FFB February 2016

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Looking positive What next for Marketing Sheffield?

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First For Business

CONTENTS

FEBRUARY 2016

www.ffb-online.co.uk

CONTENTS FEBRUARY 2016

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AGENDA 6 In light of Brendan Moffett’s resignation as head of Marketing Sheffield, what next for the city region? Andy Waple looks at what’s needed to drive the city forward

DREAM TEAM 18 Is stress in the workplace a problem for your business? Our experts advise on what to look out for and how to avoid it

HEALTHY BUSINESS 24 Is your business fighting fit? There is no better time than the new year to give it a health check

BUSINESS CRIME 27 South Yorkshire Police is helping local businesses stay closed to criminals – with free help and advice

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MOTORING 34 Infiniti aims to compete with the best, writes Jordan Cutforth in this month’s round-up

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WORK & PLAY 46 A monthly round-up of news, achievements, celebrations and new faces

10 THINGS... 51 you can do to reduce waste at work. By Matt Miles, managing director, Lili Wast, FRONT COVER: Solutions 4 Cleaning looks at the effect of the national living wage on business Picture courtesy of Mark Rodgers

34 Editor Chris Wilson chris.wilson@regionalmagazine.co.uk Consultant Editor Andy Waple Chief Feature Writer Julie Farmer Chief Sub Editor Richard Abbey Sub Editor Richard Smith Operations Director Jillion Wood Publishing Manager Mandy Ogle mandy.ogle@regionalmagazine.co.uk Studio Manager Chris Brierley Design Dan Wray, Steve Levers New Media Manager Terri Moore Regional Magazine Company 6 Broadfield Court Broadfield Business Park Sheffield, S8 OXF Tel: 0114 250 6300

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Email: ffb@regionalmagazine.co.uk Web: www.ffb-online.co.uk


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Plumbing and Heating Division NRC Services has over 30 years’ plumbing and heating experience and provides a range of services to both commercial and residential, including emergency call-outs. As a family run business clients can expect a prompt, reliable and professional service, including excellent aftercare. Estimates are free and prices competitive. • New build and refurbishments • Central heating installations • Emergency call-outs • Underfloor heating • Air conditioning

Bathroom and Kitchen Installations All NRC Services’ employees have been thoroughly trained and qualified to perform their particular role; such as Gas Safe. We can provide full design and installation for new builds such as apartments and luxury dwellings as well as refits and refurbishments – whether it be an office, home, cinema or bus depot. • Full bathroom suites • Complete kitchen design and installation • Bath and shower refurbishments • Appliance installation

Boiler and Full System Installations NRC Services understands the importance of reliability and high standards of work for domestic and commercial clients. Our team of trained professionals are fully insured and reliable so you can count on us to deliver outstanding installation, servicing and repair work at competitive prices every time. • Boiler breakdowns and repairs • Boiler inspections • Boiler servicing • Gas Safe and landlord certificates • System upgrades

Drain Cleaning Division NRC Services’ drain cleaning programmes offer a controlled and/or response service team to ensure the smooth running of businesses by providing a healthy and safe working environment. • Drain cleaning maintenance services • CCTV examinations • Pipe lining and root cutting • Drain repairs and manual rodding • High pressure cleaning

• PLUMBING • DRAIN CLEANING • BOILERS • BATHROOMS NRC Services Ltd NRC House Titterton Street Sheffield S9 3TE T: 0114 261 7222 F: 0114 261 9319 E: contact@nrcservices.co.uk W: www.nrcservices.co.uk


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First For Business

PREVIEW

FEBRUARY 2016

www.ffb-online.co.uk

PREVIEW t’s around this time of year that many of us admit that all those noble resolutions we made on New Year’s Eve – usually involving draconian diets or dry Januaries – were just too tough to maintain.

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However, it’s not just our personal lifestyle choices that we need to place under scrutiny. If you’re in business, it is never too late to give your workplace the once over and make sure that everything is running smoothly. This month in First For Business, chief feature writer Julie Farmer has produced a handy checklist to ensure every aspect of your business is facing 2016 in the best possible shape. From refreshing your website to embracing social media, from reviewing health and safety policies to encouraging the workforce to get healthy, there is a wide range of procedures that, combined, can lead to greater productivity and a healthier, happier workplace environment. One aspect of working life that all employers in Sheffield City Region are being asked to take a particular interest in this year is a new fair employment initiative. By signing up to the Fair Employer Charter, organisations pledge to instil a positive working culture, aspire

to exceed the recognised living wage, and value and promote diversity and social mobility. It sounds like a good deal for the workforce, but is it a headache for management? Something to ponder, as we examine how 2016 is going to shape up for the business world. Meanwhile, Sheffield has its own image makeover to consider and, with the recent surprise resignation of Brendan Moffett as the head of Marketing Sheffield, there are important matters to address regarding how the City Region sees itself, and how it wants to be seen by others. Consultant editor Andy Waple looks at the biggest challenges facing the remaining team charged with marketing Sheffield and polishing the city’s image. With the city council and business leaders looking to widen the remit to take into account the pending change to the City Region and elected mayor model that is expected to fall into place late next year, it’s all about co-operation, collaboration and making sure the various private and public bodies work together. When Moffett was at the helm, the focus was on the three Ts – trade, talent and tourism – and there were some

CHRIS WILSON, EDITOR

notable high-profile successes including the Tour de France, Tramlines music festival and the continued annual profile boost given by the presence of the World Snooker Championships at the Crucible. Ensuring the post-Moffett era builds on these successes looks like a considerable task. On a slightly smaller scale, our Dream Team of business experts has been asked to tackle a subject that should certainly be a cause for concern for anyone running a business – stress in the workplace, what to look out for and how to avoid it. If you want to keep stress-related absences down to a minimum, their answers to this tricky dilemma will make absorbing reading. Along with our regular round-up of the region’s business news, that is just a taste of what’s in store in this issue of First For Business. Let us know what you think by tweeting us @ffbmagRMC.

@ Facebook: Regional Magazine Company Twitter: @FFBmagRMC LinkedIn: First For Business magazine Email: ffb@regionalmagazine.co.uk

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First For Business

FEBRUARY 2016

www.ffb-online.co.uk

Image courtesy Aiden Marples

WHICH DIRECTION? IN LIGHT OF BRENDAN MOFFETT’S RESIGNATION AS HEAD OF MARKETING SHEFFIELD, WHAT NEXT FOR THE CITY REGION? ANDY WAPLE LOOKS AT WHAT’S NEEDED TO DRIVE THE CITY FORWARD.


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AGENDA


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First For Business

FEBRUARY 2016

www.ffb-online.co.uk

rendan Moffett’s departure from the head of the team charged with marketing Sheffield and polishing the city’s image has raised questions over the future of the task.

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Moffett has left Marketing Sheffield after eight years in the job to join Sheffieldbased private sector marketers Jaywing at a time when the service finds itself at the crossroads. The city council and business leaders are looking to widen the remit to take into account the pending change to the City Region and elected mayor model that is expected to fall into place late next year. Under George Osborne’s plans the Sheffield City Region is set to become the second northern powerhouse – a combined authority with mayoral elections in October 2017. The authority will have devolved powers to oversee transport budgets, franchised bus services and strategic planning, a prospect that’s been generally received enthusiastically. Unlike current civic mayors, whose roles are largely ceremonial, the elected mayor will have real power and act as chair of the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority overseeing the Chancellor’s hand out of £900million over the next 30 years thanks to the ‘historic’ devolution deal. It is hoped the introduction of a mayor will ensure that Sheffield is well placed to receive more powers and funding from the government in the future which is why it makes sense that marketing the region as a whole is the way forward.

Outdoor City was launched last October, drawing on the Peak District’s growing reputation as a mecca for people pursuing outdoor activities and the growth in Sheffield of industries supporting the hobbies. The city council with others, including National Trust, has worked on an outdoor economic strategy for the region to reinforce the leisure economy that is now recognised as a “signature sector”. The outdoor leisure economy generates more than £53million in economic output a year as well as £93million a year in consumer spending.

The district will be centred around the area that is already home to The University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre at Catcliffe and the wider Advanced Manufacturing Park at Waverley.

Leigh Bramall

It will be Europe’s largest research-led cluster of businesses and science research facilities. Such innovation districts are the current best-thing. They combine research institutions, firms and businesses with homes and transport links. Another example of collaboration was witnessed last October when the Sheffield City Region was represented as a whole on a stand at the MIPIM UK event, the nation’s largest exhibition and conference for property professionals.

Council chiefs and analysts agree the best marketing strategy is to market the city region as a whole, rather than as individual cities and towns, because the region reflects the true economic and political geography, offering the best opportunities for positive returns.

The region went a step further, attending in partnership with Leeds City Region for the second year running.

This can be seen, for example, in the

Edward Highfield

Another ongoing collaborative marketing initiative launched last year is The Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District off the Parkway, which is being marketed by Sheffield and Rotherham whose authorities straddle its boundaries.

In the meantime, Marketing Sheffield will report to Edward Highfield, the director of Creative Sheffield, the overarching agency in charge of economic development with a focus on enterprise, investment and economic growth.

The move towards a wider marketing strategy has been developing in recent months with Sheffield and the other boroughs in the region working as a collective entity.

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development of the ‘Outdoor City’ brand, which levers in the natural assets Sheffield shares with Derbyshire in the Peak District.

Brendan Moffett

This year’s marketing efforts for the region will see the continued strengthening of the Outdoor City brand and activity, and the further development of the innovation district. Coun. Leigh Bramall, the Sheffield council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for business, skills and development, said: “It makes sense to continue to promote the City Region as

Richard Wright


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AGENDA

a whole. We have already done this successfully with the Outdoor City, at major national and international trade events and through the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District. “We will continue to build on this business marketing to promote the Sheffield City Region as a competitive business location for companies looking to relocate and to invest in the future.” Business leaders see Moffett’s departure as a watershed in the city’s marketing offer and believe it represents an opportunity for realignment and a refocus. Richard Wright, Executive Director of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: “When anyone leaves a business or a role it’s an opportunity to analyse what has been done and decide if something different is required. “Moffett’s departure provides the opportunity to consider if a new direction is now needed for the city. “Before we rush into the type of marketing we do, we need to consider what we fundamentally want to achieve – and that can’t be everything. We’ve got to identify our strategic priorities. “In my opinion those priorities include securing more external investment, getting information on the goods we make to national and international customers, and attracting more visitors to spend money. “Our focus now has got to be on external marketing, not marketing within ourselves and to ourselves. We all know Sheffield is a great place to live, work and visit – but we must communicate beyond our city region that it’s a great place to do business. “Sheffield often gets described as a ‘hidden gem’ but terms like this don’t do the job in terms of promoting our city and increasing wealth. Our marketing needs to underpin our economic objectives and help boost growth because that affects everybody in the city – it will feed through to all of the population and that has to be our priority. “In this respect, I don’t think you can really separate marketing from sales. Our marketing strategy needs to not only inform people about why they should come to our city, but also make it really easy for them to do so by increasing awareness of travel options and

“SHEFFIELD OFTEN GETS DESCRIBED AS A ‘HIDDEN GEM’ BUT TERMS LIKE THIS DON’T DO THE JOB IN TERMS OF PROMOTING OUR CITY AND INCREASING WEALTH. OUR MARKETING NEEDS TO UNDERPIN OUR ECONOMIC OBJECTIVES AND HELP BOOST GROWTH.” – RICHARD WRIGHT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SHEFFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY accommodation through resources like interactive – instead of passive – websites. “Marketing a city is a challenge in itself and success is not always solely down to organisations like Marketing Sheffield – all they can do is present what we have to offer in the best possible light.” While its difficult to make a silk purse out of a pig’s ear, Moffett and Marketing Sheffield did have some notable successes. Moffett was charged with place branding, marketing support, inward investment, growing the visitor economy as well as increasing leisure and retail spend. The focus was the three “Ts” –Trade, Talent and Tourism – marketing with the

aim to market for business growth, attract and retain talented people and organisations and to increase business and leisure visitors to the city and its region. His contributions included MADE: The Entrepreneur Festival, of which he was co-creator, the Global Manufacturing Festival, and in 2013 the centenary celebrations of stainless steel. He was also involved in the successful marketing of World Snooker, maximising income from the Tour de France and worked on events including the Tramlines music festival, the documentary film festival Docfest and conferences, now worth £132million to the city.

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First For Business

FEBRUARY 2016

www.ffb-online.co.uk

CONSIDERING THE COSTS WHAT WILL THE EFFECT OF THE NATIONAL LIVING WAGE BE ON BUSINESS? BY SAMANTHA KERLEY DIRECTOR OF SOLUTIONS 4 CLEANING. he national minimum wage is to be replaced by the national living wage on 1 April this year, which by now should not be a surprise to anyone reading this article. What effect will this have though?

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The national minimum wage is currently set at £6.70 and the national living wage will be introduced at £7.20, a 50p increase per man hour to the payroll, or is it? Increasing the basic wage has a knock on effect that increases the payroll by more than just 50p. The increase will have an effect on ENI contributions, holiday pay, employer and public liability premiums, so the net increase to the employer is actually more than 75p an hour. This represents on average a 11.25 per cent increase to the payroll for industries that have traditionally paid minimum wage, such as hospitality, care industry and, of course, the cleaning industry. These sectors are generally the ones that

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work to the tightest profit margins in a challenging and competitive economic market. The increase will bring other challenges, if you increase the salary of the operatives, the waiters, bar staff, and care workers etc. Then their supervisors will feel underpaid as the margin between the two closes, then the margin between the supervisor and the manager closes also and where does it stop? The dilemma for these businesses (and I include myself in this) is do you absorb the cost and risk the business failing or Samantha Kerley

do you pass on the cost to your customers, resulting in a spiral effect of increased costs across all sectors? Our operatives carry out in excess of 16,500 cleaning hours per month; the increase will add £148,000 to our annual payroll. Without passing it on we would very quickly go out of business. So, who are the winners? Well, of course, the staff currently on minimum wage will benefit and I have no issue with that at all. HMRC are the biggest winners as there are currently approximately six million UK workers paid minimum wage and the increase cost to business nationally is £12.4billion. The benefit to the treasury is an additional £6.6billion in revenue (figures taken from KPMG economic impact assessment). This is just the beginning. We can expect increases in the living wage of at least a further £1.80 per hour over the course of this government’s term to 2020, a further 25 per cent increase.


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CORPORATE SERVICES

OUTSOURCE OR IN-HOUSE? Many businesses will be looking to reduce costs to counter the effect the national living wage may have on their business. Industry analysts IFMA (The International Facility Management Association) research shows that inhouse cleaning costs an organisation nearly 25 per cent more than contracting to an outsourced contractor. When considering the costs, in-house cleaning will require you to pay sick cover, holiday cover, maternity cover, overtime and you are unlikely to be able to purchase materials and chemicals at the price a contractor can. Machinery costs can be expensive also, which a contractor can purchase with trade discounts. Other costs to your business include insurance increases, payroll, uniform, training, recruitment time and sometimes fees, health and safety documentation and training, CRB checks, not to mention the cost of someone in the business to manage the process. The above costs are often overlooked resulting in a false economy to the business. On the flip side the benefits far outweigh the in-house option: • You can focus time saved on your core activity • Invest the saving on your core business • Reliability and stability • Higher standard of tasks performed • Premises that always meet your clients and staff clean and hygienic and give the right impression.

• A well-cleaned office is proven to improve morale among staff and cut the number of staff sick days. • Access to a one-stop-shop for wider services (window cleaning, carpet cleaning, washrooms etc…) • Slips, trips and falls in the industry can be high which would save on your insurance premiums. • Constant monitoring of the standards and quality control.

• Professional and experienced advice on hand on the maintenance of your fabric, fixtures and fittings. Whilst the introduction of the national living wage will inevitably see increased costs to business, employing an in-house approach will still mean having to pay the operatives the same rate as the contractor and you lose all the benefits and savings by doing so. Solutions 4 Cleaning are a national award winner for Excellence in Customer Service.

“THE DILEMMA FOR BUSINESSES IS DO YOU ABSORB THE COST AND RISK THE BUSINESS FAILING OR DO YOU PASS ON THE COST TO YOUR CUSTOMERS, RESULTING IN A SPIRAL EFFECT OF INCREASED COSTS ACROSS ALL SECTORS?”

CONTACT: Solutions 4 Cleaning Ltd Unit 3, Sandall Stones Road Sandall Stones Industrial Estate Doncaster, DN3 1QR Tel: 0800 533 5888 www.solutions4cleaning.co.uk

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First For Business

ENGINEERING

FEBRUARY 2016

www.ffb-online.co.uk

HAPPY ENVIRONMENT HELPING OTHER BUSINESSES TO GET HEALTHY HAS RESULTED IN AIRMASTER’S TURNOVER REACHING NEW HEIGHTS. NOW, THE COMPANY IS LOOKING FOR SKILLED TALENT TO EXPAND ITS EVER-GROWING TEAM. pecialist heating and cooling company, Airmaster, is passionate about healthy businesses, whether it be its own or others.

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One of the company’s core aims is to create the perfect workplace experience for businesses; an atmosphere that makes employees feel good about coming to work. After all, it’s proven that a great working environment boosts performance and productivity. To help businesses achieve good health, Airmaster’s workplace specialists design, install and maintain bespoke energyefficient systems for heating and cooling, commercial plumbing and ventilation. A combination of trusted expertise in mechanical services and maintenance, together with top quality equipment, result in the perfect working environment. With business health playing such an important role for Airmaster, it is no surprise that the company places a great deal of importance on ensuring all areas of its own organisation remain in tip-top condition.

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“We are so passionate about having a healthy business in all ways possible,” said company director Lisa Pogson. “We regularly review areas of the business; for example we are upgrading our systems, IT, security and cyberprotection to ensure our commitment to total customer care and we are currently preparing for our first ISO 9001 audit. We invest heavily in employee wellbeing and skills development. We’ve just given our website a complete revamp too.” The commitment to nurturing all aspects of the business, together with Airmaster’s strong reputation and highest levels of customer care, appears to have paid off. Within the last six months the company has witnessed its biggest growth in turnover yet, aiming to reach a record £9million. Airmaster is now focusing its attention on one area of the business in particular; new talent.The company is actively seeking a mechanical design engineer and project engineer to join its 40-strong team. Based at the company’s offices in Swallownest,

Sheffield, the new vacancies have arisen due to the recent level of expansion. “Airmaster was formed in 1992 as an air conditioning specialist but has developed and grown into a £9million turnover mechanical services contractor,” said Lisa. “We have some brilliant contracts at the moment. As well as local work we are working on some prestigious contracts in central London, including one right beside Tower Bridge and one close to Fleet Street. “For the individuals who possess the right skills, passion and dedication, this is an excellent opportunity to work for a successful and growing company and, more importantly, an opportunity to be a big part of achieving that growth.” CONTACT: Airmaster Air Conditioning Ltd. Wetherby House, Park Hill, Swallownest, Sheffield, S26 4UN Tel: 0114 288 9911 Email: team@airmaster.uk.com www.airmaster.uk.com


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First For Business

FEBRUARY 2016

www.ffb-online.co.uk

POSITIVE OUTLOOK WITH THE ECONOMY SET TO GROW IN 2016, WHAT OPTIONS DO BUSINESSES HAVE FOR FINANCING EXPANSION? BY PHIL MEEKIN FROM WILSON FIELD. n terms of the business environment we entered 2016 on a rather positive note. The economy continues to recover and we are experiencing the benefits in several areas. Oil prices are at an all-time low, meaning cheaper heating costs and lower fuel prices. This does not just benefit consumers; lower transportation costs are bringing down the price of other goods with them.

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As a result of low inflation coupled with wages gradually starting to creep up, consumers have more disposable income which further fuels economic growth. Gradually, confidence is returning both to individuals and businesses. Individuals are feeling able to borrow money for houses, cars and other capital items. Similarly, businesses have the confidence to invest to prepare for the perceived increased consumer demand. BUT, businesses need cash to expand. They might need money to buy more equipment, invest in greater levels of stock, recruit and train staff, or simply for cash-flow in order to keep the business running smoothly. Traditional sources of finance are coming back to the market but banks still tend to lend only to strong companies. Many businesses were put under financial pressure during the recession and were

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forced to use their cash reserves; some may now have adverse credit history and could struggle to attract funding from High Street lenders. These businesses may need to consider other possible sources of finance. This could be refinancing existing equipment or vehicles to raise money; looking at asset finance to acquire vehicles and equipment; or debtor finance – borrowing money against invoices. There are also other alternatives such as peer to peer lending and crowdfunding. Generally, there IS cash available to businesses but it comes down to finding the most suitable source – and the best deal – for your business.

• There are niche lenders who have no High Street presence and can only be accessed via an intermediary • Using an experienced specialist can help you source the right deal at the right price for your business Despite the efforts put in, some businesses will find themselves in a position where they are unable to raise cash which they desperately need. In these circumstances there are alternative ways of salvaging businesses but the sooner advice is sought the better chance there is of a positive outcome.

Consider that: • Some lenders favour certain industries/circumstances • The charging structure can make it confusing to determine which is the best deal

“GRADUALLY, CONFIDENCE IS RETURNING BOTH TO INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES.”

Phil Meekin


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FINANCE

WILSON FIELD GROUP APPOINTS LEADING SPECIALIST Wilson Field Group, the Sheffield-based business turnaround and insolvency specialist, has announced the appointment of Dominique Upton as Senior Corporate Finance Consultant. This coincides with the launch of WF Financial Solutions which will serve to broaden the financial services available to clients. Dominique has considerable experience in commercial finance and will work hand-in-hand with Wilson Field’s existing professional contacts who already have in-house finance capabilities. She was Lombard’s top National Salesperson for Asset Finance for the last three years and has specialist knowledge in niche markets including aviation and marine finance. This new service provision from WF Financial Solutions will enable smaller firms of independent accountants and solicitors to offer a broader range of services to their clients. Dominique will be available to offer a full range of advice and assistance on all commercial finance matters.

will improve and develop the services available to clients of the Wilson Field Group.” Dominique commented: “I was ready for a new challenge outside of the corporate environment where I have worked. It was a big step to take but Wilson Field is a growing, progressive company with an excellent reputation. “Not being tied to one lender means that I have more products and services to offer to clients. I can help smaller businesses perhaps looking for refinance as well as larger corporate enterprises looking to expand their business to meet the demands generated by a recovering economy. I am already enjoying the change and am very optimistic about the future.”

Dominique Upton

“I CAN HELP SMALLER BUSINESSES PERHAPS LOOKING FOR REFINANCE AS WELL AS LARGER CORPORATE ENTERPRISES LOOKING TO EXPAND THEIR BUSINESS TO MEET THE DEMANDS GENERATED BY A RECOVERING ECONOMY.”

Doncaster-born Dominique has experience in retail banking at NatWest to Deputy Manager level and moves to WF Financial Solutions from Lombard where she worked with both small and larger businesses on all types of commercial and corporate asset finance. Kris Wigfield, Associate Director of Wilson Field Group, said: “Dominique has a first class knowledge of commercial finance. I am pleased to welcome her and am sure she will prove to be a great asset to the group. “This is a new senior role we have created to meet finance demands which are the product of a recovering economy. Dominique has extensive specialist knowledge, enthusiasm and drive, and through her business network

Wilson Field

Business Recovery & Finance

0800 901 2475 www.wilsonfield.co.uk

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the ‘Lili’ Nott for No for the ‘Lili’ livered: livvered: tthe he man man behind behind S hefffield’’s Sheffield’s ‘waste ‘w wa asste rrevolution’ evolution’ South Yorkshire is undergoing a ‘waste revolution’, after a leading waste management specialist who is LQYHVWLQJ RYHU e PLOOLRQ SRXQGV LQWR 6KHIĂĽHOG KDLOHG the region’s ‘unprecedented appetite’ for a pioneering ‘pay as you weigh’ system that only charges for waste that is thrown away.

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First For Business

FEBRUARY 2016

www.ffb-online.co.uk

Kevin Kerley

Ann Cadman

Rob Moore

HEALTH & WELLBEING IS STRESS IN THE WORKPLACE A PROBLEM FOR YOUR BUSINESS? OUR EXPERTS ADVISE ON WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR AND HOW TO AVOID IT. DEAR DREAM TEAM: I am the owner of a SME with around 40 full-time staff, and I am worried that stress has been the cause of an increasing amount of time off in the last year. As an employer, what can I do to safeguard against this becoming a major problem in 2016?

KEVIN KERLEY ENTERPENEUR AND CHAIRMAN, ACADEMY FOR CHIEF EXECUTIVES According to the office of national statistics stress was the cause of 105 million lost work days in 2014, at a cost to business of £1.24billion a year. So you are not alone. Stress to a point can be a good thing as it often drives us to achieve and complete, however, as I said only to a point. Stress can be a killer, not just the cause of sickness. As an employer you have a responsibility to your work force to ensure their wellbeing, and why wouldn’t you as this

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will also ensure they are more productive and effective in the workplace.

break and leave the workplace to get fresh air.

You could employ the services of a stress management company to run a ‘Resilience Training’ programme with your staff, this is becoming a more and more widely spread practice in business. The programme will teach your staff to recognise the signs that lead to stress, and how to avoid it and deal with it when they recognise it in their self or their colleagues. I believe it is particularly important to have your managers or supervisors trained in how to recognise the signs. Stress is not always caused by work there may be an issue at home or elsewhere in their private life that when combined with work pressures increases the stress levels. Encourage your staff to be open and honest about feeling stressed and encourage the management team to talk to employees about it if they are feeling it, and then it can be dealt with before it becomes a serious matter. Lead by example and show the same concern for your management team and staff.

• Introduce flexible working hours; allow people to work from home occasionally or give them a half day off if they are showing signs of stress. • Take out a corporate membership at the local gym and encourage the staff to take it up. • Introduce a ping pong table or table football into the canteen. Turn an area in the work place into a chill out zone and encourage people to take a 15minute break to de-stress or download , this is often all it takes to reduce the stress. • Encourage meditation at the work station. • You should ensure that you set your staff achievable goals with realistic timelines. One of the biggest causes of stress is unrealistically set objectives.

Other initiatives that you could introduce to reduce stress at work are as follows:

• Encourage a culture of humour and praise, to lighten the mood and have a weekly social hour where you perhaps go out for lunch together, have a quiz, ping pong competition etc.

• Encourage people to take their lunch

• Ensure people leave the workplace at


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DREAM TEAM

the correct time and discourage them from staying late, perhaps have the radio on in the background or play music. • Introduce an annual health screening free of charge that looks at their lifestyle as well as their workload. • Finally, ensure that all your employees understand their role and the part that they play in achieving the PURPOSE of the business, it will motivate them and give them a great sense of satisfaction. Whilst people work for money, it’s generally not what makes us get up in the morning and look forward to the day. Some of these initiatives will mean an investment by you and the business, however this should be seen as a positive, as it is generally accepted that for every £1 spent on employee wellbeing, the ROI in productivity is three-fold.

ANN CADMAN MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE SOURCE SKILLS ACADEMY Wellbeing needs to be something that is at the heart of every business. When you take the time to recruit the right people for the job, you need to ensure you are taking care of them in the long term. You will need to take time to evaluate where issues may be causing staff to feel stressed; the best way to do this is to survey all staff, for example Gallup Poll, asking ten key questions. This will show if there are pinch points in the company and help you to establish what may need to done to address these. What is important is making sure you have the right people for the job – here we aren’t just talking about capabilities, it’s about interest, commitment and value. Productivity remains high if generally people enjoy their workplace and the job they are doing. With this in mind, revisit the values placed on the people in the business, by doing this staff will become more engaged as they feel more valued, this will help to identify and address any issues. You must develop a workplace that is built on trust and understanding. Often

stress in the workplace occurs because staff don’t want to speak out or ask for help for fear of failure, this in turn can have a negative effect on the organisation. Ensure that people feel listened to and supported but make sure at the same time you are realising the organisations goals and keeping in mind the best interests of the company. Team structure within the business is also important; line managers and team leaders play a vital role within the organisation. They manage a team and build efficiencies but they are also expected to manage themselves, it is therefore important that they feel supported in their role as this filters down into a team. A team leader sets the tone for a working environment and a good team leader can develop a team that is motivated to offer great customer service and collaborate together to meet the overall objectives of the team, and therefore the business. The overarching thing here is making sure you are able to meet your business objectives and if you can’t, why not? If you have the right people in your business, they will support each other and be dedicated to succeed and meet the company’s objectives.

ROB MOORE RECOVERY EXPERT AND PARTNER AT TAYLOR & EMMETT According to Harvard Public Health Professors Christopher Murray and Alan Lopez, depression will be the leading cause of disability worldwide behind heart disease by 2020, which means that employers have a big responsibility to tackle stress in the workplace. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has identified the following main causes of stress at work which, as an employer, you need be aware of so you can deal with them accordingly. They include: • The demands you make on your employees. • The level of control your employees have over how they perform their duties. • The amount of support your managers give your staff.

• The clarity of your employees’ role in your business. • The nature of relationships between your employees at work. In order to try and reduce your employees having time off work as a consequence of stress, try and implement the following which may reduce workplace stress: • Ensure that your managers are always available to talk to your staff and listen to their concerns so that your staff do not feel undervalued or not involved. • Employ a HR manager who can implement procedures to help your staff back to work who have been suffering from stress. • Provide your staff with the ability to confide in someone if they are feeling stressed through one-to-one counselling. • Be transparent in how you implement change in the workplace. If you are considering changing things in any way, you should consult your employees beforehand if they are likely to be affected by the changes and allow them to be involved in the process so they can ask questions and make suggestions before and after any changes so they feel a valued m member of the workforce. • You should try and ensure that you promote the right work/life balance so that your employees are not expected to work long hours all the time (even if you are paying overtime) and are encouraged to take all breaks available during the working day and all their holiday entitlement. • If your business cannot afford a HR manager, you should ensure that your managers are properly trained to deal with stress in the workplace so that potential problems can be dealt with at an early stage which may reduce or prevent your staff being absent through stress.

CHALLENGE OUR TEAM. The team will respond to one selected question in each edition of First For Business. Send your questions to ffb@regionalmagazine.co.uk. Name withheld on request

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020 FFB Feb16 01/02/2016 11:16 Page 1

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021 FFB Feb16_Layout 1 02/02/2016 09:23 Page 1

First For Business

FINANCE

FEBRUARY 2016

www.ffb-online.co.uk

SCOTT BURKINSHAW, TAX PARTNER AT SHORTS, HELPS BUSINESSES TURN IDEAS INTO CASH.

TAX SAVINGS FOR INNOVATION am continually impressed by the large number of businesses I encounter in our region that are innovating in a wide range of sectors as they seek to improve their products and processes. To ensure their continued growth and development, it is vital that businesses make the most of their ideas and associated intellectual property. Many of the more successful businesses I see are innovative so in my view, such businesses are essential to help drive the local economy forward to create knowledge based future prosperity.

I

In recent years, the Government has continued to enhance tax breaks for innovation, such as Research & Development (R&D) and Patent Box Tax

Reliefs, specifically aimed at providing companies with tax incentives to innovate. Many local businesses are not claiming or are under-claiming these reliefs and are therefore paying too much tax. That is why we created the Innovation Taxes Group (ITG) to build on our track record of specialising in advising innovative businesses on R&D and Patent Box Tax Reliefs and to ensure that local businesses claim their full entitlement to these Government backed tax reliefs. We now have a dedicated team of professionals who truly specialise in providing proactive and quality tax advice to innovative businesses. R&D Tax Reliefs give tax savings of £26 for every £100 spent on innovation by profitable companies as well as cash payments for those making losses. Patent Box Tax Relief allows profits arising from patented items to be taxed at an effective corporate tax rate of only ten per cent. Our group members have successfully saved millions of pounds of tax for local businesses by

preparing hundreds of claims for these tax reliefs; savings which are often reinvested in jobs and growth. We quickly and concisely assess a company’s entitlement then complete the claim process relatively painlessly. This experience means that you can be confident in our ability and expertise to maximise any claims you make. We are also able to assist with obtaining grants towards innovative activities and seeking support from higher education and other institutions. Tax reliefs for innovation present an unmissable opportunity for many businesses. The Government wants to see more claims being made and we are perfectly placed to help.

CONTACT: Shorts Sheffield: Cedar House, 63 Napier Street, Sheffield, S11 8HA Tel: 0114 267 1617 Chesterfield: 2 Ashgate Road, Chesterfield, S40 4AA Tel: 01246 559955 www.shorts.uk.com

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First For Business

TRAVEL

FEBRUARY 2016

www.ffb-online.co.uk

SET YOUR SIGHTS THE SLOVAKIAN CITY OF KOŠICE IS NOW JUST A SHORT HOP FROM DONCASTER-SHEFFIELD AIRPORT AND OFFERS PLENTY FOR THE CITY BREAK CROWD. BY PHOEBE SEYMOUR. hen it comes to city breaks Košice is often overlooked, but as the second largest city in Slovakia with a wealth of history, it can make for a fascinating base for a variety of cultural adventures... and with regular flights from Doncaster Sheffield this overlooked gem is easily within reach.

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Košice was named the European City of Culture 2013 and it’s easy to see why. The Kunsthalle is an old swimming pool, turned art gallery, which exhibits modern and politically charged art, whilst Kulturpark, is an old army barracks, turned ultra modern centre for all kinds of events including Fashion Week. Fittingly, each building is still labelled with their barrack names Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and so on. I also had a chance to visit the vibrant Tabacka kulturfabrik. This former tobacco factory is now an events space and trendy bistro and bar with a younger, more alternative vibe. Upstairs you’ll find offices of freelance artists and groups such as Street Art Communication (SAC) who are responsible for the gorgeous murals all over the city. There is so much more to discover in the national parks surrounding Košice including the village of Háj, famed for its waterfalls and the 11th century Spiš Castle, North West of Košice in the neighbouring Spiš region. It was well worth exploring the Krasnohorska jaskyna caves in the national parks to the south. Driving along the lonely, winding roads, in awe of the misty mountains and trees as far as the eye could see was an unforgettable

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experience. As we drove back through the busy streets of Košice, I realised just how relaxing reconnecting with nature had been. My tour guide Slavo drove me through the historical hot spots of Košice in a Škoda. This gave me a chance to see the real eastern Slovakia, from the colourful street art towering high above us on a block of flats, to an outdoor bar popular with students in the summertime. With the historic wine region of Tokaj close at hand and long-established craft beer breweries and bars in buildings dating back to the 13th century in the heart of the city there is no danger of going short of refreshments. As I sat amongst the barrels at the Tokaj Macik Winery, the owner explained that these cellars are 11 degrees (the perfect temperature for wine) all year round, which is why many buyers leave their bottles here to age gracefully and increase in value. Louis XV of France described Tokaj as, “the wine of kings” and after tasting seven delicious wines, ranging from dry to sweet, it is difficult to disagree with him. My guides and I were then treated to a Slovakian speciality; duck, sweet red cabbage and lokša (potato-stuffed pancakes). Back in Košice, you’ll find plenty more opportunities to try Slovakia’s national dish; bryndzové halušky (dumplings stuffed with sheep’s cheese, served in a creamy sauce). Meanwhile, if you want to fully immerse yourself in Slovakian culture, dining in one of the kolibas (cottages) is a must.

DETAILS: Wizz Air operates flights between Doncaster Sheffield Airport and Košice twice a week on Wednesdays and Fridays, with leadin fares from £11.49 each way. For more information on flights and packages to here and other European cities visit www.wizzair.com and www.wizztours.com. Phoebe Seymour stayed at Hotel Bankov, Slovakia’s oldest hotel, surrounded by woodland and located a ten-minute drive away from Košice centre. She also stayed at the Hotel Grand Praha in Tatranská Lomnica and Hotel International in Ve ká Lomnica, both within easy reach of the High Tatra Mountains. Košice has been named Euro City of Sport 2016: www.aceseurope.eu/index.php/en/ news/420-kosice-european-city-ofsport-2016 To plan your trip, visit www.visitkosice.eu/en The Kunsthalle is an old swimming pool, turned art gallery


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First For Business

10 THINGS...

FEBRUARY 2016

www.ffb-online.co.uk

10 THINGS... YOU CAN DO TO PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS FROM CRIME BY SOUTH YORKSHIRE POLICE’S BUSINESS CRIME ADVISORS. usinesses are affected by crime in three main ways: property crime (such as fraud, theft and criminal damage), anti-social behaviour (abuse and intimidation of staff and customers) and violent crime (ranging from aggressive and violent customers to robbery). By putting in place a few simple measures you can help make your business a safer place for your staff, customers and visitors.

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HAVE A PROPERLY MANAGED CCTV SYSTEM 1

Make sure that CCTV is in working order, that it is date and time ‘stamped’, is clearly signposted as a deterrent and that staff are properly trained to view and download the footage, should it be necessary.

CONTROL ACCESS TO YOUR PREMISES 2

Keep doors, gates and fences well maintained and, where appropriate, locked. Ensure that staff understand their role in keeping your business secure and that visitors are signed in and out.

3

USE ALARM SYSTEMS

Panic alarms can be linked via an intruder alarm system to summon police assistance. These can be activated by foot or hand switches, or within till drawers, by for example, removing the last note from a money clip. You could also consider installing less sophisticated alarms (‘doorbells’ or personal attack alarms) that can summon help from the public, or other parts of your business.

PROTECT HIGH VALUE ITEMS 4

Keep high value items away from vulnerable locations such as doorways and in windows. Asset marking makes your property less attractive to thieves because it is clearly identifiable and harder to sell on. Keep the amount of cash and other valuables on the premises to a minimum.

SAFEGUARD COMPUTERS & SYSTEMS 5

Keep computers, printers and other computer equipment locked away to keep them safe. Make sure that anti-virus and security software are kept up-to-date to protect your business from cyber crime.

CONSIDER ENTRANCES & EXITS 6

Where possible ensure that your premises only has one entrance and exit and that it is clear and uncluttered – just being seen is a deterrent to many criminals. If your premises has a yard or car park make sure its boundaries are secure and not overgrown. Reduce the number of places nuisance groups can congregate or criminals can hide.

IS YOUR LAYOUT SUITABLE? 7

Design your business layout to make it less attractive to robbers. For example, position cash desks so that thieves can’t keep all staff in their line of sight, or are unable to back out or escape without obstruction. Thieves will be put off by a

large number of potential witnesses, so ensure that the window display and shop fittings allow a clear view of the shop interior from the street, so that your cash desk is easily visible to passers-by.

8

TRAIN YOUR STAFF

Make sure your staff are trained to look out for criminal behaviour and know what steps to take if your business is targeted.

9

KNOW YOUR STAFF

Almost one in five small businesses is defrauded by an employee at some point in their trading history. Protect your business from employee fraud by verifying all personal information, requiring at least two independent referees and, where the criteria fits, considering checks under the Disclosure and Barring Scheme. Ensure your business has an anti-fraud policy statement.

10

RENT WITH CAUTION

If you rent out premises make sure you know what they are being used for criminals use rented and vacant premises for storing stolen goods, growing cannabis, stripping down stolen vehicles and a host of other criminal activities. Work with other nearby businesses to make yours a safer community. To book your free security assessment email businesscrime@southyorks.pnn.police.uk, To access our free toolkits visit southyorks.police.uk/business Follow @syptweet #ProtectYourBusiness for advice

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First For Business

FEBRUARY 2016

www.ffb-online.co.uk

IS YOUR BUSINESS FIGHTING FIT? THERE IS NO BETTER TIME THAN THE NEW YEAR TO GIVE IT A HEALTH CHECK.

BUSINESS SPRING CLEANING hristmas is a distant memory and you’ve finally got back to grips with your normal routine. What better time to carry out some business ‘Spring cleaning’ to make sure it is in good shape? Julie Farmer looks at some of the steps you can take now to help ensure you and your business enjoy a successful 2016.

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GET CONTRACTS IN ORDER Whether you are a sole trader or a global business with a multi-million pound turnover, you should have robust contracts in place. All businesses should have a standard set of terms and conditions but, depending on what you do, you should also have contracts covering other activities – this might include employment contracts, distribution agreements or franchise agreements. If you are not sure whether your contracts are suitable or if you have had them in place for a long time you should consider having them reviewed and/or rewritten by a professional.

ASSESS YOUR FINANCES

EMBRACE SOCIAL MEDIA

No business can survive without money – and there are many ways of accessing finance to help your business grow. If you are looking to expand or develop a new arm to your business during 2016 you should spend time now assessing which source of finance will suit you best. Business loans, overdrafts, cashflow finance and commercial mortgages are some of the options available.

Has your profile picture remained the same since you set up your account? Now could be the time to change it. While you are doing so why not get in touch with contacts for recommendations, add a link to a recent story about your business or tweak your personal summary to include your plans for this year?

MAKE YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE EVEN BETTER Customer service has always formed an important part of running a business, but in the days of online reviews and social media companies can no longer get away with poor customer service for long. Make a mistake and there is a very good chance the details will be posted online for all to see, permanently. Everyone who works within your company should demonstrate the same level of customer service.

REFRESH YOUR WEBSITE These days people expect websites to be updated regularly. They want to see evidence that your company is active, has news to shout about and plenty of happy customers. If you don’t yet have a system in place for customers to provide feedback then now is a great time to start doing so. Research carried out by Reevoo found that 88 per cent of customers ‘sometimes or always’ consult a review when making a purchase, and 60 per cent were more likely to purchase from a website that has customer reviews on.

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If you struggle to make time to update social media you might find it useful to set yourself a weekly reminder (or daily if you can fit it in). Some people choose to ‘manage’ their social media accounts first thing in the morning, before doing anything else on their computer. It might work for you to add a quick update in your lunch break or towards the end of the working day. Thankfully, many businesses have already recognised the benefits of using social media and use various online platforms to promote their products and services. If you don’t use it already make 2016 the year you do so.


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BUSINESS HEALTH

SECURE YOUR BUSINESS Concerns about business crime are growing and it is worth taking time to review which areas of your business might benefit from additional protection. A properly managed CCTV system, controlled access to your premises and alarms are all ways to protect your premises from break-ins. Keep the amount of cash on the premises to a minimum and use a safe to reduce the amount held in tills. You should also be diligent about online and computer crime. Make sure your anti-virus and security software is up to date and consider changing online passwords regularly, avoiding standard company-wide passwords.

REVIEW HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICIES

SHEFFIELD BUSINESSES URGED TO BE FAIRER EMPLOYERS

Don’t make the mistake that many companies do by developing excellent health and safety policies, but never reviewing them. Health and safety policies form the foundation of managing safety so making sure they are accurate and up to date is essential in order for your business to be legally compliant.

Businesses in Sheffield should do more to help those returning from maternity leave back into work – according to one managing director who is supporting a new fair employment initiative in the city.

The beginning of every year is a great time to look over existing policies, check that all your company’s activities are covered (new working procedures can sometimes slip through the net), that the advice is still accurate and that all information is compliant with current legislation and guidelines. While you are doing this you might also find it useful to update your employee handbooks.

Alexa Greaves, of IT support firm AAG Systems Ltd, believes that providing flexible working hours and considering job-sharing roles can help employers find the right staff. AAG is one of over 25 organisations to sign up to the city’s Fair Employer Charter, the first business-led scheme of its kind in the country, which has been developed by well-known manufacturer Gripple, the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Our Fair City campaign. Alexa wants more businesses to follow AAG’s lead and commit to the Charter, which launched on 22 January. Alexa said: “The Fair Employer Charter is a fantastic idea and a great chance for companies in Sheffield to showcase their fair employment credentials. “At AAG Systems, we have a flexible, common-sense approach that works really well, both for us and our employees. “We recognise the importance of a work-life balance, so we’re open minded when it comes to taking people on in part-time roles or as job sharers. “That has definitely helped us grow over recent years, and I think lots of other businesses could also benefit from widening their recruitment pool and recognising that there are people available who are coming back from maternity or paternity leave.”

DEVELOP A HEALTHY WORKFORCE It is estimated that sickness absence costs UK employers about £29billion a year (PwC, 2013), with the average worker taking 9.1 sick days each year. A report published by the TUC highlighted that employers who create healthy workplaces can reduce employee absence and increase productivity. With this in mind, if your workplace isn’t yet a healthy one, it has to be well worth attempting to make it a healthier one for 2016.

By signing up to the Fair Employer Charter, organisations pledge to instil a positive working culture, aspire to exceed the recognised living wage, and value and promote diversity WANT A HEALTHY BUSINESS and social mobility. IN 2016? USE THIS HANDY

CHECKLIST TO ASSIST ❏ Update contracts ❏ Deal with finances ❏ Improve customer service ❏ Refresh website ❏ Use social media ❏ Secure business from crime ❏ Review health and safety policies ❏ Create a healthier workforce

There are many ways of encouraging employees to be healthier, including: providing an on-site gym or subsidising membership at a local fitness centre, encouraging employees to walk or cycle to work (this includes providing a secure place for bikes, offering shower facilities and possibly introducing schemes that help people purchase equipment), providing healthy options in the canteen and offering free fruit.

You might also consider setting up teams and holding workplace sports competitions or joining the national Workplace Challenge.

Alexa added: “Ensuring your workplace is fair and happy pays dividends – AAG Systems has a very low turnover rate and we are able to attract and retain the very best employees.

“We are also looking to develop an employee recognition scheme and possibly provide staff with benefits like childcare vouchers, and I hope that our involvement with the Fair Employer Charter will open even more doors to us as a business.” Businesses, public authorities and third-sector organisations can sign up to the Fair Employer Charter online at www.ourfaircity.co.uk.

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First for Business

FINANCE

FEBRUARY 2016

www.ffb-online.co.uk

LAY THE FOUNDATIONS I

ENABLE FINANCE CAN HELP GET YOUR PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT UNDER WAY.

n need of property development finance up to 100 per cent of the build cost? Look no further than Enable Finance, which has successfully funded property developments across the region.

do we lend more than banks on a loan to value basis but we offer a fast turnaround and are also able to work with clients who may have historic problems caused by factors such as the recession.”

It is common knowledge that banks aren’t lending as much as they used to and this is certainly the case with property development finance, says Phillip Evans, director of Enable Finance. Here, he explains how the company is providing financial support for developments in Sheffield and beyond.

As well as property development loans Enable Finance offer additional construction finance products such as loans for plant and machinery. Interest rates are fixed for the duration of the loan, to be agreed according to the development.

“In cases where builders or developers are able to borrow money from banks, the best they can hope for is around 50 per cent of the total build cost,” he said. “In comparison, we typically lend up to 80 per cent and in some cases up to 100 per cent of the total cost of the development project. “We can provide development finance for single, one-house builds, right up to large

Phillip Evans

multiple house plots. We can also fund renovations, shops, office blocks, warehouses and barn or mill conversions. “For years we have actively worked with property professionals and investors, helping to finance significant developments within Sheffield and right across the UK. “Right now we are financing two large projects in the city, collectively worth in the region of around £7 million. “For professional developers who have experience of the property industry we should be the first port of call. Not only

Loans can include part of the land purchase cost and typically range from £500,000 to £10 million. CONTACT: Enable Finance Cooper Buildings, Sheffield Science Park, Arundel Street, S1 2NS Tel: 0114 294 5046 www.enablefinance.com

Does your business need funding, to take it to the next level? Enable Finance are actively lending and supporting growing companies. We provide: • Unsecured Business Loans up to £250,000 • Commercial Mortgages & Property Finance • Cash Flow & Working Capital Facilities • Alternative business finance • Peer 2 Peer & Crowd Funding

• • • • •

Asset Finance & Equipment Leasing solutions Invoice Discounting, Stock & Trade Finance Import & Export loan facilities Fast business loans with same day pay-out Access to Grant Funding

Business Finance Solutions 0114 2945 046 www.enablefinance.com enablefinance.com a trading style of Enable Corporate Strategies Ltd. Cooper Buildings, Sheffield Science Park, Arundel St, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S1 2NS. Telephone: 01142 945 046. Registered in England 7365867. Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. ANY PROPERTY USED AS SECURITY, WHICH MAY INCLUDE YOUR HOME, MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE OR LOAN. Finance subject to status and formal underwriting.

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First For Business

CRIME

FEBRUARY 2016

www.ffb-online.co.uk

PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS

Chief Inspector Richard Butterworth

SOUTH YORKSHIRE POLICE IS HELPING LOCAL BUSINESSES STAY CLOSED TO CRIMINALS – WITH FREE HELP AND ADVICE. outh Yorkshire Police is urging businesses to join forces and back their campaign to form a crimefighting superpower.

S

With the message: ‘You Don’t Need Superpowers to Protect your Business’, the force is reaching out to firms across the county to drive down business crime. They have a range of free services available and want to encourage businesses to work with them to protect themselves and their staff against crime. Chief Inspector Richard Butterworth, force lead for business crime, said: “We are determined to ensure that businesses feel safe and supported and have confidence to report crime. “Whether you’re a shop-keeper, landlord, butcher or engineer, we are here to protect you, to protect livelihoods and in turn protect the region’s economy. Through some free and simple steps, we can help keep South Yorkshire open for business and closed to criminals.” From shoplifting and metal theft, arson and burglary, to fraud and assault, business crime is defined as ‘any criminal offence committed against a person or property that has a connection to a business’. It currently accounts for around 17 per cent of all recorded crime in South Yorkshire with shoplifting making up 66 per cent of that figure. The second most common offence is making off without payment at petrol stations, followed by using fake plates

when making off without payment, burglary, criminal damage and theft from motor vehicles. To address the issue, South Yorkshire Police has a dedicated business crime group as well as a team of business crime advisors. Chief Insp Butterworth added: “One of our biggest assets is our team of specialist advisors who will visit you and carry out a free security survey. They will look at all the ways you can reduce the chances of being a victim of crime from security fencing, property marking and lighting to protection of data.

cyber security, lone working, cash on premises and social media. They will also find regular crime prevention features, links to national websites, spotlights on emerging trends, contact details, campaign updates and interviews with members of the business crime team.” To book your free security assessment email businesscrime@southyorks.pnn.police.uk, To access our free toolkits visit southyorks.police.uk/business Follow @syptweet #ProtectYourBusiness

“Businesses can also access a free ‘bizkit’ on our website that features information about a variety of subjects including

CYBER CRIME EVENTS Cyber crime is becoming a growing concern for businesses and can affect businesses of any size, costing the UK £65billion last year and resulting in 150,000 job losses. South Yorkshire Police is running workshops for businesses to learn about the scale of threat cyber crime poses for businesses and organisations. It will cover the main threats and attack methods using real examples and highlight the main areas where simple measures can protect against attack. Places are limited so email businesscrime@southyorks.pnn.police.uk to book for FREE. DISTRICT

VENUE

DATE

TIME

Doncaster

Doncaster College

15 March

9.30am (10am start)

Rotherham

Town Hall

16 March

6pm (6.30pm start)

Sheffield

Niagara Sports & Social

22 March

9.30am (10am start)

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First For Business

FEBRUARY 2016

www.ffb-online.co.uk

A NEW YEAR, A NEW YOU MAINTAIN YOUR NEW YEAR INITIATIVE WITH A TRIP TO THE SOURCE GYM. e are now into the second month of the year; Christmas seems a long time ago but the new year brought the arrival of a “fresh start” for many of us.

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kettlebells and pilates, as well as high intensity interval training and step classes.

January is typically the month we decide “new year, new me” and we embark on healthy eating, dry January and many other feel good things, and then we come to February and many start to drop away and back into bad habits…

Its team of six instructors have over 70 years of industry experience and several hold qualifications in Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) which increases their coaching skills.

Andy Ward, fitness site manager at The Source Gym at Meadowhall, says: “It’s all about mindset. “In South Yorkshire the average amount of time people engage in activity which makes them slightly breathless is just 30 minutes a month – a shocking one minute per day. “To get fitter, healthier and slimmer you need to retrain your brain as well as your body and find your motivation to stick at that new year’s resolution. Do that and you can transform yourself in as little as four months.”

A unique Wellness System stores gym members’ personal training programme information on a small, portable key. It automatically starts up the equipment, selects the ideal load for you and monitors how you’ve improved during your training programme.

Situated adjacent to Meadowhall Shopping Centre, The Source Gym is a community-focused fitness suite with around 300 members.

Andy continues: “The Source Gym welcomes anyone with any ability. It doesn’t matter if your goal is to run a marathon or simply to lose a few pounds and meet new people; we’ve got a programme that will work for you.

It offers personalised training and a range of fitness classes – including zumba,

“It’s so rewarding when our new members learn to enjoy healthy food

and to love cardio exercise, which is strengthening the heart, lungs and blood vessels and improving circulation, and their resistance training, which works muscles and strengthens bone. “We see them get leaner, slimmer and healthier before our eyes and then stay with us, keeping that new-found fitness long-term.” An all-inclusive £26 per month membership includes gym induction, a personalised exercise programme and regular reviews, motivator sessions with a personal trainer, sports-specific or eventspecific programmes, Body Composition Analysis, Power Plate, nutritional guidance and access to 30 weekly classes.

CONTACT: Join today, visit www.thesourceacademy.co.uk or call The Source Gym on 0114 263 5600

28


028 - 029 FFB Feb16_Layout 1 02/02/2016 09:28 Page 2

RECRUITMENT

THE SOURCE SKILLS ACADEMY CELEBRATES NEW WEBSITE LAUNCH. he Source Skills Academy has launched its new website, improving not only the look of the site but the ease of use for visitors and customers.

T

Dale Robinson, Head of Sales, Marketing and PR at The Source, explains the changes. “A lot of time and thought has gone into producing our new website and we are really pleased with the results. We’ve created a website that is easy to use, packed full of useful information for employers and apprentices and importantly, is fully responsive for people accessing our site on the move. “What we wanted to achieve was something that was informative, but wasn’t overwhelming, and I think we have achieved this. We’ve put together simple guides and explanations on information for employers and current and potential apprentices about apprenticeships and training options. We’ve also streamlined our booking process for training courses. “One of the most important areas of our site is our latest vacancies section for people looking for apprenticeship positions. It was so important that we got this right and keep up-to-date with

the way people search and apply for vacancies. This is fully responsive and can be used smoothly from a PC, tablet or smartphone, meaning people can search and apply for vacancies on any device. “The Source has a lot to offer and that is obvious throughout the site. We have now been able to showcase all the key areas we work in – Apprenticeships and Traineeships, employment support, our work in the community, the support we offer businesses and our facilities including The Source Gym, room hire facilities and our café. “I’d encourage everyone to look around the site because there really is something that everyone can take away. We’d also love your feedback, so please do tell us what you think.” The Source has worked with local Sheffield website design agency Introspective and design agency Deliver to produce the site. Visit the new Source website – www.thesourceacademy.co.uk We’d love to hear what you think – send your feedback and thoughts to marketing@thesourceacademy.co.uk

WHAT’S NEW? Straight from the homepage – On PC platforms there are quick links from the homepage slider. Each tile links to a section of the site and is focused around the key services offered by The Source. Vacancies – Vacancies can be accessed from any page on the site on a scrolling bar, highlighting new job postings. The new vacancies section makes searching for a job easy – you can now search by location, sector and position and of course apply quickly and easily for positions. Room Hire – We are now able to take room hire enquires straight from the site. You can complete a simple form for all your requirements including which location, room layout preference, number of delegates and time required. We can then quickly get back to you to confirm and arrange a reservation. Training – Functionality of our training booking facility has been improved, you can now book and pay straight away for your courses and quickly see the availability of each course. We’ve also introduced a suite of online training courses for a number of health and safety subjects. Gym Membership – You can now join The Source Gym online. Find out what is available in gym memberships and sign up and join us straight away.

29


140 WSide Oct15 15/09/2015 11:33 Page 1

Tavern Garage Group We won’t be beaten on our service... or the quality of our work We are an independent group of five

Tavern Service Station

garages all offering a range of services

Manchester Road, S10 5PL Tel: 2662408

at highly competitive prices

Meersbrook Service Station

• Fully guaranteed servicing, repairs and diagnostics on all vehicle makes and models by our professional, continuously trained and friendly mechanics • MOT for all cars, Class 7 vans and campervans • Main dealer level support – manufacturer's warranty unaffected • Free advice on all aspects of motoring • Free vehicle collection, delivery and use of courtesy car

1–7 Meersbrook Road, S8 9HU Tel: 2557755

Cavendish Motor Company 2 Edgedale Road, S7 2BQ Tel: 2581852

High Bank Service Station Wisewood Lane, S6 4WA Tel: 2348879

Red Lion Garage 32–36 Broadfield Road, S8 OXJ Tel: 2551619

To book your car in for a MOT, service or repair call your nearest garage now or book online at www.taverngaragegroup.co.uk


031 FFB Feb16 03/02/2016 09:12 Page 1

SOCIAL MEDIA

First For Business

FEBRUARY 2016

www.ffb-online.co.uk

“Old fashioned customer service with a modern, Mercedes Benz fleet”

Airport & Port Transfers Business Travel Private Tours Special Events VIP Services Weddings and Civil Ceremonies

Our fleet includes: Mercedes E Class, S Class & V Class (MPV up to 7 people)

• Competitively priced • Fully licensed & insured vehicles and drivers • IAM certified • Member of British Chauffeurs Guild • Confidentiality assured

Contact us: T: 0800 270 7075 M: 07891 288 856 E: info@mbexecutivetravel.co.uk W: www.mbexecutivetravel.co.uk

TIM MYCROFT GROUP SERVICES

Superior Cleaning and Restoration of Carpets and Upholstery Carpet Fitting Service ‘Treating your home with the ultimate respect’ Formerly with Franklins of Sheffield who have now closed after 130 years of trading, Tim Mycroft, himself with over 30 years experience, is pleased to announce his taking over the South Yorkshire and Derbyshire areas of the business. Based in Sheffield, Tim is looking forward to working with valued customers of many years and having the opportunity to create cleaner, brighter, fresher carpets and upholstery throughout the homes of new clients. Tim also has many years experience in the fitting of carpets and flooring.

If you would like more information about the services available please feel free to call and discuss your individual needs.

01142 818334 07920 473 973

CENTRE OF ATTENTION BOOST YOUR BUSINESS WITH A SOCIAL MEDIA MOT.

I

n the aftermath of the new year, your social media presence is where your attention should be focused because it’s absolutely where the eyes of your potential customers are. Most businesses have some form of social presence but is yours optimised correctly? Do you have a detailed enough understanding of each (very different) platform, enough to truly harness the unique, exceptionally expansive power of each one? At Be More Social, we do. We understand that Facebook’s algorithmic construction is vastly different to that of, say, Twitter’s, or Snapchat’s. This understanding means we can reap every benefit that social media has to offer for our clients. This kind of detail can seem excessive and unmanageable and the truth is that without a social media agency on board, you very well may find this to be the case. It takes a lot of time and energy to remain abreast of the incessant developments in social media. This is why we’re offering a social media MOT, in which we assess where your business is and isn’t working in terms of its social media output. Where things need help is where we come in. We can expertly help you abandon any half-hearted manoeuvres into social media marketing and construct a full submersion into its potential. So why not make social media your priority in looking for areas to work on? It is the only way to truly grow your business in the digital age.

CONTACT: BeMoreSocial Ltd Atlas 4, First Point, DN4 5JT Tel: 01302 260197 Email: info@bemoresocial.co.uk www.bemoresocial.co.uk

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032 - 033 FFB Feb16_Layout 1 04/02/2016 09:58 Page 1

First For Business

FEBRUARY 2016

www.ffb-online.co.uk

DOING BUSINESS? DON’T FORGET THE T&Cs WHETHER YOU ARE A SOLE TRADER OR A MULTINATIONAL COMPANY THERE IS ONE THING YOU SHOULD HAVE IN COMMON; A SET OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS THAT ARE WORTH THE PAPER THEY ARE WRITTEN ON. WOSSKOW BROWN’S TREVOR BIRD AND OLIVER SAXON EXPLAIN. ne of the first things you need to clarify if you are selling a product is your obligation as a seller. Equally, if you are a customer you need to know your obligation as a buyer. These are very simple rules of engagement that can help you avoid any disputes or misunderstandings – and they are known as ‘Terms and Conditions’.

O

Trevor Bird

The first thing you put in place as a business owner Terms and conditions should be the first legal document you put in place when you start a business. They are an agreement that explain the business relationship between you and your customer. This usually means that one party agrees to provide goods or services in return for a specified fee. Don’t forget title of ownership and payment terms Title of ownership is often overlooked but can be crucial if something goes wrong. When you sell a product you should specify the point at which ownership passes to the buyer. Is it when they receive the item or when payment is received? Imagine you are the seller of satellite equipment and you install products worth £30,000 at a buyer’s premises who becomes insolvent shortly afterwards. If you have retained title of ownership until payment is received you can claim the equipment back. If you do not have terms and conditions which specify this you will find it much harder (and costly) to prove. Payment terms also form an important part of terms and conditions. Do you want buyers to pay for your goods in 30 days, 60 days or 90 days? Customers need to know what is expected of them and you need to know when to expect money coming in to help with cash flow.

32

You should enter a contract if you are a buyer Every business relationship that involves buying or selling goods or services should have a contract. No matter how big or small the business, the benefits of having a contract outweigh the possibilities of what could happen if you don’t have one. You might have someone who comes and cleans the windows at your factory, for example. If that person doesn’t turn up on the day you are expecting them, what should you do? Are you in a position to find a replacement window cleaner or is there a chance the other one will turn up on a different day and expect to be paid as well? If we are talking about large premises this could be a considerable amount. Would the original cleaner be in a position to claim you had a verbal agreement in place? It may be a trivial example but it demonstrates the principle. If a service is worth something to your business –

whether that be in terms of profit or a potential reduction in profit if things go wrong – you should have a contract in place. We enter contracts every day We all have a contract with our mobile phone provider and we never think twice about it. We enter into a contract which states that we agree to pay our provider a certain amount of money every month and that in return they provide a certain service to us. A mobile phone contract is of relatively small value, but one that is considered essential. So it is remarkable that anyone buying or selling goods or services of much greater value would consider doing so without a written contract. We enter into contracts every day – when we buy tickets for a train journey or for a theatre show. Entering contracts is part of life but when it comes to business people can be wary of them.


032 - 033 FFB Feb16_Layout 1 04/02/2016 09:59 Page 2

LEGAL

rom my point of view as a litigator it is much easier if there is a contract on which to litigate. If you have a robust set of terms and conditions in place it is very easy to see if someone is in breach of their obligations. What is more difficult – and what I have been advising on quite a lot recently – is when people don’t have written agreements and business has been conducted on a more informal basis.

If the case goes to court you may need witnesses to support your case, however, this can be difficult. Witnesses are often reluctant to go to court because of the connotations; and they are likely to be employed by one of the parties, potentially making things difficult at work. Another thing to consider is that some people may struggle under the pressure of the court environment, so witnesses might not be as reliable as you would hope.

Unnecessary expense There is a lot of work involved – which can quickly become expensive for the client – if you have to start litigation by drilling down and trying to ascertain the behaviour of the parties involved, what their intentions were and how they carried on business over a period of time. If it is written down and things go wrong you can look at the contract and say someone did or didn’t comply with one of the terms. If it is not written down it is very difficult to work out what the initial agreement was – if there was an agreement at all – and then do something about it.

Knock-on effect As well as paying out for litigation (and potentially court costs), how does this have a knock-on effect for your business? Are you able to continue to supply other customers and pay your staff? If you are a sole trader are you still able to concentrate on your core business while you focus on the litigation?

F

Oliver Saxon

The barriers are time and money Clients sometimes approach us and say ‘what will the costs be?’ and then go away thinking it’s an expense they can

do without. But you need to assess the value of the contract against what you are securing. The cost of setting up a contract is a drop in the ocean compared to what it might be if things go wrong. Time also puts people off. Sometimes people have a brilliant business idea or plan to enter a deal that is time-limited. They are in such a rush they neglect the very thing that will prevent that deal from collapsing – and that gives them security if it does. Generally, we can draw up a set of terms and conditions to the final draft within 14 days and this could last you for ten years. Are they worth the paper they are written on? People sometimes phone and say ‘can I have a set of terms and conditions for my business?’. We say, ‘yes, of course, when can you come in?’. Their response: ‘can you just email something to me?’ No, because they wouldn’t be worth the paper they were written on. At Wosskow Brown we talk to you and understand your business so we can tell you where the risks are and in which areas you need contracts. It is about risk management. We will not provide you with terms and conditions that cause problems for your business because if we do you are never going to come back to us. CONTACT: Wosskow Brown The John Banner Centre 620 Attercliffe Road Sheffield, S9 3QS Tel: 0114 256 1560 www.wosskowbrown.co.uk

33


034 FFB Feb16_Layout 1 02/02/2016 09:25 Page 1

First For Business

MOTORING

FEBRUARY 2016

www.ffb-online.co.uk

INFINITELY BETTER It’s fair to say that the Infinity Q50 has not been a leading light in the executive saloon marketplace. It has lagged behind its European rivals in almost every department and you’d only really choose to buy one if your heart was set on having an Infiniti. Infiniti wants to change this and for 2016 they’ve made some slight alterations with the Q50 so help take the fight to the established European crowd. It incorporates what Infiniti call Dynamic Digital Suspension (DDC) which, when teamed with the newly improved Direct Adaptive Steering, helps the car to achieve a much more compliant ride with ‘class-leading’ driving responses. There’s also a new 400hp twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 to go alongside the existing engine line-up. Available later in 2016.

INFINITI AIMS TO COMPETE WITH THE BEST, WRITES JORDAN CUTFORTH IN THIS MONTH’S ROUND-UP.

SMART MOVE ATTRACTIVE PROPOSITION Gone is the SLK. Here comes the SLC. In essence, the SLC is a major face-lifted version of the SLK both inside and out – it’s based on the same chassis – as well as a renaming exercise to keep it inline with the rest of the Mercedes-Benz product line-up. The SLC is a much more attractive proposition than its predecessor, though the rearend still looks like it was conceived by an American. The interior quality has been raised up a notch too. The engines available range from a 1.6-litre petrol with 156hp (SLC 180) up to a 3.0litre biturbo V6 producing 367hp (SLC 43). It’s even available with a 2.2-litre diesel which is incredibly efficient yet scarily powerful. Available in dealerships from April.

BARE NECESSITIES If you’ve ever had the burning desire to own the UK’s fastest pick-up truck, which houses enough power to turn the Earth’s axis on its head, then you’re in luck; the Maloo LSA has been given the steroid treatment. For 2016 the Maloo LSA will now produce figures of 529hp and 495lb ft of torque from its 6.2-litre V8 motor – up from 425hp and 420lb ft of torque. That’s a substantially noticeable increase and one we certainly welcome. It’s basically the same unit you’d find in the mad Camaro ZL1 muscle car. Some bragging rights right there.

34

At the beginning of 2016, Daimler AG, the company which owns the Smart brand is releasing a convertible version of its tiny two-seater city car, the fortwo. The ordinary car is by no means the manliest motor on our roads, and the removal of the roof certainly won’t put a stop to that, but it’s so against the grain and so totally honest that it’ll put a smile on your face on every journey. The fabric roof is electrically adjustable and the roof side bars can be removed and stored in the car’s folding tailgate without compromising on available boot space. A 1.0-litre 71hp or 0.9-litre 90hp turbo petrol will be available from launch. Prices start at £13,265, approximately £2,000 more than the equivalent hard-top.


035 FFB Feb16 04/02/2016 11:34 Page 1

THE NEW BMW 330e M SPORT SALOON MONTHLY RENTALS FROM £253.11 (Plus £1,518.66 initial rental*. Excluding VAT at 20%. Business users only.)

For For more more information information or or to to arrange arrange a test test drive drive †, c call all us us on on 0114 0114 275 275 5077 5 07 7 or visit v isit w www.sytnersheffieldbmw.co.uk w w. sy tner shef f ieldbmw.co.uk

Sytner Sheffield

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Don’t bury your head! Our vehicle fleet management services are here to help, offering:

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Armstrong House | Finningley Estate Doncaster | DN9 3GA

35


036 - 037 FFB Feb16 01/02/2016 11:09 Page 1

DISCOVERY LANDMARK

UPGRADE YOUR ADVENTURES TO FIRST CLASS

New for 2016, Discovery Landmark is the most luxurious model yet, with superb levels of finish, both inside and out. It comes in five select body colours, including Zanzibar – a choice reserved exclusively for Landmark. And for the first time ever, Tan Windsor Leather seats are now a Discovery option.

LAND ROVER DISCOVERY 3.0 SDV6 Landmark 5DR Auto

Guy Salmon Land Rover Sheffield 301 Savile Street, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S4 7UD 0114 276 5655

Annual Mileage

guysalmon.sheffield.landrover.co.uk

Monthly Contract Hire Rental*

£599 +VAT

Initial Rental In Advance

£3,594 +VAT

Excess Mileage (pence per mile)

16.60p +VAT

Contract Duration

10,000 36 Months

Business users only. VAT payable at 20%.

Official Fuel Consumption Figures for Discovery in mpg (l/100km): Urban 33.2 (8.5), Extra Urban 39.8 (7.1), Combined 36.7 (7.7). CO2 emissions 203 g/km. Official EU Test Figures. For comparison purposes only. Real world figures may differ.

*Important Information. Based on a Land Rover Discovery 3.0 SDV6 Landmark 5DR Auto with standard specification, non-maintained. Vehicle must be returned in good condition to avoid further charges. Contract Hire subject to status. This promotion cannot be used together with other manufacturer’s promotions and is subject to availability at participating Retailers only for new vehicles ordered by 31st March 2016. Contract Hire is provided by Land Rover Contract Hire, a trading style of Lex Autolease Limited, Heathside Park, Heathside Park Road, Stockport SK3 0RB.


036 - 037 FFB Feb16 01/02/2016 11:10 Page 2

RANGE ROVER EVOQUE

PRETTY EFFICIENT

RANGE ROVER EVOQUE ED4 SE 5 DOOR FROM £299 A MONTH +VAT ON LAND ROVER CONTRACT HIRE*

Range Rover Evoque 2.0L eD4 150HP Manual 2WD SE 5DR

With its striking design, the Range Rover Evoque has charmed the world since its launch. Now with an EU6-compliant Ingenium diesel engine delivering up to 65.7mpg with CO2 as low as 113 g/km, it’s about to become very popular with business users everywhere.

Monthly Contract Hire Rental*

Guy Salmon Land Rover Sheffield 301 Savile Street, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S4 7UD 0114 276 5655

Contract Duration

Initial Rental In Advance Excess Mileage (pence per mile)

£299 +VAT £1,769 +VAT 9.0p +VAT

Annual Mileage

10,000 36 Months

Business users only. VAT payable at 20%.

guysalmon.sheffield.landrover.co.uk

Official Fuel Consumption Figures for the Range Rover Evoque eD4 150HP Manual 5 Door in mpg (l/100km): Urban 56.5 (5.0), Extra Urban 72.4 (3.9), Combined 65.7 (4.3). CO2 emissions 113 g/km. Official EU Test Figures. For comparison purposes only. Real world figures may differ.

*Important Information. Based on a Range Rover Evoque 2.0L eD4 150HP Manual 2WD SE 5Dr with standard specification, non-maintained. Vehicle must be returned in good condition to avoid further charges. Contract Hire subject to status. This promotion cannot be used together with other manufacturer’s promotions and is subject to availability at participating Retailers only for new vehicles ordered by 31st March 2016. Contract Hire is provided by Land Rover Contract Hire, a trading style of Lex Autolease Limited, Heathside Park, Heathside Park Road, Stockport SK3 0RB.


038 FFB Feb16 04/02/2016 11:36 Page 1

Yorkshire Outdoors THE FINEST ADVENTURE EXPERIENCES

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279 NLS Jan16 22/12/2015 16:07 Page 1

YOUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP DONCASTER’S ORIGINAL FRIENDLY FAMILY USED CAR SUPERMARKET, OWNED AND RUN BY LOCAL PEOPLE, FOR LOCAL PEOPLE

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Year/Reg: 2013 (13) Engine size: 2.0L Fuel type: Diesel Gearbox: Manual Body style: Coupe Colour: Black

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60,000 miles absolutely Year/Reg: 2010 (10) stunning drive Engine size: 3.0L Fuel type: Diesel Gearbox: Automatic Body style: Saloon Colour: Grey

£13,995

Audi A1 1.6 TDI SE 3dr, Black, Diesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£7,995 Audi A4 2.0 TDI CR SE 4dr, Black, Diesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£8,495 Audi A4 2.0 TDIe SE 4dr, Black, Diesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£9,985 Audi A5 2.0 TDI SE Quattro 2dr, Black, Diesel . . . . . . . . .£10,995 BMW 1 Series 2.0 118d M Sport 2dr, Blue, Diesel . . . . . .£8,985 BMW 3 Series 1.9 318ti Sport Comp. 3dr, Blue, Petrol . .£1,485 BMW 3 Series 2.0 318i SE 4dr, Black, Petrol . . . . . . . . . . .£1,995 BMW 3 Series 2.0 320d ES 4dr, Black, Diesel . . . . . . . . . .£7,495 BMW 3 Series 2.0 320d EfficientDyn. 4dr, Blue, Diesel . .£8,985 BMW 3 Series 2.0 320d SE Bus Ed 4dr, Silver, Diesel . . .£9,985 BMW 6 Series 3.0 630i Sport 2dr, Grey, Petrol . . . . . . . .£10,985 BMW Z3 1.9 2dr, Blue, Petrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£2,485 Citroen C4 Picasso 1.6 HDi VTR+ 5dr, Grey, Diesel . . . . . .£6,985 Citroen DS3 1.6 THP DSport 3dr, Blue, Petrol . . . . . . . . . .£7,985 Citroen DS3 1.6e-HDi DStyle Plus 3dr, Black, Diesel . . . .£8,985 Fiat Doblo 1.3JTD Panel Van, White, Diesel . . . . . . . . . . . .£4,495 Fiat Punto 1.2 8v Dynamic 3dr, Blue, Petrol, . . . . . . . . . . . . .£995 Ford Dorchester , Black, Petrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£15,985 Ford Fiesta 1.4 TDCi DPF Studio 5dr, Black, Diesel . . . . .£5,995 Ford Fiesta 1.4 Zetec 5dr, Brown, Petrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£7,485 Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi Edge 5dr, Blue, Diesel . . . . . . . . . . . .£6,985 Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi Zetec 5dr, Silver, Diesel . . . . . . . . . .£6,985 Ford Focus 1.6 i 16v Zetec 5dr, Silver, Petrol, . . . . . . . . . . . .£995 Ford Focus 2.0 TD Titanium X Pshift 5dr, Bronze, Diesel £9,485 Ford Grand C-Max 2.0 TDCi Ztec 5dr (7 seat), Red, Diesel £8,985 Ford Kuga 2.0 TDCi Titanium 5dr, Silver, Diesel . . . . . . . .£9,985 Ford Mondeo 1.6 TDCi ECO Edge 5dr (s/s), Silver, Diesel £6,985 Ford Mondeo 1.6 TDCi ECO Tit. 5dr (s/s), Black, Diesel . .£7,485 Ford Mondeo 1.6 TDCi ECO Tit. 5dr (s/s), Black, Diesel . .£8,485 Ford Mondeo 1.8 TDCi Zetec 5dr (6 speed), Grey, Diesel £3, 995 Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi Edge 5dr, Silver, Diesel . . . . . . . . .£4,495 Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi Zetec Business 5dr, Silver, Diesel £7, 995 Ford Mondeo 2.0TDCi Edge 5dr, Silver, Diesel . . . . . . . . .£5,985 Ford Mondeo 2.0TDCi Zetec 5dr, Black, Diesel . . . . . . . . .£7,985 Ford Transit Connect 1.8TDCi T220 SWB LX, Red, Diesel £1,795 Honda Civic 2.2 i DTEC ES 5dr, Yellow, Diesel . . . . . . . . . .£7,985 Honda ST , Silver, Petrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£5,995 Jaguar XJ 3.0 TD Portf. SWB 4dr (s/s), Black, Diesel . . .£28,985 Kia Sedona 2.9 CRDi LS 5dr, Black, Diesel . . . . . . . . . . . .£4,495 Kia Sportage 1.7 CRDi 3 2WD 5dr, Black, Diesel . . . . . .£11,995 Kia Sportage 2.0 CRDi KX-2 AWD 5dr, Brown, Diesel . .£12,485 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque 2.2 SD4 Prestige 5dr, White, Diesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£26,995 MINI Hatch Cooper 1.6 Cooper 3dr, Yellow, Petrol . . . . . .£3,495 MINI Hatch Cooper 1.6 Cooper 3dr, White, Petrol . . . . . .£2,585 MINI Hatch One 1.6 One 3dr, Black, Petrol . . . . . . . . . . . .£2,585 MINI Hatch One 1.6 One 3dr, Yellow, Petrol . . . . . . . . . . . .£3,995 Mazda CX-5 2.2 D Sport 5dr, Silver, Diesel . . . . . . . . . . . .£12,995 Mazda Mazda6 2.0 TD Sport 5dr, Black, Diesel . . . . . . . . .£2,795 Mercedes-Benz C Class 1.8 C180 Blue EFFICIENCY SE Edition 125 7G-Tronic 4dr, Silver, Petrol . . . . . . . . . . . .£9,985 Mercedes-Benz C Class 2.1 C220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Elegance 4dr (s/s), Black, Diesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£8,995 Mercedes-Benz E Class 2.1 E250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Sport 2dr, Black, Diesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£16,995 Mercedes Sprinter 2.1TD 315CDI LWB, White, Diesel . .£16,995 Mitsubishi Colt Cabriolet 1.5 CZC 2 2dr, Silver, Petrol . . .£3,495 Mitsubishi Shogun Sport 2.5 TD Equippe, White, Diesel .£1,995 Nissan Juke 1.6 16v Tekna 5dr (s/s), White, Petrol . . . . .£10,995 Nissan Micra 1.2 Tekna 5dr, Blue, Petrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£5,985 Nissan Note 1.6 16v N-TEC 5dr, White, Petrol . . . . . . . . . .£3,995 Nissan Qashqai 1.6 Visia 5dr, Red, Petrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£7,485

TELEPHONE: 01302 368037

or visit our website at: www.fleetdirectofdoncaster.co.uk Wheatley Hall Road, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN2 4PF | fleetdirect@btconnect.com


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First For Business

FITNESS

FEBRUARY 2016

www.ffb-online.co.uk

FITBIT ARIA This WiFi smart scale uses advanced technology to track weight, lean mass, body fat per cent and BMI, so you can see the numbers you need to take control of your fitness and get results. £99.99 from www.fitbit.com.

BETTER, FITTER, FASTER WHATEVER, YOUR SPORT, THERE’S A GADGET TO HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR PERSONAL BEST, WRITES FIONA BARBER. FITBIT CHARGE HR Rather than just tracking how many steps you take, the Charge HR can see exactly how hard you’re working, which tracks how many calories you burn. You can also track your resting heart rate – hopefully seeing it fall as you get fitter. £119.99 from www.fitbit.com.

ZEPP TENNIS SWING ANALYSER This motion-sensor training system and app helps you analyse and improve your tennis technique. It attaches easily to any tennis racket and wirelessly sends data to your mobile so you can see your swing in 3D from any angle. £129.99 from www.johnlewis.com.

GOPRO HERO 4 SILVER Capture your world in an all-new way with the GoPro HERO 4 Silver, the first-ever GoPro to feature a built-in touch display. Controlling the camera, framing shots and playing back content is now ultra-convenient - just view, tap and swipe the screen. £274.99 from www.dogcamsport.co.uk Picture: Kolidzei/Shutterstock.com

SWIMMING EARPHONES This Sony waterproof Walkman offers you music while you swim and can store up to 2,000 songs. It has eight hours of battery life and a hands-free, no-wire design that stays in place. £65 from www.sony.co.uk.

GARMIN EDGE 800 CYCLE COMPUTER This touch screen cycling computer has GPS navigation with built-in maps and is designed to withstand bad weather, bumps and knocks, as well as tracking data about your ride, including distance, speed and elevation. £299.99 from www.buy.garmin.com/en-GB. Picture: www.fitnesselectronicsblog.com

GARMIN FORERUNNER 620 GPS RUNNING WATCH If you’re looking for something that can help to plan a training schedule, track how well you perform, and get advice on how much faster you’re capable of going, the Garmin Forerunner 620 GPS running watch is for you. £269.99 from www.buy.garmin.com.

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First For Business

FEBRUARY 2016

www.ffb-online.co.uk

Unreal: the Bali Hai club is right on the Vegas Strip

SWINGING CITY JOHN MURPHY FOLLOWS IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF PRESIDENTS, MOVIE STARS AND POP IDOLS TO SAMPLE THE DELIGHTS OF GOLF LAS VEGAS-STYLE.

John tees off in Vegas

42

im at the pyramid,” said Dave, my golfing partner in his slow Texas drawl. Were we driving off on an Egyptian course in the sand? Well, we were in the sand but it was more of the Nevada desert sort than the Sahara and the pyramid in question was the Luxor hotel on the Las Vegas Strip.

A

That sums up Vegas – inspiring, mightily impressive, but one step away from reality. And it’s that escape from reality that makes the city such a popular destination with tourists from all over the world, with more than 40 million visitors jetting to the desert destination last year. Vegas boasts a myriad of attractions, from 24-hour gambling to exotic hotels, fine restaurants and sensational shows but one attraction that should not be overlooked is golf. Amazingly there are

52 top quality courses within half an hour’s drive of the airport. Bali Hai club maintains Vegas’ fracture with reality. It is constructed on the famous Vegas Strip with views over an array of notable landmarks such as the Luxor and MGM hotels. And yet despite its hard-to-believe location it has a theme – much like the majority of Las Vegas attractions. This course’s theme is a South Pacific island paradise, which is created by deep blue ponds, brilliant white sand bunkers, lush foliage and imposing palm trees. The theme is maintained by the colonial style luxurious club house with its soft leather seating and palm leaved roofing. The club house provides the backdrop to the 16th, a par 3 of 140 yards playing to an island green, as it does to a very difficult finishing par 4 of 486 yards. Get


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TRAVEL

the ball on the fairway then master a long rescue club flighting the ball first over a pond and then drawing it over a beachsized bunker. With a little luck the ball might just carry to the top of the bunker and then hop onto the green. Two putts mean one of the most satisfying pars of the trip, especially if a 19th hole gallery is gathered on the veranda. A round at Bali Hai means you’re in good company: Clinton, Obama, Samuel L Jackson, Adam Sandler and U2 are among a long list of celebrities who have walked the verdant fairways of Las Vegas’ only course on The Strip. Another big name to leave a big impression on a Las Vegas club is Tiger Woods who scorched round Rio Secco in a course record 64. He had been a regular at Rio Secco because his former coach, Butch Harmon, runs a golf school at the club. He was obviously in a rich vein of form as a week later he won the 2000 US Open at Pebble Beach by 15 shots. This is golf in the real Wild West. Fairways are hewn out of the desert with huge boulders and rocks running alongside. It’s the rough, but not as we now it. Fortunately my transatlantic golfing pals informed me that rather than smashing a club and a body we should drop out onto the fairway with a one shot penalty. Can we try that in the Saturday medal please? The course is great fun with a number of very difficult par 3s which involve clipping the ball over ravines onto shallow, cliff-hugging greens, framed by prickly cacti and shrubs. A feature of the course is the number of holes that funnel into small greens below sheer cliffs of rock and boulders. “This is where the Indians would round the cowboys up,” drawled Dave. “There was no

Bali Hai viewed from above

escape when they were down there and the Indians would just pick them off.” All the courses in the area are worth playing. They all have unusual features but have one in common: they are beautifully maintained, which is an incredible achievement given the lack of rain (1.81 inches in 2014). Our final course was Bear’s Best, the theme of which is a collection of the best holes designed by Jack Nicklaus. The course again is great fun and shouts Vegas with its collection of different holes just as The Strip itself features a myriad of different themes such as Egyptian, French or Italian. When the sun goes down and The Strip lights up it’s time to savour the attractions of another city that never sleeps. Again, suspend reality as you see a laser image of Gordon Ramsay and his new restaurant flashed onto a mock Arc De Triomphe. There’s a pirate ship on one side of the vast boulevard, a gondola on another and further down The Strip there’s a huge hot air balloon. Many of the older, landmark hotels such as The Venetian, New York New York and Caesar’s Palace are theme based but more recently the trend has been to develop more luxury brands such as The Bellagio, Delano and Aria. Casinos are still a major part of these establishments but they now offer more, such as the

wonderful dancing fountains outside The Bellagio and impressive shopping complexes. Top class dining is also a feature of Vegas with celebrity chefs having venues across the city. Try these for an eclectic selection: Rivea at Delano, Yardbird at The Venetian, Guy Fieri’s Las Vegas Kitchen at The Linq and the Triple George Grill at Downtown Grand – famous for its delicious steaks. Nightlife doesn’t end with a meal: enjoy cocktails in exotic bars such as The Skyfall Lounge at Delano or a show with such stars as Rod Stewart, Elton John and Celine Dion regularly performing. We were lucky enough to see America’s Got Talent winner Mat Franco and his array of impressive card tricks. The show came after a trip on Vegas’ own ferris wheel – The High Roller at The Linq. Bigger than the London Eye, it gave us great views of the dazzling city made even more enjoyable by drinks served at a bar in one of the capsules. If you’re not golfing in Las Vegas there’s plenty to do in the day. A helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon is a must with its spectacular views over the Nevada desert and The Hoover Dam. Take a trip downtown to the Freemont Street area: a more earthy but vibrant atmosphere than The Strip and home to a one of the best museums I’ve visited: The Mob Museum. Sit in an electric chair, be part of a prohibition trial and find out about Sinatra’s apparent connection to JFK’s assassination. And of course, don’t forget the shopping malls – that’s when reality does kick in.

DETAILS: John Murphy stayed at the Aria Resort & Casino 3730 Las Vegas Boulevard. Las Vegas Deluxe rooms at ARIA start from $149 per night - www.aria.com/en For more information about Las Vegas please visit www.lasvegas.com/uk

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046 - 049 FFB Feb16_Layout 1 03/02/2016 10:49 Page 1

First For Business

FEBRUARY 2016

www.ffb-online.co.uk

FAIR EMPLOYER CHARTER LAUNCHED IN SHEFFIELD Private, public and third-sector organisations from across Sheffield gathered for the launch of the city’s Fair Employer Charter. The first initiative of its kind in the country to have been led by businesses, the Fair Employer Charter consists of a series of pledges around working culture and conditions. More than 25 organisations have already signed up to the Charter, which was developed by manufacturer Gripple, the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Our Fair City campaign.

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

THE SHEFFIELD COLLEGE BECOMES SHEFFIELD CHAMBER PATRON The Sheffield College has become a patron of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce to support more regional employers and boost economic growth. The College has a £321million economic impact on the city annually, and is the largest provider of work-based courses in Sheffield and the surrounding areas. Paul Corcoran, chief executive, The Sheffield College, said: “We are delighted to become a Sheffield Chamber of Commerce patron, which will enhance our engagement with the region’s employers and provide the opportunity for greater input to the skills agenda.” This academic year saw the launch of The Sheffield College Guarantee for 16 to 18-year-old students on full-time courses lasting more than six months. On successful completion of their course, the College is guaranteeing that students will have an apprenticeship or a job offer or an offer of a place on a higher education course at the College or university, or a progression route to one of them. Paul added: “Our work with businesses is essential to support our commitment to The Sheffield College Guarantee. We will be working with the Chamber and its network of employers to help shape the next generation of the region’s talent through work-based projects, mentoring and work placements for students.”

46


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WORK & PLAY

Women from across South Yorkshire are set to celebrate International Women’s Day with a special event and awards ceremony.

“Also in the line-up are Anne Wilson the managing director of Numill who was awarded MBE in 2015 honours list and also Rotherham Commissioner Sir Derek Myers. “These speakers all have wonderful stories to share and will leave guests inspired and empowered. We have even more speakers to announce in the coming weeks.” Part of the celebrations will be the Athena International Awards. To book tickets for the event visit www.brchamber.co.uk/ events-812

magazines EVERY YE AR

@SixerRMC

Westsi de www.regio nalmagaz ine.co.uk

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www.regio nalmagaz ine.co.uk

“Our key note speakers include Marie Cooper who was named Sheffield’s Business Person of the Year 2015 and is the plant manager of Parker Hannifin. She will be joined by Bridie WarnerAdsetts, chief operating officer, Naylor Industries and Sile Moyo, who, despite still being at school has already spoken at the House of Lords on education.

1,000,000 JANUARY 2016

www.sixer-onlin e.co.uk

Our story started way back in Testi S. Ansel ng time 1986 when the first copy of our key to Gm’s College hos CSE su ccess lds first magazine, Westside, was published. We’ve grown considerably since then into a company that publishes nine monthly lifestyle and business titles across Yorkshire, North Notts and North Derbyshire, as well as publishing books for some of Great Britain’s most prestigious restaurants.

Taking place at Barnsley’s Tankersley Manor, the event, organised by the Women in Business group from Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, will feature inspiring speakers and networking opportunities. Jackie Freeborn, chair of the Women in Business Group said: “Make sure 8 March is booked in your diary. This will be a fantastic afternoon celebrating some of the amazing achievements of women in business.

SHEFFIELD

Westsid e Febru ary 2016

2016 is a big year for the Regional Magazine Company (RMC) as we launch our 30th anniversary celebrations – and we are looking for other businesses who have managed to stand the test of time to join in the fun.

THE MAGAZIN E FOR NORTH

2016

A CELEBRATION OF WOMEN IN BUSINESS WILL MARK INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

SIXER JANUARY

30TH ANNIVERSARY FOR RMC

We also have a strong online presence and we’ll be celebrating our 30th with a major relaunch of our website. 1986 was the year Prince Andrew married Sarah Ferguson, Gary Lineker set a UK transfer record when he moved to Barcelona for £2.75million, Margaret Thatcher opened the M25 and the first episode of Casualty was aired. ED IN RENI DISTRIBUT

SH, MOS KILLAMAR SHAW,

CRYSTAL ORTH, , HAN DSW BOROUGH

HALF PEAKS,

6 .uk RY 201 online.co JANUA gemagazinewww.ima RMC @Image

DLES WAY, GLEA

LOWNEST S, SWAL

Since then, as anyone who has been in business the same length of time will know, there have been good times as well as upsets, recessions and major changes across the world.

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So, if you also set up your business in the year of 1986, congratulations on standing the test of time – and here’s a birthday gift from RMC for you. We are offering a free advert in one of our titles. There’s no catch – it’s as simple as that. Contact jillion.wood@regionalmagazine.co.uk to find out more.

GUY SALMON PROVIDES VEHICLE SUPPORT TO NHS For the fifth year in a row, Guy Salmon Sheffield has loaned The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust a Land Rover Defender 110 XS Station Wagon to use over winter. The Land Rover will be on hand to transport the Trust’s estates teams to keep grounds risk free for patients and visitors over the winter months. The vehicle, if available, will also play an important role in assisting emergency staff to work so that they can treat patients, when there are no other forms of transport available. For example, if roads are impassable by other vehicles due to bad weather. John Cartwright, director of estates and facilities at TRFT, commented: “Once again we’re extremely thankful to the team at Guy Salmon for their support. Their generosity will help us to keep services running and assist us in keeping our grounds safe.” PICTURED: Barry Reagan, security manager accepts the Defender’s keys from Guy Salmon’s Margaret Evans-Gill

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First For Business

FEBRUARY 2016

www.ffb-online.co.uk

L-R:Tracey Marsden,The Lord Mayor, John Mothersole, David Heugh,The Mistress Cutler,The Master Cutler

L-R: Lynn Holt (wife of High Sheriff), Cllr Roger Davison, Susan Coombe (wife of Lord Lieutenant)

L-R: Claire Murray, Dan Bates, Neil MacDonald, Paul Billington, David Heugh

SPECIAL GUESTS CELEBRATE LYCEUM ANNIVERSARY Sixty special guests including Sheffield’s Lord Lieutenant, High Sheriff, Lord Mayor and Master and Mistress Cutler came together to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the reopening of the refurbished Lyceum Theatre in December 1990. The special anniversary lunch at the Cutlers’ Hall was hosted by Lyceum Trust chairman David Heugh, who spoke about the theatre’s history and recalled that back in 1984 the theatre was in grave danger of demolition or being turned into a nightclub.

48

The Trustees of The Lyceum Theatre

The Master and Mistress Cutler and Graham Moore


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WORK & PLAY

THINKING OUT OF THE BIG YELLOW BOX A Sheffield company has been thinking out of the big yellow box to support Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Armadillo Storage on Sheffield Parkway, part of the Big Yellow Group, is providing free storage to the rapid response emergency charity. Having the unit allows Yorkshire Air Ambulance to safely store fundraising equipment such as gazebos, banners and stands as well as merchandise. Armadillo storage manager Ed Taylor said: “The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is such a worthy cause and we are delighted to support the charity in this way.” Yorkshire Air Ambulance serves five million people across Yorkshire and has carried more than 6,400 people in its 15-year history. The independent charity relies on the generosity of individuals and organisations across the region and has to raise £12,000 every day – equivalent to £4.4million a year – to keeps its two aircraft flying.

‘CHAMPION’ SPONSORSHIP DEAL Champion Hire has recently agreed to sponsor the team strip jackets at Brampton Rovers FC. Shaun Tye, team manager, (manager of Champion’s Nottingham depot, and brother of Kevin Tye, goalkeeper) said: “Champion Hire has agreed to sponsor a selected number of sports teams where there is a close link to the company. Clearly in this case there is!” Champion Hire’s chairman, Tim Hale, said: “Our sponsorship of this team is aimed at bringing the importance of ‘good teamwork’ to players and supporters, particularly younger ones, as this is how our company has thrived over the years.” PICTURED ABOVE: Brampton Rovers FC, photographed at the Chesterfield & District Sunday league ‘Alma Cup’, in their new team strip jackets, sponsored by Champion Hire. Kevin Tye is holding the ball and team manager Shaun Tye is standing on the far right

KEEP UP TO DATE: FOLLOW FIRST FOR BUSINESS ON TWITTER: @FFBMAGRMC

ENGINEERING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AT AMRC TRAINING CENTRE More opportunities are opening up for young people interested in a career in engineering to earn while they learn at the award-winning AMRC Training Centre. The Training Centre, which is part of the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing, is starting to recruit apprentices for the March 2016 intake. Apprenticeships are available in a range of engineering skills and business administration, which could lead on to University studies, combined with Higher Apprenticeships in a range of subjects. Head of operations Kerry Featherstone explained why the Training Centre recruits in March, as well as at the end of the school year. “We work with a number of SMEs and recruiting apprentices to the traditional academic time frame isn’t always right for them,” says Kerry. “For some, the end of the school year is in the middle of their financial year – too late to make financial provision for an apprentice and too early to judge whether you can justify employing one. For others, the run up to the summer break is extremely busy and they don’t have the time to consider potential candidates.”

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073 WSide Feb16 18/01/2016 09:20 Page 1

THE

FESTIVAL FEATURING THE

BETBRIGHT GRIMTHORPE FRIDAY 4 - SATURDAY 5 MARCH

doncaster-racecourse.co.uk DoncasterRaces

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First For Business

10 THINGS...

FEBRUARY 2016

www.ffb-online.co.uk

10 THINGS... YOU CAN DO TO REDUCE WASTE AT WORK BY MATT MILES, MANAGING DIRECTOR, LILI WASTE. ili Waste provides waste disposal for businesses and organisations in Sheffield, Hull and Leeds. Here are managing director Matt Miles’ top ten tips to reduce waste at work.

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CONDUCT A WASTE AUDIT TO IDENTIFY WASTE THAT COULD END UP IN LANDFILL 1

The more you send to landfill, the bigger the bill you end up paying. There are loads of ways of improving your recycling rates – from having separate bins for each type of waste to having a “green” champion in the office. Once you’ve got a system in place, stick with it and you’ll soon see the benefits.

GRAB YOUR WASTE BILL AND CALL THE COMPANY 2

Ask them what recycling options are available for your business and, if you can, reduce the number of times your location is serviced. If you divert more material, you will not need as much service and this should reduce your costs.

MANAGE YOUR STOCK BETTER

or becoming useless and then having to be thrown away.

SCRUTINISE THE PRODUCTS YOU BUY FOR UNNECESSARY PACKAGING 4

Packaging is one of the hot topics in waste at the moment. It’s always worth thinking about what will happen to boxes, pallets or wrappers when you’re purchasing products. It’s also useful to work with your suppliers to take back and reuse the packaging.

DONATE EXTRA FOOD AND BARELY USED ITEMS INSTEAD OF THROWING THEM AWAY 5

As a company, you undoubtedly have a waste management plan in place which takes into account general waste, recycling and any other types of waste that is generated, but have you thought about using your waste to help charities? That might sound a little strange but there are many ways in which you can take your unwanted refuse and donate it to help those in need.

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Have you got products cluttering up shelves, cupboards or store rooms? It’s worth taking a proper look at what stock you have. By reducing numbers, you reduce the risk of anything expiring

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BUDDY-UP

Work with neighbouring businesses to implement recycling strategies. For example, you can reduce costs by sharing equipment and selling larger quantities of valuable recyclables.

STANDARDISE RECYCLING EQUIPMENT AND SIGNAGE 7

This is a simple step that will send a message to your team about your approach to waste and recycling, whilst making each and every step very clear to follow.

ENGAGE YOUR EMPLOYEES 8

Take time to share these efforts with your team through training, asking for suggestions and creating waste reduction incentives. Provide reusable cups, water bottles and make the effort to really respond to the best ideas.

SET UP A GREEN TEAM 9

Creating a green team comprising of people from different departments can help to create more buy-in to motivate your team. Done well, and those wastesaving ideas will continue to flow.

ENGAGE YOUR CUSTOMERS AND YOUR COMMUNITY 10

Get everybody involved by sharing all the good work you are doing with signage, PR and social media. You can back this up with engagement activities like in-store recycling and ‘take-back’ programmes.

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620 Attercliffe Road, Sheffield S9 3QS 859 Gleadless Road, Sheffield S12 2LG

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