MAKING OUR PLACES ECONOMICALLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE
At the Chamber, we are often asked by local media to lend our voice to the ongoing debate around the future of our cities and towns amid challenges regarding a lack of footfall, buildings falling into disrepair and shops closing.
These issues have been laid bare in recent months by the struggles experienced by two Nottinghamshire-headquartered high street staples, Boots and Wilko, while the dominating presence of the half-demolished former Broadmarsh Centre and the empty ex-Debenhams building in Nottingham city centre illustrates how we must rethink the purpose of places.
That’s why the focus feature (p64) of this edition – which covers the broad sustainability agenda to coincide with our Sustainability Summit on 20 September – explores the concept of “sustainable places” on both a socio-economic and environmental level.
We speak to some key ingredients in this mix, including a property business that transformed a former industrial district into a thriving hub for living, working and leisure, an inward investment official, a sustainable transport consultancy and the charity that oversees our waterways.
Sustainable places also require sustainable innovation – take Derbyshire-based TDP, which recycles plastic into outdoor furniture. Such ingenuity landed a King’s Award for Enterprise and founder Rob Barlow takes part in our big interview (p27) with Jasmine Thompson.
Since 2015, the Chamber has conducted our Green Growth Trends in the East Midlands study in partnership with the University of Derby, a unique piece of research providing an insight into business engagement with the low-carbon agenda. Headline findings from the latest report are summarised on p34 and will be discussed in more detail at our summit –register at bit.ly/EMCSustainabilitySummit2023.
This research informs our Sustainable East Midlands initiative, which was established in 2020 to provide business support and leadership on the path to net zero. We have since developed practical tools such as an ESG toolkit, while the Chamber has an internal ESG working group to oversee our own sustainability journey.
“Small wins” to date include analysing our carbon footprint to create a carbon reduction action plan, installing solar panels on some buildings, identifying waste collection providers that offer as near to zero landfill as possible, working towards ISO14001 environmental management certification and creating a sustainable travel survey for staff.
Whether it’s within our organisations or looking at the bigger picture for our places, sustainability is all about adopting bold new thinking.
Dan Robinson, Editor, Business NetworkSEPTEMBER 2023
NEWS UPDATE
4MEMBER NEWS
Rolls-Royce Technology Hub showcased
24APPOINTMENTS
Winning bid to join auctioneer’s legal team
THE BIG INTERVIEW
27 Rob Barlow, managing director of TPD
32 STRATEGIC PARTNERS AND PATRONS
Full-fibre provider gets connected to Chamber
34CHAMBER NEWS
President calls for businesses to show community spirit at Chamber Annual Dinner
EVENTS
46 Round-up of the Generation Next Awards
SUSTAINABLE EAST MIDLANDS
50 Finding solutions to packaging problems
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
54 An overview of Chamber ITOPs qualification
POLITICS
56 Regional leaders discuss prospects for HS2
FEATURES
59Professional services
How to keep hold of your staff
62 Public procurement presents opportunities for growth
64FOCUS FEATURE
How do we create sustainable places?
71Corporate Christmas
Sit back and relax, or get out and about?
76 Celebrate Christmas in the city
DIGITAL & TECHNOLOGY
Editor Dan Robinson
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Contributor Jasmine Thompson
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BUSINESS NETWORK is produced on behalf of East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire) by Kemps Publishing Ltd and is distributed to members without charge. The Chamber and the publisher are committed to achieving the highest quality standards. While every care has been taken to ensure that the information it contains is accurate, neither the Chamber nor the publisher can accept any responsibility for any omission or inaccuracies that might arise. Views expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the Chamber. This publication (or any part thereof) must not be reproduced, transmitted or stored in print or electronic format without prior written permission of Kemps Publishing Ltd.
78 Chamber helps drive tourist attraction’s digital journey
80LEGAL
Why sustainability is good for business
82FINANCE
The role of technology in helping CFOs meet their evolving remit
84SKILLS
Minister tours Derby’s Nuclear Skills Academy
87PROPERTY
Housing chiefs meet MP to discuss issues
88MOTORING
Plugging into the future of electric vehicles
90 Chamber president Stuart Dawkins reflects on what sustainability means for business, and the challenges of reaching net zero
The installation at Port Talbot is expected to generate 2,000 megawatts of energy annually and will provide up to 70% of the 13-acre site’s daily electrical operational needs.
All excess generated power from the turbine will be directed into the National Grid to power local businesses and residents with green electricity.
Rosalind Keen, head of legal at John Pye Auctions, said: “We, and all other businesses, have a responsibility to account for the carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions we create due to our activities and take active steps to reduce this.”
Rolls-Royce and the University of Derby have joined forces to showcase the new Rolls-Royce Technology Hub in the Markeaton Street campus.
Teams from both organisations toured the specialist laboratory space, used by Rolls-Royce to develop and evaluate new technologies, at the university’s Engineering Degree Show.
The university’s site provides a
The University of Nottingham has launched a new Food Systems Institute (FSI) to bring together researchers from across disciplines to work with industry and policymakers to help transform the food system.
The FSI, which will be led by newly appointed director Jack Bobo (pictured), will strengthen Nottingham’s reputation as the only UK university offering research expertise and capabilities across the food industry, covering everything from production and processing to transport, consumption, waste and sustainability.
Jack’s experience spans international law, food and environmental policy and behavioural science. He joins the university from The Nature Conservancy, one of the world’s largest conservation organisations, where he led teams of policy professionals specialising in fisheries, agriculture and freshwater.
The centre’s initial research themes will focus on advancing climate adaptation and developing net zero food systems, understanding and improving community foodscapes, and addressing food insecurity and dietrelated ill-health.
Jack said: “The food system is wildly complex and needs a more holistic, co-ordinated approach to these challenges. Our vision is to rethink how food is farmed, processed, transported and consumed, and to develop new technological and economic models that drive positive change.”
base for academics, students and apprentices on its engineering, computing, and mathematics courses as well as the creative arts. The site features state-of-the-art STEM research and innovation facilities, including hi-tech electronics laboratories and engineering workshops.
It is home to two key Rolls-Royce teams drawn from central technology and repair technology,
AEROSPACE PROGRAMME ENDS
The programme not only provided funding for projects but also offered companies unique access to industry experts, academic support and university facilities that might otherwise have been unattainable.
Professor Pat Wheeler, global director of the IAT and head of power electronics in the Faculty of Engineering, said: “This programme goes further than facts and figures, it’s afforded businesses the opportunity to create and improve a wide variety of new technologies that will take the aerospace industry to new heights.”
each of which has a worldwide brief. An array of technologies are being developed and evaluated there, including in the fields of robotics, metrology systems, electronics and sensor development, spectrometry and internet of things.
Rolls-Royce Technology Hub lead Mike Wingfield said: “Having access to the facilities at Markeaton Street has been a game-changer for us – it has enabled us to develop
Heron artwork is a load of rubbish!
The Wilford Street Ramp project has given the canalside location a new lease of life through a partnership between community interest group Green Hustle and the Canal & Rivers Trust.
Bike maker Raleigh contributed £8,000 to the project, which now features the heron created by local artist Michelle Reader from recycled Raleigh bike parts and other waste retrieved from the canal.
Adam Pickering, partnerships manager and environment co-editor at Green Hustle, said: “The Wilford Street Ramp Revamp is a shining example of how collaborative efforts and creative vision can transform neglected spaces.”
technologies we’d previously not been able to progress. We enjoy engaging with the staff and students at the university, and hope to further involve many more students in our technology projects going forward.”
The development of several tools in the lab has been co-founded by Innovate UK, the UK's innovation agency, under the Aerospace Technology Institute Programme, REINSTATE.
Fears of warmer summer heatwaves in future may make it harder for companies to lure their staff back into the workplace unless they take measures to make their premises more comfortable, a Scenariio boss has warned.
A major exhibition showcasing how movement sensors, human-centric LED lighting and other smart building technology can improve the experience of working – and entice staff back into the office – will take place in Derby.
The Workplace Technology Conference is being hosted by IT and smart buildings firm Scenariio on 21 September to bring landlords, architects, fitout experts and company owners together to discover how the latest innovations and research can revolutionise the workplace experience.
It is the first time the company has organised an event of this kind and will take place at the Chocolate Factory, home of the Bustler Market food venue and next door to Scenariio’s office, in Siddals Road.
Business development director Tom Erskine said: “The way modern workplaces look, feel and function is changing dramatically, and while much of that is down to colours of the furniture and spatial design, it is technology that can have a meaningful impact on efficiency, wellbeing and costs.
“This encompasses everything from human-centric lighting to meeting room booking systems, from internet connectivity to sensors, all of which ensure an optimal experience to keep staff members happy, productive and motivated.”
Entry is free and delegates will be able to visit trade stands to learn about the latest thinking, products and innovative approaches such as power-over-ethernet, which uses data cables to provide electricity to run lights and CCTV cameras, and circadian, or biodynamic, lighting.
UK Anti-Doping has moved into a new extension at Loughborough University’s SportPark and enlisted the help of Blueprint Interiors.
The Ashby-based workplace consultancy has been appointed to fit out the new space to reflect the identity of the national body, which is responsible for creating a UKwide environment of confidence in clean sport and the global fight against doping in sport.
Previously based in London, UK Anti-Doping decided that locating alongside other leading sport bodies
at Loughborough University would create the ideal office environment.
The SportPark facility embraces the PassivHaus concept – the only internationally recognised, performance-based energy standard in construction.
Philip Bunt, COO from UK AntiDoping, said: “In relocating to SportPark, we are now based in an outstanding, energy-efficient base alongside other mission-driven and innovative sports organisations, and also co-located with the UK's leading university for sport.”
Technical director George Pritchard says following the hottest June on record, and predictions of more scorching summers in the future due to rising temperatures from climate change, the issue of staff comfort during heatwaves will become a challenge for employers.
A study by the UK Green Building Council found 80% of the buildings that will serve as workplaces in the UK in 2050 have already been built, so may lack the measures needed to keep them cool during heatwaves.
One of the benefits of smart building technology is how it can help building owners and operators to better understand how occupants move around the workplace, with all the information available to view on an easyto-understand dashboard.
Key stakeholders from local education and business joined the Sherwood Planetarium’s VIP event, hosted by Sir John and Lady Christine Peace at their home in Caunton, Nottinghamshire.
More than 50 guests attended the event, as the team of volunteers campaigning for the project reached out to businesses for donations to help build the £6.5m planetarium and education centre in Mansfield.
Volunteers and learners from the Academy Transformation Trust Further Education College (ATTFE) in Sutton-in-Ashfield provided the catering, room decorations and photography at the event.
Planning permission has recently been granted for the build of the centre, which is set to be completed in November 2024 and will provide young people access to cutting-edge facilities and activities to inspire learning and encourage STEM career pathways.
Planetarium project manager Dr Steve Wallace said: “Sherwood Observatory is dedicated to bridging the opportunity gap within our community. We will do this through an ambitious outreach programme that uses astronomy as a means of inspiring people of all ages to take an interest in STEM subjects and careers.”
For details contact Dr Wallace at: projectmanager@sherwoodobservatory.org.uk
National accountancy firm Haines Watts has opened an office in Leicester as part of an ongoing expansion plan in the East Midlands.
The newly-refurbished office in Stoneygate has three floors, providing about 2,000 sq ft of space.
Haines Watts works with more than 35,000 business owners in the UK to deliver specialist tax, accounting, audit and advisory business advice
Shazin Tayub, the new director at Haines Watts Leicester, said: “I am absolutely delighted to be opening a new Haines Watt office and to be joining such a strong group. With Haines Watts reporting double-figure growth and revenue topping £105m the 2022 financial year, Haines Watts Leicester will be contributing to this continued growth.”
Shazin joins fellow directors from
Leicester-based Creative62 hosted two work experience students from Lutterworth College on a week-long programme.
The year 10 students, who were eager to learn about the design industry, were presented with the opportunity to work closely with the design team and gain valuable insights into the creative process that Creative62 follow.
During their stay in June, the students had the chance to shadow skilled graphic designers on the team, learned and followed their creative process to create logos, and picked up new Adobe Photoshop skills from director Andy Rudkin (pictured).
The time with the team meant the students benefitted from access to state-of-the-art design software and tools, allowing them to experiment and create their own designs and projects.
Andy said: “We believe it is important to invest in the future of our industry and provide opportunities for young people to gain handson experience. We hope this experience has been both educational and inspiring for them.”
Haines Watts’ Derby and Nottingham offices Martin Bowles, Mark Roe, James Liptrott and Alex Butterfield to build the organisation’s brand across the region.
Martin, who is the managing director of Haines Watts East Midlands, added: “We are proactively committed to helping our clients and colleagues achieve their business and life goals in a passionate and authentic way, as these are the key traits that underpin everything we do.
“Haines Watts’ regional model creates a synergy between offices and allows us to better support both our teams and our clients evolving business needs and challenges.”
CS Ellis Logistics hosted the Duke of Gloucester at its operating site in South Luffenham, Rutland.
The team showcased its newly-branded fleet, adorned with a 90th anniversary stamp, as well as a collection of vintage vehicles that served as delivery trucks across the company’s history.
This included a 1960 flatbed truck, a 1934 Foden R Type and the 1899 Decauville French vintage car, which was the first vehicle registered in Rutland.
Lord-Lieutenant of Rutland Dr Sarah Furness said: “We were honoured to extend a warm welcome to His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester, introducing him to one of Rutland’s longest standing and largest businesses CS Ellis Logistics.
“Its rich history is a beacon of the harmonious blend of tradition and innovation that Rutland has to offer. We are so grateful for the Duke’s presence and opportunity it provided to showcase the businesses we have leading our county forward, but still personify the essence of Rutland.”
Leicestershire County Cricket Club (LCCC) has unveiled Aspire Pharma as its new sponsor of the club’s state-ofthe-art medical centre at the Uptonsteel County Ground, at Grace Road.
Since 2016, the medical centre has been sponsored by Loughborough-based Morningside Pharmaceuticals, which was acquired by Aspire in 2022 to create a leading fast-growing, top-30 UK speciality pharma company.
The newly named Aspire Medical Centre will continue to be a critical treatment area for the club’s players, where specialist physio can be carried out, as well as urgent medical assistance provided in an emergency.
Richard Condon, chief executive of Aspire Pharma, said: “At Aspire, our mission is to make a difference to the lives of patients through the development and supply of innovative products and medicines throughout the world, which this partnership very much aligns with.”
An “online dating platform” for small and micro businesses set up by two Derby entrepreneurs has secured funding from Innovate UK.
Designed by the founders of think3 and Ask the Chameleon, Lee Marples and Rachel Hayward, the hookup aims to revolutionise the way small and micro businesses connect, collaborate and expand their networks.
A dynamic online hub, the hookup will offer a mobile platform for entrepreneurs to initially meet online with those that share similar aspirations, establish valuable partnerships and unlock new opportunities. By encouraging meaningful connections, it tackles barriers to collaboration, enabling small and micro businesses to scale their operations with confidence.
business community as a whole, demonstrating their confidence is us to create a vibrant place for businesses to find their perfect match, unlocking endless possibilities for growth.”
Ask the Chameleon has reached a key milestone after securing £100m worth of contracts on behalf of its clients.
The achievement reinforces the Derby-based bid writing consultancy’s position as a trusted partner for businesses seeking to excel in competitive markets when applying for tenders, bids and awards programmes.
Under the leadership of Rachel Hayward, it has helped numerous organisations secure valuable opportunities and establish themselves as industry leaders.
It was selected as one of 14 businesses in the East Midlands to receive a slice of £400,000 funding from Innovate UK, the Government’s innovation agency, to drive technological advancements and economic development.
Lee said: “Our partnership with Innovate UK marks a pivotal moment for the hookup and the small
Rachel, who previously worked with Lee to form the Swap Shop platform for trading business services during the pandemic, added: “Business is tough, and we aim to give our members the knowledge, tools and meaningful connections necessary to grow their businesses.
“Based on our experience of running the Swap Shop during the pandemic, we know through this new platform, small businesses can find partners, suppliers, investors, and collaborators, fuelling our futures.”
One such client is fellow Chamber member Smith Partnership, a legal firm, which has recently secured a coveted place on a legal framework worth £1.5m.
Claire Twells (pictured), head of debt recovery and business development at Smith Partnership, said: “We have worked with Rachel on a number of projects and have recently been successful in winning a tender for our commercial teams. This is a national tender working on UK and overseas projects.”
‘Small businesses can find partners, suppliers, investors, and collaborators’Rachel Hayward, Lee Marples and Grant Thompson
A new report by think-tank The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), published with support from the Randal Charitable Foundation, calls 50,000 prison leavers to help plug labour shortages.
It highlights that Britain would save billions of pounds of taxpayer money, and plug many of its more than one million job vacancies, if it doubled-down on efforts to get prisoners into work when they leave jail.
“Plugging labour shortages will also provide enormous benefits to the economy, as the Chancellor labelled employee shortages as a major threat to economic growth in his most recent Budget.
“But it’s more than that besides – it can help shape steps to support a long-neglected community – for meaningful remediation in an area of very real need in our society. We can and we should tackle this – as businesses, as communities and as policy shapers – together.”
As well as wider releases for employment purposes, the report goes on to call for better education in the UK's prison system, more digital technology, a wider range of vocational qualifications and earlier access to student loans.
The Leicestershire-based foundation collaborated with the CSJ to bring forward the report, which highlights that, of the nearly 50,000 people leaving prisons in the UK each year, only three in 10 have a job six months later.
Those who struggle to find work are at serious risk of reoffending, which perpetuates the cycle of crime that blights so many families and communities.
Dr Professor Nik Kotecha OBE DL, founder of the Randal Charitable Foundation, said: “I’m immensely proud that our partnership with the CSJ has led to this ground-breaking report, which is now being considered by the Justice Minister.
“If enacted, it will go further and faster towards addressing the staggering £18bn annual cost of reoffending, as research shows that being in employment is proven to help break the cycle of crime.
Dr Prof Nik Kotecha has been awarded with an honorary degree by the University of Leicester for his contribution to society.
The entrepreneur found sanctuary in Leicester as a child refugee with his family in 1972 to escape Idi Amin’s reign of terror in Uganda, with nothing but the clothes on their backs and a few suitcases.
From those humble beginnings, Dr Kotecha built up a hugely successful career, founding Loughborough-based Morningside Pharmaceuticals, and then becoming a major philanthropist as founder of the Randal Charitable Foundation, making international contribution to pharmaceuticals, life sciences and innovation.
Speaking after receiving the honorary doctorate of science at a De Montfort Hall graduation ceremony in July, Dr Kotecha said: “As a young man and throughout my academic and entrepreneurial journey, I’ve long been an admirer of the university’s commitment to supporting and developing young people.
“I hope my story helps inspire the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs to work hard and follow their dreams of making a positive difference to the world. My advice to all graduating students is as you step out into the world armed with your degrees, please remember that you possess a power, to positively shape our world.
“You have the potential to ignite change, to challenge conventional wisdom, and to make a lasting positive impact on the lives of others.”
A Derbyshire creative agency led by two sisters is pivoting to focus on creating marketing campaigns to encourage people to change their behaviour.
MacMartin, founded by siblings Claire MacDonald and Anna Hutton, achieved remarkable growth even during Covid-19 and recently announced doubled turnover.
Now the company is using its reputation, skills and success to focus on social marketing to incite positive change in society.
The move means the MacMartin team is working with local authorities, schools, charities and not-for-profit organisations like the YMCA to create marketing campaigns that are a force for good – and not just about turning a profit.
MacMartin marketing director Anna said: “Everyday, everywhere, marketing campaigns are out in force whether we are aware of them or not. We are being sold to, persuaded and influenced everywhere we go, from waiting at
the bus stop to looking at posters on roadsides to scrolling on our phone.
“As marketeers, we know what potential our work has to make a positive impact within the wider world. That’s why we are proud to announce that our talented team at MacMartin will be working on creating marketing campaigns designed to engender positive changes in society, to influence people to do, for want of a better phrase, ‘the right thing’.”
‘We can and we should tackle this –as businesses, as communities and as policy shapers’Claire MacDonald and Anna Hutton Dr Nik Kotecha OBE DL
Nottinghamshire-based healthcare provider Primary Integrated Community Services (PICS) has been recognised with an Outstanding Achievement Award.
Presented by Hucknall residents and carers Marilyn and Nicola Clifton during an event at Whyburn Medical Practice, the accreditation was created by Nottinghamshire Carers Association as a “carer-
Leicester-based OMS has added a series of health and safety training courses to its portfolio.
The training provider has been offering courses accredited by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) for the past 17 years, and has extended its expertise to offer the IOSH safety, health and environment course for construction site managers.
The company has also added a range of national vocational qualifications (NVQs) specifically designed for different tiers within the construction industry.
As a gold partner of National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) delivery, it will also run the Level 6 national diploma for occupational health and safety management professionals.
Ian Cooke (pictured), head of corporate and consumer services at NEBOSH, said: “Having trusted partners to deliver the NEBOSH training courses is paramount, and OMS has long been one such partner. The team at OMS has always focused on putting the customer first and this is proven with 25 successful years in business.”
friendly” quality mark.
NCA health liaison worker Stephanie Smith said the accreditation “celebrates the powerful, consistent and valuable contributions” made by PICS across its primary and community services, carer staff and its wider team in general.
In 2022, PICS became the first organisation in Nottinghamshire
and Derbyshire to be awarded carer-friendly quality marks as an employer and for services in general practice, social prescribing and care navigation. Based in Eastwood, it employs almost 500 people in primary, community and out-of-hospital care.
This new award in 2023 reflects confidence that staff across PICS consistently “do more than
PAB Languages Centre has celebrated a record quarter for website localisation projects.
The Nottingham-based business – which specialises in localisation, translation, editing and multilingual copywriting services – completed 11 different website translations and localisations for clients into French, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Swedish and Japanese languages.
It says businesses increasingly recognise the value of having websites not just in native languages but localised too.
About 40% of internet users said they will never buy from websites that are not in their native language and 65% of non-native English speakers prefer content in their native tongue, even though they are highly proficient in English, according to CSA Research.
At the same time, a 2022 study by PayPal found 57% of online shoppers bought goods internationally, with two out of five global shoppers making a cross-border purchase in the previous three months.
Iwona Lebiedowicz, founder of PAB Languages Centre, said: “A multilingual website engages new audiences and opens the opportunity to become visible across international search engines. A properly localised website speaks directly to the consumer in their own language, enabling businesses and brands to compete with local and global players in their niche.
“The numbers are quite staggering – translating your website into English, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, German, French, Portuguese and Italian enables you to reach 80% of the global online purchasing power – so it’s no surprise that an increasing number of businesses are looking to translate and localise their websites.”
enough” to earn NCA’s top award for all its services.
Nicola, who helps her mother and sister as well as running her own cleaning business, said: “We didn’t know of any carer support, but we do now. As a carer, I want to know where to go for the help and advice we need, so it’s not just being at home and trying to Google it.”
Geldards has advised Derbyshirebased Arctic Cabins on the transition to an employee ownership trust.
The national law firm, which has offices in Nottingham and Derby, helped guide Arctic Cabins through the transition by providing support to engage with employees to ensure they understood the process. It also collaborated with the appointed trustees to ensure they were clear on their roles and responsibilities.
A family-run business established more than 20 years ago by owner Gareth Parkinson and his Finnish wife Virpi, Arctic Cabins takes inspiration from the Scandinavian lifestyle, which places sturdy wooden shelters, often with a central BBQ, in communities and national parks as refuges to be used by the community.
The trend for homeworking since the pandemic, coupled with a gardening boom, has skyrocketed demand for practical home offices and additional living space, with the company experiencing a huge surge in demand.
Andrew Evans, partner at Geldards, said: “It was great to be instructed by Gareth and the team at Arctic Cabins as a long-time client of the firm, and take the team through the challenges of a transition to employee ownership.”
Leicester manufacturer Camloc Motion Control has created a bespoke product to go the extra mile for a customer.
The gas spring, strut and damper maker stepped in when a customer recently required a motion control solution after a competitor discontinued a line of self-centering dampers, used to enable movement in both extension and compression functions in mechanical equipment, with a controlled rate of return.
From its base in New Star Road, Camloc’s team of engineers set about creating a refined and improved product compared to those previously found on the market over a fourmonth period.
The company researched, designed, built and tested its own self-centering damper – the CamShoc SCD.
Camloc joint-managing director and co-owner Matt Warne said: “There’s really nothing quite like sinking your teeth into a challenge, and
Druck has launched a new generation of pressure sensors designed for the aerospace sector.
Its new NG3000 pressure sensors will enable commercial and military aerospace customers to deploy flightqualified sensors that can be self-customised through an online configurator tool.
The new product will remove the cost and time of manufacturing bespoke sensor technology, enabling customers to configure the sensors to suit their operating parameters.
Leicester-based Druck is part of the Baker Hughes group and an industry leader in pressure measurement technology and instrumentation.
Vice-president Gordon Docherty said: “Leveraging our strong aerospace heritage, the Druck NG3000 pressure sensor reflects decades of successful customer collaboration and development.
“I’m proud that, in a sector where most customers require bespoke pressure measurement technology, we have pushed the boundaries of innovation and brought to market new technology.”
there’s no challenge quite like designing an entirely new motion control solution.
“It’s hard work and there are times where you need to head back to the drawing board, but it’s amazing when it all pulls together.
“We work closely with our customers at every stage, from initial design through to product testing, manufacture and distribution.
“This also includes product development and innovation, meaning when we see something needs designing and creating, we jump right on to that.”
The annual Nottingham Festival of Science and Curiosity is looking to partner with local businesses to increase participation of the event among Nottinghamshire communities.
Business leader Emily Smith has been named as one of the most inspirational people working in UK manufacturing.
She is listed among 20 “exemplars” inThe ManufacturerTop 100, a listing that recognises the most dynamic leaders and innovators in manufacturing.
Emily is operations and finance director at Leicester-based Michael Smith Switchgear, and managing director of AVW Fabrications.
Industry title The Manufacturer launched the Top 100 a decade ago after academic and parliamentary studies identified a clear lack of visible role models within manufacturing. It captures 100 inspirational people in manufacturing each year.
Emily, who also chairs the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales’ manufacturing advisory group, was joined by other leaders as they came together for an event to launch the 2023 list.
“At Michael Smith Switchgear and AVW Fabrications, we are working to change the way our industries operate,” said Emily.
“We want to show how UK manufacturing is providing world-class quality, sustainable manufacturing, and modern working environments built around our teams’ physical and mental wellbeing.”
Emily, who was named Businesswoman of the Year at the Chamber’s Enterprising Women Awards in 2022, is committed to making her industry more sustainable.
Earlier this year, she joined Michael Smith Switchgear managing director Sean Smith in collecting one of only six global prizes in its category of Schneider’s Electric Sustainability Impact Awards.
It comes after the firm achieved carbon neutrality due to it implementing a string of sustainability measures around its site in Braunstone Frith.
Now in its ninth year, the festival is set to take place between 5-16 February 2024, and finds innovative ways to spark interest in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects in children and young people. It brings together local communities, especially in areas of disadvantage areas, to ensure people of all ages and background can participate, interact and have conversations about the questions they are curious about.
The festival is a registered charity which relies on support and funding from partners, and it is increasingly working with local businesses to design, develop and deliver interactive activities to showcase their organisation and engage with their communities.
For more information about the partnership opportunities available, contact Megan Shore at megan@ignitefutures.org.uk
‘There’s really nothing quite like sinking your teeth into a challenge, and there’s no challenge quite like designing an entirely new motion control solution’The Druck NG3000 Pressure Sensor
EEM Ltd, a national not-for-profit procurement consortium for the public sector, has reinforced its commitment to social value by donating £656,000 to benefit communities.
In August 2023, a total of 139 public sector organisations across England and Wales benefitted from a new round of community donations from EEM, totalling £500,000. This brings the total amount of donations through this scheme since 2015 to over £2m.
In addition to this scheme, EEM’s responsiveness to immediate needs was evident through its £156,000 cost of living crisis fund, which was also distributed to its successfully applying members in February 2023. By extending support during times of challenge, EEM solidifies its role as a reliable organisation, standing alongside members and their communities through challenging times.
As a free-to-join membership organisation for councils, housing associations, and other public sector organisations, EEM provides cost and efficiency savings by offering a wide range of innovative procurement solutions. Members can compliantly and competitively access contractors,
suppliers and merchants for goods and services relating to the repairs and maintenance of their property portfolios.
EEM does not collect any membership or access fees from its members. Instead it collects a small commission from suppliers upon the delivery of goods or services. EEM then pools its operating surplus into social value initiatives such as the community donation scheme, which is distributed to its members based on their usage of EEM procurement solutions.
By fusing collaborative procurement with a dedication to supporting communities, EEM aspires to set a compelling example of purposedriven corporate responsibility.
If you would like to know more about EEM Ltd, what we do, and how we can support the public sector to make procurement cost and efficiency savings, please visit our website www.eem.org.uk or contact info@eem.org.uk / 01246 395610 to speak to our friendly member support team.
With the deadline fast approaching to enter the King’s Awards for Enterprise 2024, Business Network profiles one of the East Midlands’ winners this year to shine a spotlight on why businesses small and large should put themselves forward for the UK’s premier business awards.
What does your business do, where do you operate and who are your clients?
Founded in 2004, we are a commercial heritage services business providing a full-service offer for clients across all construction and development sectors across the UK.
The company has four divisions –heritage consultancy offers professional advice, all types of reports including environmental impact assessment chapters and building recording; field archaeology undertakes
archaeological excavations and all other types of fieldwork, analysis and reports; publications and value creation is at the centre of a social and public benefits programme ensuring archaeological knowledge and inspiration is shared as widely as possible; and specialist services provide a niche range of services including osteology, palaeoenvironmental investigation, drone-based mapping, geochemical and geophysical surveys among others.
Our clients encompass the whole development market and includes mineral extraction, energy, housing, utilities, national infrastructure, engineering consultancies and architectural practices.
What made you enter the King’s Awards for Enterprise
Company: Archaeological Research Services
Location: Bakewell
Spokesperson: Will Throssel, chief operating officer (pictured)
and how did you find the application process?
We entered the King’s Awards for Enterprise because it is the pinnacle of business awards and we wanted to be able to test ourselves against the high standards of the criteria.
Over recent years, we have been working hard to build our innovation and wanted to be able to underline all we had achieved.
The process was more onerous than some awards applications, both in terms of breadth and the depth of the questions. But there was plenty of supporting information available, and the process and next stages were clear at each point.
With limited dedicated support for scale-up businesses across the UK, High Growth and Nottingham University Business School have teamed up to bring a unique support programme for the most ambitious businesses.
Launched by the founder of High Growth, Stuart Ross, and Professor David Park of Nottingham University Business School, the Ultimate Scale Up programme aims
How did it feel to win the awards and why do you feel you deserved this accolade?
Genuinely thrilled to have won the award. We have worked hard over a long time to develop and bring our geochemical survey application to commercial archaeology, so to have received this recognition is really important.
What is valuable to me is that it wasn’t just a case of what we were claiming but that we had to be able to provide the evidence to back this up too. The award was hardearned, which makes it feel that bit more special.
What impact do you expect the recognition to have on your business and how do you
plan to use this?
We expect this award to have a really positive impact on the business. It will help us stand out from our competitors and underline how we approach things differently. We also plan to use the award to show the whole heritage sector in a good light and how it is very much not stuck in the past.
What would be your advice to other companies deliberating on whether to apply for the King’s Awards for Enterprise?
In short: go for it! Follow the advice and guidance, and start the application early and with a number of people engaged in the process. Also, be prepared to back up anything you say with evidence.
East Midlands businesses have until 12 September 2023 to enter next year’s King’s Awards for Enterprise.
The awards, which are free to enter, recognise organisations for their achievements across innovation, international development, sustainable development and promoting opportunity through social mobility.
Winners are announced in May 2024 and are permitted to fly the King’s Awards for Enterprise flag at their main office and use the emblem in marketing materials for five years.
They will also receive an official certificate known as a grant of appointment and a commemorative crystal trophy.
For more information about eligibility criteria and to apply for the awards, visit www.gov.uk/kings-awards-for-enterprise
to help businesses in the region fulfil their potential.
It is initially open to just 12 business leaders with the potential to quickly reach the next level of growth.
Each attendee will attend an intensive residential as well as receiving accredited coaching, online and peer-to-peer support across a three-month period.
The programme brings in the
latest thinking and examples from scale-up experts and practitioners from across the world, sharing game-changing strategies that facilitate rapid growth in businesses with ambition.
Stuart said: “There’s a huge potential for UK businesses that unfortunately isn’t being nurtured –Britain remains a good place to start a business but a bad one to scale it.
“That is why it was so important for us to bring a world class scaleup programme using expertise, experience and connections to offer growing businesses through 2023 a real chance to move to the next level in a way that’s sustainable and crucially, profitable.”
Businesses can sign up at www.nottingham.ac.uk/business/ executive-education
In June and July, the Chamber welcomed 70 new members:
JUNE
• Apollo Business Broking
• Coachworks
• Digital Planning
• Emma & Co Interiors
• EV Cargo
• Fosseway Environmental Limited
• Glowfrog Video Productions
• Hay Hampers
• Hilltop Social
• Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining
• Lees Brook Academy
• Lion Secure Dispatch Ltd
• Lithgo Press Limited
• Maison des Animaux Ltd
• Marshall Jaguar Land Rover Leicestershire
• Masters Speciality Pharma (International)
• MDG Wealth Management
• Mojo Accounting Ltd
• Mopaway Ltd
• Moving Together Ltd
• Oasis Health & Beauty Ltd
• Peak Engineering Contractors Ltd
• PRP UK Ltd
• Quorn Country Crafts
• Resonate Systems Ltd
• Simon Daniels @ 2Plan Wealth Management
• SKM Design
• Spoox Components LTD
• Strikes Enforcement Services and Debt Recovery
• Supra Enterprises Ltd
• Synergy Personnel Services
• Tax Made Easy
• The Connected Heating Company Ltd
• The Key Health Club Limited
• The Maynard
• The Printers Loughborough
• Twycross Zoo –East Midland Zoological Society Limited
• Viridis Building Services Limited
• Walsh Auto Motive
• YCG
JULY
• Adrian Thompson Consulting Ltd
• Battery Service Hub Ltd
• CarMats.co.uk
• Coach Hire Comparison Ltd
• Cockliffe Country House
• Connecture Limited
• DWS Legal
• Elite Fire Protection Services
• FNG
• Funnel Glow
• German Autowerks Ltd
• Growthack Ltd
• GRW Logistics Ltd
• Hearbuy (International)
• Holleron Wealth Management
• Hopkinson Waste Management Ltd
• Izwi Art Limited
• Kalimbra, Save your legs
• Kelham House Country Manor
• Konsileo
• Metric Search
• Montrose Retreats
• Ocean King
• ReACon Intelligence
• Reason8 Web Agency
• Sanjib 8
• The Buxton Crescent Spa Hotel & Old Hall
• The Sustainable Kitchen
• UK Export Finance
• Wellsecure Locksmiths Ltd
Tell us what your company does and a brief overview of its history?
WHP is a specialist events agency with more than four decades of experience operating in the international corporate events arena. We have delivered conferences with full creative production and logistics, product launches, incentive rewards programmes including travel and activities, and motivational marketing campaigns in every corner of the world.
Our audiences have ranged from just a handful of senior executives to multiple corporate groups in their thousands and featured A-list celebrities, government ministers and even royalty.
Who are your main customers and what is your USP to them?
We develop close relationships with the brands we work with so the solutions we design are unique to them. The nature of our work means most of our client list tends to be specialist and discrete.
Our USP lies in providing the answers to two questions: how do we build on the success of last year and how do we make it exceptional?
What is your position in the business and what does your day-to-day role involve?
I spend a lot of my time researching what is new and exclusive. I can’t bring myself to replay the same solutions repeatedly, so I have a passion for discovering new things. This applies if it is a small, C-level event or, as was my last project, for a group of
20 high-net-worth individuals in search of “money-can’t-buy” experiences.
What challenges have you faced in recent times and how have you tried to overcome them?
There is no doubt Brexit had a massive impact on the hospitality and events industry when it comes to understanding what you can now do and, more importantly, can’t do, because of new legislation, processes and procedures, as well as the miles of red tape.
This is where our relationship with the Chamber became crucial on a recent project. It was a global automotive launch event, which operated in six European countries. This meant moving goods and services from the remotest part of the Moroccan mountains, through
Location: Leicester
Number of employees: Eight
Spokesperson: Kevin Ingram, managing director
Tangier, Gibraltar and then across mainland Europe and the UK.
How long have you been a member of the East Midlands Chamber, and how have you engaged with the membership benefits to support your business activity?
I’m a detail person and have learned over the years that working with specialists is the quickest and most secure way to operate.
It became clear very quickly the Chamber’s international trade te am has the knowledge and experience we haven’t, particularly dealing with the Sevington Inland Border Facility in Kent, which processes all customs paperwork for incoming and outgoing freight. It is true to say they made the difference, and we would never have been able to execute the project without their expertise.
A Nottingham Trent University (NTU) student with hopes of becoming a GB Olympic rower has designed new gym equipment to support other athletes who may be prone to rib stress fractures.
Max Parker, 23, created the GymMax to support other sportspeople who endure such high training loads that they can fracture their own ribs.
The BA product design student, who competed at the FISU World University Games this year, has fractured his own ribs twice.
He said there is no specific equipment available that focuses on strengthening the serratus anterior muscles, which support the rib cage. Rib stress fractures occur due to a repetitive motion that puts a strain on the ribs.
GymMax, made from a plywood base with two layers of sustainable natural rubber for grip, allows athletes to easily train with resistance bands by hooking them onto the stainless steel bars, while short yellow ropes limit the load.
Kelly and Liam Hobbs celebrate the opening of More Than Loft Ladders
Shop is next step for ladder firm
Derbyshire-based More Than Loft Ladders has opened its first high street premises to raise the profile of the specialist services it offers locally and to provide a base for its UK-wide franchise.
Now based on Long Eaton’s high street, More Than Loft Ladders is headed up by Kelly Hobbs while her husband, entrepreneur Liam Hobbs, is focusing on expanding the franchise network.
Laim said: “These are exciting times for More Than Loft Ladders both in this area and across the franchise network.
“Kelly is committed to expanding the business serving Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire, and the high street premises will be a useful shop window for customers to see for themselves the quality of the work that we do, and the advantages of opening up loft space both for extra room and storage in people’s homes.”
Kelly added: “We have built our reputation over the years by offering the full service and, as the name suggests –we are more than a loft ladder company.
“Although this is obviously an important feature, we also install hatches, part or full loft boarding insultation, lighting and smoke alarms to transform dark and forgotten lofts into usable space.”
Farmers attending a roundtable event organised by Duncan & Toplis said they are warming to the idea of joining the replacement to the largest rural payment scheme.
The accountancy and business advisory firm hosted the event featuring Janet Hughes, programme director for the Government’s Future Farming and Countryside Programme, at the Cereals 2023 agriculture conference, held at the Thoresby Estate in Nottinghamshire in June.
She explained to farmers how the phase-out of direct payments via the Basic Payments Scheme (BPS) will work, with a new “delinked payments” system replacing the system from 2024.
Mark Chatterton, head of agriculture at Duncan & Toplis, which supports almost 1,000 farming businesses, said most farmers at the discussion concluded they were more willing to join the Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme in future.
He said: “Janet came across as very open and honest in the roundtable we hosted with farmers at Cereals. Although future subsidies will be lower than the BPS, having something coming in annually does bring more stability to your income given the volatility in crop production and, in my experience, every farm has some
A digital marketing agency has doubled its footprint in Derby by moving into a new office following a period of rapid growth both in headcount and new clients.
Alphageek Digital has moved into Century House, in St James’ Court, after expanding its team to 20 members of staff – a growth of 33% in the past six months. Making the move to the 1,800 sq ft office allows the company – which offers online advertising, pay-per-click campaigns, web design and development, content creation and brand amplification services – to increase its client portfolio further.
Alphageek looks after the online activity for about 50 companies in four continents across a range of industries, including Derby-based Project D, restaurant chain Tamatanga and international brands HUUB, Casio and Do Not Age.
The new space has the capacity for the firm, which is run by three friends Art Lindop, Alex Mills and Kieran Flynn, to expand on to the next floor so it can continue its push to be at the top of its industry in five years’ time.
Operations director Kieran said: “This move is another positive step forward in our development as a business and because we are committed to growing the firm sustainably, and attracting the best talent to serve our clients, having more space at our disposal means we are ready to hit the ground running when we recruit.”
marginal land that should benefit from these schemes.
“My own conclusion from Cereals 2023 was that food production will still be more than 50% of our clients’ turnover and profits. There may well be an increase in rental and diversification income but most of the land area will need farming well for food production.”
The CEO of Derbyshire charity Safe and Sound has received an honorary degree from the University of Derby.
Tracy Harrison (pictured) spent 32 years in the police force, rising through the ranks from constable to superintendent, before becoming CEO of the charity, which supports children, young people and families affected by child exploitation.
Under her leadership, the charity has become widely valued for its work in local communities in Derbyshire, and now Tracy has received an honorary master of the university at an awards ceremony in Buxton in recognition of her work.
Tracy said: “This recognition from the university will hopefully further raise awareness of exploitation can happen to any child and young person in our local communities and is a real and present danger that we all need to be alert to.”
Derbyshire-based Lockwood has collaborated with video production company Glowfrog to amplify its services.
The family-owned haulage company wanted to raise awareness of its co-packing service and sought the help of Glowfrog to create a professional promotional video, which has since been instrumental in growing sales and engagement.
Mark Graham, group service director at Lockwood, said: “We required a new high quality video to promote our co-packing services and, having found Glowfrog online, it clearly appeared to be the best choice of video production company locally. We found that the people are great to work with, providing detailed customer support throughout the process from start to finish.
“We saw a huge boost in sales and brand awareness and that’s thanks to Glowfrog, they brought our message to life in a visually stunning way, while helping us to stand out from the competition.”
The finalists of this year’s Niche Business Awards have been revealed.
Organised by Leicester-based marketing agency Cross Productions, which publishes business publication Niche Magazine, the awards were formed nine years ago to showcase Leicestershire organisations and individuals that make a positive impact on the local economy.
Among the finalists were large businesses that operate across the UK, as well as family-run SMEs. Industries range from leisure to logistics and from education to environmental.
An independent judging panel conducted in-depth research into the semi-finalists, who were chosen by their category sponsors.
Seventeen winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on Friday 8 September. This year’s event theme is carnival so guests can expect a ceremony full of colour, music and dancing.
Jenny Cross, CEO of Cross Productions, said: “The cost-of-living crisis has caused businesses to become savvier and more proactive with their marketing, and I think they’re making the effort to get involved with ceremonies like the Niche Business Awards because they see that award recognition can ultimately build trust and attract new clients and customers.
“Leicestershire has a thriving business community, one that acts as a benchmark for other cities to aspire to. We’re very keen to welcome guests to the 2023 ceremony and finally get to reveal the surprises we’ve
A touring attraction will return to Derby this autumn accompanied by an extensive public events programme.
Museum of the Moon – created by UK artist Luke Jerram – is a giant artwork which will be suspended over the nave at Derby Cathedral, and is open to the public between 12 October and 10 November.
Measuring seven metres in diameter, Museum of the Moon is a touring artwork featuring detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface.
The installation is a fusion of lunar imagery, moonlight and surround sound composition created by BAFTA and award-winning composer Dan Jones. Entry to exhibition is free of charge, with a suggested donation of £3 per person which will go towards the care and work of Derby Cathedral.
The dean of Derby, The Very Reverend Dr Peter Robinson, says organisers were encouraged to re-book Museum of the Moon following feedback from the thousands of visitors to the cathedral for these attractions last year.
“When the exhibition first came to Derby Cathedral, we had people queuing, at times, right down to the Market Place,” he said.
“The art installation showed people from Derby and well beyond just what a wonderful, welcoming and inspiring space the cathedral is, and many people said they would love to see it here again.”
planned throughout the night. It’s a fantastic theme to celebrate Leicester’s culture and bring the community together.”
To view the shortlist for the Niche Business Awards, visit nichemagazine.co.uk/awards
A spotlight was shone on more than 300 years of family businesses in the region at the Midlands Family Business Awards 2023.
Organised by Nottingham-based insurance and financial services provider The Wilson Organisation, the annual showpiece recognises the success, achievements and innovations of family-owned companies in the Midlands.
HR, payroll and finance software development firm MHR scooped the headline Family Business of the Year title at the black-tie awards ceremony at Kelham Hall, in Newark, on 29 June.
Specialising in customisable and compliant software solutions for
businesses across a broad range of sectors, MHR was family-founded in 1984 and has since delivered integrated solutions to more than 1,400 businesses globally, operating from its business headquarters in Ruddington, Nottinghamshire.
The Wilson Organisation’s group managing director Charlotte Perkins said: “The calibre of businesses we’ve seen this year has been incredible and we’ve been so inspired and moved hearing all their success stories and their plans for the future.”
To view the winners of the Midlands Family Business Awards, visit bit.ly/3E8T7pE
Derbyshire-based Midland Lead has been shortlisted for a national award by HR professional body, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).
The lead manufacturer, based in Swadlincote, has been recognised for the Best SME People Management Initiative for the way it engages and develops its people.
The family-run company produces more than 15,000 tonnes of lead annually for UK and overseas clients and is the only UK manufacturer offering BBA-certified machine cast sheets which also have an environmental product declaration (EPD).
It is a significant employer in the area, offering a variety of office and manufacturing jobs, as well as apprenticeships.
Since 2015, it has worked with Derby-based HR consultancy Loates HR to create a value-led culture to build a happy, engage and healthy workforce. The company has since developed a pay progression structure for operators, introducing a suite of benefits, coupled with significant training opportunities and employee focus groups.
HR manager Francoise Derksen said: “It's great to hear that the judges have recognised Midland Lead for our long-term approach to people development, establishing us as an employer of choice, an excellent manufacturer driven by a clear business need to recruit and retain the best to deliver the best for our customers.”
Nottingham-based Spenbeck has been awarded a national title at the Family Business of the Year Awards 2023.
The company, best known for its role in regenerating the Lace Market, took home the Professional Services Family Business of the Year award at a gala awards evening at The Royal College of Physicians in Regent’s Park, London.
Organised by Family Business United, the awards celebrate the very best of British family firms from all corners of the UK.
Founded by Mich Stevenson OBE DL, Spenbeck’s family values are immortalised by his daughters and current owners Becky Valentine and Victoria Green.
Through local partnerships, it has fostered ongoing relationships built upon trust, earning a reputation specialising in bespoke, sustainable and aestheticallydesigned offices in Nottingham’s creative quarter.
1284 founder George Oliver has won the Chartered Institute of Public Relations’ (CIPR) mark of excellence for his work on communicating East Midlands innovation and entrepreneurship.
George was shortlisted in the Independent PR Practitioner of the Year category of the CIPR Excellence Awards 2023.
West Nottinghamshire College has achieved an award for Lived Experience Charter Status – becoming the first college in the country to be recognised as part of the charter.
The bronze award, which will apply for a duration of three years, recognises the work the college does towards corporate parenting and protected characteristics for care-experienced young people.
It was presented to the college at the Lived Experience Charter Awards event in spring.
The Lived Experience Charter, devised by Career Matters, focuses on lived experience communities, including children who are in local authority care as well as young people and adults who have left care, and individuals who have been involved in the criminal justice system.
West Nottinghamshire College was applauded for its commitment to the open and inclusive recruitment of people with lived experience in the care system, as well as its dedication to implementing corporate parenting into students’ lives.
The college’s care-experienced coach Wayne Golding said: “This is tremendous news to be recognised for the work we are doing for both our students who have experience in care and for our staff who are developing their skills to further support these individuals.”
CIPR Excellence is the industry’s leading awards event. It recognises the work of public relations practitioners and campaigns from around the UK.
1284 was listed for Independent PR Practitioner of the Year alongside seven other agencies from across the UK, and it came runner-up in the category as well as highly commended by judges.
Former Leicester Mercury George said: “It’s really pleasing that the judges were so engaged by 1284’s central idea – using comms to encourage small business productivity through use of innovation.
“I’m proud to be recognised by a judging panel of senior industry leaders at such an early stage for 1284 – it was only our third birthday in July.”
The Loughborough-based
Midlands, working with growing businesses to help effectively communicate their offer at start-up and scale-up stage.
It also works with local authorities including the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership, Rykneld Homes, and several councils and universities.
Leicester-based Bakers
Environmental Solutions has donated a number of bikes to two local charities, Menphys and Loros Hospice.
The donation from the environmental waste management company aims to support fundraising efforts and provide opportunities for individuals in need.
Managing director Paul Baker and key account manager Lynda Page personally delivered the eight refurbished bikes to Menphys as part its Mini Bikers Programme, which teaches young people with disabilities how to safely ride a bike.
It also sent a van full of bikes to Loros to contribute to the hospice’s fundraising initiatives, allowing the charity to continue its work in providing comfort and assistance during end-of-life care.
Paul said: “Our commitment to social responsibility and environmental sustainability remains unwavering, and we are proud to collaborate with these outstanding organisations.”
Derbyshire Voluntary Action has created a new series of networking and shared learning events to help businesses problem solve together.
The series, Connect & Reflect, is produced by Community Chesterfield and gives companies a platform to network and collaborate accompanied by experts from local community groups, non-profits, NHS, social care and staff, and students from the University of Derby.
Businesses can also recognise risks related to environmental, social, and governance concerns, effectively mitigate them, and ensure long-term resilience by actively participating in debates and problem-solving sessions.
Jenny Raschbauer, project director at Community Chesterfield, said: “These events will empower companies to make a real difference, drive sustainable change and contribute to the betterment of our community and beyond.”
A Leicestershire charity that supports young people aged between 11 and 18 has rebranded.
Originally a project within Twenty Twenty, Love4Life has now expanded across more areas of need in Leicestershire and Derby, and rebranded wholly under its name.
The charity is run by a dedicated team of youth workers committed to making a difference in the lives of young people.
It specialises in supporting vulnerable girls to
develop their self-esteem and form positive, empowering relationships by delivering group sessions, one-to-ones and workshops in secondary schools and among the community.
The new CEO Louise Adams has continued to grow the charity through her leadership, and the addition of new youth workers and a fundraiser to the team.
A Love4Life service user Kiera, 14, said: “Love4Life has helped me gain confidence in myself and learn to love myself again.”
YMCA Derbyshire has received support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for a new employability project inspired by local heritage.
The project, named Past:Present:Work, will support 30 young people who have experienced homelessness and barriers to employment or learning. Participants will be YMCA Derbyshire residents, or young people engaged in training and education programmes at YMCA Key College.
It aims to engage young people in exploring heritage and conservation sites in Derbyshire, and to understand the employment opportunities linked to the past and present. This will be done through project work, one-to-one coaching, group activities and placements or volunteering to facilitate a successful journey into employment.
Cromford Mill, the Museum of Making and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust are partners within the project, providing workshops delivered by education teams to explore their sites and resources to inform and excite participants.
Gillian Sewell, chief executive of YMCA Derbyshire, said: “This funding will enable young people who may not have the opportunity to visit and engage in activities related to their local heritage to access these places and learn about their rich history.
“The project will enrich their knowledge and skills to build their CVs and assist them in finding meaningful work for the future.”
Thousands of miles away, on the 2,790-mile stretch of the BR-116 highway in Brazil, brightlycoloured pink houses signal hope for many young women sexually exploited in their own country. These houses belong to social project Meninadança and offer a place where girls learn their worth, take back their confidence, and crucially learn that they can break the culture of exploitation. They also offer expression through dance, beauty therapy and new friendships, alongside the support from psychologists.
To promote its work worldwide, the project turned to Derby-based Briight, which has previously provided visual content for the likes of Microsoft, BBC and sausage maker Heck.
Briight worked closely with Meninadança to plan and strategically market the project, which culminated in a short, animated film demonstrating the important work that is being done. It also produced marketing materials to help raise the profile of the project.
Founders Rob Dawes and Drew Taylour-Davis are also helping the project raise funds through in-person and online fundraising events.
Nottingham-based Omeeto has marked its third anniversary with the appointment of its first degree apprentice and the move to larger offices.
Director Chris Wright, who set up the commercial property agency in 2020 with more than 23 years’ industry experience in senior roles and national and regional companies, has been joined by Ruby Scott Mullen (pictured).
Ruby, a former pupil at Ecclesbourne School in Duffield, plans to study parttime for a degree in chartered surveying with real estate at Nottingham Trent University alongside gaining practical work experience with Omeeto. The company has also moved into larger offices at The Quadrant in Beeston.
Chris said: “Our success so far has been rooted in our fresh approach to commercial property sales and lettings by utilising the latest digital marketing tools and the flexibility of offer for our clients. Ruby’s skills and enthusiasm are already contributing greatly to our services.”
Lawson-West Solicitors has appointed Vicky Jones (pictured) as managing director.
Vicky, former head of the probate, wills and trusts team at the Leicestershire law firm, has been an active board member for many years, with associate solicitor Phoebe Skarlatos taking over the running of that department in April 2022.
Existing managing director and commercial solicitor David Heys is starting a new life as a specialist consultant, helping business owners grow their businesses.
National auction house John Pye & Sons has boosted its in-house legal team with the appointment of Claire West as legal counsel.
Claire will be based at the firm’s Nottingham head office, reporting to head of legal Rosalind Keen, who joined the business in 2020 in a new role to enhance its in-house legal capabilities, particularly in tendering for Government-related work.
She will support the legal requirements across the whole business, focusing on commercial law. She will provide clarity on contracts and terms governing relationships between the business, its clients and customers. She will also be responsible for reviewing and negotiating contracts, and improving terms and conditions.
Claire brings 25 years’ experience to the business, having trained at a national law firm before working inhouse and then joining Nottingham Law School as a commercial law lecturer.
She said: “The business is going from strength-tostrength and I’m looking forward to leveraging my legal experience to help take on some of the legal workload across all parts of the business.”
The Nottingham office of national accountancy UHY Hacker Young has promoted Becki Roberts and Chris McKain to director positions, as part of the office’s continuing growth and development of its audits and accounts services.
Becki joined the firm in July 2018 and, as head of the UHY National Cloud Group, specialises in cloudbased accounting. Working with a wide range of owner-managed and family businesses, Becki predominantly helps clients achieve their business goals by providing compliance and advisory services.
She said: “My first five years at UHY has been a fantastic period of personal development as I’ve grown in managing a portfolio of statutory and management
accounts – ensuring that client finances continue to move in a prosperous direction and helping them achieve their business goals.
“The Nottingham accounts team has tripled in size and I’m particularly proud to represent a growing team of female leaders in the office.”
Chris has been promoted to director from senior audit manager, previously training at MHA and working at Grant Thornton prior to joining UHY 12 years ago.
He said: “I will be transitioning from my day-to-day audit activities to leading, overseeing and reviewing the audits of our clients, as well as becoming more involved with large value projects across UHY’s global offices.”
A former reporter who spent 15 years sharing the heartbreak, joy and achievements of people and businesses has joined Derby-based public relations firm Penguin PR.
Jenny Moody previously worked for Reach plc’s Burton Mail and Uttoxeter Advertiser, as well as the Staffordshire Live website.
Over the years, she has helped to promote businesses, sharing what goes on behind the scenes as well as stories of bravery, heartache, health and overcoming adversity.
Jenny said: “I am really pleased to be joining Penguin PR and ready to start sharing all the exciting and innovative ways that businesses, schools and charities across Derbyshire and Staffordshire have been supporting people and their communities as they continue to grow.”
‘I’m looking forward to leveraging my legal experience to help take on some of the legal workload’Claire West Chris McKain and Becki Roberts
Derbyshire-based Purpose Media has announced that Steve Hall (pictured above, second from right) is stepping up his involvement with the company and taking on a new role as communications director.
Steve, who has enjoyed a 40-year career in the media industry, has been a non-executive board member with the strategic marketing agency for two years but will now take on operational responsibilities, including oversight of content services.
The former editor and managing director of the Derby Telegraph, and editor-in-chief of the Nottingham Post and Leicester Mercury, is relishing the opportunity to assist the agency’s continued growth and development.
Following several key account wins, Eden PR has announced the promotion of two digital and PR account executives.
The Nottingham-headquartered public relations and marketing communications agency, established in 2000, has grown to a 14-strong team with a roster of B2B and B2C clients.
Daisy Bradford and Rosie Vacciana-Browne will now step up to senior digital and PR account executives with responsibility for supporting and guiding new starters as they settle into the team.
The duo, who both joined Eden in 2021, have consistently learned and demonstrated their new skills across media relations, social media, emerging media and digital PR, while showing passion and commitment to their clients’ broader communications programmes.
“During my time as a non-executive director, I have been hugely impressed by the Purpose Media team’s commitment to achieving outstanding results for clients,” he said.
“Its strategic approach to meeting customers’ marketing objectives and demonstrating return on investment helps us to stand apart from our peers and to build long-lasting relationships that really deliver.”
Steve will carry out his role at the South Normantonbased agency alongside existing commitments as a director of Marketing Derby and chair of Derby County Community Trust.
Ashby-based workplace consultancy Blueprint Interiors has appointed Maninder LLoyla Lupton (pictured) as a projectdesigner.
Maninder will initially join as maternity cover, working alongside the team to understand client needs and translate them into creative yet functional workspaces that inspire people to be motivated.
She holds a degree in interior architectural design and has worked freelance since 2016. Maninder has been involved in many projects ranging from conceptual ideas right through to detailed design planning for the commercial fit-out of offices, hospitality and retail venues.
She said: “Most workplaces in the UK, post-Covid, have had to consider a much-needed shake up. There is no doubt in my mind that Blueprint Interiors can help businesses embrace this need for change. It places a lot of importance on wellbeing and understands that creating the right environment for an evolving workforce can make it an enjoyable and productive space.”
Frank McArdle has joined law firm Geldards as a consultant to its public sector team.
The firm, which has offices in Nottingham, Derby, Cardiff and London, is appointed to many of the major public sector legal frameworks in the country, including East Midlands Lawshare, North West Legal Consortium and the Welsh Government Commercial Delivery panels.
Frank joins the team having led South Derbyshire District Council as chief executive for 24 years, recently retiring in March after more than 40 years at the local authority.
Chairman David Williams said: “I’m delighted that someone of Frank’s calibre and reputation will be joining our public sector team. His expertise and insight gained from a 40-year career at South Derbyshire District Council will be invaluable in maintaining our success and reputation as public sector specialists.”
Geldards has also boosted its commercial team – which has expertise in the media and entertainment sectors, with clients including major international media companies and sports agencies – with the appointment of partner Peter Ward.
Peter joins having previously led the legal teams at blue-chip companies such as Red Bull and Pernod Ricard, and most recently at specialist visual effects and animation studio Jellyfish Pictures.
The finance director of Bloc Digital has been made the new treasurer of an organisation that looks after museums across the country.
Mo Suleman (pictured) has taken up the trustee role at the Museums Association. He is a chartered certified accountant, and former PwC auditor and director of resources at Derby Museums, where he spent almost a decade.
He said: “It is an absolute honour for me to be joining the Museums Association board as its treasurer. My time at Derby Museums was so enjoyable and fulfilling, and to be given the opportunity to positively impact museums across the UK like I did at Derby is wonderful.”
Plastic otherwise destined for landfill is being turned into outdoor furniture including picnic tables, garden dining sets and bird feeders by Derbyshire-based TDP. Rob Barlow, who runs the business with wife Anna, speaks to Jasmine Thompson about how he made sustainable innovation a sustainable business.
Pinned on a wall in TDP’s office in Wirksworth, just outside Matlock, is a photograph of a shipwrecked whaling boat on a beach. At first glance, it could be a scene from anywhere in the world but it was taken by Rob Barlow during a recent trip to Antarctica with his wife Anna in March.
For 90 years, the boat was preserved and surrounded by ice, but this is noticeably absent in the image. Scientists, Rob explains, believe the boat could be lost to the elements within the next decade due to the impacts of global warming.
“It’s been intact for all that time but because the climate has been dry and it’s started raining in Antarctica, in the past few years it’s started weathering away,” he says.
The green agenda is taking root on the agendas of many businesses, with many committing net zero pledges and measuring their carbon footprints to reduce their impact on the environment.
But few business owners have witnessed the effects of climate change in person like Rob and Anna, who are managing director and finance director respectively, did during the two-week expedition they joined with a research team in March last year.
Keeping this experience front of mind helps to drive Rob on to continue embracing the circular economy model – which aims to reduce waste and minimise the environmental impact of manufactured products – within TDP.
The company makes and sells a range of outdoor furniture – including benches, picnic tables, garden dining sets, chairs and tables – as well as accessories like bird feeders and hedgehog houses, all made from recycled plastic.
“Watching TV programmes like Sir David Attenborough’s nature documentaries are very powerful and informative, but for some people it might be difficult to relate it to their own experiences – but it’s happening, we saw climate change in action,” says Rob.
“When we’re developing the sustainability strategy of our business, this experience is now in the forefront of our minds – to balance the needs of people, planet and profit.
“It’s also helped me deliver thought leadership on the topic because when you see with your own eyes the impacts of climate change and you can talk passionately about it, it gives you more credibility.”
ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION BEGINS for Rob at home, where he has used solar power for the past 24 years and has a wind turbine in his garden.
Sustainability has been rooted throughout his professional life too, founding TDP in 1991 to further develop a market for non-chemical weed control products, which he had helped create from scratch in a previous role.
TDP distributed Plantex, one of the first such products on the market in Europe, and has kept the green agenda close to its heart ever since.
Rob explains: “Climate change was on the agenda after the great storm of 1987, which completely devastated a lot of trees and ecosystems. We began working with the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew to rebuild its gardens and tested various weed control formulas for six months. We discovered that Plantex came out on top.
“Plantex became the first product of its kind to gain the endorsement of Kew Gardens, which was quite incredible to have the backing of a prestigious name.”
The company became a distributor of Plantex to garden centres and landscapers in the 1990s, experiencing a boom inspired in large part by the popularity of BBC’s Ground Force, a gardening programme headed up by Alan Titchmarsh and Charlie Dimmock in 1997.
This growth allowed Rob to introduce more environmentally-friendly products to TDP’s range, including sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDs) in the early 2000s to combat flooding.
“We started distributing floor surface grids, which you may see in festival car parks or under gravel to alleviate flooding by mimicking natural drainage of stormwater, made from recycled plastics and became quite a big player in that market,” he says.
In 2012, Rob changed the direction of TDP from a distributor to a manufacturer. He headed up the research and development activity, leading into designing and creating outdoor garden furniture.
“We started to look at what products we can manufacture out of recycled plastic, so we went back to the original manufacturer of our plastic grids and started to help it develop the plank of recycled plastic that we could then develop into outdoor furniture,” adds Rob.
The company has since grown its product portfolio by introducing new machinery and increasing headcount, doubling it to 16 during the pandemic when an increase in time spent
TDP’s manufacturing and production processes are driven by the circular economy model, and Rob believes more businesses could reap the rewards of similar adoption.
The circular economy is a system, as defined by the Elleen Macarthur Foundation, in which materials never become waste and are kept in circulation through processes like maintenance, reuse, refurbishment, remanufacture, recycling and composting.
Rob explains: “For us, the circular economy is about keeping products in use for as long as possible so we’re not throwing things away.”
TDP’s business model is based on keeping materials in the value chain. When someone drops plastic into the recycling bin, it is collected by the council, sorted and ground into pellets.
Specialist companies then heat these pellets and mould them into plastic planks, called profiles, which TDP uses to make its furniture.
Any additional waste can go back into the recycling process. The TDP team has developed systems that are restorative, rather than consumptive, to reuse and design out waste to maintain circularity.
Rob also plans to create a send-back scheme when the products – which are designed to last between 40 and 50 years – reach end of life.
“The benefits of using a circular model for us includes growth, first of all, but also the perception of our business to a customer,” he adds. “Particularly over the next 10 to 15 years, sustainability is going to be a bigger part of customer acceptance and service.
“If you’re not taking it seriously, you will lose customers in 20 years’ time because many others will be at the forefront.”
outdoors resulted in a rise in demand for garden furniture.
OVER THE PAST 10 years, TDP estimates it has recycled more than 4,300 tonnes of plastic waste from the UK to create its products.
Rob describes the company’s customer base as “quite diverse”, selling to both the general public and commercial organisations. The products can be assigned to multiple uses, including benches for memorials, hospitals and public parks and outdoor seating for office spaces, theme parks and restaurants.
“Choosing our products is not just driven by sustainability, but it’s the maintenance consideration as well,” says Rob.
“They have a lifecycle which spans between 40 to 50 years, along with a 20-year warranty and they don’t need to be treated with chemicals to preserve them over time.
“I’m a firm believer that keeping something for a long time is a lot more sustainable than buying something new every time.”
Environmentally-friendly alternatives tend to come with higher price tags – with a study from Netherlands consulting firm Kearny finding they can be between 75% and 85% more expensive than conventional products – although Rob says the rising costs of materials for his industry has narrowed the price difference.
Finding innovative ways to bring customers on the journey, and making them understand how these products are investments in a wider purpose, is a key strategy. TDP recently launched a campaign around its memorial benches called My Place and Story, which tells the story of lives celebrated through these products.
‘We went back to the original manufacturer of our plastic grids and started to help it develop the plank of recycled plastic that we could then develop into outdoor furniture’Rob and Anna Barlow in Antarctica
It has also introduced a function for customers to visualise the environmental impact they have – for example, someone buying the Cromford Chair saves 138kg of CO2 and 0.5 cubic metres of plastic, the equivalent of recycling 13,708 bottle tops and 2,300 plastic bottles.
“This has become an important part of our tendering process as it enables us to say, ‘if you buy that, you will be saving this’,” adds Rob.
Riding the trends of consumer consciousness is something he constantly monitors when making decisions around the direction of his company, while balancing it with his deeprooted environmentalism.
And with ethical consumerism on the rise, particularly among younger generations, he is adamant the net zero agenda simply “can’t be ignored” by businesses.
TDP’s post-pandemic growth is being sustained with support from a wide range of Chamberled services and funding.
Rob initially reached out to the D2N2 Growth Hub, which supported the business in its application for an East Midlands Accelerator grant, which contributed towards upgrading its website to highlight its sustainability journey.
Through continued engagement with the Chamber and its East Midlands Manufacturing Network, Rob was made aware of a further capital grant from the Business Investment Fund (BIF), which enabled the business to invest in a new computer numerical control (CNC) machine (pictured).
The machine has accelerated production, and an additional BIF grant supported the launch of the My Place and Story initiative.
Rob later took part in the Chamber’s Digital Upscaler programme, accessing digital adviser support that prepared the groundwork for a Made Smarter grant – making TDP one of the first companies in the East Midlands to receive the funding.
It is being spent on streamlining TDP’s order processing system, digitising its product assembly line sheets and on AutoCAD training.
“We came out of the pandemic a completely different company,” says Rob. “We knew we needed external help to sustain that growth.
“The D2N2 Growth Hub, Digital Upscaler and Innovate UK teams have been on hand to put in place everything we need to give us the best possible chance of funding and awards success.
“We are also members of the Business Peak District network, and attending those events has really contribute to raising our profile locally and now it’s starting nationally with the King’s Awards for Enterprise recognition.”
“We’ve been distributing and manufacturing environmentally-friendly products for more than 30 years now so it’s always seemed natural to us, but they have the added benefits of solving issues of maintenance and longevity for customers as a motivator for purchase,” says Rob.
“In the past three or four years, however, we’ve noticed the benefits of weaving our environmental impact into our messaging as customer perception has changed.
“There's a wider acceptance of products that are deemed to be more expensive because they're sustainable. Now the cost-of-living crisis has led to an increase in price for everything, ethical products have scale-up potential.”
FOR ALMOST 30 years, Rob had run TDP on its own means with little external support. It was only recently when the company began engaging with organisations like the Chamber, Business Peak District, Make UK, universities and a consultancy to which it has outsourced the development of its carbon reduction policy.
Rob credits his “reluctant” attendance at a banking webinar for a change in mindset. It was there he met Dr Denise Taylor, who runs sustainability consultancy Wylde Connections and presented the sound commercial reasons for packaging a sustainability strategy that speaks to customers.
He calls this a “eureka moment” as it not only led to TDP making a concerted effort to tell its sustainability story, but influenced his desire to become a thought leader in the green business agenda.
“From that connection with Denise, it just opened up a network of societies and
TDP’s commitment to sustainable innovation and strategy has gained national acclaim through the King’s Awards for Enterprise, regarded as the premier business awards in the UK.
In February, the company was one of 15 organisations to be honoured in the sustainable development category for its “comprehensive and well-executed plan of sustainable initiatives with positive impacts, and for demonstrating inspirational leadership spreading the word about sustainability among its peers and through the local business community”.
“Our profile has been raised from winning the Kings Award,” says Rob, who attended a reception for King’s Awards recipients at Buckingham Palace in June, where he met King Charles III.
“We really didn’t expect to win as a small business, especially as the standards are so high in the sustainability category, which is a firm passion of the King’s.
“His Majesty has been at the forefront of environmentalism for 50 years, so that made it more challenging to imagine we could win. It was a tremendous surprise and really gratifying – it proves that what we’ve been doing all these years is credible.”
Businesses have until 12 September to enter the King’s Awards for Enterprise 2024. Visit www.gov.uk/kings-awardsfor-enterprise
The research Rob took part in on microplastics has opened his eyes to the importance of cutting down on plastic waste before it can escape into the oceans.
Microplastics are tiny particles of plastic that have resulted from the breakdown of larger, commercial products that are unable to decompose into harmless molecules. As a pollutant, they can be harmful to the environment, and the health of both animals and humans.
“Microplastics are a problem in two ways,” explains Rob. “Firstly, there are lots of hydrocarbons present in water – such as petrol and benzene, which are hydrophobic – so are insoluble in water and will latch onto microplastics.
“So you’ve then got microplastics that are not only detrimental in their own right, but are also attracting unhealthy chemicals to the surfaces.
“The second way is when they start to look like food and become part of the food chain, progressing all the way to apex predators like us – babies are now being born with microplastics in their blood streams.”
Although Rob believes product regulations, such as banning glitter particles from shampoos, are a positive step to preventing more microplastics entering the oceans, the key problem still lies with plastic waste, which asserts the importance of continuous research to improve recycling techniques.
He wants to see comprehensive Government support for businesses to tackle plastic waste and more widely minimising their carbon footprint.
“At a global level, legislative action should really be introduced – with joined-up thinking from industry – right at the beginning of the manufacturing process of making plastic to make sure the material is degradable,” says Rob.
“When it comes to carbon emissions, there is a lack of standards and benchmarks to help SMEs understand how to measure, report and reduce them.”
organisations we've joined to get our story out there and we’re continuing those relationships now,” he says.
Rob now spends a significant proportion of his time sharing his journey with members of the business community, demystifying steps towards sustainability and outlining the opportunities for a return on investment while also enhancing TDP’s profile.
This led to TDP putting itself forward for the King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development, which it won in February, and local recognition, having been selected by Derbyshire Dales District Council as a sustainability champion to help encourage local
companies to embrace a low-carbon future.
“One saving that immediately springs to mind is switching to LED lights to save on energy costs,” says Rob, who began measuring his company’s carbon footprint three years ago. “You might think everything has to be big changes, but there are some very quick gains like managing waste and reducing travel to meetings.
“There are also supply chain pressures now and sustainability has become a big part of the tendering process so it could result in losing business if you don’t meet the criteria.
“We’re also noticing a rise in consumer consciousness, especially with younger people, so brand loyalty and brand credibility are increasingly important. Even kids at school are learning about sustainability and are very aware – they are our customers of the future.
“You’ve got to start being honest with yourself and honest with your customer base about where you are on the journey.
“We've got evidence that on our own website more people are visiting our sustainability pages compared to three years ago.”
A CHAMBER-LED study with the University of Derby shows the proportion of companies deriving turnover from supplying environmentally-friendly goods has more than doubled from 16% to 36% since 2015.
Through its Sustainable East Midlands initiative, the Chamber actively supports and champions sustainable innovation through signposting funding opportunities and sharing best practices around sustainability solutions.
Engaging in global research projects has inspired Rob to “dig deeper into the world of citizen science”, which helps connect his Derbyshire company to these global subjects.
He and Anna joined 25 international scientists on the Antarctica expedition led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a US Government scientific and regulatory agency, in the capacity of “citizen scientists” in March 2022.
As citizen scientists – members of the public who volunteer to conduct scientific research with professional bodies – they got involved with various experiments, ranging from releasing weather balloons to study wind speeds and temperature changes, to counting penguins in order to measure population change and identify weather patterns.
But for Rob, sustainable innovation is not a complex enigma if “the data behind the product’s environmental credibility is truthful and accurate”. Once a market has been identified, “the usual business rules apply”, he says.
“There's always going to be that leap of faith with a new product – when we started manufacturing in our first year, we sold around six benches,” adds Rob, whose company now turns over £2.5m.
“We were lucky because the other side of the business was funding all that research and development, but to start from scratch with developing environmental products, funding needs to be available.”
Looking to the future, Rob will embark on a different aspect of business strategy altogether, as he begins succession planning.
Rob and Anna’s son and daughter, who currently work at TDP as the production and commercial directors respectively, will take the helm. They share their parents’ passion for sustainability instilled into the company over the past three decades.
“You’ve got to part that passion in a sensible way throughout the business,” adds Rob. “It is an unusual thing to think about stepping back, so it will be a slow process over the next five years.
“We’ll be identifying any gaps that may need filling to ensure our continued growth into the future. We’re in an organic growth market, but we want to be able to identify new markets and products when they present themselves, and by investing in our team we’ll be able to do that.”
A research project with a direct link to TDP involved filtering and analysing the presence of microplastics in the Southern Ocean.
A subsequent trip to the UNESCO Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve in the Maldives, in March this year, involved assisting scientists to rebuild coral reefs under threat from the climate phenomenon El Nino, which causes rising sea temperatures.
Back home, Rob’s team has begun lending its product design and manufacturing expertise to research projects that investigate how to reuse hardto-recycle plastic waste from products including carpets and hi-vis jackets.
In a three-way collaboration between TDP, its materials suppliers and plastic recyclers – companies already involved are engineering firm Envisage Group and carpet recycling business Innovate Recycling – the aim will be to turn these into commercially-viable products.
TDP is also in the process of organising a knowledge transfer partnership (KTP) with the University of Derby to advance the company’s product development while establishing a firm footing in the research around hard-to-recycle plastics.
“We’ve already got a head-start in doing our part to reduce the amount of microplastics produced, by taking plastic waste from across the UK and turning it into furniture,” says Rob.
‘To start from scratch with developing environmental products, funding needs to be available’The laboratory on the expedition Luke, Anne, Rob and Kym after winning the Kings Award
The University of Nottingham welcomed more than 100 people from across the county to its inaugural community open day at the new Castle Meadow Campus.
Business professionals, local councillors and members of the public were given an insight into its vision for the site, which was used as HMRC’s office from its opening in 1994 until 2021.
After being acquired by the university, it will be revamped into a hub for collaboration with the community, including businesses and schools.
The building was recently awarded Grade II listed status for its iconic appearance and will provide 350,000 sq ft of space for
SMB College Group is recruiting for new governors to join the corporation board in a voluntary capacity.
Governors bring skills and experience from across business, education and the public service sector, and play a key role in the running of the college.
The corporation board meets on average five times a year, at least once per term, and members serve on one or more of its committees. Governors can serve a maximum of two four-year terms of office.
SMB College Group specialises in land-based, technical, trade and creative arts, and works with a host of employers across the region to meet skills needs.
To find out more, visit www.smbcollegegroup.ac.uk/ about-us/job-vacancies/ governor
teaching, research and partnership activity when it opens in 2025.
The open day featured a guided tour of the campus, exhibitions illustrating facility plans, networking opportunities and a Q&A session with members of the campus team.
Jason Phoenix, Castle Meadow programme director at the University of Nottingham, said: “Engaging with the community is something that’s always been at the heart of our strategy to transform and shape Castle Meadow Campus, which is why we wanted to get people on site as soon as possible while we’re still at the design phase. We have a wealth of knowledge available to us right here in Nottingham and we
want to tap into that as we enter the next exciting phase of the development.”
The open day follows the university’s announcement of the creation of its volunteer advisory group, which will be made up of members of the local community who will provide advice, support, and bring best practice and knowledge to the project by reviewing plans as they develop in the coming years
The campus will provide an additional base for Nottingham University Business School (NUBS) and be the home of its Digital Nottingham project, which harnesses digital and data knowledge, and innovation, to support a thriving regional digital sector and help solve challenges across the city and region.
The university envisages opening the campus up as a venue for events, installations, demonstrations, and digital showcasing – including immersive technology, AI, robotics and digital 3D mapping tools. It also hopes to offer digital skills education for local professionals and young people, as well as regional networking opportunities for SMEs.
Trace pollutants found in everyday environments are posing a threat not only to individuals but workplaces – and an upcoming event will engage business leaders about the impact of groundbreaking scientific research taking place at the University of Leicester.
Wealth management firm Mattioli Woods, working in partnership with the Chamber, will host the university’s Centre for Environmental Health and Sustainability team at its New Walk, Leicester, office on Wednesday 15 November from 9am to 12pm.
It will provide an opportunity to unpack, educate and debate the centre’s research findings within the business community.
Trace pollutants act as catalysts to many worrying health trends such as cancer, brain disease, reduced fertility, heart disease, stroke and a long list of other chronic conditions that can lead to long-term work absences.
Analysis by The Learning & Work
Institute has reported that longterm ill health is the number one reason for rising economic inactivity, which Office for National Statistics figures show has reached just under nine million people this year, leading to severe labour shortages for employers.
Bob Woods MBE, who cofounded Mattioli Woods in 1991 in Leicester and turned it into a nationwide business that now has nearly 900 staff, is one of the
centre’s key supporters. He said: “I became passionate about environmental pollution initially through a personal illness. As a business owner, I’m now seeing how these worrying health trends can potentially disrupt our workforces and our economy severely.
“If we don’t understand the science, raise more funding and create solutions to counteract the trends, we will have a chronic health tsunami on our hands.
“In 2018, I was fortunate enough to be able to provide a gift to the university to get the research centre established. Working with the director of the centre, Professor Anna Hansell, who is a leading environmental epidemiologist, I now want to bridge the gap between what the research is telling us and what we need to do as businesses in response.”
To book a complimentary place at the event, email events@mattioliwoods.com
Bob Woods
‘Engaging with the community is something that’s always been at the heart of our strategy’
Wholesale full-fibre provider ITS Technology Group has joined the Chamber as a patron and Generation Next partner.
Through its Faster Britain fullfibre networks, ITS is helping to transform access to gigabit-capable connectivity for businesses across Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and Nottinghamshire.
Ultrafast connectivity is a relatively new provision, having barely existed a decade ago, but more than half of the UK’s premises are now in reach of full fibre, with alternative operators like ITS providing many businesses with access to nextgeneration connectivity.
The UK’s legacy copper networks, originally only designed for telephone calls, are being switched off as the full-fibre rollout accelerates – the Government aims to have all premises connected to gigabit-capable connectivity by 2030, with a growing emphasis on enabling future-proof speeds of up to 10Gbps where possible. Universal access is expected to provide profound and long-lasting economic benefits to all parts of the country.
Marcus Harrison, Faster Britain ambassador at ITS, said: “It became clear during the Covid-19 pandemic how much we all needed better connectivity. The way we produce and use data in every aspect of our lives is growing exponentially, and with it comes the demand for faster, reliable, higher bandwidth services, which is where full fibre excels.
“Very few businesses operating in today’s marketplace can ‘hand on heart’ say they don’t need to be online – whether it’s to access email or websites, to make video calls, take payments, use cloud applications such as online accounting and CRM tools, or simply offer better secure Wi-Fi to hospitality guests.
“The most frequent response I hear from businesses is that faster connectivity speeds have not only improved their online experience, but they hadn’t appreciated the extra tools and applications they can now introduce into their organisation that add substantial value.
“This is helping to create new opportunities, increase productivity, and allowing them to accelerate the digitalisation of their business in ways that they hadn’t anticipated.”
Hundreds of internet service providers – often with regional or expert insights – network operators and resellers are partnering with ITS to increase the accessibility of high-speed business services for organisations of all sizes, sectors, and budgets.
ITS has also joined Generation Next’s cohort of partners to champion its vision to support and develop young professionals within the East Midlands.
It kicked off this partnership by sponsoring the Volunteering and Charitable Impact category at the Generation Next Awards held in July, and is headline sponsor of the inaugural Generation Next Conference themed around “Facing adversity and using entrepreneurial thinking”, which takes place on Monday 9 October at Nottingham Forest FC’s City Ground.
A unique partnership between the University of Derby, East Midlands Chamber and Derby City Council is set to benefit SMEs across the city and beyond.
The council’s economic growth team has begun sharing working space at the university’s Lonsdale House, and there are plans for both to liaise closely with the Chamber.
The co-location creates a one-stop-shop for business support, with access to the university’s research and training, talent pool of students and graduates, and state-of-the art equipment, as well as funding advice and opportunities from the council and membership benefits from the Chamber.
Among the university teams that will share the space are experts from the Regional Economic Observatory, which conducts regional business research to inform and influence government policy.
Researchers working on the university’s zero carbon theme will also be based on site, providing opportunities to collaborate with businesses and share insights into the latest innovations in the drive towards net zero.
Businesses from the advanced manufacturing, net zero, life sciences, creative and digital sectors are among those expected to benefit from the partnership. The space also houses key organisations such as the Rail Forum.
Adam Doyle, head of business engagement and employability at the University of Derby, said: “Co-location is intended to ensure a solutionsbased support approach, no matter what size the business.”
‘The way we produce and use data in every aspect of our lives is growing exponentially’Marcus Harrison
Green growth activity in the East Midlands has fallen over the past year amid a cost-of-doingbusiness crisis – but has still more than doubled since 2015, new research shows.
A joint annual study by the Chamber and Derby Business School at the University of Derby found the proportion of businesses across Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire that have made any income from environmentallyfriendly goods and services dropped from 45% in 2022 to 36% in 2023.
Despite the drop, this still represents a significant increase on the 16% that reported they derived turnover from goods such as energy efficiency, waste recovery, and ecofood and drink products in 2015, as the business community has increasingly identified opportunities in the UK’s race to net zero.
allows them to fully engage with green growth, perhaps the result of mixed messaging from different parts of Government over recent months around the importance of net zero policy.
“The big picture direction of travel, though, is clear. As net zero increasingly forms the bedrock of our national economic strategy the nearer we get to 2050, the more businesses will identify opportunities for growth that has a positive, rather than detrimental, impact on our environment.
•68% of large businesses report they are actively pursuing green growth opportunities, compared with 31% of micro, 51% of small and 50% of medium-sized companies
•More than a third of organisations invested in decarbonisation initiatives over the past 12 months – increasing to seven in 10 among large companies, which lead the trend
•Manufacturers are investing 1.5-times more in decarbonisation initiatives than services companies
•There is a three-fold increase in firms reporting up to half of their turnover is made from supplying green goods or services since 2015
•Four in 10 businesses have no turnover generated from green goods and services, a 5% increase from 2022
In the face of conflicting messages from central Government about the net zero agenda, there was also a decline in the number of businesses that believe the policy environment is conducive to engagement in the green agenda – falling from 17% to 13% over the past 12 months.
Other key findings in the Green Growth Trends in the East Midlands 2023 study were a major distinction between large and micro businesses in pursuing green growth opportunities and investing in decarbonisation, while four in 10 businesses are not engaged at all in the low-carbon agenda.
Chris Hobson, the Chamber’s director of policy and insight said: “The drop-off in green growth engagement among East Midlands businesses over the past year can in part be attributed to the ongoing cost-of-doing-business crisis, in which firms have been hit by oncein-a-generation cost pressures across energy, fuel, raw materials and people.
“But this year’s findings have also identified that fewer companies believe the current policy landscape
“Many barriers to engagement remain, however, so it is imperative our politicians understand that now is not the time to row back on the net zero and sustainability commitments we have made as a country. Long-term planning allows firms to grow sustainably and create opportunities for the UK to be world leaders in the products and processes that will drive global growth for decades to come.”
The research was based on responses from 368 businesses in Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire as part of the Chamber’s Quarterly Economic Survey for Q2 2023.
Dr Polina Baranova, associate professor of strategy and sustainability at Derby Business School, co-authored the report with Dr Fred Paterson, the university's lead for sustainable business and clean growth.
She said: “This analysis could indicate that the green gains we experienced during the pandemic are starting to fizzle out and businesses are reverting to the conventional, non-green operations and strategies. It illustrates the fragility of green growth in the face of economic adversities and how companies of different sizes and sectors are affected differently.”
•The information gap is widening, with the proportion of respondents saying they did not feel well-informed about the support available for green growth rising from 33% to 36% in the past year
•Only 13% of businesses surveyed – a 4% decline on last year – say the policy landscape allows them to fully engage with green growth
•The largest demands for skills development are in the areas of energy efficiency, business strategy, resource efficiency, environmental strategy and waste management.
The research will be available to read in full after the Sustainability Summit at www.emc-dnl.co.uk
The Green Growth Trends research will be discussed in more detail at the Chamber’s Sustainability Summit on Wednesday 20 September. The event, held in partnership with the University of Derby, Mazars, Epson and Blueprint Interiors at Reach Events Derby, will explore how to unlock the economic benefits of green growth for SMEs and the East Midlands. The agenda includes:
• Green growth trends in the East Midlands: Dr Polina Baranova, University of Derby
• The role of innovation in supporting the transition to net zero: Ian Meikle, Innovate UK (UKRI)
• Leadership for sustainability: Chris Fuggle, Mazars
• Exploring global opportunities for low-carbon goods and environmental services: Ian Stevens, Department for Business and Trade
• Using your business strengths to pursue net zero: Charlie de la Haye, Epson UK
The Sustainability Summit, running from 9am to 1.30pm, is free to attend. Book a place at bit.ly/EMCSustainabilitySummit2023
‘Fewer companies believe the current policy landscape allows them to fully engage with green growth’Dr Polina Baranova Chris Hobson
The Chamber president has called for businesses to put community and place at the heart of decision-making.
Stuart Dawkins said thriving communities can have a positive impact on companies by providing a stable base, and urged leaders to set aside dedicated time to consider how they can support their local areas.
During a keynote speech at the Chamber’s Annual Dinner, held at East Midlands Conference Centre in Nottingham on Thursday 29 June, he suggested a good starting point for businesses is to speak to their local community foundations – public charities that facilitate and pool grants and donations to address community needs and support nonprofits in a particular geography.
After reflecting on his past career as a trained economist, head of strategy and communications director for a FTSE 100 bank, Stuart said: “I do believe the market economy is an effective way to deliver the growth and wealth that underpins our society and our communities, but it seems to me that profit-seeking should be a means to an end – not the end itself. The growth and wealth
generated by commerce ought to be able to provide public good, as well as personal reward.
“We all live in places – our customers live in places, our staff live in places, and our loved ones live in places. And those places form communities.”
Addressing the 330 business leaders from across Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire attending the black-tie gala dinner, he said: “My request of you is to please set aside some serious, proper time this year to consider how the work of your organisation can most effectively support the various communities of which you are a part.
“Think broadly. Without thriving communities, things become unstable, particularly for those with
little or no economic power. Business does not thrive on instability.
“And when I say ‘give some serious proper time’, I mean the kind of time you give for the key business decisions you make – not just a quick canter through the topic. I have no idea what that time will lead to in your particular case, but I urge you to do it, please, and to act on it.”
Each year, the Chamber president chooses three charities from across the three counties to
benefit from fundraising activities throughout the year.
The 2023 Chamber Charitable Fund comprises the region’s three community foundations –Foundation Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Community Foundation, and Nottinghamshire Community Foundation.
“Community Foundations are gems, but gems that are perhaps not as well-known as they should be,” added Stuart, who now holds a number of non-executive board positions, including as chair of Leicestershire & Rutland Community Foundation.
“If you want a window on the real needs of your local community and on how to maximise the local impact of any charitable support you, your business or your customers want to give, I urge you to talk to your community foundation.”
The Annual Dinner also featured keynote speaker Charlotte Ivers, a political journalist for Times Radio. She gave businesses an insight into the inner workings of Parliament and provided her views on key battles leading into the next general election.
In the latest spotlight on the Chamber’s Charitable Fund, Business Network speaks to Nina Dauban, CEO of Nottinghamshire Community Foundation.
What is the background to your charity and who do you support? For 25 years, we have been helping people give to the charities who need it most. We help local businesses, families and individuals to support causes that are close to their heart – in the city, towns and villages of Nottinghamshire. On behalf of our donors, we give grants to their chosen themes in their chosen area.
Why do you believe community foundations have an important role to play in local areas?
Nottinghamshire Community Foundation has supported thousands of local community groups and charities on behalf of our donors. Without these small grants, many would not have survived – and the community centres or befriending group your mother goes to, or the after-school club your child attends, might well be receiving crucial grants from us. Without the Foundation, many people give to the big national charities by default. Yet most people want to give locally and we help them do so.
What are the biggest recent challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We had a large contract in 2020 from the National Emergencies Trust to distribute nearly £1m to hundreds of small community projects and volunteers during lockdown. The funds were crucial to getting people their prescriptions or enabling important support projects to use Zoom when they weren’t able to do home visits.
How important a role do businesses have to play in supporting your charity?
Many of our donors are businesses as part of their CSR activities. Our most exciting business fund is called the 1% Matters Fund, coming from a successful businessman called David Ryley, who felt he could spare 1% of his profits and we help find the most exceptional projects to support each year. The fund has grown due to his colleagues and associates also donating to the pot on a monthly or annual basis. If you want to join them, visit www.nottscf.org.uk
For more information about East Midlands Chamber’s Charitable Fund, visit www.emc-dnl.co.uk/chamber-charitable-fund
To find out more about the work of the three community foundations, visit:
• Foundation Derbyshire - foundationderbyshire.org
• Leicestershire & Rutland Community Foundationwww.llrcommunityfoundation.org.uk
• Nottinghamshire Community Foundation - www.nottscf.org.uk
After being open for just one year, 80% of offices are now let in Chesterfield’s flagship enterprise centre – providing a modern base for new and growing businesses.
The Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre officially opened in July 2022 and, to mark its first anniversary, an informal networking session for tenants was held on 13 July.
It includes 32 office suites, meeting rooms, breakout spaces, secure cycle parking and shower facilities. Tenants can also access bespoke business support services to help them grow and develop.
Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and cabinet member for economic growth, said: “To see the building almost fully let just one year after opening shows our local economy is strong and that Chesterfield is a great place to do business. The building is home to a really diverse range of businesses with lots of them being new start-ups that we hope will grow and thrive in our town.”
The Government has created a new service to help SMEs save on their energy bills while reducing emissions.
The UK Business Climate Hub, which launched last month after support from organisations including the British Chambers of Commerce, includes a free carbon calculator and a suite of new tools to help companies measure, track and report on their emissions, as well as save money by using less energy.
The website offers detailed advice on topics such as sourcing products from green suppliers, reducing emissions from freight and logistics, and cost-effective ways of installing solar panels and electric vehicle charging points.
Visit businessclimatehub.uk
East Midlands Freeport has taken a major step forward after a blueprint for a key site – set to feature a renewable energy hub –was given the thumbs up.
Rushcliffe Borough Council approved a local development order (LDO) for Uniper’s Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station site, setting out clear development guidelines to control, shape and enable regeneration.
Proposals for the 200-hectare space include a zero-carbon technology and energy hub, in which manufacturers could set up shop.
Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station is one of three sites within East Midlands Freeport – the UK’s only inland freeport, a designated area
that comes with a package of Government-approved economic incentives for businesses to invest there.
It has a vision to create tens of thousands of jobs, £8.9bn economic uplift and hundreds of millions of pounds in retained tax to reinvest locally.
Freeport chair Nora Senior CBE said: “Securing new global investment in the region and driving cutting-edge green growth are at the heart of the freeport. The LDO provides greater certainty at the outset for the types of development to be permitted and allows the planning process to be more responsive and agile.”
Reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality could give the Midlands economy an £8.7bn boost, according to new research by Midlands Connect.
These benefits would be released by 2035 following the phase-out of petrol and diesel vehicles five years prior, the sub-national transport body claimed in its landmark report Supercharging the Midlands.
More than 70 businesses across the High Peak, Derbyshire Dales and surrounding areas attended a Business Peak District (BPD) summer dinner and networking evening at Thornbridge Hall in Great Longstone.
They had the opportunity to express what they need from the network and the region’s support agencies, and were invited to discuss their shared challenges and opportunities across areas ranging from an increase in the cost of borrowing to net zero.
The 28 June event, hosted in partnership with the Chamber and partfunded by the European Regional Development Fund, also provided an update on business support by the region’s local authorities and business support agencies.
Dr Peter Dewhurst, BPD chair and director of strategic projects at the University of Derby, said: “It was wonderful to welcome so many business representatives to the networking event and I was truly impressed by the enthusiasm of attendees to share their thinking and engage in constructive dialogue. It is imperative that BPD builds on the success of this event and creates further opportunities for meaningful engagement.”
Electric vehicle use is estimated to increase by 3,000% over the end of the decade, creating new economic opportunities but it said this requires greater investment in EV chargepoints across the region to realise this potential.
Transport emissions are also forecast to fall from more than 14 million tonnes of harmful chemicals like CO2 per annum in 2023 to under seven million tonnes by 2050, which could be worth between £405m and £1.5bn.
Midlands Connect’s technical innovation lead Bharat Patania said the analysis “shows quicker uptake of EVs is a winwin for everyone”.
The UK’s biggest independent supplier of vehicle seats, based in Leicestershire, invested £125,000 in new machinery to satisfy rising demand and take additional control of its production process –with support from the LLEP Business Gateway Growth Hub.
Increased competition from other vehicle seat manufacturers was also a driver for TEK Seating, part of TEK Group and based in Rearsby, Charnwood, to expand its in-house capabilities for further growth.
and production much better. Crucially this investment means we’ve safeguarded two jobs and created two more.”
The business, which began in 1972, makes seats for commercial transport such as HGVs, taxis, buses and trains. It has another site in Tunbridge Wells that focuses on military seating and high-end seat trims for luxury cars, and has plans to expand the Rearsby premises by 12,000 sq ft in the year ahead.
Meanwhile, Micro Weighing Solutions (MWS) – which designs, manufactures, installs and maintains weighing scales used in industrial settings – received assistance from Business Gateway in bidding for funding that enabled it to install a mezzanine floor at its Birstall base.
It received £25,000 from Business Gateway, which is led by a consortium including the Chamber and part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), towards the investment in a new automated cutting machine at its 15,000 sq ft factory, which also includes an R&D department to create its own seat designs and work on trim development.
TEK Seating operations director Sean Magee said: “We’ve also invested in a laminating machine. We can keep it all in-house, so we can manage the quality, lead times
This has increased factory capacity by 2,000 sq ft and led to the recruitment of two new staff and an apprentice.
Managing director Andrew Clarke said: “Expanding our capacity was always part of our long-term plan, as we knew it would open up growth opportunities for us. The Growth Hub team was integral in helping us bid for the funding that has since paid for the work at the factory.
“As a result, we have been able to employ more staff, dedicate an area for repairs, and streamline our production process – making it much more efficient.”
The LLEP Business Gateway Growth Hub has supported 4,000 SMEs across Leicestershire over the past four years, helping to create 212 jobs.
More than £2m in grants have been secured for businesses, leveraging a further £3.6m in private sector investment, since its launch in 2019.
Success stories from Business Gateway, which has now reached its conclusion, were shared at a celebratory event attended by more than 100 delegates at the Holiday Inn in Leicester city centre in June.
Hosted by digital agency Bulb Studios’ managing director Jim Willis, it featured presentations detailing the impact of the ERDF partnership – which includes Leicester City Council, Leicestershire County Council, the Chamber, and Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) – and on the post-ERDF business support landscape.
A Derby-based producer of ecofriendly, non-toxic sanitary has boosted online sales and distributed overseas with support from the D2N2 Growth Hub.
Gift Wellness had previously relied on retailers and wholesalers before the pandemic forced it to pivot to sell predominantly online.
Founder Dr Zareen Roohi Ahmed attended D2N2 Growth Hub digital workshops and webinars offering valuable learning and paved the way for practical steps to implement immediately in her marketing plan.
The company also received support to set up the correct export documentation, as well as in adapting to post-Brexit packaging and regulations in EU countries. Additionally, hired a team of young
people to enhance its digital marketing presence via the Kickstart Scheme with assistance from the Chamber, a gateway organisation for the Governmentfunded programme.
Dr Ahmed said: “With the support of D2N2 Growth Hub’s workshops and webinars, we’ve really taken the steps we need to develop as an online business, and have built up a healthy bank of monthly subscribers as a result.”
Paul Stuart, head of enterprise at the Chamber, added: “A key role of D2N2 Growth Hub is to upskill businesses in a way that is accessible, practical and engaging. I’m really pleased that Zareen’s team has benefitted in such a direct way, and it’s clear that every
success of this small but ambitious social enterprise has a tangible and important impact on countless women and girls.”
Dr Ahmed established Gift Wellness in 2012 in an attempt to heal from the tragedy of losing her daughter Halimah, whose life was cut short when she was murdered.
Choosing to channel her grief into goodness and charity work, Dr Ahmed set about developing her line of products providing highquality, affordable sanitary wear, while at the same time restoring dignity to women and girls living in crisis.
In less than a decade, her charity, the Gift Wellness Foundation, has delivered more than six million period products across the world.
‘This investment means we’ve safeguarded two jobs and created two more’Dr Ahmed distributing hygiene kits in Lebanon, August 2022 Above: Sean Magee, of TEK Seating, demonstrates its products to a client. Below: Micro Weighing Solutions’ factory and (inset) managing director Andrew Clarke
Flexible working policies can help businesses to attract and retain employees, says the Chamber’s HR lead, as new research shined a spotlight on its prevalence.
Director of resources Lucy Robinson (pictured) urged employers to consider how they can implement flexible working –including remote working, flexed hours and job sharing – in some form amid acute people and skills shortages.
New analysis published by the British Chambers of Commerce’s (BCC) insight unit – released ahead of the House of Lords’ third reading of the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill on 14 July –showed 76% of UK businesses provide flexible working to their staff, although significant disparities exist between sectors in the extent to which it is offered.
Lucy said: “With three-quarters of businesses saying they offer flexible working to their employees, it is clear this has now become part and parcel of everyday workplace practices since we came out of the pandemic.
“Wherever possible, many employers are willing to support their people to balance work and other commitments – and the
reason for this, it would appear, is because they understand it makes good business sense by helping them to attract and retain a skilled workforce.
“With our Quarterly Economic Survey showing that seven in 10 firms attempting to recruit are struggling to fill vacancies, a flexible working policy can help to tackle labour shortages by enabling people to stay in work when their circumstances change.
“This also helps businesses to create an inclusive workplace environment as they can attract candidates from a broader range of backgrounds – which employers tell us provides real business benefits such as improved decision-making via diversity of thought, enhanced staff recruitment and retention levels, and allowing them to better represent customers and clients.
“While not every sector can provide the same level of flexibility, there are steps employers in typically on-premise industries such as manufacturing and construction can take such as offering staggered hours, shift swaps, job sharing, compressed working weeks and offering greater flexibility with time off.”
•86% of B2B services sector employers – including legal, finance, marketing and media – offer flexible working in some form, compared to 74% of B2C firms and 73% of manufacturers
•Within the 76% of organisations that offer flexible working, 23% provide it as standard in all contracts. This is highest in microbusinesses with under 10 employees (37%) and lowest among small businesses with 10 to 49 employees (13%)
•There is a larger segment of microbusinesses not offering any form of flexible working (19%) compared with larger firms with more than 250 employees (6%).
My role could be summed up as “managing people, time, events and facilities”, without a management label.
RVL Aviation is based at East Midlands Airport. We transport people and cargo in twin-engine aircraft, and carry out survey and surveillance contracts, which include tracking oil spills, erosion, flood risk and search and rescue missions.
From choice, I start early and begin my day by responding to any urgent issues and updating diary events as necessary – first though, always making sure there’s good coffee available in the kitchen.
Diary work continues throughout the day as I manage inboxes and calls, always trying to optimise time for the people I support, which is the whole senior management team as well as the CEO.
PAs are normally known for their “gatekeeping”, though I prefer to be a “gateway”. In a small business like ours, the CEO and management team need to be easily accessible, so my role is more of a facilitator. I might be better placed to answer your question or find someone more appropriate to help you.
If it’s the boss you need, I’ll make sure they’ve been briefed on the background, and you’re booked in as soon as possible. Next level catastrophising is another of my key skills, as I’m thinking of every little thing that can go wrong – if I’ve got a plan to resolve issues before they happen, I can relax and focus on the day job.
At the time of writing, I’m working on the itinerary for an overseas trip by some of our senior team and a visit from a group of gliding air cadets, interested to learn about the many and various possible careers in aviation.
I drafted the RVL corporate social responsibility policy, which is being launched internally this week, and I shall also progress security pass applications for new joiners (a very big deal at every airport), monitor job applications from the website, and liaise with multiple companies submitting quotes for building projects.
There is the latest set of board minutes to transcribe, and I’m looking at the options for Christmas party venues and local charity gifting. I’ll manage a fire alarm test and drop our monthly donation into the Castle Donington Food Bank.
No two days are the same – sometimes it’s like three-dimensional chess.
For more information about the East Midlands PA Awards, sponsored by East Midlands Chamber, or the PA Forum, contact Lesley Young on lesley.young@emc-dnl.co.uk
‘No two days are the same – sometimes it’s like three-dimensional chess’
Businesses and charities were brought together by the Chamber for an event that aimed to get firms engaging with their communities.
More than 20 charities set up stalls at the East Midlands CSR Summit, held at the University of Derby’s Kedleston Road campus on 6 July, where they connected with 100 business leaders.
It also featured two keynote speeches as Richard Collins, founder of corporate social responsibility (CSR) accreditation provider CSR-A, discussed how companies can gain a return on investment in community activities, while HS2 Ltd’s senior CSR manager Graham Frankland explained the importance of proving social and environmental impact for SMEs when bidding for the 400,000 supply chain contract opportunities from the high-speed rail project.
as having a passion for a particular cause, helping to engage and develop employees, grow brand reputation, or to be more competitive in tendering opportunities.
“By integrating community engagement within a wider business strategy, it becomes more sustainable and leads to a greater impact – not just for the charity, but the business too as it can take learnings into its own organisation.”
Richard Collins, CSR-A founder
• “CSR is a bottom-up approach – if we all do little things, we can make big actions and that’s how we change the dial. CSR takes environmental and social issues, and builds a framework from the bottom-up.”
Chris Hobson, director of policy and insight at the Chamber, also presented research in partnership with the University of Derby and Loughborough University showing that while six in 10 East Midlands businesses run community-based activities, there remain gaps in engagement due to reasons such as a lack of resource or it not being deemed a strategic priority.
He said: “Our goal at the Chamber is to get more businesses to do more community-based activities in a more impactful way.
“There remains an education piece around why this isn’t just a ‘nice to do’ but actually can be an essential part of a growth strategy. Members told us that one of the best ways to support this understanding is through creating opportunities for businesses to speak directly to organisations that are operating in their local area and learn about what they do, why they do it and what opportunities exist for two-way learning.
“There are some great drivers to CSR that will speak clearly to businesses, whether it’s as simple
Charities that exhibited at the East Midlands CSR Summit were Alex’s Wish, Bridge the Gap Child Mental Health CIC, Brightlife, Communication Unlimited, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, Embark CSR, Lamp, Leicestershire Education Business Company, Leicester Children's Holidays, Leicester Hospitals Charity, Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust, Mosaic 1898, Nottingham Festival of Science and Curiosity, Positively Empowered Kids CIC, Reach, Read Easy Derby & District, Rosie May Foundation, Rotary District 1220, Safe and Sound, The Carers Federation, The Carpenter’s Arms, Treetops Hospice, Your Consultation Group Trust and YHA (England and Wales).
The East Midlands CSR Summit formed part of the Chamber’s EMComingTogether campaign, which aims to strengthen the relationship between businesses and their local communities.
For more information, visit www.emc-dnl.co.uk
To read the Chamber’s research into CSR engagement among East Midlands businesses, visit bit.ly/EastMidlandsCSR2023
• “This is an investment in a sustainable future – not just for our environment, but our businesses, the communities we operate in, and the charities we support.”
• “Legal requirements are on the way with plastic tax, the Green Claims Code and the next will be around hybrid working and nonfinancial disclosure reporting. These are pressures that might not be here today, but they will be here tomorrow.”
• “CSR-A is a new standard for social responsibility, in which the bar is set low on purpose so any business feels it can make a start. The tool audits what an organisation does already to provide a baseline report, and then look at the gaps and plan a strategy going forward.”
• “There are 350 sites across HS2 phase one between London and Birmingham, with 400,000 contract opportunities in everything from catering and accommodation through to fencing and security. Some 3,000 businesses have already delivered work on HS2 and 61% of those are SMEs.”
• “Supply chain targets have targets baked into them in a pointsbased system, and we are strongly pushing social value into this so that it’s in a companies’ contract to produce a community investment in whichever way it chooses to engage.”
• “It takes time to build these relationships with communities but it returns great value. Successful projects have included volunteering and pro-bono work, carpenters building chicken sheds, using our vehicles to support community fairs, litter picks, delivering first aid courses and reusing soil to make adventure play areas in school grounds.”
‘Our goal at the Chamber is to get more businesses to do more communitybased activities in a more impactful way’
Amedtech entrepreneur aiming to revolutionise the treatment of knife victims and a recruiter who has worked her way up the ranks into senior leadership were among the East Midlands’ rising stars honoured at the Generation Next Awards 2023.
Eleven awards were handed out at the event hosted by the Chamber, which runs the Generation Next network to support young people aged under 35, who are working in businesses across Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to build their skills and networks.
A key milestone in Generation Next’s calendar, the awards returned to Bustler Market in Derby on 13 July for an awards ceremony with a twist, featuring street food, cocktails, Project D doughnuts and a DJ set from BeauJack – held in association with headline partner the University of Derby.
The network used the space to exhibit a handful of local businesses, each founded by young entrepreneurs, and the three community foundations in Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire that will benefit from this year’s Chamber Charitable Fund.
Theo Kirk, who has worked her way up Nottingham-based Express Recruitment from recruitment consultant to people director, won the headline Future Leader Award.
After being promoted to operations director last year, Theo created a new position at the recruitment firm to provide HR support to contribute to strategic plans for development, training, incentives and high-performance working.
While completing her human resource management course, she has incorporated her own organisation TK Consulting into the business, where Theo uses her expertise to help other companies with their people strategies.
Another big winner of the night included Joseph Bentley, founder and managing director of ACT Medical, who won both the Entrepreneur of the Year and Innovation and Technology accolades for his REACT technology, which he developed in his final year at Loughborough University.
The technology is designed to inflate inside a penetrating wound, using a balloon to provide direct internal pressure to the bleed site, to save lives from knife crime.
The Chamber’s director of resources and Generation Next lead Lucy Robinson said: “It was fantastic to return to Bustler Market for our awards ceremony this year and to bring the young business community together for this event.
“Each year, we are blown away by the calibre of young talent across Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire, and are so proud to not only be able to celebrate it, but also showcase it for the wider region to see the importance of investing in our young people.
“Congratulations to all the winners and finalists from this year’s awards. From my standing, the next generation of business in our region is in good hands.”
TV presenter, journalist and broadcaster Kirsty Shelts hosted the awards ceremony, which also featured speeches from Generation Next champions Katie Gilbert and Beth Bearder, last year’s Future Leader winner Emma Roberts, who leads not-for-profit Derby Community Parent Programme CIC, and Chamber president Stuart Dawkins.
• FUTURE LEADER AWARD
(Sponsored by University of Derby)
Theo Kirk – Express Recruitment
• APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR
(Sponsored by Loughborough College)
Abbie Hartshorn – British Standards Institution
• CREATORS AND MAKERS AWARD
(Sponsored by PPL PRS)
Jamie Quince Starkey – Down to Earth Derby
• CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD
(Sponsored by Express Recruitment)
Ella Sheppard – Nelsons
• ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR
(Sponsored by Fraser Stretton Property Group)
Joseph Bentley – ACT Medical
• ENVIRONMENTAL WARRIOR AWARD
(Sponsored by Hydropath Technology)
Sam Whetton – Reika Bags Ltd
• EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVITY AWARD
(Sponsored by Futures Housing Group)
Nathan Addai – Mental Roots
• INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY AWARD
(Sponsored by Hardy Signs)
Joseph Bentley – ACT Medical
• RISING STAR AWARD (Sponsored by Nottingham Trent University)
Ruby Birks – Purpose Media
• START-UP AWARD
(Sponsored by Nottingham University Business School)
David Allerton – SE-LF
• VOLUNTEERING & CHARITABLE IMPACT AWARD
(Sponsored by ITS Technology Group)
Courtney Brindley – Express Recruitment
Generation Next is running its first conference on 9 October to help young professionals ignite entrepreneurial thinking.
Held at the City Ground, home to Nottingham Forest FC, the Chamber-run event will take a deeper dive into how to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset to navigate situations, opportunities and obstacles, and how it can be used to meet business objectives.
It will include a session on using entrepreneurial thinking to overcome adversity, helping delegates to learn how to deal with challenging situations and turn them into a positive outlook.
The half-day conference will also mark the launch of a report providing insights into the development needs and views of the young generation in the East Midlands business community, following a recent survey.
The event is backed by Generation Next partners ITS Technology Group as headline sponsor, as well as Mattioli Woods and MHA.
The Chamber’s director of resources and Generation Next lead Lucy Robinson said: “The conference will be an excellent opportunity for young professionals, and their employers, to learn more about how entrepreneurial thinking can be applied to all areas of working in business.
“We also look forward to sharing the results of our first-ever survey, which will help inform our network’s activity moving into 2024 and beyond.”
To book tickets, visit bit.ly/GNConference
The Enterprising Women Awards are right around the corner, and we are looking forward to celebrating this year’s winners and finalists with the rest of the network on Friday 6 October at Winstanley House in Leicester.
It was another cohort of outstanding applications from women working in a variety of roles and industries across the East Midlands, and we are proud to recognise their achievements through the awards programme.
ITV weather presenter Emma Jesson is returning to host our gala dinner, and artist Luzahann from pop band Livin’ Joy will perform. You may know them for hits Dreamer and Don’t Stop Moving in the 1990s.
We would like to extend our thanks to headline partner Michael Smith Switchgear, and other category sponsors Fraser Stretton Property Group, She Inspires Global, Futures Housing Group, Nelsons, Breedon Consulting, Unique Window Systems, Pick Everard, The Turnaround CEO and Paradigm Wills and Legal Services, as well as music sponsor PPL PRS and video sponsor AVIT Media.
After celebrating our 25th anniversary last year, we also thought it was time for a brand refresh to reflect the modern network as it stands today, and to move us closer to the Chamber’s new look.
Our new branding is visible within this column and will be showcased at the awards ceremony. We’d love to know what you think!
To book tickets to the Enterprising Women Awards gala dinner, visit bit.ly/EWAwards2023
Nicola Dunna (pictured) won the Apprentice of the Year accolade in 2020 at the Chamber’s Nottinghamshire Business Awards. Now an HR assistant for Nottingham City Homes, Nicola speaks to Business Network about how the award has impacted her career so far ahead of the next Business Awards season.
What was your journey to winning in the Chamber’s Business Awards and what led to you earning this recognition?
I worked in retail for more than 16 years and decided to change career. This can be difficult without experience.
I was accepted for a business administration Level 2 apprenticeship at Nottingham City Homes. I worked hard and knew I wanted to give it my all to achieve a better career for myself. As well as completing my day-to-day job and my coursework, I helped others with their apprenticeships and supported different teams where I could, which led to being nominated as an apprenticeship adviser.
What have you gone on to do since and how important was this recognition to your career?
Soon after collecting my award, I finished my apprenticeship, and entered into another course, Level 3 in HR support, with Nottingham City Homes. Close to the end of my qualification, I was successful in gaining a position as a PA to the director of housing.
Whenever I am asked about my achievements, my apprenticeships and my award are the first things I tell people about. I was then later successful in getting the HR assistant role, which I secured with the help of the qualifications and achievements.
How important was the Business Awards recognition to you?
It was such a surreal moment in my life and one I
will never forget. An apprenticeship helped me to achieve goals that I didn’t know were possible. The award is a fantastic recognition of the work I have done for myself, and for the company I work for.
The Business Awards gala dinners take place on 3 November for Leicestershire, 10 November for Derbyshire and 17 November for Nottinghamshire. To book tickets, visit bit.ly/EMCBusinessAwards23
One of the key objectives of the Chamber’s East Midlands Manufacturing Network is sharing best practice, which often has very tangible results. Paul Noble (pictured), managing director of Chesterfield manufacturer Specialised Canvas and a founding member of the Dales and Peak sub-network, outlines the benefits to his business.
How has the network helped you lead your business through these challenging times?
Our issues – finding and retaining appropriately skilled staff, and realising growth against a backdrop of high inflation and high interest rates – are common to many manufacturers. Spending time with others to see how they’re addressing similar issues is hugely valuable.
Coming out of Covid, we took the decision to reinstate our Chamber membership. It tied in well with our new growth strategy for each director to assume responsibilities for particular initiatives. Capitalising on our Chamber membership has been a particular focus for me, along with our membership of Make UK and FESPA, a UK trade association for printing.
It proved fortuitous that the East Midlands Manufacturing Network brought together Chamber and Make UK manufacturing support, and was a key reason why I became a founder member of the Dales and Peak network.
Attending the meetings means I can keep informed at two levels: understanding the macro-economic picture through presentations from Make UK representatives and the network chair, Mark Goldby; and drilling down to more local issues through internal debate and listening to external speakers.
There is also the added advantage of keeping my ear to the ground when it comes to finding out about Chamber support in areas such as capital expenditure projects and employing new staff.
Directors and senior managers can gain key skills needed to lead teams at a fiveday training programme run by the Chamber.
The Director Development Programme, which begins on 27 September and runs until 22 November, is designed for individuals who want to support and grow their business, or the department they lead.
Has attending the network meetings helped you achieve any particular outcomes?
It can be lonely for those of us at the top! Everyone is looking to you for direction but where do you look?
Being in the same room as others experiencing the same issues is a real help. Even if I only derive value from 30 seconds of a twohour meeting, I consider it to be worthwhile. That was most recently the case when I could have spent hours identifying how to get a work visa for a non-British national, only to find that Richard Hallam, operations director at Codel International, could point me in the direction of another business owner who had gone through exactly the same process and could advise me.
A recent presentation from guest speaker Barry Moss, of Go Six Sigma, has also helped to bring energy-saving measures to the fore of my mind, adding to the pace at which our business was addressing this issue.
By making small, incremental steps – in areas such as turning off monitors, powering off printers and listening out for air leaks on air compressors at the end of the working day when the factory is quiet – we estimate it has saved us 10% to 15% in energy costs.
Attending the network meetings really has sparked ideas, offered solutions and, ultimately, is helping us to grow our business.
For the latest local network meeting dates in Buxton, Derby, Nottingham, Mansfield and Leicester dates, visit: www.emc-dnl.co.uk/ emmn
The objective is to equip them with the skills and confidence needed to achieve objectives that will ultimately drive the business forward.
Delivered as a five-day modular programme with each session roughly two weeks apart, it covers the following topic headings:
•Developing vision, values and strategy (27 September)
•Planning and direction (11 October)
•Finance for non-finance directors (25 October)
•People management approaches (8 November)
•Driving performance and leading change (22 November)
The course is structured as progressive stages in a business development process, with participants having specific action steps to begin during the session and complete between each one.
At each subsequent session, they will be expected to discuss how they have applied the material covered during the previous instalment.
The Director Development Programme is delivered by course trainer Charles Barnascone (pictured) at the Chamber’s office at NG2 Business Park, in Nottingham.
It costs £1,450 + VAT for Chamber members and £1,850 + VAT for nonmembers. For more information, visit bit.ly/DDPSept23
www.emc-dnl.co.uk/sustainability
Nottingham’s ambition to be the first carbon-neutral city in the UK by 2028 can be chronicled via a new website.
It has been launched by Nottingham City Council to bring together information about what is happening to make the city more sustainable.
The website also offers practical advice and opportunities for residents and businesses to reduce their own carbon footprints.
There are dedicated sections for each of the nine key themes within the city’s Carbon-Neutral Action Plan – buildings, energy, transport, waste, water, “stuff”, protecting the city, nature, and removing carbon from the atmosphere.
Visit the website at www.cn28.co.uk
A unique carbon footprint tool has been created to allow businesses to measure the CO2 output of their digital data.
Loughborough University has developed the Data Carbon Ladder tool, believed to be the first of its kind, to help companies make data-driven decisions that benefit the environment and save money by reducing reliance on carbon offsetting schemes.
Each day, the average person creates 10 DVDs-worth of data via their phones, fitness trackers and emails.
All these bytes are collected and processed by companies and stored at various data centres around the globe. By 2025, there will be an estimated 180 zettabytes of stored data – the equivalent of 6.8 billion years of continuous Netflix streaming.
The new tool will help organisations to determine the carbon footprint of their data-related activities and explore better data approaches to drive down emissions.
Professor Ian Hodgkinson, of Loughborough Business School, said: “In the push towards net zero, digital technologies have played, and continue to play, a critical role – but we must also be cognisant of the hidden data CO2 cost attached to the way society and organisations use digital technologies. Identifying and measuring the data CO2 footprint is essential for future decarbonisation strategies."
With the world’s population topping eight billion people late last year, you don’t need to be an expert to work out that masses of packaging are being thrown away, and this is a huge issue that needs tackling quickly.
The challenge for businesses is to balance the need to promote sustainable alternatives with the demands of customers. You only have to look at the way in which customers reacted to Sainsbury’s decision to vacuum pack beef mince – a move that will save at least 450 tonnes of single-use plastic annually – to understand the scale of customer expectations and the delicate balance to achieve.
While it's great that conversations have begun, we need more collaboration across a supply chain focused on making a noticeable difference
Take the long-mooted deposit return scheme for packaging as an example. This recently hit the headlines after the Scottish government announced it was delaying bringing the scheme in until at least October 2025, in part because of a lack of agreement between central and devolved government on what types of packaging should be included.
With this level of confusion around basics, such as what is included, and how much the deposit will be for each packaging type, there’s no wonder it is the suppliers that have been leading the call for a delay, while they get more information and better understand the impact.
The reality is no scheme – whether it be deposit return or any other designed to encourage reuse and recycling – can work without collaboration throughout the supply chain and the highquality data needed to engender that.
Once the legislation is eventually clarified, businesses need to communicate the key changes throughout the supply chain – so suppliers know what action is needed to make the scheme workable – something we helped Australian retailer Woolworths’ suppliers with when similar legislation was introduced there.
Accurate data is also key here. Many brands currently rely on extrapolated figures for their packaging waste, get a PRN for that amount and move on, with some working this out based on a fairly small sample size of real data.
However, by engaging with their suppliers to get quality data on exactly what is going into their packaging and when – and therefore how much they have to account for – everybody wins.
Any new legislation coming in around the deposit return scheme requires a high level of supplier education – not just around the question of “what is it”, but also on “why is it coming in”.
Ultimately, we must move from recycling towards other options, such as reuse higher up the waste hierarchy. But with attentions diverted to upcoming legislation, it is essential that suppliers are engaged and aware of their role if the deposit return scheme is to pave some success in the ongoing packaging crisis.
supply chain’
With a recent report by ING Bank indicating that packaging waste is on course to outpace population growth in major regions such as the US and Europe, James Butcher (pictured), CEO of Supply Pilot, dissects the extent to which recycling initiatives such as the deposit return scheme could help.
Findings from The Green Finance Institute have highlighted the huge deficit in public funding needed to meet the UK’s nature-related obligations by 2030. However, Phoebe Cox (pictured), consultancy development manager at Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, explains how changes in legislation through the Environment Act 2021 and 25-year Environment Plan, combined with growing corporate social responsibilities, are driving new and expanding markets focused on the delivery of nature-based products such as biodiversity net gain (BNG), carbon credits and other ecosystem services.
BNG is an approach to land management that aims to deliver measurable improvements for biodiversity by creating or enhancing habitats, watercourses and hedgerows in association with development. Mandatory BNG, as set out in the Environment Act 2021, applies in England and is due to become law on 1 November 2023. It requires all commercial developments that have biodiversity within their red line boundary to achieve a minimum 10% net gain in biodiversity through habitat creation and enhancement.
At Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, we believe we have a moral obligation to ensure that schemes such as BNG and carbon credits deliver the most effective solutions for society and nature. Healthy, functioning ecosystems deliver a huge range of vital ecosystem services, from pollination and natural flood management to cultural and spiritual benefits.
BNG can be delivered in a number of ways, either through partnerships or single land holdings. The most strategic way to deliver BNG is through habitat banking, creating habitat in strategic locations before the loss occurs.
Over the past three years, we have invested in the development of a dedicated team to provide solutions and ensure the delivery of these vital ecosystem services in the county makes more space for nature and actively support the fight against climate change.
Our approach focuses on developing functioning, resilient ecosystems, rather than maximising the number of BNG units or trees planted per hectare, in order to deliver more space for nature in the most strategic places. Furthermore, through robust and transparent monitoring programmes we will ensure we are delivering on our promises.
We strongly believe that mitigation and offsets should be delivered locally – providing the benefit or mitigation as close to impacted communities and natural resources. We have recently established our first habitat banking site at Wild Whittington in Chesterfield, which has commenced sales of BNG habitat units (HU). BNG HU have now been committed to a number of local developments in Chesterfield and
Bolsover to support these projects in achieving at least a 10% net gain in biodiversity on their developments.
The Trust is now in the process of securing two further habitat banks across the county with the aim of having a minimum of one strategically located habitat bank within each local planning authority (LPA) to maximise the provision of multiple ecosystem services, habitat connectivity and benefit local communities.”
The experienced and dedicated team behind the ecological consultancy and ecosystem service provider within Derbyshire Wildlife Trust want to work with as many people and organisations as possible to provide end-to-end nature-based solutions – from ideation and project development to delivery and practical implementation –with nature recovery at the heart of them.
Electrical services supplier Power and Control is urging customers to educate themselves on what to look for when comparing quotes for Solar PV installations.
The Derby-based company is concerned homeowners are ending up with inadequate installations due to a lack of information, and is offering its own procedure as a guide to help them spot a “cut and paste” approach, leaving them confident their individual property and household’s needs are being identified.
Managing director Dan Kelly says the quotes he sees across the renewable energy sector are too generalised and should instead work with each
installation on a case-by-case basis. He claimed companies “will often prioritise offering a lower, more appealing price at the quote stage, rather than presenting a system that will meet or exceed homeowner’s expectations of a solar PV installation”. Dan has set out four tips for consumers shopping around for renewable energy installations – identify areas where shade or obstructions may require extra kit such as power optimisers; look for hidden costs in solar PV quotes such as batteries and storage; ensure each company can match power output like-for-like; and ensure contractors have the correct accreditations, such as MCS, HEIS, NICEIC and Trustmark.
has become one of the largest family-run packaging companies in Europe.
At the start of the anniversary year, company boss Björn Schumacher, who runs the company in the third generation with his brother Hendrik, explained: “Along our anniversary motto ‘Unboxing the Future of Packaging’, we are pursuing clear goals for the future. We see considerable potential to make packaging even more climate-friendly across the entire value chain. That’s why we want to further reduce the proportion of plastics in packaging across all sectors and replace it sensibly with the natural raw material paper.”
completely natural. They are not waste, can be returned to the material cycle 100 per cent or decompose in nature within a short time without leaving any residues. Currently, more than 85 per cent of corrugated and solid board packaging is recycled – this means that it is reprocessed into packaging after use. Unlike plastic-based reusable systems, no CO2 is emitted during return transport and cleaning,” said Björn Schumacher. “We exploit this potential by leading the way and constantly developing new industryspecific and sustainable products. In this way, we can offer long-term security of supply and be a reliable partner - now and in the future.”
The Schumacher Packaging Group, one of Europe’s largest manufacturers of customised packaging made of corrugated and solid board (www.schumacher-packaging.com), successfully continued its dynamic growth course in 2022.
This year, the company celebrates its 75th anniversary and is investing more in sustainability: the focus is on expanding renewable energies and reducing plastics in packaging by using natural raw materials.
By 2025, Schumacher Packaging plans to invest around €700m in the expansion of existing plants and the construction of new ones.
For 2023, however, the focus is on sustainability. This is because the packaging specialist is pursuing the ambitious goal of climate-neutral production by 2035 and is therefore relying on the most modern, efficient and environmentally friendly technologies. Around €45m is being invested in the construction of solar power plants, and €10-20m is earmarked for the expansion of wind energy. Currently, a solar park is under construction at the German site in Forchheim, and two more parks are being built in Poland.
The construction of five more solar power plants in Germany and Poland is planned for 2023 and 2024. The total output of all photovoltaic plants will be around 12 GW/h.
With its innovative solutions made of corrugated and solid board, Schumacher Packaging has grown continuously over the past 75 years and
To achieve this, the family-owned company is leading the way in the industry: it provides information, works on innovations and seeks dialogue with stakeholders. The management assumes that more than one fifth of the plastic packaging currently used can be replaced by paper-based solutions. By using plastic-free, biobased barrier coatings, packaging with protective functions can be produced that can be fully recycled. Plastics can thus be completely replaced - with the greatest potential in the food industry.
Sustainability is of great importance to Schumacher Packaging’s business. “The biggest advantage of paper-based packaging is that it is
Despite the difficult economic situation due to the Ukraine war and the sharp rise in energy prices, Schumacher Packaging 2022 managed to grow.
The packaging manufacturer reacted flexibly and quickly in the crisis year and was thus able to guarantee supplies to its customers. Strategic decisions contributed to this, such as the acquisition of the Kaierde cartonboard mill, the majority stake in the Italian corrugated base paper manufacturer Cartiere Modesto Cardella SpA and the acquisition of the Leipzig Land GmbH cartonboard mill.
“The consistent expansion of our production and processing capacities represents an important contribution to securing the market's supply situation in the future and is part of our strategy for the future,” said managing director Hendrik Schumacher.
For more details contact Naomi Harvey at Schumacher Packaging sales_bir@schumacher-packaging.com
DATE: 21 September to 23 November
TIME: 9-12.30
COST: £1,950 + VAT
ITOPS is a practical and relevant qualification designed to prove that candidates have the necessary skills to accurately operate procedures in an international trade administration environment.
Running over eight half days, delegates will learn how to avoid costly mistakes and improve their international trade procedures. Some previous delegates have saved their employers thousands of pounds. The course is suitable for anyone employed in an international trade environment – whether that of a manufacturer, supplier or freight forwarder.
Incoterms 2020 rules
DATE: 12 September
TIME: 9-12.30
COST: £194 + VAT
Get a detailed and focused commercial view of the latest Incoterms 2020 standards used for moving goods
Customs declarations
DATE: 14 September
TIME: 9-2
COST: £349 + VAT
Learn how to accurately produce a customs declaration or check one being produced by a customs agent for your company
Customs procedures and documentation
DATE: 19 September
TIME: 9-3.30
COST: £285 + VAT
Learn about details such as the critical data required for a customs declaration or the legal responsibilities of the importer and exporter
Import procedures
DATE: 20 September
TIME: 9-3.30
COST: £285 + VAT
Learn about the import process from initial contact with a potential supplier through to the import customs clearance process to ensure receipt of goods in time and within budget
Export documentation
DATE: 27 September
TIME: 9-4
COST: £285 + VAT
Practical programme equipping delegates with necessary skills and knowledge to prepare and process documents when exporting goods overseas
*Prices listed are exclusively for East Midlands Chamber members Book on to courses at bit.ly/EMCinternationaltraining
The International Trade Operations and Procedures (ITOPS) training course is the flagship international trade training course by East Midlands Chamber, which developed and delivers it in partnership with Fidelitas Training, with accreditation from the British Chambers of Commerce. Ahead of the next course beginning this month, Dan Robinson finds out more from the Chamber’s international trade training and services manager Julie Whiting (pictured).
We wanted a programme that was practical and relevant to the industry that could be achieved in a short timescale of four months. At the time, there wasn’t an international trade programme in the market that focused on all aspects of international trade administration, movement of goods and payment. The emphasis is on teaching delegates how and why a procedure is in place to guarantee legal compliance and costeffective trading.
The motivation for the course was that most people who work in international trade didn’t “choose” this industry as a career option. Many employees had no formal training and followed existing procedures, which were in many cases incorrect. All elements of the programme are taught to follow the highest industry standards.
What does the programme involve?
The course delivery is over four workshops and candidates complete an online portfolio within four months. It is a development programme –there is no exam, instead based on the collection of evidence, which underpins a candidate’s understanding and practical application of procedures.
The award covers the five main elements of export administration:
• Administration procedures
• Export documentation
• Customs, excise and other legal requirements
• Export payments
• Dispatch and shipping
What type of support do delegates receive throughout the course?
Every candidate has access to support from 10 industry professionals, all of whom are in senior positions within their respective companies and with more than 150 years’ experience in international trade collectively.
At the first workshop, each candidate is allocated an assessor and mentor who will support them throughout the whole programme.
What are the advantages for organisations that enrol team members in the ITOPS qualification?
Organisations gain from having employees who feel motivated and supported in their job role with correct knowledge on international trade procedures.
Candidates also feel empowered to make improvements to procedures, which in some cases have resulted in major cost savings for the business. One business saved over £250,000 by changing procedures identified during the programme. It also helps companies adapt to the ever-changing demands of trading internationally. The course reflects these changes, such as to Incoterms rules and Brexit. Many businesses now have ITOPS as a qualification requirement when recruiting new staff.
How many people have successfully completed the course and what benefits have they received personally?
More than 1,400 delegates have achieved the ITOPS award – mostly at merit or distinction grades.
There is a minimal drop-out rate, with over 95% achieving the qualification. The ITOPS award is a double-certificated, nationallyrecognised qualification. Upon completion,
candidates are awarded an ITOPS certificate and the British Chambers of Commerce Foundation Award in International Trade.
Their confidence in their job role has improved as they now understand the implications of why they are being asked to complete wide-ranging functions in order to ship their goods overseas without incurring additional charges and delays. There is also an improvement in future career prospects.
512 (Sheffield) Ltd sponsors the East Midlands Chamber ITOPS course. It supports delegates on one of the ITOPS workshops and by way of a freight forwarder placement, where candidates learn all about the requirements when moving goods internationally. Insights are provided into how air and sea cargo is handled, as well as the building of freight pricing and how customs declarations are completed.
All delegates also have access to documentary software throughout the programme provided by Just Trade.
Why is the ITOPS such an important part of the Chamber’s international trade support offer?
Steve Townsley, owner of Fidelitas Training, and I had the idea to write a practical international trade qualification 14 years ago. This is now the Chamber’s flagship international trade course and has raised the profile of the support can provide businesses trading internationally or entering new markets.
Having fallen into international trade myself by accident over 30 years ago, I understand the importance of relevant training.
Commercial opportunities in Ghana’s automotive industry will be showcased at an upcoming online event by the UK-Ghana Partnership for Jobs and Economic Transformation (JET), a UK Government programme. JET investment lead Veronica Bolton Smith gives an overview of Ghana’s automotive industry and the opportunities for businesses in the East Midlands.
JET is a flagship investment-led programme by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to spur £30m of investment and create 7,000 jobs across three priority sectors in Ghana – automotive, pharmaceuticals, and textiles and garments.
The West African nation, which has one of the continent’s most stable democracies, has the ambition to become a fully integrated and competitive vehicle manufacturing hub.
It benefits from preferential access to the other 14 members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which has a population exceeding 350 million and 3.6% GDP growth.
Under the African Continental Free Trade Area, headquartered in Ghana’s capital Accra, the country will have access to a $1.3bn market with a combined GDP of $3.4tn.
Ghana’s automotive industry is valued at $4bn and expected to reach $11bn by 2030, with 3.4 million vehicles on the road. The JET team says this makes it well placed for UK auto investments.
In 2020, JET supported the formulation and implementation of Ghana’s automotive development policy, which rapidly attracted investment from eight global manufacturers –Volkswagen, Toyota, Nissan, Peugeot, Kia, Hyundai and Changan, some of these working in joint ventures with Ghanian firms – to establish assembly plants within three years of implementation.
The policy provides support for market access and a strong focus on environment, standards and safety, and availability of industrial infrastructure. Policy provisions include:
• Corporation tax holiday for five to 10 years
• 65% tariff differentiation for imported and local assembly
• 0% import duties for plant, machinery and equipment
• Value-based rebate.
Deepening the local value chains, a component manufacturing policy to incentivise localisation of automotive components is under approval by the Ghanaian government.
Target components for manufacture include lead acid batteries, suspension, filters, brakes, starters and alternators, windscreen glass, wheels and tyres, and exhaust systems.
The ecosystem in Ghana is rapidly developing, with several local internal combustion engine and electric vehicle assembly businesses such as Kantanka and Solar Taxi, as well as component manufacturing by Springs and Bolts. All seek joint venture partnership and investment opportunities.
JET will host the “Investing in Ghana’s Auto Sector” webinar on Thursday 14 September from 12pm BST. It will be followed by an Auto Investor Mission to Ghana in the week of 20 November. To register an interest and for more information about how the JET team can support potential UK investors, email veronica.boltonsmith@thepalladiumgroup.com
Chamber members can learn more about trading with the United Arab Emirates at an upcoming webinar.
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is hosting a UAE spotlight on Thursday 21 September from 11.30am as part of its Global Trade Month programme and ahead of the Middle Eastern nation’s hosting of the COP28 climate conference later this year.
Delegates will hear about the country’s large consumer base, popular trade lanes, and a shifting transformation to a forward-thinking and visionary population.
Bilateral trade between the UK and UAE is already worth more than £21bn per year, with the nations sharing a long history of collaboration in sectors ranging from infrastructure and education to healthcare and financial services. More recently, this has included working together in renewable energy too. Ongoing trade negotiations between the UK and the Gulf Co-operation Council, which includes the UAE, have the potential to increase trade in key sectors such as aviation, automotive and life sciences.
Expert panellists at the webinar include Khalid Al Qasimi, deputy head of mission at the UAE Embassy in London, and Souad M Al Hosani, executive director and head of asset management sales at First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Register for free at www.britishchambers.org.uk/page/events-for-chambers
HS2 was back on the East Midlands’ agenda as business, political and local authority leaders came together for an event in Derby, hosted by Transport for the East Midlands and Midlands Connect, in July to launch a new report showcasing the benefits of bringing high-speed rail to the region, Dan Robinson reports.
Ever since then-Transport Secretary Justine Greening gave the green light for HS2 in January 2012, it has been labelled a high-speed rail project. Initial messaging focused on the timesaving benefits of shorter journeys, in particular between London and key regional cities, which gave opponents to the scheme a stick to beat it with.
But the new report by Transport for the East Midlands (TfEM), titled Full Speed Ahead: Bringing high-speed rail to the East Midlands, begins by highlighting broader economic arguments for the project that back up those made by long-time proponents like the Chamber. These include:
• Shrinking geographies: Bringing major urban areas closer to the East Midlands
• Expanding labour markets: Increasing the number of people within a 90-minute end-toend rail journey of Derby and Chesterfield by more than 500,000 and 600,000 people respectively
• Better jobs for local people: Nearly doubling the number of jobs in high-value, rail-linked sectors within an hour of Nottingham by rail to more than 150,000 and quadrupling those within two hours to 1.5 million
• More trade for local businesses: Giving firms in Chesterfield, Derby and Nottingham access to a £550m economy within 90 minutes by rail – a £300m increase on current access
• Better rail services for all: Improving journey times for 74 stations across the East Midlands to and from London and Birmingham.
Chris Hobson, director of policy and external affairs at the Chamber, said: “High-speed rail in many ways is the absolute worst name it could have been called because it's not about it being high speed – it's not even really about the rail –it's about what it enables.”
Analysis last year by the Chamber in partnership with East Midlands Councils, which oversees TfEM, illustrated the East Midlands receives the lowest level of transport spend per head of any UK region or nation, at 64.7% of the average.
If the region was funded to the UK average, it would have an extra £1.26bn to spend on transport per year, and the report says this would give it the tools to tackle pressing challenges such as low productivity (economic output per hour was 15% below the UK average in 2020), low household income (the rest of England has, on average, more than £3,000 extra disposable income annually) and the highest number of social mobility “coldspots” (17 areas).
But it also highlights what the East Midlands can offer the UK economy, including world-class universities, a world-class rail supply chain and upcoming rail campus in Derby to build on the arrival of Great British Railways’ HQ, the groundbreaking STEP Fusion nuclear energy plant at West Burton, and the UK’s only inland freeport in and around East Midlands Airport.
Sir John Peace, who chairs pan-regional partnership Midlands Engine and transport body Midlands Connect, said HS2 is “not just important to the rail strategy but for the whole economic strategy of the Midlands”.
He added: “It’s not about the journey, but the
destination we’re trying to reach in terms of tackling key social, economic and environmental challenges, while at the same time realising the many opportunities that exist.”
Rail Minister Huw Merriman was at The Stuart Hotel in Derby, for the report launch and gave a speech outlining the Government’s commitment to investing in transport infrastructure in line with the Integrated Rail Plan (IRP).
Mr Merriman said the IRP would “right a historic wrong” of underinvestment in transport infrastructure outside the South East, adding: “This Government hasn’t opted for short-term thinking by scaling back and has given full backing to the IRP.”
He also discussed broader rail ambitions including the Midlands Rail Hub project to improve local railways across the West and East Midlands, discussed Derby’s successful bid to be the home of the Government’s new public transport body Great British Railways, and the need for “root and branch reform” of the rail industry while demonstrating “value for money”.
His fellow Conservative MPs, Ben Bradley (Mansfield) and Amanda Solloway (Derby North),
said they would also continue to press cabinet officials in delivering on its IRP promises to the region, while they stated a belief any change in Government during the next general election should not upset long-term strategy planning.
Phase one of HS2 between the West Midlands and London is currently being built, and the impact in Birmingham is already apparent with a wave of major development projects and inward investment. Construction for phase 2a to Crewe is planned to start early next year and phase 2b is going through the Parliamentary process, with an expected completion date by 2035 and 2040.
The Government has yet to provide an update on the next stage for bringing HS2 East closer to realisation, with Full Speed Ahead stating every year of delay prevents the East Midlands from generating tens of thousands of jobs and billions of pounds in economic activity.
A new report sets out how politicians and officials in areas like the East Midlands can master the art of the devolution deal to give new devolved institutions a greater chance of success.
The white paper by the Institute for Government (IfG), produced in partnership with the University of Nottingham’s Institute for Policy and Engagement, welcomes the cross-party consensus behind the devolution of key economic powers across England.
But it warns that too little attention has been paid to how devolution deals are negotiated and implemented, how combined authorities are established, and how Whitehall should support them.
Examining why devolution has worked well in some places, struggled in others and failed to get off the ground at all elsewhere, the IfG says the effectiveness of devolved institutions suffers if a devolution deal is based on incoherent geography, lacks sufficient local support or is poorly implemented.
In discussions with large businesses, Chris said infrastructure is an important factor in decisions on where to locate as it enables staff to easily move around the country.
He added: “There’s some straightforward investment decisions that businesses face sometimes and having world-class rail infrastructure is sometimes all it takes to make them spend their money in a particular location.”
Also speaking within the same panel discussion were local authority leaders in Chesterfield, Derby, Leicester and Nottingham.
They cited benefits such as linking up a revitalised Nottingham railway station – which will have a direct HS2 service to Birmingham – with wider regeneration activity surrounding the area, using the project to train young people in key skills, and retaining that young talent in cities and towns by providing them with new opportunities in both their work and personal lives.
“Drivers of inward investment want somewhere their staff can thrive and flourish in,” Chris added. “The three big things investors talk about are skills availability, energy infrastructure and the leisure conditions on a weekend or after work. We have all the right ingredients in the East Midlands but having better rail infrastructure to maximise those will be a key component in bringing new money into the region.”
“Devolution of powers can help local leaders allocate resources, regenerate their economies and reshape public services to meet local needs, but it is no silver bullet,” the report states.
It cites positive examples of how devolution has worked, with local leaders addressing health inequality in Greater Manchester, tackling low levels of advanced qualifications in the West Midlands’ workforce, creating a more integrated and sustainable transport system in the Liverpool city region, and supporting the growth of green energy in Tees Valley.
The report, titled The art of the devolution deal How England’s counties and cities can make a success of devolution, was launched at an event in Nottingham on 6 July. The discussions will be covered in the October edition of Business Network
To read the report, visit www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/ publication/devolution-deals
The Chamber’s Chris Hobson said the region’s private sector is ready to get behind important economic opportunities but it needs public backing to remain “competitive” not just internationally but with other UK regions too.
“We see some of the developments taking place in other parts of the country and how private investment follows public sector money, as everyone wants to back a winner,” he said.
“The danger, if you project forward without having the plan for HS2 being implemented in the East Midlands, is the private sector here risks being left behind. But flipping this around, when we get the IRP delivered in the East Midlands, we will see growth turbocharge for the East Midlands and the whole country.”
The East Midlands Development Company (EM DevCo) is a partnership of five local authorities that brings together plans to regenerate three development sites of national significance –Toton and Chetwynd East Midlands Hub, Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station, and the East Midlands Airport area – with the aim of creating 84,000 jobs and adding billions to the regional economy, while harnessing net zero ambitions.
Kevin Harrison, programme director of EM DevCo, said this would help create a “compelling story” about the region and how its key industries can contribute to UK economic goals to help attract investment, but admitted it must be “laser-focused on its priorities”.
‘The three big things investors talk about are skills availability, energy infrastructure and the leisure conditions on a weekend or after work’Sir John Peace, chair of Midlands Engine and Midlands Connect
By Danny Buckley (pictured), senior lecturer of enterprise at De Montfort University
Most people working in professional services will agree that retaining talented staff is one of their biggest concerns.
Companies saw unprecedented turnover in the wake of the pandemic, and are now dealing with the aftermath of the “great resignation” and skills shortages.
Before the pandemic, people were quietly talking about work-life balance and some companies were recognising they needed to do more than just provide a desk and a computer (and possibly a kettle) if they wanted to be an attractive place to work.
Now the message is loud and clear – people want to work for companies they feel proud to be a part of, who are committed to developing their staff and who invest in their team’s wellbeing.
During the pandemic, organisations that prioritised employee wellbeing and demonstrated empathy were better equipped to retain their talent pool. As the dust settles, this focus on holistic employee satisfaction remains a driving force for staff retention.
LinkedIn’s 2023 Workplace Learning Report found 93% of employers are worried about holding on to talented staff – and 83% said they wanted to build a more peoplecentred culture to encourage them to stay.
It also asked people why they had left their current role –and three of the top five reasons were a lack of training and development opportunities with their current employer. Perhaps not surprisingly, staff aged 18-34 are the most likely to be looking to boost their skills and learning.
‘People want to work for companies they feel proud to be a part of, who are committed to developing their staff and who invest in their team’s wellbeing’
This ties into values-based leadership and organisational behaviour, which I research here at De Montfort University in Leicester. Put simply, it’s about creating a company culture that is based on the values you and your team share. When we embrace our values, we are communicating: “This is who I am, and this is what I represent.”
It is about more than financial goals; it is also about creating a positive impact for employees, customers and society as a whole. This approach results in employees who feel empowered, respected and connected to the organisation and the leader beyond a transactional level.
This leads to higher levels of job satisfaction, increased loyalty and reduced staff turnover – all of which are crucial for long-term organisational success.
During our executiveeducation and apprenticeships programmes, delivered with senior managers, we show how to collaboratively change and improve their culture by involving the most important people – their staff – in the process.
We show how to have those conversations, how to bring a coaching perspective to their leadership style, and how that can have tremendous benefits on how their employees feel about their workplace and their own CPD.
Here’s five ways that you can retain your valuable professional services employees:
1.Provide opportunities for professional development: Professional services employees often seek opportunities to enhance their skills and advance in their careers. Offer ongoing training, workshops, and access to industry certifications to help employees stay up to date with the latest trends and technologies. Provide clear pathways for career progression.
2.Recognise and reward achievements: Regularly acknowledge and reward outstanding performance publicly and privately. Personalised recognition can boost morale and motivation, creating a positive feedback loop that encourages employees to continue excelling.
3.Foster work-life balance: Balancing demanding client work with personal time is crucial for employee wellbeing. Encourage a healthy work-life balance by offering flexible work arrangements, such as remote work options or flexible hours. Encourage employees to take regular breaks and vacations to recharge.
4.Promote a diverse and inclusive workplace: Embrace diversity and inclusivity in your organisation. Create an environment where all employees feel respected, valued and included. Implement policies and initiatives that promote diversity at all levels of the organisation, and ensure opportunities for growth and advancement are equally accessible to everyone.
5.Offer meaningful and challenging work: Engage your professional services staff with intellectually stimulating and challenging projects. Provide opportunities for them to work on projects that align with their interests and expertise, to increase job satisfaction and longer-term commitment.
By implementing these top tips for retaining professional services staff, you can create a supportive and engaging environment that encourages long-term commitment and contributes to the overall success of your organisation.
‘Put simply, it’s about creating a company culture that is based on the values you and your team share’
By Rachel Hayward
The Government’s commitment to award 33% of procurement spend to SMEs represents a significant opportunity for SMEs to grow their businesses. Public procurement can provide a stable and long-term source of revenue – typically of substantial spend –allowing SMEs to access larger projects and opportunities to expand their business.
Being selected by a public body enhances a company’s reputation and demonstrates trust in their capabilities. This can attract other clients, including private sector organisations, which value the experience in working with the Government.
The rigorous tendering process also enables SMEs to refine their proposals, improve their value proposition, and differentiate themselves by highlighting their unique strengths and capabilities.
Furthermore, the revenue generated from public procurement spend can be reinvested in the company, allowing SMEs to expand their operations, invest in new technologies or equipment, and hire additional staff. However, competition for such public sector tenders is fierce and it is vital that SMEs structure their business development processes to increase their chances for success. Here are some strategies that SMEs can consider:
1.Research and identify opportunities: Regularly monitor Government procurement portals, which are free to sign up to. Identify contracts that align with your business capabilities, industry expertise, and target market. The UK’s home countries all have their own dedicated public procurement portals, which are an excellent source for those looking for tenders in England (Contracts Finder), Scotland (Public Contractors Scotland), Wales (Sell2Wales) and Northern Ireland (eTendersNI).
2.Understand the procurement process: Familiarise yourself with the Government procurement process, including the rules, regulations, and evaluation criteria. Understand the specific requirements outlined in the bid documents and tailor your proposals accordingly. Familiarise yourself with social value – offering only high-quality actions you can measure and deliver – and with carbon reduction plans (free training is available via the Crown Commercial Service). Take note of any pre-qualification requirements or mandatory certifications necessary and if you don’t currently have the information, capability or track record required, create a plan to get them.
3.Build relationships: Attend industry events, trade shows
and networking sessions where you can interact with Government representatives. Some procurement departments will have free to attend “meet the buyer” events, which offer valuable insight.
4.Partner or collaborate: Consider partnering or collaborating with other SMEs to strengthen your bid. Strategic alliances can help combine complementary capabilities, enhance your collective offering, and improve competitiveness.
5.Focus on quality and compliance: Demonstrate your ability to adhere to regulatory requirements, industry standards and ethical practices. Provide evidence of your past performance, including successful projects and satisfied clients.
6.Continuous improvement: Seek feedback from Government agencies when your bid is unsuccessful to identify areas for enhancement. Adapt your strategies, refine your processes, and incorporate lessons learned into future bids.
If all the above still feels overwhelming, then securing the support of a professional bid writer can allow you to focus on your operations, while they navigate the complexities of Government procurement, improve the quality of your bids, and increase your chances of success. However, they can’t work in isolation, so it is imperative to work collaboratively. Tips on getting the best out of this relationship include:
1.Clearly define your objectives and expectations, including your target audience, desired outcomes and any specific requirements.
2.Provide comprehensive background information about your company strengths, capabilities and past experiences.
3.Be proactive in gathering bid-specific information they need, including technical specifications, project details, pricing structures and any unique requirements outlined in the bid document.
4.Maintain open communication throughout the process –providing timely feedback, answering queries and addressing any concerns.
5.Leverage the bid writer's expertise by seeking their advice on bid strategy, content structure and presentation techniques to increase the chances of a successful bid.
6.It is good practice to use a quality checklist (drawn from the bid requirements) and complete a final quality check, before you submit.
‘Being selected by a public body enhances a company’s reputation and demonstrates trust in their capabilities’
T: 0115 947 5662
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Home to the largest populations and employers, cities are the biggest drivers of economic growth. But they are also responsible for 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions, bore the brunt of the pandemic’s direct impact on place-based economies, and are the subject of Goal 11 of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals – which aims to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Dan Robinson explores what the future looks like for the East Midlands’ cities and more broadly how to create sustainable places.
In his book Building a Culture of Health, the BritishAmerican academic John Quelch CBE outlines his four pillars of health – consumer health, employee health, community health and environmental health.
While he and co-author Emily Boudreau primarily relate these interconnected areas to corporate impact, Becky Valentine also identifies them when considering how we design our towns and cities for the 21st century –accommodating a wide variety of living, working, studying and leisure uses.
“This, to me, is sustainability when we are placemaking,” says the co-owner of Nottingham-based property developer and consultancy Spenbeck.
“How can a place support those pillars in a way that we can give back more than we take?
“At the same time, a sustainable place requires us to strike a balance between each of those considerations, rather than focusing on any single one.”
A fine example of this can be found in the regeneration of Nottingham’s historic Lace Market since the 1990s by her family business, led originally by her father Mich Stevenson OBE DL and his brother Don, and now by Becky and her sister Victoria Green.
After the industry that provided its identity had largely abandoned the area, resulting in a downtrodden hotspot for crime and squatting in the 1970s and 1980s, Mich founded the Lace Market Heritage Trust in 1993 to preserve and renovate its historic buildings.
Nature-based regeneration that makes places more colourful can help to entice people back, believes Marketing Derby's head of inward investment Kathryn Allen (pictured)
She admits “grey” cities aren’t very welcoming, and embracing green spaces and waterways helps to make them more attractive and sustainable.
An example of progress she cites is the Electric Daisy public garden opened by community interest company Down to Earth Derby as a unique space for people to meet, attend live events or do work.
Meanwhile, the Derby Urban Sustainable Transition (DUST) research project, led by a University of Derby team, has a broader mission to capitalise on natural assets, namely historic and existing waterways, greenways, parks and open spaces.
Kathryn says: “We need to look at how we can use our green and blue infrastructure in a
number of ways, not only to tackle some of our net zero targets but because of the wellbeing benefits it provides, as well as generally creating a more pleasant experience.
“So it’s important for residential developers to know they can’t just put up a building and hope residents want to live there – they have to think about the landscaping outside too.”
The 18.5-acre Nightingale Quarter residential development will include nearly six acres of open space, cycle paths, an outdoor children’s play area and outdoor gym. The developer Wavensmere Homes is also turning the Victorian building’s “pepper pots” into a community gym and café, with this “reanimation” of heritage assets an important aspect of a sustainable place.
Another good example of a business taking initiative is in the Eastern Gateway scheme. Shopping centre operator Derbion had plans approved in July to redevelop part of the Eagle Market into a public boulevard at its eastern entrance, which will also add extra shops and leisure outlets.
Kathryn believes “parklets” – when parking and kerbside spaces are transformed into community spaces with benches, seats and planters – offer a potential low-cost solution to “greening” areas. She would also like to see licensing laws relaxed to enable bars, cafés and restaurants to “spill out” into streets during evenings and weekends, as they did during the pandemic, to make cities more vibrant.
“From a placemaking perspective, these can be quite clever ideas to make it feel less grey and also challenge people to go in different directions,” she adds.
“We call this nudge theory – how do we nudge someone from one junction of a street to another while having a pleasant experience? It could be playful messaging, shop window displays, a nice public realm or street artwork that makes people continue moving around.”
You may not know it, but the region’s historic waterways are looked after by a charity, the Canal & River Trust. We care for 300 miles of canal and rivers in the East Midlands, maintaining their historic fabric and enabling people to enjoy them in ever-expanding ways.
Our canals have enjoyed a real renaissance following their decline in the 1960s. More than 200 years after they were built, they are enjoyed by boaters, dog-walkers, anglers, runners and commuters, to name a few. We now see over a million visits each year to our region’s waterways. They deliver substantial benefits for people and communities, and to nature and biodiversity.
And with more boats on the water than at the height of the Industrial Revolution, the local economy also benefits from thriving waterways. Our canals and rivers are dotted with pubs and restaurants, marinas and boatyards, as well as some of the region’s most popular visitor destinations including Foxton Locks, Nottingham Castle and the National Space Centre.
Research has found that our canals support 80,000 jobs and contribute £1.5bn annually to the economy. They also bring £1.1bn in savings to the NHS from the millions of people making active use of our waterways and towpaths.
This 200-year-old network needs continued love and investment, with stark challenges from climate change, spiralling inflation and energy costs. A further worrying threat is the recent Government announcement of substantial funding cuts to the waterways from 2027.
The reduction in future grant funding will almost halve the value of public funding for canals in real terms compared with recent years. It comes as costs are rising and the impact of climate change, with more periods of drought and extreme storm events, taking its toll on 250year-old locks, aqueducts, reservoirs and embankments.
This will inevitably threaten the future of canals and rivers here in the East Midlands, leading to their decline and the risk that some sections may have to close.
Successful transformations have included redeveloping Shire Hall into the National Justice Museum, the Adams Building into part of Nottingham College’s campus, and about 50,000 sq ft of space in The Birkin Building, which included a former nightclub, and neighbouring properties into creative spaces for businesses.
Broadway, Stoney Street and its surrounding areas now attract people who want to live in modern city centre apartments, work in offices with character, and meet up with friends and colleagues in the area's numerous bars, restaurants and cafés.
Becky says: “We’ve always felt that for somewhere like The Lace Market to exist sustainably, it must contain a combination of commercial, residential, and daytime and
We’re determined to fight for the future of our historic waterways.
A number of businesses across the East Midlands are already playing an active role, supporting our Green Social Prescribing projects and helping us to improve biodiversity. We believe that by working together, we can protect them for future generations.
To find out more about the #KeepCanalsAlive campaign an simple ways to take action, visit www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/keepcanalsalive, and to lend support, contact scott.miller@canalrivertrust.org.uk
night-time leisure, while retaining the consistently stunning architecture that makes people want to go there.
“If it becomes too weighted towards commercial, no-one will visit in the evening and weekend, and if it becomes too residential, not much will happen in the daytime, meaning we miss out on the secondary spend that keeps these places vibrant.
“Creating mixed-use developments becomes selfsupporting as it brings in the leisure as we’ve seen with places like the now-iconic Annie’s Burger Shack, Hungry Pumpkin and The Lacehouse, as well as the cultural with Nottingham Contemporary and the Debbie Bryan design studio. People can go there to work, live, eat, go out or stretch themselves culturally, and it’s all served by good
transport with the tram and bus. This is what makes The Lace Market such a thriving place. But the crucial thing is finding the tipping point and not going beyond this, because we’ve seen what can happen in other areas of the city centre where we don’t get that balance right and it becomes too siloed – which isn’t sustainable.”
CITIES BEHAVE, LIKE many things, on a cyclical basis and there’s a good chance The Lace Market will face its own version of these challenges one day.
There was a time, after all, when the Broad Marsh area was filled by a popular shopping centre, while people poured into the large Debenhams department store in Old Market Square.
As retail has undergone an enormous transition in recent years from bricks and mortar to online, it has emptied lots of prime real estate, causing something of an existential crisis regarding the purpose that city and town centres should serve, particularly in a post-Covid world.
started moving to contactless-only payments.
“There is a transitional generation that still values cash and doesn’t want to use an app for parking, for example.
“The result can be it might put them off visiting the city centre, which is damaging when they have the most disposable income, and risks creating a ghost town outside term-time, so it’s important we don’t go down the rabbit hole of chasing one type of demographic.”
Graduate retention is critical to the sustainable lifecycle of a city’s economy, but roughly only three in 10 students remain in Nottingham after they finish studying.
Part of the issue is an absence of high-quality, affordable housing for young professionals.
Nottingham City Council’s response has been to set out expectations for “a variety of high-quality housing, attractive to a wide range of households” in a recentlypublished blueprint that provides new planning guidance to developers operating in the Eastside area, which includes Sneinton Market, Hockley and The Lace Market.
Becky adds: “We know that with our universities growing, there is still a big gap to plug in delivering sufficient student accommodation.
“But we don’t have enough professional housing so when students graduate, they leave because of this and the fact there aren’t the right employment opportunities.
Becky lives in Sherwood, a couple of miles north of the city centre, and has watched it blossom into a bustling suburb packed with bars, restaurants and cafés.
During the pandemic, areas such as this experienced a renaissance as people stayed local, and these personal routines have continued for many – perhaps to the detriment of city centres.
Again, it’s a question of balance for Becky, who believes city centres like Nottingham’s arguably concentrate too much on the student population, which only lives there for two-thirds of the year and often departs after three or four years.
“It’s important we don’t isolate our older and permanent residents when it comes to the variety of amenities in a city,” adds Becky.
“Vintage shops have taken over Hockley and although we have some fabulous cafés and restaurants with a diverse range of food and cultures, a lot of them have
“It becomes a vicious circle as this means businesses aren’t investing here due to the lack of a young, skilled workforce to tap into.”
DOWN THE A52, about 300 people attended the Derby Property Summit in July, where the focus of discussion was the “curation of place”.
Speakers at the annual event, hosted by investment promotion agency Marketing Derby, assessed how cities could be designed to suit people’s needs, desires and behaviours following their experiences of the pandemic, when issues like wellbeing came to the fore.
One such speaker was Yolande Barnes, chair of The Bartlett Real Estate Institute, which is based at University College London with a remit to rethink the traditional view of real estate.
She explored how environments can be created that are suitable for human activity. To do this, they must "think about what human beings do, and where they want to live, work and visit”.
‘It’s important we don’t isolate our older and permanent residents when it comes to the variety of amenities in a city’ABOVE: Foxton Locks is the longest, steepest staircase flight of locks in Britain INSET TOP LEFT: Working to protect Nottingham and Beeston Canal The restored Birkin Building in Nottingham’s Lace Market, which is home to businesses including Annie’s Burger Shack (below left) and The Lacehouse
This resonates with Derby, a city with the highest salaries and disposable income outside London and the South East, and a strong magnet for investment in advanced manufacturing with industry titans like Rolls-Royce, Toyota and Alstom – but also home to some of the UK’s worst social mobility cold spots.
Kathryn Allen, head of investment at Marketing Derby, says: “We have a really strong economy in Derby but if you walk through the city centre, it doesn’t feel like the city where Rolls-Royce has its civil aerospace global headquarters.
“So from a real estate perspective, we need to start thinking about our strategy for how to bring more people to live, work and visit Derby city centre. By increasing footfall, it becomes more vibrant and this supports inward investment to address the social mobility issues. It’s one big jigsaw and real estate is a key part of this.”
With the pension funds that typically back major developments eager to future-proof schemes, there is a growing emphasis on mixed-use buildings that comprise variations of residential, retail, enterprise and leisure space.
This is evident in the £200m Becketwell regeneration scheme, the largest in a healthy pipeline of development projects for Derby. It will feature a 259-bed build-to-rent apartments scheme, a 3,500-capacity performance venue, grade A offices, hotel, student accommodation and a multistorey car park.
“It’s about making your city centre work really hard for you by catering for different customers at different times of the day,” says Kathryn.
Derby City Lab, which opened in an empty unit in St James Street last year to host a rolling programme of dynamic exhibitions and discussion groups focused on ideas to regenerate the city.
“We’re bringing in lots of new residents into the city centre, which is fantastic from an economic strategy perspective as it creates new markets for our retail and leisure operators, but developers understand they have to make it a nice experience for people to live here,” says Kathryn.
As well as mixed-use master planning, single buildings may also be designed for multiple purposes. The Grade II-listed Derby Market Hall, for example, is undergoing a major refurbishment into a flexible space capable of hosting traditional and modern markets, with hot food stalls and small-scale live art events. There are hopes it can be a modern home for the city’s making and trading heritage.
Kathryn believes the £46m Becketwell arena – which will be operated by live entertainment industry leader ASM Global and bring a range of stand-up comedy, family shows, musical theatre, exhibitions and business conferences to the city centre for the first time in decades when it opens late next year – is a “gamechanger” for Derby.
But while new amenities will bring thousands more residents and visitors into the city centre, providing a new customer base for businesses, it’s crucial they aren’t built in isolation. To this end, developers like Clowes Developments and Wavensmere Homes – which have teamed up to deliver a mixed-use scheme for regenerating the 11.5-acre Friar Gate Goods Yard – are working in partnership with the likes of Marketing Derby, Derby City Council and the two business improvement districts (BIDs) on the wider consideration of placemaking.
The community is also taken on this journey via the
“There’s no doubt that if we want people to come and live in these new homes, we need to make our place more attractive so they leave their apartments to go for food and drink, do an activity or even just go for a walk. This is what cities have to be in the future, and it’s important we engage people about what they might look like to achieve this.”
TWO YEARS AGO, the Chamber ran a virtual roundtable event in partnership with Leicestershire Business Voice and BID Leicester to discuss how Leicester city centre could not just survive, but thrive, beyond the pandemic, with findings helping to inform Leicester City Council in developing its next Local Plan.
Research was presented from the Centre for Cities thinktank into the city’s commercial property make-up and footfall data. It highlighted how Leicester was over-reliant on retail and weekend trade, with the suggestion being it needed to focus on attracting companies that employ highskilled professionals who have strong spending power to sustain other businesses.
The Chamber’s director of policy and insight Chris Hobson spoke about the “need to think radically about how we reshape the city centre because yesterday’s thinking won’t shape the place of tomorrow”.
This sentiment can be applied to any city or town, and it was noticeable how one recommendation was to explore how the relatively large proportion of industrial space in
‘Yesterday’s thinking won’t shape the place of tomorrow’Becketwell arena Aerial view of the Becketwell regeneration
Leicester – which made up 15% of all commercial property, double the recommended level of a “strong city centre” –could be repurposed into different uses, such as offices. Much like its East Midlands neighbour did when it came to addressing The Lace Market conundrum all those years ago.
Nottingham now faces an even greater challenge in finding a positive resolution to the Broad Marsh issue, which has left a “crater” slap bang in the city centre following the halted demolition of the former shopping centre in 2020. The vision is to create a mixed-use site comprising a green public realm and retained structural frame featuring live performances and food events, surrounded by homes, offices, shops and conference space.
“When we consider what it means to be sustainable, it’s the continuation of what we’ve had before and making it future-proof,” adds Spenbeck’s Becky, whose consultancy support includes retrofitting heritage buildings, another key part of the sustainability jigsaw considering that 69% of Nottingham’s 8,000 non-domestic buildings are rated below EPC band C
“The Lace Market is the visual embodiment of what a
sustainable place looks like. We’re sustaining the architecture, allowing the buildings to be environmentally sustainable in terms of embodied carbon, and culturally sustainable because the lace legacy lives on.
“Now the Broad Marsh has moved on to the next stage of planning and it looks like the ambition is to connect the various cultural assets Nottingham already has, with a green heart that supports the health and wellbeing of people who use the city, but also the mixed-use element that brings jobs, homes and economic growth.”
It all comes back to striking a delicate balance between John Quelch’s four pillars of consumer, employee, community and environmental health.
Becky adds: “Environmental health supports community health, but if we focus too much on this then maybe we lose out on understanding the economics of it, which is important to the consumer and employee health.
“It’s like a game of Whack-a-Mole where we are constantly trying to balance these four pillars, so the prevalence of one isn’t to the detriment of another. That’s how we can build a sustainable place.”
Providing plenty of choice for green transport and making it simpler to use are vital ingredients in sustainable places, believes an expert in the field.
Robin Pointon, managing director of Leicester-based sustainable transport consultancy GO Transport Solutions, says basic bus fares – combined with easy-to-access multimodal transport like bike, scooter and electric car hire schemes – will encourage people to find alternatives to driving their own vehicles.
But he is also keen to state sustainability policies don’t have to be considered “anti-car” as they should focus on providing alternative options to people who are able to use them.
“There’s no point telling people to not take the car if there’s no attractive alternatives,” he says. “It’s not a singular option, it’s about giving people options for how they can travel.
“For some people, they need cars and for others, they need a variety of choices and there must be an advantage to them using the sustainable option.”
A successful sustainable transport system relies on what he describes as the “three Is” –information about various transport options, investment into provision and infrastructure, and incentives for people to use alternative transport.
All three elements are captured in the £2 single bus fare cap introduced nationwide last year and running until October, backed by funding from the Department for Transport and heavily promoted by many local bus networks.
But there is also an acceptance that behavioural changes often require “sticks” to go with the “carrots”.
Dr Ian Murdey, project manager at GO Travel Solutions, says: “We can put in place all the incentives we like but if there’s not a disincentive to drive then people will likely keep choosing those older, easier habits. We have to be patient about embedding behaviour changes gradually. It’s a bit like when fishing, if you put too much bait on the line, it’ll snap.”
Urban areas, he explains, have been designed over the past century to be carcentric, resulting in significant challenges for town planners to “retrofit” street architecture to be more pedestrian and bike-friendly.
Electric bike, scooter and car hire schemes also have a role to play – as does technology that enables people to plan, book and pay for trips across multiple transport in a single app –but it’s also important to ensure these amenities are located close together, believes Robin.
“We long for the level of seamless integration we see in many European cities, whether it’s between train, bus and bike or any other mode of transport,” he says.
In Leicester, he has identified significant progress over the past decade via the “decluttering” of the bus network, pedestrianisation in the city centre, and the installation of EV charging points and cycling infrastructure.
But it is one of the largest cities without a car club scheme and its e-bike hire operator collapsed earlier this year.
Dr Murdey adds: “The efforts that have gone into active travel are probably the greatest positive for the city and public transport is catching up.
“But there’s still a clear divide between city and county, particularly the villages where there’s less commercial viability. It’s improving though as we’re starting to work with a number of developers to make sure public transport and active travel is considered from the outset of new projects.”
GO Travel Solutions is offering East Midlands Chamber members the opportunity to receive free sustainable travel support until 31 December 2023.
Whether these are an organisation’s first steps to improving their transport sustainability or it has already started its journey to net zero and looking for advice for where to go next, support is available.
The offer includes:
• A travel action plan template to help a business create its first strategies for alternatives to the car when commuting or travelling for work
• An exemplar online travel survey to show an organisation how to record current travel habits and assess what could enable employees to make more healthy and sustainable choices
• One-hour free consultancy (via Microsoft Teams) with an experienced project manager.
To take advantage of this offer, email ian.murdey@go-travel-solutions.com
The countdown to Christmas will begin sooner than we know, but preparations are already underway for many. For employers looking at how to capture that special festive feeling for all ages in the workplace, films are a great place to start.
Here at Quad, we always have a Christmas season of new and old films because it’s a great way to bring together
family and friends, but increasingly we find it’s an option as a party idea for staff teams.
BRINGING FESTIVE FILMS TO WORKPLACES
Seeing a film together is a great way for bonding and increasing synergy between colleagues with a shared cultural experience. Choose between a
feelgood classic like It’s a Wonderful Life, a contemporary comedy like Elf, The Muppet Christmas Carol or even something a bit more kitch, like Die Hard Corporate bookings can also request a specific film to match company identity and branding, and make an evening of it with drinks and cinema snacks.
Companies can even hire large indoor screens from cinemas to show a film in their workplace, or go further by sprucing up their buildings with special lighting, digital artworks and projection mapping, bringing a whole new atmosphere or celebrating a specific project.
Music is another important consideration and can break the ice at a big corporate event where multiple teams may meet only once a year.
A quiz can be a great way to get staff members networking across teams. If you are using your own venue for the party, it should feel a bit different and special so using lighting, music and a fun activity are as important as laying on plenty of food and drinks.
Take your theme through to refreshments to make it memorable as something different from the usual buffet.
Other seasonal ideas may be gathering the team on a crisp Christmas walk or visiting a Christmas fair – there are great ones locally at Cromford Mills, Chatworth or Haddon Hall. Also consider a wine-tasting or brewery tour – there are many great local companies, White Peak Distillery and English Wine Project to name a couple.
Christmas is also a time of altruism, so getting the team together to do something good for others – for example, volunteering as a team for a charity of the employees’ choosing can increase wellbeing, as well as a feeling it’s not always about the bottom line.
Working in the entertainment industry, QUAD staff usually arrange their Christmas outing in January, often with a film screening but making sure we close the venue a bit earlier so all the teams can celebrate together.
‘Other seasonal ideas may be gathering the team on a crisp Christmas walk or visiting a Christmas fair’
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2023 has gone by quickly and with Christmas on the horizon, we all begin to take time to reflect, celebrate and feel special.
One of the special elements about working in a city at Christmas is seeing how they transform into magical places with a real buzz of merriment. Leicester is no exception. Traditions take centre stage inside and outside. The stunning Christmas tree is a big moment for the city when it is unveiled next to the iconic clock tower and the big wheel becomes a popular activity alongside the ice-rink in Jubilee Square. One of my favourite things is seeing the elegant lights twinkle throughout the city centre and light up the streets.
Venues well and truly come to life with soirees, laughter, delectable food and fun. Local attractions host special Christmas experiences and memorable family events. Plus, Curve attracts people from far and wide as it is the home of diverse, exciting and inspiring theatre, including incredible Christmas productions.
The array of choice means it is no wonder businesses choose to book their celebratory Christmas team outing in the city, and people spend long days and evenings taking it all in with their friends and family.
I like to buy unique gifts, which is made even easier in Leicester with it being home to big-name and high-street stores, amazing independent boutiques and one of Europe’s largest covered markets.
Treating yourself to a longer stay or overnight stay is something that proves popular during holiday breaks and for celebratory moments. Whether that is at Christmas time, for a wedding, a graduation ceremony or a sports match, people simply enjoy making the most of their city visit.
The top three essentials to consider when booking accommodation for overnight stays in the city include:
n Location, location, location
At the end of a great celebration, no-one enjoys a long taxi ride home. Centrally located accommodation and convenience makes the perfect base for city exploring and strolling to the nearby attractions. Having well-known and independent cafes, boutiques, restaurants, shops and famous sporting grounds close by makes it even more hassle-free in terms of getting to places.
n Spacious rooms
Having space to get ready and relax is very important. Homely and flexible features such as kitchenettes (to keep the bottle of fizz cool), complimentary toiletries, a hair dryer, and fresh towels are the little touches that help make guests feel great. This type of set-up makes getting ready to go out feel super stylish and at ease.
n People
Great customer service is essential to ensuring guests have the best stay possible, and one that is personalised and suited to their needs. From an individual booking to a group booking, everyone has different requirements. Happy, helpful, and knowledgeable staff means guests are listened to and they get the service they deserve. Guests want to feel like they are at home, only better.
As Christmas gets closer, the most critical part is to finalise your Christmas party plans sooner rather than later as spaces fill up quickly.
‘The array of choice means it is no wonder businesses choose to book their celebratory Christmas team outing in the city’
A Derbyshire visitor attraction that provides a tour through British motoring history has taken advantage of a unique commercial opportunity to get on the road to digital transformation – with support from the Chamber.
Great British Car Journey, in Ambergate, developed an ecommerce channel to capitalise on securing the rights to reproduce historical issues of Autocar magazine.
“I had very limited experience in this area and wanted to access the specialist advice offered by the project.
“We wouldn’t have progressed this quickly without the help of the Digital Upscaler project – it’s really been instrumental in helping us to get off the ground with our ecommerce.
It was supported along the way by the Chamber’s Digital Upscaler project to develop a strategic roadmap for delivering a digital merchandising platform, which resulted in the launch of a bespoke online store in November last year to enhance the visitor experience while providing a new revenue source.
The attraction’s chair Eddie Hoare, who worked with digital adviser Tom Conway, said: “The arrangement with Autocar presented a great opportunity for us. It gave us the rights to digitise various publishing assets and use these to create a range of memorabilia.
“Connecting with Tom has been amazing, and I feel very lucky that we’ve had the support of someone who has a genuine passion for nostalgia image management.”
Great British Car Journey, which opened in May 2021 and is run by a team of staff and volunteers, exhibits a collection of motor vehicles dating from the 1920s through to the present day, telling the story of the rise and fall of the British car industry. It attracts more than 35,000 per year and has 130 cars on display, with visitors able to drive 40 of those vehicles.
After securing the Autocar rights, it was signposted by Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire to Digital Upscaler, which helps high-growth businesses to invest in new
technologies via one-to-one digital adviser support and grants.
Tom helped Eddie to develop several aspects of the attraction’s digital capabilities, including setting up an electronic kiosk, creating a digital storefront and using Google Analytics to interpret data.
Eddie said: “Tom provided me with invaluable guidance when it came to choosing the best services to bring together to support our particular merchandising profile which is built around digital artwork re-production.
“I just feel more confident being involved in the digital development of Great British Car Journey now.
For example, a new member of the team joined recently who has a much stronger digital background, and the sessions with Tom have given me the confidence to be able to set the right objectives and ask him the right questions.”
Tom added: “The Great British Car Journey had identified a fantastic opportunity to develop a new and scalable income stream, through sales of merchandise online. As I have significant practical experience in online merchandising, I have been able to give Eddie some insight into the challenges and opportunities that this type of activity presents.”
The experiences of businesses participating in the Chamberdelivered Rushcliffe Digital High Street Programme have been captured on camera over recent months.
The programme is providing fully-funded support to high street businesses across the Rushcliffe Borough Council area to support them in implementing modern forms of online trading that complement their high street presence.
So far, the project has supported 51 businesses. Some 41 businesses have benefitted from one-to-one support from the Chamber’s digital adviser Steve Phillips, and 25 businesses have received 15 hours of expert consultancy in areas such as website and social media audits.
Councillor Abby Brennan, deputy
leader and portfolio holder for business and growth at Rushcliffe Borough Council, joined the filming at The Key Health Club in Keyworth. She said: “The council took the
view we really needed to do everything we could for our local businesses, particularly coming out of the pandemic and into what are difficult economic times for many.
“We have taken advantage of our allocation of UK Shared Prosperity Funding, which is part of the Government's levelling up agenda, to develop a programme of support to increase digital literacy among the high street business community.
“Through the council’s ongoing engagement and work with our businesses, it was clear that digital marketing, search engine optimisation, using and managing websites, and increasing audience reach and customers were all key priorities for the majority of local businesses.
“Many of those participating in the programme are already reaping tangible business benefits. We will work hard to continue to support our local businesses to identify and meet their needs going forward.”
‘We wouldn’t have progressed this quickly without the help of the Digital Upscaler project’Phil Gabriel, owner of The Key Health Club, with Councillor Abby Brennan Eddie Hoare, chair of Great British Car Journeys
Nottingham researchers are part of a consortium awarded £31m to create an international research and innovation ecosystem for responsible artificial intelligence (AI) that will be responsive to the needs of society.
The funding is part of a suite of AI investments worth £52m unveiled by UK Research and Investment (UKRI) that will bring academic and industry partners together.
Identified by the Government as a critical technology as set out in the UK Science and Technology Framework, AI is a rapidly developing science and technology area. These new investments, through the UKRI Technology Missions Fund and Turing AI Fellowships scheme, continue to build and expand the UK’s global strengths in AI.
As part of this announcement package, £31m has been awarded to a large consortium, led by the University of Southampton, in partnership with the University of Nottingham. The consortium will pioneer a reflective, inclusive approach to responsible AI development. The consortium will work with businesses and public sector organisations across the UK.
Activities will include large-scale research programmes, collaborations between academics and
Professor Tom Rodden
businesses, and white papers to set out UK and global approaches.
Professor Tom Rodden, from the University of Nottingham’s School of Computer Science, is co-chair of the consortium leadership team. He said: “The consortium builds on a long history of interdisciplinary research collaboration between Southampton and Nottingham adopting sociotechnical approaches to emerging technologies.
“This recognises that as these technologies become prevalent in society, effective human-AI collaboration and interaction becomes essential so that the research must focus as much on the human, and human society, as the AI.”
Shortlist Marketing, a Nottingham-based lead generation agency, has signed its biggest contract yet with GOb2b, a prominent ecommerce solutions provider.
Building on a previous 12month partnership, GOb2b has chosen to collaborate with Shortlist to expand its sales team and strengthen its external sales force, saying it is a “reliable partner” to support ambitious growth plans.
Shortlist has recruited two new full-time sales development representatives, Eric Nelson and Logan Shaw, to work closely with GOb2b’s sales director, with the aim of ensuring seamless collaboration and efficient sales strategy execution. Their roles will be pivotal in forging new business relationships and driving revenue growth for GOb2b. Shortlist managing director Phil Richardson said: “We are thrilled to be working with GOb2b on this significant expansion. Our dedicated sales team is committed to driving GOb2b’s growth.”
Becoming more sustainable is good for business. It’s an attractive proposition for customers – research shows that consumers are more likely to buy from a business demonstrating environmentally-friendly practices. Going green reduces running costs, drives profitability and an eco-friendly stance is attractive to employees too.
Since the implementation of the Government’s net zero strategy in April 2022, businesses with more than 500 employees have been obliged to disclose climate-related financial information in a move to ensure businesses really consider their environmental impact. It’s possible the same expectation may fall onto small businesses in due course.
Here are some of the key legal factors that businesses must consider when taking their first steps towards a sustainable business model:
• Environmental policies: Make sure your policies complement your overall business strategy
and set KPIs to monitor environmental performance
• Supplier contracts: Consider renegotiating contracts where appropriate to ensure they incorporate an environmental stance
• B Corp certification: A positive movement against “greenwashing”, B Corp certification is a recognised route for a business to prove ethical credentials and a commitment to sustainability
• Energy taxes and incentives: Take advantage of Government tax relief incentives that encourage energy efficiency
• Waste management: Comply with waste management regulations such as the proper disposal and recycling of waste materials; landfill tax is an opportunity to receive tax credits for recycling efforts
• Reduce energy use and carbon emissions: The Government’s Ten Point Plan is a pledge to reduce carbon emissions by 2050; businesses must improve green
Circulayo Ltd is on the right track to meet its climate-conscious objectives and Geldards has supported the Derby-based business in its quest to reduce single-use waste. Circulayo’s products use sustainable technology embedded in reusable smart packaging, which is tracked throughout the supply chain.
Consumers dispose of the reusable packaging – whether it be cups or food packaging – in any smart bin and the item is tracked, collected, washed, sanitised and returned to a retail outlet.
This removes the emphasis from the consumer to change their behaviour, instead empowering them to treat the item as though it were a single-use plastic and dispose of it in any bin, making the process more convenient and therefore more likely to happen.
Since its launch in 2021, the business has already saved more than 850kg of single-use plastic waste from being dumped in landfill or oceans in over 40,000 transactions. Circulayo hopes Derby will eventually become a single-use plastic-free city.
Geldards is guiding Circulayo through the rigorous B Corp certification process to demonstrate its green credentials on the inside. The assessment is carried out against five areas of impact: Governance, community, workers, environment and customers.
This is a positive way to show customers and employees alike that businesses care about the environment and their impact on the world. Going green isn’t always easy, but if you take time to consider the appropriate policies and strategies to make changes at the heart of your business, you will reap the rewards.
building standards, consider environmental procurement, and report energy usage and carbon emissions
• Sustainability regulations: Keep up to date with changing regulations to ensure you remain lawful and committed to ethical practices
• Competition law and
sustainability agreements: Follow the Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) guidelines on how to navigate sustainability agreements
• Waste duty of care legislation: Makes provision for the safe management of waste to protect health and the environment.
The challenges facing businesses undertaking mergers and acquisitions (M&As) in a tough economic climate were discussed during a roundtable hosted by niche commercial law firm CMP Legal.
Delegates traded opinions on issues including the growing demand for more sellers to stay on for a specified period of time, large corporations consolidating and selling weaker elements, and the key reasons for failed transactions – including whether early interventions such as pre-due diligence exercises could mitigate these.
Also on the agenda was the increase in management buyouts and employee ownership trusts, including the benefits of both structures from a financial and accountancy perspective, and the post-completion practicalities for employees.
CMP Legal will host a HR Hour free event titled “Holding difficult conversations in the workplace” at its Chesterfield office on Thursday 28 September from 10-11am. Employment director Lauren Pickard will be joined by guest speaker Christine Coates from U Transition Consulting, and the event is aimed at anyone in management or an HR role. Register at www.cmp.legal
The role of the chief financial officer (CFO) has evolved, with responsibilities widening into areas such as strategy, fostering innovation and driving growth. Alongside this role expansion are rising challenges including labour shortages, as well as the environmental, social and governance (ESG) agenda.
So, it’s vital CFOs employ the right procedural and behavioural skills to lead the business
forward. Technology solutions are helping them do just that.
CFOs will have primarily been looking back with an historical perspective on data to produce financial statements. With a much broader remit to cover, they must now have more of an oversight of other business areas and functions – from human resources through to the IT systems or solutions being used by the business.
In order to equip themselves adequately in their expanding roles, CFOs must embrace the available technology solutions that provide the business intelligence and data that can help them make informed decisions.
The decisions can be based on what has gone before, but also on predictions of what is to come. The growing use of technology is providing predictive capabilities using a variety of business data – captured from multiple areas of the business – to enable accurate forecasting.
For instance, the right data can help CFOs identify and accurately evaluate the feasibility of opportunities like acquisitions and investments.
With this data-driven intelligence, judgement and bias
are removed from the equation, enabling a truly objective view that helps illustrate risk versus reward. A 360-degree view of the business, where data from all business functions is integrated in one unified platform, as opposed to sitting in silos or disparate systems, is a clear advantage for CFOs.
This is why many organisations of all sizes and from a variety of sectors are employing solutions like enterprise resource planning (ERP) in their business.
With this kind of architecture, everyday time-consuming business tasks can be automated – from accounting and invoicing through to work orders and resource allocation – so the efficiencies that are created can enable both managers and employees to focus on other business areas and strategy.
At a time when labour and skills shortages are an issue across many sectors, creating efficiencies will help address some of these pain points, and boost morale and productivity among employees who are freed of the shackles of repetitive tasks – thus aiding retention.
With smooth operations and adequate staff resource being of real interest to the CFO, it’s another example of how technology is
By William Hughes, sustainability services lead at Mazars
For SMEs at the start of their environmental, social and governance (ESG) journey, meeting net zero goals may feel like a regulatory obligation rather than a value creator.
Yet by changing the narrative, they can use the transition to net zero as a driver for positive change, boost market resilience and create value.
The pressure on companies to reduce their carbon footprint is high on the agenda for many governments. Simply put, supplying goods and services is no longer just about quality and cost – it’s also about the sustainability of your business model.
As part of new Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) regulations, large organisations must report on their Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions, a key contributor of which comes from companies in a supply chain.
It means SMEs not yet reporting under TCFD should expect more frequent customer questions
on greenhouse gas emissions used to produce goods or supply services. Companies that can’t respond accurately and swiftly will risk limiting their potential market or losing customers. SMEs that consider reporting requests as an incentive to measure and improve their carbon footprint will not only gain a competitive edge, but are likely to reduce operational costs as they improve their understanding of more efficient use of energy and resources.
Becoming more energy-efficient doesn’t always require big budget changes. It’s often a case of encouraging a mindset shift that allows low or no-cost changes to achieve bigger and longlasting impacts.
For example, where automated lighting technology is not in place, putting “turn off” signs on light switches can result in significant energy savings at no cost. Equally, initiatives encouraging less water use or enhanced waste
management can produce additional savings. Changing habits is often an easy and low-cost way to improve energy efficiency and raise awareness of sustainability issues among the workforce.
A new generation of employees now consider purpose important. SMEs that demonstrate they are reducing their carbon footprint and taking sustainability seriously will have a strong advantage when looking to employ and retain the talent required to expand and create value.
Taking a long-term view is one way to ensure new product and service strategies are futureproofed and fit for purpose. For example, knowing a customer expects fewer or no use of fossil fuels in production, or the shift to electric vehicles will impact your value chain, can help prepare for change.
assisting them in their role.
ERP solutions also ensure compliance with up-to-date information on regulatory obligations dependent on industry.
This helps CFOs navigate what can sometimes be a real compliance minefield. ERP solutions can also help CFOs set and meet ESG commitments through data analysis – pulling in data including energy use, waste or emissions – so that goals ca n be set and monitored, and then accurately reported on.
The most effective CFOs will be as focused on long-term goals and growth as they are on financial controls – evaluating opportunities based on revenue potential rather than just upfront cost.
While this kind of approach may have once felt risky, technology is enabling the analysis that can make these decisions data-driven, and allow CFOs to be bolder, which is a real advantage in today’s challenging economic climate.
In short, today’s CFO should not just be embracing innovation, but employing it to achieve business goals and growth.
A green apprenticeship offered by SMB College Group was among six to be picked to mark the King’s coronation in recognition of their sustainability credentials.
The Level 2 apprenticeship in countryside and environmental conservation, taught at the group’s 850-acre Brooksby Campus in Leicestershire, is aimed at people with a passion for the natural environment and rural outdoor spaces.
Learners go on to take up jobs such as estate worker, access ranger, maintenance ranger, site warden, assistant ranger, field operative and volunteer leader.
They will care for protected landscapes like national parks, areas of outstanding natural beauty and national nature reserves, as well as private landed estates, and country and urban parks.
To celebrate the coronation and to reflect King Charles III’s commitment to sustainability, the countryside worker apprenticeship course was selected by the Department for Education as a green apprenticeship – marked with the coronation emblem –because of its contribution to a low-carbon economy and building a workforce skilled in fighting climate change.
Meanwhile, SMB College Group has made steps towards embedding sustainability into study options via initiatives such as Hyve – a multi-college project with the aim of empowering automotive engineers through short courses in hydrogen, hybrid and advanced driver assistance systems – and launching regenerative agriculture, river restoration and tree planting projects.
This follows it receiving £2.7m funding to help with decarbonising Brooksby Hall via initiatives such as installing a sustainable heating system and solar panels.
The shadow minister for skills and education was given a tour of the Nuclear Skills Academy in Derby, the UK’s first dedicated facility for training the next generation of nuclear engineers.
Toby Perkins, Labour MP for Chesterfield and Staveley, met with apprentices currently enrolled at the academy, which opened in September last year after being established by Rolls-Royce, the University of Derby and other industry partners.
It aims to create a dedicated pipeline of talent to support the UK’s submarine fleet, as well as a
new fleet of nuclear submarines for the Australian Royal Navy as part of a tripartite deal between Australia, the UK and US. The power and propulsion is manufactured by Rolls-Royce from its Raynesway facility in Derby.
Mr Perkins also participated in a roundtable discussion with representatives from the University of Derby, Rolls-Royce and University Alliance on plans for building the UK’s future nuclear workforce.
University of Derby vicechancellor Professor Kathryn Mitchell CBE DL said: “Through our apprenticeship delivery, we are
producing a pipeline of outstanding graduates and engineering technicians, who are ready to meet regional and national skills needs now and in the future.”
Lee Warren, engineering and technology director at Rolls-Royce Submarines, added: “As a former apprentice myself, I know how valuable it is to learn and develop through both education and onthe-job training. As we come to the end of our first academic year at the Nuclear Skills Academy, I have been delighted by the passion, commitment and proficiency of our apprentices.”
More than 90 students from Nottingham Trent University (NTU) worked with a range of local employers to solve challenges facing their businesses.
They took part in the ninth edition of Grads4Nottm, NTU’s annual initiative highlighting Nottingham as a graduate destination by showcasing the range of businesses and employment opportunities that exist in the city. It also allows companies to gain access to the talents and skills of students at NTU.
More than 35 local employers from various sectors submitted challenges for NTU students to complete and present their ideas at a showcase event.
Examples of challenges included redesigning a café seating area to increase capacity and generate a more welcoming space for The Split Screen Coffee Company, and creating content to promote a Nottingham City of Literature project encouraging young people to engage with reading and writing for pleasure.
NTU’s employability team has unveiled its 2023/24 careers fair series – bringing together local, national and international employers with students and graduates.
It says the fairs represent a high-footfall engagement opportunity for businesses to connect with early careers talent.
Upcoming dates for careers fairs are:
•18 Oct: Autumn careers fair – Newton Building, city campus
•25 Oct: Built environment careers fair – Newton Building, city campus
•7-9 Nov: STEM careers fair – Pavilion Building, Clifton campus
•15 Nov: Life sciences and environment fair – Lyth Building, Brackenhurst campus
•28 Nov: Nottingham Law School law fair – Newton Building, city campus
Companies can secure place on invitation lists for careers fairs and other engagement options via a questionnaire at bit.ly/NTU-EOI
West Nottinghamshire College has become the UK’s first-ever Gene Haas Centre for Advanced Manufacturing – bringing a major investment in engineering facilities and training programmes for students, apprentices and employers.
This comes after the college formed a pioneering partnership with the Gene Haas Foundation –the US-based grant-giving organisation set up by the founder of both Haas Automation, the largest computer numerical control (CNC) machine tool builder in North America, and the Haas F1 Team in the FIA Formula One World Championship.
The link-up will see the college awarded £500,000 to develop its engineering facilities and employerfocused curriculum, aimed at growing the number of skilled manufacturers in the local area and beyond.
Principal and chief executive Andrew Cropley said: “It is a great accolade for us that the world’s third-largest manufacturer of machine tools has put its faith in us to bear its name and be its partner.
“This speaks volumes about how
hard we are trying to work with local employers to create a skilled workforce that will meet their needs today and give them confidence in their ambitions to grow.”
The funding will contribute towards improvements to the college’s Engineering Innovation Centre, in Oddicroft Lane, Suttonin-Ashfield, by remodelling the building to dedicate a larger area of its ground-floor to manufacturing, automation and robotics. A new mezzanine floor containing classrooms overlooking the existing open-plan workshop space will also be constructed.
A team of engineering and computing students from the University o Derby, along with graduates working at Alstom, took second place in an international competition organised by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).
The annual Railway Challenge competition involves teams working together throughout the academic year before taking part in a weekend of track-based challenges and presentations to showcase their engineering skills and business acumen.
The teams plan innovation projects, design, implement, test and demonstrate them to the judging team during the competition weekend, which took place at Stapleford Miniature Railway in Leicestershire in June. Challenges are based on areas of importance to the rail industry, such as operational reliability and safety, energy efficiency and passenger comfort.
The building – which currently boasts six Haas CNC machines used by engineering students and apprentices – will also be rebranded as the Gene Haas Centre for Advanced Manufacturing.
In addition, there will be annual grant contributions for scholarships and enrichment opportunities for students, including skills-based engineering competitions.
The funding will also be used to further develop its teachers’ skills and knowledge to support the expansion of its curriculum, particularly to adult learners, and provide additional staff to increase
its course offer.
The centre is a key component in the college’s work with Ashfield and Mansfield district councils to help businesses embrace new and existing technologies to improve productivity, increase competitiveness or enter new markets.
The college will build on its relationship with Haas and its UK client base to strengthen its education and training offer to employers, and support them to provide more highly-skilled, wellpaid, secure and progressive jobs to local people.
A campaign to inspire young people into manufacturing, engineering, and construction careers is set to return to Chesterfield this autumn.
Destination Chesterfield is calling upon local companies to get involved in the Made in Chesterfield scheme, which enables school pupils to get an up-close and personal look at what a career in these key sectors can offer.
The annual campaign, which will run during November and December, is now in its ninth year. It aims to help reduce the skills gap in some of the town’s most valuable industries, to ensure local people and businesses can continue to thrive in the future.
Made in Chesterfield is organised by Destination Chesterfield, alongside Direct Education Business Partnership, and supported by Chesterfield College Group, Chesterfield Borough
Council, Derbyshire North Careers Hub, MSE Hiller, United Cast Bar Ltd and NatWest.
Through the project, thousands of young people have had the chance to explore the wide range of rewarding careers available in STEM sectors.
To find out more how to get involved with Made in Chesterfield, visit www.chesterfield.co.uk/made
The former Co-op department store in Chesterfield town centre has been transformed into a new work, leisure and shopping attraction – and is now being promoted across the UK.
Property developer Jomast transformed the Elder Way store into a 21,761 sq ft mixeduse site comprising seven street-level units and a large basement space.
It has appointed FHP and WSB Property as joint agents to market the strategic scheme to potential national occupiers to food and drink brands, gym operators and retailers.
FHP director Alan Pearson, who heads up the retail and leisure team, said: “The units are suitable for a variety of uses following the change of the use class order, which opens this up to office and clinical use, alongside the traditional retail and leisure use.”
Built in the 1930s, the site boasts a mock-Tudor frontage and its upper two floors have been occupied by a Premier Inn hotel since 2019.
Changes to the way social landlords are regulated and the future sustainability of housing associations were among the topics discussed at a meeting between Midlands housing chiefs and a key politician.
Clive Betts, Labour MP for Sheffield South East and chair of the Government’s Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee, met with Chan Kataria OBE, chief executive of emh group, and David Frederickson, chair of Midlands Rural Housing, at emh’s office in Coalville in June.
Local authority officials were also
invited, giving housing sector leaders the opportunity to discuss with Mr Betts a range of issues, including the Regulator of Social Housing’s impending new legislation, and the key housing and community issues driving this.
The inquiry into the future sustainability of housing associations, the challenge of meeting net zero targets and the Labour Party’s approach to housing and communities was also discussed with an opportunity for guests to ask Mr Betts questions.
Chan said: “The event was successful in enabling an opportunity
Twenty-three new apartments have been opened to provide fixed-term accommodation for people in Nottingham.
Purpose-built to offer supported living accommodation, the £3.5m development is the result of joint working between Nottingham Community Housing Association (NCHA) and Nottinghamshire County Council. It was joint funded by Homes England and NCHA.
The fully-furnished homes – on the site of the former Earl of Chesterfield pub in Carlton Hill –will be rented to people who need extra help to live independently, offering them the time and space to learn essential life skills via two support projects before moving on.
Branching Out South, an extension to the existing young person’s service in the north of the county, will let 10 flats to 16 to 21year-olds at risk of, or experiencing,
homelessness. Residents at the development, named Earls Court, will receive dedicated support to learn how to run a home, plan their finances and prepare themselves for independent accommodation.
The other 13 flats will offer shortterm accommodation for NCHA’s new Stepping Stones project. The service for adults living with a learning disability, mental health
condition, physical disability or autism will offer a home with support for up to six months.
Gemma DeBrito, assistant director of homes and wellbeing at NCHA, said: “The design of Earls Court has been created in such a way, that the very landscape of the building will contribute towards improving the positive outcomes of the people who will live there.”
for local housing leaders and partners to have an open, informed discussion about the issues currently facing social landlords.
“It was heartening to hear such informed debate about the competing demands of investing in existing homes, meeting new supply and addressing the cost-ofliving crisis for our customers.
“A clear ask from those present was clarity on the future rent policy beyond 2025, as well as political recognition from all parties of the need to ensure there is sufficient funding to decarbonise our homes and meet future standards.”
Commercial property agency Omeeto has completed the latest in a string of letting deals on premises across Derby’s Pride Park.
Utilities infrastructure and engineering services company Avove is among the companies opening a new office, which also include Explo, Scargill Mann and Derbyshire Properties, Resource Finder and Ivy Tech. Omeeto director Chris Wright (pictured) said: “The deal with Avove is the latest in a series of completions and highlights the continued popularity of this centrallylocated commercial district.”
By Daniel Briggs
CEO of
The urgency to achieve sustainable transportation has never been more apparent. With the devastating effects of climate change becoming increasingly evident, a global shift towards eco-friendly transportation options is crucial.
We've witnessed a dramatic surge in electric vehicle (EV) sales in recent years, indicating a promising trend towards greener transportation
As the demand for EVs continues to rise, so does the competition among car manufacturers. This increased competitiveness has led to a surge in demand for electric components and innovative technology, pushing automakers to develop more efficient and sustainable solutions.
Here, we’ll delve into the world of EVs and explore the practices of two leading EV manufacturers, Cupra and Volkswagen, as they shape the future of sustainable transportation.
Cupra, a renowned Spanish brand, is making significant strides in the EV market by combining high-performance vehicles with a solid commitment to sustainability.
Embracing a forward-thinking approach, it is experimenting with natural elements that aren't conventionally used in the automotive industry, leading to the reinterpretation of traditional materials and the creation of sustainable alternatives for its vehicles.
One example is its use of Dinamica, a sustainable microfibre material that replaces conventional leather in vehicle interiors. Made from recycled polyester fibres in clothing and PET bottles, Dinamica offers luxury and comfort while minimising environmental impact.
Additionally, Cupra incorporates Seaqual, a unique fabric from upcycled marine plastic waste, into its seat upholstery. This innovative material reduces waste and raises awareness about the importance of recycling and environmental preservation.
Cupra's dedication to sustainability and its creative use of eco-friendly materials sets a high standard for the
automotive industry. Its efforts demonstrate that creating stylish, high-performance vehicles is possible without compromising environmental responsibility.
Volkswagen showcases creativity and innovation in sustainable vehicle production. Seat covers made from plastic bottles, car parts fashioned from rice husks, and fillers produced in sugar refineries are just a few examples of its eco-friendly approach.
By leveraging unconventional materials and cutting-edge solutions, Volkswagen is actively reducing its environmental impact and contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable automotive industry. This inventive approach to vehicle production exemplifies the company's dedication to fostering a greener tomorrow.
In conclusion, the automotive industry is witnessing a significant shift towards sustainability and eco-friendly practices.
Companies like Volkswagen and Cupra are leading the charge by incorporating innovative materials and energyefficient production processes in their operations. These industry pioneers are not only setting an example for other manufacturers to follow but also playing a crucial role in shaping the future of transportation.
‘As the demand for EVs continues to rise, so does the competition among car manufacturers’(pictured), Motorfinity Pictured above: Electric vehicle options from Volkswagen, Kia and Cupra
Rhenus Warehousing Solutions UK has officially opened one of the warehouses on its major new, sustainable development in Nuneaton – a certified “BREEAM Outstanding” building.
The development is known as the ‘Rhenus Campus’ and will be home to two warehouses, measuring one million square feet situated on 64 acres and fitting perfectly into its environmentallyfriendly location. The first warehouse, which totals 210,000 square feet, is now officially open.
Following the opening, Rhenus Warehousing Solutions UK won the UKWA Award for Excellence in Sustainability, showcasing the company’s commitment to energy efficiency, carbon reduction and implementing environmental initiatives.
The ‘Rhenus Campus’ achieves significant reductions in whole life carbon, designed with reference to the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) Framework Definition for Net Zero Carbon Buildings.
The site also features extensive green spaces, a pond, a wildflower grassland and a meadow planting, helping Rhenus to champion sustainability.
Renewable energy will be generated on-site, with solar panels and air source heat pumps, and electric car charging points are being installed. Bat and bird boxes, hedgehog homes and habitat
boards made from recycled timber complete the sustainability features that are being introduced at the site, with Rhenus also planting between 700 and 900 native and orchard trees.
Now it’s fully functioning, the first warehouse will help Rhenus achieve its goals of reducing direct carbon emissions by 2030.
Kerry Delaney, Regional Director – Europe North-West at Rhenus Warehousing Solutions UK, said: “We are immensely proud to have opened our first warehouse and won the UKWA Award for Excellence in Sustainability. At Rhenus Warehousing Solutions UK, being sustainable is a core part of our ethos and we have made it a
priority at our ‘Rhenus Campus’. We are hugely committed to positively impacting the environment, and are so thrilled that our efforts and dedication have been recognised by such an important industry association.”
Rhenus Warehousing Solutions UK specialises in contract logistics for retail, wholesale and ecommerce warehousing and distribution. It offers its customers a personalised service and prides itself on building strong relationships. For more information on Rhenus please email warehousing.enquiries@uk.rhenus.com or visit www.rhenus.group/uk
Those who have read my previous musings for The Last Word will have gathered a few things about me. I oscillate on most things between glass-half-full and glass-half-empty, I am at heart an aged economist, and I take every opportunity to talk about the themes I have chosen for my year as Chamber president.
Let me start today by oscillating. This month’s Business Network is focused on sustainability. We increasingly understand how the way wealth has been created for the past couple of centuries needs to be refined to cope with its impact on climate change and on the consumption of scarce materials.
In other pages, you will see projects here in the East Midlands that address this head-on. Our region is increasingly a hub for green technologies. Our local universities are taking a lead in the new developments, which are necessary to move us further.
The Chamber itself has been, as in so many things, a front-runner in producing material and advice on the topic. Its Green Growth Trends in the East Midlands research, produced in conjunction with the University of Derby, has been running since 2015, and provides an unrivalled data source into how our local businesses have been adopting low-carbon products and services into their business plans. There is, indeed, plenty in my half-full glass.
How about my half-empty one? This brings out the aged economist in me. The simplest explanation of how we have ended up where we are on climate change is down to one thing –mis-priced externalities.
In economist-speak, an “externality” is when the making or consumption of one thing has a direct and unavoidable effect on another thing. So, simplistically for example, every time I burn a fossil-fuel, the externality is that the planet heats up a bit, impacting everyone.
Externalities are not bad things in themselves. Mis-priced externalities are. The human race has
enjoyed the increase in wealth and comfort made possible by, for example, burning fossil fuels. For generations, the price paid for this has not included anything like enough to mitigate the effects of the build-up of carbon in the atmosphere. The price did not reflect that externality.
For a long time, society simply did not know this cost existed. We are now increasingly aware, but we still do not know the best way to reflect it. In economic theory, there are two ways this can go. Either a clever way to build a market price is found and the market sorts itself out, or Government has to step in to rectify a so-called market-failure (okay, in this example there is a third way: we continue to ignore the externality and fry the planet … but let’s for now assume that mankind does not want to go down that route).
This stuff is not easy to resolve at a national and international policy level, either. It requires clarity and resolve, and holding firm to policies and choices that will not be universally popular. But that, surely, is what governments are for? The UK had been doing a fairly decent job. Delivering, for example, growth in the use of renewable energy that bettered most developed countries.
As I write this article, however, there are signs that attitudes to climate change policies and the like may be about to become used as virtuesignalling devices in UK political debate. At a time when the planet (including our own piece of it) is witnessing record temperatures and devastating storms – when there is accelerating decline in rain forests, in the ice caps and in much else that keeps our planet in balance –scoring political points that ignore this is surely irrational and inexcusable behaviour.
I would argue we are well into a need for Government and regulatory involvement on this. Even as individuals it is incredibly difficult to work out the “right” choices to make to follow a market-only solution.
I live in a classic red-brick terraced property with no off-street parking. Do I drive an electric car with a ground-source heat pump for my heating? No I do not, despite knowing them to be sensible choices. I can’t work out the economic and practical cost, to me, of the electric car charging network being still in its infancy, nor the various and conflicting advice as to how much I would have to redesign my entire house to have effective carbon-free heating. So I truck on, as most of us do, inflicting externalities on everyone else.
Which brings me to the third thing about me –my chosen themes as Chamber president. The first of these is doing our very best to support our communities. It is the second I will major on today though – doing our very best to support generation next-but-one.
It is that generation, and those after it, who will be living on this planet and enduring whatever externalities we have failed to mitigate. If we fail to fix this market failure, it will be they who inherit a broken planet.
What can we as individuals or businesses do about it? We can and should do our bit, making sustainable choices whenever we can. We should also lobby for, and expect clear and coherent leadership, from Government.
Those of you who were at the Chamber’s Annual Dinner in June (thank you for coming!) will have heard me end my speech as follows: “If our economic activity cannot help make things better for our young people, I seriously question why we are doing it at all”.
With the right will, the right focus this can be fixable. Let us try to find that fix.
‘We can and should do our bit, making sustainable choices whenever we can’Chamber president Stuart Dawkins reflects on what sustainability means for businesses, and the economic and political challenges facing net zero
