Niche Magazine Issue 38

#FindYourNiche

Beyond Covid-19

July/August 2020

How businesses are evolving

Niche Business Awards

Celebrating this year’s successful applicants

Denilson

Why the ex-Arsenal player wants to visit Leicester

DEFINING YOUR BRAND

THE LETTINGS & SALES BUSINESS

Not just another agent Property management

Local knowledge

Lets agreed within 7 days

Expert advice

Rent paid within 2 working days

Marketing on all portals

Rent guarantee

Mortgage advice

Landlord insurance

Conveyancing

Tenants insurance

Free market appraisals

360 interactive video tour

Property video tour with drone

Property 3D Floor plans

0116 296 9699

Info@letsandsalesuk.com

A warm friendly agency A personal and bespoke service No hidden fees

THE TEAM LEANNE LATHAM

JENNY CROSS

SALLY SMITH

MANAGING DIRECTOR 07815 899 574

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

MARKETING DIRECTOR 07931 220 116

jenny@crossproductions.co.uk

leanne@crossproductions.co.uk

sally@crossproductions.co.uk

SUSAN HOLMES

KERRY SMITH

EMILY KIRTON

HEAD OF DESIGN STUDIO

EDITOR

JOURNALIST

susan.holmes@crossproductions.co.uk

Kerry@crossproductions.co.uk

emily.kirton@crossproductions.co.uk

BECCI HOULSTON

SIAN COOLEY

DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER

DIGITAL ACCOUNT MANAGER

becci@crossproductions.co.uk

sian@crossproductions.co.uk

NICHE

is the trade mark of Cross Productions and used under license by Jennifer Cross. All rights reserved. No reproduction, copying or otherwise without permission.

TRACEY HUNTER

RAKEE DAS

LEAD GENERATION CONSULTANT

LEAD GENERATION CONSULTANT

tracey@crossproductions.co.uk

rakee@crossproductions.co.uk

nichemagazineuk

@magazineniche

0116 271 2573 nichemagazine.co.uk info@nichemagazine.co.uk

#FindYourNiche

A WORD FROM THE EDITOR

Photography & Video courtesy of: Hitz Rao Photography 0116 246 0475 Alex Benyon Photography alexbenyonphotography.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.

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

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fter a furloughed break and a month working from home, we’re back! It was a hard call for us to accept at the beginning of lockdown. Packing up our belongings and walking away from the office was a gloomy experience. With our distributors out of action, and most of our outlets shut down, there was nowhere for issue 38 to go. We recognise this coronavirus pandemic is one of the most serious challenges that we and our partners have ever faced, but isolation has provided some great opportunities too.

We had the time to rethink a few things. Design Editor Susan has freshened up our look making some alterations to our features and headers, we’re undergoing a redesign of our website nichemagazine.co.uk with the aim of making it more reader-friendly (watch this space), and we’ve been working on our processes and procedures to streamline the way we do things for the smarter.

Others have innovated too. Soft Touch Arts put together cooking masterclasses hosted by local chefs during lockdown and they’ve come up with unique ways to continue to support vulnerable young people whilst social distancing. Myself and our Digital Marketing Manager Becci joined the charity’s business development board in June so we’re particularly passionate about all their hard work.

We’re grateful for so many online channels that local businesses have provided that have allowed us to continue networking and supporting others; KuKu Cocktail Hour, BNI Demeter, and Volta Blue Mastermind to name just a few!

Taking to our social media accounts, we announced our judges chosen Niche Business Awards 2020 semi-finalists and finalists with remarkable encouragement and applause from our followers. We thank everyone involved, from our headline sponsor Assured Energy through to all those who made nominations. You can read about some of the entrants in our dedicated NBA section.

We’ve compiled our interviews with local enterprises, finance companies, printers, and small business owners to create a thought-provoking and advice-driven Covid section that we hope offers some guidance in recovering from lockdown.

Ultimately, there’ll be a lot of Covid talk. But we’ve also got some great reads about the impact of fast fashion, tips on how to rebrand a business, the pioneering new campaign of a local academy trust, and much more.

We’ve appreciate your confidence during this time and hope you find this issue useful.

Contents JULY / AUGUST 2020

NICHE BUSINESS AWARDS 2020

BEYOND COVID-19

ON THE COVER

18

Covid Hot Topic: Advice form ActionCoach Phil Nassau

19

How to lead your team through crisis

40 Freeline Creative

Why your brand needs to change

20

Opportunities with Business Gateway Growth Hub

22

How to make goal setting work for you

24

The most affected industries

60 Good, honest family business values

26

Do you have the right people working for you?

60

How a note changed a businesswoman’s life

28

The conversation no one dares speak about

61

The animators everyone’s talking about

Cover Image Amit Chandrasingh, Managing Director of marketing agency Freeline Creative photographed by Hitz Rao at Hitz Rao Photography 0116 246 0475

Meet the companies behind the nominations 54 Hot topic:

What ‘award-winning’ means 56

What’s been happening at 2 New Street

59

Falling in love with Leicester

30 Grassroots artists in the pandemic

62 Law firm back for another award

32

Surviving as a family business

35

Money Talks: In conversation Kathleen Burns Kingsbury

62 Charity founder enters the finals

36 The small business recovery manual 37 Virtual assistants during lockdown

63 Menphys: success through Covid-19 64

Dragon’s Den interest for Leicester man’s app

64 Welcome news for virtual assistant

65

Charity steps out of its comfort zone

66

How this business has survived 160 years

MARKETING

HOME

38 Creative networking, promo

merchandise, and first

impressions Film Leicester,

Soar Valley Press, Mocha Marketing

78

Open plan design trends

81

Waiting lists for home improvement company

67 Author turns book into business

NICHE INTERVIEW

46 “Covid-19 has created a minefield”

68

DENILSON

“I have five more years in me yet”

BUSINESS NEWS 08

Covid-19 Reopening Plan for the City

12 Five decades: a lifetime of

achievement for business woman

LEGAL 48 Securing a will before a

second wave, what to do

about lay payers, and the

company benefit you may not

have heard of Paradigm,

Hollingsworths, Torr Waterfield 49 Socials Leicestershire Law Society 50

“Disruption heading our way”

14

How businesses can help bridge the learning gap

HEALTH & BEAUTY

16

Expansion during a pandemic

70

90 Preparing for post-Covid events

The true cost of fast fashion

72 Fight it with food Bev Sankey, Arbonne

FOOD 84

Foodcourt

88 New Cultural Quarter Brasserie

CULTURE 94

Fact or Fiction?

CHARITY 95 Searching for a Covid treatment 95

“We’ll meet again”

96 Help the Homeless’ Appeal to landlords 97

How to access a helping hand

97 Soft Touch Arts welcomes newcomers

BUSINESS NEWS LEICESTERSHIRE

Emergency accommodation plea for domestic violence victims Juliet was forced to leave her home in March, escaping the domestic violence she encountered there – but this wasn’t the end of her story.

Assisted by police, Juliet (renamed to protect her identity) called a local helpline for support, but was refused accommodation due to having a spousal visa with no recourse to public funding (NRPF). This is a condition that applies to many migrant women who have entered the UK and are not entitled to mainstream benefits for themselves or their children.

Juliet is not the only victim. Zinthiya Ganeshpanchan, the founder of the Zinthiya Trust, a charity supporting women and girls fleeing violence, said: “Although the Covid-19 crisis has exacerbated the situation, issues faced by victims with no recourse to public funding are not new. Over the years we have supported many women who are fleeing violence with NRPF and we are fully aware of the challenges these women face.”

One of the biggest challenges is the risk of becoming homeless if they decide to flee a violent relationship as they are not entitled to a refuge, housing benefits or social housing.

Many women end up continuing to live in abusive relationships at the risk of their lives. Others who flee may turn to ‘sofa surfing’ and finally become destitute once their support networks are exhausted.

“Housing, food and clothing are not the only requirements; like all of us, they have to live their lives. In normal circumstances we would support them by enabling them to report to the police, access legal support, and apply to the Home Office while we provide emergency accommodation, food, clothing, sanitary products and emotional support.

“However, the current crisis has meant they are unable to access any legal support as the majority depend on legal aid to submit their 08 | NICHE

applications to Home Office leaving them destitute and vulnerable to further violence.”

In recognition of this, the Government has asked all local authorities to provide those who are subject to NRPF with shelter and financial support during the pandemic.

However, this is interpreted very differently and charities like The Zinthiya Trust have to struggle to get these women into a refuge. Any additional measures available address issues in the short-term when these women require long-term support.

Juliet said: “I accessed the Zinthiya Trust in January 2019. I am from Pakistan and came to the UK on a spousal visa. I had to flee home because of the mental, emotional and physical abuse from my husband and in-laws.

“When I accessed the Zinthiya Trust I was feeling very vulnerable and helpless as I had no one to turn to for help. They provided me with emergency accommodation and assisted me with food and clothing,

opening a bank account, and renewing my passport with the Pakistan Embassy.

“As I only spoke Urdu, a support worker assisted me with all my appointments which gave me confidence. With their support, I have now accessed legal aid and submitted my application to change my immigration status to the home office.”

With increased demands on the service, the Zinthiya Trust is having to find other ways to support more women. The charity is looking to the local community to increase its accommodation and advise provision beyond Covid-19.

If you are in a position to help the Zinthiya Trust secure emergency accommodation during the pandemic, contact zinthiya.trust@gmail.com.

Be the difference to a child this year by fostering with Leicester City Council Leicester City Council Fostering is one of the largest fostering services in the East Midlands. It helps people in all areas of Leicester and Leicestershire to become new families for local children of all ages.

Each year, nearly 500 children stay with foster families in Leicester. This can be for a week at a time or for several years. Children come from all communities and range from new-born babies to young teenagers. Sometimes brothers and sisters need a home where they can stay together.

How you can help

enquiries from single people as well as couples.

Leicester City Council Fostering asks that you are: ◆ Living in Leicester, Leicestershire, Rutland or the bordering counties ◆ Usually aged over 25 ◆ Able to offer a secure home with a spare room for one or more children. You do not have to own your own home To have a chat about fostering, please visit leicester.gov.uk/ fostering, follow on Facebook @LeicesterFostering or call the Enquiry Officer on 0116 454 4500.

The organisation welcomes new families and individuals to consider fostering. Besides providing a rewarding sense of achievement, fostering for Leicester provides you with all the back-up and security only a local authority can offer.

Am I eligible to foster?

Leicester City Council Fostering does not discriminate on the grounds of class, race, culture, sexual orientation or disability.

There is no upper age limit and it welcomes fostering

Leicester Business Festival open for event applications Businesses can submit applications to run an event as a part of the sixth Leicester Business Festival (LBF), taking place from November 2-13, 2020.

To host an event as part of the LBF, applicants can visit the website and submit their event idea by completing a short form, providing details about the event, the date and time, and venue.

Arrangements are in place to allow the LBF to be completely adaptable this year, depending on the Government guidelines at the time. Events can be purely digital; physical (as is hoped will be possible in November); or a combination, with physical events being live-streamed.

The type of events can take any form whether that be a workshop or product demonstration, a seminar or

round table debate.

The LBF is sure to inject some much-needed positivity into the region and it will be a great way to get businesses noticed.

There are 10 key sectors which represent the strengths and opportunities in the region. Aligning with one of them offers greater opportunitires for promotion and allows your event to be easier to browse for and find, according to the LBF organisers.

The 10 key sectors are: Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering, Business Support, Communications, Marketing & Creative Industries, Education & Skills, Professional Services, Property & Construction, Retail, Tourism & Hospitality, Science, Technology & Environment, Sport & Health, and

Transport & Logistics.

Applying to host an event is free and applications must be submitted by September 4 to be considered for this year’s programme.

Applications are reviewed by the LBF Board and usually take 14 working days to process. A member of the LBF team will update applicants on the status of their application within this timeframe.

Keep an eye out for the ‘How to Host a Business Festival Event’ webinar coming up in July. To register, visit the LBF website.

NICHE | 09

Leicester’s Covid-19 reopening plan for the city At a glance

The eerie silence that fell upon city centre streets on March 23 when lockdown began is slowly dissolving – the city council published a ‘Covid-19 Reopening Plan for the City’ to support the phased reopening of services and businesses whilst putting in place a range of public safety measures WORDS BY SARAH HARRISON, CITY CENTRE DIRECTOR AND KERRY SMITH

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he Covid-19 reopening plan has been devised to allow for the gradual reopening of shops, businesses, transport, and other services whilst ensuring the safety of everyone as we ease out of lockdown.

City Mayor, Sir Peter Soulsby, says: “Fortunately, we were prepared – not for the heartache, but for the need to ensure that we could keep essential services running, reach out and support our local communities and help protect the vulnerable.

“Our emergency plans, which we hoped we would never need, provided resilience. The support of businesses, organisations and individuals across the city has been invaluable.”

He goes on to state that: “It does not yet mean that we are free to do as we please. We continue to live with the threat of coronavirus and we must be mindful that measures to restrict our lives further may need to return. Through this plan and the continuousy developing recovery work that is taking place across the council, I am pleased that we can now cautiously welcome people back out into Leicester’s wonderful public realm and the places they know and love.”

The Reopening the City Group chaired by John Leach, Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services, worked in partnership with key partners such as Leicestershire Police and BID Leicester to develop the plan.

It’s organised into three key stages.

1. Crisis and pre-recovery

Recognising and thanking the hard work and dedication of those key workers who have helped ensure the safety of the public. The first section of the plan reports a reduction in homelessness and an improvement in air quality during the ‘lockdown’ period.

It states that in “developing the reopening plan for the public realm and public spaces and to support businesses it has been important to develop a set of core principles for all involved to follow.” These are: 1. Profiling with the public the need to always consider the 10 | NICHE

BUSINESS NEWS WHAT HAPPENS NOW? The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson announced on June 23, 2020 that a range of other businesses and recreation facilities can reopen from July 4, 2020. This includes hairdressers, barbers, restaurants, bars, pubs, museums, social clubs, libraries, outdoor gyms, hotels, B&Bs and campsites. There will be additional measures that will need to be put in place to be Covid-19 secure and these are outlined in the Government’s guidelines.

Nail bars and other beauty clinics, swimming pools, soft play centres, bowling alleys and water parks will have to wait a little longer until they are given the Government’s greenlight to reopen.

There are ongoing projects to improve the public spaces and travel plans and here’s what will be taking place from July. threat of Covid-19 in managing daily life.

2. Ensuring Covid-19 mitigation steps run through all arrangements for planning the “reopening” of the city centre and the city’s neighbourhoods.

3. Ensuring all appropriate routes for communicating key messages are utilised.

4. Ensuring wherever possible decisions are informed through an intelligence led/data informed approach that makes the most of transformation opportunities.

5. Ensuring challenges are addressed in partnership and that plans are adjusted in accordance with Government and public health guidance.

6. Ensuring good governance is in place reporting to the City Mayor and Executive Leads which includes appropriate scrutiny by the council’s Scrutiny Commissions.

2. Recovery and reopening

The recovery and reopening section of the plan is extensive and covers topics such as sustainable travel and transport, cleanliness, waste disposal, and neighbourhood safety. It also details its partnerships with the likes of BID Leicester and Highcross and Haymarket shopping centres, as well as schemes such as the Tourism Recovery Framework and the Retail Area Improvement scheme, among others. Helpfully, the plan also lists streets and areas around the city and its neighbourhoods that will benefit from specific safety improvements and measures.

3. Transformation

The final section of the plan recognises: “There is a once in a lifetime opportunity to transform how the city centre and the city’s neighbourhoods operate and exist as public spaces. It is important to seize the moment to try to make the most of this. Whilst not the focus of this plan, public service development opportunities have emerged because of having to face the impact of Covid-19. This plan provides the chance to profile some (but by no means all) of the transformation work Leicester City Council and partners are involved in.”

This section promises to involve: ◆ Transforming travel ◆ Tackling street life and homelessness ◆ Keeping up cleansing standards ◆ Preventing violent crime ◆ Transforming business ◆ Making the most of the online offer

Ensuring people travelling on foot or in a wheelchair or mobility vehicle can social distance in local shopping areas when using pavements ◆ Widening narrow pavements where practical and providing good signage and information to help people keep a safe distance apart and support local businesses.

Ensuring the streets are clean and cared for spaces which people can feel confident to visit ◆ Returning the city’s free bulky waste collection service to full capacity by July 2020 Working to reopen council public facing buildings ◆ Reopening the library service for controlled book borrowing, computer use and enquiries in a phased way at the earliest during July 2020 and following Government guidance and sector led guidelines. ◆ Keeping open four Children, Young People and Family Centres (Braunstone, Saffron, Woodbridge and Beaumont Leys) to deliver essential midwifery and health visiting services. The phased reopening of further CYPF Centres will progress during July and the subsequent months.

Making the most of the Online Offer ◆ The council’s museums service is bringing collections and educational resources to audiences digitally with family activities on the council’s website and regular social media posts. A new museum website will be launched at the end of July 2020.

Transforming business businesses transformed the way they worked during ‘lockdown’ and will be looking at new business models for the future. Leicester City Council and its partners will continue their support for businesses through a number of areas of work to be delivered. ◆ Read the full plan on the Leicester City Council website by following https://www.leicester.gov.uk/media/186716/ covid-19-re-opening-plan-for-the-city.pdf ◆ Many

Five decades A lifetime of achievement From faxing to Zooming, this business owner has been there, done that but – there’s one more landmark she looks forward to reaching as she turns 50. . .

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recruitment company that celebrated the 50th birthday of its owner during lockdown is also applauding her appointment as President in waiting of the East Midlands Chamber, which will officially hand over the chains of office this November.

Eileen Richards MBE, who owns Eileen Richards (ER) Recruitment, has been promoted from Vice President to President of the second largest Chamber of Commerce in the country.

“Besides having my daughter Amelia, it’s one of my greatest achievements,” Eileen said. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time as EMC’s Vice President and to become its President is a huge honour.”

For her 50th birthday celebration, the business community put together a video to the soundtrack of Dexys Midnight Runners’ Come on Eileen, and £2,200 was raised for Hope Against Cancer after Eileen asked people to ‘buy her a drink’ through the charity’s Just Giving page.

Eileen’s birthday prompted Niche to recall her successes. Being promoted to a Managing Director position with a national recruiter at the young age of 30 is definitely one feat worth mentioning.

Since launching her own business at the age of 43, she became a trustee for the charity Hope Against Cancer, was named Businesswoman of the Year at the Niche Business Awards 2018, and won the Leicester Mercury Business Woman of the Year title in the same year. To top it off, in November of 2018 she was then recognised with an MBE for the Promotion of Female Entrepreneurship, meeting Prince Charles upon receiving the title.

Eileen started working life 36 years ago, she has been in the recruitment business for 25 years and says a lot has changed since then. “Technology advancements 12 | NICHE

have changed things significantly. We would send CVs by fax, and with no Google in place, we relied on the good old Yellow Pages for business leads. Advertising was a significant cost, so we would advertise jobs in shop windows. Referrals were also a really successful method.

And in terms of networking, we’d attend Olives Bar at the Belmont on a Friday evening.”

Eileen has achieved in the face of adversity, after her life took a devastating turning point when she lost her mum, husband and dad in the space of a few short years.

“Losing a loved one does have an impact on all areas of your life. My job gave me a separate focus and the drive to achieve some great things.

“I have always been independent and confident at making business decisions. Since the formation of ER, I have been excited to share my journey with others and feel very proud of my achievements.”

She set up ER Recruitment just seven years ago and has totted up a ream of triumphs to her name, making her team proud to work for the experienced businesswoman.

Team member Scarlett Tinsley said: “As a young woman in business, having the opportunity to report directly into and learn from a successful and inspirational leader has been invaluable to both my own growth as a professional and also to our collective progression as a team.

“Eileen’s advice and encouragement drives us beyond our comfort zones, with myself personally presenting awards at large ceremonies, attending courses to continue self-development and heading up many of our successful campaigns. As a team, witnessing Eileen as both our MD and a mentor who strives for each of us to fulfil our best potential, winning accolades and being recognised for her hard work through an MBE, makes us extremely honoured

BUSINESS NEWS to work alongside a leader with such talent and the passion to make a difference.”

Eileen says it’s great people who are at the heart of every successful business: “I have an incredible, talented team who all share the same values. And at the heart of everything we do, is our customer service – this includes colleagues, clients, candidates, and the business community.”

The coronavirus outbreak that caused lockdown this year is, in some ways, another accomplishment for her to be proud of. “We have used this time as an opportunity to review what we do well, and where we could be making some changes. We are looking to grow the team and have some exciting things to look forward to.

“Outside of ER, the impact has been significant.

Companies have either put a recruitment freeze in place or shifted start dates. Some sectors within our business have been hit hard, while others have prospered. Ironically, unlike the recession in 2008 when people couldn’t recruit due to the lack of funds, this is different as some companies and clients are continuing to grow and want to recruit – they just can’t due to the nationwide lockdown.

“With Zoom and other technologies, we will have a different way of working for sure. Technology is changing all the time. Our values and relationships will continue to flourish as we have supported one another and shared a very special journey throughout these challenging times.

We will all remember those businesses and individuals who looked out for each other.”

For recruitment advice, you can get in touch with ER Recruitment by emailing info@eileenrichards.co.uk or calling 0116 254 9710.

Learn more about Enterprising Women at emc-dnl.co.uk.

A PROUD MOMENT COLLECTING HER MBE FROM PRINCE CHARLES

We would send CVs by fax, and with no Google in place, we relied on the good old Yellow Pages for business leads

EILEEN WITH HER TEAM AT ER RECRUITMENT NICHE | 36

A Leicestershire based multiacademy trust has begun a new initiative to provide laptops to students with limited access to technology WORDS BY KERRY SMITH

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ational reports suggest that the Covid-19 pandemic has disproportionally affected those students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds.

The Lionheart Academies Trust, a family of Leicestershire schools, holds a long-standing commitment to ensuring that every student within its 11 schools has an equal access to an equal education, regardless of socioeconomic background.

Where most students have had to adapt to a new digital norm taking their learning online, new government data has highlighted a growing achievement gap across the student population. This data shows stark disparities between the levels of engagement of students from poorer households when compared to wealthier households.

Lockdown has provided an opportunity for the Lionheart Academies Trust to collect its own data when analysing student engagement. Similarly, staff found that those who do not have access to technology are less engaged than those who do.

A huge task lies ahead in trying to level the playing field when it comes to educational engagement for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The trust, with over 9000 students, is making this its moral imperative: to ensure students in Leicestershire have the resources to engage

14 | NICHE

Levelling

How businesses can with education so that no young person is left behind.

Unlike many other multi-academy trusts across the country, the Lionheart Academies Trust is entirely made up of schools based solely in Leicester and it’s respective county, and thus has strong ties to its local and fiercely loyal communities.

Kath Kelly, the CEO for The Lionheart Academies Trust, said: “Schools don’t function in a vacuum, so it’s our job to ensure young people are prepared for the working world.

A key part of that preparation relies on touching base with local businesses, because that’s the environment our students will ultimately go into.”

Roma Dhameja, Vice Principal at a Lionheart school, said: “The team has been working really hard over the last three years to build those relationships with local businesses, because in another three years’ time, when our Year 10s leave, these are the doors they will be knocking on. It’s our collaborative duty to make sure these young people don’t fall through the gaps.”

From its central budget, the trust has successfully equipped a percentage of its Year 10 students with a Chromebook. But, in order to level the playing field entirely, it has identified 1500 students across all year groups that will significantly benefit from access to technology.

BUSINESS NEWS

Across our schools we are building tomorrow’s society today. As an educational institute, we have this duty but so do local employers

the playing field help to bridge the learning gap

Niche Magazine’s parent company, Cross Productions, was the first to sponsor five Chromebooks. CEO Jenny Cross said: “Our team is particularly active in the business community, as Area Lead for the Federation of Small Businesses, I’m familiar with the needs of local companies, especially those that are small to medium sized enterprises.

In order for the local economy to thrive, we need to invest in future workforces. This starts now. We cannot expect the future of local businesses to take care of itself.

“I would love to see the community work together to ensure all school children are given the same opportunities to grow and develop. With an even playing field everyone has the opportunity to pick up new skill sets and thrive.

As a business owner myself, I know that an employee’s socioeconomic background makes no difference to the ideas they can contribute or the success they can achieve, but they do have to be given equal opportunities right from the beginning.”

The trust has since adopted a business model focused on connecting with local businesses that choose to contribute to the laptop campaign, in turn supporting some of the most disadvantaged students in Leicestershire.

Rikki Khakhar, Assistant Principal at a Trust school, said: “We’re in the public sector with public funds and we’ve got

to make sure that the money is being spent as efficiently as possible. Across our schools, we are building tomorrow’s society today. As an educational institute we have this duty, but so do local employers.

“Our lead school, Beauchamp College, is quite often compared to private institutions as we believe we’re delivering outcomes on a par but with a much smaller budget and resource base. This is why we’re engaging with businesses – we know the private sector does this without flinching and we’re breaking down the idea that state schools shouldn’t be going to industry to request resources.”

The trust has a key mission: to ensure that any child from any background has equal access to an equal education. As members of the future workforce, this mission is reflected among businesses alike.

Roma added: “We hold ourselves accountable to that mission, which is why this whole campaign has come about. Because we don’t feel comfortable knowing that young people from poorer socioeconomic backgrounds are being left behind.”

To find out more about the trust’s mission, go to lionhearttrust.org.uk, or to discuss the campaign further, please email rikki.khakhar@lionhearttrust.org.uk.

NICHE | 15

THE LETTINGS & SALES BUSINESS

Why this business expanded during the pandemic Midlands property agent The Lettings and Sales Business has triumphed against the odds.

Its owners talk rebranding, family life, and their views on the current property market

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hen you set up your own business, you don’t expect to take it through a global pandemic and at the same time experience a 116% growth spurt in just one year, but that’s what’s happened to The Lettings Business. Married couple Jaz Kaur and Narinder Nijjar launched the business in 2019 – and it’s been an exciting year! Now, looking back on where they began, they say they were well and truly ready for a rebrand and to finally accept the growth their clients were asking of them.

On July 1, they became The Lettings and Sales Business. The company specialises in lettings, property management, and now sales of established homes.

“We had so many clients asking us if we would sell their properties,” Jaz told us. “They didn’t want to put their properties on the market with anyone else. We always do right by the client and we just didn’t have the processes in place for sales and we weren’t willing to dilute our lettings service.

“Rebranding has been hard,” she continues. The business is my baby and I loved the pink and blue colours we went for. But it grew so quickly that now I look back and

16 | NICHE

I see that it wasn’t quite right any more.”

They thought they could run The Lettings Business from the comfort of their own home, but their passion for property meant this was never going to be the case. Both worked previously as consultants for property businesses, during which time they would attempt to transform the way they operated for the good of their vendors and buyers.

Frustrated with the way these companies treated their clients, they took matters into their own hands.

“When you’re consulting for another company, you can give them as many ideas and processes as you like, but they will only do what they want to do. It was such a shame that companies would get stuck in their comfort zone and be unwilling to go the extra mile,” said Narinder.

With 35 combined years of experience in the property sector, armed with the teachings of countless customer service mistakes from other businesses, they were ready to take action. Behind them, there could be no better business coaches than their own parents.

For Jaz, property is in her blood. She would work with her parents during summer holidays when home from

BUSINESS NEWS

studying law and manage their student properties. She told us: “My grandad came to this country to join the army and my parents followed. They had nothing. They worked from one sewing machine to make money – and ended up owning properties and factories and becoming a global manufacturer and wholesaler of clothing. I can’t think of any better mentors I’d rather go to than them.”

For Narinder, however, property was his second love – but after marrying Jaz in June 2006, he was fully immersed in the industry by July of the same year. “Both our parents come from a hard-working background. My mum and dad would only see each other on Saturdays due to their jobs. I worked with my dad in clothing retail from the age of 11. After Jaz introduced me to property, though, I was converted,” he said.

Narinder is the ideas generator and Jaz puts them into action with meticulously thought-out processes. Jaz explained: “People always ask: ‘Don’t you drive each other mad?’ We do bicker and it would be unhealthy not to, but the reality is I can’t think of anyone else I would want to work with but my Narinder. You must remember: we have the same ethics and vision, and we are working for a common goal: our daughters and each other.

“I look at my mum and I’ve only ever seen her stand shoulder-to- shoulder grafting with my dad. My four-yearold once said to us: ‘Thank you for how hard you work,’ and my nine-year-old said she wants to work really hard like me when she’s older – and that makes me so proud, because sometimes you do get mummy guilt.”

Narinder added: “We live in this weird society where everyone wants to be the next Kardashian. So, if our daughters can understand that hard work will underpin everything they do, we’re happy.”

This hard work ethic has taken them from The Lettings Business to The Lettings and Sales Business and a team of

I know there’s a lot of talk about what’s going to happen to the property market right now, but personally we’ve not seen a change six in just a year. With their two other businesses in tow – 1 Stop Maintenance, specialising in repairs and renovations, and Fraser Stretton, a bespoke new-build sales specialist for small-to-mid-sized developers, they are more excited than ever.

“I know there’s a lot of talk about what’s going to happen to the property market right now, but personally we’ve not seen a change. We are remarkably busy and we are excited, not worried. Nobody knew that there was going to be a pandemic, but you’ve just got to carry on,” Jaz asserted.

The pair say Boxing Day is notorious for valuation requests, when families realise they may want to upsize, and couples realise that they just do not get on after spending more time than usual together. Jaz and Narinder are anticipating lockdown may have a similar effect.

Narinder explained: “Families have been in lockdown and it’s dawned on them that they need a bigger house!

Other couples are realising they perhaps cannot stand each other, so they are ready to move. We’re looking forward to genuinely helping people as The Lettings and Sales Business.”

For a free online lettings or sales valuation, visit letsandsalesuk.com NICHE | 17

Small firms facing uncertain futures have played a vital role during the pandemic. A report from FSB highlighted how they’ve engaged with local communities and how this is shaping their future.

In this section, hear how local firms have coped, what the future holds,

The vital role of small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic

57%

23%

30%

16%

carrying out community roles

volunteering and providing PPE and accommodation to key workers

of all small business owners prioritised and supported vulnerable customers

developed a new or increased their - online presence

PHIL NASSAU Managing Director at ActionCOACH Leicester

I

read a quote that said: ‘when the winds of change come, some build a wall, some build a windmill’. As I have watched and been actively involved working with businesses throughout this period of change, this quote sums up much of what I have observed. Hoping business will eventually go back to as it was before is a road that will lead to a dead end.

Bill Gates once said: ‘success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can’t lose.’ The business world has changed forever so now is about a time of planning, of taking the position of treating your business as if you had just purchased it.

In any new business venture, you must ask what changes you would make to bring about success today and for tomorrow. What is the vision? What is the purpose of the business? Most businesses make a shabby job of assessing this aspect of their organisation.

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So where to start?

We all have that genius inside us and, if we allow, we will find the answer. The first step is to define the beliefs about ourselves and the nature of our abilities and look to our own experiences and the experiences of others. Going through this process will open up the boundaries to what you can accomplish.

Taking some time out to consider how you can change your business to be a success in the new environment is key. If you have not done so, do it now as it will pay dividends over time.

Look at all areas of the business – your team, your product or service, how you go to market, if you’re in the right market. Only when you align yourself with the present moment do you access what you can achieve, even in these difficult times.

People will tell you that success is achieving what you set out to do. For many, success is about winning and finding recognition or prosperity and see these as essential ingredients in any success. What people don’t tell you – because they don’t know – is that you cannot become successful, you can only be successful. Your success is only in the present moment.

You have a choice: to carry on building the wall, or start to build a windmill.

CREDIT: NEW HORIZONS BY FSB

and their advice to you

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(suddenly virtual)

Denial

Frustration Shock Decision

team through a crisis

Depression

Experiment

HR expert Aleena Ahmad of Affinity HRM joins Emily Kirton over Zoom to discuss the humanising effect of the recent Covid-19 pandemic on HR and business owners

A

s we recuperate our businesses, perhaps one of the biggest things we can learn from the pandemic is the concept that change is inevitable, and therefore a business continuity plan is vital for all sized businesses. “The only constant in business is that change will happen, so we should always hope for the best but plan for the worst,” explains Aleena.

Learning from the effects of the pandemic on our businesses “means a focus on the people within your business,” suggests Aleena. As a leader you can weather nearly any storm by openly communicating, taking responsibility, acting decisively, and taking advantage of the unexpected opportunities that a crisis can bring. Looking at how people respond to change provides an ideal starting block for businesses going through an intense period of change “I often use the ‘Kübler-Ross’ change curve when working with business owners. It’s a great visual to show the various stages we as humans go through when change is presented to us.”

The relationship any leader will have with their team through any period of change needs to be crucially humanised; each decision or change needs to be effectively communicated with

transparency in order to build “trust and confidence” within your business and create the sense that you are “all in it together,” Aleena explains. “Then, and only then, will your team be on board for adapting to the changes created. Teamwork makes the dream work!

“You might not have all the answers, but your employees will feel valued and supported enough to be on that journey with you as you work through these uncertain times.

“Quite simply, your team needs reassurance, encouragement, they need you to remain visible and accessible as much as possible during a crisis. Seeing you has a calming effect—like the captain of a ship navigating through rough seas.

Your team (crew) will stay calm and focused when they see you acting calm and focused. Being visible, keeping them informed, explaining your future direction, and how they are doing will keep them engaged throughout the crisis. During times of crisis, the team needs to both understand what is happening in real time and your future plan,” Aleena adds.

Keen to provide emphasis to this point, Aleena concludes that at the heart of any business’s HR plan should be exactly that,

DURING TIMES OF CRISIS, THE TEAM NEEDS TO BOTH UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING IN REAL TIME AND YOUR FUTURE PLAN

a heart. “Now more than ever businesses are seeing the true value of their employees to the success of their business – and it’s in tough times that true leadership comes to the forefront.

A business that genuinely believes this and puts the right things in place for this reason will survive and thrive a great deal more than those who do not. As a leader, you need to win both hearts and minds!”

Contact Aleena for advice on HR and what it means for your business in the current climate on 0782 488 7544.

Top HR considerations for business owners to plan for a crisis: ◆ Prepare a business continuity plan and ensure your team knows how your business will respond to crisis. ◆ Make sure your team is physically and mentally set up and prepared to work virtually. ◆ Have employees cross-trained in critical areas to protect against a loss of specific skills. ◆ Have clear, accessible communication channels established so your team knows what is happening regularly. ◆ Include a flexibility clause in your employment contracts to allow for changes, eg. remote working or lay-off. Have the right HR policies in place to support remote working. ◆ Have expert advisors to help and guide you in any given situation.

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Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, 1969

How to lead your

The Kübler-Ross Change Curve Acceptance

As key sectors of the economy look to end their recovery stage and move towards a restart, many are contending with a host of post Covid-19 questions and are struggling to find real answers Emily Kirton talks to Ann Cook, a business adviser at the Business Gateway Growth Hub, and discovers that there’s a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel – it’s about finding the opportunities and support available

Time to

S

peaking to business adviser Ann Cook from the Business Gateway Growth Hub as we gradually emerge from lockdown gives me a positive feeling. She’s giving me news of the vast spectrum of advice and support available to businesses that may well have been through – and are still experiencing – some of the toughest environments they have experienced since their inception.

“There has been a lot of new government support for businesses since the start of the pandemic and a great deal of information to absorb,” says Ann. “This has all been available online and possibly difficult to navigate.

As business advisers we’ve been able to talk to people and help them decipher what’s available and, more importantly, what’s relevant to their business. We know from feedback that having someone there to listen to their concerns has been invaluable to many.”

The Business Gateway has been a lifeline offering free

restart

THE BUSINESS GATEWAY IS BASED AT FRIARS MILL IN LEICESTER

support and services that can be accessed via a team of 11 experienced and motivated advisers here in Leicester and Leicestershire.

“Initially there was a great deal of distress and panic as the lockdown happened. There is still a long way to go, in terms of being back to ‘normal’, but we are seeing a slight shift in the kind of help required.

“People are getting in touch now to find ways to adapt, adjust and even grow in some cases. Businesses can rebuild or restart in this time, in fact many have; it’s about looking forward and accessing ongoing support.”

Business owners can seek the abundance of advice and support available to them. Business Gateway advisers are available to help steer businesses through this next phase. They will provide free one-to-one advice and help them identify the opportunities, financial support, training, or whatever they require, and perhaps are unaware of.

“We have a growing number of experts providing

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As business advisers we’ve been able to talk to people and help them decipher what’s available and, more importantly, what’s relevant to their business.

and

prosper

dedicated webinars on topics such as HR, marketing, financial management and business strategy to help businesses face the challenges presented to them recently, as well as ways to help them recharge and move forward.”

Advisers build a relationship with their clients, providing free support and advice on an ongoing basis to help businesses develop and grow. Right now, it’s about steadying the ship and looking to rebuild as we slowly come out of the crisis.

To access free support and advice, go to bizgateway. org.uk or call on 0116 366 8487. The Business Gateway Growth Hub is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and delivered in partnership by Leicester City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire) and the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP).

WEBINARS

One of the easiest ways to access information and develop business skills from the comfort of your own home is via the wide range of webinars on offer.

Look out for the latest webinars from the Business Gateway and business support partners at bizgateway.org.uk/events

How to make

goal setting work for you

Business advisors give their tips on setting goals to achieve in post-crisis business WORDS BY KERRY SMITH

F

rom small business owners to multi-corporations, most companies will have their work cut out for them to recover from the effects of coronavirus.

Goal setting is a way to measure the real changes that have taken place in your business over a period of time. And no doubt you will have witnessed real change most recently.

Whether they’re put in place to increase sales, or to improve employee efficiency, goals should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timely – altogether: SMART. One company that has thrived from SMART goals is accounting firm Torr Waterfield. Set up in the year 2000, Torr Waterfield has 20 years of experience in dealing with the finances of companies small and large.

Mike Waterfield, Co-Director, said: “We’re not just accountants, we’re also business advisors. Torr Waterfield turns 20 in September so we’ve had the experience of knowing what does and doesn’t work for businesses and where they should invest their time and money. It goes without saying, however, that no one could have prepared for what was about to come.

“We originally did this interview before coronavirus took over the country, but in reviewing the advice we originally put forward, we can’t believe how relevant the tips are now that we must all try to recover our livelihoods.

“With a few tweaks to our advice here and there, we really believe in taking some quality time to reassess your future with these pointers in mind.

“If you’re feeling nervous about what to do next, or feel that lockdown has had a damaging effect you feel you can’t return from, you are not alone. Many of our clients have

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gone through the same thing and we want to help.

“If you want to get back up and come back stronger, there is one thing you can do to put that into action right now. Sit down. Pick up a pen. And create a plan.”

As a business advisor, Mike gave us his tips on how to set goals, why you should set them, and how to make them work beyond lockdown.

You can only manage what you can measure It’s important to be able to manage your goals – and you can only manage what you can measure. You need to know in the first place how and when you’re going to achieve your goals. Being able to quantify what you’re already doing is essential so that you know when you’ve achieved.

For example, if you want to drive more people to your website, you will need to know what the figures currently are. Otherwise, how would you know an attainable figure to put on your goal?

Action: Note down the current figures most relevant to your goal, lock them away in an envelope and compare them with your figures in six months.

How much will it cost?

What are the cost implications of this goal? You will most likely have someone who can look into the figures of the traffic being driven to your website – what is their chargeable time for doing so? Then you need to figure

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In reviewing the advice we originally put forward, we can’t believe how relevant the tips are now that we must all try to recover our livelihoods

out how you’re going to achieve this. Will you need more regular content to attract more visitors? How much time out of an employee’s day will this take if you’re going to do it inhouse? How much will it cost to outsource?

Action: Assign a small task to each member of your operational team that will work towards your goal, whether that’s writing one blog post or sourcing a quote.

There is arguably no limit

Reducing outgoings is a popular goal. There’s a time and a place for cutting costs. But there is also a limit. Can you reduce rent and bills? Probably not. Can you reduce employee costs? Maybe, but why would you? Can you reduce advertising? Perhaps, but to what detriment? There are some things you can’t touch. If you can reduce 10% of costs you’ve done well. Whereas, if you work on improving something like increasing your sales, there is arguably no limit.

Action: Write down three things you can increase on (as opposed to reducing) such as social media posts or team building days. (Update: OK, that last one might have to be put on hold for a while!)

Read torrwaterfield’s blog for up-to-date advice for businesses recovering from coronavirus at torrwaterfield.co.uk

Questions drive your goal onwards

Goals help you and your employees stay focused, but it’s important to ask why you have set these goals – and why you think it’s important to achieve them. We ask our clients these questions and it often places them in an uncomfortable position. Questions drive your goal onwards. Encouraging you to think of all the who’s, what’s, where’s, when’s, and why’s will make them specific and therefore, more achievable.

Action: Make a list of who needs to be in on your goal, how each person will contribute, where these actions will take you, when you wish to achieve the goal, what success looks like, and why this matters.

doing it, and where it will take them, that’s when it’s going to be successful. You need to get everyone on the bus (two metres apart of course). If you can incorporate aspects that your clients also care about into your goals, this will help you to achieve. Torr Waterfield went paperless, which is something our clients care about. We also have electric charge points in our client car park free for them to use.

Action: Draw your bus. Or print one off. Write your simplified goal on the front of it and hang it somewhere you will always see it to remind you where you’re going.

20

Success

Torr Waterfield

Think of it like getting on a bus

If you think of goal setting as getting on a bus, you check what’s on the front before getting on. When everyone understands and relates to what they’re doing, why they’re NICHE | 23

When the world resumes: The face of business in a post-lockdown world As we emerge from the Covid-19 crisis, Insolvency Practitioners Begbies Traynor assess the damage to the industries most affected

M

any businesses have temporarily closed their doors awaiting further instruction from the government during the Covid-19 crisis, while others were left with little choice but to follow suit as consumer demand plummeted.

With employees furloughed and their wages being subsidised, coupled with temporary restrictions on legal action for non-payment of debt, businesses are currently largely protected from the immediate effects of the pandemic.

One thing is for sure – it is temporary. Lockdown is gradually being lifted, wage subsidies will come to end, and operating costs will need to be paid. It is this time immediately following the easing of lockdown restrictions which poses the real threat to businesses, testing not only their resilience but also their viability in a postcoronavirus world.

Managing the exit from lockdown

With no real idea of what to expect as lockdown is lifted, businesses are experiencing unprecedented levels of uncertainty, making planning for the future close to impossible.

While no sector is immune from business interruption 24 | NICHE

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Arguably our best way of predicting what our postcoronavirus world may look like is to consider what has happened in Wuhan

is important to them and where their money is best directed. Discretionary spending has been a huge driver in propelling the economy forward over the last couple of years; however, it is a real possibility that spending to the same level may not return for several years.

This discretionary spending could be the final nail in the coffin for the already struggling high street, while online retailers will also find themselves affected. Motor dealerships could also be in for a tough time, and travel looks set for more tough times ahead.

Cultural changes will be hard to break at the present time, some industries will be more vulnerable than others and will experience a much more protracted return to normal. It is almost inevitable that some businesses will not reopen at all, particularly those already experiencing financial difficulties prior to the coronavirus pandemic.

A staged return to ‘normality’

The UK’s £72bn hospitality sector is likely to be among one of the last to be allowed to resume trading – and even then, it may be contingent on adopting strict social distancing measures. The late spring and summer months are crucial to many within the hospitality industry, being responsible for a huge percentage of its yearly income. The loss of this key trading period is something many bars, restaurants, and leisure venues will simply be unable to recover from.

Consumer sentiment will have a huge part to play in the recovery of many industries. Following weeks and possibly months of enforced lockdown, some individuals will be eager to mingle as restrictions are eased. Others, however, will need to be coaxed back into social situations. Traditionally quieter times for hospitality, retail, and travel providers, these businesses may end up being busy with people keen to make the most of their new-found freedom and this pent-up demand could prove to be their saving grace.

Vaccine is key

The key to business and economic recovery is in harnessing consumer spending, yet this will not be achieved simply by removing lockdown restrictions. It is likely that hesitancy will remain for some time, particularly among those who haven’t contracted the virus. Many will be reluctant to resume as usual, remaining cautious of mass gatherings and participating in non-essential travel and social events.

Consumer confidence will not return to the same level until there is a widely available and effective form of treatment, or preferably a vaccine in place. Until this comes to pass there will be an enduring caution to engage socially.

Social, health, and economic hesitancy

When it comes to re-engaging consumers post-lockdown, it is not just concerns regarding physical health which will need to be overcome. Some will be nursing a financial hangover, while many more will have adopted vastly altered social habits which may be hard to break.

Perhaps caught out by the sudden drop in income, and a realisation that they were able to cope without regular meals out, luxury holidays, or other non-essential indulgences, consumers are likely to re-evaluate what

Changes in how we work as a result of this pandemic will mean less demand for business-related travel. When it comes to working from home, many have adapted to this change well. From reduced commuting times, improved work-life balance, and cost-savings for both companies and workers, this enforced change in working habits could well be something which continues long after the pandemic is over.

Commercial landlords may find demand for office space declines. A cultural shift towards working from home will also decrease footfall in town centres, compounding the misery for businesses reliant on passing trade.

Predicting the future

Arguably our best way of predicting what our postcoronavirus world may look like is to consider what has happened in Wuhan, where the virus originated. They are several months ahead of us in terms of recovery and, just as there were lessons to be learnt over halting the spread of the virus, there are also lessons we can learn when it comes to forecasting our economic recovery.

Cinemas opened to rows of empty seats, and shopping centres are reporting significantly reduced footfall. Leading retailers have been forced to provide incentives to tempt people back into stores in an effort to sustain consumer morale and stimulate demand. If Wuhan’s recovery can show us anything, it is that patience will be required; just because the country is ready to reopen for business does not mean consumers will be ready to return to their old ways.

Businesses may be braced for a long road to recovery, but how many businesses will be able to survive while waiting for consumer confidence to return? Some may find their money runs out long before their patience.

For more information go to begbies-traynorgroup.com

Free business rescue and recovery advice Contact Begbies Traynor for support during financial distress.

Carolynn Best – Partner 0116 355 2429

|

carolynn.best@btguk.com

Martin Buttriss – Partner

0116 355 2428

|

martin.buttriss@btguk.com NICHE | 25

The EOS Model™

Right people, right seats you must have both

The upheaval caused by the coronavirus may have changed us all forever – here’s how to assess if you still have the right people and the right seats in your business WORDS BY MARTIN ANDREW

Right People – The People Analyser™

‘Right People’ are those who share your three to seven core values. The tool we use to help evaluate, assess, hire, fire, review, reward, and recognise people is The People Analyser™.

From rating employees based on your own relevant experiences, you get a report that tells you who terrifically exemplifies your culture, who flat out doesn’t fit, and who may improve with a little coaching.

This tool facilitates healthy conversations. It could be that an employee is pretty good at their job but there’s something that you just don’t trust.

Core values and The People Analyser™ allow you to have that conversation, turning a really scary, awkward scenario into a really healthy coaching dialogue.

You could start with: “Hey Bill, remember when we hired you and I told you it’s really important you fit our culture and exhibit our core values? You’re failing in a couple of areas and I want to talk through that with you because I think the fix is pretty easy and I want to work with you.” ◆ Allocate the diagonal sections to your core values ◆ Write everybody’s name down the left hand column ◆ Rate them according to how well they exhibit your 26 | NICHE

core values: + is someone who exhibits the value most of the time +/- is someone who exhibits the value some of the time - is someone who rarely exhibits the value The People Analyser™

NAME

Hu Co mbl nfi y He den t Fir lp st Gr Di ow o e r Do t Ri he gh t Do Thi n W Wh g e S at ay GE TS IT W AN TS IT CA PA CI TY

T

he Entrepreneurial Operating System® model is made up of six key components: vision, people, data, issues, process, and traction. This issue, I’m taking a deeper dive into the ‘people’ component.

During the Covid-19 situation, we’ve discovered this component is more important than ever. With so many people furloughed or even redundant, it’s essential for each business to make sure they surround themselves with truly great people – and those people may not be the same ones you needed before the crisis.

John Smith + + + + + Y Y Y Peter Brown - - - - - Y N Y Alison Green +/-

+/- +/-

+/-

+/-

N

Y

Y

David Black + + +/- +/- + Y Y Y Emma White + + + + +/- Y Y Y In this example Peter and Alison are not Right People, Right Seats and we need to make a change.

Right Seats – The Accountability Chart™

‘Right Seats’ are people who are consistently exceptional at their job without a lot of intervention. We take a ‘structure first, people second’ approach to clarify what ‘right seat’ means for your business using The Accountability Chart™.

Use it to assign the major functions of your company.

These could be marketing and sales, operations, finance, and admin for example.

During the pandemic, we have been working a lot on what we call The Reverse Accountability Chart. This is simply working out what the critical functions and seats are that we need in order to move forward in these crazy times.

What we are finding during the past few months is not surprising: the reduction of seats in an organisation. They

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The Accountability ChartTM VISIONARY

20 Ideas Creativity/Problem Solving Big Relationships Culture R&D More on Emotion John

INTEGRATOR

LMA Profit & Loss Business Plan Remove Obstacles & Barriers Special Project Management More on Logic Emma

MARKETING/SALES

OPERATIONS

LMA Sales/Revenue Goal Selling Marketing Sales & Marketing Process Peter

MARKETING

Web Site Lead Generation Events Brand Budget/ROI Alice

SALES NORTH

SALES SOUTH

New Business Sales Target Lead Conversion Pipeline

New Business Sales Target Lead Conversion Pipeline

David

Bruno

CUSTOMER SERVICE NPS Live Chat Client Satisfaction CRM Steve

LMA AR/AP Budgeting/Reporting HR IT Office Management Charlotte

FINANCE CONTROL

Monthly Forecast Management Accounts Scorecard AR/AP Chantal

PRODUCT

R&D New Products Suppliers Design Build

PROCESS DELIVERY

Process Map Service Delivery Defects

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Dean

Jenny

Sam

are looking at the business through a different lens.

Once the major functions are listed, we then define each seat by giving it a function name, for example: sales or operations. Then we create a ‘job description’ by identifying the five things that the seat is responsbile for.

And it’s likely these five things are not the same as a few months ago.

Solving People Issues

FINANCE

LMA Customer Services Process Management Making the Product Delivering the Service Jamil

Most entrepreneurial companies right now have someone who’s a right person in the wrong seat. You love them, they’re loyal, they share your core values, you can’t imagine opening the doors tomorrow without them there, but their seat has moved on. It may have become too big or more complex. There may be another seat in which they’d be amazing. But if not, we would urge you to make a change as it would not be fair on them missing out on their opportunity to be great.

There are also those who are the wrong person in the right seat. A wrong person doesn’t share your core values but they’re good at their job. Often these are top

Project Plans Integration PM Team Budget

HR

TECHNOLOGY

Recruitment Payroll Appraisals Talent Management

IT/Equipment Facilities Health & Safety Budget BCP

Ian

Tom

LMA = Lead, Manage and hold people to Account

performing sales people who just really don’t care about the company. I’m going to beg and plead with you to solve that by coaching them up or coaching them out, because they’re hurting you in ways you can’t even see.

When you have that person in the organisation, guess who’s sleeping like a baby every night? They are. Who’s awake? You are – that stinks. Enforce your standards and if they won’t buck up, get them out. There’s somebody in the world who is great at this job and wants to share your core values and fit your culture.

That’s my passionate plea.

To learn more about EOS®, visit tractionmatters.co.uk.

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Commercial

finance and

coronavirus The conversation no one dares speak about WORDS BY DARREN WILLOUGHBY

T

he date is March 24, the time is 11pm and I have just taken my 87th call of the day in relation to the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) and I feel compelled to write about my experience.

It is clear that we have a huge global and economic crisis on our hands, and the government has announced measures to attempt to keep the economy and businesses afloat in the form of CBILS and bounce back loans.

Let’s be clear, in the main, this was a huge lifeline to many genuine businesses that without this intervention simply wouldn’t have survived. The government should be applauded, but how many people saw this as an attempt to get ‘free cash’ or a ‘free hit’?

When first interviewed, the amount of clients who didn’t want to give security or explore traditional funding when this was first launched was huge. A multitude of business owners didn’t want to inject their own cash or put up security in supporting their own business – for many a business, this is an extension of themselves is it not?

I heard on many occasions that clients would look to fold the business if they didn’t get the support from the government, in effect saying: “I don’t mind losing the government’s money (ie. you the tax payer) but not my own.” The removal of the requirement for personal guarantees only added to this attitude.

There were a lot of businesses who weren’t eligible for the scheme. However, there were also many people who intended to try and abuse the system: businesses

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that were loss making and were going to continue to make a loss, and could not show that they could support the debt pre-coronavirus, let alone post-coronavirus in a probable recession.

A business has a responsibility to maintain cash and liquidity. If you’ve had it good in the good times and taken dividends when you’ve had it bad, you have a responsibility to support your own business. A recent survey confirmed only one in seven business owners were injecting their own monies back into a business to support it, according to a press release by the NACFB. Further down the line, now that the business has the money, will they pay it back – and how!

A £250k CBILS loan at a rate of 4% over five years would cost a business owner £55,000 pa.

Will the business be able to sustain this going forward?

If a business is undertaking a ‘cashflow pause or hiatus’ then hopefully it can survive. But how many won’t be able to? And with little or no tie-in from the owner, what would stop them folding the business and walking away with no recourse to the debt?

Bounce back loans

These were designed to help businesses ‘bounce back’ by giving them a temporary shot in the arm in order to assist in cashflow and were very much welcomed by many.

They basically gave any business the chance to apply for £50k of lending with pretty much no underwriting and no security, personal guarantee or the ability to prove whether

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A multitude of business owners didn’t want to inject their own cash or put up security in supporting their own business they could service the debt or not.

As a seasoned finance professional, this goes against every rule going when it comes to lending money – and, I know all the banks were in agreement, but had their arm twisted by the government and couldn’t decline to help.

I have been told (and I’ve seen myself) how these loans have been misused. What was designed to help prop up has been viewed by some as a licence to free money.

I have seen first-hand these monies being used not for the declared purpose. Some have used loan proceeds as deposits for property, purchasing new vehicles, and to pay dividends. I’ve also seen many just decide to take it because they can – even if they didn’t need it.

Alarmingly, due to how quickly this came to market, it’s being said that banks are now accepting that as many as one in five of these have been claimed fraudulently and not in the spirit of the scheme.

It is clear that some businesses have only survived because of government – assisted funding – and these should be commended, but there are always those that are looking to take advantage in a negative way.

It is clear that these schemes have helped the vast majority of honest and integral business owners and this should be commended, but given that as of today (June 15) a total of £35bn has been lent to 830,000 businesses in the UK through these schemes and yet Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has reduced by 20.4% in April.

We are also seeing suggested amendments to the finance bill that will see any fraudulent claims under these support schemes hit with 100% tax.

Are we not looking at possibly one of the biggest threats to our future economy since the credit crunch in 2007? Watch this space!

For financial support and advice, visit 2XL Commercial Finance at 2xlcommercial.com or get in touch by emailing darren@2xlcommercial.com or by calling 01625 421 976 or 07736 359 413

NICHE | 29

Make some noise in your business

so they can keep making noise in theirs In a global pandemic, here’s how we can support the artists who deserve to be paid just as any other service provider WORDS KERRY SMITH

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usic artists of all genres have been keeping us company during lockdown. They’ve provided a comforting background to our home gym sessions, new hobbies we’ve taken up, and some of us have even discovered playlists for working to (the benefits of which are unparalleled by the way, but we’ll cover that later).

You may never have heard of the artist who provided the synth for the new track you’re obsessed with (and in danger of overplaying until you’re sick of it), or the backing singer who supports your favourite band on every album, but they get a cut every time those songs are played. And for some of them, it’s their only stream of income.

We need to show those artists our support now more than ever, just as we do with most businesses and individuals facing crisis due to Covid-19. One way we can do this is with TheMusicLicence.

Did you know there is only one company in the whole of the UK that deals with music licencing – and it’s based right here in Leicester? PPL PRS Ltd was formed as a joint venture by music rights societies PPL and PRS for Music, and made Leicester their home in 2017. These are the guys who make sure those grassroots artists are supported.

Trying to spread a more positive message about TheMusicLicence, Managing Director at PPL PRS Andrea Gray, said: “Music licencing has historically been viewed in a fairly negative light. It has been seen as yet another tax, but we aren’t taxing people. We’re making sure those artists and musicians you’ve maybe never heard of get the reward they deserve.

“Most people think of Taylor Swift or Ed Sheeran when it comes to royalties from music licencing, but for me what’s more important is those session musicians and backing singers that have played on a track.

“It’s not just for the global superstars of the world, it’s for the people you’ll never hear of who use their skills and talents in music, and that might be from a studio or from 30 | NICHE

their bedroom. Either way, they deserve recognition.”

The pandemic caused by Covid-19 has affected the music industry just as it has many others. The arts have struggled to support their players and this spans from actors to producers and those that work behind the scenes, such as PPL PRS. The company furloughed 65% of its staff during this time and is currently devising a plan to quickly credit companies back who have not been operating and playing music within their business due to the Covid-19 situation.

Andrea said: “We must ensure we are supporting those businesses who haven’t been continuing to play music in their offices or stores. Everyone has been in the same boat during this pandemic and there’s a real opportunity for businesses to do the right thing. People will remember those that looked after them.”

In support of the music industry for those who have discovered the joy of listening to music while working from home, you might want to pitch the idea to your boss.

If you’ve been shopping in a place that plays music, it’s likely you might have been influenced in your purchases.

Playing music for customers and clients can set the tone of voice of a business and put people in a good mood – which makes for good sales!

It also influences the mood and productivity of people

It’s not just for the global superstars of the world, it’s for the people you’ll never hear of who use their skills and talents in music

DOPAMINE

is released in the reward centre of the brain when listening to music

while they work too. In the 1940s, the BBC introduced a radio programme called Music While you Work, which aimed to boost morale and increase productivity of workers.

Studies have shown that music can help enhance creativity, idea generation, concentration and energy.

Having background sounds in the workplace could help employees achieve goals and targets in this way.

“In an office environment there’s always someone to talk to, but working from home becomes solitary so it’s beneficial to play music for background noise. I’ve had the radio on throughout lockdown. We always have music playing in the office too, as it helps you focus.

“We have different playlists for the week. Friday is more of a fun, dance set up and I’ve noticed Mondays seem to be a sort of heavy rock genre! We ask staff to pick songs to contribute to the playlists too, so they feel connected.”

If you do choose to play or perform music in your office or shop via radio, TV, or other digital device, you’ll probably need a music licence as these are classed as public performances.

Those people who create the music you listen to have a right to be paid for it. TheMusicLicence from PPL PRS grants you the legal permission to play the vast majority of commercially available music in public, including most radio stations, ranging from grassroots and independent artists through to some of the best-known names in the business.

The cost of TheMusicLicence will depend on the type of venue and how music is used in day-to-day operations.

It can cost as little as 27p a day* and PPL PRS has made it as straightforward as possible to sign up to.

To find out about obtaining TheMusicLicence, go to pplprs.co.uk/get-themusiclicence.

88%

of employees produce more accurate work when listening to music

40%

HTTPS://WWW.WEBFX.COM/BLOG/INTERNET/MUSIC-PRODUCTIVITY-INFOGRAPHIC/

NICHE SPECIAL

of business owners believe playing music increases sales

77%

of small and medium sized business owners believe music increases employee morale

*An office or workplace using background music from radio, CD, MP3, or other digital devices with four employees or less, which is not audible to customers or visitors NICHE | 31

DESIGN + PRINT

Soar Valley Press

Soar Valley Press

Just a Zoom call away As the world altered, the family transformed with it

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design and print company that had every bit of work cancelled at the start of lockdown has dramatically adapted its products.

Soar Valley Press has been trading for over 20 years with over 700 clients, most of which are Leicester-based. But since the country went into lockdown, turnover took a steep drop.

“We’ve had to transform our products,” Managing Director Chris Goodman explained. “We work with a lot of professional sportspeople, event organisers, hotels and pubs – none of which were able to do their usual thing.

This meant everyone had to cancel everything.”

With a matter of urgency, Chris and the team sat down to assess the damage and decided to develop a set of

Social distancing SIGNAGE & PROTECTION

social distancing products. They quickly began producing queuing, hand-washing and ‘we’re open’ signs and graphics as well as desk dividers and cough guards. The company’s latest project included signage and floor tape for a local primary school.

Being a family team and running the business with a family ethic throughout has had its ups and downs. Chris said: “We’re a family team not just because some of us are related, but because that’s what comes first.

“We’ve always worked in a positive environment, sharing our lives with all the ups and downs that that brings. Supporting each other is important in ensuring we are effective in what we do and that we develop and grow as individuals and in our careers. We support each other

OUTDOOR PRODUCTS

Are you looking for the perfect way to spread the hygiene message?

DESIGN + PRINT

Soar Valley Press

Look no further than our wide range of social distancing and hygiene signage, and safety products, perfect for ensuring your staff and clients are protected.

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Window Sticker WELCOME

PLEASE

We Are Open

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Retractable Belt Queue Barrier

WAIT HERE

OUTDOOR SOLUTIONS

A STAFF MEMBER WILL GREET YOU SHORTLY DO NOT ENTER this building If you or anyone in your household has a high temperature or a new and continous cough – even if it’s mild – return home and go to nhs.uk to check your symptons via the 111 online coronavirus service and follow the specialist medical advice

PLEASE KEEP A 2M GAP

Only call 111 if you can’t get online, you’ve been instructed to by a professional, or your symptoms worsen Thank you for your help

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1 WELCOME

We Are Open

PLEASE

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WAIT HERE

PLEASE WAIT HERE

Only call 111 if you can’t get online, you’ve been instructed to by a professional, or your symptoms worsen

HAND SANITISER STATION

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Thank you for your help

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HAND SANITISER STATION

Please use the hand sanitiser on arrival and when leaving the building

A MEMBER OF OUR STAFF WILL GREET YOU SHORTLY We’re introduced Social Distancing Measures Please follow the signage and floor markers and keep at least a 2m gap between yourself, colleagues and others around you

Please use the hand sanitiser on arrival and when leaving the building

Thank you for your help

- 1040mm high post with 2000m retractable webbing belt - Supplied as one post with belt - 4 way connectivity on each post - Available with black, red or blue belts

- Size: 600 x 1800mm - Printed both sides onto 5mm rigid material - Supplied with a freestanding metal base - Ready-to-go artwork available or can be customised with your own branding

Please follow the signage and floor markers and keep at least a 2m gap between yourself, colleagues and others around you

HAND SANITISER STATION Please use the hand sanitiser on arrival and when leaving the building Thank you for your help

PLEASE KEEP A 2M GAP

Thank you for your help

A STAFF MEMBER WILL GREET YOU SHORTLY DO NOT ENTER this building If you or anyone in your household has a high temperature or a new and continous cough – even if it’s mild – return home and go to nhs.uk to check your symptons via the 111 online coronavirus service and follow the specialist medical advice

PLEASE KEEP A 2M GAP

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PLEASE WAIT HERE A MEMBER OF OUR STAFF WILL GREET YOU SHORTLY

We Are Open

WE’RE INTRODUCING SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES Please follow the signage and floor markers and keep at least a 2m gap between yourself, colleagues and others around you

Size: 400mm x 400mm Printed full colour Easy to apply Apply to inside of window to be viewed from the outside - Ready-to-go artwork available or can be customised with your own branding

We Are Open

We’re introduced Social Distancing Measures

WE’RE INTRODUCING SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES Please follow the signage and floor markers and keep at least a 2m gap between yourself, colleagues and others around you

Free Standing Double Sided Sign

Thank you for your help

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Free Standing Hand Sanitiser Dispenser & Message Stand

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Swingmaster Pavement Sign

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A-Frame Sign

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Queue Barrier A4 Poster Holder

HAND SANITISER STATION

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Please use the hand sanitiser on arrival and when leaving the building

HAND SANITISER STATION

Thank you for your help

Please use the hand sanitiser on arrival and when leaving the building

PLEASE KEEP A 2M GAP

Thank you for your help

Thank you for your help

Outdoor products: 1 Window Sticker 2 Retractable Belt Queue Barrier 3 Free Standing Sign with D/S Print 4 Free Standing Sanitiser Dispenser 5 Windmaster Pavement Sign 6 A-Board Snap Frame 7 Queue Barrier A4 Poster Holder

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- Sanitiser dispenser and A4 snap frame with poster - Suitable for indoor and outdoor use - Supplied with a 1 litre bottle for you to fill with your product of choice - Ready-to-go artwork available or can be customised with your own branding

- A1 pavement sign with two posters - Full colour print - Waterproof and suitable for outdoor use - Ready-to-go artwork available or can be customised with your own branding

- A2 pavement sign with two posters - Full colour print - Waterproof and suitable for outdoor use - Ready-to-go artwork available or can be customised with your own branding

- A4 poster display for queue barrier - Printed full colour - Ready-to-go artwork available or can be customised with your own branding

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2020

Supporting each other is important in ensuring we are effective in what we do and that we develop and grow as individuals and in our careers

like a family should.

“When economic times are difficult, it’s harder when we are supporting several members of the same family.

But when times are challenging, as they have been these past few months with the coronavirus, we have really come together to achieve a huge amount as one family.”

On why family businesses play an important role in the economy, Chris added: “It is wonderful to see skills shared between generations, with younger members bringing fresh perspectives and older members offering their experience. A family business has a special outlook on life and they’re often embedded in their local communities.”

Soar Valley Press has proven this point during lockdown, offering free postcards for all via their website

INDOOR SOLUTIONS Indoor products:

Finalist

and emphasising to fellow businesses that they are just a Zoom call away for any help or advice.

“Everyone’s had to adapt to a different lifestyle. It has been a very different experience trying to transform a family business while employees are furloughed and adjusting to home life in lockdown.

“Overall, with the fantastic ideas and determination that have come from our team, government support, and witnessing some of our manufacturers, suppliers and retailers coming back, we’re now ready to capitalise on what we’ve achieved.”

For social distancing products and design and print services, contact Soar Valley Press on 0116 259 9955 or email inspire@soarvalleypress.co.uk.

INDOOR PRODUCTS

Are you looking for the perfect way to spread the hygiene message?

3 Floor Marking Strip

Look no further than our wide range of social distancing and hygiene signage, and safety products, perfect for ensuring your staff and clients are protected.

6 Free Standing

1 Roller Banner

4 Floor Sticker

2 Free Standing Double Sided Sign

5 Foamex Message Stand

Sanitiser Dispenser 7 Cough Guards

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2

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Roller Banner We Are Open

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PLEASE WAIT HERE A MEMBER OF OUR STAFF WILL GREET YOU SHORTLY We’re introduced Social Distancing Measures Please follow the signage and floor markers and keep at least a 2m gap between yourself, colleagues and others around you

HAND SANITISER STATION Please use the hand sanitiser on arrival and when leaving the building Thank you for your help

PLEASE KEEP A 2M GAP

- Size: 800 x2000mm

3

Free Standing Double Sided Sign

Floor Marking Strip

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Size: 1000 x 100mm strips Printed in full colour Self-adhesive, non-slip vinyl Suitable for indoor and outdoor use - Ready-to-go artwork available or can be customised with your own branding

- Printed full colour to one side - Complete with pull-up cassette, graphic and carry case - Easy to erect

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Thank you for your help

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- Size: 600mm wide x 1800mm high - Clear 5mm Acrylic or printed both sides onto 5mm rigid material - Supplied with a freestanding metal base - Ready-to-go artwork available or can be customised with your own branding

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DESIGN + PRINT

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Size: 400mm diameter Printed in full colour Self-adhesive, non-slip vinyl Suitable for indoor and outdoor use Ready-to-go artwork available or can be customised with your own branding

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Foamex Message Strut Card

HAND SANITISER STATION Please use the hand sanitiser on arrival and when leaving the building Thank you for your help

- Size: A4 - Printed in full colour

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Free Standing Hand Sanitiser Dispenser & Message Stand

- Printed onto Display Board - Ready-to-go artwork available or can be customised with your own branding

- Sanitiser dispenser and A4 snap frame with poster - Suitable for indoor and outdoor use - Supplied with a 1 litre bottle for you to fill with your product of choice

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- Ready-to-go artwork available or can be

DON’T PAN!C We’re all in this together and we want you to succeed

Businesses of all sizes and in all sectors are having to adapt to a ‘new normal’, finding new ways to connect and engage with customers, whether that’s how clients relate to your brand, website, or through your digital advertising.

Spending money on your brand or web presence in times of hardship may seem counter-intuitive, when battening down the hatches might be the natural response.

However, previous downturns have shown businesses that come out strongest are the ones who keep their brand presence strong and do business in new and helpful ways.

HELP!

BE AGILE…

We understand these are hard times, so, we’ve launched a free brand and web health check for new clients.

We suggested to one of our retail clients, a week after lock-down, that taking their shop online would help… they agreed.

Also, to help spread the cost, we’ve created a new Newenglish Subscription service.

For example, we’ll design and build you a new website, with in-built search engine optimisation and hosting starting at £1,920+vat or on our Newenglish Subscription at £184+vat per month (minimum contract 1 year).

newenglish.co.uk

Within a week we’d designed and built a fantastic online shop with more than 700 products.

Their existing customer base love it and the upturn in business is already returning their investment

If you’d like to speak with us, either email one of our creative directors, Wendy or Carl at design@newenglish.co.uk or phone us on 0116 291 5375

25 years creating award-winning design for business

NICHE SPECIAL

Money Talks Rajesh Modha of Finance Lab, a leading femalefocused holistic financial planning firm, talks to Kathleen Burns Kingsbury, the founder of KBK Wealth Connection, about the impact of the pandemic on our relationship with money

In conversation with: KATHLEEN BURNS KINGSBURY

K

athleen Burns Kingsbury is the founder of KBK Wealth Connection, host of the award-winning Breaking Money Silence® podcast, adjunct lecturer at Bentley University, and an internationally published author and speaker.

In your many conversations during this pandemic, have you seen a different reaction between men and women?

Women are more socialised to show their vulnerability and to connect with others when stressed, or fearful. Men typically are socialised to internalise these feelings and to not show vulnerability to others, with maybe the exception of their partners. My sense is many women are using this ability to share their feelings with others as a stress management tool that ultimately is very useful for their emotional and financial health.

The similarity is that we are all human, with human brains that when we feel threatened in some way, we go into fight or flight.

What are the specific obstacles that women encounter when developing a relationship with money?

There is a mixed message our society gives women when it comes to managing money and accumulated wealth. It isn’t sexy, or seen as desirable for a female to be profit motivated, or interested in investments, etc. (the myth that all men are providers, all women are caregivers). The financial services industry often makes this situation worse by looking at women investors as ‘not interested’, ‘not confident’ and ‘not capable’ of managing their wealth. This is an outdated paradigm that I have been trying to change for over a decade.

How would you suggest a woman explores her relationship with money?

In my book, Breaking Money Silence® I offer a road map for exploring your relationship with money. It starts with understanding your money history and the context in which you learned about finances. The next step is learning to engage in productive money talks with your partner, aging parents, coworkers, and employers. But the first step is always self-reflection so you can truly understand

THE FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY OFTEN MAKES THIS SITUATION WORSE BY LOOKING AT WOMEN INVESTORS AS ‘NOT INTERESTED’, ‘NOT CONFIDENT’ AND ‘NOT CAPABLE’ OF MANAGING THEIR WEALTH

your own story, and decide the parts of that story you want to keep and the parts that story that you want to change as an adult.

There is much talk about a ‘brand new world’ once we arrive at the end of this period.

If this is so, what changes would you wish for in terms of wealth, financial wellbeing and women’s relationship with money?

The silver lining of this crisis is that we’re all in it together and that it is clear that money is emotional business. My hope is that the human side of finance will be talked about more openly and honestly by women, their families, and the financial services profession.

My hope is while this has been hard on all of us, the dialogue and innovation that will result from this crisis will change our relationship with money, and showcase the strength of women to talk about their feelings, get support, and heal through connection.

For more information, visit breakingmoneysilence.com.

Speak to Rajesh to help your relationship with money grow at financelab.co.uk and 0116 262 1414 NICHE | 35

The small business

recovery manual You’ve come this far, believe you can go further WORDS BY KERRY SMITH

B

usiness owners have had their fair share of challenges thrown at them lately and it’s been hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel of uncertainty.

With Brexit and now Covid, it’s certainly been a long tunnel.

But you’ve come this far, and sales training agency Paragon Sales Solutions is helping people to move forward.

Rob Spence, Paragon’s managing director, believes business owners can come back stronger. He’s come up with some handy tips and motivational talk and put it all down in this handy guide to recovery.

Relationships We all like to buy from people we like. That’s why we always choose the same hairdresser or mechanic. My ethos towards sales is not that of the pushy salesperson who gets the quick sale. I believe relationships will always win.

One thing we’ve been coaching people to do is to

36 | NICHE

maintain relationships, not just with current clients but ones they aspire to work with and ones they’ve worked with in the past.

We’ve called our whole client base – not pushing or promoting anything – just to make sure they’re OK. And if they’re not OK, we do our best to help them.

Those seeds you plant now will come into fruition in time, whether that’s six months, 12 months or 12 years from now.

Communication In times like this when there’s uncertainty and negative energy in the world, it’s very easy to shrink into our shells. But now is the time to keep your chin up, shoulders back and stay positive.

Tell everyone that you’re still here, or you will be here when the world reopens. Let them know what’s going on behind the scenes.

If you’re a restaurant and undergoing a renovation, let people know. If you’re a mechanic and you’ve just got a new electric vehicle, let people

THOSE SEEDS YOU PLANT NOW WILL COME INTO FRUITION IN TIME WHETHER THAT’S SIX MONTHS, 12 MONTHS OR 12 YEARS FROM NOW

know. If you’re a barber and passed a new Barbicide exam, let people know. Once again, you’re planting those seeds.

Planning Although we’d all love more clients and sales right now, this has been a blessing because when have you had the time to sit back, plot and reassess? Now is the perfect time to look at your sales and marketing plans.

What have you tried in the past?

What worked and what didn’t?

What haven’t you tried? How can you get your message across to your ideal customers?

Set those plans and then target yourself and be meticulous with those targets.

The only way anyone is going to get out of this is if we plan ahead and get ready. Because this will end and we will come out of this stronger, better, and more efficient if we see this as a lesson and push forward.

If you would like more sales motivation visit paragonsalessolutions.co.uk.

NICHE SPECIAL

Digging deep

and growing JSP Virtual were at the peak of their success when news of COVID-19 broke. Having started the virtual assistant company alone in 2018, Jo Peters was expanding her team, services and vision

A

s lockdown was announced in the UK and businesses nationwide grappled with what they were going to do next, Jo Peters’ company, which supported organisations in the background, became part of the cuts made by temporary closures of businesses.

She told us: “As everyone shut down, however temporary that was to be, we too lost those clients. I found myself feeling shocked and reeling for what it would mean for the business that I had built up. Of course, I was not alone in this, but I did have to recover quite quickly from this stress and dig fairly deep early on to find the motivation to keep going.”

Thankfully, as most of us open our doors once more and as we move from recovery to

restart, JSP Virtual is seeing a steady increase in its client base.

In fact, as with many businesses it’s now looking to streamline systems and processes. JSP Virtual is finding that the demand for remote services including virtual reception, admin support and credit control is more than ever before.

“Many businesses will have gone through HR and office changes as well as looking to cut their costs wherever they can.

Our remote service means that they can get these important background support elements covered without having to worry about staffing and office space requirements and guidelines.

“As the environment changes for many organisations, big and small, all of us will be seeking outside support and knowledge.

I FOUND MYSELF FEELING SHOCKED AND REELING FOR WHAT IT WOULD MEAN FOR THE BUSINESS THAT I HAD BUILT UP

Business owners have a new set of challenges which will be taking up a lot of their time; even more than ever they simply don’t have the time to cover all the aspects of their business.”

Calling on JSP Virtual will mean that much of the background work is taken care of, allowing businesses to have a strong focus on areas of their business which require the most attention.

This period of time has given JSP Virtual a renewed lease of life and has meant that Jo has found a stronger resolve in her commitment to the business, her support to other businesses and how that will look moving forward.

“I think it would be naive and actually misplaced to assume we can all just go straight back into how life was pre-Covid, but I am keen to learn from, adapt and grow through this change.

My vision for the company hasn’t changed; it has simply got stronger and I now have even greater resolve.”

Request a free consultation online at jspvirtual.co.uk.

NICHE | 37

NICHE BUSINESS

Forum

MARKETING THROUGH COVID-19 CHRIS GOODMAN Managing Director at Soar Valley Press

PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS FOR THE NEW NORMAL Promotional merchandise is a cost-effective way to continue to effectively market your brand as we look to overcome the crisis.

Here are a few ways you can utilise promotional merchandise within your Covid-19 marketing strategy: Work from home packs As our staff and clients continue to adapt to working from home, supplying them with products that could make their life easier is a great way to increase customer loyalty or to reward your staff.

Sending your clients and staff packs of products, such as branded pens, customised sticky notes, and other work from home essentials can help you to support them during this difficult time.

Represent your brand on camera With networking events and sales meetings moving online we must find new ways to connect with our clients.

The key to success, when networking online, is creating a strong visual impression. Branded T-shirts, fleeces and polo-shirts can help ensure your team look smart and create a fantastic first impression for your brand.

Mailable Promotional Products With face-to-face contact with clients currently proving difficult, you may be contemplating new ways to reach out.

Planning a mail-out promotional product campaign is a great way to let your clients know that you’re still thinking about them. There’s a whole host of branded products from promotional chocolate and confectionery to customised notebooks and pens, that are letterbox-friendly and perfect for getting your brand into the hands of your clients.

38 | NICHE

When I took part in the front cover shoot for Niche’s last issue, I never imagined I would be writing about something so devastating for the next issue. Everybody has been affected by the pandemic and many of us didn’t forsee it happening, but what can we do to now future-proof our businesses?

If Covid-19 has taught us anything, it’s the importance of ‘being digital’ and staying connected. This is how many businesses have not only survived, but thrived during the last few weeks (that, and being incredibly impressive with their reaction to the need to adapt).

Not only do we need to be visible digitally, but we need to adapt our message and tone to suit the changes in consumer behaviour. ◆ Keep your audience updated. ◆ Strengthen your community with offers of support and a helping hand. ◆ Take the time to concentrate on strengthening your digital platforms;

GEMMA ORTON Managing Director at Mocha Marketing website, social media pages. First impressions are make or break. ◆ Consider if you need to change your message and delivery method to suit your audience (it’s important to have an empathetic tone). ◆ Evaluate a digital strategy such as Google advertising or Facebook advertising – it’s cheaper than it’s been for a long time, too. ◆ Keep working on your marketing strategy to stay ahead of the game.

You may feel like you’re running around like a headless chicken from one thing to the next, but you will get through this and you’ll be even stronger for having spent the time working on these important areas of your business.

NEW NETWORKING FOR CREATIVES ANDY GUNDERLACH Co-Founder/Creative Director at Created By TEN My business partner Alex and I are very passionate about the prosperity of Leicester, but we are aware that we are probably the most understated county in the country.

Leicestershire is home to a large number of talented people who work on projects for the BBC, ITV, Netflix and even on studio features, and despite having it on good authority that we are the ‘most creative city outside of London’ (and we wouldn’t disagree with this), we’re not known for this externally or even internally.

From our own experience, we often find out about people or events ‘after the fact’ and could have used Leicestershire’s freelancers on certain projects. To allow our creatives to

easily find one another, network and collaborate, we have developed a platform called ‘Film Leicester’.

It’s the first of its kind in the city, and truly does allow our filmmaking community to come together and allow productions to be developed in a much more simplified and streamlined way.

Film Leicester’s platform enables users from all skill levels to find the resources they need such as locations, props, equipment, talent and more, far more cohesively.

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WHY YOUR BRAND NEEDS TO CHANGE Branding is for life, not just the here and now, but it goes way beyond your logo

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he last few months have given us time to reflect and plan. For some this has meant starting up the business they always dreamed of, and for others, they’ve realised where they can improve and grow.

In both situations, the business plan ultimately beings with the values and motivations of the owner.

Amit Chandrasingh, Managing Director of marketing agency Freeline Creative, believes this is the best place to start when finding a company’s voice and identity. He said: “To me, branding is about the owner’s vision and understanding what they want. It’s an identity, something people recognise as a service or product available to them.

“When you dive down into the company’s owner and what their company means to them and where they see it going, you tend to find out the true values of a brand. It’s essential to understand that. It’s then possible to market the brand to fit the owner’s ambitions.”

There’ll be plenty of business owners who have worries about their future after the lockdown. Lots of them will have been planning away at their next moves. But if you’ve felt paralysed during this time, not knowing what to do, don’t worry. Amit says there is no perfect time to start evolving your business. This is because it must be continuously

and where you want it to go. Based on that, you can build your logo around your original vision.”

Brand identity begins with a logo and its colours. The one rule is to keep it simple. Less is more when it comes to logo design. Amit suggests thinking of your favourite brands’ logos. The McDonald’s ‘M’. Coca Cola red. The Nike tick. They’re all simple, memorable designs.

Building your brand is then a case of utilising marketing opportunities. “Having a website that’s secure and is mobile friendly with the right background SEO elements will make sure that it’s visible when people are searching online.

“This also needs to be linked with your social media marketing. Being able to share your tips and advice on how to do something for your followers is a big thing. People will remain loyal to you when they see you genuinely want to help them. You should also be using less text and more videos, animations and pictures.”

REBRANDING: For established companies

What’s the first company that springs to mind when you hear the word brand? What makes it memorable? It’s likely this brand won’t have stayed the same since its inception.

Take Google for instance. It’s a brand known for keeping

Branding is about the owner’s vision and understanding what they want evolving. Therefore, it’s never too late to get started.

“A lot of brands have been affected by the current situation without a doubt, but some brands have had the opportunity to thrive. Companies can use their time to look at their inhouse identity and marketing. Things will eventually pick up, and being ready for that – when thinking about how to keep evolving a company – is very important.

“For us, lockdown has been a mixed blessing. Like many businesses we stopped earning, but we’ve had the time to train up our team in new skills and technologies, and we kept on building relationships with our clients.”

Whether you’re only just beginning to build your brand, or you’re ready to take on a mindset that’s open to the evolution of your brand, you can start right now.

BUILDING YOUR BRAND: For new and growing companies

When you start a company you are the web designer, marketeer, receptionist, PA – you’ll be wearing all these hats, so it’s important to set out what’s most important to you from the outset.

“Pick at why you wanted to start the business in the first place and get down to what your company means to you

up with the times. Its logo has evolved with slight tweaks here and there every so often. The logo you see today is representative of a different time compared to where it first started. Your brand must evolve too.

“Your identity must be evolving all the time,” Amit explains.

“The economy is changing all the while and your brand has to adapt with it. The fear we see with our new clients is that they can have an amazing business, but the identity they have online is old-fashioned. To change that, owners have to understand that time and trends have moved on. This can be difficult when it comes to the rebranding stage.

“There is never a perfect time to evolve, because it must be a continuation. Your logo and message must always be evolving and current, whatever that may be at the time.

“Continue to share your messages. Give something away in the form of tips and advice. Everyone needs help, we’re all in this together and having a brand that helps its customers build awareness and strength goes a long way.

“Keep giving, because the effects of this pandemic will turn and when they do, it’s the brands that weren’t selfinterested and supported others that will be remembered.”

To get ahead with building your brand or its evolution, visit freelinecreative.co.uk.

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NICHE FEATURE

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Stamp Duty changes Pete Miller from The Miller Partnership explains why you should take expert advice and avoid aggressive tax schemes

W

ith coronavirus restrictions now starting to be lifted – and the huge implications this will have for businesses everywhere – you could be forgiven for having overlooked imminent changes to stamp duty rules.

However, it’s important that you are aware of the new rules as they could make your future corporate transactions more expensive.

In my past articles I’ve often talked about how the likes of management buyouts and demergers are generally free of capital gains tax, corporation tax and income tax.

Stamp duty doesn’t tend to get a mention, as unlike these other taxes, it’s often dismissed as trivial and not worth worrying about because it’s usually charged at 0.5%.

But 0.5% on a transaction worth £1 million is £5,000, which is not insubstantial. And what if the company is worth £2 million or £5 million or even more?

The types of transaction that qualify for relief from capital gains tax, etc. are not quite the same as those that qualify for stamp duty relief. Some corporate

45 | NICHE

transactions attract relief from all these taxes, while others qualify for capital gains tax, income tax and corporation tax relief but not for stamp duty relief.

For many years, we have managed these differences by structuring transactions to stop stamp duty arising, in ways that were apparently acceptable to HMRC. These mechanisms were well known to the Inland Revenue and, more latterly, HMRC and were considered uncontroversial, so tax advisers have been using them since the current rules were first introduced, in 1986! However, HMRC has now decided to change some of the rules, meaning that stamp duty will now be payable on some transactions which previously would have been free of it.

These changes will come into force in July this year when the current Finance Bill gets Royal Assent. There is another provision that softens the blow slightly, by preventing a double charge to stamp duty in certain cases, but it does mean that many transactions in the future will be more expensive.

I’m sure some clever people out there will come up with

MANY TAX AVOIDANCE SCHEMES DON’T WORK AS ADVERTISED AND THE TRIBUNALS AND COURTS TEND TO BEND OVER BACKWARDS TO FIND AGAINST TAXPAYERS WHERE THEY FEEL THAT AN ABUSIVE SCHEME IS BEING USED

complex mechanisms for avoiding stamp duty on these transactions, and some businesses might be tempted to try them. If you encounter such a scheme, please walk away.

In my experience, many tax avoidance schemes don’t work as advertised and the tribunals and courts tend to bend over backwards to find against taxpayers where they feel that an abusive scheme is being used.

It’s better to do transactions in a tried and trusted way and accept that you might need to pay some tax, rather than worrying for years after that HMRC might challenge your aggressive tax planning.

So, my advice regarding corporate transactions in future, is to acknowledge that they may be more costly but to make sure that yours is put together by somebody with many years’ experience in this specialist area.

That way you can ensure that your transaction qualifies for all the reliefs available to you and keep the tax cost down to the absolute minimum.

For more information on tax get in touch with Pete at pete.miller@themillerpartnership. com

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Responding

to the Covid-19 crisis With an estimated 40% increase in enquiries to law firms about child arrangements, separation and divorce since the start of the Covid-19 lockdown, it’s clear to see that living in close proximity to our spouses in these testing times has proved to be the breaking point for many. We sat down for a Zoom meeting with Glynis Wright, who is the well-known MD of multi-award-winning family law firm Glynis Wright & Co and President of the Leicestershire Law Society, to discover how her firm has been responding 46 | NICHE

C

ovid-19 has created a minefield of truly challenging situations for all of us, whatever our personal circumstances, possibly the most challenging of our lifetime,” states Glynis Wright.

“However, for many it has proven to be not only a test of fortitude in business or trade, but also a massive test to our relationships, our families, and our finances. The unpicking of these family law issues arising from the pandemic months will take time, care and delicacy to resolve for any family lawyer.”

Known for their exceptional communication and interpersonal skills with clients going through difficult times, the methods of direct communication used with clients has had to alter for Glynis Wright & Co who have been open and accessible to their existing and new clients throughout the lockdown. Like many businesses, the firm switched seamlessly to using video links like Zoom and Teams as an alternative to their preferred ‘in person’ meetings. Glynis said that at first, she thought video interviews would not work well for the firm’s clients, but in fact they have been really effective. “We have been able to build the same relationship with our clients via video-calling; they are really grateful that they have been able to access the legal advice they so desperately need, even in the middle of a pandemic. It has also allowed us to help more people, as we are taking on new clients from elsewhere in the country and internationally too.”

Glynis also explained that more people were using the lockdown to reflect very seriously about their personal situations. “For many, the lockdown had been the ‘straw that broke the camel’s back’ with the decision to end relationships, but being compelled to live together during the lockdown meant also that they were able to agree that they wanted to find a ‘better’ way of splitting by using our

NICHE FEATURE

mediation service. As a firm that specialises in mediation and collaborative law, we are always keen to encourage our clients to consider the benefits of mediation or collaborative law. If both parties are willing to engage in an alternative dispute resolution process, we are thrilled as we can often resolve cases outside of the courtroom.

“During the lockdown, mediation has provided some much-needed perspective for couples in break-up. Families have been put under so much stress and worry, which means friction in a relationship is almost inevitable at this very unsettling time,” Glynis explains. “But it seems that these unprecedented times have also helped a lot of people to see that there is a better way to manage their split by using mediation rather than the traditional litigation route. People have developed a perspective that is very helpful and that my firm fully supports.”

Mediation is a much more amicable way to discuss and resolve all issues which a couple in break-up have to consider such as dividing up capital, the family home, pensions and, the most important thing of all, the best arrangements for their children after separation. Glynis stated that mediation allows for a timely, sensitive, and efficient response to the dispute. Glynis Wright & Co have two specialist family lawyers and mediators who are Glynis herself and one of her fellow Directors, Gayle Rowley.

Another Director in the firm, LisaMarie Leanders, is a specially trained Collaborative Lawyer. All three bring to the table their many years of experience and knowledge as specialist family lawyers.

Glynis told us: “The lockdown has not only resulted in many couples deciding to separate, it has also created huge difficulties for former spouses and couples who share the arrangements for their children.” Her firm has seen a huge upsurge in emergency applications about which parent the children should live with during the lockdown, and disputes over whether children were more at risk of contracting the virus in the other parent’s household eg. if the other parent was a key worker.

Glynis said: “This has led to a huge amount of heartache and anxiety as parents who had settled well into their child arrangements were once again in dispute. The situation was also made more complex by the fact that each parent reacted to the Covid threat in their own way, and these differences of opinion then led to parents attacking the views of the other in court.

“So much changed so quickly for parents that my lawyers found themselves working flat out meeting the urgent needs of so many people wanting access to legal advice on many family-related issues. Thankfully, the emergency applications have now lessened and many of the child arrangements are returning to their status quo as the lockdown has eased. This has truly been a testing time for all of us.”

GAYLE ROWLEY DIRECTOR AND LAWYER/MEDIATOR

GLYNIS WRIGHT, DIRECTOR AND LAWYER/MEDIATOR

It seems that these unprecedented times have also helped a lot of people to see that there is a better way to manage their split “I have been so proud of my team of specialist lawyers and mediators; they have shown their absolute determination to be ever-available to those who need excellent family law advice during the lockdown. They have handled the complex legal situations arising from the pandemic with sensitivity and integrity.”

Glynis herself has been asked to continue as President of the Leicestershire Law Society beyond her initial term, holding onto the reins through this time of complex adjustment. “I am enormously proud of the work that I do with the Society and have enjoyed my time as President immensely. I was certainly looking forward to handing over to the next President in May 2020 and having a rest from my Presidential duties! As it is, I have agreed to continue until the end of September whilst our Law Society members adjust and move towards what I hope will be economic recovery. Then I will be delighted to support the next President in making their mark in less troublesome times.”

If you need help from Glynis or her team, they can be contacted on 0116 2385680 or visit their website contact page at glyniswright.co.uk LISAMARIE LEANDERS DIRECTOR AND COLLABORATIVE LAWYER

NICHE | 47

NICHE BUSINESS

MIKE WATERFIELD Director at Torr Waterfield Accountants

TIME TO SWITCH TO AN ELECTRIC COMPANY CAR? Big benefits came into effect from April 6, 2020 for company car drivers choosing a purely electric vehicle – there is now ‘no benefit in kind’ and so no income tax on the car to pay in 2020/21.

What happened previously Under the previous system, the employee had a ‘benefit in kind’ for having a company car available for personal use. It was calculated based on a percentage of the official list price of the car and its CO2 emissions. This would be taxed at 20% for basic rate tax payers or 40% for higher rate tax payers, and was usually collected through the PAYE system.

What has changed From April 2020, fully electric cars with zero CO2 emissions now have a new 0% rate. This means the benefit in kind is calculated to be nil. This 0% rate will also apply to any company cars registered from April 6, 2020 with emissions from 1-50g/km and a pure electric with a mile range of 130 or more for 2020/21.

The benefit in kind rate will then increase to 1% in 2021/22 and to 2% in 2022/23. Income tax will therefore be paid by the employee for these years, but based on a very low benefit in kind, much lower than the previous rate of 16% for electric cars for 2019/20.

Company benefits: A company has to pay Class 1A National Insurance on any benefit in kind. The reduction for full electric cars to a nil benefit in kind for 2020/21, will mean no Class 1A National Insurance being due on the vehicle for this year.

The cost of purchasing a fully electric car is eligible for 100% first year capital allowances. This will reduce corporation tax for the company in the year of purchase.

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Forum

WILLS AND COVID: THE REALITY More than half (54%) of the adult population do not have a will, according to research carried out by Royal London.

This figure hasn’t changed much over the years. We’re worried about this. To us, the thought of anyone losing their assets and finances to people or organisations with whom they would never want them to end up, is a grave dishonour.

We’ve noticed in the current climate, during lockdown, that more people are beginning to panic and have been starting to get their wills in order.

If there was ever a good time to secure a will, it’s now. It’s time to get your affairs in order, especially since this pandemic occurred. It’s important that you don’t wait for a potential second wave of the virus.

The pandemic has highlighted just how little anybody can predict what

SATWINDER SIDHU Director at Paradigm Wills and Legal Services might happen from one day to the next. Sadly, for many people this year, it was too late. The death of a loved one can be have a profound impact on a family’s finances, which has been worrying for us after HMRC revealed 6.3 million had been temporarily laid off. The devastation of this unusual situation on top of the all too common consequences of not having a will in place, will inevitably have resulted in added pressure and stress.

If we can learn anything from the situation the world has found itself in this year, it’s that life is precious and unpredictable. We’re not telling you anything you don’t already know – but we are pleading with you to act on it.

CASHFLOW AND LATE PAYMENT LEGISLATION GREG HOLLINGSWORTH Director at Hollingsworths Solicitors The financial pressures on business have, in some cases, never been greater. The importance of cashflow to any business cannot be understated.

Late payment is a big problem for businesses and is one of the key factors as to why some companies fail.

So whilst a business has an entitlement to be paid for work completed or services provided, it is essential that a business sets out its terms of payment before starting its work so it is clear to the customer what is expected. In some trades and professions, this can sometimes involve the payment of a deposit or money on account, which can help with cashflow.

Late Payment Legislation can help with B2B debts. There is a right to compensation for late payment, ranging from £40 up to £100 for each overdue

invoice, with an entitlement to interest at 8% above the base rate.

In addition, businesses can recover their reasonable debt recovery charges for B2B debts, so the legal expenses that a business incurs are paid by the debtor and not by the business that has already had to wait for its money.

Tips for good credit control Make sure that: ◆ Payment terms are clear and agreed in advice. ◆ Invoices are sent promptly and followed up just before they fall due. ◆ There is a credit control process which is followed, using calls and written reminders. ◆ Use the Late Payment Legislation to encourage customers to pay, and to help recover the costs when they don’t.

NICHE FEATURE

Triumphs of Leicestershire A zip-roaring success!

The Leicestershire Law Society event that was truly triumphant!

O

n February 28, the President of the Leicestershire Law Society Glynis Wright welcomed 200 guests to the LLS Triumphs of Leicester gala dinner held at The City Rooms. The President had announced at the start of her term in office that she wanted to hold an event to highlight the truly extraordinary people that herald from Leicester and Leicestershire.

She promised it would be a celebration right across the sectors of law, space, science, the media, the arts, and industry.

The fantastic line-up of speakers included our Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire Mike Kapur OBE (as keynote speaker), Sir John Goldring (for Law), Jonathan Agnew (for Sport), Dr Turi King (for Science), Professor Emma Bunce (for Space), Dr Emma Parker (for Arts), Dr Vijay Sharma and Kamlesh Purohit (for Media). The evening also featured

the University of Leicester String Quartet who played beautifully from the original balcony of the historic ballroom at The City Rooms.

The event was supported by the University of Leicester who collaborated with President Glynis Wright to make an outstanding film about other extraordinary people from Leicester who have made their mark on an international level, which was aired for the first time on the night itself. This high-profile event was a fantastic success with many guests saying they were astonished by the contribution that Leicester has made on a world arena, and how proud it made them feel to be residents of the city. The President would like to thank the sponsors for the evening: Paradigm Wills and Legal Services, the University of Leicester, Lawson-West Solicitors and The Beautiful Pubs Collective.

THE PRESIDENT IS ABSOLUTELY THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE GROUP RAISED OVER £10,000 FOR ALEX’S WISH

Keep up to date with all the latest events at leicestershirelawsociety.org.uk

L

LS initiative raise over £10,000 for charity Alex’s Wish, by getting volunteers from LLS and the business community to hurtle down a zip wire at speeds of almost 100mph!

Twenty-eight of Leicestershire Law Society’s members and supporters joined the President, Glynis Wright, and took part in the fastest zip wire in the world, back in February.

After weeks of fundraising, the group travelled to North Wales to hurtle down a mountainside from a height of 222 metres and at speeds of 98mph, facing cross winds of 44mph. The President is absolutely thrilled to announce that the group raised over £10,000 for Alex’s Wish. The day was made even more special by having Alex himself and his mum and founder of the charity Emma Hallam, taking part in the zip wire too.

The charity’s prime objective is to fund research into a cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy that affects around one in 3,500 boys and some girls. It is a death sentence for these children.

Many are wheelchair-bound by the time they are 10. Most will not survive beyond their mid-twenties. However, a cure is so close and the President is proud that the Leicestershire Law Society has played such a large part in providing funding to aid the search for a cure that will ensure the current generation of children diagnosed with this terrifying disease first to survive.

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NICHE FEATURE

Prepare

and prosper No one could have predicted the global pandemic that would lead to lockdowns all over the world and businesses closing their doors – one company not only weathered the storm but emerged with growth in mind WORDS BY EMILY KIRTON

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attersons Commercial Law is a firm that likes to provide creative solutions to challenges facing its clients and have shown in recent months that this approach to its clients’ challenges was applied to its own set of challenges with the Covid-19 lockdown.

“Whilst we of course didn’t have any idea of the scale of the pandemic, we were aware in January that there was something that could cause disruption heading our way. Some of our international clients were experiencing travel challenges and we knew things were likely to escalate quickly,” says Rik Pancholi of commercial law firm, Pattersons.

“We started looking at other countries and what they were doing, where they were with lockdowns and travel restrictions and were able to predict with some degree of accuracy when the UK would follow suit. It allowed us to prepare.

“With this in mind and drawing on many years of advising on demergers and reorganisations, we continued to advise our clients on any restructuring opportunities they

could make in order to safeguard their business, their staff and their future. We anticipate more of this happening over the next few months and years as businesses continue to evolve and adapt to the new world.”

Already having a network of systems within the firm which relied on technology rather than paper, Pattersons Commercial Law was able to continue to operate fully outside of the office with a team adept at working remotely and promptly.

“Whilst we did experience some disruption as we all acclimatised to the new ways of interacting with people generally, with the processes and systems in place we were able to continue as normal to work away from the office yet still as a team,” Rik continued.

Remaining close as a team, Rik places emphasis on the importance of them working together during this time in order to not only keep the business running fluently but also for the mental health and wellbeing of his staff. “We managed to conduct our team meetings, and general catch ups online as well as providing one-to-one

OUR ABILITY TO WORK TOGETHER BUT APART PHYSICALLY HAS MADE US STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE

discussions looking after the welfare of everyone. Essentially, this time and our ability to work together but apart physically has made us stronger than ever before.”

So strong in fact that the firm is recruiting, expanding their team to allow for more clients and further services all with their commitment to excellent client relationships. With particular industry knowledge ranging from retail businesses, e-commerce businesses, accountancy practices, healthcare businesses and more, the firm’s position to grow in 2020 is providing an optimistic outlook for the whole team.

“Having recently recruited a number of new staff, we are delighted that we not only already had the right people on board, but that we can now reach and service a larger and wider client base with an even stronger team,” Rik concludes.

For more information, go to pattersonscommerciallaw.com

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AWARDS FOCUS

Winning – even when you don’t!

Gaining free PR, boosting team morale, meeting new businesspeople and retaining talent are just some of the perks of entering awards.

We asked local businesspeople what winning an award can do for you... and they gave away the secrets of getting through to the finals

JENNY CROSS Managing Director at Cross Productions

E

ntering awards, in my opinion, can be just as influential as winning the actual award itself.

Of course, when entering an award we would all love to win, but let’s take a minute to look at the bigger picture.

As a business owner, how often do you sit back and recognise how far you have come, review the greatest achievements your business has managed, clearly define where you want to take the business, or map out your growth plans?

These are all typical areas you will find you’re asked about when applying for an award. By taking time to think about all of these questions, it helps with clarity and focuses your mind.

In writing your application, never assume that the person reading it will know anything about your organisation. Your answers should teach the reader everything about your business that is relevant to the question – even if this information can be found somewhere online.

Writing about your company in this way – even if you don’t make the shortlist in the end – is an eye-opening

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task that may highlight areas you feel need improvement, and major achievements that you’d overlooked and are failing to shout about at other opportunities. Overall, this could have an impact on the future of the company, as it may influence your marketing and business plans.

In addition, entering an award will also send a positive message to employees, telling them their company is doing well. It will also help generate company pride, which impacts on job satisfaction, productivity and retention.

You will often find it plays a positive role in recruitment, attracting people to a successful company.

Attending an award ceremony will increase team morale, showing them your appreciation of their work, making them proud to work for you, and providing them with an opportunity to team-build in a new setting. Attendance also leads to networking on a unique scale. There can often be hundreds of delegates that show up, eager to win and in positive spirits. This is the best time to get on the radar of businesspeople

you’ve wanted to speak with for months or even years. They’ll be happy to talk to you – even if they don’t win – because it’s a more social, relaxed form of networking.

Finally, when used properly, entering an award will raise brand awareness. Being award-nominated or an award finalist in a category for an awarding body is something to promote. This kind of affiliation can demonstrate your reputation, the quality of service you provide, your values, and so on.

Most awarding bodies will automatically provide you with a badge for instant use on your social media, and for permanent use on your website – acting as a reminder to your clients or customers that you’re a valued company.

As a business trading in Leicester and Leicestershire, you will find that we are lucky enough to have hundreds of awarding bodies – with something to suit your business, no matter the size or sector.

So what’s stopping you?

Enter an award!

JENNIFER THOMAS Development Manager at FSB

T

aking the decisive step to start your own business – or making the move to become self-employed – is not an easy one.

It takes courage, resilience, creativity and innovation. Once you’re up and running though, it’s tempting to get caught up in the day-to-day and not make time to record, reflect on and shout about your successes and how far you’ve come.

FSB runs its own FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards across the UK, but there is a myriad of local, regional, national and sector-specific business awards available which can help your business. Here are a few ways for you to consider why entering business awards is a good use of your time: 1. Boost team morale 2. Attract and retain talent 3. Profile and brand awareness 4. Create digital content 5. Generate leads

6. Benchmark against the competition 7. Attract new clients 8. See how far you have come 9. Find out where you can improve 10. Media exposure 11. Client and customer retention 12. Engage with decision makers 13. Grow your network Usually, finalists are promoted on social media and in the press, which means your business stands to get national recognition and positive PR, plus the added buzz that being able to use the phrase ‘award winning’ or ‘award nominated’ can add to your marketing efforts.

Having said that, don’t solely rely on the award organisers to do this for you – take control of your own PR, find out the hashtag for the awards, take pictures and video, share on social media, write blogs, shout about your success from the moment you discover

GEORGE OLIVER Editor of LeicestershireLive and Leicester Mercury

W

hen I attended the Mercury’s Pride of Leicestershire Awards in July 2016, I didn’t know a single person in the room.

Four years on, I attend lots of awards events (ours and other people’s). And I usually know lots of people in the room.

The reason for this? By attending events I got to know influencers in Leicestershire’s business community. And therein lies one particular value of awards events.

There’s a core of familiar faces I see everywhere I go.

These familiar faces have often gone on to collaborate

you’re a finalist, and keep revisiting your content, memories and photos on social media after the awards, update your website and email signature to reflect your success.

You might even want to look at hiring someone who specialises in award applications or PR to help you make the most out of the opportunity.

Some tips for your application: The best way to get noticed by the judges is to tell a story about the journey you have gone on in starting and growing your business, explaining your success as facts in bullet points (include figures where possible).

Make sure to be concise and keep to the word limit – focus on highlighting all of the business’s achievements.

Read the criteria and make sure that you have addressed each point clearly.

If possible, include attachments relevant to your entry, as well as links to your website and customer testimonials. Remember, if you enter multiple categories, you need to have something different to say in each category.

And finally, be sure to convey passion in your words. If you aren’t excited about your business and the progress you have made, it will be difficult for the judges to be excited.

with us on spin-off projects we are doing at the Leicester Mercury and LeicestershireLive. Our partners are some of the biggest brands and organisations in the region.

My company is now running all nine of its B2B and community awards ceremonies through its inhouse events team. We celebrate the best of the county. And we are very interested in learning about how to improve our portfolio so that our events deliver for our sponsors, guests and nominees.

That’s why we had a business breakfast last month with dozens of our events partners. To see what they want from our formats. To continuously improve.

To put my B2B hat on, we know that we can give our partners exposure in print and on a digital platform – LeicestershireLive – which is now generating more than 600,000 page views a day.

Our nine events are promoted via LeicestershireLive and the Mercury. Our engaged local audience is our USP. We also know that we can give our guests an interesting night out and the opportunity to meet some of the county’s biggest business influencers. It’s certainly how I met them.

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AWARDS FOCUS

SANDRA GARLICK MBE Founder of the Woman Who Achieves Awards

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ntering Awards has numerous benefits, both for the individual and the business as well as some hidden aspects that you may not think of, but are well worth consideration.

As well as the potential PR and credibility that awards generally bring, the hidden benefits are just as valuable – and they start from the minute you sit down to work on your entry.

First, entering awards is a great way to focus on what you’ve achieved, where you are now and what your goals and aspirations are for the future. If anything, the application process itself is really worthwhile simply to get that clarity.

There is real value in taking time out to consider exactly how far you’ve come and where you want to go.

In effect, you are creating a snapshot of your business, a

mini business plan that’s worth its weight in gold, even if you’re not selected as a finalist or winner. This is where you can really focus on what you’ve achieved to date and get recognition for it – and even if you don’t win, you have something to work on for other award entries.

Second, there are always connections, contacts and collaborative opportunities that follow. So, attending any interviews, pre-awards events and ensuring that you turn up on the day of the ceremony is a must. You may be shocked to hear that there are some people who see awards as badges to be collected and never intend to engage or turn up. Where is the value in that?

Finally, awards are full of opportunities. However, you need to engage in order to maximise them. It doesn’t matter if you’re not a winner. The finalists are often featured too.

So, if you’re asked for a quote or to speak to the media, grab the opportunity with both hands. Don’t be camera-shy either, as there are always photo and video opportunities.

SANDRA POLLOCK Director, Open Mind Coaching & founder of The Women’s Awards & EMWA

M

y interest in awards, of late, has primarily been focused on using them as a vehicle to help women improve their self-belief and confidence; to show up and stand up at work and business.

Few people would outwardly deny the capability of women and girls across the UK. But on the other hand, in the 21st century, we’re still faced with reports that tell us that ‘a significant pay difference between male and female employees still exists’, and that ‘the gender pay gap in the UK stands at 17.3%,’ according to CIPD. Awards that celebrate women

54 | NICHE

provide an environment to place a spotlight on the work and contribution women are making in all sectors. To receive an award nomination opens the door for everyone to see what this individual has been doing.

Many women feel that they have worked for years without being given the recognition they deserve.

Paulet Brooks, CEO of Serendipity and Winner of East Midlands Womens Award Outstanding BAME Female Leader of the Year 2018, put this quite well in a recent talk she gave to our EMWA audience: “Winning the award was

brilliant... because it made the sector that we sit inside, sit up and acknowledge the work that we’d been doing, which they hadn’t done before.”

Paulet had been CEO of Serendipity for nine years and worked in her sector for 35 years.

Being nominated for an EMWA award changed things for her and her business. Winning was just the icing on the cake. I’ve heard many stories like this one. Awards help to balance out the inequality slightly by bringing pressure to bear on that recognition issue.

Entering awards can raise your profile, demonstrate to staff and customers that you’re proud of the business/individual.

This builds loyalty and morale internally, and can improve your bottom line. Yes, there are many awards out there, so it’s important that you consider which is best for you. But I think not to consider this is a missed opportunity.

The Results HEADLINE SPONSOR

After nominees were whittled down by judges, we shone a well-deserved spotlight on some of this year’s contenders

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his year, Niche Business Awards (NBA) sponsors, ambassadors and judging panel have been working hard to decide upon their semi-finalists and finalists.

Working alongside government guidelines, the announcements were delivered online in videos shared across social media channels that each received over 3000 views within the first hour.

Normally, semi-finalists and finalists are announced as part of Niche Networking events that take place each year. But NBA organiser Cross Productions has been taking to the internet to announce the judges’ selections.

Jenny Cross, CEO of Cross Productions and founder of the Niche Business Awards, said: “People are really searching for positivity right now.

Entering awards such as our own really enables them to dig deeper, often reminding themselves of the great achievements they have made so far in business.

“There is a real sense of community spirit, where we are seeing businesses champion one another, wanting to shine a light on positive experiences to continue to invest in, and drive the local economy.”

The annual Niche Business Awards ceremony is scheduled as usual for the first Friday in September. With situations as they stand, and continuous changes to government guidance, the event organisers have made contingency plans to move the event if needed.

We get to know some of the entrants that were collectively responsible for hundreds of nominations this year.

BEST NEW BUSINESS Sponsored by Hollingsworths Solicitors Semi-finalists Mosaic Business Growth

The Lettings Business

Turnaround CEO Finalists DLT Roofing

The Secret Garden

Willsow Ltd FAMILY BUSINESS Sponsored by Everards Semi-finalists JSP Virtual

The Lettings Business

Nico Properties Finalists Imperial Roofing

Charles Bentley & Son

Samworth Brothers BUSINESS GROWTH Sponsored by The Lettings Business Semi-finalists Moore Security Systems

Mosaic Business Growth Finalists Imperial Roofing Supplies

Paradigm Wills and Legal Services

Pattersons Commercial Law

BEST SMALL BUSINESS Sponsored by Leicester Castle Business School Semi-finalists Fraser James Blinds

Messy Senses

Paradigm Wills and Legal Services Finalists Imperial Roofing Supplies

MamaBabyBliss Leicester XCLUU DIGITAL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Growth Partners Plc Semi-finalists Anicca Digital

Orange Fox Studios Trident Finalists Rhino Software LTD Serendipity Unity INNOVATION IN BUSINESS Sponsored by ER Recruitment Semi-finalists Lead Balloon Studios

Primary PPA Cover Finalists ChatHealth

Spotted App

Willsow Ltd RISING STAR Sponsored by The Turnaround CEO Semi-finalists Amy Allcock

John Woodcock: Voluntary Action Leicester

Maxine Eversfield:

EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE Sponsored by Torr Waterfield Semi-finalists CKI School of Martial Arts

Dorothy Goodman School

Lionheart Academies Trust Finalists Bilingual Day Nursery Ashby

DMU Works Enterprise

Primary PPA Cover

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Sponsored by The Miller Partnership Semi-finalists 2 New Street Chambers

Hollingsworths Solicitors

Pattersons Commercial Law Finalists Furnley House

Paradigm Wills and Legal Services

Rutland House Counselling BUSINESSMAN OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Pattersons Commercial Law Semi-finalists Phil Houlder:

Glenfield Electrical

Finalists

Shaf Islam: Chutney Ivy Malcolm Foulkes-Arnold:

Paul Rowlett:

Simon Winfield:

Corporate Architecture Everything Branded Red Monkey Play

BUSINESSWOMAN OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Paradigm Wills And Legal Services Semi-finalists Claire Herbert: Gateley PLC

Estelle Keeber:

The Mums in Business Association

Gemma Orton:

Claire Herbert:

Finalists

Andrea Gray: PPL PRS LTD Tajinder Banwait:

Nicole Martin:

Zinthiya Ganeshpanchan:

Finalists

Arif Voraji:

LEICESTERSHIRE CHARITY OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Morningside Pharmaceuticals Semi-finalists Menphys

Shama Women’s Centre

Wooden Spoon Charity Finalists Bamboozle

Focus Charity

Leicester Children’s Holidays

ER Recruitment

BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE Sponsored by Kazzoo Semi-finalists ER Recruitment

Elite Accounting Services

Paragon Sales Solutions Finalists Soar Valley Press

Paradigm Wills and Legal Services UFIT

EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR Sponsored by BP Legal Solicitors Semi-finalists Everything Branded

Premier UK Events ltd Finalists AJIB

Furnley House

PRP Consulting

Help the Homeless Leicester Gateley PLC

Core Aquatics

Mocha Marketing

Urban Apothecary London The Zinthiya Trust

NICHE | 55

What’s been happening at

2 New Street

Sally Barnett on keeping a roof over their heads, how lockdown may have changed court hearings forever, and nearly a century in business WORDS BY KERRY SMITH

I

n the semi-finals for the Professional Services award was 2 New Street Chambers and, as this is its 99th year in business, we wanted to find out more about them.

Speaking to Sally Barnett, Head of Chambers at 2 New Street, it’s clear the group of barristers will be having a big party to celebrate a whole century in business in due course. “Everyone wants to have a party, especially after lockdown,” she told us. “We can’t wait to invite everyone around us in the legal business.”

It’s well deserved when the more recent years have brought some challenges. However, 2 New Street’s efforts to overcome them have also brought huge benefits to their area: in the legal industry, and in New Street itself. Trying 56 | NICHE

to – quite literally – keep a roof over their heads, and then battling through a pandemic hasn’t been easy, but the team has ended up benefitting in the long run.

The results of Covid put an immense amount of pressure on Chambers. Sally said: “Many industries are facing one of the greatest operational and commercial challenges ever and the legal sector is not immune from those challenges at all. The pandemic has affected contentious work and litigation significantly.

“Members have had to adapt very quickly to different ways of working. We’ve managed to continue with some hearings remotely thanks to Zoom and Teams, for example, and the Cloud Video Platform is being rolled out by the

NICHE SPECIAL

We are delighted to have reached the semi finals stage of these prestigious awards courts. We’ve been able to make a contribution on how we can ease out of these strict arrangements, and it’s been rewarding to be part of that.

“On top of this experience, we’ve also found that this way of working might be beneficial and change the way courts work forever in certain areas. For us, it means that it is possible for us to work further afield and remote working can have some practical advantages. We are also able to give more time to mediation and arbitration as alternative ways of resolving disputes.”

Back in 2012, 2 New Street Chambers had another issue to deal with that they weren’t expecting. The landlord of 2 New Street was retiring and wishing to sell the property. Chambers had to make a stressful decision on whether to move, or stay put and buy the building themselves. They went through with the purchase of the Georgian Grade II listed property, but the period of unease over the investment was then added to by a caving in roof.

“After the remains of Richard III were discovered, Leicester City Council applied for lottery funding for its Greyfriars Townscape project. It meant we could apply for a grant to restore the roof and this has secured the building.”

The chambers supported the city council in its regeneration of the area to help strengthen and expand the legal community in that part of Leicester.

The stressful periods have all paid off with a 100-year anniversary in sight. Sally believes it may be the first time a barristers chambers has been involved in such an event as the Niche Business Awards.

“Certainly in the Midlands, this might actually be a first. We’re all self-employed and operate from shared experiences and direction in harmony and I speak on behalf of all of us. We are delighted to have reached the semi-finals stage of these prestigious awards.”

It’s not their first brush with an award though. Last year, 2 New Street Chambers’ reputation for outstanding service went through the roof with the firm as a whole and

two of its team members recognised at the Leicestershire Law Society (LLS) Legal Awards 2019. Senior Clerk Ben Leuty won Staff Member of the Year, while Barrister of the Year went to Hannah Fountain, and Chambers of the Year went to 2 New Street. To top it off, Barrister Alex Scott was nominated and shortlisted for this year’s Legal Awards with the results awaited.

Between them, they have links with the charity and education sectors and are socially active among them.

Just last year they supported the LLS summer garden party, sponsored a charity drinks reception as well as a golf day, recruited from Loughborough College, and gave a talk at Birmingham University. They’ve also had members appointed as Trustees for various local charities, namely Alex’s Wish and Cals. “I’m so proud of the many opportunities we’ve brought the team through New Street, and that they are passionate enough to want to spend their time doing these things. This is of course all alongside our very busy legal practises in our chosen fields.”

The small but long-standing firm is a respected one with a reputation for going the extra mile, of which Niche Business Awards organiser, Cross Productions, say they are overjoyed to have in their semi-finals.

2 New Street Chambers is a family and civil law set of barristers supporting solicitors and local authorities in the Midlands and across the country. 2newstreet.com.

NICHE | 57

How to measure

success

Success is objective – we caught up with one of our Businessman of the Year semi-finalists Malcolm Foulkes-Arnold, Managing Director of Corporate Architecture, to find out his opinion

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eople measure success in very different ways. I’ve revised mine recently and would say now that having a healthy, prospering business in the face of an international crisis is a huge success. If I’m honest, six months ago, I would probably have said something fairly predictable about profit, turnover or growth but to have all my staff at Corporate Architecture safe and fully employed and my clients moving on with their projects is something I’m proud of. I’m not being cocky, I’ve faced the opposite and feel for those going through it now.

Having been a keen rugby player, it won’t be a surprise to know that I value teamwork and relationships highly within the practice, the industry and the wider business community.

It might sound like a cliché, but years of getting your nose broken and ears bent, face down

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in the mud, teaches you that the collective can ultimately achieve more than the individual. And the process can be fun.

I’ve had to learn to trust people more than felt comfortable, both to take pressure off myself and to allow them to grow. I’ve had to overcome a natural reticence with new people to forge relationships, whether I’ve liked them or not. I’ve had to swallow a bit of pride and stubbornness to accept support and guidance from others. I’ve had to acknowledge, sometimes grudgingly, that I could learn from the example of others. My 25 year working relationship with Richard Coppock, now a Director of the practice is clear evidence that investment in the right person returns so much more than cash in the bank.

I’ve learned that professional relationships have to grow from

YEARS OF GETTING YOUR NOSE BROKEN AND EARS BENT, FACE DOWN IN THE MUD, TEACHES YOU THAT THE COLLECTIVE CAN ULTIMATELY ACHIEVE MORE THAN THE INDIVIDUAL

genuine respect and liking. I won’t dismiss the pleasure that an unexpected bottle of wine or bunch of flowers will bring, but colleagues value you asking for their advice, introducing them to someone who can help, or taking them for a pint to chew things over. I am unapologetic about the size of my phone bill – I like to talk and encourage my young staff to do the same.

Get to know someone, build a rapport, engage with them – this is the cornerstone of my business.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the late Bob Hamblin for always having my back over the years. A great character, a good friend, gone too soon. You will be missed, Bob. To read more about Malcolm’s journey, go to corporatearchitecture.co.uk/ meet-the-team.

NICHE SPECIAL

TheMusicLicence and Leicester

changing people’s minds

Managing Director at PPL PRS Ltd, Andrea Gray, never expected to fall in love with Leicester WORDS BY KERRY SMITH

“I

had no idea I’d been nominated and when I had the email, I thought it was meant for someone else. I was pretty humbled, mildly embarrassed, and very taken aback,” said Andrea Gray, after hearing she was through to the finals of the Businesswoman of the Year category.

Originally from Surrey, Andrea came to Leicester in 2015 to develop the third UK site for Hastings Direct. It took some convincing to get her here, though. Reluctantly, she came to the Midlands to find that Leicester wasn’t at all that she’d expected.

Andrea said: “I think people have a perception of Leicester which is probably about 10 or 20 years out of date. People remember it as being fairly poverty stricken. But when I came here, I realised it’s a small, friendly city that’s actually really cool with lovely little independent businesses and

I WAS ONLY MEANT TO BE HERE FOR TWO YEARS AND IT’S NOW BEEN FIVE. I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT LEICESTER AND WANT TO GIVE IT A BETTER NAME

beautiful countryside.

“I was only meant to be here for two years and it’s now been five. I care deeply about Leicester and want to give it a better name.

I encourage all my friends to come here and see what it has to offer.”

After developing a soft spot for the city and working directly across the road from PPL PRS Ltd, after the country’s only two music licensing companies PPL and PRS for Music formed their joint venture here in 2017, Andrea went on to join the business in November last year.

“We had a fairly rocky start bringing two parent companies together that do the same thing in different ways, which brought some negative press as a result.

“I’m trying to turn that around by improving the engagement we have with current employees and attracting more great people to one of the best job offerings in Leicester.

“I also want to educate people on TheMusicLicence. It’s

not just for the biggest names in the industry, it’s for people you’ll never hear of who may have played an instrument on a track from their bedroom and they deserve to get paid.”

This passion and drive she puts into her work comes from her dad, she says. Taking a leap of faith in setting up his own business, he taught her that a person can have anything they want as long as they work hard – but she didn’t expect it to lead to being nominated for an award.

“I’ve worked all over the UK, and Leicester has the most supportive business community I’ve come across by a country mile,” Andrea explained. “I hope in my application that my commitment to Leicester comes through. I’m keen to support other businesses, charities and individuals in Leicester just because I really want this city to be successful.”

To learn more about TheMusicLicence, go to pplprs.co.uk.

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It’s a new dawn How a family reminder fuelled change and success

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orking 80 hour weeks for 25 years in highly pressured positions for FTSE 100 companies, work-life balance for Dee Beckett was severely imbalanced for a long time. Change was needed. But often a trigger is needed to create drastic change.

She said: “One day, my fouryear-old came into my office to say goodnight whilst I was on a conference call. Having hushed her out twice, she crawled along the floor and left a note with a bracelet.”

The note read: “Mummy, made this for you so you don’t forget me.”

Broken hearted, it was a wakeup call for change.

Starting from scratch, Dee set up Mosaic Business Growth sharing her passion and expertise in business

growth, enabling SMEs to flourish.

She’s done so well, she’s up for two Niche Business Awards, against one of her very own clients, Imperial Roofing Supplies, in one category – a win-win for Dee! Making it to the semi-finals in Best New Business and Business Growth, she’s put together advice for surviving in business and thriving post-Covid.

Positivity and flexibility Change has been enforced and is here to stay. We must embrace it and be flexible. A positive attitude helps deal with challenges, having a ripple effect on outcomes.

Set your direction and know your numbers Planning is tough. Reflect on past

successes and reassess routes to move forward. Knowing your numbers is key. They tell a powerful story of what works, what doesn’t, and where growth opportunities are. Set targets, measure and monitor results.

Be customer-centric and focus It’s thought to take 16 touchpoints before someone buys into your brand.

Businesses often give up way before and wonder why they’re unsuccessful.

With limited resources, focus is key.

What is your target market? What are their pain points? Put them at the heart of your business and assess how your business delivers positive outcomes against these.

For more advice, contact dee.beckett@mosaicbusinessgrowth. co.uk or call on 07388 022473.

Elated insurance brokers make finals For a company that believes in giving back to its local community through charity work with Alex’s Wish and school programmes, perhaps it’s their turn to receive

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ndependent brokerage Anthony James was founded after its Managing Director, Steve Boorman, had been involved in several national brokerages which had been through a number of acquisitions and lost its core values for staff, customers and the community along the way. He set up the firm in 2009 to bring corporate expertise to a community and value based independent brokerage.

“In starting Anthony James back in 2009, we knew we wanted to revert to good, honest family business values that are very different to large corporate ones, where you are just a number – either as a client or as a member of staff,” explains Steve.

“For me it isn’t about making loads of money or chasing a certain lifestyle, it is about becoming the leaders in our Industry and having a business that puts the staff at Its core, securing our independence and foundation for the future!”

Now with a 19 strong team, the company is a finalist in

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the Employer of the Year category. How do they feel? “We are elated! We have been working hard to make Anthony James the best Insurance Brokers to work for in the East Midlands and it is fantastic to be recognised in being nominated for this prestigious award.

“We also see and read the magazine on a regular basis and wanted to work with a company that is at the heart of the business community.”

When asked why they think they were nominated, Steve said: “I’d like to think it is because we genuinely empower all our likeminded staff and give them the opportunity to become whatever they would like to be. There are very few businesses that bring apprentices through to directors and share the success of the business with their staff – and we are very proud of that.”

To find out more about the firm, visit ajibl.com or call 01509 274000.

NICHE SPECIAL

Anima-zing

achievement for Lead Balloon Studios

The animators were excited to be recognised after just nine months in business WORDS BY KERRY SMITH

N

ot even a year old, Lead Balloon Studios was named a semi-finalist in the Innovation in Business category.

The owners are Lois Cockerill and Darrell Wright, a couple who studied together at De Montfort University. They took part in DMU’s Crucible Project; an entrepreneurship programme for graduates who have an idea, product or service.

They set up their animation studio in October 2019 with the aim of injecting a little more fun into the corporate world.

We interviewed them about what it meant to make it through to the semi-finals.

NICHE: How does it feel to be the first ever animators to be a semi-finalist in the Niche Business Awards?

DARRELL: Speechless! We were excited to tell our fellow

Crucible peers the news first, as well as our mentor Percy Emmett! Our friends on the Crucible programme at DMU were so happy and supporting of us.

LOIS: We’re so grateful and it has given us a huge confidence boost! As a new business in Leicester we soon learnt about Niche Magazine and the Niche Business Awards and its impact on the community – and we wanted to be a part of this amazing event!

N: Why do you think you stood out to the judges?

L: With every project we start, we pour our hearts into it.

We have used our mascots to promote small businesses around Leicester on social media. This allows these small businesses to be seen in the community, while leaving big smiles and lasting impressions on everyone involved.

WITH EVERY PROJECT WE START, WE POUR OUR HEARTS INTO IT

N: Why did you decide to start your own business?

L: We’d been working together for four years and decided we wanted to take our work to the next level and start a business together.

D: We want to make businesses fun, memorable and engaging.

We want our work to be entertaining for the client and their audiences, to educate them and above all, leave a lasting impression.

N: Where do you hope to go from here?

D: It’s still early days for us, but we’ve been enjoying every step of the way. We can’t wait to see where we’ll be a year from now L: We love what we do and we want to make sure we keep doing it for as long as we possibly can.

For a free animation design quote, go to leadballoonstudios.co.uk.

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Will Law firm take a second Niche Business Award?

Claiming the Best New Business title in 2018, Pattersons Commercial Law is no stranger to the Niche Business Awards and is now a finalist in this year’s Business Growth category

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he commercial law firm which specialises in advising small and medium businesses (including retail businesses, e-commerce businesses and accountancy practices) are leaders in their field and their award nomination only highlights their success. Having emerged from the Covid lockdown stronger than ever, the commercial law firm is keen to learn from their experiences and grow in 2020 and beyond.

Recalling the moment they found out they had clinched a semi-finals spot, Company Director Rik Pancholi told us: “I was with my family at home when we discovered we had made it to the semi-finals. We were overjoyed and it really was just lovely to share the moment as a family!”

A real people-centred business, thecommercial law firm cites the nomination as the culmination of a real team

Zinthiya Ganeshpanchan has been recognised in the finals for her astute business mindset in the Businesswoman of the Year category

62 | NICHE

effort and Rik immediately contacted the rest of the team on hearing the news. “We told them all immediately and they were just as elated as we were. We have worked with Cross Productions for years and all of us were delighted to have been recognised by our peers like this.”

It is not only the team that Rik cites as an integral part of the business, but the charity and community work that they do. “We really feel that to reflect the people-centred ethos we have at the firm, we extend this to charity and community work too. We raised £3,000 for MacMillan last year with our coffee morning and we do a great deal with Alex’s Wish too. It’s important to me that we do this, and the team feel exactly the same way!”

Visit pattersonscommerciallaw.com for more information.

The businesswoman behind the Zinthiya Trust

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he Zinthiya Trust supports women and families from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Its founder, Zinthiya Ganeshpanchan, has set up various revenue streams in order to run as sustainably as possible.

While growing up in Sri Lanka, Zinthiya witnessed the violence that women and girls undergo. She said: “I saw the impact of a prolonged conflict that led to communities being torn apart. This has taught me to value the humanity, democracy and civil liberties that the UK offers and we so often take for granted.”

She set up the Zinthiya Trust to support disadvantaged people such as women fleeing violence, experiencing homelessness or living in substandard accommodation, facing food and fuel poverty, ex-offenders, people with a disability and the long-term unemployed.

With her entrepreneurial skills, Zinthiya has created a variety of income generating streams aimed at sustainability. These include the Chapel

Café on Bishop Street offering quality food and drink at affordable prices and a safe environment to meet friends, hold meetings and events. She also created Spice 20, a range of authentic Sri Lankan spice blends, and a hospitality and leaflet distribution service for businesses to use. She is also the founder of the Community Benefit Society, which runs a community shop where members can buy food for as little as 25p. Along with all that, she runs a school uniform project to help supply children of families facing hardship, as well as sanitary products for young girls.

Zinthiya was among the NatWest WISE100 (2019) and is a Fellow of the School of Social Enterprise.

“I’m so very pleased to be acknowledged in this way. I hope that the contribution made by social businesses such as the Community Shop to our community was picked up on by the judges as this often goes unrecognised.”

To find out more about the Zinthiya Trust, visit zinthiyatrust.org.

NICHE SPECIAL

Plans to reopen

Menphys

The charity was named a semi-finalist in the Leicestershire Charity of the Year category – we take a look at how they’ve coped during the pandemic WORDS BY LIAM DEACY

W

hat a year it has been for local charity Menphys so far. In January, the charity which provides services to disabled children, young people and their families opened the doors of its brand new Menphys hub. After a couple of years in the wilderness, the hub-based in the old Bassett Centre in South Wigston, signified the return of one of Leicester’s most recognisable charities. And what a return it was, with onsite sensory hairdressers, a sensory room and an array of spaces perfect for activity and educational clubs, the stunning old schoolhouse location was the perfect home.

Then came Covid-19. Literally days after its VIP centre opening, the charity was preparing to close again. This had a huge impact not only on Menphys but also on the local community, with the closure of its coffee shop, charity shops and the South Wigston Library which is run by Menphys volunteers. Coronavirus hit the charity community hard – but not quite as hard as it hit children and young people with disabilities across the county, so Menphys had to adapt and adapt they did.

“The hub closure meant that our face to face services were suspended, but we were more than aware that during this time some of our families would need us more than ever,” Jessica Buckley, Service Manager at Menphys, told us. “Lockdown meant changes of routine for young people with additional needs, less chance of any respite for parents and carers – and for some of the most vulnerable families, financial and welfare issues.”

Menphys created its ‘At Home Support Service’ sending care, educational and, in some cases, food packages to families in need. From Sunday roasts to sensory kits, Lego blocks to online activity packs, Menphys has been trying to support those that needed it most throughout lockdown and has now decided to continue the programme once normal life resumes.

As preparations begin for the hub to reopen, Menphys CEO Ian Caldwell said: “We had to adapt and it’s clear to the staff, trustees and supporters that now more than ever our children, young people and families need us. So, as well as more face to face services, more employability

WE WANT TO POSITIVELY IMPACT THE LIVES OF EVERY DISABLED CHILD, YOUNG PERSON AND THEIR FAMILIES ACROSS LEICESTER, LEICESTERSHIRE, AND RUTLAND

opportunities and more activity clubs, we intend to offer more at home support to our families in the future.

“Yes, there is no hiding from it. We as a charity, like many other third sector organisations, are facing challenging times but our aspirations are clear. We want to positively impact the lives of every disabled child, young person and their families across Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland. It’s a lofty ambition, but our team are ready for the challenge. And what better way to celebrate our 50th anniversary than by making a real difference to the lives of those we were created to serve.”

The Menphys hub, charity shops and community coffee shop reopens for business in the early part of July. Every penny raised by the sale of donations, coffees and use of its facilities is going directly back into the creation of more opportunities for disabled children and young people across the county.

To get involved in helping Menphys, contact Fundraising and Marketing Manager Liam Deacy at liam.Deacy@Menphys.org.uk.

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JSP Virtual

make it to the Semi-Finals Owner Jo Peters says it couldn’t have come at a better time for her company which offers virtual assistant services

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he last year for JSP Virtual has been a runaway success. With the family run business growing exponentially in its reach, client base and staff, the start of 2020 was looking very bright indeed. Then, at the height of their success the global pandemic put a short sharp, stop to things and felt like a monumental blow to Jo just when her hard work and efforts to grow her virtual assistant business were paying off.

“It was a serious shock, like it was for everyone, and I did feel a certain amount of comfort in realising I wasn’t alone in the crisis of course. But now,

with things moving from recovery to restart along with the support of the local business community, I am confident we can get the business THE NEWS THAT WE HAD REACHED THE SEMI-FINALS WAS SUCH A WELCOME RELIEF! IT REALLY HELPED GIVE ME A BOOST

back to where we were.”

The news of their semi-finalist success in the Best Family Business category was a welcome piece of

good news at a time when there wasn’t a great deal of lightness around. “Honestly, the news that we had reached the semi-finals was such a welcome relief! It really helped give me a boost and the motivation to dust off, adapt and continue to push the business forward.

When people outside of a family business believe in you, particularly in a time like we have all just been through, it can make a huge difference to your opinion of the work that you are doing and the vision you have.”

If you would like a free consultation online please go to jspvirtual.co.uk .

Dragon’s Den interest for Leicester man’s app App developer quit his job and sold his home to fund the venture

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ew Spotted: App, inspired by popular local ‘spotted’ Facebook pages, gained 3,000 users and intrigue from Dragon’s Den producers within two months of being live. Its creator has now been delighted with the news that he’s made it to the finals of the Innovation, in Business category.

John Whitbread, who created Spotted: App to help people find local businesses, said: “Being in the running for an award is a completely new and exciting experience for me.”

The 38-year-old has had a whirlwind 12 months after deciding to put everything on the line whilst awaiting the birth of his now sevenmonth-old son. “My wife was heavily pregnant, but she knows I always put my ultimate into everything I do. And it’s paid off. The people who’d made apps for huge national, well-known companies said they’d never seen such quick growth as Spotted: App has had.”

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He came up with the idea after learning the importance of community whilst living abroad for eight years.

John returned to Measham and set up a ‘Spotted’ Facebook page which became a valuable asset to the community, but he noticed it became less effective due to new algorithms.

He created the app to help support local businesses. Companies receive two months’ free advertising on the app, and then pay 99p each month.

“I’ve been told I’m not charging enough and there are similar apps out there that provide the same service for £10 a month. But I made this app to help small businesses like the local ironing lady and handyman, those people who don’t have a marketing budget. Consumers can instantly browse local businesses that work in their area, based on location with the closest business at the top. You can’t get fairer than that.”

Available in all app stores or download from spottedapp.com.

NICHE SPECIAL

Stepping out

of the comfort zone A charity that supports vulnerable families has made it to the semi-finals in the run up to its 35th anniversary

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n 1985, a group of women set up Shama Women’s Centre to provide culturally appropriate services and empower local women from different backgrounds to become socially, educationally and economically active. Its reach now extends to families.

In recent years, it has survived solely on the support of members and staff working tirelessly to develop much needed projects for local communities after losing access to government funding. As part of their sustainability strategy, Shama was delighted to recruit Krupa Bhatt as Business Support Officer to enhance relations with the business sector.

Krupa explained: “Looking into the history of the centre for the Niche Business Awards application, it was apparent that over time local authority funding had been almost completely lost.

“And yet the centre is still thriving and able to work immensely hard to provide thousands of vulnerable families from BAME backgrounds with a vast array of services.”

As part of the business engagement strategy it was recognised there was an opportunity to create the #35for35 campaign to help raise £35,000 to celebrate 35 years of Shama. It seeks 35 local businesses to become Corporate Business Ambassadors by pledging £1000 in 2020.

On charity funding, the charity’s CEO Khudeja AmerSharif, added: “Shama has not always been successful in associating with local businesses. Through Krupa’s drive and connections we have been able to connect with businesses, which has meant stepping out of our comfort zone, but we recognise that this is the way forward to sustain our organisation so that we no longer rely on grants and short term income streams.”

Yasmin Nathani MBE, Chair of Shama Women’s Centre, added: “Events like the Niche Business Awards can help charities work with partners they wouldn’t have otherwise connected with. So, for us,

HAVING ATTENDED THE AWARDS LAST YEAR, I UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE HONOUR WE’VE RECEIVED TO GET TO THE SEMI-FINALS

being able to associate with local companies that can provide further support in helping sustain our services is incredible and definitely worthwhile.”

Krupa identified an opportunity to align Shama with the Niche Business Awards since she attended the annual event with Khudeja in 2019 as guests of Morningside Pharmaceuticals.

“I was blown away by the amazing event celebrating the local business community,” Krupa said. “At that point it was decided that we’d like to be associated with the awarding body and work towards gaining well deserved recognition for the extremely hard work Shama has been doing for the past 35 years.”

Khudeja told us: “Having attended the awards last year, I understand and appreciate the honour we’ve received to get to the semi-finals. The news has been a real boost for the staff and volunteers and everyone is really pleased and excited.”

To become a Corporate Business Ambassador, email shama_womens_centre@ hotmail.com.

NICHE | 65

‘Adaptability is key’ Celebrating 160 years

The historic journey of Leicester’s six-generation family-run home, garden and leisure products business Charles Bentley – as told by Charles Bentley himself

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ffering superior products and being agile – that has been our recipe for success throughout the 160-year history of Charles Bentley and never has it been so relevant than during the coronavirus lockdown.

It is always nice to be recognised, but in this anniversary year and a year in which we have successfully negotiated tricky trading conditions, it feels extra special to be shortlisted as a finalist for Family Business of the Year in the Niche Business Awards 2020.

Clearly the closure of most retailers had a massive impact on our core retail business, however, as a key supplier of professional and industrial hygiene products our focus shifted to ensure we were in-stock and ready to supply vital goods into the NHS, industrial and educational sectors.

Established as a manufacturer of brushes for Victorian chimney sweeps in 1860, our sixthgeneration family-run company has been supplying homes with durable goods for decades.

Fast-forward and we’re now a 66 | NICHE

multi-million pound company able to source products directly from manufacturers across the globe.

We produce over two million brushes annually from our factory in Loughborough where we employ over 150 people and have expanded to offer a home and garden ecommerce website since 2005.

Supplying dining sets to outdoor toys for the kids and all things in between, we leave no stone unturned and keep an eye on the latest trends so that you’ll always find something fresh and up to date – just without the designer price tag.

We supply goods to retailers and have also recently developed a plastic-free range of cleaning products in partnership with the Marine Conservation Society, that can be found on our website, Sainsbury’s, Argos and good independent retailers.

A major part of our philosophy is only selling products that we have discovered, created or made ourselves. Each product is put through its paces until we’re satisfied and it’s only then that

OUR FOCUS SHIFTED TO ENSURE WE WERE INSTOCK AND READY TO SUPPLY VITAL GOODS INTO THE NHS, INDUSTRIAL AND EDUCATIONAL SECTORS

we’ll put our name on it and give our seal of approval. If it’s not good enough for us, it’s not good enough for you.

Sustained growth has enabled the company to launch a Dropship service, an easy and affordable way for retailers to expand our online product ranges without major upfront investment.

Our new 202,000 square foot Loughborough warehouse provides the space to effectively stock, pick, pack and dispatch products directly to customers on behalf of retailers. Additionally, with a friendly UK-based customer service team, we are always on hand and ready to help with whatever you need. We also have a specialist sales team that communicates daily with our factories in China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Sri Lanka.

We understand the needs of our customers and we are able to react to new demands – it’s how we have survived as a business for 160 years.

For more details on the latest Charles Bentley product ranges, visit charlesbently.com.

NICHE SPECIAL

Relationship Selling: How it took this semi-finalist from book to boss A sales agency with a philosophical approach made it through to the semi-finals of the Best Customer Service category WORDS BY KERRY SMITH

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he author of the motivational sales guide, Relationship Selling, Rob Spence, set up Paragon Sales Solutions on the back of the book’s success. When enquiries came rolling in from international clients, it was time for him to take his skills to the next level.

Just two years old, the company has already built a reputation in Leicester. As its founder, Rob and his team have made their way around networking events establishing connections with business owners, the idea of relationship selling is multiplying.

Rob said: “My passion for selling doesn’t stem from the desire to make a quick commission. My philosophy is that to sell is nothing more than problem solving.

EVERY BUSINESS HAS THE POWER TO SUCCEED, BUT IF YOU CAN’T SELL YOUR OWN PRODUCT YOU ARE DESTINED TO FAIL

“Either a customer comes to you with a problem, or you find a customer who has a problem that they haven’t recognised yet, and a good sales person will just solve it. This in turn increases customer satisfaction and drives forward what I class as the ‘Three Rs of Selling’: recommendations, referrals and repeat business.”

Helping workforces improve their sales with unique techniques, Paragon began adding more services to back up their clients’ hard work including digital marketing, content writing and photography.

On why he set up Paragon, Rob says: “Every business has the power to succeed, but if you can’t sell your own product you are destined to fail; Paragon was designed to be the bridge that led customers to businesses.”

Rob has gone on to write two other titles: The Paragon Mindset and A Month to Improve Your Sales, and founded the Leicestershire Business Network Group (LBNG) as a free way for businesses to learn from each other.

Becoming a semi-finalist in the Niche Business Awards has been a great way for the team to look back on their successes.

Rob added: “This is a great recognition. Since opening up, everything I’ve done for the business has been with the customer in mind, so it’s amazing to be recognised for that. I’m honoured to be recognised alongside some fantastic business also.”

To find out more about relationship selling go to paragonsalessolutions.co.uk.

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NICHE FEATURE

Denilson

“I have five more years in me yet” The former Arsenal midfielder opens up about his return to Brazil, what the future holds for his football career, and why he wants to visit Leicester WORDS BY KERRY SMITH

D

eciding to leave Arsenal at the end of the 2010-11 season was a tough one for Denilson. Eventually, it was the feeling of isolation in the UK that led him to feel the need to return to Brazil.

It crept up on him during his last year playing for the club. Still adapting to his new life in London, he found loneliness was beginning to affect his football. “I was by myself in England and I didn’t have much support around me toward the last months at Arsenal,” Denilson told us.

“I felt really lonely and couldn’t perform on pitch. That’s when I decided to go back to Brazil.”

Although he sincerely thanks his team-mates and Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger for their guidance, it was ultimately his mental health that took him back to his roots.

“I had great support from Gilberto Silva on and off the pitch. He was always reaching out to keep that friendship.

And Wenger really supported me after I came from Brazil as such a young age, always checking how I was doing outside the pitch.”

He was 18-years-old when he left São Paulo for Arsenal in a £3.4million deal. Looking back, he’s grateful for the opportunities that came his way. “The place where I grew up in Brazil was very humble with a lot of poverty and the people there had nothing but big hearts. Everyone from that community was always trying to succeed in life and I thank God I was able to make that success in football.

“I remember playing football in the street from a very young age and people would see me and comment that I had potential to play at a good level. I started playing with my local team and that’s when people started to notice

my ability.”

He went on to play for five years with Arsenal, and expects he has the same amount of time left in his current career. His big plans include helping to promote and endorse products and services, but being back in his homeland has opened his eyes to other matters also close to his heart. “I think I have five more years in me yet playing professionally but also, after speaking with my close friend Alex Bernardes, we want to launch an academy together in 2021 over here where we develop young kids not only as footballers but as individuals.

“Gillingham Town FC is going to send their coaches over to teach English football and prepare them for if they ever become professional. I want to bring the British mentality and philosophy to the kids here.”

He’s also eager to start working as an ambassador with Leicester’s Koi Sports, a community interest company. The 32-year-old said: “Alex introduced me to Koi Sports and their efforts helping grass roots sport.

I’m really interested because I’m the type of person who always tries to help everyone. It was a no-brainer to join them. When I retire I want to visit Leicester and see for myself the good work Koi Sports has been doing and meet the people and communities.”

For now though, while he focuses on plans for life post-Covid, Denilson offers this advice to young people: “Never give up on your dreams. It will be a bumpy road and you will face a lot of people who will doubt your abilities but stay humble, believe in yourself and in God, and you – will achieve your goal in any profession.”

I felt really lonely and couldn’t perform on pitch.

That’s when I decided to go back to Brazil NICHE | 69

The true cost of

fast fashion

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igh street stores look to the catwalks and bring trends to our stores each season, encouraging most of us to change our style and looks continuously in keeping with the ever-changing stock available in the fast-moving collections in large retailers. By buying from these retailers, we are effectively contributing to a growing global and damaging footprint left by the industry. Fast fashion may help you get your fix, but the side-effects make for unsavoury reading. So, what is the true price of that high street sales bargain?

Sukhina Garcia of Betty Brown tells us: “With the fashion industry only second to the oil industry in its damaging effects on the planet, it’s clear that if we want to save our environment, we need to address the way in which the fashion industry works. From how and where it is produced to how we make use of the clothing once we deem it unfit for our purpose.”

Known as one of the dirtiest crops, cotton growth is one of the most damaging to our planet. Consuming 16% of the world’s insecticides, cotton production contaminates the soil we use to grow crops, the air we breathe and the water we drink, and deaths of animals exposed to these contaminants is counted in the millions every year, according to the Soil Association.

The Soil Association’s Cool Cotton report stated that the global consumption of non-organic cotton releases huge amounts of greenhouse gas into our atmosphere – about 220 million tonnes a year. The damage caused to us and the environment by growing non-organic cotton is almost unparalleled and is a very real and immediate threat to us and our planet.

The Cool Cotton 2015 report explained that cotton crops use huge quantities of water: “[Water] consumption increases as cotton products move through the textile supply chain – one tonne of cotton fibre uses 2,120 cubic metres of blue water (fresh ground and surface water –

INDIA WORK PHOTOS 2012-33[1] © SOIL ASSOCIATION – ORGANIC TEXTILE REPORT 2019

The UK is the epicentre of fast fashion in Europe, and with non-essential shops opening their doors post-lockdown, the fashion spending frenzy is in full force. Here, Emily Kirton discovers the effects of fast fashion and talks to Sukhina Garcia of Betty Brown about why she decided to turn her brand into a fully sustainable label

NICHE FEATURE

GREEN FIBRES VOILE AND COTTON THREAD 2-16[1] – © GREEN FIBRES

THE DRIED UP ARAL SEA, WATER WAS DIVERTED TO IRRIGATE THE GROWING OF COTTON

lakes, rivers and aquifers, for example), and it takes an estimated 2,700 litres of water to make just one cotton T-shirt.” That is one costly cheap T-shirt.

And what is it worth when around three hundred thousand tonnes of clothing still ends up in household bins every year, with around 20% of this going to landfill and 80% incinerated? (WRAP Valuing Our Clothes: the cost of UK fashion 2017; DEFRA Statistics on waste managed by local authorities in England in 2017/18 2018).

Added to this are the often unfair conditions under which people who grow non-organic cotton work.

An estimated 100 million households are involved in growing and producing cotton, and approximately 300 million people work in the cotton sector, the Cool Cotton report finds.

The majority of cotton farmers and workers live in developing countries, working extremely long hours, and are exposed to poisonous (and potentially cancer causing) substances daily while earning extraordinarily little in wages. As a rule of thumb, if a cotton product is outrageously cheap, then know that someone else has paid the price.

So, what is the answer? Shopping with a conscience and investing in fashion which is organic, fairly produced and that will last beyond a one-time seasoned wear.

“What does it mean to shop with a conscience?”

I ask Sukhina. She says: “For me, it’s about buying organic garments which have been ethically produced, enhancing rather than destroying the health of humans, animals and natural resources around the world.”

A woman who believes style, conscience and care can all be part of the picture, Sukhina is soon to launch a collection of timeless pieces with garments produced according to her conscience. With the first garments heading to Leicester in the autumn we can’t wait to wear beautiful clothing in accordance with our planetloving mindset.

RIVER IN ASIA POLLUTED BY THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY

It’s clear that if we want to save our environment, we need to address the way in which the fashion industry works

Focus on the flow Healthy living advocate Bev Sankey says we can focus on food and nutrients often readily available to us

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ev Sankey, healthy living devotee, says a holistic approach to wellness starts with clean ingredients and great healthy eating habits that can support a long term and sustainable healthy lifestyle.

She believes that by improving our dietary habits and emotional wellness, we can improve our health and support our immune system’s ability to fight infection and disease.

“The 30 Day to Healthy Living programme allows you to be thoughtful about eating and, when coupled with exercise and a positive mindset, you can get excited about experiencing wonderful results.”

Bev says: “It’s important to fuel

our bodies with nutrients, vitamins and minerals that will support our mind, body and soul.” Here’s a quick overview of examples of some of the foods where these can be derived.

Vitamin D: Eggs, salmon, white fish, oily fish, sardines – it is not as abundant in foods, sunlight is a source of vitamin D Vitamin C: Broccoli – especially florettes of sprouting broccoli, kale, spinach and other dark green vegetables, red and yellow peppers, sweet potato and squash Carotenoids: Root vegetables Polyphenols: Polyphenols are the molecules that are the beautiful colours in fruit and veg Zinc: Spinach, mushrooms, asparagus, red meat, nuts, pumpkin seeds Selenium: Salmon, fish, raw garlic, oats and brazil nuts Good Fats: Avocado oil, grassfed

ghee, extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, coconut milk, cod liver oil Salts: Unrefined sea salt Gut Health: Kimchee, kafir, sauerkraut, organic live active bio yoghurt (no sugar or flavour) miso paste and bone broth.

Anti inflammatories: Spices like ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, black pepper, cumin and oregano Drink: Water, homemade ginger, turmeric, lemon, black pepper and honey tea Contact Bev to discover more about improving your health and lifestyle for good by calling 07812 156 540, emailing bevsankey@gmail. com, or find her on facebook.com/ bevsankey.

Olverum Bath Oil A highly concentrated, therapeutic bath oil which contains 10 pure essential oils, carefully blended to work synergistically, and a very effective way to naturally relieve stress and help you achieve a great night’s sleep.

Olverum is also a great way to ease aching or sore muscles.

125ml £35.00 250ml £62 Travel set is £24 olverum.com

Rescue & Renew® Inspired by ancient Ayurvedic spa practices, this holistic approach to wellness focuses on the body’s flow of energy for the ultimate in self-care.

The ritual and products combined help detoxify the body by cleansing the skin’s surface of impurities while also protecting the skin’s moisture barrier. Bid adieu to your old self and greet the new you with a reinvigorated appreciation for mind, body and soul.

Detox mask £44 Detox lotion £35 Detox Gelée £56 Detox oil £48 beverleysankey.arbonne.com #Arbonneuk #RescueandRenew

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NICHE FEATURE

How Leicester’s independent retailers are

reopening As non-essential retail across the country reopened their doors from June 15, businesses and customers are getting used to a new shopping experience when they visit Leicester city centre

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usiness owners have shown great flexibility in swiftly putting plans in motion to ensure they comply with new guidelines to protect shoppers and staff. Increased signage, one-way routes, hand sanitising stations, reduced opening hours and safety equipment are just some of the things shoppers can expect when visiting their favourite independents in the coming months.

Set, a gift shop on High Street, reopened after closing their doors in March. “It was difficult to close, but it was the only possible decision at the time to protect the health of our customers and staff.” said owner, Stuart. “Reopening has had its own challenges, but we have measures in place to welcome customers back safely, including limiting the number of people in store, a marked out queuing system and a stricter cleaning regime”.

Plenty of other well-loved

shops have made special arrangements since opening their doors in June; Harriman & Co. in St Martins used the time to refurbish, and reopened with a fresh look and product range for customers to browse their collection of beautifully crafted homeware and gifts in-store. Choose from Fair Trade and eco-friendly goods in Just Fair Trade, refresh your look at Pilot clothing, or pick up the perfect spirits to make a summer cocktail at 23 Wine and Whiskey.

Leicester Coffee House, on Granby Street, has had a different lockdown experience, remaining open throughout.

“We’re lucky that as a small business we were able to adjust quickly, closing our seating areas and operating as take-away only as soon as lockdown was announced.” said owner, Gail. “Since then, we’ve taken things slowly and only reintroduced practices when we

THIS IS NEW GROUND FOR US ALL, AND IT WILL TAKE TIME FOR CUSTOMERS AND BUSINESSES TO ADJUST

have a safe process, for example we had to develop a safe way to allow customers to use refillable coffee cups. Our delivery service has gone from strength to strength – we’re delivering beans by post and bike weekly.”

Independent businesses in Leicester continue to be supported by BID Leicester’s Independent Leicester campaign – a resource to help people discover, celebrate and support the best of the city’s independent businesses and business owners. Simon Jenner, Director of BID Leicester, said: “It’s a very welcome step to see Leicester’s independent businesses begin to reopen. This is new ground for us all, and it will take time for customers and businesses to adjust. We will continue to work together with businesses to support the successful recovery of the city centre.”

Find a directory of local, independent businesses online at independentleicester.co.uk NICHE | 73

Welcome to award-winning healthcare Nuffield Health Leicester Hospital general surgery services At Nuffield Health Leicester Hospital our experienced general surgeons specialise in a range of diagnostic and repair procedures.

They are experts in their field and can provide rapid access to treatment.

Why choose Nuffield Health Leicester Hospital for your general surgery?

Whether you are seeking results from a diagnostic procedure or looking at treatment options to remove a painful hernia, our team of experienced general surgeons at Nuffield Health Leicester Hospital are experts in their field, providing you with rapid access to a personalised treatment plan.

Choosing to go private provides you with a number of benefits. At Nuffield Health Leicester Hospital you can: • Skip the waiting lists to be seen quickly • Be seen by the same consultant from your initial consultation, through to your aftercare • Receive a packaged price inclusive of all aftercare needed • Receive a detailed and accurate diagnosis from any diagnostic procedure as soon as possible.

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Rated on

Best house

in town

Having spent an excessive amount of time in our homes since March, the importance to us of feeling good in our living space and environment has noticeably increased. Those jobs we had put off for years suddenly seemed vitally important and rightly so. Our gardens have never looked better but our homes might not feel big enough to suit our needs anymore

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any of us are looking at ways to make our homes work harder for us and, being cramped up with family, may have meant out homes are no longer right for us long term. With the housing market fully opened up, we can now explore options to find homes to suit our families and lifestyles better.

If moving seems a little drastic, there are plenty of other ways to change our living spaces to accommodate. Need a home office? Adding an outdoor summer house, exploring an extension or even transforming that spare bedroom into a work space are all worth considering.

A redesign of your bathroom or kitchen may also help you fall back in love with your home again. Those evenings spent in the living room as a family might have made you tire of the décor but with a lick of paint, some new furniture and décor, you can have a fresh look to replace the weeks of being in the same space! A sight for sore eyes.

Our outdoor spaces have become places where we have discovered a great deal of peace of mind over the last few months and as a result, they are really working to

serve our needs. From new landscaping to some serious weeding and even new outdoor cooking areas, there are lots of opportunities you can take advantage of to enjoy the warmer months at home ahead.

In Leicester we’re lucky to have a vast array of talent professionals to help us with our not-so-DIY, independent stores with unique items to make our homes our own, and stunning countryside and city-living properties to choose from. Only last year a quirky retro semi-detached family home, an Edwardian terrace and a Dutch barge all based in Leicestershire made it onto the BBC programme Best House in Town and showcased just a sample of some of the talented home professionals in the area and the sense of style that we have right here in the Midlands.

Your home has been your safe space recently more than ever and it’s time it got some TLC back! From fresh new scents to discover and the wow factor of rugs through to virtual tours to help sell your home, we’ve got it covered in this Best House About Town section as we bring together some of the finest Leicestershire home professionals.

NICHE | 76

A sample of products available from Oadby House MARK LUCAS Manager at Michael John Flooring/Oadby House

LITTLE GREENE

TOP TREND FOR OPEN PLAN SPACES What is it about the design of a room that can give it the wow factor? It could be the lighting, the wall covering or extravagant furnishings. But there’s one aspect that might not even have crossed your mind, and it always has a powerful effect on a room.

Flooring.

Flooring can take a room from average in style and appeal, to ultimate sophistication. It can act as a statement piece, wowing visitors in your home or clients in your office.

There’s a growing trend for Amtico herringbone flooring in open-plan spaces. This style of luxury vinyl tiling (LVT) subtly reproduces the geometric shapes trend and adds a point of intrigue in larger spaces.

The herringbone shape is made up of pieces cut into perfect rectangles and staggered opposite each other at a 90-degree angle to create a zigzag effect.

For those with busier lifestyles, LVT makes for the ideal choice of flooring, being warm underfoot, easy to clean, water and scratch resistant, and also having a minimum of a 25-year wear guarantee. Amtico’s LVT range also convincingly imitates wood and stone.

Once the flooring is in place, finish off the space with a rug.

A large, bold coloured rug will add excitement with minimal effort to any room. Rugs help to add personality to a home, and comfort to office spaces.

When revamping your home or offices, from the bottom up is a good way to go.

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The Little Greene paint collections bring together the most useful and beautiful luxury paint colours from all the key periods in the history of decoration. Sample pots available in-store.

Little Green samples are £4.69 each

QUOOKER TAP Dark colours in the kitchen are becoming increasingly popular.

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A black Quooker tap fits perfectly in that picture.

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CREATING BEAUTIFUL SPACES OADBYHOUSE.COM 0116 233 7775 | info@oadbyhouse.com 91 The Parade, Oadby, Leicestershire LE2 5BB

Growing not slowing

Gary of GC Home Improvements tells us that the recent pandemic hasn’t slowed them down as they look to grow their workforce

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ith people staying in their homes, those odd jobs that we have been putting off for years are adding to Gary’s waiting list! So much so that an expansion of the company is on the horizon with new staff members; GC Home Improvements is growing not slowing.

“There was a short period of time where we needed to take a while off at the start of the lockdown, but gradually we have been returning to work and we are busier than ever!”

Specialist roofing services, as well as general building work, fascias, soffits and guttering on extensions, conservatories, windows and doors are all undertaken and all work is carried out efficiently, on time and

with customer safety in mind. “We are of course aware of the social distancing measures that are in place and ongoing and do all that we can to ensure that our customers have peace of mind when and if we are entering their homes to carry out works,” Gary explains.

Experienced in a wide variety of areas, the small yet skilled team will come and assess the work and give realistic feedback regarding when work can be completed and at what cost. “We always provide a competitive quote and like to give a time frame for the job completion so that customers can prepare for the time we will be in their homes,” Gary adds.

With five-star reviews and glowing

feedback, the firm is in high demand.

“We do have waiting lists for various jobs, but I like to think that is because we have a great reputation for the quality of our work and we are working on shortening the lists by hiring more members of the team imminently!”

Gary concludes.

Call Gary on 07946 195 715 g-c-homeimprovements.co.uk

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FOOD COURT In this issue, local business people choose their favourite places to eat in and around Leicestershire

The best eating establishments in Leicestershire SANJIB SINGH SAHOTA

TIPU SULTAN 0116 271 5553

tipu-sultan.com 12-16, THE PARADE, OADBY, LEICESTER LE2 5BF

Commercial Asking someone from Leicester to decide Partnerships Manager on a favourite place to eat is a more East Midlands Chamber complex thant most people may imagine.

The influences in our diverse communities is reflected in the cuisine available to us, so our dining experiences can take us around the world. Give me a major event to organise any day!

There are so many amazing places to eat in Leicester – I could easily have picked several restaurants. After much deliberation – and some tasting sessions of course, just to help with making sure I chose wisely – I decided to pick an establishment that has great quality dishes, a nice atmosphere and friendly staff – but above all else when I left, I left happy and already thinking about what I

ANITA POPAT

CUE COFFEE SHOP

thecue.co.uk 0116 210 0297 18 ALLANDALE RD, STONEYGATE, LEICESTER LE2 2DA

Social Media Marketing Situated on the trendy street of Coach at Social Media Allandale Road is the Cue Coffee shop.

Consultant From the moment you walk in, the calm and trendy, no-fuss interior helps you feel relaxed. It has a contemporary Scandi vibe, which I like.

The fact that it’s founded by an independent female entrepreneur is something to support and celebrate.

With so much competition, I think they’ve really carved out their place in the market and truly offer a wonderful experience for their guests.

You’re always greeted with a smile and there’s no pressure to hurry up with your order, which is a bonus. It’s always buzzing with a mix of people enjoying the coffee shop as a working 84 | NICHE

wanted to eat next time.

I opted for Tipu Sultan in Oadby. The cuisine has its origins in Northern India, the Punjab and regions in Pakistan. This has to be my current pick of the many quality restaurants in Leicester I recently had the pleasure of meeting the founder and owner, Jahangir Saddiq (Big John). He has built an empire of food restaurants and eateries around the country and Tipu Sultan is just one of the many jewels in the crown of ‘Curry King’. The Tipu Sultan brand has won many awards and it is easy to see why. Big John has a clear vision for Tipu Sultan: providing a great experience for diners. He has certainly done that, and wow is the food delicious!

space or somewhere to just hang out.

As well as serving delicious coffee and pastries, I love the fact that the main menu changes to reflect the seasons and often combines flavours I would have never thought to pair together before. This is one of the things that keeps you going back. The chef isn’t afraid to experiment – and it works!

You can be sure to be delighted by the presentation and the different taste sensations when ordering anything from the menu here. The fact that it keeps changing is a welcome excuse to keep going back for more. I mean why wouldn’t you? If you haven’t been yet, make sure you check it out!

AZAR KHAN Energy Broker Consultant at SK Energy

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TASEER AHMAD Marketing Strategist at Marketing Voice

FERNANDEZ GRILL HOUSE fernandezgrillhouse.co.uk 0116 319 5595 10 FRIAR LANE, LEICESTER LE1 5RA Fernandez is an independent, nonalcoholic, family friendly restaurant based in Loughborough, Leicester and Nottingham. The Leicester site is close to the city centre with excellent seating facilities to host small or large groups of people. The seating area is well organised with a spacious environment.

It has a five-star hygiene rating with a very warm and contemporary look.

The restaurant specialises in grilled food, with a range of home-made recipes and specials that you will not find anywhere else! They even do a discounted lunch menu as well, and provide many vegan options, and a great dessert menu.

The beef steak is my personal

favourite. The tender meat is bursting with flavour, it’s juicy and always has me wanting more of it. This is served with a salad and a selection of purchasable sides.

They have a selection of grilled options for the beef and chicken lovers, and they have a fantastic children’s menu too. Having somewhere to take my children is very important for me and knowing they will be able to entertain themselves with colouring activities provided just adds to the experience.

The service levels are second to none. You can tell the staff genuinely care and they have a very welcoming approach.

PESTO AT THE WHITE HORSE

pestorestaurants.co.uk 01455 822 394 LEICESTER LANE, DESFORD, LEICESTERSHIRE, LE9 9JJ I always find you are on to a winner with dinner when you choose Italian food, especially when you have children always craving pizza and pasta! We are regular diners at Pesto located in Desford and have always enjoyed our experience of this restaurant. It ticks all the boxes of delicious food, great value, courteous staff, and it’s easy to find with ample car parking space.

They offer a piattini style of menu.

Piattini simply means small plate in Italian and when it comes to small dishes with big flavour, Pesto chefs are the experts. This means you can choose a variety of dishes that are served on little plates. It’s always a hit with us because eating plain pasta or a large

pizza is often not very inviting halfway through!

Pesto evolved from the owners’ love for Italian food, but just not in traditionally large portions. You can order five or six dishes between the two of you and enjoy a selection of different tastes in one lunch.

I chose the pizzetta pepperoni, mozzarella fritta, linguine al pesto, and patate al oregano. There is also a grand dinks menu to choose from.

The whole concept is an excellent idea and that’s why we visit at least once a month. Booking is advised and I highly recommend Pesto for all Italian foodie lovers because you’re guaranteed to leave satisfied!

THE CASE RESTAURANT AND CHAMPAGNE BAR 0116 251 7675 4-6, HOTEL ST, LEICESTER LE1 5AW I have a strange relationship with food.

I go through phases of over-indulgence and control, resulting in a constant shuffling of my weight.

However, in all this chaos, one thing remains constant: I like eating outside.

To be more specific, I like eating things outside that I will never make at home.

The only dish from my expeditions that I have totally hated so far was Rocky Mountain Oysters (I’ll let you Google that). Luckily, unlike the eaterie in Bilbao where I had an amazing seven course meal and later couldn’t remember the name of the restaurant when I started living in the city, I properly remember my favourite place to eat in Leicester. In fact, I can see my

thecase.co.uk

favourite table from the street every time I pass by. It’s The Case Restaurant and Champagne Bar on Hotel Street.

Just the experience of dining there makes it worthwhile. The intimate atmosphere, the good service, and the overall dedication of the restaurant to provide a good experience makes it worth the while, let alone the great food.

My favourites are the pan-seared ox liver on a shallot tarte tatin, fresh grilled mackerel fillet on sourdough with beetroot salsa, basil and feta arancini, soft duck egg in breadcrumbs, honey and mustard pancetta on a pea salad and peanut butter mille-feuille, honey crème pâtissière, with candied walnuts as the dessert.

NICHE | 85

Tables were distanced and staff were prepped ready for the opening of the brand new city centre eatery until news of the first local lockdown landed in Leicester This article was updated on July 1

New Cultural Quarter brasserie owner remains

positive W

elcoming all for socially distanced dining, Orton’s Brasserie was due to open in Orton Square opposite Curve theatre on Saturday, July 4.

The new business occupying the Cultural Quarter building trained its loyal staff to help keep operations running smoothly whilst ensuring customers’ safety in preparation. But for now, the doors will remain closed to the public.

In the (hopefully) near future, Orton’s will be offering a responsibly light, set menu to begin with, diners can indulge in British style tapas and other classic British dishes. There’ll also space to seat 50 people in a stunning garden to the side of the building as well as outdoor seating at the entrance.

Guy Kersey, Owner of Orton’s Brasserie and well known within the city as owning and operating the Leicester based American Football Club, The Falcons, said: “We wanted to open in a smaller capacity because we of course didn’t know what the future would hold.

“When we do reopen, we’ll recommend booking a table in the initial phase. People won’t be able to stand at the bar as they’ve done in the past so it’s going to be difficult to get a walk-in table because of social distancing.”

Updating this article after the first local lockdown descended on Leicester and whilst other pubs and eateries outside the area made plans to reopen on July 4, Guy commented: “We are of course extremely disappointed not to be able to open our doors for the first time this weekend as originally planned. However, we understand that the health and safety of those in the city is of utmost importance, so we will be respecting what the government has asked and postponing our opening until July 25, all being well. We have also paused our brunch delivery service until further notice.

“Myself and the team have worked incredibly hard to get Orton’s ready to welcome its first customers, with a particular focus on ensuring that the venue was set up to allow for social distancing in its initial opening phase.

Like many new businesses, we have not been able to benefit from the Government’s furlough scheme, which has made things more difficult than it could’ve been, but our staff are our pride and joy and a huge part of the

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NICHE FEATURE

Orton’s experience, so we’ve retained these over the past few weeks – and will continue to do so until we can open, so that we don’t lose our talent. It’s an incredibly testing time, but we’re also looking to the positives in that this has been a huge team bonding experience and makes us all the more hungry to show off our beautiful Brasserie in due course.

“Our focus now is to ensure that we are continuing to support and look after our staff, whilst also getting additional plans in to place ready for when we are able to finally open. It will make welcoming those first customers through the doors even more special when it happens.”

It’s been a challenge setting up a new business in the middle of a pandemic. Orton’s introduced ‘Joe’s Delivery Service’ throughout lockdown. The service was a perfect way for foodies to discover the Orton’s menu. It also allowed for a boost in staff morale throughout the initial lockdown.

“We weren’t able to claim any furlough of staff being a brand new business,” Guy explained. “We’ve had to keep our staff on and pay them so we don’t lost them.

As a new venture I like to think we’ve brought jobs to the Cultural Quarter at a time when people have been laid off. It’s been difficult but we’ve had a great team on board to pull things together.”

Guy’s ethos and story behind the branding reveals a lot about how he wants Orton’s to be perceived. With the historical building located in Orton Square, its name taken after Leicester playwright Joe Orton, Orton’s Brasserie pays homage to the Leicester born author – who was well known for his love of unpretentious, flavoursome British food.

Orton’s logo, which was illustrated by local artist

Joe and his partner lived a very simple and unpretentious life and this is what we’re going for. We’ll be focusing on hospitality and making people feel welcome Wing Lo, presents a gorilla holding a rose. It was inspired by the famous author, who was openly gay in the 1960s at a time when being gay was prosecutable. Joe was caught defacing library books and received a six month prison sentence when Collins Guide to Roses was discovered with a gorilla placed on the cover.

“Joe and his partner lived a very simple and unpretentious life and this is what we’re going for. We’ll be focusing on hospitality and making people feel welcome. Anyone can come here for a casual bite to eat, date night, a coffee while they work or a business meeting. And eventually, parties can be held in the basement where we’ll also be hosting comedy nights, gigs, charity nights and more.”

The Orton’s logo symbolises acceptance of all and commends creativity supporting Curve just across the way. When business resumes as normal, there’ll be a pre-theatre menu and post-show cocktails on offer.

“We’re looking forward to offering people that event flexibility too: of both the menu and the venue.

The building really allows for the space to be used in different ways. We’re hoping very much to be known as the culinary centre of the Cultural Quarter.”

To learn more about Orton’s, visit ortonsbrasserie.co.uk.

For updates on menus and opening hours, follow @ortonsbrasserie on Facebook and Twitter, and @ortons_brasserie on Instagram.

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Adapting to change Overnight the hospitality industry in Leicestershire, like everywhere else in the UK, went from flourishing to nothing. Hotels, pubs, restaurants, and event venues shut their doors and had no clue when they would be able to reopen them, if ever.

Now, as hospitality starts to open its doors, recover, and adapt to the changes, St Martins House Conference Centre and St Martins Lodge tell us how they look forward to welcoming visitors and guests again in the near future WORDS BY EMILY KIRTON

A

s a conference and events venue, café, and hotel, for St Martins House Conference Centre and St Martins Lodge in the heart of Leicester, the news of lockdown was huge. “Like everyone in the industry and indeed all businesses, we were concerned as to what it would mean for us. We are more than a business, and our work with the Diocese of Leicester means that we are a community company too and we were naturally concerned about that work within the community stopping so abruptly,” Business Manager Nigel Jobson told us.

With the current uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, St Martins House Conference Centre and St Martins Lodge has adapted in many ways, both quickly and efficiently, to ensure the safety of everyone entering the building and hotel. With in-house event technology to help event organisers combine the benefits of both face-to-face and virtual communications, the technology will allow for delegates from all over the world to meet. “This is important to event organisers as we prepare for a post Covid events world where physical and live in-person audiences might be limited due to social distancing guidelines,” Nigel adds.

Plans for the introduction of new, modern event technology within the stunning Grade II listed surroundings, physical barriers are effectively removed 90 | NICHE

to reach a wider audience with no geographical limitations and the ability to host remote keynote speakers. This means that one event can then cover an entire audience which, in turn, increases ROI for events and their cost-effectiveness. For event organisers, the opportunity to host hybrid occasions means that their events will have a lower carbon footprint and be more sustainable by avoiding delegate travel more than a set number of miles from the physical venue.

St Martins Lodge offers beautifully appointed nonserviced accommodation and lends itself perfectly to social distancing with the building free of public spaces such as a lobby and bar area. With exceptional levels of cleanliness in every detail, St Martins Lodge is a safe and welcoming location for those looking to stay in the city for business or leisure.

“St Martins House Conference Centre and St Martins Lodge will soon be once again open to customers and guests. Everything has been carefully arranged so that we can do so safely and in accordance with government guidelines. We are very much enjoying seeing the buildings bustling with people once again.”

Call 0116 2615200 or visit stmartinshouse.com and stmartinslodge.co.uk to see how your conferencing and accommodation needs can be met.

NICHE FEATURE

St Martins House Conference Centre and St Martins Lodge will soon be once again open to customers and guests

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What’s On Some of the online events going on over the coming month

KuKu Cocktail Hour A twice-monthly free networking event, live online WHERE: Facebook via the KuKu Connect Corona Business Support Group @kukuconnectcorona Join the group with a cocktail or your favourite tipple whilst connecting and promoting businesses and community organisations right across the East Midlands.

WHEN: Wednesday, July 8 @5-6pm and Wednesday, July 22 @5-6pm

hello@kukuconnect.co.uk kukuconnect.co.uk

Volta Blue Mastermind A value-driven community of business leaders WHERE: Online via marketingvoice.co.uk/voltablue Marketing Voice loves when communities are able to share, support and collaborate in value adding environment. Book online to take part.

Demeter BNI The world’s leading business networking and referral organisation

WHEN: Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout July @3-4.30pm

hello@marketingvoice.co.uk marketingvoice.co.uk

WHEN: Wednesdays @8.30-10.15am

WHERE: Leicester Tigers, temporarily online via private link Last year, members of BNI UK reported income in excess of £521 million in new business! Submit an application to join the Hinckley BNI Demeter chapter to Director Sally Smith.

92 | NICHE

sally@crossproductions.co.uk bnibreakfast.co.uk

Become a Curve Business Associate and enjoy a range of benefits...

Engage and entertain clients through our bespoke hospitality service, preferential rates on venue hire, corporate booking service and regular B2B networking events.

Our Business Associates also benefit from added marketing value through various branding opportunities year round.

CONTACT Alex Bliss Sponsorship and Projects Manager a.bliss@curvetheatre.co.uk 0116 242 3580

NICHE CULTURE

Fact or Fiction?

Drama & Documentaries

TRACEY MILLER

Partner of The Miller Partnership

M

any of you know me as an inveterate drama lover (and some may say occasional drama queen), but documentaries also fascinate me.

Strictly speaking, a documentary is a film or television or radio programme that provides a factual report on a particular subject.

After seeing Emily Blunt’s idealistic FBI agent, seconded to a Delta Team tasked with bringing down a drugs cartel, in the movie Sicario, this comment was harrumphed “Well, the violence was ludicrously overplayed!”

However, watching Cartel Land, a powerful, truly horrifying documentary about the Mexican drug cartels and vigilantism, I wasn’t sure that Sicario had actually gone far enough in

demonstrating the brutality endemic in the drugs trade.

Biographies are drama and documentary goldmines. Love and Mercy is a terrific biographical drama about Beach Boy Brian Wilson. Paul Dano shows us young Brian’s creative genius and John Cusack portrays his older self, burdened with mental health struggles and Paul Giamatti, his dangerously controlling manager.

Amy Winehouse had a voice that sealed her destiny as a music icon at a young age, but her fate became more twisted than anyone could’ve imagined. The heart-wrenching documentary about her de-stigmatises that infamous ‘party girl’ persona, providing a second look into the oncein-a-generation talent’s personal life

Leicester City Council

Be the difference to a child this year – foster for Leicester See our Facebook page or website for useful videos, information and upcoming events

/LeicesterFostering, Leicester.gov.uk

0116 454 4500 94 | NICHE

and career, offering a retrospective on how the world lost her.

Spike Lee’s entire body of work offers insight to anyone wanting to do some work on the Black Lives Matter protests and, in 13th (Locked Up In The Land of the Free), Ava DuVernay’s incredible documentary provides an in-depth analysis of the ways in which the United States prison system has functioned as a vehicle of institutionalised racism and inequality.

Footage alongside moving interviews from a long list of brilliant academics, activists, politicians, and men and women who have experienced incarceration, provide powerful testimony on systemic prejudice.

Fact or Fiction? I’ll take both, please.

Urgent Appeal The charity’s researchers are helping to find a treatment for Covid-19

H

ope Against Cancer helped fund and set up a clinical trials facility at Leicester Royal Infirmary in 2012 offering cancer patients access to some of the latest medicines, therapies, and potentially life-saving new treatments. As a direct result of this partnership, patients are surviving cancer longer.

The current Hope facility has around 5,000 patient attendances each year, but there is an urgent need to double this as patient demand is increasing dramatically. Further trials need to be conducted on drugs addressing more types of cancer. The charity’s capital appeal project aims to double the size of the Hope facility, so even more people can benefit from taking part in world-class clinical trials

here in Leicester.

Hope needs to raise a total of £1.5m to make this vision a reality. To date, with NHS matched funding, Hope’s own fundraising and reserves, and some very kind large donations, Hope has managed to raise a fantastic £1m. It now asks its supporters and the public to get behind the appeal.

The Covid-19 pandemic is having a significant impact on research capability within the Hope Clinical Trials Facility. In order to facilitate research into treatment for the Covid-19 infection, some of the research staff have been effectively seconded to work on Covid-19 studies. The techniques and approaches used by cancer

researchers – epidemiology, molecular biology, virology and immunology – are the same disciplines being used to track, understand and beat this virus.

This means Hope’s researchers can provide expertise, knowledge, kit and machinery to help beat Covid-19.

Hope is determined to continue supporting life-saving cancer research in our NHS and the first stages of the project build is underway. With your help, Hope aims for it to be completed by the end of the year.

To make a donation that will help transform Hope’s local cancer research facilities, and the lives of cancer patients, please donate online at hopeforlife.charity. For any other information please go to hopeagainstcancer.org.uk

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Help the Homeless seek landlords The Covid-19 crisis has meant that charities have had to go further than ever before to support their causes. Since the crisis began, Help the Homeless Leicester has provided countless supportive services to those that need it most

S

peaking to Help the Homeless founder Arif Voraji, we discovered just how adaptable and vital the charity have been in the weeks since Covid hit.

“As soon as we heard about lockdown it was all hands on deck. We rang round local food banks to arrange for pick up and delivery services to those who needed it most in the community.

In a short time, we had a strong team of volunteers delivering both cold and hot foods across the region,” Arif explained.

Since lockdown, at the time of going to press Help the Homeless have: Received 2552 calls Received 658 emails Delivered 692 food packs Delivered 2580 hot food parcels Having provided food bank services before the crisis, Help the Homeless had strong 96 | NICHE

contacts which they were able to draw on at a time when there was unprecedented high demand. “We are and were overwhelmed with the amount of people who pulled together to help. It doesn’t stop now that the crisis is in the recovery stage; the need is all still there, in fact it’s even greater.”

Local councils provided temporary accommodation for homeless people in Leicester’s hotels during the lockdown – and as those services and funds start to diminish, the need to provide temporary solutions for people is growing. Arif elaborated: “The councils were obliged to provide accommodation for people without homes and very quickly. They did this, and whilst there were some challenges the biggest challenge now is going to be finding the right

IT DOESN’T STOP NOW THAT THE CRISIS IS IN THE RECOVERY STAGE; THE NEED IS ALL STILL THERE, IN FACT IT’S EVEN GREATER

accommodation for them longterm.”

The charity, which always looks to provide both shortterm and long-term solutions, is continuing its drive to partner with landlords within the region to provide letting accommodation that is longterm focused. Arif explains: “We have a few landlords who are currently providing good level accommodation to those who need it with rent being paid directly from Universal Credit to landlords, reassuring them that they will receive rent on time every month. In addition to this, we provide supportive services to both parties to ensure everything goes smoothly.”

If you are a landlord who would be keen to provide this much needed service, contact Arif on 07771 123 440 or visit av@hthleicester.co.uk

NICHE CHARITY

How you can receive

a helping hand For those in need of advice and support in their work or personal life, this charity might have the answers you need

I

n response to the coronavirus crisis, Helping Hands Community Trust has introduced a telephone and online service.

The service – providing free support and advice on welfare benefits, debts, housing, employment, family law, domestic abuse and much more – is driven by its interactive website and social media links in place of usual face-to-face meetings. An enhanced facility to help people through the recovery period is also being developed.

Leslie Gill, Chair of Trustee Directors, said: “We are planning for the new normal and the huge challenges that will come our way supporting those most affected by Covid-19.

“One of the biggest differences has been the need to change over to an appointment-only system so as to protect both clients and staff.

“We will certainly be reinstating face-to-face work with PPE and screens in place. In the meantime, we continue to offer a remote advice service online.”

Established in 1997, the Trust has assisted 120,000 people and dealt with over 164,000 advice enquiries,

utilising paid and voluntary advisors, agencies and professional partners.

The Trust produces reports and statistical analysis of local needs and problems that affect residents. It also consults with stakeholder groups, schools and colleges, youth leaders, the police, local probation services, prison resettlement units, and faith groups in order to deliver a service that can help in any situation.

Visit helpinghands.co.uk for more information, email office@helpinghandscentre.co.uk or call 0116 278 2001. *Editorial space sponsored by Morningside Pharmaceuticals

Sign up for employee perks

Helping Hands assists employers in securing care, direct advice and mental health support for employees, thereby reducing absence, and improving productivity and profitability. Sign up by contacting office@helpinghandscentre.co.uk

Lockdown hasn’t held this charity down An eventful few months has been had by New Walk based youth charity Soft Touch Arts

S

oft Touch Arts uses different art forms to make positive life changes for disadvantaged young people.

The business development board, made up of local businesspeople who support the charity with fundraising, events and raising awareness of their work, welcomed four new members in June who have been working on a number of online fundraising initiatives.

Newcomer Nimisha Pancholi, owner of All About Soft Skills, was introduced by business board member Tracey Miller. She said: “I’m Leicester born and bred and I wanted to give back to the community so I began exploring. I did my research into other charities, but I thought I sit well with Soft Touch Arts.

I know most of the board members and after meeting its Business Development Director Christina

Wigmore and seeing what the charity is able to do, my decision was made.”

The charity was delighted to also receive news in June that their popular event, ‘24 Hour Party People’, had gained a Highly Commended Award in the East Midlands Charity Awards 2020 in the Best Fundraising Event category.

Tracey Miller, of The Miller Partnership and Soft Touch Arts business board member, said: “I’ve always loved the ethos of this charity.

They build confidence and selfreliance in so many of their young people. These online initiatives have opened up new avenues, as Harinder Sahota of Glynis Wright & Co, who is working with Nimisha, has already demonstrated. Organising events which engage with Leicester’s business community and collaboration with other local charities is a vital part

of my work here.”

The business board also introduced a brand new initiative providing online cooking masterclasses to tie in with World Food Week 2020 to help raise funds for the charity’s café project during lockdown. Inspired by virtual communication taking place in recent months, the masterclasses could well be something that continue post-lockdown For updates on Soft Touch Arts’ activities, follow them on Facebook @SoftTouchArtsLeicester or visit soft-touch.org.uk.

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NICHE CHARITY

Helping young people to thrive in a crisis A charity’s view on the ‘perfect storm’ for anxiety and mental ill-health

I

n the first three weeks of lockdown alone, just one team member of a local charity recorded over 1,500 individual messages requesting help from young people.

Focus, a charity that supports vulnerable young people, has seen demand for their services significantly increase recently. As the impact of enforced isolation, the reduction in support from teachers and other professionals, fear of a ‘killer virus’, and the uncertainty of when this might all end has created a perfect storm of anxiety and mental ill-health.

Focus is well used to supporting young people through challenging times. Within just a few days of lockdown, Focus set up a range of online support activities. These

included interactive cookery sessions, one-to-one video mentoring, the production of a ‘Happy Newspaper’ capturing the positive news stories to counteract the negativity of mainstream media, and study support groups for those struggling with education. They went on to create more activities such as quizzes, creative art sessions and meditation, and are now working on the production of a ‘Lockdown Cookbook’ featuring young people’s favourite home family recipes, which they’re planning to have published.

The online platforms used to provide these have been driven by young people. They’ve guided the charity towards WhatsApp, Facebook, Google Hangouts and Zoom, all of

which offer enough of a ‘youth-friendly’ environment, whilst also ensuring that they can maintain their safeguarding duties.

A Focus representative said: “The young people of the country will be the ones who pay for the long-term impact of this unprecedented crisis and we must support them and prepare them to take on that challenge. We’ll be here to do just that.”

If you or someone you know needs guidance, call Focus on 0116 251 0369 or visit focus-charity.co.uk.

NICHE CARE

‘We’ll meet again’

A message from Melton care home residents to relatives in emotional VE Day show video A Melton Mowbray care home refused to let the coronavirus outbreak prevent it from enjoying its VE Day celebrations in May

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esidents at The Amwell, which offers residential, dementia and respite care at its home in Ashfordby Road, stepped out on to the home’s terrace to sing ‘We’ll Meet Again’ in a performance filmed by staff for relatives to view on Facebook.

Staff at The Amwell helped residents form a carefully constructed choir in preparation for the 75th anniversary of VE (Victory in Europe) Day when the Allies of World War II formerly accepted Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945.

In beautiful scenes at the home, residents effortlessly sang the Vera Lynn wartime classic ‘We’ll meet again’ in highly emotional scenes. The Amwell care home manager Tracy Heyes says the home’s residents were determined to ‘put on a show’ for everyone.

“The residents had been waiting for this moment and

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rehearsing for weeks. From the moment they sang the first line, I think all of the staff were reaching for a tissue. It was very, very emotional, but many of our residents lived through that awful time during World War II and were not prepared to let even a pandemic stop them from missing out on celebrating us reaching this milestone.

“The overwhelming attitude of our residents is that they have lived through adversity before, during the war, and despite the pandemic will, ultimately, all meet again.

“The response we have had from family members has been incredible. It was extremely memorable and certainly one all of the staff at The Amwell involved in this day will always remember too.”

For more information about The Amwell, call 01664 882525, email info@theamwellcare.com or visit theamwellcare.com

NICHE SOCIAL

The Menphys Hub VIP Opening Menphys, the disabled children’s charity celebrated the opening of their new South Wigston Hub with a VIP evening that saw the business community, supporters and notable dignitaries come together for an evening of fine food, beautiful music and celebration.

With beautiful food from Green’s Catering and beautiful music from the pupils of Leicester Grammar School it was the perfect opportunity for invited guests to get a first look of the charity’s new home.

The hub which includes a therapy room, sensory room and dance studio will be used to support the needs of disabled children, young people and their families from across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. With activity clubs, sensory hairdressing and educational programmes being ran directly from the old school house in the centre of the South Wigston community.

On the evening, Charity President Jennifer, Lady Gretton talked to the assorted guests about the charities 50 year history and how the new hub would see the organisation growing it’s offer to young people with additional needs whilst the onsite Coffee Shop and reopening of the onsite South Wigston Library would see Menphys supporting the wider community around the new hub.

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