Niche Magazine Issue 54

April-May 2023

CONNECTING ENERGY AND LIFESTYLE

#FindYourNiche

SHÁM PADDA ON THE CRS MATRIX REBRAND

Business trends and predictions for 2024

Celebrating 10 years of Niche Magazine

Team Leicester at France’s MIPIM property market

Leicester Market Redevelopment.

Imagine your project in Virtual Reality

Contact us to discuss your next architectural project...

RIBA Chatered Practice 0116 253 3423 info@hickmanandsmith.co.uk www.hickmanandsmith.co.uk

Hickman & Smith Architects

NICHE BUSINESS AWARDS 2023

Semi-Finalists Announcement May 2, 2023

Finalists Announcement June 30, 2023

Awards Night September 8, 2023 Follow us on our social pages to keep up to date with the Niche Business Awards 2023

EDITORIAL Editor: Kerry Smith kerry@crossproductions.co.uk Senior Journalist: Emily Miller emily.miller@crossproductions.co.uk Feature Writer: Tom Young tom@crossproductions.co.uk

A WORD FROM THE EDITOR

CONTRIBUTORS Editorial intern Bintou Secka Photography: Hitz Rao ART STUDIO Head of Design Studio: Susan Holmes susan.holmes@crossproductions.co.uk ADVERTISING Media packs are available upon request

N

iche is 10! We’ve been celebrating recently as our magazine has completed its first decade. Having announced in our last issue that Niche would be going quarterly, this is our first magazine

since that took effect. The result is a larger issue, allowing us to cover

Marketing Director: Sally Smith sally@crossproductions.co.uk

much more of Leicester and the wider county.

Marketing Consultant: Tracey Hunter tracey@crossproductions.co.uk

we’ve covered in this issue including the market, the railway station, the

MARKETING AND CIRCULATION Head of Brand Marketing: Becci Houlston

Loughborough.

Leicestershire is currently undergoing several refurbishments that Great Central Reunification project, and The Generator arts venue in We’re also delighted to have Shám Padda on the cover of this issue,

Produced by Cross Productions crossproductions.co.uk Print management: Soar Valley Press Distributed by Media Matters Direct and Self Select Distribution

who speaks about his business CRS Matrix as they prepare for the future

SUBSCRIPTIONS Orders and enquiries 0116 271 2573 Online enquiries nichemagazine.co.uk Email info@crossproductions.co.uk

lowdown of what happened at this year’s MIPIM, and we spoke to 2XL

PARTNERSHIPS Contact us to discuss partnership opportunities on jenny@crossproductions.co.uk MANAGEMENT Chief Executive Officer: Jenny Cross jenny@crossproductions.co.uk

of the energy industry.

Elsewhere in this issue, we look at the planned development of Space City – Leicester’s new technology and research facility. We got the Commercial Finance, ER Recruitment, and got the latest on post-Brexit employment laws from Breedon Consulting.

There’s also coverage of this year’s Love Business expo, and we heard from Leicester Riders about sponsorship opportunities and their impact on the community.

Finally, since our last issue, the nomination deadline for this year’s Niche Business Awards has passed. We look forward to seeing more of the people and businesses nominated in the coming months, but for those who missed out, we also have an article about other awards that are available to apply for.

@magazineniche

@magazineniche nichemagazineuk

#FindYourNiche 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.

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

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

Contents APRIL-JUNE 2023

EVERY ISSUE 12

Thought Leaders

18

We Asked You

95

Socials

98

The Boardroom

22

ON THE COVER Connecting the dots: energy and lifestyle Shám Padda on the CRS Matrix rebrand

THIS ISSUE

Cover Image Shám at the CRS Matrix premises Photographed by Hitz Rao at Hitz Rao Photography 0116 246 0475

BUSINESS

33

Deposit boxes at Mint Security

35

Why recruiting wrong is bad for business

36

TEN WHOLE YEARS OF NICHE MAGAZINE!

38

Looking ahead to business trends for 2024

40

Business awards to apply for this year and next

43

The Alternative Business Awards awards back

44

Loughborough’s ‘Generator’ arts and culture venue

46

AI: Rise of the machines

08

Technology investment for manufacturer

08

New recruits roundup

09

Award win for switchgear firm

09

Marketing agency to double staff and turnover

20

A bright future for Leicester Market

47

Small business update from FSB

10

Enterprising Women Awards 2023

25

The cricket club’s £60m masterplan

49

Leicester launches Space City

27

Leicester station’s renovation

50

Communities to help restore the natural environent

28

What went on at this year’s MIPIM property conference

51

What’s in your water?

31

Employment law post-Brexit

79

Leicester Riders sponsorship opportunities

11 19

CSR engagement in businesses 3 goals to set when networking

20, 26 & 49

LEICESTER RENOVATION

FINANCE

MARKETING

52

Cost-of-living conference with Business Gateway

66

How networking benefits business

53

‘Out of recession comes opportunity

69

Defining your target audience

71

What to consider when building a website

54

Pensions for business growth

55

Company shares: retaining the best talent

57

Working on the books: careers in accounting

72

Navigating the housing market

LEGAL 59

How cost-of-living is affecting business

61

Why court should be the last resort for divorcing couples

63

The sole practitioners of the legal realm

64

Advice for new businesses

CHARITY 89

Lamp’s 5k fundraiser is back to ‘climb mountains for mental health’

91

The Great Central Reunification project

93

Bridging the gap between home and homelessness

94

How charities can navigate the cost-of-living crisis

WHAT’S ON 72

Waterway adventures

76

Cool As Leicester roundup

81

Soft Touch Arts punk festival

82

April-July event listings

83

The Railway Children musical comes to Leicester Little Theatre

84

SOCIALS 95

Love Business Expo

96

The Nachural Awards

97

100 Women

Jersey Budd on what it is to be a musician in 2023

YEARS

BUSINESS NEWS LEICESTERSHIRE

Game-changing technology investment for manufacturer ADS Laser Cutting has invested just under £1m in new cutting-edge technology with the Trumpf TruLaser 3060. The machine will allow them to process sheet metal up to six metres in length and three metres in width.

ADS, a Leicester-based metal laser cutter, folder, fabricator, assembler and metal finisher, is now one of the only manufacturers in the UK to offer laser cutting and folding for sheet metal up to six metres in-house. The addition of this new equipment will be a game changer for their customers, giving them 50% more capacity.

The Trumpf TruLaser 3060 is a highly efficient machine that delivers exceptional precision and speed. It uses state-of-the-art laser technology to cut through a variety of sheet metal materials, making it perfect for a wide range of applications.

“We are excited to offer our customers more control over both quality and lead times on sheet metal cutting and folding projects,” said Duncan Keates, co-founder at ADS. “This new machine will allow us to take on larger projects and deliver them faster than ever before.”

New recruits A brief roundup of some of the key appointments and promotions in Leicestershire during March.

RUTLAND HALL HOTEL

LLEP

1284

ROWLEYS

welcomed a new addition to its finance team, Chloe Dustan, who joins as Assistant Financial Controller. She’ll be covering a variety of tasks and projects, from assisting in preparing management packs and supporting members of the team with her accounting experience; to negotiating new contracts to ensure the business is getting the best available rates on offer, whilst simultaneously building strong relationships with external partners.

made its first full-time hire with journalist Amy Orton joining the corporate communications agency.

A trained reporter with more than a decade at well-known news titles across the East Midlands region, Amy most recently spent three years as Senior Local Democracy Reporter for Leicester and Leicestershire. As Account Director at 1284, she will bring insight, speed and networks across the East Midlands.

08 | NICHE

recruited Phoebe Dawson as its new Chief Executive; she’ll join Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership in May after completing the notice period in her current role of Director of Business Engagement and Partnerships at Worcestershire LEP. She’ll be working with the LLEP board and its partners, and stakeholders to build the organisation’s reputation, bringing further growth and prosperity to region.

appointed tax specialist Rebecca Scotton as Senior Tax Manager, bolstering its tax offering as part of the firm’s strategic growth plans. She joins from a London-based firm where she worked as an International Tax Adviser.

She recently returned from a career break where she spent time working with two charities while undertaking a financial coaching course, accredited

by The London Institute of Banking and Finance.

Switchgear firm wins seventh consecutive international safety award Michael Smith Switchgear has won gold for the seventh consecutive year for prioritising the health and safety of team members and customers.

The Gold Medal Award from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is an internationally recognised prize, judged by a team of health and safety professionals.

The standard demonstrates the Leicester-based manufacturer’s continuing commitment to excellence in its performance, policies and procedures.

Michael Smith Switchgear took the top prize again this year for work done over the course 2022 - once again

showing its dedication to putting people’s safety first.

Managing Director Sean Smith, who also Chairs the Engineered Systems Product Group for the British Electrotechnical and Allied Manufacturers Association (BEAMA) said: “Protecting our team members and customers is our top priority and I’m really pleased that commitment has again been recognised with our seventh win in a row.”

Operations and Finance Director Emily Smith, who also chairs the ICAEW Manufacturing Community and sits on the regional advisory board for Make UK, added: “It’s extremely important to us that our people work in an environment that is modern and safe.”

Marketing agency to double workforce and turnover after successful first year Altitude Marketing Ltd has launched an ambitious growth strategy after their first successful year of trading.

Based in Loughborough, Altitude plans to double its headcount in the next 12 months and more than quadruple their revenue to surpass £1m.

Director and co-owner Tom Bates said: “This year has totally blown my expectations out of the water, it just feels like everything I’ve learnt in the last 16 years of working with other projects is coming together to make an incredible mix of people and business. Working with Laura is brilliant, we are scarily so aligned on things it’s like we know what the other is thinking before they do.

I’m super excited for 2023/24 and working with this brilliant team.”

Since January 2022, Tom and fellow director and co-owner Laura King-Berry have far exceeded their expectations. Their forecast predicted a £100k turnover for the first year but ended with a boastful £500k (run rate), with a prediction of reaching £750-£1m by year-end of 2023/2024 and a £3m turnover in the next three years.

Naturally, their team has also grown rapidly from a workforce of two to nine in just a few months with the intention of reaching a minimum of 20 by year-end. Their five-year plan means their team will have close to over 40 people spread

across different office locations in Leicestershire. Due to the unexpected growth within the team, Altitude needed to move quickly from their office above The Printers to a new, creative space that is a stylish barn conversion at Bawdon Lodge Farm, on the outskirts of Loughborough.

Laura said: “Having the time to stop and reflect on our first year was quite overwhelming, what we have achieved, created and experienced has been incredible. The team I get to work with every day have become like family, the relationships we have built with our clients have been truly unique and I still can’t quite believe we have launched our own podcast.”

NICHE | 09

Enterprising Women Awards 2023 categories Business Woman of the Year Sponsored by headline partner Michael Smith Switchgear

Female Entrepreneur of the Year Sponsored by Fraser Stretton Property Group

Social Commitment

Sponsored by She Inspires

Small Business of the Year

Sponsored by Unique Window Systems

Female Employee of the Year Sponsored by Nelsons

Team of the Year

Sponsored by Breedon Consulting

She Who Innovates

Sponsored by Pick Everard

Apprentice of the Year

Sponsored by Futures Housing Group

Rising Star

Sponsored by The Turnaround CEO

Lifetime Achievement

Sponsored by Paradigm Wills Other supporters of the awards include music sponsor PPL PRS, and video sponsor AVIT Media.

Entries are now open and the deadline is April 27,

The awards take place on October 6.

To enter, visit emc-dnl.co.uk/services/ enterprising-women/enterprisingwomen-awards

UPCOMING EAST MIDLANDS CHAMBER EVENTS April 6 Manufacturing and Trade Conference June 8 People and Skills Summit July 6 CSR Summit July 13 Generation Next Awards 10 | NICHE

CO-CHAIRS EILEEN PERRY MBE DL AND JEAN MOUNTAIN

East Midlands Chamber launches Enterprising Women Awards 2023

E

ast Midlands Chamber’s Enterprising Women network is set to recognise another cohort of female leaders as it launches its 2023 awards programme.

Women in business across the Chamber’s membership base in Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire can apply for the 10 category awards, which reward a range of careers from apprentices and employees, to entrepreneurs plus long-standing achievement.

The Enterprising Women Awards, held in association with headline partner Michael Smith Switchgear, were launched on Thursday, March 9 at an International Women’s Day conference at the Nottingham Belfry, which was attended by 100 delegates.

Jean Mountain, who co-founded the network in 1997, said: “The Enterprising Women Awards are a fantastic showcase of the strength of female talent we have here in the East Midlands, and we’re delighted to bring the celebration back this year.”

Emily Smith, the managing director of AVW Fabrications and finance and operations director at Michael

Smith Switchgear, who was crowned Business Woman of the Year at the 2022 awards, was the keynote speaker at the launch.

Coaching experts Sandra Whiles and Amanda Daly also ran informative workshops on leadership and trust, respectively. Generation Next champion Scarlett Tinsley, who is the business and marketing manager at Leicester-based ER Recruitment, spoke about the benefits of both Chamber networks for young female talent.

Enterprising Women is led by cochairs Jean Mountain and Eileen Perry MBE DL, and through its networking opportunities and inspirational events, it creates an environment for women in business to connect and grow their knowledge, and equips them with the tools to succeed.

Eileen, who is the managing director at ER Recruitment, added: “We’ve been running our awards programme since 2013, and every year the calibre of talent never fails to impress us. We are very much looking forward to seeing another cohort of what will undoubtedly be fantastic applications this year.”

BUSINESS NEWS

CSR engagement remains high among businesses but there’s work still to do S

ix in 10 East Midlands businesses continue to engage in corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities, despite the ongoing cost-of-doing-business crisis, new research has revealed.

A study by East Midlands Chamber, in partnership with the University of Derby and Loughborough University, found that while there was a slight drop-off in engagement from 66% to 60% of firms in the year 2022, 42% plan to increase charitable and community activities over the next 12 months, with fewer than 4% expecting a decrease.

When asked to rank the importance of CSR to organisational strategy, it was given an average rating of 5.7 out of 10.

The Chamber hosted a round table session involving business leaders to learn why many organisations place importance on CSR and how to support those that don’t currently engage in any activities.

East Midlands Chamber director of policy and insight Chris Hobson said: “This research demonstrates the continued importance of being a responsible business, something that many firms are prioritising even in a tough economic environment of cost pressures from all cylinders.

“Responsible businesses are more successful in attracting and retaining employees, winning contracts and tenders, and being recognised as an important part of their community. This ultimately results in more successful businesses.

“We now want to help more businesses to do more CSR engagement – and in a more impactful way, using the insights of this research and discussions with our members.”

The CSR analysis has been conducted since 2017 as part of the Chamber’s Quarterly Economic Survey. The latest study took place in November within the Q4 2022 survey, featuring 389 respondents from across Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

The analysis is published in a report titled ‘Corporate social responsibility engagement in the East Midlands’, authored by Dr Barbara Tomasella at the University of Derby and Dr Elaine Conway at Loughborough University.

Dr Tomasella said: “Despite barriers to resource availability, many organisations find the opportunity to invest in CSR, and have a strong sense of wanting to give back and develop their local communities – a commitment that still looks strong in the forthcoming year.”

Dr Conway added: “It’s important we now look to support more firms to join their peers in CSR engagement – not only because of the community benefits, but because it makes good business sense. We will be looking at how we can support this via positive storytelling, toolkits and training.”

EAST MIDLANDS CHAMBER DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND INSIGHT CHRIS HOBSON

CSR research: key findings CSR engagement among service-based firms (64%) tends to be higher than among manufacturers (50%) There is a correlation between CSR engagement and the size of an organisation – while 83% of large firms are engaged, this decreases for medium (73%), small (66%) and microbusinesses (47%) A lack of resources remains the main barrier to greater adoption, cited by 32% of all companies but higher among microbusinesses (35%) Other key barriers include not being something an organisation has considered (20%), not part of a strategic business plan (17%), too busy (13%), not the right time (11%) and unsure how to begin (7%) The desire to give something back (15%), being the right thing to do (14%), develop links with the community (13%) and staff development (11%) were cited as the main motivations for CSR engagement Charitable activities (40%) like corporate fundraising and donations are the most popular types of CSR engagement, followed by environmental activities (27%), community initiatives (23%) and staff volunteering (10%) Smaller organisations are more communityfocused than their larger peers, which regard CSR as more critical to their strategy Despite the slight fall in CSR engagement between 2021 and 2022, virtually all (97%) of organisations are looking to maintain, if not increase, their CSR activities in the coming year NICHE | 11

Eileen Perry MBE

Thought

Leaders Leading by example, one opinion, one idea, one lesson at a time, our thought leaders are significant in the Leicester and Leicestershire business scene.

With authority in their field of expertise, passion for sharing ideas, and commitment to helping others, they’ve been asked to express their most current brainwaves in print.

Selected organisations and individuals share how and why they go about their business, reveal their ambitions, provide clarity on matters within their industry, educate on complex or novel subjects, inspire with their forwardthinking and progressive perspectives, or look backwards to evaluate what’s been learnt.

Got something you’d like to see our team of thought leaders cover?

Send your topics of interest to kerry@crossproductions.co.uk.

35 | NICHE

Owner of ER Recruitment

Attracting and retaining top talent

I

t’s a hot topic around every board table: recruiting top talent is a struggle for many businesses right now. For several years, we’ve been discussing the increase in a candidate-driven market, which – understandably – mixed with events such as Brexit and Covid, has created an even smaller talent pool for employers to fish from.

Despite concerns at the start of Brexit regarding overall employment levels, the labour market is remaining tight and vacancies are remaining on a high. For the economy, this is positive news, but for employers looking to recruit, it means it has become more competitive than ever to both attract and retain top talent.

To deal with this, businesses are having to adjust and reconsider how they’re positioning themselves to set themselves apart from competitors in order to hire the best people in the market. New attraction methods no longer consist of simple increases to salaries, but larger emphasis is being placed on career progression structures, flexible working, company culture and, ultimately, the way that a business is promoting itself as an employer of choice.

Addressing these recruitment difficulties is crucial; skills shortages are particularly evident in industries such as manufacturing, engineering, and construction to name a few, which is why a huge emphasis is being placed on providing apprenticeships within these sectors to attract emerging talent. We’re seeing more businesses focus on ‘reskilling’ also, which sees them invest in the development of current employees to instil them with new skills, and this is not only retaining staff but also supporting succession planning too.

With plenty of vacancies out there to choose from, candidates are very much still in the driving seat, meaning businesses need to be moving fast when finding good people.

We often hear of hiring managers holding out for comparison applicants, prolonging the process and ultimately missing out on talent to competitors.

If you run a business and are struggling to find talent for specific vacancies, it’s crucial to adopt a recruitment and retention strategy to look at where there are gaps, how you can be filling them with internal staff, and what openings this leaves for new people.

THOUGHT LEADERS

The key to improving our leadership effectiveness will always be about improving our self-awareness

Sarah Higgins Leadership Coach at Sarah Higgins Corporate Coaching

What’s the dark side of Leadership?

A

ccording to a CIPHR survey, an overwhelming majority of British adults (79%) feel stressed at least once a month. The study found that stress levels are highest among 18 to 24-year-olds, with close to 90% reporting feeling stressed every month.

Mounting deadlines, limited resources, increased competition, spiralling costs of products and shortages of supply mean that for organisations and teams, the pressure is on more than ever. But that pressure is often nothing compared to the pressure we put on ourselves.

The problem is, the way we act as leaders when the pressure is on could be negatively impacting others around us and ultimately damage our decisions, our team’s morale and productivity, our clients, our reputation and our career.

‘Dark-side Leadership’ is the term used by Hogan Assessments, who are world-class in their studies on the science of personality. It describes a group of characteristics that can be strengths under normal circumstances,

hence why it’s quite usual for us to have at least a few of these. However, when we are not managing ourselves in the way we would normally, our insecurities and our fight and flight responses, mean that our well-intentioned behaviour becomes unhelpful.

For example, a strength of wanting everything to be right, can lead to micromanaging and taking on too much. A strength of confidence can lead to not involving or listening to others. A strength of

being able to focus on the task, can lead to us cutting ourselves off emotionally from others. Hogan say that the more time we spend under pressure, the less able we are to manage our behaviour, and, eventually, our dark sides emerge.

Introduced in 1997, the Hogan Development Survey (HDS) was, and remains, the only personality assessment that identifies the dark side of leadership. As a qualified practitioner in using the HDS, I help leaders understand the 11 measures

of reputation-damaging, dark-side leadership characteristics.

The key to improving our leadership effectiveness will always be about improving our self-awareness, including the periods when pressure and stress mean we are not at our best.

So, which of these do you think you show at times and what triggers it?

Which of the 11 Dark Side characteristics do you think others see in you when you are under pressure? Why not ask them?

Excitable

Over-react to criticism & easily show frustration & lose enthusiasm

Sceptical

Mistrust & defensiveness if offended

Cautious

Concerned about being criticised & want to avoid failure or mistakes

Reserved

Disconnect from others to focus on task, overly too tough or unsocial

Leisurely

Appear co-operative but privately irritated if interrupted

Bold

Overconfident, has all answers, will not seek help or other’s views

Mischievous

Ignore details, risk taking and unpredictable

Colourful

Overly share and not listen, dominate conversation

Imaginative

Have lots of ideas – even if not needed, unusual and impractical

Diligent

Seek perfection in everything, hard to please & take on too much

Dutiful

Rarely challenge or disagree with senior leaders

NICHE | 13

Darren Willoughby Managing Director at 2XL Commercial Finance

Knock out views – style over substance?

I

am writing this the day after witnessing a YouTuber fight an alleged pro boxer on Pay Per View television at £19.95 a showing. If you’ve been hiding under a rock for months, I am of course referring to the Jake Paul v Tommy Fury fight (26/2/23).

After final numbers being determined, Boxing Kingdom estimated that Paul will have earned around $25m and Fury about $7m, which

is simply staggering when you consider that this is the equivalent of a ‘ruckus’ down the Nag’s Head at closing time after ‘Big Jim’ looked at the landlord’s missus the wrong way.

You may laugh, but even more staggeringly, this fight took precedence over an undercard that featured a proper world title fight with real, legit, talented, and skilful boxers!

Some may argue that

Laura Kearsley Partner and solicitor in employment law at Nelsons

Celebrating milestones

C

ongratulations to the fabulous Niche Magazine on its 10th birthday. I am thrilled to contribute to this special birthday edition.

At Nelsons, we too are celebrating a special anniversary this year, it being 40 years since the first branch of Nelsons, Johnsons and Hastings opened in Nottingham. No

14 | NICHE

doubt our firm has evolved and grown in that time.

Like Niche, we will be taking time to reflect on our achievements and celebrate this important milestone.

It is really important that those in business take every opportunity to celebrate success and mark these occasions for a whole host of reasons, including the impacts that this has

that world title fight may not have been viewed by as many people had it not been on the same card as Paul and Fury, and that very skilful promoters used their celebrity to put eyes on a product that would not necessarily get that audience otherwise. The counterargument may be that we are growing into a society that values or recognises ‘style over substance’.

There are echoes of this in the business world, particularly on LinkedIn. I love to see people happy, enjoying the workplace or celebrating success, but haven’t a lot of people forgotten the fundamentals?

Like being able to deliver at their job, for instance? Surely you have to do the latter before you do the former.

This of course is a matter of opinion, but one I see continually up for debate.

The more I see posts on LinkedIn, the more I feel

that many of them are just bluff and fluff as opposed to anything business related.

‘Hype’ is one thing, but being able to successfully deliver is surely the most vital. This is where my likeness between Paul and Fury comes in.

Do people now value someone who appears credible on social media more than someone who actually delivers in the workplace? The right answer of course should be both, but I think the vital thing is that if you ‘talk the talk’ you’ve also got to be able to walk the walk – something which I find is increasingly questionable in the world at present.

That said, maybe it’s a generational thing. However, if by chance Jake Paul is reading this and requires an ageing 43-year-old man with a ‘dad bod’ for his next fight, be sure to give me a call…

I hear the pay isn’t too bad either!

on employee morale and subsequently employee retention – issues which I am particularly interested in.

Feeling underappreciated is a key issue in employee retention. Employees often refer to their pay as a key concern, but appreciation is a much wider matter in practice. Employees who do not feel appreciated (be that financially or otherwise) will vote with their feet and be easily tempted by your competitors.

Celebrating milestones is a great way of showing employees appreciation and recognition, and building your business’s culture. My suggestions would include: recognising business anniversaries and anniversaries of client or customer relationships as well as recognising loyalty in terms of employee service anniversaries. It can be incredibly positive for all your

staff to see a long-serving colleague being recognised for their contribution and loyalty. Moreover, these gestures do not have to involve a big spend, the key to this is giving employees attention on a business-wide platform – think noticeboards and your intranet, or even your website!

Many employers think about policy benefits that can be attached to milestones; typically we see clients awarding extra annual leave to long-servers, but other gestures like an extra day off to move house or for significant birthdays or wedding anniversaries will be really well received too.

As always, employers considering these gestures need to be consistent in their approach and ensure that all employees are equally entitled, regardless of any particular circumstances.

THOUGHT LEADERS

Richard Kotulecki CEO at Lamp

10 years: a look back and a leap forward

I

tend to look forwards rather than backwards – although I love studying history for the lessons that it can teach us, I have few (if any) nostalgic bones. But ahead of writing this piece, I did cast a quick glance backwards to 2013 to reflect on the world as it was then – and what the changes since then might suggest for the world in 2033.

Depending on your vintage, 2013 may feel like ancient history or much more recent. In no particular order: Sir Alex Ferguson retired, ending a period of Manchester United dominance of English football; Margaret Thatcher and Nelson Mandela – two pivotal figures of the twentieth century – died; same-sex marriage was legalised in the UK; Russia was in the news for a meteor strike in Chelyabinsk; HMV went into administration; Covid or similar was a figment of the imagination of pandemic storytellers such as film writer Scott Z Burns (Contagion) and author Emily St John Mandel (Station Eleven).

These events bookended previous

‘certainties’, demonstrated rapid changes in society and showed the unpredictability of the world. An important lesson from the last 10 years is that the next 10 will be fiendishly difficult to predict – a fool’s errand perhaps.

But let’s have a go anyway.

In the world of work, we have followed the early evidence of increased productivity and moved on from the 5-2 working week split and to a 4-3 split, giving everyone more time (without less money) to pursue experiences to improve wellbeing.

Politics has taught us lessons on over-reliance on fossil fuels and we have expanded our supply to prioritise affordable and sustainable energy. We have restored mutually beneficial relationships with our nearest neighbours, enabling businesses to once again export freely to the EU. In my sector, charities are being paid fairly for the work they do for the public sector – the race to the bottom on price has ended. All funders have remembered that during the pandemic, even without restrictions on funding,

charities delivered the work to which they committed.

Mental health is being treated on equal terms to physical health. The help that people need is properly resourced and easier to find.

Finally, in sports, Northampton Saints have added one more trophy in a decade otherwise probably dominated by Leicester Tigers (I’m sorry, the rumours are true – I’m a Saints fan!).

But perhaps the most important lesson from the last ten 10 (and all of history, in fact) is that for all the ups and downs, the present is generally a better time to be alive than was the past.

And that the future will be better still. There is no doubt that 2023 is a very difficult year for many – at Lamp we see the sharp end of this. The challenges we are facing are of the once-in-ageneration variety.

In 2013, we had recently overcome another once-ina-generation challenge in the global financial collapse, and were looking with a renewed optimism at our world. So I look at the next 10 years with optimism and the possibilities it offers, and raise a glass to 2033.

NICHE | 15

The pandemic shone a spotlight on these strengths as manufacturers pivoted their capabilities to meet urgent needs

Chris Hobson Director of policy and external affairs at East Midlands Chamber

The East Midlands: a microcosm of the national economy outside London

I

n the East Midlands, we have long talked about how we are experts at making things, moving things and innovating in how we do this.

We have amazing assets in our industrial heritage: universities, central location, and the country’s largest pure freight airport.

The pandemic shone a spotlight on these strengths as manufacturers pivoted their capabilities to meet urgent needs and our logistics operators transported goods around the country and beyond, with East Midlands Airport at one stage becoming the tenth busiest airport as online shopping trends were turbocharged.

At the end of last year, members of East Midlands Chamber – which represents more than 4,000 businesses across Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire – joined our local MPs at a special event in the House of Commons to launch an economic strategy,

16 | NICHE

titled A Centre of Trading Excellence: A Business Manifesto for Growth in the East Midlands and Beyond.

Our manifesto presents to Government ‘The Big Opportunity’ to support the East Midlands as a ‘Centre of Trading Excellence’, which is about businesses wanting to trade more, trade differently, trade with new partners, and trade in a way that is cleaner and more effective.

This will require policymakers to focus on the ‘four Is’: investment, innovation, infrastructure and international trade – to establish a formula that helps to deliver on key goals to level up, reboot the economy and boost postBrexit growth in global trade.

We also call for policymakers to ‘get the basics right’ when it comes to cultivating a business ecosystem geared around supporting success and ‘grow our competitiveness the right way’ by doubling down on efforts to support businesses in net zero and

the wider ESG agenda.

The former Bank of England governor Mark Carney once remarked on how the East Midlands is a bellwether of the UK’s economic health, as we proportionately have more manufacturing businesses and jobs than other regions but we’re not overly reliant on any single sector.

In many ways, we are a microcosm of the national economy outside London, so our message to Government is if you want a blueprint for what a successful economy looks like, then the key components exist in the East Midlands.

Creating a policy environment that helps businesses here to succeed can be replicated elsewhere, which ultimately spurs more trade that boosts the national economy, creates more jobs and improves people’s life outcomes.

This is why we call on the Government to back the East Midlands to back the UK.

THOUGHT LEADERS

Looking after any employees will be paramount and investing in them may well be critical to the success of the business

Rik Pancholi Managing Director at Pattersons Commercial Law

What to consider when buying shares in a company

I

you’re thinking about buying the shares in a company, here are a few things you might want to consider.

Ask yourself why you are buying the shares.

Some companies grow through acquisition and buy companies that compliment them or allow them to scale very quickly.

Sometimes it’s because it is a fun adventure with a lifestyle choice attached to it. Whatever the reason is, every buyer should know why they are going on this journey.

How are you paying for it? Is it from personal funds or borrowing? If you are playing with someone else’s money, the deeper

consideration is: what are they getting in return for that money? Are they collecting interest on their loan or are they taking an equity slice of the pie?

Being clear up front is vitally important to understand what you are giving up in return for the money. If it’s your own money, you’ll most likely want to know when you will get it back!

You will definitely want to carry out some due diligence against the company to make sure there are no hidden skeletons! This could involve everything from investigating the financial stability (and history) of the company, digging into the commercial contracts or completing legal due

diligence. Whichever way you look at it, you will not want to walk into a transaction without knowing what you are buying.

What will you do following completion? They say people are the largest asset. Looking after any employees will be paramount and investing in them may well be critical to the success of the business.

Take advice. When buying shares in a company, you will need some good accountancy, tax and legal advice. Quality matters.

Most of all, good luck with the purchase and remember that it’s not always the first thing that arrives which will be the right one!

NICHE | 17

NICHE WE ASKED YOU...

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We use our computer systems and programmes like MS Office – the standard stuff. It all about working smarter, not harder. If you have the tools to make life a little bit easier then why not use them? AI and automation can be as simple as the copy-and-paste function – I use this and dictation tools, so I don’t have to waste time typing things up. We have come to rely heavily on machines, though, so I’m still a little bit sceptical of using AI because technology isn’t foolproof.

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We’ve tried ChatGPT. We asked it to generate three creative concepts about space and cheese! The results were hilarious.

‘The Cheese-tronauts’ was a particular favourite – a romantic space adventure about a group of astronauts who embark on a mission to discover new and delicious cheese from different planets. The software is great at generating copy or ideas that can be used as jumping off points. We think it could be a very useful tool for idea generation.

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I use software to automate certain basic admin tasks and improve productivity. This frees up time to increase delivery of original strategic work. There’s talk among writers about the existential threat of AI. I think that’s a little way off. Commercially-available AI can currently produce generic content reasonably effectively, albeit often with errors which then require editing. But there remains a market for local understanding and contextual nuance. I wonder if clients will increasingly be able to recognise AI outputs and seek assurances that they’re getting human expertise for their money.

What’s your opinion on artificial intelligence?

AI is becoming a big part of our lives. Here’s what business leaders think to it WORDS BY KERRY SMITH l

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DMU careers team is working with Meta (Facebook) to trial how AI can help students practice for job interviews. It’s an exciting project called Bodyswap, which uses Oculus Quest VR headsets to put them into a ‘virtual’ interview environment and the AI is trained on their body language as they do virtual presentations.

They can sit in the ‘virtual audience’ afterwards and see themselves and get feedback.

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We value human and emotional intelligence more highly. We’ve road-tested several AI apps recently – most notably the ones that mooted to undermine the art of writing in the creative industries, as this could’ve had a direct impact on our PR and copywriting services at FU Media. Whilst they did churn out copy, it lacked the finesse, subtlety, and personality only an experienced hand can bring.

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The purpose of ‘art’ is about connecting to each other using the depths and rawness of our personal human experience. AI has no consciousness. It lacks emotion and the ability for unique innovation. There’s nothing artistic, genuine or emotionally moving about that. However, there is a place for it in the world: streamlining, automation, etc. So, we’ll all see how this pans out – maybe on our sofas unemployed as we all take leading roles in Terminator 7.

NICHE FEATURE: ACTIONCOACH LEICESTER

3 goals

to set for networking

When you’re at your next networking event, remember why you’re there

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You’re only there to arrange a cup of coffee at a later date

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All too often, networking events are seen as places to sell. But that’s not what you’re there for, says ActionCoach Phil Nassau

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etworking and dating are similar in many ways – this was the opening for a presentation I gave at the beginning of a networking event back in March on how to make the most of the next two hours.

I’m sure there have been times for all of us when we have spent a couple of hours at a networking event and wondered why we bothered.

Before technology came along, if you wanted to meet someone, you had to discover where people like you hang out. In business, if you want to grow your network, you need to discover where business owners who could help you hang out.

Finding business owners who can help you is the first principle of networking. The keywords here are ‘help you’. Too many people go to networking with the focus on doing business with people in the room, this may undoubtedly happen but

should not be the focus.

Your focus should be to speak to business owners who could help you in some way and start to build a relationship with them. They could be potential suppliers, potential recommenders, or business people in a similar industry to you. Running a business is tough and our focus can be fixed on selling. But if you are the only one tasked with this, how do you get in front of enough people? The answer is to have a group of people who will recommend you and this is where building your network becomes so important.

If you’re new to networking, then I challenge you – at your next networking event – to arrange one cup of coffee with a business person who could help grow your business. Once you have done this, leave the event and follow up with them the next day to lock in the meeting.

Don’t sell to the room; you are working around the room to find those who could be of help to you

TOO MANY PEOPLE GO TO NETWORKING WITH THE FOCUS ON DOING BUSINESS WITH PEOPLE IN THE ROOM

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The cornerstone of good networking is having good manners. People won’t just stand there listening to you run through your marketing material and why they should buy These should be the three goals you enter the room with at any networking event, no matter how big or small.

By using these actions over time, you will discover you have built a large network of business people who will recommend you because they have come to know and trust you. And the other great thing that happens is that you will be doing exactly the same for them. It’s no more complex than that.

There are more tips, advice and questionnaires at actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/ phil-nassau, as well as blogs on a range of topics to help run a business.

NICHE | 19

VIEW FROM CHEAPSIDE LOOKING TOWARDS THE NEW UNITS

A bright future for Leicester market Exciting new redevelopment plans will bring the city’s marketplace into the 21st century. City Centre Director Sarah Harrison reveals its vibrant future

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eicester Market is steeped in archaeological heritage and there’s always been a busy working market at the heart of our city for centuries. The proposals for £9m of improvements are aimed at preserving the character of the traditional market, while updating it for the benefit of both traders and shoppers and creating a trading zone fit for the 21st century.

Ideas for improvements include upgrades for stalls, better lighting, smart new paving and a shuttered perimeter that would keep the site secure at night. All of the old wooden stalls – now in poor condition – would be removed and 84 smart new stalls would be installed in their place, creating an attractive environment for the traders of fruit and veg, haberdashery, secondhand goods, and other commodities. The layout of the new stalls would make way for more convenient pedestrian flows through the market

20 | NICHE

and create a greatly improved customer experience.

As part of the proposals, sections of the market roof on either side of the historic Corn Exchange would be removed, opening up views of the Grade II listed building and creating space for new trading opportunities.

Attractive, flexible and lockable units featuring green roofs would be installed in front of the indoor food hall to attract a new generation of traders offering a diverse range of quality goods.

On the opposite side, the space could be used for temporary specialist markets or special events, while an expanded café would be relocated to a site adjacent to Dolphin Square, where it would offer its customers more outdoor seating and a much more attractive view of the market area. By moving the café, the market area would become more visible from Gallowtree Gate, helping to

BUSINESS NEWS

VIEW FROM DOLPHIN SQUARE LOOKING TOWARD THE MARKET

IMAGES: HICKMAN AND SMITH ARCHITECTS, LEICESTER

Ideas for improvements include upgrades for stalls, better lighting, smart new paving and a shuttered perimeter

better connect the market with the busy pedestrian route.

Whilst refurbishment works are underway, the outdoor market and its traders would relocate to Green Dragon Square, where around 50 covered stalls and up to 20 lockable units under a large canopy would provide a temporary home for the historic market.

The proposed investment would complement other significant improvements carried out by the city council in the area over the last decade. This includes the demolition of the 1970s indoor market hall, the creation of an attractive new food hall, the opening of Green Dragon Square, the upgrading of all the roads and footways around the perimeter of the market area and the creation of a high-quality new pedestrian route from Town Hall Square.

A new wall mural celebrating the history of Leicester Market through the ages will create an exciting gateway to the market area from Town Hall Square. Graffwerk artists will start to create this large-scale art piece from mid-April, so why not pop down and take a look!

A snapshot of Leicester Market’s history

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eicester’s market has been a place of social and cultural importance since the 13th century. In 1589 Queen Elizabeth I mentioned the market in a charter. In the early 20th Century, Leicester Market was the largest public place in the city where significant events took place, including political rallies often led by unemployment rights activist Amos Sheriff and suffragette Alice Hawkins. In 2018 a bronze statue of Alice was unveiled.

In 1973 an indoor Market Hall was opened; this was later demolished in 2015 to create a new, attractive public space for events. A new Food hall opened in 2014. In 2020 Green Dragon Square was officially named when HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH The Duchess of Cornwall unveiled a plaque.

NICHE | 21

NICHE COVER STORY CRS MATRIX

Connecting the dots:

The modern world offers us many ways to connect with each other – social media, phone, email, online… but sometimes a grander idea ties us all together. Gas and heating specialist CRS Matrix is incorporating this concept into their company rebrand. Owner Shám Padda told us more WORDS BY TOM YOUNG

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e all need the essentials: food, heat, hot water, light and connectivity. These elements are fundamental for a fulfilling and productive life. We often don’t think about this, yet when any one of these becomes unavailable, it creates a real problem. If we imagine ourselves at the centre of a hub, with attachments to each of those necessities, breaking the connection to any one of them is detrimental to the overall structure of our life.

CRS Matrix – formerly known as CRS Gas & Heating – are now folding this idea into their company culture.

Providing professional gas, heating and electrical services for the private rental and domestic property sector across Leicestershire, owner Shám Padda believes that every person should have access to the basics in life, including heat, light and connectivity. The new Matrix logo depicts a ‘sacred octagon’, representing the connectivity of all things in life.

“It reflects the meaning of life to me,” says Shám, who’s worked in the gas industry for over 22 years.

“Each strand that you follow out still leads back to the centre. We’ve shown the M [for ‘Matrix’] through five dots, to represent the way we send out information, yet it all leads back to us at the core.”

“We’re all at the centre of our own network and everything is connected – even if it’s not immediately obvious as to how. The links may be to other people, businesses or even to life’s essentials.

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“Certain basic elements are part of the innate infrastructure of our lives. When we wake up in the morning and turn a light or the shower on, and it doesn’t work, that’s when you notice it – but otherwise, these things get forgotten about.”

It’s always the things we take for granted that cause the biggest disturbances when they break. For Shám, a lack of heating is a vivid formative memory.

“I grew up in care, and I slept in a small room with a cold radiator. One day, there was a British Gas van parked next door, and I remember thinking: ‘I wonder if they could fix my radiator’. I only remembered that recently, and find it interesting, considering what I went on to do.

“Being in care is also a factor in what’s driven me; I once had a care worker who told me: ‘Kids in care don’t do very well in life… especially those from ethnic backgrounds’.

I was defiant to the idea at the time, but as an adult I have come to realise the difference between chasing something you’ve been told is out of reach, and reaching for something you know you can achieve.

“When you’ve seen a hurdle, you have to empower yourself to overcome it. Feed yourself – not just with food and drink, but with mindfulness and social interaction as well. And this is where the sacred geometry of the octagon comes in.”

Having always worked with private landlords and domestic property owners, CRS Matrix has expanded beyond heating and gas to incorporate electricity, hydrogen-

NICHE COVER STORY CRS MATRIX

We’ve got to be responsive and reliable. We do what we say we’re going to do, we turn up when we say we’re going to turn up ready boilers, and renewable energies such as solar panels and electric vehicle charging ports within their expertise.

“The new name reflects that we’re not just about one or two things. We’ll still complete your gas certificate, and provide solar panels and electric vehicle charging, but it’s become more than that. Landlords come to us to feel confident, comforted, and for us to help protect their investment. And better homes mean happier tenants.”

An open dialogue is a vital factor in how CRS Matrix connects with its clients, agents, and tenants. Shám and his team aim to maintain open and positive communication with anyone who reaches out to them.

“Open dialogue is very important to us. If someone calls us asking for advice, we’ll help them. We’ll also be open about pricing. If we’re a good fit for them, that’s great.

Otherwise, we’re just glad to have pointed them in the right direction. Clients and tenants feel confident that they can bring their issues to us. And when we work with a client,

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we know we‘ve got to be responsive and reliable. We do what we say we’re going to do, we turn up when we say we’re going to turn up.

“We’re positioning ourselves as a trusted name in the industry. That reputation has allowed us the privilege of working with our loyal customers for many years, and continues to bring new clients to us daily. We’re showing that we can simplify compliance and maximise returns.”

Shám is offering advice exclusively for Niche readers on 0116 502 4280. And, there’s more information at crsmatrix.co.uk for landlords and tenants who wish to learn about the connectivity between energy and lifestyle.

NICHE FEATURE: LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY CRICKET CLUB

Leicestershire County Cricket Club’s

£60m masterplan

LCCC are in talks with a local university to create a cricket academy and plan to build healthcare and retail facilities WORDS BY KERRY SMITH

C

ould cricket become one of the very first things people associate with Leicester? The city is famous for its football and rugby teams, history, musicians and food production. But since an ambitious £60m masterplan was revealed for Leicestershire County Cricket Club (LCCC) in March, the Uptonsteel County Ground might just become one thing Leicester is most renowned for in future.

“We’re trying to create a game changer for LCCC. We want to compete at the highest level and to do that requires regular investment. We’ve got to create a ground that can operate all year round – and that means giving Uptonsteel County Ground a complete makeover,” LCCC CEO Sean Jarvis told Niche.

Cricket is top of the agenda, with plans to provide modern day facilities first and foremost.

Sean said: “Our challenge has always been that we’ve developed cricketers and then they’ve been taken by bigger counties. The masterplan allows us to grow, giving players a land of opportunity here at Grace Road as we become one of those bigger counties.”

The second stage looks to “build something that serves the community” in the form of residential housing, healthcare and retail. The club is a special place for Sean, with his dad having once been an umpire at Grace Road and his ashes scattered at the ground.

“It’s a very emotive club for me and it’s the reason why I’m here. We want to be successful in every aspect of club management – on and off field – so when people work here, we want them to think about how their working day can put Leicester first, asking how they’re driving the city.”

Finally, Leicester will see a global first with the launch of an MBA in cricket administration.

LCCC is currently working with Loughborough University to establish the course, which will include lectures from Sean and the team. Mark Lewis, Dean of the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University, said: “LCCC has an important place in the regional and national sporting landscape.

The potential of an academic offering in partnership with higher education providers such as

THE MASTERPLAN ALLOWS US TO GROW, GIVING PLAYERS A LAND OF OPPORTUNITY HERE AT GRACE ROAD

Loughborough University will be an attractive proposition.”

Sean said: “When a cricketer’s career comes to an end, there is then the chance to continue in the sport. People who have been playing for a long time often disappear from the game, taking their intelligence with them and it’s such a shame. It’s about keeping that intel inside the game, but also attracting people from outside.”

Leicester City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: “I welcome the cricket club’s announcement and their plans to bring wider benefits to the local community, including new academic programmes with the potential to put Leicestershire on the international stage.”

LCCC has grown in membership and corporate partnerships, increased spend in its conference and banqueting services, and record event attendee numbers at it’s 19,999 capacity concert ground, which will host Tom Jones in July. “It’s an exciting time to be part of what we can collectively build for Leicester,” Sean told us, appealing for those interested in sponsorship to email enquiries@leicestershireccc.co.uk.

“We need as many friends as possible. Success is not linear ,but I promise that we’ll have fun along the way.”

NICHE | 25

Full steam ahead S Serving as many visitors’ gateway to the city, Leicester City Council has revealed plans to renovate the historic station building, enhancing the experience of railway travellers WORDS BY TOM YOUNG

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eeking to return Leicester station to its Victorian glory, the city council has revealed ambitious plans to breathe new life into the landmark building, creating a more attractive and accessible entrance to the city. Assistance in realising the scheme will be provided by £17.6m from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund, with the plan involving the main entrance of the station being relocated to open into Station Street, directly facing the city centre.

“Leicester’s railway station is a beautiful building,” said City Mayor, Peter Soulsby, “but is in need of a radical overhaul to help it meet the needs of a modern city the size of Leicester.

“The award of over £17m from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund is a tremendous endorsement of the importance of this project. Since then, we have been carrying out detailed design work and we’re very excited to share new images that show how the station will look following its ambitious redevelopment.”

Working in partnership with Network Rail and East Midlands Railway (EMR), along with the support of key industry stakeholders, the council’s plans include a remodelling of the outside area, with the original Station Street façade of the Grade II-listed building to be revealed and carefully restored. There will be a new ramp and steps leading up to the main entrance to the main concourse and ticket hall. A reconfigured and opened up ticket hall will provide more space for passengers, and new skylights

NICHE FEATURE: LEICESTER TRAIN STATION

will be installed in place of the existing suspended ceiling.

This will further enhance the sense of space and let more natural light into this part of the building.

There will also be a new secure cycle store created close to the new entrance, and Station Street will be closed to traffic and replaced with a pedestrianised open space with trees and landscaping.

Taxis will be relocated from inside the existing covered main entrance hall – or porte-cochere – to a new purposebuilt looped taxi rank area off Fox Street, adjacent to the new entrance. This will free up the glass-roofed portecochere to be revamped as an attractive new plaza for cafés, bars or retail.

In the proposed transformation, the plans will see the demolition of the Parcel Yard pub building and the next-door taxi office. The owners have been informed, with negotiations ongoing. Planning and listed building consent will also be required before work can start on site.

It is estimated that Leicester railway station is currently used by around five million passengers each year, but it’s forecasted to increase by around 60 per cent over the next 20 years. If given the go-ahead, work is expected to start on-site later this year.

Before then, the public are invited to voice their opinion on the proposals through an online consultation and digital walkthrough of the plans via leicester.gov.uk/station. Feedback can be submitted up until Monday, April 10.

The History of Leicester Station May 4, 1840 Opened by Midland Counties Railway. All that remains of the original station is a pair of Egyptian-style gateposts in Campbell Street.

1841 Soon-to-be travel agency magnate Thomas Cook organises his first travel excursions from Leicester to Loughborough, for the attandance of a temperance meeting.

1845 Cook organises his first for-profit outing, a railway journey to Liverpool from Leicester, Nottingham and Derby.

1892-1894 Station is completely rebuilt with new frontage in London Road that remains to this day.

1978 The interior of the booking hall and platform structures are reconstructed by British Rail. The station clock is the only hand-wound station clock in the UK. 1991 A commemorative statue of Thomas Cook is placed outside the station. It was sculpted by James Butler.

2006 Automatic ticket gates are added to cut down on fare evasion.

2023 Plans to redevelop the station entrance are revealed by the city council.

NICHE | 27

NICHE FEATURE: MIPIM

Investing in Leicester

Team Leicester went to France again this year to promote investment in the city to major high profile delegates at MIPIM, ‘the world’s leading property market’ WORDS BY KERRY SMITH

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wenty-three thousand delegates from 90 countries attended the four-day MIPIM conference and exhibition in Cannes, France, March 14-17. MIPIM (Le Marché International des Professionnels de L’immobilier) was established in 1990 to bring together the most influential players from all sectors of the international real estate industry.

Investors, developers, local authorities, service providers and hotel groups attend the event, gathering together to find new projects, meet potential business partners, showcase projects, and

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I THINK A CLEAR REALISATION IS THAT THE PROPERTY INDUSTRY HAS A VERY IMPORTANT AND RESPONSIBLE ROLE TO PLAY IN DELIVERING SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

highlight their expertise.

Team Leicester attended to promote our city to a global audience, build urban development strategy and connect with future partners.

The message from Team Leicester and public sector inward investment arm, Invest in Leicester, was that Leicester has huge potential for growth and inward investment in the space and space technologies sector.

Rob McGuinn, chair of Team Leicester and partner at MDA Consulting said: “I think a clear realisation is that the property industry has a very important and responsible role to play in delivering sustainable growth, by maximising ESG (Environmental Sustainability Goals), innovation and technology solutions that are able to accelerate the transformation of the built environment towards a more sustainable model. With all of Leicester’s experience in hightech growth industries, not just in space, we are very well placed to deliver that.”

Over 60 delegates attended the team’s ‘Space for Growth’ Gala Dinner at Grey D’Albion hotel in Cannes on Wednesday, March 15. With the coinciding launch of Space City Leicester the day before, there is a strong commitment from public and private sector partners to develop and champion Leicester as a cluster area for

space research, production, and manufacturing.

Richard Osborn, director of Team Leicester and regional director of Excello Law said: “There is no doubt that Leicester and Leicestershire presented itself very well and professionally this year at MIPIM. Clearly delivered our message to a significant audience that our region is a quality place to invest and do business, whether in the space industry or other sectors.

“This message was very well received by all who attended.

One guest who did not know Leicester before the dinner, said that he ‘genuinely had a very different view of Leicester’ after the gala dinner – and given that was the whole point of the evening, felt it was a roaring success! This is exactly the sort of fantastic feedback we aspired to receive!”

Mike Denby, director of inward investment and place marketing at Leicester City Council added: “Whilst the measure of success for any MIPIM may sometimes take months or even years to manifest, the feedback has clearly been tremendous.

“This will hopefully result in securing investment into our city and county in the coming months. The team have already begun to follow up the conversations and opportunities that have been created.”

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NICHE FEATURE: BREEDON CONSULTING

Employment law post-Brexit: all change…?

This year, the effects of Brexit will strike at the heart of UK employment laws, with over 2,400 pieces of EU law set to be reviewed and either transferred to UK law or dropped and no longer in effect. It’s a complicated time for employers, but HR specialists Breedon Consulting are preparing for the unknown WORDS BY TOM YOUNG

T

he UK has seen an unprecedented level of change and uncertainty surrounding its employment laws since 2016. Having previously been a relatively stable and consistent field, the effect of both Brexit and Covid-19 have created the need for change, often leaving employers in the dark until the last moment.

“When furlough was introduced, it happened overnight,” says Nicki Robson, director of HR company Breedon Consulting. “Furlough was an American concept that had never been seen in the UK. I was watching Rishi Sunak on the news and immediately had clients calling me to ask: ‘What does this mean?’ My answer was: ‘I don’t know yet’.”

It was a sharp learning curve for everyone, but Breedon’s advantage was that they were able to learn quickly and apply that knowledge for each of their clients, across the board. This was far more efficient than each individual business having to learn it for themselves.

Now, with the landscape of UK employment law set to undergo its biggest shift in years, Breedon is once again preparing for the unknown.

“The truth is no one knows what’s going to happen. Some laws may change completely; others may be adopted as is. What we do know is that Breedon will be in a strong position to adapt because of our foundational knowledge of what’s already in place.”

The only other thing known for certain is that the deadline to make these changes has been fixed at no later than June 23, 2026. No extensions can be made beyond that date, which happens to be the 10-year anniversary of the Brexit vote.

“The government want to be able to say: ‘Within 10 years of Brexit, we’ve got rid of all the European legislation that’s been holding you back – just like we said we would’. It’ll be a significant landmark for them, but it’s difficult for everyone else to plan for. Changes could come all at once, or it could be a piecemeal approach where

THE TRUTH IS NO ONE KNOWS WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN. SOME LAWS MAY CHANGE

it happens bit by bit. We’re preparing for every eventuality, so when it does come in, Breedon will be ready for it.”

Breedon Consulting share advice on their website at breedonconsulting.co.uk/latestnews on HR-related topics.

COMPLETELY; OTHERS MAY BE ADOPTED AS IS

Employment legislation that may be affected ◆ TUPE (Transfer of

Undertakings (Protection of Employment)) ◆ Working Time Regulations ◆ Part-time Workers and Fixed-term Workers Regulations (protection against discrimination) ◆ Agency Workers Regulations ◆ GDPR (Data Protection Act will stay) ◆ Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (limits employers’ ability to monitor phone, email, etc) NICHE | 31

HE10 Quote NIC % off to get 10 st of your fir nage vehicle sig purchase

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NICHE FEATURE: MINT CONDITION

Mint condition With many banks no longer holding safety deposit boxes, Mint Securities is filling the void, keeping personal treasures and valuable items safe WORDS BY TOM YOUNG

F

or almost a decade, Mint Securities has been Leicester’s leading privately-run safety deposit box centre, with the original site in London Road, and a second, larger facility in MacDonald Road.

“Before we opened in London Road, we were originally looking at another site in Freemens Common,” says operational manager, Kiran Gohel. “But when the London Road building became available, which was a former bank, we knew it was better because it already had a vault and a private car park.”

The car park has proven a popular selling point with Mint’s clients, as it minimises the distance they have to carry their valuables between the car and their safety deposit box, allowing for additional privacy.

“Our industry is all about trust,” says finance manager,

Zula Parmar. “Our clients can feel confident that we’ll protect their property. We have very few on-site staff, and access to the building – the vault especially – is controlled with locks, cameras, and fingerprint scanners.”

If you have valuable items in your home – especially those that can’t be replaced – thinking about ways to keep them safe can often be an afterthought, until it’s too late.

Commonly stored items include documents such as wills, birth certificates, military records and business contracts, as well as jewellery, antiques, irreplaceable items, photos and family heirlooms. Cash up to the value of £500,000 can also be kept in the boxes.

“It’s not uncommon for our clients to sign up with us after they’ve been burgled. It brings the need to protect their assets to the forefront of their minds, as

WHEN THE BUSINESS FIRST STARTED, THE PLAN WAS TO TAKE IT NATIONAL, BUT WE REALISED IT TAKES TIME TO BUILD TRUST AND REPUTATION

– obviously – it’s far safer in our vault than it is in a private home.”

Having built up their clientele over the past decade, and with the London Road boxes very nearly full, Mint Securities are starting to think about where they’ll go next.

“We’ve got plenty of space at the large MacDonald Road site, and we’ve considered adding a second vault to our London Road centre. Beyond that, at some point in the future, we’d like to expand to other cities; when the business first started, the plan was to take it national, but we realised it takes time to build trust and reputation, so we’ll need a more gradual approach.”

There is more information about Mint Securities’ services, including insurance and on-site valuations, on their website at mintsecurities.co.uk, along with details of what items can be stored in their boxes.

NICHE | 33

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NICHE FEATURE: ER RECRUITMENT

De-risking Recruitment ‘Bad hires’ can be detrimental to business.

Specialists at ER Recruitment share the risks of getting recruitment wrong

R

ecruitment remains one of the biggest challenges for employers – and getting it wrong can result in wasted time, costs, and turbulence within a team. In times of a talent shortage and with job adverts at an alltime high, it’s tempting to make quicker hiring decisions than normal. Whilst this isn’t always the case, when it does happen, the implications can be huge.

What is a ‘bad hire’?

It’s a term commonly used when recruitment goes wrong. Whilst we’re all aware that organisations can occasionally hire a bad egg, generally it’s not to do with the individual themselves but that the recruitment process was not thorough enough to properly identify skillsets, attitudes and performance. People are more likely to leave a role within the first three months (Office for National Statistics).

In our years of conducting exit interviews, we’ve found that these resignations could have often been avoided if better onboarding, training and support was provided.

As an employer, you may think you’ve only got it wrong on occasion and that it hasn’t really cost, so there’s no need to do anything differently in the long term. However, a recent CIPD survey of HR managers showed that 85% believed a company they’d worked for had at some point made a hire that they knew

wouldn’t stay in the business for a long period. It happens frequently, so businesses clearly aren’t sufficiently aware of the financial impact to change their recruitment processes.

Why are unsuccessful hires made?

Recruiting is tough. The market is immensely candidate-driven and business leaders often feel they must move quickly when making decisions, but it’s also related to a lack of forward recruitment planning, resulting in organisations feeling the pressure to hire to meet demand. There are several other reasons why companies make decisions that lead to poor hires, including: ◆ Inadequate strategy review or lack of communication between departments ◆ Poor reference, qualification or skills checking ◆ Unconscious bias and hiring like-for-like ◆ Poor job descriptions and advertising attracting the wrong candidates ◆ Weak in-house skills and experience when interviewing ◆ Insufficient onboarding and support

What is the true cost of an unsuccessful hire?

It’s not just time wasted or recruitment fees that comprise the true cost. There are training costs and any loss of productivity

IT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY, SO BUSINESSES CLEARLY AREN’T AWARE OF THE FINANCIAL IMPACT ENOUGH TO CHANGE THEIR RECRUITMENT PROCESSES

to consider, potential termination costs, as well as non-quantifiable detrimental effects on morale, brand reputation and turnover of other staff. PWC estimates the total cost can be anything from 50% to 150% of the annual salary in question. When it comes to leadership positions, the costs can be even greater.

How to prevent unsuccessful hires

Hiring successfully comes down to three things: a rigorous recruitment process, training your hiring managers on how to interview and onboard effectively, and ensuring job adverts are exciting to attract skilled candidates with a genuine interest in joining the team.

In the past, we’ve seen lots of employers move too fast or cut corners, only to start the recruitment process again later.

A trusted recruitment partner will understand the business’s needs, culture and team as well as the candidate’s skills, motivations and career history to make the perfect match. Taking the time to get it right is crucial in securing the right talent who will have longevity in the business.

Businesses can get in touch via eileenrichardsrecruitment.co.uk for a free consultation on how to attract talent or to see current job listings.

NICHE | 35

Niche Magazine turns 10 Finding the story

As Niche Magazine turns a decade young this year, Niche Journalist Emily Miller reflects on how it all began

I

couldn’t have imagined we would be where we are today ten years ago as I sat with Jenny Cross and a handful of others listening to her dreams of a new magazine for the business community in Leicester.

I had my own dreams of course. A keen writer who at this point had her fair share of jobs which left her uninspired and occasionally crying in headquarters office toilets (insert large retail bank here), I’d finally been given the chance to put my DMU English degree to some use.

Jenny swiftly set things up in what felt like the space of one day, and Cross Productions and Niche Magazine was born.

Company names, laptops, magazine titles and concepts, designers, account managers and dreams were put in motion as I tentatively opened a Word doc and conducted an interview for my first feature for Niche Magazine.

I soon had a list as long as my arm of interviewees awaiting my call and a whole magazine to write entirely on my own. Feeling a little more than a little out of my depth and ever so slightly as though I was playing at ‘making a magazine’, I dialled the number for top divorce lawyer Glynis Wright , and the rest is history!

36 | NICHE

Not once did Jenny question whether I knew what I was doing, nor did she tell me how to do it – she trusted my ability before I did and still does ten years later.

Sounds exciting, doesn’t it? Well, it was. It still is all these years later. Receiving the first issue back from the printers was harrowing. All I could see were my mistakes and yet it felt like they were all part and parcel of growing and learning to make each issue better. We worked together as a small team to close the previous issue and start a new one with renewed hope that this time, this issue, would be even better than the last.

That’s still how I feel at issue 54. That I get to work with an amazing and inspiring team on each magazine and then I get the chance to do it all over again, improving each time on the last. The cyclical nature of it is enticing, it comes with the opportunity to get that back-to-school type feeling with each new issue.

When anyone asks me what I like about my job, it’s always a two-fold answer: working on an ever-evolving project being one part. The writing you see, as it turns out, isn’t where the passion is for me.. What I really love, is the people. More specifically, interviewing them. I know I’m great at this and it’s why I’m able to add real value to Niche

NICHE FEATURE: NICHE MAGAZINE

NICHE COVER STORY

Leicester’s Little Theatre is usually a venue for stage by local compan shows produced ies, although it has been in darkness lockdown. Niche throughout the magazine’s parent com pany, creative ma agency Cross Pro rketing ductions, decide d to light up the sta a photoshoot wit ge again for h its personnel.

Here’s why... WOR DS BY KERRY

T

#FindYourNiche September/October 2020

TIONS S PRODINUC CROSMARK ETING ANIMATED TIMES GROWTH

First Impressions

Tapping into consumer psychology

Driving Economic Recovery Business advice from industry leaders

Call in the Coaches

As we explore different coaching styles

GOING

We invest heavily in personal development and it reflects hugely in what they do. So yes, I am proud of reaching this milestone readers and produce insightful and inspiring articles.

The business community here in Leicester is a diverse and fascinating one, and with each interview, I love to understand a little more about what makes people good at what they do, and actually what makes them human.

Finding the story.

Jenny said: “I used to say I am proud every time a magazine came back from the printers, often saying ‘oh my god this is the best one yet’, but one day I realised that each one actually is the best one yet. That’s because with each issue, the team developed their skills.

“We invest heavily in personal development and it

SMITH

he stage was still set with Ruby Savag design for Blue Stockings; the popu e’s lar play sadly cut short as lockdown began.

We chose The Little Theatre in Dover Street for its Leicester roots.

Its people are passi supporting local onate about talent, which is what we’re all about here at Niche’s paren t company, Cross Productions.

Taking centre stage for the first time business for seven after being in years, we wante d Niche readers meet the people to behind the page s.

Now, as Editor, I’m stepping outsid e the team to shine the interview spotli back on our comp ght any.

This September /October cover features the strikin animated image g, of the Cross team wearing face mask the future, issue s. In 39 will represent the poignant time they were most when deeply affected by the pandemic. it symbolises the To them success of the comp clients – making any – and that of it through these its turbulent months March 2020. since

UP? THE STORY BEH

IND

that the concept for this issue’s front cover was forme Ultimately, it’s artwo d. rk that will reson with each indivi ate independently dual. But, for the creative marketing agency’s employee s, it portrays how they’ve seen the world during this time; as if elements of it were untrue, well as the pride they now feel havin as g been through struggle of comin the g to terms with the reality of the situat Supporting local ion. businesses and communities is core of Cross and at the why it exists. Local photographer Hitz Rao, who doub led up as entertaine effortlessly to snap r, worked the perfect image s. Local Artistic Designer of Creat ive Direction, David image, giving it Major, worked on a colou the company Maskology rful and animation expression.

Local acted quickly to provide the brand face coverings after ed a last-minute phon course, local venu e call. And, of e The Little Thea tre helpfully and hosted the shoo humbly t.

ELEVATING BRA ND

POTENTIAL

Niche Magazine, a product of Cross , personifies the of the creative mark ethos eting agency. It brings businesses together with the purpose of build ing a thriving local economy. Niche exemplifies Cross ’ ‘Going up?’ eleva slogan, which conve tor ys the idea that they can journey clients through the levels to eleva with te their brand aware and opportunities ness to do business.

With pages show casing large corpo to SMEs, advice rations through and guidance for busin entertainment and essowners, business news, Cross created this bi-monthly publi cation to help supp ort all things local,

Cross Productio ns takes the stag e

THE COVER These times, over the course of this pandemic, have “animated and surre felt al” for the team, according to CEO Jenny Cross. It’s why the colourful carto image was creat ed, and it represents on-like cover their ‘outside the thoughts and ideas box’ – something they do for their client Jenny said: “We’v s too. e company throughou had so many changes in the t lockdown and one of the chang implemented was es allocated thinking time.” Yes, thinki time. Getting paid ng to do nothing but simply think and browse the intern et for a percentage of your working is somewhat guilt-i week nducing, but Jenny believes this is how great ideas can be formed. And it’s due to this thinki ng time

building awareness of local companies Niche, Cross has and initiatives. With the ability to sprea d positivity and news articles throu good ghout the county – and beyond, with online format. the Expanding on the magazine’s ration said: “Niche is Leice ale, Jenny Cross ster’s leading busin publication, which ess to business has been feeding the business mind our readers for more than seven s of years now. Addin to our content, we g value have a variety of contributors acros range of industries sa offering their expe others succeed. rtise in order to help We are eternally grateful to each them – it takes time one of and effort. This reflects the supp business comm ortive unity we enjoy in Leicester.

reflects hugely in what they do. So yes, I am proud of reaching this milestone, but actually, the way I have seen the team develop and grow and what they now bring to the business – that’s what I am most proud of.”

There’s so much we have been through together too.

We’ve lived through a pandemic, a recession, meeting new team members, and moving into new offices. We’ve also had so much going on in our personal lives too. Babies were born, families altered, relationships ended and new ones began.

And yet, as a team, all these things have only made us stronger, with real supportive relationships being formed and maintained through it all.

Jenny gave me the opportunity to do what I love by realising her own dream. I never saw myself as a writer, but Jenny did. And here I am a decade later filling in forms in the occupation box with a title that still feels ever so slightly surreal.

That’s the Cross Productions effect, and this isn’t where the story ends. In lots of ways, as we grow and diversify with the times, it feels like just the beginning – as exciting as that first day when I opened a Word doc and typed, ‘Niche. Iss 1’.

NICHE | 37

Bang on trend Niche puts some of the most active business trends of the year so far under the microscope WORDS BY TOM YOUNG

A

Sustainability for environmental reasons has been prevalent in people’s minds for years now. However, in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, sustainability for the sake of affordability is a new factor to consider when it comes to product design.

Consumers are looking to buy products that are durable and long-lasting, so they can be relied upon time and again, and not have to constantly reinvest in a new version. They’re also choosing brands that share their ethical and environmental values (and abandoning those that don’t). So, if you can create products in a way that is good for the environment and the people who make them, you’ll be on to a winner.

Intelligence (AI), virtual/augmented reality (VR/AR), and superfast network protocols like 5G have all provided new ways for businesses to interact with both staff and consumers alike.

The pandemic necessitated a world of hybrid working, but this would not have been possible without the evolution of digital technologies, with faster internet connections, fibre optic, and previously unheard-of software keeping us connected.

AI is changing the way we produce content and solve problems, speeding up tasks that used to take hours down to mere minutes. We’ve written about the impact of this elsewhere in this issue (see page 46).

VR and AR are creating new, immersive experiences for consumers, allowing them to interact with your brand like never before. Fashion retailers such as Hugo Boss and Walmart have created virtual fitting rooms, where you can dress up body-accurate avatars of yourself, to see how their clothes will fit you, without ever setting foot in their stores.

Accelerated digital transformation

The talent challenge

s we enter the second quarter of the year, we can start to analyse the trends that have formed, telling us what the significant areas of business will be for the year. This is what stands out.

Affordable sustainability

Digital technology has taken another step forward in the last few years, with significant new capabilities becoming increasingly common in the market. The rise of Artificial 38 | NICHE

One of the major trends of last year was the concept of ‘quiet quitting’, with staff realising that they had no incentive to do more than they were contractually paid to

NICHE FEATURE: BUSINESS TRENDS

Consumers are engaging with companies that have a figurehead whose story they can connect with

do, and waving goodbye to unpaid overtime, taking work home, and undue stress. This, coupled with the ‘great resignation’, showed signs of a workforce re-evaluating what they wanted out of post-pandemic life, and no longer settling for a ‘good enough’ career.

In 2023, one of the challenges will be finding fresh ways to engage your workforce, make them feel valued and fulfilled, and positive about coming to work.

It has never been more important to provide attractive careers, with the flexibility of hybrid working, and an enticing work environment and company culture.

Yet employers are also faced with the skills gap in rapidly expanding industries such as data science, AI, and other technology areas, all of which will be essential in preparing your business for the future.

Training staff and providing them with opportunities to grow and feel secure about their futures will be pivotal.

Supply chain security

Severe supply chain disruptions that were created by Covid and made worse by the war in Ukraine will continue to plague businesses.

Companies will need to find a resiliency against this, especially with ongoing inflation and slowing economic growth.

Exploring ways to build protective measures into supply chains to deal with shortages and rising logistical costs. This might involve sourcing alternative suppliers and becoming more self-reliant by moving manufacturing in-house.

Founder-led brands

You might be your business’s biggest asset.

More and more, consumers are engaging with companies that have a figurehead whose story they can connect with. We see this in both SMEs and large corporations.

For years now, Rihanna has made more money from her Fenty fashion and cosmetics lines than she has her music. This reached an impressive apex at this year’s Superbowl – a three-second spot of her touching up her make-up during the half-time show was enough to generate the brand $5.6m in just the first 12 hours. While other companies spent millions on advertising, Rihanna spent three seconds on her make-up, and blew them all out of the water. Why? Because people are invested in the figure, not the company.

For entrepreneurs and SME owners, this approach can be just as important; your personal brand helps to build consumer trust. By positioning oneself as a thought leader, by engaging in industry conversation, and making yourself a visible part of the business, consumers will come to know you, and trust that you know what you’re talking about. It’s a personal touch that makes your business more than a faceless entity.

NICHE | 39

12 business awards to apply for Niche has compiled this selected list of business awards to work towards in the next two years.

Start putting your applications together now! WORDS BY KERRY SMITH

I

t’s not just about winning – it really is the taking part that counts. Business awards, just by the very act of applying, boost team morale. Awards applications are a great way to gain feedback from judges and get your business and deserving employees in front of some top-tier business people.

A great tool for PR and publicity, business awards often come with ready-made press releases and social media assets to share with your audience. Thus, your company gains trust and credibility, allowing you to reach new heights of success with your customers and partners.

Here are some great awarding organisations for Leicestershire businesses to get prepping their supporting evidence for in 2023 and 2024...

40 | NICHE

BizX Forum and Awards

Area: International Nominations open in October This ceremony honours the accomplishments, achievements, values and contributions of businesses and their owners across the UK, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

East Midlands Chamber Business Awards

Area: Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire Nominations close in early June These celebrate success in the East Midlands, and those who are at the forefront when it comes to driving the UK’s ‘Engine for Growth’.

Enterprising Women’s Awards

Area: East Midlands Nominations close April 29 East Midlands Chamber hosts the Enterprising Women’s Awards for applicants working in Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

Generation Next Awards

Area: East Midlands Nominations open later this year These awards are organised by East Midlands Chamber and celebrate the success of professionals aged 18-35.

Their ceremonies usually come with a twist!

NICHE FEATURE: AWARDS TO APPLY FOR

Leicestershire Law Society Awards

The Scale-Up Awards

Nachural Entrepreneurship Awards

The Small Awards

Niche Business Awards

The StartUp Awards

Real Entrepreneurs’ Awards

The Women’s Awards

Area: Leicestershire Nominations open in November From will writers to barristers and everything in between. These awards shine the spotlight on deserving professionals of the legal sector in Leicestershire.

Area: East Midlands Nominations open later this year Believing that cultivating the entrepreneurial spirit drives economic growth, this well-attended awards ceremony awards innovation among entrepreneurs.

Area: Leicestershire Nominations open December 1 This one is run by us. We welcome over 500 guests at Athena annually. Its unique themes each year set it apart from the more formal ceremonies.

Area: East Midlands Nominations open December 1 This one is run by us too. The Real Entrepreneurs’ Awards is a large-scale event that provides great networking opportunities to make connections with high-flying business people.

Area: National Nominations close April 23 Open to all UK companies regardless of sector or size, the Scale-Up Awards is a dynamic celebration of business achievement and growth.

Area: National Nominations open in December A newer ceremony, The Small Awards comprises a list of categories on the more quirky side such as the High Street Hero, Heart of Gold, and Mission Possible award.

Area: National Nominations open in November The StartUp Awards are an established national programme. A less formal event, the ceremonies are usually full of colour.

Area: East and West Midlands Nominations close June 30 The Women’s Awards aims to raise awareness and honour the hard work and valuable contribution made by women of all cultures, communities, races, and beliefs, in all sectors.

NICHE | 41

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NOMINATE AND BUY TICKETS HERE: THEWOMENSAWARDS.COM

NICHE FEATURE: THE BIG DIFFERENCE

Laughs for all ages One of Leicester’s long-standing cultural beacons is the annual comedy festival. While it takes place in February, audiences can get a taste of what’s to come at the annual preview show. Now, for the first time, UK Kids’ Comedy Festival will also provide a sneak peek WORDS BY TOM YOUNG

I

t’s a new era at Big Difference Company. With Leicester Comedy Festival founder Geoff Rowe having departed at the end of this year’s event, the new team has begun making plans for the future. This begins with the announcement of the annual gala preview show, returning to De Montfort Hall and taking place on January 12, 2024.

Big Difference is the charity which grew out of the hugely successful Leicester Comedy Festival. They are the same dedicated people, who work year-round with communities across Leicester and Leicestershire, producing programmes, projects and events to improve people’s lives through comedy, laughter and the arts.

The Leicester Comedy Festival’s annual gala preview show began in 2002, and presents the chance for audiences to see a flavour of the difference acts coming to the festival that year. Always a sell-out, the show has previously featured the likes of Jimmy Carr, Sarah Millican, Sue Perkins, Rosie

Jones, Jenny Éclair and Milton Jones, to name but a few. The 2023 preview show was hosted

by Seann Walsh, and featured Stuart Goldsmith, whose show Spoilers would go on to win Best Show at the festival awards. Acts due to appear at the 2024 show will be announced in the coming months.

New for this year, will be the introduction of the Kids Preview Show on December 3, 2023, to be hosted at The Y Theatre. The UK Kids’ Comedy Festival will be entering its sixth year, and this will provide an opportunity to build even greater excitement ahead of February. It will peel back the curtain to reveal some of the most exciting acts coming to perform in 2024. The superb line-up of big names, familiar faces and rising stars in children’s comedy will be revealed soon.

Tickets for both preview shows have been on sale since March 21, 2023.

The 2024 UK Kids’ and Leicester Comedy Festivals will take place February 7-25.

NICHE | 43

The Generator Loughborough A multi-purpose arts venue in Loughborough is on a mission to secure the remaining £500k that’s required for its heritage restoration project WORDS BY TOM YOUNG

44 | NICHE

T

he Old Art College (OAC), as it’s known locally, is the home of The Generator, a multi-purpose arts venue in Loughborough’s Frederick Street.

It seeks to offer a home to creative businesses, arts projects, performances and exhibits, and a café called Public, complete with a bakery and florist. A second building, the Generator Gallery (fronting Packe Street), is raising funds to convert it into the arts venue.

Famously, the Generator Hall originally housed the engine from a WW1 German submarine that generated electricity for the college, hence the name of the restoration project.

The Generator CIC is a not-for-profit community interest company run by volunteers. Its mission is to create a multipurpose arts venue for Loughborough. In 2019 the CIC joined forces with local developer Our Neighbourhood to acquire the iconic former Art College building from Loughborough University.

While much of the OAC building is already functional, with creative businesses (including Ohh Deer and Cotton Clara) already operating out of its upper floors, the owners have plans for the rest of the property, especially the ‘Generator Hall’.

“The size of this space is key,” explains director Jill Vincent. “This will be a venue capable of holding large ticketed events, bringing new performers to Loughborough.

NICHE FEATURE: THE GENERATOR

A UNIQUE NEW VENUE Arts and Culture

The Generator Hall aims to become a unique new arts and culture venue and also for exhibitions, corporate events and celebrations, with a variety of spaces which can be used on their own or in combination. Food and refreshments can be provided too.

You’ll be able to go here to see comedy, dance and drama performances, live music, exhibitions, art projects, workshops and heritage events, or take part in making them.

“This is a space that will showcase events involving Loughborough’s many diverse communities, creating shared experiences for all.”

Though they are two separate buildings, they will operate as one entity, with a direct link through the café that can be used for events and performances.

Renovating this space will cost a total of £2.5m, with £2m already raised through funding from Loughborough Town Deal, Charnwood Borough Council, the LLEP, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Architectural Heritage Fund and Arts Council England. With further funding applications currently pending, the hope is to begin work by early 2024.

The project took part in the recent Architectural Heritage Fund’s match funding campaign, in which the fund matches every £1 donated with one of its own (up to £25k), effectively doubling the project’s money. At the time of writing, the Crowdfunder campaign has raised just over £10k, for a total of £20k overall.

To learn more about The Generator, or to contribute to its fundraising, visit generatorloughborough.com. Go to crowdfunder.co.uk/p/generatorlboro to check the fundraising progress.

Heritage and Culture

Exciting new programmes are to be delivered to encourage the wider public to interact with The Generator’s unique contribution to the town’s history.

It was part of the original Loughborough Technical College, out of which grew the world-famous Loughborough University.

The programmes will include open events such as exhibitions, talks, and film screenings, along with an active history interpretation as we bring the building back to life.

The team behind The Generator will share the history of its Frederick Street home with as many people as possible, as well as explaining the impact it has had on the community over the years, and how they hope to continue this in the future.

Regeneration

The CIC and its partners believe that The Generator and the Old Art College will make a fundamental contribution to the creative industry in the town and the local economy. It will bring a wealth of talent to Loughborough and retain it, harnessing the potential of the town’s creative industry and helping to support and regenerate Loughborough town centre.

NICHE | 45

NICHE FEATURE: AI

Rise of the machines Artificial Intelligence has been much in the news lately. The prospect of ChatGPT and other AI creative tools has led to anxiety about job security, creating a challenge for employers to allay fears WORDS BY TOM YOUNG (MOSTLY)

W

e’re not afraid of the robot uprising. We’re afraid of how it’s going to affect our career prospects.

In the past few years, technology has been moving at breakneck pace – and we’ve seen a lot of changes in our lives as a result. From selfdriving cars changing the way we get around town, to smart assistants like Alexa and Siri making our phones smarter and more personalised, it seems like every day there’s something new coming down the pipeline that will change the way we live.

One of these changes is Artificial intelligence (AI).

AI is used in many programs, learning from past experiences and using them to make decisions about future actions.

The thing is, AI can do anything from play chess to diagnose illness – and that includes creating art.

In fact, AI has already been used for this purpose. In 2016, researchers at Stanford University used machine learning techniques to create an AI

46 | NICHE

IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY DAY THERE’S SOMETHING NEW COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE THAT WILL CHANGE THE WAY WE LIVE

system capable of generating original poetry – and it wasn’t just any poetry, it was good enough to win an international competition against human poets!

That same year, another group of researchers at Google created an algorithm that could take images from Google Street View and turn them into paintings in a style similar to Vincent van Gogh’s.

And up until this sentence, everything in this article was written by AI. This is the first time anything written by AI has appeared in Niche Magazine, but it has been a concern amongst editorial staff that its speedy nature of copy generation could one day replace us.

Fortunately, we’re protected by the fact that we interview and write about individuals and businesses that give us information that can’t be found online – it’s a personal touch that AI can’t replicate… yet.

People being worried about technology replacing their jobs is nothing new. In the last 20 years, supermarket workers

have faced anxiety about the prospect of being replaced by self-service checkouts. The term ‘technological unemployment’ was first used by economist John Maynard Kieynes in the 1930s.

In the 1800s, tailors feared the impact of sewing machines. In the early 1900s, lamplighters went on strike due to the possibility of losing their jobs to the latest technology: electricity.

And obviously, they were worried for nothing, as electricity never really… caught… on. Oh. As it stands, AI can’t replicate everything that humans can do. Humans are capable of creating something from nothing, intuiting, inferring, adapting, and functioning with nuance. While AI solutions like ChatGPT can provide some of the answers, it still takes a human to ask the question and refine the answer.

That’s the key detail.

You won’t lose your job to AI although you might lose your job to a human using AI. Industry always adapts, and finding how to use new technology to your advantage is the challenge.

NICHE FEATURE: SMALL BUSINESS UPDATE

Time is Money The case for late payment reform ‘Thousands of small businesses are being held back’ says new ‘Time is Money’ report

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ew report ‘Time is Money – the case for late payment reform’ was launched by Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) in March. It took responses from its 160,000 members across the UK, and highlights the country’s payment culture for small businesses (99.7% of East Midlands businesses are classed as small).

FSB’s data showed that 53% of East Midlands small businesses and the selfemployed had experienced late payment and 25% had seen instances of slow payment grow in the last three months. With Office of National Statistics data showing that 43% of small businesses have less than six months’ worth of money in the bank, it is clear that this problem is making things even harder for the business community, which is already battling with the costof-living crisis.

Tina McKenzie, FSB Policy Chair, said: “Thousands of small businesses are being held back, not by a lack of ambition but by a systemic poor payment culture. There remains a lack of adequate protection for the selfemployed and small businesses.

Previous FSB research found that if late payments had been made on time and as promised, in line with other comparable countries, 50,000 business closures could have been avoided each year.”

Pre-Covid, small businesses were more resilient and better able to hang on for their cash to come in. Since using up their savings to survive the pandemic and being hit by escalating energy, fuel and staff costs, many local businesses are struggling to survive. When invoices are not paid on time, this puts pressure on paying wages, buying

stock and, for many business owners, makes it harder to pay themselves a salary to pay their own domestic bills.

Small businesses tend to employ local people to support their local communities, so when cash is tight, economies have to be made which will impact everyone living in the East Midlands in the longer term. To change this, a shift in cultural attitudes is needed.

Paying late should not be acceptable. The worst culprits are larger corporates and public sector bodies, according to FSB. In The East Midlands, our local councils typically pay within 30 days or fewer – they also need to ensure their supply chains are doing the same.

FSB is calling for corporates to be held to account for their payment practices – and if they fall short, to be excluded from Government grants and funds and barred from bidding for public sector contracts.

FSB would also like the Small

X THERE REMAINS A LACK OF ADEQUATE PROTECTION FOR THE SELFEMPLOYED AND SMALL BUSINESSES

Business Commissioner to introduce an app to enable people to quickly report poor payers and for those to be investigated and named and shamed by their department.

The problem is worst for those in the education, construction, and manufacturing sectors, the ‘Time is Money’ report shows. One education consultant that FSB spoke to states seven-day payment terms on her invoices and was paid by one client after 183 days. For small teams, the time and effort to chase up this type of poor behaviour is exhausting and demoralising.

FSB says we should call out businesses we know are poor payers and make sure we all pay our own bills as quickly as we can. They suggest clients will thank you and you may well help a small business to live to fight another day, and help make our local economy more resilient.

Read the full ‘Time is Money’ report at fsb.org.uk.

NICHE | 47

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NICHE FEATURE: SPACE CITY

Space city A multi-million-pound investment will create a new UK ‘Space City’ cluster for space technology and research in Leicester WORDS BY TOM YOUNG

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n investment of £233m will be used to create ‘Space City Leicester’, which will become one of the largest and most connected Enterprise Zones for spacerelated activities in the UK. Space City Leicester will be dedicated to space research, production, manufacture and development, and will make Leicester integral to the UK’s ‘Space Spine’. The cluster will also be home to non-spacerelated knowledge economy businesses, those working towards decarbonisation, innovative start-ups and established businesses looking for space to grow.

The plan will see the former Pioneer Park development to the north of Leicester city centre gain new and planned facilities. This includes the University of Leicester’s science and innovation hub, Space Park Leicester, the award-winning National Space Centre visitor attraction and the flexible working space and high-tech business incubator facilities at Dock and Dock 2.

The development has been made possible by a partnership between Dock, Leicester City Council, Leicester

and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP), National Space Centre, Space Park Leicester and the University of Leicester.

“This is the launchpad for an exciting new chapter in our city’s space history,” said Nishan Canagarajah, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leicester. “From its beginnings at the University, 60 years ago, we have grown space activity to unlock its huge potential to advance learning, to stimulate inward investment, innovation and growth and to address the challenging problems of our time. Space City Leicester is exciting, bold, and built upon a heritage of success.”

Research scientists at the University have a long and distinguished record of discovery in space science, with around 300 academics and researchers working on space and Earth observation – one of the largest groups in the UK. At least one Leicester-built instrument has been operating in space every year since 1967, and today that work includes x-ray and observational astronomy, radio and space plasma physics (including space weather) and planetary science and

THIS IS THE LAUNCHPAD FOR AN EXCITING NEW CHAPTER IN OUR CITY’S SPACE HISTORY

instrumentation development.

Space Park Leicester is forecast to contribute £750m per year to the UK space sector over the next decade and is expected to add more than 2,500 direct and indirect jobs in the East Midlands. The launch of Space City comes as Space Park Leicester, the city’s hub for space research and innovation, marks its first anniversary.

The Space City cluster was promoted to an international audience at the world’s leading real estate event MIPIM in Cannes, France, from March 14-17 this year (see page 28).

“Space City has put Leicester firmly on the map for research production and manufacture in the space industry,” said City Mayor, Peter Soulsby. “But the good news doesn’t end there, as further expansion is planned to meet the demand from businesses keen to locate here from the UK and overseas.”

Building upon the heritage and space-science excellence of the University of Leicester, Space Park Leicester has built a collaborative community of industry, academics and students working together to drive growth in the space sector.

NICHE | 49

NICHE FEATURE: GREEN ALLIANCE

Communities to help restore our natural environment The UK government is being urged to support local communities to buy land for planting trees to help tackle climate change and halt and reverse nature decline. Ekojoe, a Leicestershire community interest eco charity, has secured a grant from Blaby District Council to do just that

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new report by environment think tank Green Alliance involving communities in nature restoration projects could be crucial to averting a rural backlash over the land use changes required to address climate change.

As well as supporting farmers and land managers to restore nature and cut emissions through the Environmental Land Management schemes (ELMs), the government has a target to attract £1 billion a year of private investment to support nature’s recovery in England by 2030.

Commercial and government investment in tree planting and peatland restoration projects have the potential to help create new jobs for local 50 | NICHE

PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND NATURE’S DECLINE, AND ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO HELP

people, expand access to green spaces, improve air quality and reduce flood risks. However, the report also warns that unless concerns among local people are addressed, opposition to new nature projects risk failure and a lack of future investment.

The report emphasises the need for commercial and government projects to engage local communities, aiming to avoid the sense of being left out of decisions, being priced out and not benefiting from the land use changes. This would also allow projects to benefit from local knowledge and new sources of investment.

The report also calls for the government to provide the funding and policy needed to support more community-led tree planting projects. Around a third of England’s tree planting target of 7,500 hectares per year could be met with just 210 12-hectare community-led projects per year, according to the report.

Small scale projects are already underway, with a community project here in Leicestershire working a piece of land in Blaby to include trees, ponds and plants to encourage wildlife habitats as well as

growing food to sell at low cost to people living locally.

Ekojoe was founded by sisters here in Leicester and is run by volunteers. They have recently secured a grant from Blaby Council through an independent grant application to their green grant. One of the community-interest company founders, Claire Cooke, said: “We want to develop the space to yield lots of fruit and vegetables for sale at affordable prices from our farmer’s kitchen.

“The green space will bring the local community together, create low impact harvests and give the community access to affordable, healthy foods as well as restoring elements of our natural environment, whilst reducing the use of plastic and harmful chemicals.

Jim Elliott, Senior policy adviser at Green Alliance, said: “People are concerned about climate change and nature’s decline, and are looking for ways to help. A small amount of government funding to help communities come together and take action locally could awaken a sleeping army of volunteers to help restore our natural environment and cut emissions.”

NICHE FEATURE: LUQEL

What’s in your glass?

The UK’s natural spring waters are some of the best in the World, but modern lifestyle is polluting our ground water with harmful substances. Niche Journalist Emily Miller investigates

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orever chemicals’ have been detected in our drinking water, according to a BBC study. The long-term effects of these contaminants makes for shocking reading.

Our water has been found to contain hormones and can be associated with an increased risk of cancers whilst toxic metals such as arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury can disrupt DNA synthesis and repair.

And it’s common knowledge now that micro and nano plastics are now being found in our bodies. An Australian Microplastics Assessment Project found that we ingest around a credit card‘s worth of plastic (5g) from our food and drink weekly!

I spoke with Matt Lane, the Managing Director at LUQEL, a water filter specialist, to find out what can be done to ingest healthier water at home as well as when out and about.

“Currently, water companies can filter out larger sediment but cannot filter out the smaller particles like those hormones, heavy metals, nitrates and micro-plastics. They do of course combat bacteria and viruses, but they do so by adding chlorine, a detergent,” Matt tells me.

The chlorine added is used to kill bacteria and viruses such as salmonella, campylobacter, and

norovirus. “It alters the taste and smell of the water, but it has also been shown to cause asthma in both children and adults.”

Filtering your water is one solution – through a jug filter, filter tap or a water dispenser.

Matt explains: “These systems normally use an active carbon filter which will remove sediment, chlorine, limescale, some microplastics and, to a degree, insecticides and pesticides.

“Active Carbon filters work well, but you may still find drug residues, lead, uranium, nitrates and nano-plastics in your water as they are unable to filter to a fine enough level to remove all these impurities.”

By using reverse osmosis, LUQEL’s water stations are able to remove these finer toxic impurities. The purified water is then re-enriched with natural mineral salts, delivering 30 mineralised water recipes from a mains supply.

This dispenser guarantees clean water, taste choice, and also checks the amount of water dispensed, which allows users to calculate their carbon footprint reduction. This is typically a saving of 82.8g of carbon for each 500ml single-use plastic bottle that has not been bought.

LUQEL’s water solutions can be found at luqel-water.com.

WATER COMPANIES CAN FILTER OUT LARGER SEDIMENT BUT CANNOT FILTER OUT THE SMALLER PARTICLES

Whilst the water in our taps is safe to a degree, if we want to have greater peace of mind – a safer, more eco-friendly water drinking experience – opting for a filtered system will do that.

They’re sure to be found in large offices and places with large footfall, and hopefully, they’ll become a household appliance before long and we’ll all have access to cleaner, healthier water at the touch of a button.

NICHE | 51

NICHE FEATURE: BUSINESS GATEWAY

Business Gateway’s

SME cost-of-living conference ‘How to survive and thrive in business for 2023’ takes place this April

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o one can deny the cost of doing business has become harder over recent years. The fallout from Covid-19, leaving the EU, and an unstable economy have taken their toll on business owners, including Leicestershire’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The latest LLEP Business Tracker Survey shows local SMEs are especially concerned about recruitment, skills and inflation. With this in mind, the Leicestershire Business Gateway Growth Hub will run a one day conference on April 18 with a number of cost-related themes to support the county’s businesses.

The free event entitled ‘How to survive and thrive in business for 2023’ will take place at

THE SPEAKING SLOTS HAVE BEEN KEPT SHORT AND TO THE POINT TO ALLOW THE WIDEST RANGE OF SUBJECTS POSSIBLE

Event sessions Strong workforce strong business Talent acquisition, free recruitment support, the case for hiring older workers, your skills pipeline.

Energy

Save money, save time, save the planet.

Look after the numbers

Legal tips, cashflow, insolvency, getting paid on time.

Leading in challenging times

Personal resilience, team wellbeing, Microsoft hacks to improve productivity.

52 | NICHE

GLYNIS WRIGHT MBE

SONIA BAIGENT

Morningside Arena. Conference hosts will be LLEP Board Directors, Glynis Wright MBE and Sonia Baigent.

Glynis said: “This conference offers a fantastic opportunity for business owners and their staff to hear from multiple speakers sharing their knowledge and offering vital tips for business survival.

“The speaking slots have been kept short and to the point to allow the widest range of subjects possible. The intention is that everyone who attends will take something away from the conference that will help them put in place ideas or processes to cope with challenges they are facing now and challenges yet to come.”

The event will focus on

practical advice, tools and top tips that owners can take away and implement in their businesses right away as well as signpost further support available. A market place will also provide an opportunity to meet and network with other business support providers.

The conference will include four major themes. All sessions will include case studies with businesses providing real examples of actions taken to survive and grow in recent years. Lunch and refreshments will also be provided.

Leicestershire-based SME business owners and leaders can book a free place via the home page of the Business Gateway website bizgateway.org.uk .

NICHE FEATURE: 2XL COMMERCIAL FINANCE

Out of recession comes

opportunity 2XL Commercial Finance placed £47m of lending last year and has been running for 17 years.

Kerry Smith met director Darren Willoughby to get the latest in the commercial lending arena

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ity centres used to be vibrant areas, but many offices and retail units are now closed or not fully occupied,” Darren Willoughby of 2XL Commercial Finance said when I met him in a New Walk coffee shop to learn about the state of commercial lending.

“I walked through Leicester today and the first office I saw was up for auction. Rising inflation, increased energy prices and cost-of-living now mean that business and property owners are being squeezed. If you add to this the increase in interest rates, then the current situation looks bleak. The Bank of England this morning (March 2) said they could look to increase interest rates again – and the impact could be disastrous for businesses.”

Demonstrating the power of inflation on a personal level, we joke that you could once take £15 on a night out and still have enough for a bag of chips on the way home. These days, we could need three figures to fund a similar night out. For businesses, the situation could be much more severe. At the time of speaking with Darren, Bank of England’s interest base rate is 4%. Fifteen months ago, the base rate was 0.1%.

“For example, if a business had previously borrowed £500k over five years on December 21 on a variable rate at base+3%, when they began paying the loan back, the monthly payment was approximately £9,000 a

month. That figure is now closer to £10,000 a month, which – set against the current backdrop – is a big increase.

“There are businesses out there that look like they’re doing fantastically well, but they’ve taken a lot of governmentbacked loans combined with rising costs and wage pressures.

As brokers, we see a lot of these pressures first as businesses talk to us about their finances before it becomes visible in the news.

“Even more worrying is that those who have previously been able to borrow cheaply are now coming to the end of these previous low rates and will now be entering into much higher rates. This is particularly pertinent in the property sector.

We have landlord clients with huge property portfolios and every time the base rate increases by a quarter of a per cent, the ramifications are severe. If you borrowed £10m in 2018, your interest bill on an interest-only basis would be £25,833 a month. If you borrowed this now, it would be £58,333 a month. That’s a £33,000 increase a month or £396,000 a year.”

However, business and property owners do have options, Darren says. “Business and property owners may be aware of these issues, but the key is not to ignore them as solutions are out there. Out of recession comes opportunity.

While recessions bring challenges, Darren suggests

EVEN MORE WORRYING IS THAT THOSE WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN ABLE TO BORROW CHEAPLY ARE NOW COMING TO THE END OF THESE PREVIOUS LOW RATES

they can result in opportunities for business and property owners. “Rather than put off new projects and buckle down, try to spot the opportunities to grow your business, increase profits, or even expand their market share during a time when other companies are stagnant or contracting.”

More advice on commercial finance, loans and funding can be found at 2xlcommercial.com where 2XL’s most updated case studies can also be found.

NICHE | 53

NICHE FEATURE: INTRUSTED PENSION SERVICES

Pensions for business growth Business owners can tap into investment flexibility through pension schemes made exclusively for company directors, employees and even family members. Mark Smith of Intrusted Pension Services explains how business owners can utilise this asset and support business growth WORDS BY EMILY MILLER

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one are the days of only being able to draw on a pension in retirement; pensions are now a valuable financial resource that can work in unison with your growing business.

Tapping into a Small SelfAdministered Scheme pension (SSAS) is becoming a highly useful and efficient way of managing a company’s assets and making them work harder for business owners.

Mark Smith, a pensions and wealth management specialist, tells me that many of the SMEs he works with at Intrusted Pensions are able to use their pensions for greater advantage whilst growing their business in real time.

“In the case of the changing

54 | NICHE

IT’S ALL ABOUT MAKING THEIR PENSIONS WORK FOR THEM AND LEGITIMATELY ADOPTING METHODS WHICH SAVE TAX LEGALLY

high street and the value of commercial property, for example, the SSAS is eligible to borrow a percentage of the pension scheme value to assist with the purchase of a commercial property. This can include the business premises, which can then be leased back to you or any third party, enabling the business owner to become their own landlord.”

When we discuss the benefits of this, Mark says: “It means that the owners are able to see where their investment goes, as it remains linked to the business. But, in addition, they can use capital from their own means, as opposed to applying for bank loans which are becoming increasingly difficult to achieve in the current economic climate.”

I admit to him that I actually didn’t realise this was possible.

Whilst Self Invested Personal Pensions (SIPP) have been in the limelight in the last few years, businesses are turning to the SSAS because of their flexibility.

Mark added: “Many of our clients have seen a great deal of benefits from raising funds for their commercial property this way.

“It’s all about making their pensions work for them and legitimately adopting methods which save tax legally. Every company and individual need is unique, and that’s what I particularly find fulfilling – discovering the needs and finding ways that clients can use

pensions to support the growth of their business and add value to their lifestyle.”

There are other ways that an SSAS provides more flexibility for business owners too, as Mark explained: “Part of looking at what works for each individual extends to our clients’ lives outside of the business. Some clients might want to save their pension when they retire and allow their children to inherit it, saving inheritance tax.

“Others might want to draw on the pension in increments at an earlier retirement age, after they turn 55, to help achieve a lifestyle they have worked hard for. The assets are all free from income tax and capital gains due on disposal whilst held in the pension scheme – and by assessing each individual case, clients can get the very best out of their retirement savings.”

The spring budget just announced has also created even greater flexibility, allowing for greater pension contributions which can reduce a business’s Corporation Tax exposure whilst funding for their retirement. This can also help with the funding of a commercial property within a pension scheme.

Mark invites Niche readers to see how their pension can work harder by calling for free advice on 07702 201965. Tapping into these savings is something that many small businesses might not be aware of – they could be a highly resourceful tool for businesses.

NICHE FEATURE: JERROMS MILLER

Using shares to recruit and retain the best talent Employee share schemes allow you to do just that, but before you launch one, you need to be aware of the tax aspects. Nick Wright, associate director at Jerroms Miller Specialist Tax, explains

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mployers want flexible ways to attract, reward and retain the best people as they look to achieve longterm growth, so employee share schemes are becoming increasingly popular.

If employers give employees shares, then those shares are subject to income tax on their market value, meaning staff in a higher-rate tax band of 40% or 45%, could face a significant tax bill.

A much more tax-efficient route for owner-managed businesses and their employees is to offer shares to staff via an Enterprise Management Incentive (EMI) – a scheme that gives staff the option to buy the shares.

These share options are heavily discounted as they’re for minority shareholders and their market worth is based on today’s value rather than what they’ll be worth when exercised. There is no tax charge when the options are granted.

To incentivise growth, the employer normally sets targets, so if by the target date – say in three years’ time – the company’s profits have risen by X%, employees will be entitled to exercise their options, again without attracting tax.

For example, a company worth £1m today may grant an employee the option to buy shares in three years, for say £25,000, provided growth targets are hit. In three years, the company is worth £2m, yet the employee only pays £25,000 to acquire 10% of the £2m company with no tax implications on exercise. It’s also common for employers to cover the £25,000 purchase price by giving the employee a bonus or dividend.

EMIs tend to be the first choice for OMBs, but they come with conditions. Only trading companies are eligible and share options can’t be issued in a subsidiary. Large companies don’t qualify and EMIs aren’t

A MUCH MORE TAXEFFICIENT ROUTE FOR OWNERMANAGED BUSINESSES AND THEIR EMPLOYEES IS TO OFFER SHARES TO STAFF VIA AN ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT INCENTIVE (EMI)

open to certain business sectors including property, farming, banking and professional services.

If your business doesn’t meet EMIs’ eligibility criteria, then growth shares provide a potential alternative. Growth shares are a special class of share, which are not worth anything on issue (or a trivial amount) but share in any increase in value of the company from the date of issue.

Although perhaps not always as attractive to employees as EMIs, they are a good way for employers to reward and incentivise hard work; there are no limits to how many shares can be issued and companies of any size or in any sector are eligible.

Schemes such as EMIs offer worthwhile tax advantages, but this area is often quite complex.

Nick invites Niche readers to call him on 0121 693 5000 or email nickwright@jerromsmiller.co.uk for more advice or help find a scheme that best fits your business.

NICHE | 55

NICHE FEATURE: TORR WATERFIELD

Working on the books You might assume that a career in accounting requires an advanced mathematics degree, but that isn’t always the case.

Alistair Ferris, director of Torr Waterfield, told us why a passion for the work is just as important WORDS BY TOM YOUNG

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or a lot of people, accountancy is intimidating.

It involves an understanding of a subject they never connected with or requires expertise they’re too busy to learn. However, for those who find it engaging, a potentially lifelong career awaits.

“Of course, we want to hire and work with the best qualified accountants out there,” says Alistair Ferris, director at Torr Waterfield. “We want to be seen as a desirable place to work within the sector; I want the best accountants to be thinking: ‘I wonder if there are any jobs going there?’

“But it’s just as much about finding the right person. If someone has a passion for the work, we’ll invest in training them, and there’s a clear pathway for progression within the company.”

This pathway has been

highlighted in recent months, with Torr Waterfield employees David Weir and Matt Smith (who joined as a graduate trainee) in the process of being promoted to the board of directors.

“We’re not a closed business – new people can join the team and find room to grow. It’s up to the individual to put the work in and if they do, we’ll reward that.

In the past 20 years, we’ve hired numerous trainees who’ve gone on to qualify as AAT or ACCA accountants. As a gold status ACCA Approved Employer, we have a proven track record of developing people.”

“We value and support our team in order to ensure they continue to grow and develop.

We understand how important this is to the individuals and also how it helps Torr Waterfield provide a fantastic service to clients.”

One of Torr Waterfield’s

WE’RE NOT A CLOSED BUSINESS – NEW PEOPLE CAN JOIN THE TEAM AND FIND ROOM TO GROW

departments that’s seeing substantial growth is auditing.

With the big four audit firms’ case loads under review, Alistair says it’s created more work for other, smaller firms. As such, this is one of the areas that he hopes to expand.

“We like to offer a full service to our clients. We value all the roles within our firm – accountants, auditors, bookkeepers, payrollers, tax advisers and general admin.

These are all important roles that add value to our clients – we work as a team.”

As part of its expanding business, Torr Waterfield is currently accepting CV submissions via recruitment@torrwaterfield.co.uk.

“We’re always looking for good people – and even if there’s not a specific role being advertised, we’ll always look at a good CV.” NICHE | 57

Bhumika Parmar, BP Legal Solicitors

What is required from a landlord when renting a property?

As a landlord you must: ◆ Keep your rented properties safe and free from health hazards ◆ Make sure all gas equipment and electrical equipment are safely installed and maintained, and ensure a gas safety certificate is provided. ◆ Provide an Energy Performance Certificate for the property ◆ Protect your tenant’s deposit in a government-approved scheme ◆Check your tenant has the right to rent your property if it’s in England ◆ Give your tenant a copy of the How to rent checklist when they start renting from you (you can email it to them) ◆ Provide Tenants with an AST It’s your responsibility to: ◆ Fit and test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms ◆ Follow fire safety regulations for property in a purpose-built block of flats or for houses and property adapted into flats BP Legal’s sister company Solicitors4Landlords can assist with all Landlord and Tenant matters.

DEDICATED TO ONE CLIENT AT A TIME WE FIGHT FOR JUSTICE As a practice, we believe that everyone has a right to specialist legal advice that is clear and understandable.

Conveyancing Commercial Property Family Law Wills & Probate Litigation Immigration Commissioners of Oath We speak Gujarati, Punjabi and Hindi

Tel: 0116 253 6856

|

Fax: 0116 253 9656

email: info@bplegal.co.uk | web: bplegal.co.uk 221 Belgrave Gate, Leicester LE1 3HT

NICHE FEATURE: PATTERSONS COMMERCIAL LAW

How is the cost-of-living crisis impacting business?

As times of uncertainty continue, Asit Jansari of Pattersons Commercial Law reviews how to protect your business in 2023

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t’s hard to avoid references to the ‘cost-of-living crisis’. It seems to be a mainstay of all news commentary and luckily for us all on a personal level, Martin Lewis seems to devote most of his time to finding ways to save money and to tighten our belts.

At the same time, businesses are also being impacted, whether from increased taxation and operational costs, or a reduction in profit margins. This suffering may be down to their own debtors facing financial challenges and thus not paying, or paying slowly and causing cash flow difficulties.

This is especially true during times of financial hardship, when it sometimes becomes tougher to be paid. It is all too common when uncertainty hits the economy. It was the same during the Global Financial Crisis of 2008, the bursting of the dot.com bubble in 2000, and more recently when the world was gripped by Covid lockdown uncertainties.

So, what steps have you taken to protect your business?

Here are a few to consider.

1. Analyse the areas of risk in your own business.

2. Know your customers. If you do not know who you are entering into a contract with, it’s going to make chasing them for payment a very difficult task. Be clear on who your customer is, whether they’re an individual (if so, get their full name) or a business (again, seek the full name of any limited company). If you contract into a limited liability company, consider if any of the directors of the company should act as a guarantor.

3. Computerise your record management and keep details of payments received and invoices raised. This should be monitored for good credit control management. The sooner you can identify unpaid invoices, the quicker you can take action to reduce the losses being caused to your business. This, of course helps with cash flow.

4. If you have a client or customer who hasn’t paid when due or who persistently pays

BUSINESSES ARE ALSO BEING IMPACTED, WHETHER FROM INCREASED TAXATION AND OPERATIONAL COSTS

late, make contact with a solicitor urgently. The quicker they act, the sooner they can determine a course of action to recover the money owed to you.

For business-to-business debts, you may also be able to recover late payment compensation for all invoices that are not paid to you – and even those that were paid late. Late payment compensation is recoverable as set out below: ◆ For invoices up to £999.99,

you can claim £40 per invoice ◆ For invoices from £1,000 to £9,999.99, you can claim £70 per invoice ◆ For invoices over £10,000, you can claim £100 per invoice You are also entitled to an increased level of interest on the unpaid sum (8% above Bank of England base rate (currently 4.5%)). It’s better than keeping your money in the bank. Best of all, you’re entitled to recover your legal costs from the debtor, so instructing us may not even cost a penny from your own pocket.

If you are being troubled by debt-related issues or contractual problems, Asit Jansari at Pattersons Commercial Law is available on 0116 319 1110 or 07761 325 968.

NICHE | 59

Protecting

your children’s Inheritance

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Having a Will is arguably one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your family. Not only can a Will legally protect your spouse, children, and assets, it can also spell out exactly how you would like things handled after you have passed away.

However, divorce and bankruptcy rates have seen a rise during the pandemic, the effect of which means your assets could be more vulnerable to attack than an off-the-shelf will is capable of protecting.

It is a common belief that, if you are married or in a civil partnership, your spouse or civil partner will automatically inherit everything you own when you die. In fact, they don’t; the law sets out rules that determine how your assets are to be divided if you should die without making a Will which means your spouse may not inherit automatically and children could also lose out on their inheritance if the Will is not structured properly.

Inheritance that your current Will may have earmarked for your children could become a bargaining chip in divorce proceedings should they have inherited, and before you know it, that money could form part of financial settlements.

Furthermore, if your Will hasn’t been updated since your divorce, you may need to review who is named in the will for guardianship, executors and beneficiaries.

This is why it’s important to have a will that covers any such potential threat to the security of your assets.

NEED HELP?

TALK TO AN EXPERT

0116 464 7055

paradigm-wills.com info@paradigm-wills.com Leicester office: Studio 7, Phoenix Square, 7 Burton Street, Leicester LE1 1TB

Our Services: ◆ Will Writing ◆ Lasting Power of Attorney ◆ Protection against cost of care ◆ Probate ◆ Trusts

NICHE FEATURE: NELSONS

Why court should be the last resort for divorcing couples A top divorce lawyer shares her advice on how to make separation more amicable and avoid going to court

I

t was predicted at the beginning of 2022 that divorce rates could surge by more than 50% in the UK. A top Judge recently raised the issue that around one-fifth of divorces are wrongly ending up in court, which results in a lengthy legal process that could be harmful to those involved.

“Going to court is generally a hugely stressful affair that can leave both parties worse off than if they avoided it altogether,” says Lisa-Marie Leanders, partner and solicitor specialising in family law at Nelsons.

“Contrary to popular belief, there are more amicable ways to facilitate separation from a spouse than by ending up in the courtroom.”

Lisa-Marie welcomes calls from readers on 0116 222 6666 for advice on any of the issues in this article that may be affecting you or someone you know.

We caught up with Lisa-Marie to find out more on how going to court can be avoided.

CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF, THERE ARE MORE AMICABLE WAYS TO FACILITATE SEPARATION FROM A SPOUSE THAN

BY ENDING UP IN THE COURTROOM

Potential options

“Family mediation has the aim of encouraging separating couples to sit down together, work out solutions to the financial and/or children-based issues that can arise as part of a divorce, and reach an amicable agreement that suits both parties.

“Other processes that can be used include collaborative law, where each party selects a specialist family solicitor and engages in a series of fourway meetings to try to reach an agreement. Additionally, arbitration involves the couple agreeing to put their case to an arbitrator who is appointed to settle the matters in dispute, much like a judge.

“There are several advantages to pursuing alternative dispute resolution methods and keeping matters out of court. Firstly, it can help all members of the family unit – including, most importantly, the children, to move on to the next stage of their lives more quickly. Secondly, it is not as adversarial as the court process can be, meaning it’s more likely that family relationships will be maintained.

Communication is key

“It’s normal to feel intense emotions when going through a divorce, but it is important to try and keep these out

of the proceedings. Clear communication throughout helps to ensure that court can be avoided in order to reach an amicable and swift agreement following separation.

“Shortening the process also means there is less time and opportunity for unpleasant feelings to develop, making it easier to move on from the divorce and keep a level of civility which is particularly important for any dependents.”

Be realistic

“It’s important to understand that by avoiding court, it is the parties who achieve their own settlement. This offers couples peace of mind that throughout the process, they are in charge and retain an element of control over the outcome.

“However, it’s also important to have realistic expectations of what you are entitled to, to ensure a swifter agreement is reached without needing to take it to court. If you’re unsure about what to expect, it can be a good idea to talk to a legal professional before divorce proceedings or any financial negotiations commence.

“Ultimately, avoiding litigation can help to settle differences without the hostility that can be brought about by court proceedings.”

NICHE | 61

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NICHE FEATURE: 2 NEW STREET CHAMBERS

No barrister is an island The sole practitioners of the legal realm If you’re not a member of the legal profession, it may surprise you to learn that the vast majority of barristers in this country are self-employed.

Here’s what it means for you, should you need legal representation WORDS BY TOM YOUNG

T

hose outside the legal industry, might be familiar with the concept of a law firm – one company housing multiple legal professionals, from solicitors, to paralegals, to administrative staff. What you might not know is that barristers – the lawyers who actually appear in court – are not part of such an enterprise. They’ll be a member of their Chambers, but most barristers are self-employed.

Hannah Fountain has been with 2 New Street Chambers since 2014, having completed her pupillage there (the year of hands-on legal training under chambers’ guidance, which is highly competitive) and practises exclusively in family law.

Hannah completed her Law Degree at the University of Birmingham in 2011 and was called to the Bar in July 2012.

“We are self-employed, but we’re not alone,” says Hannah.

“There is a sense of community and family from other barristers within your chambers and members of the profession as a whole”.

Self-employment can be a

mixed bag in any industry. You don’t have the same perks or securities as a full-time employee, but Hannah believes the benefits far outweigh the negatives.

“I couldn’t go back to being employed. Yes, I’ve had to establish sensible habits because we don’t have a predictable monthly income, but I have input over my work diary, and I’m not restricted to a set amount of annual leave. Because of the pressures of the job, it’s important that I can take time off when I need it.

“My diary varies each week; sometimes I’m in court every day, and other weeks I have a couple of days working from home. Time out of court is valuable to catch up on paperwork or focus on other things, such as trusteeships, mentoring, hobbies or muchneeded downtime.”

Self-employment means that a barrister’s success and reputation become vital elements in the sustainability of their career.

Clients want to feel confident that their barrister is the right person to represent them and has the appropriate knowledge and

WHEN YOU FIRST START OUT AS A BARRISTER, YOUR ABILITIES AND STRENGTHS ARE UNKNOWN, SO YOU MUST PROVE YOURSELF AS A JUNIOR

expertise to do the job.

“Reputation and positive feedback from clients are key to ongoing instructions from solicitors. When you first start out as a barrister, your abilities and strengths are unknown, so you must prove yourself as a junior.

As you gain experience, and the more clients you’ve worked with who’ve been happy with your approach, the more likely it is that you will receive regular instructions in the future.”

The advantage of this to any potential client is that your barrister will have the relevant experience and will be accustomed to working within a high-pressured environment.

They understand the importance of every case they deal with and representing the client to the best of their ability.

Barristers at 2 New Street Chambers can be found at 2newstreet.com/barristers. It’s important to get a feel for who is representing you, should you ever find yourself in court. You can check that your barrister has a practising certificate by searching ‘The Barristers’ Register’ online.

NICHE | 63

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NICHE FEATURE: NEW BUSINESS ADVICE

Starting out in business?

1

Think about the structure of your business

Having an idea for a business and knowing how to set it up are two very different things. We asked Greg Hollingsworth – director and solicitor at Hollingsworths – to give us his top tips for setting up a new business

Businesses can be structured in many different ways. Some of these structures offer tax advantages and costs savings, which is why many startups begin life as sole trader businesses. However, this brings with it personal liability – a liability which is shielded for owners of limited companies, although they can face higher administration costs. Find yourself a good accountant who can help with this from day one.

2

Know your customer

When you provide goods and services to a customer, you invoice them for your work and may give them credit on the invoice. This is like loaning them money – you need to know their full name. Is it a limited company, sole trader or partnership? Have you got the full address for the business? Think about whether you need a deposit or money up front. Know who you’re dealing with – you wouldn’t lend money to a stranger.

3

Think about the contracts that you make

When you’re dealing in goods and services, your supplier or customer may want to try and impose their terms upon you.

You need to understand what

those terms are – if reference is made to terms and conditions, be sure to check what they say. You might need your own T&Cs, but remember – they need to be set out at the very start to form part of the contract.

4

Cash flow is king

You need to think carefully about the payment terms you offer – and, if those terms are exceeded, how you go about collecting your money while maintaining your relationship with that customer. You need a credit control process which allows you to systematically record when your invoices are sent out and the subsequent follow-ups/ reminders for payment.

MANY START-UPS BEGIN LIFE AS SOLE TRADER BUSINESSES. HOWEVER, THIS BRINGS WITH IT PERSONAL LIABILITY

5

Keep records

Whether it is for the work that you do or the things that you buy for your business, keep good records from day one. If a dispute arises or HMRC asks to see your records, you’ll be glad you did. Store them securely and back them up.

6

The Data You Hold

If you are storing personal data, register with the ICO. It usually costs only £35 a year.

Make sure you have policies in place and keep your data protected and safe. Leaks of data can be costly.

NICHE | 65

Press the flesh: How networking benefits business Networking can be instrumental to business success.

Chris Goodman from Soar Valley Press tells us how it’s benefitted them

I

n a busy small business, it’s often hard to know what marketing to do or where to spend precious time and resources on business development. However, doing nothing can be dangerous as business constantly changes. How does a small business that wants to grow and develop while operating in a very competitive environment, do so in a manageable and cost-effective way?

Soar Valley Press celebrates 25 years in business this year. Owned and run by Chris Goodman, it has built a strong reputation for providing a stress-free and straightforward experience for their design and print clients. When it comes to business growth, Chris has some secrets to share.

“It’s important to always be doing something to develop your business. With time and finances at a premium, it’s also key that this activity is measured and effective in providing a good return on investment.

“Having multiple ways of engaging with clients and 66 | NICHE

prospects helps to build good relationships that can develop into profitable clients.”

Soar Valley Press connects with clients and prospects online using social media and its website to reach out. But these connections need to be taken offline to create deep relationships, and this is where they put the majority of their focus.

“An online presence is important, but it’s just one piece of our jigsaw. We always look to build a personal relationship with our clients so we can offer them the very best solutions to their business needs.

“Our best clients are often the ones we meet in person first and then use other touching points, such as connecting on social media and using print-based marketing, to keep building the relationship.”

So how does a busy small business like Soar Valley Press meet potential new clients in a packed working week? Chris explains how they do it...

NICHE FEATURE: SOAR VALLEY PRESS

It’s the best way to meet new clients and build the kind of relationships that lead to amazing referrals Why meeting in person matters

“We’ve discovered that regular business networking is the most effective way of gaining new leads. I attend a weekly breakfast networking group and it’s the best way to meet new clients and build the kind of relationships that lead to amazing referrals and the clients we are looking for.”

Both Chris and his colleague Dave attend different networking groups every week. These groups have 25-50 regular members, with different visitors also attending each week. Whether an early morning breakfast group that doesn’t cut into the working day, or a daytime group for those who have commitments first thing, there are some amazing networking opportunities out there.

“Networking is incredibly effective for our business. We are building deep relationships with like-minded business leaders, and they are connecting us with their own networks. We don’t need to do cold-calling because our network is providing us with warm leads all the time.”

Networking has also helped Soar Valley Press with unexpected opportunities. The members provide each other with great advice, and are there to help with any problems. The group also provides training and personal development to enhance its members’ skill sets. Soar Valley Press wouldn’t have flourished and developed in the way it has without those relationships and the support of the group.

“I use the other members of the networking group as key advisors to my business. Everyone asks for advice, shares challenges and helps each other to develop and grow. Helping each other builds great relationships and adds real value to the networking group.

“Business can be lonely when you are a sole director in a small business, but my networking group provides the support I need.”

How to measure the effectiveness of business networking

“The great thing about our regular business networking is that it is easy to keep track of leads and the business gained as a result.

“Our group records everything on a mobile app and we can see exactly what the return on our investment is.

“For Soar Valley Press, it’s in the hundreds of thousands, and my group passed over £1.4m of business between 25 members in the last 12 months.”

If you feel your business would benefit from making new connections at a networking group, message chris@soarvalleypress.co.uk, who would be very happy to invite you along.

NICHE | 67

Wo rds are great to commu n ic a t e, I ch ose imager y...

Love and live with passion...

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EVENTS

NICHE FEATURE: TARGET AUDIENCE

Know your audience Knowing who’s in your target audience is the first step in creating effective content. Marketing agency Cross Productions tells us how audience segmentation helps you resonate with them

W

hen defining your target audience, It’s important to research them and understand who they really are. This is called market segmentation.

By segmenting your audience into different groups and understanding their characteristics, you can create content that speaks to their needs and wants. This will help you build an effective connection between them and your brand or product because you’re able to deliver more specific messages to the right kind of people.

To really get to understand your audience, you should look into demographics, geographic, psychographics, and behavioural aspects. There are tools that will be useful in helping you to segment your audience, with some of the most helpful being: Google Analytics, any back-end information your website provides, social media, and Nomis

(a tool provided by Office for National Statistics).

With your target audience identified, you’ll then need to think about the customer journey. When are they going to account for your product for the first time? A lot of advertising is aimed at the point of sale – ie ‘Buy this! It’s great!’ – but that’s too late. Around 80% of buying decisions are made in advance of purchase, so you need to be in your customers’ thoughts long before they’re ready to buy.

Think of your ideal client as the hero in their own story; the problem that your product/service solves is the villain, and you are the guide that leads the hero to the solution.

This might involve producing blogs about that problem, so when the customer is Googling it at 2am, their first point of contact becomes your blog – they might not buy from you there and then, but it puts the thought in their head.

COLLECTING OBJECTIVE AND SUBJECTIVE DATA DEMOGRAPHICS

These are statistics that explain who your buyer is. This factual information can be obtained by conducting market research – using surveys and forms such as Google Forms or Survey Monkey, or with free online tools such as Google Analytics.

Start by analysing your current customer list: are most of them in a specific city or region? Do they have a common employer? Are they mostly men or women? Are they currently in education or do they work full time?

Demographics include: ◆ Age ◆ Gender ◆ Race ◆ Marital status ◆ Education level ◆ Occupation ◆ Income level

GEOGRAPHIC

Segmenting by geographic data is a very objective element to marketing to your target audience – it’s also crucial information to any campaign.

Understanding where your audience is and what geographically affects them will help you to deliver marketing messages to your more relevant and desired customers. Use Google AdWords and Facebook ads. These tools will help you target the right people based on their location.

Geographic segmentation includes: ◆ Location ◆ Region ◆ City ◆ Time zone ◆ Climate ◆ Language

PSYCHOGRAPHICS

These are the characteristics that describe how people think, feel and behave, and the reasons behind why they buy into their favourite brands.

It’s data that is more subjective and typically more difficult to pin down.

You can gather this data by speaking to your customers, use focus groups, and by putting yourself in the shoes of each demographically segmented group you’ve created above. You can

also figure out what your target audience is interested in by using surveys here.

Psychographics include: ◆ Interests ◆ Values ◆ Beliefs ◆ Lifestyle choices.

BEHAVIOURAL

This type of segmentation is also more subjective. It looks at patterns of behaviour when it comes to engaging and interacting with your company, products or services.

Find out what they already know about your brand, what they like and dislike about it, how often they see your brand and where, and how loyal they are to you.

Behavioural segmentation includes: ◆ Loyalty ◆ Attitudes ◆ Online engagement ◆ Benefits sought ◆ Usage ◆ Knowledge NICHE | 69

NICHE FEATURE: BUILDING A WEBSITE

That’s refreshing!

When it comes to building a new website, or updating an existing one, there are some key elements you need to consider. John Cooper from it’seeze tells us where to start

Optimise for search engines: Search

engine optimisation (SEO) is important for ensuring that your website is visible in search engine results pages (SERPs). Make sure you choose a platform that allows for easy SEO optimisation and that you follow best practices for on-page optimisation.

Consider user experience: User

experience (UX) is important for ensuring that your website is easy to use and navigate. Plan the structure and layout of your website, including menus, categories, and subcategories. Consider how users will interact with your website, and make sure it’s intuitive and user-friendly.

Define your goals: Before starting

any website project, it’s essential to define your goals. What do you want your website to achieve? Who is your target audience? What are their needs and expectations? Answering these questions will help you create a website that is aligned with your goals and meets the needs of your target audience.

Determine your budget: Your budget will play a key role in determining the scope of your website project. Make sure you have a realistic budget and communicate it clearly to your website developer or designer.

Analytics and tracking:

Use analytics and tracking tools to monitor the performance of your website and make datadriven decisions for improvements.

Ensure accessibility:

Accessibility is important for ensuring that your website is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. Make sure your website follows accessibility guidelines and that it’s easy to use with assistive technologies like screen readers.

Visual design: Choose a visually appealing design that is consistent with your brand identity and appeals to your target audience.

Content: Develop

engaging and relevant content that aligns with the purpose of your website and the needs of your target audience.

Security:

Implement security measures to protect your website and users from potential threats, including SSL certificates.

Choose a responsive design: A responsive

website design ensures that your website looks great and functions well on all devices, from desktop computers to mobile phones. It’s important to choose a responsive design to ensure that your website is accessible to everyone.

By taking these factors into consideration, you can create a website for your business that is aligned with your goals and provides a great user experience. You can also plan a budget to help your business grow and discover your audience’s needs.

Further advice can be found at itseeze-leicester.co.uk.

NICHE | 67

NICHE FEATURE: KINGS REAL ESTATE

Navigating the housing market Buying or selling a property in 2023 feels a little bit daunting, doesn’t it?

An independent agent about what it means to be successful in the chain WORDS BY EMILY MILLER

H

onesty is paramount in property, it always has been,” estate agent Deyal Singh tells me. “But in the current climate, where everyone feels slightly nervous at the prospect of buying and selling a home, it’s never been more important to be transparent with communication.”

The son of the founder of Kings Real Estate, Deyal grew up with people who are passionate about property.

The company – which has a reputation built on honest and open relationships with their clients from residential and commercial sales to lettings – employs agents who each have areas of specialisms, but all have the same committed approach towards communicating with their clients.

“When buying and selling a home in particular, the agent is the middleman, so to speak.

Meaning that there’s a potential for clients to feel in the dark

72 | NICHE

IT’S AN EMOTIVE THING BUYING AND SELLING A HOME, WE ARE ALWAYS AWARE OF THAT

about what’s happening. That’s why it’s so important to make regular and open conversations with clients a priority.”

In the current climate, honesty is particularly important, as Deyal explains: “When it comes to being successful in a sale, we believe it’s important to be honest about what we believe a property should be listed at. Pricing a property higher than is realistic will only make the property stagnant.

“Eventually reducing the property or having it listed for too long creates an impression that the property isn’t as attractive to potential buyers.”

Selling and buying a home is notoriously stressful, and with many factors contributing to that, a good estate agent will make the experience as easy as possible.

“It’s an emotive thing buying and selling a home, we are always aware of that.”

In addition to residential

sales, the agency provides services to landlords, helping take the stress out of maintenance of a property and management of the relationships with their tenants.

“The cost-of-living crisis has created a difficult climate to communicate with tenants for landlords. Having an agency to manage them is not only more professional, but of course it also allows landlords to invest their time and energy in other areas of their life.”

Deyal assures me as we close our chat that buying and selling property in 2023 needn’t be as unsettling as you might think: “Things are still moving, and with expert mortgage advisors and honest agents who are realistic, passionate, and communicative about property, things will move even smoother!”

The latest advice can be found on their website at kingsestateuk.com/blogs to help you navigate the property market this year.

Paediatric Care you can rely on Welcome to award-winning healthcare.

At Nuffield Health Leicester Hospital we understand that if your child needs to visit a hospital it may be a worrying time for the whole family. That’s why we do everything we can to make your child’s stay as stress-free as possible, including working with some of the most experienced Paediatricians and a dedicated team of children’s nurses, leaving you to concentrate on the most important thing for your child – helping them get better.

A children’s doctor is always available throughout your child’s stay with us and they will be treated by the same Consultant, from the beginning to the end of their treatment. Every child will receive a children’s bravery certificate and a famous Nuffy bear during their stay. We see children from all health insurers or you can just pay for your child’s treatment yourself.

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Waterway adventures to discover this summer

Did you know Leicestershire has lots to offer in terms of water-based activities? Diving, kayaking, paddleboarding... WORDS BY KERRY SMITH

O

nce an important route for industrial barges, the city and county’s canals now provide the perfect place for canal boating, kayaking or paddleboarding. Eight rivers run through the county, giving us 70 miles of waterways. And there’s a 36-metre deep freshwater cove to explore underwater mysteries in. With the help of Visit Leicester, we’ve put together some of the best water-based activity spots around Leicestershire.

Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre

Take part in bell boating, canoeing, kata kanuing, kayaking, raft building and paddleboarding. Visit the centre to learn a new skill, try a team building challenge or just enjoy some time on the water. lopc.co.uk

Let’s Get Lost

Offering a range of experiences along the canal, book a Picnic and Paddle on a kayak or paddleboard before a pitstop in a secluded spot with a delicious picnic. Or try Paddle to the Pub along the River Soar, stopping off for refreshments at riverside pubs. letsgetlost.uk

Cycle hire

For those who love being by the water but not on it, Leicester and Leicestershire has miles of tranquil towpaths for a leisurely walk, run or cycle. Hire a bike from Hicks Lodge Cycle Hire or Rutland Cycles and see where the canal-side routes take you. groundscyclecentres.uk/hicks-lodge/rutlandcycling.com

Wistow

For those who enjoy beautiful scenery, the Grand Union Canal in Wistow was recently voted as the most scenic waterside setting in a recent survey by the Canal and River Trust. wistow.com

Foxton Locks

If canals and locks are your thing, Foxton Locks is a Grade II listed site and home to the longest, steepest staircase flight of locks in Britain. It’s a great place to visit for a walk, fishing, pond dipping, a lunch at a canalside pub or café or a spot of gongoozling – watching the narrowboats make their way through the locks. canalrivertrust.org.uk/places-to-visit/foxton-locks

Canal boat hire

If watching the narrowboats isn’t enough for you, you can hire your own and take to the water to watch the world go by. Canal boat hire is available from Union Wharf, Market Harborough; Pillings Lock Marina, Quorn; or Bosworth Marina, Market Bosworth. Or, stay aboard a five star selfcruise boat with Boutique Narrowboats. boutiquenarrowboats.co.uk

Stoney Cove

An extraordinary sub-aquatic adventure park and home of the National Diving Centre, Stoney Cove’s natural springs provide clear waters for divers to explore an incredible underwater world. Many ‘wrecks’ wait to be discovered such as Stanegarth, the UK’s largest inland shipwreck, a Nautilus submarine, tugboat Defiant and trawler Belinda. stoneycove.com

An Outstanding Contribution to East Midlands Communities Dr Nik Kotecha OBE DL has been honoured for Outstanding Contribution to East Midlands Communities at an East Midlands Chamber event

T

he former chair of Loughboroughbased Morningside Pharmaceuticals and current chair of the Randal Charitable Foundation, Dr Nik Kotecha OBE DL, was honoured for his Outstanding Contribution to East Midlands Communities at the Celebration of Culture and Communities event on March 17.

Presenting the award, East Midlands Chamber president Stuart Dawkins spoke about Dr Kotecha’s journey from arriving with his family in Leicester from Uganda, aged six years old, to become a scientist specialising in drug discovery and then an entrepreneur whose business with a moral purpose has exported around the world.

“He has advised a number of national Government departments, being recognised for his work by the awarding of an OBE,” said Stuart.

“Closer to home, he has brought this expertise to many working groups here in the Midlands. Among many other things, he is a pro-chancellor

76 | NICHE

MUCH OF THIS WORK IS FOCUSED ON ENSURING WE DELIVER SUSTAINABLE LONG-TERM GROWTH, WHICH IN TURN SECURES JOBS

at De Montfort University and is a Deputy Lieutenant of Leicestershire.

“After securing the legacy of his business via a disposal last year, he is now devoting his time to the charity he founded with his wife Moni in 2017, the Randal Charitable Foundation, aiming to save lives and significantly improve the quality of life for those in need –in the UK and around the word. That is a wonderful track record.”

Around 250 guests turned out at Athena in Leicester, with many wearing traditional dress associated with various cultures.

Chan Kataria OBE, chief executive at emh group, also delivered a speech about the importance of embracing the equality, diversity and inclusion agenda within businesses.

Dr Kotecha said: “I was humbled to receive the Outstanding Contribution to East Midlands Communities Award because helping to directly save and significantly improve the lives of people living in the UK and globally has been a lifelong

passion of mine.

“Throughout my professional career, I’ve always ensured that every business venture has given back to communities and society as a whole, and more recently this work has continued through my family’s Randal Charitable Foundation.

“I’m also immensely proud to continue to volunteer on a number of local, regional and national boards and advisory groups, which are working to nurture and grow innovation, entrepreneurship and productivity across the business community.

“Much of this work is focused on ensuring we deliver sustainable long-term growth, which in turn secures jobs and the future prosperity of our many diverse communities.”

The annual Celebration of Culture and Communities event, held in partnership with emh group and De Montfort University, featured music, dance and food from across the world, delivered by East Midlandsbased performers and caterers.

NICHE CHARITY: HOPE AGAINST CANCER

Hope Against Cancer’s

20in23 challenge Leicestershire charity Hope Against Cancer will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a new £1m fundraising initiative

H

ope Against Cancer is kicking off its 20th anniversary year with a commitment to providing a minimum of £1m in additional funding for local research and treatment over the next five years. As part of this, the team is launching a fundraising initiative to get local businesses and the general public involved in supporting and celebrating the charity throughout 2023.

A key aim for Hope Against Cancer this year is to raise awareness of the charity and the pioneering work it supports in the development of lifeenhancing and life-saving cancer treatment therapies and techniques. Part of this awareness drive will see the team encouraging local businesses and individuals to take part in the ‘20in23 Challenge’, kicking off with the ‘Trail of Hope Weekend’ on the

June 9-11.

Hope Against Cancer’s Chief Executive, Nigel Rose, commented: “I am very proud to be part of the Hope Against Cancer team and to be celebrating 20 years of incredible achievements. To see first-hand the impact our charity has had, and continues to have, on so many lives is the reason we all keep going – we do the fighting so that our patients can do more living.

“I’m very much looking forward to supporting the 20in23 Challenge come to life and seeing how creative people can be when it comes to their challenges! Whether it's walking 20 laps of your local park, or baking 20 cakes to sell, every penny raised, and every challenge completed – no matter how big or small – will help to spread awareness of Hope and our ongoing work

TO SEE FIRST-HAND THE IMPACT OUR CHARITY HAS HAD, AND CONTINUES TO HAVE, ON SO MANY LIVES IS THE REASON WE ALL KEEP GOING

and commitment.”

In its 20 years, the charity has funded over 100 research projects and in 2012, opened the Hope Cancer Trials Centre, which has seen over 30,000 attendances since launch and is where the people of Leicestershire and Rutland can receive the most advanced therapies and techniques.

The charity receives no governmental funding, meaning every penny is raised and invested locally. Since its foundation in 2003, the small but mighty Hope Against Cancer team has raised £8m directly, with successful projects going on to attract many millions more in further funding from external sources.

To find out more about the 20in23 Challenge and the Trail of Hope Weekend, visit hopeagainstcancer.org. uk/20in23.

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tion hibi y x e r s Thi udes ve ge l c u g a in lan g n that stro ontent c ind and ay f m e som ensive. off

27TH MAY - 3RD SE PTEMBER 2023

k scene The chaos & creation of the 1970s British Pun ch Arts at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery & Soft Tou

From the award-winning 2019 Mods exhibition team

rageandrevolution.co.uk Punk Festival Weekend 18-20 August 2023

NICHE FEATURE: LEICESTER RIDERS

Basketball: education for the next generation

Leicester Riders and the Riders Foundation is calling for local businesses to help change the lives of the next generation through sponsorship opportunities that are facilitating education and even helping to reduce crime rates WORDS BY KERRY SMITH

M

emory Lane in Leicester is home to Leicester Riders’ Morningside Arena and a host of sporting and community projects that are helping young people access sport, providing education, and promoting health and wellbeing.

Leicester Riders Foundation is working with local organisations to increase participation in basketball and to bring Communities together through the sport.

Founded in 1967, Leicester Riders is the oldest professional club in British Basketball.

Managing Director Russell Levenston says corporate sponsorships have a particularly successful impact for local communities: “Premier Logistics for example has been supporting the team for over 10 years.

Basketball is quite an expensive sport to play at the Elite level so this kind of support from Premier means that parents who couldn’t afford for their children to attend their academy programme are now able to.

“And on the business side, Premier has been able to fulfil its corporate social responsibilities in a meaningful way whilst also being associated with a winning team and having their logo seen on Sky Sports coverage.”

Lee Christopher of Premier Logistics said: “I’m massively keen on supporting the community

and giving back to Leicester.

As part of our sponsorship, we gain great coverage and are able to align our business with a fantastic club as well as other like-minded businesses that also sponsor them.

“The main chunk of our sponsorship creates pathways for underprivileged children who struggle to get into the sport or attend matches. It also supports a number of schools to come and watch matches for children who wouldn’t have had a chance to watch otherwise. It’s also a great way to strengthen relationships with clients and watch a game with them.”

Russell believes the sport can help inspire and educate young people, changing the next generation’s lives. He said: “Our projects are helping to get young people off the streets by giving them an activity to be part of. We want to inspire people to play the game and be future Leicester Riders players, but our main ambition is to provide an opportunity to be the best version of themselves.”

Friday nights at Morningside Arena provide fun activities for young people. Children and teens come in to play basketball and take part in dance lessons, and special speakers often attend to give talks on important subjects. The Riders work with Leicestershire Police, who

OUR PROJECTS ARE HELPING TO GET YOUNG PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS

BY GIVING THEM AN ACTIVITY TO BE PART OF

regularly give talks at the arena, breaking down communication barriers between young people and the authorities. The foundation is currently working with the police regarding knife crime. They’re providing basketball sessions to the local community, seeing staff work in schools using basketball as a vehicle for education and discussion concerning knife crime.

If businesses or individuals want to be involved in The Riders’ community work and its men’s or women’s teams, they can email russell@riders. basketball.

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WHAT’S ON IN LEICESTERSHIRE

t s n i a g A Rage e n i h c a M the ) e s u a C d o o G A (For

A major exhibition exploring the Punk youth subculture through the eyes of young people is to be hosted by Soft Touch Arts and Leicester Museum & Art Gallery this summer WORDS BY TOM YOUNG

A

n exhibition called Punk: Rage & Revolution will explore the irreverent and rebellious Punk youth subculture and its legacy. Catch it at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery from May 27 to September 2.

Young person’s charity Soft Touch Arts was awarded £159,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to carry out the exciting, intergenerational heritage learning project in partnership with design agency Arch Creative and local music author Shaun Knapp.

The exhibition and the wider project are part of an effort to protect elements of our heritage that are at risk of being lost to time.

Featuring Roger K Burton’s collection of original Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren clothing, Jamie Reid’s mural that tells the story of punk, and other ephemera from Leicester punks, the exhibition will be an ambitious, exciting, and immersive multimedia experience that will appeal to a wide range of audiences.

By collecting interviews, memories and loan items from local punks and

key figures in the national scene, the truth of this movement can be preserved for future generations to learn about.

Later this year, there will also be a Punk and Counterculture festival weekend (taking place August 1820, 2023) with local music and arts venues, outdoor events, shops, bars, and restaurants all programming their own Punk or youth subculture themed events. This aims to increase footfall to the exhibition while bringing

economic and cultural benefit to the city by providing it with a one-of-a-kind counterculture festival.

The festival follows a similar, successful project in 2019, Mods: Shaping a Generation, which saw 30,000 visitors come to Leicester to celebrate the stylish 1960s Mod youth subculture and generated £1.7m for the local economy.

The exhibition will be at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery from May 27 to September 2.

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WHAT’S ON IN LEICESTERSHIRE Something for Everyone Highlights of shows and events happening in Leicester between April and July WORDS BY TOM YOUNG Ministry of Science

De Montfort Hall, April 12 demontforthall.co.uk Science saves the world! An anarchic show that explores the scientists, engineers and inventors that have shaped the world. 100% Educational.

200% Entertaining. 300% Explosive.

400% Fun.

Ibiza Proms in The Park Gypsy

Dave Gorman: Powerpoint to the People

Loughborough Town Hall, May 11 loughboroughtownhall.co.uk The Modern Life is Good(ish) comedian brings his latest stand-up show to Loughborough. If you’ve never seen Gorman perform, expect analysis of the minutiae of life, television, and a perfectly crafted narrative circle that ties everything together.

Carrie Hope Fletcher – An Open Book

De Montfort Hall, June 6 demontforthall.co.uk Award-winning West End star and vlogger Hope Fletcher performs songs from her incredible stage career, including hits from Heathers, Les Misérables, The Addams Family and many more, interspersed with chat about her fascinating life and career.

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The Little Theatre, June 20-24 thelittletheatre.co.uk The mother of all musicals! KW Productions returns to The Little Theatre, following last year’s sensational run of Calendar Girls (read our review at nichemagazine. co.uk). Gypsy tells the story of Gypsy Rose Lee, star of 1930s burlesque, and her tempestuous relationship with her ambitious mother Rose. The Little Theatre also has plays including Home, I’m Darling and Bouncers (Remix), plus musicals including The Railway Children, Anything Goes and Ghost. Something for everyone!

Abbey Park June 23 Tickets via skiddle.com Secret Symphony returns to Leicester for this two-hour musical journey through house and trance – but its performed by a 50-piece orchestra!

The event will also feature a street food village, bars and a fairground. Under 18s are permitted if accompanied by an adult.

Sir Tom Jones Ages & Stages Tour

Leicestershire County Cricket Club, July 15 With a remarkable career spanning over six decades, selling over 100 million records, now at the age of 82, Sir Tom continues to receive some of the best reviews of his career.

He brings his Ages & Stages tour to Leicester this July.

Musical adaptation of

The Railway Children coming to The Little Theatre Tickets are on sale for The Railway Children musical showing at Leicester’s 100-year-old Little Theatre WORDS BY KERRY SMITH

T

he Little Theatre will be staging 12 performances of The Railway Children between March 31 and April 15. Directed by Leigh White, it’s set to be the perfect family treat this Easter.

Many of us will have grown up watching the film version starring Jenny Agutter and Bernard Cribbins. Now, in 2023 – a year after the sequel The Railway Children Return hit cinemas, the musical adaptation will be lighting up Dover Street this spring.

Amanda Sadler, Leicester Drama Society Member, cast as ‘Mother’ said: “It’s a real joy to be telling this classic story and be part of this talented cast. There are many incredible voices, confident performances from the children, and the adults have the chemistry and experience to carry the show.

“We’re really excited to be offering a musical for families to enjoy this Easter, and hope it’ll become a regular fixture of our annual season, alongside our popular pantomime.”

Located in Dover Street in the city centre, The Little Theatre is home to Leicester Drama Society.

Founded in 1922, the society has been producing amateur dramatics to professional standard for over a century and has seen the likes of Richard Attenborough and Joe Orton tread the boards.

The tale of a young family, forced to move out of London after the father is (wrongly) arrested for espionage, the children become besotted with the local railway, the amiable stationmaster, Mr Perks, and a kindly Old Gentlemen, who may be able to help their situation.

The Little has a jam-packed and varied programme for 2023 with a wonderful range of plays and musicals, including James and the Giant Peach, Ghost: The Musical, Shakespeare in Love, Puss in Boots, and many more.

Tickets for all shows can be purchased at thelittletheatre.co.uk, where you can also find information on how to become a member of the theatre.

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My guitar is my passenger Local musician Jersey Budd reflects on what it means to keep going as a musician in 2023 and talks about influences, keeping the passion burning and what’s next for Leicester’s guitar man WORDS BY EMILY MILLER

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I

’ve got my guitar on the van seat next to me, Emily – it travels everywhere with me, it’s my passenger,” says Jersey Budd, opening our conversation. Of course, being a music fan of the same age as Leicesterbased Jersey, I know him a little, more through friends of friends really, but as soon as we start speaking, we recall an interview I did with him years ago and I’m quickly reminded of how warm and down to earth he is.

Some years ago, Jersey enjoyed a limelight moment which saw him touring with John Martyn (albeit in his dad’s Peugeot estate), playing the Victoria Park stage at Kasabian’s gig there and getting significant radio airtime.

He achieved a momentum which saw him supporting big acts such as The Rifles and James Morrison, plus a celebratory single release of Louis Armstrong’s When You’re Smiling with Leicester City FC in 2010.

Then, just like that, things changed, and Jersey found himself feeling like he was back at square one, finding that he had to promote himself, organise his own tours and grow his reputation off his own back.

“It’s how it is in the industry isn’t it, Emily? No one ever said it was easy. There are peaks and troughs and, luckily, the music fire in my belly is strong enough to keep me doing what I do.” Doing what he does looks like a cluster of festivals, a tour in October and a new EP he’s currently finishing up.

He talks about his wife Kayleigh, who has always been supportive of what he does: “I’m sure it was the fact that I was a musician that initially turned her head – she wouldn’t have looked twice if I couldn’t sing,” he joked.

“Seriously though, she’s only ever supported me through the highs and lows – her and the kids are a huge part of why I keep recording and touring.”

His kids are 10, six and two this year, and are keen musicians in the making. “My eldest two, both girls, play the drums and guitar and a little piano between them.

My youngest lad is a bit young yet, but he will I’m sure – it’s in their blood!”

It’s in his blood too, of course. He mentions growing

PHOTOGRAPHY: CHRIS EDWARDS

NICHE FEATURE: JERSEY BUDD

up listening to the music his dad would play and huge influences such as Bob Dylan, Neil Young and recently Ron Sexsmith. “I grew up on good music, that kind of music diet ignites something. A friend of mine taught me a few notes on a guitar at a young age, and whilst there were dreams of football stardom, I quickly saw that music was my true love – that and the realisation that girls like lads who play an instrument!”

He’s excited to tell me about how the rest of the year is looking. There’s an EP, a couple of singles just around the corner, and there’re a few festival dates coming up this summer – something that you can hear in his voice he’s excited to be doing. “Playing with the rest of the band is always great. I am lucky I get to work with some really great talented musicians and can’t wait to get on stage with them for festival season and on tour.

“I love being on stage, that’s what it’s all about for me.

That feeling you get when you play in front of an audience, nothing beats it. Sure, we all want to be mega-rich rock stars, but for me I wouldn’t care if I only played small caps [capacity] for the rest of my days – as long as I could play out.”

On the writing process, he remarks: “I have a notebook by my bed which I sometimes jot things down in, then there’s the voice memos; I record a few bits here and

It’s how it is in the industry isn’t it? No one ever said it was easy

there and actually only a few are any good when I go back to them! But it’s a process. I am no poet but sometimes something just works, and you can’t even say how. It often just comes from nowhere.”

I ask what piece of advice he would give to young singer-songwriter musicians starting out. “I would say one of the main things is to make sure your session musicians or band are really, really great. It’s easy to get swept up in loyalties to people who are sort of ‘around and can play’, but having skilled and supportive musicians play with you is priceless.”

Catch Jersey Budd and his band Silverball at The Musician in Leicester on March 31. Follow his Facebook page for updates on live dates and releases.

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TOP TIPS FOR BID WRITING G L O B A L

Bid writing can be a daunting task, especially for small charities and start-up businesses. However, it’s vital to create the best chance to of

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securing any funding that’s out there.

HERE ARE SOME TOP BID-WRITING TIPS TO HELP YOU SUCCEED IN SECURING FUNDING

Tips for Bid THE Writing 5. BUDGET 1.Top UNDERSTAND FUNDING CRITERIA A well-prepared budget is an important part Before you start writing your bid, make sure Bidfully writing can be athe daunting task, especially you understand funding criteria.

This for small of your bid. Make sure your budget is realistic charities and start-up businesses. it’s vital to create and fully justifies all costs. Make sure you show will help you to tailor your bid toHowever, the specific the best chance of to the of securing funding that’s requirements funding any organisation and out there. how your project will be sustainable in the long term. increase your chances of success.

Here are some top bid-writing tips to help you succeed in 2. securing 6. SHOW YOUR TEAM’S EXPERTISE SHOW funding.

HOW YOUR PROJECT ALIGNS WITH THE FUNDING ORGANISATION’S MISSION 1. Understand the funding criteriafor projects Funding organisations are looking Before you start writing yourand bid,values. make Make sure you fully that align with their mission understand the funding criteria.

This will help you to sure you clearly demonstrate how your project tailor your bidthe to the specific requirements of the funding aligns with funding organisation’s mission organisation your chances and how itand will increase have a positive impact of onsuccess. the community.

3. BE CLEAR AND CONCISE Keep your bid as clear and concise as possible.

Avoid using jargon and be sure to explain any technical terms you use. Be sure to answer all questions asked in the bid application and stick to the word limit.

4. SHOW EVIDENCE OF NEED Make sure you provide evidence of need for your project. This can be in the form of statistics, testimonials or case studies.

Funding organisations want to see that your team has the expertise and experience to carry out your project. Provide details of your team’s qualifications and experience and show how they have relevant experience.

7. SHOW EVIDENCE OF PAST SUCCESS If you have successfully delivered similar projects in the past, make sure you include this in your bid. Showing that you have a track record of delivering successful projects will increase the funding organisation’s confidence in your ability to deliver the proposed project.

8. PROOFREAD Before submitting your bid make sure you proofread it thoroughly. Check for spelling and grammar errors and ensure that all information is accurate and up to date.

Bid writing can be a challenging task, but by following these tips you can increase your chances of securing funding.

Remember to understand the funding criteria, show how your project aligns with the funding organisation’s mission, be clear and concise, provide evidence of need, budget, show your team’s expertise, show evidence of past success and proofread your bid fully before submitting it.

For more help and advice on setting up and running a new charity or business, get in touch with She Inspires now

info@sheinspiresglobal.org.uk | 0116 482 6598 | sheinspiresglobal.org.uk

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NICHE FEATURE: LAMP

Climbing mountains Lamp 5k challenge returns Local mental health charity encourages sponsored physical activity during Mental Health Awareness Week May 15-21 WORDS BY KERRY SMITH

F

or the third year running, Leicester-based mental health charity, Lamp has launched its major 5k fundraising campaign for 2023. This year’s campaign will take place from May 15-21, as part of Mental Health Awareness Week, and focuses on the positive impact that physical exercise has on mental health.

‘Climbing mountains for mental health’ is the theme this year and will highlight that physical activity is good for mental health and wellbeing.

People will be challenged to walk, run, swim, ride or take part in any activity to achieve the 5k distance, raising funds for Lamp in the process.

Richard Kotulecki, Lamp’s CEO said: “We’re very excited about our Lamp 5k challenge for Mental Health Awareness Week as we firmly believe in the benefits of physical activity on our mental health and wellbeing. However, we are focused on empowering

people to overcome a personal challenge in aid of mental health so the challenge isn’t just about physical exertion – we are not expecting people to climb 5k up a mountain!”

Participants in the Lamp 5k are encouraged to gain sponsorship for each kilometre covered to collectively raise £29,000 – the height of Mount Everest in feet.

Lamp’s 5k challenge has set the ambitious fundraising target to support the charity’s increasing number of service users and carers who need mental health advocacy throughout Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

On average, it costs around £750 for Lamp to help to navigate someone through the complexities of mental health and empower them to rebuild their life.

“This year’s theme is based on feedback that living/dealing with or addressing a mental health issue can be like climbing

WE ARE FOCUSED ON EMPOWERING PEOPLE TO OVERCOME A PERSONAL CHALLENGE IN AID OF MENTAL HEALTH

a mountain,” Richard explained.

“The outdoors and exercise are good for mental health, but we also want to highlight the steep challenges that people sometimes face every day, working through their mental health issues.”

“If physical exercise isn’t your thing, we also want to encourage people to overcome a metaphorical mountain or activity for mental health so people can also support by organising their own fundraising activity such as sponsored knitting, bake sales, coffee mornings, or snooker/pool tournaments.”

To take part in Lamp’s 2023 5k challenge, visit lampadvocacy.co.uk/lamp5k, log your 5k and download a fundraising pack. If you would like to sponsor, fundraise or get involved in other ways, emial info@lampdirect.org.uk or sign up to Lamp’s newsletter at lampadvocacy.co.uk/news-lettersignup/ to get regular updates.

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NICHE FEATURE: GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY REUNIFICATION

Full steam ahead Great Central Railway Reunification

The UK’s biggest heritage railway project moves forward with constructing the next stages of its extraordinary Reunification project WORDS BY KERRY SMITH

G

reat Central Railway is creating an 18-mile steamoperated heritage intercity main line from the outskirts of Leicester to the outskirts of Nottingham. Reunification is a project to reconnect two halves of the former Great Central Main Line to London, which closed in the 1960s.

Once complete, the line will stretch between South Nottingham and Leicester for use by visitors, passengers and rail industry businesses.

The plan requires five hundred metres of Victorian Railway line to be rebuilt. It’s one of the biggest schemes in UK railway preservation.

Friends of the Great Central Main Line is a members organisation that supports the Great Central Railway Reunification. The society is coordinating the fundraising for the project.

Andy Fillingham, Chairman of the Friends of the Great Central Main Line, said: “This project is all about people power and pushing forward a plan with potential to transform the local area. It’s been humbling how much support we have received, not just at home, but around the world. Times are tight but people are still choosing to support the inspirational Reunification scheme. We are very grateful to everyone.”

Three phases of the project are

ready for track to be laid down, with four more phases to go.

The completed phases include a new bridge to carry Great Central Railway heritage trains over the national rail network, a refurbished late 1890s canal bridge and a replacement bridge over the A60.

One aspect of the project also involves young people so they can get first-hand experience of being involved in a major engineering project. Through the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) initiative, local school children will be involved in the project and will devise their own solutions to the various problems that have to be tackled in a project of this type.

It is hoped that the children will be enthused about engineering and technical matters and will have a better understanding of the world of employment by involvement in the project.

An ongoing fundraising campaign has secured more than £1.4m, which is to be spent on the next two phases of the work, named ‘The Factory Flyover’.

Subject to successfully securing the relevant permissions, work could begin on-site later this year. The Factory Flyover will see a bridge across a factory car park and another to cross Railway Terrace Road in Loughborough.

It’s expected to cost around £2.8m pounds. Once work has

THIS PROJECT IS ALL ABOUT PEOPLE POWER AND PUSHING FORWARD A PLAN WITH POTENTIAL TO TRANSFORM THE LOCAL AREA

started, it will continue as far as available funds allow.

Nick Broderick of Trackside Magazine said: “The reunified Great Central will be an extraordinary place, complete with authentic trains, locomotives and infrastructure. It will represent an incredible achievement for UK preservation as a whole and be an educational legacy for future generations.”

For those interested in getting involved or donating, visit gcrailway.co.uk/unify where you can also find the latest updates on the Reunification.

The Benefits of Volunteering Volunteering is an excellent way to gain the skills and experience you need to help you to get into the work place.

Learn new skills and Gain valuable experience Improve your CV and Boost your confidence Have fun and Make new friends Make a difference and Be part of a community Take on a challenge and Try Something new 0116 257 5050 helpline@valonline.org.uk volunteer.valonline.org.uk 92 | NICHE

Are you ready to

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NICHE FEATURE: THE BRIDGE

Bridging the gap between home and homelessness Homelessness levels in England are at crisis point. With the rise of fuel bills, rent hikes and underfunding in health services, the fall from having a home to couch surfing and homelessness in the UK has never been more common. Why? WORDS BY EMILY MILLER

A

t least 271,000 people are recorded as homeless in England in 2023, including 123,000 children.

That’s one in 208 people in England that are without a home or a place to call their own that is safe and warm.

Of these people, 2,400 are sleeping rough on any given night and 15,000 people are in hostels or supported accommodation. Nearly 250,000 are living in temporary accommodation – most of whom are being put up by friends and family members. The numbers have been reported by Shelter.

I spoke with Leicester homelessness charity representative Sue Langley about this shocking figure. “We are seeing the dramatic increase in homelessness, not only for those sleeping rough, but also those who are in temporary accommodation – the hidden homeless,” Sue told me.

The temporary accommodation figures are

particularly insightful as many reports haven’t accounted for this in previous years. Many of those who don’t have their own home are couch surfing at the homes of friends and family, or finding hostels for the night, and they are in a very vulnerable position.

“The fall into homelessness from renting or owning a property to being without one has never been so treacherous. Living in temporary accommodation is a precarious gap between a home and the streets, and more people than ever are falling through this gap,” Sue added.

The number of people living in temporary accommodation has risen by an alarming 74% in the last 10 years, largely as a result of a rise in rent prices, inadequate social housing, a healthcare crisis and a three-year freeze in housing benefits.

The ground-breaking research found that living in temporary accommodation has a hugely detrimental impact on people’s health as well as putting people at

THE FALL INTO HOMELESSNESS FROM RENTING OR OWNING A PROPERTY TO BEING WITHOUT ONE HAS NEVER BEEN SO TREACHEROUS

huge risk of becoming homeless.

“Unaffordable and precarious accommodation for those in our society who are suffering from financial hardship, and often poor mental and physical health too – are just not getting help from the government quick enough. Any that comes is often far too late.

“It’s a dangerously thin line where our society’s structure no longer supports those that need it most; and crucially, not fast enough to close the gap between having a home and not having one.”

Where our systems fail, charities like The Bridge are vital in their support. From April 2021 to March 2022, The Bridge had 5,703 referrals and enquiries and improved 90% of housing conditions as well as prevented or overcame 88% of homelessness cases brought to them.

If you or someone you know is homeless or at risk of homelessness, contact The Bridge at thebridge-eastmidlands. org.uk/referral.

NICHE | 93

NICHE FEATURE: SHE INSPIRES GLOBAL

How the cost-of-living crisis will affect small charities The continuing crisis could impact the voluntary sector but there are some measures small charities can take in response – Zinthiya Ganeshpanchan, Founder of She Inspires (Global) Ltd, explains

T

he ongoing cost-of-living crisis continues to affect us all in our day-to-day lives, and it promises to be an important issue throughout 2023.

One major impact could be a rise in the costs of running a voluntary organisation. The rise in inflation will mean everything costs more for a small charity – from energy and fuel costs to the price of consumables, food and other supplies.

While everything is getting more expensive for small charities, the rise in inflation also means income is expected to fall with donations and funding all trending downwards as belts

The cost-of-living crisis is a shared experience You’re not alone Call us to talk

94 | NICHE

are tightened across the economy. It’s happening at a time when demand from service users is expected to increase – adding more pressure as they try to support their communities.

Despite this growing list of challenges, there are steps small charities can take to continue delivering their mission.

Review your income and expenditure

Consider how the changing economic situation might affect your budgets for the year and whether you need to reforecast any costs, such as energy bills or volunteer expenses.

Follow your governing document

Charities may be adapting their service to meet changing demands. In such cases, it’s important to follow your organisation’s governing document to ensure you’re sticking to your stated mission and delivering public benefit.

Reach out to businesses

Now is a great time to look for corporate sponsors as many businesses will want to actively help the community during these challenging times. Make it easy for them by asking for specific help in terms of donations, support or resources.

NICHE SOCIAL

Love Business sprints to victory

T

he chequered flag has fallen on the Love Business Expo for another year. The event, which took place in February at the Holywell Park Conference Centre, in Loughborough, was the biggest yet, with event organisers Quiet Storm Solutions reporting record visitor numbers throughout the day.

Thousands of delegates got into a sporting theme and took part in the interactive activities in the Sports Mindset Village. A fantastic lineup of speakers shared their expertise into the lessons businesses can learn from elite sports and how to apply a winning mindset in the workplace. And the expo areas were packed with hundreds of exhibitors from across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire showcasing the best of the region.

Fancy Entertainment brought the sporting theme to life with immersive experiences throughout the day. And KuKu Connect, SMB College and the FSB provided networking opportunities galore, so people could catch up with old friends, make new connections and share opportunities.

Tickets and exhibition stands can be booked at lovebusinessexpo.co.uk as plans are already underway for next years event, which takes place on 15 February 2024.

NICHE | 95

You’re a Nachural!

T

he Nachural Entrepreneurship Awards 2023 took place at The King Power Stadium on Friday, March 10, with almost 400 people in attendance.

A black-tie event where Nachural connected, influenced and celebrated the best in British Business. The key theme for the evening was resilience, which was reflected in the keynote speeches from Ninder Johal DL, Jaz Kaur and Narinder Nijjar, and Luke Murfitt. The event’s headline sponsor was Fraser Stretton Property Group, and the charity of the evening was Hope Against Cancer.

THE WINNERS: Lifetime Achievement - Nat Puri Startup of the Year - Momma’s Kitchen Excellence in Technology - Mayfair IT Consultancy Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion - PPL PRS Excellence in Customer Service - Your IT Department Businesswoman of the Year - Glynis Wright International Business of The Year Mirzyme Therapeutics Community Excellence - What a Goal Excellence in Innovation - Davidsons Homes Entrepreneur of the Year - Jeremy Dawson Highly Commended - Richard Shakespeare, Cheryl Ellron, Stacey Ferguson, Hitz Rao, Ben Ryley and Toby Ryley Woman of Influence - Eileen Richards Businessperson of the Year - Dominic Gomersall Excellence in Legal Services - Pattersons Commercial Law SME of The Year - Paradigm Wills and Legal Services Enterprise of the Year - Chutney Ivy Excellence in Real Estate - Kal Sangra (Shonki Brothers) Promoting Apprenticeships - SMB College Group Business of the Year - Rudolph & Hellmann Automotive

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NICHE SOCIAL

‘100 Women’ event

E

Established in celebration of International Women’s Day by Cross Productions’ CEO Jenny Cross, ‘100 Women’ will be an annual affair after the huge success it saw at its launch on March 6.

Each businesswoman who attended the event donated £100 to split the potential £10,000 between three randomly selected local charities.

The three charities each conducted a 10-minute pitch to the room on their history, impact, and goals for the future. Those in attendance then cast their votes for their favourite charity, and the winner took 50% of the total donations. Help The Homeless won this, leaving the remaining value split between Lamp and Hope Against Cancer.

Jenny said: “The event has made a significant difference to these charities in terms of fundraising and brand awareness. We aim to repeat this event with ‘100 men’ in November for International Men’s Day and of course 2024’s International Women’s Day too, both in partnership with Oadby House.”

NICHE | 97

YOU WOULDN’T HEAR IT IN

Directors, CEOs, MBEs, PhD holders, and other higher ups… they’re all people you might meet in the boardroom where best behaviour is upheld. But these successful types are people too! They have lives and we want to know what goes on in them. We squeeze answers out of them on subjects you wouldn’t normally discuss in the boardroom

PROFILE: Roshni Desai signs r, Roshni Desai De Designer and owne Age: 24 From: Leicester ead, Leicester Creative Lives in: Rushey M Won Innovation in r. ne sig de n io sh t’s our fa ds 2022; the nigh Noteworthy: Cont e Innovation Awar Liv ire sh er st ice in Le ies’ Industries at iring Success Stor One of the ‘20 Insp . er nn business at wi st st fir ge d te un yo hure. Star oc br rs eu en pr tre En Leicester’s City of ning jewellery. sig de 11, the age of IPS: What’s w would you FRIENDSHIPS: Ho a friend? as describe yourself o a friend wh e on Loyal, and some y time about their can message at an -minded, so I don’t problems. I’m open y. u’re safe and happ yo judge – so long as hat’s the craziest ADVENTURES: W . ? I went parasailing thing you’ve done I e the sea, becaus I don’t normally like d s – sand or seawee ng thi don’t like weird nt fro s ay alw And I’m – touching my feet. llercoaster. ro a for e eu qu of the here would your ENVIRONMENT: W est look for you? nearest and dear t all the time, and I don’t like going ou rather sit down for I’d I’m not a drinker. friends. Or I’m at a meal and talk to my s. as watching movie home in my pyjam

NESS: What’s HEALTH AND FIT habit? Having st hie your unhealt y one. That’s got prett Deliveroo on my ph er oth y an ve ha y all re dangerous. I don’t vices though.

E: What do you INTELLECTUAL LIF er crime shows. geek out on? Murd Game of Thrones. or CSI, Line of Duty, ally good plot.

Something with a re

LOVE RELATIONSH ship advice? your best relation other. The ch ea Be honest with finding out be uld wo worst thing someone information through sided by what’s else and being blind happened.

selling he checks ‘You are I say ‘Yes’ he goes n he W these, right?’ and carries on.

‘That’s alright then’,

od at anything?

SKILLS: Weirdly go ss producing key I’m really quick at ma ught it looked rings. My brother tho all the bits, it took easy, so I gave him the time he was him 20 minutes. By done, I’d made 10.

Which of life’s SPIRITUAL LIFE: u up at night? mysteries keep yo h my family ug I’m Hindu and altho I am very , ed ind is quite open-m a. I’d never rm ka t ou ab us superstitio ir money, as the of cheat anybody out to bite you in ck ba things like that come ger way. the ass in a much big the worst part CAREER: What’s work from home, so I about your job? d me – in the living it’s constantly aroun there’s packages room, the bedroom, andad sits in the everywhere. My gr ded by boxes full of un back room, surro , ery once in a while bras and pants. Ev

tside of work, CREATIVE LIFE: Ou ‘create’? what did you last to a pigment ink nt we I d an My mum se beautiful tiles. class and created the d we couldn’t se ali re Very quickly we become a hobby – afford to have this full! the house is already t’s your most fond FAMILY LIFE: Wha hood? Family memory from child centre point for gatherings. We’re the and they all ily, both sides of the fam together. e lis cia so come to us and E: Which political COMMUNITY LIF ht t interested in rig topic are you mos t an e been adam now? Recycling. I’v young. All my s wa I about it since ble or reused. packaging is recycla and use them gs I shred old paper ba le packing lab yc ec instead of non-r have another n ca ing yth er peanuts. Ev life to it.

WORDS BY TOM YOUNG

To get a well-rounded feel for our interviewee, our questions are based on Vishen Lakhiani’s 12 Areas of Life Balance

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