Niche Magazine Issue 57 by Cross Productions

#InspireInclusion

January-February 2024

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY FEMINISM IN 2024

B Corps

Building a better world

Innovation Festival

Small change, big business impact

#SkillsForLife

National Apprenticeship Week

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Celebrating

International Women’s Day March 8

EVENTS UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER

March 3 – 14 A series of events with topics including women in history, breast cancer awareness, innovation, stargazing and STEM

WOMEN OF THE GUILDHALL March 5-6 Free guided tour of The Guildhall

SPACE PARK LEICESTER

March 8-9 A series of events showcasing women in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths)

ATTENBOROUGH ARTS CENTRE

March 8 Attenborough Late: International Women’s Day: a free immersive live art experience, presenting the best in local music, dance and visual art in our gallery and café

2024

AN EXPO WITH A DIFFERENCE

Understand how you can use Digital Tools to drive business growth n Transform your business by embracing AI and Technology n What’s happening in the East Midlands in 2024 – Join East Midlands Chamber and SMB College Panel Discussion at Love Business EXPO 2024 n

Thursday 15th February 2024 • Holywell Park Conference Centre • Loughborough

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> Wide range of businesses from across the East Midlands

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> Presentation Theatre with inspirational business speakers > Café Networking Hub – reconnect with old contacts > Speed Networking

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EDITORIAL Editor: Kerry Smith kerry@crossproductions.co.uk Senior Journalist: Emily Miller emily.miller@crossproductions.co.uk

A WORD FROM

Feature Writer: Tom Young tom@crossproductions.co.uk

THE EDITOR

CONTRIBUTORS Photography: Hitz Rao ART STUDIO Head of Design Studio: Susan Holmes susan.holmes@crossproductions.co.uk ADVERTISING Marketing Director: Sally Smith sally@crossproductions.co.uk Marketing Consultant: Tracey Hunter tracey@crossproductions.co.uk MARKETING AND CIRCULATION Marketing Director: Sally Smith Produced by Cross Productions crossproductions.co.uk Print management: Soar Valley Press Distributed by Media Matters Direct and Self Select Distribution SUBSCRIPTIONS Orders and enquiries 0116 271 2573 Online enquiries nichemagazine.co.uk Email info@crossproductions.co.uk PARTNERSHIPS Contact us to discuss partnership opportunities on jenny@crossproductions.co.uk MANAGEMENT Chief Executive Officer: Jenny Cross jenny@crossproductions.co.uk

nnovation was a prevalent theme in the last quarter of 2023. A tactical recruitment overhaul from Barratt Smith Brown; a new venture between Exceda and Thrive Strategic HR Solutions; and Leicestershire’s Innovation Festival are proving that small businesses must innovate to remain competitive. Barratt Smith Brown’s innovation-driven merger shows that investment into new methods and ideas can grow a business, with its relocation to the more distinguished New Walk setting. My Event Hire also relocated, upgrading to a 17,000 sq. ft space in Wigston which has propelled them forward on their path to net zero. And Nottingham-based Landsmiths Solicitors have their eye on Leicester to expand into. The last year saw many successful mergers suggesting small businesses are finding benefit in combing their operations with others. Meanwhile, other firms have focused on raising the bar by achieving B Corp status. We looked into 10 Leicestershire companies that have gained the social and environmental certification. While this first issue of 2024 looks back on the previous year with anniversary celebrations and sports roundups, we take a look forward to the opportunities ahead. Leicester is innovating with its new volunteer Tourism Ambassador scheme and National Apprenticeship Week encourages employers to develop a workforce with future-ready skills. And our beautiful front cover is innovation in itself. Niche’s first-ever gatefold cover allows us to engage more readers and to present this group of inspirational local women who have shared their stories with us to mark International Women’s Day.

@magazineniche

@magazineniche nichemagazineuk

Published by Cross Productions Ltd 17 Mandervell Road, Oadby, Leicester LE2 5LR info@crossproductions.co.uk

Disclaimer – Niche Magazine and Cross Productions Ltd are fully protected by copyright; no part of this magazine may be reproduced or reprinted without the complete and expressed permission of the publisher. The greatest care has been taken to ensure accuracy, however there can be no liability accepted by the publisher for errors and omissions. We can under no circumstance be held responsible for any materials, matter or photographical copy submitted for publication or not within the website or magazine. We cannot be held responsible or liable for any breaches of copyright from adverts, materials or photography or any other such material supplied by a third party. The views and opinions expressed within our publications are not necessarily those of the publisher or indeed Niche Magazine or any featured parties.

CONTENTS JANUARY-MARCH 2024

ON THE COVER

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY FEMINISM IN 2024

THIS ISSUE 40

Local women tell their stories

Serial entrepreneurship

A lifetime of fighting for women

Modelling a career open to all

Resilience as a career path builder

The strength of a woman

A familial line of stunted dreams

Women supporting women

A Rebel with a cause for good

At the table of inequality

On the side of women in the workplace

Walking through doors of opportunity

Challenging prejudice

Building blocks of creativity and motherhood

Discussing violence against women and girls

EVERY ISSUE 08

Business News

Q1 Business Booth

Socials

Open Office

National Apprenticeship Week

BUSINESS 10

A new generation of business support

East Midlands Chamber Business Awards

Leicester law firms align

Leicester on the map for firm’s expansion

Insolvency explained

Finders keepers: recruiting the right people

The businesses building a better world

Niche Business Awards 2024

LIFESTYLE

‘Main purpose’ testing when selling a business

Internationally renowned teachers join Yoga Loft

The Peter Principle of promotions

City living: shopping and accommodation

Redefining recruitment

Practice made perfect

Events company airs their linen in public

Business and property finance

A pregnancy journey nothing short of amazing

The biggest mergers of the year

Reviewed: The Beauty Barn

Major anniversaries of 2023

Date ideas for Valentine’s Day

Alternative Business Awards

Afternoon teas and spas for Mother’s Day

Leicestershire Innovation Festival

Remembering Ruth Miller

The merger that took an SME global

Amira Forum’s next cohort

Leicestershire Law society: the 2024 awards

CULTURE

and a new President

Dear Evan Hansen comes to Curve

National Apprenticeship Week

How to become a Tourism Ambassador for

New Year’s Honours list 2024

Date ideas for Valentine’s Day

updates

Leicester 72

World Book Day: Top local reads

Book reviews

Reviewed: Knight & Garter

Reviewed: The Cow and Plough

GBBO: What’s next for our Josh Smalley

Sports news

The Secret Garden comes to The Little Theatre

Rolling in the aisles: Leicester Comedy Festival

East Midlands Chamber Christmas Lunch

Leicestershire Community Champion Awards

Leicestershire Law Society celebrates Diwali

Beautiful Pubs Collective turns 15

Winners of the Best Bar None Awards

Enterprising Women Award winners

IXL’s Christmas party

Choosing your charity of the year

Menphys grows its services

Team Lamp raises over £10k

NICHE | 21

Business

BREEDON CONSULTING AND SANAMENTE PARTNER TO OFFER FIVE-STEP APPROACH TO ULTIMATE WORKPLACE WELLBEING Breedon Consulting, an HR, management and training service, has joined forces with ‘Strive with SanaMente’, a wellness platform, to pioneer a holistic approach to employee wellbeing. Leveraging their combined expertise, Breedon and SanaMente have devised the ‘Platinum Employer Package’ that adopts a five-step approach, empowering businesses to: Assess their workforce’s wellbeing; Learn valuable insights; Act with proactive strategies; Engage & Interact with supportive resources; and Reflect & Review their progress. Nicki Robson, Managing Director of Breedon Consulting, said: “What we’ve designed is a research-based programme that genuinely assesses individuals for a tailored approach. As HR specialists, we strive to proactively guide and support our clients to identify where early intervention can be provided and lead to sustained employee wellbeing and a sustained, skilled workforce.” Linda Neville, CEO of SanaMente, added: “Our partnership introduces fresh perspectives that challenge employers to reconsider how they approach the mental fitness of their workforce. What we’re offering is not just theoretical; it’s a down-to-earth, sensible solution to the complex human challenges that businesses encounter.” 08 | NICHE

WESLEY LOVETT, CHARITY BANK; VICKI STEPHENSON, LEICESTER SOCIAL ECONOMY CONSORTIUM; AND DAVID BRAZIER, LSEC

LEICESTER SOCIAL ECONOMY CONSORTIUM SECURES VITAL REFINANCING DEAL WITH CHARITY BANK Leicester Social Economy Consortium (LSEC), one of the largest social enterprises in Leicester, has successfully secured a £625,000 refinancing deal with Charity Bank, the loans and savings bank owned by and committed to supporting the charities and social purpose organisations. Ed Siegel, CEO at Charity Bank, commented: “We are proud to stand beside LSEC in their mission to empower social enterprises. This partnership not only exemplifies our commitment to the social sector in Leicester but also underscores the importance of financial support in driving positive change. LSEC Consortium plays a vital role, and we are pleased to continue our relationship by providing the necessary financial foundation for their impactful work.” Earlier this year, LSEC faced a financial challenge when their previous loan provider ceased catering to loans under £1m. Undeterred, LSEC actively sought a new partner and found a reliable ally in Charity Bank. The swift intervention of Charity Bank provided the necessary support through a refinanced loan, positioning LSEC strongly to continue and expand its impactful work as a vital local resource. This includes contributing to employment opportunities, preserving architectural heritage, and enhancing the overall local economy.

THE FUNDING WILL SUPPORT FOUR KEY PROJECTS: Decarbonising Transportation: Delivering skills training through seven new LSIF-enabled courses for industry at levels 3 and 4, covering current and future green transport technologies to drive becoming Carbon Neutral. Green Leadership Skills (Cross-sector): The collaborative development of short contextualised, level 3 courses including a new ‘Green Leadership Health Check Tool’ for leaders, managers and decision-making staff within organisations to assess the viability of implementing sustainable energy/waste/building technologies.

£3M GOVERNMENT GRANT TO BOOST TRAINING AND SKILLS OPPORTUNITIES IN LEICESTERSHIRE A collaboration of local colleges, led by Leicester College, has been awarded a grant of £3m from the Department for Education’s Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF) to fund a range of new projects focused on decarbonising transportation, encouraging green leadership skills, digital upskilling and employer skills training. Verity Hancock, Principal of Leicester College, said: “As the leading local provider of training and apprenticeships, the funding will enable us to continue to invest in our vocational training programmes and develop relationships with local businesses. This will ensure that our students have access to the best industry-wide employment opportunities and that employers can

work with highly skilled young people and adults.” The collaboration includes Leicester College, Loughborough College, North Warwickshire & South Leicestershire College and SMB College Group. More than £200m has been announced as part of a funding boost to support colleges and training providers to offer more high-quality training opportunities in key industries, including the green sector. Leicester College will receive a part of the £165m funding to work collaboratively to meet the employer skills needs identified in the local area’s Local Skills Improvement Plans. This will provide local businesses with access to the skilled workforce they need to grow.

Digital Upskilling: Creating easyaccess, flexible, short courses/ units/modules between levels 3-5 for Digital Skills in business, including digital marketing, social media, cloud computing, data analytics and an introduction to Artificial Intelligence. Employer Skills Training: Reviewing Further Education training options across Harborough and surrounding districts. This will include adult provision and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages). The project will include a Training Needs Analysis and a review of travel to learn times/zones and options across Leicester and Leicestershire. The College will also receive a share of £44m from the Skills Injection Fund to support more people to take the Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQ) to gain in -demand skills including digital, health care and engineering as an alternative to a traditional three-year degree.

GRAND HOTEL’S MAJOR FACELIFT WILL HELP RESTORE HISTORIC SHOP FRONTS TO FORMER GLORY The Grade II listed Grand Hotel in Granby Street is set to be repaired and restored as part of Historic England’s High Street Heritage Action Zones. As part of a major programme of improvements now underway, the shopfronts that line the Granby Street façade of the hotel will be reinstated as close to the building’s original design as possible. Work is expected to take around five months to complete and will be supported as part of the city council’s successful bid for £1.5m towards a High Street Heritage Action Zone for the Granby Street and Church Gate conservation areas.

Deputy city mayor Cllr Adam Clarke, lead on climate, culture and the economy, said: “The Grand Hotel is a fine example of Leicester’s Victorian past and the city’s rich architectural heritage. It’s important that we continue to invest in our historic city centre shopping streets to support local businesses, boost the city’s economy and create a place where many more people want to live, work and visit.” Work to restore the Grand Hotel will be led by Leicester’s Hickman & Smith Architects and carried out by specialist contractors Trinity. Gateley RJA are appointed as Quantity Surveyors. Earlier survey and design work was carried out by conservation experts Conception Architects.

NICHE | 09

A new generation of business support as East Midlands Chamber secures £8.9m funding

usinesses in the region are to receive a significant boost to their operations with a helping hand from East Midlands Chamber’s new generation of business support. The Chamber has secured £8.9m of public funding until March 2025 to deliver its Accelerator project, which aims to provide one seamless point of entry for relevant business support. It comprises key activities under the strands of net zero, innovation, digital and finance, aiming to help companies at all stages of their development to start, sustain, grow and innovate. The East Midlands Chamber Accelerator project brings together a number of publicly-funded contracts including the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), a key part of the Government’s levelling up agenda to enhance communities, businesses and skills; Innovate UK EDGE, which helps innovative SMEs to grow and achieve scale; and Made Smarter East Midlands, which assists manufacturers in switching to advanced and automated technologies. Diane Beresford, deputy chief executive of East Midlands Chamber, said: “The Accelerator programme has been carefully designed to provide businesses across the district with the right support, at the right time. “At the heart of the project is a team of locally-based advisers and specialists, employed by the Chamber, who will offer high-intensity support to businesses seeking to grow, create new jobs, or exploit technology to improve performance. “Working with an adviser or specialist will be a key ingredient for businesses interested in taking advantage of Accelerator support and a diagnostics report will show them where best to point their energies.” 10 | NICHE

DEDICATED BUSINESS ADVISER SUPPORT

Key activities will be delivered under the strands of net zero, innovation, digital and finance to help businesses: ■ Develop new-to-the-firm technologies ■ Improve productivity ■ Safeguard and create jobs ■ Adopt new technologies and processes ■ Engage in new markets ■ Improve productivity ■ Introduce new products and services ■ Increase revenue ■ Make progress towards net zero. The Net Zero Accelerator will build on the success of the Sustainable East Midlands campaign to deliver events, workshops, and the opportunity for an energy-saving and improvement opportunities audit. Other investment themes include increasing investment in research and development at local level, with a focus on commercialising ideas and accelerating the path to market; improving training hubs, incubators and accelerators to support entrepreneurs and start-ups through the early stages of development and growth; and taking a whole systems approach to infrastructure investment that delivers effective decarbonisation across energy, buildings and transport. While Accelerator is open to all sectors, manufacturing, visitor economy, retail and services businesses are thought to be critically important sectors that warrant targeted support.

ACTION-PLANNING WORKSHOPS AND DEDICATED BUSINESS ADVISER SUPPORT

The Accelerator programme will build on the success of the Growth Hub service via a range of fully-funded action-planning workshops delivered locally on topics such as finance, carbon efficiency, HR and digital marketing.

 DIANE BERESFORD

Working with a local business adviser or specialist will be the first port of call for businesses interested in taking advantage of Accelerator support. Diagnostics will be assessed, and a business action plan produced through the Balanced Scorecard strategic management system model. Growth vouchers worth up to £2,000 – covering 100% intervention – will be available for specialist or sector-specific training or consultancy, in addition to support for identifying and accessing grant funding.

OPPORTUNITIES TO UPSKILL AND COLLABORATE

Businesses employing more than five people and with a turnover of £100,000 are invited to apply for a Chamber subsidy covering the £750 cost of joining the Help to Grow: Management course delivered by the region’s universities, with the remaining cost covered by a Government subsidy. Collaboration is the theme too for the Chamber’s East Midlands Manufacturing Network, in which manufacturers can share best practice and seek advice during local forums that take place every six weeks. Businesses interested in this next generation of business support can contact the Chamber on 0333 320 0333 or info@emc-dnl.co.uk to arrange an exploratory meeting with a business adviser. For a full list of Accelerator events, visit bit.ly/acceleratorevents.

N I C H E B U S I N E S S F E AT U R E EAST M I D LAN D S C HAM B E R

East Midlands Chamber Award winners Success in enterprise across Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire was celebrated as the East Midlands Chamber Business Awards returned for 2023 in November. Gala dinners were held in association with headline partner Mazars at The Venue@DMU for Leicestershire, Derbyshire County Cricket Club for Derbyshire, and Nottingham Belfry for Nottinghamshire. Hundreds of people turned out at the three ceremonies, which recognised 150 finalists across 13 categories, and

raffles raised £2,738 for the Chamber Charitable Fund. Scott Knowles, chief executive of the Chamber, said: “The winners of our business awards are testament to the resilience, ingenuity and hunger for growth within the East Midlands business community, which never ceases to amaze.” The Leicestershire Business Awards were hosted by ITV weather presenter Emma Jesson, while the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire ceremonies were hosted by former badminton world champion Gail Emms MBE.

Sponsored by East Midlands Freeport

Sponsored by Nottinghamshire County Council

Sponsored by Eight Days a Week Print Solutions

Sponsored by Eversheds Sutherland Sponsored by University of Nottingham Sponsored by Express Recruitment Sponsored by DHL

Sponsored by Nottingham Trent University Sponsored by Geldards Sponsored by Mazars

NICHE | 11

Leicester law firms align to back business community IT’S BEEN A LANDMARK YEAR FOR LAW FIRM NELSONS, WITH ITS ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATING 40 YEARS IN 2023 ACCOMPANYING THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF ITS ACQUISITION BY LAWFRONT; A SIMULTANEOUS CELEBRATION OF THE PAST WHILE SHAPING ITS NEW FUTURE

 STEWART VANDERMARK

12 | NICHE

nding 2023 in as triumphant a way as it started, Nelsons acquired two firms, including a familiar face in Leicester. It was just over three years ago when Nelsons announced its acquisition of boutique family law practice, Glynis Wright & Co, and the team graced the cover of Niche issue 43. The move solidified the firm’s commitment to its Leicester base and the business community it has continued to support. And now, it has announced the acquisition of local firm Pattersons Commercial Law, welcoming the team to its New Walk office. Stewart Vandermark, chief executive at Nelsons, said: “Nelsons has always remained focused on its East Midlands roots, building organically through its reputation and success, as well as completing strategic deals when the opportunities arose. “Joining Lawfront has allowed us to become more ambitious in pursuing our goals – we have a shared strategic view in which consolidation will only accelerate within the legal sector. By joining with Lawfront we saw the exciting opportunity to move more boldly and identify like-minded firms

that would enhance our employee and client offering.”

Shared values

Founded seven years ago by Rik Pancholi, Pattersons Commercial Law is recognised regionally for its corporate and commercial work, particularly with owner-managed businesses. Prior to setting up his own firm, Rik qualified as a solicitor at Nelsons before expatriating to Singapore with his family. On his return to the UK, he managed and led teams at other law firms before building Pattersons Commercial Law. Fond of his time at Nelsons, Rik instilled much of the culture of Nelsons when building his own firm. Rik said: “As a corporate solicitor, I have always had a clear roadmap for the firm and I truly believe the secret to success is having clearly defined phases of focus; proof of concept, organic growth, establishing the team, acquisition and finally, consolidation. “We achieved this ten-to-15-year plan just in time for our seven-year anniversary. On meeting with the Nelsons team, I saw the excitement around the firm and where it is headed. It was just too good an opportunity to miss; a chance to come back into

N I C H E B U S I N E S S F E AT U R E N E LS O N S

a space I know our team will thrive and our clients will continue to be supported.” Stewart added: “Conversations with Rik began around June 2023, and I was able to understand Rik’s ambitions and it was clear how aligned we were; it felt like a fantastic opportunity for us both. And who better to join us in helping reach our goals than a former colleague who understands our culture and vision? Rik and his team’s skills and loyal clientele perfectly complement our existing expertise and I am so pleased to welcome them into our fantastic Leicester office.” Pattersons Commercial Law provides a boost in expertise to Nelsons’ already growing business services teams in Leicester. It brings new team members in the corporate and commercial departments, covering various specialisms such as business restructures, dispute resolution, employment, insolvency and commercial property. Outside of the acquisition, the Leicester office has also confirmed a number of promotions this year, showcasing the strength of its talent and dedication to the firm. Corporate solicitor Palbir Vadesha was promoted to senior associate

IT WAS JUST TOO GOOD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MISS; A CHANCE TO COME BACK INTO A SPACE I KNOW OUR TEAM WILL THRIVE AND OUR CLIENTS WILL CONTINUE TO BE SUPPORTED

earlier this year, strengthening the business support for Leicester. Private client services have also been enhanced through promotions this year - in the family team, mediation specialist and family solicitor Gayle Rowley stepped up from legal director to partner, as well as Rina Mistry and Louise Scott to senior associate. Emma Lewin was also promoted to senior associate in wills and probate.

Full force at forty

More than two decades since it set up the Leicester office, Nelsons continues to support businesses, individuals and families. Nelsons has been dedicated to helping businesses and employees navigate the various challenges of the economic landscape. Stewart said: “It’s been another record turnover year for Nelsons, with seven years of successive growth across the firm. This has been mirrored by Leicester, where figures are seven

per cent up on last year, adding to an overall 49% growth for this office over the past five years. “Entering our fortieth year has brought with it a new, bold vision and exciting future plans – it was great to end 2023 on such a high. There is still so much opportunity to progress, and I am incredibly proud of what all our teams have achieved. I look forward to seeing what the new year holds for us.” The Pattersons Commercial Law acquisition was the first of two to round off an impressive year for Nelsons, with Nottingham-based Cleggs Solicitors also joining the firm just a few weeks later. Nelsons has been listed in The Times Best Law Firms 2024, with a commendation for personal injury and clinical negligence. The firm was also announced as a finalist in this year’s The Lawyer awards for Law Firm of the Year: The Independents category as well as securing multiple Tier One rankings in The Legal 500. NICHE | 13

N I C H E B U S I N E S S F E AT U R E LAN D S M ITH S S O LI C ITO R S

Moving into town THE CO-OWNERS OF NOTTINGHAM-BASED LANDSMITHS SOLICITORS ON THEIR EXPANSION TO LEICESTER WORDS BY TOM YOUNG

I  RACHAEL BRIGGS VIK MOOTHIA 

14 | NICHE

ndependent legal practice Landsmiths Solicitors is expanding into Leicester, a strategic decision made by co-owners Rachael Briggs and Vik Moothia. Providing services for individuals and businesses across a full range of residential and commercial property matters, the company is wellestablished in the Nottingham area and gaining national award recognition – winning Boutique Conveyancing Firm of the Year at the British Conveyancing Awards 2022 – they’re looking to expand into Leicestershire. “Landsmiths is the result of 10 years’ work,” said Vik. “We’ve each worked in big corporate law firms and worked together at another small practice. Our reputation in Nottingham has been born out of the team’s experience. “Leicester is on the agenda because of the success we’ve had in Nottingham. It’s a natural progression for us; it’s such a great city that’s diverse in its sectors. Leicester is a growing city that presents some great opportunities for us to offer our services to the business community and individuals there.” Rachael added: “We feel like there’s a gap in the market, as many of the independent solicitors have merged with larger corporates. We’re also not a high street practice, and there are numerous examples of those in Leicester. With us, you get both the personal service of a boutique

practice and the experience of a big corporation.” The relatively intimate dynamic between client and solicitor that comes from a boutique practice can be lost during growth periods, but Rachael and Vik are wary of that possibility. “One of the things we really pride ourselves on is the culture of the firm and how everyone works together,” says Rachael. “We’re conscious of making sure any expansion doesn’t dilute that culture, leaving us as ‘just another law

LEICESTER IS A GROWING CITY THAT PRESENTS SOME GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR US

firm’. That’s not what we want to be, so we’ll move slowly and maintain our standards.” While the long-term plan is to establish an office in the city, the digital world means that the expansion can happen remotely at first, taking on Leicester clients and interacting online. “So much can be done online now. We can use DocuSign for contracts, all our ID checks are done online and we’re about to launch our own app for all our clients to use to communicate with us.” Landsmiths Solicitors are initially expanding their services into Leicestershire digitally, with a physical office expansion in the business plan for the near future. Keep up to date with their move at landsmiths.co.uk or follow them on LinkedIn.

N I C H E B U S I N E S S F E AT U R E S P R I N G F I E LD S ADVI S O RY

Insolvency explained S BUSINESS RESTRUCTURING AND INSOLVENCY EXPERT SITUL RAITHATHA OF SPRINGFIELDS TALKS CASH FLOW, FINANCIAL DISTRESS, AND WHEN TO CONSIDER EMPLOYING AN INSOLVENCY PRACTITIONER

mall business owners are suffering from sleepless nights according to Intuit QuickBooks study, the State of Small Business Cash Flow. It found that 69% of small business owners say they have been kept up at night by ongoing concerns about their cash flow status. As a busy business owner, it’s understandable that there will be times when you feel stressed and worried about how you will pay suppliers and staff wages. Often, this stress can lead to sleepless nights, making it difficult to make clear-headed decisions about your business’s future. This is where an insolvency practitioner can help. The primary objective of an insolvency practitioner is to help a company in financial distress. Whether that means restructuring to improve profitability or arranging a formal insolvency procedure, their aim is to provide support and guidance to company directors. This includes ensuring that the director understands

their legal obligations and making sure they are aware of the consequences of different courses of action. One of the benefits of engaging an insolvency practitioner is that it covers the back of a director. By seeking professional advice, the director can demonstrate that they have taken appropriate steps to address their company’s financial difficulties. This can help to avoid criticisms and legal issues that might arise if a company continues to trade when it is insolvent. It’s important to understand that an insolvency practitioner’s ideal outcome is to keep a company alive and turn it into a profitable entity. This means they will explore all options before recommending that a company enters into a formal insolvency process. In many cases, this might

69% OF SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS SAY THEY HAVE BEEN KEPT UP AT NIGHT BY ONGOING CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR CASH FLOW STATUS

involve restructuring, refinancing or negotiating with creditors to find a solution that works for everyone involved. If you’re a business owner who is struggling with financial difficulties, it’s important to seek professional advice as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the fewer options you will have available to you. By engaging an insolvency practitioner, you can get the right advice and support to help you make informed decisions about the future of your company. More information can be found at springfields-uk.com. Situl invites Niche readers to call on 0116 299 4745 to book a free no-obligation consultation for direct advice. NICHE | 15

The right people

in the right places FINDERS KEEPERS, A NEW PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN TWO EXISTING BUSINESSES IS HELPING COMPANY LEADERS PLACE NEW HIRES IN THE MOST APPROPRIATE ROLES TO ENABLE THEM TO REACH THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL 16 | NICHE

N I C H E B U S I N E S S F E AT U R E FINDERS KEEPERS

ecruitment and human resources are natural bedfellows, but are rarely packaged together. Ensuring that a business is hiring the right people for the right roles, and then keeping them fulfilled and happy, is so important for a positive working environment. A new collaboration is seeking to tackle this challenge through a holistic approach. Recruitment and HR specialists, Nikki Sargent (Exceda) and Emma Spradbury (Thrive Strategic HR Solutions) have unified their efforts to form their new working partnership, Finders Keepers. “Our coming together is more than just ‘recruitment plus HR’,” says Emma. “We see the opportunity to work with

clients, end-to-end. They may not need traditional HR or recruitment support right now, but what we are offering is more than that; it’s an entirely bespoke service extending well beyond the perceived boundaries of each of those functions, and what we believe is a unique proposition. For any business employing people, or for those intending to in the near future, we are confident we can add value. “Whether that be the people you have, or the people you think you might need – we’d be able to open up the conversation and help a client to really understand their options, whilst explaining the benefits of taking aligned action.” A clear understanding of what your business is trying to achieve, and why, is the starting point. Exploring commercial goals, desired behaviours and resource requirements simultaneously is key. This enables your recruiter to find the ‘right’ people and your HR specialist to help them feel they’re in the right place. Emma has studied ‘human design’, which is a self-knowledge system offering powerful insight as to how roles can be curated to enable individuals to thrive. It helps to uncover natural talents, understand energetic blueprints and enable team members to live out their purpose – whilst performing to their best and identifying which leadership and communication style they are most naturally suited to. To use a sports metaphor, a football team doesn’t benefit from having 11 left-wingers. You need different people with different skillsets, each in their best position. “It would’ve been no good Manchester United signing the best superstar striker, if that player isn’t going to respond well to Alex Ferguson’s leadership style. If they’re not a good fit for your desired company culture or team structure, they’ll struggle, no matter how much experience and talent they have.” It is possible to subtract by adding, so taking a blended approach is crucial. While human design is a unique selling point for Finders Keepers, it’s far from the only tool in their box. Nikki and

Emma are keen to explore a strategic approach with their clients, allowing them to be proactive rather than reactive. “Often, recruitment is knee-jerk,” says Nikki. “An employee hands in their notice, and the client feels under pressure to get another person in to replace them straight away. They dig out the old spec, send it to the recruiter and start a search to find the same again, whereas taking the time to reflect on what’s needed and potentially reshaping the role could actually lead to bringing in someone new with fresh ideas who could be a better fit and help to advance the business. “If a client said to me: ‘We need to recruit a person for XYZ’, I could do that, but if they’re not integrated within the business in the right way, they may not get off to the best start, and become disengaged.

IT’S ABOUT GIVING EACH PERSON THE TAILORED SUPPORT THAT WILL WORK BEST FOR THEM AND TO GET THE BEST OUT OF THEM

“What we want to do is enable success. By really understanding what’s driving the business, and by exploring the cultural dynamics, Finders Keepers can help employers understand how best to unlock their people’s potential. Adopting best practice HR, and hiring the best talent is not enough. “We’re not offering a one-size-fitsall all approach” says Nikki. “For us, it’s about giving each person the tailored support that will work best for them, and to get the best out of them, whilst encouraging businesses to take action that is relevant and values-led.” Niche readers are invited to find out more about the support they offer, by contacting Nikki on nikki@exceda. co.uk or Emma on 07525 907366. Or search ‘Finders Keepers’ on LinkedIn to read more HR and recruitment advice.

NICHE | 17

The businesses building a better world SPOTLIGHTING THE LEICESTERSHIRE BUSINESSES BENEFITING THE GLOBE BY BEING B CORP CERTIFIED WORDS BY TOM YOUNG

overnments and non-profits are not going to change the world’s social and environmental policies alone. The business world must play its part, and since 2006, B Lab has been leading the way by creating and awarding the B Corporation certification (the ‘B’ stands for beneficial). Seeking to use business as a force for good, the B Corp certification indicates a company that has voluntarily met high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability. To keep their status, they also have to be recertified every three years. There are over 7,300 B Corps around the world, spread across 92 countries, 161 industries, and encompassing more than 658,000 workers. These businesses are contributing to systemic change, redefining their role within the economy to be more than just profit makers. With 1,500 B Corps now in the UK, we turned our attention to those based in Leicestershire. More UK B Corps can be found at bcorporation.uk/about-b-lab-uk.

18 | NICHE

CAMBRIDGE & COUNTIES BANK Industry: Deposit Bank – Developed Markets Website: ccbank.co.uk Certified: April 2023 Built on understanding, Cambridge & Counties Bank is the result of two well-respected institutions that joined to create a responsible expert banking specialist. They offer a service that brings back some of the great elements of an old-fashioned bank, combining these with all the speed, efficiency and knowledge that’s needed in the modern day. They continuously strive to be exemplary in all they do, whether it’s in business, community, or the environment.

DEAD HAPPY

Industry: Life insurance Website: deadhappy.com Certified: October 2022 Since its launch in 2013, Dead Happy has not only built a super easy and cheap pay-as-you-go life insurance product that you can buy on your smartphone in under three minutes, but also developed a unique ‘deathwish platform’ which allows customers to specify exactly how their payout should be spent; whether it’s paying off the mortgage, sending their mates on holiday, or having a viking funeral.

N I C H E B U S I N E S S F E AT U R E B C O R PS LE I C ESTE R S H I R E

DIGITAL ETHOS

Industry: Advertising and market research Website: digitalethos.net Certified: July 2022 Oadby-based Digital Ethos achieved B Corp status by shifting from being a profit-led business to one driven by purpose. They took steps to demonstrate a commitment to accountability and transparency on issues including improving employee work-life balance, supporting the local community, and protecting the environment.

HIGGIDY

(a subsidiary of Samworth Brothers) Industry: Food products Website: higgidy.co.uk Certified: August 2021 Higgidy believes in a better food future and that change starts with what’s on our plate. The team work closely with charities such as FareShare to help tackle food waste, PaperRound to recycle onsite materials and longstanding suppliers with high welfare standards. There’s nothing more wholesome than a home-cooked meal, but for those times when you don’t have time, there’s Higgidy.

SUPERBIA HOLDINGS

THE FUTURE COLLECTIVE

MULASHAKER

Industry: Management consultant Website: mulashaker.com Certified: November 2021 MulaShaker is where design and change come together, with a passion for creativity, transformative brands, and empowered cultures. MulaShaker was born to redefine how creativity in business can also drive change – to create impact for the people you serve – developing powerful strategies to engage all stakeholders across brand, culture, and growth. Their mantra is to “create work that matters”.

(including Furnley House) Industry: Investment advising Website: superbiagroup.co.uk Certified: August 2023 The Superbia Group is a financial services company made up of a family of subsidiaries and brands that work together to deliver a client-centric proposition. It includes Leicester’s own financial planning firm, Furnley House, providing solutions to private individuals, families, business owners and corporate clients, helping them work towards and achieve their goals. “Since we started, we’ve always done our best to do the right thing,” said co-founder Stefan Fura. “Whether that’s through helping clients achieve their dreams with Furnley House or the work we’ve done for the community through our charity The Furnley House Foundation.”

GO MAD THINKING

PURE TABLE TOP

THRIFT+

Industry: Creative consultancy Website: future-collective.co.uk Certified: May 2022 The Future Collective is a strategicallyled design practice, on a mission to use design as a force for good. Their team is driven by a deeply held belief in the transformative power of design and the potential to create better brand communications, experiences, and solutions. Founded in 2019, their ethos is one of collaboration over ego and an ambition to foster and nurture rewarding client relationships.

Industry: Other professional, scientific and tech Website: gomadthinking.com Certified: November 2022 For over 25 years Go MAD Thinking has helped organisations, teams and leaders achieve transformative results by thinking bigger, better and bolder. The approach is based on over 4,000 hours of research undertaken by founder Andy Gilbert, who sought to discover and explain the key success principles that people naturally apply when making a difference.

Industry: General wholesale trade Website: puretabletop.com Certified: December 2022 PTT has a simple mission: to lead the way in design and innovation across ceramics, glass and home accessories. Founded in 2014, they supply products for retail and online. The growing team of talented homeware specialists create beautiful products that are designed to bring joy and be enjoyed for years to come. They are future-focused, taking full accountability for their direct and indirect impact on people and the planet.

Industry: Apparel Website: thrift.plus Certified: September 2022 Thrift+ is a pre-loved fashion marketplace looking to end fashion waste by making second hand seamless. Thrift+ has built more than a marketplace; they’ve packed away peer-to-peer, smartened up second hand and turned it into preloved. No more surprise stains, trawling for your size, trekking to the post office, or trouble in your DMs. It’s your onestop-shop for staples, steals and disco heels. NICHE | 19

Want to see a deserving business up for an award?

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Best New Business

Best Small Business

Best Large Business

Community Champion

Employer of the Year

Charity of the Year

Creative

Customer Service

Entrepreneur of the Year

Business Growth

Businessman of the Year

Rising Star

Nominations close Thursday March 28 FINALIST ANNOUNCMENT: MONDAY, JUNE 3 Join us for the Ceremony on Friday, September 6 To nominate and book tickets go to nichemagazine.co.uk/awards

N I C H E B U S I N E S S F E AT U R E J E R R O M S M I LLE R S P EC IALI ST TAX

 PETE MILLER

NICK  WRIGHT

usiness owners like to save tax when they come to sell, but as a recent tribunal case has highlighted, it’s not always straightforward proving to HMRC that this isn’t one of the main reasons that you’re selling. The single most common question business owners ask us when they first start thinking about selling is whether they can save some tax. One way to do this is to give shares to a spouse or child and make them directors or employees. By taking this step, the family members, as directors and shareholders, can get Business Asset Disposal Relief on the first £1m on sale proceeds after two years, paying Capital Gains Tax at the lower rate of

Selling your business:

passing the ‘main purpose’ test TAX EXPERTS PETE MILLER AND NICK WRIGHT AT JERROMS MILLER SPECIALIST TAX LOOK AT WHAT YOU MUST DO TO ENSURE YOU PASS THE MAIN PURPOSE TEST WHEN STRUCTURING YOUR TRANSACTION READY FOR SALE 10% instead of the full 20%. It is perfectly reasonable – and legitimate – to minimise your tax bill in this way. You can choose to structure the whole transaction – or tweak it – in order to pay less tax. However, you must be careful not to make taxation too important an element of the sale, in terms of the

amount of money saved or by declining to sell on tax grounds. If you do, HMRC may take the view that paying less tax is a ‘main purpose’ of your sale. If HMRC can prove a tax saving is a main purpose, they can accelerate the payments of capital gains tax (CGT) – even if you haven’t got the money yet – and at worst, they could tax the proceeds as income, which would be taxed at much higher rates. This issue has received a lot of attention in recent months, thanks to the high-profile Wilkinson tax case in which business owners Mr and Mrs Wilkinson gifted shares to their three daughters when preparing to sell. This transaction was structured in such a way that the daughters would not be required to pay CGT until they’d held the shares long enough to get tax relief at 10%. HMRC questioned the deal’s structure on the basis that elements were designed to avoid tax. In this kind of scenario, HMRC can deny relief to all the shareholders, not just those that are subject to the planning. The First Tier Tribunal (FTT), which hears tax cases, upheld the Wilkinsons’ appeal, noting that the amount of money saved through CGT relief was only £3m of the £130m total sale proceeds, about 4%, so the extra tax relief was obviously not a main purpose. The Tribunal also noted that the Wilkinsons would have sold the company anyway, showing the main purpose of the sale was for commercial reasons, not to save tax. We have advised on numerous similar cases over the years, but as this case clearly illustrates, it is essential you seek professional tax advice when selling to ensure you satisfy the ‘main purpose’ rules. Even though this case represented a win for the taxpayer, the process of appealing through the tax tribunals and the higher courts is time-consuming and expensive and not every transaction is worth the hassle. It is vital, therefore, to make sure your tax planning is robust and that it falls on the right side of the line to avoid being challenged by HMRC in the first place.

NICHE | 21

Are you 100% sure that your employees are engaged? ENGAGED EMPLOYEES LEAD TO: Higher levels of satisfaction o Higher retention and lower turnover o Higher productivity o

HR MANAGEMENT

o Increased profitability o Less absenteeism o Increased employee loyalty

LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT

HR SOFTWARE

EVERYTHING THAT A BIG, CORPORATE HR TEAM WOULD DO, BUT ONLY AS AND WHEN YOU NEED IT 01530 447441 | info@breedonconsulting.co.uk | breedonconsulting.co.uk Unit T2, Ivanhoe Office Park, Ivanhoe Park Way, Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire LE65 2AB

N I C H E B U S I N E S S F E AT U R E B R E E D O N C O N S U LTI N G

‘Employees don’t leave jobs, they leave managers’ THIS FRANK OBSERVATION BY NICKI ROBSON, DIRECTOR OF BREEDON CONSULTING, SPEAKS TO WORKERS’ GROWING REALISATION THAT THEY DON’T HAVE TO STAY IN JOBS – OR UNDER PEOPLE – THEY DON’T ENJOY WORDS BY TOM YOUNG

PEOPLE ARE RELATIVELY SELF-AWARE AND THEY KNOW THEIR WEAKNESSES

he Peter principle states that a worker will always be promoted to their level of incompetence. When you join a company, you begin developing in one role until you’re good enough to get promoted; then you start developing in the new role, until that also gets you promoted, and so on. Eventually you’ll reach a point that is beyond your capabilities, meaning you won’t advance any further, leaving you stuck in a role you can’t do. For managers, this can happen in a different way: you spend years developing your skillset until you’re the best person in the role and therefore promoted to manage the team. However, if you haven’t also taken the time to nurture leadership skills, management may leave you out of your depth. This can create frustration for employees who need good management in order to flourish. Ineffectual managers are becoming a growing cause of employee turnover. “The problem is, the business needs

to know that’s why staff are leaving,” says Nicki Robson, director of HR experts, Breedon Consulting. “But very few people are going to come out and say: ‘I’m leaving because of him!’ “Instead, they’ll say euphemistic phrases like: ‘I’m not being listened to’ or ‘nobody cares about my career’. So, you have to read between the lines.” The first step of fixing any problem is to acknowledge that you have one. It’s only then that your HR team can step in and address it. “If a company does recognise that it has a management problem, we’d be able to do a 360° assessment, looking into all its management competencies, asking how good, bad or indifferent you think you are, as well as asking the people that work for you, work with you, and that you work for, and do a comparison. “Usually when we do that, people’s view of themselves is very similar to other people’s. People are relatively self-aware, and they know their weaknesses. But it’s by going through the process that highlights areas of improvement, such as, ‘your communication is letting you down; everyone thinks you’re great at the role, but you need to communicate with the team more effectively’.” Good managers keep evolving, keep developing their skills, and keep improving – but to do this, they have to identify where to start. There’s more on this topic and other HR issues at breedonconsulting.co.uk/ latest-news.

NICHE | 23

N I C H E B U S I N E S S F E AT U R E E R R EC R U ITM E NT

Redefining recruitment FINDING, ENGAGING, AND RETAINING TALENT IN 2024 – HOW TRENDS ARE CHANGING HOW WE RECRUIT, ACCORDING TO EXPERTS ER RECRUITMENT

24 | NICHE

s the calendar turns to a new year, ER Recruitment has shared this year’s trends that will shape the recruitment landscape in 2024. Business leaders and hiring managers can and should get ahead of trends to attract and retain the best people. As advocates in community and collaboration, ER Recruitment believes that these are not just buzzwords, but the foundation upon which successful businesses and their talent strategies are built. Employers that actively engage in community initiatives and promote collaboration with like-minded businesses are reaping the rewards of a more connected and motivated workforce. In the quest to attract and retain top talent, businesses need to be elevating their status as an employer of choice. It’s not just about salary packages; it’s about corporate social responsibility (CSR), strategic marketing, and industry recognition through awards that set your business apart. By showcasing your commitment to social responsibility and highlighting the unique aspects that make your workplace attractive, you’re 86% more likely to increase the level of

applications you will receive. An issue multiple businesses face when recruiting is the interview process time. The talent market is moving at lightning speed, with the best candidates spending only about 10 days on the job market – meaning there is no room for delays in the process. A well-structured and streamlined approach should be adopted by businesses in the new year, to ensure that employers don’t miss out on toptier talent due to prolonged decisionmaking processes. What’s more, many interviewers have not received the necessary training required to conduct interviews on behalf of your organisation. The interview process is a critical stage where potential employees gauge not just their fit for the role, but also the alignment of values and culture. This is why it is so important to have the right people conducting interviews; individuals who possess the necessary skills and embody the company’s values. One way businesses can ensure this is by investing in training for interviewers, which will assess a candidate’s skill and culture-fit with the removal of unconscious bias. We are currently in a market in which candidates hold the reins. So employers must differentiate themselves to attract the best. Advice to ER’s clients would be for businesses to emphasise their unique selling propositions, showcasing what sets them apart from competitors. Competitive salaries will always be important; however, candidates are increasingly drawn to companies with integrity, a genuine commitment to their people, and strong core values. The year 2024 is set to be an exciting one for recruitment, with a variety of new trends redefining how companies find, engage, and retain talent. ER Recruitment is looking forward to working with our partners to adapt to these changing times to ensure we are supporting them in finding the best hiring match for their business. The team is offering a free consultation and welcomes readers to contact them on 0116 254 9710 or hello@eileenrichards.co.uk to arrange a chat about recruitment plans for the year ahead.

N I C H E B U S I N E S S F E AT U R E H O LLI N G SWO RTH S

MANY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES HAVE SOMEONE BEHIND THE SCENES TO KEEP THINGS RUNNING SMOOTHLY. PRACTICE MANAGER MANDY BRADBURY IS DESCRIBED AS THE ‘HEARTBEAT’ OF HOLLINGSWORTHS SOLICITORS WORDS BY TOM YOUNG

Practice made perfect R unning a business is a team effort. It’s often the case that the person who founded a business excels at its primary function but needs support with administration and day-to-day management. Many in Leicester’s business community will know Greg Hollingsworth as one of the region’s most prominent and personable solicitors. But Hollingsworths is very much a team operation. Practice Manager Mandy Bradbury has worked alongside Greg for the better part of 20 years – since before the company was even called Hollingsworths. “I aim to take as many things off Greg’s plate as I can, so he can focus on client work,” says Mandy. “I’m like the mum of the office. I do everything for everybody. I do that at home, and I do it at work – at least I get paid at work! Greg calls me ‘the heartbeat of the business’.” Mandy has seen the evolution of Hollingsworths, as it shifted focus from covering lots of legal areas including conveyancing to a specialist dispute resolution firm, while remaining a small, dedicated team. “I like it that way; it helps us to

OUR CLIENTS HAVE OFTEN BEEN THROUGH A DIFFICULT SITUATION WHEN THEY COME IN, AND THEY NEED TO HAVE A RANT OR TELL THEIR STORY, AND I’M ALWAYS HAPPY TO LISTEN

maintain high standards of client care. I’m their hand-holder. Our clients have often been through a difficult situation when they come in, and they need to have a rant or tell their story, and I’m always happy to listen. It’s part of our customer service and builds the relationship with our clients.” Her invaluable contribution was recognised last year, when she was a finalist for ‘Support Staff Member of the Year’ at the Leicestershire Law Society Awards, in addition to Hollingsworths being a finalist for ‘Best Small Business’ at the Niche Business Awards. “I really wanted to win at the Niche Business Awards in particular. I am quite a competitive person though. Even when my son used to play football, I’d go to watch and think ‘I won’t say anything.’ That would never last beyond the first few minutes of play. My son was a goalkeeper, so anytime the ball went near him I’d be shouting something.” Hollingsworths Solicitors will be the headline sponsor for the Niche Business Awards 2024, the tenth edition of the event. With nine months to go, Mandy is already looking forward to it. “I think it’s great! I think it’s about time [we sponsored it]. I can’t wait; I love it every year, but obviously this one will be amazing. Some awards ceremonies can be a bit boring, but the Niche Business Awards is more of a party.” Hollingsworths Solicitors cover a range of legal disciplines, from dispute resolution to debt recovery. Learn more at hlegal.co.uk. NICHE | 25

N I C H E B U S I N E S S F E AT U R E 2X L C O M M E R C IAL F I NAN C E

ising inflation, interest rate increases and a cost-ofliving crisis – 2023 has been some year in the economy. It’s meant that many businesses and landlords have had a ‘tricky’ one to say the least. Being at the coalface, so to speak, as a commercial broker, we get to see first-hand the many challenges that businesses are facing and a few spring to mind.

Business and property finance: a look back on 2023 COMMERCIAL FINANCE BROKER DARREN WILLOUGHBY OF 2XL COMMERCIAL TALKS THROUGH THE IMPLICATIONS OF LAST YEAR’S FINANCIAL CHALLENGES

WHILST MOST LENDERS WILL SAY THEY ARE ‘OPEN FOR BUSINESS’, IT’S NOT ACTUALLY ALWAYS THE CASE

26 | NICHE

1. COVID IMPACT Yes, we know that Covid-19 is hopefully behind us now, but many businesses are still suffering due to this legacy and the finance they had to take during this time. We have seen a number of clients looking to refinance this type of shortterm debt onto longer-term borrowing to ease the cashflow burden. But the debt still exists and isn’t going away. 2. INTEREST RATES AND SERVICEABILITY As with all lending, a business or landlord needs to be able to demonstrate that they can pay

this debt back, which – against the backdrop of the current economic climate – is becoming increasingly difficult. Many lenders look back over three years when assessing serviceability, particularly when assessing a trading business, and for many, these have been the most difficult. Thankfully, some lenders are ‘taking a view here’ and by going wholeof-market, we can make sure we find the right solution and lender for the clients. The same applies to landlords. By way of illustration, if you had a £250k buy-to-let (BTL) mortgage three years ago, you could have been paying around the 2% mark for your borrowing, which would have been approximately £1,060 a month capital and repayment or £417 a month interest only. This is now closer to 6%, which for the same amount is approximately £1,611 a month on capital and repayment or £1250 on interest only. This is a huge increase, particularly for those with multiple properties or those who have recently purchased for investment, given that the rents received may not reflect the interest rate rises, especially for those who have agreed long-term leases with tenants. We have seen many landlords look to consider interest-only for around five years to make their investments work, riding this period out before hopefully changing when interest rates lower. 3. LENDER APPETITE We have seen lenders pull out of certain markets and some who have reduced loans to values (LTV) and increased debt serviceability calculations. Whilst most lenders will say they are ‘open for business’, it’s not actually always the case. A widely held view is that your own bank is often the best placed to support you. However, this is just not the case, as each lender has different nuances and appetite for certain sectors. Therefore, it’s vital to have access to a commercial broker to ensure that your deal finds its market.

Recovery Loan Scheme Directly Authorised by the FCA

Commercial Mortgages Property Portfolio Funding Buy To Let Mortgages Business Loans and Peer-to-Peer Lending Development Funding

National Presence

Finance for Pension Funds Asset Finance Commercial, Business, Personal Insurance Invoice Discounting and Factoring

Established

18 years

Bridging Loans Recovery Loan Scheme

07736 359 413 2xlcommercial.com info@2xlcommercial.com

Proud to be an Official LCFC Community Partner

Proud sponsors of Leicester Riders NICHE | 21

N I C H E B U S I N E S S F E AT U R E MERGERS

Mergers and acquisitions of 2023 HISTORIC LEICESTER CHARITIES JOIN FORCES In April, two of Leicester’s oldest charities completed their merger. Wyggestons Hospital (500 years old) and Trinity Hospital (700 years old) came together to strengthen both organisations. Both charities are Almshouses, a charitable form of self-sufficient, low-cost community housing. With a combined caring experience of over 1,200 years, providing accommodation, support and care services for vulnerable older people, the new organisation will be known as ‘The Wyggeston and Trinity Almshouse Charity’.

MIDLANDS CARE ACQUIRES LEICESTER CARE HOME

In July, Midlands Care, which owns and operates nine care homes in Leicestershire, acquired GokulVrandavan in Windsdor Avenue, with the support of local law firm Shakespeare Martineau. All staff will be retained as part of the deal and the care home will continue its legacy of an inclusive, multi-faith environment that provides support to a growing ageing Asian population in the local area.

XEINADIN GROUP ACQUIRES ALACRITY ACCOUNTANCY

In October, Xeinadin Group, one of the leading professional services groups in the UK and Ireland, announced the 28 | NICHE

THE BUSINESS WORLD NEVER STANDS STILL FOR LONG. SUCCESSFUL COMPANIES OFTEN LOOK TO EXPAND BY MERGING WITH OR BUYING UP OTHER COMPANIES TO STRENGTHEN THEIR POSITION IN THE MARKET. THESE ARE SOME OF THE KEY MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS OF THE LAST YEAR WORDS BY TOM YOUNG acquisition of Leicester’s Alacrity Accountancy. Alacrity Accountancy was established 20 years ago, servicing clients from a range of industries including healthcare, dentistry and property across the UK and internationally. The firm specialises in all aspects of general practice including accounts, taxation and business advisory or support services. The acquisition will bring significant resources to help both staff and clients prosper through the challenges and opportunities posed by AI and other emerging technologies.

ROTHERAS MERGES WITH BRAY & BRAY

Also in October, Rotheras Solicitors announced its merger with Leicesterbased Bray & Bray Solicitors, forming Rothera Bray LLP. The merger entailed all existing partners and staff of Bray & Bray and Rotheras Solicitors joining together to create a 200-strong team with 27 partners, and all clients of both firms falling under the new LLP.

INSURANCE BROKER SOLD TO COUNTERPART

October also saw Leicester-based Berkeley Insurance Group being snapped up by Brown & Brown, becoming part of the firm’s UK Retail Division. Leicester’s Berkeley Insurance Group, one of the UK’s largest independent insurance brokers, also

has offices in Birmingham, London, and Edinburgh. Berkeley is known for its work in various areas, including commercial property, construction, financial risks, cybersecurity, private clients and corporate client insurance.

NELSONS ACQUIRES PATTERSONS COMMERCIAL LAW In November, Leicester’s Pattersons Commercial Law became the latest acquisition by Nelsons, a Lawfront firm with a bold growth strategy. Founded seven years ago by Rik Pancholi, Pattersons Commercial Law has been recognised for its corporate and commercial work, particularly with owner-managed businesses. Their expertise has been added to the existing Leicester-based Nelsons corporate and commercial team, as well as bolstering its dispute resolution, employment, insolvency and commercial property teams.

NELSONS GAINS CLEGGS SOLICITORS

Marking its second acquisition deal of November, Nelsons gained Cleggs Solicitors. It will expand Cleggs’ services to its clients, with the team bringing substantial commercial and new-build residential property experience to Nelsons. At the same time, Nelsons can offer Cleggs’ clients a full range of services from its employment and corporate teams.

N I C H E B U S I N E S S F E AT U R E AN N IVE R SAR I ES O F 2023

Major Anniversaries of 2023

iche celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2023. We were not alone in celebrating a landmark year, and have grouped the others by traditional anniversary gift. From financial advisors Furnley House, through Leicester Pride and arts charity Pedestrian, to Twycross Zoo, these are the organisations and events that marked anniversaries last year.

NICHE LOOKS BACK AT THE COMPANIES, LOCATIONS AND EVENTS THAT CELEBRATED SIGNIFICANT MILESTONES THROUGHOUT LEICESTERSHIRE DURING THE LAST YEAR WORDS BY TOM YOUNG

10 years

TIN

30 years

PEARL

Cross Productions

The Hare Krishna Festival of Chariots

ER Recruitment

Leicester Comedy Festival and the Kids Comedy Festival (5th anniversary)

Furnley House Niche Magazine TML Solicitors Waterside Regeneration Project

15 years

CRYSTAL

HIT Technology

GOLD

Abbey Pumping Station Museum Haymarket Theatre & Shopping Centre

CHINA

Hope Against Cancer

Pedestrian

50 years

Great Central Railway

Download Festival

25 years

RUBY

Diwali Lights event

Leicester Pride

20 years

40 years

SILVER

60 years

DIAMOND

Twycross Zoo

70 years

PLATINUM

Newarke Houses

NICHE | 29

N I C H E B U S I N E S S F E AT U R E ALTE R NATIVE B US I N ES S AWAR D S

Alternative Business Awards 2024 STANDING OUT AS SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT IN THE BUSINESS EVENTS CALENDAR, THE ALTERNATIVE BUSINESS AWARDS CELEBRATE THE ASPECTS OF WORK LIFE THAT ARE JUST A LITTLE SILLIER… ALL WHILE RAISING MONEY FOR THE BIG DIFFERENCE COMPANY WORDS BY TOM YOUNG

eturning for a sixth time, the Alternative Business Awards are set to be held at Leicester’s Hotel Brooklyn on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. The event provides an opportunity for the business community to come together, show their fun side and help to raise funds to support the work of Big Difference (the charity behind Leicester Comedy Festival). The Awards ceremony, hosted by comedian Patrick Monahan, aims to recognise individuals and groups in a number of comical, warm-hearted, celebratory, and ‘alternative’ business award categories.

TO NOMINATE, GO TO:

Niche magazine will serve as media partner for the event, with PPL PRS as its music sponsor. The event’s coheadline sponsors are Eileen Richards of ER Recruitment and Simon Winfield of Red Monkey Play. Eileen, who has been involved with the Alternative Business Awards since its second incarnation, said: “Showcasing our businesses doesn’t always have to be serious; Leicestershire has a great community for that. The Alternative Business Awards is something a little different. It’s light-hearted, fun, and not as competitive as other business awards.”

businesspartnersclub.co.uk/alternative-business-awards or scan the QR code 30 | NICHE

THE AWARDS (and their category sponsors) ARE: Alternative Business Person (Juice) The person with the quirkiest approach to business. Glass Half Full (Sarah Higgins Corporate Coaching) The most optimistic person in life and business. Fun Where You’d Least Expect It (Torr Waterfield) The business that’s unexpectedly a fun place to work. In at 9, Gone by 5 (East Midlands Chamber) The most productive person who gets everything done in work hours. Sartorial Eloquence (Jerroms Miller) The snappiest dresser on the business scene. Social Media Star (Furnley House) The person who’s created the greatest online business content. Double Trouble (Red Monkey Play) The not-so-dynamic duo who get into the most mischief when working together. Too Hot To Handle (Chutney Ivy) The person who likes it spicy, and is most often found networking at a curry house. Top Table Favourite (Mark J Rees) The person who you’ll spot at every event. Content Catalyst (Niche Magazine) A strategic storyteller who creates compelling content to connect and spark debate. Contribution to the Community (ER Recruitment) The team or individual bringing the biggest smiles to their community. Shiny Happy People (PPL PRS) The business that’s the happiest place to work. Switched On (Michael Smith Switchgear) The person who is well informed, and always has their finger on the pulse The People Whisperer (TBC) The person who can calm down any situation. Team with the ROAR Factor (TBC) The team who have worked together to achieve something really special. New Kid on the Block (TBC) The new business or executive making a big impact. Culture Vulture (TBC) The person who’s always cutting the red tape. Ryder Cup (TBC) The person who can always be found on the golf course.

N I C H E B U S I N E S S F E AT U R E I N N OVATI O N F ESTIVAL

Small change

big business impact THERE’S A HOST OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AT THIS YEAR’S LEICESTERSHIRE INNOVATION FESTIVAL

nnovation is about big global firms with deep budgets, right? And universities and laboratories developing research that changes the world? Well, sort of. Innovation is the practical implementation of ideas that create or refine goods and services. And that means it’s for everyone – from start-ups working to establish a niche through to founder-led SMEs looking to reinvent themselves in new markets. Small business is the focus of February’s Leicestershire Innovation Festival, that’s why the theme is

‘Small change, Big impact’. SMEs are often agile enough to try new approaches needed to fuel growth. As displayed during the pandemic, they also adapt quickly to change. Being able to test ideas (and implement what works) makes small businesses ideally suited for taking an innovative approach and building productivity and profitability. ■ You can use your shorter decisionmaking chain to enable swifter response to emerging opportunities ■ You can quickly embed and encourage new thinking in order to differentiate as you look to break into new markets ■ You can use your personal relationships with customers to better understand market preferences and pain points – creating value and fostering loyalty. Organised by the LLEP Business Gateway Growth Hub, Leicestershire Innovation Festival is part of a wider productivity strategy for our region and brings together partners from across the public and private sectors. It looks at how local organisations can do more with less. Why does this matter? Because Leicestershire’s economy is built upon small businesses.

WHY SUCCESSFUL SMALL BUSINESSES ARE INNOVATING

Increases in small business productivity translate into increased economic growth that benefits everyone. It helps the economic growth of regions. Small businesses today have access to tools and platforms that were once the preserve of large corporations. From cloud computing and AI to big data and business analytics, SMEs can easily find ways to innovate and compete. Of course, embracing innovation is not without its challenges. Limited resources, lack of expertise, and fear of failure are among common hurdles. Yet the potential rewards – increased competitiveness, market share, and profitability – make it a worthwhile pursuit.

Learn more about the regional agenda

N I C H E B U S I N E S S F E AT U R E BAR R ATT S M ITH B R OWN

Three years on:

A merger taking a Leicester SME global BARRATT SMITH BROWN HAVE MADE THEIR MARK IN THE GLOBAL DEBT RECOVERY MARKET. KERRY SMITH LEARNS MORE ABOUT HOW A STRATEGIC MERGER LED TO MARKET DOMINATION

eicester-based CDS Global joined forces with the team behind 4D Contact in 2019 to form Barratt Smith Brown, a multinational credit control and debt recovery company. Three years on, the company’s reputation and offering have strengthened and the business continues to evolve. Barratt Smith Brown relocated in December 2023 to the central location of New Walk, improving staff and client accessibility. New Walk and the nearby Greyfriars areas of Leicester are a hotspot for legal firms and up-andcoming lawyers. After hearing CEO Ashley Barratt’s plans for the business, the relocation was no coincidence. “In addition to our core third-party debt collection services, we are looking to expand the managed legal services part of our business. The ability to manage legal work internally, rather

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than outsourcing it, adds value to our clients,” Ashley says. They’ve just hired their first legal professional Maisie Miles who fills the company’s new role of Head of Legal. Now 70 employees in, Barratt Smith Brown has come a long way since its inception. Ashley formed the company – formerly CDS Global – in 2015 to provide smaller utility companies with an outsource requitement credit control to legal services and debt recovery. In 2016, the largest energy supplier at the time, GB Energy, entered into administration, for which CDS Global was appointed as its collections agency; a game-changer for the small Leicester business. Now, as Barratt Smith Brown, the company has become known in the industry as the supplier of choice for UK utility administrations, handling over 80% of administrations to date. The Niche Business Awards then named the company Best Small Business in 2019 right before its merger with 4D Contact, a debt recovery and credit management solutions provider, named one of the most influential start-ups in the debt collection market in 2023 by Finance Magazine. “4DContact were our EU brother company and by merging, we became a global entity – very different from where we started with just three people in Broughton Astley! We’ve gone from strength to strength and the business continues to evolve in order to maintain a best-in-class service offering for our clients.” Twenty people are employed in the New Walk office, with the other 50 employees located in Spain, as well as satellite offices in China and Amsterdam, with partnership networks across Europe. “We’re currently dealing with around $250m worth of debt and moving into different markets and opportunities such as debt purchase.” The company made its second debt purchase of 2023 at the end of the year, totalling a debt purchase of £12.5m. Ashley added: “Just because a company writes off a debt doesn’t mean that the debtors can’t or won’t pay.” With a growing client base and a multinational presence, we expect to update you on Barratt Smith Brown’s expansion in the near future.

N I C H E B U S I N E S S F E AT U R E AM I R A FO R U M

A forum for all THE NEXT BUSINESS SUPPORT COHORT OF THE AMIRA FORUM TAKES PLACE IN FEBRUARY 2024. EMILY MILLER INTERVIEWS THE FOUNDERS TO FIND OUT HOW IT WORKS

WE ARE ABLE TO DRAW ON OUR TOOLBOX OF EXPERIENCES TO BRING TO EACH GROUP – THE THINGS WE HAVE TRAINED IN

eing at the top of your role – whether that’s as a leader or a business owner – is no walk in the park. It can be a lonely place filled with responsibilities and potential pitfalls of burn-out and financial pressure to name a couple. Where do you go when you want to develop and grow whilst achieving your evolving personal targets and aspirations? For those not yet in the know, and those who are contemplating joining the next Amira Forum cohort, I caught up with the founders of the unique initiative for leaders and business owners, Jenny Cross, Dr Glynis Wright MBE and Leanne Bonner-Cooke MBE, to discover what delegates can expect from their workshops. You can join a group of fifteen

women as part of a female only cohort and in the near future a mixed cohort, from various industries and professions, all with the drive to take their businesses or careers to the next level. These successful business owners have extensive industry experience and will guide their cohort in developing new skills and knowledge. “The forum is an excellent way to develop and grow whilst looking to achieve your personal targets and aspirations,” Jenny explained. “It’s collaborative, and confidential too so we get a real honesty from the delegates.” The six modules are business strategy, leadership, finances, looking after yourself and marketing and development. Based on academic principles around these areas, the Amira Forum is particularly effective where those principles are brought to life for the cohort by the in-depth reallife experience of their founders. Glynis told me: “We are able to draw on our toolbox of experiences to bring to each group – the things we have trained in and learnt and grown from ourselves. “The programme is relevant to any business, industry or profession and the cohort allows for participants to bond, share and grow together in a group where trust is built from the very start, so it creates a feeling of collaboration and open communication.” The support isn’t only part of the workshops themselves; it extends to a WhatsApp group where you can communicate with your mastermind group from the cohort. “We also have a monthly Zoom call for a Q&A session with the founders. That’s in addition to the initial one to one coaching session that members can have with any one of our founders. There’s lots of support,” Leanne adds. The diverse experience that each of the founders has means that the group offers an unrivalled coaching experience here in the UK. Jenny highlights: “The cohort provides an effective way to have both coaching from more than one individual and the support of a small networking group who have similar challenges and aspirations.” To register your interest to join the next Amira forum cohort email info@amiraforum.co.uk. NICHE | 33

Headline Sponsor

SAVE THE DATE

May 17, 2024 Athena, Leicester

The Categories Large Law Firm of the Year

Legal Executive

Small Law Firm of the Year

Solicitor of the Year

Chambers of the Year

Trainee Paralegal

Junior Solicitor of the Year

Support Staff Member of the Year

Barrister of the Year

Open to all legal ﬁrms across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland

Nominations Close: February 26, 2024 Nominate at leicestershirelawsociety.org.uk/awards

N I C H E B U S I N E S S F E AT U R E B H U M I KA PAR MAR

Leicestershire Law Society’s

new President BHUMIKA PARMAR STEPS UP TO THE POST WITH KEY OBJECTIVES FOR HER PRESIDENTIAL YEAR WORDS BY KERRY SMITH  BHUMIKA PARMAR

I WILL DEDICATE MYSELF WHOLEHEARTEDLY TO THE WELFARE AND PROGRESS OF OUR ESTEEMED PROFESSION

he Leicestershire Law Society announced the appointment of Bhumika Parmar as its newest President, effective from October 31, 2023. Bhumika succeeds Gina Samuel-Richards, who served with dedication and distinction during her tenure, according to her peers. Bhumika is the director of BP Legal Solicitors, which she founded in 2009. She later purchased nationwide law firm Solicitors4landlords in 2022. With her, Bhumika brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to the legal profession. An active member of Leicestershire Law Society for many years, she’s consistently demonstrated a strong passion for advancing the legal community and

promoting justice. She said: “During my tenure, I intend to continue the great work done by my predecessors and encourage young people into a career in law and continue collaborating with the Leicestershire Junior Lawyers division. I will dedicate myself wholeheartedly to the welfare and progress of our esteemed profession.” Throughout her legal career, Bhumika has been recognised for her outstanding contributions to the legal Industry and contribution to the Leicester community, and has won a leading court case that is now used in university studies. Her dedication to the legal industry has made a meaningful impact on the legal landscape, earning her the respect and admiration of her peers. As President, she says she is committed to improving access to justice, enhancing professional development opportunities, and strengthening the legal community. Leicestershire Law Society representatives say they’re confident that under Bhumika’s leadership, the society will continue to thrive and make a positive difference in the legal profession and the broader community. Her charities for the year include Menphys, a young people’s charity; The Zinthiya Trust, supporting venerable women; and Help the Homeless, a charity that helps to achieve the relief of homelessness. An LLS representative said: “We look forward to Bhumika’s tenure and the positive impact she will undoubtedly have on our legal community.” NICHE | 35

National

Apprenticeship ENCOURAGING EMPLOYERS TO DEVELOP A WORKFORCE WITH FUTURE-READY SKILLS, THE #SKILLSFORLIFE NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK 2024 TAKES PLACE FEBRUARY 5-11 WORDS BY KERRY SMITH

chools, colleges, employers, career advisers, businesses and thousands of students benefit each year from National Apprenticeship Week. Running from February 5-11, it’s an opportunity for the education and skills sector to celebrate the achievements of apprentices around the country and the positive impact they make to communities, businesses, and the wider economy. Throughout the week, employers and organisations come together to showcase their opportunities to thousands of attendees, who are

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Week

actively seeking an apprenticeship. The Department for Education has themed 2024’s National Apprenticeship Week as ‘Skills For Life’. It’s also updated its toolkit and T Level Toolkit to support the apprenticeship community with planning their activity during the awareness week. Resources can be found at naw.appawards.co.uk/toolkit. Individuals, employers, training providers and communities can get involved by considering how apprenticeships can help to provide #SkillsForLife. Organisations can email their ideas and register their interest in getting involved to the.week@education.gov.uk.

N I C H E B U S I N E S S F E AT U R E NATI O NAL AP P R E NTI C E WE E K

APPRENTICESHIPS IN LEICESTER

As part of National Apprenticeship Week 2024, Leicester College is hosting a free apprenticeship fair at its Freemen’s Park Campus on Wednesday, February 7 from 10am to 3pm. They’ll be joined by a range of employers who are looking to recruit new apprentices to their teams, in a wide range of sectors. Representatives from employers such as University of Leicester and Nylacast will be at the fair, as well as those from sectors including construction, hairdressing, engineering and more. Leicester College’s apprenticeship team will also be on hand to provide information, advice and guidance on what it’s like to work in different industries. Students and apprenticeship seekers are encouraged to bring along their CV so that Leicester College’s apprenticeship team can forward them to appropriate recruiting employers. For help writing a CV, you can contact the careers team via leicestercollege.ac.uk/contact-us.

BROWSE APPRENTICESHIPS apprenticeships.gov.uk/apprentices/ browse-apprenticeships

Enter your postcode and select your interest on the Government’s apprenticeship website to find apprenticeships locally. Interests you can choose from include: Agriculture, environmental and animal care Business and administration Care services Catering and hospitality Construction and the built environment Creative and design Digital Education and childcare Education and early years Engineering and manufacturing Hair and beauty Health and science Legal, finance and accounting Protective services Sales, marketing and procurement Transport and logistics

LEICESTER COLLEGE APPRENTICESHIP FAIR - Free Freemen’s Park Campus Wednesday, February 7 10am - 3pm Booking encouraged Search: ‘Leicester College Apprenticeship Fair’

NICHE | 37

Business Booth YOUR QUARTERLY ROUNDUP ON THREE OF THE BIGGEST FACTORS AFFECTING BUSINESS IN 2024 BROUGHT TO YOU BY THREE INDUSTRY EXPERTS

RECRUITMENT EMPLOYMENT TRENDS

EILEEN PERRY Owner at ER Recruitment

COMPANIES HAVE ADOPTED HYBRID MODELS OFFERING FLEXIBILITY TO THEIR EMPLOYEES

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A huge 79% of business leaders state their biggest challenge is finding the right people to join their business, and this is unlikely to change in 2024. A new year brings new recruitment trends that will shape hiring, employee engagement, and organisational culture and how as hiring managers you can get ahead to ensure your business is attracting and retaining top talent. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) In recruitment, some businesses are using AI to streamline the candidate sourcing and screening process, saving time and resources for those hiring when used properly. In our experience, AI is a great tool to assist within the recruitment process for tasks such as writing job descriptions. However, to truly identify transferrable skills and determine personal attributes, it’s crucial to have the right trusted people handling your recruitment process to ensure the business isn’t missing out on top talent. REMOTE WORK CONTINUES TO EVOLVE Companies have adopted hybrid models offering flexibility to their employees, and those attempting to switch back are facing resistance

from staff. This new flexibility has helped some businesses to thrive, opening doors to a broader talent pool that’s not confined by geographic boundaries. And for industries impacted by skill shortages, it’s the way forward. DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION (DEI) Showcasing DEI commitement remains paramount. Candidates and employees want to be part of an organisation that truly cares about its people and the community. Job seekers will be looking out for companies’ DEI policies in 2024. UPSKILLING AND RESKILLING Likely to be one of the biggest trends of 2024, the rapid pace of technological changes has made upskilling and reskilling a necessity. Employees want learning and growth opportunities so they can fulfil their role to their full potential whilst staying on top of trends. EMPLOYEE WELLBEING As new generations emerge in the workplace, businesses that don’t talk about their benefits will get left behind. Utilise your website and social platforms to promote a culture of wellbeing to attract and retain employees.

N I C H E B U S I N E S S F E AT U R E B US I N ES S B O OTH

LAW NEW YEAR, NEW START!

RIK PANCHOLI Partner and Solicitor at Nelsons

As we welcome in a new year, there is a lot to look forward to and be optimistic about. There are also likely to be a number of challenges facing business owners and managers who lead their organisations (regardless of size). I’ve given some thought to what I see as five challenges facing business leaders in 2024 (and some of the things they will need to consider):

FINANCE

DARREN WILLOUGHBY Director at 2XL Commercial

MONIES ‘ON ACCOUNT’

It’s fair to say that the current doom and gloom in the economy will be taking a shine off the usual seasonal good cheer for many. Rising inflation and rising interest rates coupled with the cost-of-living crisis and much uncertainty means that people will be watching the purse strings even more over the coming months as we all look to make savings here and there. As with anything though, there are always ‘winners and losers’. One area where we have seen a real benefit is for those that are holding monies in their businesses. I know some of you reading this will be saying with a sarcastic tone: “Good

for them,” but in reality, the people who have been holding cash have taken a battering over the years as the price of debt has remained low, which is great for borrowers but not for those who wish to earn off their savings. A regular bugbear of mine is that businesses holding cash rarely benefit from interest being applied to their balances, with normal business current accounts typically attracting next to nothing. However, having recently read an article by Marlow Proactive Accountants about this subject, I decided to do some digging. A Google search on the subject uncovered that you could get anything up to 4% on easy-access accounts. And, if you were looking to tie up the monies for a period of time, the best accounts often started with a five – bearing in mind that many companies budget and save for tax bills and various other items. So, if you have monies ‘on account’, then maybe it’s time to take a look at what might be out there, as this could be an opportunity too good to miss.

1 SUSTAINABILITY How businesses can become more sustainable often revolves around how they can adapt their business practices to reduce their carbon footprint and make a contribution towards a greener future. I can see a lot more action being taken by businesses of all sizes and industries, and this could range from attaining B Corp status through to becoming a paperless office (and reducing the need for printing and paper usage) to planting trees. 2 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) Imagine what AI could do for business if business leaders could harness its potential. This could range from building efficiencies to exploring innovative methods of working. There are many ethical implications which will need to be thought through carefully to ensure AI is used responsibly. 3 LEADERSHIP TRAINING I’ve always been a strong advocate for making sure business leaders are surrounded by a great team (externally as well as internally) and leadership training is a critical part of personal development. The great thing about investing in yourself as a leader is that it helps to explore challenges you will face in today’s fast paced environment. 4 DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION (D&I) I’ve heard more about D&I in the last couple of years than ever before. This tells me that businesses are becoming very aware of creating a culture which values diversity within the workplace. The methods I have seen used so far include specialist internal training through to building teams which engage externally with local communities. Just how much progress is made here will depend upon the size and nature of the organisation. 5 DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION Businesses that adapt and embrace technology have the current advantage of delivering value to clients and customers whilst staying competitive and profitable. What this extrapolates to is a higher business valuation as a future-proofed business is likely to be more valuable than one which has fallen behind competitors. NICHE | 39

Women’s INTERNATIONAL

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Day

2024

N I C H E B U S I N E S S COVER F E AT U R E I NTE R NATI O NAL WO M E N’S DAY

EXPLORING WHAT FEMINISM MEANS IN 2024 WORDS BY EMILY MILLER

rom the prejudices of working in male-dominated industries, from growing up in education systems that told women what they could or couldn’t be, and war zones that prevented women from an education altogether. In the following pages, we have gathered some of Leicester’s inspirational women to share their stories. Then there’s the women juggling it all – family lives, businesses, and friendships, all whilst feeling intense pressure, grief, depression and joy. Behind the face of it all, behind closed doors, the women in our feature – in fact, women all over – are doing it all in a world where discrimination because of their gender is still very much happening. As a 40-year-old woman, I have heard so many times in recent years

that ‘gender discrimination isn’t a thing any more’. Well, it is. It really is. Feminism isn’t supposed to be about being biased towards men, in order to ‘balance’ anything. The attempt to ‘counterbalance’ in this way is part of the growing problem. Anything that contributes to the notion that we no longer need to talk about feminism, is part of the problem. Writing this feature, having interviewed these women, I have had a lot of time to reflect before and after the conversations with each, and overall, I am simultaneously alarmed and soothed by the women’s stories. From listening to the experiences of discrimination that the women I interviewed have experienced to the discussions of hope for the generations who are slowly releasing these prejudices – it was truly humbling to

hear it all. Gender bias isn’t always immediately obvious. It’s typically not as superficial as men saying they don’t believe women are their equals. It comes in the form of unequal pay, sexual harassment, and perhaps most increasingly, unconscious bias – the ‘hangover’ if you like of years of patriarchy whereby men, by and large, have held primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority and social privilege. Being a feminist involves advocating for gender equality and supporting the rights of all individuals, regardless of their gender. Calling it out, speaking up for women whether it’s for yourself, your partner, your children or every woman is as important today in 2024 as it was in 1924.

POSITIVE WAYS TO EXPRESS AND PRACTICE FEMINISM EDUCATE YOURSELF

You don’t have to know it all, but rejecting stereotypes is partly about educating yourself. Read the articles, have the discussions, listen with empathy and compassion.

PROMOTE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

Support policies and practices that promote equal opportunities in education, employment, and other areas. Advocate for fair hiring practices, equal pay and workplace policies that accommodate the diverse needs of all employees.

SUPPORT WOMEN’S CHOICES

Recognise and respect women’s right to make choices about their lives, bodies and careers. Feminism is about empowering individuals to make choices that align with their own values and goals.

BE AN ALLY

Support marginalised groups by being an ally. Listen to their experiences, amplify their voices and actively work towards dismantling systems of oppression that affect women and other marginalised communities. Perhaps above all, model the values of equality and respect in your daily life, in front of younger generations and your peers and friends. Challenge discriminatory behaviour when you witness it and strive to create an environment that is inclusive and supportive of everyone, regardless of gender. Remember that feminism is a diverse movement with a range of perspectives and approaches. Being a modern feminist involves continuous learning, self-reflection and a commitment to creating a more just and equitable society for all genders. And, to those who think it’s no longer relevant to talk about, read on…

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G LYN I S WR I G HT M B E

emale entrepreneurship I have interviewed Dr Glynis Wright MBE many times over the past 10 years and have watched her journey evolve from ‘solopreneur’ to founder of a phenomenally successful family law firm. Even in the early days, it was clear to me that she was an unusually dynamic and driven woman. I have also watched her appointed to increasingly high-profile roles such as President of the Leicestershire Law Society, Chair of DMU’s Business and Law Advisory Board, LLEP Board Director and most recently Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Leicester. Glynis received an MBE in 2020 for services to female entrepreneurship and in 2023 was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws by the University of Leicester. She incorporated a new company specialising in business and personal growth services in 2020. Under the umbrella of this company, she co-founded the Amira Forum – a consultancy service initially designed to upskill and connect women in business and leadership positions, but now also open to men in business – with fellow female entrepreneurs Leanner Bonner Cooke MBE and Jenny Cross. Another business venture is coming later in 2024, the plans of which are to be revealed soon. Most entrepreneurs are creative, driven individuals. They think creatively and follow their gut instincts. When we discuss this, Glynis says: “Many of the serial entrepreneurs I have met would find the idea of having only one career or one business over a lifetime suffocating. Similarly, financial gain is not their main motivator – it’s

about the thrill of challenge and the desire to create real success out of an acorn of an idea.” Since the successful sale of her law firm, Glynis has real freedom of choice and can follow her instincts wherever they lead. “I am in the hugely privileged position of being able to choose what I want to do with my time. I want to give

IT’S ABOUT THE THRILL OF CHALLENGE AND THE DESIRE TO CREATE REAL SUCCESS

back and I want to create a positive impact for others. A major driver for me is to encourage other women, irrespective of age or background, to see the possibilities that female entrepreneurship can offer them. “In my view, female leaders often excel at infusing their teams with a sense of purpose and vision that goes way beyond the profit margin. Further, a female leader’s all too common and at times acute imposter syndrome can become channelled into a strong driving force for success that enables her to persevere through the inevitable setbacks of business.” Leaving our one-turned-three-hour chat on an especially up-beat note, she tells me: “It is my genuine hope that if more women are encouraged and supported to run their own enterprises, they will go on to enjoy a level of personal growth and self-determination rarely afforded to those in employed roles. “If I could have a positive impact on even one woman who would not otherwise have considered the possibilities of business, I would feel a real sense of achievement!”

N I C H E B U S I N E S S C OV E R STO RY

Z I NTH IYA GAN ES H PAN C HAN

n the defence of women

orn in Sri Lanka, Zinthiya Ganeshpanchan of the The Zinthiya Trust has seen it all when it comes to violence against women. A prolific and tireless campaigner for women in need here in the UK and globally, Zinthiya empowers women with essential resources, information and support. Educated in a convent, she opens our conversation wryly, saying: “The nuns in my childhood weren’t always my favourite people, but they gave me structure and a morality that I am sure has contributed to my work ethic and who I am today- for that I am grateful”. Zinthiya entered the world of work at the age of 18, as the Universities in Sri Lanka were closed due to conflict and civil unrest. She took the opportunity to work for many different organisations including The Institute for Fundamental Studies, the Chamber

ONCE I SEE WOMEN TREATED BADLY, ONCE I SEE THEIR SUFFERING, I CAN’T REST UNTIL I BELIEVE THAT I HAVE DONE ALL I CAN TO HELP

of Commerce, and the World Trade Centre. She also worked as a visiting academic for the Open University of Sri Lanka teaching at two regional centres. “I worked Monday to Friday and tought on the weekends- the story of my life,” she laughs. In addition, Zinthiya also worked as a freelance journalist focusing on women’s rights, in particular the human rights violence against them. “My work explored the exploitation of women in areas such as the free

trade zones, plantations and sex industry.” This led her to write her first a book on the injustices against women. “Once I see women treated badly, once I see their suffering, I can’t rest until I believe that I have done all I can to help.” It was meeting her husband that brought Zinthiya to the UK when his medical career took him to the NHS and Zinthiya accompanied him. Falling pregnant just two months before arriving in the UK, Zinthiya knew that whilst there were limitations in some people’s minds about how much she could do, yet it wasn’t going to stop her. “Within a week or two after giving birth, I was back working at a Sure Start centre in East London. Then, we moved again for my husband’s work to Stafford, so I returned to university to read for my Master’s – all with my daughter who was under a year old!” After years of experiences in education, work and being a mother, Zinthiya set up her own space for women. Soon after, she established a small office at the Tudor Centre owned by the City Council providing weekly support sessions for disadvantaged women. From there onwards, The Zinthiya Trust has worked to help women on the front line. “I have seen violence against women in many forms in different situations, yet each time I see a woman suffer my heart weeps. I do get angry at broken systems, policies and governments, but I know it won’t help the women. Instead, I do everything in my power to support them individually and I can’t ever see myself stopping.” Thank goodness for that, or rather, thank goodness for Zinthiya.

G I NA SAM U E L-R I C HAR D S

ore than law

hen newly graduated Gina Samuel-Richards fell pregnant, she was told: “You have ruined your career before it’s even started”. Gina said: “I couldn’t understand that concept – why shouldn’t I have a career as a lawyer and be a mother?” It can’t have been a woman who said that? “Oh it was, Emily!” An intelligent woman who has worked hard to study and achieved the accreditations needed to become a lawyer is told that because she is about to become a mother, her career is over. It now seems rather ridiculous to ask the question I have been asking other women in this International Women’s Day feature – the ‘do you feel there have been limitations placed on you because of your gender?’ question. For Gina, who was president of Leicestershire Law Society in 2022-23, becoming a mother did anything but stop her from pursuing her highly successful career path. “I just took my baby with me, to council meetings, study groups and volunteering. There was no alternative. Nor did I see that there needed to be! Under a Labour government and with Gordon Brown as Prime Minister, I was able to work, volunteer and raise my child.” Which of course, is absolutely as it should be. With a supportive family, Gina climbed the career ladder and opened her firm, AGR Law, all whilst raising her family alongside. “My mum worked hard as a nurse. Her example and my attitude of navigating life by pivoting around challenges rather than letting them get in the way have all contributed to my success and ultimately, my happiness.”

Her successes are plenty, with her own law practice being a member of a multi-academy trust and receiving multiple awards for leadership. “My career has never been about one single thing; never about law alone. It’s always been about community and collaboration too, as well as helping to change society from the people in it up.” Her son and daughter both have a similarly determined attitude to their

LAW CAN BE A CAREER THAT ANYONE FROM ANY BACKGROUND CAN HAVE

future careers, and for speaking out when prejudices happen. “My family kept fairly quiet when any form of prejudice occurred, as I remember. They seemed to fight it by working hard and fighting for our education. My children are far more vocal. My daughter’s teacher messaged me to congratulate her ‘Rosa Parks’ moment at school. She’d presented her views in a strong, fair and respectful manner – it certainly makes me proud!” This ability to not have any element of her working or family life take any kind of back seat is something Gina is proud to have inspired in her children and others starting out in their career. “At our Leicestershire Law Society awards last year, I wore traditional Nigerian dress. As the first black person to take the role of its president, University of Leicester staff told me that it was impactful for their students to have seen a black woman in the role. “It shows that law can be a career that anyone from any background can have, and for that I’m incredibly proud.”

N I C H E B U S I N E S S C OV E R STO RY

LEAN N E B O N N E R- C O O K E M B E

nbreakable:

A resilience journey

s resilience and independence something you are born with or is it something that grows with you? That’s my first question to entrepreneur Leanne Bonner-Cooke MBE. “A mixture of both! I’m the daughter of a military father and stay-at-home mother. There was a certain amount of structure and a lot of discipline when growing up, mixed with a forces lifestyle of moving around. These factors gave me the confidence, drive and self-belief that made me want to break out and be independent, to make my own way.” Perhaps this is a trait of children of military parents, I suggest: “Maybe. It taught me to be socially adaptable that’s for sure. I did have a rebellious streak though – I wanted independence from a young age. My first job was on the record counter in Woolworths and I loved it – I earned my own money and could play my music loud all day. It gave me a taste for independence.” Whilst she’s someone who never stops learning, school wasn’t easy for

I WAS BREAKING THE MOULD BEING A FEMALE TECH FOUNDER

Leanne. “I’m dyslexic, so it never felt comfortable – it didn’t help me thrive, put it that way. I liked numbers however, and trained as an accountant once I left school. But I soon learnt that this repetitive, structured career didn’t suit my personality.” From here she found computing. It was the early ‘90s and desktop computers were becoming a thing - a thing that Leanne immediately loved.

“I really enjoyed that computers made things easier for people.” From here she worked her way up – but once she got there, she was faced with the challenges that a maledominated tech industry brought with it. “I had the same experience, the same qualifications and yet when I reached the top in corporate tech roles, my male counterparts were receiving higher rates of pay and getting the top jobs. I just thought: ‘I am going to go out there and do things for myself.’” There’s that resilience! In the years that followed, Leanne became a successful entrepreneur, starting and selling multi-million-pound businesses whilst learning to pivot, and grow both the businesses and herself professionally, through the challenges of failing economies and recessions. “There have been many challenges and bad decisions since I started out in business back in 2008, but at least they were my own – and I was breaking the mould being a female tech founder.” When we talk about how women in leadership roles grow in their positions, the takeaway is mentoring and coaching. “I’ve been there when you simply go, go, go… do, do, do, without taking a breath, especially if you are at the top of the tree in your business, who is there to support you? Those negative thoughts of ‘if I don’t do it who will?’ and ‘I will fail ifs...’ creep in. For me, it didn’t present itself as stress, I just became a human doing rather than a human being. Not looking after myself and not being present. When I have these feelings, I seek mentoring or coaching to help with confidence and self-belief along with gaining the skills and experience from those that have been there, and I take some time away from my every day. “I always feel like this really helps

me to come back to myself, my purpose; back to a human being, back to the moment and I think that is down to my ability to adapt and be resilient!”

J E N NY C R OS S

ring it all back around

hen self-belief and strength of character carry a woman out of the darker places; when she digs deep and finds the strength to create a successful decade-andcounting business, that’s when women are viewed as inspiring. After all, most of us aren’t inspired by a path of easy success. Strength is a trait we look up to. For Jenny Cross, her dream job wasn’t in marketing and media. “I wanted to be a comedian or a social worker when I was growing up, Ems!” This genuinely shocked me – I’ve known her for over 14 years, but had no idea she had either of these aspirations. She wanted to be a social worker to help struggling families and I can feel the emotion of this in her. But the temptation of independence led her down a different path. “I fully intended to go into social work, but after school I took a gap year, saw an ad for a sales executive and started earning my own money. I got a taste for the independence it brought me.” Despite feeling like her gender worked with her rather than against her in this role, the management team was tough. “My female manager was vile to me. Rather than wilting under it, it only made me feel like I wanted to be better than her – to strive to beat her.” This fighting spirit came from childhood. “My parents were always hugely supportive of me and encouraged me to be or do whatever I wanted to do. I have the same view with my children now. Nothing’s out of reach for what they can aim for in their lives.” It wasn’t long before she became sales director; but, after becoming pregnant with her first child, she decided that the environment was too cut-throat. “I learnt a lot from that job, vitally how

things shouldn’t feel in the workplace.” A successful role followed in magazine publishing. But her male peers viewed her as competition. “I don’t see others this way – collaboration is key for me. There was a certain amount of threat that some companies in the sector felt when I started out. That wasn’t for me to be concerned with. I didn’t pay it any attention.” She just got on with it, in true Jen style. There were difficult times though. As her colleague and friend, there was a particular time I remember well. “When I lost my mum suddenly, it hit me a lot harder than I could’ve imagined. I was already in a vulnerable position and it tipped me over the edge. Not long after, my marriage fell apart and we went our separate ways. I found myself parenting three children with big personalities whilst grieving. “Hitting rock bottom, I felt I had absolutely lost my mind, but you come out the other side and you realise how

I DON’T SEE CHALLENGES AS THINGS THAT GET IN THE WAY, INSTEAD THEY PRESENT OPPORTUNITY

important your mental health is. It’s crucial for me to be aware of my own signs, to slow down, be kinder to myself.” One of the strongest women I know, I’ve seen Jenny bring it all back around. It’s one of the many reasons for her success. “I don’t see challenges as things that get in the way, instead they present opportunity. I believe everything happens for a reason and it’s all a chance for growth.”

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B H U M I KA PAR MAR

o more stunted dreams

he child of working-class factory workers, Leicestershire Law Society President Bhumika Parmar’s belief in her ability was cemented from a young age. A familial line of stunted dreams impassioned her parents to make sure their children’s own dreams came true. “I had such strong, hard working role models in my parents. They worked exceptionally hard to give us an education. That example, mixed with their views on sending me to university when culturally it wasn’t always expected of the female in the family, motivated me.

HE TOLD ME I WOULDN’T AMOUNT TO ANYTHING!

“‘Who are you hoping for Bhumika to marry?’ others would ask. They would simply say they wanted more for me.” Her father was restricted from pursuing his dreams of having a career. “My grandfather unfortunately passed away when my father was young. My dad wanted different for me and my brother, and turned his hand at anything to earn money to put us through good education so we could achieve our dreams.” Bhumika had always been interested in law. But, despite working hard at school, the response from her male form tutor was not positive: “He told me I wouldn’t amount to anything! Well, it made me want to prove him wrong, that’s for sure.” After attending Loughborough College, she then undertook her degree. It was during her first year at university that she started receiving

positive affirmations for her working ability, when a lawyer attended her class as a guest lawyer lecturer. “The lawyer said how impressed he was with my ability, and asked me to work with him as a clerk at his firm. I jumped at the chance and built valuable experience whilst studying day and night!” After graduating, she found herself headhunted once again – this time by a Solihull firm predominantly practising in criminal law, that wished to establish a conveyancing department. Whilst this wasn’t the gritty criminal law path she had her heart set on, she discussed the prospect of opening the new department in the firm, and conveyancing soon became her passion. She was heading up her own department, still only in her twenties. In the recession of 2007, Bhumika fell pregnant. Knowing she wanted a career as well as a family, her husband advised she live her new dream of starting her own firm. “He took a back seat in his career so I could progress in mine while we started a family.” A good name in the business community, the support of her husband, self-belief and hard work led to the expansion of the BP Legal team to the 11 people strong firm it is today, as well as earning the accolade of becoming the Leicestershire Law Society President of 2023/24. On what she hopes for her own children in their future: “I want them to know they can achieve anything. No limits whatever it is, regardless of gender.” And with a son pursuing an already successful career as a child actor as well as also wishing to pursue a career in law, and a daughter with her own visions of becoming a doctor who has made it clear to her mother that she’s ‘more interested in studying for

a career than marrying’, the generational role model of ‘doing it for yourselves’ from her own parents is burning bright.

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AM E E R A LAH E R

doctor with women’s self-esteem in mind

hen I call Dr Ameera Laher on a rainy late afternoon in December, she tells me she’s at home with her four-month-old son having worked for the morning. So she has to do the interview whilst making sure her newborn is looked after. “I think he’s settled now… I am learning to section things off – my 500-email inbox will have to wait ‘til tomorrow!” To which as a mother who understands the juggle, I explain that of course it’s perfectly alright with me. “I have witnessed what it looks like for a woman to do it all. My father passed away suddenly when I was six years old, and my mum was in her early 30s with three children under six. She worked hard and balanced bringing us up whilst grieving; it was quite remarkable, reflecting on it.” After graduating from training as a doctor for seven years, Ameera built up a wide variety of experience in various medical disciplines including surgery, psychiatry and emergency medicine to broaden her skill set. It was when she discovered facial aesthetics that she found the discipline for her. “I loved learning about aesthetics and helping to make people feel good about themselves. It was never about vanity – it’s all about self-esteem and women in particular can lack that as they get older.” When I ask her why it’s women’s self-esteem that interests her in particular, she replies: “Nobody talks about some of the things that many women experience with their physical and mental health. I provide Botox, fillers and non-surgical rejuvenation – things that I have

witnessed can help significantly with women’s self-esteem. “Women don’t really have the opportunity to talk about how the physical changes as they get older make them feel emotionally. The menopause, for example, can be hugely affecting on how women feel about their appearance and therefore their self-esteem.” Passionate about opening up the conversation and providing

IT’S ALL ABOUT SELF-ESTEEM AND WOMEN IN PARTICULAR CAN LACK THAT AS THEY GET OLDER

holistic services for facial aesthetics, treatments and much more, Ameera began investing time and money into her own state-of-the-art clinic where women’s aesthetics and all its elements are supported. Opening in early 2024, the clinic is set to be pioneering in its approach to women’s aesthetics. “All my consultations are about achieving the right results for each person as an individual. It’s always a conversation that opens up all aspects of their health and then looks at what route they might want to take. It might not always be aesthetics; it can be advice and support on self-care or nonsurgical if that’s what they need. “Opening up the conversation with women about the level of confidence that they are feeling, and then being able to help them with solutions to build on that confidence is really why I do what I do.”

N I C H E B U S I N E S S C OV E R STO RY

A L

LI N DA N EVI LLE

rebel with a cause

inda Neville, a seasoned mental health specialist with over 30 years of experience, has carved her path by challenging norms and overcoming obstacles in her professional journey. Born in Dumfries, Scotland, Linda discovered her passion for mental health early on and defied parental expectations by choosing a career focused on human behaviour rather than conventional roles like theatre nursing or dentistry. “I have always been rebellious,” Linda starts our conversation. “My parents wanted me to go into theatre nursing or dentistry, but I was far too interested in human behaviour and mental health to deal in teeth!” At 17, Linda fell into a job as a Health Care Support Worker almost by accident. “I found that I really enjoyed working with people, knowing I was making a difference and gaining independence through earning my own money.” When this job led her to mental health work with adults, she found her vocation. “I was fascinated by human behaviour. I felt very passionate about helping patients on the ward and breaking down the stigma that can be around mental health – it was particularly prevalent back then. I felt like I was a voice for those who didn’t have one; I guess that’s the rebellion coming through again.” From working directly with patients to senior leadership positions and eventually becoming the Director of Adult Mental Health for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Linda experienced a certain amount of gender bias in her senior roles. Reflecting on her time in the NHS, she noticed disparities in workload and

compensation between herself and male counterparts in supposedly equal positions. “There were men in roles that were supposed to be equal to me, but I would be asked to do their admin and workload whilst they were earning thousands more than me – that simply wouldn’t have been asked of the men!” After 26 years of service, feeling distant from the work she loved, Linda made the bold decision to step away. “I was getting further away from the work that I loved.” As the primary breadwinner of her family, she faced uncertainty without a clear plan. “I knew I’d have to make it work, whatever ‘it’ was.” In 2011, she set up private practice SanaMente Hypnotherapy and launched online platform Strive in 2021, providing a comprehensive framework and toolkit for individuals and employees to prioritise and improve mental fitness. Linda’s rebellious spirit and determination to make a difference were put to the test when she experienced

determination and courage needed to navigate life’s challenges by embracing risks and making the tough decisions that define our existence.

I WAS FASCINATED BY HUMAN BEHAVIOUR AND FELT VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT HELPING PATIENTS

the profound impact of grief while caring for her terminally ill sister. But whilst overcoming her own challenges, Linda used her expertise and years of experience to shape what Strive is today. The company is now flourishing, with Linda continuously adapting her training methods based on the latest research in the field. Her journey serves as a powerful testament to the resilience, NICHE | 21

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CAS S I E DAVI S O N

t the table of inequality

s a female owner in the pub and restaurant sector, Cassie is pretty rare. Whilst there are plenty of women in the hospitality industry, there are less and less as you get higher up the hierarchy. “It’s a difficult environment for women, as they tend to be the primary carers and so don’t have flexibility around childcare – and this is an industry that has always been on the wrong side of work-life balance. It was also often a toxic environment. It’s much better these days, with legislation that protects workers and a much better understanding of mental health, but it’s still not universally a positive place to work, particularly for women.” So, why did she stick at it? “I loved working in hospitality when I first left education. It was fast-paced and fun. I opened my first bar when I was 23. I only remember once getting nervous about whether or not people would come. They did – thankfully!” Presumably, there must have been something about her personality that made her stay in the industry, despite the huge challenges women face in it? “My dad being who he is meant that he’s had a great deal of trolling over the years, and in turn by association, so do I. I got pretty tough to it; it helped me in lots of ways.” I actually hadn’t thought about her father Sir Peter Soulsby, Leicester City Mayor, in connection to Cassie. Having met her a few times, she simply comes across as a successful businesswoman in her own right. She’s run successful establishments and been behind huge local schemes like Bring the Paint – her dad had nothing to do with that. “Well, I’m glad to hear I’ve developed a reputation of my

own. Someone did introduce my dad at a business event as Cassie’s father recently. That was nice!” It takes women longer to prove themselves; we go on to discuss, particularly in an industry like hospitality. And, since raising a family of her own and making it the top in business, Cassie explained she’s stepping away from the

IT’S A DIFFICULT ENVIRONMENT FOR WOMEN AS THEY TEND TO BE THE PRIMARY CARERS AND SO DON’T HAVE FLEXIBILITY AROUND CHILDCARE

day to day grind of it all. “I believe women already have to begin at a harder starting block. That, in addition to the hours, you really need resilience and determination.” There are elements of hospitality that she can’t leave, though. “I love that hospitability is always the location for our best stories and memories – it plays such an important social role. I couldn’t leave it completely.” Utilising the 30 years’ worth of experience and networks she’s made in business, Cassie launched Kith and Kin during the pandemic and is now relaunching for Leicestershire. “It’s a social enterprise supporting the hospitality industry, a forum for those who want to collaborate, to be a community that helps one another rather than being in direct competition. “If women can see other leaders in hospitality, then they know they can do it too. If I can be part of that change by providing an example of success, well, that’s amazing!”

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K E E LEY BAI G E NT

n the side of women in the workplace

oes discrimination still exist in the workplace in 2024? Keeley Baigent, founder of employment law firm KSAB Law is in no doubt: “Yes, unfortunately it does. Claims are still being brought by women at the top in banks in respect of unequal bonuses, and by women in the caring profession asserting equal pay to men conducting work of equal value to them. There also appears to have been a growth in sexual harassment cases. “Whether it’s sexual harassment, the gender pay gap or discrimination by lack of promotion, it’s still hugely prevalent,” she continues. For Keeley, defending these cases alongside educating and training staff in order to protect employers against such claims is a large part of why she works in employment law. She didn’t go into law for this reason, though – this passion for people and helping them to get justice was part of it, but not all. “I actually wanted to be a lawyer from the age of 15. I remember feeling like I was sure it was what I wanted to do. My parents believed in me and supported this choice from the get-go.” Whilst there were no lawyers in her family, she did have hardworking parents who encouraged their children to aim high. “My twin sister left for ballet school when she was 12. To some, this might have seemed a lot, but it was all in support of her dreams.” Having worked her way up the ladder in an East Midlands law firm, Keeley started her own employment law practice in April 2018, she says: “For some, the pandemic was their hardest time, yet with the changing face of work and employment legislation around furlough and working from home, it became vital

FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS, WORKPLACES NEED TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO CONTINUALLY ADDRESS THE IMBALANCE

for companies to seek support from someone like me.” With two young children herself, Millie who is eight and Alfie who is 12, Keeley also knows only too well how the balance of things needs to continue to be fought for. “My children see their mum working, and they see my husband do things for them in the home that wasn’t so commonplace when I was growing up. However, there’s so much work still to be done, and for future generations, workplaces need to look for ways to continually address the imbalance. Things like remote working, for example – the pandemic has resulted in women being able to do this more and that’s a good thing.” “Businesses need to ensure they recruit and retain highly skilled women in their workforce, both for their benefit as well as those women.

By not accommodating for women’s needs to cater for every blurring line of personal and work life, companies will ultimately lose the skills and experience which would otherwise prove invaluable to them. “They need to create a culture of flexible working, family-friendly benefits, shared parental leave, equal pay and promotion of women into the top jobs – and, of course, a zero tolerance for sexual harassment. That’s how you promote and achieve a truly equal workforce.” NICHE | 51

JAY WE B B

alking through

doors of opportunity

anaging director, HR expert, keen gardener and stroke survivor Jay Webb of Jay Webb Consultancy Services is an example of someone who has walked through every open door of opportunity with confidence. One of nine siblings, Jay has worked in varied worlds as far back as she can remember. “Work has always been part of my life – handing my roofer father and grandad hammers and nails up ladders, cleaning the builders’ yard and then helping out in my auntie’s shop.” When it came to following her own career path, she left school and trained as a florist. After a brief dalliance with being a singer in the evenings in the ‘60s, which she decided wasn’t for her, she was headhunted to work at a hairdressers as a receptionist. From there she became a secretary at Brush, and then HR Officer at Whitbread, where she was sent off to university for management training. By any standards, these careers were pretty diversified. She says: “I have worn about 26 different hats over the years. I have always been about discovering new opportunities – if a door opens, I walk through it and see what happens!” There’s an authenticity to Jay that has clearly held huge appeal for potential employers. She recalls a time when she travelled to the capital for a senior management level role for London Underground. “My interviewer was so rude to me right from the off. I told him as such and headed home thinking there’s no way that a) I would have got the job and b) that I wanted it!” The outcome was somewhat different: “I got the job at a higher salary than advertised and took 52 | NICHE

THE SUPPORT OF MY FEMALE FREINDSHIPS AND FAMILY HAS BEEN CRUCIAL

it!” she laughs. “For three years managing the policy department as a senior manager, I was making real policies in HR that made a great deal of difference.” Jay was then responsible for introducing drugs and alcohol testing for 5,000 contractors’ staff and 22,000 members of LU staff. Then off to the Metropolitan Line as the Employee Relations Manager - “I loved it! It was only the draw of heading back to my hometown of Leicester that brought me back.” Appointed head of HR for Social Services in Leicester, Jay soon transformed employee relations and saw it become one of the most respected council departments for ER in the city. Even when she suffered a stroke, she was undeterred. “Two weeks later, I undertook more study, including a Prince Two Practitioner course in project management, all with only three quarters of my brain still intact.” With time, change soon came

knocking and Jay decided to set up business on her own. “I spent a good year just getting things in place, before starting my own consultancy business.” So, it’s not only due to walking through the right doors, but there’s also certainly a hardworking, can-do attitude at play here. “Plus, I am pig stubborn! I had pneumonia five years ago and knew I was drifting away. But when a doctor tried to put me on a ‘Do Not Resuscitate ’, - I just thought: ‘You cheeky sod, I am not going anywhere!’ The support of my female friendships and family has been crucial.” It seems she won’t be slowing down anytime soon. “I am growing the business and looking for a new degree course to undertake. I will never stop learning and evolving!”

N I C H E B U S I N E S S C OV E R STO RY

M I NAKS H E E PATE L

hallenging prejudice

inakshee Patel believes in education and communication for lasting change. A belief she has had for nearly her whole life. It’s not difficult to see how and why she has become an advocate for real, lasting change when you look at her background. “I came to the UK at 12 years old. Having grown up in Africa a move to this country in the summer of ’76 was a rare thing.” Education was hugely important to the family, as Minakshee explains: “We had the promise of so much possibility when we moved to the UK. My parents changed their whole life and worked so hard here – there wasn’t a question for any of us that we wouldn’t honour their sacrifices with getting a good education and doing well.” Studying in the UK meant that it wasn’t only about the education she received, but also about how she could educate her peers on their perceptions too: “I remember a child asked me about mud huts and suggested that my home would have been one. I didn’t feel like I was different to anyone else, so when there was a perception like this, rather than see it as something that affected me negatively, I simply saw it as something I could teach about the truths of my experience. It was an opportunity for that child to learn.” Throughout university, Minakshee thrived, and when the opportunity came to become part of the board at the student union, she experienced her first real discrimination. “I wanted to be Vice President – Finance & Admin, which was an elected role – that was my thing, numbers – no woman, let alone a black woman had taken the role before, and I experienced racism

PEOPLE WANT TO DO BETTER. THEY DON’T WANT TO BE DISCRIMINATORY, THEY WANT TO LEARN

for the first time in my life. Thankfully the board supported me and made those that were racist apologise publicly. I excelled in the role.” A career in local government and HR over 29 years has further reinforced Minakshee’s determination to educate misjudgement and perceptions. “I will always look at both sides before a judgement. Communication is key. To go straight in with the attack at prejudice doesn’t work. What does work is having open and honest discussions about misperception and prejudice, and then educating them on what is actually the truth. That’s where real and lasting change happens.” Discrimination can, of course, come in all shapes and forms; Minakshee recalls a time when she visited the bank with her husband. “The finance officer was only looking directly at my

husband when asking questions – they saw my traditional dress and presumed my husband was the money man.” When I asked how she handled it, she laughed: “My husband simply said he had no idea about the family’s finances and that I was the money person in our household!” Her belief in this is so strong that she now goes into workplaces to open up conversations around discrimination. “People want to do better. They don’t want to be discriminatory, they want to learn, it’s just sometimes they are afraid to open up about it, afraid of what to say. Breaking through this barrier is essential to really making a long-term difference to discriminatory behaviours. It’s truly rewarding to be part of that change.” NICHE | 53

B A

lthough Nisha Thomas owns an award-winning apartment block business that she loves, it wasn’t specifically her creative dream. The majority of her career has been spent working as a journalist and documentarian, starting out in newspapers in Kent and then TV production at BBC Nottingham. “I had this really cool life where I was making films about different subjects all over the UK. Meanwhile, I had a side hustle, which was managing apartment blocks,” she said with a laugh. It’s not especially common to hear anyone say: ‘yes, I work for the BBC, but my real passion is block management.’ “When I moved to Leicester, I met my husband Michael and we bought a flat in a new building on Charles Street. It was really nice, but it was also badly run. “The developers got so fed up of me ringing that they said, ‘Do you want to do it yourself?’ and I thought: ‘I probably could.’ So, I became the caretaker of the building! It turned out I was really good at it.” Michael also has a property background, and when their baby Vega came along, they founded MVN Block Management. I ask her about life as a working mother, something I know well, and how that might have affected her career and creativity. “Motherhood has changed my perspective on life in general. If I had the money to be a full-time mum, I would do it. I’d just be a mum to Vega all day, every day – I’m not saying I’m not, but working does take me away from her. “However, Vega is seeing a working mum who’s doing something 54 | NICHE

N I S HA TH O MAS

uilding blocks

vision and motherhood I WISH THE SYSTEM WAS BETTER FOR WOMEN. I PUT VEGA IN NURSERY FOR NINE MONTHS AND IT BROKE MY HEART

worthwhile. Plus, I can work from home, whereas before I wouldn’t see her for eight hours a day. I’m superefficient now – if I need to, I can do eight hours’ work in two hours. “I wish the system was better for women. I put Vega in nursery for nine months and it broke my heart, but I had no choice because I had to sell this business, and I couldn’t have people ringing me with a baby crying in the background. “We play two different parts, and I do sometimes think to myself: ‘God, this is a lot.’” Having gone from a very creative industry to a more administrative one, I ask how she nurtures

the creative side of herself. “I’m considering joining the acting workshop at The Little Theatre. I absolutely loved drama at school, but acting wasn’t really an option for me back then. When I ask her about what gives her hope for the future female, she says: “Hope is a difficult one for me right now, when you turn on the news and see children being killed in Gaza. “However, I cannot show that burden to Vega, so I personally hope for an end to these killings, so that we can leave a legacy to our children which is about the rewards of being passionate for our communities, rather than striving for power.”

N I C H E B U S I N E S S C OV E R STO RY

D E B O R AH K N I G HT

he injustice of violence

very woman you speak to will have had some sort of experience,” says Deborah Knight when we broach the subject of consent and violence against women and girls. As the CEO of Quetzal, a charity that provides free counselling for women who have experienced childhood sexual abuse, and as the mum of three teenage boys, she’s overtly passionate about helping turn survivors’ lives around and educating on raising awareness of the impact of abuse. Quetzal was founded 30 years ago by childhood sexual abuse survivor Jennifer Black, after discovering a lack of specific support for survivors of this crime. What started out as a small support group is now a formal charity with eight employees and 50 counsellors. Around 400 beneficiaries a year are supported by Quetzal – a figure that has double since Covid-19. “There’s a higher awareness of violence against women and girls now, and more stories portrayed in the media. This can be triggering for survivors, and we often see jumps in referrals when these stories break.” Working with survivors from the age of 16 and over, Deborah says: “People’s entire worlds are impacted for the rest of their lives because they’ve suffered this crime. We’re seeing a lot more young people than we used to, because we’re more active on social media and have developed links with universities.” Unfortunately though, there is a waiting list. Deborah says it is the reality of working as a charity. She joined in 2020 and was promoted to CEO just a year later. She’s made

PEOPLE’S WHOLE WORLDS ARE IMPACTED FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES

changes to eliminate travel as a barrier, enabling survivors to access support online and over the phone. For those on the waiting list, Quetzal now has volunteers who contact survivors before their counselling journey. Yoga sessions and drop-in groups also provide access to a community of people who understand them. “Childhood sexual abuse is so deeply unfair and there’s a lot of shame and stigma around it, so it’s important for people to know they’re not alone. There’s also the difficulty of prosecution – less than 5% of reports of historic abuse result in a charge. That lack of justice and support is something we can hopefully contribute to changing.” Quetzal works in partnership with other local charities; Leicester Rape Crisis, where Deborah worked before Quetzal, has a project called ‘Shush’ that teaches consent to young people. Leicestershire Partnership for Survivors of Sexual Abuse, a joint project between the two charities, as well as First Step and Freeva, has been granted funding by the Ministry of Justice Rape and Sexual Assault Fund,

enabling them to share resources and improve services. I ask how the work affects staff too. “We’re exposed to a lot of distress, so we have access to counsellors ourselves. We often get beneficiaries who couldn’t leave the house or had strained relationships, but they’ve now found peace – it’s an ongoing process and our intervention is only part of that, but it makes me very proud.” For those who have experienced a sex crime at any age, Leicestershire Police say: “You can report a sexual assault or rape that happened at any time to us, even if it was months, years or decades ago.” NICHE | 55

N I C H E B U S I N E S S F E AT U R E S H E I N S P I R ES

She Inspires:

5 years of support THE LEICESTER-BASED SOCIAL ENTERPRISE HAS BEEN SUPPORTING FEMALE-LED START-UPS SINCE 2018. TOM YOUNG TAKES A LOOK AT THEIR JOURNEY

o celebrate She Inspires’ fifth anniversary, as a part of its ‘empowering women in business’ programme, the social enterprise will be providing seed funding to five female entrepreneurs along with an enterprise development support package worth over £15k. Applications for the programme will open in January 2024 with the first round of funding being made available by March 2024. Any longstanding member of the Leicester business community will surely know founder Zinthiya Ganeshpanchan and the work she has

undertaken with the Zinthiya Trust. Alongside this, she founded She Inspires, which has been supporting female-led start-ups across the UK for half a decade. The profits generated have been re-invested into building the capacity of women-led organisations in developing countries, working to improve the lives of women and children affected by poverty and violence. In their attempt to support female founders, She Inspires has also set up an Angel investment group. This “is to address the challenges women

New Year Honours list

ing Charles III honoured Leicester people, and those with connections to Leicestershire, in the New Year Honours list 2024 including a University of Leicester professor, a hospice founder, and a former Leicestershire cricketer. Here are those with Leicestershire connections.

Officers of the Order of the British Empire

Professor Emma Bunce, Professor of Planetary Plasma Physics, University of Leicester. For Services To Astronomy And Science Education Rajwinder Singh, Principal Project Sponsor, Prison Infrastructure Team, Ministry Of Justice. For Public Service Professor Bryan Williams, Director of Research, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. For Services To Medicine Dr Samantha Callan, Director And CoFounder, The Family Hubs Network Ltd. For Services To Victims Of Domestic Abuse

Members of the Order of the British Empire

James Mclean, Deputy Chief Nurse, Programme Delivery, Health Education England. For Services To Nursing 56 | NICHE

Mary Earps, Professional Footballer. For Services To Association Football

Medals of the Order of the British Empire

Beverley Greenwood, Deputy Chief Nurse, Programme Delivery, Health Education England. For Services To Nursing Coral Kelham, founding member of the Barrow Methodist. For Services To The Community In Barrow Upon Soar, Leicestershire Henry Lillystone, Fixtures Secretary, Leicestershire Foxes Sunday League. For Services To Youth Football Louise Wright, Executive Assistant, West Midlands Lieutenancy Office. For Services To Local Government And To Charity Christine Gatfield, Founder, Dove Cottage Day Hospice. For Services To The Terminally Ill

founders face when accessing finance especially at the early stages of their growth,” explains Zinthiya. In addition to the financial and training support the organisation has also created the Community and Enterprise Hub on Bishop Street that provides space for meetings and coworking for individuals and groups. For more information on the work of She inspires or to apply for the charity’s funding and support, visit sheinspiresglobal.org.uk.

Commanders of the Order of the British Empire

Vivien Waterfield, Deputy Chief Executive, Home-Start. For Services To Early Years Learning Stuart Broad MBE, former Leicestershire Cricketer. For Services To Cricket. Kevin Sinfield OBE, Former Leicester Tigers Coach. For Services To Motor Neurone Disease Awareness Peter Shilton OBE, Former Professional Footballer. For Services To Association Football And To The Prevention Of Gambling Harm

Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire

Dr Margaret Aderin MBE, Chancellor, University Of Leicester. For Services To Science Education And To Diversity

Companion of the Order of the Bath

Dr Abigail Tierney, Lately Director General, Home Office. For Public Service

LIFESTYLE

Internationally renowned teachers join Yoga Loft Burbage yoga studio doubles the size of its team welcoming internationally renowned teachers WORDS BY KERRY SMITH

oga Loft in the village of Burbage has taken on two internationally renowned senior yoga teachers. They’ve also partnered with six highly experienced guest teachers from across the UK to deliver regular workshops throughout the year, which are designed to improve overall balance and mental health and help support those experiencing post Covid-19 anxiety or daily work and life stresses. The studio, which scooped Yoga Studio of the Year at the 2023 National Health, Beauty and Wellness Awards, is owned by Kat Jennings, who saw an increase in people from the area looking to improve their health and wellbeing through yoga. She says that many local businesses were also showing interest in schemes such as Yoga Loft’s Thrive at Work offering. “More than 60 per cent of adults say anxiety interferes with their daily lives, according to the Mental Health Foundation, and with the impact of Covid-19, social media and now the cost-of-living crisis, it’s no surprise more people are looking to yoga to improve their health and wellbeing,” Kat said. New senior yoga instructor Robin Aurora spent 12 years in India at the

Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute and is widely regarded as one of the best in his field. As well as being a Senior Yoga Alliance registered teacher, Robin also has a passion for handstand and travels the globe teaching people how to view the world upside down. Anna Ashby, author of Restorative Yoga: Power Presence Practice for Teachers and Trainees and one of the very first to teach restorative yoga in the UK after spending 12 years in a yoga ashram in New York, is also on board as a new senior yoga teacher. “Along with myself, Robin and Anna will be teaching our clients, but also the growing number of teachers coming from all over the UK to build on their practice,” said Kat. “And as we grow our community of teachers, we have attracted some of the best in the UK to deliver empowering workshops in

everything from ashtanga to vinyasa flow.” Uniquely, the studio on the top floor of a former hosiery factory in Coventry Road has also taken on a second inhouse physiotherapist to help clients recover from injuries and support with chronic conditions alongside yoga, alleviating pressure on NHS services. “The cost of living crisis is now putting particular pressure on our clients, but we are committed to offering physical and emotional support to our growing yoga community. And we are also offering to those who want to try yoga out a class for free first. “There are so many great things happening and we are looking forward to sharing yoga with modern-day yogis and those looking for more balance in their lifestyle.” N I C H E | 57

C IT Y LIVI NG

N I C H E L I F E S T Y L E F E AT U R E

City living

Shopping and accommodation updates in Leicester city centre

WORK BEGINS ON GRAND HOTEL’S HISTORIC SHOPFRONTS

Leicester City Council is proposing to create additional available car parking on side streets off Granby Street to support local businesses,

and so that footpaths along the busy shopping street can be permanently widened. A ‘pop-up’ scheme temporarily introduced the measures in 2020. If given the go-ahead, the plans would see the measures improved and made permanent, providing more space for shoppers and outdoor seating. This would involve converting former pay and display parking bays in Granby Street with new paving and seating areas to help create a safer and more attractive route between the city centre and Leicester railway station.

MARKET TRADERS MAKE WAY FOR £7.5M REVAMP

Leicester Market traders moved to a new, temporary home in November to make way for a £7.5m revamp of the area. The traders moved to units in Green Dragon Square behind the market’s indoor Food Hall. The transformation of the existing market will see it split into three zones. Zone A will host a new café, planting and 58 | NICHE

public art, and space for temporary stalls for one-off events. Zone B, the covered portion of the market, will get a complete overhaul. Zone C will see 16 new “high quality and unique” lockable pods for traders.

NIGHTCLUB CAN BE TRANSFORMED INTO 40 FLATS AND A GYM

Leicester City Council has approved the conversion of the upper floors of Horsefair House, in Horsefair Street, into 40 flats. The building, at the entrance of Leicester Market, is currently in use with shops on the ground floor and a nightclub in the basement. The first-to-fifth floors are disused offices. The ground floor would remain the same, but the basement nightclub Waikiki would be turned into a gym. The office space would become 23 studio flats, 13 onebed apartments and four two-beds. No car parking is required but 44 bicycle spaces are proposed.

MARKET IMAGE: HICKMAN AND SMITH ARCHITECTS, LEICESTER

A ‘SAFER AND MORE ATTRACTIVE’ ROUTE

GRAND HOTEL ILLUSTRATION: LEICESTER CITY COUNCIL

The Grade II listed building in Granby Street is set to be repaired and restored as part of Historic England’s High Street Heritage Action Zones. As part of a major programme of improvements now underway, the shopfronts that line the Granby Street façade of the hotel will be reinstated as close to the building’s original design as possible. Work is expected to take around five months to complete and will be supported as part of the city council’s successful bid for £1.5m towards a High Street Heritage Action Zone for the Granby Street and Church Gate conservation areas. A grant of £700,000 has been awarded towards the cost of the restoration work, which is estimated to cost about £900,000. The hotel owners will contribute £200,000 towards the project.

N I C H E L I F E S T Y L E F E AT U R E

K ING OF LAUNDRY MY EVENT HIRE

AIRING THEIR LINEN IN PUBLIC L

aundry and events don’t typically come to mind in the same stream of thought, but the chore became such a bugbear for two local event organisers that they set up their own laundry company. My Event Hire, established originally as Solid State Events in 2009, supplies equipment and furniture for all types of events and weddings nationwide. But not many events can go without tablecloths, napkins and chair covers to complete an aesthetic. So, husband and wife Gareth and Amelda Sayer started King of Laundry in 2012. “We were spending over £1k a month outsourcing our linen cleaning and not getting great results, so we installed our own machines and made them great results,” says Amelda. “Eventually, other event companies found out we had these facilities outsourced their linen cleaning to us and word spread across the hospitality industry.” But with King of Laundry in Wigston and My Event Hire in Desford, operations were impractical. In a wave of transformation, the two businesses came together in a new Wigston building in November and the name change to My Event Hire was released in line with the relocation. They’ve upgraded from a 3,500 sq ft space to

Rebranded, relocated, and reinvigorated, King of Laundry and My Event Hire start afresh, inviting locals to an open day to share what they’ve achieved WORDS BY KERRY SMITH a 15,000 sq ft building to run the two companies from in Chartwell Drive. “Running two businesses in different locations wasn’t easy, and you could guarantee we were at the wrong building when something went wrong! The new location was tough to find because of the power and drainage required, but this new place ticks all the boxes,” Gareth explains. With investment into brand new machines, they’re now well on their way to Net Zero. Gareth tells us: “It just so happened that our contracts

so we’re thinking of installing a system that can heat the building from the used water rather than go down the drain.” The new building has a collection and drop-off point for laundry and a trade counter for events. They run a £35+ VAT wash for residential bedding customers, with Gareth guaranteeing “a better night’s sleep” due to their wash process and “try-before-you-buy” for hotel and B&B owners allowing them to feel what their customers feel first hand. What’s more, through My Event Hire, Gareth and Amelda are building

We were spending over £1k a month outsourcing our linen cleaning and not getting great results so we installed our own machines for leasing the machines had nearly come to an end, which meant we could invest in the latest technology. We’ve saved around 50% on our electricity bill because the new hot water filling system means washes take half the amount of time.” “Sustainability is part of our 10-year plan. We aim to go fully electric with all our vans and to find a way of recycling our water waste. The temperature in our washing machines gets very hot,

connections with emergency services and loss adjusters to supply emergency Heras fencing in order to secure sites within three hours in emergencies. Amelda says: “We are both massively proud of the businesses and our team and what we’ve achieved over the last 14 years. We’re inviting people to an open day to share what we’ve created.” The King of Laundry and My Event Hire open day takes place on Thursday, February 29, from 11am to 4pm. NICHE | 59

N I C H E L I F E S T Y L E A DV E R TO R I A L

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contacting 07812 156 540. The next 30 Day to Healthy Living WhatsApp support group starts on Monday, January 8, and repeats every five to six weeks. Starter packs are available at a 40% discount, including our Healthy Habits Set or the full 30 Day Pack, all customised to suit you. Contact Emma, Emily or Bev directly emmab.arbonne@gmail.com emilyh.arbonne@gmail.com info@bevsankey.com Arbonne Independent Consultants

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N I C H E L I F E S T Y L E F E AT U R E

AMAZSAG E TH E R AP I E S

A PREGNANCY JOURNEY

nothing short of amazing

…Or ‘Amazsage’ as Seema Parmar would say. After a 12-year struggle to have children, she now helps others in their fertility journeys with holistic therapies WORDS BY KERRY SMITH

e’re told that it ‘takes a village’ to raise a child. But what if you don’t have that support? And what if the journey to becoming a parent is more difficult than you expected, and you’ve given up hope? Seema Parmar had almost given up hope herself after personal struggles to conceive, and undergoing numerous investigations for multiple miscarriages and assisted conceptions. After a 12-year battle, she finally gave birth to twin boys. She now has three children, but has never forgotten the journey she endured to get to that point. Passionately eager to help other couples navigate fertility challenges, Seema established Amazsage Therapies in Leicester almost 10 years ago. During that time, she has guided hundreds of couples through successful pregnancies, providing expertise and comfort.

A HOLISTIC APPROACH

A woman’s physical, psychological and emotional needs are addressed with a holistic approach to fertility and pregnancy by using low-intervention therapies such as massage, yoga, reflexology and counselling. Specialising in holistic therapies, Seema has specifically designed packages to help couples through every stage of the process – from conception and pregnancy to birth and the postpartum period as well as women’s health, menopause and palliative care. “Couples can go through endless cycles of failed fertility treatments before they decide to try a holistic approach,” Seema says. “Having gone through the journey myself, I understand that NHS resources are

limited and they can’t offer holistic services most of the time.” Although it’s widely accepted that age, weight and medical history impact conception, Seema widens the scope of her research and considers lifestyle and mental health as part of her specialist treatments. “People store emotions in every cell of their body. Getting down to the nitty gritty helps us let go of things weighing us down, in order to release tension. “Understanding your health is a massive part of getting pregnant. Underlying male and female factors can limit a couple’s ability to conceive, which is why we need to consider diet, lifestyle and working patterns.”

SEEMA’S EXPERIENCE

“When I first fell pregnant, I couldn’t find anyone to massage me – most professionals won’t treat a pregnant woman until they reach 16 weeks’ gestation because of the risk of miscarriage. But I felt so exhausted

with nausea that I needed help,” Seema explains. She took it upon herself to train in pregnancy massage and shiatsu, pregnancy yoga and reflexology so that she could help other women in similar situations. “Women need to regulate their hormones, as they become unbalanced when their body is going through many changes. I help ease symptoms such as nausea, aches and pains, blood pressure, emotional stress, sciatica, leg cramps and swollen ankles.” Becoming a parent is a huge undertaking, so Seema is on hand during pregnancy, in labour and once a baby has arrived to help couples welcome this wonderful but intense period. “A mother’s needs tend to be ignored once the baby has arrived; we need to focus on helping support the new mum who needs attention at that time,” Seema signs off. Those on a pregnancy journey can go to amazsage.co.uk to find out more about Seema’s experience. NICHE | 61

TRANSFORM into the best version of YOU

GENERAL DENTISTRY COSMETIC DENTISTRY TEETH STRAIGHTENING

Beautiful Smiles 201 Victoria Park Road Leicester LE2 1XD

DENTAL IMPLANTS

0116 444 9111 hello@beautifulsmiles.co.uk

FACIAL AESTHETICS

visit: beautifulsmiles.co.uk

NICHE LIFESTYLE R EVI EW

TH E B E AUT Y BAR N

REVIEWED:

The Beauty Barn Hardened from high-pressure, hunched-over office life, we hurried to The Beauty Barn in Scraptoft when the team invited us to wind down WORDS BY KERRY SMITH AND EMILY MILLER

asy to find, automated gates welcome you into the front yard of a beautiful country home and barn, serenely quiet with only the sound of crunching of pebbles beneath your feet. Inside the two-storey barn, home of The Beauty Barn, is a treasure trove of wellness products, ambient lighting, sensational scents, and a welcoming warmth after the chill of the outside air. An Insta-worthy flower wall delightfully displays the name of the day spa. Greeted by co-founders Mel and Zofia, who are sisters-in-law, we were taken to a peaceful waiting room to settle ourselves when both of our shoulders visibly lowered. Given the choice, we decided on the igloo experience before treatments. The gentle pitter patter of rain hit the clear walls of the bright, heated igloo adorned in fluffy blankets and cushions. It was clear from the off that Mel and Zofia are experienced in making any situation comforting. They transported us through the rain and delivered afternoon tea and drinks to us with skilful elegance. Nothing was too much trouble and we never once felt limited by choice. They offered to make us any drink we fancied from luxurious hot chocolates to pretty Proseccos. The two-tiered afternoon tea had us full up in no time with a range of vegetarian and meat-filled sandwiches and wraps, rolls and salad, topped off with a wedge of chocolate fudge cakes and scones with all the condiments. Also outside is an enclosed changing area to make use of before heading to the secluded, sheltered, fairy-lit hot tub area. After taking a look around the small but inviting garden

space, it was time for treatments. From a menu of facials, and eye and nail treatments, we both chose 60-minutue massages – one full body and one back and scalp massage – which we requested as deep friction, physiotherapy-style. Our postures needed seeing to. We were understood immediately and Mel and Zofia explained that their techniques would help to relieve and reduce tension. After

finding several knots and manipulating and stimulating the muscle tissues to untie them, we both felt surprisingly lighter and able to stand tall again. We left relaxed and softened. This beautiful, family-run day spa is perfect for get-to-gethers with friends, Valentine’s Day couples packages, and Mother’s Day treats. Go to thebeautybarnleicester.co.uk for gift vouchers and treatment packages.

A treasure trove of wellness products, ambient lighting, sensational scents, and a welcoming warmth

NICHE | 63

Valentine’s DATE IDEAS

No matter what vibe you’re hoping to find for the perfect Valentine’s date, Leicestershire has ideas for you. As a hilarious prank, we tasked the most egregiously single member of the Niche production team to find them Words by Tom Young

FOOD AND DRINK Now you’ve worked up an appetite, you’ll need somewhere to eat.

GIGGLING SQUID

ACTIVE

If you and your partner like an activity to structure your date, these choices will get your competitive sides raring to go.

AXE THROWING

Nothing says 'date night' like a little Viking-esque violence. Axe throwing has become increasingly popular in the last few years, and if you haven’t yet been, perhaps Valentine’s is the perfect time. Game of Throwing has interactive targets that make more of a game of it than just blindly throwing an axe in a car park… Not that you’d do that, obviously.

SIXES SOCIAL CRICKET

In the latest attempt to make cricket fun, Sixes adds food, drink, and the opportunity to humiliate your friends/partner in a batting cage. In all seriousness, the food is excellent with plenty of variety to the menu. And even the most ardent cricketsceptic will find the competitive challenge of the batting cage entertaining.

EAST STREET LANES

If you prefer a classic option, you can’t go wrong with ten-pin bowling. East Street Lanes is quickly establishing itself as a local favourite. It’s child-free after 7pm, making for a more adult setting for date night. The cocktail bar and pizza menu will help to round out your evening.

64 | NICHE

There’s no shortage of great restaurants in Leicester, but if you’re hoping for somewhere Instagram-worthy, Thai restaurant Giggling Squid is the perfect choice. The restaurant itself is decorated beautifully, and the sharing platters will allow you to try multiple items and show off the range.

BUNK

Some days, you just need the simplicity of chicken. Bunk specialises in two things: cocktails and wings (both chicken and vegan/veggie alternatives). The atmosphere is fun and vibrant, with friendly staff, table football, and a deal on Long Island iced teas on Mondays (not relevant to Valentine’s, but worth knowing).

HAUTE DOLCI

Room for more? You’ll need a good dessert place! Haute Dolci is perhaps the fanciest-looking pudding parlour in the city (when it first opened, we thought it was a designer clothing/perfume store). Offering everything from classic crumbles and cheesecakes, to crêpes, waffles, and croffles (which it turns out is a word), there’s something for every kind of sweet tooth.

N I C H E L I F E S T Y L E F E AT U R E

VALE NTI N E'S DATE I D EAS

CHILLED

Perhaps something a little more relaxed while you digest your food?

PHOENIX CINEMA

We’re not exactly reinventing the wheel with the notion of a cinema date, but Phoenix tends to screen more independent films that might be perfect for the movie nerd in your life. The recently refurbished café bar also offers a pleasant space to meet beforehand, or for post-viewing discussion after.

APP-GUIDED SCAVENGER HUNT

A romantic walk can make for a lovely date, but that’s not the most imaginative idea. Why not take it a step further, and turn your walk into a scavenger hunt? Let’s Roam is app-based and gives you a guided tour of Leicester like no other, drawing your attention to bits of the city you might not have previously noticed.

BROCKLEBYS’ WORKSHOPS, MELTON MOWBRAY

For something a bit different, consider a trip to Meltonbased piemaker, Brocklebys. They have a handful of different workshops you can try, including piemaking, breadmaking, and the recently launched sausage-making experience. And you can take home whatever you make!

NIGHTS AWAY To win the ultimate brownie points, take your partner for a romantic getaway.

HAMMER & PINCERS, LOUGHBOROUGH

A phenomenal restaurant with two boutique hotel rooms. They’re both cosy but modern, having only been added to the venue since lockdown. The restaurant has three AA rosettes, and breakfast can supplement your stay for £15 per person.

HOTEL BROOKLYN

Easily the biggest hotel included here, the Brooklyn brings a flavour of New York to the heart of Leicester. From the rolltop baths in certain rooms, to the make-your-own-waffle irons at breakfast, this place is just… cool.

B&B AT NO.3, MARKET BOSWORTH

For a really cosy option, this B&B is described as having “Georgian rooms with spectacular opulence”. There’s also a coffee shop on site and some of the most impressive bathrooms you’re likely to see in an independent B&B.

NICHE | 65

WOR LD B OOK DAY

Do something nice for your mother… Have you called your mum lately? She worries about you. She’d love to see you. With Mother’s Day coming up, it’s a good time to treat her to something special. Tom Young rounds up the best spas and spots for afternoon tea HOARCROSS HALL HOTEL & SPA Burton Upon Trent

A little outside of Leicestershire, this impressive estate won ‘Best Spa for a Countryside Getaway’ at the Good Spa Guide Awards 2023. The hotel has a modern twist with the largest state-of-the-art spa in Europe. There’s a choice of restaurants, including AA rosette-winner, The Ballroom, or you can enjoy afternoon tea in the library. baronseden.com/hoar-cross-hall

THE SPA AT BREEDON PRIORY Melbourne, Derby

SPAS Show me a person who doesn’t love a spa day. Leicestershire and the surrounding areas have a range of options for exquisite relaxation destinations, all within travelable distance. If you’re looking to treat your mum this year, one of these might be the way to go.

RAGDALE HALL SPA Melton Mowbray

The spa of this country house has six unique pools including a rooftop infinity pool, a thermal spa, and a whirlpool. With a range of treatments, classes, and even restaurants to choose from, it’s the perfect place to spend a day or two. Ahead of Mother’s Day, there are vouchers available from £25, which can be used towards retail areas, additional treatments, or the spa day/breaks themselves. ragdalehall.co.uk

STAPLEFORD PARK Melton Mowbray

Another country house, built in the 17th century, but a little more traditional in its décor and environment. It allows you to transport yourself to a world of long ago. The hotel rooms are grandiose, and the grounds immaculately kept. In addition to the spa, there’s also falconry, clay pigeon shooting, and giant chess! htstaplefordpark.com 66 | NICHE

Winner of ‘Boutique Spa of the Year 2023’ at the Professional Beauty Awards. Located on the combined edge of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, and nestled away in the countryside, this modern spa has an intimate feel, while still offering everything you’d want. breedonprioryspa.co.uk

REVIVE SKIN & SPA Market Harborough

For those looking for a less opulent setting, Revive in Market Harborough offers the chance to relax, receive skin treatments, or enjoy afternoon tea without the need to travel to the countryside. reviveskinandspa.co.uk

N I C H E C U LT U R E F E AT U R E

MOTH E R'S DAY

KNIGHT & GARTER Leicester

In the very heart of Leicester, Knight & Garter’s menu boasts a selection of chef-prepared filled batch rolls, beef brisket pie, Red Leicester sausage roll, beetroot and mascarpone profiteroles, root vegetable crisps, fruit buttermilk scone with Cornish clotted cream and jam, passion fruit cheesecake lolly, mini caramel-filled churros, macaroons and brownie bites. knightandgarter.co.uk/afternoon-tea

MINT & GINGER Tur Langton

AFTERNOON TEAS BELVOIR CASTLE, Grantham, Lincolnshire

The castle tearooms have an idyllic quaintness to them, located amongst the beautiful countryside of North-East Leicestershire that inspired the name “la belle voir”. Both the castle grounds and the castle tour are also worth making time for. belvoircastle.com/book-tickets-afternoon-tea

Found in a converted barn at The Manor in Tur Langton, Mint & Ginger is the perfect place to sit and relax with a cup of local roasted coffee and a variety of cakes. They offer a standard cream tea, and standard and deluxe versions of afternoon tea too. mintandginger.co.uk/collections/frontpage

FARNDON FIELDS FARM SHOP Market Harborough

The Farmer’s Kitchen at Farndon Fields serves afternoon tea from 2-4pm each day, and offers savoury variations for both meat-eaters and vegetarians, as well as a sweet-only version for cake lovers. farndonfields.co.uk

KILWORTH HOUSE North Kilworth

Afternoon tea has been enjoyed in the Orangery at Kilworth House for more than 100 years, so it really is a timeless classic. Also, if you’ve never been to the outdoor theatre during the summer months, you’re missing one of Leicestershire’s crown jewels. kilworthhouse.co.uk/dining/afternoon-tea

BOBBY’S Belgrave Road

Bobby’s serves an Indian afternoon tea, with a range of South Asian sweet and savoury treats, including naan khatay, chocolate barfi, lilo chevdo, mango shrikhand, paneer pakodas, and potli samosas, as well as bottomless tea. bobbys-restaurant.co.uk/afternoon-tea

WISTOW CAFÉ Wistow Rural Centre

Wistow won ‘Best Afternoon Tea in Leicestershire’ at the 2021 Leicestershire Tourism and Hospitality Awards, and offers a range of sandwiches, savoury snacks, and cakes and bakes. Plus, get your Mum a nice plant while you’re there. wistowcafebistro.co.uk/afternoon-tea NICHE | 67

C OM P ETITION WI N N E R

N I C H E L I F E S T Y L E F E AT U R E

Remembering Ruth Miller One of the most vibrant women in Leicester’s creative community WORDS BY TOM YOUNG

HAVING YOUR SAY Niche recently ran a competition giving our readers the chance to tell us stories they wanted to see us cover. We’re grateful to our winner Kelly McCormack, whose entry inspired us to celebrate the feminist punk legacy of Ruth Miller

68 | NICHE

and with a drive and determination unmatched in anyone I have met thus far; she just got things done. She didn’t just open doors for the women of Unglamorous, she knocked them down, kicking us through and on to the stage with her DM boots.” Unfortunately, on October 16, 2023, Ruth passed away at the age of 61. Kelly told us: “She had been battling metastatic breast cancer the whole time, but you would never have known. She was modest and kind, and the pain of losing such a trailblazer is hard to describe.” Sophie adds: “Ruth was an amazing friend. Patient, bossy when she needed to be, and always ready to lend an ear

or prod you in the right direction. She had this time for so many people. We were lucky to have lived in Leicester at the same time as Ruth and be part of something so special. “I miss her. We all do. The thought of doing all of this without her is incredibly daunting… but we will make it work. She is never far from our thoughts when performing, and there will be a little bit of Ruth in everything we do.” Ruth’s musical legacy lives on; the Unglamourous movement serves as a fitting tribute, continuing to inspire people throughout Leicestershire and beyond. Visit unglamorous.co.uk to keep up with the latest.

PHOTOGRAPH: SAMANTHA DOYLE

t’s never too late to start. We’ve all heard that phrase, but not many remember to live by it. Ruth Miller wasn’t one of those people. I met Ruth in 2019 when she joined my improvised comedy workshop. In the relatively brief time that I knew her, she began promoting shows at Leicester Comedy Festival, made friends everywhere she went, and championed live performances of all kinds with a tireless enthusiasm. In 2021, Ruth birthed a new underground punk music scene in Leicester, that would come to be known as the Unglamourous project with the motto ‘start later and have fun’, encouraging middle-aged women to write and perform their songs. Friend and collaborator Kelly McCormack told us more: “Ruth had the realisation that many women faced a barrier to getting involved – they couldn’t play an instrument. So, the bands all began in a workshop she ran. “Ruth managed to get loads of women down to inclusive rehearsal studios Stayfree in Frog Island. It gave them a safe space to try an instrument and then challenged them to write at least one song in 66 days, ready to perform them all at Firebug on International Women's Day.” Since then, the movement has spread. Ruth ran new cohorts and there are now more than 12 all-women punk bands in the city, comprising over 50 performers, aged 20-75. “Ruth was a phenomenon,” says Sophie Cottis-Allan, a member of the original cohort. “Sharp as a razor

C U LTU R E COMING TO CURVE:

DEAR EVAN HANSEN

A new production of the Olivier, Tony and Grammy award-winning Best Musical Dear Evan Hansen

eet Evan: an anxious high school kid who wants nothing more than to fit in. The thing is, on his way to fitting in, he didn’t tell the whole truth. And now he must give up on a life he never dreamt he’d have. As events spiral and the truth comes out, Evan faces a reckoning with himself and everyone around him. Directed by Nottingham Playhouse’s Artistic Director Adam Penford, Dear Evan Hansen will visit Curve October 1-5 as part of a UK tour. Adam said: “Dear Evan Hansen has thrilled audiences on both sides of the Atlantic since it first premiered in 2015. Evan’s powerful story grips and moves people, told through a captivating script and musical score. This first, major, new and exciting UK production offers the opportunity to re-examine some of its contemporary themes and present this brand-new version to Nottingham and around the UK. I’m excited to begin the search for our Evan very soon.” Packed with some of the biggest musical theatre songs of the last decade, Dear Evan Hansen has a score by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (Oscar-winning composers for The Greatest Showman) and a book by Steven Levenson. Its many awards include the Tony Award for Best Musical, Olivier Award for Best New Musical and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album. Dear Evan Hansen is presented by ATG Productions and Nottingham Playhouse by arrangement with Music Theatre International. Tickets can be purchased at curveonline.co.uk.

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FANCY BEING

A TOURISM AMBASSADOR

FOR LEICESTER?

eicester City Council has spotted a trend in tourism, which has inspired a new scheme that will train volunteers in customer service and local attractions. It forms part of the council's Leicester Tourism Action Plan 2020-2025, which includes targets to increase the value of tourism in Leicester by £141m and create 1,260 more jobs.

THE VALUE OF UK TOURISM

In 2022, the value of tourism for Leicester was over £700m, supporting 7,274 jobs. There were five million overnight stays and the city welcomed 10 million visitors 70 | N I C H E

Since 2010, tourism has been the fastest-growing sector in the UK in terms of employment. It is predicted to grow faster (at 3.8% per year) than the overall UK economy (at 3% per year) — and much faster than sectors such as manufacturing, construction and retail. Britain will have a tourism industry worth over £257bn by 2025 — that’s just under 10% of UK GDP, supporting almost 3.8 million jobs. In 2022, the value of tourism for Leicester was over £700m, supporting 7,274 jobs. There were five million overnight stays and the city welcomed 10 million visitors. The council's Tourism Action Plan 2020-2025 sets out how we can build on this base to support tourism venues and attractions, and create new jobs. One of the main actions in this plan is to establish a team of volunteer Tourism Ambassadors to increase the Visiting Family and Relatives market. According to new research by the English Tourism Council, the Visiting Friends and Relatives market is one of the fastest-growing tourism sectors in the UK. The research reveals social trends, especially the greater mobility of young people and the increased numbers of people living on their own, to be the main factors in the growing interest in this type of travel. Some 70% of the

KRIII AND PEACOCK LANE NPHOTOGRAPHY: IAN DAVIS / SPACE CENTRE PHOTOGRAPHY: HUFTON & CROW

An innovative scheme to promote volunteer Tourism Ambassadors for Leicester is being created to support the valuable Visiting Family and Relatives tourism market. City Centre Director Sarah Harrison explains

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population say their friends and relatives live so far away that visiting them requires staying overnight. Visits to friends and relatives have grown by nearly one third in the last five years, nearly twice as much as general holiday trips. These kinds of social trips contribute at least £10bn to the economy, with the potential to grow further over the next 10 years. The average expenditure on visits to friends and relatives is £93, while the host spends even more at an average of £108.

VOLUNTEER TOURISM AMBASSADOR SCHEME

attractions and transport hubs to help promote the city’s venues, attractions and events to their guests, customers, visitors and passengers. The first course for volunteer Tourism Ambassadors will be run in early 2024, with certificates being awarded in March so that the team is ready to welcome visitors to the city at the start of the main tourism season. The programme organisers are looking for volunteers from all walks of life who have an interest in the city and tourism venues and attractions, and those who are at ease with talking to visitors. They would also love to hear from people who speak more than one language and/or have a qualification in British Sign Language (BSL).

GET INVOVLED To talk to someone about this opportunity, contact Tourism Project Officer Gitte Magielse on gitte.magielse@leicester.gov.uk or call 0116 454 0199 for further information or to register your interest in becoming a volunteer Tourism Ambassador.

HERITAGE PANEL PHOTOGRAPHY: BETH WALSH

The new Volunteer Tourism Ambassador project will create a team of local volunteer Tourism Ambassadors recruited from Leicester’s neighbourhood areas, universities and businesses reflecting diversity, inclusion and equality. The Ambassadors’ role will be to support the promotion of the city’s tourism venues and attractions, and festivals and events programme. Leicester College is partnering with Leicester City Council to provide training to the volunteers, which will include customer service techniques. The volunteers will undertake an induction programme which will include visiting at least four tourist attractions and one hotel. At the end of the training programme, the volunteers will take a multiplechoice test based on information provided to them in an easy-to-read booklet. They will then receive their certificates followed by a celebratory lunch at the Taste restaurant at Leicester College. The Tourism Ambassadors will be given opportunities to help at events and tours to promote the individual venues and attractions. They will receive regular support and development, which will include invitations to special events. A second strand of the programme will provide training to customer-facing staff in hotels, shopping centres,

LE IC E STE R C IT Y C OU NC I L

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TOP LOCAL READS

World Book Day is coming up on March 7 to promote reading for fun and offer every child and young person a book of their own. But why exclude the adults? If you’re looking for new reading material, Leicestershire has a range of local authors whose work could be added to your home library Words by Tom Young

VARIOUS TITLES By Sue Townsend

Widely available Perhaps Leicester’s best-known author. The iconic Adrian Mole series – the diaries of a teenage intellectual – made her name, but she has several other novels, including Rebuilding Coventry, The Queen and I, and The Woman Who Went to Bed For A Year. Leicester’s old Phoenix theatre was renamed in Townsend’s honour in 2015. It’s where Sue began her writing career, creating her first award-winning play as writer-in-residence.

THE OTHER LAND By Tom Oakley

austinmacauley.com/book/other-land Available from Amazon Sol Jenkins lived an unremarkable life, plagued by mundane problems in a nondescript office. Earning just enough to get by, his world was comfortably predictable. But everything shifted the day a dishevelled stranger with frenzied eyes seized him, warning Sol to run, only to perish moments later. Those brief, startling seconds set Sol on a trajectory that could reshape the world as we know it. It certainly reshaped his… 72 | N I C H E

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WOR LD B OOK DAY

DREAM DIE REPEAT By Jules Langton

juleslangton.com Ellie is living the dream – a high-flying career in London and a luxurious apartment overlooking the Thames as part of a hedonistic lifestyle. So why does a tumbledown, hauntedlooking cottage in the bleak wilderness of the North Yorkshire Moors bewitch her? Why does she feel compelled to buy it? Her life is about to change: a new lifestyle, new friends, the secrets they keep, and the nightmares that haunt her. What can it all mean?

THREE GUYS WALK INTO A BAR ONCE MORE WITH FEELING By Jim Shields

jimshieldscreative.co.uk A pair of business books for creatives and communicators. Three Guys Walk into a Bar is a pathway to help creative professionals carve out their niche and prove that they mean business. Described as a “very safe for work guide to intimacy”, Once More with Feeling teaches the reader how to connect with their audience and develop meaningful, longterm relationships.

VARIOUS TITLES

By Tabbie Browne

Available from Amazon For something a little different, Browne is a writer of supernatural suspense. She has produced 13 novels, which have found readers in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and Thailand.

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WOR LD B OOK DAY

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'HOLISTIC DIVORCE:

SH*T HAPPENS IT’S HOW YOU DEAL WITH IT THAT COUNTS' Emily Miller chats with certified divorce coach Sushma Kotecha about her book designed to support and guide those going through it

hen you go through a divorce or separation, there’s often a part of the process in which the emotional side of things don’t get supported. That’s the exact part of the process that this book supports. Written by Sushma Kotecha, accredited family mediator, certified holistic divorce life coach, and mind-body practitioner, Holistic Divorce: Sh*t Happens It’s How You Deal with It That Counts is a guide and treasure trove of Sushma’s extensive experience in this area. It’s a definitive manual to holistic divorce and separation, likened to a GPS of modern divorce and a concise divorce encyclopaedia. Her work with individuals and families going through separation and divorce is ground-breaking in its method. Sushma incorporates her personal, legal, mediation and coaching skills to bring about a more compassionate and holistic approach, which considers the physical, emotional and mental impact of the process on the parties and their children.

Sushma said: “My motivation for writing this book wasn’t driven by a desire for bestseller status. Rather, I aspired to create an affordable resource that could extend my experiences and guidance to people, even if they couldn’t access me personally. My ultimate hope is that the book provides readers with clarity and a sense of support.”

PRAISE FOR THE BOOK

“Sushma has a unique perspective on the divorce process. She has many years of experience, and she brings a compassionate, holistic, constructive approach to all of it. The book covers the process, legalities, self-care, practicalities about children and future arrangements and adjusting and planning for the future – it’s such a rounded holistic guide.”

THE NAUGHTY AUTHOR Local author Caroline Hood is setting pulses racing with her steamy debut novel, Marriage, Friends and Lovers Words by Jenny Cross

n an age where Fifty Shades of Grey is amongst the top selling books of all time, self-described ‘naughty author’ Caroline Hood is proving that Leicester City is not the only thing within the county that likes a bit of blue… “I have always enjoyed writing and being creative,” Hood writes on her website. “In a previous life, I owned and managed a hair salon in Leicester. I used to enjoy the conversations with my clients and all the gossip.” Having had the idea for her novel some years ago, it had remained little more than a fleeting thought until September 2021. “I decided to see if I could cobble together a story. I had envisaged the characters for such a long time, but the idea was more about therapy for myself than actually selling a book.” Hood found that she enjoyed the writing process, but wasn’t expecting to release a single word. “I carried on writing and took every opportunity to create 74 | N I C H E

another chapter. It was only when my very dear friend, Philip Brooks-Stephenson, suggested I should look into publishing that I actually thought… ‘yeah, why not?’” The book tells the story of the whirlwind romance between respectable businessman Rak Banerjee and salon owner Charlie Worthing, whose chance encounter threatens to destroy both their local reputations… and their marriages. Realising that they are the love of each other’s lives, they must hide their passionate affair and find a way to be together without causing a serious scandal. I’ve read the book and couldn’t put it down; I’d look forward to reading a bit more each night. It’s easy to read, and I didn’t struggle to get lost in it. Marriage,Friends and Lovers, Caroline's debut novel, is available to purchase from carolinethenaughtyauthor.com for £14.99, along with other short stories that are free to download.

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K N IG HT AN D GARTE R

REVIEWED:

THE KNIGHT & GARTER The city centre restaurant hidden behind a bookshelf provided a unique dining experience for three colleagues to catch up over dinner Words by Susan Holmes

aving heard good things about the Knight & Garter, I was delighted that it was chosen for our team bonding lunch. Part of the Beautiful Pubs Collective, the venue was named the County Pub of the Year at the National Pub & Bar Awards 2022. A pub, brasserie and gallery bar, Knight & Garter offers opportunities to celebrate all occassions; from bruch to afternoon tea and Friday night cocktails to Sunday lunches with all the trimmings. Visiting mid-week with two of my colleagues, we were greeted with a smile as we walked through the door of this neo medieval style Grade ll listed building, and shown through a secret door to a stylish contemporary dining room with its wooden flooring and blue panelled walls. You could tell a lot of thought had gone into the design of this classy looking room. The lunch menu was handed to us and we had a choice of starters, something from the grill, sandwiches or chef’s classics, oh and Colchester Oysters if that takes your fancy. We decided to go all out and first went for our starters, choosing slow cooked duck rilletes with beetroot chutney and toast, beef carpaccio with watercress, marinated mushrooms and shallots and pork belly ribs with chipotle chilli glaze and pickled red cabbage. The three of us enjoyed taste testing each others dishes and were all in agreement that each was delicious and whetted our appetites for more. For our mains, we chose what turned out to be a rather succulent pan fried chicken supreme with bearnaise sauce and beef dripping chips, as well as the crab linguine in white wine, cream and chilli and wild mushroom fricassee with potato gnocchi, herby pangratto and asparagus. We finished with a crème brûlée with shortbread biscuit, mascarpone and vanilla cheesecake with Ferrero Rocher buttermilk cream and a key lime pie with citrus cream. To top off a wonderful menu, the service was excellently delivered by friendly staff who were attentive but not overbearing. We left full and contented and definetly well bonded as a team and ready to take on the rest of the working week together. We all agreed that we would go back sometime and sample the evening menu and cocktails. Here's to another team outing! N I C H E | 75

TH E C OW & P LOUG H

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REVIEWED:

THE COW AND PLOUGH This rustic eatery is just a short drive from the city – a beautiful farmyard restaurant that’s perfect for a change of scenery Words by Becci Houlston and Becky Day

he digital team at Cross Productions headed on an adventure less than 10 minutes from our office in Oadby for some memorable pub grub. As a team, we believe in getting away from the office every now and then for idea-generation meetings. We chose The Cow and Plough because of its countrified feel, complete with lambs, goats and alpacas, to help us feel a million miles away from the office. It’s a rustic pub within the Steamin’ Billy franchise located at Stoughton Grange Farm. With locally brewed beers and weekly jazz Wednesday

With locally brewed beers and weekly jazz Wednesday lunches taking place in the old farm buildings, there’s something on the menu for everyone lunches taking place in the old farm buildings, there’s something on the menu for everyone. There’s also a café area with handmade sausage rolls and cakes – a more casual setting, perfect for families. The rhythmic groove of a full, live jazz band in the busy bar welcomed us and it was delightful to see several couples swing dancing in front of the stage. Sitting in a quieter area, the band created the perfect background music. We began our brainstorming session with a ‘cheers’ over ice-cold soft drinks before bonding over our shared indecisive tendencies with so many delicious options to choose from on the main menu and separate pizza spotlight menu. Luckily, the waiting staff applauded our final choices and helped us feel a little less frustrating as customers. Using produce grown on the farm or from local suppliers where possible, a delicious nibble bowl of salt and pepper

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squid with garlic aioli to start was just enough to get us excited for more. We then opted for a steak sandwich with caramelised red onion and parmesan, and a grilled chicken Caesar salad with crispy smoked bacon, parmesan cheese and garlic croutons. And a side of parmesan and truffle chips seemed too delicious to leave behind. Although we were incredibly happy with our decisions and spent the next few minutes in a silence of appreciation, we couldn’t help but eye up the fish and chip dishes flying through the restaurant and the smell of rustic pizza – it was enough for both of us to plan a second trip to the farm. With fear of hitting a wall and starting the afternoon slump too soon, we asked for takeaway boxes to give us something to look forward to for dinner (or ‘girl dinner’ as the trending TikTok song goes). To finish, we went back to sharing, this time a Nutella bread and butter pudding with banana ice cream that was the perfect sweet treat to end our meal. We left just as the Wednesday jazz session was coming to an end and took a walk around the gift shops nearby, leaving with some new seasonal homeware. Guests can venture into the farm shop, where products made by local suppliers and even some made on-site are available to buy. Their distillery is also open to buy the farm’s famous Alpaca Gin, which would make for a lovely gift. I have already suggested to my family that we come back to The Cow and Plough for a meal and will be suggesting the pub as an option for any upcoming meals out too!

TH E G R E AT B R ITI S H BAK E O F F

GETTING TO KNOW BAKE OFF’S JOSH SMALLEY

PHOTOGRAPHY: LOVE PRODUCTIONS/CHANNEL 4

The twenty-seven-year-old finalist who received the Hollywood handshake and star baker title twice in the latest series of The Great British Bake Off PROFILE: Josh Smalley, 27 | Leicestershire | Post-doctoral research associate What are Prue and Paul like in the tent?

Prue was a delight and reminded me a lot of my Nan. She had a very calming effect when talking to you and looks for the best in everything. Paul wasn’t as scary as I thought he would be – he was very friendly and smiles a lot more in person!

Which was your best moment in the Tent?

My best moment was my Semi-final Star Baker. The bakes for the challenges weren’t things I was used to baking, so I was worried going into that week whether I would be able to pull it off. But I did so much better than I thought I would. The Hollywood handshake for my Biscuit Showstopper was a

close second as I never imagined I would get a handshake, let alone for a Showstopper! How rare are they?!

What’s next for you in the baking world?

My dream would be to write a baking book. I also love to bring homegrown produce into my baking and have done throughout the series, so I would love to be able to do a book combining the growing and baking with these fruits and veg. With everything becoming more expensive, growing your own is such a worthwhile and rewarding thing to do – and you don’t need to have a garden. The Great British Bake Off is streaming on Channel 4.

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S P ORT

N I C H E C U LT U R E F E AT U R E

‘AND IN SPORT…’ OUR QUARTERLY ROUND UP OF SPORTS IN LEICESTER Words by Tom Young; written at the end of November 2023

sitting atop the standings with four wins from four, and Taylor O’Brien is leading the league for Field Goals Made (35, so far).

CRICKET

RUGBY

The Uptonsteel County Ground celebrated a historic 2023 campaign for LCCC, which saw the Foxes lift the Metro Bank One Day Cup, ending a 38-year wait for a List A trophy during an unforgettable One Day final at Trent Bridge. The second XI and women’s team also picked up silverware – winning the Second Eleven Championship and East of England Championship respectively.

The Tigers have struggled for consistency so far this season, with three wins and four losses after seven matches, leaving them seventh in the Gallagher Premiership. It has at least included a 26-17 win at Welford Road over Midlands rivals, Northampton Saints. Following an undefeated final season in the Women’s Championship North 1 last year, the women’s team successfully applied to join the Allianz Premiership – a huge step forward for the team. They’re without a win after two matches, but still finding their feet in a new league.

FOOTBALL

City’s men’s team were always touted as “too good to get relegated from the Premier League”. The first half of the season has given them the opportunity to prove it, sitting three points clear at the top of the Championship as they head into the busy festive period. The women’s team have been on a tougher run lately, currently sitting second from bottom in the Barclay’s Women’s Super League. In brighter news, 10 of the women’s squad were called up to represent their countries for the November/December international break, including Lena Petermann (Germany), Josie Green and Hannah Cain (Wales), Sophie Howard (Scotland), and Ava Baker (England Under 19s).

BASKETBALL

After winning a treble in 2022-23, Leicester Riders men’s team have had a season of ups and downs so far. Fourteen games played have yielded seven wins and seven losses, leaving them seventh in the BBL. However, the recent 94-79 annihilation of Manchester Giants has left them with the fourth best points difference in the league. In the WBBL, the Riders are undefeated this season, 78 | N I C H E

AMERICAN FOOTBALL

Leicester Panthers finished fifth in the Premiership North, having only managed one win from nine in the 2023 Adult Contact season. They are currently recruiting for the new season – anyone wishing to play should contact recruitment@leicesterpanthers.co.uk.

PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING

In October, 'The Vegan Beefcake' William Wylde defeated Jakk Selstrom for the FTGU World Championship, following interference from other members of The Vegan Roadshow. Selstrom demanded a rematch at the end of November. Upcoming familyfriendly wrestling shows are listed at ftgu.bigcartel.com.

S P O RT

RIDERS ANNOUNCE GAMEDAY PACKAGES We’re thrilled to unveil our Adult Development Day Package! Following the success of our initial Business Club event, in which the Leicester Riders

Foundation led a basketball session for business leaders in the Riders family, the Riders are opening up the court on game day! The Foundation will lead a basketball session as an invaluable team-building exercise as you swap your suits for sneakers and hit the court with your team. After the session, you can enjoy our Mezzanine Hospitality, watching the Riders in action with the best view in the house! On our mezzanine, you’ll be treated to a one-course meal, private bar, and toilet facilities, as you watch Britain’s oldest professional basketball club in action. In an era when attending sporting events can often come with a hefty price tag, we offer excellent value for money at only £45+ VAT per person for 25 people.

HOME GAMES FEBRUARY 2024 Fri 9 - Plymouth Patriots - 7.30pm Fri 16 - Sheffield Sharks - 7.45pm

MARCH 2024 Fri 1 - Cheshire Phoenix - 7.45pm Fri 22 - Caledonia Gladiators - 7.30pm Sun 31 - Newcastle Eagles - 3pm

APRIL 2024 Thu 4 - Bristol Flyers - 7.45pm Fri 19 - Manchester Giants - 7.45pm

FOR TICKETS

0116 255 8635 RIDERS.BASKETBALL

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES WE ARE LOOKING FOR NEW SPONSORS! GET IN TOUCH: TRACEY@LEICESTERARENA.CO.UK NICHE | 81 NICHE | 03

WHAT'S ON

N I C H E C U LT U R E F E AT U R E

‘UNLOCK THE MAGIC WITHIN’ THIS EASTER A musical adaption of The Secret Garden comes to The Little Theatre this March Words by Tom Young

t’s not often you get to live through the creation of a tradition, but Leicester Drama Society is developing a new one through its now annual Easter musical at The Little Theatre in Dover Streer. Following the success of 2023’s The Railway Children – which saw more than 2,400 audience members visit the venue during the two-week, 12-show run – the tradition will be firmly established this year, with the musical adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s novel, The Secret Garden. The original Broadway production won three Tony Awards from seven nominations. The story follows Mary Lennox, a recently orphaned girl who moves from India to live with her Uncle Archibald in a lonely manor house on the Yorkshire moors. Archibald is being manipulated by his resentful brother, Neville, and isolated from his bedridden son, Colin. Mary’s arrival disturbs their quiet routine, and she soon discovers a secret walled garden, hidden within the grounds. With the help of her new friends, Martha and Dickon, Mary unlocks the magic within, changing all of their lives forever. The production is being directed by Keiran WhelanNewby. While this is Keiran’s first time directing for Leicester Drama Society, his previous productions have included the award-winning shows, Calendar Girls (2022) and Gypsy (2023). “I can’t wait to bring this underrated musical to the stage,” said Keiran. “It’s a show I have adored for years. The Secret Garden has everything for the whole family – comedy,

romance, hope, grief, sadness, mystery, joy, magic, and a whole catalogue of showstopping numbers. I am thrilled to have assembled a wonderful cast and we cannot wait to start ‘unlocking the magic’ of this classic and wonderfully moving story. I defy you not to cry!” The Secret Garden is the centrepiece of a season that also includes plays such as The Good Life, Dial ‘M’ for Murder, Dangerous Corner, Table Manners, and The Darling Buds of May, as well as visiting musicals Legally Blonde and Grease. Leicester Drama Society has been producing highstandard amateur theatre in Leicester for 102 years and is predominantly run by volunteers. You can read more about the theatre, its history, and its future plans in our 55th issue, where it was featured on the cover. The Secret Garden: The Musical will be on stage at The Little Theatre for 13 performances, March 22-27 and April 3-6. Tickets are available at thelittletheatre.co.uk/whats-on.

NEW MEMBERS NEEDED! Knighton Park Amateur Operatic Society (KPAOS) – one of the groups in The Little’s extended family – will be producing Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, becoming one of the UK’s first amateur groups to stage the show in 2024. The show requires a diverse cast and is a great opportunity to show off Leicester’s cultural multiplicity. As such, KPAOS is looking to recruit new members from different backgrounds – an excellent opportunity to get on stage. All are welcome and no experience is required to audition! For more information and to register interest, email info@kpaos.org.

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WHAT'S O N

ROLLING IN THE AISLES A new era dawns for Leicester Comedy Festival in 2024 – the first year without founder Geoff Rowe at the helm. Yet Big Difference company haven’t missed a step, with a stellar line up for both comedy aficionados and casual fans to enjoy – here are some recommendations from writer and comedian Words by Tom Young SOPHIE DUKER: WORK IN PROGRESS

February 10 14:00 Firebug STAND UP Duker’s name continues to rise, following her successful appearance on Taskmaster, and increasing television presence. Her show last year sold out, so be sure to book early if you want to see the self-described ‘hot comedy weirdo’. comedy-festival.co.uk/events/sophie-duker-work-inprogress

THE GOOD LIFE

February 7-10 19:30 (14:30 Saturday matinée) The Little Theatre PLAY A stage adaptation of the classic sitcom comes to everyone’s favourite little theatre. When Tom and Barbara Good decide to exchange the pressures of the rat race for an alternative, more sustainable way of living, they become the model of self-sufficiency in Surbiton – much to the annoyance of Margo and Jerry next door. comedy-festival.co.uk/events/the-good-life

JOHN KEARNS: THE VARNISHING DAYS

February 10 15:00 The Y Theatre STAND UP Even John Kearns will tell you that John Kearns isn’t for everyone. Yet he’s got such a unique comedy voice that he’s unlike anything else on the circuit. Surreal, ridiculous, and very funny, if you like your comedy with a side of weird, Kearns is the comedian for you. His appearance on Taskmaster was just a taste… comedy-festival.co.uk/events/john-kearns-thevarnishing-days

ADELE CLIFF CAN BREAK YOUR ARM

February 10 19:00 Real Ale Classroom STAND UP If you like honest-to-God jokes, Adele Cliff is for you. A previous UK Pun Champion and finalist for Best New Show at last year’s festival, Adele’s one-liners are up there with the best of them. comedy-festival.co.uk/events/adele-cliff-can-break-yourarm

SCOTT BENNETT & FRIENDS: LIVE AT THE HUB! February 22 19:30 Menphys Hub STAND UP One of the sharpest new stars of British standup, and perhaps the only comedian whose career actually improved because of the pandemic. Scott’s ‘Stand Up from The Shed’ shows raised his profile to the point of a Live at the Apollo appearance. He’s now using that profile to help raise money for local charity, Menphys, which will help it support more local children and young people with disabilities. comedy-festival.co.uk/events/scott-bennett-friends-liveat-the-hub

RHYMES AGAINST HUMANITY – THE IMPROVISED MUSICAL

February 9 19:30 Upstairs at the Western IMPROV In the vast community of ‘long-form’ improvised comedy shows, Rhymes Against Humanity is one of the best. The group hails from Nottingham – occasionally with a few local Leicestershire faces thrown in – and creates a brandnew musical based on nothing but a title suggested by the audience. Never seen before, and never to be seen again. comedy-festival.co.uk/events/rhymes-against-humanitythe-improvised-musical NICHE | 81

EAST M I DLAN DS C HAM B E R

N I C H E C U LT U R E S O C I A L

EAST MIDLANDS CHAMBER’S ANNUAL CHRISTMAS LUNCH

omedy, fundraising and a celebration of the past year was on the menu at East Midlands Chamber’s Christmas lunch. More than 250 people attended the annual event, held at Athena in Leicester, on Friday, December 1. Guests were treated on arrival to festive songs performed by members of the Musical Village choir, based in Leicester. Networking opportunities and a three-course meal followed, along with entertainment provided by comedian Nick Page, who reached the final of Britain’s Got Talent in 2018. A raffle raised £845 for the Chamber Charitable Fund, taking the total amount to £4,698 raised by East Midlands Chamber president Stuart Dawkins for his three chosen charities – Foundation Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Community Foundation, and Nottinghamshire Community Foundation. 82 | NICHE

N I C H E C U LT U R E S O C I A L

F U R N LEY HOU S E

LEICESTERSHIRE COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS AWARDS

ndependent Financial Adviser’s Furnley House proudly hosted the fourth Leicestershire Community Champions Awards at the City Rooms on November 2. The evening featured speeches from Furnley House Managing Director Stefan Fura, Chairman of the Furnley House Foundation Simon Winfield and local celebrity Rosemary Conely CBE DL. It was hosted by Jo Haywood from BBC Radio Leicester. The winners of the Charity of the Year category Steps Conductive Education Centre received a grant of £5000 from Furnley House. THE WINNERS: Young Fundraiser of the Year Sponsored by Outfox the Market Max, Tate & Jesse Jones Fundraiser of the Year Sponsored by Premier Logistics Rachel Tuckey Volunteer of the Year Sponsored by WBR Group Phoebe Tomes Trustee of the year Sponsored by Mark J Rees Minakshee Patel Charity Employee of the Year Wayne Farmer Environmental Project of the Year Sponsored by Shakespeare Martineau Harborough Woodland Community Organisation of the Year Sponsored by Fundment Women Empowerment Network Trustee Choice Award joint winners Musical Village Leicestershire and Sara Swire- New Dawn New Day Charity of the Year Steps Conductive Education Centre NICHE | 83

LE IC E STE R LAW SOC I ET Y

N I C H E C U LT U R E S O C I A L

DIWALI CELEBRATIONS WITH LEICESTERSHIRE LAW SOCIETY

Leicestershire Law Society’s new president Bhumika Parmar hosted her first official event coinciding with Leicestershire’s Diwali celebrations. A night to remember, the event was filled with networking and socialising to welcome Bhumika and celebrate the festival of lights. It took place on Thursday, November 23 at Bar 21 in the city centre. Bhumika said: “I would like to extend a special thank you to our event sponsor, Anil Motivaras of GIGA OPS LTD, for supporting and aligning with the society. Your contribution was a key factor in making the event a reality. Additionally, I would like to thank the law society’s office manager, Charlotte Anderson-Dilkes, for rolling up her sleeves and getting stuck in to ensure everything ran smoothly. Your hard work and efforts are hugely appreciated. “Last night's event was just the beginning of what I hope to be a remarkable year ahead. I am excited about bringing the community together many more times and meeting both old and new faces throughout. I am honoured to serve as the President of the Leicestershire Law Society, and I will do everything in my power to ensure that our society continues to thrive.” 84 | NICHE

N I C H E C U LT U R E S O C I A L

B E AUTI F U L P U B S C O LLEC TIVE

BEAUTIFUL PUBS COLLECTIVE CELEBRATES 15 YEARS

he Beautiful Pubs Collective, the independent pub company which operates city favourites Knight & Garter, The Rutland & Derby Arms, and The Forge Inn at Glenfield, celebrated 15 years in business in October. To celebrate its decade and a half of business, the group celebrated with an evening at The Forge Inn recognising some of its longest and most valued customers followed by a VIP event at Knight & Garter, which saw nearly 100 guests representing organisations it collaborates with, local influencers, city business owners and stakeholders as well as key members of the wider hospitality industry. The event at Knight & Garter showcased everything the widely acclaimed group has become recognised for including signature cocktails, high-end entertainment & first-class food including an oyster and champagne bar. Sam Hagger, co-founder and Managing Director said: "Celebrating 15 years feels like a massive achievement to myself and our 100-strong team. We’ve come a long way since our foundation in 2008 and our celebrations have been about thanking as many people as possible who have supported us along the way, as well those that contribute so much to our amazing home county of Leicestershire." NICHE | 85

B E ST BAR NON E

N I C H E C U LT U R E S O C I A L

BEST BAR NONE AWARDS

eicester’s vibrant hospitality sector celebrated the city’s best licenced venues In November. Presented by BID Leicester, in collaboration with Leicestershire Police, Leicester City Council Licensing, and Leicester City Watch, the Best Bar None Awards gave recognition and accreditation to the licenced venues that are providing exemplary service and making an outstanding contribution to the city’s nightlife. Five venues were recognised at this year’s awards; the winners were: THE WINNERS: Best National Pub/Bar Cosy Club (Runners-Up: The Friary, Revolution) Best Live Entertainment Venue Firebug (Runners-Up: Curve, 2 Funky Music Café) Best Late Night Venue Mosh (Runners-Up: Firebug, Grosvenor Casino) Best Leisure Venue East Street Lanes (Runners-Up: Sixes Cricket, Lane7) Best Independent Pub/Bar Rutland and Derby (Runners-Up: The Globe, The Two-Tailed Lion) 86 | NICHE

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E NTE RP R I S I NG WOM E N

ENTERPRISING WOMEN AWARDS 2023

he winners of the Enterprising Women Awards were revealed at a gala dinner on October 6 at Winstanley House. Around 350 people attended the event, which was hosted by ITV weather presenter Emma Jesson and featured a performance from Luzahnn, best known for being part of 1990s house music group Livin’ Joy. The celebration is the main event in the calendar for Enterprising Women, which supports and champions women in business across the East Midlands via a series of networking events, interactive workshops and guest speakers throughout the year. THE WINNERS: Apprentice of the Year Sponsored by Futures Housing Group Alice Lees, Rolls-Royce and Sophie Shapcott, Smith Partnership (Derbyshire) Social Commitment Award Sponsored by She Inspires Global Cosy Direct (Derbyshire) Female Employee of the Year Sponsored by Nelsons Asiya Parekh, Leicester Hospitals Charity (Leicestershire) Rising Star Sponsored by Amanda Daly – The Turnaround CEO Ruby Birks, Purpose Media (Derbyshire) Female Entrepreneur of the Year Sponsored by Fraser Stretton Property Group Sally Faulkner, Bond Street Distillery (Leicestershire) Team of the Year Sponsored by Breedon Consulting PPL PRS collections team (Leicestershire) She Who Innovates Sponsored by Pick Everard Therese Lord, Jacob Lord and Jason Lord, Construct3D (Lincolnshire) Small Business of the Year Sponsored by Unique Window Systems Katapult (Derbyshire) Business Woman of the Year Sponsored by Michael Smith Switchgear Jaz Kaur, Fraser Stretton Group (Leicestershire) Lifetime Achievement Award Sponsored by Paradigm Wills and Legal Services Sue Tilley, Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (Leicestershire) N I C H E | 87

‘ORIENTAL CHRISTMAS’ PARTY NIGHTS AT IXL EVENTS CENTRE

he annual Christmas party, hosted by Sanjay Foods founder and IXL Events Centre owner, Atul Lakhani, took place in December. Described as an ‘out of this world’ experience, the night included a delicious gourmet meal catered by Sanjay Foods, cocktails, entertainment, and an extravaganza of fireworks and music. The IXL Events Centre is at the Dallas Burston Polo Club in Warwickshire, yet guests included many members of the Leicester business community, who had a wonderful time and danced the night away. 88 | NICHE

N I C H E C U LT U R E S O C I A L

IXL EVE NTS C H R I STMAS PART Y

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N I C H E C U LT U R E F E AT U R E

C HAR IT Y

CHOOSING A CHARITY OF THE YEAR As the new year begins, it’s a great time to think about the causes you want to support in 2024. Tom Young looks at how businesses can support charitable organisations

f you run a business and have not previously chosen a charity of the year – or it’s been a while since you selected a new one – Niche has some ideas for you to consider.

WHY CHOOSE A CHARITY OF THE YEAR?

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has found itself elevated on the business agenda in the last few years. It helps to ensure that corporations are making a positive impact in their community and the wider world. Choosing a charity of the year gives your company a specific focus to funnel its efforts towards and bring a sense of unity to your staff. It is also likely to generate positive PR for your business if you’re seen to be helping a worthy cause.

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR CHARITY OF THE YEAR

Charities seeking donations will often write to companies in the hope of attracting their support and attention. This would give you a range of options to choose from, though they could arrive at any time throughout the year, so it may be wise to have someone collate these for review. You could ask your staff for causes that are close to their heart. This will generate plenty of ideas, and you can put the list to a company-wide vote. By allowing your staff to put these ideas forward, they’re more likely to invest in supporting the charity throughout the year. Think about what kind of charity you’d like to support, and what would align with your company values. Leicestershire 90 | NICHE

has many different types of causes that need attention. Your business could help fund research or treatments for a specific illness, through charities such as Alex’s Wish. It could be raising awareness for charitable services such as Focus or Lamp. Or, you could provide support to arts organisations like Soft Touch Arts or The Little Theatre.

HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR CHARITY OF THE YEAR

In its simplest form, this can be a monetary donation, but it could also involve raising awareness, volunteering time, fundraisers, and other channels. Some businesses have allocated budgets for charitable donations, which makes for a straightforward way to support your chosen cause. However, other businesses may need to raise funds to do this. This could be through sponsored challenges or activities, bake sales (people are so much more enthusiastic about fundraising when cake is involved), or ‘non-uniform’ days. Alternatively, your selected charity may benefit more from a gift of time, and as such, setting aside a fixed number of business hours for staff to provide volunteer work could be the way forward. Other companies may be interested in running events – such as dinners or entertainment – that others can pay to attend. Golf days are often a popular choice, but another recent example would be the charity bowling tournament at East Street Lanes to raise money for The Zinthiya Trust.

N I C H E C U LT U R E F E AT U R E

M E NPHYS

MENPHYS

CONTINUES TO GROW, EXPAND AND DEVELOP Corporate social responsibility opportunities for businesses arise amid Menphys’ expansion

n eventful and busy year has been had at Menphys in 2023. The charity’s team has continued the successes of recent years growing, expanding and developing their support for children and young people with disabilities and their families across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Growing in demand, the Menphys Saturday Clubs provide a rich programme of play and creative activities for children whilst offering parents and carers much-needed respite time. The increased interest at existing clubs in South Wigston and Beaumont Leys has encouraged the charity to commit to a third location in Loughborough Town Centre. At the same time, the popularity of the Menphys Afterschool programme continues to grow. New football and basketball clubs have been opened in Coalville and Hinckley with a new dance club to be opened at the Hub this February. The relaunch of the Menphys work experience programme, The Work Ready Crew, has been working with Caterpillar Inc. at their plant in Desford. The restart of the scheme saw three youngsters take part over seven weeks. They worked alongside the Caterpillar manufacturing, engineering and quality teams building compact wheel loaders. The next cohort begins at the end of January. Menphys is looking to expand the programme and is inviting more businesses to get involved. It aims to provide youngsters who have a disability with more opportunities to visit a range of workplace environments and to gain vital work experience. Businesses can get involved by emailing laura.shephard@menphys.org.uk or calling 01455 323 020.

In the autumn, Menphys received the Outstanding Contribution Award at the LeicesterShire Live Awards and were recognised as the Small Business of the Year by the East Midlands Chamber. CEO, Ian Caldwell said: “These awards recognise the hard work of so many people involved with the charity, staff, volunteers and trustees, not just in 2023, but over many,

These awards recognise the hard work of so many people involved with the charity, staff, volunteers and trustees many years. We are also indebted to the local business community, many of them readers of Niche Magazine. Our thanks go out to them all. We could not do what we do without their support.” Looking to the year ahead, Ian says the charity’s ambitions are to continue growing the clubs and afterschool provision alongside more tailored individual and family support programmes that will help families and youngsters access more help and a greater range of opportunities. NICHE | 91

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N I C H E C U LT U R E F E AT U R E

L AM P

 PETE MARTIN, DAVE GREEN AND GREG HOLLINGSWORTH

PHOTOGRAPGHY: PETE MARTIN PHOTOGRAPHY

KNOCKED IT OUT THE PARK(RUN) Completing an A-Z parkrun, Team Lamp exceeds its fundraising target amidst a ream of other good news stories for the mental health charity Words by Kerry Smith

ravelling across the UK, and one trip to the Netherlands, to complete an A-Z parkrun, ‘Team Lamp’ has raised over £10k for mental health advocacy charity Lamp. Made up of Lamp ambassador and law firm founder Greg Hollingsworth, photographer Pete Martin and former Lamp trustee Dave Green, the trio sets out each year to complete a fundraising task for the charity, which they each hold close to their hearts. Last year, they took on the challenge of running 26 parkruns of 5km each; one for each letter of the alphabet. The first took place on New Year’s Day 2023 and the runs took in parks from Ashbourne in Derbyshire all the way to Zuiderpark in the Netherlands. The final run was completed on November 18 and the total amount raised was an incredible £11,110. Richard Kotulecki, Lamp’s CEO added: “We’re so proud  NICHE | 93

 LIAM DEACY, LAMPS NEW CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

 of the efforts of Greg, Pete and Dave throughout the year. Not only taking on and completing this amazing challenge and raising much-needed funds in the process, but for all of the great work that they’ve done in raising awareness of the charity and the importance of mental health support.” Pete said: “We all run together anyway, so we used the runs as an opportunity to raise awareness of mental health, the importance of the advocacy services that Lamp provides, as well as highlighting the benefits of physical exercise on improving wellbeing.” Lamp regularly advocates for the positive correlation between physical activity and mental wellbeing. They coined the popular Lamp 5k event which takes place each year, encouraging people to complete 5k however they like – whether that be running, swimming, walking the dog, or any other form of physical activity. Greg commented: “We wanted to raise vital funds to help Lamp with their amazing work across Leicestershire and Rutland. We have been part of the Lamp 5k for the last three years. We wanted to do something for the charity that raised money but also promoted good mental health! On our travels, we have spread the word about Lamp’s work and had donations from complete strangers who we

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have met on the way.” The news that the trio had exceeded their £10k target came as the charity won two awards at Leicestershire Community Champions Awards 2023. Lamp Trustee Minakshee Patel won Trustee of the Year and Lamp Finance Manager Wayne Farmer took home the Charity Employee of the Year award. Emily Coates, Lamp’s Head of Advocacy, was also a finalist in the Charity Employee of the Year category. Richard said: “The team at Lamp, as well as our Trustees, supporters and ambassadors, do an incredible job in highlighting the need for, and importance of, mental health advocacy services to support those people in need across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Awards like these recognise the unsung heroes who dedicate their lives to vital charitable causes such as ours.” Around the same time, the charity gained the Advocacy Quality Performance Mark (QPM) from the National Development Team for Inclusion, which recognises Lamp as an accredited provider of independent mental health advocacy services. The QPM is the UK’s only independent

Awards like these recognise the unsung heroes who dedicate their lives to vital charitable causes such as ours

N I C H E C U LT U R E F E AT U R E

PHOTOGRAPGHY: PETE MARTIN PHOTOGRAPHY

L AM P

quality performance mark for organisations offering independent advocacy. Yet more good news was delivered before the end of 2023, when Lamp announced the appointment of its new Chief Operating Officer Liam Deacy, who brought with him over a decade’s worth of fundraising and charity sector expertise. Joining the charity from Menphys, Liam is responsible for leading the charity’s engagement, business relationships, events and fundraising operations. Commenting on his new role, Liam said: “It’s an absolute pleasure to be joining Lamp. Mental health advocacy plays such an important role in our community and can go unrecognised. By shedding more light on the role Lamp plays in navigating people through the complexities of mental health support and empowering individuals to rebuild their lives support base, I hope I can vastly increase the support for this life-changing work.” Richard added: “Liam brings vast expertise and experience from working across the public, private and charity sectors. We’re delighted to have secured him for this new role and are confident that he will help the charity to significantly grow awareness of the vital services that we deliver and increase our individual, community and corporate fundraising.” Heading into 2024, the charity is planning for the next Lamp 5k event amongst some other new ventures. Those interested in supporting Lamp or taking part in an event throughout the year can sign up at lampadvocacy.co.uk.

OUR AIM FOR 2024 This year, Lamp aims to get 5,000 people involved from January to the end of the campaign which coincides with Mental Health Awareness Week May 13-19. The completion of 5,000 people participating in challenges each raising £50 could raise a quarter of a million pounds for Lamp. Liam Deacy, Chief Operating Officer at Lamp, said: “If we reach that target, it will allow us to see 333 people from the start to the end of their mental health journey as it costs an average of £750 to help each person overall.”

NICHE | 95

WOR LD B OOK DAY

02 | NICHE

WOR LD B OO K DAY

Join us for the Ceremony on Friday, September 6 To book tickets go to nichemagazine.co.uk/awards DESIGN + PRINT

Soar Valley Press NICHE | 03

2 N EW STR E ET C HAM B E R S

N I C H E C U LT U R E R E V I E W

OPEN OFFICE A glimpse into unique workplaces in Leicestershire

e made our way to Leicester’s Greyfriars townscape, home of 2 New Street Chambers. The Grade II listed, three-storey townhouse was built in the 1700s. It’s been used by WWI relief charities, a doctor, an oil merchant, the County Court Office and many more before 2 New Street Chambers made it their own 100 years ago.

THE HEAD OF CHAMBERS’ ROOM

Sally chooses not to keep this room as her office as she prefers everyone to enjoy it. It houses books from the 1700s. A box of trinkets collected by the very first Head of Chambers, Guy Dixon of Dingles Hall.

THE EXTERIOR

The official Blue Plaque of Yetta Frazer, the first woman to practise at the Leicester Bar.

The wig box of Yetta Frazer.

OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST

The eighteenth-century style front door sets the scene for the history hiding inside.

RECEPTION ROOM

Workers say they’ve heard mysterious voices talking here and some have seen an unknown girl run up the stairs. Spooky!

Sally shared this office with Yetta Frazer.

THE CLERK’S ROOM

This is where the main office team works, surrounded by historic books, oh and our very own Niche Magazine! Yet more spookiness, the clerks often smell burnt toast from this room.

THE STONELEY ROOM

This room holds a collection of historic books and wigs. It was used by Charles Edgar Loseby who, in 1944, became the defence barrister for Helen Duncan, the last ever convicted witch in Great Britain!

MS SARAH CORNISH’S ROOM

The barrister has exquisite taste, tying in the history of the room with contemporary pieces.

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Ink bottles collected over 45 years by barrister Tim Clark. The office of Steven Gasztowicz, Sally’s husband. The cellar, built on the gardens Greyfriar’s Church.

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