Niche Magazine Issue 56

#FindYourNiche

October-December 2023

£5 where sold

MONTH OF THE MAN

QUALIFICATION BY ASSOCIATION Niche Business Awards

The winners of 2023

Leicester Tigers

A new era for women’s rugby

Restaurant Week

Great for business

The Niche Business Awards, 441 seats

A lot of elements go into producing events

17 sponsors

374

nominations

5 samba girls

102

handcrafted table creations

by the numbers: 9

judges

3 videographers

5

drummers

2 photographers 1 compère

if you need help co-ordinating yours get in touch at

info@crossproductions.co.uk

2024

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

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

Great reasons to attend Love Business EXPO 2024

> Wide range of businesses from across the East Midlands

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> Find out more about business funding, grants and support > Generate new business opportunities > Source new products and services

> Compare yourself against your competition

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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 Photography: Hitz Rao ART STUDIO Head of Design Studio: Susan Holmes susan.holmes@crossproductions.co.uk ADVERTISING Marketing Director: Sally Smith sally@crossproductions.co.uk Marketing Consultant: Tracey Hunter tracey@crossproductions.co.uk MARKETING AND CIRCULATION Head of Brand Marketing: Becci Houlston Produced by Cross Productions crossproductions.co.uk Print management: Soar Valley Press Distributed by Media Matters Direct and Self Select Distribution

W

hile working on this last issue of 2023, an unplanned theme developed. It began with our writer Tom Young asking interviewees what gave them hope as part of our men’s health

section. Hope then naturally seemed to form the premise of the majority of the conversations we were having and so we’re dedicating this issue to the feeling of hope.

Whether it’s the group of businessmen on our front cover trusting in each other and their mutual support, a local businessman cycling for children with disabilities, a team looking to the next 10 years of business, arts and exhibitions listings to bring communities together, or even stats showing a drop in green growth measures, we found that hope is leading

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the way for Leicestershire organisations of all shapes and sizes.

PARTNERSHIPS Contact us to discuss partnership opportunities on jenny@crossproductions.co.uk

Men’s Day on November 19, as well as the Movember global fundraising

MANAGEMENT Chief Executive Officer: Jenny Cross jenny@crossproductions.co.uk

As mentioned, it’s the ‘Month of the Man’ – as we’ve coined it – with November being Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month and International campaign taking place. After several years of upheaval in the personal and working lives of many, we’ve interviewed local businessmen about what gives them hope as the New Year approaches.

Feeling hopeful means to have an idea or an image of an end goal, which can help us move forward. Hope helps us create opportunities and is associated with the ability to achieve positive outcomes.

I hope you can also feel hopeful for the year ahead after reading the stories of local people in this issue.

@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 OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2023

THIS ISSUE 42

MONTH OF THE MAN

44

Money can’t buy you happiness

45

Focus on support

47

Work you can live with

48

Developing beyond the negatives

50

Thought for your pennies

51

40

BNI FOXES Qualification by association

Cover Image Members of BNI Foxes photographed at Morningside Arena Photographed by Hitz Rao at Hitz Rao Photography 0116 246 0475

EVERY ISSUE 14

Thought Leaders

89

The Music Room

98

The Boardroom

BUSINESS 08

Regeneration of Pilot House

08

Leicestershire visitor economy

Ctrl + P

09

Generation Next Award

53

Where there’s a will

10

54

The light at the end of the tunnel

Green Growth strategies from EMC

11

56

Stay true to you

East Midlands manufacturing network

57

Honesty and honour

20

Niche Business Awards winners

59

Full of grit

24 RÜUT Group

60

Family of Kings

25 Hollogram

61

Switching gears

26 Hollistic Family Mediation

20

NICHE BUSINESS AWARDS 2023

27 Sarah Higgins Corporate Coaching 28 Premier Logistics 30 Teamwork Partnership

42

MAN OF THE MONTH

FINANCE

85

Reviewed: The Gate Hangs Well

66

Applying for business finance – all you need to know

86

Supporting local cafés this Christmas

68

Selecting your successor

90

Seasonal event picks

32 Mini Warriors 33 Atul Lakhani

LEGAL

SPORT

34 PPL PRS

69

94

Eye of the Tigress

97

Vicious Cycle

35 Sarah Franklin Solicitors

Christmas contact arrangements

36 Hickman & Smith

71

37 Pattersons

HEALTH & BEAUTY

39 CRS Matrix 40

BNI Foxes

62

ER Recruitment celebrates 10 years

Bridging the gap to the bar

CHARITY 95

Pop-up to support small businesses

77

Fostering the next generation

78

Grin and beam it

95

The Zinthiya Trust

80

Sound healing

96

Voluntary Action Leicestershire

65

A new supportive network for professional women

WHAT’S ON

72

Small Business Saturday

12

A season of art

81

Leicester Restaurant Week

82

Restaurant guide

BUSINESS NEWS LEICESTERSHIRE

Work starts on £13m regeneration of Pilot House Five heritage buildings at Pilot House in King Street will be transformed into 60,000sqft of accommodation for startup and growing businesses that will support more than 250 new jobs.

The Pilot House scheme will support the city’s creative and design sector, becoming a permanent base for businesses of varying sizes.

Tenants can move into the new centre from spring 2025.

City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “This project will transform a group of architecturally significant heritage buildings into a creative hub for start-up and growing businesses and a landmark destination that will become a source of pride for Leicester.

“Not only will it contribute to the wider regeneration of the Belvoir Street, Market Street and New Walk areas, and complement developments like the Gresham Building, it will also create hundreds of high quality new jobs – including more of the skilled roles that will encourage graduates from Leicester’s two universities to remain in the city when their studies are over.

The redevelopment of Pilot House is supported by £8.6m from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund, with the city council contributing £4.7m towards the £13.3m scheme.

Contractor Henry Brothers Construction has been appointed by the city council to deliver the £13.3m scheme. Managing director Ian Taylor said: “We are very excited to have been appointed to this renovation project, which will breathe new life into the historic Pilot House and help to boost Leicester’s economy and growth.”

08 | NICHE

Young talent of the East Midlands awarded Generation Next Award A medtech entrepreneur aiming to revolutionise the treatment of knife victims and a recruiter who has worked her way up the ranks into senior leadership were among the East Midlands’ rising stars honoured at the Generation Next Awards 2023.

Eleven awards were handed out at the event hosted by East Midlands Chamber, which runs the Generation Next network to support young people aged under 35, who are working in businesses across Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to build their skills and networks.

Theo Kirk, who has worked her way up Nottingham-based Express Recruitment from recruitment consultant to people director, won the headline Future Leader Award. After being promoted to operations director last year, Theo created a new position at the recruitment firm to provide HR support to contribute to strategic plans for development, training, incentives and highperformance working. While completing her human resource management course, she has incorporated her own organisation TK Consulting into the business, where Theo uses her expertise to help other companies with their people strategies.

Joseph Bentley, founder and managing director of ACT Medical, won both the Entrepreneur of the Year and Innovation and Technology accolades for his REACT technology, which he developed in his final year at Loughborough University. The technology is designed to inflate inside a penetrating wound, using a balloon to provide direct internal pressure to the bleed site, to save lives from knife crime.

TV presenter, journalist and broadcaster Kirsty Shelts hosted the awards ceremony, which also featured speeches from Generation Next champions Katie Gilbert and Beth Bearder, last year’s Future Leader winner Emma Roberts, who leads not-for-profit Derby Community Parent Programme CIC, and Chamber president Stuart Dawkins.

Generation Next Awards winners 2023 Future Leader Award Sponsored by University of Derby Theo Kirk Express Recruitment Apprentice of the Year Sponsored by Loughborough College Abbie Hartshorn British Standards Institution Creators and Makers Award Sponsored by PPL PRS Jamie Quince Starkey Down to Earth Derby Customer Service Award Sponsored by Express Recruitment Ella Sheppard Nelsons Entrepreneur of the Year Sponsored by Fraser Stretton Property Group Joseph Bentley ACT Medical Environmental Warrior Award Sponsored by Hydropath Technology Sam Whetton Reika Bags Ltd Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity Award Sponsored by Futures Housing Group Nathan Addai Mental Roots Innovation and Technology Award Sponsored by Hardy Signs Joseph Bentley ACT Medical Rising Star Award Sponsored by Nottingham Trent University Ruby Birks Purpose Media Start-up Award Sponsored by Nottingham University Business School David Allerton SE-LF Volunteering & Charitable Impact Award Sponsored by ITS Technology Group Courtney Brindley Express Recruitment

Leicestershire visitor economy shows strong recovery Tourism figures from the 2022 Scarborough Tourism Economic Activity Monitor (STEAM) survey show over 30.5 million people visited Leicester and Leicestershire in 2022.

It’s an increase of 2.38 million on the previous year and up 18.64 million since the pandemic. The city saw over 9.91 million visitors, whilst over 20.6 million visitors came to the county in 2022.

The tourism economy is worth £2.07bn to the city and county, an increase of £440m since 2021 and £108m up on pre-pandemic figure of £1.962bn.

County council leader Nick Rushton said: “We’re naturally delighted to see the strong growth in our tourism economy, and the creation of an extra 2,000 jobs in the county by the sector in 2022 is particularly welcome. With nearly 14,000 now working in the tourism sector, it highlights just how important tourism is to the county.”

The figures show that the city and county have surpassed Nottingham and Nottinghamshire combined in their respective recoveries, with the value of the Leicester and Leicestershire visitor economy up by 27.1% on 2021 figures, compared to 15.6% growth for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

The new figures also show that the number of tourism-related jobs

is on the rise, with more than 21,000 people now employed in the sector across the city and the county – an increase of 20% on 2021.

Non-serviced accommodation including self catering, camping and glamping, has surpassed prepandemic 2019 figures, showing the strongest recovery in the accommodation market with an economic impact of £95.12m to the region.

Visit Leicester has promoted the county internationally through a series of campaigns such as Uncover the Story and Fitcation.

The campaigns are jointly funded by Leicester City Council, Leicestershire County Council and the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP). The LLEP provided £185,000 from the Repurposed Growing Places Fund and £105,000 match funding came from the city and county councils.

Leicester City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “The growth we’ve seen in tourism-related jobs gives a huge boost to our economy, as do the millions of visitors who come here every year and spend their money in local businesses. It shows that our investment in making the city easy to get around, and an attractive place to be has been well worth it. It also reflects the huge efforts of all those working in the tourism and hospitality sector in our city.”

NICHE | 09

Slowdown in businesses adopting green growth strategies amid cost pressures G

reen growth activity in the East Midlands has fallen over the past year amid a cost-of-doingbusiness crisis, but more than doubled since 2015, new research shows.

A joint annual study by East Midlands Chamber and Derby Business School at University of Derby found the proportion of businesses across Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire that have made any income from environmentally-friendly goods and services dropped from 45% in 2022 to 36% in 2023.

Despite the drop, this still represents a significant increase on the 16% that reported they derived turnover from goods such as energy efficiency, waste recovery, and ecofood and drink products in 2015, as the business community has increasingly identified opportunities in the UK’s race to net zero.

In the face of conflicting messages from central Government about the net zero agenda, there was also a decline in the number of businesses that believe the policy environment is conducive to engagement in the green agenda – falling from 17% to 13% over the past 12 months.

Other key findings in the Green Growth Trends in the East Midlands 2023 study were a major distinction between large and micro businesses in pursuing green growth opportunities and investing in decarbonisation, while four in 10 businesses are not engaged at all in the low-carbon agenda.

The unique research provides the evidence base that informs East Midlands Chamber’s Sustainable East Midlands initiative, which was launched in 2020 to support businesses in engaging with the green agenda.

East Midlands Chamber director of policy and insight Chris Hobson said: “The drop-off in green growth engagement among East Midlands businesses over the past year can in part be attributed to the ongoing cost-

10 | NICHE

of-doing-business crisis, in which firms have been hit by once-in-a-generation cost pressures across energy, fuel, raw materials and people.

“But this year’s findings have also identified that fewer companies believe the current policy landscape allows them to fully engage with green growth, perhaps the result of mixed messaging from different parts of Government over recent months around the importance of net zero policy.

“The big picture direction of travel, though, is clear. As net zero increasingly forms the bedrock of our national economic strategy the nearer we get to 2050, the more businesses will identify opportunities for growth that has a positive, rather than detrimental, impact on our environment. This is why we called on the Government to ‘grow our competitiveness the right way’ as one of the three overarching themes in our regional economic blueprint, ‘A Centre

EAST MIDLANDS CHAMBER DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND INSIGHT CHRIS HOBSON

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

“Many barriers to engagement remain, however, so it is imperative our politicians understand that now is not the time to row back on the net zero and sustainability commitments we have made as a country. Longterm planning allows firms to grow sustainably and create opportunities for the UK to be world leaders in the products and processes that will drive global growth for decades to come.”

Dr Polina Baranova, associate professor of strategy and sustainability at Derby Business School, co-authored the report with Dr Fred Paterson, the university’s lead for sustainable business and clean growth.

Headline findings Green Growth Trends in the East Midlands 2023

68%

of large businesses report they’re actively pursuing green growth opportunities, compared with 31% of micro, 51% of small and 50% of medium-sized companies

1.5 times

more

is being invested in decarbonisation initiatives by manufacturers than services companies

FOLD INCREASE in firms reporting that up to half of their turnover is made from supplying green goods or services since 2015 of organisations invested in decarbonisation initiatives over the past 12 months – increasing to seven in 10 among large companies, which lead the trend businesses have no turnover generated from green goods and services, a 5% increase from 2022

BUSINESS NEWS

Perspective: The East Midlands Manufacturing Network DR POLINA BARANOVA

She said: “This analysis could indicate that the green gains we experienced during the pandemic are starting to fizzle out and businesses are reverting to the conventional, non-green operations and strategies. It illustrates the fragility of green growth in the face of economic adversities and how companies of different sizes and sectors are affected differently.”

Learn more about the Chamber’s Sustainable East Midlands initiative at emc-dnl.co.uk/sustainability.

Upcoming East Midlands Chamber events October 6: Enterprising Women Awards, Winstanley House, Leicester November 3: Leicestershire Business Awards, The Venue@DMU November 10: Derbyshire Business Awards, Derbyshire County Cricket Club November 17: Nottinghamshire Business Awards, Nottingham Belfry November 30: Midlands Energy Summit December 14: Annual State of the Economy Conference, University of Leicester Register your attendance at emc-dnl.co.uk/events

The East Midlands Manufacturing Network, run by East Midlands Chamber, enables members to share best practice, common challenges and opportunities – with often very tangible results. Paul Noble, managing director of Chesterfield manufacturer Specialised Canvas and a founding member of the Dales and Peak sub-network, outlines the benefits to his business.

How has the network helped you lead your business through these challenging times?

Our issues – finding and retaining appropriately skilled staff and realising growth against a backdrop of high inflation and high interest rates – are common to many manufacturers.

Spending time with others to see how they’re addressing similar issues is hugely valuable.

Coming out of Covid, we took the decision to reinstate our East Midlands Chamber membership. It tied in well with our new growth strategy for each director to assume responsibilities for particular initiatives. Capitalising on our Chamber membership has been a particular focus for me, along with our membership of Make UK and FESPA, a UK trade association for printing.

It proved fortuitous that the East Midlands Manufacturing Network brought together Chamber and Make UK manufacturing support and was a key reason why I became a founder member of the Dales and Peak network.

Attending the meetings means I can keep informed at two levels: understanding the macro-economic picture through presentations from Make UK representatives and the network chair, Mark Goldby; and drilling down to more local issues through internal debate and listening to external speakers.

There is also the added advantage of keeping my ear to the ground when it comes to finding out about Chamber support in areas such as capital expenditure projects and employing new staff.

PAUL NOBLE

Has attending the network meetings helped you achieve any particular outcomes?

It can be lonely for those of us at the top! Everyone is looking to you for direction, but where do you look?

Being in the same room as others experiencing the same issues is a real help. Even if I only derive value from 30 seconds of a two-hour meeting, I consider it to be worthwhile.

That was most recently the case when I could have spent hours identifying how to get a work visa for a non-British national, only to find that Richard Hallam, operations director at Codel International, could point me in the direction of another business owner who had gone through exactly the same process and could advise me.

A recent presentation from guest speaker Barry Moss of Go Six Sigma has also helped to bring energysaving measures to the fore of my mind, adding to the pace at which our business was addressing this issue.

By making small, incremental steps – in areas such as turning off monitors, powering off printers and listening out for air leaks on air compressors at the end of the working day when the factory is quiet – we estimate that it has saved us between 10% and 15% in energy costs.

Attending the network meetings really has sparked ideas, offered solutions and, ultimately, is helping us to grow our business.

Find the latest local network meeting dates in Buxton, Derby, Nottingham, Mansfield and Leicester dates at emc-dnl.co.uk/emmn.

NICHE | 11

A season of Discover the extraordinary range of exhibitions and art pieces on show in the city from the life story of Leicester Museum and Art Gallery’s casta paintings to opportunities to sponsor a stunning legacy artwork, WORDS BY SARAH HARRISON, CITY CENTRE DIRECTOR 12 | NICHE

M

useums and galleries generate economic benefits through jobs, tourism, inward investment and regeneration, but the other benefits of art are often understated.

Art has a valuable role in mental health by bringing people together and stimulating our minds through creativity. A research study in Norway revealed that looking at art can cause an increase in the pleasure hormone dopamine being released, which helps reduce stress and leads to lowered rates of anxiety and depression.

Leicester has some spectacular art exhibitions and initiatives, so next time you want to ease your mind at lunchtime or arrange a meet up with friends, visit a city art exhibition as a healthy option.

IMAGE: LEICESTER MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES

CASTA PAINTINGS REFLECT THE MELTING POT OF 18TH CENTURY MEXICAN SOCIETY

BUSINESS NEWS

The incredible story of five casta paintings, which were unearthed in the storeroom of Leicester Museum and Art Gallery over a decade ago, will take pride of place alongside additional works from Mexico and New York.

Casta paintings – the word derived from the Spanish and Portuguese terms for lineage – originate from the SpanishAmerican viceroyalty of Mexico in the 18th century. They depict the variety of interracial mixing resulting from the widespread marriage between Spanish settlers, enslaved, and indigenous populations.

Opal22 Arts and Edutainment worked in partnership with Leicester City Council on this exhibition to bring the paintings from Leicester together for the first time with five other known paintings of this set from the Hispanic Society in New York and the Pérez Simón Collection in Mexico.

Earlier this year, the museum’s casta paintings were confirmed by a leading international art expert as being part of an original set of 14 artworks dating from the 1700s. Now the paintings – which have been cleaned and conserved with funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund – are on public display for the first time at the new exhibition, entitled ‘Casta – The Origins of Caste’. Opal 22 is the lead on the Casta exhibition

This Golden Mile

A fascinating photographic exhibition captures life in and around Leicester’s Melton Road. Kavi Pujara began to photograph the neighbourhoods close to Leicester’s Golden Mile as a way to reconnect with the city, its residents and his own past after spending 30 years living in London.

“This exhibition is not about the one-mile stretch of Melton Road that turns into Belgrave Road with its sari shops, Indian restaurants and jewellers,” says Kavi. “It’s about the arteries and veins that come from it, giving life to the parts of the neighbourhood away from the central commercial thoroughfare.”

Kavi is a self-taught photographer who works as a film editor for the BBC. Two portraits from This Golden Mile were selected for the National Portrait Gallery’s Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2022 exhibition and were displayed at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery over the summer.

Through My Eyes

This exhibition showcases the talents of three local autistic artists: photographer David Brown; artist Clare Pipes; and musician Thomas Corden. It aims to challenge the stigma surrounding people with additional needs and to show what can be achieved. It is the result of a collaboration between Leicester City Council and Soft Touch Arts.

SCULPTURAL GATEWAY

Uganda 50 artwork

A crowdfunding platform has been launched to enable people to get involved in a new piece of public art commemorating the 50th anniversary of Ugandan Asian migration to the city.

The project is inviting members of the public to make donations towards personalised engraved plaques that will form part of the landscaping surrounding the new sculpture, which takes pride of place in Belgrave Circle.

The stunning artwork – entitled ‘Sculptural Gateway’ – was funded by the city council. It uses intertwining strands of colours and shapes forming a commemorative archway to welcome visitors to Belgrave. Midlands-based artist Anuradha Patel was commissioned to design the sculpture.

People can contribute at bronze, silver, gold or platinum level, or can simply make a donation of their choosing.

The donation platform will close on December 3, 2023.

Donations towards the artwork can be made at leicestermuseums.org/Uganda50ArtworkAppeal.

ART EXHIBITION DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Heart of the Nation: Migration and the Making of the NHS Leicester Museum & Art Gallery: Jun 30-Oct 29, 2023 Through My Eyes Leicester Museum & Art Gallery: Sep 2-Jan 1, 2024

IMAGE : KAVI PUJARA 2023

This Golden Mile Leicester Museum & Art Gallery: Sep 9-Mar 31, 2024 Casta: The Origins of Caste Leicester Museum & Art Gallery: Sep 13-Dec 3, 2023 Out of the Stores: Shoes, Newarke Houses Newarke Houses Museum: Sep 30-Jan 14, 2024 Open 33 Leicester Museum & Art Gallery: Dec 16-Jan 19, 2024 NICHE | 13

IMAGE: ANURADHA PATEL/LEICESTER CITY COUNCIL

Casta – The Origins of Caste

Laura Kearsley Partner and solicitor in employment law at Nelsons

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.

Supporting men’s mental health in the workplace

D

espite a growing awareness around mental health in the workplace, it can still be difficult for employers to know how best to discuss related issues with their teams – particularly when concerned with absences.

Understanding more about how support can be offered and opening the lines of communication can make a huge difference. While this is important for all employees, there is a heightened concern for men.

According to Mental Health Foundation, one in eight men have a common mental health problem such as anxiety, stress, or depression. Without help, these problems can worsen and be detrimental to those affected. This is highlighted in current statistics. For example, in the UK, three in four suicides are by men, according to Movember.

Furthermore, suicide is the biggest killer of men under 45. These statistics underline the importance of removing the stigma surrounding men’s mental health, helping men reach out, talk about their problems and seek support.

Earlier this year, Acas released new guidance to help support employers and employees when dealing with reasonable adjustments at work, recognising that mental health should be treated as seriously and with the same care as a physical illness. Reasonable

adjustments are changes that an employer makes to remove or reduce a disadvantage related to a disability – this can include mental health issues. Such as: ♦ Making workplace changes ♦ Changing someone’s working arrangements ♦ Finding a different way to do something; and ♦ Providing equipment, services, or support.

Similarly, if your employee feels they need to take time off with a mental health issue, this should be treated like any other sick day in accordance with your sick pay policy and – if applicable – the statutory sick pay scheme. It’s also good practice for employers to monitor mental health sickness in case patterns emerge. Particularly with men, who may feel less able to open up about their mental health, it is important for employers to remember their duty of care.

Mental health first aid training is another way for employers to enhance their understanding and awareness, helping them to spot symptoms. Ultimately, creating a workplace that understands how to deal with mental health issues is likely to give employees a safe space to open up or seek help. By treating mental health issues the same way as other health concerns, we help remove built up stigma and give colleagues support they need.

THOUGHT LEADERS

Samantha Quemby Therapeutic Coach for Female Leaders

You have to feel it to heal it

S

howing your emotions is a sign of resilience and strength, but this isn’t how it’s perceived by many men. Growing up being told ‘big boys don’t cry’ and to ‘man up’, with the narrative of being the stronger sex in all areas, is it any wonder men find it more challenging to open up and express how

they’re feeling? Our emotions are there as the body’s way of communicating with us, just as the mind has thoughts, the body has feelings.

Emotions are neutral, neither good nor bad but simply a message from the body to be recognised and processed.

Most importantly, they are not gender specific.

Linsey Hardy Head of commercial events at East Midlands Chamber

Boosting business with award applications

A

s time passes, many of us go about our jobs or running our businesses without sparing a moment to reflect on how we got here. It can feel like we’re on a treadmill, always trying to keep up with the latest opportunities, challenges, and trends – perhaps never more so than during the past few years, when livelihoods have often depended on us.

Therefore, awards are a fantastic opportunity to

celebrate our achievements, however large or small.

At the Chamber, we run three main programmes – the Business Awards (in Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire), Enterprising Women Awards, and Generation Next Awards.

They are each packed with categories that recognise people across the entire spectrum – whether it’s apprentices or lifetime achievement, female

Most men may not show their emotions the same way as women do, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t experiencing them. The problem comes because, as American Research Professor and Author Brene Brown, says: “You cannot selectively numb your emotions”.

Avoiding emotions that society labels as unacceptable for men – such as sadness, fear and panic – doesn’t make them go away.

Suppressing emotions leads to anxiety and depression, and with men’s rates of suicide higher than women’s, it’s vital we continue to offer support for men to open up about their feelings.

So, what can men do?

Reframe what it means to be in touch with your emotions.

See it as a strength to be vulnerable and know that in order to support others with their emotional wellbeing, it

starts with you firstly working on yours.

Quite often, simply naming how you are feeling, breathing into it and giving that emotion space within your body can support you to move through the intensity. From this place, you can then ask yourself what you need in that moment to support yourself emotionally. Each time you meet that need you build greater trust and acceptance within yourself.

We know that emotions allow for deeper connection with others, so recognising and processing your own can encourage that same expression within those around you.

To live a fulfilling and wholesome life, it’s vital to embrace all parts of ourselves. That is the ingredient to real lasting mental and physical wellbeing.

employees or business leaders, customer service teams or entire companies.

We’re not the only ones to do this in our region, of course – Cross Productions runs the Niche Business Awards and Real Entrepreneurs’ Awards. There’s also barely an industry or sector that doesn’t have its own awards programme. They all follow a similar timeline, starting with applications – and it’s in these first steps that the biggest encouragement is required.

Whether it’s a British thing or just human nature, many of us can be reserved about putting ourselves forward for recognition. We may not feel worthy of accolades, don’t like the attention, or simply haven’t identified the unique achievements we’ve made in our everyday lives.

Rest assured, you won’t be the only one to feel this way. On the flip side, imagine how it would feel to be nominated, rubbing shoulders with your peers on a shortlist.

Many people have told us how they never considered it because they just got on with their jobs and thought awards were for others – but once they finally did apply and received that recognition, it gave them a huge confidence boost.

After finalists are announced, the next stage may involve a judging process that – while probably the most daunting aspect of the awards journey – offers great pitching experience in front of business leaders.

Then we have the awards night: a fantastic evening where everyone gets dressed up, businesses invite colleagues and clients, and the winners are announced to great celebrations.

Awards don’t stop on the night either, as recognition provides plenty of celebratory opportunities via PR, internal communications and a badge of honour in various promotional materials.

Find the best awards for you and have a go – you won’t regret it!

NICHE | 15

incorporate innovation into Katie everything they do. From Attenborough redeveloping manufacturing

Innovation & Capital Incentives Director at PwC UK

The Power of Innovation

T

he power of innovation should never be underestimated. In a time of rapid technology advancements, climate uncertainty and a cost-ofliving crisis, it’s easy to see why businesses may feel like keeping pace with an ever-changing landscape is challenging enough, and innovation can easily slip down the list of priorities.

However, it’s no surprise to see that the most successful businesses, irrespective of size or industry focus,

are those that prioritise innovation, and make it part of their everyday.

Leicester is home to a number of national and world leading innovations – including leading the UK’s space research from the National Space Centre and University of Leicester, the origin of genetic fingerprinting and home to one of the world’s largest crisp factories.

Innovation doesn’t just align with size or notoriety.

The most successful businesses are those which

Rik Pancholi Managing Director at Pattersons Commercial Law

What’s your objective?

I

was recently instructed to advise a client on their shareholding in a company. When the client came to me, they had a number of personal conflicts with various other shareholders and the direction that the company is heading in. They no

longer believe in the mission of the company nor the value of their investment in the company.

I started to realise very quickly that this could escalate into a transaction which would involve far too much mudslinging, and that’s not really my thing.

processes to make them more energy efficient or produce less waste, redesigning products or services to support a more diverse user base, to enhancing internal software systems that propel every day transactions – it’s these vitally important yet often overlooked areas of innovation that can drive a successful business to become an industry leader.

So, what might be stopping businesses from pursuing their innovative ideas? We often hear that funding is one of the barriers to innovation.

Innovation is critical to growth of the UK’s economy.

The Government knows this, and in February this year, created the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). The aim of this newly formed department is to support the growth of innovation in the UK. Accessing funding is critical to this, and the

Government has pledged additional grant funding (including the UK’s return to the flagship EU funding programme Horizon), and continued support of other funding sources such as the UK’s R&D tax incentive regimes, Patent Box incentives and Creative Sector reliefs. These help generate immediate tax credits and wider tax savings for those companies already commercialising their innovations.

This year’s Autumn Statement is planned for November 22 and brings with it expected changes to the R&D tax incentive regimes and further announcements on new areas of grant funding, perhaps with a focus on green technologies taking into account the recent changes announced to the UK’s commitments to net zero. While we await clarity on these changes, it is clear that accessing funding to support innovation is critical to the success of our business community.

The real challenge with mudslinging and emotivedriven transactions is that they consume far too much time and that impacts legal costs (the longer it takes, the more it costs).

So, what I did was something I do with every transaction I work on. I asked the client what their objective was, what they hoped for and wanted to achieve, and whether this was realistic. And, did I need to manage their expectations?

The truth is, whenever I attempt to cut through the emotion, I end up in a place where I can often identify a solution to the problem in front of the client and my proposed solution wasn’t what the client expected.

The client trusted my

judgement and took the course of action I proposed.

The good news is that my proposed course of action has achieved the objective my client wanted in the first place, without any mudslinging at all. In the process, it has also saved a tremendous amount of time and money.

The client is very happy with the result (here’s when our firm’s marketing advisers would ask us to request a Google review from our client!) and, whilst I can’t do anything about the personal conflicts, simply asking what the true objective is helped to clarify the goal and remove the obstacles that clients often feel are in the way.

So… what’s your objective?

THOUGHT LEADERS

It’s what you do as a man, isn’t it?

Bottle it all up and put on a front.

It’s what’s expected

Darren Willoughby Managing Director at 2XL Commercial Finance

It’s good to talk

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riting on men’s mental health is challenging; not just because of the sensitivity around the subject but also its pertinence to me personally – and to lay yourself bare in a publication such as Niche Magazine is a tough one.

Thirteen years ago, when living in Manchester I’d recently suffered a relationship breakup and my business was very much in its infancy. There was a lot going on, but it all paled into insignificance when I then lost my dad to cancer after 18 months watching him slowly pass away. About six months after his passing I was assessed as suffering from anxiety – something I very much still live with today but was completely alien to me back then.

I never thought having anxiety would be something that would happen to me, and I saw it as a sign of weakness. How wrong could I be!? It wasn’t a sign of weakness it was a sign of

being ‘strong for too long’, as someone once said to me. I had contained my grief for too long in an attempt to stay strong for others. It’s what you do as a man, isn’t it? Bottle it all up and put on a front. It’s what’s expected.

Thankfully, attitudes towards men’s mental health have gone full circle from 13 years ago and now, for me, there is no stigma. I am hoping writing this article in itself illustrates this.

The amount of positivity I see supporting men’s mental health on social media is incredible. I recently sat down with close friends who confided in me issues they were having – and no less than 48 hours later, a chat in the pub with a few mates (where these chats often go on for us blokes) opened up so many pressures that they were struggling with. I posted on my social media that evening about how having conversations like this helped. The response was overwhelming and the

number of private messages that came through around the positivity of the post was incredible.

I write this column as a call to action. In the two days after that social media post, eight blokes I know had reached out and actually talked about their issues – they stopped bottling them up, they discussed it. That may not have solved all their problems, but I guarantee they would have felt better having the discussion because, as the saying goes, a problem shared is a problem halved. I would rather a friend or anyone else call me at any hour to talk, than me having to talk at their funeral… just let that sink in.

It’s good to talk, so if you’re struggling, reach out – whether that be to a friend, family member, or counsellor. Even if you’re not struggling yourself, be there for others as you never know what’s going on in people’s heads until they tell you.

NICHE | 17

It’s reported by Mental Health UK (2022) that men are more likely to internalise stress and avoid seeking assistance.

This can lead to burnout

Eileen Perry MBE Owner of ER Recruitment

The breadwinner?

Let’s remove the bias!

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ork plays a dominant role in our lives, taking time but giving financial reward and a sense of purpose. Think how many people you know identify themselves by what they do.

It means that the demands and pressures of the modern workplace can have a profound impact on mental health. Societal expectations, workplace culture, and traditional gender roles can create unique challenges for mental wellbeing – both in men and women.

Social mores historically instilled in workforce culture that it is the man’s job to provide financially for his family. To be the protector and to ensure that ends meet. It stubbornly remains in parts of UK industry to this day.

Yet the idea of the male breadwinner is not only dated but also unrealistic.

As prices and lifestyle expectations rise, 2023 statistics by ONS show that 64.2% of families have two working parents in their household. Despite this, many men continue to feel

18 | NICHE

compelled to be everything to everybody. This is almost certainly damaging. So, what problems are men facing in the workforce and how as leaders, colleagues, and associates can we help to promote overall wellbeing?

1. Burnout and workrelated stress

Work-related stress is a common issue for both men and women but may manifest differently. It’s reported by Mental Health UK (2022) that men are more likely to internalise stress and avoid seeking assistance, which can lead to burnout. Long hours, high expectations, and pressure to succeed can contribute to mental health challenges.

To address this, employers should promote work-life balance by offering flexible hours and remote work options and encouraging employees to take regular breaks.

2. Impact of employment and job insecurity Men facing unemployment or job insecurity may experience a loss of identity and self-worth. The

financial strain and fear of not meeting societal expectations can lead to anxiety and intense stress.

Therefore, good employers operate with transparent communication about organisational changes and job security. This can help alleviate anxiety and give people time to plan ahead.

3. Isolation and lack of team interaction

Some men may experience social isolation at work – particularly if they work in industries where they go for hours without human contact. Businesses can counter this by planning team-building activities, social events, and employee resource groups, to foster a sense of belonging and camaraderie.

During the Month of the Man, it’s a good time for businesses to recognise and address the unique challenges men may face.

It means employers can create a more supportive and compassionate work environment – and ensure they are tailoring their support for all.

THOUGHT LEADERS

Richard Kotulecki CEO at Lamp

Are we trivialising mental health?

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ot bloody mental health again,” grumbled the older couple as they passed the Lamp stand in a supermarket entrance a little while ago. Their objection was that “everybody” was talking about mental health and that much of what was being said was nonsense, or an over-reaction to everyday ups and downs. I must confess to feeling a bit taken aback and aggrieved that they should dismiss something so important to me. But how right are they?

We have, as a society, made progress in our readiness to talk about mental health. It is from a low base, but it is progress.

However, acute or severe mental ill health remains taboo for many. Especially, perhaps if the ill health leads to symptoms or behaviours with which we feel uncomfortable.

In place of informed and rational discussion of some of these topics, we have myth and misconception.

Take self-harm, for example.

Common inaccuracies include that it is only something that particular age or social groups do;

that it is both an attempt to seek attention and the start of a slippery slope towards a suicide attempt; that selfharm is all about cutting oneself; that men don’t selfharm. There are others.

Suicide is another example. There are few conversations I have in my professional capacity where I am not told that young men are the most likely to complete suicide. There is no doubt that every life lost to suicide is an absolute tragedy. But there are many more middle-aged men than young men completing suicide.

So perhaps, in this regard, the older couple were right – much of what is talked about is inaccurate. Not because we don’t want to be informed, but because it is so uncomfortable. Which may be why we expand the label of mental ill health to include everyday ups and downs, as a way of rationalising something we know we should address, but don’t feel that we have the knowledge or skills to do so. This may be why we talk about our ‘mental health’ when we are just having a bad day.

One in six of us will experience a common

mental health disorder in any week (Mental Health Foundation) such as anxiety and depression. A small percentage of us, 1-2% of the working population, will experience the most severe mental health problems.

A rarity, which perhaps adds to our discomfort and helps to explain why we unintentionally trivialise the subject.

That trivialisation, whilst appearing to raise awareness of mental health matters, actually puts up barriers to real engagement with people, just like that couple. Perhaps they are of good health and so are all of their social circle. But if between them they know more than four people, then statistically, one of those people is experiencing a common mental health disorder and it would be a real pity if they genuinely thought, ‘not bloody mental health again’.

The Lamp Business Club is a forum for businesses to have a grown-up discussion about mental health, to learn from each other, and to be better equipped to deal with the realities of mental ill-health. Why not join us for the next one?

NICHE | 19

MEET OUR FINALISTS AND WINNERS Seventeen awards were up for grabs at this year’s Niche Business Awards – take a look at the array of dynamic businesses Leicestershire is home to WORDS BY KERRY SMITH

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o the rhythm of dramatic drumbeats, an explosive Niche Business Awards ceremony erupted with carnival colour in the Cultural Quarter at Athena on Friday, September 8.

Bhumika Parmar, founder and director of BP Legal, which is the headline sponsor of the Niche Business Awards said: “I’ve never been to a business event like it.

It was full of life and gave businesses a rare opportunity to get to know each other better in an environment that leaves work behind and springs relationships forward.”

Formed nine years ago, the awards celebrate the success of Leicestershire businesses, showcasing the organisations and individuals that make a positive impact on the local economy. Now one of the most popular dates on the Leicestershire business calendar, the Niche Business Awards have seen more than 3,000 nominations over the years and awarded some of the hardest working and most successful individuals, businesses, and charities in Leicestershire.

An independent judging panel conducted in-depth research into the nominations, which were whittled down to semi-finalists, and eventually finalists. Among this year’s winners are large businesses that operate across the UK as well as family-run SMEs. Industries ranged from leisure to logistics and from education to environmental.

The event is well-known for its quirky themes and for breaking down business formalities, bringing local professionals together to celebrate one another’s success,

20 | NICHE

rather than compete. This year’s carnival theme achieved just that. Business people were united through vibrant music and movement with a spectacular playlist of upbeat carnival anthems. Drummers, dancers, interactive games and dazzling pyrotechnics encouraged the business community to let go of everyday work stresses and come together as one.

Jenny Cross, CEO of Cross Productions, which runs the Niche Business Awards, said: “We’ve received more nominations than ever before, which tells us that Leicestershire businesses are more determined this year to celebrate their success. It shows they’re also clued up as to where trusted networking and PR opportunities lie.

“The cost-of-living crisis has caused businesses to become savvier and more proactive with their marketing and I think they’re making the effort to get involved with ceremonies like the Niche Business Awards because they see that award recognition can ultimately build trust and attract new clients and customers.

“Leicestershire has a thriving business community, one that acts as a benchmark for other cities to aspire to. We’re very keen to welcome guests to the 2023 ceremony and finally get to reveal the surprises we’ve planned throughout the night. It’s a fantastic theme to celebrate Leicester’s culture and bring the community together.”

We’ve put together profiles on our winners and finalists to serve as a snapshot of the dynamic businesses Leicestershire boasts.

WINNER: ON POYNT CREATIVE

WINNER: SPRINGFIELDS ADVISORY

WINNER: SEAN BAKER

WINNER: BISTRO LIVE

WINNER: EKO JOE

WINNER: CHARITY LINK

WINNER: ATUL LAKHANI WINNER: PETE FROST

NICHE BUSINESS AWARDS 2023

22 | NICHE

NICHE FEATURE: NICHE BUSINESS AWARDS

2024

SAVE THE DATE SEPTEMBER 6, 2024 NICHE | 23

FINALIST Businessman of the Year

Utkarsh Thakkar - RÜUT Homes & RÜUT Group SERVICES

Sales, lettings and property management Construction Land and development Events and production

MISSION STATEMENT

To be a one-stop shop for all things property! Established in 2017, we currently operate across the East Midlands, excelling in business activities in land acquisition and construction, new builds and estate development, property sales, and lettings management and investments. We successfully implement strategic synergy across our several businesses whilst ensuring integral running and business conduct, without compromising on quality, safety, efficiency, or most importantly, customer service.

CORE VALUES

RÜUT Homes, alongside the other businesses within the group, have been set-up with a defining culture of serving customers, and the communities in which we operate. We are driving to change the dated principles of the industry to differentiate us as industry innovators by working alongside investors, partners, and local businesses.

COMPANY PROFILE Sector: Property, land and development, entertainment Established: 2017 Based in: Leicester, Belgrave, Hinckley, Coalville Run by: Utkarsh Thakkar Employees: 40+

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hen I learned I’d been nominated, I was almost lost for words,” said Utkarsh. “Even being nominated for Businessman of the Year is an incredible honour, particularly given the calibre of my fellow contenders – some of whom have been in business for over 20 years.

“I am both humbled and excited by being a finalist. I look forward to maximising the recognition we receive by bringing more awareness to all our companies and the services we provide. We’ll use it to improve our community and create meaningful, successful partnerships with a diverse range of clients.”

Utkarsh’s long-term hope for the business is to become the changemakers of the property and construction industry.

“I envision RÜUT Homes becoming a nationwide estate agency group, where clients’ interests are cardinal. Our other company, RÜUT Builders,

Investments and Developments, work with partners to build multiple estates across the country, offering sustainable and affordable housing for all.

“I am planning to tap into the luxury real estate market in the near future, and of course, much more.”

HOW TO GET IN TOUCH: ruuthomes.co.uk | 0116 365 8888 | info@ruuthomes.co.uk 24 | NICHE

FINALIST Best Family Business

Hollogram COMPANY PROFILE Sector: Marketing Established: 2015 Based in: Loughborough Run by: Phil Holloway Employees: 8 MISSION STATEMENT

We create and manage digital content that helps your business stand out from the crowd.

SERVICES

Your marketing department Social media marketing Content creation Content management & publishing Studio production Paid social advertising E-shots & newsletters Graphic design Live streaming & podcasts Retail and exhibition design Virtual reality environments

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t has been a big year for the Hollogram team,” says owner Phil Holloway. “We won the 2022 POPAI Retail Store Design of the Year for our work at Everards Meadows, and picking up multiple new clients, both locally and nationally. We have also moved into a larger studio space with green screen and photography spaces.”

The new studio, based in the centre of Loughborough, has created space for a growing team. Three new members of staff have joined

the business this year. Phil said: “We are passionate about developing young creative talent. We have Sam Holloway, our degree apprentice who is qualifying after three years at Nottingham Trent Uni, as well as taking on Maddie, Harvey and Scott – three T-Level students from Loughborough College.”

Phil has worked in marketing for over 25 years with leading brands around the globe including Samsung, Chanel, Hasbro, and Apple on some of the biggest product launches such as the iPhone.

“Using my skill set for business marketing has been a joyful transition.

The key is understanding what the end customer client wants, and the product or service the business has to offer. We need to understand why the customer should use it, why it’s good value, and – of course – an easy-tounderstand call-to-action to make the purchase.”

Hollogram operates at the cutting edge of the industry and understands there’s no longer one single approach

THE KEY IS UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE END CUSTOMER CLIENT WANTS, AND THE PRODUCT OR SERVICE THE BUSINESS HAS TO OFFER

to marketing. “Marketing is now a blended multi-platform discipline. At times, an old-school leaflet or poster can still be the most effective way to deliver the message, but we also work in the fast-paced sub-10-second world of TikTok now, as well as sending e-shots, text messages and more. Again, the key is to understand who the customer is and where we need to deliver the message to… and keep it fun!”

As a passionate sports fan, Phil has a special bond with Leicestershire as a place to live and work.

“We love Leicester,” he told us.

Running LeicesterFanTV.com, the Hollogram team follows the Foxes, Tigers, and Riders, going to games, reporting on them and producing a fan-to-fan content channel.

HOW TO GET IN TOUCH: hollogram.com | 01509 398 002 | studio@hollogram.com 3 Beehive Lane, Loughborough LE11 2WN

NICHE | 25

FINALIST Best New Business

Holistic Family Mediation & Coaching COMPANY PROFILE Sector: Mediation & Coaching Established: July 2021 Based in: Leicester – Online service, serving clients nationally and internationally Run by: Sushma Kotecha MISSION STATEMENT

Dedicated to guiding individuals through the complexities of separation and divorce, ensuring they retain control, prioritise wellbeing, and make informed, mindful decisions. My heart-centred approach nurtures healthier independent lives, future-focused decisions, effective communication, and resilient co-parenting. I enable clients to transition from emotional turmoil to inner peace, paving the way for happier, healthier, and more fulfilled lives post-separation and/ or divorce.

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olistic Family Mediation & Coaching is the brainchild of Sushma Kotecha, a seasoned ex-divorce lawyer with over three decades of experience. After a remarkable career in law, Sushma’s personal journey led her to a transformative path. Motivated by intuition and an unwavering commitment to her clients’ well-being, she ventured into creating a company that offers a holistic approach to divorce and separation.

Driven by a desire to redefine the

VISION

A world where families can navigate divorce and separation in a kinder and more compassionate way, leading to better and healthier outcomes for everyone involved. Empowering those facing a family break-up to navigate separation and divorce with clarity, compassion, and confidence, fostering positive outcomes for themselves, their children, and future generations.

CORE VALUES

Compassion, humility, and integrity. traditional legal landscape, Sushma shares: “I recognised the need for a more comprehensive approach beyond the billable hours. Clients navigating divorce deserve a wellrounded support system to address not just the legal aspects but the holistic changes unfolding in their lives.”

Building upon her flourishing mediation practice, Sushma pursued further education and earned certifications in Holistic Life Coaching and Mind and Body Practitioner.

These credentials provide her with an extensive toolkit of methodologies to offer profound assistance to those undergoing separation. Yet, her services extend beyond just divorce; they encompass any relationship transitions requiring expert coaching on a one-to-one basis.

Sushma’s philosophy is rooted in authentic growth and integrity.

She explains: “Continual evolution and learning are crucial for me. By practising self-care and investing in my own growth, I’m better equipped to empower others on their unique journeys.”

Sushma’s commitment to her clients and her own growth exemplifies her ethos. Holistic Family Mediation & Coaching stands as a beacon of empowerment and positive change, underpinned by her dedication to making a genuine difference in the lives of those she serves.

HOW TO GET IN TOUCH: holisticfamilymediation.co.uk | 0330 912 7403 | enquiries@holisticfamilymediation.co.uk 26 | NICHE

WINNER Businesswoman of the Year

Sarah Higgins Corporate Coaching Ltd COMPANY PROFILE Sector: Coaching and Leadership Established: 2011 Based in: Leicester Run by: Sarah Higgins

MISSION STATEMENT

Sarah Higgins is passionate about great leadership – she combines neuroscience and 28 years of working with leaders and teams to maximise effective leadership outcomes. She specialises in one-to-one executive coaching, leadership team effectiveness workshops and leadership effectiveness training.

50, and her values include being adaptable and resilient – as well as gratitude. Sarah has significantly contributed to her local community by supporting the leaders of the future in schools and universities, as well as co-founding and chairing the Lamp (mental health charity) Business Club.

Sarah’s passion is to deliver excellent results for her clients.

Previous clients have said, ‘Sarah is my leadership compass as I take my organisation on its strategic and developmental journey’. ‘The work with Sarah has been life changing for our business and leaders and teams.’

In relation to her Power of Love Leadership® book, coaching and training, her leadership clients said, “I have finally found a leadership approach that achieves great results and aligns to my values

about people”. “The Power of Love Leadership® model addresses issues that many leaders find difficult and makes them easier to fix. It makes all leaders better at what they do.”

Sarah leads herself and others effectively by using her own Power of Love Leadership® strategies daily. She said, “Leading yourself and others from a place of love and not fear will get the best outcomes for you, your team, and your organisation – as well as in your personal lives. Leading from a place of love means behaving with Humility, Compassion, Enthusiasm, Hope, Gratitude, Forgiveness and Learning.”

On winning the award for Businesswoman of the Year 2023, Sarah said: “It’s a wonderful recognition from my highly valued peers and I will treasure it forever!”

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former HR Director, Sarah is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (FCIPD) and has been a certified Level 7 and ILM-qualified executive coach and mentor for over 12 years.

In 2021, her book Power of Love Leadership® which can be found on Amazon, was a Finalist in the Business Book Awards. Sarah continually develops her knowledge to support her clients and has qualifications in Hogan Assessments, Brain Based Coaching and the 6 Types of Working Genius.

The Niche Businesswoman of the Year has a black belt in karate, achieved just before the age of

HOW TO GET IN TOUCH: weloveleadership.com | Sarah J L Higgins - LinkedIn NICHE | 27

WINNER Best Large Business

Premier Logistics COMPANY PROFILE Sector: Distribution and warehousing Established: 2004 Based in: Bardon Run by: Lee Christopher Employees: 75

MISSION STATEMENT

We demand and expect the very best levels of customer service to all. Our No 1 priority is communication, and we employ only the very best personnel to guarantee this. We are committed to sustainable growth to become one of the UK’s most recognised and respected logistics providers

VISION

To deliver on our promises

CORE VALUES

Communication, integrity, teamwork, transparency, commitment, leadership, contribution, growth

SERVICES

Palletised distribution Distribution services Contract logistics Warehousing MoT preparation Vehicle inspection Vehicle servicing Truck wash Night and weekend support

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n the heart of England, Leicestershire is a desired spot for doing business, none more so than in the logistics sector. In the running for three awarding categories, we sat down with Premier Logistics’ Rising Star finalist Macauley Christopher and Commercial and Operations Director Paul Walker.

NICHE: What does it mean to you to be up for not one but three awards?

Paul: It’s hugely rewarding for everyone involved and demonstrates the depth of the organisation to be nominated in multiple categories.

It’s testament to the hard work and commitment of our Premier family.

Mac: Even just a nomination for something of this nature is that extra bit of motivation and backs up our excellence in our field.

What’s it like to work in logistics?

Mac: Our industry and the nature of what we deal with day to day can be quite unfaithful and relentless. Around 85 per cent of the things in people’s daily lives have been transported by a truck [Statista, 2020]. As you can

imagine, it’s fast-paced work and standards are understandably high.

Paul: We exist to overcome challenges so you can become lost in constant problem-solving. If logistics was easy, we wouldn’t need the people we currently have. Cast your mind back two years; we had a glimmer of a spotlight on key workers, but it was quickly forgotten and back to a necessary evil to satisfy consumer demand. Every role in logistics is critical to ensuring the supply chain flows and satisfies customers. The key to success in logistics is working together and ensuring we are all clear on our end game, what success looks like and how together we achieve it.

There must have been some tough times for you over last few years?

Mac: People’s spending habits slowed down because of the price of gas, electricity, food, and fuel, which was affecting our clients, so this was a challenge. Some of our clients are in the home improvements sector and people are now not doing up their homes because they’ve already

HOW TO GET IN TOUCH: 01530 277 890 | premier-logistics.co.uk | sales@premier-logistics.co.uk 28 | NICHE

WINNER Best Family Business

done so throughout lockdowns. So, we’ve adapted the size of our fleet and challenged our own suppliers.

Paul: During Covid, China slowed down its manufacturing, which put pressure on shipping lines and goods movement. More trouble followed around exporting because of Brexit and then the Suez canal crisis slowing down supply routes. The industry used to call its optimal process ‘just in time’ which saw a constant lean flow of raw materials from source through to end user. But when products weren’t on shelves, people realised that failure of just one link in the ‘just in time’ supply chain, means everything is stifled. We now operate with a higher level of contingency and local stock holding without impacting the end consumer, termed ‘just in case’.

Why choose Leicester as your base?

Paul: In terms of logistics, Leicestershire is a critical location due to the strength of the motorway network. As a result, there’s a high level of distribution centres here.

Because we’re in Leicester, we’ve

WINNER Rising Star

EVEN JUST A NOMINATION FOR SOMETHING OF THIS NATURE IS THAT EXTRA BIT OF MOTIVATION AND BACKS UP OUR EXCELLENCE IN OUR FIELD

recently secured an international global customer and contracted with them to be their UK warehouse and distribution agency.

Mac: Leicester acts as a central hub with opportunities all around it. Centrally located premises avoid the need for multiple facilities and gives ease of consolidation and good road networks. With the history of manufacturing in Leicester and the fact we’re ideally located to support local manufacturers and distributors achieve a UK reach, we’re proud to unlock UK logistics for the global market.

Why do you love what you do?

Paul: Nobody chooses logistics.

Those who love it find it an addictive, constant challenge, having to be agile and dynamic – no two days are the same. The industry can be relentless, so business culture is very important to us. We make clear to new people starting with us that we’re a family and do family day gatherings, so everyone’s

intertwined at Premier; things such as Leicester Riders games and BBQs. We took everyone to London for the night for our Christmas do last year and people could choose to see a show or play darts. We have our 20year anniversary booked for 2024 so everyone’s looking forward to that.

Mac: The variety of the work allows us to learn about other industries whilst maintaining our specialism.

We love to support people to get their products to market in a safe, secure way. It’s also the fact we’re able to leave a legacy of careers for the community. My brother Sam who is 18 has just joined Premier and is new to the industry. He works in the warehouse forklift driving and unloading vehicles. As the sons of the founder Lee Christopher, we’re keen to gain experience in every aspect of the business. I’d like Sam to go through the different roles so that if he does want to run Premier one day, he knows what he’s doing.

NICHE | 29

WINNER Business Growth

Teamwork Partnership COMPANY PROFILE Sector: Recruitment Established: 2020 Based in: Leicester Run by: Dan Brown and Natalie Clifford

MISSION STATEMENT

For Teamwork Partnership, recruitment is personal. It’s about recruiting the right people for the right roles, it’s not a numbers game. Each candidate we place, we place with the confidence that they have the right skillset and attitude for the role we place them in.

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o put it simply, Teamwork Partnership recruits the right people for the right roles. The simplicity and clarity of this statement caught our judge’s attention and their investigation into the company proved that this formed the backbone of their success so far. They discovered that the team creates clear and straightforward processes for their clients, but also that this simplicity and clarity is apparent internally too. Evidently, Teamwork Partnership focuses on two fundamental factors: client retention and employee development.

Run by joint managing directors Natalie Clifford and Dan Brown, Teamwork Partnership is built on a solid reputation of being open and honest with both their candidates and clients. Dan said: “We are aware that we are only ever as good as the last candidate placed which is why we focus on client retention rather than winning more business.”

As for employee development, Natalie says her employees are at the heart of the business. “It’s our team who has helped us build a relationship of trust and quality of service with our clients. We provide them all with an induction meeting, formal and on the job training where required, and regular performance

HOW TO GET IN TOUCH: 0116 366 8511 | teamworkpartnership.co.uk 30 | NICHE

reviews where we provide feedback.

We also ensure they achieve a worklife balance by providing flexible hours and social events where employees and families enjoy time together.”

It’s these relationships with clients, candidates, and employees that Dan believes has resulted in 148 Google reviews ranking Teamwork Partnership 4.4 out of five stars.

“Our accountable approach has served us well and as we do continue to grow it’s always down to our investment in our relationships with both the client, candidate and our employees.”

And grow they have. The business has experienced a huge growth spurt in the three years since establishing the business. Natalie commented: “The world of work has changed dramatically in the last few years and our growth is down to our adaptability to move with the times, not against them. I believe our success has been down to our honest, simple, clear and transparent approach with clients’ best interests as a top priority.”

In figures, the growth of Teamwork Partnership is clear.

Focusing on caring for their current clients and retaining them, paid off as word spread about the team’s

quality of service, which led to taking on 50 new clients in 2022. They’ve therefore quadrupled their turnover in just three short years of business.

Dan has shared their financial success by supporting mental health charity Lamp (Leicestershire Action for Mental Health Project).

The company has run three events for Lamp in the last 12 months raising over £3,000, with a further aim of raising an extra £5,000 at their next gathering. The team has also donated to Glenhills Primary School, is a pitch-side sponsor at Leicestershire County Cricket Club, and sponsors St Andrew’s football ground – including the first and third teams, the under 18s, and the veterans – which is now known as

OUR ACCOUNTABLE APPROACH HAS SERVED US WELL AND AS WE DO CONTINUE TO GROW IT’S ALWAYS DOWN TO OUR INVESTMENT IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH BOTH THE CLIENT, CANDIDATE AND OUR EMPLOYEES

the Teamwork Partnership Stadium.

With such significant growth in figures, clientele, partnerships, community impact and brand awareness, it goes without saying that physical expansion of the company must have been considered to facilitate its ongoing success.

Teamwork Partnership indeed grew geographically and now operates from bases in Corby, Lincoln, Leeds, and Milton Keynes.

On winning the Business Growth category at the Niche Business Awards 2023, Dan said: “I was

shocked and delighted just to be in the finalists of the awards, particularly being recognised in the category that we are in. Our team work so hard to establish real relationships with our clients and candidates – it’s great to see it being recognised like this!”

The team is currently awaiting the results of the Leicestershire Community Champions Awards after being nominated in the Fundraiser of the Year category for their work with Lamp, as well as the Small Business and Fast Growth Business categories of the Business Masters Awards.

NICHE | 31

FINALIST Community Champion

Dean Weston - Mini Warriors COMPANY PROFILE Sector: Health and fitness Established: 2019 Based in: Oadby Run by: Dean Weston

MISSION STATEMENT

Everyone has the potential to be a warrior. We are dedicated to helping our clients improve both mentally and physically, no matter their age or their background. Through our fitness bootcamps and partnerships with schools, alternative education providers, local charities, and vulnerable young people, we relentlessly work towards making a positive impact on the self-confidence of every individual we work with.

M

ini Warriors is the ingenious idea of Dean Weston that kicked into action after quitting his job as a lorry driver. Suffering from ill mental health, he found that fitness was the thing that successfully kept up his spirits. The gym never let him down and so he wanted to share what he’d learnt with others.

“The hours I was working had a massive impact on my social life and I ended up putting on weight and feeling depressed. I got into fitness to work on myself physically and realised it helped mentally too.

Fitness changed my mindset and I wanted to do that for others.”

An ex-soldier, Dean believed the fitness and routine experience the

army gave him could be applied to classes for children and adults.

Taking those techniques out of the army and into a new setting, Dean’s made fitness fun for all ages. As a result, he’s been able to transform lives as a motivational leader.

“Showing kids that fitness can be inspiring and exciting early on helps them to enjoy it all the way through their lives. The kids and adults who come to Mini Warriors aren’t only there for weight loss, they’re there for improved mental health and confidence, sense of progression, social skills, making new friends, team building and learning to respect others.”

THE IMPACT OF MINI WARRIORS “Mini Warriors is no ordinary fitness company. It is led by the most compassionate, driven, adaptable and committed man. Dean uses his own personal experiences to relate to individuals from all walks of life and engages them with his infectious enthusiasm and passion. He is genuinely motivated to help as many people as possible reach a better place by using physical activity as a basis for improving both their physical and mental health. Dean thrives off the success of those he works with. His empathy and care create a trusting rapport that positively impacts his clients in every aspect of their life.” – Service users Claire and Maya Robinson

HOW TO GET IN TOUCH: miniwarriors.co.uk | 07780 900 557 | hello@miniwarriors.co.uk 32 | NICHE

WINNER Businessman of the Year

Atul Lakhani - Sanjay Foods COMPANY PROFILE Sector: Hospitality Established: 2000 Based in: Belgrave Run by: Atul Lakhani SERVICES

Luxury weddings Event management Bespoke catering

MISSION STATEMENT

Sanjay Foods provides awardwinning Asian catering as well as a range of world cuisines, for weddings, events and special occasions. They also provide high quality event management through planning, designing and delivering spectacular and unforgettable weddings and high profile events, capturing the imagination that leaves guests wanting more.

VISION STATEMENT

Sanjay Foods envisions a world where culinary experiences transcend borders, where diverse flavours and traditions bring people together. They are committed to pioneering innovative, sustainable, and authentic dining solutions that enrich lives and create memorable moments for their customers, employees, and communities, while consistently upholding their values of quality, integrity, and cultural appreciation.

L

eaving an established family business to pursue his own dreams was somewhat of a mixed experience for Atul. With a young family to support and a mortgage to pay, it was important to prove his viability as a businessman.

After going through various successes and challenges in the food manufacturing sector, Atul adapted and went back to his roots in hospitality. “After many years of struggling and financial hardship in supermarket-ready meal preparations with low profit margins, I changed tactics and began doing what I truly loved – catering for discerning clients.”

The company has now reached huge levels of success in the hospitality sector in the Midlands with entrepreneur Atul crediting his team and their resilience as well as his own adaptability, hard work and passion for excellent food and service to its

success. “Through my career so far I have stayed true to my values and beliefs in my pursuit of achieving my dreams – with plenty of hard work in the mix there too!”

With over 30 years of experience in the catering and hospitality industry, Sanjay Foods has become a reputable brand with high profile clients and catering rights at over 160 prestigious venues nationwide.

On his huge award win of Businessman of the Year at the Niche Business Awards, Sanjay commented, “I can’t believe it!

The journey I have been on as a businessman hasn’t been easy, but it just goes to show how much a belief in yourself, the support of a good family and an excellent team can go in turning things around. I wouldn’t change anything about my journey so far – it’s made me who I am today and I am truly grateful for the recognition!

HOW TO GET IN TOUCH: sanjayfoods.com | 0800 234 6685 NICHE | 33

FINALIST Emplyer of the Year

PPL PRS COMPANY PROFILE Sector: Music/Legal Established: 2018 Based in: Leicester City Run by: Andrea Gray MISSION STATEMENT

To protect and secure the value of music by providing the most efficient music licensing experience for businesses.

P

PL PRS works with businesses and organisations across the UK to encourage them to use music to enhance their customer and employee experience – and issue them with TheMusicLicence.

After business costs, fees from TheMusicLicence are distributed, as royalties, to all those involved in making music via our parent companies PPL and PRS for Music.

Finalists in the Employer of the Year category, as well as Sponsors of the Hospitality Category, Beth Grundy, Head of Marketing and PR at the company said: “This category is particularly important to us as we are a collaborative community

workplace. We know that growth and success don’t only come from looking at business results – it comes from the company culture of working together collaboratively to achieve a truly satisfied workforce. We went through the application process together – collating feedback from across all departments.”

PPL PRS recognise that the rise in hybrid working means that if companies want to encourage their team into the office, they need to do more than was typical, say 10 years ago.

“Encouraging our workforce means we need to create an environment that they want to be in.

Through our forum programmes, the team can give us honest feedback on areas in which we are doing it right and where we could learn and do better. We mean it when we ask our team what they think! To make it to the finalist in this particular category is a huge morale boost for the company!”

WHAT IS THEMUSICLICENCE? If you use, play or perform music in your business or organisation, the chances are you need a music licence. TheMusicLicence from PPL PRS allows you to legally play music for employees or customers in your business through the radio, TV, other digital devices and live performances. TheMusicLicence is used by a huge array of businesses including theatres, universities, restaurants, local authorities, stores, factories, beauty salons and more.

HOW TO GET IN TOUCH: pplprs.co.uk | 0800 072 0808 34 | NICHE

BETH GRUNDY AT THE NICHE BUSINESS AWARDS

FINALIST Professional Services

Sarah Franklin Solicitors Motorsport Legal COMPANY PROFILE Sector: Law Established: 2007 Based in: Kettering & Melton Mowbray Run by: Sarah Franklin MISSION STATEMENT

To provide clients with easy access to clear, plain English advice and assistance on legal issues within motorsport

VISION STATEMENT

To be the go-to firm and leader in the motorsport industry as providers of legal advice and assistance

M

otorsport Legal is the motorsport-specific department of Sarah Franklin Solicitors.

It was born from a combination of passions and experience; many years working as a solicitor obtaining qualifications by working her way up, and a passion for motorsport.

Sarah has been a circuit racing driver for over 15 years. She spent several years representing governing body MotorSport UK, as well as being on its Judicial Advisory Committee, which deals with the construction and amendment of the rules and regulations of motorsport in the UK. Sarah gave in to her desire to race cars when her husband

I KEEP LIFE MOVING BY RACING WHEN I CAN AND IN CONTRAST, WATERCOLOUR PAINTING TO SLOW THINGS DOWN

experienced a health scare.

“I’d always loved cars, and loved the smell of petrol! I remember a turning point when I decided to sign up to the Silverstone race school.

My husband was on the cusp of getting chemotherapy and I just thought, ‘Gosh, you just have to do the things you want to in life!’”

The lawyer hasn’t looked back since and says when work started to come through from the motor racing scene, she became one of the most prolific motorsport lawyers in the UK with her team taking the reins on all

other areas of law in her family law firm. Practising in two male-dominant industries – law and motorsport – Sarah is now a prominent inspirational speaker and author.

“I so enjoy sharing my experiences and I love new challenges; I am certainly not one for standing still.

It’s amazing all the different paths that have opened up for me through following my passions. I keep life moving by racing when I can and in contrast, watercolour painting to slow things down. Hopefully, I am an example of success by doing the things that you love.

“Motorsport Legal has essentially been the bringing together of my two worlds – the law and my passion for motorsport and, quite frankly, I love it!”

HOW TO GET IN TOUCH: motorsportlegal.co.uk | sarah@motorsportlegal.co.uk | 01536 485398 21 Market Street, Kettering, Northants, NN16 0AH

NICHE | 35

WINNER Creative

Hickman & Smith Architects COMPANY PROFILE Sector: Architecture Established: 2012 Based in: Leicester Run by: David Hickman and Adam Smith PORTFOLIO

Leicester Market The Grand Hotel traditional shopfront restoration Brooke House College

MISSION STATEMENT

We are passionate about placemaking and design that stands the test of time.

A

talent retention success story for Leicester, every Hickman & Smith employee studied Architecture in Leicester, fell in love with the city and never left. Originally from Essex himself, director Adam Smith came to Leicester to study architecture and went on to establish the business 11 years ago with fellow architect David Hickman.

In testament to the city, Adam commented: “Leicester has a wealth of beautiful buildings and attractive streets brimming with history.

We have an abundance of local landmarks and spaces which create active destinations and places for people to come together.

“The recent improvements in the public realm is something we’ve loved to watch and influence. The creation of new public squares including the

pedestrianisation of Green Dragon Square and Jubilee Square, as well as our own work on the route from Dolphin Square and Town Hall all improve the city centre experience, making the city feel safer and better connected. The work at Leicester Market, the train station and Heritage Action Zone works in Granby Street will further strengthen connections across the city, boost the economy and revitalise key historic buildings and the public realm. Pockets of great urban design and active spaces have also been created at the Cultural Quarter and St Martins Conservation Areas with modern architecture alongside the restoration of historic buildings.”

Adam added: “We have a passion for conservation and restoring the public realm and are particularly interested in projects that benefit the local environment.” Each architect at the practice is qualified with RIBA accreditation. The firm is one of a limited number of practices in Leicestershire that has undertaken the RIBA conservation course to work on conservation and heritage projects.

While currently working with

Historic England, Leicester City Council and The Grand Hotel on the restoration of traditional shopfronts in Granby Street, the team also enjoys high-end private domestic projects.

“We love design-led projects such as our domestic clients’ work. They’re often their forever homes, so they’re personally invested in the project and the results are very rewarding.”

The practice has supported charitable projects delivered to transform the environments of disadvantaged people. These have included the private domestic sector as well as recent works for Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity and Emmaus Leicestershire & Rutland, where they are creating retail spaces and shelters to support the homeless.

The team also has strong links with Leicestershire Schools of Architecture, Leicestershire and Rutland Society of Architects and Beauchamp City Sixth Form, supporting them with mentoring and public events to aid young people and future architects with careers advice, and raise the profile of architecture and design in Leicestershire.

HOW TO GET IN TOUCH: hickmanandsmith.co.uk | info@hickmanandsmith.co.uk | 0116 253 3423 36 | NICHE

WINNER Small Business of the Year

Pattersons Commercial Law COMPANY PROFILE Sector: Commercial law Established: 2016 Based in: Leicester Run by: Rik Pancholi

P

attersons Commercial Law has been a long-time supporter of the Niche Business Awards and this year they were selected as finalists in two categories – Rik Pancholi for the Businessman of the Year and the whole company for Small Business of the Year.

Managing director Rik enthused: “Both categories are such great accolades, and it is an honour to be part of them. To be shortlisted in these categories is phenomenal, as the other finalists are simply amazing businesses. Just to be recognised at the awards is inspirational and gives us comfort in knowing our law firm is heading in the right direction.

“We had such a great night celebrating winning the Small Business of the Year award with our team. As a small business, winning an award like this provides a huge morale boost and we are very much excited for what the future holds.”

Pattersons Commercial Law advises clients on their commercial legal needs. The firm was originally established as a niche law firm specialising in buying and selling businesses, advising on transactions involving property and employment matters.

Through acquiring another law firm, the services offered to clients expanded to include resolving

commercial and civil disputes and advising on insolvency matters (both personal and business).

The firm works with clients on a national basis from both of its offices in Leicester and Nottingham.

Known for their clear, open expert advice as well as their commitment to really knowing their clients, Pattersons Commercial Law is a small business with a positive growth mindset.

Rik explained: “Our approach with the firm from the very beginning was based on growth.

In the last couple of years, the firm has both acquired another law firm and established another branch office. We have been continually redefining the way our firm operates to develop it for the next stage of growth, and this in itself helps us to prepare for new opportunities.”

AS A SMALL BUSINESS, WINNING AN AWARD LIKE THIS PROVIDES A HUGE MORALE BOOST AND WE ARE VERY MUCH EXCITED FOR WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS

RIK PANCHOLI

FINALIST

Businessman of the Year

HOW TO GET IN TOUCH: pattersonscommerciallaw.com | 0116 319 1110 NICHE | 37

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NICHE COVER STORY BNI FOXES

Finding like-minded people in business can be a challenge, not least contacts who can pass on leads and referrals. BNI is the world’s leading network and referral organisation with chapters across the globe, including 10 in Leicestershire alone WORDS BY TOM YOUNG

T

he men of BNI Foxes are our cover stars for this issue. They told us about why the group has been beneficial to them and their businesses.

“Obviously the first motivation for any networking is always going to be the return on investment,” said Dave Goodman, Business Development Manager at Soar Valley Press. “‘What’s going to be the benefit of this?’

“But there’s also the relationship building, and as you get to know people and they get to know you, you’re using each other’s services, and more business gets passed between you all.”

Kris Amliwala, owner of Design Wealth Management, agrees. “For me, it was mainly to build key contacts of likeminded, growth-minded people who are in a similar phase of their business, and with a speciality in something that I don’t have. This helps me and my business’s growth, but also my clients who need use of those services. It grants a network for when I don’t know somebody who can help, but someone else in the group might.”

Kris described BNI as ‘a kindness investment’. “The principle is ‘Givers gain’. Even if it’s just good energy, help, or potential referrals, by giving that out, at some point down the line, it’ll come back to you.”

For the uninitiated, BNI can be daunting, but its meeting format has proven effective.

“I’m arguably the most anti-network sort-of-person you could meet,” said Scott Ingham of SCI Group. “BNI is very American in its language and approach – but it really does work. It brings me business week-on-week, and it’s everywhere. No matter where you are in the world, there’s probably a BNI meeting down the road.

“It creates opportunities and puts my business in front of potential clients that it otherwise wouldn’t be.”

Those opportunities come in many different forms. Matt Lilley is the current President of BNI Foxes, and the CEO of

young people’s charity, Focus.

“We [Focus] initially joined BNI because we didn’t want to rely too heavily on just one type of income.

A lot of our funding comes from grants, foundations, and the National Lottery, but we wanted to be more involved with the business community. We realised there may be corporations who were looking for a ‘charity of the year’, who might have a large workforce who’d be open to supporting fundraising. It was an area that had gone untapped by us.

“BNI grants me the opportunity to find a connection within such companies and gives me a platform to make an approach. There are some very well-connected people within BNI Foxes. It’s also been a source of new volunteers and even new trustees.”

It also offers a chance to help others, as Matt knows from experience. “We’re not just there looking for handouts – it also allows us to contribute to the local economy. If we need marketing support, or a new photocopier, or someone to deal with the plumbing in our building, we want to ensure we’re using local suppliers. So BNI has allowed us to develop our network within the business community.”

For photographer Hitz Rao, BNI represented the chance to build something new. “When I joined BNI Foxes, it was newly formed with a core group, so it felt like something fresh – an opportunity to bring in people I work with, and something that we could build from scratch. I had quite a good stronghold in the Leicester business community already – I was already working with Niche, for example – but it’s been a chance to meet new people and make new friends.

“BNI is about camaraderie, kinsmanship, and qualification by association. When we stand together, we’re testifying that we trust this person; our association is our recommendation.”

When we stand together, we’re testifying that we trust this person; our association is our recommendation

NICHE | 41

MONTH

OF THE The right kind of hope can be enough to keep a man going in the modern world.

What that hope looks like is different for every man. In honour of Men’s Health Awareness Month, we spoke to several members of Leicester’s business community to find out what hope means to them WORDS BY TOM YOUNG AND EMILY MILLER

MAN T

he tradition of November being the “month of the man” has grown in recognition over recent years. Including International Men’s Day (IMD) on November 19, Movember, and Men’s Health Awareness Month, it’s an opportunity to discuss the issues, challenges, and burdens that men face in the modern world.

According to research by the organisation behind IMD, the following statements are still true: ◆ Men have a suicide rate three times higher than women ◆ One in three men have been the victims of domestic violence ◆ Men on average die four to five years before women ◆ Men are nearly twice as likely to suffer from lung cancer than women ◆ Men are nearly twice as likely to suffer from heart disease than women

In previous years, we’ve used this feature to focus on these and other problems, exploring the pressures men feel, and the challenges they’ve had to overcome. This year, we’ve taken a new approach: hope.

This year’s theme for IMD is ‘Zero Male Suicide’, seeking to eliminate the risk of suicide in men. Richard Kotulecki, CEO of mental health charity Lamp, told us: “While it’s true that suicide is still the biggest cause of death for men under 40, the flip side of that statistic is that it’s because the next highest cause is so far behind.” This has allowed suicide prevention to become the focus of men’s health awareness.

There are many reasons to be optimistic, with the growing understanding of men’s issues – including cultural, physical, and mental – showing signs of improvement. The uptake of men seeking mental health support has grown to the point where charities such as Lamp are seeing a near-even gender split for their services. This would suggest the shame and stigma once attached to mental health care is starting to dissipate.

During our interviews with the men featured in this piece, we’ve asked each of them: “What gives you hope?” The answers are varied and revealing, offering insight into the perspectives of men in different industries, the positive impact they have on the world, and the goals they strive towards.

WHAT GIVES YOU HOPE? NICHE | 43

DUNCAN TURNER | HARWOOD HR SOLUTIONS

MONEY CAN’T BUY YOU HAPPINESS T

he course of true success never did run smooth. For Leicestershire entrepreneur Duncan Turner, his lifein-the-fast-lane approach to his early career built the perfect foundations for an HR business owner.

Starting out at 19, Duncan joined the Budgens supermarket group, quickly working his way up through the ranks. His work ethic got him noticed and before he knew it, he was swapping shopping trolleys for Porsche 911s.

Headhunting took his career from large Senior Executive roles at Sytner and Porsche to even larger roles in huge, international financial groups. Working in these industries, he was never short of dream cars to sit on his drive, nor bonuses, private jets and the like. He never needed to interview or apply for jobs, until one day, something didn’t sit right.

Years of headhunting and career progression had found Duncan working for a huge financial group that faced administration.

He went for a drink with his brother-in-law and found himself crying from exhaustion and the high pressures of trying to save a toxic company from going under.

He had a young family, a large house, nice cars, and all the costs that go alongside them. He knew he wasn’t part

of ‘the club’ in London, and he no longer had the desire to continue working for corporate giants. This set changes in motion after a holiday was booked where his wife Miranda told him some home truths: “She simply said enough was enough. We had another child on the way, and she helped me see that something had to change. I wanted to maintain the life I’d built, but without compromising my sanity! And so I decided to start an HR consultancy, then and there on the beach.”

He contacted the team members he wanted to work with and got his first major contract while still on holiday. Harwood HR Solutions now employs a growing team of highly motivated, empowered individuals – many of whom enjoy shares in the company – and provides affordable, real-life HR advice and support for SMEs. Of course, his experience is people, not only the ins and outs of HR compliances and structures. He draws on the way his career panned out, being hired and headhunted, part of a restructuring, the selling of multi-billion-pound companies, and the colleagues and bosses he experienced along the way. All these elements shape how he does business and his understanding of his clients’ HR reality.

“I’ve seen toxic cultures in companies, and bosses with questionable ethics to get to where they need to be. I’ve worked for overseas car groups during the recession, and large American financial loan groups that nearly went into administration. I wouldn’t change any of my career path – even the stressful times. They fuelled change; evolution is so important in business.

You can be successful with integrity and hard work, of course, but people don’t need to be pushed aside in the process.”

WHAT GIVES YOU HOPE I now run a company that allows my staff to thrive, and lets me sleep through the night and provide for my children and their future. I still earn what I always have, but without compromising my life with them. This is where I’m meant to be.

MATT LILLEY | FOCUS

FOCUS ON SUPPORT WHAT GIVES YOU HOPE Human spirit. For young people who suffer at the hands of the world, I’m always amazed by their ability to find a way through and find a network of support. Resiliency is about the people we know and how they support us. This may sound flippant, but most people are nice. People find a way, and we find ways to support each other.

T

here’s been a lot of progress in making it OK for men to accept help, but there’s more work to do.

By offering support from an earlier age, the notion of accepting help will become a fact-of-life, rather than a sign of fragility.

Matt Lilley is the current president of BNI Foxes and the CEO of Leicester-based charity Focus.

Focus aims to support vulnerable young people in developing their self-confidence, self-esteem, and aspirations for what they can achieve in life. It runs a range of projects that all aim to get young people to go out and make the world a better place, whether that be in the community, for the environment, or for other issues that matter to them.

It’s impossible to open social media without being bombarded by explicit or implied messages about what you should look like “One of our opportunities is Leicestival, which gives young people the chance to volunteer at – and influence the management of – various cultural festivals around the city. That could be the Caribbean Carnival, Riverside Festival, Pride, Diwali – all sorts of things.

“We get to know the young people, and in doing so, are able to support them in other areas of their lives, whether that be education or careers, relationships, or even safeguarding issues.”

The last few years have thrown up challenges that are unprecedented for an entire generation of teenagers, and for too many, it’s been a struggle.

MONTH OF THE MAN

“The rate of deaths by suicide in young people has been tracked since 1981 and had always been on a downward trend… until six or seven years ago. The pandemic played a large part in that, but mobile phones are also a big factor. It used to be that young people who were being bullied could go home and have an escape from it. Now, they carry that negativity in their pocket.

“On top of that, it’s impossible to open social media without being bombarded by explicit or implied messages about what you should look like. How your life should look.

How much fun you should be having.

Both boys and girls experience that.”

Modern media has created a very high expectation for men in terms of body image: the physique of a superhero.

It used to be that if you could maintain a flat stomach, you were considered to be ‘in shape’. Now, if you’re not in the gym six days a week and built like Chris Hemsworth, you’re failing. It used to be unlikely that you’d encounter anyone who looked like that in real life, but social media has made them easily accessible for comparison.

“Boys are starting to experience more concerns about body image that never used to massively affect them in the way that it does for girls, but that balance is changing.”

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SCOTT INGHAM | SCI GROUP LIMITED

WORK YOU CAN LIVE WITH WHAT GIVES YOU HOPE I just hope for more optimism in general. I try to give a positive spin on anything that comes through my field of vision. Like any other person, I have my ups and downs, don’t get me wrong, but I try not to let them get to me or anyone in my life. Everything nowadays is all doom and gloom, with finances, and health worries, and so on… but we’re all still here and breathing. Just take one step at a time, and you’ll find you’re where you want to be before you know it.

T

here are many reasons to go into business – many of them boil down to money. But sometimes, to be the man you want to be, there are other factors to consider. Can you live with how you do business? Scott Ingham, managing director of plumbing and bathroom installation specialists SCI Group, set up his business in response to the industry’s inflated pricing, looking to do something positive and level the playing field for his clients.

“I started working with a company that showed me the adapted living market. During that time, I saw how the industry didn’t have its morals in the right place. I saw how they could rip people off. The moral implications of that were getting to me, and I’m a pretty black-and-white guy. After 30 years in the construction industry, I decided I could do it better and more fairly, so I set up my own business.”

With a personal connection to disability, Scott knows how vital it is for those with mobility issues to have a bathroom that’s tailored to their needs without emptying their bank account.

“I started a small plumbing company to create adapted bathrooms for mobility-impaired people. That’s my little niche – my specialism. There’s a lot of people who do it, but many will charge every last penny you’ve got. Because my mum’s disabled, I take that personally.

What she went through to complete projects for her house, and the amount of money they added on… I can’t do that. That’s probably why I’m not rich! I don’t add on

MONTH OF THE MAN

costs where they aren’t needed.

“For example, I had one elderly lady with terminal cancer who’d been quoted £24k for a wet room, and it wasn’t going to suit her needs.

We looked at what she needed and got her quote down to £11k.”

Consideration and empathy are not traditionally considered as masculine traits, which makes Scott’s approach incredibly refreshing.

“My mum’s a big influence. She got an MBE for her charity work. I’ve been brought up to believe in treating people as you would want to be treated yourself. That’s me in a nutshell, and I hope to pass this onto my daughter too.”

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

Love and live with passion...

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HITZ RAO | HITZ RAO PHOTOGRAPHY

DEVELOPING BEYOND THE NEGATIVES T

he ancient notion of men being the tribe’s hunters has a modern-day reflection in entrepreneurship.

It requires a desire to use your hard-earned skills to provide what you need – for yourself and your family – on your own terms. Photographer Hitz Rao sees more of the local business community than most and sees commonalities between male entrepreneurs.

“Most men – and I’d go so far as saying ‘most people’ – suffer from an affliction called ‘not good enough’. It’s about how you feel you’re perceived by those around you. It’s a feeling that you can’t compare to others.

“For men, who have historically been seen as the providers, or those who must step up and ‘get the job done’, this can be hard to share. ‘Men don’t cry, men don’t show emotions’ – that’s where the insecurities start, and where feelings of being overwhelmed or not being good enough creep in.

“We naturally compare ourselves to others. Each of the men on this cover has probably had a moment where they’ve looked at another man and thought, ‘I wish I had what he has’. You can’t help it.”

Making a career out of a creative discipline can be difficult, because it requires the person to develop their craft and then learn how to manage a business too. Hitz learned on the job, working for his father – just as he’s now teaching his own son – before eventually taking over the business himself.

“To this day, I struggle with my identity as a creative business owner. I’m not a natural talent. I don’t think I’m God’s gift to photography. You often learn you’re good from others. If I get told I’m good with people, that validation

WHAT GIVES YOU HOPE The price of Netflix is coming down! So many prices have gone up – the price of anything coming down gives me hope!

Dad jokes aside, the world right now is in one of the weirder places I’ve ever seen it, but I see enough to believe that humanity will prevail and make the right decisions – for the planet and for each other.

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tells me, ‘Oh, I must be good with people’. Over the years, I’ve found that once I get into a flow, it happens naturally – but that’s a learned skill. You’re always evolving.

“I did a Help to Grow course recently and realised how little I know about business! I tend do things intuitively. I make it a point to rely on those around me to help keep us going; my wife has a great business head on her. And the people around me bring out the best in me and the business. Teamwork!”

If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. Spend any amount of time with Hitz, and his passion for his work is clear. His craft is to preserve memories.

“What I love about photography is how it’s shown me so many different things in this world. It’s shown me successful corporate people. It’s shown me the emotional heights of people at weddings. I get to see families as they celebrate different stages of life. I get to see everything, and then capture it in one image. With one frame, you can tell countless stories that last an eternity.”

DAVE GOODMAN | SOAR VALLEY PRESS

CTRL + P F

rom Wilbur and Orville Wright, through Albert and Harry Warner, to Maurice and Charles Saatchi, there’s a history of successful business partnerships between brothers. At Soar Valley Press, the collaboration is a little different; Dave Goodman didn’t plan his career in printing, but working alongside brother Chris, he’s found a love for it.

At university, Dave studied an unconventional choice: Sports Management with Golf Studies.

“I knew I wanted the university experience, and it

WHAT GIVES YOU HOPE Chris and I have a Christian faith. We believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross to save us from our sins, so we can look forward to spending eternity with him in heaven. That’s the hope we both live for in our day-to-day lives.

was the done thing at the time. I thought about what I liked doing, and I liked playing golf, plus, it included eight months in Florida, so there were definitely perks to it.

“After university, I was doing temp work when Chris’s then-business partner had to step away, as his dad had fallen ill and needed help to look after his businesses.

So, Chris bought him out of Soar Valley Press, and asked me to work with him. I thought, ‘hmmm, ok – not really what I want to do, but I’ll give it a go.’ Fourteen years later, I’m still here. So, I guess I enjoy it!”

It’s easy to see why Dave would enjoy it; there’s a masculine quality to creating physical things. In an increasingly digital world, making a tangible product can boost self-esteem and provide a clear sense of progress.

The creative aspect of print also provides cognitive stimulation, as it goes through design and manufacturing stages – all rewarded by the dopamine hit that comes from holding the finished item.

“We get a hit of that every day! Print still has its place.

People like having something to hold, and something to smell! There’s got to be a blend of approaches between both print and digital marketing – they work hand-inhand. Social media helps to spread the word, but having a tangible product that you can give someone has more of an impact now than it did 10-15 years ago.”

A family business is not an unusual concept, but as Dave (Business Development Manager) works for Chris (Managing Director), it could make for a unique brotherly dynamic. But Dave doesn’t see it that way.

“When I first started, it was clear how the relationship would work. Chris has been doing this for 25 years, while I’m only 14 years in, and everything I’ve learned has come from him. It’s funny, we don’t really see each other outside of work, because we spend all week together.

“Goodmans tend to be very laid-back people; our biggest issue is probably communication – both our wives would certainly say so! But we sit across the desk from each other and talk about whatever we need to talk about. We very rarely argue. There’s an efficiency to working with a family member as we’ve been raised with the same values and culture, so approach problems with a similar thought process.”

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KRIS AMLIWALA | DESIGNER WEALTH MANAGEMENT

THOUGHT FOR YOUR PENNIES O

ne of the biggest burdens for men is financial obligation and ensuring they can provide for their loved ones long-term. When it comes to financial planning, Kris Amliwala, Chartered Financial Planner at Designer Wealth Management, believes that ‘help is wealth’.

While society has moved on from many traditional gender tropes, men still feel ‘provider pressure’. It’s a stereotype, but men’s money worries can come with a sense of guilt and shame. Especially during a cost-of-living crisis, long-term financial planning may seem like a luxury. If you need money now, you can’t necessarily think about holding it back for the future. By taking financial advice, you know what your options are, and the gain to be made from small investments. This can ease the burden of worrying about your family’s long-term security.

“What financial advice does is all intangible. Peace of mind is intangible. Reminding clients about the value added is even more important at times when every penny is under consideration.

“For the last 10 years, interest rates have been relatively low, and people have forgotten the importance of saving for the future. Now it’s got tough, and it’s got beyond realistic; everything is above the long-term average of where inflation should be. But these things happen – the economy is cyclical, and things will come around.”

With more and more people taking an active interest in their financial futures, the internet has become a source of advice for many – but Kris advises caution.

“YouTube and TikTok have people offering financial advice, but they’re not qualified to do so. They’re not financial advisors. Their advice is unregulated. It’s not protected. The actions someone might take by listening to those videos could be detrimental.”

Giving the next generation the tools to understand their finances is a priority. Kris delivers workshops in schools,

WHAT GIVES YOU HOPE You have to be optimistic to be an investor. As hard as it may be, it’s not about looking month-to-month or year-to-year, but decade-to-decade.

Everything always goes up over time. If you stick to the simple things, and not get distracted by what’s new and shiny, you’ll be fine. It’s about consistency; wealth building should be boring!

MONTH OF THE MAN

explaining payslips and National Insurance to teens who are on the cusp of getting their first jobs.

“It’s not just less money in their pocket – it’s buying them something for their future. More awareness needs to be created about financial services, so they can at least ask the right question to the right person.”

Financial advice is not an exclusive service to millionaires; it can benefit anybody to hear their options, and have better understanding of their financial situation.

Small savings can make a big impact, long-term.

“The business owners I see are considering contributing less to their future and more on the here and now. I remind them about the compound effect of their actions. The ripple effects of a single annual pension contribution means there’s going to be less business corporation tax to pay, there’ll be more for their family’s future, and it helps to diversify away from their business being their pension, so they will be able to retire.”

For those with financial worries, Kris says: “Most – if not all – financial advisors will happily give 30-60 minutes of their time for free. I think more people should take up that offer.”

BHAVIN GANDHI | PARADIGM WILLS AND LEGAL SERVICES

WHERE THERE’S A WILL THERE’S A WAY W

arren Buffet said, “The happiest people do not necessarily have the best things. They simply appreciate the things they have.” When it comes to business, Bhavin Gandhi, a wills and probate specialist and the founder of Paradigm Wills and Legal Services, believes it’s an important principle to remember. By always chasing the next thing, you can forget what you already have.

As directing consultant of BNI Foxes’, Bhavin has seen many members grow their businesses because of the support a networking group brings.

“Some people come in with a one-man business, and over the years it grows to the point where they have 10 employees. If they’ve got the vision and the plan, they can utilise the platform to help them achieve their goal.

“Equally, some people come along without a vision but develop one through being in the group. Others want to remain on their own, without additional responsibilities.

They’re happy doing what they’re doing but appreciate having the network.”

While hope for the future is important, one should also plan for the unknown. This can bring a peace of mind that allows time and headspace to focus on the here and now.

“The clients I’ve seen in the last few months could’ve just as easily created their wills two years ago, or even earlier – they were no less at risk then. It doesn’t feel like a priority to people, but the sooner you get it sorted, the sooner it’s one less thing to worry about.”

While they now have working partnerships with a number of other Leicester businesses, Bhavin acknowledges that this growth has been earned over time. Reflecting on how far the business has come,

WHAT GIVES YOU HOPE There’s a key to every door; you just have to find the right one. Sometimes it’s a matter of being patient until you locate the right one. Being reactive to a problem never pays off, so you have to be proactive.

Look around you and be grateful for the things you have in life.

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Bhavin praised his team.

“At the start, we didn’t do everything we do now. We did the bits that we could and got good at those before expanding. Now we offer an all-around service, so the types of clients we deal with include those with high net worth or people with multiple businesses. Obviously, that requires having the right team to deal with all aspects of the clients’ needs, which we have.”

If you have the passion and conviction to pursue what you want, you can eventually find a path to success.

r o f t e e Let’s m coffee Get more from your Business ◆ What do you want from your business? ◆ Are you happy with the decisions you made yesterday and the results they’re bringing your business today? ◆ Do you know where your business will be in five years?

ActionCOACH Phil Nassau is ranked in the top10 business & executive coaches in the UK. If you’re struggling to keep everything running, meet Phil for a coffee. He’ll help you to free up time to grow your business. You’ll be able to work on your business instead of just in the business.

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RICHARD KOTULECKI | LAMP

THE LAMP AT THE

END OF THE

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I

t’s been a tough few years for everyone.

The pandemic was a unique psychological challenge, followed immediately by a cost-ofliving crisis that has left many with persistent money worries. The fact that ‘permacrisis’ was the Collins English Dictionary’s word of the year in 2022 expresses just how relentlessly troubled life has been. Overcoming such perpetual struggle has been hard for many. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

For men – for whom wealth and the ability to provide is still often used as a barometer for success, value and self-worth – these mounting pressures have caused more to seek help than ever before.

One of the biggest players in Leicester’s mental health sector is the advocacy charity, Lamp. CEO Richard Kotulecki is uniquely placed to assess the surprisingly positive position that men are now in when it comes to taking care of their mental health.

“Certain parts of society are more open to talking about mental health issues than they have been in the past. People are a lot more open to admitting needing or seeking help than they were before. More are willing to open up and admit to what used to be perceived as weakness. The pandemic has accelerated that willingness to talk and for others to accept it as normal.”

A lot of this has been driven by influential figures coming out to discuss their own struggles. Men who would previously have been considered too masculine

WHAT GIVES YOU HOPE The fact that we’re living in the best time to be alive, ever.

Yes, times may be tough, but would you rather live in 2023 or 1923? The present is better than the past, and the future will be better still.

There’s a myth that ‘the world is changing faster than ever, and it’s changing for the worse’. That simply isn’t true.

A generation ago, a heart attack was a death sentence. In the time since, we’ve learned so much about how to prevent them and how to treat them that it’s no longer a guaranteed end. It’s the same in mental health. A generation ago, if you stayed at home all day and kept away from people, you might be seen as feckless or strange. Now, we have a greater understanding of depression, anxiety, and other conditions that might be the root cause of that. We’re continuing to make progress.

TUNNEL or influential to admit to such problems are the ones now leading the conversation.

“Some key people have stuck their heads over the parapet. Having Prince William and Prince Harry talk about their struggles after their mother’s death, or footballer Ian Wright talking about how racism affected his mental health has given other men permission to open up.”

Some of these conversations have stepped beyond the comfort zone of certain media outlets – Prince Harry was lauded for speaking about his mental health journey until the media became uncomfortable with his discomfort.

Everything he was saying remained true to his life, such as his experience of killing enemy combatants in the army or his wife’s safety and wellbeing, but it started conversations that the public may not have been ready to have, leading to a backlash. There’s further progress yet to be made.

For the progress that has been made, one of the key changes has been to consider how, when and where men talk.

“Research in Australia pointed out that – for years – men had been told ‘it’s good to talk’, but this had been presented in stereotypically feminine environments. Either one-on-one on a comfortable sofa, with a cup of tea, surrounded by potted plants, or in a focus group situation with your allocated time to speak. It wasn’t working.

“If you want to engage any group in something, you must do it on their terms. One of the big changes is realising that going for a pint with your mates is just as valuable a part of the talking process as any therapy session.”

This may explain why there was such a rise in therapy during the pandemic, as men lost the pub or other group gatherings as an outlet, and with it, their support network.

That understanding is evolving how men’s mental health services are advertised.

Similarly, research suggests that the evolution of men’s role in society is a factor in why suicide rates are higher in certain male age groups.

“In the historical model, a man went out to work, did the job, went to the pub after, then came home, had dinner, and went to bed. Maybe they’d have had some vague role in raising the kids, but his fundamental job was bringing home an income by doing masculine work.

“Yet those jobs are disappearing, and the skills associated are becoming less valued. Classically masculine, manual labour roles are being phased out or automated, such as manufacturing and mining. The traits valued now are more traditionally considered feminine – people skills, empathy, customer service – as we move from a primary/secondary industry-based economy to a more tertiary one.

“So, coping with this change of role, as well as the expectation of active involvement in family life, while continuing to provide in the face of stagnating wages and rising living costs can make for a very pressured, relentless reality.”

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If you want to engage any group in something, you must do it on their terms

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ATUL LAKHANI | SANJAY FOODS

STAY TRUE TO YOU T

he day-to-day stresses and evolutions of running a business – especially over a long period – can take you away from your original dream. Maybe the path you’re on leads somewhere different than you expected, or maybe it runs much further than you could’ve imagined. Being agile to this is vital for longevity in business, but it’s also important to stay true to who you are, no matter where the path leads.

Atul Lakhani’s path has taken him to many new places. Born in Uganda, at the age of five he moved to the UK during the 1972 exodus. He grew up to work in his father’s restaurant before pursuing his own dream by founding Sanjay Foods, and later becoming the owner of the IXL Events Centre in Leamington Spa. There were plenty of twists and turns along the way.

“Leaving an established family business to pursue my own dreams was somewhat of a mixed bag. On the one hand, it was very exciting to become my own boss and be in charge of my destiny. On the other hand, with three small children and a mortgage to pay, the future – whilst exciting – was not going to be without its challenges.”

The original goal was to enter the ready meal market by establishing a food manufacturing facility, but that led to the first fork in the road.

“We had enquiries from two big brand supermarkets in the early days, but the limited margins, substantial upfront costs, and 90-day credit facilities made these projects implausible. As a fledgling business yet to develop a brand, it was difficult to command the right price, despite our commitment to offering high quality products and services.”

Fortunately, Atul was able to switch to a path that led back to where it all began. “Almost by default, I reverted to my roots in catering and hospitality. After many years of struggle and financial hardship, Sanjay Foods became synonymous with catering for discerning clients.”

Atul’s success came from staying true to himself, and

WHAT GIVES YOU HOPE The talented people I employ. I cannot fail to be impressed by their sheer resilience. Having endured a pandemic and the financial crisis, their commitment shows there are people out there who care.

Leaving an established family business to pursue my own dreams was somewhat of a mixed bag identifying an area he could excel in. It’s this advice that he would choose to pass on to the next generation of entrepreneurs.

“Stay true to your values and beliefs and continue to pursue your dreams. Your first instinct will usually be the right one. There is no substitute for hard work, but learn to be more strategic and focused along the way. Not every opportunity is worth pursuing. If something is not working, do not continue to throw good money at it in the hope that things will change.

“On the contrary, an astute businessman will make changes to limit further exposure and create new opportunities. Pride and ego must take a back seat when making business decisions.”

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LOUIS HAMILTON | HAMILTON’S HONOUR

HONESTY AND HONOUR

MONTH OF THE MAN

L

iving up to the legacy of those who came before us can be both a blessing and a burden. It can take years to realise the pressure this creates, especially when compounded by grief. For Louis Hamilton, owner of boutique health and fitness studio Hamilton’s Honour, being honest about his struggles helped him come to terms with carrying his father’s legacy.

Football was very much the family business.

Louis’s father Neville Hamilton played for a handful of professional clubs before suffering a heart condition that ended his playing career. Neville became an influential figure off the pitch, coaching for Leicester City, developing young players such as Emile Heskey.

“I aspired to be a professional footballer,” says Louis.

“I had all the pressure of filling dad’s boots, and when I was in Leicester’s academy, he was the reserves’ coach, so it always felt like someone was watching me. But I never got a scholarship and was released at 16.”

Tragedy struck a year later when Neville died at the age of 48. “Suddenly I’m the man of the house and dealing with grief. I was carrying a lot of anger and got a criminal record after a fight.

“The club honoured dad by creating the Neville Hamilton Sports Award, which they present at Leicester City’s annual awards ceremony. It was nice, but it became a burden for me. Me, mum, and my sister went to present the award – the lady gave me the mic and I froze. Mum took over and handed out the award.”

Grief has a way of making even the smallest things feel like a huge burden. An award carrying his late-father’s name was no small thing, but it became a totem of his grief.

I had all the pressure of filling dad’s boots, and when I was in Leicester’s academy, he was the reserves’ coach, so it always felt like someone was watching me “For years I couldn’t go back – I let other family members go instead. From age 19 to 28, I struggled with my mental health, without understanding that’s what was happening. The smallest things would upset me – my phone wouldn’t work, and I’d suddenly be angry.”

Louis built a personal training business, working out of a garage, and drawing on his history in sport. As the years passed, he felt he needed another chance to present his dad’s award. In 2019, he accepted the invitation but developed anxiety as the day approached.

When a client asked him how he was, to Louis’s surprise, he told the truth.

WHAT GIVES YOU HOPE My faith and understanding that there’s no hurdle too big. Perseverance, commitment, dedication, and consistency; having that willpower to keep going. When you’ve been through something big, you find out what you can take and come back from.

“I just looked at him and said: ‘I have to do this talk and I’m scared I’ll have a panic attack.’ It was the first time I’d said that to anyone.

“This guy’s a professor, so he’s used to talking. He said: ‘If that happens on stage, understand you’ve got a reason for it. If anyone in the crowd has a problem, the issue’s with them’. I knew he was right, but in the two weeks leading up to the awards. I cried every day; I hadn’t cried in years.”

Knowing what he wanted to say, the task proved a cathartic experience. “I was handed the mic, and I just started talking. I don’t even remember what I said. But I got through it, I presented the award, and I’d never been so calm in my life. Backstage, I cried my eyes out, and since then I’ve never looked back.”

Meanwhile, his personal training business outgrew the garage. Hamilton’s Honour now stands proudly in London Road as a living legacy to Neville and gives Louis a positive focus to build his life and career around.

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TIM GRAINGER | WEATHERWISE

FULL OF GRIT WHAT GIVES YOU HOPE My grandchildren. They’re such innocent little things. When everything’s going wrong, the kids come around and make you forget about it. I was doing our health and safety CHAS accreditation recently – an endless stream of dull questions – so I was feeling quite grumpy. Then the kids came on a video call to say goodnight, and it was just lovely and pure.

G

one are the days when one can expect to stay in the same job for 45 years and then retire.

Job switching, and even career switching, is commonplace in the modern job market. Tim Grainger, director of Weatherwise Services, is a man unafraid of a new challenge.

His varied career began with selling container-loads of antiques to Americans.

“I dropped out of A-Levels and worked for a property developer. He did that on the side, but he was actually an antiques dealer, which was much more interesting to me. We’d ship furniture or oil paintings across the Atlantic.

Americans would buy the paintings to hang on their wall and say, ‘that’s Uncle Harry from England’. Complete lies, but it made them feel important.”

Aged 26, Tim moved onto selling office equipment, and then stationery, when he suffered a brain haemorrhage, followed by a stroke soon after.

“I lost my driving licence and was briefly in a wheelchair. I had a walking stick for about seven years.

At that point, I decided to do what I should’ve done in the first place – I went back to college and then university.”

Upon completing his degree, Tim moved into recruitment.

“Recruitment was good to me. It can be a nasty business, but – when successful – the money is exceptional, and it makes it hard to leave. I was so busy; I only saw the kids at the weekend. Once my son said to me: ‘I don’t like you at the weekend, dad’, and bearing in mind he didn’t see me at any other point, I realised it was time for a change. I quit, bought property in Spain, and rented it out to holiday makers. We also lived over there for eight years.”

A three-year separation in his marriage resulted in Tim returning to the UK, which left him seeking another new career.

“In the pub, a friend told me to talk to a South African guy called Tinny, who ran a gritting business; they were

MONTH OF THE MAN

looking for guys to drive the trucks. I did that for a couple of years, until he went back to South Africa.

“The company that’d been his biggest customer asked me to take over the contract. Despite not having anything I’d need, I said ‘of course!’ and left that meeting realising I needed to buy trucks, find premises, and hire staff.”

Tim incorporated Weatherwise Services in 2017, with 37 sites to look after. Today, his determination has led to him running 15 vehicles and servicing 400 sites a night.

“I never planned to be here, and imposter syndrome can be a struggle at times, but – generally – I am happy.”

DEYAL SINGH | KINGS REAL ESTATE

THE FAMILY OF KINGS WHAT GIVES YOU HOPE Self-belief, but specifically the belief that I can keep improving. I want to be the best version of me. It’s not about competing with everyone else but competing against the past versions of yourself. Kevin Hart said on Joe Rogan’s podcast: “Life is like a book – when you get to the end of it, do you want the pages to be empty, or do you want the book to be full?” I want to fill mine with memories. I ran 60 miles in 24 hours to raise money for Lamp, I’ve abseiled off tall buildings, and in November I’m doing a fire walk. I’m filling my book!

W

orking hard in business comes with its rewards: career advancement, more money, greater acknowledgement of your achievements, and even the pride of your family. But there’s a tricky balancing act, as Deyal Singh of Kings Real Estate has found.

“I always work hard to make my mum and dad proud.

It’s one of my biggest motivators. Back in June, I’d been especially focused on work one week, when I got a text from my brother: ‘What have you got dad for Father’s Day? It’s this Sunday’.

“I’d completely forgotten about it and hadn’t got him anything. It may sound like a little thing, but it made me realise I was so focused on working to make dad proud in the future, that I’d failed to appreciate him in the present.”

Achieving the balance of working hard to provide for your family without sacrificing too much time with your family can be a struggle. Deyal’s parents are divorced, but working for his mum in the family business means he gets to see her every day… sort of.

“It’s interesting, when we’re at work, there’s an understanding that we’re not mum and son. And it’s not like we’re sat next to each other all day as mum’s out on viewings, or I’m doing valuations. We’re both busy doing our own work. The only difference between me and the other staff is that I don’t call her by her first name!

“Growing up, my whole family worked in property, so I’ve always had an interest in it – but I didn’t realise how much of an interest until I was doing my marketing

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Growing up, my whole family worked in property, so I’ve always had an interest in it – but I didn’t realise how much of an interest until I was doing my marketing degree

degree and needed somewhere to do my placement year. That year was 2020, so not many places were looking to take on students due to Covid regulations.

Eventually, mum said: “Why don’t you do it here at Kings?” So, I did, and then things snowballed from there. I’m looking for ways to take us to the next level, show a bit of our personality as a business, and raise the profile of the Kings name.

“I’m so lucky to say that I love what I do.”

SEAN SMITH | MICHAEL SMITH SWITCHGEAR

SWITCHING GEARS A

daptability is a skill required of modern men.

The world tends to throw up challenges you can’t anticipate, meaning you need to be agile enough to adjust to a new status quo. Sean Smith is the managing director of Michael Smith Switchgear (MSS) and has a track record of adaptability.

“In 2003, I started my AS-levels and soon realised I’d had enough of full-time education and wanted to get into the ‘real world’. I went to MSS the day after my final exam and started working on the shop floor. I loved the camaraderie, the banter, and the team spirit. I loved being part of something and building things where you could see the finished product. I worked my way around the shop floor, working on a range of different items until I had a well-rounded knowledge.”

While initially teased by his colleagues for being the boss’s son, with an ‘it’s alright for you, you’re Mike’s lad’ attitude, Sean says the reality was quite different.

“If we had out-of-hours callouts, I was expected to go.

I got the jobs no one else could go on nor wanted to. It wasn’t a case of ‘I can’t go’; it was ‘you will go’. I was once sent to do a repair the same night as my then-girlfriend’s birthday dinner. I had to let her down, and she split up with me. So, there were hardships on that side, but I understand that everyone has hardships on their route through life and it definitely made me who I am today.”

Two and a half years later, Sean’s career at Michael Smith Switchgear was forced to switch gears quite literally.

Unrelated to work, he contracted blood poisoning and spent a week in hospital with septicaemia.

“I soon went back to work, but I couldn’t be in a dirty environment, so I was moved into the office to learn that side of the business – probably a year ahead of schedule.”

This gave Sean the opportunity to learn other aspects of the business, which he found he loved. A year into being in the office, the company’s co-director left to set up his

WHAT GIVES YOU HOPE The good eggs shine through. There’s a lot of negativity in the world, but when you look at how people adapt, you realise that the good will always outweigh the bad. We just need to report on the positives more and it will continue to inspire others to adapt for the better.

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own firm and took half the staff with him. This situation created an opportunity.

“It was a huge challenge for a 20-year-old. I was the only person left with any office experience, and I’d only got a year of it! I built the team up again, and my dad – who had virtually retired at the time – came back in a few days a week to help out. It really propelled me into a sink or swim situation.”

By 2009, Sean was running the engineering side of the business, learning the financial and administrative side, and had become general manager. In 2012, he arranged a buy-out from his father. From shop floor to managing director in eight years.

Sean is now working to see better regulation in his industry and seeking to have a better environmental impact. In 2022, MSS became the first switchgear manufacturer in the country to achieve carbon neutral status. Sean continues to push forwards and adapt for a better future.

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ER RECRUITMENT

CELEBRATES 10 YEARS

The eminent ER Recruitment – known on the corporate scene for connecting people with businesses – celebrated a decade in business and told us exclusively what’s next 62 | NICHE

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R Recruitment has now enjoyed 10 years in business – and the local business community made sure that Team Purple celebrated in style.

The firm marked its first decade in existence with an evening at Stapleford Park with 24 close clients followed by an afternoon tea at Lumbers which saw nearly 100 people in attendance. The city centre jewellers was filled with individuals who have supported the firm since its launch in 2013.

The event represented the brand’s passion to support local businesses and young talent, with delicious food provided by Mrs Bridges Tea Room, photography by Antonia Doyle, music by local pianist Jude Richardson and the main performance of the day by Faryl Smith – an extremely gifted opera singer who has made her way in the industry after being a finalist in Britain’s Got Talent.

Eileen Perry MBE DL, founder and owner, said: “Hitting 10 years in business is a huge milestone for us, which is why it was important for us to mark it with people who have been a part of our journey throughout. Stapleford Park and Lumbers hold a special significance for us, so to host our celebration events there felt very fitting.

“We’re incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received over the last 10 years from multiple loyal clients, supportive business friends and fantastic candidates. That, combined with our brilliant team, has been the recipe for our success.

“We’re ready to hit the ground running in our eleventh year and are already excited for what comes next!”

Eileen was awarded the MBE in 2018 for the Promotion of Female Entrepreneurship. She is Co-Chair of Enterprising Women, a Board Member and Past President of the East Midlands Chamber, Deputy Lieutenant of Leicestershire and Pro-Chancellor at De Montfort University.

She founded the business after years of working

We’re ready to hit the ground running in our tenth year and are already excited for what comes next! in recruitment. Focused on adopting a new approach, ER Recruitment prides itself on becoming part of its clients’ and candidates’ DNA – identifying what is truly important to them and assisting them in finding it. Working in partnership with Breedon Consulting, they provide bespoke recruitment and retention services from entrylevel to C-Suite.

Long-standing support for local businesses and charities is at the core of the firm. It has run multiple community campaigns and projects including #BleedForHayley blood donation campaign and ongoing its BrightER Futures programme in partnership with DMU. ER Recruitment also operates a sizeable charity portfolio, with business club membership or support for local causes including Menphys, Bodie Hodges, Big Difference Company and many more.

Meanwhile, Eileen and the team have won several awards in recognition of their success during the last decade, including Businesswoman of the Year at the Leicester Mercury Women in Business Awards and the Niche Business Awards; Commitment to the Community at the East Midlands Business Awards; and Excellence in Collaboration from the East Midlands Chamber of Commerce.

Eileen added: “As ER Recruitment enter a new decade in business, the horizon is brimming with opportunities, innovations, and challenges waiting to be embraced!”

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NICHE FEATURE: AMIRA FORUM

A new supportive network for professional women

Three top Leicestershire professionals who I am personally inspired by are launching an exciting new business venture to support women in business and leadership. When this news reached my desk, I promptly arranged a chat to get the exclusive intel WORDS BY EMILY MILLER

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hree multi-talented female entrepreneurs have joined forces to launch a brand new venture entitled The Amira Forum to provide personal growth and leadership training for women from the professional sectors and women running their own businesses across the UK. The Amira Forum was founded by Dr Glynis Wright MBE, who has a background in business and law, along with marketing consultant and qualified professional business coach Jenny Cross, and entrepreneur and tech expert Leanne Bonner-Cooke MBE. Each will bring to the table their unique expertise in female leadership drawn from a collective pool of over 90 years in business in professional services, consultancy services and technology.

Jenny told me: “The forum will bring together businesswomen and women in leadership positions within their professions where they will have

access to the expertise of the founders in the form of exclusive training, support, mentoring and consultancy. They will also have the added benefit of connecting with other similarly positioned women within the Amira Forum membership. The time is now, and we are delighted to be bringing Amira to the female business community.”

The first pioneering forum will comprise of a group of just 15 women working with Glynis, Jenny and Leanne over a sixmonth cycle. Sessions will run monthly between 9am and 1pm.

Each member will also gain a 30-minute one-to-one session with the founders.

The unique nature of the forum allows essential space for open and honest conversation.

Glynis explained: “All attendees of the Amira Forum will be asked to sign a privacy agreement which means that the cohort of 15 women taking part will be able to speak frankly and

WE WANT THE WOMEN WHO HAVE SHARED AND LEARNT TOGETHER ON THE FORUM TO CONTINUE THEIR SUPPORT BEYOND THE COURSE

openly about their perception of their areas of vulnerability and weakness in leadership, creating a space where experiences can be shared freely in order to create real personal growth. In order for this to work really well, all 15 of the cohort will be from non-compete industries.”

Once the course cycle is complete, the founders will encourage the community of women to continue in their support for one another. Leanne commented: “We want the women who have shared and learnt together on the forum to continue their support beyond the course itself, forging lasting and concrete networking relationships, and we hope to bring all cohorts together once a year for an annual Amira Forum conference.

To register interest in joining The Amira Forum and to gain exclusive access to the network for £350+ VAT per month, email jenny@crossproductions.co.uk.

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NICHE FEATURE: 2XL COMMERCIAL FINANCE

APPLYING FOR BUSINESS FINANCE All you need to know Business finance applications in the current marketplace can be a tricky beast. Commercial Finance Broker Darren Willoughby, Managing Director at 2XL Commercial Finance, discusses the reasons why and the types of finance available

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s a commercial finance broker for nigh on 17 years, I am often asked: “What’s the market like for lending?” Of course, depending on the state of play in the economy, the answer can differ and change on a weekly basis, literally. The true fact of the matter at present when answering that question is simple – it’s exceptionally tough! The reasons behind that are complex, but some pertinent points are highlighted below.

Rising Interest rates

On March 19, 2020, Bank of England (BOE) base rate stood at 0.1%. By way of example: say a business borrowed £1m at Base + 2% over 10 years, the monthly repayment would be £9,246. If you fast forward to now with BOE rate at 5.25% and the same margin, that payment now stands at £11,750 a month – a big increase! This will apply to all types of finance within any business at a variable rate.

Covid support

Many businesses are still dealing with the aftermath of the pandemic and the loans taken out during that time. This will include Bounce Bank Loans and CBILS, and these are taken into consideration when assessing affordability.

Rising costs

Not only are businesses looking at spiralling energy costs, but also the costs of goods as they are also now increasing against a backdrop of rising inflation, meaning everything is more expensive.

Cost-of-living crisis

As people are feeling the pinch, both staff and directors require more cash in order to live. In addition, landlords need to increase rents to cover the rising interest rate costs and tenants don’t have enough money in their pockets to pay it.

In summary, it’s a near-perfect storm, with affordability being tested across the board. But how does this affect the assessment of lending? In simple terms, a lender will look at two main factors:

Can the business afford to pay the debt back?

Sounds simple, right? Well, not quite. A lender will assess if a business can afford the new debt commitment, but also if 66 | NICHE

it can meet its existing debt liabilities. They’ll also take into consideration whether a director needs to take a certain amount out of the business to meet their personal and household commitments.

If a business can’t pay the debt back, how will the bank get their money back?

In this case, a lender will often look for suitable security in which to support the debt in case the loan goes bad.

So, amongst all the doom and gloom, what can a business do?

There are solutions – and not just on the high street. There are many lending channels out there, but not many are known or visible directly to the consumer, hence why many use a commercial finance broker.

However, the list of weird and wonderful types of finance that are available is endless. The overriding factor is that you should have a chat with a professional who can assess your needs and find a suitable solution for you and your goals.

Recovery Loan Scheme Commercial Mortgages Property Portfolio Funding Buy To Let Mortgages Business Loans and Peer-to-Peer Lending Development Funding Finance for Pension Funds Asset Finance

Here are eight types of finance that could be available to you

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Commercial mortgage: This would enable you to purchase or borrow money against a commercial property for any number of reasons

2

Business loans: There is an increasing number of business loan providers that will lend to a business unsecured or with a director’s personal guarantee

Commercial, Business, Personal Insurance Invoice Discounting and Factoring Bridging Loans Recovery Loan Scheme

3

Asset finance: This allows you to borrow money secured against an asset itself such as plant and machinery, vehicles and a number of other associated assets

4

Secured lending: Lending of this kind can be secured against a number of different asset classes, including property and luxury items such as watches, cars and boats to name but a few

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Invoice discounting and factoring: Borrowing money against your debtor books is possible with invoice discounting and factoring

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RLS funding: This is a Government backed scheme that allows you to borrow money when conventional routes may not be available

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Bridging finance: A short-term finance solution, bridging finance can be secured against property

Portfolio finance: This is where clients look to capital raise against existing investment properties, whether they be commercial or residential.

Directly Authorised by the FCA

National Presence

07736 359 413 2xlcommercial.com info@2xlcommercial.com Proud to be an Official LCFC Community Partner

Established

15 years

NICHE FEATURE: JERROMS MILLER SPECIALIST TAX

Selecting your successor Tax expert Nick Wright, associate director at Jerroms Miller Specialist Tax, looks at how to plan for succession – and why it’s important that all parties seek sound professional tax advice first

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unning your own business can be stressful, so it helps to have someone on your team who can take the reins – and ultimately take over from you when you come to retire.

Deciding who should take over the business when you retire is something all ownermanagers have to address at some point. When that time comes, you’ll want to minimise the amount of tax you pay. With proper advice, you should only pay 10% tax on the first £1m of gain (the Business Asset Disposal Relief), and 20% on anything more than that.

If you want to pass on a trade or trading company to family members, it’s straightforward to gift them your shares tax-free.

Alternatively, a buy-out might work better if you want some cash for your retirement. Or you might want to mix and match, to fine-tune the amount of cash you receive.

Another common scenario is to sell to your management team, using a management

DECIDING WHO SHOULD TAKE OVER THE BUSINESS WHEN YOU RETIRE IS SOMETHING ALL OWNERMANAGERS HAVE TO ADDRESS AT SOME POINT

buy-out (MBO). Business owners like to recognise the contribution made over many years by their managers, and MBOs allow them to buy the business without expensive loans.

You can also use a buy-out to pass part of the business to your successors or bring in a new shareholder in a management buy-in. HMRC will, however, expect you to reduce your shareholding to around 30-40% to get the right tax result.

Watch out for buyers who haven’t taken professional advice! We’ve dealt with three recent sales where the buyers have structured their side of the deal badly, so they could only pay off their personal loans with dividends from the company.

The 30% to 40% extra tax burden might mean significant financial difficulties for both the company and the buyers.

There are so many ways to achieve a tax-efficient, stressfree sale, so whether buying or selling, be sure you talk to your tax adviser first.

NICHE FEATURE: NELSONS

Christmas contact arrangements Christmas is traditionally a time for families to come together and celebrate, but it can be heartbreaking for separated parents and their children. Local firm Nelsons offers advice from family law mediator Gayle Rowley

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ontact arrangements during the festive season can often be the cause of a lot of conflict in separated families,” says Gayle Rowley, Partner and Solicitor specialising in family law at Nelsons.

“Even when there has been a previous court order specifying Christmas contact arrangements, often that order won’t address precisely what is to happen on Christmas Day and the New Year period.” We asked Gayle how to manage the run up to Christmas and make the festive season work for the whole family. Gayle invites readers struggling with Christmas arrangements to call her on 0116 222 6666 for further advice.

GAYLE’S TIPS FOR MANAGING THE CHRISTMAS PERIOD COMMUNICATION:

Many separated parents find it uncomfortable to discuss arrangements for their children, especially at Christmas. We recommend communicating via email or a parenting app if face-to-face conversations are difficult, giving you the opportunity to remove any emotive language and focus on the issues that need to be resolved.

PLAN AHEAD:

You will need to be flexible if arrangements suddenly must change.

In such circumstances, the parent who is with the child should ensure that video or phone calls take place so that there is some form of contact.

FOCUS ON THE FUTURE:

Waking up on Christmas Day without your children may be a daunting thought. Try not to think about this year, but think about the Christmas contact arrangements moving

forward and consider proposing that the children wake up with each of their parents on alternating years.

well in advance on who should be responsible for drop-off and collection.

THINK ABOUT THE CHILDREN:

COMPROMISE:

DO NOT ASK YOUR CHILD TO DECIDE: It is not fair to expect the

WHAT IF YOU CAN’T AGREE?

It’s important you focus on the impact that any contact arrangements may have on your children during the festive period. If you live close together, it may be practical for the day to be shared.

children to be the decision-makers by asking who they would prefer to spend their Christmas holidays with.

However, this is not to say that you shouldn’t talk to your children and listen to their concerns.

HONOUR THE TIMINGS:

Time is an important factor during Christmas and can be a catalyst for arguments if not respected. Ensure you turn up on time and try to agree

Divorce and separation regularly cause reasonable, sensible people to behave in a way that is out of character. Compromise allows you to both have ownership of the arrangements and is far more likely to be better for your children.

If parents cannot agree on what happens, then the first suggestion would be to attempt mediation in the hope that you can agree on contact arrangements. Alternatively, you could try a round table meeting with your solicitors. Should this fail, there is an option to go to court to make the necessary applications.

Court should be a last resort and every effort to reach an agreement should be made if possible.

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DEDICATED TO ONE CLIENT AT A TIME

Bhumika Parmar, BP Legal Solicitors

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY: BP legal provided me with an

WE FIGHT FOR JUSTICE

outstanding professional service that

As a practice, we believe that everyone has a right to specialist legal advice that is clear and understandable.

simplified a legal property matter efficiently and effectively. Their fee structure was easy to understand and

Conveyancing

very fair. Highly recommended

Commercial Property Family Law Wills & Probate Litigation Immigration Commissioners of Oath

Great advice with a legal team that care for their clients and ensure you walk away understanding your rights based on the situation. We have used them to set up trusts for us and were really pleased with the speed and efficiency of the team at BP Legal

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

Excellent service, responsive and attentive. Can’t thank the team enough for their professionalism and in such extraordinarily difficult times too. Thank you for making our conveyance stress free

NICHE FEATURE: 2 NEW STREET CHAMBERS

2 New Street:

Bridging the gap to the Bar

Journalist Emily Miller spoke to barrister Andrew Harper of 2 New Street Chambers civil litigation team about why it’s so vital to nurture the next generation of young people pursuing a career in law

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New Street Chambers are a family and civil set of barristers who are passionate about raising student awareness of the opportunities that various real experiences of the bar can offer. “Our work with secondary schools and universities to give students an insight into professional life is very much a priority for us,” he told me.

The barristers are a multiaward-winning set, including the prestigious Chambers of the Year accolade from the Leicestershire Law Society in both 2019 and 2023. For 2 New Street, a commitment to nurturing talent as it emerges is all part of sharing their wealth of experience and knowledge to help create the foundations for excellence in future barristers.

Their collaborations comprise a mix of bespoke involvement in an institution’s careers programme and

participation in national initiatives such as the Speed Mooting Podcast, a law student’s competition where students get to take part in what is essentially a mock trial where two sides argue a point of law in front of an acting judge, who based on the presentation by each side, decides who wins.

Mooting is an important part of studying law and moving to a career, and 2 New Street Barrister Hannah Fountain judges them regularly, sharing her experience with students in training and applying for the next stages in their law career.

Hannah told me: “Speed Mooting is something I very much believe in. Students need this kind of experience away from the lecture hall and textbooks – it provides a fun and vibrant way to experience the law they are spending many years learning.”

For undergraduates of law,

WE HAVE A CENTURY OLD TRADITION TO RESPECT, AND TO NURTURE THE NEXT GENERATION OF AWARDWINNING BARRISTERS

internships are essential when considering the inner workings of the profession; however, for barristers, they are often oversubscribed.

Mini pupillages, which are short one or two day internships at the Chambers, offer a taste of the career path to undergraduates who are considering the profession.

Andrew said: “Its inner workings are an essential part of the relationship with academia helping to facilitate the transition to professional life.”

Andrew acknowledged that the Chambers’ history played a role in this responsibility: “We have a century old tradition to respect, and to nurture the next generation of award-winning barristers – it is absolutely a core value for us at 2 New Street.”

Get in touch with 2 New Street on 0116 262 5906 to enquire about mini pupillages and internships.

NICHE | 71

Small Business Saturday The national tour of Small Business Saturday inspired Niche to shine its own spotlight on 20 small local businesses WORDS BY TOM YOUNG

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ow in its 11th year in the UK, Small Business Saturday (SBS) will be held on December 2, continuing its mission to champion the High Street, and draw attention to the best small businesses.

“The UK’s fantastic entrepreneurs work tirelessly to make an incredible contribution to the economy, but continue to face a really tough time,” said Michelle Ovens CBE, and director of Small Business Saturday UK. “It is more important than ever that we support and recognise their efforts. ‘The Tour’ will showcase these exceptional and innovative small businesses, and the amazing contribution they make to local areas, whilst also offering them vital support both in-person and online.”

Founded in the US by American Express in 2010, the credit card giant will continue to be the principal supporter of the UK campaign. Additionally, a nationwide tour – sponsored by BT Skills for Tomorrow – will kick off on October 30, and visit 21 towns and cities to highlight Britain’s most loved independents.

They’ll be travelling from Inverness to Richmond Park, London. Their journey will make the use of electric vehicles including a state-of-the-art eco-friendly electric bike to limit emissions and reflect the sustainable switches many small business

owners are making as part of their vital role in the race to net zero.

The campaign begins with SmallBiz100, in which SBS chooses 100 small businesses from across the country and promotes one a day in the months leading up to December 2. On their designated day, the business will be featured on SBS’s social media channels.

SBS prepares press releases to send to local media on behalf of the chosen businesses as well as free support online offering mentors and workshops with industry experts. The campaign also shares good news from former SmallBiz100 businesses.

By registering a business, it becomes searchable via the business finder on the SBS website, which is regularly promoted across social media. It’s also a forum to promote special offers, and to pick up tips and advice from other small businesses. Businesses interested in taking part in SBS can sign up at smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com.

SBS is a national event, but with so many wonderful small businesses in Leicester and the wider county, we’ve highlighted 20 small local businesses.

Leicester has such a rich and varied business community, that we’re able to represent so many industries and the passionate people behind them.

SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT OUR TOP 20

IT’SEEZE LEICESTER WEBSITE DESIGN

As a business owner, we know that you’ve got more important things to spend your time on, so we take care of everything while you get on with running your business.

It’s not just the web design we handle, but digital marketing, SEO, hosting, domain registration and renewal, emails, online security, and lifetime support for your website.

0116 410 5996 | itseeze-leicester.co.uk She Inspires Community & Enterprise Hub, 10 Bishop Street, Leicester, LE1 6AF

TREE HOUSE CAKES

Tree House Cakes is based in the market town of Loughborough and create spectacular, handcrafted cakes for weddings and all special celebrations throughout the East Midlands region, with an online shop too, delivering yummy mini cake treats by post. We can bake delicious dairy-free, gluten-free and vegan cakes too. We’d love to hear from you!

07717 767596 | treehousecakes.co.uk 33 Kingfisher Way, Loughborough, LE11 3NF

INNER BEAUTY

Inner beauty is a ladies only salon. We are not about high footfall, we are about offering high-quality treatments, with focus on non-invasive advanced skin treatments. Only the best will do for you, and so as a result-driven salon, all our product ranges are professional grade, science-based and environmentally friendly.

We provide a peaceful sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of life, and pride ourselves on results.

0116 224 7560 | innerbeautyleicester.co.uk 21 Tredington Road, Glenfield, Leicester, LE3 8EP

ADORE FINE ART

An established independent and contemporary fine art gallery featuring the finest current artists and their artwork, offering a diverse range of both original paintings and signed collectable limited editions as well as exquisite sculptures.

07795 906743 | adorefineart.com 1 Allandale Road, Stoneygate, Leicester, LE2 2DA

DC PERSONNEL

Specialising in recruiting for warehousing, engineering, manufacturing and commercial businesses. We can support a large temporary project or a longer-term permanent role, a recruitment package is tailored to your needs. Simply put, we take the hassle and time out of recruiting for you. If you’re looking to hire, we would love to hear from you.

0116 243 0540 | dcpersonnel.co.uk 20 Rutland St, Leicester, LE1 1RD

SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT OUR TOP 20

CYMER MARKETING SOLUTIONS

We support businesses to achieve more from their customer relationship management (CRM) and marketing using insight, integrity, and integration. Bespoke solutions are tailored to fit the organisation – there is not a ‘one-size fits all’ approach. Getting to know you and your business is fundamental to understanding all your stakeholders and ensuring that a CRM platform or marketing campaign can fit your structure, systems, processes, and budget.

07791 284542 | cymermarketing.co.uk 58 Longbreach Road, Kibworth Harcourt, LE8 0SR

BRICKS MCGEE

We deliver engaging, entertaining corporate team building sessions, virtual workshops, and workshops with LEGO bricks. The LEGO addicts at Bricks McGee love working with companies, museums, libraries, art galleries, schools, and cultural venues too to bring a little piece of LEGO magic to them with bespoke model design with LEGO bricks and workshops to create a memorable day for your visitor attraction. playtime@bricksmcgee.com | bricksmcgee.com LCB Depot, 31 Rutland Street, Leicester, LE1 1RE

KARMA CORNER

Karma Corner is a boutique gift shop nestled in the heart of Clarendon Park, dedicated to bringing unique and unusual gifts to the people of Leicester. A lot of my products are locally sourced or sourced from small independent companies. I love being part of the community and believe in ethical sourced products and sell lots of items that are fair trade.

0116 319 3370 | facebook.com/karma_corner_gifts 63 Montague Rd, Leicester, LE2 1TJ

DANIELLE TOMLINSON ART

As a contemporary wildlife artist, my intuitive style features layered washes and a variety of dynamic brush strokes, creating movement, energy and life through bold, acrylic and oil-based pigments. Reflecting my city upbringing, I pair a modern and contemporary approach to some very stereotypically traditional subjects. I create original and commissioned works for both private and commercial clients. info@danielletomlinsonart.com | danielletomlinsonart.com 58 Longbreach Road, Kibworth Harcourt, LE8 0SR

BROUGHTONS OF LEICESTER

Broughtons of Leicester is an independent, family-run retailer specialising in lighting, ironmongery, and accessories for period style homes. In 1979, I recognised the need for a quality specialist ironmongery showroom, committed to providing traditional, high-quality goods, with a personal, old-fashioned service. Since then, Broughtons has grown from strength to strength and now offers the widest range of period accessories for doors, windows, cabinets, and lighting.

0116 234 1888 | broughtons.com 69 Cropston Road, Anstey, Leicester, LE7 7BP

SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT OUR TOP 20

SUIT YOURSELF

Established in 1976, Suit Yourself is Leicester’s leading retail and hire specialist for men’s suits, formalwear, and exclusive clothing. Throughout Leicestershire, our family-run business is renowned for fine quality and impeccable service. Our fully trained team has supplied beautiful clothing for 45 years. We offer a made to measure and bespoke service for men and women.

0116 255 3772 | suityourself.co.uk 24 Belvoir Street, Leicester, LE1 6QH

COCOA AMORE

In 2013, we opened the doors to Cocoa Amore and began sharing a little piece of chocolate heaven. Our boutique offers high levels of service and affordability, and demonstrates the wonderful quality of our award-winning handmade products. We pride ourselves on using the finest cocoa sourced from ethical and sustainable farmers. Through supporting us, you’re aiding in the development of growing chocolate estates around the world.

0116 262 3278 | cocoa-amore.co.uk 34 Silver Street, Leicester, LE1 5ET

CLARKE & ROSKROW STYLING OPTICIANS

We provide expert styling advice and some of the most exclusive designer glasses available in the UK. With a reputation for personal service and professional expertise, you can create your own style with eyewear that’s as unique as you are. We take our clients on a journey of discovery and help them find glasses that make them look good and feel great.

01858 462 996 | clarkeandroskrow.co.uk 18 Church Street, Market Harborough, LE16 7AA

VEHICLE CONSULTING

Vehicle Consulting Leicester is a Contract Hire and Leasing Broker. We provide cars and vans on lease to both business and private customers. We have six of the mainline funders that we use to provide vehicles at discounted prices and have relationships with all manufacturers.

0116 366 6114 | vehicleconsultingleicester.com Unit 1, Bath Lane Mill, Friars Mill, Bath Lane, Leicester, LE3 5BJ

INSIDE-OUT LASER CLINICS

Inside - Out laser

clinics

Inside-Out Laser Clinics are laser, aesthetic and advanced skincare clinics based in Mountsorrel. We offer our clients a multitude of tailored treatments in a relaxed, professional and clinical environment. Our experienced team are on hand to help you at every step of your journey, to regain your confidence and feel good on the inside-out.

0116 484 9747 | inside-outlaserclinics.com 6 Cromwell Road, Mountsorrel, Leicestershire, LE12 7EY

SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT OUR TOP 20

S

Me nt e ana

Hypnotherapy

SANAMENTE HYPNOTHERAPY

We all want to live our lives in the best way we can. Sometimes life can test our willpower, stamina, and cause distress but these obstacles in your way are steppingstones on your journey. We help people manage tough times and develop healthy coping strategies for the future. We can help you manage problems like anxiety, phobias, smoking, and emotional problems.

0116 340 0630 | sanamente-hypnotherapy.co.uk 58 Longbreach Road, The Power House, 8 Narborough Wood Park, Desford Road, Enderby, Leicester, LE19 4XT

HOUSE OF BONITA ENTERTAINMENT

Our dance troupe, Chica Bonita, is lucky to have some of the UK’s leading Brazilian Samba dancers, who regularly entertain audiences all over the UK with the best quality Samba Shows & Carnival Cabarets, bringing a touch of Rio to the UK. A leading dance act throughout the UK, we draw upon our wealth of experience to deliver the ultimate in entertainment, keeping your guests entertained whatever the occasion. facebook.com/houseofbonitaentertainment | chicabonitaent@outlook.com

JOINED-UP WORKING

Joined-Up Working Associates

I’m Sue Grogan – an award-winning business wellbeing consultant and together with my associates, we deliver wellbeing strategy, culture, and a thriving workplace environment to your business. My aim is to help working people, particularly those with eldercare responsibilities to cope with working and caring. I want to help businesses or organisations whose employees have this challenge, to enable them to cope and keep themselves and the business productive and sustainable.

07754 150559 | joinedupwork.co.uk Business Box, Oswin Rd, Leicester, LE3 1HR

LEICESTER LINEN & LAUNDRY

We offer you quality laundered products that are washed and ironed to the highest specification. Our same-day collection or delivery enables us to provide you with a fast turnaround. Our high-quality customer service gives the client a one-to-one point of contact, so you are not passed from person to person.

0116 288 5956 | leicesterlinenlaundryltd.co.uk 53 Moat Street, Wigston, Leicester, LE18 2GD

MEESH CONSULTING

We can provide the business intelligence and process optimisation expertise you need to translate strategy into action. A highly bespoke service offering, we work with you to develop and implement a result-driven strategy. Whether you’re a small business that needs help establishing fast and effective data analytics, or an enterprise level corporation looking to connect and analyse data across a fragmented organisation.

0330 111 2904 | meeshconsulting.co.uk

NICHE FEATURE: NEXUS FOSTERING

Becoming a foster parent A foster care case study brings to light the impact that the experience can have on children and young people as well as the families who care for them

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s more vulnerable children come into care each year, foster carers from all walks of life are needed to make a lasting difference. As a result of being unable to live with their birth families, vulnerable children and young people need you to provide a safe and loving home environment.

Foster care is pivotal in helping children and young people to ensure they develop into independent, well-rounded adults. With the help of Nexus Fostering based in Nottingham, couple Halima (32) and Adam (37) have been supported to care for a teen and provide them with a thriving environment to grow up in.

According to Nexus, Halima and Adam are the pinnacle of a modern-day foster carer, fostering a now 16-year-old boy alongside their birth children, a nearly two-year-old daughter and an eight-year-old son. The couple was approved as foster carers nearly five years ago.

“It’s such a big process but look at what you get at the end of it,” Halima said. “You get another family member essentially is what it comes down to.”

They love their busy household and family dynamic with all the highs and lows that come along with it. “The challenges are a wonderful experience, and you can make an impact on young people and

their lives as well as your own.”

Halima had previously worked with children and after researching fostering agencies, they decided that Nexus was right for them due to the support they provide as an agency. She explained: “He was part of our family from day one. When our young man moved in, he was on a 360 placement, which we didn’t really know anything about at the time, other than it involves a lot more support and it’s a therapeutic placement, the support Nexus Fostering offers to supported placements is outstanding.”

After several respite placements, they spoke about the nerves they had prior to taking on a placement.

Adam told us: “Nexus and our supporting social worker guided us through, making us feel empowered about making decisions; we felt protected at all points, and we felt we had a team that could support us.”

Halima and Adam feel strongly about the benefits fostering has on your own birth children and how they wanted that for their children.

Adam commented: “By opening yourself up to building a family with young people and embracing them as part of your life, your story, it gives you a beauty that I think isn’t normally there.”

On the family dynamic, Halima said: “My children have

IT’S SUCH A BIG PROCESS BUT LOOK AT WHAT YOU GET AT THE END OF IT

this incredible bond with our young man and see him as an older brother.”

Halima and Adam encourage anyone thinking about fostering to apply. “If you think you can offer another person a safe space and join your family then I don’t think there’s ever going to be a moment where it feels right more than now. It’s about being open to experiencing it and being open to growing with it,” Adam said.

Those currently fostering or thinking about fostering can visit nexusfostering.co.uk for guidance, training and resources.

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COMING UP ADVERSITY TO

SMILING: AESTHETICS Dr Nora Albaldawi is not your average dentist. Having grown up in Iraq, conquered her fear of needles and trained for her dentistry qualifications not once but twice, she now has a thriving new dental and facial aesthetics practice complete with plenty of smiles and a pink dentistry chair. Here’s her story on how she broke the mould and went from war zone to TikTok dental superstar WORDS BY EMILY MILLER

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nce greeted at the desk of Beautiful Smiles, Dr Nora Albaldawi’s dental and facial aesthetics practice, I immediately noticed two things – there was no whiff of fear associated with dental practices I’ve been in before, and it smelt like a spa! Genuine smiles, the offer of a coffee, and with Dr Nora dressed all in pink and purple, this was clearly a dental practice like no other.

As I sat down to chat with her and Beautiful Smiles’ Business Manager Lizzie Booth on the lovely cosy sofa in her treatment room, I felt welcome and oddly comfortable in what is typically/traditionally/stereotypically a rather intimidating environment.

We started at the beginning, which mildly put, was a far more challenging beginning than most: “I grew up in Iraq, so I grew up in a war zone surrounded by conflict and fear.

My mum was a dentist there and I saw first-hand how many patients couldn’t afford reconstruction so opted for teeth-pulling.

“I, like many people, disliked the clinical and fearful environment that dental practices had – not only in Iraq but the world over.

“I knew I wanted to be a dentist from a fairly young age, but I also knew I wanted to do things differently and remove that fear for my clients.”

And differently she did. Getting over her fear of needles and achieving her qualifications in dentistry, Dr Nora moved to the UK in 2004 and found she needed to re-sit her dentistry qualifications for accreditation here in the UK. She took her Masters in Orthodontics at the University or Warwick where she achieved a MJDF (Member of Joint Dental faculties) from the Royal College of Surgeons and the faculty of general dental practitioners. Hypnotherapy

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NICHE FEATURE: BEAUTIFUL SMILES

I, like many people, disliked the clinical and fearful environment that dental practices had not only in Iraq but the world over

courses and the very latest training in technologies were all part and parcel of her learning. “I always want to expand on my knowledge – I don’t think I will ever stop studying!”

Dr Nora went on to work in dental practices for the NHS and then privately in Burbage for over 13 years before taking social media by storm.

Her niche online began after developing a social media following which attracted influencers from all over the UK. “I’d film dances with my clients during and after their teeth whitening, for example, where we all joined in. It basically went viral and I started bringing in high volumes of clients to the practice who would travel from all over the UK having seen my TikToks and Instagram.

There came a point where Dr Nora decided that she wanted to create a luxurious practice with the fun factor and approachability for clients travelling from all over the UK. From this desire she established a brand-new practice of her own here in the leafy Victoria Park area of Leicester.

Striving to achieve the perfect beautiful smile for her clients, Dr Nora wanted to be able to offer more than dental care, and so facial aesthetics and body treatments soon followed. “I am a perfectionist,” she tells me, adding: “So I wanted to be able to provide the treatment using the very best technology to ensure my clients leave my practice with not only the perfect smile but feeling their best in their appearance.”

“I am also vain!” Dr Nora remarks with a laugh when I ask her why she does what she does. “Looking like the very best version of myself is important to me – I relate to that desire in patients and want them to look like themselves, simply the very best version of themselves!”

With the latest innovative dentistry, facial aesthetics

and body treatments possibly available, and close attention paid to creating long-term and trusting relations with clients, they leave feeling changed for the better.

“The feedback we get from our clients has been really moving. They post ecstatic selfies on social media and spread the word about our services and how we are different. They can feel that we are the best here at what we do, and I believe they can feel that our team are happy and passionate about what they do too – just like Dr Nora,” Lizzie tells me.

Dr Nora explains why it’s so important to have a team that shares your passion and vision: “I remember interviewing for a manager at the start of 2020 and just couldn’t find a fit until Lizzie – she shared my enthusiasm and sense of humour perfectly! I knew she was right and hired her on the spot.”

Lizzie adds: “I have experienced working in toxic environments where there is no sense of a team or opportunity to grow and develop. We certainly have the opposite here; I am known as a cheerleader amongst our team – we always support their drive for training and development and ensure they are more than happy. It’s all part of making Beautiful Smiles what it is. We know the value of our team in making it a continued success.”

The practice itself is so inviting, the décor modern and fun, with not a hint of clinical scent – only spa-like ones and treatment rooms with low lighting and attention to detail to ensure relaxation and warmth is paramount.

Something tells me Beautiful Smiles has a winning smile capable of spreading the feel-good factor to new clients that will soon see them in various locations doing their thing, their way.

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NICHE FEATURE: RESTORATIVE ENERGY HEALING

Corporate sound healing Investing in your wellbeing, and that of your employees, can have a profound effect on mental health, productivity and company culture.

A yoga and sound healing practitioner gives her thoughts on corporate wellbeing and the power of sound WORDS BY EMILY MILLER

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ental wellbeing is working its way up on the priority list for businesses. It’s due to the fact that around 51% of longterm sick leave is due to stress, depression, or anxiety, according to Health and Safety Executive’s 2022 report.

Yoga and healing practitioner Sukhina Garcia suggests that taking time out together as a team can have a profound impact on company culture and productivity in turn.

“Team bonding sessions allow employees to spend quality time together and build on their relationships. Therefore, when things get intense in the office with workloads and deadlines, they’re not only working for the boss, they’re more invested in delivering for the sake of their colleagues too.”

Sukhina, who runs sound baths here in Leicester through her company Restorative Energy Heal, said: “The purpose of a sound bath is for people to create a shift of mind, allowing for restoring and healing to occur. Essentially, it seeks for us to disconnect our minds from our constant thoughts by entering 80 | NICHE

TEAM BONDING SESSIONS ALLOW EMPLOYEES TO SPEND QUALITY TIME TOGETHER AND BUILD ON THEIR RELATIONSHIPS

into a deep meditative state.

Proven to slow down the heart rate, reduce blood pressure and decrease anxiety.”

Sound healing is reported to change our brainwave states from active gamma and beta to relaxed alpha and theta, which induces a sense of calm and healing within the body. The result is that participants are often able to transition between states much faster and with less effort than when trying to meditate.

“Following the theory that everything has a vibrational frequency, the instruments used during the sound healing session resonate at the same frequency as the cells in the body, reminding them of their true natural vibration and bringing the

body back to harmony,” Sukhina explains.

“The use of instruments such as crystal singing bowls, Tibetan bowls, tuning forks, gongs and chimes can help to calm the nervous system, reduce stress levels, balance brain hemispheres and relieve and release tension that is sitting in body tissues and cells.

A long-term build-up of stress in the body can result in disease which manifests as illness,” Sukhina adds.

The Restorative Energy Heal can travel to you or they welcome you to their studio.

Speak to Sukhina on 077137 46010 to discuss what would work for you.

A group Soundbath starts from just £150.

Why bring sound healing to your company?

Downtime space – allows us to be more creative, focused and work better Great team builders – an activity to do with colleagues unrelated to work ◆ Equality – the entire team can get invovled ◆ Creates a better working atmosphere – even if not everyone attends, there is an echo effect of the team overall feeling better, like a chain reaction of calm ◆ Supports mental wellbeing – acts as a preventative mental health strategy ◆ Natural anti-depressant – sound induces the release of feel-good hormones and neurotransmitters endorphins, serotonin and oxytocin ◆ Pain-relieving – boosts the production of pain-relieving hormones in the body ◆ Boosts the immune system – fewer sick days ◆ Deep relaxation of our nervous systems – which improves digestion, mood and sleep, helping participants move from flight or fight to rest and digest ◆ Improves mental alertness and energy – work smarter not harder ◆ ◆

NICHE FEATURE: RESTAURANT WEEK

Leicester Restaurant Week returns Delicious dining deals return this autumn with Leicester’s popular Restaurant Week. We at Niche can’t wait to hunt out some new finds or revisit our old reliables for bargain prices WORDS BY EMILY MILLER

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ID Leicester’s Restaurant Week is back to shine a spotlight on the very best eateries in Leicester from October 16-22. It’s a chance for locals and city visitors to try somewhere new or indulge at a favourite spot for more affordable prices.

Plus, for the first time, Restaurant Week will coincide with some scarily good Halloween happenings in the city centre as the Leicester Monsters trail launches in the same week – also in association with BID Leicester. Keep an eye out for the huge, illuminated beasts popping up atop some of Leicester’s city centre landmarks!

This October, diners will once again have the chance to enjoy the city’s foodie scene as participating restaurants offer exclusive deals for one week only. Price points will be fixed at £5, £10, £15, £20 and £25 with menus available across brunch, lunch and dinner, giving everyone an opportunity to sample the huge variety of venues, dishes and cuisines Leicester has to offer, without breaking the bank.

BID Director, Simon Jenner, commented: “We are excited to be announcing the return of Leicester Restaurant Week for its third year. Last year’s 2022 event was a huge hit with businesses and customers alike, showing a well-deserved boost in trade for our hospitality sector.

“We’re hoping that, alongside the participating restaurants from

last year, there will be even more great new restaurants joining the roster of offers for 2023. We’re lucky in Leicester to have a vibrant and diverse dining scene.

Restaurant Week celebrates all these businesses that draw people in and enhance their experience of the city.

“The success of Leicester Restaurant Week 2022 reflected how brilliant the food offering is here, and we can’t wait for residents, workers, and visitors to dine out and enjoy more mouth-watering offers once again this October.”

Gurdeep S Heer, owner of Leicester restaurant The Frame, said: “Last year, Leicester Restaurant Week boosted both our regular customer activity and introduced new customers to our venue. We saw an uplift in trade, particularly mid-week, and it was lovely to see more families coming in. We’ve no doubt many have come back since too, which means the benefits of participating last much longer than just the week for us.

“We’re excited to be participating again this year and can’t wait to see how the week attracts even more guests through our doors. Leicester Restaurant Week is great for business and great for Leicester!”

For more information go to leicesterrestaurantweek.co.uk.

Restauranteurs and business owners are invited to get involved in Leicester Restaurant Week. Those interested can email info@bidleicester.co.uk.

GIGGLING SQUID – LRW 2023

SONRISA SMALL PLATES – LRW 2023

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Leicester

Niche’s top picks for dining out this winter

Restaurant Guide KNIGHT & GARTER

knightandgarter.co.uk 0116 303 3310 14 Hotel St, Leicester LE1 5AW Previously; ‘East Midlands Pub of The Year’, this Leicester city centre venue on Green Dragon Square, off Hotel Street is so much more. Well known in Leicester’s business community as the place to meet and entertain; Knight & Garter boasts a stunning bar area where you can sip craft beers, fine wines and imaginative cocktails by the fire, whilst watching its chefs use quality British produce including Fresh Colchester Oysters to create sensational dishes in the open kitchen. Which are then served in its upscale Steakhouse & Brasserie located behind a secret bookcase.

CHAPEL CAFÉ

zinthiyatrust.org/chapel-cafe 0116 254 5168 12 Bishop St, Leicester LE1 6AF The Zinthiya Trust Chapel Café is a warm, friendly and welcoming spot in the heart of Leicester City Centre.

Run by a women’s support charity, the café serves good quality affordable fair trade hot drinks, breakfast baps, soups, jacket potatoes, sandwiches, light snacks and delicious cakes. It’s the perfect central location for catching up with friends.

WHAT A SHOT

whatagoal.co.uk/whatashot 0116 397 0940 29 Lewisher Rd, Leicester LE4 9LR Destination sports bar, grill and directors lounge, What A Shot is an Indian fusion concept menu, something that has never been seen before in Leicestershire. They have a brigade of specialist chefs from all over the world including London, Mumbai, Ghana, and Japan. And the head mixologist is currently competing in the World Mixologist Awards and is ranked in the top 30 mixologists in the world!

KAYAL

kayalrestaurant.com 07506 005689 153 Granby St, Leicester LE1 6FE The South Indian restaurant is the first authentic Kerala seafood speciality restaurant that has become the most popular of its kind to the people of Britain.

This family-run group of restaurants has become a favourite displaying dedication and passion for good food. Kerala offers a distinctive and unusual cuisine, different from the rest of India, so it’s not to be missed out on.

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SAN CARLO THE RUTLAND & DERBY ARMS

therutlandandderby.co.uk 0116 262 3299 21 Millstone Lane, Leicester LE1 5JN A Leicester city centre institution located on Millstone Lane, The Rutland & Derby Arms is a multiaward-winning pub regarded for its consistently high standards, warm hospitality, great beer and cocktails.

Over the past couple of years, it has also grown an excellent reputation for its innovative and quirky food offering by ‘The Street Food Collective’ which features Canadian inspired Poutine, Epic Burgers, Beer Bitings and now Wood-fired Pizza. On football and rugby match days the atmosphere there is unrivalled.

sancarlo.co.uk 0116 251 9332 38-40 Granby St, Leicester LE1 1DE San Carlo Leicester offers the best in authentic Italian dining in a stylish and contemporary setting. From pasta and pizza to seafood and steak, all dishes are made using only the finest, freshest seasonal ingredients. Located in Granby Street, it’s a mustvisit destination renowned for its great Italian food and drink, warm welcome and its fun, yet relaxed atmosphere.

FLUFFY FLUFFY PANCAKES

fluffyfluffy.co 90 Granby St, Leicester LE1 1DJ Fuwa Fuwa, meaning fluffy fluffy is North America’s largest soufflé pancake and dessert café, and now it’s come to the UK as Fluffy Fluffy. Each fluffy pancake begins with egg whites whipped to soft peaks, essential to their finally airy quality, and is then cooked very slowly at low temperature. Tasting like a delicate balance between a soufflé and a traditional pancake, soufflé pancakes are soft, bouncy, and light.

SONRISA

sonrisa.uk 0116 216 6476 4 St Martins, Leicester LE1 5DB Where the soul of Buenos Aires meets the heart of Leicester. Sonrisa is a modern café-bar haunt that makes the perfect spot for social gatherings — South American style. Kick back with a cocktail, meet friends old and new, or order a strong cup of coffee. Arrive early for a light, lingering lunch, or stay late into the night, grazing on the colourful sights, musical sounds, and small plate delectables.

NICHE | 83

BECKY JONES - LEICESTER MERCURY

Join us at our NEW location:

Brocks Hill Country Park Washbrook Lane, Oadby, Leicester LE2 5JJ Also at Everards Meadows, Cooper Way, LE19 2AN 21 Leicester Road, Blaby, Leicester LE8 4GR 107 Welford Road, Leicester LE2 7QS

jennos.co.uk Find us on social media: @jennoscoffee

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NICHE REVIEW: THE GATE HANGS WELL

Reviewed:

The Gate Hangs Well

The Niche editorial team travelled to leafy Syston for a team bonding session and pub lunch

S

ituated on the Fosse Way, The Gate Hangs Well is your quintessential English country pub, but with a few modern twists. It’s one of the largest pub gardens you’re ever likely to encounter, with two bars by the river, a play area, a marquee for events, and a private dining area.

In the beautiful countryside location, with the tranquillity of the nearby river, it made a very pleasant setting for an afternoon spent in good company.

For three people with the same basic job function, we certainly made a varied and eclectic range of menu choices.

Drinks were first, and between us, we ordered a lemonade, a Pimm’s, and a latté. You’d be forgiven for thinking we all had very different ideas about how the afternoon would go…

For starters, we had sweet chilli pork belly bites, and two mini caprese salads.

For mains, we ordered the halloumi gyros flatbread, the cheesesteak burger, and the ever reliable fish and chips. The portion sizes of these were – to say the very least – vast, and you certainly felt like you’d been presented with your money’s worth.

Both the burger and the gyros came with a healthy portion of fries as standard, and enough tzatziki or cheese sauce to create one of the most gloriously messy dining experiences we’d ever enjoyed together. The crisp battered fish was accompanied by wedge-like chips, mushy peas and tartare sauce.

It had fully been our intention to order dessert, but by the time we’d recovered from our mains (some 90 minutes later), we were aghast to discover that the kitchen had closed, so alas, no chocolate fondant tart or New York cheesecake for us that day.

However, with full bellies, we staggered back to the car muttering that this may well have been for the best.

Before we departed, owner Cassie Davison was kind enough to show us around the venue, including the private dining area that would make for an elegant location for an intimate, summertime wedding.

Overall, The Gate Hangs Well offered everything you could need for a pleasant afternoon in the company of friends, family, or colleagues.

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CAFÉS

AT

Our favourite local coffee shops and eateries for you to support this festive season WORDS BY ALICE KOTULECKI

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mall businesses are instrumental in creating a community feel, injecting new ideas and a variety of choices into the local area. In Leicester, 98% of businesses employ fewer than 50 people (Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership) and as the winter approaches, more pressure is placed on them.

With Christmas coming, heading out for some gifts will likely be on the agenda and no shopping spree could be complete without a pit stop for your favourite hot drink and sweet (or savoury) treat to help a weary shopper recharge.

This year, widen the perimeters of your café options and explore one, or all, of the many independent cafés, each of them scattered under a six-minute walk from the city centre.

With such a wide variety of options available, each with unique menus and atmospheres, embrace somewhere new this winter and support some of the numerous local businesses available. Don’t be confined by the list though, there’s loads out there and something for everyone!

KAI

KAI is in St Martin’s Square and offers a wonderful brunch and drinks menu, as well as some dinner options for any full-day shoppers. This café has a reputation for being busy, but that serves as testament to its ample portion sizes, rustic decor, and, of course, delicious food and drinks.

MERCHANT OF VENICE

If you’re in need of an imaginative coffee adventure, stop by Merchant of Venice in Granby Street. Inspired by Shakespeare’s play, the café celebrates Italian coffee in a totally unique way.

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CAFÉ DIDO

Café Dido is located in Loseby Lane and serves a selection of old favourites, such as hot drinks, milkshakes and cakes. It has a homely atmosphere and has garnered rave reviews about their English breakfast!

NICHE FEATURE: CAFES

PRANA

In the heart of the city, Prana is located in Horsefair Street, and offers an impressive range of plant-based meals, snacks and drinks. As a bonus, for any early bird shoppers hoping to escape the crowds, breakfast is also available.

ST MARTIN’S COFFEE

St Martin’s Coffee offers the best of both worlds for your shopping spree if you and your friends are coffee lovers! While enjoying something from their exciting menu, you can also investigate the Barista masterclasses for individuals, pairs and groups or the six or 12-month coffee subscriptions available as the perfect Christmas gift for that coffee-obsessed pal.

ALMEDIA

Located in Guildhall Lane, Almedia is Leicester’s first juice bar and therefore the perfect option for anyone not interested in a hot refreshment (although they are still available for those who do!).

Nearly everything is homemade and they offer their own blend of coffee for those looking for something a bit different.

BRYTER MOON DELI

Bryter Moon Deli, in Silver Arcade, doubles up as a café.

So, while grabbing a beverage, take a look at some of the Leicestershire-made products as well as the homemade jams and chutneys on offer. You may even find the perfect Christmas hamper filler.

HOLLYS COFFEE SHOP AND SANDWICH BAR

This family-run business is located on the outskirts of St Martin’s Square. Hollys Coffee Shop and Sandwich Bar has a relaxed and quiet atmosphere, perfect for escaping the bustle of Christmas shoppers.

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Book Tickets now!

23-26 November 2023 NEC Birmingham Entertainment | Tasting Shopping | Inspiration

Join us this November for the ultimate seasonal extravaganza! bbcgoodfoodshow.com Details correct at time of print. The BBC logo is a trademark of the BBC. © BBC. The Good Food trademark is used under licence from Immediate Media Company London Limited. Organised and presented by Immediate Live. Immediate Live is the trading name of Upper Street Events Ltd and River Street Events Ltd. These businesses are owned by Immediate Media Company Limited.

BOOK NOW

NICHE FEATURE

The Music Room It’s gig season – here’s who to see WORDS BY EMILY MILLER

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utumn/winter is the perfect gig season. A time to catch your favourite bands and solo artists when the weather turns and nights get darker. Festival season is great of course, but seeing great acts headline their own shows is hard to beat. Supporting the artists, their crew and the venue itself, your ticket purchase goes a long way towards helping the industry. Here are a few of my must-see personal picks for Leicester and nearby.

WEYES BLOOD

PIP BLOM

I was lucky enough to catch Weyes Blood in Paris last year and it happens to be one of the best live shows I have seen. She’ll be playing tracks from one of my albums of the year – And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow – which is her fifth record. If you buy a ticket for any gig this year make it this one!

After making her name as one of the brightest indie rock singers around through two albums – 2019’s debut Boat and 2021’s follow-up Welcome Break – and a lauded live show honed over gruelling years of touring, her latest album Bobbie sees a delightful left turn into thumping, carefree synth pop blowing her own musical landscape wide open.

Tuesday, November 14, 2023 Rock City Nottingham

BILLIE MARTEN

Thursday, December 7, 2023 O2 Academy Leicester Folk singer-songwriter Billie Marten continues to tour in celebration of her fourth album Drop Cherries, a collection of songs packed full of feeling with her soothingly soulful voice that translates into a seamless set – perfect winter mood setting vibes.

Saturday, February 17, 2024 O2 Academy Leicester

THE HIVES

Friday, March 29, 2024 Rock City Nottingham I knew of The Hives from ‘back in the day’ aka the Indie scene of the 2000s, and after having seen them at a festival in 2023, I can confirm they are as epic as ever before. From the opening line to close, they take you on a whirlwind trip of rock ‘n’ roll mastery – tighter than ever, with frontman Pele showing you exactly how it’s done.

Your jaw will drop.

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WHAT’S ON IN LEICESTERSHIRE It’s a busy few months here in Leicester, with Halloween, Bonfire Night, Diwali and Christmas to celebrate. Here’s our round-up of the essential dates for your diary WORDS BY EMILY MILLER

Haunted Heritage Paranormal Events October 28-29 Belgrave Hall

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et spooky in Belgrave Hall this Halloween! Built in the 18th Century by a hosiery merchant who died soon after its completion, the beautiful Grade II listed building on the northern edge of the city of Leicester is sure to be the perfect spooky location this Halloween to give you a case of the frighteners. Wander through the large, cold, empty rooms and soak up the atmosphere of this once busy house, joining them on their ghost hunt to see who you will meet.

Fireworks Spectacular November 4-5 Conkers, near Ashby-de-la-Zouch

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ooking for some firework fun to entertain the whole family? Look no further than the Family Fireworks event in the Forest! With two nights of dazzling fireworks displays, along with laser dancers and fire breathers, this is an event you won’t want to miss. And if you’re worried about dinner, don’t be – the varied Food Market Menu has got you covered.

So, gather your loved ones and head on over to the best Fireworks Display with Laser Dancers and Fire Breathers and Laser Show in The National Forest.

Enlightened Trails

Diwali: November 9-14 Christmas: November 16 - December 24 Abbey Park

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nlightened is a series of magical outdoor light trails hosted at multiple venues throughout the UK each winter. This year, Enlightened Trails will be celebrating both Diwali and Christmas at Abbey Park with two spectacular trails. Expect a magical experience for all the family and the perfect opportunity to join together and immerse yourself in the enchanted, illuminated world.

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Nativity! The Musical November 21-25 The Little Theatre

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nighton Park Amateur Operatic Society is delighted to return to The Little Theatre with their 2023 production of Nativity! The Musical. Every child in every school has one Christmas wish, to star in a Nativity, and at St Bernadette’s School, they’re attempting to mount a musical version. Only trouble is, Mr Maddens has promised that a Hollywood producer is coming to see the show to turn it into a film. Join him, his teaching assistant the crazy Mr Poppy, hilarious children and a whole lot of sparkle and shine as they struggle to make everyone’s Christmas wish come true.

Feelgood, funny and full of yuletide joy, Nativity! The Musical features all of the favourite sing-a-long hits from the films and a whole host of new songs filled with the spirit of Christmas!

Fairytale of New York December 29 De Montfort Hall

PROUDLY PRESENTS

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irect from the West End and after two sellout tours, the ultimate feelgood Irish-inspired Christmas show is back with an even bigger production for 2023. From the producers of Seven Drunken Nights -The Story of The Dubliners and featuring an international cast of singers, musicians and dancers, Fairytale of New York brings you all of your favourite Christmas songs including Driving Home for Christmas, White Christmas, Oh Holy Night, Winter’s Tale, Silent Night and, of course, The Fairytale of New York. This magical Christmas show will have people of all ages singing, laughing and dancing in the aisles.

The Owl Who Came for Christmas December 2-3 Curve

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hen a family are putting up their new Christmas tree, hidden amongst the decorations is a secret visitor, snuggled in the branches.

‘Mum, look! There’s a bauble moving in the tree!‘ It’s a tiny owl, Rosie the Owl. Rosie’s a long way from home and misses the forest.

Inspired by a true story of the real Rosie the Owl who lost her way, see how the loving family help save Rosie, The Owl Who Came for Christmas and return her home.

Fly into author John Hay’s heart-warming tale this Christmas and join Rosie the Owl on her feathered adventures. It’s the most lovely way to celebrate the festive season with the little ones in your life.

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UPCOMING HOME GAMES

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OCTOBER

NICHE FEATURE: LEICESTER TIGERS WOMEN

The eye of the Tigress Leicester Tigers Women’s team will join the game’s elite to take part in the newly restructured top flight league, Premiership Women’s Rugby WORDS BY TOM YOUNG

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eicester Tigers are preparing for a first-ever season in the world’s elite women’s rugby competition.

Following a successful application to join the Premier 15s back in December 2022, the league was reorganised, relaunched and rechristened as Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) in June 2023.

Described as a new era for women’s rugby in England, PWR will manage the Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby club competition. The new company, consisting of a small team working closely with League clubs and the Rugby Football Union (RFU), will deliver the strategy, drive growth and lead the way in the development of professional women’s club rugby.

“Our ambition is to transform the league into the world’s most competitive, progressive, and sustainable domestic rugby competition,” said PWR’s chief

executive, Belinda Moore.

“The new era starts today, and the competition’s new look and feel is designed to be powerful, dynamic, and eyecatching. It aims to capture the excitement and high energy of the league, the players, the fans, and the sport as a whole.”

At time of writing, Leicester Tigers Women have only had one outing – a 5-57 preseason victory away at Henley Hawks – but will kick off their season in the Allianz Cup in late September. Having played their debut season in the Women’s Championship North 1 ladder last year, finishing top of the league and winning all 18 matches, before finishing as runners up in the play-off final, these are exciting times for the rugby club.

The squad convened for the first time on July 3, 2023, under the leadership of Head of Women’s Rugby, Vicky Macqueen. They have spent the

OUR AMBITION IS TO TRANSFORM THE LEAGUE INTO THE WORLD’S MOST COMPETITIVE, PROGRESSIVE, AND SUSTAINABLE DOMESTIC RUGBY COMPETITION

last several months going through three training blocks, beginning with fitness and strength tests and smaller, individual focuses, before progressing all the way through to full contact, fifteen a side games.

Speaking in December, following acceptance into the top flight, Macqueen said: “We are very pleased and equally excited by today’s news that our bid has been successful.

“This is a big day for Leicester Tigers, a big day for women’s rugby in our region and I am so pleased for everybody at the club that we have managed to reach this point through the hard work of all involved.”

The first round of PWR fixtures are set to be played on Saturday, November 18 – following the conclusion of the men’s Rugby World Cup in Paris – with the Tigers at home to last season’s runners up, Exeter Chiefs.

NICHE | 93

NICHE FEATURE: EVERARDS

Climbing mount Snowdon for National Suicide Prevention The Everards team raised money for two charities with match funding by company Chairman

T

wenty-two colleagues from local family-run business Everards Brewery climbed Mount Snowdon to raise awareness of suicide prevention and raise funds for two mental health charities: Papyrus and Samaritans.

The charities were chosen by the team members taking part in the climb as part of National Suicide Prevention Month in September.

They raised £2,000. The Everard family’s charitable trust, The Everard Foundation also matched the amount of money raised equalling £4,000 to split between both charities.

The team taking part set off from Everards Meadows at 3am and

took the Rhyd Ddu Path up Mount Snowdon. The route took nine hours to complete, including a celebratory beer at the top (and maybe a couple along the way to keep up the morale!) and they returned home the same day. Despite the poor weather conditions, the team says everyone taking part fully enjoyed their day and are already thinking about the next challenge they can take part in.

Honey-Mae Villiers, Everards Beer Hall team member, said: “The amount of money we have raised has exceeded all our expectations. It was an incredible experience for an amazing cause and the whole team did brilliantly.”

Make a difference in a child’s life Could YOU Foster?

Get in touch today for an informal chat about what’s involved.

Tel:

0115 9815604 or visit us online at:

www.nexusfostering.co.uk Unit 26 | Eldon Road Business Park | Chilwell | Nottingham | NG9 6DZ

94 | NICHE

NICHE FEATURE: SHE INSPIRES

Pop-up to support small businesses Drawing attention to local businesses, She Inspires is running monthly pop-up markets from September

S

he Inspires has run pop-up markets at The Chapel Café in Bishop Street in the city centre of Leicester since March 2022.

To date, over 50 small businesses have benefited from these pop-ups, and they’ve signed up to return after finding the project a success. From food to fashion to homeware, there is a stall for everyone. When you’re done with shopping the stalls available, you can relax with your peers in The Chapel café and have a bite to eat, making it a perfect one stop shop.

The pop-up markets aim to encourage local communities to support local businesses that have

just started out and enable them to network and get their products out there to the public in the offline world whilst also promoting their online presence.

In many ways, the pop-ups are an ideal entry point for a start-up business as they’re free from long term commitment, they’re cost effective and a cheerful way to provide an exclusive feel for customers.

She Inspires currently advertises its pop-ups through social media and expects the stall holders to promote their upcoming presence using whichever platforms they choose to gain maximum footfall at each event.

Each space is rented for a fee of £15, which goes back into continuing the project.

If you’re out and about in town on any of the next pop-up dates, pop in and support local businesses in Leicester and Leicestershire.

If you or anybody you know would like the opportunity to set up a stall get in touch for more information at info@sheinspiresglobal.org.uk or pop into the She Inspires Hub at 10 Bishop Street, or call 0116 482 6598.

of activism against Gender Based Violence 25 November - 10 December 2023 Join The Zinthiya Trust in raising awareness of the United Nations #16Days campaign to end violence against women and girls This year’s campaign calls on governments to share how they’re investing in gender-based violence prevention – contact us for advice on how you can make an impact

UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls Working to alleviate poverty and abuse in Leicester and Leicestershire 0116 254 5168 | zinthiyatrust.org | 12 Bishop Street, Leicester, LE1 6AF NICHE | 95

Pedalling for Poverty with The Zinthiya Trust

The team at Pixel Cove are pedalling to alleviate poverty and abuse in Leicestershire To help pump up the wheels and grease the chain,

we need local business support to help us raise

£30,000

Can you help?

Contact us for more details on each package

Gold Package £3000

We aim to raise £10k of the fundraising target through corporate sponsorship

Silver Package £1,500 Bronze Package £250 Mile Donation £30

Donations can be made via: justgiving.com/page/pixel-cove-pedallingforpoverty?utm_term=88egEjAAk

EVENT SPONSORED BY:

THE VAL AWARDS 2023

We want you to nominate the individuals and voluntary organisations that you feel have made a difference.

City Charity of the Year Small City Charity of the Year County Charity of the Year Small County Charity of the Year Social Enterprise of the Year Volunteer-Led Organisation of the Year

Trustee of the Year Young Volunteer of the Year Kathryn Burgess Volunteer of the Year Inspiring Leader of the Year Fundraiser of the Year Charity & Business Partnership

valonline.org.uk/valawards NOMINATIONS CLOSE: THURSDAY 19 OCTOBER 2023, 4pm

96 | NICHE

NICHE FEATURE: DARREN BRADBURY

The Vicious Cycle conquered Local man raises over £30k for Menphys, which supports children and young people with disabilities throughout Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Niche Journalist Emily Miller caught up with him in recovery just two days after the finish line

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arren Bradbury, a protection specialist with financial planners Furnley House took on the monumental Vicious Cycle Challenge, which involves cycling 700 miles in just seven days. Not only did he complete the epic challenge, he totally smashed his £20k fundraising target by over £10k, acieving a total of £30,779.

“The amount raised is just amazing and will change so many lives – I think it will take a while for it all to sink in to be honest,” Darren told me.

“Children with disabilities just don’t have access to sports in the way other children do. All they want to do is be involved, play and be happy. Every single penny I have raised will help support the amazing work that Menphys do – and do exactly that.”

There were many things going on around the challenge to keep the public engaged day to day, from an incredible raffle with some amazing prizes, a band and BBQ night where Darren also got his legs waxed live in front of 90 people – he even roped his wife into proceedings with an ice bath. The challenge took in Leicestershire, the hills of Derbyshire, Peak District, Nottinghamshire, and the coasts of Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Rutland, the route was nothing short of brutal.

I’ve been following Darren’s

journey via social media and I knew straight away from his video updates that it was extremely challenging – the term ‘vicious’ was very fitting! It was clear to see for anyone following Darren, that this was anything but a casual bike ride.

Darren said: “Every day was a tough day, there were so many hills, lots of wind and lots of rain.” He fell from his bike and suffered a fairly hefty calf injury describing it as “soul destroying” and on a few occasions, he had to question if he was capable of getting through the epic challenge.

“It was by far the most challenging thing I have ever done. Every day brought its own challenge – there was never any respite!” he laughed.

He went on to tell me how his knees will “never be the same again” and about all the injuries picked up along the way.

But even though it was tough, Darren doesn’t display one iota of regret. “I am so glad I did it, it’s the most rewarding thing I have ever done because I know the good that will come from it – even though I am in agony!

“My family were so supportive. My wife was at first reluctant for me to take this challenge on; she knew the training would take up early mornings and weekends for a long time for my preparations.

I am so grateful for her support;

EVERY DAY WAS A TOUGH DAY, THERE WERE SO MANY HILLS, LOTS OF WIND AND LOTS OF RAIN

I couldn’t have done it without her and a lot of other people.”

The funds raised by Darren will contribute towards new activities and sports initiatives for the young people who attend the amazing clubs Menphys runs every week. These include football, basketball, cricket, multisports and activities such as art and music.

At £11,000 a year to fund one club for up to 15 young people, these funds will make a difference to so many lives.

Donations can still be made at justgiving.com/page/thevicious-cycle.

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: Kelly Grace ft Touch Arts Co-Director at So Age: 42 From: Romford Lives in: Kibworth

w would you FRIENDSHIPS: Ho as a friend? describe yourself eryday, but there Loyal – not there ev me to be. always if you want hat’s the craziest ADVENTURES: W ? thing you’ve done n seven weeks so my Giving birth to minutes after early in less than 20 g stomach cramps thinking I was havin here would your ENVIRONMENT: W est look for you? nearest and dear er near to a In the woods by a riv beach.

NESS: What’s HEALTH AND FIT habit? your unhealthiest of emails before k A last-minute chec bed.

E: What do INTELLECTUAL LIF geek out on? .

Chickens and plants

you

IPS: What’s your LOVE RELATIONSH vice? best relationship ad e and ac sp e, tim Give people best to ur yo do g; din an underst need. u yo communicate what

od at anything?

SKILLS: Weirdly go th my toes.

Picking up things wi Which of life’s SPIRITUAL LIFE: u up at night? mysteries keep yo ildren need me So many. Why my ch ed to do every ne y to repeat what the of the house on morning to get out are. How things time, yet we never iverse. When work beyond the un xt development ne will we notice the the change of of mankind due to did all the different environment? How velop? The Ocean. flowering plants de u’ve truly lived a yo How can you feel tions? life given life’s limita the worst part CAREER: What’s about your job? gh time!

There’s never enou

tside of work, CREATIVE LIFE: Ou eate’? ‘cr what did you last ace for my sp m oo An ‘older’ bedr eldest son. t’s your most FAMILY LIFE: Wha childhood? m fro fond memory mes to mind is The first one that co th my family and going to France wi trying to translate grandparents and d and the locals between my granda out. by acting everything E: Which political COMMUNITY LIF t interested in topic are you mos right now? bal Climate crisis and glo development.

WORDS BY KERRY SMITH

To get a well-rounded feel for our interviewee, our questions are based on Vishen Lakhiani’s 12 Areas of Life Balance

Looking for a first-class eyewear & eye care experience?

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Music for mental health Music affects the body in a whole host of different ways, and playing music in your business could really help support with employee mental health and well-being.

Did you know that listening to music has both a mental and physical impact on our bodies?

1. Lower stress levels 2. Boost energy levels 3. Reduce anxiety & depression 4. Support with positive mental health 5. Help with relaxation We all know that happy employees equal happy customers. So when you have an opportunity to boost the mood and support the mental health of your employees, why not take it?

If you’re thinking of using music or already using music in your business, the chances are you need a music licence.

Find out more about TheMusicLicence and how music could support your employee well-being initiatives.

pplprs.co.uk/insights

#InternationalMensDay