project team, LLEP and UK Anti-Doping at the topping out ceremony
PING president John K Solheim and Loughborough University vice-chancellor Professor Nick Jennings, together with PING engineers and university researchers and students University SportPark is topped out
WES revealed the list as part of International Women in Engineering Day 2022, held on 23 June, to celebrate women who demonstrate the creation or improvement of a product or process that makes a difference.
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The latest research collaboration between PING and the university’s Sports Technology Institute commenced in 2018 and has delivered a bespoke measurement system for analysing the golf swing that was showcased at the centre’s launch event, which was attended by the company’s staff based at its ArizonaProfessorheadquarters.Jenningssaid: “The vision of our new strategy, ‘Creating Better Futures, Together’, is to be an internationally engaged, research intensive university that delivers meaningful impact and keeps students at our heart. Our multi-faceted partnership with PING sums this up perfectly. I look forward to seeing it continue to grow and flourish.”
PING president John K Solheim said: “Surrounded by like-minded organisations with a thirst for knowledge and innovation, the centre will enable our PING engineers to study the mechanics of the golf swing in more detail than ever before as we continue to meticulously develop pioneering equipment that allows golfers to play their best.”
‘An meaningfulthatintensiveengaged,internationallyresearch-universitydeliversimpact’
The project has been designed by Alex Adams, a third-year architecture student at the University of Nottingham who was part of the Department of Architecture and Built Environment’s end-of-year show. It was one of more than 200 pieces of work submitted for the exhibition by final-year students that showcased a wide range of styles, approaches and geographic locations, covering everything from urban regeneration in Manchester to a library in a yoga centre in India.
Improve your swing at PING research centre
Department head Professor Mark Gillott said: “There has been a big increase in the emphasis on wellbeing and how buildings can impact on both our physical and mental health. It’s been fascinating to see this come through in this year’s projects and is something which we will see grow in importance over coming years.”
The first Passivhaus development on the university campus, SportPark Pavilion 4 presents sports organisations with the unique opportunity to secure environmentally future-proof accommodation. Professor Mike Caine, Loughborough University associate pro vicechancellor sport, said: “SportPark is a tremendous asset to the university and wider region. Pavilion 4 will provide the capacity to welcome yet more mission-driven organisations to the university, and to reinforce the East Midlands region’s potential as a global sports innovation hub, with Loughborough at its heart.”
PING’s partnership with the university began in 2010, and continues to drive research and innovation, enrich student education and experience, and generate positive economic impact creating jobs, including employment for Loughborough graduates.
19September 2022 business network MEMBERNEWS
‘We wanted from the outset to build in powerful capabilities’monitoring
Rob Spence Paragon moves into new home
Focus on historic house restoration
Highlight Crafts officially opened its doors in Wingfield Court, Clay Cross, after one year in business.
Engine Mobile develops child safety phone network
Derbyshire-based Engine Mobile has developed ParentShield – a mobile phone network for children and those with special needs. In the network’s most restrictive ultra-secure mode, any unlocked phone can only call or text, or be called or be texted by up to two home numbers – effectively turning a mobile phone into a personal safety device that can only call home or the emergency services.
The craft company has seen exponential growth across its product ranges – including its flagship die-cutting brand Two Red Robins – turnover and headcount in the past 12 months.
Focus will play a key role in restoring and developing the family home of former prime minister Neville Chamberlain. The companyNottingham-basedwasappointedbytheChamberlainHighburyTrusttojointlyprojectmanagethedevelopmentanddeliveryphaseofRestoringChamberlain’sHighbury–an£8mNationalLotteryHeritageFundproject.LocatedinMoseley,Birmingham,HighburyHallwasbuiltin1878byNeville’sfatherJosephChamberlain,whoservedBirminghamasmayorandMP.Followingatenderprocess,thepartnershipofCulturalConsultingNetworkandFocuswaschosentoprojectmanagethelatestrestorationplansforthesite.FocusassociateFlorenceAndrewsandadviserKatieNorgrovehavebeenappointedontheproject.Theysaid:“WearereallythrilledtobeworkingwiththeChamberlainHighburyTrusttohelpmaketheirdreamofreturningHighburytoitsformerglory.”
A Leicestershire entrepreneur has moved his company’s operations to the village of Countesthorpe.
Managing director Karl Shaw said: “We moved into our purpose-built space in November 2021, and have just seen the business grow from strength to strength. We are already planning for additional warehousing and training space.”
The official opening was attended by guests including Lee Rowley, MP for North East Derbyshire, the High Sheriff of Derbyshire Michael Copestake and Gerry Morley, councillor for Clay Cross North. Lee Rowley said: “It’s fantastic to see a new business doing so well making a difference in Clay Cross and bringing new jobs and opportunities to the town. It has been so insightful to see all the work Highlight Crafts is doing and I look forward to seeing them go from strength to strength.”
It began with three staff and now is responsible for 28, with roles covering various areas across the business including graphic design, marketing, web development and creative production.
20 business network September 2022 MEMBERNEWS
All customers also have access to an online portal that allows them to see and hear all the calls and texts, set various levels of protection and turn mobile data on and off remotely without touching the phone.One of the Stenson company’s founding directors Graham Tyers said: “What we set out to develop in ParentShield wasn’t a 'cut-down' first mobile service, but a network with every possible powerful childprotection feature built in that we could.“We wanted from the outset to build in powerful monitoring capabilities – such as call recording and SMS recording, as well as automatic word alerts. Controls such as time settings that will stop the phone being used to make calls or send texts outside set hours were logical extensions that came shortly after.”
Rob Spence, a former parish councillor for the village, has taken over office space to allow his sales and marketing team to flourish. He said: “I remember moving to Countesthorpe when I was seven, and fell in love with it immediately. I have spent a lot of time here and I feel like I know it inside and out – and when we saw this office space become available, we just knew we had to come home.“As a sales and marketing firm, all we want to do is help and support businesses and entrepreneurs of any size to become successful, and we feel that this office will allow us the chance to help more businesses, which is very much needed after the few years of uncertainty we have all Situahad.”ted on the main stretch of Leicester Countesthorpe,Road,Paragon Sales Solutions have an open-door policy, and any local business owners, entrepreneurs, or professionals are encouraged to pop in for a friendly chat over a tea or coffee. Rob added: “We are looking to develop strong connections with the local community, and we want to turn our offices into a central hub to offer businesses support with all their sales and marketing needs. Alongside this, we are looking forward to offering work experience opportunities to the local college students, and getting involved in the local events.”
Anniversary celebrated with official office opening
21September 2022 business network MEMBERNEWS
Location: Ilkeston, Derbyshire Number of employees: Five Spokesperson: Roger Timms, managing director Record-breaking event for Anicca Digital team The Anicca Team at LDL 22 Roger Timms
The ever-changing electrical landscape provides many challenges which we must always stay informed on. Updates and amendments to the British standards, as well as new technology such as electric vehicles and the installation of their charging points, means we at C J Timms must keep our staff trained to the highest standards with up-to-date knowledge at all time. What are the company’s plans for the future?
NEW MEMBERS In June and July, the Chamber welcomed 49 new members: June • Neos Composite Solutions Ltd • AP Mortgage Solutions Ltd • Beauty of Flowers • Cubed Resourcing • Derby Uncovered • Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) –Derbyshire • Dotique Ltd • Duffield Electrics Ltd • Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) –Derbyshire (Derby City Office) • European Metal Recycling • Freeman Clarke • Kare Solutions Limited • Kiasa UK Ltd • MFL Cabins UK Ltd (International) • Mount St Marys College and Barlborough Hall School • Moving on Mediation Ltd • Nest • Netcoms • Premier Display Ltd • Sally Mitchell Fine Arts Ltd • SPK Performance • Spenbeck • John Mcdonald T/A UK4BSL • University of Sheffield –Translational Energy Research Centre • Willow Interiors • The Worksop Heel Bar July • Cibo Bistro Kitchen • Healing Little Hearts • Speakers For Schools • VegVan Community Farm CIC • Boutique Florists Limited • Reworked 348 Ltd • Selena’s Contemporary Flowers • Mr Shaw Ltd • Alba De Watering Services Ltd (International) • eps event Ltd (International) • Adam John Photography • Biodiversify Ltd • High Spec Ltd • Hike SEO LTD • G H Hurt & Son Ltd • Isaac Noor Ltd • it’seeze Leicester Website Design • Kings • Martins Chocolatiers Limited • Nottingham Racecourse Co Ltd • Red Circles ITS Ltd • Showcraft Ltd • Work From Home Space
Over our 30 years in business, we have developed a diverse customer base ranging from office fitout companies, manufacturing, managed service providers and warehousing to name a few. We’ve even been called on by multiple schools, colleges and universities, enabling us to develop a bespoke service offering to the education sector.
Providing the right advice and service creates a close relationship and helps us provide a unique experience for our customers.
Keynote speakers included some of the world’s leading e-commerce, lead generation, social media, paid search and SEO experts. Delegates heard from lead sponsor ATG, Search Labs USA, Boots, Ahrefs and Yoast among others, all of whom provided practical advice and interesting digital content that could be implemented within the attendee’s own businesses.
Who are your main customers and what is your USP to them?
My role as managing director involves going out and about to visit customers on site, to deal with enquiries, listening to what our clients need and then advising on the best electrical solutions. I then liaise back with clients to provide designs and quotes for the required electrical works. It’s a busy time and a busy role, but it’s totally worth it! What challenges have you faced in recent times and how have you tried to overcome them?
The sell-out event saw 200 delegates fill Leicester’s Winstanley House and attend two simultaneous speaker events during the one-day conference in June.
C J Timms has been a member of the Chamber for four years now, after we were drawn to the large commercial presence it has to offer. Moving forward, we look forward to taking part in and really benefitting from the events and educational services provided by the Chamber.
Anicca Digital has reported that Leicestershire’s premier digital marketing conference, Leicester Digital Live, has broken all previous event records after opening its doors to its largest ever audience.
MEMBERMEMBERNEWSFOCUS:
With a rich heritage and strong family ties, the Timms have passed the “electric” gene down for more than 100 years. The company was established in 1992 by Chris, making this year our 30th year in business, which we celebrated back in June. As the business began to grow, my brother Russ and I joined our dad in the family business and progressed within the company to become the managing director and director.
C J TIMMS ELECTRICAL SERVICES
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With the increases in energy costs being felt by most businesses, and the drive towards having a smaller carbon footprint, it’s important for us as energy-saving experts to offer our advice and services to Midlands businesses.
We aim to increase the number of energy efficient installations we carry out, like LED lighting and EV charging points.
How long have you been a member of East Midlands Chamber, and how have you engaged with the membership benefits to support your business activity?
What is your position in the business and what does your day-to-day role involve?
Anicca Digital founder and CEO Ann Stanley said: “After in-person events paused over the last couple of years, there was no doubt that marketeers from the East Midlands region were keen to attend Leicester Digital Live. “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the speakers, all those delegates who came along, and of course the Anicca Digital team for organising such a stand-out event.”
C J Timms provides electrical design, installation, inspection as well as testing and breakdown services for commercial and industrial businesses, primarily across the Midlands.
Tell us what your company does and a brief overview of its history?
23September 2022 business network MEMBERNEWS
SEND students able to experience world of work
Pupils at a special educational needs (SEND) school in Leicester gained valuable work experience in a project run by disability social enterprise Access Rating CIS. The Employment Hub pilot scheme created an office environment within Ash Field Academy tailored to their health and educational needs. They were given work projects, on behalf of local businesses, including a task to create a disabled access guide for Leicester city centre. They gained a broad range of skills such as team building, research, content writing and project management. Due to the success of the scheme, Access Rating will select a second SEND school to facilitate the Employment Hub. Rich Copson, project lead and co-founder at Access Rating, said: “I have been employed for the past 20 years while living with a form of muscular dystrophy, which has made me hyper-aware of the barriers that young disabled people face when progressing from education into employment. “Disabled people are a huge, untapped resource of talented employees who are able to and willing to work hard. We are passionate about giving these young disabled pupils the best opportunities to grow their skills and successfully seek employment.”
From left: Danny Myers, Rich Copson, Eileen Perry MBE DL and Mark Esho MBE at the project’s celebration event
White Rose Beauty College and Ashgate Hospice have announced a new training partnership.
Jules Slack, corporate ambassador of White Rose Beauty College, said: “It has been a pleasure to provide training to new therapists and additional courses to experienced therapists.
The event was a fundraiser for David’s film project Moz’s Band, which celebrates the magic of carnival bands and is a particular tribute to his grandfather Moz Ward, who lived and breathed music and led the Derby Serenaders for many years. David said: “It was wonderful, and very moving for me, to see so many people come to the Banding Together day and enjoy the music. I want to spark a new social movement that brings this sense of connection and belonging back to today’s younger generations.”
“We have also been able to talk to the students about the hospice and help them recruit new volunteers.”AliFoster-Ward, partnership manager at Ashgate Hospice, added: “This is a fantastic gesture, which allow us to continue professional development for our team and saves the hospice money.”
24 business network September 2022 MEMBERNEWS emc-dnl.co.uk/EMComingTogether
Partnership formed to deliver therapy training The Ambassadors of Derby perform Marching and music bring people together
Carnival banders past and present turned out at Borrowash Victoria Football Club’s grounds in July for the Banding Together day organised by Derby-born actor and musician David Chabeaux, who grew up in the Derby Serenaders and starred in the final scenes of hit TV show Peaky Blinders Performances from the Ambassadors of Derby and the Melton Mowbray Toy Soldiers – two of the few bands from a once-thriving carnival banding scene that are still active – allowed attendees to relive the glory days. They were joined by members of many bands including the Heanor Lions, Spondon Legionnaires, Derby Serenaders, Eastwood Arcadians and Breaston Highlanders.
As part of the collaboration, the Chesterfield-based college has offered an introductory course to complementary therapy to all Ashgate staff and volunteers. The course provides an introductory to basic body massage, aromatherapy, reflexology and nutrition, giving staff a better understanding of the benefits and use of complementary therapy for hospice patients.
Hundreds of people from across the East Midlands visited Derby for a nostalgic day of music and marching, organised by a local actor making a film about the heyday of carnival bands.
Help and support for young people
Cross Productions has become the latest member of a group that aims to tackle real-time issues for young people living in Leicestershire and Rutland. The marketingLeicester-basedandeventsagency’sdigitalaccountmanagerEvan-MayGillottjoinedBridge2CollaborationforitsfirstmeetingattheMarriottHotel,inEnderby,inJuly.Businessesandcharitiesshareexpertiseandknowledgetotacklechallengeinlocalcommunities,withideasdiscussedincludingworkexperience,drop-insessionsinschoolsandtheprovisionofsafespacestohavemeetings.Evan-Maysaid:“Itisgreattobeinvolvedinsuchaninitiative.Itwasagreatopportunitytotalkwithotherbusinessesandcomeupwithsolutionstoreal-lifeissuesforyouthsinLeicester.”
25September 2022 business network MEMBERNEWS
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protect your business?
Youwww.fishinwater.orgvisit:canalsofindusonLinkedIn
1. BASELINE: Do you know your legal requirement and internal processes? 2. IDENTIFY: The right people to consider, agree and set your change objective 3. IMPACT: Think about how change will impact the whole business 4. OPTIONS: Do nothing or choose an option with the greatest benefit against your objective 5. DECISION: The correct people to decide on what change will happen 6. COMMUNICATE: Inform everyone who will be affected by the change 7. DELIVER: How change is to be implemented across the whole business 8. REVIEW: Has the change objective been met successfully and securely? EIGHT STEPS TO “GOOD CHANGE” “goodchange” How does
Sarah Roach (pictured), founder of Fishinwater shares her thoughts on how some basic change management approaches and processes can help protect your business.
I’ve worked around change for, well, all my working life. I've experienced change throughout my personal life too. But that doesn’t make me special - because so have you!
“The first challenge a lot of businesses have is identifying change”
It’s easy for companies to do change without noticing and sometimes that means they can leave their organisation vulnerable –they may break a process or not implement a new piece of software with the right security measures.Forinstance, a key part of business protection is having business continuity planning in place. That’s there when unplanned things happen that mean you must do business differently. How many Business Continuity Plans crumbled into dust the moment Covid hit? And that’s because, let’s be honest, when was the last time they were really put to the test? How regularly are they tested? Since these have been produced, I’d say you’ve had some change in your organisation….
The first challenge a lot of businesses have is identifying change – not all change is glaringly obvious, so being able to identify change is key because it relies on us really understanding the how things are now, our “baseline”. And then it’s key that some basic principles are applied; Fishinwater can work with you to put in place a fit for purpose process that can ensure change doesn’t damage your company – Change Can Be Brilliant!
27September 2022 business network MEMBERNEWS ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE For more information
Joint managing director Kathryn Greenwood said: “We are delighted to have Daisy and Rosie onboard. They have quickly become valued members of the team and excel in both digital and PR work for their clients.”
Trio of new faces at EMA Training EMA Training has announced the appointment of three programme leads following its recent expansion to its digital hub in Siddals Road, Derby.
SmithAdrian
Joining the business is Louisa Hampson as digital programmes lead, Paula Gregory as payroll and accountancy programme lead, and Julie O’Callaghan as accountancy programme lead. CEO Tracey Mosley introduced the roles to support future growth plans and provide additional resources to learners. She said: “We are constantly striving to improve the quality of learning and opportunities we provide our learners with.”
Eden Public Relations has expanded its team with the additions of PR and digital account executives Daisy Bradford and Rosie Vacciana-Browne. In the past six months, the specialist PR and marketing communications consultancy, based in Nottingham’s Lace Market, has widened its digital offering as it takes on new business.
Balls2 Marketing’s new senior leadership team Account executives Daisy Bradford (left) and Vacciana-BrowneRosie
Appointments as PR firm widens offering
He is currently the authority’s deputy chief executive and corporate director for place, responsible for economic development and the county’s highways, transport and communities. A rigorous recruitment exercise was undertaken after it was announced Anthony May, who has been chief executive since 2015, will move into a similar role at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. Adrian said: "I feel very privileged to be chosen for the chief executive role at such an important point in the future of local government. "I am proud to call Nottinghamshire my home and I am very much looking forward to supporting our workforce, members and partners to deliver on the priorities we have set in our Nottinghamshire plan.”
Council welcomes new chief executive Adrian Smith will be the next chief executive September.NottinghamshireatCountyCouncil,subjecttoapprovalatafullcouncilmeetingon22
Team shake-up in bold bid to double turnover
APPOINTMENTS
Daisy, who has previous experience working in events and delivering marketing campaigns within the public sector, understands the importance of excellent communication and razor-sharp PR strategies.
Further expanding its digital marketing services, the agency has also welcomed Hannah Tomaszewski as its new digital and social media manager.
28 business network September 2022
Derby-based marketing agency Balls2 Marketing is undergoing a shake-up including new appointments and the restructure of its senior leadership team to drive transformational change –with a bid to double turnover and team size in the next three years.
Founders Andy Ball and Sarah Ball move into the roles of joint managing director, focused on the top-level business strategy and commercial growth. Lauren Doyle, who has risen through its ranks over the past eight years, has been promoted to client strategy director, delivering client service excellence and team delivery agency-wide. Day to day, Lauren will work in partnership with the newest appointment to the senior leadership team, chartered PR practitioner Katie Bregazzi, who joins as operations director focusing on leadership, company culture, training and building an infrastructure to shape and drive forward the agency. Sarah Ball, joint managing director, said: “Working with the newly-formed leadership team, collectively we will be focused on leading the business from strength to strength based on two key factors – innovation and culture. This is a hugely exciting time for our agency, and we’re already reaping the rewards of the talent and changes we’ve recently made, and are on track to achieve the ambitious commercial targets we set for this year.” The agency has also made a sixfigure investment into its office and team, including further promotions andHarryhires.Morgan steps up to account manager, while Emily Fox takes on the newly-created studio manager role. Both joined the agency as graduates from the University of Derby. The team has also welcomed Jack Cunnington as a PR and content executive.
DNS adds to the business’ skillset New faces have joined Derbybased Document Network Services (DNS). The company has welcomed Grant Carnegie as a support consultant and Azaria Meenagh as administrative assistant, while Louee Marsh is promoted to managed services consultant after completing his apprenticeship. Managing director Darren Marsh said: “We’re so excited to be working among new personalities that will be bringing new skillsets and ideas to the business, which in turn will help us all develop and be the best business process problem-solvers we can be.”
Previously a digital content creator, Rosie joined the team with a degree in journalism and multimedia experience. With a firm digital understanding and foundations in a creative role, Eden has invested in specific training to develop her skills
A positive reception from staff – both those working remotely and on furlough – followed and as word got out, other local businesses asked if they could do something similar for their staff.
Natalie Bamford stumbled upon an unexpected opportunity during the pandemic that resulted in a £1m turnover business that she now runs with her husband Adam and being crowned the Chamber’s Business Woman of the Year. She tells her story, which includes plenty of life curveballs and a drive to be a role model for her daughters, to Jasmine Thompson.
“We just wanted to put a smile on people’s faces,” says mum-of-two Natalie as she explains the beginning of the journey for Derby-based Colleague Box. Two weeks into her time on furlough from her job as an expedite services assistant at a technology company where Adam also worked, the CEO was looking for ways to stay in touch with remotely-based employees via a token gesture to show appreciation of their work.
29September 2022 business network THE BIG INTERVIEW
Turningletterboxtreatsintoanaward-winningbusiness
Long walks, TV binges and learning new skills were some of the ways people beat boredom while on furlough during Covid-19 lockdowns. For Natalie Bamford and her husband Adam, their experience of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – which affected one in four British adults at its peak, paying 80% of their wages but preventing them from being able to work – involved coming up with the seed of an idea that would quickly evolve into a £1m turnover business.
He asked if there was anything that could be sent by post to give homebased staff a boost and Natalie returned to work alongside Adam on the project, putting together a box of treats featuring premium snacks and drinks.
She explains: “I was very concerned about the amount of time I’d have available to spend with Lola when she started school as the Derby County job required me to work weekends.
“Even though I was with Adam, I still very much had a single parent mentality that she’s my sole responsibility – so it prompted me to have another switch in career and train as a teaching assistant.
Her next chapter still required juggling a daytime job at a school – where she specialised in working with special educational needs children, something she found very rewarding –with night college training. Finding activities to keep Lola occupied during school holidays led Natalie to founding her first enterprise, Derby Days Out, in 2015. The website acted as a directory for family activities and events across Derbyshire. She enjoyed building the website, which won awards locally, but found it a lonely experience
business network September 2022
“It is incredible to think Colleague Box was just an idea we had so that employers could stay in touch with staff who were either furloughed or working remotely due to the first coronavirus lockdown,” Natalie adds.“We've had to invest a lot in our infrastructure because we grew so rapidly, but it’s been very rewarding to see how far we’ve come.”
In between, she took a year out when she became a single mum at 22 to daughter Lola, whose presence along with sister Poppy has had a strong bearing on Natalie’s life choices ever since.
Within the first year, Colleague Box sent 1 gift boxes and the company went from operating in Natalie’s spare bedroom in Spondon to its own warehouse – which it quickly outgrew, moving again into a 4,500 sq ft site named the Smile Factory in Derby's Northedge Business Park. A team of five now pack giftboxes to be distributed nationally, while the company has diversified with a flower delivery service. Their Derby roots remain important, collaborating with other local businesses including clothing company Mr Shaw, Derby Brewing Company, doughnut delivery service Project D and artisan ice cream maker Bluebell Dairy.
THE BIG INTERVIEW
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FROM AN EARLY age, Natalie Bamford has learned to face adversity head-on. She could have died aged 10 following a meningitis diagnosis that caused complications including epilepsy, septicaemia and memory loss – the latter of which still impacts her life 25 years on. When she left school at 18, she had ambitious goals. She pursued a career in the healthcare industry, training as a mental health nurse at university, but after a year she dropped out to start earning a living. She worked initially in retail and hospitality before taking on a “dream job” in advertising and sponsorship at Derby County Football Club, where she had been going to matches since she was five years old. It was during this job where she met Adam.
BELOW: Natalie was in “absolute shock” when she was announced as Business Woman of the Year
An order that August from Lincoln City Football Club for its players required new thinking but, after it was successfully executed, Natalie and Adam realised they were on to something.“Itwasnever meant to be a business, it was just something nice for our team to receive and make them feel connected to their colleagues.” says Natalie, whose initial challenge was finding a cardboard box small enough to fit through letterboxes but still hold high-quality contents. “In April 2020, we got the idea and by May, we sent out our first boxes just to our team. When other companies came in, that was it and it just snowballed from there.” In the first phase, each box was designed with company branding, personalised messages and a range of items including sweet treats, notepads, pens, miniature alcohol bottles and savoury food.The venture was so popular that it reached £1m turnover in just six months, as it secured a major contract with a global logistics firm to pack and ship 21,000 fresh pumpkins. ‘It is incredible to think Colleague Box was just an idea we had so that employers could stay in touch with staff who were either furloughed or working remotely’
“I’ve always been conscious of being a very good role model for my children. I’ve grown up with hard-working parents, and I wanted them to learn from me the same way I learnt from them.”
Natalie was nominated alongside powerhouse names in the East Midlands business community, including Clare Twells of Smith Partnership, Helen Wathall of Wathall’s Funeral Directors, Jillian Thomas of Future Life Wealth Management, Rowan Bradley of Children’s Therapy Solutions and Sandra Wiggins of DPI UK.
The company works with a host of suppliers that provide food, drink and wellbeing products, which feature inside a series of themed or personalised giftboxes, such as the “Ultimate Craft Beer Box” or the “Escape Room Box”. Being reliant on many external partners means Colleague Box has felt the brunt of rising costs – from energy and fuel to raw materials and people – which have squeezed margins for many firms.“Itdoes feel like we’ve been hit left, right and centre because we had the rise in energy, which affects the warehouse, and then the majority of our suppliers are raising their prices almost every week,” adds Natalie. “It’s understandable but because we’re in their supply chain, it becomes a matter of weighing up how much we can absorb before putting our prices up. “What we’re all about is affordable, high-quality giftboxes for companies to send en masse, so we don’t want to lose that – it’s all about balancing across this constant fine line.”
“While running the business, it felt like I wasn't giving my best to either, so I wasn’t able to really concentrate on getting the company to where it needed to be,” she says. After selling Derby Days Out in 2018 to an employee, Natalie moved to a remote administrator role at Selenity, in Lincoln, where Adam was a director. Although it wasn’t the dream role she had played out at the start of her career, little did she know where it would lead.
“We’re starting to think about Christmas products now, but we don’t have a year we can look back and reflect on,” she says. “The first year was lockdown, and in the second year, we had a lot of last-minute orders as Christmas parties were cancelled in response to the Omicron variant.
THE BIG INTERVIEW
PICTURE:
The Business Woman of the Year title recognises a female entrepreneur or business leader who has demonstrated “all-round excellence” in her field and whose actions have directly led to the success of her company.
THE RAPID RISE of Colleague Box hasn’t gone unnoticed, with Natalie winning the Chamber’s headline accolade at its Enterprising Women Awards last year.
31September 2022 business network at times. After giving birth to Poppy in 2017, it became more of a struggle to balance looking after a fledgling business and a newborn.
Natalie watched on as prizes were handed out for the seven other categories before headline partner Futures Housing Group’s CEO Lindsey Williams took to the stage to announce the Business Woman of the Year award winner.
She began listening to the High Performance podcast, in which TV presenter Jake Humphrey and organisational psychologist Damian Hughes interview world-class performers in sport and entertainment about how they have built successful careers.
“So it’s hard to forecast this year as we have no idea what it’s going to be like – every year has truly been a brand-new experience so far.”
Marking the Chamber’s first major in-person event since the beginning of lockdown, the Enterprising Women Awards were finally celebrated on 8 October 2021, with more than 300 people attending a gala dinner at the Nottingham Belfry Hotel.
The
‘By the time the awards came around, I was in a better mindset where I felt like I deserved to be a finalist’ Initially, her imposter syndrome overshadowed the glory of her nomination. “After I was announced as a finalist, for a long time I thought the nomination was a mistake, and I was going to get a call any day saying there had been an administrative error,” says Natalie. “Just from seeing the calibre of the women that were in that category, I thought ‘how can I be part of this?’. It prompted me to do some personal development work.”
Bumps in the road are certainly something Natalie and Adam have become accustomed to since founding Colleague Box – after overcoming pandemic restrictions, the rising costs of doing businesses are now forcing further readjustments. Growing rapidly in the early days meant they had to quickly develop the company's infrastructure to match its progress and enable continued expansion of its product offering. But as Colleague Box enters its third year, Natalie says she is lacking the useful insight a “normal year” would provide.
MAKING ADJUSTMENTS, NOT COMPROMISES
MAIN and Adam Bamford at Colleague Box’s HQ in Derby, named the Smile Factory INSET: Natalie with another award for Colleague Box, B2B StartUp of the Year in the regional finals of the StartUp Awards National Series Colleague Box team
"It helped me to start gaining a bit of self-belief and confidence,” adds Natalie. “By the time the awards came around, I was in a better mindset where I felt like I deserved to be a finalist.”
“The support in Derby has been fantastic,” says Natalie, who is born and bred in the city. “It was overwhelming how many people wanted to get behind us at the start and support this new company. I honestly don’t think we’d be where we are today without people championing us along the way.”
THE BIG INTERVIEW
WINNING THE AWARD has equipped Natalie with the ability to reflect on the challenges in her past and use them to harness how she celebrates her achievements. For the first time, she opened up about the trials and tribulations of her life to the 50 delegates at an International Women’s Day event hosted by the Enterprising Women network in March.Expanding on how her childhood meningitis diagnosis has affected adulthood, she admitted not being able to remember walking down the aisle at her wedding or her children’s first steps. Other major traumas included a physically and mentally abusive past relationship and coming to terms with single motherhood in her early 20s. Rather than let her experiences hold her back, she has turned these into an opportunity to thrive and believes overcoming them such be celebrated equally with success.
It was Kerry Ganly, her account manager at Penguin PR, who recognised something special in Natalie’s journey and persuaded her to share her experience in overcoming meningitis for the first time in an article for the Derby Telegraph in September 2021, in hopes others would engage with her “We’restory.stillpartners with Penguin PR now as the team has been so good at constantly getting our story out to the public,” adds Natalie.
Not only has the Enterprising Women network provided a backbone of support for Natalie’s career, but the Derby business community has rallied around since the very beginning of Colleague Box’s existence.
“People will come up to me and say ‘oh, I saw you in the paper again’ so it’s really helped get our journey out there.” Natalie sharing her story at an Enterprising Women event in March 2022
Even though Natalie had come a long way in her self-confidence journey, she still could not have predicted what happened next.
“I was just in absolute shock at the awards – it is all a blur,” she recalls. “Lindsey Williams did the most amazing speech, saying all these really positive things about the winner and qualities she“Soadmired.Iwassat there thinking ‘wow, this winner truly deserves this’ and I honestly never thought it would be me. I almost fell off my chair when she announced my name.
32 business network September 2022
BUILT ON THE BACK OF LOCAL SUPPORT
One of the key avenues of support came from Derby Swap Shop, launched by the Derbybased entrepreneurs behind Ask the Chameleon, Think3 and HUUB in the first lockdown before going national as The Swap Shop.
“It was an unbelievable feeling – I wish I could bottle it. It will make a big impact for years and years to come. Even though I’m much better handling my imposter syndrome now, when I’m having a bad day, I’ll think about that night and remember someone saw something in me to win this award.”
The online platform allows organisations to exchange free products and services with each other, and it proved instrumental in connecting Natalie with local public relations agency Penguin PR, as well as other opportunities from Lemon Signs and the Chamber. Ask the Chameleon’s founder Rachel Hayward even helped her to write her Enterprising Women Awards application.
Natalie also wants to launch “10am ‘til 2pm” jobs for working parents, while in another nod to her past experiences, her inclusive workplace plans also include creating a supportive environment for SEND adults to flourish. “It would be a dream come true for me to put in place these strategies,” adds Natalie. “What it means is all the things experiencedI'vein my life, personally or in my career, can actually do some good and I can give back to people in my community."
She acknowledges the platform Enterprising Women has provided her to do this.
“It can sometimes be lonely in business,” says Natalie. “It’s great to have networks such as Enterprising Women where you can chat to like-minded women in business to not only ease isolation, but to bounce ideas off each other, chat through common difficulties and hear the stories of others.
“I read another quote that said, ‘stop looking at the past, you’re not going that way’. It made me work on my issues and found that anxiety occurs when you’re either dwelling in the past or worrying about the future, neither of which we have any control over. I started to live more in the present and enjoy the little things in life.”
33September 2022 business network
“Even being a single mum, which I openly speak about now, I previously struggled to open up about. Those two years before I met my husband were some of the hardest of my life but looking back now, it built such a strong bond between myself and my daughter. Why would I hide from that?“When you’re in a place where you feel you have overcome them, it’s important to own the challenges. Those experiences have shaped me and given me the resilience to tackle things that happen in everyday life – because we all come across challenges. Colleague Box is still a work in progress, but I do feel like we are successful, and a large part of that is down to the things I’ve learnt from these experiences.” Since sharing her story, Natalie has applied to become a member of the Public Speaking Association.“NowI've got a taste for it, I want to do more,” she says. “A lot of people say to me I have a really interesting story, so I thought if people want to hear it, why not make the most of “Publicit? speaking is something I enjoy, but also find challenging – it's important to push yourself out your comfort zone.” But it doesn’t stop there, as Natalie wants to use her business to help people in similar situations to where she found herself as a young adult.She has plans to engage with community organisations within the Derby area that work with women to help them access support, with the aim of offering placements at Colleague Box to female refugees and abuse victims.
This year, Enterprising Women turns 25, and Natalie is just one of the many business women who has been supported by the network.
THE REAL POWER OF FEMALE CONNECTIONS
“It’s taken me 25 years to be able to own the memory loss issues and overcome the fear of feeling stupid,” says Natalie, who also won the B2B Services Start-Up of the Year at the national StartUp Awards 2022. “To simply explain to people why I can’t always remember certain details is a big step.
Natalie and host Emma Jesson at the 2021 awards
To find out more about the history of the Enterprising Women network and the women behind it, see p62.
“For years, I blamed myself for being in an abusive relationship, but it gave me an inner strength that has shaped me into a strong independent woman. ‘Public speaking is something I enjoy, but also find challenging – it's important to push yourself out your comfort zone’
“I love that quote ‘surround yourself with women who mention your name in a room full of opportunities’. There’s real power in female connections and I love it when we empower each other.” This mindset was what led to Natalie going from delegate to speaker at the International Women’s Day event at Casa Hotel in Chesterfield, where she offered nuggets of advice to help women in the room overcome trials and tribulations in theirShepast.adds: “Overcoming difficult situations, whether in our personal or business lives, takes monumental effort. I’ve been through quite a lot in my life, and for a long time they would bring me down and make me feel embarrassed or ashamed. But now I’ve taken ownership of them and realised it’s those difficult times that have made me into the strong woman I am today.
MAIN PICTURE: Inundated with orders off the back of fast growth in the pandemic, Natalie and Adam quickly had to scale their infrastructureINSET:Thecouple’s first gift box ready for delivery
THE BIG INTERVIEW
Co-chaired by Jean Mountain and Eileen Perry MBE DL, the Enterprising Women network supports and grows female talent based in the East Midlands through monthly informative events, where delegates can connect with like-minded contacts and learn from keynote speakers, and its annual awards programme – which champions a range of achievements from apprentices to entrepreneurs.Bybestowing the Business Woman of the Year accolade to Natalie last year, Enterprising Women has helped to overcome her imposter syndrome – but the most important aspect of the experience for her, was to see women from all areas of business cheering her along the way.
“With offices in both Derby and Nottingham, our business, people and clients are committed to the East Midlands region. Our legal work revolves around business growth and supportorganisationalinnovation,development,successfulpartnerships,commercialcontractingandsupportinginfrastructuredevelopment.“Itisthisexperience,understandingandknowledgewewillbeusingtoworkwiththeChamberanditsotherstrategicpartnerstodevelopthenetworksandunderstandingrequiredtoregionalgrowth.”
The organisations will collaborate on the Chamber’s ongoing East Midlands as a Centre of Trading Excellence campaign, with Geldards providing the legal expertise to support regional workstreams that aim to enhance business innovation and productivity, urban regeneration and low-carbon economic growth.
The Chamber’s chief executive Scott Knowles said: “As we build momentum in our campaign to shine a national spotlight on the East Midlands as a Centre of Trading Excellence, it’s crucial we have all the ingredients in place to take advantage of economic opportunities that are on the horizon via key infrastructure projects and new pots of funding earmarked for strategic growth. “Geldards will play a crucial role in this respect as it has the legal expertise to support this activity, as illustrated by a fantastic track record of advising some of our region’s biggest organisations on major projects that have business innovation, net zero, place building and economic growth at their heart.” Geldards, established more than 100 years ago and with 320 employees across offices in Nottingham, Derby, Cardiff and London, is a full-service firm providing high-quality and practical legal advice to leading private and public sector organisations including local authorities, public bodies, charities and government agencies, as well as private individuals and families.
Artist’s impression pic of Ilke Homes’ model village ‘A challenge and real opportunity for the region to capture the blend andbusinessinfrastructure,ofinnovationresilience’ WilliamsDavid
• BioCity on the acquisition of the Nottingham-based landmark life sciences incubator that now forms a key part of the new We Are Pioneer Group, creating a fully integrated life sciences platform that is one of the most important in Europe • Clowes Developments on two major multi-million-pound deals to build logistics units across various business parks in the region, which will together bring significant economic benefits and jobs • Derby City Council on all aspects of the £200m Becketwell regeneration scheme, which includes a major residential development, a £45m performance venue and a public open space • Boots on the sale of part of the Nottingham Enterprise Zone next to its Beeston headquarters to housebuilder Ilke Homes as part of its plans to build a “model village” of more than 600 homes on the 43-acre site.
Praise for NBS best practice
The school’s executive dean Professor Baback Yazdani said: “I am especially pleased that the panel noted our commitment to continuous improvement. Our mission is to provide education and research that combines excellence with a positive impact on business and society, and we are always striving to introduce new innovations to achieve this.”
The Chamber and law firm Geldards have announced a new strategic alliance to further strengthen links between regional businesses and bolster the local economy.
Its work in the East Midlands already includes supporting the growth of local businesses and key regional industries, as well as significant infrastructure projects. Expertise in advising public sector clients on major regeneration initiatives will play a key role within the strategic partnership.
The firm is highly ranked in legal directories and supports clients throughout the East Midlands, UK, Europe and Internationally. Recent examples of business innovation, logistics, urban regeneration and place building projects in the East Midlands include advising:
34 business network September 2022 STRATEGIC PARTNERS AND PATRONS
Nottingham Business School (NBS) has been praised for its best practice in personalised learning as part of a reaccreditation by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Part of Nottingham Trent University, NBS was first accredited by AACSB in 2016 and has now been reaccredited for the maximum of five AACSByears.isthe most recognised form of specialised accreditation that an institution and its business programmes can earn. Particular areas of excellence highlighted by the review team include the impact its commitment to personalised learning has on the student experience and outcomes; the school’s connectedness to business and the opportunities this brings for experiential learning and employment opportunities for its students; and its culture of continuous improvement, and a supportive and caring environment for students and staff.The passion of all NBS stakeholders for research impact and sustainability was also noted, along with the impact that its research has on society – such as its work on measuring the impact of Covid-19 on the voluntary sector and involvement in a European project to minimise waste using big data and internet of things sensors.
Collaboration to support trade excellence campaign
Geldards chairman David Williams said: “There is both a challenge and real opportunity for the region to capture the blend of infrastructure, business innovation and resilience, political will and unique central location to drive the East Midlands forward to become a regional powerhouse of productivity and growth for the country.
THE CHAMBER IS HONOURED BY THE SUPPORT OF ITS STRATEGIC PARTNERS AND PATRONS
On board
The Chamber and University of Leicester have joined forces to develop new insights and ideas on the region’s economy. The strategic partnership will focus on economic thought leadership via research, skills data visualisation, business support and an annual State of the Economy Conference. The university will be a headline partner of the Quarterly Economic Survey produced by the Chamber, which gauges the health of the region’s economy across various indicators such as recruitment, investment intentions and cashflow. Data visualisation experts at the university will also help to further develop a collective intelligence skills observatory model that has been created by the Chamber as part of a trailblazer pilot for the Government’s Local Skills Improvement Plan. The work of the partnership will be headlined by an annual State of the Economy Conference held at a university venue.
“Add to this the impact of generally higher transportation costs, and customs and duty requirements at the borders, with the ongoing geopolitical landscape not improving for the foreseeable future, it’s very likely prices will continue to rise.”
Access Training’s new perimeter boards have been unveiled at Notts County Football Club. It signals the latest development of a sponsorship agreement between the Chamber strategic partner and the club, which has been made possible by the generosity of Cadbury. It allows Access Training – one of the East Midlands' top independent training providers – to reach a much wider cohort of the region’s learners and their families. Cadbury donated the advertising opportunity from its partnership with the world’s oldest professional football club as a way in which to recognise the work of this Nottingham-based business in supporting learners affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. with club sponsorship Dan Ladley
Partnership tackles region’s big issues
35September 2022 business network STRATEGIC PARTNERS AND PATRONS
The Chamber’s chief executive Scott Knowles said: “We have made great progress in establishing the Chamber as a credible authority on economic intelligence in our region, and it’s hugely exciting to take this a step forward by partnering with a university that is also doing some brilliant work in this area.
Professor
Professor Dan Ladley, dean of the University of Leicester School of Business, said: “The school and I are looking forward to working more closely with the Chamber through our partnership, on influencing policy and increasing developments in the region.“Iam proud to see the School of Business increasing our involvement with the local area, the business community and the Leicester Innovation Hub to make a positive impact.”
A ‘perfect storm’ of supply chain problems Well over a third (39%) of middlemarket businesses have experienced supply chain issues within the past 12 months – with disruption looking set to continue – according to RSM UK’s latest The Real Economy report. The war in Ukraine, aftermath of Brexit, and soaring cost of energy and manufacturing materials have created a “perfect storm” that is hitting the bottom line of businesses, the audit, tax and consulting services firm said. RSM’s latest research showed unanticipated supply chain issues have led to 44% of costs,theirincreasessignificantexperiencingbusinessesmiddle-marketinoperatingwhile42%saidthey’veseentheirprofitsdecline.Thetopfivesupply chain issues that companies are currently experiencing are delays with orders (48%), increasing costs (46%), missed deadlines (37%), orders not fulfilled (35%) and poor communication from suppliers (34%). One in three (34%) business leaders said the pandemic was the main driver of the supply chain challenges, and about one in five (18%) blamed Brexit for the ongoing turmoil. Kevin Harris (pictured), RSM’s Leicester office managing partner, said: “The first supply chain shocks were most acutely seen in advanced microchips, semi-conductors and high-end consumer goods. But now we have a more general supply chain issue affecting basic necessities too.
“By creating new data-driven insights on topics such as skills, we can continue to address the biggest issues affecting businesses, while a State of the Economy Conference presents a great opportunity to bring together a range of thought leaders, who can inject new ideas into making the small gains at organisational level that will take our region forward.”
(SponsoredTHROUGHBUSINESSFINALISTSIMPROVEMENTTECHNOLOGYbyPurposeMedia) • Banner Jones Solicitors • Glide Group • Scenariio COMMUNITY IMPACT (Sponsored by University of Derby) • Ask the Chameleon & The Swap Shop • Derby Museums • Enthusiasm Trust • Treetops Hospice OUTSTANDING GROWTH (Sponsored by Amazon) • Archaeological Research Services • Baytree Cars • Neos Composite Solutions • Reformed IT • Shed Grounds Maintenance EXCELLENCE (SponsoredCOLLABORATIONINbyEMA Training) • Composite Braiding, Transport Design International and WMG • Cosy Direct and Derby Kids’ Camp • Derby Ram Trail • DHU Healthcare and Joined Up Care Derbyshire • Heathland Grove and The Butler’s Pantry ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT (Sponsored by Futures Housing Group) • Bowers Electricals • Cosy Direct • Devtank • FA-ST Filtration Analysis Services Technology • Tarmac Cement and Lime COMMITMENT TO PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT(SponsoredbyEight Days a Week Print Solutions) • Bam Boom Cloud • BEAR • EMA Training • Midland Lead • UK Asbestos Training Association (UKATA) APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR (Sponsored by Access Training (East Midlands) • Cameron Browne, Devtank • Michael Wheatley, EMA Training • Matthew Wragg, O’Connor and Co Removals • Courtney Bower, Recruit 2 You • Skye Peat, Rural Action Derbyshire ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR(Sponsored by Ryley Wealth Management) • Sarah Stevenson, Astute Recruitment • Vicky Critchley, Bam Boom Cloud • Natalie Bamford, Colleague Box • Jillian Thomas, Future Life Wealth Management • Andy Ball, Great2 EDUCATION AND BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP(SponsoredbyConcertus) • Access Training (East Midlands) • DBC Training • E4E Derby • Futures Group • UTC Derby Pride Park EXCELLENCE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE(Sponsored by Aston Lark) • Anoki • BEAR • Rose Cottage Doggy Day Care • The Accountancy Recruitment Group • The Silver X Group EXCELLENCE INTERNATIONALIN TRADE (Sponsored by RH Automotive) • Aztec Oils • Container Components Europe • Graphoidal Developments • Katapult SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR(Sponsored by Barclays) • Derby Museums • EMA Training • Future Life Wealth Management • MacMartin • White Peak Distillery EXCELLENCE IN (SponsoredINNOVATIONby Rolls-Royce) • Devtank • Neos Composite Solutions • Peak NDT DERBYSHIRE BUSINESS OF THE (SponsoredYEAR by Mazars) • Winner to be announced at awards ceremony Unveiled: This year’s AwardsBusinessfinalists NahirniakLizacredit:Picture Scott Knowles and Lindsey Williams reveal the finalists (Credit: Liza Nahirniak)
36 business network September 2022 CHAMBER NEWS
An overall Business of the Year is also selected for each county from all finalists by Mazars. The Chamber’s chief executive Scott Knowles said: “Despite the challenges of the past few years, our region continues to show its resilience, ingenuity and hunger for growth, and the line-up of this year’s Business Awards is testament to this. The East Midlands is packed with so many hugely successful businesses that are at the pinnacle of their industries, and it’s fantastic to have a chance to put them under the spotlight.
For more information about the Business Awards, www.emc-dnl.co.uk/connecting-you/business-awards.visit
The awards are split into three events for each county and feature 14 categories, ranging from Community Impact and Excellence in Collaboration to Excellence in Innovation and Commitment to People Development.
More than 150 organisations from across Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire have been recognised in the 2022 edition of the annual awards, celebrating the region’s world-class businesses, and are once again delivered in partnership with principal sponsor Mazars.
The Leicestershire Business Awards will take place on Friday 4 November at the King Power Stadium; followed by the Derbyshire Business Awards on Friday 11 November at Reach, Pride Park; and Nottinghamshire Business Awards on Friday 18 November at Nottingham Belfry Hotel.
“Alongside showcasing the great examples of innovation, green growth and global trading – which are all integral to the future economic landscape – our Business Awards also celebrate how our companies support their people, communities and each other through collaboration.”
The finalists of this year’s East Midlands Chamber Business Awards have been revealed.
Finalists were announced at the President’s Summer Reception, hosted by the Chamber at Derby’s Museum of Making on 2 August. They will now have a chance to state their case for winning at a virtual judging day in which they will be interviewed by a panel including sponsors, a Chamber board member and a representative from the Chamber’s senior leadership team.
All events take place from 6.30pm to midnight and include a threecourse meal. Tickets cost £90 for members, with tables of 10 priced at £850 + VAT.
37September 2022 business network CHAMBER NEWS (SponsoredTHROUGHBUSINESSFINALISTSIMPROVEMENTTECHNOLOGYbyAirIT) • Duncan & Toplis • Flame UK • Glide Group • Home Curtains (UK) COMMUNITY IMPACT (Sponsored by Breeze Corporate Finance) • Express Recruitment • From the Heart • Nottingham Forest Community Trust OUTSTANDING GROWTH (Sponsored by Pattersons Commercial Law) • Eight Days a Week Print Solutions • Express Recruitment • Forsyth Barnes • Primary Integrated Community Services • Wren Sterling EXCELLENCE Funerals)(SponsoredCOLLABORATIONINbyMotorcycle • Atom IT Solutions and Southwell Electrical • Nottingham BID and The Nottingham Consent Coalition • Nottingham Venues and University of Nottingham • West Nottinghamshire College and Nottingham Trent University ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT (Sponsored by JG Pears) • Benchmark Consulting Global • Eastwood Hall • Flame UK • Hillside EnvironmentalServices • Murphy & Son COMMITMENT TO PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT(SponsoredbyQTS Group) • EMA Training • Express Recruitment • Ryley Wealth Management • Talk Staff • TTK Confectionery APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR (Sponsored by EMA Training) • Shayla Thorpe, Fidler & Pepper Lawyers • Kane O’Neill, Flame UK • Matthew Hitchcock, Turner & Townsend • Nazareth Ameyaw, Turner & Townsend • Fern Ritchie, Your IT Department ENTREPRENEUR OF THE (SponsoredYEAR by Eversheds Sutherland) • Nathan Adams, BDL Recruitment • Gill Heppell, PerCurra Franchising • Depaq Singh, ProDesign EDUCATION AND BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP(SponsoredbyUniversity of Nottingham) • Access Training (East Midlands) • Air and Space Institute • Futures Group • West Nottinghamshire College and Innovation Nottinghamshire EXCELLENCE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE(Sponsored by University of Nottingham) • Eight Days a Week Print Solutions • Murphy & Son • Ryley Wealth Management • Voldi • Your IT Department EXCELLENCE INTERNATIONALIN TRADE (Sponsored by DHL) • Copley Scientific • Mitchell Diesel • Engineering Consultancy Services SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR(Sponsored by Nottingham Trent University) • Copley Scientific • Express Recruitment • Flame UK • Murphy & Son EXCELLENCE IN (SponsoredINNOVATIONby Geldards) • Batfast • Home Curtains (UK) • Innovation Nottinghamshire (SponsoredBUSINESSNOTTINGHAMSHIREOFTHEYEARbyMazars) • Winner to be announced at awards ceremony University)(SponsoredTHROUGHBUSINESSFINALISTSIMPROVEMENTTECHNOLOGYbyDeMontfort • Consultus International Group • Datalink Electronics • Duncan & Toplis • Glide Group • Lnet Digital COMMUNITY IMPACT (Sponsored by emh group) • CR Civil Engineering • ER Recruitment • Focus Charity • Leicestershire Cares • Leicester Children’s Holidays OUTSTANDING GROWTH (Sponsored by Pharmaceuticals)Morningside • Assured Energy • Cross Productions • Scope Construction • Tonic Weight Loss Surgery • YSA Education EXCELLENCE (SponsoredCOLLABORATIONINbyFraser Stretton Property Group) • BrightER Futures Programme (De Montfort University and ER Recruitment) • British Footwear Association, De Montfort University and Micro-Fresh • Future Net Zero (Assured Energy, Consultus International Group and CBN Expert) ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT (Sponsored by Cambridge & Counties Bank) • Abacus Flooring Solutions • Design Studio Architects • Glide Group • Kiasa Heating UK • Michael Smith Switchgear COMMITMENT TO PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT(SponsoredbyDe Montfort University) • CR Civil Engineering • LikeMind Media • MHA MacIntyre Hudson • Noble Events • Shakespeare Martineau APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR (Sponsored by Loughborough College) • Leah Nelson, Creative62 • Jessica Gould, CR Civil Engineering • Chloe Heard, MHA MacIntyre Hudson • Kai Taylor, MHA MacIntyre Hudson ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR(Sponsored by MHA MacIntyre Hudson) • George Oliver, 1284 • Gurdev Mattu, Fashion UK • Jaz Kaur and Narinder Nijjar, Fraser Stretton Property Group • Sushma Kotecha, Holistic Family Mediation • Maz Patel and Paz Patel, Scope Construction EDUCATION AND BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP(SponsoredbyBlueprintInteriors) • Futures Group • Leicestershire Cares • Leicester College • Loughborough College EXCELLENCE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE(Sponsored by ER Recruitment) • Creative62 • Consultus International Group • Leicester Tigers • Paradigm Wills & Legal Services • Scope Construction EXCELLENCE INTERNATIONALIN TRADE (Sponsored by HSBC) • Consultus International Group • Fashion UK • Unimed Procurement Services SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR(Sponsored by PPL PRS) • Creative62 • Fraser Stretton Property Group • Lawson-West Solicitors • LikeMind Media • Noble Events Excellence in Innovation (Sponsored by RSM UK) • Consultus International Group • Shrinker Digital • The Simulator Company LEICESTERSHIRE BUSINESS OF THE (SponsoredYEARbyMazars) • Winner to be announced at awards ceremony
4. Temporarily reverse the increase in national insurance contributions and put money back into the pockets of businesses and workers
1.measures:Ofgemto be given more power to strengthen regulation of the energy market for businesses
2. Temporary cut in VAT for energy from 20% to 5% to reduce costs for businesses
“Derby and the rail industry go hand-inhand, so it feels like the natural location for a national centre of our railways,” he added.
The region’s economic inactivity rate – measuring the number of working-age people who have dropped out of the labour market – has grown from 21.3% to 21.9% during the same period.
3. Covid-style support by introducing a Government emergency energy grant for SMEs
5. Government to immediately review and reform the shortage occupation The Chamber’s chief executive Scott Knowles said: “The cost-ofliving crisis and cost-of-doingbusiness crisis are two sides of the same coin – without alleviating the financial pressures on our firms, we will have a cost-of-doing-nothing crisis.“The worsening economic projections being published daily mean we can’t afford to wait any longer without practical support measures being put in place as we now risk businesses being forced to scale back or shut down altogether –resulting in people losing their jobs and livelihoods. Now is the time for action.”Scott recognises there is “no easy answer” and said short-term fixes should not be at the expense of the net zero agenda, but called on the Government to introduce an energy price cap for businesses similar to in the residential sector. “This should be frozen at an affordable level, according to size and sector, for at least the next year until a long-term solution can be devised by Government working in collaboration with the private sector,” he “Thisadded.would help give businesses the headroom and certainty they need to invest in their plant, machinery and people – all crucial drivers of productivity improvements, home of Great British Railways. That’s the view of Scott Knowles as he backed the Destination Derby initiative, which has staked a claim to site the headquarters of the UK’s new public body responsible for overseeing its railways. It is competing against Birmingham, Crewe, Doncaster, Newcastle upon Tyne and York, with further cement its position as a national centre of the rail industry, attracting investment that would create new jobs.
Vacancies a ‘ticking timebomb’ for firms
Scott Knowles
38 CHAMBER NEWS business network September 2022
Scott said: “Our region’s businesses are creating plenty of jobs and people are filling them. But the labour market remains incredibly tight – with four in 10 East Midlands businesses now at capacity, the lack of access to people is becoming a ticking timebomb.“Thelack of human resource means they are struggling to meet customer demand and are often forced to turn away new business, which is restricting growth and dampening confidence.”
“Its 200-year legacy as the centre of UK rail remains highly relevant today as the home of venture with Hitachi Rail, alongside the many small businesses that make up the supply chain.“Creating the Great British Railways headquarters in Derby would build on this expertise, further develop the skillsets from its industrial heritage and shine a spotlight on the city’s economic strengths.” Derby just the ticket for rail industry headquarters
An energy cap for businesses must be introduced and prices frozen at an affordable level for at least the next year, says the Chamber – as it warns against a “cost-of-doingnothing crisis” that will result in business closures and redundancies. It believes the cap would give companies the financial headroom to make key investments that will make the necessary productivity gains in order to dampen inflationary pressures until a longer-term solution is found.TheChamber has also joined the British Chambers of Commerce network in creating a five-point plan for Government to support businesses via the following
The East Midlands’ unemployment rate remains the lowest in the UK at 2.4% – having halved in just over a year. The Office for National Statistics’ latest figure for the period between April and June 2022, is below the 3.8% national average. In March to May 2021, it was 4.9% but has fallen almost every month since.
Freeze energy prices for firms or risk business failures, says Chamber
39September 2022 business network CHAMBER NEWS
I’ve had a varied career spanning 30 years, across every sector, but have always had a focus on women’s human rights. The biggest influence in my life was my daughter Halimah who tragically passed away 15 years ago. We’d made a pact to work together to create a business for good once she had graduated, so ever since her passing I’ve been working to fulfil that promise. From our school and college in Pakistan for over 1,100 disadvantaged girls, to the Gift Wellness social enterprise and our period poverty work, where over six million products have been donated to women in crisis, it’s all about empowering women.
How do you incorporate VR gaming technology into your consultancy work?
A recent example I can give to describe the impact of our approach is from Overbury Construction in London, where a team of senior directors along with male and female managers experienced one of our VR sessions. The moment they took off their VR headsets, it was as if a barrier had been lifted for them to begin conversing openly about menstrual, pregnancy or menopause issues at work, and what needed to change.
40 business network September 2022 CHAMBER NEWS
What’s the response to your consultancy within the STEM market so far?
We ask companies to take our simple scorecard so we can assess their needs and suitability for our consultancy service. Alternatively, they can book a free initial consultation with us to go through their specific needs. We interviewed Dr Zareen Roohi Ahmed, founder of FemaleFriendlyWorkplaces.com (FFW Ltd) on her innovation for STEM industries.
Having already built your award-winning business Gift Wellness, what made you go from manufacturing and selling natural products to establishing a consultancy about women’s reproductive rights at work? The demand for our ‘period poverty’ work, especially during the first Covid-19 lockdown prompted my research into how women managed their reproductive bodily functions within different settings, at home, at school and at work. In particular I explored what needed to change in order to create more female friendly workplaces. I realised that the stigma around women’s reproductive systems would prevent any meaningful discussion between employees within a traditional training environment. A female employee for example was never going to speak openly in front of her male colleagues or boss about how she was having to negotiate her work with her heavy periods caused by endometriosis. I thought if only we could put men in our shoes, so that they could empathise with what we go through. So that’s what we did... Using virtual reality (VR) gaming technology!
empathy ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE Unlockadvantagethe Take the FFW Scorecard by scanning the QR www.FemaleFriendlyWorkplaces.comcode
How do companies apply to work with you?
We’ve created VR scenarios based on real life examples of menstrual, pregnancy and menopause events within workplaces. When a delegate puts on the VR headset, they step into the shoes of one of our protagonists and experience what they’re going through during a working day. This creates empathy within the delegate and a first-hand understanding of how their female colleagues navigate their reproductive life cycles, whilst trying to progress their careers, within an environment that’s based on how men’s bodies function.
You’ve just been nominated as a finalist in the Enterprising Women Awards. Where does the passion for your work come from?
Driver on trentbarton’s red arrow service who became only the second ever female recipient of the Top National Bus Driver prize at the UK Bus and Coach Awards 2021, and was awarded a British Empire Medal for her services to transport during the pandemic.
It may be shift work that puts women off but there’s flexibility to swap your days with other drivers.
I didn’t see this as being just for me, but recognising a team effort in keeping the buses on the road and getting people to where they needed to be during lockdown. At the same time, it was nice being chosen as a female bus driver because there’s not too many of us, even though it’s a job all women could do. You must hold a full driving licence for 12 months and pass a medical, then the bus company puts you through all your training.
An outsider on the inside
LIANNE BUSH Professional boxer ranked first in Britain and 16th in the world for her weight division who also works as a customer services team leader at Slimming World, in South Normanton. Although I did martial arts as a child and was always a sporty person, it wasn’t until I turned 27 when I got into boxing. Initially it was hard to compete because there weren’t many women involved. I’m 35 now and coming up against others who will have been training since their teens, but I’m proud of what I’ve achieved.
A boxer, engineer and bus driver were among the guest speakers at Enterprising Women’s event in July, titled “Breaking down the barriers: An outsider on the inside” Business Network gives an overview of their key discussion points.
When I was younger, I wanted to be an architect but ended up doing work experience at East Midlands Railway aged 15, which is when I began considering engineering. I’ve always been interested in cars too but attending an all-girls’ school, I didn’t get pushed into hands-on jobs. I’d encourage girls to look into apprenticeships and work experience to test out what they might enjoy. It’s not just hands-on work but involves computers and could also be product engineering, which is more design-led.
When I got an email from the Home Office saying I had been offered a BEM, I thought I was being spammed.
I was quite lucky to have joined the Navy Cadets as a teenager and served in the Territorial Army for 15 years, which opened me up to a whole new world. It’s important to pass what I know now on to younger people so they can go further.
There’s a lot of adversity in female boxing, which was illegal in the UK until 1998 and has only been in the Olympics since 2012. There aren’t many female boxers on TV and unless you’re fighting on TV, there’s not much money in boxing. You have to be able to sell tickets and if no-one comes to watch, you don’t fight, so there’s big pressure to promote ourselves.
41September 2022 business network
KAREN MILES BEM
On top of this, I train twice a week, work eight hours a day and then look after my daughter Jessica, eight, as well. To get more girls into boxing, we need to put more eyes on the professionals currently competing and encouraging women to just go to a session at the gym because they’ll see how friendly an environment it is.
EVIE SMITH
Men tend to find it very surprising that I work in engineering and I’m the only female in my department, but I’ve had very positive reactions from people who want to push me forward. I’m lucky to have supportive parents.
Blowmoulding maintenance engineer at consumer goods multinational Reckitt Benckiser’s Derby factory who won the Apprentice of the Year category of the 2021 Enterprising Women Awards.
Research is key – speak to people and companies at university open events.
Call for investmentmorein the East Midlands
It is also heavily involved in planning and delivering the speaker agenda and making sure seminars, presentations and keynotes support policy aims, address members’ issues and enable local businesses to feed into lobbying activities. It also helps to facilitate a Question Time-style Q&A panel.
September 2022 CHAMBER NEWS
Next year’s expo takes place at Holywell Park Conference Centre, in Loughborough, on 16 February.
Phil Megson, director of Love Business founder Quiet Storm Solutions, said: “Our Question Time session is always a lively debate. At a time of continued uncertainty, it allows local business to share their concerns directly with local decision-makers. The 2023 event is already shaping up to be a great event, and we’ll be doing all we can, alongside the Chamber and our other event partners, to make it another roaring success.” Stand bookings for the 2023 expo are open and can be secured at www.lovebusinessexpo.co.uk/book-your-exhibition-stand
The Chamber is a long-term partner, having supported the event since it began in 2012 and becoming headline sponsor in 2015.
The East Midlands continues to receive the lowest levels of public funding in England, according to the Government’s latest figures –as two regional bodies call for a renewed focus on levelling up. The region ranked either bottom or near the bottom for spending on transport, health, education and economic affairs –when adjudged per head of population – between 2016 and 2021.The Chamber and East Midlands Councils analysed the Treasury’s latest public expenditure statistical analysis for 2021, which was published in July. The report found there was a particular deficit in transport infrastructure spending at just 64.7% of the UK average for 2020/21, the joint lowest of any UK region or nation. If the East Midlands was funded at a level equivalent to the national average, it would have an extra £1.26bn per year to spend on transport. Over the past 10 years, there has also been a growing gap in transport spend between the East and West Midlands, where spend has been rising. In 2016/17, the £217 per head spend on transport in the East Midlands was 67% of the £322 received by the West Midlands. By 2019/20, this had declined to 61% (£311 versus £506).Although the gap closed to 79% in 2020/21, these figures are skewed by Covid-19 support and it is likely to widen again over the next decade as a result of building HS2 Phase 1 – which connects Birmingham to London – and initiatives delivered by the West Midlands Combined Authority. Chris Hobson, director of policy and external affairs at the 42 business network
The Chamber will return as headline sponsor of the Love Business Expo 2023 event. Thousands of delegates and hundreds of exhibitors are expected to attend the annual showcase of local business success.
Chamber continues as headline sponsor
To read the full Levels of Public Investment in the East Midlands report, bit.ly/EMpublicinvestmentvisit
43September 2022 business network CHAMBER NEWS EAST
Chris Hobson says the East Midlands punches above its weight despite lacking investment
• The East Midlands – which comprises Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire – is a region of 4.87 million people and 367,000 businesses. Total output in 2019 was £130bn, equivalent to 5.9% of the UK economy.
“Despite the lack of backing, we have shown you get more bang for your buck by investing in our region. So imagine what we could achieve by really getting behind what we can making“Devolvingoffer.decision-powersoverhowfundingisspenttolocalareaswillbeanimportantstepintherightdirection, as the analysis also highlights how areas already equipped with these responsibilities are receiving more funding.” MIDLANDS ECONOMY INSIGHTS
“This analysis clearly shows why it’s important for the Government to invest more in our region – not just in transport but other key services such as health, education, economic development and social protection, where we also lag far behind every other region. For all the talk of levelling up, we’re yet to see any tangible proof of action.
• 10.7% of the region’s workforce is in manufacturing, compared to 7.3% for the UK
• The region’s 2022 employment rate of 76% is above the UK average of 75.6%, although median weekly earnings of £573 per week are below the national average of £611 per week
• GDP growth in the East Midlands over the past 20 years has been better than most other regions before the impact of Covid-19, although the 1.8% annual growth is just below the UK average of 1.9%
Chamber, said: “The fact that the East Midlands has consistently delivered GDP growth close to the UK average from very low levels of transport investment is testament to commitment and ingenuity of the thousands of SMEs that are the backbone of the region’s economy. But declining relative productivity means even this level of performance cannot be sustained.
• Productivity has remained below the UK average over the past 20 years – 85.4% of the national level in 2020 – and is declining in relative terms to the UK
The team at Blue Stamp Travel
Success as the Chamber helps kickstart careers
A key part of the festival is
The Chamber has helped more than 160 young people in the region to find long-term employment through its Kickstart Accelerator project. After supporting more than 900 businesses to create over 2,000 placements as a gateway organisation for the Kickstart Scheme – created by the Government to help 16 to 24-yearolds gain work experience after Covid-19 lockdown restrictions resulted in high youth unemployment – the Chamber has continued these partnerships to turn these roles into long-term jobs.
CHAMBER NEWS
Diane Beresford
Leicester Giving Day on Friday 18 November. Organised by Embark CSR, it enabled companies and educational establishments across the county to demonstrate their corporate social responsibility. The deadline for submitting events is Friday 9 September. Visit www.leicesterbusinessfestival.com
44 business network September 2022
So far, there have been 59 new starters in the city of Nottingham, 29 in North Nottinghamshire, 28 in Leicester city, 37 in the Derbyshire Dales and 11 in High Peak. There are a few notable differences to the original Kickstart Scheme. While candidates continue to be people aged 16 to 24 who are on Universal Credit or at risk of long-term unemployment, the positions created under the Kickstart Accelerator are not sixmonth placements to help candidates get work ready – rather, they offer jobs lasting at least a year.The Chamber’s deputy chief executive and Kickstart lead Diane Beresford said: “Kickstart is a true success story for the Chamber. Participating businesses must commit to employing their Kickstart candidates for at least 12 months, which gives young
candidates a significant amount of time to learn and embed the skills needed for a successful career. “The Kickstart Accelerator has allowed employers to not only recruit new candidates where they might not otherwise have had the means to do so, but also keep on candidates after their original Kickstart Scheme placement.”
Natalie added: “Not only have I developed many new skills and abilities, I’ve gained valuable knowledge about the industry. My daily tasks require me to be creative and organised, as well as efficient in completing tasks on time. Blue Stamp Travel is a great company to be part of, and I am thankful for the chance to continue working with them.”
The Kickstart Accelerator – which is a key strand of the umbrella East Midlands Accelerator – is partfunded by the Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund, led by the local authority in each region, and delivered by the Chamber and its partners.
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service will also host a business fire safety workshop, Crimestoppers will address how modern slavery is affecting organisations, and Network Midlands will hold a seminar explaining different types of social engineering attacks. Events across the festival will aim to support and enhance business opportunities locally, and shine the spotlight on the area as a place to invest. There will be a dedicated showcase of how businesses have collaborated with students at De Montfort University.
Cricket club to share story at business festival
Leicestershire County Cricket Club will tell the story of how it went from almost closing its doors to rebuilding its brand and becoming one of Britain’s fastest-growing sports businesses at Leicester Business Festival. The Rebuilding of a Brand workshop forms one of about 80 events, the first tranche of which have now been announced, at the festival from 7 to 18 November. The Chamber is one of the partners.
‘Kickstart is a true success story for the Chamber’
KICKSTART ACCELERATOR CASE STUDY: BLUE STAMP TRAVEL, NOTTINGHAM
Businesses that are unique in their offer often find their early growth is fast paced. So it has been the case for education tour operator Blue Stamp Travel Ltd, which offers language and work experiences abroad for the 16-plus age group. Natalie Fraser, a 22-year-old from Radcliffe-on-Trent, was one of three exceptional candidates taken on by the business under the original Kickstart Scheme. Support from the Kickstart Accelerator means Natalie can be retained on a longer-term contract to continue her valuable efforts in more targeted, and regular, social media and marketing – in turn, reinforcing a strong brand. Steve Manderson, owner and managing director, said: “The direct result of Natalie’s work has been a very tangible increase in the number of direct enquiries as well as improved Google page rankings. Both have led to increased business. “More indirectly, without the added capacity and skills that Natalie brings, I wouldn’t have been able to partner in so many funding bids which, if all were to come to fruition, would have a truly transformative impact on the scale and reach of our business.”
The East Midlands Accelerator project includes five key strands covering net zero, digital transformation, start up to scale up, Kickstart and financial support. For more information about how businesses can benefit, bit.ly/EastMidlandsAcceleratorvisit
45September 2022 business network CHAMBER NEWS
46 business network September 2022 CHAMBER NEWS
47September 2022 business network CHAMBER NEWS
The
Merits of authenticity shared at Annual Dinner
CHAMBER NEWS
September 2022
Sir Jonathan Van-Tam, who became a regular fixture at televised press conferences as deputy chief medical officer for England, was the keynote speaker at the black-tie gala, which was attended by 400 people at Heathland Grove, in Derbyshire, on 30SirJune.Jonathan, who is now pro vice-chancellor for the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Nottingham since leaving the public servant position in March this year, reflected on his direct communication style at the podium of No 10 Downing Street –which often included using football analogies to describe the developing Covid-19 situation. Describing his approach to public communication, he said: “Always be authentic – just be yourself. It never pays to be anything you’re not. “Remember that behind every journalist’s question is a member of the public who doesn’t understand the subject area as well as you do. So it deserves an honest answer and an answer that’s framed in a way for ‘Mr Average’, if you like, to take back into their lives and use it to do something useful.
Members of Generation Next, the Chamber’s network for young professionals Nicole Perkins, of Futures Housing Group, with Future Life Wealth Management’s Keeley Woodcock and Emma Baumback
the Annual
Chamber president Lindsey Williams speaking at Dinner team at Paragon Law
“Too many scientists believe it’s their job to be erudite and scientific in terms of their communication. I see it the other way – success is in not talking science and actually turning it into a lived experience for the person who needs the information.”Lincolnshire-born Sir Jonathan, who played a key role in the acquisition and rollout of Covid-19 vaccines and antiviral drugs, also gave insights into how data was used to make decisions on the UK’s 48 business network
One of Britain’s most highprofile scientists during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic spoke about the importance of being “authentic” while in the public eye at the Chamber’s Annual Dinner.
PA FORUM 12EVENTSSeptember Virtual coffee club 13 September Anxiety and resilience 101 by
Forum roundtable discussion
about the PA Forum,
Sir Jonathan Van-Tam was the keynote speaker Hundreds of guests turned out at Heathland Grove Chamber chief executive Scott Knowles
Giving back to the region’s talented PAs
49September 2022 business network CHAMBER NEWS
find
UPCOMING Nick Elston Services PA To out more contact founder Daniel Skermer on daniel@pa-forum.co.uk or pa-forum.co.uk/membership.visit
response to coronavirus, the absence of key information during the early period of the pandemic and the learning curve taken by the UK.The Annual Dinner raised funds for three charities nominated by Chamber president Lindsey Williams for 2022 – Focus, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust and TreetopsLindsey,Hospice.whois chief executive of Futures Housing Group, spoke about how the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee had reminded her about the importance of celebrating when times are tough. “Life is easy when things are going well,” she said. “It’s how we react and respond to the kinds of pressures we’re facing now that really counts. And businesses have demonstrated true resilience in recent“Becauseyears.of this diversity and strength, I’m confident we can rise to any challenge. And I’m excited about what we can achieve together. This region continues to be the beating heart of British manufacturing – we make and sell more things here than in any other part of the UK. And it’s no coincidence that this Chamber also has one of the largest memberships in the country – there’s real energy and ambition right here, right now and far beyond. Nowhere more so than in the new generation of business leaders.”
15 September Lunch and learn – Managing tasks in Office 365 19 September Discussion on CSR supporters and philanthropic responsibility 27 September Menopause group – “Let’s Keep Talking” 4 October In conversation with Ben Stevenson, chief of staff at Bloom
In July, the Chamber-supported East Midlands Personal Assistant Network merged with the West Midlands-based PA Forum to combine their events, training and networking for personal and executive assistant across the Midlands. Ahead of a planned East Midlands PA Awards in 2023, Julie Pettigrew – a 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award winner and 2022 committee member for the West Midlands PA Awards – reflected on this year’s event. I felt so supported in my personal journey to becoming a winner that helping to raise the profile of the profession, and give back in some way, fills me with a huge sense of pride. To have the opportunity to witness the successes of the next generation of business support professionals and meet such talented PAs who have enjoyed hugely successful careers, pushing themselves outside their comfort zones to receive the recognition they deserve, is what makes my role as a committee member role so rewarding. We were overwhelmed this year by the number of nominations. We have always received a high percentage of self-nominations but we have seen such a shift this year in executives, colleagues and peers taking the time to nominate, and even received multiple nominations for the same person or Oteam.ur10 categories covered a broad range to suit any experience level, including Newcomer of the Year, Administrative Professional of the Year, Project Champion of the Year, Lead by Example Award, and PA of the Year. The awards create an incredibly inclusive community and to continually build the excitement, we hold several nights of celebrations events so the finalists have the opportunity to meet, network and share their experiences in a relaxed environment. This contributed to a roaring atmosphere and show of support for each other on the big night, which took place at voco St John’s Solihull hotel on 15 July. On the night, it was amazing to take a step back and see everything coming together. This is the one night of the year we really do celebrate the achievements of the business support community and it fills us all with the greatest honour and sense of pride to see the support grow year on year. We are really keen to encourage East Midlands EAs, PAs and business support professionals to get involved in the PA Forum in the East Midlands and particularly in working towards the East Midlands PA Awards in 2023.
6 October
Senior Government ministers, leaders from some of the country’s biggest businesses and industry thought leaders took to the stage at the British Chambers of Commerce’s (BCC) Global Annual Conference, held at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London on 30 June, to discuss the three key themes of people, planet and progress. Dan Robinson was in attendance to round up the discussion.
The future must therefore involve “smart contracts”, believes Chris Southworth, secretary general at the International Chamber of Commerce UK. “Step one is to digitise and modernise the trading environment,” he said. “There are four billion paper documents floating through the system at any one time so we’re trying to remove legal barriers. We can’t accelerate UK trade without some mechanism that brings us together. We need to adopt the same standards.”
SKILLS SYSTEM FOR THE FUTURE Providing a skills system that isn’t overly complicated and adequately addresses business needs would go a long way to unlocking labour shortages, believes BCC director-general Shevaun Haviland, adding: “Only then can we drive the productivity we need across our workforce.” Some of the BCC network, including East Midlands Chamber, have played a key role in delivering trailblazer pilots for the Government’s Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), which creates databases about skills availability and gaps while putting employers at the heart of curriculum development.BaronessAlison Wolf, the economist, said: “LSIPs are as much about the process as the product. Creating a structure that means a local business community is regularly in the room with education providers and speaking to them is very important.
FINANCING GREEN AGENDA
A NatWest report published last October found the net zero transition could be worth £160bn to SMEs, creating 130,000 jobs and producing 30,000 new businesses. Andrew Harrison, managing director of business banking at NatWest, said banks are investing in green innovation at macro level but admitted the biggest challenge is connecting funding streams to entrepreneurs with the ideas.
Rebecca Warder, a member of London Chamber of Arbitration and Mediation’s advisory board, remarked how effective dispute resolution was an important blocker for many investors, who need “total confidence” in contracts if they are to offer sufficient backing to big projects.
Meanwhile, Heathrow Airport CEO John emphasisedHolland-Kayetheimportance of the aviation sector to international trade, calling for better air connectivity in the UK.
‘SMART CONTRACTS’ MAKE TRADE MORE EFFICIENT Digital transformation could hold the key to unlocking some of the barriers to sustainable international trade. This was the view of panellists discussing how to develop suitable environmental and societal policies that will make trading more seamless, thus driving growth in the global economy and innovation in green industries.
“Every region in the UK should have guaranteed daily flights into Heathrow – one in the morning and another in the evening – as a minimum if we want to attract investment into Britain,” he added.
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“Our industry needs to catch up,” he said. “We’ve launched green lending products for small companies with amounts as low as £20,000. We’re also working out how savings made in future can be used to determine how we lend now.” Funders of innovation should, though, beware of just backing what they already know, according to Claire Shine, CEO of the Cambridge Institute for Sustainable Leadership. She said: “They’re looking for the unicorns of tomorrow like fintech, but when we look at less ‘sexy’ areas like waste management, it’s a lot harder to get backing. It’s not just about things but innovation in efficiencies and infrastructure that supports change.”
The progress of people and the planet
BCC president Baroness Ruby McGregor-Smith speaks to Heathrow Airport CEO John Holland-Kaye Baroness Alison Wolf Panels at the conference focused on the themes of people, planet and progress business network September 2022
51September 2022 business network CHAMBER NEWS
Amid the current cost of doing business crisis, a move towards sustainable products and services could unlock the long-term efficiency gains that offset rising prices while creating a sustainable East Midlands economy.
Chris Hobson Dr Polina Baranova
Other key findings from the research, which was based on responses from 372 organisations in Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the Chamber’s Quarterly Economic Survey in February 2022, included:
• The proportion of businesses considering green growth as part of their business strategies has more than doubled over the past four years from 9.7% in 2018 to 21.5% in 2022
“While it’s great to see more engagement among SMEs, there remains a significant gap between large and small firms, and it’s slightly concerning to see the number of organisations accessing business support has dropped in recent times.
Dr Fred Paterson, university lead for sustainable business and clean growth, added: “This growth is particularly encouraging in the context of the post-Covid economic recovery as it suggests there has been something of a ‘reset’ in how leaders are developing growth strategies.” is proving fruitful for East Midlands firms
• A rising trend of diversification into green markets, with a four-fold increase (7.5% to 28.5%) in businesses reporting that between 1% and 19% of their turnover derives from green goods and services between 2015 and 2022
• More than 80% of large businesses are actively pursuing green growth opportunities, compared with 61% of medium, 56% of small and 36% of micro-sized companies
Report lead Dr Polina Baranova, a senior lecturer in strategic management, said: “Regionally, as the opportunities for green growth are becoming more pronounced, there is a need for a holistic approach to supporting proenvironmental businesses.”
• Only 17% of firms surveyed said the current policy landscape allows them to fully engage with green growth
The proportion of East Midlands businesses now selling green goods and services has almost trebled over the past seven years, according to new research by the Chamber and Derby Business School at the University of Derby.
The Chamber launched a Sustainable East Midlands initiative in 2020 that aims to educate firms about the importance of embracing lowcarbon business practices in order to cut costs, win new contracts, and recruit and retain the best talent – while also signposting to funding opportunities.Directorofpolicy and external affairs Chris Hobson said: “The net zero agenda presents a big challenge to businesses but there is also a raft of opportunities for those eager to tackle it head-on.
“We need our decision-makers to develop policy mechanisms that are better aligned with regional business interests and specific sector needs in order to intensify engagement, while companies also need financial support to reskill and upskill our existing workforce.”
• The largest demands for skills development are in the areas of energy and resource efficiency, renewables and access to green finance
• A third (33%) did not feel well-informed about the support available for green growth, although this was a drop from 42% in 2021
52 business network September 2022 EASTSUSTAINABLEMIDLANDS Goingwww.emc-dnl.co.uk/sustainabilitygreen
To read the full report, visit bit.ly/GreenGrowthTrends2022
In 2015, 16% of companies in Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire derived turnover from supplying environmentally-friendly goods – such as energy efficiency, waste recovery and eco-food and drink products – but this increased to 45% in 2022 as more firms identified opportunities in the UK’s race to net zero. However, the Green Growth Trends in the East Midlands 2022 study, a unique piece of research of the regional growth trends over the past seven years, found that 35% of businesses still aren’t engaged with green growth – with reasons cited including gaps in information, skills and access to finance.
By embracing sustainability, the business has not only helped protect the environment, but cut costs, drive efficiencies and gain a competitive edge. How important is embracing the sustainability agenda for businesses today? It is imperative that all types of operations embrace sustainability. We are in the midst of a climate emergency and only those who can adapt their business models will have the skills and resilience to prosper. There are now so many drivers for change, be it pressure from environmentally-savvy consumers, increased regulation, or rising energy costs. We all have our role to play in ensuring the UK hits net zero and TDP has made its own pledge to become carbon-neutral.
How does your business model embrace the sustainability agenda?
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The experience reinforced our understanding that we can’t afford to rest on our laurels, so we are doubling efforts in balancing the needs of people, profit and planet. In 2022, TDP is forecast to recycle 500 tonnes of plastic waste and the team is working with sustainability consultancy Wylde Connections to develop a sustainability strategy and roadmap. The next stage in our sustainability journey involves providing a baseline on scope one, two and three carbon emissions to measure progress.
• Driving
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bit.ly/EMCSustainabilitySummit2022visit Dr
What are your future plans for making your business more sustainable? Anna and I recently returned from a trip to Antarctica to see for ourselves the impact human activity is having on marine ecosystems. We joined international scientists on an expedition that involved analysing sea water and measuring levels of micro plastics.
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TDP Ltd Location: Wirksworth, Derbyshire Headcount: 16 people Spokesperson: Rob Barlow (pictured), managing director SUMMIT EnterpriseSeptemberSustainabilitydiscussedFindingsRESEARCHEXPLORESFINDINGSfromtheresearchwillbeattheChamber’sSummitonThursday22attheUniversityofDerbyCentre. The free
In the coming months, TDP will also purchase its first electric vehicle, run a campaign to encourage staff to walk or cycle to work, and continue investing in more efficient manufacturing processes. We will work on achieving ISO 14001 accreditation and use the trip to Antarctica to spread the word about the importance of combatting climate change. event, which runs from 8.30am to 2.30pm, is titled No-one left behind – the journey to net zero. It talks on: growth trends in the East Midlands Dr Polina Baranova, senior lecturer in strategic management at the University of Derby policy affecting regional delivery Sam Lux, net zero strategy directorate at the Department of Business, Energy of the financial system as an enabler to net zero transition Lewis Stringer, senior manager for East Midlands at British Business Bank change through jobs barometer Alison Breadon, markets senior partner for the East Midlands skills required to develop sustainable and Baxter, chief policy adviser at Institute of discussions change event, Fred Paterson, of the University of Derby
How has engagement with the lowcarbon agenda impacted your business?
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ManagementEnvironmentalandAssessment • Panel
and green skills To register for the free
My wife Anna and I established the family business in 1991 environmentally-friendlymanufacturingweed control fabrics for landscapers and gardeners. We later spotted an opportunity to put circularity into practise by transforming plastic waste into quality outdoor furniture. In 2021, that strategy resulted in 8,029 cubic metres of recycled plastic returned to the value chain.
on driving
TDP's founders recently visited Antarctica to understand more about the impact of plastic pollution
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environmentallyfriendly business model – Martin
at PwC • Delivering
TDP uses plastic waste collected from Britain’s recycling bins to manufacture outdoor furniture ranging from chairs, tables and benches to planters and bird boxes. The business is passionate about preventing plastic reaching landfill and damaging Earth’s preciousAccordingecosystems.totheUN Environment Programme (UNEP), eight million tonnes of plastic ends up in the world’s oceans every year, with devastating consequences for marine life. TDP is challenging our take, make, discard culture and basing our business model on supporting the circular economy. In 2021 we redirected 350 tonnes of plastic waste that might otherwise have polluted our rivers and oceans. In doing so, we also supported decarbonisation by keeping resources within the value chain. Last year, we prevented 2.1 million tonnes of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere.
• Duty flexibility: When declaring goods to the GB market, businesses can choose whether to calculate import duties based on either the finished products or on the imported materials, whichever results in the lowest duty liability
WHEN ENTERING CONTROLLED goods into the site, a full declaration must be filed with the appropriate freeport procedure code, which will depend on the reason for entering goods into the site. Controlled goods are on the list of prohibited or restricted goods; goods subject to excise duty; or goods that would be subject to a commercial or agricultural policy measure or an anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty, or safeguard duty if they were declared for free circulation.
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One major benefit is that imported goods can enter a site within the East Midlands Freeport with simplified customs documents. Traders can store or manufacture goods before re-exporting them from the UK without paying customs duty or import VAT, creating savings for exporters. If goods are released into the UK market later, duty and import VAT will only be due at that point, providing a cashflow benefit for businesses.Businesses should beware of various excluded goods that can’t be moved into or stored in the freeport customs site, such as certain animal hair, wool and rough diamonds. Non-excluded goods can be entered into an existing special procedure, such as inward processing or customs warehousing, or a freeport special procedure – a single authorisation process with less onerous declaration requirements. If using an existing special procedure, it’s vital that businesses follow the freeport recordkeeping requirements, and existing authorisation is updated to reflect the addition of a processing or storage site. The site operator must also be informed of entry into and removal of goods from the East Midlands Freeport site.
If entering into free circulation – whereby goods are cleared by customs in the UK and can then be sold or used anywhere in the world, and the trader is authorised for the simplified declaration procedure (SDP) – they will be able to use entry into declarants records to file the declaration, and pay any duty and import VAT due.
The East Midlands Freeport (EMF) is looking to engage with businesses interested in operating a customs site. Firms located within the freeport boundary will be able to obtain customs benefits via the freeport customs special procedure. Freeport customs sites allow access to a range of benefits, including:
• Duty suspension: No duty and import VAT need to be paid on non-GB goods brought into the freeport customs site until they enter the GB domestic market
Non-controlled goods can be declared into a freeport special procedure using the customs clearance request form (C21) and again, must be filed with the appropriate procedure code, depending on intended use, and whether the trader is using the Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) or Customs Declaration Service (CDS). No supplementary declaration will be required by either system, reducing the administration for businesses and Whentraders.removing goods from the East Midlands Freeport site, re-exported goods will normally require an exit summary declaration. Where this is not required, HMRC will need to be informed via an onward export notification.
How businesses can prepare for the East Midlands Freeport
• Duty exemption: Freeport customs sites provide a duty exemption for re-exports of goods imported into the freeport customs site, meaning no import duties or import VAT will be paid.
As the East Midlands Freeport business case awaits final approval, Kevin Harris (pictured), Leicester office managing partner at audit, tax and consulting firm RSM UK, explains how the freeport will operate East Midlands Intermodal Park forms one of the tax sites in the East Midlands Freeport
INTERNATIONALTRADE Opportunities for freeport customs site operators available
The freeport’s customs site operator also needs evidence of where the goods will be exported from.
• Simplified import procedures: Simplified process for declaring goods to the freeport procedure at import, with no supplementary declarations required, reducing administrative cost and burden. Businesses currently located within EMF’s outer boundary interested in applying to become a customs site operator (CSO) are required to receive endorsement from the East Midlands Freeport board before submitting a registration of interest with HMRC.EMF is open to customs sites from a variety of sectors, but is particularly interested to hear from prospective CSOs whose business is aligned within the freeport’s target sectors – advanced logistics and warehousing, advanced manufacturing, low carbon and renewable energy production, and R&D.
For more information on the customs site opportunity, download EMF’s customs brochure at bit.ly/EMFcustomsbrochure or email info@emfreeport.com
Otherwise, a full declaration will be required, HMRC will need to confirm the goods can be released and the freeport’s customs site operator will require evidence of this.
The freeport will comprise three tax sites across the region’s three counties – East Midlands Airport and Gateway Cluster (EMAGIC), in Leicestershire; East Midlands Intermodal Park (EMIP), in Derbyshire; and Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station, in Nottinghamshire.Byencouraging inward investment, it is expected to create 61,000 jobs and generate £8.9bn for the region’s economy.
Introduction to methods of obtaining inward and outward processing relief from customs duty and VAT on international transactions
COST:documentation£270+VATDATE:22SeptemberTIME:9-3.30
Letters of credit COST: £270 + VAT DATE: 19 September TIME: 9-4.30 Detailed guide on how to be proactive in opening a letter of credit, how to work with the documents and present to the bank correctly Customs procedures and
Inward/outward processing COST: £150 + VAT DATE: 20 October TIME: 9-12
Step 5: Instruct your customs broker or agent. When giving customs clearance instructions that are compliant with the CDS, you may need to let them know about any changes to your preferred payment method, incoterms, awareness for all values, location information, and nature of transaction information.
CHIEF will cease to be functionable for imports by the end of September and ChamberCustoms will move all exports over to CDS in the coming months in preparation for the formal closure of the old system at the end of March 2023.
Learn about details such as the critical data required for a customs declaration or the legal responsibilities of the importer and exporter Trade agreements – are the rules in your COST:favour?£150+VATDATE:28SeptemberTIME:9-12.30
ChamberCustoms, the customs brokerage system operated by the Chamber in Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire, is now fully live for submitting customs import declarations within the CDS platform.
Step 1: Register for a Government Gateway account, which is required to access the CDS. Most businesses will already have an account for other taxes.
To sign up, visit bit.ly/EMC-CDS
Time is running out to make the switch to CDS
By Lynne Gill (pictured), senior VAT manager at Shorts Accountants
The next session, which is available to members (costing £150 + VAT) and nonmembers (£210 + VAT), takes place on Tuesday 25 October from 9am to 12pm.
Find out how to make trading easier by agreements between parties that reduce restrictions on imports and exports
Customs Declaration Service now live on ChamberCustoms
HMRC has sent letters and emails to known importers but there are still an estimated 3,500 businesses that have not yet signed up.
Step 3: Register for the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) at www.gov.uk. It is accessed using a company’s Government Gateway ID and password. To complete the form, applicants need an EORI number, unique taxpayer reference, business address registered with HMRC, start date of the company, and national insurance number if applying as an individual or sole trader. It then takes between two hours and five days to access the CDS.
Time is running out for businesses that import goods to sign up with the new Customs Declaration Service (CDS). The existing system for customs declarations, CHIEF, will no longer be available for declaring imports from midnight on 30 September 2022. From 1 October, businesses that have not signed up for CDS will no longer be able to update goods into the UK. The new system will also be compulsory for exports from 1 April 2023.
There are five key steps to signing up and these take time so businesses need to act now to ensure they can continue to import after 30 September.
Delegates will be taken through a checklist of what they must do to prepare for the changes, what the new types of payment methods are and which methods will no longer be possible, alongside a detailed look at the data inputting elements.
Businesses can develop their understanding on these changes by signing up to the Chief to CDS training course operated by the Chamber’s international trade team.
Topics include first steps, community systems providers (CSP), key differences between CHIEF and CDS, movement reference numbers (MRNs), payment methods and data elements.
ITOPS – International Trade Operations and Procedures COST: £1,750 + VAT DATE: 5 October TIME: 9-4 Four-day course resulting in the ITOPS qualification, which is designed to prove that candidates have the necessary skills to accurately operate the administration procedures in international trade Customs declarations COST: £280 + VAT DATE: 13 October TIME: 9-2 Learn how to accurately produce a customs declaration or check one being produced by a customs agent for your company
INTERNATIONALTRADE
UPCOMING INTERNATIONAL TRADE TRAINING COURSES
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Step 4: Choose which payment method to use. Options include a duty deferment account, postponed VAT accounting, cash account, immediate online or telephone banking payment, individual guarantee or general guarantee account.
Businesses need to register to access the systems to: • Submit import and export declarations using software • Get postponed import VAT statements or import VAT certificates • Pay customs duty and import VAT HOW TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE CUSTOMS DECLARATION SERVICE
Step 2: Apply for an Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number, which is needed for moving goods in and out of the UK. To apply for one, www.gov.uk/eori/apply-for-eorivisit
When they launched in 2020, 1,300 students were enrolled with 43 T level providers, but this has now grown to 5,450 students across 102 providers – with expectations of reaching 20,000 students by 2024.
The Chamber’s Lucy Robinson, right, speaks on a panel Chris Hobson addresses the People and Skills Summit audience business network September 2022
56 POLITICS
“These difficulties existed across all roles –from highly skilled down to more entry level jobs,” he said. “With low unemployment figures, high levels of economically inactive individuals and record number of vacancies, the question of how we can best connect the East Midlands business community with those looking for opportunities to enter and grow in the workforce has never been more important.”
SKILLS ARE A PERENNIAL ISSUE
The Government has created a support directory that includes a provider search toolkit, workshops, webinars and an employer support answer bot.
How can skills be improved in
The qualification – taken after GCSEs as an alternative to A levels, apprenticeships and other courses for 16 to 19-year-olds – focuses on vocational skills with a 45-day industry placement alongside classroom learning.
WORK-LIFE BALANCE AND INCLUSIVE WORKPLACES
T LEVELS ON THE RISE T levels have been billed as one of the biggest shake-ups in technical skills education for decades, and take-up is growing significantly.
When Denmark ranked third for work-life balance in the OECD Better Life Index 2018 –way ahead of the UK, in 28th place out of 38 countries – it prompted Nottingham University Business School researchers to seek learnings from the Scandinavian country, which also came second out of 156 countries in a “global happiness race” in 2017 to 2019.
WHY A SHARED SKILLS LANGUAGE IS CRUCIAL
As labour shortages continue to limit the potential of our region’s businesses, the People and Skills Summit, held by the Chamber in partnership with Nottingham University Business School, Morningside Pharmaceuticals and Loughborough College at the Jubilee Conference Centre in Nottingham on 7 July, explored how to overcome these issues. Dan Robinson picks out highlights from the discussions.
Creating a “common language” between employers and educators is crucial to creating a skills system fit for the modernday workplace, attendees at the People and Skills Summit heard. Chris Hobson, director of policy and external affairs at the Chamber, gave a presentation about the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) pilot. Data has been collected from Leicestershire employers to create a collective intelligence skills observatory – a dashboard that can be used by employers and education providers to gain an understand of local skills availability. Exploring how data should now be used to create a skills employment framework that delivers for both education providers and Loughboroughemployers, College principal and chief executive Jo Maher (pictured) said they needed to “get on the same page” when it comes to the skills needed for jobs. She said: “If we can agree on a common language of skills and behaviours needed for a job description then our role is to mould the future employees.”Alongside technical skills, Hiten Bhatt (pictured) wants to see greater focus placed on mindset.Thefounder of training business Be Great Training added: “Actively developing aspiration and the desire to succeed is a massive missing part of the skills agenda.”
A decade ago, the Chamber’s Quarterly Economic Survey showed skills gaps were among the top issues for East Midlands businesses.Notmuch has changed, explained Scott Knowles, with the Chamber’s latest research showing that two-thirds of firms attempted to recruit in the second quarter of the year but 80% of this cohort struggled to fill roles.
The team, led by Professor Tracey Warren, studied the philosophy of “hygge”, which is core to Danish everyday living, happiness and identity.Itfound a notion of “worth and conviviality” in
Jeb Samad, T level employer readiness manager at the Department for Education, said: “They are designed with employers and based on the same occupational standards as apprenticeships.“What’sunique about T levels is it’s 80% technical learning and 20% industry placement, so it’s almost a reversal of apprenticeships. Most importantly, it’s about getting people fit for industry and we see these as complementary to apprenticeships.”Employersare being encouraged to engage with colleges and training providers to create roles that can enable students to develop practical and technical skills.
A new strategy to make the most of the arrival of HS2 in the East Midlands is being developed.
“There should be a greater focus on work-life balance in your organisations because there’s something about long hours we need to reflect on, and why we’re doing it,” she added. “Also, think about who you are including and excluding, and what this means to different groups.”
Talent retention is the biggest challenge for 31% of HR directors, according to data by Workforce Review.Yetmany businesses are sorely lacking when it comes to talent management strategies, believes Danny Kalma (pictured)
“We will be looking at how HS2 can integrate with both existing transport networks and new projects planned for the future, and the potential for development around the proposed station at East Midlands Parkway.”
HS2 will arrive at East Midlands Parkway
Top of the agenda should be ensuring managers are fully trained because of their important role for individual happiness, while other key drivers for retention include job interest alignment, co-worker quality and progression opportunities. Although more than 30% of workers believe they will be working elsewhere within the next 12 months – reflecting a change in attitudes as frequent job moves become more common – he urged firms to still make efforts to keep staff happy.
The former global head of talent management at Panasonic said: “As organisations, we spend a fair amount of time and money on recruiting people, and then investing in people, but very few do so on retaining people.”
START A TALENT RETENTION STRATEGY
“We need to think more about how we get really talented people into our organisation and they can even become a great ambassador for you if they leave on good terms.”
57September2022 business network POLITICS society, where it was frowned upon for people to work long hours and a high proportion of people earned the living wage.
Dr Jane Nolan, an associate professor who leads the University of Nottingham’s Work, Employment and Organisation Research Group (WEORG), believes establishing a work-life balance is a “win-win strategy” for employees and employers, which benefit from having a more committed and productive workforce.
The strategy will also look at the potential for other rail connections to be linked up to high-speed train services, including projects such as the proposed Maid Marian Line in Nottinghamshire.
the East Midlands?
“It comes back to what you want your organisation’s brand to be,” she said. Employees are also becoming increasingly aware of their employer’s values, believes Corrina Hembury (pictured), managing director of Access Training (East Midlands). She said: “The flexibility piece is really important in how we apply this practically in our recruitment processes because sticking to the old-fashioned methods can mean we miss out onFortalent.”Danny Kalman, this could mean placing less emphasis on formal qualifications and previous experience in job adverts, adding: “These are the two most important indicators in recruitment right now but they’re the most unreliable.“Forpeople from deprived backgrounds, don’t just focus on these factors because they could do a brilliant job regardless of their experience or formal education.”
Danny, now chief executive of ella Forums, a community interest company that promotes good and effective leadership in the voluntary sector, added: “We must recognise there’s a generation of the workforce that won’t have the same kind of loyalty their parents maybe had. “My view is if you have someone for two or three years but what they do for you in that time is impactful, then it’s worth investing in them.
The Department for Transport has given the region £1m to come up with detailed plans aimed at maximising the potential of highspeed rail, with trains connecting Birmingham with a new HS2 station at East ParkwayMidlandsandgoing on to Derby, Nottingham and Chesterfield.Workwillbe managed by the East Midlands Development Company (EM DevCo), which has been set up by five local authorities to plan three major development zones – including the area around Parkway.
Jeb Samad says T levels can benefit businesses
Offering greater flexibility is important to enticing people back into employment amid rising trends of people leaving the labour market. That’s the view of the Chamber’s director of resources Lucy Robinson, who says this could involve flexible location, hours and generally responsive to change.
Plans for HS2 originally included an HS2 hub station at Toton, which would have connected to Birmingham in the West and northbound to Sheffield and Leeds.
OPENING TALENT POOLS
Maximising the arrival of HS2
After the Government scaled this back in the Integrated Rail Plan, published in November 2021, it has now requested a revised HS2 Growth Strategy. This will examine the best ways to make high-speed trains accessible to people and communities across the region, and look at the opportunities for economic growth it offers through new development.
Richard Carr (pictured), managing director of EM DevCo, said: “This is a welcome investment by Government, which will enable our transport specialists to develop detailed plans aimed at maximising the connectivity of high-speed rail.
58 business network September 2022 CHAMBERFEATURENEWS CORPORATE CHRISTMAS
CORPORATE CHRISTMAS ‘Try
If you are sending your gifts via the post or a delivery service, make sure you factor delivery time in your initial planning, as Christmas is a very busy time for the postal service. For your most important clients, do you have the option to deliver their gift in person to make it really special? No matter the delivery method, you’ll find that including a handwritten, personalised note will go a long way in helping strengthen personal relationships.
If you do plan on giving gifts to your customers and clients this year, don’t leave it until the last minute. You will need ample time to compare and choose a supplier, and factor in the time it will take for branded gifts to be produced and distributed.Corporate giving should be seen as a business investment. Implement and stick to a budget, as you would for any other investment, and keep the value of the gift in proportion to what your client spends with you. While you’re hardly likely to make a lasting impression or prove your appreciation with a cheap bottle of wine or a generic box of chocolates, it’s also important to make sure you don’t overdo it.
CREATE A CLEAR MARKETING MESSAGE
Many options for corporate gifts will have a dual purpose – a useful item the recipient will appreciate, which also serves as a practical marketing tool for your business. Branded gifts are a popular option, especially around the holidays. By simply adding your logo, icon or a subtle brand message to the gift or its packaging – or even by implementing your brand colours – you are raising brand awareness. But don’t go overboard, or your effort at selfpromotion could distract from the gift itself.
YEAR-ROUND APPRECIATION While it’s natural to think of sending gifts during the holiday season, is there anything that is stopping your business from appreciating your clients all year round? Other cultural holidays can also be celebrated with tasteful tokens of your appreciation, and if you send gifts when your clients least expect it, you’ll certainly stand out from the crowd.
‘Tis seasontheofgiving
PLANNING AND BUDGETING
There is also the option to personalise gifts with the recipients’ logo – a thoughtful gesture that is sure to impress. Finally, adding a call to action, such as a phone number, website or even a social media hashtag is a great way to reach people and make sure you’re remembered.
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Gifts that are seen as too expensive and lavish can imply that you’re trying to buy business from your customer. It’s important to strike the right balance, as there is a fine line between a thoughtful gift and a bribe. MAKE THE GIFT USEFUL A high-quality gift is more likely to be used and kept for longer than a cheaper item – think of how many cheap corporate gifts you may have discarded or lost over the years. With that in mind, it’s important to put some thought into the gift to make sure it won’t just end up in the bin by New Year’s Day. What are your client’s likes and hobbies? Would they value a Christmas hamper over a new sports bottle? People make deeper connections with a brand that speaks to them on a personal level so try to choose a gift that will suit your clients’ needs, demonstrating that you care about them as an individual and value your partnership.
With Christmas shopping season on the near horizon, the festive season offers the perfect opportunity to show our appreciation to those who we care about and value. For businesses, they might want to consider how corporate gifts to clients can help nurture long-standing and valued relationships. But how do you pick the perfect gift? Laura Blake explores. to choose a gift that will suit your clients’ needs, demonstrating that you care about them as an individual and value your partnership’
CONSIDER HOW YOU SEND THE GIFT
You can include in your disciplinary policy the fact that you can take action for any lateness or non-attendance after a Christmas party, and staff should be reminded of this. As an employer, you can make deductions from employees’ pay if they turn up for work late the morning after the company Christmas event – providing the right to make deductions for unauthorised absence is written into the employment contract. If an employee misses work due to legitimate illness, you should follow you usual attendance management policy and procedures.
funFestiveorHRnightmare?
DO I REALLY NEED A POLICY ON WORKPLACE SOCIAL EVENTS?
IS IT APPROPRIATE TO DO AN OFFICE SECRET SANTA?
CAN I MAKE ATTENDANCE AT ANY CHRISTMAS EVENTS COMPULSORY?
It’s a nice gesture to bring the spirit of giving into the workplace and a Secret Santa gift-giving ceremony is a great way to involve the whole company. However, there are a few things to consider.
When organising the office Christmas party, an employee will have to face a minefield of HR challenges to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their staff. Business Network explores some of the questions an employer should ask before hosting a Christmas bash.
WHAT IF AN EMPLOYEE COMES TO WORK LATE OR NOT AT ALL THE DAY AFTER THE CHRISTMAS PARTY?
Your first step should be to issue a statement to all employees ahead of a Christmas party or similar work-related event. This should not simply outline the where’s and when’s of a party, but also remind staff of conduct matters – what could constitute as inappropriate behaviour and what the penalties for such behaviour will be. A dress code is always a good idea to keep things professional. Additionally, make sure all managers familiarise themselves with the workplace policy on work-related social events.
Firstly, review your company’s gift-giving policy and make sure all staff are aware of it – and if you don’t currently have a bribery policy implemented, now would be a good time to have one written up. It is important to remember that in a work environment, gifts cannot be inappropriate or offensive. It’s also wise to include an upper spend limit on any gifts exchanged to keep it fair.
It is prudent to allow employees to decide themselves if they wish to attend a Christmas party or group event. The chosen date may fall on a non-Christian holiday, or staff may simply find that in the run-up to Christmas, they are simply too busy with other commitments to attend. Additionally, making attendance compulsory means employees may be entailed to claim the time back too.
60 business network September 2022 FEATURE CORPORATE CHRISTMAS AS AN EMPLOYER, WHAT SHOULD I DO TO PREPARE FOR THE FESTIVE SEASON?
Yes, regardless of the size of your organisation. Employers should always maintain a policy on workplace events because they have a duty of care towards their staff, and this will ensure all staff know what appropriate behaviour is in such settings. The Equality Act 2010 makes employers liable for acts of discrimination, harassment and victimisation carried out by their employees, unless they can show they took reasonable steps to prevent such acts.
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TODAY’S CHAMBERS OF commerce network represents modern-day Britain, with businesses run by and employing people from all walks of life. But back in 1991, when Jean Mountain first joined what was then known as Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce, it was a different story. “I became involved after attending ‘meet the buyer’ events run by the Chamber and I’d often find myself as the only woman there,” says Jean, who at the time ran a factory for Supreme Rubber Stamp Company, in Huthwaite.
“So at every awards we play their song and stand in the correct line-up to keep the act going. When we’re on stage, we’re so excited to be there and just bounce off each other.”It’soften remarked by awards guests that they carry the “warmth” of the Geordie duo, while Chamber chief executive Scott Knowles once told Eileen and Jean they “light up the room” whenever they go on stage. Jean, or Declan Donnelly, adds: “I call her ‘Ant MBE’ and she calls me ‘Dec HRH’. “It’s an affectionate nickname that reflects our personalities and the great relationship we have built over the years.”
The business leaders have earned the nickname Ant & Dec over many years of hosting networking lunches, inspirational speaker workshops and the Enterprising Women Awards, which continue to be one of the biggest events in the Chamber calendar.
When the duo behind Enterprising Women walk on to the stage at the Mattioli Woods Welford Road stadium at the end of this month for the network’s annual awards, a longstanding tradition dictates they will be greeted by Let’s Get Ready to Rhumble.
This year’s Enterprising Women Awards, taking place on 30 September, will be an extra-special occasion as the Enterprising Women network celebrates its 25th anniversary. Dan Robinson sits down with co-chairs Jean Mountain and Eileen Perry MBE DL to find out how it started, grew and became one of the Chamber’s most important initiatives in connecting people.
Eileen Perry will stand on the left, from the audience’s perspective, with Jean Mountain on the right, as per their routine for public appearances.
If it sounds a bit like a particular famous TV presenting double act that also performed musically as PJ & Duncan, then it’s supposed to.
“We were at an event a few years ago when someone said to us ‘I absolutely love the double act – this is better than watching Ant & Dec’,” says Eileen, who takes on the Anthony McPartlin persona as the taller of the two.
A legacy that’s lasted for 25 years Eileen and Jean are nicknamed Ant & Dec for their double act on stage
62 business network September 2022 FOCUS FEATURE ENTERPRISING WOMEN
the 2022 International Women’s Day event
Members of Enterprising Women perform the Venus gender symbol at
63September2022 business network ENTERPRISING WOMEN FOCUS FEATURE
‘In a room of about 60 businesspeople, there were only a small handful of women’
Sue invited Jean to join a members’ council for businesses in Ashfield, one of five districts within Nottinghamshire Chamber. Still in her late 20s, she eventually became president of the council and the only woman on the Chamber’s 20-strong board.
“It’s only a few decades ago but everything was very much male-orientated back then.” It was at one of these events where Jean met Sue Nattrass, who worked in the Chamber’s membership team, and they began a friendship that lasts to this day.
“It was tough but we knew it had legs,” she says. “After a couple of years, we were written into the Chamber’s articles of association, which gave us formal validation, and it gained momentum from there with lots of different events.”
Following a successful career in recruitment, Eileen founded her own Leicester-based agency ER Recruitment in 2013. She was keen to stay in an industry she loved while enjoying the flexibility to support charities and theThecommunity.business covers a wide range of sectors, from entry level to C-suite roles, with Eileen saying clients appreciate her team’s ability to understand their culture andAsDNA.aresult, ER Recruitment, which also works with them on staff retention and succession planning, has a 2:1 success rate for interviews it arranges.Eileenlives in Leicester with husband Chris and daughter Amelia. In 2018, she won both the Niche Businesswoman of the Year and Leicester Mercury Businesswoman of the Year, but her crowning glory came when she was awarded an MBE for the promotion of female entrepreneurship in November that year.
“I still don’t know who put me forward, but it was such an incredible moment of my life,” says Eileen, who is also vice-chair of the charity Hope Against Cancer and pro vice-chancellor at De Montfort University. “I was given the award by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace and he knew so much about my career and the charities I worked with. He said something that will stay with me forever – ‘if everyone does their bit, it makes a huge difference’.”
Eileen has been on the East Midlands Chamber board since 2016 and was president in 2020/21, during which time she raised £12,000 for her three chosen charities –Chesterfield Samaritans, Help the Homeless Leicester and Nottinghamshire Hospice.
“It was humiliating and it just highlighted how in a room of about 60 businesspeople, there were only a small handful of women. I spoke about this to Sue, who had recently been shaken by an attack in a car park near her office, with her handbag stolen. We agreed we needed to set up something specifically to help women.”
Enterprising Women to grow the network in recent years. He is pictured with Jean Mountain, Eileen Perry MBE DL, Lindsey Williams and Ian Morgan OBE
One of the highest acknowledgements for the network was being asked by the Deputy Prime Minister’s office to talk at a Westminster event because of its success in championing entrepreneurial women. Back at Chamber HQ, this helped to raise its profile and its own lunchtime networking events programme welcomed an increasing number of guests. “We kept it quite formal, with traditional business speakers, because we wanted it to be taken seriously,” says Jean. “The calibre of attendees improved over the years, but the main demographic tended to remain lawyers, accountants and other professional services employees for a longWhentime.”Sue moved to another job, her spare time receded and eventually made the “heartbreaking” decision to step back from Enterprising Women.
Chamber chief executive Scott Knowles (left) has supported
Although Jean was left on her own to run the network, she received support from dedicated facilitators within the Chamber team, including Scott – who she met when
Supported by a director at the Chamber in getting the project off the ground, Enterprising Women began with an event attended by 40 people at the Snipe pub, in Suttonin-Ashfield. In light of Sue’s attack, a female police officer talked about health and safety for women.
64 FOCUS FEATURE ENTERPRISING WOMEN business network September 2022
The duo set up the Enterprising Women network in 1997 after realising they were often on the outside looking in despite their influential status. Jean explains: “I had been at a Nottingham City Business Club networking event, where I was wearing a black trouser suit with a white shirt, and another member gave me a glass to take away because he assumed I was a waitress.
EILEEN PERRY MBE DL
One of the first things she did was join the Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce, which introduced her to Integra, the network for women in business.
“The magnitude of an awards applicant and winner like Hilary made us realise these awards really did have potential and it gave us gravitas across the Chamber.”
From there, the venues got bigger and, in 2013, the competition got stronger – as the geography expanded into Leicestershire.
A pivotal moment in solidifying its future success was borne out of the idea to create the Enterprising Women Awards. Beginning in 2007 as a relatively low-key affair coinciding with a Chamber lunch event, it eventually became a gala dinner in its own right. Its credentials were bolstered when Hilary Devey CBE, the Burton-based CEO of freight firm Pall-Ex Group and panellist on Dragons’ Den who sadly passed away in June this year, was crowned Business Woman of the Year in 2011.
EILEEN PERRY MBE DL – or simply Eileen Richards, as she was known at the time – was just 30 when she was appointed managing director of a national recruitment agency. It was an industry she had fallen into seven years earlier after an agency she worked with to find a new job told her she’d be a natural in recruitment.
The “imposter syndrome” she had felt as a young leader meant she was keen to help other women “recognise and appreciate their potential”. The confidence she had gained from the role led to her joining the committee—which also featured the Chamber's executive support manager and company secretary Lesley Young—in 2010 and chairing the group a year later after being unanimously voted in.
A true entrepreneur, there have been other director and silent partner roles across numerous businesses, ranging from florists and beauticians to property and cleaning firms. She has also been director of East Midlands Business Crime Forum, representing 80,000 businesses.
Eileen was months away from founding her own Leicester-based business, ER Recruitment, but the extra demands it brought on her time didn’t prevent
Jean explains: “It was a key moment because she was a famous businesswoman in the East Midlands who had thrived in a male-orientated industry.
Keynote speakers are invited to the monthly Enterprising Women events 65September2022 business network ENTERPRISING WOMEN FOCUS FEATURE
Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chambers merged in 2005, when he was director of operations.
“I got involved because I had never been to anything that promoted or recognised women in business,” says Eileen.
“I remember going to my first board meeting when I was still quite young and not knowing how to behave. I hadn’t spoken at an event before either.
JEAN MOUNTAIN
Jean was just 23 when she was tasked with running a factory for Supreme Rubber Company in the early 1990s.
It marked quite the rise in stature for someone who had joined the Huthwaite-based company initially on work experience, and she later became a partner in the business.
She recalls: “That was tough at first, overseeing men who were old enough to be my dad or granddad, and they gave me the nickname ‘Miss Fancy Pants’ because I wore business attire and heels. But having a strong personality helped – if you set your stall out early, you will gain the respect, and they became like family to me.”
“Scott became a key ally in growing the network further,” says Jean, who remained a board member.
Jean, who lives in Mansfield Woodhouse with her husband Martin, was a member of the Chamber board across its various guises for two decades and president in 2015/16.
In January this year, she was named the Businesswoman of the Year at the Nottinghamshire Live Women in Business Awards for “fighting tooth and nail to break the glass ceiling” for other professional women.
On 8 March 2013, International Women’s Day, a joint conference was held by Enterprising Women and Integra as the groups partnered for the first time ahead of another merger between Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce, and Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce, to create East Midlands Chamber.
It was sold in June 2019, with Jean switching her focus to several other ventures, including TDR Accessories, a handbag business born out of a hobby with concessions in hotels and beauticians.
She also bought a women’s clothes shop in Mansfield Woodhouse and renamed it The Dressing Room, since opening another branch in the Maltese island of Gozo.
“When I looked back, I realised all these things can hold women back so I wanted to help others. We would have lunchtime events with inspirational and motivational speakers, and we went from strength to strength.”
A joint awards ceremony was held later in the year once the organisations had fully integrated.
The company employed 24 people at its peak, supplying firms including Toyota and Rolls-Royce with personalised rubber stamps and marking products.
Eileen adds: “We’ve seen more women stepping up to management and director level, and there’s more people applying for the awards who aren’t just senior businesswomen.“Butatthesame time, there are still lots of women who don’t feel they are quite ready, think they’re not good enough, or believe their family situation is stopping them from doing things. There’s been good progress in recent years but there’s still a lot to do.” team at EMA Training attending the Enterprising Women Awards 2021
“We got on very well and our relationship has blossomed over the years.”
“The Chamber support was valuable and when I met Eileen, I was very happy to work with her because I could tell she had the right mentality and drive. “Having ran Enterprising Women from 1997 until 2013 –including a long time by myself – it was a big thing to have a co-chair, but I was also a little bit burned out and it needed another perspective to give it fresh impetus.
September 2022 FOCUS FEATURE ENTERPRISING WOMEN
She says: “I was initially keen to keep the name Integra but, having seen the success of what Jean had built with Enterprising Women and the reputation it had for women in business, it was clear this was a very established group. We could have been in competition with each other but we thought about what was best for the Chamber and the women involved. So we had a couple of conversations about how to move forward and decided to do it in partnership.”
For Jean’s part, she was grateful for the support having been a solo driver for the network ever since Sue stepped away.She says: “It gave us the chance to reflect on how far we had come in the 16 years until that point.
her from wanting to continue her work with the network –backed by the encouragement of others, including Scott when he became chief executive in 2015.
THE ENTERPRISING WOMEN Awards have become one of the biggest events in the Chamber calendar, being held at venues across Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire with hundreds of people in attendance eachTheytime.are supported by a list of loyal sponsors, fronted by long-time headline partner Futures Housing Group. The list of winners over the past decade includes former Experian CEO Charlotte Hogg, who also spent time as the 66 business network
Helping women to “grow, connect and succeed” is the motto for Enterprising Women, reflecting precisely how the network aims to support members. Eileen says: “As businesswomen, we live by these values. I would have had more self-belief if I had an organisation like this to join, with all the training and learning benefits.“It’salso about helping people to understand their purpose – what they want out of a role, whether it’s short or long term. Thinking about what they aspire to be and then gaining an understanding from successful businesswomen how they have got to their level. Enterprising Women isn’t about the fall of men, it’s about the rise of women. We have a lot of men and women who support us – we’ve had roundtables where women have actually said it’s men who have been the most supportive to them. “Jean and I are delighted to have Ian Morgan OBE, the outgoing chair of the Chamber board, as our Enterprising Women ambassador.” She believes it is vital to support women with challenges many frequently encounter, such as a lack of confidence, while also providing mentors and role models for younger individuals to look up to. Recalling her first job in the 1980s at a photocopying sales company where she learned every job from office junior to manager, almost all the senior leadership roles were held by men. “Even back then, we were talking about how there weren’t enough women in management jobs,” she says. “That’s because there weren’t many women applying for them – and this is where the imposter syndrome comes from that we’re still talking about now.” Even when it comes to applying for the Enterprising Women Awards, she has noticed a reluctance from people to put themselves forward for recognition.
WHY ENTERPRISING WOMEN IS IMPORTANT
The
ENTERPRISING
• Apprentice of the Year (Sponsored by EMA Training)
September2022
• Female Entrepreneur of the Year (Sponsored by Midlands Engine Investment Fund)
The Chamber has also evolved during the 25 years of Enterprising Women, with former award winner Elizabeth Fothergill CBE being appointed the first female president in its history in 2014. Jean was the second and the past three presidents – Dawn Edwards, Eileen and incumbent Lindsey Williams – have also been women.
Awards host Emma Jesson speaks to the team at TTK Confectionery on stage during the 2020 awards
• Team of the Year (Sponsored by PPL PRS)
Eileen adds: “We run Enterprising Women alongside our busy business lives because we really want to empower women. It’s our passion and to know we’ve made a difference gives us a lot of satisfaction. “It’s important to keep the network going for the younger generation coming through and we want to see it continue for a long time to come.”
• Social Commitment Award (Sponsored by She Inspires)
The 2022 awards, hosted in partnership with headline sponsor Futures Housing Group, take place at Leicester Tigers’ Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium on Friday 30 September.
‘We’re breaking the glass ceiling and never has this been more evident than with the number of female presidents we’ve had in recent years’ Jean says: “We try to keep the balance between formal and informal events because it encourages different businesses to come along. “For a lot of small businesses, Enterprising Women is their first experience of the Chamber and many have joined as members as a result, so there continues to be a really fruitful symbiotic relationship.”
It’s not just the business elite whose achievements are heralded, with new categories created to recognise the efforts of women at various points of the career ladder – from apprentices and employees to teams and small businesses.
The gala dinner, hosted by TV presenter Emma Jesson, features a three-course meal and entertainment.
Jean believes it is not just a sign of the times, but a testament to the extent of the female business talent that exists in the region. “We’re breaking the glass ceiling and never has this been more evident than with the number of female presidents we’ve had in recent years,” she “Whenadds.Ilook back to 1997, I would never have dreamed of this happening. We are both from humble backgrounds and it’s been very rewarding to lead this group of amazing women. The dynamic has changed so much and there’s been some fantastic ambassadors for enterprising women in the presidency and our awards.”
• Outstanding Contribution to Work in STEM (Sponsored by Pick Everard)
• Lifetime Achievement (Sponsored by Paradigm Wills)
Meanwhile, the regular events programme —like the awards, these are organised by the Chamber's commercial events manager Linsey Hardy —has evolved. It now combines the signature motivational speaker workshops –with keynote speakers in recent times including Mansfield Town CEO Carolyn Radford, Twycross Zoo CEO Sharon Redrobe OBE, and dietary pioneer-turned-TV personality Rosemary Conley CBE DL – and informal socials. More recently, training courses have been launched.
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A special edition of the Enterprising Women Awards will be held this month to mark the network’s silver anniversary. Three new categories have been added – Diversity Champion, Rising Star and Lifetime Achievement – to take the number of awards to 11, comprising:
A NIGHT OF CELEBRATION
Individual tickets are priced at £75 + VAT for Chamber members and tables of 10 cost £700 + VAT. To book a place, visit bit.ly/EWAwards22 business network
After finalists were announced during the network’s summer social in June, they had the chance to pitch to a judging panel comprising members of the Enterprising Women team, Chamber board of directors and category sponsors, which will determine the winners.
WOMEN FOCUS FEATURE
• Rising Star (Sponsored by The Turnaround CEO)
• Diversity Champion (Sponsored by Breedon Consulting)
• Small Business of the Year (Sponsored by Unique Window Systems)
• Business Woman of the Year (Sponsored by Futures Housing Group)
Bank of England’s chief operating officer; Pennine Healthcare chair Elizabeth Fothergill CBE, who is now LordLieutenant of Derbyshire; and Andrea Pinchen, CEO of Leicester Tigers.
• Female Employee of the Year (Sponsored by Smallman & Son)
68 business network September 2022 CHAMBERFEATURENEWS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
‘If It can be awful to have to look a specific way, especially when you’ve got the skills and experience required to do the job’
By Danielle Spencer, owner and director at Hamiltons
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FEATURE 69September2022 business network
There can be a lot of negativity around uniforms and dress codes – some members of staff or organisations feel we should dress how we’re comfortable and in the current workplace culture, it’s fantastic that organisations are now starting to consider employees’ preferences.
I learned this first-hand working for one of the biggest furniture retailers in the country some time back. I’m heavily tattooed and they all had to be covered to achieve the desired look of the company. So no matter the weather, I was stuck in long sleeves, trousers or thick tights – it was just the worst.
Why workwearcorporateisimportantforyourteam
This company has since reviewed its dress code to be more inclusive and it has not had any negative effect on business, possibly quite the opposite – customers feel more at ease, staff are happier, and while it might seem like a small change, there is probably quite a substantial effect to employee wellbeing and customer satisfaction.
It can be awful to have to look a specific way, especially when you’ve got the skills and experience required to do the job in question – it shouldn’t matter too much how we look.
COST Work clothes can be expensive. Lots of workplaces will have dress codes, and it’s the employee usually left footing the bill. We’ve seen various reports saying employees spend up to 10% of their income on clothing for work, which can be a considerable deduction from any salary. A company purchasing for numerous staff members can make fantastic savings that just wouldn’t be available on single-item purchases.
FEATURE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
With this in mind, it might seem like there’s not much place for unforms or dress codes anymore, but it doesn’t have to be suits and boots, and uncomfortable staff. There are so many great reasons to look at branded workwear for your business, and the ranges available mean there’s something to suit everyone.
MARKETING Uniform can be a great way to further build you brand and along with it comes awareness. We’ve all seen a McDonald’s employee on their way to or from work, and maybe we went to grab a Big Mac the next day. Not to say every uniform should have this effect, but it’s a nice addition to keep your brand’s message clear and concise across all platforms. After all, who doesn’t want an almost cost-free walking billboard?
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HAPPINESS Recent studies by the University of Oxford have shown that happier employees are 13% more productive. What’s this got to do with clothing? Well, while it probably won’t be the crux of your staff’s satisfaction in the workplace, comfortable clothing should help them feel more at ease and confident. A shared uniform can assist with making them feel like part of a team – your team – which can only be great for your company culture, whether your focus is on productivity, customer opinion or attracting new talent.
RANGE There are so many options available when selecting a uniform for your team – no more scratchy shirts, or one size fits all. You will find brands to cover every style you can imagine, with matching shirts, tees, hoodies – you name it. You can have a comfortable branded polo for every day in the office, and a complementing shirt for important meetings.
71September 2022 business network PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FEATURE
Some businesses use a business coach. Others may be considering the benefits while others may not have any idea what it is all about. So what is business coaching? And how can it help? Business Network explains.
Business coaching is a process that can help take a business from where it is, to where it wants to be. A dedicated business coach will assist and guide the business owner in growing the company, mapping out the best routes towards success and guiding them in the right direction. A business coach differs from a consultant – while a consultant will scope a project, consider alternatives and implement the required actions themselves, a coach equips the business owner to do it themselves by teaching them new skills, and providing knowledge of the market and the journey ahead.
How a coach could help drive
72 business network September 2022 FEATURE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Focus your attention A business owner’s time and attention can be stretched in so many directions that it is hard to focus on the key tasks that relate to your business goals. A business coach will help you to organise your tasks and schedule, leaving your company well organised and efficient, and giving you ample time to work on the next stage of growth.
We all know that old saying, “two heads are better than one”, but a business coach can go far beyond that.Agood business coach will explore your ideas from every angle, question your thinking, and provide alternative answers. This can often lead to finding superior or innovative solutions you may not have previously considered.
your business‘Adedicatedbusinesscoachwillassistandguidethebusinessowneringrowingthecompany’
While a business owner no doubt often relies on the support of family, employees and friends, ultimately they will all have some form of vested interest and so it can be difficult for them to be impartial. That’s where the business coach comes in. A coach can provide a confidential, impartial sounding board to help you solve the challenges ahead. Additionally, you can rely on them to react to your ideas and methods honestly and tell it straight, especially if you are doing something incorrectly or are working on a process that could be improved.
Make you accountable Sometimes it’s hard to keep promises, especially those you have made to yourself. A business coach will challenge you to achieve the objectives agreed and help you to channel your efforts towards achieving them.
Push you outside your comfort zone When there are difficult decisions to be made or tasks to be completed, it’s easy to fall back into the comfort zone where you feel safe and secure. For many business owners, this means working in yo ur business when you should be working on your business.Abusiness coach will guide and support you beyond your comfort zone and push you to new heights, while also helping you develop your staff, allowing them to competently stand on the frontline in your place while you’re working on growing the business from behind the scenes. Two heads are better than one Brainstorming ideas with your business coach can add a different perspective to your way of thinking.
THE BENEFITS OF BUSINESS COACHING: Impartial advice
Ask any successful athlete what factors contributed to their success, and most – if not all – will cite their coach as a primary influence. So why should your business be any different?
73September 2022 business network PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FEATURE T: 0115 947 5662 E: enquiries@higson-accountants.co.uk W: higson-accountants.co.uk
Ten awards were handed out at the event hosted by the Chamber, which launched the Generation Next network two years ago to bring together young professionals and business leaders aged 18 to 35. Keeping in step with the young theme, street food, cocktails and a DJ set from BeauJack formed part of the informal celebrations at Bustler Market, in Derby, on Thursday 14 July for the first in-person Generation Next Awards, held in association with headline partner the University of Derby.
From a trio of young entrepreneurs behind a rapidly-growing digital marketing start-up to a communityfocused sales executive, some of the region’s top young business talent was recognised at the Generation Next Awards 2022.
Emma Roberts, who went from being a volunteer at Derby Community Parent Programme CIC to managing director, won the Future Leader Award. She led the not-for-profit – which provides essential, and sometimes life-changing, support for expectant and new parents facing a range of challenges in their transition to parenthood –through a challenging pandemic period to secure long-term funding. Emma also broadened its engagement work to include the impact of maternal mental health, loss and trauma.
74 TRAINING & EVENTS business network September 2022
Speaking after winning the award, she said: “It means everything to have won this award and I feel so proud of our team. Over the past few years, I’ve personally been through quite a lot and kindness goes a long way, which is something that hopefully goes throughout our organisation.”
Jack Hall (centre), from Scenariio, picks up the Sustainability Award with presenter Kaylee Goulding and Shelley Harvey from MHA MacIntyre Hudson Taylor Gee (right), of 360 Autoleasing East Midlands, holds the Volunteer Award alongside Deviesh Raikundalia, from RSM UK Emma Roberts won the Generation Next Future Leader award Fred Gough, of the University of Derby, pictured with Emma Baumback, from Future Life Wealth Management, after winning the Diversity and Inclusion Award
in celebration of young talent A night to remember
75September 2022 business network TRAINING & EVENTS Awards host Kaylee GENERATIONGolding NEXT AWARDS •WINNERS2022FUTURELEADERAWARD(SponsoredbyUniversityofDerby) Emma Roberts, Derby Community Parent Programme CIC (Derby) • BREAKTHROUGH AWARD (Sponsored by Nottingham University Business School) Art Lindop, Kieran Flynn and Alex Mills, Alphageek (Derby) • CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD Ben Wilkinson, MHA MacIntyre Hudson (Leicester) • APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR (Sponsored by Loughborough College) Ruby Birks, Purpose Media (South Normanton, Derbyshire) • DIVERSITY & INCLUSION AWARD Fred Gough, University of Derby (Derby) • ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR (Sponsored by Fraser Stretton Property Group) Art Lindop, Kieran Flynn and Alex Mills, Alphageek (Derby) • EXCELLENCE IN INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY AWARD (Sponsored by Hardy Signs) David Maran, MP Digital (Nottingham) • SUSTAINABILITY AWARD (Sponsored by MHA MacIntyre Hudson) Jack Hall, Scenariio (Derby) • THE CREATIVE AWARD (Sponsored by PPL PRS) Dan Poynton, On Poynt Creative (Leicester) • VOLUNTEER AWARD (Sponsored by RSM UK) Taylor Gee, 360 Autoleasing East Midlands (Leicester)Ben Wilkinson (centre), of MHA MacIntyre Hudson, with Generation Next board members Scarlett Tinsley, of ER Recruitment, and Beth Raine-Thrall, of Nelsons Last year's Generation Next Future Leader winner Kate Walker, founder of ExpHand Prosthetics The Chamber's deputy chief executive Diane Beresford, chief executive Scott Knowles, director of resources Lucy Robinson and Generation Next co-ordinator Kate Nemeth
Alphageek founders Alex Mills, Art Lindop and Kieran Flynn David Maran, of MP Digital, collects the Excellence in Innovation and Technology Award from Nik Hardy, of Hardy Signs
Thursday 8 September, 4.15-6.30 at Ingenuity Centre, University of Nottingham Jubilee Campus
• INCLUSION IN THE NEW WORKPLACE
Other big winners included Art Lindop, Kieran Flynn and Alex Mills, founders of Derby-based digital marketing agency Alphageek. They won the Breakthrough Award and Entrepreneur of the Year for their success in quadrupling the start-up’s annual turnover in three years to just below £1m and supporting watchmaker Casio to boost sales of its G-Shock model via a digital campaign. ‘These awards demonstrated how much unbelievable young talent exists in businesses across Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire’ There was also recognition for Leicester-based 360 Autoleasing East Midlands’ sales executive Taylor Gee, who won the Volunteer Award for his commitment to community work, and Nottingham-based MP Digital managing director David Maran, who was crowned in the Excellence in Innovation and Technology category for developing a bespoke booking system used by leisure centres and providers across Europe, North America and Oceania. Radio presenter Kaylee Golding hosted the event, which also featured keynote speeches from Generation Next chair Emma Baumback, last year’s Future Leader winner Kate Walker, who makes affordable and customisable prosthetics for children via her start-up ExpHand Prosthetics, and Chamber president Lindsey Williams.TheChamber’s director of resources and Generation Next lead Lucy Robinson said: “After being unable to celebrate the inaugural Generation Next Awards in person last year, it was great to bring so many fantastic young people together for this event.
“It’s important not only to celebrate their achievements, but also to showcase what we can offer in our region so that businesses of all shapes and sizes recognise why we must continue to invest in our young people, who will be the next generation of business leaders.”
UPCOMING EVENTS FOR GENERATION NEXT
Wednesday 12 October, 10-11 on Microsoft Teams
Generation Next chair Emma Baumback gives a keynote speech
“These awards demonstrated how much unbelievable young talent exists in businesses across Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire – from start-up founders disrupting their industries all the way down to apprentices fresh out of education.
76 business network September 2022 TRAINING & EVENTS
• COCKTAIL MASTERCLASS
More than 300 people have joined Generation Next since the young professionals’ network launched in 2020. Unlike standard Chamber membership, which is for organisations, Generation Next is pitched at individuals – in particular people aged 18 to 35 and working for organisations across Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire. Members can connect with a diverse range of young professionals, apprentices and business leaders looking to develop their skills and take the next step in their careers via networking events, webinars hosted by industry experts, a peer-to-peer networking programme and a mentoring scheme. Upcoming events include:
• EFFECTIVE UNIVERSITYWORKSHOPCOMMUNICATIONWITHNOTTINGHAMBUSINESSSCHOOL
• NETWORKING BREWERY TOUR Wednesday 28 September, 4-5.30 at Everards Brewery, Leicestershire
Thursday 27 October, 4.30-6.30 at Revolución de Cuba Nottingham. For more information about joining Generation Next, generationnextemc.co.uk/membershipsvisit
Bustler Market, in Derby, was the venue for the Generation Next Awards
By definition, individuals within a peer group have something in common. Business owners and directors quickly find they have a great deal of characteristicsshared–passion and enthusiasm for their business, a sense of urgency to get things done, challenges around juggling priorities, and often say there is a real challenge around work-life balance.
As a new Women in Business Peer Network launches this month, facilitator Dawn Edwards (pictured), owner of Challenge Consulting, explains what it will involve and the benefits of peer-to-peer business networking
their own experience, contacts and sage advice.
Some 1.4% of these located in the East Midlands, which is proportionately lower than most other areas of the UK.
A trainer from Nottingham Trent University will lead the online and in-person sessions, which include career management, developing your own authentic leadership style, organisational culture, bringing people with you and communicating with impact. The course, part-funded by the European Social Fund, is eligible to employees of SMEs based in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. Sign up at bit.ly/EMCWomeninLeadership Companies based in Leicestershire should email vicki.thompson@emc-dnl.co.uk
Those who attend peer networks often report they are surprised by how quickly the group gels together and how much they value not only the support they get from other members of the group, but also the challenge as it makes them reframe their thinking and reveals alternative approaches.
A Women in Leadership course is being launched by the Chamber’s Enterprising Women network this autumn.
Why it’s always good to get help when peering into the future
A SOUNDING BOARD
Business owners and directors often lack the availability of a sounding board and this is where the peer networks come into their own. At each session, participants are invited to describe a business dilemma or blocker for consideration by the group. Action points are created and then followed up at the next session. This, participants tell me, is the thing valued most highly because it experiencingbusinessesfullyHubtoprovidesaccountabilitycreatesandanincentivegetthingsdone.TheD2N2GrowthPeerNetworksarefundedforeligibleandsupportedwithone-to-onecoaching.Thisprovidesfocusedtimetotalkthroughanybusinesschallengesyoumaybeandforthefacilitatortoidentifywaystohelp,whetherit’ssignpostingtoadditionalsupportorbyprovidingguidanceandmentoringdirectly.Opportunitiestospeakfreelyandopenlywithothersaboutchallengeswithinthebusiness,orinnerfearsandself-doubt,oftensurfacequicklyandthelevelsoftrustandcandourneverfailtoamazeme.Theysayaproblemsharedisaproblemhalved,soimaginethepowerofhavingabout10otherbusinessleadersprovidinganobjectiveviewpointandsharing
Each of the peer networks is led by an experienced and skilled facilitator to ensure there is the right level of challenge and support, and that everyone has the opportunity to contribute and celebrate success, while also offering an alternative view to business dilemmas and blockers to progress.Whether the barriers are perceptual, personal, strategic or operational, the peer network participants work together –combining their collective knowledge and experience to help find practical solutions.
As a female business owner myself, I’ve felt honoured to have facilitated two previous such networks, and I’m looking forward to working with the participants for the next one.
Some may ask why a women in business category is necessary when there are so many others to choose from. The statistics speak for themselves – although women make up about half of the population, just 17.2% of all UK small businesses are women-led.
SUPPORTING ENTERPRISING WOMEN
77September2022 business network DEVELOPMENTPERSONAL
So is there a peer network for you? Almost certainly as there are groups aimed at manufacturing, high growth, hospitality and visitor economy, food and drink, creative industries, international, and digital. There’s also a dedicated new peer network for female business owners starting this month.
The Women in Business Peer Network begins on Tuesday 20 September and is delivered online from 9am to 12pm. It is part of the D2N2 Growth Hub Peer Networks programme, which the Chamber runs as part of the East Midlands Accelerator programme, funded by the Government’s UK Community Renewal Fund. To find out eligibility criteria and sign up, visit bit.ly/EMCWomeninBusiness
Beginning on Wednesday 2 November and running over five sessions until 4 January 2023, it is suitable for women working in or towards leadership and management roles. It is accredited at Level 7, meaning participants can gain 20 credits towards a postgraduate qualification, and features two assignments that include a 2,000 word report.
The Women in Business Peer Network is an opportunity to explore, in a safe environment, the challenges women face in business. Seeking and obtaining investment to grow, imposter syndrome, juggling work and family, and overcoming bias and prejudice are just some of the common areas cited by those who have taken part in previous peer networks.
Course will help women develop leadership skills
“Having a website is just as important in enabling non-social media users to access attractive, up-to-date information about Café Nellie. In the future, we hope to develop the site to enable our customers to purchase gift vouchers, our own brand of coffee and to make table bookings online.”
78 DIGITAL & TECHNOLOGY business network September 2022
The Chesterfield Digital High Street project has now ended but the Chamber continues to offer support to businesses across the region via a digital high street adviser. To find out what support is available, information@emc-dnl.co.ukemail or call 0333 320 0333.
“I have noticed an increase in new customers who have come to us by finding us on Google and through our new website. In one week last month, we had a 300% increase in visitors to the shop compared to the previous week.
How to access digital business support
2. IBZY SALON
CaféNellie (top) and Ibzy Salon (bottom) are among the businesses to have received support from the Chesterfield Digital High Street project
“Since our Facebook page went ‘live’, we have seen a marked increase in table bookings,” said Tracey. “Despite the recent heatwave, our sales have increased by about 30%, which our own research suggests is a direct result of our social media presence.
“We have been able to review current marketing and social media activities, and support businesses on any recommended actions, set up Google listings if needed and offer each organisation a one-year membership to East Midlands Chamber. We have received excellent feedback from those who have taken part in the project, with many increasing their online profile so they can expand their business presence.”
“This will go some way to ensuring the much-loved independent businesses on our high street continue to thrive in a sustainable successfulChesterfieldCouncillorfashion.”DeanCollins,BoroughCouncil’scabinetmemberforeconomicgrowth,added:“TheDigitalHighStreetprojecthasbeenveryinhelpingmanyorganisationsthatwereaffected by the pandemic to get online and increase their interaction with customers in a new way.
As none of the six-strong team had much experience of using social media, the Chamber’s support came at “exactly the right time”, with digital high street advisers Steve Phillips and Alex Gardner helping to build a website and Facebook page.
While Ibrahim Assaf was literate in using Facebook to promote his business Ibzy Salon, located in Chesterfield’s Jawbones Hill, he noticed it couldn’t be found very easily on Google – with the barbershop, tattoo studio and shisha bar’s location on Google Maps in the wrong place. “I struggled with the process of updating Google but after experiencing frustration, I left it,” he said. He signed up to the Chesterfield Digital High Street project and received one-to-one support from Steve, who talked him through the problems he had encountered and came up with a digital action plan.
“With the bigger customer base, I have now recruited another two barbers so we can offer more services and shorter waiting times. We are very much looking forward to the future – with the help from my advisor Steve, we have the tools to grow the business.”
Digital boost for high street stores
Funded by Chesterfield Borough Council and delivered in partnership by the Chamber and its strategic partner Purpose Media, the year-long project aimed to support small outfits in sectors such as retail, hospitality and leisure, which were hit hardest by Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, to become more resilient. Diane Beresford, deputy chief executive of the Chamber, said: “We’ve been delighted with the level of engagement with the Chesterfield Digital High Street project among businesses, which are now well-placed to embrace current and future digital trends.
Ibrahim, who also took up the offer of creating a website, added: “I didn’t have a Google Business Profile at the time, which meant we weren’t listed and new customers couldn’t find me. Steve helped me to set up my page and download the app, so I can easily make changes to opening times and prices.
Visit variedneededRoad,Independent1.HIGHCHESTERFIELDwww.emc-dnl.co.uk/digitalupscalerDIGITALSTREETCASESTUDIESCAFÉNELLIEcoffeeshopCaféNellierecentlyopenedinChatsworthChesterfield,butownerTraceyWalliswasawarethebusinessamarketingstrategytoquicklybecomevisibletoawideandaudience.
“The website has given me credibility and with setting up the Google Business Profile, customers can leave reviews, which will help boost my visibility and attract new customers.
Are you a high-growth business looking to invest in new technologies to propel your business? Is your business facing barriers to growth due to a lack of understanding of new technologies? If so, then get on board with the Digital Upscaler project.
More than 120 businesses in the Chesterfield borough are now up to speed with the online revolution after receiving expert digital support via an innovative scheme. Since being launched in June last year, the Chesterfield Digital High Street project has engaged 127 small and microbusinesses reliant on bricks and mortar to transition into the digital world by building their online offering for customers and improving their social media profile. Of this cohort, 81 businesses worked with a digital high street adviser, 56 companies developed a digital action plan and 50 firms accessed grants worth £2,200. Some 38 new websites are now either live or in development –many of these equipped with the latest payment systems such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, as well as modern shopping concepts like “click and collect”.
Part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and delivered by East Midlands Chamber, it aims to provide highgrowth businesses in Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire with the knowledge, investment and capacity to scale up through embracing new technologies.
79 DIGITAL & TECHNOLOGY September 2022 business network
Cyber-crime thriller series
The Undeclared War recently concluded on Channel 4. Though the plot is fictional, the tactics in the drama are true to life and pose a very real risk to UK businesses, says Lee Johnson, chief technology officer and chief information security officer at Air IT.
The Undeclared War follows a team of analysts at GCHQ, the Government’s intelligence and security organisation, as the UK faces a series of cyber-attacks in the run-up to a general election. The plot may be fictional but it is inspired by real-world events. Even at the beginning of August this year, it was reported that GCHQ had advised the Conservative Party to change plans for how its members would vote in the leadership election, over concerns that people’s online votes could be changed by hackers. It just goes to show that these kinds of threats are closer to home than you may think. People are often unaware of the degree of damage that can be caused by cyber-attacks as they are silent and “undeclared”. In fact, cyber security is often overlooked or considered out-ofbudget by business leaders – only 6% of businesses and charities reportedly adhere to Cyber Essentials, a Government-backed scheme helping organisations to protect themselves from the most common cyber-attacks. This outlook means that businesses are much more at risk of downtime, data breaches, fines, and ultimately the loss of their data and reputation.Unfortunately, this doesn’t come as a surprise to our cyber security team at Air IT, as we see potential threats every day while protecting SME customers from risks to their data, operations and reputation.Cyber-criminals are using increasingly advanced techniques in order to steal passwords, data and money. We continue to see an increase in both the number of attacks, and the sophistication and tactics used. Luckily, the solutions available for defending against these attacks are also becoming more sophisticated, and SMEs have more advanced options than ever before. The Undeclared War is a thought-provoking series that highlights the potential devastation cyber-attacks can cause. It may focus on attacks against the Government, but the techniques used and the consequences they have are similar to the threats faced by businesses and non-profits. I would encourage all business leaders to take note by proactively working to ensure their organisation is protected.
Cyber-crime can be stranger than fiction
Meanwhile, Shakespeare Martineau – which has office hubs in Nottingham and Leicester – has expanded its geographical footprint into Bristol and the South West following a merger with GL Law. litigation pay ruling may have huge
80 LEGAL James Hartley Freeths to help scandal victims Freeths has been appointed by the Government to work with the Justice for Postmasters Alliance (JFSA) to support the design and implementation of a scheme to award compensationfurtherto more than 500 victims of a scandal described as “Britain’s biggest-ever miscarriage of justice”.
Heading up the product is partner and insolvency expert Nicola Holton. She said: “We recognise that insolvency practitioners require specialist advice in order to investigate, fund and bring claims forward for the benefit of creditors.
The national law firm –which has offices in Derby, Leicester and Nottingham –will help the JFSA to shape the scheme for the benefit of theThepostmasters.objectiveis to award fair damages to qualifying claimants, who suffered significant financial and reputational consequences of the flawed Horizon IT system rolled out by the Post Office and Fujitsu in the 1990s. It incorrectly showed shortfalls of money within the Post Office and led to hundreds of employees being wrongly convicted of theft and false accounting, with some even sent to prison. After a High Court group litigation order (GLO) settlement in 2019, a large national campaign was mounted for compensation. The Government has pledge to award £30m in total so far, including £19.5m agreed in June.Freeths’ team will be led by partner and national head of dispute resolution James Hartley. He said: “We are delighted that the Government is doing the right thing for the GLO claimants. It will achieve closure for them and deliver fair compensation. We are committed to driving this through to a conclusion in the interests of the claimant group.”
Launch of insolvency
Carl Wright and (inset) music teacher Lesley Brazel
A Mansfield-based solicitors helped a music teacher win a landmark Supreme Court case that has significant repercussions for part-time employees’ holiday allowance. Hopkins Solicitors represented Lesley Brazel in the UK’s highest court, which confirmed that partyear and zero-hour contract workers have rights to the full 5.6 weeks’ statutory holiday provided under the Working Time Regulations 1998. It rejected the argument from Lesley’s school that the entitlement of such workers should be reduced on a pro-rata basis. Following the judgement, it will no longer be possible for employers to argue staff who don’t work all year are only entitled to pro-rata holiday based on the hours they work. All workers, including those who work irregular hours or are on zero-hour contracts, are due the same legal minimum of 5.6 weeks, which equates to 28 days for full-time employees, even if there are months during the year when they don’tCarlwork.Wright, a partner at Hopkins Solicitors, said: “We are obviously delighted with both the outcome of the appeal and to have been able to clarify the law for the benefit of all those workers who, like Mrs Brazel, work on term time-only contracts.“Asaconsequence of this decision, term time-only workers will be entitled to the same minimum annual holiday as those that are contracted to work all year round.”Clarinet and saxophone teacher Lesley works at the independent Bedford Girls’ School run by the Harpur Trust. Her case was initially heard before an employment tribunal in 2017, followed by an employment appeal tribunal in 2018 and the Court of Appeal in 2019, before the Supreme Court ruling on 20 July this year. Hopkins Solicitors said the judgement ensures leave must be paid at the rate of an ordinary week’s wages or, if pay varies every week, then an average of all the weeks worked in a year. Annual leave calculations based on weeks, whether an employee works a full or part week. So the ruling means someone working all year, but for just two days a week, is entitled to 11.2 days a year –based on a calculation of 2 x 5.6 weeks.
“We will provide legal advice and support to pursue claims through the court, if necessary. We offer a range of litigation funding, ensuring that claims can be pursued and the return to creditors maximised.”
“Office holders have the duty and powers to investigate wrongdoing or fraudulent activity by the directors of an insolvent business. However, they often don’t have the funds required to obtain legal advice and pursue claims through the court. InSolvLit provides a solution.
service Nicola Holton Holiday
impact business network September 2022 ‘Term allcontractedthoseannualsameentitledworkerstime-onlywillbetotheminimumholidayasthataretoworkyearround’
Shakespeare Martineau has launched a new insolvency litigation service called InSolvLit. Offering support from initial investigations stage through to identifying the claims and pursuing them to trial, the firm’s new service takes the burden off insolvency practitioners.Claimsare reviewed without charge. Where claims have merit, legal fees are recovered only if the claims are successful and when sufficient funds have been realised.
81 NETWORKBUSINESS September2022 business network
“Future income shocks – such as increases to the Bank of England base rate – will have a diverse impact on households and their ability to repay their mortgage, leading to an asymmetric response to monetary policy changes nationally.”
He said: “Corporation tax represents a relatively low proportion – circa 8% to 9% – of the UK’s total tax take but its level remains one of the key factors in determining the rate of new investment into the country.
Mortgage holders living in cities and other urban areas are more likely to struggle with their monthly repayments than those residing in rural locations, a new study has found.
“Retention of the current corporate regime appears sensible, rather than introducing the planned rate increases, and perhaps addresses the first two concerns adequately.”
FINANCE 82 business network September 2022
‘Any changes to monetary policy decisions could have a livingimpactdisproportionateonpeopleincities’
The data – which comprise 50,000 individuals – was taken from the Understanding Society Survey and the findings were presented at the American Real Estate and Urban Economics Conference in August.
Research by Nottingham Trent University has revealed that borrowers in urban areas spend on average 38% of their monthly income on mortgage payments. This contrasts to 26% for people in rural areas, leaving them with the potential for more disposal income.
Dr Koblyakova added: “This research shows that variations in people’s incomes, house prices and mortgage lending conditions may have created different patterns in the UK mortgage landscape.
“A major concern is the increasing deviation between housing expenses and income, as this has a negative impact on young people and low-to-middle income household groups.
Scrapping the planned corporation tax rise from 19% to 25% would strengthen the economy in the face of a looming recession, believes an accountant.
“It is a very difficult balancing act between attracting and retaining investment into the UK versus being able to invest in our own country. Many of the economic problems have been driven by issues that are worldwide and not just specific to the UK.
“If the level of corporation tax is too high, this can prompt multinational organisations to move functions, activities and risks out of the UK, thereby decreasing the revenues that the tax is designed to generate.
Corporation tax rise must be reversed
“These numbers show us that living in urban areas leads to a greater indebtedness and increases the likelihood of homeowners being on riskier variable-rate mortgages, which are subject to interest rate hikes.
The data – taken from an analysis of 30,000 UK households over an eight-year period – also show that only 38% of borrowers in urban areas have fixed-rate mortgages, compared to 62% of those in rural locations. Fixed-rate mortgages usually yield lower interest rates for borrowers, making mortgage payments more affordable. But only those with the highest amounts of equity in their homes can access the lowest fixed-rate mortgages on the market.
The study also found that average loan-to-value ratios (LTV) in urban areas is 84%, by contrast to 68% in rural areas, which shows that people in rural areas on average have twice as much equity in their homes as their city-dwelling counterparts.DrAllaKoblyakova, an expert in mortgage finance from Nottingham Trent University, who led the study, said: “This research shows that there is a clear asymmetric distribution of risk within the UK mortgage market, which policymakers may need to consider when formulating mortgage policy decisions.
“By contrast, people residing in more rural locations are more likely to be on lower interest fixed-rate deals, which do not fluctuate with changes to the Bank of England base“So,rate.any changes to monetary policy decisions could have a disproportionate impact on people living in cities and other urban areas, when compared to those in ruralThelocations.”studyalso found that an increase in new-build homes resulted in the housing market experiencing worsening mortgage affordability, possibly due to higher prices for newly-built homes and a relaxation of lending conditions, leading to an increase in house prices overall.
The increase is due to come into force from 1 April 2023 but Chris Denning, head of corporate and international tax at MHA MacIntyre Hudson, said a reversal of the policy would “encourage greater economic activity in the UK, which in turn would lead to higher tax revenues for the exchequer”.
Borrowers in urban struggleareasmost to pay mortgages
Chris Denning
“The HomeOwners Alliance recommends that no more than 35% of post-tax income should go on mortgage payments – so it is concerning that the average rate for UK households in urban areas is already above this, while interest rates remain at historically low levels.
With this announcement of penalties, we are seeing a move away from any “light touch” as businesses get used to new reporting systems.
It’s a stark reminder that HMRC is starting to look closely at how compliant VAT-registered bodies are at a systems level in producing their VAT return figure – it’s not just about the accuracy of the figures themselves.
• Provide VAT return information to HMRC via a digital link • Receive information from HMRC A penalty of £5 to £15 per day for:
As a final warning, HMRC has also stated that if you file a return containing errors, you will not just have to pay back the VAT you owe but HMRC may also charge you a penalty of up to 100% of the VAT you owe.
The implementation of Making VAT Digital was a key part of HMRC trying to reduce the risk of “human error” in the calculation of VAT returns by taxpayers.
How to avoid penalties for Making VAT Digital
The range of penalties that non-compliant bodies will face including:
• Not using digital links to transfer data between pieces of software.
83September 2022 business network FINANCE
• Failing to maintain an “electronic account” – which is there to store all the details of a company’s sales and purchases, along with their business information and VAT related adjustments to returns
Clearly any “light touch” to be applied for businesses struggling with a shortage of resources and the current economic climate, who are still not quite there yet in their Making VAT Digital journey has disappeared.Theadvice is to be proactive in checking the compliance of your VAT systems in this regard. Should problems with HMRC arise, then taxpayers should review and look to challenge any VAT assessments and penalty calculations. The ability to negotiate penalties down and achieve suspension should always be considered.
With the rollout of Making VAT Digital complete, HMRC has reminded businesses of the penalties they will incur for failing to comply to the new rules as Liz Maher (pictured), director at Centurion VAT Specialists, explains how businesses can avoid unnecessary fines.
Up to £400 for every return filed without the use of “functional compatible software", which means software that will: • Record and store digital financial records
Employers are in driving seat on the skills agenda
One of the key sectors working in partnership with DCG is the rail industry. A wide range of companies are represented on DCG’s Rail Industry Skills Board.
For more information about how businesses can partner with the college, contact the employer partnership team on 01332 387 421 or businessenquiries@derby-college.ac.ukemail
84 business network September 2022
Rolls-Royce launches awards programme
Partnership working with employers to co-design and co-deliver the further and higher education curricula are now being taken a step further through DCG’s Industry Skills Boards, which bring together college leaders and employers. These include detailed planning for the ongoing rollout of T-Level programmes and discussions around DCG’s bid to establish an Institute of Technology (IoT).
Alstom is among the companies working with Derby College Group via its Rail Industry Skills Board
SKILLS
The proposed project could be a new idea or the progression of something already being worked on – but it should be innovative, unique and specific to the applicant’sFollowingsetting.stage one applications, judges will select special merit award-winning projects that progress to the next stage, where the schools and colleges will be invited to provide more detailed information about how it will be planned, implemented and evaluated.Rolls-Royce will provide a £1,000 award to help develop the project ideas. Finalists who are picked by judges to progress from stage two applications will receive a further £5,000 to implement their action plan during the second academic year, with the support of a RollsRoyce mentor. The programme will culminate with an awards event in which schools receive recognition in a number of categories, including a £5,000 prize for the overall winner.
‘Working with the college is enabling us to map out the skills gaps’
Highfields School PE careers lead Jamie Waller (centre) with pupils (from left) Harry Watson, Jacob Amos, Keeley Greaves and Taylah Charlton
To submit an application, myscience.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/rrsvisitpst-save-the-date
Key employers across a wide range of sectors are working proactively with Derby College Group (DCG) to identify and deliver the skills requirements of their current and future workforce. Such partnerships and the need to align the education system around the needs of employers are highlighted in the Skills and Post-16 Education Bill as crucial to achieve the goals of increasing productivity, supporting growth industries and giving individuals opportunities to progress in their careers.
The college’s CEO Mandie Stravino OBE said: “The Skills and Post-16 Education Bill reflects our corporate mission to predict and serve the needs of our business and civic communities by forecasting workforce requirements and co-creating, with employers, education and skills programmes which will generate the talent pipeline our businesses require in order for them to flourish.
“The message from different employers involved came over loud and clear that we want young people and adults with higher education qualifications alike to have high quality soft skills. We recognise it is our responsibility to develop job-specific skills.”
Rolls-Royce has launched the latest edition of an awards programme that helps teachers to increase science, technology and maths engagement among students.
The Rolls-Royce Schools Prize for Science & Technology is open each year to all schools and colleges in the UK and runs over two academic years.From this month, schools and colleges can submit a stage one application outlining an idea for a sustainable science, technology or maths project for development over the coming academic year.
“We obviously can’t do that in isolation and the direction provided by employers from the industries that mirror our curriculum is crucial if we are to meet the bill’s objectives.”
Emily Bramble is chair of the Rail Industry Skills Board in her capacity as verification and validation management lead engineer at Alstom in Derby. She said: “Working with the college is enabling us to map out the skills gaps and identify the common attributes that we all require in this sector.
The achievements of a young adult with special educational needs who has secured himself an internship at Chesterfield Royal Hospital – plus an aspiring female electrician engineer – were reco gnised at an event held to celebrate businesses and educators who have worked together to support hundreds of students in Derbyshire. The Derbyshire North Careers Hub brings local employers together to work with schools and colleges to support their careers programmes that enable students to choose what they would like to do next, while also ensuring school and college leavers have the skills needed by employers in the region. Part of a national programme funded by the Careers and Enterprise Company and the Department for Education – and managed locally by D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership – the Derbyshire North Careers Hub works with more than 30 schools and colleges as students prepare for their best next steps. The event at The Whitworth in Darley Dale was the first face-toface meeting the Hub has had since being launched prelockdown, in February 2020. Students from The Highfields School, in Matlock, supported on the day.
Careers Hub celebrates local firms and educators
85September 2022 business network SKILLS
“There are cities across the world that have huge skyscrapers but are empty of people and have no animation.“Butthere are cities that have taken a different approach, allowed a bit of edginess, bringing forward the green and the blue – most importantly, they are cities curated forThepeople.”summit began with John setting the scene, explaining how Derby remained a global hub for manufacturing and still had the highest average wages outside London and the South East. He also outlined how Derby’s investment pipeline was continuing unabated.Keynote speakers explained what cities like Derby should be doing to adapt to changing customer needs.
The deals were brokered by Tim Gilbertson, director at FHP Property Consultants, acting on behalf of Clowes Developments. He said: “It’s great to see further quality additions to the fantastic list of occupiers we have at Castlewood Business Park. “With the best part of two million sq ft now built on the site, the disposal of these five small trade counter units really augments the scheme as they sit prominently at the entrance to the estate.”
John Forkin MBE DL, managing director of Marketing Derby, told the summit: “To me, the purpose of a city is to create a customer. It does beg the question, what do our customers want?
In conversation with event host Declan Curry, Derby City Council chief executive Paul Simpson gave his thoughts on the city’s achievements to date, including completed and ongoing projects, as well as what was in the pipeline. He said: “For the last couple of years, we have had artists’ impressions of schemes – now we are starting to get buildings. “There are the people who say that nothing ever happens in Derby – I believe we are beginning to prove those people wrong.”
Derby Property Summit: Curate cities for people
86 PROPERTY Chris Wright
“The answer could be to look internationally at what cities the same size as Derby are doing and exchange best practice.”
In a recorded video message, Sir Tim described Derby as “a city with beautiful bones and an incredible river” and called on the city to work with him to create an innovative green masterplan. Lord O’Neill, vice-chair of the Northern Powerhouse Workshop, encouraged Derby to embrace devolution, adding: “I am a big, big fan of Derby teaming up with Nottingham, despite your rivalry, and seizing this unique opportunity to make a permanent difference to yourCourtneyfuture.”Fingar, editor-in-chief of GlobalData’s Investment Monitor, explained how cities across the world could learn from one another when it comes to repurposing. She said: “Cities in countries across the world are grappling with the same challenges.
Curate cities for people – that was the message delivered to delegates at this year’s Derby Property Summit. Almost 150 people attended the annual property showcase, organised by Marketing Derby and held at Derby QUAD, in July, with many more watching online. With a theme of “repurposing place,” the audience of business leaders, key decision-makers and investors were given an insight into Derby’s regeneration strategy and heard from a top line-up of respected keynote speakers. These included The Eden Project’s Sir Tim Smitt KBE, who gave local, national and international perspectives on the future direction of cities, as well as a panel discussion on the repurposing of place.
The East Midlands-based firm will assist Entain plc – a FTSE 100 company which operates in more than 20 countries worldwide – in the disposal of its surplus commercial properties throughout the Midlands and South Yorkshire Entain’s brands include household names such as Ladbrokes and Coral.
OMEETO partners with Entertain plc Commercial property consultancy OMEETO has announced a new partnership with one of the world’s most successful sports betting and gaming groups.
Delegates outside the Summit and (inset) Sir Tim Smitt KBE delivers a video message business network September 2022 Castlewood Business Park
‘The purpose of a city is to create customer’a
Screwfix and Howdens Joinery are the latest companies to join Castlewood Business Park. They have each leased two units at an entrance to the site, which is located next to Junction 28 of the M1 and fronting the A38. It already features a Shell petrol station, as well as shops for Greggs, Co-op and Costa Coffee. A fifth 4,000 sq ft unit, which can be used as a trade counter or warehouse, remains available.
Castlewood Business Park’s occupiers include Parker Knoll, Coop, Midland Aerospace and Meridian. Park welcomes new occupiers
Castlewood Business
OMEETO owner Chris Wright, who will handle the disposals alongside commercial property agent Caine Gilchrist, said: “Entain plc’s brands are well-known high street staples, so this is a great project to be involved with. “We will be helping the group to dispose of well positioned properties, in prominent locations. “Initial instructions include shops to let in Nottingham, Sheffield and Birmingham. We were well-positioned to service the contract from our existing offices in Nottingham and Derby with the West Midlands’ insight brought by my associate director Caine Gilchrist.”
87September 2022 business network PROPERTY
IMPORTANCE OF BRANDING Take, for example, the decision within our house of brands as to which name to trade under. The
‘It’s not size that makes a merger of equals… you can do M without the A, so even when one party is bigger, it doesn’t have to feel like it’ business network September 2022
I have now seen evidence firsthand that it is possible for two businesses of different sizes to merge as equals in this way, without asset-stripping or mass redundancies. So many consolidators follow the last mode of waving a large cheque book, stripping out support staff overnight, shedding any remnants of the previous brand and culture, and tie people into retention contracts to force them to stay, but this is short-sighted and unsustainable.Anyonecan make money short term for a few people, but not everyone can create a sustainably profitable business. That’s our priority.Ampa isn’t the older sibling telling the newest arrival what to do. We need new joiners to provide feedback and we are not afraid to make changes to our processes, especially because right now, the marketplace demands flexibility and agility and, frankly, the best combined brains we can get. The Mayo Wynne Baxter team has already started to bring challenges and improvements to the party.
The technical implication is that in acquisition, there is a purchase of some kind or buy-out rather than an equity swap, when no money engaged hands in consideration. But there are many technical mergers that feel more like an acquisition in terms of the philosophy and behaviours, not because of the deal but because of what happens afterwards.
Thankfully, no one has tried to make this about the egos or sentimentality.Whateverthe brand though, the other aspects are devolved via empowered decision-making and fit-for-purpose local business models – critical in today’s fastpaced market. We keep to a few “golden tramlines and threads” to keep us aligned, but the simpler and fewer, the better.
88 ENTERPRISINGWOMEN M without the A –a commercialmoreapproach?
decision on whether to trade as a separate brand is driven by the market, clients and where we will get the best opportunities for growth. Having brands that make sense in their local communities is even more relevant in a postpandemic world. In the case of GL Law, for example, a combined group of our and their people formed the view that the Shakespeare Martineau brand would resonate well within the local market so this became the deciding factor. Yes, there may be new email addresses and a new sign above the door, and yes, GL Law’s people will to be embedded in the Shakespeare Martineau brand, but ultimately, the people in Bristol know the area and are accountable for growing the region. One golden rule is that those with an equity stake swap this for equity at an Ampa-level. So when one entity wins, we all win.
BUT WHAT IS MERGER AND WHAT IS ANYWAY?ACQUISITION
MERGING AS EQUALS
I’m asked what makes the likes of GL Law joining Shakespeare Martineau “not an acquisition” or how Mayo Wynne Baxter has not been “taken over” by Ampa, the parent company of Shakespeare Martineau.Myanswer is – it’s not size that makes a merger of equals… it’s attitude. The phrase that’s been jumping into my head is – you can do M without the A, so even when one party is bigger, it doesn’t have to feel like it.
By Sarah Walker-Smith (pictured), CEO of Shakespeare Martineau
The professional services industry has fallen into a lazy trap of reporting “takeovers” and our house of brands strategy is often listed alongside the consolidators in the sector. But let me be clear: we aren’t on an acquisition trail. Far fromIsn’tit.it time more law firms start behaving like businesses, put clients and people first in the interests of then creating longer-term value for their owners and unafraid to break the mould once in a while?! M without the A is, for me, a more relevant commercial strategy for our time and, while we won’t get all aspects right all the time or make the biggest short term gain for the lucky few, we will continue to evolve and learn together. And, perhaps the best it of all, it doesn’t half feel good.
We’ve all heard the horror stories of consolidators wiping out all tracings of the smaller firm on day one and trusted colleagues disappearing overnight, having been sent to a holding room on the day of the transaction – all very Orwellian, isn’t it? But it’s happening.Thismay give a short-term return but if the aim is to build talent, motivation and a sustainable business, then it’s time for a new approach – equally commercial but tapping into perhaps a more sophisticated business model akin to the newer economic concept of co-opetition.
For similar reasons, we called the group Ampa, not Shakespeare Martineau, and again based on the market, the correct strategy for Mayo Wynne Baxter was to stay so.
Since we launched our house of brands strategy almost 12 months ago, I’ve been challenged a number of times by peers on our approach.
The Lionesses have done so much more than win the Euros. Because of them, the noise around women’s football is infectious and will hopefully continue to lift the women’s game, but also in all characteristics of life. They sent out a clear message –England's Euro 2022 title success is a platform to inspire the next generation.Itwasgreat to see the crowded stands of Wembley, a complete sellout of the stadium and patriotic support for the national team. In fact, it was the biggest attendance ever for a men’s or women’s European Championship final.
But the conversation is moving on from not just inspiring young women but to inspiring a nation of young talent, and this reflects what is at the heart of Generation Next. It is so important that we celebrate the success and progress of our younger generations, like we did at our amazing Generation Next Awards in July. The confidence and inspirational momentum this provides is the catalyst we need rightAndnow.we certainly need to keep this impetus going. The progress displayed now demonstrates what is possible, and inspires confidence and encourages what is possible. This is crucial in every aspect –sport, education and business. When we can see and feel something, it is relatable and achievable. Barriers faced through inequality, in sport or in the workplace, become manageable. The mindset of “if they can do it, so can I, no matter the circumstances” is essential. It leads to investing and commitment in oneself, which is fundamental to personal growth and long-term achievement.
I have always enjoyed watching women play sport and celebrating their dedication, skill, and drive –just like during the recent Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.Itgoeswithout saying that a higher visibility of women athletes bolsters the confidence from all backgrounds. For young girls, having a female role model has been found to be hugely important in promoting both sporting engagement and career choices. It is not just sport where women face similar unlevel playing fields. In fact, in my profession only 16% of financial advisers within the UK are women and there are many aspects of society that could learn from the Lionesses’ momentous journey.
After the country joyously celebrated the Lionesses’ triumph at the UEFA Women’s Euros 2022 tournament, Emma Baumback (pictured), chair of the Chamber’s Generation Next board and an independent financial planner at Future Life Wealth Management, explains what their success means to her.
ENTERPRISINGWOMEN 89September2022 business network
Lionesses inspire next generation of girls
The opinion on whether there is a difference between men’s and women’s football is immaterial, its more about the way it makes us feel – encouraged and inspired!
IT’S NOT THE SAME FOR EVERYONE Of course, I have a senior role which gives me plenty of scope and authority to challenge when I see discrimination (be it gender-based or any other kind) in action – whether that’s at the institutional or interpersonal level. Even so, I remember incidents during my career that have revealed casual sexism at play in the workplace. For example, I’ve been asked to make cups of tea for others on quite a few occasions. Not that I mind making a brew for someone but when it comes with an assumption that it’s maybe all I’m there for, it doesn’t go down so well. This even happened on one memorable occasion at my first meeting with a new board, having just taken up a chief executive role. Of course, I graciously put the kettle on and then, with no small amount of irony, said: “Here you go. By the way, I’m the new CEO you’ve just appointed.” It seemed to have the desired effect…
ANOTHER CHANCE TO CONTRIBUTE
While we’re on the topic of this year’s charities, time will soon be running out for you to get behind them. A huge “thank you” to everyone who has already supported these fantastic causes, including many of our employees at Futures Housing Group. If you need a reason to contribute, then why not support me and more than a dozen colleagues who are taking part in a spectacular sponsored 12-mile walk in the Peak District next month?
SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE By showcasing some of the brightest, best and most talented businesswomen in our region, we send out a powerful signal to working women that there is potential to push aside the limitations others may try to put in place.
Last month, I was invited to an event organised by Focus, one of the three charities I nominated for my year as president. This was a networking and celebration event at a venue called Beta X in Leicester, which describes itself, rather wonderfully, as a “positively diverse creative community hub”. And that’s exactly what it proved to be. Focus was showcasing its work with young people on the potential regeneration of the Church Gate district of the city. This included a fantastic interactive display panel put together by young people about the neighbourhood, which included sound and voice recordings together with photography and video work. It was great to see the charity’s work in action and young people so actively involved in work to develop and enhance the local community. If you haven’t yet supported any of the three charities in this year’s appeal, please do take a moment to find out more about the work at Focus, Treetops Hospice and Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust – I’m sure you’ll be as inspired as I am to do more to help.
Find out more at bit.ly/3dcpWaU or if you’re in a hurry, jump straight to the JustGiving page www.justgiving.com/fundraising/futureshousinatggroup2022
We will be both celebrating the 25-year milestone and announcing the winners at the Enterprising Women Awards gala dinner, in Leicester, on 30 September as headline partner. As always, there are some remarkable and praise-worthy finalists who have pushed boundaries and achieved so much. I’m looking forward to meeting them. It’s going to be a great evening and I hope to see you there.
businessTHELASTWORDnetwork 2022
And I can’t mention Enterprising Women, of course, without giving a huge “shout out” to two of its leading lights, co-chairs Jean Mountain and Eileen Perry MBE DL, who have done so much to develop it into the huge success it is today.
WHAT’S IT LIKE BEING A…? I’m sometimes asked what it’s like being a female chief executive and I’m not always sure where to begin answering the question. In my head, I’m mostly just focused on the organisation, our customers and what needs to be done. While my gender is obviously part of me, it’s not at the front of my mind when I go to work every day. I may be lucky though. I work in social housing, a sector which is relatively femalefriendly with a well-known figure, Octavia Hill, considered to be one of its key founding figures as far back as the late 19th century. Women remain well represented in our sector, and we have events such as the Women in Housing Awards and even dedicated organisations such as WISH (Women in Social Housing) standing up for our presence and contribution. Nevertheless, in 2018-19 – the last year for which I can find overview figures – housing associations had a sector-wide gender pay gap of 8.1%. This is only marginally better than the national average for all employers, which was 8.9%. So even in a world which, in my experience at least, has been more supportive of women and their careers than many others, we are still some way from equality.
September
FOCUSING IN ON FOCUS
90 COMMENT Chamber president and Futures Housing Group chief executive Lindsey Williams discusses her experiences as a woman in leadership, the Enterprising Women Awards and the work of her nominated charities
‘Those in less senior roles or at the start of their career may well lack the confidence to assert themselves or take a stand’
Not everyone is in such a privileged position as CEO in the workplace though. And while I experience self-doubt, as most people do, I’ve also learned to approach my work confidently, which is a great help in challenging situations –whether that’s to do with gender or anything else for that matter. Those in less senior roles or at the start of their career may well lack the confidence to assert themselves or take a stand though – or simply feel it’s just too risky at that stage in their working life. That’s why networks such as Enterprising Women, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, are so vital.
T: 01709 529709 E: rotherhamsales@daviesturner.co.uk W: daviesturner.com/specialist/rotherham-specialists
