FFB Dec/Jan 2017/18 by RMC Media

DECEMBER 2017 / JANUARY 2018 www.ffb-online.co.uk @ffbmagRMC

Sheffield Business Awards Meet the winners

BUSINESS REVIEW 2017-2018

LET THE DRAMA UNFOLD

Big decisions ahead for Sheffield City Region

THE MONTHLY INDEPENDENT VOICE OF BUSINESS IN THE SHEFFIELD CITY REGION FREE TO COMMENT ' FREE TO CHALLENGE ' FREE TO YOU EVERY MONTH

PIONEERS IN SERVICE SINCE 1870

Your worldwide freight and logistics partner

Davies Turner is one of the UKs leading freight forwarder and logistics organisations with 23 branches throughout the country. With a warehouse capacity of over 1,000,000 square metres and a network of overseas partners you can be assured of a fantastic service. With ISO 9001 accreditation too, and a UK-wide collection and delivery service that fuels an annual turnover of over ÂŁ145 million, Davies Turner are flexible experts in logistics, storage and supply chain management solutions. Anything from air cargo to overland can be tackled as well as container storage and freight by sea with IT support in the form of in-house management systems and the latest WMS software, ensuring security and safety.

From an envelope to a factory, normal to abnormal Special Projects Whatever the size and scale of your project our experienced teams can advise and deliver to you professional solutions. From factory moves to abnormal loads, we arrange shipments worldwide and also cater for your domestic needs.

Air / Courier We offer a range of courier and airfreight services for your time sensitive shipments. For more information contact us in branch.

Worldwide Ocean Services We have dedicated professionals ready to help with any of your ocean freight needs offering personal and regional expertise covering a wide range of services.

T: 01709 529709

www.daviesturner.co.uk

CONTENTS

First For Business

DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018

www.ffb-online.co.uk

CONTENTS DECEMBER 2017 / JANUARY 2018

AGENDA 6 Andy Waple says we will have to wait and see what 2018 brings

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES 11 Let’s get ready to Shefexit, says Anthony Long, chief executive of Sheffield solicitors, Taylor&Emmet LLP

INTERNATIONAL TRADE 13 Has there been a better time for businesses to invest overseas, asks Nicholas Patrick, South Yorkshire International Trade Centre

CONSTRUCTION 17 Building the right links is paramount to progress, says Rob Darrington, Partner at Commercial Property Partners LLP (CPP), Sheffield

HOTEL & CONFERENCES 21 The majority of hospitality sheffield members are planning improvements in 2018, says Steve Whittaker, Chair of Hospitality Sheffield and General Manager of the DoubleTree by Hilton Sheffield Park

MANUFACTURING 25 The Master Cutler, Kenneth Cooke, looks forward to a productive 2018

25 62

AWARDS TRIUMPH 28 Over 900 people attended the 16th Sheffield Business Awards which saw winners crowned in 15 different categories. Rachel Martin looks at who came out on top

REMARKABLE RESULTS 48

Digital Reporter Ashley Birch Digital Commercial Manager Melanie Jackson

MOTORING 51

Operations Director Jillion Wood Publishing Manager Mandy Ogle mandy.ogle@rmcmedia.co.uk

What should you be driving in 2018? Jordan Cutforth has some road-worthy advice These are exciting times for the city, says Mel Kanarek, director and co-founder, Sheffield Digital

WORK & PLAY 62 A monthly round-up of news, achievements, celebrations and new faces

ARTS, LEISURE & TOURISM 66 Our cultural industries continue to flourish, says Dan Bates, Chief Executive, Sheffield Theatres FRONT COVER:The heart of Sheffield’s theatre district. Image courtesy Mark Rodgers

Editor Chris Wilson chris.wilson@rmcmedia.co.uk Consultant Editor Andy Waple Feature Writers Hannah Sanders, Rachel Martin Chief Sub Editor Richard Abbey Sub Editor Richard Smith

PA Jewellery were recently asked to take on an unusual job – the end result was a golden family heirloom

CREATIVE & DIGITAL 57

Studio Manager Chris Brierley Design Dan Wray, Steve Levers RMC Media 6 Broadfield Court, Broadfield Business Park, Sheffield, S8 OXF Tel: 0114 250 6300 Twitter: @ffbmagRMC www.ffb-online.co.uk

PREVIEW

First For Business

DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018

www.ffb-online.co.uk

PREVIEW W

elcome to the final First For Business of 2017 and our annual Business Review. With the help of expert views from across Sheffield City Region, we are taking a look at what has happened over the last 12 months and what the future holds for 2018. A year ago we were looking at the way Brexit had casts a shadow of uncertainty over everything – and hoping that 2017 would bring clarity on a variety of key issues both locally and on the international stage. In retrospect we were, perhaps, a little naïve. Unfortunately we don’t seem to be any further forward with regards to what is happening on key Sheffield City Region topics such as high speed rail links, devolution, and the Sichuan Guodong Construction Group’s grand scheme of investing an eye-watering £1bn in the city centre over the next 60 years. In fact the only thing we know with certainty is that the single most striking elements of the Chinese group’s first planned phase of investment – building a luxury hotel on the site of Sheffield’s landmark Grade 2 listed library – will not happen. As for what will happen when Great Britain leaves the European Union, that story is changing daily so the only thing to say is, watch this space. Nevertheless, despite the economic and

political uncertainty, consultant editor Andy Waple says there are some positives we can expect from 2018. With the demolition of the former Grosvenor House Hotel in Sheffield the first phase of the long awaited £400m city centre development is well under way and its completion in early 2019 will help replace some of the tarnished appearance that blights the core of England’s fourth largest city. Another cause of optimism is the fantastic array of local businesses who have cut through the fog of uncertainty to reach new heights in the last 12 months. Their achievements were honoured at the Sheffield Business Awards in early December and we profile all the winners in this issue. While the future may be murky, our business feature writers Rachel Martin and Hannah Sanders have been out and about canvassing opinions from local experts about what’s in store. Master Cutler Kenneth Cooke believes that when it comes to manufacturing, Britain’s excellent quality, expertise, work ethic and ability to build a level of trust will stand us in good stead for the future outside the EU. Sheffield is certainly a trailblazer in the rapidly changing world of creative and digital businesses and Mel Kanarek, director and co-founder of Sheffield Digital, says Sheffield’s digital sector is

CHRIS WILSON, EDITOR seeing an impressive surge of momentum as well as being home to global success stories like The Floow, WANdisco, Zoo Digital and Sumo Digital. In the field of professional services Anthony Long, chief executive of Sheffield solicitors Taylor & Emmett LLP, says South Yorkshire is jogging along just fine as it prepares for 29 March 2019, the day Prime Minister Theresa May says the UK will leave the EU. With the stock market at record levels, UK employment at its highest since the Second World War and, according to Lloyds Bank, Yorkshire creating jobs at a faster pace than any other region, he insists we will be ready for whatever Brexit throws at us. That’s just a taste of what’s in store in this double issue of First For Business; we’ll be back as usual with our February edition. To all our readers, Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year. Let us know what you think about the topics raised in this issue by tweeting us @ffbmagRMC.

@ Facebook:ThisisRMC Media Twitter: @FFBmagRMC LinkedIn: RMC Media Email: ffb@rmcmedia.co.uk First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk 5

First For Business

DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018

www.ffb-online.co.uk

UNCERTAIN TIMES WITH QUESTION MARKS HANGING OVER PROMISED CHINESE INVESTMENT, REGIONAL DEVOLUTION PLANS UP IN THE AIR AND DOUBTS OVER THE FUTURE OF BREXIT, ANDY WAPLE SAYS WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT 2018 BRINGS.

Plans to convert the Central Library into a five-star hotel were announced but have since been abandoned as being unviable

6 First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk

AGENDA

t is hard not to dwell on a sense of déjà vu when looking back on our business forecast for 2017, written for this publication 12 months ago. Among other things, we mused over the likely impact of Brexit, the positives of the proposed major Chinese investment in Sheffield, and somewhat tragically, the importance of the election for the first mayor of the Sheffield City Region. Here we are today with the impact of Brexit still unknown, and we are left wondering if the Chinese investment will ever materialise. As far as devolution is concerned, we are still not able to forecast what will happen over the course of 2018. Brexit negotiations and the uncertainly caused from leaving Europe pose the greatest threats to economic evolution at least in the short-to-medium term. Inertia has well and truly set in across the business community as everybody waits to see what the deal actually is. In the meantime, we are left pondering if in 2018 we will indeed see whether that mysterious Chinese investment actually exists, or if the hype is merely whispers. It was as long ago as July 2016 when the council said it had struck a deal with a Chinese construction company that could lead to more than £1bn invested in Sheffield over the next 60 years. According to officials, the Sichuan Guodong Construction Group were said to initially invest £220m in the city centre over three years from 2017, in up to five projects. Deals of this value are not without complexity and they take time to sign off, yet we are left wondering what is happening, particularly as council leader Julie Dore said last year that some projects might commence before the end of 2017. One project, a proposal for a five star hotel on the site of the central library, subject to a one-year feasibility study - was made public, but has since been abandoned by the investor as being unviable. We are left to wonder what will happen with the overall investment proposal.The council insists no ‘deal’ was

Law firm Freeths has moved into St Paul’s Place

made, but was in fact a memorandum of understanding, casting further doubts. Meanwhile the unseemly row over proposed devolution lingers on and doubts over the rival structure of wholeYorkshire has already sunk a £5m jobs project in this region. The project to help long-term unemployed in South Yorkshire was halted by the government because of the ongoing uncertainty.The Early Integrated Employment Support Pilot, developed as part of the 2015 Sheffield City Region devolution deal with the Government, included measures such as providing 18 months of one-on-one support for the unemployed to help get them back into work.. It was hailed by the government as evidence of its work supporting the

disadvantaged and long-term jobseekers as one of six schemes nationwide benefitting from £28m in public funds. But the future of the scheme is in doubt after the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority, revealed it had been ‘paused’. A spokeswoman said: “The Sheffield City Region Devolution Deal agreed with Government in 2015 included the development of a £5m Early Intervention Employment Support Pilot. “We remain committed to delivering this pilot scheme. However, in light of current uncertainty over the devolution of powers and new programmes to the Mayoral Combined Authority, the Department for Work and Pensions has told us that progress of the Early Intervention Employment Support Pilot has been paused. ¯ First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk 7

First For Business

DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018

www.ffb-online.co.uk

Work is well under way to redevelop the former site of the Grosvenor House Hotel while there are ambitious plans to redevelop the nearby Stokes Tile centre site (main picture)

“On that basis, there will also be a delay in the process for procuring providers to deliver the support.” It would be good for the business community for us to be able to predict where 2018 will take us over the devolution issues, but any guesswork would be fruitless. Under the initial proposal, backed by the government, a mayor for the Sheffield City Region is currently due to be elected in May 2018, and given £900m over 30 years as well as handed power over transport budgets and strategic planning. But problems and confusion arose when in August, the leaders of Doncaster and Barnsley signed up to the pan-Yorkshire proposal, initially backed by 17 of the 20 local authorities in Yorkshire.

that blights the core of England’s fourth largest city. The six-storey office block for HSBC, ground level shops and new public areas is taking shape although a planning application for the second phase of the retail quarter has yet to be submitted. The council hopes the overall project - due to be completed by 2021 - will result in thousands of extra jobs and bring £300 million into the city centre annually. To bolster the appeal of the city centre it was encouraging to see national law firm Freeths take a 6,000 sq ft of quality office space at 3 St Paul’s Place in the heart of the city project in November.

Sheffield and Rotherham Councils have not given their support to the deal and the Government says it is not prepared to consider any proposal that cuts across the SCR deal.The government insists the mayoral election will go ahead, but anything can happen.

The block is the final part of the £130m Heart of the City project. It is the first speculative office building in Sheffield to be developed since the recession. Freeths, who are relocating from the nearby Fountain Precinct, are taking the majority of the fifth floor at 3 St Paul’s Place on a 10-year-lease joining global civil engineers Arup, architects BDP and Swedish bank Handelsbanken.

Amid the economic and political uncertainty there are some positives we can expect from 2018.

Near the bottom of the Moor a major regeneration project being assessed for planning permission.

With the demolition of the former Grosvenor House hotel in Sheffield the first phase of the long awaited £400m city centre development is well underway and its completion in early 2019 will help replace some of the tarnished appearance

The multi-million pound project at the junctions of Moore Street, Fitzwilliam Street and Thomas Street off The Moor is for a 850 bed flexible co-living and student accommodation scheme with associated shops and cafes.The landmark scheme, if

8 First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk

approved, will be up to 15 storeys on the prominent gateway into the City Centre. The scheme developed by Litton Buccleuch (Moore Street) Ltd has been sold to leading student accommodation provider. Based around four connected blocks, the scheme has been submitted following detailed planning consultation meetings between the council and the developer. The site is currently occupied by the former Stokes Tiles Centre and surrounding properties. Subject to planning approval, construction on the site formerly occupied by the Stokes Tiles Centre and surrounding

AGENDA

properties, is anticipated to start in May 2018 taking about 24 months to complete in time for the new student intake in autumn 2020. Towards the railway station, Sheffield United’s co-owner Kevin McCabe’s property company will soon start work on a £12m office block.The Scarborough Group hopes to begin work on Vidrio early in the new year next to its recently completed block named Acero. Vidrio will be the fourth building on the Digital Campus, between Sheaf Street and the bus station, which includes the Electric Works, home to dozens of tech firms, and Ventana House, where a Sky call centre is based.

Scarborough Group also has ambitions to redevelop Sheffield bus station and turn it into an upmarket shopping centre with rising terraces that gently climb from Sheaf Street to Arundel Gate. And who knows, 2018 maybe the year the city could boast one, or even two, football teams in the Premier League, a situation that would do wonders of the city’s reputation on a global scale. On top of that, and more importantly, would be the economic impact created by top-level football. One study conducted by the University of Wales, determined that Swansea’s promotion the Premier League in 2011 brought an estimated £55.3m to the city. First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk 9

:HȇUH KHUH for you... Advice Advice ffrom rom y your our p perspective erspective At Taylor&Emmet, At Taylor&Emmet, w we e ttake ake a ffresh resh approach approach tto o llegal egal sservices ervices ffor or local local businesses. businesses.

Our Our services ser v ices include: i nclude:

O Our ur e expert xpert solicitors solicitors have have an an in in depth depth understanding of of the the industries understanding industries they they represent. By By developing developing a represent. p artnership b ased o n ttrust, rust, we we partnership based on deliver ssupport upport packages packages tthat hat ssuit uit deliver y our ne eds, protecting protecting and and enhancing enhancing your needs, y our o rganisation. your organisation. R ely on u s, w hen iitt matters matters the the most. most. Rely us, when

/ /RFDO RɚFHV LQ RFDO RɚFHV LQ

• Business Business start-ups star t-ups

ĘåþåĬÚ ĘåþåĬÚ 20 Arundel Ga Gate, te,

• Commercial Commercial contracts contract s

South Yorkshire, Sou th Y ork o shire, S1 2PP

•C Commercial ommercial p property roper ty

B±ĹĹåų ųŅŸŸØ %ųŅĹĀåĬÚ B ±ĹĹåų ųŅŸŸØ %ųŅĹĀåĬÚ ¼ ¼ ±ĩåƵåĬĬ ±ĩåƵåĬĬ

Î ŅųŞŅų±Ƌå ¼ ĀĹ±ĹÏå Î Ņ ų Ş Ņ ų ± Ƌå ¼ Ā Ĺ ± Ĺ Ï å orporate restructuring restructuring •C Corporate •D ispute resolution resolution Dispute mployment llaw aw •E Employment nsolvency & debt debt recovery recover y • IInsolvency roper ty disputes d i s p u te s •P Property

0114 218 4000

t. e. inf info@tayloremmet.co.uk o@tayloremmet.co.uk www www.tayloremmet.co.uk .tayloremmet.co.uk

NOW BASED IN SHEFFIELD

10 First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk

BUSINESS REVIEW

First For Business

DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018

www.ffb-online.co.uk

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES LET’S GET READY TO SHEFEXIT, SAYS ANTHONY LONG, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF SHEFFIELD SOLICITORS, TAYLOR&EMMET LLP. he Prime Minister has finally set a date. At 11pm on 29 March 2019 we will leave the EU.

owned, knowledge intensive businesses, such as professional and financial services, are set to be hardest hit.

Mrs May’s decision to put a deadline on this momentous decision demonstrates the government’s determination to see the process through. Only time will tell if she achieves her objective.

Sheffield is predicted to experience a 1.2 per cent fall in Gross Added Value (GVA) under a ‘soft’ Brexit, rising to 2.1 per cent if ‘hard’ campaigners win out. Whilst we have a big public-sector workforce, which according to the findings will be less impacted, we also have a number of skilled businesses whose predominant markets are in Europe.

We’ve heard so much about Brexit, but very little about what it will mean for South Yorkshire and specifically, for our professional services. In my opinion, the referendum may have caused some initial consternation, but for the moment, we seem to be jogging along just fine. At the time of writing, the stock market was at record levels, UK employment at its highest since the Second World War and according to Lloyds Bank, Yorkshire is creating jobs at a faster pace than any other region. A very interesting, although rather overlooked, report was published in July by the Centre for Economic Performance that attempted to measure the impact of Brexit at a local level. It found all of our cities will be affected negatively by higher trade costs between the UK and EU. Those with the largest number of employees in privately

I would hope there is sufficient time for these organisations to implement plans for change, if they are necessary. However, further work needs to be undertaken to better understand the potential impact of Brexit on the Sheffield City Region. It is critical that those of us in professional services continue to analyse and monitor local economic performance. We need to use our regional knowledge and data management to support clients through this turbulent period and adapt to their changing needs. Comments made to me by colleagues, both in the legal sector and wider, mirror

my own thoughts that business in Sheffield is buoyant at present. The arrival of McLaren, Boeing and others, plus the speed at which key property developments are being constructed suggests all is not doom and gloom. This is reflected in Taylor&Emmet’s performance. We are seeing an increase in activity across a number of our core activities, including commercial property, corporate law, education and healthcare and this breadth of confidence augurs well for the future. Sheffield also continues to buck the national trend for house prices, with values rising and transaction numbers remaining strong. We live in a city that has demonstrated its ability to reinvent itself and we must continue to view threats to our economy as opportunities for growth and development. Recent inward investment has provided a massive boost to business confidence and I believe whatever Brexit throws at us, we will be ready.

Could the professional services be hit hardest? Tweet us @ffbmagRMC

First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk 11

With a daily direct ďŹ&#x201A;ight you can now discover the beaches and blue skies of Dubai.

Discover more reasons to ďŹ&#x201A;y from Newcastle at newcastleairport.com/discover

BUSINESS REVIEW

First For Business

DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018

www.ffb-online.co.uk

INTERNATIONAL TRADE HAS THERE BEEN A BETTER TIME FOR BUSINESSES TO INVEST OVERSEAS, ASKS NICHOLAS PATRICK, SOUTH YORKSHIRE INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE (SYITC). ust look at some of the headlines from the past weeks: “How tough will Merkel be on Britain?”; “Bank of England prepares for Brexit shock”; “More pain in store for the pound”; “Car industry in catastrophic danger.”

The problem with reading business headlines is that they are designed to capture our attention but can be damaging in their negativity and paint a wrong analysis of reality. Negotiating with 26 governments, each with their own agenda, was always going to be difficult, but a new direction could be developing because European business leaders are fed up with the debates and discussions of the politicians, and need to focus more on economic realities. Leading German, French and UK businesses are increasing the pressure on their political leaders to kick-start trade talks. And whilst they accept that in any negotiation the final picture will never be known until the end, there is scepticism that we are even talking about the right things. The reality is much different to the headlines in many ways; there has never been a better time for business to look at overseas markets. Exports are buoyant due to the competitive rates of sterling and companies who traditionally

imported goods are looking at buying nationally. Interest rates are still low and inward investment into the UK economy strong. There are issues however, about attracting skilled people from Europe. Recent ONS figures for the UK’s export activity indicate an upbeat trend and the British Chambers of Commerce agree that export document activity is buoyant. Up to the end of September, applications for Certificates of Origin are up 4.86 per cent and preferential trade documents by 4.72 per cent. Some surveys suggest companies traditionally selling in Europe are looking further afield, others state that most of our export growth in 2017 has gone to Europe and this at the expense of higher growth markets. It is still a confused picture. Whilst Europe is an easy place to do business under the current rules, strategically we rely on it too much. Other parts of the world are growing quicker and the balance is shifting. SYITC can demonstrate that business in the more distant higher growth markets can increase your profit margin significantly, even after higher costs such as shipping, servicing etc. The objectives of the SYITC is to help businesses deal with the immediate issues concerning their export portfolio and plan the shape of their future

export development. Over the last four years SYITC have been inviting their Global Business Network to Sheffield. In 2017 members of our extensive international network met local businesses from South America (five markets), SE Asia (ten markets), Middle East (four markets), East Europe (six markets), China, India, Taiwan and Russia. Twenty-nine high growth markets came to visit Sheffield and talk to business leaders at 1:1 meetings and presentations and 150 businesses benefitted from the introductions. The Global Network partners know their markets and how they operate. They will set up meetings, provide interpretation and introduce you to potential customers, directly or indirectly. In effect they will be your interim partners. Their focus is to get enquiries to Sheffield City Region businesses and turn those enquiries into profitable orders. For more information contact info@syitc.com or talk to your account manager at the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce.

How has Brexit affected your business? Tweet us @ffbmagRMC

First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk 13

First For Business

PROMOTION

DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018

www.ffb-online.co.uk

FOR 20 YEARS, B&B VEHICLE CONTRACTS HAS BEEN BUILDING SUCCESS BASED ON ONE THING . . .

PUTTING CUSTOMERS FIRST E

stablished in 1997, B&B Vehicle Contracts has long been a local source of support for customers, not only providing the highest quality contract vehicles, but also outstanding value, a no-hassle service and impartial guidance. With a customer base predominantly across the Sheffield City Region – but also spanning the UK from Scotland to Cornwall – B&B is proud to call itself a ‘local company’, and it has a proven reputation as a business you can trust, meaning customers are assured of personal attention while also benefiting from a flexible and proactive approach, expert guidance and a range of support services. Having built up a loyal customer base, which includes major national companies and clients ranging in size from sole traders to fleets of 200, B&B Vehicles is now applying its expertise and ability to making a difference in the local community – supporting a number of worthy causes and services, including providing minibuses for council-run schools, private schools and academies. Recently, Tony Dent has joined the B&B team taking on the role as Director. Well known and respected in the motor trade

14 First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk

industry, Tony brings to the company over 19 years’ experience in management and fleet sales. “I’m looking forward to the challenge this role offers. After working in a fixed environment for many years, B&B Vehicles gives me the opportunity for independence, to develop the team and to be creative in bringing in new ideas,” he said. Tony has won prestigious awards including Fleet Sales Manager of the Year in 2011 and in 2014 won this, along with Fleet Team of the Year in the UK with Mercedes-Benz UK, which shows he has the skill set, knowledge and expertise to further grow B&B both externally and internally. “My goal is to continue B&B’s success by building on a solid foundation. I plan to place a focus on developing our sales teams by spending quality time with them, understanding their strengths and weaknesses and helping with their career aspirations. “The customer really is the most important part of a business. What I like about B&B is the strong focus they place on putting the customer first. We work with every manufacturer, meaning we can help the customers choose the best

suited product - there’s no restriction on how far we can go to help,” adds Tony. B&B Vehicles do a large amount with the local community and community projects and both Tony and director Steve Barker will be focusing on this in more detail in the New Year. “For me, joining the B&B team was the next best possible step in my career. I’ve always had a passion for cars and motor sports, and still get that rush of excitement when new products and innovations are launched.” “I’m already blown away by the staff ’s attention to detail, considerate and focused approach around customer service, and, I’m looking forward to seeing what the New Year brings for B&B Vehicles.”

CONTACT: B&B Vehicle Contracts Ltd 5A Fairfield Road, Chesterfield, S40 4TR Tel: 01246 557080 www.bandbvehiclecontracts.com

WE GUARA GUARANTEE UA ARANTEE ANTE TEE TO TO DEL DELI DELIVER E IVER VE AM MINIMUM 1 10% 0% SA SAVING AV VING ON YOUR CURRENT OFFICE SUPPLIES COSTS... like-for-like e-forr--like Put us to the test so we can prove it with a like-for comparison* on your current ofﬁce supplies costs. *

Based on analysing your last 3 months invoices. All information is kept in the strictest conﬁdence.

To T o star startt making your savings... Call us direct on 0845 345 0061 Or order online at uop.co.uk

Bringing comfort to your environment ៉ ៉ ៉ ៉ ៉ ៉

Design Commissioning Maintenance Installation Servicing Energy Assessment

Airmaster Air Conditioning Limited Wetherby House | Parkhill | Swallownest | Sheffield S26 4UN

Tel: 0114 288 9911 | Fax: 0114 288 9922 Email: team@airmaster.uk.com | Web: www.airmaster.uk.com

GIVING YOU THE SPACE TO WORK FROM HOME • YOUR LOCAL GARDEN ROOM SPECIALIST We provide low cost alternative to extending by building a garden office or outdoor living zones. We have also built outdoor painting studios, storage spaces and split use spaces (office/store) but the uses for our buildings are endless. Here at Dore Garden Offices, we pride ourselves on supplying bespoke designs but we love this one so much we are making it our first Off-the-Shelf Building. Named after the client’s 4 year old son, ‘Toby’, it can be installed in 7 days and at 2.4x2.4m can fit in most gardens. If you need an instant workspace, look no further. Using our unique Pilebar foundation system, ‘Toby’ can be installed rapidly on any gradient by our friendly and professional team. Fully plastered finish with internal light and sockets as standard and includes electrical connection to your house.

0114 236 2509 \ 07876 201695 www.doregardenoffices.co.uk

16 First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk

Prices start at

£6500 inc. VAT

BUSINESS REVIEW

First For Business

DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018

www.ffb-online.co.uk

CONSTRUCTION BUILDING THE RIGHT LINKS IS PARAMOUNT TO PROGRESS, SAYS ROB DARRINGTON, PARTNER AT COMMERCIAL PROPERTY PARTNERS LLP (CPP), SHEFFIELD. espite improvements to infrastructure over the last decade or so, connectivity is still a major issue for businesses across the Sheffield City Region.

Indeed, the Northern Powerhouse Independent Economic Review – commissioned by Transport for the North on behalf of northern partners last year – highlighted the immense capabilities that could be harnessed across the region with improved connectivity: adding almost £97billion to the UK economy and creating up to 850,000 jobs by 2050. And so, the first of many steps in the right direction came with the announcement that HS2 is coming to Sheffield city centre – a significant outcome for the city region. Not only will it generate economic growth and job creation but inevitably the news will act as a focus for both further regeneration and development.

More so, the city centre station will maximise the economic beneﬁts due to the proximity to higher value jobs, and the existing public transport hubs of the Transport Interchange and Supertram system. In light of other recent developments in the Sheffield City Region – which include the approval of a £300million development at Meadowhall Shopping Centre and the unveiling of the Retail Quarter master plan – office and retail properties in Sheffield located near the proposed HS2 stations will further increase in demand, as their exposure draws in more foot traffic. Additionally, new office and retail projects will likely be proposed near to the lines where foot traffic is at its highest, which Sheffield city centre has the capacity to accommodate. The proposed HS3, which is due to stop at Midland Station, Sheffield is set to create one of the main transport hubs

of the north, generating increased freight capacity. Approximately 3.3m sq. ft. of industrial space across 191 properties sit within the opportunity zone, and the improved cargo service running from the north to London would put properties near to these stations on the map among warehouse landlords. Further improvement of transport links is both necessary and critical to the nation: the UK is considerably behind in terms of public transport, when you compare other areas of Europe. Now is the time to plan for the surrounding infrastructure, maximising the opportunities that are coming to the region.

Is the Sheffield City Region building a positive future? Tweet us @ffbmagRMC

First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk 17

City Gate Office

Sheffield Digital Campus (Acero) Office

Derwent House Office

Hydra Business Park Industrial

East Parade Office

Shepcote Business Park Industrial

Book your next conference or meeting with us & recieve a free upgrade to our VIP conference break package. QUOTE â&#x20AC;&#x153;First For Business Magazineâ&#x20AC;? The Holiday Inn Royal Victoria Sheffield offers the largest conferencing facilities within a residential venue in Sheffield. Along with the adjacent Holiday Inn Express Sheffield, the combined bedroom capacity is 268. Over 300 car parking spaces on-site with easy access to the M1 motorway via Sheffield Parkway in 10 minutes time or 5 minute drive to Sheffield Train Station.

where royalty dined

- SINCE 1862 -

Our Grade II listed hotel has a unique Ballroom which can cater to up to 400 delegates with 15 well-appointed syndicate rooms for 2-100 guests.

Holiday Inn Royal Victoria Sheffield Victoria Station Road, Sheffield S4 7YE E- sales@holidayinnsheffieldco.uk Tel: 0114 252 6510 www.holidayinnsheffield.co.uk

20 First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk

BUSINESS REVIEW

First For Business

DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018

www.ffb-online.co.uk

HOTELS & CONFERENCES THE MAJORITY OF HOSPITALITY SHEFFIELD MEMBERS ARE PLANNING IMPROVEMENTS IN 2018, SAYS STEVE WHITTAKER, CHAIR OF HOSPITALITY SHEFFIELD AND GENERAL MANAGER OF THE DOUBLETREE BY HILTON SHEFFIELD PARK. 017 has been another positive year for Sheffield’s hotels and venues and follows on the patterns from previous years. Both occupancy levels and room rates have been good, though as always there is room for improvement and we will be looking to build further in 2018.

The focus for us in 2018 will not solely centre around financial KPIs, however – although they will remain extremely important of course. Staff development, recruitment and education will feature highly on the agendas of all our GMs. Towards the end of 2017, Hospitality Sheffield and The Sheffield College embarked on a pilot scheme for an exciting new Hospitality Apprenticeship. Sheffield has a wealth of talent and it is of paramount importance that the hospitality sector in the region nurtures and encourages that talent and offers a real career path.

Of course, it is also important to acknowledge those already working in our industry and who provide such a warm welcome to those visiting the city. It is often so easy to overlook those people working within the service sector but their hard work and dedication makes a huge impact and is an important part of Sheffield’s success. To this end, we once again hosted the annual Hospitality Sheffield Awards to pay tribute to our wonderful colleagues. It was noticeable through the nomination process for the awards that environmental or ‘green’ considerations continue to be increasingly important – both to our businesses and our customers. Energy saving measures have a double impact, being both good for the environment and good for the bottom line. A true win-win scenario that we will see more of in 2018 and beyond with the use of more led lighting and the

introduction of more charge points for electric and hybrid cars. Other changes will also be evident at a number of hotels and venues in the city throughout the next 12 months with the majority of Hospitality Sheffield members planning improvements – from new furniture to complete floor-by-floor renovations. It is a competitive market and it is vitally important for the individual venues and for the city in general that a rolling programme of improvements continues as standing still is simply not an option. With a generally positive feeling within the city, 2018 is set to be another great year for Sheffield.

Eat, sleep, drink... Are you being served? Tweet us @ffbmagRMC

First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk 21

First For

@ffbmagRMC

FULLY LICENSED ITALIAN RESTAURANT Open 7 days a week 6pm til 11. 30pm

Will open lunchtimes with prior bookings.

MAGAZINE

All parties catered for • Supervised car park

Please contact Mandy Ogle Telephone 0114 250 6300 Email mandy.ogle@rmcmedia.co.uk Web www.ffb-online.co.uk

SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESS FOR OVER 25 YEARS NG S BER I PL ND ECEMr beers M SA EKE UT Dple oouu buy! WEOUGHnOg, seafmore y

Certificate of Excellence Winner 2015

NOW TAKING BOOKINGS for Valentine’s Day 2018

3 Sharrow Lane, Sheffield, S11 8AE

Co a

You’ll also ﬁn Y nd a great range of high quality and practical gifts, clothing and merchandise – ideal for tthe “Farmers fan” in your life!

now available

K I R K

St Nicholas Church High Bradfield LA

OODFALL

LITTLE LANE

LO LE

CHRISTMAS CHEER STARTS HERE!

WE ARE HERE

OUGHTIBRIDGE E D GE R O A D

HIGH BRADFIELD

TO BRADFIELD VILLAGE

0114 2588164

www.rossisrestaurant.vpweb.co.uk

Come and visit our brewery shop where you’ll u’ll ﬁnd a great range of Farmers Ales available in bottles, tles,, ju jjugs, g , gs mini kegs and 10ltr “beer in a box”. 5ltr m x”. ”

o b try nd

R al TH me

BROWN HOUSE LANE

Best UK Family Italian Restaurant Runner Up

TO NAGS HEAD AND DAM FLASK

Visit our facebook page or follow us on twitter for the latest news and offers

22 First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk

mas Christers d or ing e now b en tak

GREAT AS GIFT IDE R A E Y ALL ! D N ROU

From November – our ever-popular festive F tipple will be available in 500ml bottles and tip 5 litre mini kegs (while stocks last) THE PERFECT STOCKING FILLER TO BE ENJOYED AT HOME ON A COLD WINTER NIGHT.

ON SIT ON-SITE ITE BRE B BREWERY RE EWERY SHOP OPEN E OPEN: MON – FRI 8AM – 4PM & SAT 10AM – 4PM AND every Sunday in December: 10am-2pm LATE NIGHT THURS Christmas Eve and New Years Eve (Sunday 31st): 10am-2pm Wed 27th to Fri 29th Dec: 8am-4pm. Sat 30th Dec: 10am-4pm & FRI UNTIL 8PM: CLOSED - Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day & Mon 1st Jan 2018

TUES 2ND JANUARY – NORMAL HOURS RECOMMENCE Tel: 0114 285 1118 • info@bradﬁeldbrewery.co.uk

1st, 7th & 8th, 14th & 15th, 21st & 22nd DECEMBER

PROMOTION

First for Business

DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018

www.ffb-online.co.uk

THE OLD RECTORY – THE PERFECT VENUE FOR THE PERFECT WEDDING teeped in history, The Old Rectory is one of South Yorkshire’s most striking wedding venues. The beautiful grade II-listed stone building in Handsworth is tucked away in its own quiet grounds and could be mistaken for being in the middle of beautiful countryside, yet it’s conveniently just a short distance from the motorway and the city centre.

From the moment you pass under the stone arch of the old coach house to the front of the fine old Georgian rectory, which looks out across the lawn and garden, you’ll know you have found your perfect wedding venue. Their personal approach means you can create a bespoke day. Centre manager and events co-ordinator, Tim Schafer, says: “We take a no-package approach. Every element, from chair covers and centrepieces to food and drinks, are priced individually. We work with you to pick and choose only the elements you

want, to fit your budget and taste.” They can cater for anything from two to 200 guests and have a sitdown meal capacity for up to 140, although there is also an option to have a more informal buffet, hog roast or even hire the stone baked pizza oven. The Old Rectory hosts around 50 weddings a year and possesses a history that stretches back 60 years. Why not take a look for yourself at the next wedding fayre on the 14 January from 11am to 3pm or make a private viewing appointment via the meeting planner on the Old Rectory’s website. One of the things that also makes the Old Rectory unique is their charity status. “All the profits we generate at weddings go back into the running of the building as a community venue,” adds Tim. “We are home to over 30 different classes, from singing and art groups to yoga and

belly dancers. We run pensioner lunch clubs and toddler groups and all of this is subsidised by the money made at weddings and parties.” This year’s upcoming events at The Old Rectory include: 3 February – Theatre night, a one man show telling the story of Jekyll and Hyde: £8 per ticket. 2 March – Comedy club night, three great comedians and a compare: £12 per ticket. 11 March – Mother’s day lunches. CONTACT: 402b Handsworth Road, Handsworth, Sheffield, S13 9BZ Tel: 0114 269 2537 www.orh.org.uk

THE OLD RECTORY CONFERENCE & MEETING ROOM HIRE - Close to junction 33 of the M1 Sheffield - Free car parking for 36 cars - 5 Meeting rooms available to hire - Rates from £10 per hour - Full catering service

402b Handsworth Road | Handsworth | Sheffield | S13 9BZ Tel: 0114 2692537 | Web: www.orh.org.uk Email: tim@orh.org.uk

First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk 23

Office Spaces now available! The SYAC Business Centre offers a variety of different sized quality office space, to fit with the demands of progressive businesses in Sheffield. Our excellent location situated on the Wicker, near the City Centre ideally accesses the A61 Parkway making it easy to reach by car, rail and bus. Whether you are a start-up or existing business we offer real affordable rental rates. Conferencing and meeting rooms are also available and at a discounted rate for all our tenants. ADVANTAGES INCLUDE: • Excellent amenities for meetings and seminars • Rental inclusive of free parking • Rental fee includes utilities • Fully staffed Reception • Fully CCTV secured (24 Hours)

HURRY, ONLY A FEW LEFT!

120 Wicker, Sheffield S3 8JD - Tel: 0114 223 2100 - Fax: 0114 278 1772 E-mail: enquiries@syacltd.org.uk - www.syac-businesscentre.co.uk

24 First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk

BUSINESS REVIEW

First For Business

DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018

www.ffb-online.co.uk

MANUFACTURING THE MASTER CUTLER, KENNETH COOKE, LOOKS FORWARD TO A PRODUCTIVE 2018.

espite all the gloom, despondency and talk of recession being delivered by some, most manufacturers I have spoken to say the last 12 months have been productive and busy.

the EU in 2019, companies exporting will need to cover the eventuality of losing access to the single market but constructive negotiations are vital and, hopefully, all 27 countries can avoid selfharm.

All the indicators have shown that exports are booming with the highest level since records began, productivity is increasing, there are high levels of employment, more people in work and high recruitment levels. Yes, part of that may have been created by the favourable exchange rates but I believe that whatever the future changes are, we are demonstrating our excellent quality, expertise, work ethic and building a level of trust that will stand us in good stead for the future outside the EU.

I believe 2018 will be a year of transition as the long-term shift towards the extinction of the diesel engine and the push towards electric vehicles will cause huge changes in the market place and suppliers into those industries will be looking at options. The UK produces around 2.6 million diesel engines per year and already customers are being urged not to buy “dirty” vehicles, with talk of lower residual resale values, so the switch may be more rapid than we think.

It seems that Brexit is all we read about and see on our screens but, sadly, it is inevitable that all this conjecture is bad for confidence and investment. In reality manufacturing companies have to play the cards they hold in their hands and just do the best they can. If we can say, with any certainty, that we will be leaving

Also, the run towards battery power could also disrupt other markets. We are already experiencing shortages of commodities which are used within lithium-ion batteries (for mobile phones and electric vehicles). This is creating extended lead times and increasing prices. The consequences spread far and

wide but as long as we realise the potential threats we can try to react positively. Looking locally, the Northern Powerhouse promises much but little has been delivered. Likewise transport in the north has not yet made a significant contribution to our economy but, on a constructive note, we should see a Regional Mayor in 2018. This move should give us a more effective voice nationally and hopefully the new Mayor will have an understanding of business needs and the requirement for a long term strategic plan for the region. As manufacturers, we will continue to adapt and re-invent and, as an important contributor to the country’s prosperity, I believe we have much to look forward to, so here’s to a productive 2018.

Exports are booming but how can we continue? Tweet us @ffbmagRMC

First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk 25

First For Business

DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018

www.ffb-online.co.uk

MAKING IT BETTER THE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL CHARITY IS WORKING TO IMPROVE CARE FOR SOME OF OUR SICKEST YOUNGSTERS. HERE’S HOW. THE CHARITY The Children’s Hospital Charity helps to make the hospital even better, by only funding projects that are over and above standard NHS provision. Money raised through donations funds four key areas:

THEN & NOW? Sheffield Children’s Hospital began its life in 1876 as The Infirmary for Sick Children at 222-224 Brookhill – an old cutlery factory with eight beds, no running water and an intermittent gas supply – in 1877 there were 14,674 attendances.

3T MRI

F %:/-3+63=> 7/.3-+6 equipment F #398//<381 7/.3-+6 </=/+<-2 F !/A 0+-363>3/=

APPEALS SUCCESS

F 7:<9@/7/8>= >9 >2/ hospital environment

Westfield Health fully funded a digital X-ray suite for the new outpatient department at the hospital (top right).

Recent charity achievements In addition the charity also funded a £2.3m include a £450,000 life-saving intra-operative 3T MRI scanner (above) to multipurpose Fluoroscopy Now, Sheffield Children’s Hospital is one enable the world class neurosurgery team at System for the hospital which of only four stand-alone children’s the hospital to remove brain tumours from provides real-time moving Xhospitals in the UK. The hospital provides young patients with pin-point precision. ray images. These can be used world-class expertise and sees over to locate trauma such as In 2012, the charity launched 269,000 brave patients every year internal bleeds in its biggest appeal to date – 7 -1 enough to fill the FlyDSA Arena over 19 16 20 In children who have to e the Make it Better m ca times – with children coming from all s nt tie pa been in serious s Hospital appeal. Since then it’s n’ re over Yorkshire, the UK and the world for ld hi C ld fie Shef the d an ia accidents. al tr donated over £10m us A as specialist care. from as far away hospital to help transform e th at s ice rv t se USA – specialis netics, the hospital with urgery, clinical ge os ur ne de clu in and n tio uc tr ns brand new co re b lim paediatric Sheffield e. as equipment and se di ne bo brittle The Embrace Yorkshire & Humber Infant & Children’s support towards the is also the only Transport Service, part of Sheffield Children’s NHS ital with a hospital’s new wing. children’s hosp r Foundation Trust, is a highly specialist round-the-clock transport fo d ar aw d The new wing will fully ar gold-stand service for critically ill infants and children. The first two intensive y. er rg su open in spring 2018 and e ol yh ke care ambulances – Bear One & Bear Two – that enabled the service includes: to be born were both funded fully by The Children’s Hospital Charity. F 8 /+=C >9 +--/== +8. =:+-39?= 9?>:+>3/8>= Embrace is based in department. Barnsley, but transfers F &2<// A+<.= A3>2 8+>398+6 +A+<. A388381 children across the bedrooms, en-suite facilities and parent region and in some cases beds, creating privacy and space to recover across the country. In from treatment. 2016/17, Embrace

DID YOU KNOW?

transferred 2,102 newborn babies and children, carried out 33 helicopter missions, eight fixed wing missions and travelled 170,000 road miles!

26 First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk

F %:/-3+63=> +<>A9<5 E ./63@/</. ,C <>0/6> and fully funded by the charity. F +8.=-+:/. +</+= 09< 0+7363/= >9 1/> respite and fresh air. F %:+-/ >9 :6+C 38-6?.381 + 13+8> :6+C >9A/< accessible by the new wards.

PROMOTION

HOW YOU CAN HELP The Children’s Hospital Charity can only fund such ground-breaking projects due to the generous support of people from all over the region. Whether via employee fundraising and engagement, one-off events or commercial opportunities we will work closely alongside your team to develop a mutually-beneficial partnership that will help the hospital provide world-class care to seriously ill children every day.

PROJECTS TO C OME

Upcoming proj ects for 2018 th at are just in th process of final e isation include a new cancer in ward and an em patient ergency helipad The charity w . on’t be able to make these happen witho ut your supp ort.

Westfield Digital X-Ray Suite

WATCH THIS SPACE …

The new Playtower

If you loved HERD of Sheffield then watch out for the 2018 announcement of the 2019 sculpture trail.

GET IN TOUCH

A new patient bedroom

For more information on how you can support The Children’s Hospital Charity, visit www.tchc.org.uk or call 0114 271 7203. Contact David Vernon-Edwards charity director at David@tchc.org.uk or Tchad Western, corporate partnerships manager at Tchad@tchc.org.uk.

First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk 27

* SHEFFIELD BUSINESS AWARDS First For Business

DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018

www.ffb-online.co.uk

AWARDS TRIUMPH OVER 900 PEOPLE ATTENDED THE 16TH SHEFFIELD BUSINESS AWARDS WHICH SAW WINNERS CROWNED IN 15 DIFFERENT CATEGORIES. RACHEL MARTIN LOOKS AT WHO CAME OUT ON TOP.

onds Forge provided the glamorous setting for the 16th Sheffield Business Awards, where finalists across 15 different categories demonstrated why the region is renowned for its business excellence.

Guests were treated to a sparkling drinks reception, three-course meal and entertainment from stand-up comedian Jo Caulfield before the awards – organised by the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and in association with headline sponsor Elevation Recruitment Group – were announced by host and BBC Look North icon Harry Gration. Brenda Jordan, operations director for the Sheffield Chamber, said: “Congratulations to all those who won an award. The Sheffield Business Awards is an event we are truly proud to organise as it gives a 28 First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk

platform for our members and Sheffield businesses to showcase and celebrate the outstanding work they do throughout the year. It was fantastic to see 900 people in attendance joining together to celebrate Sheffield and some of the great businesses in the city. “This year, the Chamber worked hard to offer awards that truly reflect the key sectors of businesses within Sheffield. This not only resulted in a record number of entries but also entries of such high quality giving the judges a truly difficult job for 2017. The judges said it was a huge honour to be involved and although there can only be one winner from each category all those who entered or were shortlisted should be incredibly proud of their achievements. We look forward to seeing you all again in 2018.”

Taking home the coveted crown of Outstanding Business of the Year was REACH Homes CIC, having earlier picked up The Lupton Fawcett Innovation Award. “What an amazing night,” said Jon Johnson, CEO of REACH Homes CIC. “To have been recognised in such an emphatic way reaffirms REACH Homes’ confidence that we can make 2018 the year we start to change the housing market. And we look forward to working with many of the other shortlisted companies to make it a truly Sheffield solution. “Huge thanks also to the Chamber for all the organisation, event sponsors (especially City Taxis and Lupton Fawcett) and everyone else who made it such a special evening.”

SHEFFIELD BUSINESS AWARDS

Look North’s Harry Gration hosted the event

Christine Genot, Nick Patrick, Melanie Rippon

John Hayward

John Hayward, Kenneth Cooke (Master Cutler)

John Hayward, Brenda Jordan, Kenneth Cooke (Master Cutler)

Sheffield Chamber staff (L-R) – Nick Patrick, Elizabeth Espy, Jill Baldwin, Dan Laver, Brenda Jordan,Tom Sutton, John Hayward, Elliot Richards, Emma-Jane Wright, Sam Christmas, Melanie Rippon, Matt Sheridan

First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk 29

* SHEFFIELD BUSINESS AWARDS First For Business

DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018

www.ffb-online.co.uk

THE CITY TAXIS OUTSTANDING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR REACH HOMES CIC REACH Homes CIC is a not-for-profit social enterprise building affordable low-impact eco-homes. Insulated and constructed to save energy, the homes are 90 per cent cheaper to run than a traditional home and are built from shipping containers and 60 per cent-plus recycled materials to create a beautiful, light, spacious but truly affordable home. The judges said REACH Homes provide “a refreshingly different and innovative concept to providing housing in a cost effective and imaginative way.”

THE LUPTON FAWCETT INNOVATION AWARD REACH HOMES CIC See ‘Outstanding Business of the Year’ opposite. SHORTLISTED COMPANIES: SCX Ltd, SleepCogni

EXCELLENCE IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE AWARD, SPONSORED BY PRESSURE TECHNOLOGIES PLC. MACALLOY Established in 1948, Macalloy are a Dinnington based supplier of steel bar and cable systems to the worldwide construction market. Macalloy have seen their turnover increase by 35 per cent in Australasia alone since 2016 and the judges said they are a “power-house of an organisation who are truly inspirational”, exporting 85 per cent of their business. Macalloy were also the recent recipients of two Queens Awards. SHORTLISTED COMPANIES: Tufcot, Anchor Magnets, Pricecheck, Thermotex Engineering Ltd

30 First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk

SHEFFIELD BUSINESS AWARDS

BEST CONTRIBUTION TO SHEFFIELD VISITOR EXPERIENCE, SPONSORED BY MEADOWHALL SHEFFIELD DOC/FEST

EXCELLENCE IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AWARD, SPONSORED BY TOGETHER PROFESSIONAL ENERGY PURCHASING LTD

Sheffield Doc/Fest is the UK’s premier documentary festival that attracts over 30,000 attendees, celebrating the art and business of documentary and all non-fiction visual storytelling.

Professional Energy Purchasing are a firm of energy broker consultants, helping customers reduce energy spend and usage. The judges said this business has demonstrated “a highquality customer-focussed service in a difficult environment of energy sales.”

In 2017 Doc/Fest’s economic impact on the city of Sheffield grew to £1.86million and the judges recognised Sheffield Doc/Fest for its delivery of a world leading festival and its outstanding promotion of the city. SHORTLISTED COMPANIES: Van Dyk Country Hotel, The Great Escape Game, The Children’s Hospital Charity

SHORTLISTED COMPANIES: Monaghans, Assured Fire & Security Ltd, FCS Associates Ltd, Benchmark Recruit Ltd, Bhayani Law Ltd t/s Bhayani HR & Employment Law, Banner Jones Solicitors

HIGH GROWTH BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD, SPONSORED BY SIV PRICECHECK

THE SHORTS CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR MARC WILDES – P WILDES GROUP

Pricecheck is an international distributor of branded consumer goods and trades with large retailers, manufacturers, discounters and wholesalers in the UK and across the globe. Recognised by the judges as “a national and international business which continues to grow at staggering rate, bringing revenue and employment to the city region.”

Marc Wildes is the managing director of P Wildes Group, a successful investment company focussed on the hospitality and employee development sectors. He is currently undertaking the development and expansion of Hotel Van Dyk, Chesterfield.

SHORTLISTED COMPANIES: Polyseam Ltd, Millgate, Thermotex Engineering Ltd, Airmaster Air Conditioning Ltd, Doncaster Sheffield Airport

SHORTLISTED COMPANIES: Ash Young - Evoluted, Marie Cooper - Cooper Brown Enterprises, Richard Mills SleepCogni, Lisa Pogson - Airmaster Air Conditioning Ltd

First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk 31

* SHEFFIELD BUSINESS AWARDS First For Business

DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018

www.ffb-online.co.uk

THE EVOLUTED EXCELLENCE IN CORPORATE, SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY AWARD QUALITY CONTEXT Quality Context provides pharmaceutical consultancy and analytical testing services to companies worldwide. And with a strong commitment to CSR that consists of donating five per cent of annual profits to good causes, partnering with local schools, colleges and universities to inspire the next generation, they have raised over £90,000 in the last three years for good causes.

THE SHEFFIELD COLLEGE EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR GRIPPLE LTD Gripple is the global market leader in the development, manufacture and supply of innovative problem solving solutions for wire joining and tensioning in the agricultural, construction and civil engineering markets. Attracting, developing and supporting staff around the world, the judges said Gripple’s commitment was “unrivalled”, making them an employer of choice in the region.

SHORTLISTED COMPANIES: Diveworld Limited, BIDBI, Russell Richardson & Sons Ltd

SHORTLISTED COMPANIES: HLM, Distinction Doors Limited, Wake Smith Solicitors

THE WAKE SMITH EXCELLENCE IN MANUFACTURING AWARD THERMOTEX ENGINEERING LTD

THE SHEFFIELD UNIVERSITIES ENTERPRISE AWARD KLEAR COMMERCIAL SERVICES LTD

Thermotex Engineering is a global specialist in thermal engineering and manufacturing for regulated industries. The judges said Thermotex were “breaking barriers in manufacturing”, having doubled their turnover in 12 months, increased efficiency by 250 per cent while reducing waste by 30 per cent, maintained ISO standards and increased FTE’s with the total number of employees consisting of 78 per cent women. SHORTLISTED COMPANIES: Eclipse Magnetics, BG Engineering Ltd, Fernite of Sheffield Ltd, PCT Ltd, Tufcot, Jenx Ltd

32 First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk

Klear Commercial Services (KCS) is a Sheffield based facilities management company who provide a wide range of services and expertise to deliver lasting and sustainable value for their clients’ businesses. These services range from physical maintenance such as commercial cleaning, grounds maintenance and graffiti removal, to technical services such as security systems, IT/telephony and portable appliance testing (PAT). The judges were impressed with their “level of achievement to date and ambition and drive to make a significant impact in a short space of time in a competitive marketplace.” SHORTLISTED COMPANIES: Bright Box Makerspace, Yang For Young Limited, Mak Tok, Bullion, Living Services Ltd/Homely Apartments

SHEFFIELD BUSINESS AWARDS

THE SIMM ENGINEERING GROUP LARGE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR SCX LTD The SCX Group comprises three distinct businesses: SCX Special Projects; Street CraneXpress and Burnand XH. SCX are expert engineers of bespoke lifting and mechanical handling solutions employing 150 people. The judges said SCX is leading the way in major engineering projects and is at the very forefront of kinetic architecture, labelling them “a power house to the region’s economy and a great success story for Sheffield.” SHORTLISTED COMPANIES: Vine HOTELS, Guardian Electrical Compliance Ltd

THE GREY MATTER MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS AWARD DONCASTER SHEFFIELD AIRPORT Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) is a regional airport owned by Peel Holdings UK and is recognised as one of two top priority assets for the Sheffield City Region. DSA now flies to over 40 destinations with three main carriers – TUI (Thomson), Flybe and Wizz Air.

THE VINE HOTELS SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD THE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL CHARITY The Children’s Hospital Sheffield is one of only four stand-alone children’s hospitals in the UK and has been providing care and medical treatments to children for over 140 years.The Children’s Hospital Charity supports the world leading care of Sheffield Children’s Hospital and the judges said the charity must be recognised for the “true innovation and uniqueness of The Herd of Sheffield installation which raised an incredible £562,000.” SHORTLISTED COMPANIES: The Cathedral Archer Project - Just Works, Mike Fearne - The Great Sheffield Art Show, Kim Streets - Museums Sheffield, The Cutler’s Company, The work-wise Foundation

THE SHEFFIELD BUSINESS SCHOOL SME OF THE YEAR DOORDEALS LIMITED Set up by managing director Steve Naylor in 2007, Doordeals is considered one of the UK’s leading independent online timber door retailers. Operating from their offices, showroom and distribution centre on Saxon Road, Sheffield, Doordeals predominantly gains its revenue from its e-commerce website.

The judges said Doncaster Sheffield Airport demonstrated “an incredible marketing strategy, substantially raising their profile and increasing investment into the region.”

The judges not only recognised the outstanding growth of this organisation, but praised the way it “acknowledges the challenges around them, finding innovative and sustainable ways in which to resolve them.”

SHORTLISTED COMPANIES: Evoluted, Benchmark Recruit Ltd, Forde Recruitment, Jump Inc.

SHORTLISTED COMPANIES: Hive IT Ltd, BetterYou Ltd, Sheffield Credit Union, The SEO Works Limited

First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk 33

* SHEFFIELD BUSINESS AWARDS First For Business

DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018

www.ffb-online.co.uk

MAKING CONNECTIONS EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE IS THE SECRET OF SUCCESS FOR MILLGATE – AND THE IT SPECIALIST IS AIMING TO BECOME A KEY PART OF ITS CLIENTS’ OPERATIONS IN THE FUTURE.

34 First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk

ince 1996, Millgate has been the leading provider of IT and telecoms products and services for businesses in Yorkshire and beyond. Millgate provides consistent excellent service to enhance clients’ businesses by connecting people and information, and today serves over 6,000 customers nationwide with an annual turnover of over £50million. Owned and managed by CEO Chris Calvert, the company has highly trained IT consultants who survey, analyse and provide efficient solutions, along with offering IT support and maintenance and fixed telephone systems, mobile and broadband solutions. Recently celebrating its 21st anniversary

and listed as one of the top 100 resellers in the UK, Millgate were not only one of the five finalists for High Growth Business of the Year Award 2017 at the Sheffield Business Awards, but finalists in the CRN Sales and Marketing Awards for ‘best company to work for’ and the prestigious ‘reseller of the year’ category. The company have also joined the Crown Commercial Supplier Framework enabling

PROMOTION

them to provide I.T solutions and services within the public sector, and are premier partners with the Chamber of Commerce.

want to help everyone at Millgate grow, educate and develop, and to do this we are introducing The Millgate Way,” adds Dan.

“This is the first time we’ve been up for a local award, and it’s a great honour to be recognised for over 20 years of hardwork and company growth,” said Dan Bumby, head of technology.

The Millgate Way focuses on six key areas of growth including teamwork, accountability, customer satisfaction, training and development, employee engagement and continuous improvement.

“Millgate has done amazing things over the years, and we will continue to do so as we further develop and grow over the upcoming months and years.” During their period of recent high growth Millgate have continuously kept the same level of quality while replicating their service on a larger scale with the introduction of technology experts and a dedicated team for new starters. A thirst for quality, the company came to the decision to work towards an ISO framework. After planning, process formalising, staff training and accreditation reviews, Millgate was awarded the ISO 2001:2008 certification, meaning customers can have the confidence the team are committed to quality and delivering outstanding customer service. Millgate places a strong focus on staff development and growth, and during the course of the year have been upskilling employees with a range of training covering different areas across the business. “The development of staff is a big passion of mine. Over the upcoming months I

‘Over the next five years, my vision is for Millgate to be a key part in how our customers run their organisations rather than just supplying or managing the IT side of things. I see our value in helping influence business decisions by using data analytics and the cloud.’

The company has grown its staff numbers by 21 per cent from 90 in 2015, to 109 in 2016, and now currently employees 115 staff. In a recent survey they’ve also surpassed the national average for job satisfaction, with over 95 per cent feeling supported and 82 per cent feeling motivated in their role. “Your employees are the most important asset to a business. It’s important to listen to your team and empower them to be their best,” said Chris Calvert, managing director. “Over the next five years, my vision is for Millgate to be a key part in how our customers run their organisations rather than just supplying or managing the IT side of things. I see our value in helping influence business decisions by using data analytics and the cloud. “I think it’s key that going forward we continue to focus on how we can work together with clients, help educate them and create positive engagement through excellent service delivery,” adds Dan Bumby. So what makes Millgate different? It has simple and accessible management, sets realistic rewards and goals for its staff, empowers people and provides a fun and friendly atmosphere in which to work. “In the past five years Millgate has doubled its turnover and staff numbers, couple this with our training programmes, dedication to going the extra mile for clients and caring for our community - I think we have a winning formula.” CONTACT: Millgate Computer Systems Ltd 7 Vantage Drive, Sheffield, S9 1RG Tel: 0114 242 7310 Email: info@millgate.co.uk millgate.co.uk

First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk 35

* SHEFFIELD BUSINESS AWARDS First For Business

PROMOTION

DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY2018

www.ffb-online.co.uk

CONTINUING DEVELOPMENT KEEPS MILLGATE STAFF AT THE CUTTING EDGE OF TECHNOLOGY Meraki not only allows businesses to manage their IT infrastructure from a single dashboard but they’re able to control the users, applications and devices and it has no controller hardware or management software to install or maintain.

Technology can connect, empower and drive us. Millgate, whose mission is to provide exceptional service to enhance its clients’ businesses is one of the leading IT companies in Yorkshire that provides all this and more. Recently Millgate has shown a great aptitude for providing Cisco Meraki networking solutions. This has been demonstrated by sales which have nearly doubled in the last 12 months with sales of £340,000 for 2016 to projecting £600,000 for 2017. Founded in 2006 and recently purchased by Cisco, Meraki has grown to become an industry leader in the IT space, with over 230,000 customers, three million network devices and counting online around the world. The Cisco Meraki portfolio of networking devices are focused around simplifying

It can be used on a small-scale through to a million-user deployment. They also have a secure PCI and HIPAA-compliant cloud infrastructure, meaning you can rest assured that data and information is stored correctly and privately.

powerful technology, and are 100 per cent Cloud managed. This feature-rich, easy-touse cloud architecture enables clients to solve new business problems while reducing operating costs.

Millgate not only provides the Cisco Meraki portfolio of products and services, but with their extensive, detailed staff training they can offer all the latest technology solutions to clients. The company focuses on eight key technology areas including data centre, security, mobility, software, procurement services, collaboration, data management and managed services. This in depth training not only educates staff on-cutting edge products, but means they can advise clients which product would be best suited to their individual needs with ease. “Staff development is highly important in any business, but here at Millgate educating the team on the latest products allows us to deliver an unbeatable service to our clients,” said Dan Bumby, head of technology.

For more information of the Cisco Meraki portfolio visit millgate.co.uk/meraki or to contact Millgate email info@millgte.co.uk or call 0114 242 7310. 36 First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk

A leading provider of IT and telecoms products and services Since 1996, we constantly provide exceptional service to enhance our clients business by effectively connecting people and information.

100% Cloud Managed IT The Cisco Meraki portfolio of networking devices are centrally managed from the cloud. This feature-rich, easyto-use cloud architecture enables customers to solve new business problems and reduce operating costs. • Manage your IT infrastructure from a single dashboard • Control users, applications, and devices • No controller hardware or management software to install and maintain • Secure (PCI and HIPAA-compliant) cloud infrastructure • Scales from small sites to million-user deployments

3 ways to try Cisco Maraki for free with Millgate Request Trial Gear Try any Cisco Meraki product on your network. We’ll ship you gear and provide technical support to get you set up. There’s zero risk — if Meraki isn’t right for you, simply send the gear back. Receive a Free 802.11ac AP by Attending a Webinar See live demonstrations and ask questions of Cisco Meraki experts at a Cisco Meraki webinar. Qualified IT professionals receive a complimentary Meraki 802.11ac access point! Start Instant Demo Test drive the Cisco Meraki cloud management platform from your browser. Simulated network devices and users enable you to experience the power of cloud management in seconds.

Millgate Computer Systems Limited 7 Vantage Drive, Sheffield South Yorkshire, S9 1RG +44 (0)114 242 7310 info@millgate.co.uk

We are connected… millgate.co.uk/meraki

* SHEFFIELD BUSINESS AWARDS First For Business

DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018

www.ffb-online.co.uk

BE SAFE, BE SECURE, BE ASSURED ASSURED FIRE AND SECURITY: PROTECTING PEOPLE AND PROPERTY WITH PRIDE, PROFESSIONALISM, AND INTEGRITY SINCE 1998. t was back in 1998, when Gameboys were all the rage and Oasis topped the charts that Assured Fire & Security (AFS) was founded. Managing Director Simon Stokes, set out alone as a man in a van after being made redundant three times in just one year. Fast forward 20 years and Assured Fire & Security has developed into one of the UK’s leading specialists in the area of fire and security solution.

bigger premises and ensuring compliance with all fire safety, security and health and safety legislation - regulated by the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board (SSAIB) and British Approvals for Fire Equipment (BAFE).

As the decades have rolled by, Assured have continued to operate in accordance with their established purpose: to protect people and property with pride, professionalism, and integrity, and many of the UK’s leading private and public sector organisations have experienced the peace of mind which Assured creates when applying this ethos and expertise.

“We are transparent in decision making and strive to ensure we engage and communicate effectively”, says Simon. “We don’t just want to be good – our aim is to become the most dependable

Of course, there have been big changes since 1998, and Assured has stayed at the top by investing in multi-skilled engineers to meet the ever-increasing demand for high quality solutions, capitalising global contracts, upgrading to

38 First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk

The one thing that hasn’t changed, though, is their emphasis on developing professional and mutually beneficial relationships.

If you want to receive the same quality Assured customer service, get in touch today to arrange a free quotation, call 0845 4023045 or email: info@assured-ltd.co.uk

fire and security company, which is why we put our customers at the heart of all we do and deliver. “From supply and installation, through to ongoing maintenance and monitoring, Assured represents a dynamic organisation and we continually strive to be dependable for our customers.” With a reliable network of multidiscipline engineers covering the whole of the UK, Assured deliver quality fire and security installations and maintenance for a broad range of clients, including Ask 4 Business, Bannatyne Group, Drayton Manor, GO Outdoors, Toolstation and TGI Fridays. We provide an equal level of service to SMEs, blue chip companies, the public sector and many other organisations. “The key to the success of Assured is the culture of connectivity and communication throughout all departments", Simon adds. “We understand that customers appreciate a single point of contact, who is not only aware of all issues relating to their account but also empowered to resolve

PROMOTION

them, which is why we not only provide streamlined communication, but also the benefits of engineers that are on call 24/7, 365 days a year. Saving you money, time and resources.”

TESTIMONIALS

Such is their commitment to delivering a high level of service, Assured was awarded the Customer Care Initiative of the Year award at the Security & Fire Excellence Awards 2016. But that’s not all – the team was also recently nominated for the Excellence in Professional Services award at the Sheffield Business Awards 2017 – one of the most prestigious events in the region.

“Our biggest concern was finding a company that could keep up with our national expansion plans. We required a flexible company that could install and maintain all the fire safety and security systems for our growing portfolio quickly and efficiently.

“It was an absolute honour to have been nominated for the prestigious Excellence in Professional Services award and to do so not only representing South Yorkshire, but at an awards ceremony that does so much to showcase the local business community.

Toolstation facilities manager Alistair Woodman

“We have worked very hard over many years to evolve the Assured marque and it is always great when our effort is recognised by others.” But don't just take our word for it. Many of the UK’s leading national and regional organisations have experienced the peace of mind employing Assured Fire and Security can offer.

CONTACT: Assured Fire & Security Unit 4, Carrera Court, Church Lane, Dinnington, Sheffield, S25 2RG Tel: 0845 4023045 www.assured-ltd.co.uk

With an intense nationwide expansion plan in place and on-going modernisation of existing stores, Toolstation needed to ensure that the fire safety and security systems they had were of a superior quality capable of protecting their assets.

“Assured were one of the few independent companies who could offer us a service on a nationwide level and provide us with fire safety and security system solutions for every one of our branches. Assured have exceptional customer service and have delivered the level of protection we require. I’m highly impressed with the servicing capabilities and level of training and support given to countless members of our staff throughout the Toolstation branch network.”

Due to the rapid expansion of its business services, Ask 4 Business needed to build a new data centre located in Sheffield. “My initial concern was being able to find a company that was aware of the sensitivities of working in data centres and who would listen to our specific needs. We also needed a company that could prove their experience in this type of work as we could not take any risks on performance. Assured went the extra mile to deliver to our demanding and exacting needs. They are very flexible but also professional and caring in their customer service approach. We have since instructed them to expand their services into our other operations and have recommended them to several other companies in our industry.” John Thornhill of Ask 4 Business World Duty Free made contact with Assured after being let down by their existing fire extinguisher maintenance provider. With their sites being based within airports they needed a company they could rely on and trust to have a strict maintenance regime, deliver on time and do what they say they are going to do. “Very seldom I feel I could walk away and the job would be done to our standard - I certainly feel I could have on this occasion. On the last two visits Assured have been very patient in explaining what they are doing, so I know where I am with things.” Simon Kerwin World Duty Free

First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk 39

Winner of the 2017 Excellence in Professional Services Award

We are Independent Energy Purchasing Specialists with over fifteen years of experience in the Energy Market and our aim is to help clients with all their energy requirements from delivering energy efficiency audits to identify ways of reducing energy costs, management reporting, negotiating contracts, site works new meter fits from start to completion. Helping You to Avoid Inflated Costs Energy pricing rarely puts the customer first, and customers who don’t regularly tender their contracts can often fall foul of inflated charges and unnecessarily high energy bills. We pride ourselves on aiming to achieve the best possible prices for our clients, however large or small their spend or energy consumption. What Can You Expect from Us? As part of our services we provide the following: • Understand your needs by getting to know your businesses and acting in your best interests for all your energy requirements. • Provide a friendly, knowledgeable service which gives you the peace of mind that your utilities are in safe hands. • Remove stress by dealing with suppliers on your behalf. Trust our team to take care of every aspect of the negotiation process. • Secure the best possible prices by carrying out in-depth negotiations and using our expertise to achieve the most affordable outcome. • Offer on-going guidance and expert advice when you need it and resolving queries. • Work honestly and with integrity at all times. If something is not in your best interests, then we will let you know.

O4 Park Square, Thorncliffe Park, Newton Chambers Road, Chapeltown, Sheffield S35 2PH info@pepgb.com / 0114 327 2645 www.pepgb.com

* SHEFFIELD BUSINESS AWARDS HEALTH

First for Business

DECEMBER 2017/ JANUARY 2018

www.ffb-online.co.uk

A DECADE OF EXCELLENCE BETTER YOU REVEALS WHAT MAKES ITS BRAND STAND OUT.

t’s been ten years since health supplement brand BetterYou was founded, and during that time the marketplace has become a very different space. There is now a greater awareness regarding natural health with many more brands on the market. But, what has remained the same is BetterYou’s ethos – its expertise and dedication to efficacy and quality. “Our passion to provide customers with products that are efficacious remains the same. We have stuck to our strengths; creating oral vitamin sprays and transdermal (through the skin) magnesium products, only branching out into areas that are omitted from our modern-day diets,” said Andrew Thomas, founder and managing director of BetterYou. “We never create something for the sake of it, and if we can’t make a product superior to whatever is already on the market, then we don’t launch it.” Commitment to research & quality BetterYou has always had a belief that if consumers are to trust a product enough to remain loyal purchasers, then a level of

credible research to support the product’s efficacy is the very least a responsible brand can produce. The company has always had a ‘lean forward’ approach to absorption research, and is currently working with scientists from the University of Sheffield on a three-year clinical trial looking at the effect of vitamin D supplementation on the quality of life of people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) using its DLux3000 oral vitamin D spray. Innovation is key “New Product Development is the lifeblood of BetterYou,” adds Andrew. “Our commitment to innovation is about so much more than just launching new products and reformulating existing ones. It’s about creating solutions to make health more accessible for the consumer.” BetterYou recently launched the world’s first Turmeric Oral Spray (harnessing pharmaceutical technology to create its innovative formulation) and a Vitamin D3 + K2 Oral Spray for improved bone and heart health. The company will be looking to expand its transdermal magnesium range next year.

Looking to the future Over the last five years BetterYou has more than doubled the turnover of its business from just under £2m in 2013 to close to £5.5 m in 2017. BetterYou is proud of this performance, particularly as the strong growth in sales and profit continues. The company has seen sales growth of 25 per cent in 2017, achieving £5.45m turnover. This follows similar growth in the previous year. Now employing over 35 people in Barnsley, the company also exports to more than 30 countries (including Finland, New Zealand and South Africa) and expects international sales – which currently account for 35 per cent of its business – to grow further. “We have a clear growth plan going forward - here’s to the next ten years.”

CONTACT: BetterYou Tel: 01226 814030 Email: customerservices@betteryou.com www.betteryou.com

First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk 41

* SHEFFIELD BUSINESS AWARDS First For Business

CONFIDENTIAL WASTE

DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018

www.ffb-online.co.uk

AWARDS RECOGNITION ADDS TO AN ALREADY CELEBRATORY MOOD AT CONFIDENTIAL WASTE SPECIALISTS RUSSELL RICHARDSON. heffield City Region’s leading specialist in confidential waste management, Russell Richardson, was proud to be named in the city’s top four for Excellence in Corporate, Social and Environmental Responsibility at the Sheffield Business Awards 2017.

you fall foul, said MD Jonathan Richardson. “Many think it won’t affect them. But virtually every company holds personal data. It is used in everything from sales and marketing to customer databases.

Russell Richardson’s mobile trucks shred on site daily at companies throughout the UK and its collection fleet ferries confidential waste to the company’s state-of-the-art shredding plant. It can handle 200 tonnes of waste paper and products every week.

The achievement came hot on the heels of an environmental win at the Barnsley and Rotherham Business Awards in October and highlights the company’s excellence as it approaches its 40th anniversary in February 2018. The coming year will be a busy one for the Attercliffe-based company. A calendar of giving back to the community is planned to celebrate the big 4-0, and the firm will be helping thousands of SMEs and corporates prepare for the new General Data Protection Regulation sweeping into force on 25 May. Its stringent rules around data storage and handling means major consequences if

“Ahead of 25 May your company will have old data to dispose of – papers, computer hard drives, old mobile phones and laptops – and files to archive. But it has to be done correctly.”

The company was founded in 1978 when Jonathan’s father Russell, a painter and decorator, discovered there was money to be made in the pile of cardboard he was asked to shift before an office refurb.

Jonathan Richardson, MD of confidential waste specialists Russell Richardson

It now turns over £2million and lists the head office of the Formula One Grand Prix team, numerous police forces, law firms, motor giants and British fashion designers as clients.

First For MAGAZINE

CONGRATULATIONS to all the Sheffield Business Awards Winners and Nominees 42 First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk

@ffbmagRMC

PROPERTY

First For Business

DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018

www.ffb-online.co.uk

THE SKY’S THE LIMIT

REACH HOMES WERE DOUBLE AWARD WINNERS AT THE RECENT SHEFFIELD BUSINESS AWARD – WITH GOOD REASON.

ith a shortage of truly affordable new homes, whole generations face the prospect of a lifetime in expensive rented accommodation. In answer to this challenge, Sheffield social entrepreneur Jon Johnson set up the REACH Homes project.

He is aiming to create full-spec ecohomes out of shipping containers using more than 60 per cent recycled material to exceptional standards but at affordable prices. With the basic two-bed 1,200sq foot model selling for £65,000, a high demand has been predicted for these innovative dwellings. Jon intends to create a large number of jobs and apprenticeships, set up regionalscale logistics networks for recycling the necessary materials along with building a not-for-profit business which will lead the way to socially responsible housing developments.

Since January 2017, REACH has been demonstrating how reclaimed insulation, scaffold boards and a 40-foot container combine to give many thousands of people the chance of having a decent place to live. The development of a prototype onebed show home at Heeley City Farm has shown that the principles of the project are correct, with the show home already producing more power over the year than it consumes. “Our financial plan sets out a track which results in us being financially self-sufficient within three years, competing for land commercially after four and offering finance and rental options after year five.”

around a shared space to promote community living. As a not-for-profit organisation, REACH will be a living wage employer and plan to use their surplus income to work with charities and other third sector groups to tackle homelessness and energy poverty. The last six months has seen the company receive seven awards, most recently The Lupton Fawcett Innovation Award, along with the Outstanding Business of the Year 2017 at this year’s Sheffield Business Awards. With a growing list of potential clients, the team at REACH Homes are looking forward to a busy 2018.

REACH Homes are currently working with a number of partners including Sheffield City Council, South Yorkshire Housing Association and UK Steel Enterprises.

Featuring comprehensive insulation, low energy lighting, solar-powered heating, green roofs, rainwater and greywater recovery as well as smart tech and thermally-efficient glazing, REACH Homes are truly cutting-edge.

With 15 million containers surplus to requirements, REACH Homes’ one, two and three-bed homes are set to make a huge difference to the choices facing renters, first-time buyers, downsizers and young professionals.

“The trick is putting all that into a quality home that we can sell cheaply but still make a sustainable business from,” said Jon.

Situated on brownfield sites, extensive landscaping, permaculture and sympathetic low energy lighting will enhance the plots, which will be based

CONTACT: Reach Homes Strip the Willow, 226b South View Road, Heeley, Sheffield, S7 1DH Tel: 07882 209137 Email: reachme@reachhomes.org www.reachhomes.org

First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk 43

Hop over to VIBE for Sheffield’s latest news

We’ve had over 750,000 views this year! Thank you all!

MERRY CHRISTMAS! www.sheffieldvibe.com @VIBE_Sheffield

VIBE-Sheffield

vibesheffield

* SHEFFIELD BUSINESS AWARDS ENGINEERING

First For Business

DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018

www.ffb-online.co.uk

SHEFFIELD SPECIALIST ENGINEERING GROUP SCX HAS CAPPED ITS BEST-EVER YEAR BY WINNING A PRESTIGIOUS AWARD AT THIS YEAR’S SHEFFIELD BUSINESS AWARDS. stablished in 1972, SCX is a familyrun company whose expertise lies in overhead cranes and specialist mechanical handling and lifting solutions.

They are internationally famous for contracts with Tottenham Hotspur and the All England Lawn Tennis Club at Wimbledon, and were proud to be named Large Business of the Year at the Sheffield Business Awards on 7 December. “What a tremendous way to finish the year. The past 12 months have seen enormous growth, genuinely groundbreaking projects, an increasing workforce, a very full order book and the opening of our own training academy,” said group managing director, Simon Eastwood.

The group has over 160 employees across its three businesses – bespoke precision engineering arm SCX Special Projects, Street CraneXpress and Burnand XH. Between 2016 and 2017 the company’s turnover has increased from £20million to £30million. Other work in the defence, nuclear, construction and manufacturing sectors is giving SCX an increasingly strong base at its headquarters in Wincobank, Sheffield. The company remains committed to Sheffield through creating new jobs, generating business for suppliers, growing new engineering talent through

the SCX Academy and Sheffield’s AMRC and, in recent years, expanding into new premises. This year, SCX has also sponsored one of the large snowflakes at the Sheffield Children’s Hospital, and will continue to support local charities in 2018. In addition to receiving the Large Business of the Year award, sponsored by Sheffield-based Simm Engineering Group, the company has recently been granted the right to use the famous Made In Sheffield mark. This brand is only awarded to local firms that demonstrate a commitment to quality and excellence.

“The award is all thanks to our employees. We have a great company and an even better team working for it – 2018 here we come.”

The SCX Group was founded in Shefﬁeld in 1972, consisting of three complementary businesses that specialise in lifting, mechanical handling, control and automation solutions. SCX is probably best known for doing the iconic retractable roofs at Wimbledon, and the retractable pitch for Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium.

In the same year as being given the Made In Shefﬁeld mark, and the RoSPA Gold Award for safety, SCX is delighted to be named ‘Large Business of the Year’ at the 2017 Shefﬁeld Business Awards.

Our work creates local jobs and generates new business for our suppliers. And the SCX Academy works closely with Shefﬁeld’s AMRC to grow today’s apprentices into tomorrow’s engineers.

Find out more at scx.co.uk

First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk 45

First For Business

DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018

www.ffb-online.co.uk

IN GOOD COMPANY COULD YOU BE SHEFFIELD’S NEXT CONFERENCE AMBASSADOR? everal big-money news stories have dominated the local headlines recently. The biggest investment in Sheffield for a generation from the likes of McLaren, Boeing and IKEA has carved a new narrative for Sheffield as a city that means business.

The Sheffield Ambassador Programme recognises and rewards this talent. Our dedicated team at Marketing Sheffield ensures conference hosts have both the confidence and infrastructure to make each event a success.

But it’s a lesser-known part of this economic growth that’s making the biggest financial impact of them all.

From initial bids, advice and planning to booking venues, accommodation and extra activities, our free support ensures everything runs smoothly from start to finish.

Sheffield’s conferencing industry brings a staggering £113million to the city each year. Home to experts in everything from particle physics to orthopaedic surgery (and a world of knowledge in between), the city’s thriving conference scene lights up the business calendar and showcases Sheffield’s wealth of talent unlike any other.

Ambassador-led conferences not only generate substantial economic impact for the city but also raise the profiles of our institutions and research areas. They showcase our city to others, often further the careers of our rising stars or establish Sheffield as a centre of excellence. They tell the world where Sheffield leads the way.

MEET THE SHEFFIELD CONFERENCE AMBASSADORS

Steve Haake, Director of Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC) “I’ve been part of the Conference Ambassador Programme since it first began ten years ago. It’s a great network to be part of because it’s one thing saying you’ll do a conference, but getting the help you need is really important. There is a lot of support that helps you put yourself, your institution and Sheffield on the map.”

46 First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk

Once part of the programme, ambassadors receive invitations to a host of exclusive events throughout the year. As well as celebrating the city’s success, these events offer ambassadors the opportunity to network with other local influencers and ignite cross-sector collaborations. Many exciting partnerships have begun this way. The programme celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2017 and we’re now appealing to Sheffield’s business, health and academia professionals to join in. Become part of this exclusive club and help your city, your career and your organisation reap the rich rewards.

Matthew Malek, Lecturer in Experimental Particle Physics at the University of Sheffield “Of course we want to bring our global networks of scientists to Sheffield for meetings and the Conference Ambassador Programme has the infrastructure to help us with that.”

FEATURE

Paul Dimitri, Consultant in Paediatric Endocrinology at Sheffield Children’s Hospital “It’s that networked approach – being able to link with other people whom you may not have ordinarily met without the programme in place.”

Matt Flinders, Professor of Politics at the University of Sheffield “Let’s really strive for high profile events, taking advantage of getting people and events out of London and enhance our ambition and visibility.”

Chris Blundell, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals “It’s a lot of fun to have conferences. It’s a great opportunity to get people together who otherwise don’t share the same values. Congresses are vital, otherwise we end up in silos.”

Visakan Kadirkamanathan, Director of the Rolls Royce University Technology Centre in Control and Systems Engineering at the University of Sheffield “Visibility brings recognition for the university and the particular activities they do as a centre of excellence.”

Marta Cohen, Consultant Paediatric Pathologist at Sheffield Children’s Hospital “Without the ambassador programme, I never would have thought of organising the conference – it was a dream for me to bring it to Sheffield.”

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED Are you a knowledge pioneer with a thirst to share with others? Are you proud to live and work in Sheffield? Perhaps you’d like to join us. To find out more contact Gemma Tissington at Marketing Sheffield on 0114 273 5978 or Gemma.Tissington@sheffield.gov.uk or visit www.welcometosheffield.co.uk/ambassador

First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk 47

First For Business

DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018

FEATURE

www.ffb-online.co.uk

REMARKABLE RESULT PA JEWELLERY WERE RECENTLY ASKED TO TAKE ON AN UNUSUAL JOB – THE END RESULT WAS A GOLDEN FAMILY HEIRLOOM.

he award-winning Commonside jewellers have a reputation in Sheffield as one of the city’s most esteemed jewellers. But even with their wealth of experience the job given to them by one customer still felt slightly intimidating.

They were tasked with melting the entirety of a customer’s family gold and making a new chain and other pieces, including a bangle, from it. The customer’s mother and grandmother had passed away leaving her a mountain of gold rings and chains (10oz in total) that had ended up collecting dust as she wasn’t keen on

wearing the pieces herself. One of PA’s directors Ian Cookson said: “A lot of it couldn’t be worn even if she decided she did like it, because of the condition.” After many discussions as to whether it was actually possible, given the amount of gold and the tools they had at their disposal, they decided to give it a crack, motivated by the fact the items were so precious to the customer. Ian said: “I’ve never been faced with a bag of gold quite so big. Because it was her mother’s jewellery the importance of it being right was so high. It was a bit like, right now we’ve decided we can make it, how are we going to do it?” That’s where PA Jewellery’s workshop manager Deborah Rootham came in. Due to the amount of gold they were melting Deborah had to use new and innovative techniques in order to make the massive job work. She describes it as feeling a bit like a blacksmith and said: “I was hitting it very

48 First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk

hard! You get determined to do it though. It was about adapting. “I had to melt it (the gold) in three lots because there was so much. Getting the metal to work from was actually the scariest, biggest bit.” The full process took around eight weeks, and around 50-60 hours, to complete, and thanks to Deborah’s consummate skills in the workshop the end result is really quite remarkable. See for yourself in these pictures.

PROMOTION

First for Business

DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018

www.ffb-online.co.uk

TOP OF THE CLASS WESTBOURNE RATED BEST SCHOOL IN SHEFFIELD.

he best performing schools in South Yorkshire, according to the Sunday Times, have been revealed.

Parent Power, The Sunday Times Schools Guide 2018, has identified the 2,000 highest-achieving schools in the UK, ranked by their recent examination results. It includes primary schools, secondary schools, sixth form colleges, independent schools and academies. The rankings in the secondary school league tables are determined by the percentage of examination entries gaining A* to B grades at A-level this summer (which is given double weighting) and the percentage of entries returning A* and A grades at GCSE. They are published several weeks ahead of the official Government tables for

Westbourne School Educating girls and boys for life secondary school performance. Primary school rankings are based on SAT results, but some independent schools do not appear as they do not take SATs. Westbourne School came top in Sheffield and is ranked in seventh place nationwide after some fantastic exam resultS.The independent secondary school, which around 350 students, achieved 48.3 per cent in GCSES at A* and A. Read more at www.thestar.co.uk/news/ revealed-the-best-schools-in-sheffieldand-south-yorkshire-according-to-thetimes-1-8879445

CONTACT: Westbourne School, 60 Westbourne Road, Sheffield, S10 2QT www.westbourneschool.co.uk

SENIOR SCHOOL Scholarship Opportunities for Year 7 entry 2018 “Westbourne is not just about celebrating and nurturing excellence - it’s about sharing it...” Scholarships available in: ; &$'(/,& ; 2135 ; 64,& ; 3$/$ ; .. 160'

SCHOLARSHIP EXAMINATION DAY TO YEAR 6 PUPILS MONDAY 22ND JAN 2018 OPEN FROM ALL SCHOOLS westbourneschool.co.uk

Call 0114 266 0374

(All Round = Academic with either sport, music or drama)

First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk 49

MOTORING

First For Business

DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018

www.ffb-online.co.uk

TAKE FULL AD-VANTAGE Say hello, everyone, to the new 911 killer from Aston Martin – the Vantage. The Aston Martin Vantage is the baby in the range, the small agile coupe with the personality of an excitable dog. The Vantage has an all-new futuristic look separating it from the rest of the Aston Martin line-up, taking design cues from the Aston Martin Vulcan track car. As Aston Martin shares a partnership with Mercedes, it’ll be powered by the same 510hp 4.0-litre biturbo V8 found in the Mercedes AMG GTS. This produces a 0-62mph time of 3.5 seconds and a vmax of 195mph. Power is delivered through a eight-speed ZF automatic transmission via the rear wheels. Deliveries are expected to begin in the second quarter of 2018.

MAKING A POINT Say hello everyone to the all-new Jeep Compass – Jeep’s attempt to make the SUV segment its own. Starting at £22,995, the Compass is a great way to enter the SUV market. Upon its arrival in February 2018, there’ll be two petrol and three diesels to choose from. Petrol units are a 140hp 1.4-litre turbo and a 170hp 1.6-litre turbo. Diesels are a 120hp 1.6-litre unit and a 2.0-litre motor with either 140hp and 170hp. Transmissions available are a six-speed manual or a nine-speed automatic with either two-wheel or four-wheel drivetrains.

WHAT SHOULD YOU BE DRIVING IN 2018? JORDAN CUTFORTH HAS SOME ROAD-WORTHY ADVICE. LET’S GO CRAZY

HOT STUFF

If you’re looking for mind-bogglingly rapid car that’s as mad as a butcher’s dog then look no further than the Lotus Exige Cup 430.

Want your hot hatch to be fast, mad and super exclusive? Then look no further, the Seat Leon Cupra R has all your needs covered.

The Exige Cup 430 is the “wildest incarnation” of the brand’s two-seater point-to-point racer. Compared to the previous model – the Cup 380 – the 430 has 55 extra horsepower totalling 430hp. It produces 220kg of maximum downforce and compared to the Exige Cup 380, the 430 produces the same amount of downforce at 100mph than this car did at its top speed.

Out of the 799 models that are due to be built worldwide, just 24 will be landing in UK based dealerships, each with a price tag just shy of £35,000.

With a weight of 1,056 kg and 407hp per tonne, this monster takes 3.2 seconds to hit 60mph and can hit 180mph.

Over the ‘ordinary’ Cupra, this R has various tweaks both technically and visually. Under the skin we have a new steering system, modified camber angles on the front axle, four piston Brembo brake callipers and a retuned exhaust system with an even racier note. The interior is upgraded over the Cupra, so too is the exterior.

This car is on par with the Porsche 911 GT3 and Mercedes AMG GT-R.

A six-speed manual transfers the power to the front wheels from its 306hp motor. Seat Leon Cupra R

Four equipment levels: Sport, Longitude, Limited and Trailhawk. Standard equipment includes 16inch alloy wheels, LED tail lights, leather steering wheel, air-con and cruise-control. Higher specs include larger alloy wheels, Apple CarPlay and keyless go.

First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk 51

First For Business

FEATURE

DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY2018

www.ffb-online.co.uk

RED LION GARAGE APPOINTMENT PHIL ROBINSON JOINS RED LION GARAGE IN HEELEY.

he Tavern Garage Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Phil Robinson as manager of its Red Lion Garage on Broadfield Road. Well known and respected in the local motor trade, Phil brings over 35 years of experience to Red Lion Garage, having had various management roles at Sheffield motor dealer and repair garage company Chris Noyland Bill Rhodes Ltd. Commenting on the new appointment, Tavern Garage Group managing firector Sean Murphy said: “Phil brings valuable know-how and will be an asset to our team. His knowledge and experience will be invaluable as we continue to provide the highest level of service for our customers and grow our business locally.”

Said Phil: “I look forward to expanding the business at Red Lion Garage. I know how important it is for motorists to find a garage they can trust and I and my team will be working hard to ensure that customers enjoy an honest, reliable and high quality service aimed at giving them peace of mind that their vehicle is safe on the road and running at maximum efficiency.” Anyone interested in booking a repair or service at Red Lion Garage can call 0114 255 1619 or, as with all the other garages in the Group, customers can go online and book an MOT, repair or service 24 hours a day, seven days a week using a simple booking system. Once they have made the booking they receive a confirming email – then all they need to do then is turn up at the agreed time.

UKBullion

Red Lion 32-36 Broadfield Road, Sheffield, S8 0XJ Tel: 0114 255 1619 www.taverngaragegroup.co.uk

Dealers in quality watches & diamonds

339-341 Ecclesall Rd, Sheffield S11 8PF 52 First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk

CONTACT:

Tel: 0114 2664040

LOVE YOUR CAR THIS WINTER Part of an independent group of family run JDUDJHV ZH RÎ?HU D IXOO UDQJH RI VHUYLFHV DW DJ Î? JH HUY F KLJKO\ FRPSHWLWLYH SULFHV \ F S )XOO\ JXDUDQWHHG VHUYLFLQJ UHSDLUV DQG GLDJQRVWLFV HG J SD RQ DOO YHKLFOH PDNHV DQG PRGHOV E\ SURIHVVLRQDO FRQWLQXRXVO\ WUDLQHG DQG IULHQGO\ PHFKDQLFV MOT testing for all lll ccars, Class 7 vans and d campervans. m 0DLQ GHDOHU OHYHO VXSSRUW ZKLFK GRHV QRW RW DÎ?HFW D YHKLFOHV ZDUUDQW\ Č&#x201A; DOO DW ORFDO HK JDUDJH SULFHV H S FH Free advice on all aspects of motoring F Fr 7\UHV VXSSOLHG DQG Č´WWHG G

Red Lion Garage, 32-36 BrRadfield Rd, d Sheffield, S8 0XJ

To book a service or MOT call us o 0114 2551619 on or book online in n at www.taverngaragegroup.co.uk a co

Pick up your free ice scraper when you visit any one of our garages

First For Business

DECEMBER 2017 / JANUARY 2018

www.ffb-online.co.uk

FORTY YEARS OF LITTLE MIRACLES IVF HAS COME A LONG WAY SINCE LOUISE BROWN WAS BORN IN 1978. PHOEBE SEYMOUR FINDS OUT ABOUT THE LATEST TREATMENTS THAT ARE HELPING COUPLES CONCEIVE MORE EASILY.

Jessop Fertility Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Jessop Wing, Tree Root Walk, Sheffield, S10 2SF Tel: 0114 226 8050 Twitter: @JessopFertility

54 First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk

Clinical Lead Jonathan Skull and his team deliver a holistic approach

orty years ago the first baby was conceived through In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) from the ground-breaking work of Patrick Steptoe and Robert Edwards.

“Today IVF is considered to be a routine treatment achieving greater success rates and more than six million babies have been born worldwide.”

Louise Brown was born nine months later, on 25 July 1978, in Oldham General Hospital in Greater Manchester. This gave infertile couples hope, but the treatments were complex and still had low success rates.

Jessop Fertility opened in 2001 and over the last 16 years has helped thousands of patients achieve their dream of becoming a family using the latest treatments and technological advances. This now includes the latest time-lapse incubators, which monitor embryo development to allow better selection of embryos for treatment.

However, since then treatments have become much easier and less disruptive to patients’ lives, confirms Jonathan Skull, Clinical Lead at Jessop Fertility, part of the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals.

So far this year they have helped 300 couples become parents and over 3,500 babies have been born since the unit opened.

HEALTH

“It is not just about the technology. The most important aspect of treatment is to ensure that patients are treated individually using a holistic approach,” adds Jonathan Jessop Fertility has five highly experienced consultants and a team of dedicated specialist nurses, scientists, administrators and fertility councillors that care for patients’ physical and emotional wellbeing. Not only is the unit staffed by experts with years of experience, offering a range of services, Jessop Fertility also provides a relaxed, calm environment, to put patients at ease throughout their fertility journey. With all this expert care and state-ofthe-art technology, the centre’s success rates are at an all-time high. The most recent figures show that patients up to the age of 37 have a 41% chance of having a successful clinical pregnancy. These excellent success rates have been

Valerie Kitcheman, the Business Support Manager. “We offer a very competitive, transparent package with no hidden costs, our treatment packages include all treatment monitoring, time-lapse technology, embryo glue and early pregnancy monitoring. Business Support Manager Val is always happy to answer your questions

achieved whilst keeping the multiple pregnancy rates low. This means that there is a higher chance of delivering a healthy baby. “Our services at Jessop Fertility are available to both NHS and self-funding patients,” says

“As well as IVF, we offer a full range of fertility investigations including a comprehensive range of assisted conception techniques such as IntraCytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), and treatment with donor sperm and eggs. “If you would like more information about how Jessop Fertility could help you, we would be happy to talk to you in confidence.”

Contact 0114 226 8501 to speak to Val or send an enquiry via the Jessop Fertility website at www.jessopfertility.org.uk

First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk 55

NEW YEAR, NEW GOALS If you’re resolved to business growth in 2018 you’ll need professional marketing support that shares your commitment. Genie Creative has over 30 years experience in marketing a wide range of organisations. This experience tells us that one size does not fit all and that’s why we provide bespoke marketing solutions tailored to your individual needs. To find out how we can help your organisation grow in 2018 please call Patrick Ross on 0114 250 9119 or email pat@geniecreative.org.uk

geniecreative.co.uk

109 Meersbrook Centre, 19 Valley Road, Sheffield S8 9FT

Do you have a business news story worth shouting about? If you are expanding, celebrating an anniversary or recruiting new faces, put the word out via First For Business... the only monthly independent voice of business in Sheffield City Region. Send your stories and press releases to Mandy Ogle at mandy.ogle@rmcmedia.co.uk or telephone 0114 250 6300.

First For MAGAZINE

56 First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk

BUSINESS REVIEW

First For Business

DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018

www.ffb-online.co.uk

CREATIVE & DIGITAL THESE ARE EXCITING TIMES FOR THE CITY, SAYS MEL KANAREK, DIRECTOR AND CO-FOUNDER, SHEFFIELD DIGITAL. n June 2017 the University of Sheffield and Creative Sheffield published a Snapshot report on the creative digital scene in Sheffield saying: “The picture that emerges is a city on the cusp of something big. It’s an exciting time to be in Sheffield.”

Earlier in the year, the 2017 Tech Nation report highlighted Sheffield’s digital industry cluster, stating that companies in Sheffield boast one of the highest growth rates of any cluster in the UK, with turnover increasing at 47 per cent. This report also noted that Sheffield’s digital sector achieved 38 per cent turnover growth and provided a GVA of £339million to the local economy. I think it’s fair to say that Sheffield’s digital sector is not just on the cusp. What we are seeing is an impressive surge of momentum. Sheffield is the home to global success stories like The Floow, WANdisco, Zoo Digital and Sumo Digital; to wellestablished, fast-growing corporates like Plusnet, Sky Betting and Gaming and now Jet2 along with award-winning startups like Tutora, Sport:80, Receptive, Airstoc and IN-Part. And that lists only a very few of the thriving digital businesses

and agencies based here. These businesses are all growing, and the demand for digital talent is increasing year on year as companies are creating new jobs and moving into larger premises. Sumo Digital recently announced an expansion into additional space in Brightside, Zoo Digital moved into City Gate and Jaywing’s impressive transformation of Albert Works was named as the north’s most inspiring space. Currently both the Sheffield Tech Parks and the Workstation are almost at capacity, whilst Electric Works is 99 per cent full – the highest it’s ever been. Work also continues behind the scenes to bring the Sheffield Tech Hub project to fruition, which is something the city urgently needs especially as a focal point to encourage and nurture more startup activity. We understand that Sheffield City Council is working hard on this and hope that they can come to an agreement before much more time has passed. Sheffield’s digital businesses have amply demonstrated their significant growth potential and ability to create rewarding, high value jobs. The challenge for our city

now is to move swiftly to make the most of this potential and ensure that digitals benefits are applied across industries, the economy as a whole and the community. November’s Digital Coalition conference – jointly produced by Sheffield City Council and Sheffield Digital – was an important first step and I look forward to seeing how that initiative evolves. We have also seen significant progress on the skills front, including Sheffield Hallam University’s launch of digital degree apprenticeships, Sheffield College’s plans to introduce a software developer apprenticeship, the Digifest event and the continuing success of the Make, Learn, Share family learning project. Looking ahead, 2018 has to be the year that Sheffield grabs the digital opportunity with both hands. We cannot afford to be left behind and we have all the talent and energy we need right here. It’s time for some serious will and positive action.

Are we up to spec on tech? Tweet us @ffbmagRMC

First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk 57

AVAIL ABLE THROUGHOUT DECEMBER

New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve

Black Tie Ball BOOK YO U R PART Y NOW

doncaster-racecourse.co.uk 01636 814481

DoncasterRacecourse

@Doncaster_Races

Behind every great chef... Tony Leck’s

Beyond

PAVI LI O N O N A PL AT E Fres h Flavours From Guernsey

With over 40 fabulous recipes from the kitchens of The Brilliant Restaurant

Inspired Indian cooking

In a

CLASS of its

OWN Inside the UK’s top school for the culinary stars of tomorrow

BY DIPNA ANAND

By Gary Hunter with Adam Kay

enthal Foreword by Heston Blum

L IV IN G O V E R THE SHOP

MY FAMILY’S

E TO P LEV EL CO OK ING FRO M TH

the cook book

SECRET KITCHEN Traditional Recipes from a North Indian Family Kitchen

BY STEVEN DOHERTY Foreword by Albert Roux

with a helping hand in

By Andreas Antona

with Adam Bennett & Luke Tipping

the kitchen from

...is a great publisher! Ask about our successful book publishing and what we can do for you

RMC Media

Publishing quality titles since 1986 Broadfield Court, Sheffield S8 0XF Tel: 0114 250 6300 www.rmcmedia.co.uk info@rmcmedia.co.uk

RE WA RDS 50% OFF FOOD for loyalty card holders in January

OR...

Use your card before 31 December 2017 to be eligible for our January offer. Find out more: rewards.truenorthbrewco.uk

TrueNorthBrewCo

T&Cs: Available Monday to Thursday. Commencing 3rd January. Discount applies for bookings up to eight people. Management reserve the right to withdraw the offer at any time. Discount automatically loaded on to your card. One use per card. Not in conjunction with any other offer, including £5 Rewards vouchers.

Learn about the art of distilling during a session with the curator of Sheffield Dry Gin, in the heart of Sheffield at True North Brewery on Eldon Street. You will learn all about the history of gin, develop a deeper understanding of botanicals & become an expert in garnishes. CONTACT BOOKINGS@TRUENORTHBREWCO.UK TO BOOK YOUR TICKET

The curator will then assist you in blending your own unique gin for you to take home.

First For Business

DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018

www.ffb-online.co.uk

CPP ANNOUNCE THE EXPANSION OF ITS PROPERTY AND ASSET MANAGEMENT DIVISION Following a number of recent new instructions, Yorkshire and Midlandsbased commercial property consultants, Commercial Property Partners LLP (CPP) has expanded its property and asset management division with the appointment of three new experienced property professionals. Julie Mills joins the team as financial controller and service charge accountant from Lambert Smith Hampton following over 25 years in the property accounts industry. She brings a wealth of financial knowledge and service charge experience to the team, and will be overseeing the service charge accounts for all managed properties. Sarah Staite joins from learndirect Ltd, where she spent nine years as property and facilities manager, overseeing the management of a number of both local and national properties and the

statutory compliance across a nationwide portfolio. Julie Statham also joins the team from learndirect Ltd, following four years as property helpdesk manager, whose main duties include overseeing the in-house helpdesk function and supervising and coordinating the work of contractors for all reactive and planned maintenance

works across CPP’s managed portfolio. CPP Partner and head of property and asset management, Matthew Fitzgerald, commented: “We are delighted to be able to announce the appointment of Julie, Sarah and Julie, who bring with them a wealth of experience in the property management industry.”

WORK AND PLAY

A MONTHLY ROUND-UP OF NEWS, ACHIEVEMENTS, CELEBRATIONS AND NEW FACES

FREE WI-FI IN THE OUTDOOR CITY Sheffield City Council and Sheffield based Idaq Networks Ltd have announced a ten-year deal that will see IDAQ provide free of charge high-speed Wi-Fi internet access in the outdoor areas and public buildings of Sheffield city centre. The service, known as Sheffield Free WiFi, will help the council meet its ambition to be one of the best connected cities in the country and help make the city centre more vibrant. Idaq will provide the Wi-Fi service by

62 First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk

installing superfast and ultrafast broadband equipment to council-owned street lights and street furniture. The network is available free of charge to help innovative digital projects get off the ground, such as those led by the Sheffield Universities and Sheffield Digital. Idaq will also use the network to provide a range of exciting cutting edge ultrafast broadband products and services to the residents and businesses of Sheffield city centre.

Image courtesy Mark Rodgers

WORK & PLAY

INNOVATIVE BRAILLE EDUCATION TOOL TO LAUNCH FOLLOWING UK STEEL ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT Sheffield-based educational product designer Yang For Young is preparing to launch its first product to market following a £10,000 investment from UK Steel Enterprise (UKSE). Elena Yang, the Sheffield Hallam University masters graduate behind Yang For Young, is set to launch Brailler – a new tactile teaching aid that provides an interactive way of learning braille for young people. Brailler provides the opportunity for non-sighted and sighted children to learn braille while learning the letters of the alphabet. By encouraging the children to learn together the product aims to develop a greater understanding amongst pupils of the challenges faced by visually impaired children in the hope of creating a more supportive and inclusive society moving forwards. Elena received the funds following the completion of a 12-week intensive

business development course as part of the UK Steel Enterprise YAccelerator start-up programme which is dedicated to supporting individuals, teams and companies looking to get a new business idea off the ground and which saw Yang For Young named as runner up.

Entrepreneurs were invited to apply for the 2018 Y Accelerator programme through the Sheffield City Region Growth Hub.

Elena said: “The Y-Accelerator programme has been indispensable in increasing my business acumen and knowledge of how to market a product correctly. Alongside the investment funding, the business classes have really helped to guide my product in the right direction and increase my understanding of my target audience.”

Ten successful applicants will be given the opportunity to undergo three months of intensive business training before being invited pitch their idea to an audience of investors to be in with a chance of securing £25,000 of investment from UK Steel Enterprise to enable them to take their business to the next stage.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS PLANNED FOR OLYMPIC LEGACY PARK

Two world class research and innovation centres in healthcare are the latest multimillion-pound major developments planned for the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park.

The proposed Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Research and Innovation Centre (ORRIC) at the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park

“It is estimated that these investments will create the equivalent of 3,465 full time jobs by 2027, including 348 professional roles.”

The Centre for Child Health Technology (CCHT) is being led by Sheffield Children’s Hospital and will see experts from the NHS, private sector and academia developing cutting edge technology for the benefit of children and young people. Research and innovation will cover long-term conditions such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, neurodisability and mental health disorders that affect millions of children. The Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Research and Innovation Centre (ORRIC) is led by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and will promote similar collaborative research to address some of the most common yet debilitating musculoskeletal injuries and conditions such as those affecting the spine, hips, knees, ankles, shoulders and elbows. It is estimated that these investments on the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park – designed to deliver improvements in public health as a tangible legacy of the London 2012 Olympic Games – will create the equivalent of 3,465 full time jobs by 2027, including 348 professional roles. Up to 1,340 construction-related jobs are envisaged. It is further predicted that each £1 of public investment will generate around £14.50 towards the economy by 2042. The centres have the potential to generate a total of £1.7billion in GVA benefits to the economy by 2042.

First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk 63

First For Business

DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018

www.ffb-online.co.uk

PARTNERSHIP TO HELP ‘UNDER-PREPARED’ FIRMS

A Sheffield IT firm has formed a partnership with three national organisations in a bid to help businesses ahead of the forthcoming GDPR regulations – after a survey discovered at least 80 per cent were ‘alarmingly underprepared’.

Of those surveyed, just 2.5 per cent of businesses were prepared and ready, five per cent expected to be compliant in time while 12.5 per cent had started preparations – but admitted compliance would take them longer than the May 2018 deadline.

Millgate has joined forces with cloud and endpoint cybersecurity company Bitdefender, cyber security and data protection firm Forcepoint and consultancy training provider IT Governance to educate and assist businesses still unpicking and understanding the implications – and potential impact on their business – of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requirements and deadline for compliance.

Millgate managing director Chris Calvert said: “The poll highlights a worrying lack of awareness about GDPR especially among SMEs, with the majority alarmingly underprepared. “Fewer than ten per cent of firms we spoke to are either ready for GDPR or expect to be compliant in time, which, even as a snapshot statistic, suggests the city business region needs assistance in

preparing – especially given employees may require training, and software implemented to ensure security. “Through our partnership with Bitdefender, Forcepoint and IT Governance we can provide first step assistance to help organisations address the challenges of GDPR compliance with a comprehensive suite of information resources, training courses, toolkits, and consultancy services.” GDPR overhauls previous data protection directives to give more power back to the data subject. Companies around the UK and EU must ensure they are compliant with the new directives before the May 2018 deadline – or will be at risk of substantial fines and reputational damage.

BOOST TO JOBS, HOMES AND ‘KNOWLEDGE GATEWAY’ IN SHEFFIELD A multi-million-pound funding boost for Sheffield’s ‘Knowledge Gateway’ from the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is set to transform several prominent streets and spaces in Sheffield city centre helping to create the setting for 2,863 new jobs and almost 500 new homes, growing the regional economy by an estimated £158million. The LEP is contributing £4.115million in infrastructure funding to transform a major corridor of the city centre running from Paternoster Row in the Cultural Industries Quarter via Pond Street and Pond Hill up to the historic Fitzalan 64 First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk

Square. The work, in an area which has significant potential for growth, will bring the Knowledge Gateway up to the same high standard as the Sheffield city centre Gold and Steel Routes. Following the long-awaited renovation of the former head post office in Fitzalan Square as Sheffield Hallam University’s Sheffield Institute of Arts (SIA), Sheffield City Council announced plans earlier this year to upgrade the route from the Edwardian-era square along Pond Street to Paternoster Row and Brown Street, the focus of the Cultural Industries Quarter as well as improving

connections to the city centre and station. The project aims to help unlock major development opportunities at areas along the route including the site of the former Nelson Mandela building, the former sorting office on Flat Street and the Digital Campus. The work will support development on Sheffield Hallam city centre campus and increase the attractiveness of living and working in the Cultural Industries Quarter. It is due to start next May and will take about a year to complete.

WORK & PLAY

EXCELLENCE OF SHEFFIELD CITY REGION SHOWCASED IN LONDON Delegates from Sheffield City Region met potential investment partners from across the country at an exclusive event held at the McLaren London retailer in Knightsbridge. The aim of the event was to form, develop and strengthen relationships with key institutional investors and fund managers as the city region drives forwards its bold new Trade and Investment Strategy. This was the first investor engagement event of its kind for the city region. Four such events are set to be run each year, and the next will be held in Cannes on 14 March 2018, during MIPIM. Guests included representatives from major national and international organisations, who heard from speakers including Sir Nigel Knowles, chairman of the Sheffield City Region (SCR) Local

Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Mark Jackson from Scarborough Group International and Alan Foster, Executive Director of Infrastructure Projects at McLaren Automotive, now the largest part of the combined McLaren Group. Sir Nigel said: “Sheffield City Region has a unique role to help create new businesses, support the growth of existing ones, and inspire and attract business from across the world like McLaren Automotive to come to the region. This event in London showcased our excellence in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, health technology and rail, as well as demonstrating our ‘let’s get it done’ work ethic and our straightforward, practical approach. “This is an exciting time for trade and investment in Sheffield City Region, having recently hosted the Horasis China

THE FLOOW WELCOMES UK MINISTER FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE TO SHEFFIELD HQ The Floow, a world leader in telematics innovation, welcomed UK Minister for International Trade, Baroness Rona Fairhead, to its Sheffield HQ to discuss how UK companies can succeed in achieving international expansion. The visit comes after a period of rapid growth for The Floow, fuelled by £13million in equity investment from a group of investors led by China-based Fosun group. In September,The Floow opened its first North American office, with a new site in Detroit, USA.This US site will support rapid expansion in that market, where telematics is growing rapidly as an insurance and fleet proposition.The company also has operations in China, which is an exciting market representing huge growth potential.

help UK companies – large and small – to build their businesses for exporting.” In welcoming the Minister to The Floow, Chief Executive Aldo Monteforte commented: “We’re delighted that Baroness Fairhead chose to spend time with us in our Sheffield HQ. As we approach our sixth birthday, it’s fantastic to reflect on how far we’ve come. “Despite our focus on expanding our international relevance, we’re proud to call Sheffield our home. Sheffield is fastdeveloping as a centre for excellence in data science and the quality of highly skilled people we’re attracting to work with us is helping to fuel our growth.”

Meeting, been a major part of a trade mission to Poland and drafted our new Inclusive Industrial Strategy. We are also actively forging new trade relationships with markets including China and India.” Sheffield City Region’s strategy focuses on priority sectors where the region has distinctive specialisms and capabilities. These are principally around advanced manufacturing and engineering, where the city region has already seen huge investment from world-leading companies including McLaren and Boeing. It also aims to raise the profile of export and simplify the export support landscape, to make it easier for businesses to access products and services, while providing greater support to companies in the city region’s internationally competitive sectors.

“Sheffield is fastdeveloping as a centre for excellence in data science and the quality of highly skilled people we’re attracting to work with us is helping to fuel our growth.” BELOW: Victoria Roberts, director of government relations, and the team at The Floow

Baroness Rona Fairhead, said: “I was delighted to visit The Floow on my first visit to the Sheffield City Region as Minister for Trade and Exports.The company is an excellent representative of the region on the world stage as demonstrated by their rapid expansion in the US and the Chinese investment they attracted earlier this year. We stand ready to

First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk 65

BUSINESS REVIEW

First For Business

DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018

www.ffb-online.co.uk Image courtesy Richard Davenport

ARTS, LEISURE & TOURISM Image courtesy Nigel Barker for Sheffield BID

OUR CULTURAL INDUSTRIES CONTINUE TO FLOURISH, SAYS DAN BATES, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SHEFFIELD THEATRES.

n 2017, we welcomed over 400,000 people through our doors. It was an incredibly positive year for us; we were named Regional Theatre of the Year 2017 at The Stage awards for an unprecedented third time, we welcomed Robert Hastie as our new Artistic Director and saw his first season unfold, beginning with the acclaimed Julius Caesar in May.

The city of Sheffield embraced the first home-grown production of the year, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, giving it countless standing ovations during its run here, and we’re proud that it’s since transferred and is now playing to audiences in London’s West End. We celebrated 40 years of World Snooker taking place at The Crucible, watched annually by almost seven million people worldwide, with the tournament confirmed to return to our stage every year until 2028. Christmas is a special time here at the theatres, with more than 80,000 visiting over the festive period. This Christmas, we’re proud to be welcoming Evolution Pantomimes back with Mother Goose which marks our Dame, Damian Williams’, tenth anniversary and the 66 First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk

return of City Taxis as sponsors. In the Crucible, Robert Hastie is directing his first Christmas musical as Artistic Director, a dazzling production of the timeless family classic, The Wizard of Oz. Connecting to every part of the community in the city is incredibly important to us, and we strive to make sure that everyone feels welcome through our doors. This year, we have offered a Dementia Friendly programme, which included monthly tea dances and a dedicated six-week project to enable those living with dementia to embrace their creativity, learn new skills and socialise in a secure environment. Next month, we’re offering singing workshops for those living with dementia, in advance of our Dementia Friendly performance of The Wizard of Oz. We have also launched two new schemes to make our spaces more accessible and open to those that might not traditionally engage with our work: Launch Pad, a project for adults aged 18+ with learning disabilities and/or Autism and New Roots for young people – particularly from Black and Minority Ethnic communities and those from working class backgrounds – to

have the opportunity to create theatre and explore working in the creative industry. In October 2017, it was wonderful to see our entire staff team joining together once more to bring our free Fun Palaces weekend back for a third year. We welcome over 3,000 people each year taking part in activities, tours, workshops and craft sessions. Our workforce is developing and changing to better reflect the diversity of our local community and we are engaging with new audiences who want to come and explore, take part and enjoy. Looking ahead to next year, we’re really excited that we’ll be staging the first regional production of the brilliant Frost/Nixon at a time when it feels particularly pertinent. We’re also bringing a new play to the stage; Chicken Soup, following three women from the soup kitchens of the miners’ strike to the food banks of post-Brexit South Yorkshire and we have Ben Batt, Jonathan Bailey, and Lesley Nichol taking to the Crucible stage in Peter Gill’s The York Realist. Is Sheffield City Region taking the lead? Tweet us @ffbmagRMC

Brittains is an extraordinary spirit. Created from the highest quality 5 times distilled premium vodka and combine it with the finest ingredients and a healthy dash of good old fashioned British eccentricity to create a truly extraordinary drinking experience.

Telephone 01302 639498

www.brittainsbeverages.com

Email sales@brittainsvodka.com