Chamber Connect Autumn 2020

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CHAMBER

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF

connect Sheffield City Region Chambers of Commerce

AUTUMN 2020

A tail of support for animal sanctuary Visual media firm Director takes on trustee role PLUS: CREATING A SAFE WORK ENVIRONMENT Sheffield Chamber of Commerce Support. Grow. Connect.

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Contents Autumn 2020 Making Connections 4

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James Muir, Chair of the SCR LEP, on the business support available during Covid-19

Business News

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Wheels for All Regional Co-ordinator appointed

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Marketing campaign celebrates anniversary

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Prestigious tourism awards go online

12 Media agency lends support to animal sanctuary 15 How culture will aid post-Covid recovery 16 GP practice is well prepared for Covid 17 Regeneration scheme is brought to life 18 Wentworth Woodhouse welcomes artists 20 New cultural and learning hub to open 22 SCR Mayor addresses second lockdown

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25 The economic impact of horseracing 26 Lottery windfall for charity

The SCR Chambers 31 Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber The Chamber in call for transparency

72 37 Doncaster Chamber Business Academy is launched 43 East Midlands Chamber Setting sail on a green voyage 49 Sheffield Chamber Support for the Kickstart scheme

Sector Focus

Features 56 Health in the Workplace Keep support in mind 58 Creating a safe work environment 60 Professional Services Recruitment keeps evolving to meet its hire purpose 63 Are you linked in or tuned out?

64 Legal Top law firm retains spot in Legal500 67 Corporate Hospitality The importance of face-to-face networking 69 Finance Growth Enabler helps business recovery 72 Manufacturing The need for on-site water treatment 75 Skills & Training Funding to help young people in South Yorkshire Autumn 2020 CHAMBER connect 3

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Making Connections

Welcome... ...to Chamber Connect

‘Now is the time to invest in our region’

James Muir, Chair of the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, explains the support on offer for businesses struggling through the pandemic.

Now is the time to invest and develop our strengths T

he impact of coronavirus cannot be underestimated for people and businesses across South Yorkshire. The current crisis has highlighted more than ever the integral role of business to not just the regional and national economy, but also to the community and the lives of the people here.

With South Yorkshire now in the Government’s very high Covid-19 alert level, businesses and employees across the region have been seriously impacted.

The crisis has been experienced in different ways, and while some have performed and recovered better than expected, we know there are a vast number of industries in need of much greater support, such as hospitality, events and arts and culture who have been impacted heavily by enforced Covid measures.

Further business support has been agreed, but it is clear this will not go far enough to protect jobs and livelihoods through what is set to be a difficult winter, so the Sheffield City Region is continuing to press upon Government the urgent need for more targeted, local support.

In South Yorkshire, the level of people 4 CHAMBER connect Autumn 2020

claiming unemployment-related benefits is now higher than it was in the depths of the recession that followed the 2008 financial crisis, and it is having a particular toll on young people.

Workers aged under 25 are more than twice as likely to have lost their job in the past two months compared to those aged 26 and over, and have also experienced a greater fall in earnings compared to the wider working population. These are our future innovators, business owners and leaders, and it is clear we urgently need to invest them and invest in opportunities for them.

That is why the Sheffield City Region submitted to the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) outlining a package of transformational business investments, that backed in full would deliver up to 34,000 jobs, back 30,000 businesses to grow and thrive, help 22,500 people get back into work, and train 14,000 apprentices and adults. This built on the £1.7bn Renewal Action Plan put to Ministers in the summer, where we called on them to give us the resource needed to help our people, employers and places bounce back from the

immediate challenges posed by Covid.

South Yorkshire is home to great businesses capable of growing and creating jobs and training opportunities, but this will only be possible through investment in upskilling our workforce, building the infrastructure needed to connect people to places and opportunities, and making money available to local leaders to be spent where it will have the most impact. Now is the time to invest in our region, develop our strengths and support our businesses to recover, grow and thrive.

In these challenging times businesses need to adapt and innovate, something that is synonymous with South Yorkshire, but there is no one-size-fits-all approach and some need more support than others. With different sectors and people experiencing Covid in different ways, the Local Enterprise Partnership, through the Sheffield City Region Growth Hub, is offering support to businesses of all sizes and across all industries, helping to navigate the support that is available.

Visit www.scrgrowthhub.co.uk

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CHAMBER

connect The Official Publication of

Sheffield City Region Chambers of Commerce

Sheffield Chamber of Commerce Support. Grow. Connect.

Front cover: Lensgo Visual Media pledges support to Thornberry Animal Sanctuary See page 12 You can read the latest issue of Chamber Connect and view back issues online at: www.kempspublishing.co.uk/chamber-connect

Published by

Kemps Publishing Ltd 11 The Swan Courtyard, Charles Edward Road, Birmingham B26 1BU 0121 765 4144 www.kempspublishing.co.uk Managing Editor Laura Blake laura.blake@kempspublishing.co.uk Designer Lloyd Hollingworth Advertising 0121 765 4144 jon.jones@kempspublishing.co.uk Printers Buxton Press The next issue of Chamber Connect will be available in February 2021 CHAMBER CONNECT is produced on behalf of Sheffield City Region Chambers of Commerce by Kemps Publishing Ltd and is distributed to members without charge. The Chambers 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 Chambers 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 Chambers. This publication (or any part thereof) may not be reproduced, transmitted or stored in print or electronic format without prior written permission of Kemps Publishing Ltd. PRIVACY NOTICE: Kemps Publishing Ltd process personal information for certain legitimate interest purposes, which includes the following: • To provide postal copies of this publication to Chamber members and Kemps' customers; and • To offer marketing and promotional opportunities within this publication to Chamber members and prospects.

Whenever we process data for these purposes, we always ensure we treat your Personal Data rights in high regard. If you wish to, you can visit www.kempspublishing.co.uk to view our full Privacy Notice and to learn more about our legitimate interests and your rights in this regard.

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Chamber Connect

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Business News

Wheels for All programme is rolled out across the SCR ycling Projects, the national inclusive cycling charity, is delighted to announce the appointment of Leanne Knight as the Sheffield City Region Wheels for All Regional Co-ordinator.

Wheels for All is the first regional programme of its kind in the country and, after being created in partnership with the Sheffield City Region Active Travel Team, will support existing inclusive cycling providers in the region, as well as aiding the development of new provision across Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster and Barnsley.

The project will build on the regional and national momentum around cycling and active travel, and ensure that more people are given the opportunity to experience the benefits that cycling can bring, and have the chance to weave cycling into their day-to-day lives.

A particular focus will be given to ensuring that a variety of inclusive cycling packages are available to those who have seen

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their opportunities to be active reduce, and therefore make an enormous difference to individuals and communities across the region.

Dame Sarah Storey, Active Travel Commissioner for the Sheffield City Region, said: “I am very excited about the creation of this role and the appointment of Leanne to lead the programme. When I was appointed by Mayor Jarvis in April 2019, I pledged our programme would be a leader in its provision for people with disabilities and mobility impairments.

“It’s vital we enable everyone to have the same opportunities when it comes to leading a healthy and active lifestyle, and by developing this role we are putting this at the heart of our plans. Having already spent time at our existing Sheffield Cycling for All group in Hillsborough Park in Sheffield, I am excited about what can be achieved by having a network of similar opportunities across the region.

“Along with the partner authorities, we have plans to build

Dame Sarah Storey is ‘very excited’ about the programme

‘The chance to weave cycling into their dayto-day lives’

over 1000km of active travel lanes in the region over the next 20 years, and these will all meet the standard to be accessible for those using adapted bikes and other mobility aids. Therefore, alongside the plan to create infrastructure, it’s also vital that we create the opportunity for people to build their confidence and independence in cycling, so they can fully benefit from the provision when it is funded and built.”

Leanne Knight added: “It is a privilege to be welcomed into this role at such an exciting time, when

we have seen an increase in physical activity and improvements to cycling infrastructure.

“I am looking forward to building on this and taking a person-centred approach in order to develop and create regular, sustainable and inclusive cycling opportunities across the Sheffield City Region, whether this is part of organised sessions or front door opportunities. I look forward to developing this role and seeing lots of positive outcomes.”

Visit: cycling.org.uk Autumn 2020 CHAMBER connect 7

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Business News

A major milestone for marketing campaign hesterfield could be set to repeat history and, once again, come out of a global recession stronger.

Ten years ago, amid a global financial crisis, a marketing campaign was established to promote Chesterfield to potential investors. Since its launch, it has supported Chesterfield Borough Council and its Economic Growth team in securing more than £1bn of investment into the borough.

To mark the anniversary, Destination Chesterfield was celebrated recently in a special online breakfast event, hosted by Virtual World Studios, virtually attended by more than 40 people. At the event, future marketing plans were unveiled detailing how the town, as a whole, can come back stronger from the Coronavirus pandemic.

It was revealed that community, distinctiveness, sustainability and growth will be core to Destination Chesterfield’s marketing campaigns for the town. Two brand new campaigns - Sustainable Chesterfield and Experience Chesterfield, will also join long-

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running, successful projects and events, including Made in Chesterfield and Celebrate Chesterfield.

Peter Swallow, who was appointed Chair of Destination Chesterfield when it was established in 2010, said: “I am confident Chesterfield can come back stronger from this pandemic. Ten years ago we were in a recession and Chesterfield Borough Council took the bold move of establishing Destination Chesterfield – sending out the message that the town was ready and open for business.

“Now we have more than £1bn of developments and more on the horizon, including HS2 which is already attracting investors to the town putting us in a strong position coming out of the pandemic.”

Since the Destination Chesterfield campaign was launched, declaring Chesterfield open and ready to do business, the town has attracted more than £1bn of investment, with the borough now home to some of the UK’s largest and exciting

Sustainable Chesterfield was recently launched

regeneration, industrial and leisure schemes at PEAK, Markham Vale and Chesterfield Waterside.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “The past few months have been incredibly difficult for many of our local businesses. Rebuilding the local economy is a top priority for Chesterfield Borough Council and together with Destination Chesterfield, we have already implemented a number of financial and promotional measures to help our businesses through these challenging times.”

Peter added: “The Chesterfield Champions are intrinsic to the success of Destination Chesterfield. Their support and active involvement makes Destination Chesterfield happen and allows us to push forward the marketing of the town, as well as offer business support though during good and tough times.

Together we make a difference.”

Visit: www.chesterfield.co.uk

Award-winning artist designs charity cards An award-winning Sheffield artist’s winter depiction of a famous local landmark is set to spread festive cheer to homes across the region once again.

For the sixth year in a row, Margaret Ellis has crafted the watercolour design for one of Bluebell Wood’s exclusive Christmas cards to raise muchneeded funds for the hospice.

Over 10,000 of the artist’s everpopular cards depicting iconic local landmarks have been sold since she began working her magic for Bluebell Wood in 2014.

This year’s yuletide original shows Chatsworth House from afar, covered in a blanket of snow as a group of children put the finishing touches to a snowman.

“It really is a lovely thought to know people across the region

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will have a piece of my work on display at Christmas,” said Margaret, whose work is often seen in local galleries, at the Great Sheffield Art Show and Art in The Gardens.

“As an artist it’s about finding a home for your work in the hope that people will enjoy what you

have spent so much time creating.

“It really is a great pleasure working with such an incredible local charity and the fact that my work is helping to raise funds to support local families makes it all the more satisfying.”

Margaret had a long and varied career teaching in local schools and colleges, and since retirement has been teaching eager local amateurs from her purpose-built studio in Ecclesall.

The artist’s latest effort is just one of Bluebell Wood’s many Christmas cards now on sale, with all the profits going towards the charity’s life-changing work.

Bluebell Wood’s Christmas cards are on sale at £3 per pack of 10 cards, and can be bought at any Bluebell Wood charity shop or online.

Terri Hanson, Head of Retail at Bluebell Wood, said: “We sell thousands of Christmas cards every year to our wonderful supporters and each and every penny helps us be there for local families through the festive period and beyond.

“The brilliant Margaret’s stunning designs are always firm favourites so it’s no surprise they’re in high demand.

“It’s been fantastic to start this festive period with record numbers of our cards being sold so if you want to buy a pack or two, we’d recommend getting in fast!”

As well as Christmas cards, Bluebell Wood has a range of gifts face coverings available in its online shop www.bluebellwood.org/shop

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Business News

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Business News

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Business News

Staying home to celebrate the tourism industry he Welcome to Yorkshire 2020 White Rose Awards will be held online for the first time in the event’s history. The UK’s biggest tourism awards ceremony usually sees a thousand people celebrating the very best of the county’s tourism industry at a top Yorkshire venue.

This year, to make sure all nominees can enjoy the event, regardless of The White Rose Awards 2020 any Covid-19 restrictions which are in place across the county, Welcome to Yorkshire has now revealed that the presentation will be fully digital.

The ceremony to take place on Monday 23 November at 7pm.

All the nominees brilliantly showcase the wonderful variety of world-class The fantastic Natalie Anderson and Rich Williams will return as Welcome offerings in the county with awards recognising the very best in food, drink, to Yorkshire’s wonderful White Rose Awards hosts for the evening. Both accommodation, attractions, arts and culture.

Yorkshire- born and bred presenters are thrilled to be hosting The Head Judge Elaine Lemm said: “There’s no keeping our White Rose Awards for a second time. fabulous Yorkshire tourism and hospitality businesses down.

Natalie Anderson is a proud Yorkshire woman, actress, ‘There’s no We may not be able to celebrate together in the usual way presenter and an established lifestyle influencer with her but celebrate we will.” keeping our online platform and brand The Capsule.

Welcome to Yorkshire’s Chief Executive James Mason She is best known for her prolific roles on ITV dramas fabulous said: “2020 hasn’t been the year any of us expected, but Emmerdale and The Royal, plus guest presenting ITV’s Yorkshire tourism we are completely committed to celebrating the vast This Morning, as well as appearing in musical theatre tourism talent we have here in the county. and hospitality productions Wicked and Kay Mellors’ Fat Friends - The This year’s awards relate to the 12-months between 1 Musical. businesses April 2019 and 31 March 2020, which wasn’t affected by Broadcaster Rich Williams is passionate about Yorkshire, down’ Covid-19. Since then however we know it’s been incredibly presents on Virgin Radio and can be seen on LUTV, the challenging for all our members. Every business who’s fought on official TV channel of Leeds United. through lockdown is a winner in my eyes and this year more than Everyone who attends the White Rose Awards online event is ever we’ll be celebrating them all.” being encouraged to dress up to the nines and get fully in award show spirit, despite this year’s different format.

Visit: wra.yorkshire.com/virtual-white-rose-awards 98 finalists are in the running to win one of the highly coveted trophies.

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Business News

LensGo videographer joins sanctuary as trustee L-R: Richard Smith and Tom Roberts

Appointment at Keebles LLP Leading Yorkshire law firm Keebles LLP has continued its expansion with a new appointment to its Commercial Property team.

Tom Roberts, 30, has joined Keebles from a global firm in Sheffield, having qualified as a Chartered Legal Executive in 2019. He graduated from his master’s degree at the University of Sheffield in 2013 and has five years’ experience working in the commercial property sector.

Tom said: “Keebles attracted me because it’s a well-respected firm with a strong brand in Sheffield.

“Everyone has been really welcoming and there is a great support network with plenty of supervision available from people with vast experience of the real estate sector in and around South Yorkshire.

“I’m looking forward to generating my own clients and working on commercial property deals which will contribute to the on-going regeneration of Sheffield City Centre and the wider Sheffield City Region.”

otherham-based film producers, LensGo Visual Media, have pledged to support Thornberry Animal Sanctuary as founder and Director Stuart Turner joins as a trustee.

The award-winning agency has been creating films for Thornberry since 2018, which has to lead to several successful fundraising campaigns.

Stuart (pictured) said: “If asked what I love more, dogs or filming, it would be hard to choose. We rescued a French bulldog, Frank, who’s a loyal mascot for the LensGo team. Since working closely with Thornberry, I’ve come to realise how much resource is needed behind the scenes to nurture and rehome the animals in their care. The work Thornberry do has saved thousands of animals and it’s a cause that’s close to my heart.”

The sanctuary, based in Dinnington, rehabilitate and rehome animals including dogs, cats, horses, pigs and rabbits. Like many charities, sourcing vital funding is an ongoing challenge.

Ged Jenkins-Omar, Thornberry’s Fundraising Manager, said: “We’re delighted that Stuart has joined Thornberry Animal Sanctuary as a trustee. The support we’d already received from LensGo had already had a big impact – using video has helped us to

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‘The work Thornberry do has saved thousands of animals’

communicate what we do and why it is important.

We have also been awarded grants to improve the sanctuary for our animals due to the videos produced by LensGo.” LensGo Visual Media is an awardwinning digital production company

that creates high-end promotional videos, online and broadcast commercials, graphics and aerial drone filming. Based in Rotherham, LensGo’s local clients include Gulliver’s Theme Parks, Rotherham United Community Sports Trust, Terrace Threads, Beatson Clark, and Rotherham Hospice.

Football academy welcomes special guest On 3 October, children’s football academy brand, Kixx, hosted a visit from Doncaster Central MP, Dame Rosie Winterton.

After receiving an invitation, Dame Rose Winterton arrived at a Keepmoat Academy to watch the Kixx Academy sessions in action and to meet with Kixx founder, Ben Hunter.

It has been quite the journey for Ben, who’s career could have been quite different, had it not have been for a serious groin injury which led to the end of his professional football career.

Ben left Doncaster in 2002 to take up a football scholarship with North Carolina University in the USA. With injury cutting one career path short, Hunter returned to the UK with a plan and a mission. In 2011, Ben decided to form a company that was dedicated to 12 CHAMBER connect Autumn 2020

Ben Hunter, Found of Kixx, with Dame Rosie Winterton MP

coaching young children, but with sessions delivered in a way that would engage and capture the imaginations of all children.

Since then, Kixx has seen major

growth across the UK with the creation of 48 franchises stretching from Devon, Wales, Norwich and Manchester up to Middlesbrough.

Goldman Sachs and Barclays have

identified Kixx as one of the fastest growing companies in the UK, and Ben Hunter has plans to extend even further.

Ben said: “It was lovely to welcome Dame Winterton to our sessions. We were able to show how our activities positively engage the children, provide healthy exercise and help the development of skills that will help off the pitch too, such as listening, coordination and communication.”

Dame Winterton said: “It was a real delight to meet Ben Hunter, the Kixx team, and the children and family supporters. This is an inspirational initiative and a great way to get children not only active, but also to help them gain allimportant life skills.

“Thank you to Ben and his team for all that you’re doing to inspire young people in Doncaster.”

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Business News

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Business News

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Business News

Culture will aid post-Covid recovery report into the value of culture, arts and heritage in South Yorkshire has concluded the sector has an important role to play in the recovery from Covid-19.

Unlocking the potential of culture, arts and heritage in South Yorkshire concludes that the sector can respond quickly, bring communities together, support education and boost mental wellbeing; all factors that could help over the next few months.

And in ‘normal times’ the research, which was commissioned by the four South Yorkshire councils before the lockdown, says culture, arts and heritage bring a wide range of social and economic benefits; contributing £200m to the local economy, supporting 6,500 jobs and wider benefits including tourism, creative industries, health, education, community and individual wellbeing. These contribute at least a further £170m to the local economy and £1.2bn in individual wellbeing.

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The report was supported by the Sheffield City Region Mayoral Combined Authority and managed

by Great Place Wentworth & Elsecar, a cultural programme funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England.

Rachel Blake, Programme Manager at Great Place Wentworth & Elsecar, said: “We have a strong heritage and cultural offer with enormous potential to deliver economic and social benefits, which is even more important in a post-Covid world.

“This report gives us some very useful pointers in how to unlock that potential for the benefit of everyone in the region.”

The research was carried out by ChamberlainWalker Economics, which has worked on several highprofile projects, including the Piece Hall in Halifax which brings millions into Calderdale’s economy each year.

The researchers found that public funding for the sector in

‘Our region is home to nationallysignificant cultural assets’

South Yorkshire was significantly lower than the national average.

Having a more co-ordinated approach to bidding for national grants and even just increasing those to the national average would bring another £9.5m to the region each year.

The recommendations of the report also include drafting a city region-wide strategy for culture, arts and heritage; appointing an arts and culture lead, and investing in nature and landscapes, museums, theatre and historic buildings and monuments.

Dan Jarvis, Sheffield City Region Mayor, said: “Our region is home to nationally-significant cultural

assets, including galleries, museums, music venues and a host of tourist attractions and festivals. I have long believed that the sectors these represent are not just vital for our economy but for our character and our spirit as a region and as a nation.

“These sectors are not a luxury; they are a vital part of the region’s recovery and renewal, contributing to healthy and sustainable communities, strong local identities, and vibrant places, as well as to our economic recovery.

There is a real opportunity now to level up the North, to invest in our communities and to build a stronger, greener and fairer South Yorkshire – and culture, arts and heritage must be central to that.”

David Renwick, Director, England North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “We are heartened to see that the importance of heritage, arts and culture in creating a sense of pride in people’s hometowns and cities, and the positive impact it can have on local economies and tourism for those areas is being further recognised. It is of even more significance now as South Yorkshire looks to its recovery in the face of the covid-19 pandemic.”

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Business News ORB welcomes new recruits Leading Doncaster recruitment agency ORB Recruitment has welcomed three new additions to its team.

With 25 years of industry experience working with clients in the UK and abroad, Paul Goodchild has been appointed as Head of Industrial Services, while Lauren Renwick joins the firm’s growing construction department as a Recruitment Consultant. New Trainee Consultant Lucy Colbourne is also among the new faces at ORB, harnessing her experience in private and public health care.

Stewart Olsen, Managing Director, said: “During 2019/20, which was only our second year of business, we have seen a 100% increase in turnover - rising from £1m in 2018/19 to £2m.

“We are in a position to continue with our growth plans and welcoming Paul, Lauren and Lucy has been one of the important steps in that process.”

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GP practice is well prepared for Covid heffield-based architectural practice Ikonografik Design has helped one of the largest Sheffield GP practices to perform as a major support centre in the front-line fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Originally engaged by Woodhouse Health Centre several years ago to help create more clinical and staff space, Ikonografik Design also helped design the front of house reception areas. This included a standalone 24-hour separate support hub.

Pro-active infection control measures were designed and built into the expansion project, way before they were actually needed with such clinical intensity. The enhanced infection control measures needed were already in place before coronavirus occurred.

This has sadly also corresponded with an increase in threatening behaviour from patients. However, in-built passive security measures, designed in conjunction with South Yorkshire Police architectural liaison officers, have also helped keep staff safe from harm.

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Gordon Osborne, Practice Manager at Woodhouse Health Centre, said: The out of hours hub has been especially useful during the Covid-19 pandemic. While other practices were busy setting up protective screens and intercom systems we already had these in place and were able to hit the ground running.”

Visit: www.ikonografik.co.uk Call: 0114 398 4360

The team at Woodhouse Health Centre

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Business News

Regeneration scheme is brought to life hesterfield’s new £340m mixed-use regeneration scheme has been brought to life in a new augmented reality film created by local company Oasis Studios.

Combining drone footage with illustrations, the film brings to life the 16hectare Chesterfield Waterside site, which is located on the edge of the A61 corridor adjacent to the River Rother and Chesterfield Canal.

Existing drone footage of the site has been overlaid with the five colourcoded neighbourhoods which make up the scheme, to show what Waterside will look like and how it will sit within the local environment once complete.

The fly through details each of the five neighbourhoods – Waterside Quarter, Basin Square, Waterfront, Riverside East and Station Place - and the buildings which will be constructed in each of them. The construction phase alone is expected to create up to 2,000 jobs.

Tony Buck, Associate Director of Oasis Studios, said: “It’s ‘The film is the first time we’ve combined real life moving drone footage with superimposed buildings but we are delighted with the an important result. It takes the conceptual stage of the project to A still from the augmented reality film element of the another level.”

Already, construction at Waterside Quarter is Tom Swallow, Development Manager at Bolserstone marketing underway. House builder Avant Homes began Group Plc, which is leading the Chesterfield Waterside campaign for construction of 173 two, three and four-bedroom homes in scheme, instructed and worked alongside the team at Oasis the neighbourhood and in August the showhomes were to create the flyover animation.

Waterside’ opened to the public.

He added: “The film is an important element of the Avant Homes Central Managing Director Stuart Rowlands marketing campaign for Waterside. Rather than just seeing a said: “Waterside Quarter is a hugely important development for us. patch of land, potential investors can now see the scale of the “Waterside Quarter is a development that we believe will be ideal for a scheme and understand its significance to the town. It also gives a clear number of different buyers such as those looking for their first home and picture of the scheme’s prominent location, adjacent to both the town young families. As well as quality, attainable, design-led homes for those centre and train station. Chesterfield Waterside will completely regenerate living in Chesterfield, we believe that it will also help bring other buyers to the north east side of the town centre creating an attractive environment in the area, further boosting the town.” which to both live and work.”

Recognised as being one of the UK’s largest regeneration projects, Chesterfield Waterside is being led by Chesterfield-based Bolsterstone View the new augmented reality fly-through film on YouTube at Group Plc working in conjunction with Arnold Laver Group and Chesterfield https://youtu.be/56UoBo9tjlc or at www.Chesterfieldwaterside.co.uk Borough Council.

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Business News R&D take up is on the rise New statistics from HMRC have revealed there was a 22% yearon-year rise in the number of claims for research and development (R&D) tax credits submitted by East Midlands companies in 2018-19.

In total, 3,805 R&D claims were submitted in 2018-19, which amounted to a total of £240m in tax relief being secured by businesses across the region.

Commenting on the figures, Sheetal Sanghvi, R&D Tax Partner at RSM, said: “The increase in the number of claims and value of support points towards the continued importance of R&D tax credits in the East Midlands. While it is encouraging to see the increase, there was not the exponential growth I would have expected for what was seen as the fastest growing economy of any region in the UK last year.

“It is clearly evident that more work can be done to raise awareness and encourage businesses to take advantage of this tax relief.”

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Artists take over the chapel at Wentworth Woodhouse he private chapel of Rotherham stately home Wentworth Woodhouse has moved with the times. It is now the backdrop for exhibitions by four local artists.

The Preservation Trust regenerating the house has stepped in to support the work of the Rotherham Open Arts Renaissance project (ROAR).

The Arts Council funded National Portfolio Organisation helps emerging local talent to find an audience and now has a membership of 224 local artists and organisations.

During October the chapel inside the 18th Century Grade I listed mansion is home to a rolling exhibition featuring artists supported by ROAR. “For centuries the Fitzwilliams filled the house with artworks. The trust is continuing that in a much more accessible way, by enabling people from all walks of life to engage with art and by supporting local creative projects,” said Trust CEO Sarah McLeod.

“We decided to give four local artists the space and help they needed to stage their first ever exhibition. Our chapel is a place of calm and we thought it was the ideal setting for people to contemplate artworks.”

The first artist ‘in the frame’ is former headmaster Kevan Cadman.

Kevan, 61, became a full-time artist in 2018 after

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‘Enabling people from all walks of life to engage with art’

Former Roughwood Primary head Kevan Cadman with two pieces for his Wentworth Woodhouse exhibition

retiring as Head of School at Roughwood Primary.

Following Kevan’s exhibition, the chapel interior becomes the domain of the Zanib Collective, local Pakistani heritage female art practitioners Shaheen Shah, a visual artist, Zanib Rasool, writer and poet, and Mariam Shah, an oral historian. Exhibitions three and four will take place in 2021.

It is free to visit the chapel exhibitions, which run every Wednesday to Sunday. Viewing slots can booke d online at www.wentworthwoodhouse. digitickets.co.uk/event-tickets/30773?catID=30247&

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Business News

The programme will help reduce the skills gap in engineering

Unique degree apprenticeship Sheffield Hallam University has launched a new materials science technologist degree apprenticeship – the first of its kind in the UK. The new programme, developed in partnership with industry leaders, will give prospective apprentices the chance to be at the forefront of developing new material innovations that can drive businesses forward, from metals and ceramics to glass and polymers.

They are suitable for people with relevant qualifications who are new to material engineering, or existing employees who want to learn new skills and gain advanced qualifications.

Andy Rawsthorne, Engineering Lead for Apprenticeships at Sheffield Hallam, said: “It is fitting that we are launching this degree apprenticeship here in Sheffield which has a long and rich history linked to industrial materials, particularly steel.

“Through our world-leading research at the Material Engineering Research Institute (MERI), we have been addressing industrial problems through the application of fundamental science and engineering for 30 years.

“With access to the latest electron microscopes to high performance computing hardware, this degree apprenticeship will allow us to share our wealth of expertise with industry and help embed innovation and high-level skills into the workforce.”

Conor Moss, Group Director and Dean of work-based learning at Sheffield Hallam, said: “Degree apprenticeships have a key role to play in levelling up the UK economy.

“This new programme will have a key role to play in reducing the skills gap in engineering in the UK – it is a fantastic opportunity for businesses to harness the vast academic expertise within the University’s Material Engineering Research Institute to drive future innovations.”

The university delivers one of the widest ranging selection of degree apprenticeships, working with over 270 employers and deliver courses in sectors including construction, engineering, health and social care and cross sector in digital/IT, leadership and management.

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New cultural and learning hub to open in Doncaster anum Gallery, Library and Museum is one step closer to opening its doors as the keys to the impressive new building in Doncaster town centre have been handed over.

Doncaster Council has received the keys for the iconic building from the main contractor Willmott Dixon and will now start the process of kitting the building out and then moving the library elements and displays across.

Doncaster’s very own Paddington Bear, one of the many planned exhibits, also had a sneaky look round his new home during the official hand over (pictured above). The focal point of the new building is the front of the former Doncaster High School for Girls, which A state-of-the-art facility has been created has been carefully restored and encased in glass to create a truly unique feature. our achievements to the masses. We want to connect Ros Jones, Mayor of Doncaster, said: “The building people with outstanding exhibitions and empower is visually stunning, unique and iconic, them through the new library to gain particularly the frontage of the former knowledge, skills and new talents that help Doncaster High School for Girls, which we ‘The focal them make the most of their lives. This have beautifully restored and showcased superb new building will do just that.” point of the new as an exhibit in its own right. It has Danum Gallery, Library and Museum building is the changed the skyline in Waterdale, but will be a superb attraction and place for it’s more than just a great looking, front of the learning. The art gallery will display cutting-edge facility. As a new public some of the most important and former Doncaster attraction, it will contribute to our wider impressive works from the art collection High School for regeneration plans for the Civic and cared for by Heritage Doncaster. There is Cultural Quarter and the rest of our town Girls’ also a dedicated gallery space to centre. Most importantly, it will be a great accommodate highly influential art works public asset for our residents and communities loaned from the likes of the British Museum, the to enjoy and benefit from.”

Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Arts Council Cllr Nigel Ball, Cabinet Member for Public Health, Collection.

Leisure and Culture, said: “We are raising the bar with The building will also include a superb rail heritage the Danum Gallery, Library and Museum by creating a centre, including never been seen before exhibits from state-of-the-art public building with a range of modern the rail collection at Hall Cross Academy. The and quality services for our residents. It will showcase remarkable selection of rail related memorabilia has the varied history and many achievements of this great been amassed over the years by the Doncaster borough and has been designed to inspire creativity, Grammar School Railway Trustees. encourage learning and drive innovation.

Visitors will also be able to enjoy a new look King's “We want to encourage local people to aim for the Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Museum, have a bite to stars and inspire them to learn about Doncaster’s rich eat or drink in a new café, get up close and personal to and varied heritage as well as promoting Doncaster and the former girl’s school and much, much more.

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Business News

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Business News

Mayor addresses second lockdown n 31 October, The Prime Minister announced that England would once again enter a full lockdown from 5 November.

Following the Prime Minster’s statement, Mayor Dan Jarvis (pictured) said: “We should not be in this position. The Government’s own scientific advisors gave clear advice on the need for a lockdown almost six weeks ago, and warned that not acting immediately to reduce cases would have catastrophic consequences. If that was not enough, there was a brutally clear lesson from the first wave about the cost of delay both in lives and economic damage.

“The Government nonetheless chose not to accept this advice, and real harm will have been done as a consequence.

“However, these restrictions are necessary to save lives and it is right the Government has finally acted. But now they have been announced, we must make them work, or the sacrifice we are being asked to make will be wasted. We must not repeat the mistakes of the past eight months.

“We need proper support to individuals, businesses and

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22 CHAMBER connect Autumn 2020

term plan to manage the virus. The point of a lockdown is to buy time to strengthen other measures, and especially to fix the test and trace system. The Government must fully fund local authorities to carry out local test and trace, and get a grip of the outsourced, Serco-run national system.

“The Government must do all this in collaboration with local and devolved governments. Throughout this crisis I have urged Government to give leaders in the nations and regions the powers and resources we need to protect our people and

‘We must not repeat the mistakes of the past eight months’

councils, so people can afford to follow the rules and not be driven into destitution if they become unemployed, so we minimise the harm to the economy, and so we can keep essential services running.

“The Government must base its decisions on the nature and duration of the restrictions on the best available science, and be crystal clear in its communications.

“Above all, this lockdown must be integrated into a robust, long-

our economy. We are best placed to know what support our communities and businesses need. I am once again calling on the Prime Minister to include Metro Mayors in his decision-making, and give them representation on COBRA. “But ultimately the success of these measures depends not on Government, but on all of us. I understand how just weary and frustrated many people will be. But the last lockdown was effective, and this one can be as well – if we follow the rules. For the sake of our families, our communities, and our economy, we need everyone to do their part. If we squander this opportunity, we risk the country yo-yoing in and out of lockdown, amid a crumbling economy and an overwhelmed NHS.”

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Business News

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Business News

The £300m economic impact horseracing has on Yorkshire major study, commissioned by Go Racing In Yorkshire on behalf of Yorkshire’s nine racecourses, has revealed that the horseracing industry contributes in excess of £300m a year into the county’s economy.

The study into the economic impact of horseracing in Yorkshire was carried out by the Centre for Regional and Economic Research at Sheffield Hallam University thanks to funding from the Racing Foundation.

Using pre-Covid data from 2019, the study revealed that the horseracing industry in Yorkshire contributes over £300m to the county’s economy, through both racing and non-race day events.

Among the key findings were that racegoers spent over £34m off-course, on things such as transport, food, beverages and hotels, while those attending the racecourses for non-racing events such as conferences spent £15.3m in the county.

The industry supports more than 3,600 full time equivalent jobs, over three quarters of which are in rural areas.

Over 2,400 horses are trained in the county, which represents 17% of all racehorses trained in Britain, while the county is home to 15% of Britain’s trainers.

John Sexton, Chairman of Go Racing In Yorkshire, said: “The study was commissioned before the Covid-19 pandemic struck and the effects are being felt in Yorkshire as much as any other part of the world.

“This timely piece of research reinforces how vital horseracing is to the Yorkshire and rural economy, plus the social and community aspect of the industry.

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The industry supports more than 3,600 jobs

“Early assessments show that Covid -19 could reduce the impact of racing on the Yorkshire economy by 72% at a cost of £114.8m, underlining that the sooner we can get back to normality the better.”

Ian Wilson, Deputy Director, Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research and author of the study, said: “The study has revealed the value of Yorkshire’s horseracing industry to both the economy and social fabric of the region.

“As well as making a significant economic impact, the industry supports more than 3,600 full time equivalent jobs in the region.

“Through the National Horseracing College and charities such as Racing Welfare the industry also provides specialist support to those entering horseracing to be successful and happy in their work.”

DBCP makes appointments The demand for increased space in homes together with the ongoing tightening of building regulations has triggered a trio of new appointments at Derbyshire Building Control Partnership (DBCP).

The company, which is a Local Authority approved representative of building control standards in Derbyshire, has appointed two new building control surveyors and a new member of its office based technical-support team.

Together they will help DBCP meet increased demand from both residential and commercial sectors across Derbyshire.

Lee Carl and Sarah Purvey have joined DBCP as Building Control Surveyors. They bring 30 years of combined building control experience to their new roles. Bev Glasgow has joined DBCP’s technical support team.

Visit: www.dbcp.co.uk Call: 0333 880 2000

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Business News

Lottery windfall for Sheffield charity Sheffield charity providing a much-needed lifeline to isolated older people during the pandemic has landed a £65,000 windfall to extend its work.

Sheffield Churches Council for Community Care (SCCCC) says the National Lottery Community Fund cash will mean it can extend the reach of some of its flagship services ahead of what promises to be a challenging winter for older people across the city.

Key services the charity provides include help for people being discharged from hospital, and its renowned ‘Good Neighbour Scheme’ which seeks to tackle loneliness in people over 65 years old.

During the Covid-19 pandemic SCCCC has also set up a popular Penpal scheme, and introduced a

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Government for facilitating the new Inclusive Community Care Coronavirus Community Support project, which aims to reduce Fund scheme; Sheffield CCG and to loneliness and isolation in the city’s older ethnic minority groups.

National Lottery players nationwide.”

SCCCC was set up more than 50 Mark Storey, CEO at SCCCC, said: years ago to support the over 65’s “We’re so grateful for this money in Sheffield. It works alongside which is allowing us to enhance our Sheffield City Council, Sheffield provision at a time of critical need Teaching Hospitals and other care for tens of thousands of older agencies to achieve its mission of people across Sheffield - most of improving wellbeing, and whom have no one else to reducing isolation and come to their aid. loneliness in the city’s “Every penny is older community. being spent on ‘Every penny is But, not being improving the lives able to deliver its of isolated being spent on planned events, residents right here improving the activities and in our city. We couldn’t be more lives of isolated thankful to the residents’ National Lottery Community Fund; the

fundraising scheduled in the yearly calendar due to Covid-19, the charity’s fundraising income has reduced substantially.

“Thanks to this financial support, SCCCC will now be able to continue to meet the significant and growing demand for our services.

“We will also be able to stay at the forefront of supporting older people and rise to the challenge of the “new normal”. This means we will be able to rebuild and recover and to seize future opportunities,” Mark added.

For more information about SCCCC, visit www.scccc.co.uk

The charity’s ‘Good Neighbour Scheme’ helps to tackle loneliness among the elderly

Make Your Mark team up with Mums In Need Make Your Mark UK is pleased to team up with Sheffield-based charity Mums In Need as their new charity of the year partnership. Mums In Need (MIN) works on confronting coercive control by supporting mums and their children who have left emotionally or mentally abusive relationships and who are looking to rebuild their lives.

The charity aims to support and help mums to feel more confident, in control of their situation and gain an understanding of exactly what they can do to help 26 CHAMBER connect Autumn 2020

themselves and their children.

Make Your Mark UK, a training, coaching and consultancy – helping businesses and charities to be better – has announced the new partnership while also celebrating three years since starting trading.

Mark Smith, of Make Your Mark UK, said: “We had a great response to our call out for nominations for charity of the year partnerships which made it a tough job for the judging panel to pick a good cause to support. We wanted to choose a small charity where we could really

help make a difference to what they are doing by giving our time and by fundraising.”

Laura Reilly, Founder and CEO of Mums In Need, said: “this really is amazing. We haven’t ever been nominated as a charity of the year before and so we are absolutely delighted to work with Make Your Mark UK.” Make Your Mark UK has previously supported Rotherham Talking Newspapers, SCCCC and most recently Rothacs (Rotherham Abuse Counselling Service).

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Chamber Connect

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Chamber Connect

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Chamber Connect

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Chamber Connect

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The SCR Chambers Barnsley Office T: 01226 491421 Rotherham Office T: 01709 386200

E: info@brchamber.co.uk W: www.brchamber.co.uk Twitter: @brchamberuk

Reconfirming our pledge to support local businesses peculation and ‘second-guessing’ have badly eroded trust at a time when clarity and transparency are critical.

Local businesses, and indeed our communities, must be more deeply involved in decision-making, so that the real-world consequences for livelihoods are understood.

The introduction of any further restrictions must go hand-in-hand with the appropriate level of financial support, both now and into the future.

Above all, businesses need to see an exit strategy to prevent economic paralysis.

Mass testing, faster processing and proportionate financial support for those forced to self-isolate are crucial to supporting businesses and communities in the months ahead.

We must now redouble our efforts to keep fighting this virus while keeping our economy open and our Chamber with other business groups, will continue to work with our two local authority teams in ensuring as much support is available for our businesses.

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‘Any further restrictions must go hand-in-hand with the appropriate level of financial support’

Andrew Denniff Chief Executive

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The SCR Chambers: Barnsley & Rotherham The chamber helps its members by focusing activity in 5 key areas: 1. Protecting your business 2. Raising your profile 3. Growing your network 4. Representing and sharing your views 5. Saving you money

Andy Bethel of CSP Systems (left) and Richard Sheppard of Oxley and Coward

Chamber members working together Since becoming a Patron of Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, CSP Systems Ltd has continued to nurture the relationships and opportunities that have been presented to them resulting in the growth of their business, and ultimately increasing recognition from within the local business area.

In this uncertain time with businesses throughout our communities affected by the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, it has never been more important for local businesses to recognise local suppliers of products and services and know they can put their trust in dealing with each other.

CSP Systems Ltd has seen this trust placed in their business by becoming a preferred supplier of Oxley and Coward Solicitors LLP, to deliver the professional and friendly service which they have been recognised for since beginning their business adventure, four and a half years ago.

By beginning this supplier relationship with Oxley and Coward Solicitors LLP, another Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce Patron Member, CSP Systems Ltd have delivered an entire fleet of multifunction machines which provide copy, print and scanning solutions for their business requirements. Andy Bethel, Director, CSP Systems Ltd, said: “This is a great example of how businesses connected through Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, can place confidence in another member to provide a quality service.”

Richard Sheppard, Managing Partner, Oxley & Coward, added: “We wanted to work with a local business and in particular one that was a member of the Chamber. I am glad we turned to Andy; from the initial phone call to installation the service has been first class.”

Visit: www.cspsystems.co.uk Visit: www.oxcow.co.uk

32 CHAMBER connect Autumn 2020

Chamber backs the Kickstart programme arnsley & Rotherham Chamber is helping employers from across the Sheffield City Region to inspire the next generation to take the first step on their career ladders after being appointed as an intermediary to the Government-backed Kickstart programme.

Launched at the beginning of September by the Department of Work and Pensions, Kickstart aims to connect young people with businesses, by providing paid work experience opportunities which are funded by the Government.

Designed to help improve the life chances of young people who have been unemployed for more than six months, the scheme is designed to help business owners overcome skills shortages within the workplace with the long term aim of job creation.

Since its appointment, the Chamber has received high levels of demand from business owners working across the Sheffield City Region and within less than a month, it has helped businesses to offer over 150 work placement opportunities.

Developed to help improve the life chances of young people aged 16-24 who have been unable to secure permanent employment, the scheme provides paid work experience for up to six months and aims to help youngsters to become work ready, as well as going on to participate in

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apprenticeships or future training opportunities.

As part of the Kickstarter scheme, the Chamber acts as a Gateway Organisation between employers and local job centres, who will match suitable candidates with work experience opportunities. Each work placement is advertised through local job centres, and wages are funded by the Government for up to 25 hours per week. Businesses can also claim up to £1,500 towards the costs of equipment and training.

The scheme is open to all businesses based in the Sheffield City Region and businesses do not need to be a member of Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber to take part in the programme.

Joada Allen, President, Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber, said: “As a Gateway Organisation, we will be able to help South Yorkshire’s SME community to help young people benefit from a valuable chance to play their part in helping to shape the workforce of the future. We’ve seen high levels of interest in the scheme, illustrating how many employers recognise the importance of inspiring and encouraging the next generation.”

‘We will be able to help South Yorkshire’s SME community to help young people’

To find out more about the Kickstart scheme, visit: www.brchamber.co.uk/kickstart-scheme/

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The SCR Chambers: Barnsley & Rotherham VIRALERT 3 in use at Hallamshire Tennis, Squash and Racquetball Club

Leading the fight against Covid METEK Land, a global expert in temperature measurement technologies based at Stubley Lane in Dronfield, has delivered a ground-breaking temperature screening system to help reduce the spread of Covid-19 infection.

Designed to scan visitors at entry points, VIRALERT 3 provides real-time infrared thermal imaging from a safe social distance, checking people for elevated temperatures that could indicate infection.

As businesses and facilities across the region look to reopen safely, it has attracted

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strong interest from the healthcare, commercial, education, transportation, manufacturing, and sports sectors.

VIRALERT 3 is already being used successfully at Sheffield’s Hallamshire Tennis, Squash and Racquetball Club, and at a general medical practice in Dronfield. A local MP has also praised the innovative product.

The compact system is easy to use and can be left to operate automatically. Its fast, highly accurate test procedure takes approximately two seconds, so there is minimal disruption to the flow of people.

‘We are proud to have developed and manufactured this major global technology in Dronfield’

AMETEK Land has been developing highaccuracy infrared measurement instruments since 1947, and has been creating human temperature screening systems since the SARS outbreak of 2003.

Division Vice President Justin Smith said: “We’re pleased that we can help sites to open, allowing people to get back to work, visit key facilities, and return to sport and leisure.

“We are proud to have developed and manufactured this major global technology in Dronfield. The market for VIRALERT 3 is expanding rapidly, and will provide a big boost to the manufacturing profile in our region.”

For further information on VIRALERT 3 visit www.landviralert.com

Tinsley Bridge’s support for the rail industry Tinsley Bridge’s increased focus is part of plans to invest and develop in the rail infrastructure sector.

Fabricated structures and safety critical components are already supplied to the rail industry, including manufacture of tubular stretcher bar for Network Rail, where the company’s extensive engineering talents are used to manufacture this high precision piece of equipment. Vital to the safe operation of the network, the bars keep points in position as a train passes and have been introduced to increase safety The company’s well proven engineering and manufacturing capabilities in steel products were recently profiled in Rail Business Daily:

Russell Crow, Engineering Director, said: “Tinsley Bridge possess a wealth of skills and experience ideal for the exacting requirements of the rail industry.

“Ranging from manufacturing parts for Wimbledon’s retractable roof to the redesign and manufacture of Warrior fighting vehicles for the MOD, through to supporting bespoke programmes in the nuclear industry, we are able to deliver innovative solutions and optimised value to customers.”

Engineering and Manufacturing support tailored for the rail industry Ranging from the design and manufacture of large steel structures to the volume production of small components.

The development of a range of products in OLE, Signalling and Track Tinsley Bridge’s focus is on product quality and performance with the ability to reduce cost in partnership with its customers.

Support the rail sector by working with industry partners This includes collaboration with leading universities, resolving product and supply chain issues to improve performance of the rail network.

Tinsley Bridge

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The SCR Chambers: Barnsley & Rotherham

We’re here to support your business Membership of the Chamber is about supporting your business and helping you to flourish and grow in today’s markets.We welcome all businesses large and small and understand that the needs of businesses can be very different.

Snowflakes set to light up Barnsley’s Alhambra Centre ver the past seven years, The Children’s Hospital Charity’s award-winning snowflake display has raised over £1m for Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

For the first time, the Charity hope to display snowflakes on Barnsley’s Alhambra Shopping Centre this December to support Sheffield Children’s where it is needed most, including by redeveloping the hospital’s Cancer and Leukaemia ward.

The Children’s Hospital Charity is appealing to organisations, schools, and individuals across the local community to get involved and make this sparkling display possible.

Sheffield Children’s has remained open throughout the pandemic and continues to care for some of the most vulnerable children in our community. Alfie Powell’s family know just how vital that care is. Alfie, from Barnsley, was suddenly taken ill in July 2018.

Alfie’s mum Emma said: “He was just a normal two-year-old, running around in the park, his paddling pool and the garden the weekend before we had to take him into the hospital. He then started being sick, his temperature was soaring, and he was really unwell.”

After being referred by his local hospital, Alfie was transferred to the Cancer and Leukaemia ward at Sheffield Children’s, where he was diagnosed with a Wilms’ tumour, which is a cancer of the kidneys.

He underwent weekly doses of chemotherapy and had surgery to remove his tumour and kidney. Thankfully, he entered remission in March 2019, just in time for his third birthday.

Emma continued: “The care was simply amazing, they all learned to understand Alfie, his ways and how to deal with him. On our first night, a nurse told us ‘don’t worry, we’re all a big family here’ and it is certainly true.

“We want to help make the ward to be the best it possibly can be, for all the children and families that are about to begin their journeys, as

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well as the friends we’ve made along the way who are still undergoing treatment.”

The family have now dedicated themselves to fundraising, to say thank you for saving Alfie’s life as well as to improve the environment for other families in the same situation.

The Cancer and Leukaemia ward provides treatment for cancer and blood disorders in children from babies through to 19-year-olds in South Yorkshire, including from Barnsley. It also sees patients from across the UK for chemotherapy, operations, and bone marrow transplants.

Alfie’s dad Aaron, who works at the Alhambra Centre, said: “I had never heard of the snowflake appeal until we were living on the Cancer and Leukaemia ward with Alfie.

“To see the lights shining as we travelled to Sheffield Children’s for his chemotherapy over the winter months always raised a smile for us. I would love to help recreate that feeling for any child that visits the Alhambra Centre this Christmas.

“The snowflakes are symbols of support from local people and businesses that wish to help improve the experience for children from across the region that require treatment. Please sponsor a snowflake this year and let us light up the Alhambra Shopping Centre together.”

The snowflakes will support Sheffield Children’s where it is needed most, including by transforming the Cancer and Leukaemia ward which treated Alfie into a brighter and refreshed space.

Aaron continued: “The staff on the Cancer and Leukaemia ward are amazing. We were made to feel welcome and part of one big family by the nurses and other families, I will never forget the feeling of safety that created.

“Redeveloping the environment would make a massive difference though. We stayed briefly in one of the new wards after Alfie’s operation to remove his tumour and kidney.

“It is colourful, comfortable, modern and had

‘The snowflakes are symbols of support from local people and businesses’

34 CHAMBER connect Autumn 2020

Alfie Powell and mum Emma take part in a Christmas photoshoot during treatment

its own en-suite bathroom. To have that comfort and privacy at one of the most difficult times of our lives was so important.”

Under the plans, more single patient bedrooms with en-suite facilities would be created, giving the opportunity for more patients to make the place their own and increase the space for a parent to sleep alongside them.

Sophie Coburn, Corporate Partnerships Officer at The Children’s Hospital Charity, added: “Our annual snowflake appeal brings people together with a shared goal to build a better future for the staff, patients and their families at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

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The SCR Chambers: Barnsley & Rotherham

Chamber Events A calendar of events designed to engage both members and non-members and enhance their business.

For full booking information on all Chamber events visit: www.brchamber.co.uk/events

Live Events City Region Business Networking Date: Time: Cost:

Thursday 26 November 9am-10:30am Free to members

Our popular City Region Business Networking Event is back (online).

The three South Yorkshire Chambers are working together to bring you a unique networking event (for Chamber members only).

Membership of the Chamber is all about helping your business to grow and what better way to meet new businesses and make new contacts from across the area than at the City Region Business Networking Event.

Each Chamber will have 20 places available. Please come and join us and book through the website of the Chamber you are a member of.

We will run the event through Zoom and it is free of charge. www.brchamber.co.uk/event/city-region-business-networking-november

“Thanks to the support of businesses, schools, community groups, families and individuals, in recent years we have funded life-saving medical equipment, a state-of-the-art machine to analyse Vitamin D deficiency and contributed to three world-class new wards.

“The snowflakes are a highlight for staff working over the festive season and young patients spending their Christmas in hospital.

Please join us to make snowflakes bigger than ever before, end 2020 on a high and transform our Cancer and Leukaemia ward.”

To find out more about sponsoring a snowflake on the Alhambra Centre, email snowflakes@tchc.org.uk or visit www.tchc.org. uk/how-you-can-help/snowflakes.html

Webinars Webinar Recap Did you miss out on a Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber webinar? You can now catch up on our previous webinars through the webinar recap section on Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber website. Hosted through Barnsley & Rotherham YouTube channel you can now re-watch and review any of our uploaded webinars in your own time.

These webinars cover numerous topics which will help you restart your business and revive your processes. The webinars available range from returning to work safely, creating your digital marketing strategy, and overcoming HR challenges during the Covid-19 shutdown plus many more. www.brchamber.co.uk/webinar-recap

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Chamber Connect

EMCAL Systems Limited are a specialist company providing bespoke consultancy, maintenance and design services for your emergency lighting and renewable energy 'off grid' systems.

Our ethos is that everyone deserves to have their own personal engineer. Our main priority is to ensure that you get the best service possible from the moment that you first contact us.

Every project, whether it is a residential or commercial property, requires its own unique solution. That’s why here at emcal systems, we take the time to understand your needs and to create bespoke solutions specifically for you. To this end, we work closely with our customers to ensure high quality, responsive client led service. Most importantly, we guarantee a professional service from start to finish.

Whether you are in the industrial, commercial, health or educational sectors we have the perfect solution for you. Our clients include supermarkets, hospitals, local authorities, landlords, universities, schools retail outlets and developers needing their own ‘off-grid’ solutions.

A family-run firm, with over 35 years of experience in the emergency lighting industry, we also have a vast amount of knowledge and expertise with a variety of off-grid power solutions including central battery units, static inverter units as well self-contained luminaires and addressable emergency lighting systems.

Whether you’re looking for an upgrade, maintenance or an entirely new solution, CONTACT US TODAY to see how we can help you.

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The SCR Chambers: Doncaster Even more membership services

T: 01302 640100 E: chamber@doncaster-chamber.co.uk W: www.doncaster-chamber.co.uk Twitter: @DNChamber

We relaunched our membership packages back in May. Now, we’re pleased to announce even more membership services that reflect the diverse needs of our business community.

These include research and development support, energy and low carbon assistance and bid writing services.

For more information visit doncaster-chamber.co.uk

Business Academy upskills the workforce D oncaster Chamber has extended business support with a new Business Academy.

The training, delivered in partnership with the Chamber’s network of further education colleges and private training companies, supports local businesses to improve performance and productivity through short professional development courses.

Doncaster Chamber has extended its offer of support for local business with the introduction of the new Business Academy. In partnership with DN Colleges Group and other local training providers, the academy will provide short, practical courses to enhance attendees’ professional and personal development.

The new training arm will strengthen the Chamber’s ability to help local businesses with their growth and development strategies, and has been develop with feedback from local employers on skills and access to workforce development in mind. The new offering completes the Chamber’s ambition to provide a complete wrap-around service of business support.

Rebecca Nightingale, Events and Training Executive at Doncaster Chamber said: “The Business Academy is a natural extension of the business services and support that Doncaster Chamber already offers. Now, members can develop workplace skills to put into practice and

make better use of the services that they already have access to.

“People are at the centre of every business – this is an opportunity for employers to invest inwards, strengthen their workforce and, in turn, improve their business performance.”

The partnership will utilise DN Colleges Group’s extensive experience in both teaching and industry to ensure learners are fully equipped to transfer their learnings into the workplace.

Jill Cooper, Executive Director Employer Engagement & Projects at DN Colleges Group, said: “We have over 25 years’ experience of delivering this type of provision, our delivery team come from industry, and we are focused on supporting local businesses to be sustainable and to grow.”

Rebecca Nightingale continued: “We’re really proud to be partnering with local providers.

Partnerships are so important to the Chamber, which is why we’re so excited to work with members who are learning and development professionals to offer employers another avenue for workforce development."

The new Business Academy will not displace services that are already offered by members, but instead will offer the opportunity for partnerships and to promote new training solutions that benefit Doncaster’s business community.

The Business Academy courses are workrelated, reflecting the skills and knowledge needed to do a job effectively and efficiently.

Currently delivered online, they are available at a range of levels with direct application to the workplace in mind.

For further information on any of the Business Academy courses, visit the Doncaster Chamber website or contact the Training team by telephone on 01302 640100 or email at businessacademy@doncaster-chamber.co.uk

Chamber signs Armed Forces Covenant Doncaster Chamber has signed the Armed Forces Covenant – a promise that those who serve or have served, and their families, are treated fairly.

By signing the Covenant, the Chamber has made a commitment to support the employment of veterans of all ages and their service spouses and partners, as well as offering a degree of flexibility in granting leave for service duties during deployment.

To date more than 5,000 organisations have signed the Armed Forces Covenant including businesses and charities nationwide.

Doncaster Chamber’s covenant pledge is made in support of the Chamber Military Network a unique project which helps Chambers and their members undertake the signing of the Armed Forces Covenant and deliver their employment pledges as part of the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS).

Chamber Chief Executive Dan Fell said: “Service personnel and their families are an important part of our region’s community and we wanted to acknowledge their importance to civic society as well as local businesses.

“The Armed Forces community can bring real value to a business through a wealth of skills and experience. We’ve seen this firsthand at the Chamber through recruiting exservices personnel whose work ethic, commitment to quality and values were a perfect fit for our organisation. We are proud of our close association and relationship with the Yorkshire and Humber Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association (RFCA) and fully support the new Chamber Military Network project.”

Mr Fell continued: “Our signing of the covenant lays out in writing our clear commitment to ensuring we are an inclusive organisation for ex-services personnel, that we honour and exceed the pledges we have made and to extend our support further by encouraging the Chamber’s business members to do the same.”

More information can be found on the Armed Forces Covenant website: www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk

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The SCR Chambers: Doncaster We believe in the power of collaboration to get things done on behalf of our members and partners across the borough

Housing provider achieves Gold Award St Leger Homes has achieved national recognition for its work and commitment to reduce the environmental impact of council housing across Doncaster.

The local housing provider received a Gold Award in the SHIFT (Sustainable Homes Index for Tomorrow) accreditation scheme, which provides an independent assessment of how housing organisations are performing against challenging environmental targets.

The SHIFT assessment looked at the 20,000 council homes managed by St Leger Homes, as well as their offices, and supply chain, and measured them against 21 environmental factors including carbon dioxide emissions, landfill waste generated, and water use.

Key highlights from the SHIFT report show: • The carbon emissions from business mileage was 3.85 kg of CO2 per home managed, which is one of the lowest levels across SHIFT landlords • 96.6% of housing stock was at low risk of overheating and resilient to climate change • 100% of office waste was recycled or diverted from landfill • 96% recycle rate from refurbishment of homes.

Dave Richmond (pictured), Chief Executive of St Leger Homes, said: ‘We are delighted that St Leger Homes has this week obtained the SHIFT Gold Award from this independent assessment – building on the Silver Award we achieved last year. We are working hard to make our homes, offices and supply chains as environmentally friendly as possible and we will be looking to improve even further in the future wherever we can. In addition, we will continue to contribute towards the aim of decarbonising our homes.

“This award demonstrates our commitment to protecting the environment by reducing our carbon footprint. We are delighted to be making a difference locally – while playing a small part in helping tackle the issue of climate change nationally and globally.”

Councillor Glyn Jones, Cabinet Member for Housing and Equalities at Doncaster Council, said: “This award shows our commitment to tackling climate change as well as providing quality council homes that meet the needs and wants of Doncaster residents.”

38 CHAMBER connect Autumn 2020

Covid has reignited the North-South divide oes the Government care about the North?

That’s the question on the lips of many across the north of England this month as major flagship projects are halted in Doncaster, England enters a second national lockdown and Business Secretary, Alok Sharma addresses the Confederation of British Industry, (CBI).

In his speech at the CBI’s annual conference on 4 November, the minister spoke in length about the further lockdown measures, current government support and Brexit while saluting businesses for their handling of the crisis in recent months.

He also addressed some of the issues surrounding mass testing, spoke of potential future vaccines and looked to the future with words on building back greener, skills and levelling up, referencing the government’s plans to “turbocharge our regions, to enable them to become global hubs in their own right.”

While Mr Sharma talked of the North East of England becoming the home of choice for companies delivering carbon capture and storage, Midlands’ manufacturing and the brilliant life sciences sector which will be “propelled to even greater heights from Oxford, Cambridge and Edinburgh,” there was no mention of the South Yorkshire area.

His message was clear – the Government will build back better telling the assembled virtual audience that the imbalance was “intolerable before coronavirus.”

However, commenting on Mr Sharma’s words, Dan Fell (pictured), Doncaster Chamber of Commerce CEO said: “The coronavirus pandemic has triggered a significant economic crisis. With the public purse significantly dented, the only realistic option that our country and region has is to invest to grow out of this crisis.”

The phrase ‘levelling up’ has become one of the early political buzzwords of the new decade.

Emboldened by its enlarged Commons majority, the Government committed to invest in ways that ‘level up’ the economic fortunes of the regions and communities that feel they have been left behind.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson had always assumed his premiership would be defined by three things: delivering Brexit, Global Britain and his promise to “level up” the country. But then along came the coronavirus. Far from being the great leveller, as the pandemic shifts into its second wave, and as a full national lockdown looms, it threatens to leave Britain’s left-behind regions even further behind.

Mr Fell continued: “In the weeks before lockdown we saw two of Doncaster’s flagship projects – a new hospital for the town centre

D

and a Railway Station serving Doncaster Sheffield Airport and the surrounding area – take backwards steps as the Government’s appetite to support these interventions seemingly waned.

“Therefore, in addition to providing a roadmap out of lockdown, we now need to see a detailed programme from Government that articulates what levelling up will mean for businesses in Doncaster and that gives a cast iron commitment to the catalytic infrastructure projects that can stimulate economic growth in our locality.

“Once more, anything resembling detail in this area was lacking in the Secretary of State’s speech; it is also alarming that the only cities mentioned in this section of the speech were Manchester, Edinburgh, Oxford and Cambridge.

Whilst not decrying the need to maximise the assets of any city, these are already major economic centres; ‘levelling up’ must surely be targeted, in the first instance, at economies such as Darlington, Derby and Doncaster.

“While the support that is being afforded to some businesses and workers is welcome at the moment, continued Mr Fell” “We need to be honest about the fact that, in reality, these support measures are just a finger in the dyke.

To recover from the crisis and ensure that we do not have a lost decade ahead of us, it is imperative that Government rapidly invests in Northern towns and cities and honours its commitments to ‘level up’ the UK. “In the current climate, the business community is understandably jaundiced and cynical of Government rhetoric. Now would be the ideal time for Government to demonstrate its sincerity and to demonstrate to businesses that it will play its role in growing back Doncaster’s economy by backing the flagship projects that matter most to our borough.”

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The SCR Chambers: Doncaster

Supporting the ecommerce sector he busiest ever online retail season has been predicted for this year and the warehousing, logistics and 3PL sector is critical to its success.

With the rules of life being an everchanging commodity at the moment, businesses and people across the UK are becoming weary of adapting their business models and buying habits to suit and consumers need to be able to rely on the supply chain network more than ever to support the uplift in demand for groceries and other ecommerce.

A recent report by Barclay’s Corporate Banking showed that 15% of UK companies have created roles specifically to cater for an increase in online demand and that around 27% have, or are looking to shift their logistics providers to a more localised provider as the sectors prepare for a further uplift in demand in addition to the one that occurred earlier this year.

“This is a trend that we have seen at Carlton Forest 3PL and one that we expect to continue as the ecommerce market peaks in the run up to the festive period,” said Alistair Plant, Divisional Operations Manager, Carlton Forest 3PL. “Evidence shows that these decisions are being made to drive supply chain efficiencies, but also build strong relationships based on flexibility and professionalism with providers that can deliver bespoke solutions given that predictions are being made on little or no, historical data.”

Online sales are currently running at 50% higher than this time last year and predicted to grow even further as families separated at Christmas choose gifts online and opt to have them delivered direct. Indeed, it is expected that 71% of British customers will be reluctant to shop instore this Christmas and therefore, the flow of goods

T

‘It’s really important that the 3PL sector continues to meet customer and consumer expectations’

from production to storage to distribution will require laser sharp precision to fulfil customer expectations and protect brand reputations.

“It’s really important that the 3PL sector continues to meet customer and consumer expectations and that businesses are prepared for this predicted

festive boom,” said Alistair.

“And, with online grocery stats showing that 77% of UK customers do at least some of their grocery shopping online, the overall supply chain network in the UK will be under great demand to provide efficient services as we continue to navigate the unknown.”

Visit: carltonforestgroup.com

Putting wealth back into the community Doncaster Chamber is working with social enterprises, community enterprise companies and co-operatives to break down the barriers they face such as finding customers, making a living and getting access to finance.

The Community Wealth Builder project, led by Well Doncaster with workshops delivered by Doncaster Chamber, offers guidance and working models for every stage of social entrepreneurship from initial idea, setup and piloting, on to longer term sustainability, growth and replication.

The service includes one-to-one advice, workshops, training and networking opportunities to help individuals with community-based business ideas put their plans into action.

Amy Rutherford, Community Wealth Builder Project Lead at Doncaster Chamber, said: “We know social entrepreneurs offer some of the best solutions to loneliness, community resilience and our nation’s long term economic, social and cultural health. Our work aims to support enterprising people who are creating positive change throughout the

Sheffield City Region.”

Social entrepreneurs have a big role to play in tackling some of the monumental challenges we face today. Challenges like a UK population ageing so fast, that by 2040 close to one in four of us will be aged 65 and over. Like the fact that disabled people are more than twice as likely to be out of work than non-disabled people. That homelessness rose by 169% in the UK between 2010 and 2018.

And that public services are stretched and set to contract even further.

So that social entrepreneurs can achieve their potential, the Community Wealth Builder project encourages collaboration and creates networks to support social entrepreneurs on their journey.

The team support and nurture people with entrepreneurial talent and work with social entrepreneurs to scale up and solve bigger issues.

To find out more about how Doncaster Chamber can help, visit the website: www.doncaster-chamber.co.uk/community-wealth-builders Autumn 2020 CHAMBER connect 39

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The SCR Chambers: Doncaster

Doncaster Chamber has been supporting businesses since 1941 to connect and grow.

Wizz Air announce new flights izz Air UK, the UK-registered and based airline of Europe’s greenest and fastest growing airline group, has announced the expansion of its recently launched base at Doncaster Sheffield airport with the addition of a second Airbus A320 aircraft and six new routes to Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Tenerife, Lisbon and Eindhoven that starting operation on 22 October 2020.

Coming less than three weeks after the announcement of Wizz Air UK’s based operation at Doncaster Sheffield, the further development of Wizz Air UK’s offering at the airport reflects the enthusiastic response of customers to the new routes both to favourite holiday destinations and more CEE destinations and further demonstrates the airline’s long term commitment to bring ever more affordable travel opportunities to its British customers on Europe’s youngest aircraft fleet.

Wizz Air was one of the first airlines to have introduced a range of enhanced hygiene measures, to ensure the health and safety of its customers and crew. As part of these new protocols, throughout the flight, both cabin crew and passengers are required to wear facemasks, with cabin crew also required to wear gloves.

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Wizz Air’s aircraft are regularly put through an industry-leading fogging process with an antiviral solution and, following WIZZ’s stringent daily cleaning schedule, all of the airline’s aircraft are further disinfected overnight with the same antiviral solution. Onboard purchases are encouraged to be made by contactless payment. Passengers are requested to follow physical distancing measures introduced by the local health authorities and are encouraged to make all purchases prior to the flight online (e.g. checked in luggage, WIZZ Priority, fast security track), to minimize any possible physical contact at the airport.

By adding WIZZ Flex to a booking, passengers can rest assured that if circumstances change, or they simply wish to travel on a different date, or to a different destination, they can rebook on any WIZZ flight of their choice.

Owain Jones, Managing Director of Wizz Air UK, said: “Customers old and new have given us a very clear message – they love the choice of

new destinations to which they can travel with Wizz Air UK from our new base at Doncaster Sheffield. So less than three weeks after we announced the base, we’re delighted to celebrate the addition of a second Airbus A320 and six new routes, bringing more of everything that our customers love about WIZZ – more local jobs, more much-needed connections for the region and more ultralow fares to favourite holiday destinations and European cities.”

Chris Harcombe, Director of Aviation Development at Doncaster Sheffield Airport, said: “We are delighted that Wizz Air has chosen to base a second aircraft permanently at Doncaster Sheffield Airport so soon after its recent announcement to open a full-based operation with us for Wizz Air UK. The swift addition of a second aircraft from Europe’s greenest airline shows the confidence of Wizz Air that we can deliver a shared intention to provide affordable travel through ultra-low fares to people in the North east of the Pennines.”

‘We’re delighted to celebrate the addition of a second Airbus A320 and six new routes’

Growth Hub helps security firm to stand out Oliver Law Security (OLS) Ltd are now “standing out from the crowd” after undertaking a series of programmes and workshops from the Growth Hub. OLS, based in Doncaster, first contacted the Growth Hub to attend business growth workshops before formally signing up to our Scale Up programme.

The SCR Scale-Up initiative, is aimed at accelerating the growth of high-potential businesses through peer focused business learning, group working and industry insight. It is focused on supporting established businesses to grow where they are ambitious to achieve high levels of growth and is an initiative delivered in collaboration with the University of Sheffield, 40 CHAMBER connect Autumn 2020

Sheffield Hallam University and the SCR Growth Hub. After completing Scale-Up, OLS successfully applied for four of their engineers to go through the Skills Bank programme.

OLS Ltd, who provide high-quality professional security services to businesses, secured BTEC level 3 certificates for their engineers in IT and networking for security, and access control installing.

Claire Law, Commercial Director of OLS, said: “Qualifications in security are few and far between and so by achieving a level of training, we are showing our customers that we have a very high level of expertise.

“Training and qualifications in security systems

and controls are costly, so to have the funding support, on top of the bespoke support around finding and accessing the training itself, from Skills Bank was brilliant.

“The engineers who completed the programme are rightly proud that they’ve come through the training and now possess the skills and qualifications to progress within the company.

“Training and upskilling is a key part of our fiveyear growth plan. The support from Skills Bank meant we surpassed our annual targets comfortably. The level of support we got from the Growth Hub, and in particular Anne Wilson, our Skills Advisor, was fantastic. We are still in contact with Anne and we are really interested in looking at more opportunities for training and events.”

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The SCR Chambers: Doncaster

Chamber Events A calendar of events designed to engage both members and non-members and enhance their business.

For full booking information on all Chamber events visit: www.doncaster-chamber.co.uk Our in-person events programme might be on hold for the foreseeable, but that doesn’t mean we’ve stopped creating opportunities for our community to connect and learn from one another to grow their business.

Businesses are taking back control with Smart Meters National restrictions continue to significantly affect businesses across the country and there is an enormous pressure on their financial situation.

Businesses may be juggling reduced income whilst navigating new income streams such as various government support measures. They might be facing unexpected expenditure on PPE and the cost of making their business Covid secure.

As such, it is extremely challenging to budget month to month; something which is especially true for smaller businesses, who may already be operating with limited cash flow.

Take control with a smart meter More than ever, the battle to keep control of company outgoings is crucial if they are to survive in this tough climate. A straightforward place to start in this battle is a universal cost and key expense: energy bills.

While every business receives regular energy bills, the vast majority don’t track how – and where –they are using their gas and electricity.

A proactive way of taking back control of this expense is by installing a smart meter, to show exactly how much energy is being used in real time.

Only pay for the energy you use Another key benefit of smart meters is that businesses get billed exactly for the energy they use. Unless very regular meter updates are provided, bills generated without the input of smart meters are estimated, based on the usage from a previous period.

If businesses have temporarily closed or furloughed some of their teams, this could be hugely damaging as they would be paying for energy they haven’t used yet, and might not use for several weeks, potentially making a big dent in their already fragile cash flow.

Don’t miss this opportunity A smart meter is a positive step in taking control of business outgoings and if your firm has 10 employees or less your business could be eligible.

To see whether smart metering can work for your business, contact your energy supplier. It could be one of the best calls you make this week.

The Business Academy: Introduction to Lean Date: Time: Cost:

3 December 9am-12pm Members: £65/non-members: £71.50

Register: https://bit.ly/33ZZCdh

Launchpad: Business Startup Workshop (3 days) Date: 7-9 December Time: 9:30am-1pm Cost: Free An ideal opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs, this 3-day workshop will give you all the information you need to know to make your start-up a success.

Register: https://bit.ly/3eSjAui

The Business Academy: Kaizen Continuous Improvement Date: Time: Cost:

9 December 1pm-4pm Members: £130/non-members: £143

Register: https://bit.ly/3drIkZm

Community Wealth Builder: Think Differently by Exploring Different Funding Sources Date: Time: Cost:

10 December 9:30am-11am Free

Register: https://bit.ly/2Uj6EUM

City Region Networking (SPEED) Date: 15 December Time: 9am-10.30am Cost: Members: free/mon-members: £10+VAT Meet new businesses and make new contacts from across the area at the City Region Business Networking Event.

Register: https://bit.ly/3k4XlTF

Doncaster Chamber AGM Date: 16 December Time: 8am-9:30am Cost: Members: free/non-members: £10+VAT Meet Doncaster Chamber’s board, hear the announcement on newly elected Board members, review the previous 12 months and plans for 2021.

Register: https://bit.ly/3j1YGt4

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Chamber Connect

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The SCR Chambers: East Midlands East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire) T: 0333 320 0333 E: info@emc-dnl.co.uk W: www.emc-dnl.co.uk Twitter: @EMChamberNews

The Chamber is the largest business representation organisation in the East Midlands.With a growing membership of more than 4,300 businesses, it represents the interests of businesses across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.

Chamber leads the way in sustainability

It’s time to set sail on our green voyage East Midlands Chamber has launched the Sustainable East Midlands campaign to support businesses of all shapes and sizes in engaging with the green agenda. Here, the Chamber explains why it’s doing this and why the time has come for organisations to look at how they can contribute – and benefit. n September 2019, the United Nations said 2020 signalled the beginning of a Decade of Action as it gained global momentum for its ‘ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, while calling for “accelerating sustainable solutions to all the world’s biggest challenges”, including climate change.

Just six months later, Covid19 had ripped through our lives, jobs and businesses.

It has forced us to reassess how we’d like to rebuild our economy and, if anything, the appetite for us to move towards a

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greener future has only intensified since the coronavirus outbreak.

This begins at our own doorstep, within the very organisations we own, run and work for.

Sustainability is a topic that is sometimes ignored – one that can be easy to flick past in pages like these or think it’s someone else’s responsibility to take.

But there’s a number of reasons why businesses – which account for 18% of the UK’s emissions – should engage with an agenda that is becoming

If we don’t act fast, the worst effects of climate change could be irreversible’

East Midlands Chamber has urged the region’s businesses to go green and reap the benefits to their bottom line in a new campaign.

The Sustainable East Midlands initiative will highlight both the business case and regulatory requirements for companies that engage with the low-carbon agenda.

It includes a new online information portal that will point firms to financial support available to them and a series of educational events, beginning with the East Midlands Energy Summit on 19 November.

East Midlands Chamber Chief Executive Scott Knowles (pictured) said: “This isn’t just about sustainability for the sake of being greener, as this translates into the bottom line of businesses through efficiency and resilience. Adopting greener credentials reduces running costs and helps to win new contracts and business.”

The campaign follows research by the Chamber and University of Derby. A study within the Q1 2020 edition of the Chamber’s Quarterly Economic Survey found the proportion of businesses deriving turnover from low-carbon and proenvironmental goods and services has nearly doubled between 2015 and 2020 – growing from 16% to 31%.

Just over a third (35%) of businesses said they were integrating clean growth into their business plan, although four in 10 firms said they didn’t feel well-informed about available financial support.

Dr Fred Paterson, associate professor at the University of Derby and the Low Carbon Business Network lead at Derby Business School, said: “There’s growing evidence that companies putting environmental sustainability at the heart of their operations are more successful and more likely to survive over time than other firms.”

For more information, visit www.emcdnl.co.uk/sustainability

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The SCR Chambers: East Midlands

Your Chamber The go to place for answers in business

more prominent by each day, as evidenced by the Prime Minister’s recent pledge to make Britain a world leader in clean wind power and create tens of thousands of jobs in the process.

Firstly, it’s the right thing to do. All the science points to how, if we don’t act fast, the worst effects of climate change could be irreversible, bringing not just environmental degradation but huge social and economic problems in the future.

But it also has an impact on the bottom line for businesses. Just like the automotive industry is now beginning to shift from petrol and diesel to building electric cars because it has identified the direction of travel in the market, engaging with sustainability will make our business community more competitive in the long term.

Adopting greener credentials reduces running costs and helps us win new contracts and business.

It also makes the East Midlands more competitive as a region. It plays into our strengths as we have all the pieces of the sustainability jigsaw – the high energy users in

manufacturing, the energy producers in our coal field heritage, and new hi-tech businesses coming out of our world-leading universities.

The world is looking for solutions to climate change – innovative products and services developed in South Normanton could have a transformative impact in South Africa – so there is a clear commercial purpose to this.

Everyone has a role to play in this green transition and, while the region’s crown jewels of Rolls-Royce, Toyota and Samworth Brothers are already reducing their carbon footprint, the overall success of this will be driven by SMEs, which make up 99% of all businesses.

So it’s time for each of us to change our thinking on this subject, take responsibility and reap the rewards.

The Chamber, via our new Sustainable East Midlands campaign, wants to highlight the opportunities available for businesses, examples of organisations already successfully engaged in the low-carbon agenda and the support available to those that want to learn more about how they can too.

So keep an eye out on our website for details of the grants and loans available, relevant events and other ways of finding support.

This is indeed a decade of action and it needn’t be a frightening one, but an exciting period in the future of our region’s business community.

44 CHAMBER connect Autumn 2020

An in-depth look at the QES results The Chamber has been running its Quarterly Economic Survey for several decades now, and yet I’m not sure there’s a rollercoaster on the planet that would do justice to the well-worn analogy when describing how the economy has performed in recent times, writes Chris Hobson (pictured), Director of Policy and External Affairs at East Midlands Chamber. ollowing historic lows in the second quarter of the year, which covered a period when large swathes of the economy was essentially cut off at the knees, analysts and commentators have keenly anticipated the results from Q3. So what did the survey – which attracted a record 470 responses, making it the largest of its kind in the region and comparable with many national surveys – tell us?

There’s two ways of looking at the results: on a regional macro level, or on a local micro one.

So the macro headlines first. Given everything that’s taken place over the past eight months, the economy across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire is in decent shape. UK market activity recovered from historic lows (a net 55% decline in Q2) to return to positive territory (increasing for a net two per cent) for advanced orders and bookings, with export markets not far behind.

In terms of employment, the figures showed a net nine per cent of businesses reducing their workforce over the three months to September, but a net six per cent expecting to increase headcount over the coming quarter. Following massive drops in investment intentions over the summer, an encouraging 23% are now revising their plans upwards for both training and capital investment (the same percentage is revising downwards).

However, perhaps denting the ability for more to do so, a net 12% have seen cashflow worsen.

While sentiment may feel less tangible, it’s important as it can guide decisions made. For that reason, it’s encouraging to see turnover and profitability rise over the coming year for a net 27% and 19% of companies respectively,

F

compared to the reverse of these figures over the summer. Given everything the country has been through, the continued uncertainty and new ground we find ourselves on, these results should give some heart to people. There’s still a long way to go and, as we discovered in March, things can change quickly, but the economy isn’t as bad as perhaps many feared.

However, while this is positive news for national policy and decision-makers, it’s important we temper the statement with a recognition that people don’t exist on a macro scale. It’s a series of individuals and local experiences that make up life, and the overall numbers hide a whole raft of different experiences.

Looking by sector, our manufacturers – such an important part of the East Midlands economy – have been slower to recover, while some in logistics or IT have experienced a boom driven by the shifting necessity of online retail and remote working.

By geography, Derbyshire businesses haven’t performed as strongly as their neighbours in the other two counties, although some of this may be explained by a higher preponderance of manufacturers. More broadly, many of the services in our city and town centres have struggled, whereas those that have been able to shift to online or remote ways of providing their service have fared relatively okay.

In short, our 470 responses detail 470 different experiences and this poses tough questions for businesses and politicians alike.

These are the challenges we need to address over the coming quarter – against a backdrop of continued uncertainty about how the virus and associated policy will develop in addition to the forthcoming change in our trading relationship with the EU.

‘The overall numbers hide a whole raft of different experiences’

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The SCR Chambers: East Midlands

Helping get the region on track A

group of MPs, civic and business leaders from across the Midlands has written to Boris Johnson calling for the full delivery of HS2’s Eastern Leg from Birmingham to Leeds, via the East Midlands.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, the crossparty group cites a new report that demonstrates stark social and economic inequalities between the eastern and western regions of ‘ the Northern Powerhouse and Midlands Engine.

Mind the gap: The role of HS2’s Eastern Leg in bridging England’s east-west divide, authored by campaign group HS2 East, highlights that communities surrounding the Eastern Leg of HS2 Phase 2b suffer from lower productivity, poorer social mobility and receive lower levels of transport investment than communities surrounding its Western Leg, set to run from Birmingham to Manchester.

Signatories, which include East Midlands Chamber Chief Executive Scott Knowles and President Dawn Edwards, cite HS2’s Eastern Leg as an essential investment to address these inequalities, highlighting the huge regeneration schemes it is set to catalyse across the East Midlands, Yorkshire and North East – creating more than 150,000 highly-skilled jobs.

In the letter, the group says: “After decades of chronic underinvestment in transport, these regions are in desperate need of the regeneration, job creation and economic growth HS2 will bring. In accordance with your ‘levelling up’ agenda, we urge you to tackle these issues by taking action now.”

Productivity along the Eastern Leg of HS2 Phase 2b was found to be 10% lower than along its Western Leg, while the three Eastern Leg regions – Yorkshire and the Humber, the East Midlands and North East – have the three lowest productivity rates in England, falling 35%, 33%, and 32% respectively below that of London. These Eastern Leg regions were also home to twice as many “social mobility coldspots” than the Western Leg regions – areas where local authorities were within the worst 20% UK-wide for a range of criteria, including the education provided to deprived children, grades they receive and jobs they secure.

This was particularly pronounced in the East Midlands, which accounted for 26% of England’s social deprivation coldspots.

The Government is expected to soon publish its Integrated Rail Plan, which will examine how best to integrate Phase 2b of HS2 with Midlands Engine Rail and Northern Powerhouse Rail.

In desperate need of the regeneration, job creation and economic growth HS2 will bring’

Chamber kickstarts careers East Midlands Chamber is teaming up with local authorities and other organisations across the region to get young people into work via the Kickstart scheme – already facilitating 1,000 work placements.

The Chamber has signed up more than 320 businesses that want to take advantage of the Government programme, which will cover the cost of a six-month placement for 16 to 24-yearolds who are on Universal Credit or at risk of long-term unemployment.

Employers that want to create at least 30 placements can apply directly to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for a grant to cover the costs, but companies with fewer than 30 roles must apply via recognised gateway organisations, such as the Chamber.

To engage more businesses to create job opportunities for young people in their communities, and benefit from the additional resources offered by work placement students, the Chamber has collaborated with local authorities such as Chesterfield Borough Council to hold online information sessions.

...and that includes electrifying the entire Midland Main Line

The time has come for the Government to finally deliver on electrifying the entire Midland Main Line after a Network Rail report featured the scheme in a wider clean transport vision, says East Midlands Chamber.

The UK’s railway operator has set out plans to electrify 4,800 miles of railway lines – including tracks in the Midlands stretching hundreds of miles – by 2050.

Its Traction Decarbonisation Network Strategy involves a combination of highspeed electric, hydrogen and batterypowered passenger and freight trains.

In 2017, the Department for Transport scrapped £1.1bn plans to electrify the whole of the line from London St Pancras to Sheffield. This has since been replaced with an electrification programme that only goes as far north as Market Harborough, with “bimode” trains running on electricity for part of the route before switching to diesel.

But the Chamber has joined calls from other bodies, including Midlands Connect, to reinstate the original scheme immediately and get on with work that is ready to go.

Scott Knowles, Chief Executive at East Midlands Chamber, said: “Previous assessments have shown how improvements to the Midland Main Line deliver a fantastic benefit-cost ratio and would have a greater return on investment than similar schemes anywhere else in the country. However, promises to electrify the entire line have not been met and the region has missed out on the economic prosperity this could bring.

“Infrastructure investment is now at the heart of the Government’s economic recovery strategy so we’d hope that this report will pave the way for the scheme to finally be delivered in full.”

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The SCR Chambers: East Midlands

Putting your business needs at the heart of our strategy

A bold vision for the economy T

he East Midlands is planning a historic fightback from the economic impact of Covid-19 with a bold new vision to grow the economy.

Councils, businesses and universities across the region have come together to develop longterm plans that aim to create 84,000 jobs, unleash new technologies and add billions to the value of the East Midlands economy.

Backed by the Midlands Engine partnership, they will use proposals for a new East Midlands Development Corporation to drive a series of large-scale development sites, linking them to local communities through drastically improved transport connections.

They are also looking to East Midlands Airport to build on its status as the UK’s biggest airfreight gateway to drive international trade for key regional industries and businesses.

Each of the proposals individually covers an area the size of the London Olympic Park. They are being hailed as a potential transformation for the region’s economy by MPs, council and business leaders and universities.

Midlands Engine Chairman Sir John Peace, who has steered the oversight board behind the proposals, said it would be “nothing short of a transformation”.

Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station

“To make the most of this massive potential, we are working together to build a new organisation which will have the drive and purpose to achieve rapid progress.”

The East Midlands Development Corporation team is working with the Midlands Engine to secure an initial £235m of funding from Government, which will enable it to finalise proposals for three massive developments that will feed into each other to create regional impact: • Toton and Chetwynd – using the HS2 hub

station at Toton as the super-connected centrepiece of a new “Garden of Innovation” featuring a new community and innovation district • Ratcliffe-on-Soar – transforming the UK’s last coal-field power station into ZERO, a global research centre that will develop real-world low-emission technologies • East Midlands Airport – already the UK’s largest airfreight hub, the airport could be the centrepiece of an inland freeport that will provide regional businesses with a lower-cost gateway to international trade post-Brexit The Development Corporation will work to make sure the major redevelopment opportunities – which cross local authority boundaries – are joined up and maximise their potential.

Scott Knowles, Chief Executive of East Midlands Chamber, said: “We can see huge, long-term potential in these proposals. The better connectivity unlocked by HS2 and the proposals for airport expansion can be combined with the redevelopment of Ratcliffe to achieve a long-term impact which really shifts the dial of regional economic performance. It is vital now that the Government backs these proposals to the hilt.”

Scheme to reduce crime across Derbyshire Businesses across Derbyshire have been urged to work together by joining a scheme that aims to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour as the economic impact of Covid-19 takes hold.

Jackie Roberts, Manager of the East Midlands Chamber-run Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP), believes greater collaboration between employers will be crucial to the recovery of town centres.

About 100 organisations in Chesterfield, Matlock, Bakewell and Staveley are already signed up to the Partnership, sharing information that will help reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in the towns and surrounding areas. But it is now aiming to roll out the scheme further afield into the rest of Derbyshire to co-ordinate a more joined-up approach across the county.

Jackie said: “We know from past experience that periods of economic uncertainty can lead to more crime and anti-social behaviour in town and city centres.

“BCRPs don’t just generate benefits for their members, but also contribute to the wider community by helping identify opportunities for early-stage intervention and by working with police to pursue serious or prolific offenders through the courts. As the schemes work via an online information-sharing system, the more members there are, the more effective they become.”

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Derbyshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Hardyal Dhindsa (centre) with members of the Business Crime Reduction Partnership in Chesterfield

The BCRP, one of 200 such programmes in the country, is funded by both the Chamber and the Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner Hardyal Dhindsa.

Its remit to reduce crime in the participating towns fits into an overall objective to make them a safer place to work, visit, socialise and shop.

Members pay a fee, starting at £50 for the first year, and benefits include a GDPR-compliant data-sharing system that facilitates direct reporting to the police without the need to use the time-consuming 101 system.

Derbyshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner

Hardyal Dhindsa said: “The importance of partners working together to make retail areas safer, thereby encouraging footfall and cutting the costs of crime, cannot be overstated.

“We are all confident the initiative will cut crime, help the police and partners bring offenders to justice, and help to keep our towns and city centres vibrant places to live, visit and work.”

Anyone interested in discussing how to get involved with the Derbyshire Business Crime Reduction Partnership can email jackie.roberts@emc-dnl.co.uk

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The SCR Chambers: East Midlands

Generation Next launches new website

This year’s winners

Enterprising Women Awards set to return F

emale entrepreneurs, directors, employees and apprentices in the East Midlands will once again have a platform to showcase their success stories as the Enterprising Women Awards returns for 2021.

Applications are now open for the awards, which provides recognition to outstanding women in business across the region across various stages of the career ladder.

The annual showpiece event is organised by East Midlands Chamber and led by Eileen Richards MBE and Jean Mountain, who cofounded the Enterprising Women social network in 1997.

The 2021 awards features the same eight categories as this year’s event – which was held in early March as one of the last awards ceremonies before lockdown – including an honour for Outstanding Contribution to Work in STEM, which was introduced for the first time in the 2020 event.

Eileen, who owns the Leicester-based agency Eileen Richards Recruitment and is the Chamber’s Vice-President, said: “These awards are really special every single year, but 2020 has brought to light so much resilience and innovation.

“We’ve all had breaking points and as women, we’re not always good at admitting that, but we’ve kept going during some tough periods.

“So having the chance to showcase the achievements of women in our region from these times is going to be an incredible moment and I can’t wait to see the entries.

“We are incredibly grateful to our sponsors once again, many of which have returned to support what they believe to be a hugely important event for the East Midlands.”

Eileen Richards MBE

The categories, and their sponsors, are: • Social Commitment Award (sponsored by PPL PRS) • Apprentice of the Year • Employee of the Year (sponsored by Smallman & Son) • Female Entrepreneur of the Year Award • Team of the Year Award • Small Business of the Year (sponsored by Unique Window Systems) • Outstanding Contribution to Work in STEM (sponsored by Pick Everard) • Business Woman of the Year (headline sponsored by Futures Housing Group) This year’s event was launched during a virtual Zoom event, featuring a talk by Neeyantee Karia, the Co-owner of Leicesterbased “street food on-the-go” brand Jake & Nayns’ and the 2020 Business Woman of the Year, who reflected on the challenges she had encountered during a 20-year career in business.

The deadline for entries is Monday 21 December at 5pm.

Finalists will be announced on the week commencing 25 January and they will find out if they have won their category at a gala dinner planned for 12 March, subject to the Covid-19 situation.

‘The chance to showcase the achievements of women in our region from these times’

To enter the Enterprising Women Awards, visit bit.ly/2NZoR3W

East Midlands Chamber’s new network for young professionals has marked the launch of its membership package by unveiling a new website.

Generation Next aims to connect business owners and employees aged between 18 and 35 with like-minded people, develop their skills and open doors to new opportunities.

Formal and informal networking events, alongside a series of educational workshops, are designed to help the next generation of business leaders build their professional networks and skills.

The network is now open to welcoming members, who can sign up through the new Generation Next website.

East Midlands Chamber Director of Resources and Generation Next Project Lead Lucy Robinson said: “Looking back at my career, I know I would have really welcomed a network like Generation Next. The project is here to support the next generation of business leaders in their career journeys.

“Whether you are aiming for your next promotion, thinking of starting your own business or just looking to develop your knowledge, experiences and meet like-minded connections, the network can help you build your future within the East Midlands.

“Covid-19 has hit the younger generation hard and we are even more dedicated to supporting those struggling in this time.”

The network’s brand was revealed at a soft launch event held at Hilton East Midlands Airport in February, attended by more than 100 delegates.

Since then, it has created a free online events programme, which welcomed a range of the Chamber’s member companies and specialist advisers, in an effort to support the younger generation of workers through the coronavirus crisis.

In October, it launched its official membership package, which grants young professionals exclusive access to the network’s events programme, consisting of networking opportunities and workshops covering a range of skills and topics.

Members can also submit news content to the Generation Next website, access key resources and get involved in influencing regional policy.

To increase the network’s visibility, a new website has been commissioned by Chamber strategic partner Purpose Media. The new online community will serve as a hub of knowledge for young professionals, young entrepreneurs and students and graduates, as well as employers and line managers.

Individual membership costs £150 for 12 months, with companies that submit two or more employees for membership eligible for a 20% discount. To enquire about Generation Next membership, visit www.generationnextemc.co.uk or email the team at gennext@emc-dnl.co.uk.

You can also keep up with the network via LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

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Chamber Connect

48 CHAMBER connect Autumn 2020

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The SCR Chambers: Sheffield Sheffield Chamber of Commerce Support. Grow. Connect.

T: 0114 201 8888 E: membership@scci.org.uk W: www.scci.org.uk Twitter: @sheffchamber

Supporting our members Our region’s businesses will lead the way in the recovery and Sheffield Chamber will be right beside you every step of the way.

Supporting business. Connecting business.

Representing business.

Sheffield organisations leading way to support local recovery

rganisations across Sheffield have come together to support local companies that want to access the Government’s £2bn Kickstart scheme.

Kickstart is a Government funded scheme designed to create hundreds of thousands of sixmonth work placements for young people at risk of long-term unemployment, funding for employers is available for 100% of the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week, plus associated employer National Insurance contributions and employer minimum automatic enrolment contributions. There is also £1,500 per job placement available for setup costs, support and training.

Large companies, wanting to create more than

O

30 work placements, can apply for funding directly however smaller organisations, with fewer positions, need to use an intermediary organisation to make a funding application.

This is where ‘The Sheffield Partnership for Jobs and Skills’ comes in. We have developed a simple, easy to access gateway for small businesses to access the funding. We will help you with the grant application, but you get to decide how best to spend your £1,500 placement support funding.

THE SHEFFIELD PARTNERSHIP FOR JOBS AND SKILLS IS MADE UP OF:

For more information on the scheme and to get started, call 0114 201 8888 or email kickstart@scci.org.uk. A representative from the partnership will be in touch.

SHEFFIELD CHAMBER PATRONS 2020

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The SCR Chambers: Sheffield Sheffield Chamber of Commerce

Membership packages We offer a range of membership packages to suit all sizes of businesses across various sectors. Our benefits package is aimed at providing you with a choice, to accommodate your specific business needs and future strategy.

Support. Grow. Connect.

For more information visit: www.scci.org.uk

Top tips for coping with change A

t times of change and stress, it’s easy to let your wellbeing take a backseat. But the first step in being able to cope with changerelated stress is by listening to and meeting your own needs.

There are lots of small, daily things you can do to give you the best chance of changing your life or coping with constant change. Here are Westfield Health’s top tips for coping with change:

Stay active There are two parts to staying active: getting enough exercise and avoiding too much sedentary time. The NHS recommends that adults get 150 minutes of exercise a week – that’s about 20-30 minutes a day. Try searching YouTube for an at-home workout that you like.

Be conscious of negative thought patterns and worrying There’s a lot of scary news out there at the moment. Surrounded by these stories and with additional stresses like worrying about friends and family or juggling work with childcare, it’s easy to get stuck in negative thought patterns. There are lots of different types of negative thought patterns – take a look at this page on unhelpful thinking habits for more information on the different styles and how you can combat them: www.getselfhelp.co.uk/unhelpful.htm

Get the basics right When we’re overtired, it can be even harder to deal with stressful situations.

Try keeping the time you wake up and go to bed consistent to make sure you’re getting enough rest. Staying hydrated is also important: being dehydrated can affect everything from mood to memory.

Talk to others about how you’re feeling When we try to keep worries to ourselves, they can go round and round in our heads, increasing our stress levels. Sharing how you feel about change isn’t necessarily about asking others for advice; talking it through can allow you to come to realisations yourself or understand what is needed.

Chamber supports Children’s Hospital Charity Sheffield Chamber has pledged to donate a portion of any new membership fee to Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity Covid-19 Appeal.

With many of the Chambers regular fundraising events either cancelled or postponed due to the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic, Sheffield Chamber remains committed to supporting its Charity of the Year by raising vital money and awareness of the amazing work they do.

Sam Christmas, Head of Membership and Events at Sheffield Chamber, said: “Although events have been cancelled, the charities need for funds has not gone away.

From across the country, children are travelling to the hospital for lifechanging care and we need to do

50 CHAMBER connect Autumn 2020

our bit to ensure that the ongoing needs of the hospital are continued to be met.

“Sheffield Chamber is dedicated to playing our part and supporting our Charity at such a crucial time.

We have pledged that for every new member that joins Sheffield Chamber, a portion of their membership fee will be donated to the charities Covid-19 Appeal. This money will go towards ensuring the hospital and its staff have what they need to deliver world leading care right now, and in the future.

“By joining Sheffield Chamber, not only will a business get access to a vast array of support services that can help them through the pandemic and beyond, but the business will also provide essential support to a beloved local charity.”

For every new member that joins Sheffield Chamber, a portion of their membership fee will be donated to Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity Covid-19 Appeal

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The SCR Chambers: Sheffield

UK-EU transition period is ending are you ready?

From 1 January 2021 there will be changes for businesses that import and export with the EU. Melanie Rippon (pictured), International Trade Facilitator at Sheffield International Trade Centre, answers some of the frequently asked questions businesses are having.

How will our relationship change with our EU customers and suppliers?

Essentially, you will have more responsibilities. You will have to re-consider your incoterms to suit both the needs of you and your customer. Incoterm selection is critical in stating who is responsible for customs procedures and who pays what and when.

Customs declarations will also be needed when both importing and exporting, so you will also need to use an import/export clearing agent or freight forwarder who will do declarations for EU trade.

How much more will our goods cost our EU customer because of import duty?

This will be subject to the types of goods you will be importing. Businesses can check duty costs via www.gov.uk/trade-tariff.

I trade with Europe – What are the steps we need to take to prepare?

There are a range of steps you need to take, including obtaining an EORI number that starts with GB, acquire a Customs Broker, understand and management of duty and VAT etc. Ultimately, your business needs to be organised and be 100% sure of your responsibilities and consequences of non-compliance. You will need to gain approvals for certain types of imports, develop a duty management regime and have detailed records on transaction spreadsheets, called Entry In Declarants Records (EIDR), which will be assessed by HMRC. You will require a deferment account if you want

to delay payments of duty, unless your customs broker has facilities you can use.

Who can carry out our export and import declarations with Europe?

We can. We are an AEO registered authorised Customs Broker and able to complete all your declarations. With direct links to the HMRC Customs handling system and all inventory linked ports, we can ensure that your goods, no matter where they enter or leave the UK, will be cleared for onward transportation smoothly. We do have deferment account facilities which importers, that are using our services, can utilise on a short-term basis.

I am unsure if our current operations are fully compliant with HMRC? Speak to us. We can carry out a ‘Brexit Readiness Audit’ risk assessment of your import and export operations in line with HMRC requirements. We can also advise on effective measures to safeguard full compliance, ensure you understand your responsibilities and how your EU customers and suppliers will be affected. Navigating the upcoming changes can be difficult, however Sheffield International Trade Centre are committed to supporting your business.

Prepare your business now. Contact the Sheffield International Trade team on 0114 201 8888 or email international@scci.org.uk

Credit control app made available to members UK freelancers and micro-business owners continue to be plagued by the problem of late payment, with Sheffield one of the worst areas affected.

According to research from cloud accounting software company FreeAgent, just 35% of invoices sent during the 2017 calendar year were paid on time or within three days of their payment deadline.

This problem has only got worse since and, in response to this late payment epidemic, Sheffield Chamber of Commerce has launched a partnership with itsettled, an automated, proven and legally compliant process for SMEs to chase their outstanding invoices. itsettled, a graduate of the NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator programme, has an ambitious vision to help over 30,000 businesses

Automated, proven and legally compliant process for SMEs to chase their outstanding invoices

in the next five years – that’s as many as faced insolvency last year.

“We want to ensure that every business in the UK has the tools to chase their debts and get

paid on time, while maintaining a positive relationship with their valued customers,” said Glen Morgan, Co-founder and CEO. itsettled allows SMEs to automatically collect payment on invoices, making the process professional, quick and stress-free. Businesses have the choice of three packages based on their needs, hosted on an intuitive dashboard and including all compliant emails, letters and call scripts needed to run an effective credit control process. There’s also the option to have itsettled manage the posting of all letters, reducing a potential barrier for time poor businesses and their owners.

For more information on the member dedicated service, visit www.scci.org.uk, email membership@scci.org.uk or call 0114 201 8888.

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The SCR Chambers: Sheffield Sheffield Chamber of Commerce Support. Grow. Connect.

What we do The Sheffield Chamber of Commerce is a membership organisation here to support, connect and grow local businesses across the region.

Failsafe maximises membership C

hamber member, Failsafe Heating Ltd, has been singing the praises of Sheffield Chambers HR and legal services provided

by Quest. The four services, included in every level of membership, provide members access to five business advice lines, over 750 free business documents plus £1m of excess free insurance.

Helen Holden, Finance Director at Failsafe Heating, explains how useful the service has been over the last 12 months: “As a small family run central heating company, we found that we needed occasional help with HR issues and legal support to ensure we were maintaining employment and health and safety legislation.

‘In the past, we had been receiving advice from a family friend with experience in both fields, but as our business grew, we needed more than she was able to offer and therefore pointed us in the direction of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce.

“Having looked at a number of different packages and after a chat with a member of staff, we signed up with both Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Quest.

“We have been a member now for just over a year and have not looked back.

“The support offered throughout the pandemic has been excellent. The guidance on

Failsafe Heating Ltd joined Sheffield Chamber to access the Chambers HR, Legal, Tax and Health and Safety services

furlough and the information provided has been swift and clear and without their help, I would have spent hours trawling the internet trying to find trusted information.

“During our first year, we have had new employment contracts drawn up and a new staff handbook written, updated with all the new legislation. This not only has boosted my confidence, but the staff are happy in the knowledge that everything is being done correctly. Knowing that you have an expert at

the end of a phone to answer any questions you have is a weight off my shoulders and allows me to concentrate my time on developing and expanding my company.”

Failsafe Heating has now renewed their membership into 2021 on the back off the fantastic service that has been given.

For protection and peace of mind, visit www.scci.org.uk/membership to discover more on what is included

Harry Gratian MBE becomes patron of Paces

Harry Gration MBE, thrilled to become patron of Paces 52 CHAMBER connect Autumn 2020

One of Yorkshire’s most recognisable faces is to become a patron of Paces.

Broadcaster and journalist Harry Gration MBE says he is ‘thrilled’ to be supporting the organisation more formally and looking forward to supporting their work, including the campaign to build a new home for Paces near Sheffield.

Harry, who turns 70 this year, has been a familiar face on television in Yorkshire for over four decades and was appointed an MBE for services to broadcasting in 2013. He has supported Paces for many years, including compering their 2019 charity ball and helping organise visits by Sheffield United.

Paces has worked with individuals living with neurological conditions such as Cerebral Palsy, strokes, MS, Parkinson’s, and brain injuries since 1997.

The charity teaches children life-changing skills using conductive education – such as sitting, standing, walking, speaking, communication and self-care – in an environment they can have fun, develop friendships, and feel like they belong.

Harry said: “I am absolutely thrilled to become a patron for Paces. I have supported the school and charity for a number of years and it’s a place which is very special to me.

“I want to do all that I can to support them on their fundraising journey to build a new school and centre for children and adults with neurological conditions as this will allow them to support up to three times as many families which is just amazing!

“I’m very excited to be part of #TeamPaces and look forward to working with their fantastic children, adults, families and staff.”

Spencer Pitfield, Chief Executive of Paces, said: “Harry is someone who is known and loved across Yorkshire and beyond, so I am delighted he is becoming a patron of Paces. He has long been a supporter of the work we do, and an ambassador for our charity and school, and we are thrilled he has accepted our invitation to take up the role more formally.

“We look forward to working with him as we continue our ambitious and exciting plans to build a new home so we can support more children, adults and families across Yorkshire in the future.”

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The SCR Chambers: Sheffield

Making a difference and helping the NHS Members of The Fractional Group

Industry chiefs offer help to SMEs The Sheffield Hospitals Charity supports the local NHS and its staff

Thanks to the generosity of Sheffield residents, Sheffield Hospitals Charity has been able to support the NHS over the past few months at this unprecedented time of need.

Back in March, Sheffield Hospitals Charity launched its ‘Support your NHS’ appeal in response to the current Covid-19 pandemic. At that time, the charity vowed to stand shoulder to shoulder with local hospitals and their amazing NHS staff. And it meant it.

Over recent months the charity has been blown away by the incredible support that it has received from generous local residents and ‘ donations have allowed the charity to invest every penny into supporting the NHS here in Sheffield.

To date, the charity has been able to provide: • A substantial grant to the hospitals’ ‘Staff Health and Wellbeing’ service, ensuring that staff have access to the additional support that they need during this time; • The creation of CALM rooms right across the hospitals, giving staff the safe, quiet space that they need when things get tough or when they are on a break from a busy shift; • A new ‘Keep in touch’ service', allowing patients to remain in contact with their loved ones during their stay in hospital; • Treat and comfort packs for staff throughout the hospitals, including food and drinks as well as toiletries so that staff can freshen up in between busy shifts and demonstrate how appreciated they are; • Patient comfort packs, ensuring that patients are comfortable and rewarded during their stay; • Radios that have gone right around the hospitals, ensuring that morale is kept as high as possible at all times.

But the truth is that there is much more besides the above as the charity is working every day to give support to NHS heroes.

But now, as the country faces up the reality of a ‘second wave’, and as South Yorkshire gets to grips with the new Tier 2 restrictions, there is so much more to do and the support of local residents will continue to be needed more than ever.

Adrian Stone, Chairman of Sheffield Hospitals Charity, said: “We want to say a very heartfelt ‘thank you’ to everybody who has so generously supported our local appeal, as well as the national NHS Charities Together appeal, including Captain Tom’s efforts. Never has the support of the people of Sheffield meant so much.

“Our job has been to ensure that your money is spent in ways that you would think wise, caring and impactful and we are proud of everything that we have been able to provide at these challenging times.

Ensuring that our hospitals and their staff have the support they need is our number one priority.

“But times continue to be tough and this continues to be a very serious and dangerous time. So, now, please help us to continue this work and keep supporting our NHS. We are still seeing unprecedented levels of heroism from all NHS staff and we want to continue to do all that we can to support them.”

The charity will continue to support its hospitals and their staff as this pandemic continues to affect us all. But in order to do that, Sheffield Hospitals Charity needs your help.

The charity has been blown away by the incredible support that it has received’

You can support your local NHS by donating to Sheffield Hospitals Charity’s appeal, here: www.sheffieldhospitalscharity.org.uk/appeal/ supportyournhs

C-level experts from a cross-section of professional services have joined forces to create a new executive consultancy offer for small businesses in South Yorkshire, the East Midlands and surrounding areas.

The Fractional Group is the brainchild of Sheffield based IT Consultant Ian Hilton, who brought together eight specialists with vast experience in areas such as data security, HR, operations, supply chain, marketing, finance and technology.

Its purpose is to gives SMEs on a small budget the opportunity to have ‘ondemand’ access to individuals at the top of their industry.

Ian said: “The Fractional Group is a coming together of brilliant businesses from across the region to provide a powerful force to aid SMEs development.

“I am very proud to be part of this, working with exceptional people to further develop the concept of collaborative working.

“We can offer advice and guidance to any business or sector. All the assistance and delivery capability they need is in one place, so The Fractional Group becomes their long-term trusted partner.”

As well as Ian, The Fractional Group’s team includes: • Co-founder Peter Storer, a senior-level IT Executive with more than 35 years’ in IT, business change, customer service, project management and strategy • Mike Donoghue, a Strategic Technology Leader with over 30 years of global IT consultancy • Pam Cannell, an International Senior HR professional who has spent more than two decades working on designing and implementing people strategies • Phil Webster, who brings 25-plus years of operations experience to boardrooms after delivering operational transformation at major organisations • Gilbert Tuplin, a Procurement and Supply Chain Director and Consultant with extensive experience across various B2B and B2C sectors • Paul Chapman, a Marketing Director who has been in the industry at all levels for more than 20 years.

• Alastair Rennie, who has a history of working in management for non-profit organisations, with skills in areas such as business processes, customer relationship management, IT service management and business transformation.

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Chamber Connect

For bookings or further information, please contact us:

01709 529 709 rotherhamsales@daviesturner.co.uk www.daviesturner.com

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Chamber Connect

the long-established international freight and logistics company, has jumped 42 places to 119th position in the latest Sunday Times PwC Top Track 250 league table, sponsored by PwC and Lloyds Bank.

The rise up the Top Track 250 table follows Davies Turner’s earlier success in the British International Freight Association’s (BIFA) Freight Service Awards. Recognised as the UK's premier freight and logistics awards scheme, Davies Turner won gold in the European Logistics category.

This success is a testimony to the progressive investment that Davies Turner continues to make in its distribution centres, IT systems, services and staff training, while its strong audited results and financial performance are a product of its total focus on responding to ever-evolving customer needs.

With very few other logistics companies in the top 250 table, it gives Davies Turner a unique selling point in competitive and rapidly changing markets, which has been a characteristic of the company’s development throughout its 150 year history. Davies Turner is well placed to take on any challenges the future may bring.

aim to give a high level of service to all its customers on all modes of transport, be it air, sea, road or courier.

We have the capabilities to move heavy and out of gauge consignments, as well as general freight forwarding by all modes. We also offer valued added services such as assisting with letter of credit and offering Marine Insurance. in essence from an envelope to a factory, normal to abnormal.

Branch Manager 01709 529 709 andrewford@daviesturner.co.uk

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Feature: Health in the Workplace

Keep support in mind

By Sally Moore, MBACP (pictured), Psychotherapeutic Counsellor, Essence Counselling & Psychotherapy Mental wellbeing in the workplace Over recent years, employers have become increasingly proactive in supporting their workforce with their health and wellbeing, through a variety of initiatives, from providing health insurance through to funding gym memberships.

According to the Thriving at Work report (2017), roughly 15% of people at work experience symptoms of mental health conditions, and the cost to businesses is estimated at £33bn-£42bn. Roughly half of this cost is attributed to presenteeism; employees continuing to work while struggling with their mental health.

It is recognised that organisations need their workforce to be flexible and resilient in today’s fast-paced, everevolving business landscape. As I write this, we do not yet know the full extent of the impact that the pandemic has had on the mental health of our workforce.

The report asserts that employers can have the greatest impact in supporting the wellbeing of their staff. Among its recommendations, it advises that employers support staff by raising awareness of mental health and by providing tailored support.

While the business case for promoting wellbeing in the workplace is clear, my experience of working with organisations and small to medium businesses is that many employers are concerned about individual human cases, and show a genuine interest in the welfare of their employees.

We know that stress, for example, is not always work-related.

Pre-existing mental health conditions, and/or personal circumstances such as a bereavement, illness in the family, or a relationship break-up can have a huge impact on a person’s mental health.

Approaches to provision of talking therapies Providing talking therapies such as counselling or psychotherapy for employees is one approach recommended in the Thriving at Work report, under tailored support. The effectiveness of counselling in the workplace was recently reviewed by the Institute for Employment Studies (2020) in their report that confirmed that if 56 CHAMBER connect Autumn 2020

implemented well, workplace counselling reduces sickness absence and presenteeism and increases job retention.

So how as a business, do you go about this? Well, there are a number of ways in which employers can provide this service. Some organisations offer an in-house service, either by employing a counsellor or by contracting externally for a counsellor to attend on-site. Other organisations subscribe to an Employee Assistance Programme where counselling can be accessed, or a health insurance provider who may also offer counselling as part of their package. Another approach is to contract with a local counsellor.

If you are thinking about offering talking therapies to support employees with mental health, it is important that you research the various ways in which it can be done, and decide which approach would be right for your business or organisation.

Finding a local counsellor/psychotherapist When providing talking therapies through contracting with a local counsellor or psychotherapist in private practice, there are some benefits and considerations to think about.

A benefit of finding a local counsellor is that the employee can choose who they see. Often, people will choose their counsellor based on how ‘friendly’ they appear in their photograph and online bio, making it easier for them to open up. They can also choose from a wider range of type talking therapies based on the descriptions and what they feel will benefit them most.

It is important that the therapist is adequately qualified and experienced. One way of ensuring this is by checking that they are registered members of organisations such as: British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), National Counselling Society, or United Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP).

Online directories, such as the Counselling Directory, and Psychology Today, can also be useful in finding a local therapist. These directories vet all counsellors and psychotherapists before they are listed, to ensure that they are qualified and registered with a membership body.

‘Workplace counselling reduces sickness absence and presenteeism and increases job retention’

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Feature: Health in the Workplace

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Feature: Health in the Workplace

Creating a safe work environment

While many continue to work from home during the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, this isn’t possible for every workforce. As a result, employers have had to implement steps to make the workplace Covid-19 secure. Chamber Connect explores some of the measures you should take. s an employer, it is your statutory duty to ensure the health and safety at work of your employees. This requires you to implement and maintain a safe system of work and ensure that your employees follow it.

Employers will need to carry out Covid-19 risk assessments to establish what guidelines need to be put in place, and the results from the assessment should be shared with all employees.

Businesses with over 50 employees must publish the results of the risk assessment on their website – but it’s a good idea for smaller firms to do the same as staff, clients and customers will appreciate the transparency.

Before you re-open workplace, your risk assessment must factor for the following: Safe distancing – all workspaces should be re-designed to maintain a two-metre distance between all staff wherever possible. Changing layouts and creating one-way walkways/staircases can help achieve this.

Transmission risk – where the two-metre distance can’t be

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maintained, you should look to manage the transmission risk. This can be managed by erecting physical barriers between individual workspaces in shared spaces and minimising the amount of contact different teams can have together.

Cleaning – workspaces should be cleaned more frequently. Pay close attention to high contact objects, such as door handles, taps and kitchen equipment. Hand sanitising stations should be set up at all entry points, and alternatives to touchbased security devices, such as key pads or fingerprint scanners, should be provided. It is also prudent to check air conditioning and ventilation systems.

Support for vulnerable workers – You must do everything that is ‘reasonably practical’ to protect them in the workplace; this can include limiting their duties to tasks where strict social distancing guidelines can be followed. Include them in conversations about what can be done to help protect their health, and regularly review your risk assessment as Government advice on how to deal with the pandemic changes.

‘It is your statutory duty to ensure the health and safety at work of your employees’

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Chamber Connect

An multi-award-winning, specialist recruitment consultancy leading the way in innovative solutions for a range of customer requirements across the UK.

TEMP RECRUITMENT Our temporary recruitment solution offers a cost-effective and reliable way to keep your workforce flexible during unprecedented times. ORB Recruitment provide qualified and competent staff across a range of sectors and locations, enabling our clients to scale their staffing levels and reduce fixed overheads.

PERM RECRUITMENT For more senior and specialist roles our dedicated and professional team can undertake an in-depth recruitment programme to find the most talented individuals for your business. Our awardwinning and innovative process reduces the time to hire, reduces recruitment costs and provides a remarkable solution which has delivered time and time again when making that critical hire.

EXECUTIVE SEARCH & SELECTION Our executive search and selection service covers the entirety of functional disciplines at executive and board level. By engaging our vast network of outstanding business leaders, ORB Recruitment have an impeccable track record of delivering the highest calibre of talented individuals for roles that are pivotal to your business success.

For more information about ORB RECRUITMENT or to discuss how we can support your business, contact our dedicated team today.

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Feature: Professional Services

Recruitment keeps evolving to meet its hire purpose

By Claire Walker (pictured), Director, Big Fish Little Fish 020 has been an unusual year for us all so far, and the recruitment industry has been no different. No more face-to-face interviews (everything is done via zoom or other online platforms), creating a very different experience for us, the recruiter, and for both the candidate and the employer recruiting.

Throughout the pandemic period, from when it commenced to present day, recruitment has grown in areas, changed in other sectors and perhaps evolved even more. I think we have all learned to work more proactively and offer solutions for both end employers and candidates, including working from home, staggered start and finish times and much more.

From when I started as a recruiter some years ago, the art of securing a new opportunity was to advertise a vacancy which was usually found within the job pages of a newspaper. The negative with this is it only offers one opportunity to hit the target audience and if your most suitable candidate did not purchase the paper that day then you had missed your candidate. Eventually, the industry moved to digital with numerous job boards now online, giving recruiters a great platform to advertise their jobs as well as their brand.

Candidates now apply for jobs by uploading their CV to job boards and changing their Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn status to advise others they are actively looking for new opportunities. In turn, the recruiter now predominately has to find potential candidates without them even applying for the job. Recruitment has become very much like online shopping; upload your CV, change your profile – then the candidate waits for a recruiter to find them.

A good recruiter should always be looking for excellent talent to have in their pool, in order to tempt employers potentially recruiting. Knowing your candidate and having a strong relationship is as important as knowing your client who needs a recruit, as you cannot match one without the other.

LinkedIn and such have become major recruitment tools both for the end employer and recruitment consultants. It allows us to look over candidate profiles, see previous employment and head hunt if we are looking at candidates for specific industries or even looking for certain individuals

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from specific organisations – it really has changed the way the recruiter and the job seeker perform.

Facebook, Instagram and Twitter all play their part in different ways. There are also numerous groups for job advertisements and industry pages that offer information aimed at targeting and attracting talent.

Instagram is a newer platform for the job market but one which is rapidly growing. The platform is extremely popular with the younger generation and one where the attraction to target the right candidate is easy, depending on the job type.

With candidates currently uploading their CV to job boards, it’s more important than ever for employers to partner with a recruiter in order to secure additional talent.

A recruiter really can help with managing the process, from obtaining a job description through to the offer stage and ensuring the end the employer does not lose the candidate prior to commencing.

That covers how the market has slowly changed over the years – but what about the current situation? Many people regularly ask me “How is the job market?” and despite many redundancies within specific job markets, there are lots of great opportunities. Now is an excellent time to get your CV up-to-date and start looking.

The temporary market is very buoyant and a great way for the end employer to try before they commit long term to a person or even a new role. It also allows the candidate to try and gage if the role is right for them. The permanent market is very busy with many industries really looking at what they need moving forward to create growth and sustainability.

Most of us use social media daily but just remember all prospective employers will look at what someone posts, so be aware! Final tip? Have an appropriate email address when applying for jobs.

‘Candidates now apply for jobs by uploading their CV to job boards’

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Feature: Professional Services

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Feature: Professional Services

We bring the experience of an accomplished work-based apprenticeship provider, that have worked with large and small organisations. In turn bringing fresh new innovative ideas and delivery systems consistently.

We provide both online and in-house training opportunities for flexibility of delivery, which is fully supported. Our courses range from 1 to 5 days and our longer qualifications from 6 to 12 months.

We can also provide bespoke training for individuals.

All our staff are qualified within their areas of vocational delivery and our courses are fully accredited by awarding bodies. We can deliver nationally, whilst catering for both employers and individuals alike. Please contact the office for further information.

Our current provision covers:

• BIIAB Level 2 Award for Personal License Holders • BIIAB Level 2 Award in Food Safety in Catering • BIIAB Cleaning needs – Level 1 to Level 3 • WAMITAB – Level 1 Award Principles in Infection Prevention and Control • WAMITAB Level 1 Award Practical Cleaning Skills • BIIAB Team Leading and Management – Level 2 to Level 5 • BIIAB Business Improvement Techniques – Level 2 • WAMITAB Sustainable Resource Management – Level 2 to Level 3 • IWFM Facilities Management – Level 2 to Level 4 • Functional Skills Maths and English – Entry Level 1 to Level 2 (some funding may be available) We have more courses and NVQs in development which will be available shortly.

T: 0114 2484445

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E: enquiries@tagcommercial.org

W: www.tagcommercial.org

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Feature: Professional Services

Are you linked in or tuned out?

By Chris Lewis (pictured), Marketing Consultant rom the current challenges and headwinds facing brands in 2020 from Covid-19 and new remote selling practices to post GDPR hangovers, brands have accelerated the migration to and are increasingly dependent on digital marketing activity. However, social media is not a cure all and it will not provide the quick fixes that brands scramble to find during difficult times without proper consideration.

Reactionary social media campaigns will potentially do more harm than good without a comprehensive communications strategy required to deliver the brand objectives. This includes a substantial amount of thought being applied to be effective and avoid the type of panic posting that can damage your brand at a time when headwinds are already exacerbating any pre-existing weaknesses.

A comprehensive marketing strategy ensures that all activities are aligned, that all channels are pulling in the same direction and that the message you deliver is concise, well defined, credible, and consistent.

Whether building a brand through strategic long term posting or building your pipeline through tactical shorter term posting the objective remains the same – to sell your brand and its associated commodities – “Build the brand, to buy from the brand.”

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What you post is a representation of your brand Social media posts are one of the more intimate and personal ways of engaging with your audience. They provide brands with the ability to reach them as a peer and it’s therefore imperative that you have a clear definition of what the communication is trying to accomplish. Who are you? Who are we talking too? what do you do? why should I care?

Reactions are as important as the post itself. When a post is made, you are committing to an ongoing engagement process that requires governance. Conversations need to be fostered and connections need to be nurtured. Likes, shares and comments should also be seen as endorsements of the brand you represent so be aware of what your activity is representing – your reactions convey to the public domain and network.

content and frequency should be optimized to drive anticipation and engagement with content delivered in a regular, predictable frequency.

All roads lead to action Whether taking a strategic approach or especially a tactical approach, your content should deliver value through a clear call to action. Social media, because of its ability to interface with such sizeable and active audiences, will very often be the start of your sales funnel, therefore posts should be created as the first step of a longer engagement process.

“Sanity over vanity” It is imperative that brands define objectives, KPIs, and what success really looks like. Is it volume of followers or sales conversions that you’re trying to achieve? Applying sanity over vanity empowers a brand to focus on what really matters – driving and attracting audience metrics that are good for the books.

Talk to me and I will talk to you Make sure your posts are relevant to the channels you are using, avoid repetition and adapt to the unique characteristics of each platform. .

Consider the response you wish to solicit and avoid “dead ends” for increased engagement and reach. Your posts should offer your opinion, your interpretation, and your relevance to the topic at hand. Your audience want to know what you think, your relevance and your value – ultimately, what does that topic have to do you with you? Why should I connect your brand to that message?

OLD news is no news Audiences are motivated by the “here and now”. The instantaneous nature of posting means that social media is at the forefront of breaking news, emerging trends and reactions to the popular opinions of the day.

What you post must respect this by being relevant, genuine and timely and brands should avoid exploiting topics where a clear value proposition or position of credibility cannot be established – as this can leave your brand ruthlessly exposed as empty and irrelevant.

Selecting the right platform The prevalence of the digital marketing has been supported by multiple channels. Each platform has a unique set of opportunities and challenges which will ultimately determine where you choose to invest in and which style and content you apply within your social media strategy. Formal, informal, broad, focused, global or regional – the right message for the right audience in the right manner and in the right medium.

Same place, same time?

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Sector Focus

The latest news from Sheffield City Region businesses operating in the Legal, Corporate Hospitality, Finance and Skills & Training sectors.

Legal 500 spot for Taylor&Emmet heffield’s Taylor&Emmet LLP has retained its position among the region’s highestranking family law specialists in the 2021 edition of The Legal 500.

The firm is one of only three recommended in tier one for family law by the definitive industry guide, whilst department head, Michaela Evans, is recognised as a “leading individual”.

In total, Taylor&Emmet is recommended in seven areas of practice, including corporate and commercial work, in which it ranks in tier three and is described as a “key name for owner-managed businesses in the South Yorkshire region”.

The firm’s trusts and probate team retains its tier two status, whilst tier three rankings have also been awarded to the wills and probate, commercial litigation, personal injury and clinical negligence teams. Head of Clinical Negligence, James Drydale, is described as “standout” and the growing department is praised for its “patient and understanding approach”.

Steve Hinshelwood, Taylor&Emmet’s Chief Executive,

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The Taylor&Emmet team

‘Our exemplary family law team is flying the flag for Sheffield’

said: “One again, our exemplary family law team is flying the flag for Sheffield in The Legal 500, demonstrating the breadth and depth of its

expertise in matrimonial and childcare matters. We are pleased to receive such positive testimonials from those surveyed and to be recognised in so many

areas of practice for the highquality service we provide.”

Call: 0114 218 4000 Visit: www.tayloremmet.co.uk Twitter: @TaylorEmmet

Employment law firm celebrates expansion Bhayani’s expansion plans come to fruition with the opening of an office in Leeds.

The firm was established five years ago by Jay Bhayani, looking to offer expert, specialist employment law advice and outsourced HR services to individuals, business, and charities.

The innovative firm is fast becoming the “go to” law firm in Yorkshire for this much needed area of work and has seen a significant increase in turnover year on year since set up.

The unfortunate consequence of Covid-19 has included workforce planning and redundancies across many sectors. The importance of expert, practical and costeffective support has put Bhayani Law at the forefront of much of the advice to companies in the Yorkshire area and beyond.

The team offers an award-winning fixed fee outsourced HR service for businesses. The Watertight plan gives expert support on HR,

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employment law and H&S at a small fraction of the cost of inhouse provision. Bhayani is looking to expand its services across the region.

Managing Director Jay Bhayani said: “We are

excited about our move into Leeds City centre, where we can better serve existing clients in West Yorkshire, while also building relationships with new clients and the local community.

Personal service is at the heart of everything we do, and we feel we have something innovative to offer to the Leeds City region. We are looking forward to welcoming clients to our new office soon.”

Business Consultant Jason Thelwell said: “Having joined the firm a few months ago, I am delighted to be involved in the expansion plans.

Adding new services to our outsourced support package and growing our locations will allow Bhayani Law to continue to offer both individual and business customers an outstanding service from the award-winning team.”

Call:0113 869 6860 Email: hello@bhayanilaw.co.uk

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Sector Focus:Legal

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Sector Focus:Corporate Hospitality

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Sector Focus:Corporate Hospitality

Face-to-face networking will always be important

herever you fall into the spectrum of business, we all craved the ability to carry on talking and connecting through networking, even if this was just for some human interaction. As a country, we have mostly pulled together, and as business communities, we have been resilient.

Many organisations are using video and virtual tech to keep going, rather than face disaster, but will video stay and will this kill off physical networking events?

We see the murmur of some businesses talking about how everything can be “done online now”, but this is a very dangerous path to tread.

Of course, safety must come first, but how can a 60second pitch on a device screen, multiplied by 20 to 60, ever be more productive than meeting a “real” person in “real” time? Face-toface will always be the most powerful tool any business can have in their arsenal, and they need to use it or lose it.

Video has been a saving grace for many businesses and it has been brilliant to see video networking events take place as an emergency plug. It has also brought in more opportunities for bringing people and different regions together for business.

But these innovations should only add and complement to the all-powerful face-to-face networking opportunities that really help a business to develop authentic, people-based and supportive relationships. This is the true magic of quality networking.

How can a robotic process, which allows for very little genuine human interaction, ever help you to

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converse to build up a relationship?

I’m sorry to say I speak to businesses every day that tell me networking is a waste of time, and it is because they have experienced sales-heavy, robotic networking events – and video networking has only added to this negative view.

But to those of us who have embraced virtual tech, let’s not beat ourselves up about it. “Going virtual” has been a godsend and a great stopgap. Particular credit is due to any networking event that hasn’t followed the standard format, but has tried to offer something different, even remotely appealing or entertaining.

At KuKu Connect we set-up a number of free supportservices including the “Carry on KuKu” daily video bulletins, which were packed with tips, advice, events, opportunities, offers and shoutouts for businesses, venues and charities.

We’ve also had our “KuKu Cocktail Hour” virtual video networking event, in which we held online connect receptions that proved effective for many businesses.

But our attention is relatively short for anything virtual. A pandemic is a temporary issue, so the world will gradually be opening back up safely, so it is the duty of business leaders – and particularly networking organisers – to eventually get back out there,.

Video, you’ve done a sterling job and we are happy to have you on board, enhancing business networking, but you’re never going to outshine face-to-face business networking – and if you do, it will be to the detriment of quality communication for businesses and communities the world over. So get back out there!

Credit: Saul Morgan

Whether you love or hate networking, the way in which it vanished overnight has hampered the ability of many organisations to make crucial connections with future collaborators and clients. From its ashes arose video networking – but Philip Brooks-Stephenson, Development Director at events company Kuku Connect, explains why the virtual dimension won’t ever replace the physical world for getting businesses talking.

KuKu in lockdown

‘It has been brilliant to see video networking events take place as an emergency plug’

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Sector Focus:Finance

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Sector Focus:Finance

Accountancy firm appoints Manager uxton accountancy practice SMH BullockWoodburn has appointed Ross Jordan as the office’s new Senior Manager following the retirement of former Partner and Consultant Karen Woodburn.

Since BullockWoodburn merged with Sutton McGrath Hartley (SMH), a South Yorkshire and Derbyshirebased practice, in March 2018, Karen has been on a phased exit strategy to ensure the transition for clients and staff has been as smooth as possible.

Karen said: “Following the merger of BullockWoodburn with SMH, it has always been part of my long term plans to phase in my retirement. Over the past two and a half years I have found my time in the office becoming more limited, and have therefore took the decision to retire completely from SMH BullockWoodburn. It’s been an absolute pleasure to lead the firm for the past 22 years, but the time is right to complete my exit. I wish all staff and clients every success for the future.”

Karen’s retirement coincides with the appointment of Ross Jordan as the new Office Manager for SMH BullockWoodburn. Ross, who is ACCA qualified, is a long-standing

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‘ Ross Jordan (front), with Karen Woodburn and Jonathon Dickens

member of the senior management team at SMH and specialises in helping owner managed businesses and personal tax clients.

Ross said: “I’m delighted to be given the opportunity to take the reins at our Buxton office. I have previous experience of running an office in the SMH group following another merger, and am looking forward to continuing the good work Karen has done, as well as getting to know the clients and the community.

“I work with SMEs across many sectors, but have a keen interest in agriculture, aided by my own rural background. I’m confident I can add value to clients in these sectors, which have been serviced well over the years Karen has been involved in the business.

“One of our key objectives is to make sure we continue to exceed clients’ expectations, and spot opportunities for tax savings and personal financial planning via our full service offering at SMH.” Jonathon Dickens, Partner at SMH, said: “Ross is the perfect choice to take the reins at SMH BullockWoodburn to ensure the practice continues to grow. We so we know the firm will be in safe hands going forward.”

Growth Enabler helps business recovery As businesses across South Yorkshire continue to restart, rebuild and recover, NatWest’s Business Growth Enabler Paula Williamson (pictured) will be supporting businesses across the region in their growth aspirations.

In her role, NatWest will work with local partners including Be More Social to champion the potential of businesses and support business owners as they develop and grow.

This may be through one-to-one mentoring support or by helping entrepreneurs connect with a business network.

Paula has been working with Rik Courtney of Be More Social for more than five years. Over that time, they have supported dozens of businesses develop and implement their social media strategies. They are currently putting together a series of webinars to help businesses bounce back and plan for the future against the backdrop of the

continuing Covid-19 pandemic.

Paula said: “The last six months have been an incredibly challenging time for all of us in a variety ways but, as we look the future, it’s absolutely vital the local eco-system continues to support businesses across South Yorkshire as they move forward. We know there are new enterprises that have developed over this period as well as those that have had to adapt and change, and I look forward to working with our partners including Be More Social to support further growth in South Yorkshire.”

As part of her role, Paula will be running regular events on topics such as cyber security and applying for funding, and will also support new and developing businesses achieve their potential through NatWest’s Business Builder. The digital tool is on hand to provide help with all aspects of getting new businesses off the ground, with a wide range of online learning.

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Sector Focus: Finance

Broker help businessess stay afloat ith winter approaching, IFM Insurance Brokers is providing Sheffield firms and landlords a solution to combat flooding and the devastating effect it can have on business.

A new partnership between IFM and FloodFlash provides a rapidpayout flood insurance product.

This new flood insurance is available for all businesses and landlords in South Yorkshire.

FloodRe, the national scheme for providing affordable flood insurance to homeowners, is not

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available to businesses and landlords.

FloodFlash uses advanced riskmodelling and mobile-connected sensors to remove the costs, time and uncertainty associated with traditional flood insurance and works in three simple steps: • Firms choose up to three trigger depths and pay out values for their cover • A FloodFlash engineer installs a mobile-connected sensor at a signed up firm within 14 days • When a flood reaches the agreed

depth, FloodFlash sends the firm an agreed settlement in full.

Annual UK flood losses are estimated at £500m (JBA) and 52% of small businesses on floodplains don’t have any form of flood insurance, exposing them to significant financial risk (FSB).

Mark Barlow, Managing Director of IFM Insurance Brokers, said: “Storm Ciara earlier this year was a timely reminder of the devastating affect flooding can have on firms and landlords across South Yorkshire.

“With firms and landlords being denied insurance through a combination of insurers, this new solution provides peace of mind and cover which is not available elsewhere.”

FloodFlash Commercial Director Brent Jackson said: “Brokers are the lifeblood of successful commercial insurance companies.

This new partnership will help us cover more of the highest risk businesses and landlords to make sure they can recover when the next flood hits.”

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Sector Focus:Finance

Whether just starting out or well established, businesses use finance for any number of reasons. Cash-flow along the supply chain is a frequent concern. Suppliers, tax liabilities and wages can’t wait. Assets and property require funding.

An extensive range of financing solutions is available, with access to lenders across the whole of the market.

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Sector Focus:Manufacturing

The need for on-site water treatment ollowing the recent news that just 14% of England’s rivers meet EU pollution guidelines, Dave Garton (pictured), Managing Director from wastewater treatment specialists Atana, says that this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Dave said: “The Environment Agency is applying increased pressure on water companies to clean up their act, which is leading to more focus on businesses upstream that discharge trade effluent.

As one of the biggest users of water and thus one of the biggest producers of wastewater, the food manufacturing sector needs to have this issue on their business risk matrix.

“The existing sewage treatment system prioritises domestic use and with housebuilding on the rise, this leaves less capacity for industrial trade effluent producers to discharge to sewer.

Increasingly, food manufacturers need to consider their own wastewater treatment operations in order to dispose of trade effluent in-line with their discharge consent.

“Each region of the UK has different capacities for sewage, and I can guarantee that most businesses in any water intensive sector are being challenged with tighter trade effluent discharge limits or improved compliance demands. Our current sewage infrastructure simply cannot cope with demand, contributing to the current situation where pollution is finding its way into the river network.

“There are solutions to this problem. Food manufacturing facilities can build their own wastewater treatment plants to a point where wastewater is cleaned to enable a degree of

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recycling. Recycled water can then be used for vehicle washing, cooling towers and in steam generation boilers.

“When you consider that wastewater disposal by road tanker can cost up to £25 a tonne, this should be the last resort. And, if water companies refuse to take trade effluent into their network, return on investment (ROI) doesn’t come into it as a business would face risk of closure. The ROI on a waste water treatment plant within current trade effluent discharge consent agreements will usually be less than two years; some of our recent installations have paid back within 12 months.

“If we’re going to try and improve the cleanliness of our rivers, every water intensive industry has to play its part. On-site waste water treatment plants are therefore vital for our sector, something that must be considered when new or expanding factories are planned.

“We all need to wake up to the fact that when things go down the drain they don’t just disappear.”

Atana is part of the WCS Group, delivering waste water treatment services to food manufacturing and other industries, focusing on improving the environmental credentials of its customers. The company design site specific equipment and provide chemical treatment with regular service and maintenance visits to ensure a business complies with legal trade effluent.

‘Our current sewage infrastructure simply cannot cope with demand’

Visit: www.atana.co.uk

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Sector Focus:Manufacturing

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To enquire now: pvsupermarket.co.uk/doncaster-chamber Quote ‘Chamber15’ when you enquire so one of our dedicated team members can get back to you as soon as possible.

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Sector Focus: Skills & Training

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Sector Focus: Skills & Training

Funding to help young people in South Yorkshire he Sheffield City Region has secured more than £130,000 of funding to further boost careers education, helping to tackle youth unemployment and supporting businesses to build back better from the challenge of coronavirus.

A new Careers Hub will be launched in Sheffield, allowing up to 55 new local schools and colleges to work together with universities, training providers, employers and careers professionals to improve careers education. The new hub will work alongside Doncaster’s existing Careers Hub. Sheffield City Region Mayor Dan Jarvis said: “The region’s new Careers Hub is crucial in helping to prepare and inspire young people for the fast-changing world of work. I’m determined that we support our young people and businesses through this incredibly challenging time, and the Careers Hub can give both the skills they need to thrive.

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“This will help our effort to make South Yorkshire stronger and fairer as we build back better from Covid, and is a step toward delivering our Renewal Action Plan, which will support over 55,000 training and job opportunities and create 3,000 apprenticeships.”

Careers Hubs are a central part of the Government’s Careers Strategy, published in December 2017. A Careers Hub is a group of up to 55 secondary schools and colleges who work together to collaborate with business partners, the public, education and voluntary sectors.

Mainstream and special schools will both be supported. Their aim is to improve careers outcomes for young people.

James Muir, Local Enterprise Partnership Chair, said: “The members of our Careers Hub will

‘A shared vision of how to work together to improve outcomes for young people’

have a shared vision of how to work together to improve outcomes for the young people in their area. This is essential as we strive to drive economic growth, create new jobs and attract new investment from companies across the world.

This work will secure our pipeline of local talent ready to take on the work demands of the future.”

The new Careers Hub has access to support and funding to coordinate activity and build networks and access bursaries to

train Careers Leaders. The funding is equivalent to £1,000 per school or college.

There have been two previous waves of Careers Hubs set up as part of a pilot test, backed by Government investment. In this third wave, hubs are being scaled across the country. Around a quarter of schools and colleges in England are now benefiting from Careers Hubs.

Visit: www.careersandenterprise. co.uk/about-us/our-network/ careers-hubs

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Sector Focus: Skills & Training Delivering skills to adult learners Independent Training Services, part of Barnsley College, has teamed-up with Manchester-based The Growth Company to expand the reach of its popular new preemployment training courses.

The Growth Company is the primary contract holder of the European Social Fund’s ‘Skills Support for Employment’ funding for both Manchester and Sheffield City Regions. It subcontracts Independent Training Services to deliver Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) in partnership with Jobcentre Plus and local employers in Barnsley, the Dearne Valley, Chesterfield, Bassetlaw, Doncaster and Sheffield.

Amy Lees, SSE Operations Manager for Sheffield City Region at The Growth Company, said: “We are proud to work alongside ITS on our Skills Support for Employment contract across the Sheffield City Region. They have a strong Sector Based Work Academy delivery model that gives some real handson experience and has delivered some fantastic results since they joined our supply chain in 2019.

They also have incredible employer links within each local authority, giving our learners the best chance at finding work.”

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New partnership forged with Partners in Learning nique School Learning, the long term education recruitment specialists, are excited to announce that they are the first to embark on a Programme Partnership with Partners in Learning.

Unique School Solutions will be working alongside Partners in Learning Doncaster, to provide support and improve access to high quality educational staff.

They hope to extend their large network and create long lasting relationships with Doncaster schools.

Caroline Needham, Director at Unique School Solutions, said: “We are ecstatic to be the first Programme Partners of Partners in Learning Doncaster. We can’t wait to get involved in Headteacher Briefings and other online activities that PiL have planned.

“It’s a shame that we will miss out on the bacon sandwiches that are usually on offer as the upcoming briefings will be virtual, but we are excited to attend nonetheless.”

As the education sector begins to rebuild and evolve due the challenges faced throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, Partners in Learning and Unique alike are focused on relieving as much stress as possible through supporting and aiding schools.

Unique recently introduced their Covid Response Team to help schools through out the pandemic.

Unique are keen to introduce their distinctive approach

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‘We can’t wait to get involved in Headteacher Briefings and other online activities’

to education recruitment, which is structured to benefit schools and trusts. Their 12-week model allows schools to assess new members of staff and ensure the right decision is made every time.

Rebecca Dodd, Director at Unique School Solutions, said: “No two schools are the same, their needs, requirements and budget can be vastly different. One member of staff may be the perfect fit for a school in Rotherham but this may not be the case for another in Barnsley. It’s our job to recognise this and adapt our services to each schools individual needs.”

For Unique School Solutions the ultimate goal is to connect high quality teachers, teaching assistants, support staff and other educational professionals with schools that match their culture and personality.

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Sector Focus: Skills & Training

We understand that as your business grows so do the needs of your staff.

We can train, upskill and develop your staff skill set; so that your business outshines others with your highly trained and motivated staff force. Studies show that by investing in high quality training, staff retention rates improve.

We offer informative accredited excellent quality courses:

• • • • •

First aid Emergency first aid Manual handling Safeguarding Mental health first aid

• Health and safety • Fire awareness and training to enable the responsibility of Fire warden to be undertaken

We support local businesses with their training and development needs by using local trainers to deliver friendly and professional training.

COVID has had a massive impact on the mental health of the country: help to ease staff anxieties at returning to the workplace with one of our motivational courses, self care and mindfulness.

Give your staff the tools to get the best out of them.

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If your supply chain is being affected by the coronavirus outbreak, our EXPRESS CHINA RAIL SERVICE could be the answer to getting your shipments back on track.

With Wuhan still affected we have moved our weekly LCL and FCL rail service to Xi’an, offering a transit time of just 22-24 days from Xi'an terminal to our Dartford depot.

Cargo moving under ‘FCA’ terms of shipment (equivalent to FOB) can be freely accepted. Any ex works shipments will be checked by our dedicated rail team on a case-by-case basis to ensure that collection from the factory/delivery to the Xi’an rail terminal is possible.

T: 01709 529709 W: www.daviesturner.com E: rotherhamsales@daviesturner.co.uk