First For Business February 18 by RMC Media

FEBRUARY 2018 www.ffb-online.co.uk @ffbmagRMC

Retail revival Fresh optimism for Sheffield’s shopping scene

FIGHTING FIT Get your business in shape

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CONTENTS

First For Business

FEBRUARY 2018

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CONTENTS FEBRUARY 2018

AGENDA 6

After years in the doldrums, Sheffield’s retail scene is showing encouraging signs of improvement, and it’s not just Meadowhall and IKEA that is responsible for renewed optimism

GET YOUR BUSINESS IN SHAPE 14 The new year is a great time to take stock of your business and make some important changes. Hannah Sanders looks at ways to improve and innovate in 2018

POSITIVE APPROACH 26 Poor mental health can be one of the biggest issues in the workplace. Hannah Sanders looks at what businesses can do to provide a happier – and more productive – work environment

UNDERSTANDING BITCOIN 28 Rachel Martin reports on the pioneering cryptocurrency that has gripped the internet and investors alike… and baffled the general public

IN PICTURES 34 Start 2018 on the front foot... My Fathers Heart encourage guests to ‘Eat Well, Move Well, Think Well and Relax Well’

EATING FOR HEALTH 38 Rachel Martin’s guide to the superfoods you should be including in your diet this year

Chief Sub Editor Richard Abbey Sub Editor Richard Smith

THE DIARY 40

Digital Reporter Ashley Birch Digital Commercial Manager Melanie Jackson

A monthly guide to the best of what’s happening around the Sheffield City Region

MOTORING 42

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

There’s plenty to whet the appetite in 2018

HOLIDAY? SNOW PROBLEM 44 Planning a family getaway this half-term? Phoebe Seymour looks at ideal family breaks, both at home and abroad

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

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

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

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PREVIEW

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PREVIEW ould 2018 finally be the year that Sheffield’s retail scene gets the shake-up it so badly needs? There are encouraging signs that after more than a decade in the doldrums, we will finally start to see a modern city centre take shape.

It’s been a sore point for so many years now, for anyone living in or around Sheffield City Region. We watch the shining new shopping centres in nearby cities that we consider ourselves on equal status with, places like Leeds and Manchester, and wonder when the shabby old Steel City is going to catch up. But at last there are grounds for optimism, and not just because of the opening of IKEA and the latest refurbishments of Meadowhall. This month in First For Business, consultant editor Andy Waple looks at the positives in play, and considers what more must happen for us to finally have a city centre to be proud of. They do say that cranes of the skyline are a positive sign in any successful city (as long as they are moving, that is) and the constant whir of heavy machinery in Sheffield suggests the long-awaited transformation of what has become known as the largest-under developed city left in the UK is under way. There have been big changes on The Moor and Fargate still attracts footfall. Now we wait and see how Heart of the City Phase Two, with John Lewis a major factor here, plays out.

CHRIS WILSON, EDITOR

But it is not just the big names that breathe life into a city centre’s retail scene. It is the independents that bring local colour and true character and now city centre planners are promoting the fragmented nature of the city centre as an asset with areas like Kelham Island, Devonshire Street and Division Street allowing smaller, student-friendly retailers and restaurants to flourish.

Also this month, as we shake off the new year sluggishness and get back to business, Hannah Sanders looks at one of the biggest challenges in the workplace – mental health.

A winning combination? Let’s hold our collective breath and hope for the best possible outcome.

If you are an employer, the sobering truth is over 70 million working days are lost each year to everything from stress, anxiety and depression through to more complex mental health problems.

Of course, when you are looking for serious investment there is always a danger that potential saviours won’t be all they seem. But perhaps the next big player on the Sheffield scene will be a bitcoin billionaire? This electronic system focused on electronic payment based on mathematical proof has some people running scared, some denouncing it as a way for criminals and fraudsters to flourish in an unregulated black economy, and others investing in what they hope will be a get-rich-quick scheme to beat the puny returns offered by mainstream banks. Whether we are witnessing a bitcoin bubble, or just the next logical step in the history of financial transactions, it’s a topic that has rapidly moved from the margins to the mainstream. What does it all mean? Feature writer Rachel Martin gets the bit between her teeth and goes in search of answers.

These issues are sometimes driven into the shadows by stigma and prejudice, but if employer and employee alike can’t be open about this subject the fall-out can be damaging for all concerned.

What can you do to ensure your workforce is in the right frame of mind to tackle their daily challenges? There are organisations and websites to help, and if you champion a healthy work-life balance throughout your company the benefits of a happier, more productive workforce will be clear to see. That’s just a taste of what’s in store in this issue of First For Business. Let us know what you think about the topics raised in this issue by tweeting us @ffbmagRMC.

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The first phase of the Retail Quarter is quickly taking shape

AGENDA

THE SKY’S THE LIMIT AFTER YEARS IN THE DOLDRUMS, SHEFFIELD’S RETAIL SCENE IS SHOWING ENCOURAGING SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT, AND IT’S NOT JUST MEADOWHALL AND IKEA THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR RENEWED OPTIMISM. ANDY WAPLE REPORTS.

THE RETAIL QUARTER There is a long way to go before Sheffield city centre can boast a modern metropolis that people want to visit to do their shopping and spend their leisure time yet visitors cannot fail to see that change is in the air. The cranes are busy in the centre of town as phase one of the long-awaited retail quarter provides positive signs that Sheffield, dubbed the largest underdeveloped city left in the UK, is finally getting the city centre it can be proud of. According to Stuart Harris, of the developers, Queensberry Real Estate, Sheffield presents the UK’s “biggest opportunity” now that its rivals have completed their own modernisation schemes. Of course there have been many false dawns and it remains to be seen if the ball will continue to roll or stops in its tracks. But Sheffield dearly needs a break of good fortune.

a new city centre location for its ailing Barkers Pool store. The second phase will involve the demolition of buildings between Barker’s Pool and the new HSBC, and the construction of new units – including a multi-storey car park and a department store. Detailed planning applications for the next phase are due to be submitted soon with construction starting in 2019. It is hoped the full Retail Quarter would be completed and open by 2022-23. Changes to the initial proposals will acknowledge the need for more office and commercial space and the inclusion of leisure and cultural elements. No longer can retail hold its own, and trends globally suggest that shoppers want more than shops when they visit a city centre.

The success of Meadowhall and similar attractions have demonstrated that the public are keen on the leisure components, including bars, restaurants and cafes. It appears these changes in attitudes have led to revisions to the phase two plans and it is expected that rather like the new Meadowhall refurbishments, the new retail quarter will feature a number of streets with individual characteristics to meet shoppers’ differing expectations. It is also hoped that some premium brands new to Sheffield will be attracted. Meanwhile Phase One continues to take shape. The first phase of the scheme – a £90million block for HSBC that also includes some retail units – is well under way on the site of the old Grosvenor House Hotel. >>>

Mr Harris said last year when the contract was awarded to his company that the target was to attract premium brands to complement rather than compete with the offers from The Moor and Fargate. He also said he hoped to announce by early to mid 2018 news of a key anchor tenant and more detail of the crucial phase two of the masterplan – now renamed Heart of the City Phase Two. Nothing has been sealed yet, at least in public, and the city still faces a major challenge in persuading John Lewis to declare its hand and hopefully announce First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk 6

First For Business

FEBRUARY 2018

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MEADOWHALL

The proposed Leisure Hall extension at Meadowhall

There is no denying the appeal of Meadowhall, that hardly needs to trot out figures to prove what an asset it is to the region. Suffice to say, Meadowhall contributed more than £7.9billion to the UK economy over the past 25 years according to a review by professional services firm PwC whose report reveals that 1p in every £1 in the Sheffield City Region’s economy can be linked back to giant complex. It has also contributed a total of £303million to the UK public finances, with 18 per cent of all business rates collected by Sheffield City Council derived from Meadowhall. And nearly 30 years’ on since its opening, it is undergoing a radical transformation to cement its place in local retail folklore. The two-year £60million refurbishment of Meadowhall was completed in December – its biggest overhaul since doors flung open in 1990. A further £40million was spent on more than 70 store upgrades during the project. The overhaul included the creation of four distinct shopping districts, lighter and brighter malls with new glazing, lighting and furniture, a raft of new stores and redesigns and an increase in size of several existing shops. The refurbishment will be followed by the development of a Leisure Hall, which was granted planning consent last September. The £300million extension will add 330,000 sq ft of new catering and leisure, including restaurants, a cinema and a gym, creating 1,550 new jobs. With plans approved by the city council, building work is expected to start next year with the new complex opening in 2021 bringing in an estimated £24million a year into the local economy.

THE MOOR While delays have hit the Retail Quarter scheme nothing seems to be holding back developments to The Moor. As footfall is reportedly rising – up 19 per cent in 2017 to more than 11 million a year – work is imminent on the latest phase of redevelopment at the old McDonalds and Redgates block to accommodate H&M. Last year saw the opening of The Light cinema and leisure complex with four new restaurants, and outdoor specialist Blacks opened its largest store in the UK on The Moor in June. The once maligned Moor Market has witnessed a surge in popularity with occupancy now at 80 per cent.

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

The old McDonalds and Redgates block will accommodate a new H&M complex

AGENDA

McLAREN TECHNOLOGY CENTRE If the idea of retail therapy appeals then you could think about saving for the new McLaren Senna supercar, which stole the show last month at the unveiling of the £50million McLaren Composites Technology Centre (MCTC) nearing completion at Waverley. But you will be wasting your time if you hope to get your hands on one straight from the production line, even if you have the necessary £750,000. The first cars from the hand-built batch of 500 have been sold already and will reach their owners before the end of the year. The last car in the production run was auctioned at an event for customers. It sold for £2million with the money raised donated to the Senna Foundation. The McLaren centre at the AMRC will be only the Woking company’s second production facility. Over 40 McLaren employees are already based there where they are advancing the process for creating the lightweight carbon fibre Monocage “tub” structures at the heart of McLaren cars.

Division Street

INDEPENDENTS For many years councillors and developers have bemoaned the linear layout of Sheffield city centre, saying a more compact shape would be better for shoppers, helping retailers to flourish. But now city planners have turned the perceived downside into a positive and are promoting the long drawn-out nature of the city centre as a benefit. The latest idea is to see the new Retail Quarter as a hub, serving as a central focal point feeding individual spokes. As well as The Moor and Fargate, another spoke is seen as Devonshire Street and Division Street, the thriving independent shopping and leisure area, favoured by young people and students. The city’s retail scene is also benefiting from the artisan slow food movement that is creating interesting independent shops and eateries along Sharrow Vale Road and in the Kelham Island area in particular.

When fully operational, around 200 people will work at the MCTC, which will supply the tubs to the McLaren Production Centre in Surrey where the company’s sportcars and supercars are hand-assembled. Mike Flewitt, McLaren Automotive Chief Executive who unveiled the Sheffield region venture said: “This is an important and exciting milestone for everyone at McLaren Automotive. “It marks the continued development of the current 2,100 strong company, and will bring new jobs to the Sheffield region which has a proud association with advanced materials; first with steel and now a future to look forward to with carbon fibre innovation and production for McLaren.” First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk 9

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First For Business

FEATURE

FEBRUARY 2018

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

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

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

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

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

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

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GET YOUR BUSINESS IN SHAPE

THE NEW YEAR IS A GREAT TIME TO TAKE STOCK OF YOUR BUSINESS AND MAKE SOME IMPORTANT CHANGES. HANNAH SANDERS LOOKS AT WAYS TO IMPROVE AND INNOVATE IN 2018.

he new year can be a time for thinking about the future, setting new goals and planning ahead. As well as thinking about home-life goals, apply this positive thinking to your business, refreshing it for the year ahead.

It’s likely that you will be approaching work with a renewed enthusiasm after the festive period, meaning now is the ideal time to take stock of your business and make some important changes. Here are ways to get your business in shape to help yourself, staff and business enjoy a successful 2018. 14 First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk

REFRESH YOUR WEBSITE

Your website is one of the faces of your business so make sure it’s up to date. Prospective customers want to see evidence that your company is active, has news to shout about and lots of happy, satisfied clients. With the new year, it’s important to refresh your website, whether that is through an updated website theme, selection of new images, exciting new blog posts or simply adding in a section where customers can provide feedback.

BUSINESS HEALTH

LIST GOALS FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR Make a shortlist of your main business goals for the year and put them somewhere visible. This could include revenue figures, sales targets, improving business relationships or expanding your business. It’s key to make sure you set yourself achievable goals and give yourself reasonable deadline in which to achieve them.

options available. Use the new tax year as an opportunity to brush up your expense management processes. Make sure you have an easy, user-friendly system in place for logging and explaining expenses, and always make sure you record your expenses as soon as you spend the money.

FOCUS ON YOUR CUSTOMERS AND CLIENTS Regardless of industry, revenues or the size of your business, a successful company hinges on happy clients. One of the most important steps to a successful year is to continue putting your customer’s needs at the forefront of everything you do.

ENCOURAGE A HEALTHY WORKFORCE According to the Mental Health Foundation (www.mentalhealth.org.uk) poor mental health is one of the biggest issues in the workplace, with over 70 million working days lost each year. Poor mental health has a big impact on employees, but also repercussions for employers including increased staff turnover, exhaustion, sickness absence, lost productivity and decreased motivation, which is why it is important to encourage a healthy workforce. There are many ways of encouraging employees to be healthier, including: providing an on-site gym or a subsiding membership at a local fitness club, encouraging employees to walk or cycle to work and providing healthy options in the canteen. Above all it’s important to communicate with staff regularly and establish a positive culture that values health and well-being.

ASSESS YOUR FINANCES There are many ways of accessing finance to help your business grow. Spend time assessing which source of finance will suit you best – business loans, overdrafts, cashflow finance and commercial mortgages are some of the

Before making decisions it’s important to think about how it will impact your customers, and if you aren’t 100 per cent sure about what they need – just ask. A simple phone call or face-to-face meeting is the best way to catch up with them, and the conversations will reveal invaluable insights about what they want from your service.

UPDATE YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE Social media is now one of the leading platforms in which to promote your business, which is why it’s key to make sure your presence is up to date. Give your social media pages a new lease of life by updating your profile and cover pictures, getting in touch with contacts for recommendations or simply sharing a recent, positive story about your business. If you struggle to find time to update social media, or it simply slips your mind, it could be useful to set yourself daily or weekly reminders. It might work for you to add a few quick updates to your accounts first thing in the morning, on

your lunch break or towards the end of the working day.

SECURE YOUR BUSINESS Technology has redefined everything we know, from the way we communicate to the way we do business, which is why it needs to be secure. It’s important to be diligent about online and computer crime, so make sure your anti-virus and security software is up to date. It also may be beneficial to consider changing online passwords regularly, and steer clear of generic company-wide passwords. If you work in businesses that require CCTV systems, make sure they are upto-date and in well-working order to ensure your company is protected, and don’t forget to regularly check your alarm systems.

REVIEW HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICIES The beginning of each year is a good time to look over existing policies. Check that all of your company’s activities are covered, the advice is still accurate and that all information is compliant with current legislation and guidelines. Don’t make the mistake of developing excellent health and safety policies, but never reviewing them. They form the foundation of managing safely so making sure they are up to date is essential in order for your business to be legally compliant. It also may be useful to update your employee handbooks every year.

INVEST IN YOUR TEAM Building a better workforce will streamline your business, improve productivity and help create a company culture that will attract hard workers. Reinvest profits into initiatives such as training and continued education, and as the company grows, you can expand to include benefit packages and other discounts.

First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk 15

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BUSINESS HEALTH

First For Business

FEBRUARY 2018

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Meet the team (L-R): Steven Crookes, Angela Taylor, Steve Knowles, Denise Quayle, Robert Hanney

FULFIL YOUR POTENTIAL KNOWLES WARWICK HAS BEEN HELPING CLIENTS TO ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS AND AMBITIONS FOR OVER 30 YEARS. he Steel City has long been known for its industrial achievements, recently bolstered by the arrival of Boeing and Rolls Royce to the city’s Advanced Manufacturing Park. Thanks to the roll out of superfast broadband, Sheffield is also growing in reputation as a place to be for digital and technical start-ups. With two major universities supplying highly qualified graduates into the workforce on a regular basis, and increasing government investment in the Northern Powerhouse, it’s easy to see why businesses are attracted to our fair city.

If you own a business, you’ll know only too well how challenging and rewarding it can be. Without the right support and advice, small business owners can struggle to access the wealth of funding available to them, and instead of growing and expanding at a steady rate, businesses can stagnate, or even flounder. Finding an advisor who understands your particular industry or sector and has experience of working with similar

clients can be a challenge, but it’s essential if you want the best possible advice and access to the right contacts in the local business community. At Knowles Warwick, we’ve been helping our clients to achieve their dreams and ambitions for over 30 years, so we have a wealth of knowledge and experience to draw upon, as well as an established network of contacts in all the major financial institutions and key organisations. Established in 1985 and based in Sheffield, Knowles Warwick started out as a partnership and is now a limited company, so we’ve been through our fair share of changes in our time. This year, we’re excited to be moving into new premises in the city centre, as we continue to grow our client base and recruit new staff, and have outgrown our current offices. Whether your business is fledgling or fully grown, we could help you to grow your bottom line, increase your tax efficiency, and protect what matters most to you, all while remaining

compliant. Our in-house Chartered Financial Planner can advise on business insurance, life assurance, pensions and mortgages, so you never have to worry about how you and your family will manage in the event of critical illness or death. If you’re looking for an accountant and advisor who will work closely with you to identify your dreams and ambitions and help you to achieve them, then get in touch. We offer a free, no obligation, initial consultation, allowing us to understand your business and suggest ways we could work together to reach your personal and professional goals.

CONTACT: Knowles Warwick 183 Fraser Road, Sheffield, S8 0JP Tel: 0114 274 7576 Email: info@knowleswarwick.com www.knowleswarwick.com

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

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First for Business

FEBRUARY 2018

www.ffb-online.co.uk ONCE A SOLDIER, TWICE A CITIZEN Leslie Wright was the last man to clamber aboard - and today he is the last man standing of that brave and noble group. His post-war years have been lived to the fullest - and now Leslie’s story is shared in this thoroughly entertaining autobiography. It’s the remarkable account of a man once a soldier, forever a hero. www.rmcbooks.co.uk

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that expertise is available to all. We’re here to help you tell your life story in the form of a beautifully-produced book that will be treasured by family and friends alike. Through interviews with our professional writers, we’ll build your story and illustrate it with photographs. There is no minimum order, and our

clients receive a bespoke service tailored to their preferences. To find out more about our RMC Media’s Private Commission service, email us at martin.edwards@rmcmedia.co.uk. If you’d like to hear what previous clients think of our service, please see some of their comments on this page.

“RMC Media has an excellent record of growth in the development of local magazines and a range of impressive books, but they also had a local knowledge and understanding of business and politics in the Sheffield area which was particularly valuable in building a structured text. As we began to discuss the possibility of working together on a book, their emphasis on quality and a professional approach to layout and design in a book coincided with my own, and the end-product is exactly what I had hoped for.” First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk 19

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PROMOTION

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NEW YEAR, NEW OFFICE, NEW BEGINNINGS, HERE’S WHYY

e can hear you saying, why Whyy? And the answer is that why can be a very challenging word when used correctly. It enables you to question your thinking, deviate from the status quo and opens your eyes to new ideas. Without asking why, businesses will stand still and if we don’t ask this question we will not continue to improve. It has very much been a case of new year, new you at Whyy Change. The team has grown from Raymond Byrne working solely, to employing two ambitious graduates looking to further their development and propel this business committed to continuous learning to new heights. Coming through the competitive RISE scheme, a collaboration between

Sheffield City Region and the two universities, Josh and Hannah have settled into their new roles and are eager to help the business grow. Josh said: “I am excited by the responsibility this role gives me and can’t wait to get out there and help grow this business.” Hannah adds: “I love the responsibility I’ve been given in the business so far, as well as being able to apply many of the skills I’ve picked up over the past few years while learning new things along the way. The business is going in an exciting direction, and I already have some ideas to implement further down the line.” As well as this, Whyy have moved to a new house! It has been a whirlwind few weeks at Whyy Change. Ray has made the bold decision to relocate from a

200-square foot office to a 5,000 square-foot, two-storey training centre. To celebrate this Whyy is hosting an afternoon tea networking event on 27 February. Whyy change offers a unique approach to apprenticeships, and they are firm believers that businesses already have the staff to improve, they just need to upskill them through our apprentice training. We take a different approach, maintaining that anyone can be an apprentice, not just 16-19 year olds. This is all to help deliver the vision of Whyy Change which is to be the best provider of business knowledge and services in the eyes of our customer, employees, partners and competitors www.linkedin.com/company/11140130/

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

FEBRUARY 2018

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BRUSH UP YOUR BEAUTY SKILLS... FREE COURSE OFFERS AN INTRODUCTION TO COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES. heffield School of Health & Beauty is a specialist college, with Centre of Expertise Status, offering the very highest quality of training.

The ITEC Level 2 in Complementary Therapies would be beneficial to all members of staff – whatever kind of workplace you are based in – to enhance well-being. These skills would also then enable you to work with any person who may have stress or anxietyrelated conditions. It has been highlighted recently, through university research, that one in four people today are suffering from anxiety and stress. The school is therefore offering the opportunity of undertaking, completely free of charge, an ITEC Level 2 Diploma in Complementary Therapies course. This course will provide an introduction to the fascinating area of complementary therapies and will include:

• Basic massage therapy techniques • Basic aromatherapy techniques • Basic reflexology techniques • Introduction to anatomy and physiology • Introduction to healthy eating and well-being • Introduction to clinic services and business awareness As a holistic practice, complementary therapies are said to treat the whole person, rather than specific aspects of the body. On this course, you will be introduced to the principals and practices of complementary therapies, while developing basic skills in specific techniques including reflexology and aromatherapy.

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

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SCHOOL

Educating girls and boys for life

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

Inspired teaching... Outstanding learning • From age 3 to 16 • Small Class Sizes • Excellent GCSE results • Exciting new facilities

Westbourne School is the Top School in Sheffield and 7th Nationwide* *The Sunday Times Schools Guide 2018

SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESS FOR OVER 25 YEARS

THURSDAY 8th MARCH

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Call 0114 266 0374

RAJDHANI A JOURNEY TO INDIAN CUISINE

DORE & TOTLEY STATION Offering you the very best of Indian and Bangladeshi cuisine in our brand new restaurant – a tranquil and exhilarating atmosphere with a unique dining experience.

Bookings now being taken for

Business Lunches Rajdhani Restaurant, The Old Station, Abbeydale Road South, Sheffield S17 3LB info@rajdhanirestaurant.co.uk | Tel: 0114 2353 280 / 07810 444686 | www.rajdhanirestaurant.co.uk

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EVENTS

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RAISE A GLASS CELEBRATE ST PATRICKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S DAY AT TAPTON HALL. t. Patrickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day is always an occasion to celebrate, and where better to raise a glass to this special occasion than Tapton Hall, Sheffield?

With beer, music, food and free entry the celebrations start from 4pm and last until midnight so come along and raise a glass to the patron saint of Ireland on Saturday 17 March. Tapton Hallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unique blend of elegant history and modern efficiency can make any special event truly unforgettable. You can be assured of facilities to rival

the most modern â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but with a welcome and a standard of service that reflects the finest Sheffield tradition. Tapton Hall has been a part of Sheffieldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history since the 18th century and has a distinguished history that has seen it serve as a home to great names from the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s past including Mary Shore, grandmother of Florence Nightingale and Sheffield steel master Edward Vickers. Today Tapton Hall is a smart, characterpacked multi-purpose venue ideal for

anything from seminars and weddings to birthday celebrations, as well as running a popular bar lunch service from Tuesday to Saturday. Sunday lunch is also served on the first Sunday of the month. CONTACT: Tapton Hall Shore Lane, Sheffield, S10 3BU Tel: 0114 266 0051 Email: hannah.stedman@ taptonhall.com

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POSITIVE APPROACH

POOR MENTAL HEALTH CAN BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES IN THE WORKPLACE. HANNAH SANDERS LOOKS AT WHAT BUSINESSES CAN DO TO PROVIDE A HAPPIER – AND MORE PRODUCTIVE – WORK ENVIRONMENT.

here is still a culture of silence surrounding mental health, in the home, society in general and the workplace. Mental health issues sometimes are driven into the shadows by stigma and prejudice along with the fear of disclosing a weakness because a job may be lost, and in many cases, employers and employees don’t know how to provide the correct support.

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Stress is an accepted part of business life, but left unchecked it can go from being a stimulant for productivity to something that affects both physical and mental health. According to the Mental Health Foundation (www.mentalhealth.org.uk) poor mental health is one of the biggest issues in the workplace, with over 70

million working days lost each year. This includes everything from stress, anxiety and depression right through to more complex mental health problems. Not only does poor mental health have a big impact on employees, but also repercussions for employers including increased staff turnover, exhaustion, sickness absence, lost productivity and decreased motivation.

BUSINESS HEALTH CHECK

According to Business in the Community’s National Employee Mental Wellbeing survey (www.wellbeing.bitc.org.uk), 77 per cent of employees have experienced symptoms of poor mental health at some point in their lives, whilst 29 per cent have been diagnosed with a mental health condition.

Research has shown that a happier workplace can result in a more productive workplace

Time to Change (www.time-tochange.org.uk) states that around one in four people will experience a mental health problem this year, with almost one in three experiencing a mental health problem while in employment. Mental health issues affect every kind of business and when it comes to new start-up businesses and entrepreneurs, life can be exhausting, stressful and mentally draining. Start-ups aren’t nineto-five, and can be all-consuming especially when finances are under strain which can mean your work life has a dangerous habit of following you when you leave the office. In the Mental Health Foundation, Managing Mental Health in the Workplace EBook (www.mentalhealth.org.uk), Chris O’Sullivan said: “Mental health is something we all have. Workplaces that challenge us, support and develop our sense of purpose, and support us when things are hard can play a massive role in protecting and building our mental health. “A mentally healthy workplace can be built on the back of good basic line management relationships, clear HR policy and engagement of staff in decision making. Prevention is key – we need to enable everyone to flourish, those in distress to access help quickly, and those who have recovered from

mental health problems to stay well and enjoy successful careers.” It can be hard to identify when an employee is having difficulties, but there are three core areas that could indicate if an employee is suffering from mental health issues. Psychological symptoms (www.axapphealthcare.co.uk) such as confusion, indecision, aggression along with low mood/mood swings and seeming unmotivated are signs that could point towards mental health struggles. Physical symptoms including a change in movement or weight loss/appetite changes could be another indication along with dramatic changed behavioural symptoms. A healthy mind in both employers and employees is important in maintaining a successful business. So, how can we continue to improve mental health in the workplace? Firstly, it’s important to break the silence that surrounds mental health through

“STRESS IS AN ACCEPTED PART OF BUSINESS LIFE, BUT LEFT UNCHECKED IT CAN GO FROM BEING A STIMULANT FOR PRODUCTIVITY TO SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS BOTH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH.”

talking. Join the Time to Change Employers Pledge (www.time-tochange.org.uk) to help change the way people think and act around mental health problems. Educate and train staff by supplying mental health literacy such as How to Support Good Mental Health at Work by Mental Health Foundation (www.mentalhealth.org.uk), and take action by implementing practical actions from mental health toolkits. It isn’t possible to entirely remove stress from the workplace, but it can be reduced with simple steps including prioritising work, trying to eliminate unnecessary tasks, offering a variety in work, watching out for signs of conflict, have clear-agreed objectives and communicating regularly. It is also important to champion a healthy worklife balance to yourself and employees. You don’t have to be an expert to help a colleague. Listening and not judging are significant things you can do to help. For managers, it can be useful for both parties to have regular catch-ups to help monitor stress or other signs and is a good way of offering support. Nowadays we are all heavily involved in technology in one form or another and numerous apps have been developed to provide support when it comes to mental health. Ranging from Unmind and Tomo right through to HealthUnlocked and Hub of Hope they provide forums so people can communicate, share ideas and keep those facing similar situations positive – and what’s even better is the support is instant and can be accessed wherever you are. First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk 27

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UNDERSTANDING THE BITCOIN BOOM RACHEL MARTIN REPORTS ON THE PIONEERING CRYPTOCURRENCY THAT HAS GRIPPED THE INTERNET AND INVESTORS ALIKE… AND BAFFLED THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

WHAT IS BITCOIN? A pseudonymous software developer by the name of Satoshi Nakamoto proposed bitcoin in 2008, as an electronic payment system based on mathematical proof. The idea was to produce a means of exchange which could be transferred electronically in a secure, verifiable and immutable way. Few technologies have the ability to stir passionate debate and baffle the vast majority of the population as bitcoin, but to cut through some of the confusion, bitcoin enables payments to be sent between users without passing through a central authority, such as a bank or payment gateway, and it is created and held electronically -– bitcoins aren’t printed, they’re produced by computers all around the world, using free software. In short, bitcoin was the first example of what we today call cryptocurrencies – a growing asset class that shares some characteristics of traditional currencies, with verification based on cryptography. You can use your bitcoins to purchase goods and services online, or you can tuck them away and hope that their value increases over the years.

HOW IS BITCOIN DIFFERENT FROM TRADITIONAL CURRENCIES? Bitcoin can be used to pay for things electronically and, in that sense, it’s like conventional currencies (dollars, euros, GBP) which are also traded digitally. But it differs from conventional digital currencies in several ways. 28 First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk

Bitcoin’s most important characteristic is that it’s decentralized – it is maintained by a group of volunteer coders, and run by an open network of dedicated computers spread around the world. This attracts individuals and groups that are uncomfortable with the control that banks or government institutions have over their money. Bitcoin also solves the “double spending problem” of electronic currencies, in which digital assets can easily be copied and re-used. With bitcoin, the integrity of the transactions is maintained by a distributed and open network, owned by no-one. While conventional currencies have an unlimited supply – banks can issue as many as they want, and can attempt to manipulate a currency’s value relative to others – holders of the currency bear

the cost. With bitcoin, on the other hand, the supply is tightly controlled by the underlying algorithm. A small number of new bitcoins trickle out every hour, and will continue to do so at a diminishing rate until a maximum of 21 million has been reached. This makes bitcoin more attractive as an asset – in theory, if demand grows and the supply remains the same, the value will increase. While senders of traditional electronic payments are usually identified (for verification purposes, and to comply with anti-money laundering and other legislation), users of bitcoin in theory operate in semi-anonymity. In practice, each user is identified by the address of his or her wallet, so this makes bitcoin an ideal currency for criminals, terrorists or money-launderers – or so the sceptics claim. Transactions can actually, with some effort, be tracked, and most exchanges are required by law to perform identity checks on their customers before they are allowed to buy or sell bitcoin.

WHAT IS MINING? As with gold or diamonds, if you want to discover new units of cryptocurrency, you have to roll up your sleeves and dig. Bitcoin mining involves commanding your computer to work around the clock to solve computationally-intensive math problems. Each math problem has a set of possible 64-digit solutions and your desktop computer, if it works nonstop, might be able to solve one problem in two to three days, likely longer. Indeed, if you are a small-scale miner with a single consumer-grade computer, you will likely spend more in electricity than

FEATURE

you will earn mining bitcoins. Bitcoin mining is only really profitable if you run multiple computers, and join a group of miners to combine your hardware power.

HOW IS THE VALUE DETERMINED? The price of bitcoin is largely speculative it does not have intrinsic value, and no government grants it legal tender status. So it’s really only worth the belief that someone else is willing to pay more. The price of a bitcoin has jumped up and down since it first entered the mainstream consciousness in 2013 – that year, prices rose by almost 10,000 per cent before the collapse of Mt Gox, the biggest online bitcoin exchange, sent it crashing. Prices surged again in 2017, possibly due to regulators appearing to warm to bitcoin. But many sceptics believe we are in the middle of a new ‘bitcoin bubble’, while advocates say we are just beginning to see the rise starting, although prices have fallen in 2018 amid fears of a regulatory crackdown.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF INVESTING? Just like when investing in stocks, you risk losing your money if your cryptocurrency of choice falls, however you have no real way of evaluating the odds of your investment doing well, and little historical data to analyze broader trends, making it tough to determine a fair price to pay or when it’s time to sell.

HOW DO YOU STORE BITCOIN? The easier way to store bitcoin is in a digital wallet, or locally on your smartphone or computer. But leaving your bitcoin in public view can open you up to attacks from hackers and phishing scams. The best option is a hardware wallet that stores your bitcoin offline. Most hardware wallets look like USB drives and use a PIN number for security, along with a secondary password called a “seed” in case you forget the PIN.

FUTURE IN QUESTION A steady trickle of companies is no longer accepting bitcoin as payment for goods and services, and technologically, bitcoin tends to be slow and laborious to use, because it verifies transactions in small blocks. But that problem isn’t particularly hard to overcome – use bigger blocks, or use a form of temporary credit to ease the burden on the network. More ominously, bitcoin relies on miners to verify all transactions, and compensates them by creating new bitcoins. But soon, this will stop, since the total number of bitcoins is capped at 21 million – at that point, transaction fees will be needed to pay miners. Also, if a person loses access to the hardware that contains the bitcoins, the currency is simply gone forever – it’s estimated that as much as £30 billion in bitcoins have been lost or misplaced by miners and investors. Nonetheless, interest in bitcoin is now greater than ever, renewing a surge of trading, and it remains the most prominent cryptocurrency.

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Bringing comfort to your environment ៉ ៉ ៉ ៉ ៉ ៉

Design Commissioning Maintenance Installation Servicing Energy Assessment

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

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

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L&TA

office furniture

TELEPHONE: 0114 242 5511

Sheffield & Doncaster l United Kingdom

Looking for new

office furniture?

Why not come along to LTA in Sheffield and Doncaster and see our range of new furniture. We will plan and install your new furniture for you and also remove your exisitng furniture.

UNIT 2-3 STEVENSON INDUSTRIAL EST., STEVENSON WAY, SHEFFIELD, S9 3WZ TELEPHONE: 0114 242 5511 115-121 BALBY ROAD, DONCASTER, DN4 0RE TELEPHONE: 01302 215 565

L&TA work with many leading companies & organistations in the region.

www.ltasheffield.com

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STAY SUNNY IN DUBAI FROM THE HIGH LIFE TO FAMILY-FRIENDLY GETAWAYS, DUBAI HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE – AND HAS GLORIOUS WEATHER YEAR ROUND.

The beaches in Dubai Credit: vwalakte / 123RF Stock Photo

ith summer far behind us, your thoughts might be turning to some much-needed winter sun. If the thought of a long-haul flight to warmer climes sounds daunting, then think again. Sunny Dubai is just eight hours’ flight away and boasts world-class hotels, fabulous resorts and soft sandy beaches. Better still, its hot climate means winter sun is guaranteed, the shopping is second to none and there are plenty of activities for all ages. Add in every sort of global cuisine and you have the recipe for a perfect escape this winter.

Home from home Dubai leads the world with its hotels. From beach resorts to high-rise city living, there’s a hotel to suit, whether you’re looking for a romantic, luxurious couples’ escape or a week away with the family at an all-inclusive beach resort with a kids club and watersports on tap. Family fun Families flock to Dubai for its family friendly resorts, but there’s also a brilliant line-up of

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The Dubai Mall can satisfy all your shopping needs Credit: viewapart / 123RF Stock Photo

TRAVEL

RIGHT: The Burj Al Arab hotel BELOW: The recently-opened IMG Worlds of Adventure

attractions and activities for all ages. The recently-opened IMG Worlds of Adventure is officially the world’s largest indoor theme park and boasts five separate adventure zones. Who could resist meeting Spiderman before bumping into a T-rex? Children can come face to face with their favourite superheroes in the Marvel zone, and enjoy thrilling adventure rides and close encounters with prehistoric monsters in the Lost Valley dinosaur adventure. Outdoors in the wonderfully warm winter sun, Wild Wadi is a firm family favourite. Moments from Jumeirah Beach, Wild Wadi has 30 rides for all ages, from racing slides and water guns for smaller children, to the adrenaline-fuelled Tantrum Alley and Burj Surj. It’s also home to the RipTide Flowrider, one of only four in the world and a true taste of extreme surfing. Budding marine biologists will love the Marine Animal Adventure at Atlantis the Palm, where specially designed helmets mean you can breathe underwater in their Shark Lagoon, fully immersing yourself in tropical sea life. Park Life The newly-opened Dubai Parks boasts not one but three separate theme parks, with rides and attractions based on Hollywood hits, Bollywood blockbusters and thrills and spills in Legoland Dubai. Nearby, the French-inspired village of Riverland is the ideal place to unwind over a delicious lunch. Why not book into Lapita, the Park’s five-star Hotel for a much needed and luxurious break after a hard day’s exploring the Middle East’s largest park?

“Sunny Dubai is just eight hours’ flight away and boasts world-class hotels, fabulous resorts and soft sandy beaches. Better still, its hot climate means winter sun is guaranteed, the shopping is second to none and there are plenty of activities for all ages.” Two’s company If you dream of getting away from it all, just the two of you, Dubai offers the ultimate romantic break. Why not enjoy a couples’ massage at one of the many top class spas in Dubai’s five star hotels? And when it comes to romantic dining you’ll be spoiled for choice, from dining by candlelight at Villa Beach, with views of the sunset and the Burj Al Arab, or enjoying the views from the Arabicthemed Roof Top Terrace at One&Only Royal Mirage. For laid-back, beachside glamour, head to one of Dubai’s many beach clubs. Cove Beach, on a secluded private beach near the Burj Al Arab offers all-day sun-lounger service, delicious Med-inspired cuisine and chilled out music to set the scene for a lazy day soaking up the warm Arabian sun.

Plan your tailor-made winter holiday in Dubai with Value Added Travel. Experts in bespoke travel, they can arrange everything from high-end escapes to cruises and mini-breaks, and specialise in custom-made tours where flights, hotels and activities are arranged for you. Established in 2004, the company has been growing steadily each year – the growing repeat and referral customers is a testament of the staff ’s professionalism and knowledgeability.

Value Added Travel – Adding value to your holiday since 2004.

Regular flights to Dubai are available from Newcastle Airport. www.newcastleairport.com

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START 2018 ON THE FRONT FOOT... MY FATHERS HEART ENCOURAGE GUESTS TO â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;EAT WELL, MOVE WELL, THINK WELL AND RELAX WELLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Lose weight, get fit, live well... many of us start a new year feeling slow and sluggish, in need of lift both spiritually and physically. For everyone attending a Health and Wellness event at My Fathers Heart, 2018 got off to the best possible start. The theme for the evening, organised by Niki Thompson from The Beauty Clinic and The Laser Clinic, was How To Stay Young: The Four Pillars Of Health, and there were experts on hand to offer help and advice for those who want to be at the top of their game for 2018. There were four different presentations: Eat Well, Move Well, Think Well and Relax Well. Many of us feel the need for a change of diet after over-indulging at Christmas and a demonstration by a registered nutritional therapist, and healthy food demonstrations by the Bora chefs provided inspirational alternatives. With exercise in mind, Move Well was a demonstration and mini join-in session from a select group of fitness individuals offering tailored advice. Think Well was a demonstration by a mindfulness expert with tips on getting connected with your mind and body and becoming more positive; Relax Well introduced guests to a select group of conventional, alternative and complimentary health specialists demonstrating the power of their therapies.

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IN PICTURES

We are now a Chartered firm of financial planners. This means we have satisfied rigorous criteria relating to professional qualifications and ethical good practice. It means you can be confident that you are dealing with one of the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading firms that is wholly committed to providing you with the best possible advice, service and support. If you feel you could benefit from talking to an Independent Financial Adviser, please contact Hamnett Wealth Management on 0114 235 3500 for a free initial review meeting.

160 Baslow Road | Totley | Sheffield | S17 4DR Tel: 0114 235 3500 Email: advice@hamnettwealth.com www.hamnettwealth.com

Hamnett Wealth Management is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

G Siddons Ltd We have extensive experience within highways and roadworks. This includes all aspects of highway maintenance work i.e. surfacing, box lifting, kerb laying, drainage, driveways, crossings, excavations, JCB and Grab Wagon Hire.

T: 0114 2903 619 | M: 07825 302627 garry@gsiddonsltd.co.uk | lynsey@gsiddonsltd.co.uk

THE SHOE ROOM High quality Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shoes for all occasions

We also stock Luxury clothing brand Amor-lux, Viyella Shirts, Tootal Scarves and the iconic Australian Brand RM Williams. Formerly of Shoehealer, Richard and Michelle are delighted to welcome you to their brand new store on Priory Walk in Doncaster. The Shoe Room promise to deliver the same enhanced customer experience that they always have shown their customers over the years, with the same passion and commitment. With over 11 years of experience, it goes without saying that Richard and Michelle are very excited to continue their journey through this new store and we wish for you all to join us.

THE SHOE ROOM | 8 Priory Walk | Doncaster | 01302 360985

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EATING FOR HEALTH RACHEL MARTIN’S GUIDE TO THE SUPERFOODS YOU SHOULD BE INCLUDING IN YOUR DIET THIS YEAR.

ccording to Mintel’s 2018 global food and drink report, plant-based diets are set to explode into the mainstream this year, and in a bid for optimal wellness, 'superfoods’ are now seen as a direct pathway to radiant health and boundless energy. While in 2017 we turned to the healing properties of turmeric, macadamia nuts and maca powder, this year edible clays, matcha and

hemp products are set to be huge, according to experts. And the new alternatives, though a little strange sounding on the face of it, claim to offer myriad health benefits and are of course environmentally sustainable. Here, Southside takes a look some of the health food trends predicted to be huge in 2018, and reveals what could well be set to become your new nutrition normal.

HEMP SEEDS These small seeds are rich in essential fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids, including omega-3s, which can help fight coronary heart disease, cancer, and even symptoms of depression. Hemp seeds are also a rich source of the polyunsaturated fatty acid gamma linolenic acid, or GLA – known to help with a number of maladies.

CHICORIES Haven’t heard of this one? Chicories are those bitter winter greens like endive and escarole or purple radicchio. They are a good source of vitamin C and may also help boost heart health.

POMEGRANATE Pomegranates are known for their antioxidants and are an excellent source of fiber and vitamins C and K.

MATCHA Chock full of polyphenols, matcha is lauded for its anti-aging properties. Importantly, it may help lower the risk of certain cancers and heart disease. And if you’re trying to stay focused on your goals this year, sip on this. .

ACTIVATED CHARCOAL Activated charcoal can help you get purer skin and whiter teeth, as well as absorbing the standing tannins found in drinks like coffee and red wine

SEAWEED Unlike their land-bound counterparts, sea-grown vegetables are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, which may prevent sudden heart attack and stroke. Seaweed is also full of important minerals, such as bone-friendly calcium and magnesium, as well as iron, potassium, iodine and zinc.

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AÇAI Native to the rainforests of South America, the açai is a small purple berry that has been touted as a weight-loss and anti-aging aid. The fruit contains very high levels of antioxidants, which help fight cancer and heart disease.

FEATURE

GOJI BERRIES Goji berries have become a common sight on supermarket shelves, and for good reason: they contain a lot of vitamin C. Native to Tibet and Inner Mongolia, these orange-red tangy berries have been used by Chinese herbalists for centuries to treat visual ailments and poor circulation and to help boost the immune system. Scientific research has yet to support such claims, but there’s no denying that goji berries are rich in plant-based antioxidants and compounds.

CHIA SEEDS Native to Mexico, these nutrient-rich seeds have become all the rage among superfood seekers. And it’s no surprise - chia seeds are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, fibre and calcium.

NUTRITIONAL YEAST Not to be confused with active dry or brewer’s yeast, nutritional yeast is made from deactivated yeast and has no leavening power. It’s a great source of protein and fiber and is also among the only vegan-friendly sources of vitamin B12, which is essential for normal brain and nervous-system function but found mostly in meat and dairy products.

GREEN TEA

BLACK GARLIC

This ages-old health secret has Black garlic has long been prized for its been used as a natural remedy health benefits, but it became widely for everything from cancer to available in Western markets only a heart disease. The secret to this few years ago. The black bulb is delicious drink? Antioxidants. created by fermenting raw garlic The main superhero here is through prolonged exposure to Epigallocatechin gallate, or heat and humidity, giving it a EGCG, a phytochemical that sweet, mellow flavour and an slows irregular cell growth, inky hue. In addition to the which could potentially help sulfuric compounds that prevent the growth of some provide garlic with its cancers. heart-healthy and anticancer benefits, the fermented cloves are a source of important probiotics.

KALE Move over spinach, you've got some fierce competition. Kale contains a type of phytonutrient that appears to lessen the occurrence of a wide variety of cancers, including breast and ovarian. Though scientists are still studying why this happens, they believe the phytonutrients in kale trigger the liver to produce enzymes that neutralize potentially cancercausing substances.

QUINOA This teeny-tiny, grain-like seed packs some serious nutritional prowess. With a mild, nutty flavour and a texture similar to rice or couscous, quinoa is one of the only grains or seeds that provides all nine essential amino acids our bodies can't produce themselves. And it's filled with protein - eight grams per one-cup serving, to be exact.

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THEATRE FAT FRIENDS, THE MUSICAL

The y r a i D

6-10 February Lyceum Theatre, 55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 1DA www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk Tickets from £26

Join the infamous group of TV’s most loveable characters as they are put through their Zumba paces at their local branch of Super Slimmers by the lovelorn Lauren whilst Kelly fantasises about fitting into the wedding dress of her dreams.

er s

ah Sand

By Hann

COMEDY BILL BAILEY: LARKS IN TRANSIT 9-10 February / Sheffield City Hall, Barker’s Pool, Sheffield, S1 2JA www.sheffieldcityhall.co.uk Ticket from £30.80

Larks in Transit is a compendium of travellers’ tales and the general shenanigans of 20 years as a travelling comedian.

JASON MANFORD: MUDDLE CLASS 17 February / Sheffield City Hall, Barker’s Pool, Sheffield, S1 2JA www.sheffieldcityhall.co.uk / Tickets from £30.80 ‘Muddle Class’ promises to feature a wealth of new material about Jason growing up ‘working class’ then finding, over the years, that part of him has become ‘middle class’ – causing much confusion!

TOM ALLEN 23 February / The Leadmill, 6 Leadmill Road, Sheffield, S1 4SE Tel: 0114 272 4040 / www.leadmill.co.uk / Tickets £14 The sharply dressed, well-spoken Tom Allen embarks on his debut solo tour. As seen on Mock The Week, 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Live on the Apollo and more.

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PICTURED BELOW (L-R): Natasha Hamilton, Natalie Anderson, Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff, Jodie Prenger, Kevin Kennedy and Sam Bailey

Mamma Mia! 27 February - 17 March Lyceum Theatre, 55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 1DA www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk Tickets from £17.50 Sophie’s quest to discover the father she’s never known brings her mother face to face with three men from her distant romantic past on the eve of a wedding they’ll never forget. This irresistibly funny show has been thrilling audiences all around the world and now the party comes to Sheffield for the first time, so there’s never been a better time to see this unforgettable musical.

Frost Nixon 22 February - 17 March Crucible, 55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 1DA www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk Tickets from £15 In 1974 Richard Nixon became the only US President in history to resign from office, immersed in one of the biggest scandals in American political history: Watergate. A captivating dramatisation of the post-Watergate TV interviews, Kate Hewitt (Tribes) directs this landmark play in the first British production since its award-winning 2006 debut.

THE DIARY

MUSEUMS & GALLERIES DAN HOLDSWORTH: MAPPING THE LIMITS OF SPACE

SPORT 5 STAR WRESTLING 15 February Fly DSA Arena, Broughton Lane, Sheffield, S9 2DF Tel: 0114 256 5656 www.flydsaarena.co.uk Tickets from £16.80 5 Star Wrestling are launching the biggest tournament in wrestling history, whilst simultaneously becoming the first British promotion to run a full-blown arena tour, spread across 30 weeks, featuring over 128 of the best wrestlers from around the globe at the biggest arenas in the country.

MUSIC SAM SMITH

Until 16 March Graves Gallery, Leader House, Surrey Street, Sheffield, S1 2LH www.musuems-sheffield.org.uk Charting Holdsworth’s exploration of the relationship between landscape photography, science and technology, Mapping the Limits of Space will present the artist’s most recent series – Continuous Topography – alongside key works from the last seven years. The series is the results of painstaking fieldwork which saw Holdsworth collaborate with a research geologist to capture hundreds of photographic images.

THE SYKES GALLERY: METALWORK COLLECTION Millennium Gallery, 48 Arundel Gate, Sheffield, S1 2PP www.museums-sheffield.org.uk Museums Sheffield’s Metalwork Collection is one of the finest in the world. It contains the cutlery, flatware and tableware that have made Sheffield famous, as well as beautiful objects collected from every continent.

THE CLASSIC ROCK SHOW 2018: GUITAR GREATS 7 February / Sheffield City Hall, Barker’s Pool, Sheffield, S1 2JA www.sheffieldcityhall.co.uk Ticket from £27.44 Paying tribute to many of the world’s all time guitar greats, The Classic Rock Show’s world class musicians power through classic rock’s finest moments, celebrating legendary performances by the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Mark Knopfler, Eric Clapton, Angus Young, Brian May, Joe Walsh plus many more.

20 March Fly DSA Arena, Broughton Lane, Sheffield, S9 2DF Tel: 0114 256 5656 www.flydsaarena.co.uk Tickets from £32 It’s been over three years since Sam Smith’s debut album was released, and since then he has become one of the biggest acts on the planet with over 12 million global album sales and an array of impressive awards, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, three Brit Awards and four Grammy’s.

SPACE 24 February / O2 Academy, 37-43 Arundel Gate, Sheffield S1 2PN www.academymusicgroup.com / Tickets £18 Having gained much of their success in the nineties, indie band Space are back for 2017 with new single ‘Dangerous Day’ and their upcoming album Give Me Your Future. Catch them on their upcoming UK tour as they celebrate their career and the future ahead of them.

THE X FACTOR LIVE

Sam Smith

2 March Fly DSA Arena, Broughton Lane, Sheffield, S9 2DF Tel: 0114 256 5656 www.flydsaarena.co.uk Tickets from £22.40 The X Factor’s super six semi-final acts will star in The X Factor Live Tour 2018. A seventh wildcard act will then be decided via an online vote from all the acts in this year’s live shows.

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First For Business

FEBRUARY 2018

FEATURE

www.ffb-online.co.uk

OPEN-TOP LUXURY Order books have now been opened for the all-new Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet. Due for a spring delivery to UK car owners, the SClass Cabriolet will be available in three flavours: S 560 AMG-Line; Mercedes-AMG S 63; and MercedesAMG S 65. The S 560 replaces the outgoing S 500, and introduces a new 4.0-litre biturbo V8 petrol unit producing 469hp and 700Nm of torque, and is mated to a nine-speed automatic gearbox. The S 63 comes with AMG’s hand-built 4.0-litre twinturbo V8 petrol engine producing 612hp and 900Nm, which is mated to a Speedshift MCT 9G-Tronic ninespeed gearbox. The S 65 comes with a hand-built 6.0-litre V12 petrol engine, which has an output of 630hp and 1000Nm.

THERE’S PLENTY TO WHET THE APPETITE IN 2018, WRITES JORDAN CUTFORTH. RED RAG TO A BULL The Focus RS is, to put it bluntly, a road-going heat-seeking missile. It is one of the fastest cars on typical British B-roads and yet it’s just a Ford with a Ford pricetag.

Z CARS The highly delightful and exceptionally enjoyable Mazda MX-5 has a new addition to its line-up – It’s called the ZSport. Limited to just 300 cars, the Z-Sport stands out from the rest of the range by introducing a cherry-coloured roof, BBS alloy wheels and sand leather seats.

Available only from February until March, Ford has released what they call the RS Red Edition. This ‘pack’ allows the Focus RS to be ordered with a Race Red exterior body colour accompanied by black-cast alloy wheels and some grey-finished brake callipers. It features contrasting black roof, door mirrors and rear spoiler, plus partial leather Recaro seats and carbon fibre trim. Other features include rear parking sensors, Active City Stop, cruise control and privacy glass. Just 300 units will be built with a pricetag starting from £36,295.

Like the standard MX-5 the Z-Sport will be powered by a 157hp 2.0-litre petrol motor with the power being sent to the rear wheels via a delicious six-speed snappy manual gearbox. No 1.5-litre engine available here. The Z-Sport represents the first chance to buy a current-generation MX-5 convertible with an alternatively coloured fabric roof. Prices start from £25,595 when the car goes on sale from 1 March 2018.

LIVING UP TO ITS NAME Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you the fastest and most extreme McLaren road car ever made – the McLaren Senna. With a name bearing the most famous F1 drivers’ name of them all, Ayrton Senna, this car must live up to its promise – and live up to it it does. For starters, this car is a race-car legalised for the road. It’s the lightest McLaren road car since the iconic McLaren F1 and is powered by a 789hp 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 – the most powerful McLaren engine to date. Like all modern McLarens, it has a mid-engine rear-drive chassis. Priced at £750,000. 42 First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk

Advertising Sales Executive required Preference will be given to candidates who can show previous success in the field of selling print/internet advertising. OTE - upon application dependent upon experience Company car can be supplied Holidays - 25 days plus statutory Bank Holidays - Pro-rata If you feel you have the experience and the drive to succeed within our company, please email your current c.v to jillion.wood@rmcmedia.co.uk

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

First For MAGAZINE

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

First For Business

FEBRUARY 2018

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HOLIDAY? SNOW PROBLEM

PLANNING A FAMILY GETAWAY THIS HALF-TERM? PHOEBE SEYMOUR LOOKS AT IDEAL FAMILY BREAKS, BOTH AT HOME AND ABROAD.

t this time of year, when the skies are grey and the temperatures are low, nothing lifts the spirits more than having a holiday to look forward to. And with half-term coming up in February, now is the perfect time to plan a family getaway.

SKIING HOLIDAYS

When it comes to winter holidays, we tend to fall into two camps – those who embrace the beautiful yet chilly outdoors, and those who wish to escape to much sunnier climes. With this in mind, we’ve rounded up every kind of winter holiday, from British breaks, to exotic getaways.

Avoriaz is a fantastic destination for families as it is safe, convenient and has the highest and most snowsure slopes in the Portes du Soleil area. Childcare is also provided at the Village des Enfants in the centre of the resort.

Avoriaz is a French mountain resort in the heart of the Portes du Soleil

Enjoy the seasonal snow and get the whole family active with a skiing holiday. Significantly heavy snowfall in January has meant that now is a great time to hit the resorts in the French and Austrian Alps.

Obergurgl in Austria is another great option as it is picturesque and has easier slopes for beginners. Children from as young as three can join the Bobo Skiclub or the indoor Bobo Kindergarten. If you are looking to travel further afield, Tremblant in the French-speaking area of Canada is a purpose-built village lined with cobbled streets and vibrantly-coloured buildings designed in the old Québec style. It is also home to a highly-rated ski school for children. Closer to home, Scotland currently has five operational resorts. Glencoe (www.glencoemountain.co.uk) has the best snow cover and is an area of outstanding beauty. Skiing lessons are available for children as young as five, while experienced skiers can enjoy the longest and the steepest ski run in Scotland. Start planning your skiing holiday at www.crystalski.co.uk.

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TRAVEL

MAIN PICTURE: The volcanic mountains of Gros and Petit Piton in St Lucia INSET: Puerto del Carmen in Lanzarote

SUNNY WINTER HOLIDAYS Say goodbye to your winter blues with a holiday in a much warmer part of the world. The Canary Islands are within easy reach with temperatures in the low 20s, while the Caribbean is at its hottest and driest right now. When it comes to the Canaries, Lanzarote is a good all-rounder, with plenty of family facilities in the Los Pocillos area, close to the popular Puerto del Carmen resort. Inland, Timanfaya National Park offers dramatic landscapes for an action-packed week. Over in the Caribbean, St Lucia is home to some of the world’s most gorgeous beaches, including the golden strip of Anse Chastanet, while volcanic mountains Gros and Petit Piton are perfect for hiking and picture opportunities. The Bay Gardens Beach Club Resort is family-friendly and is next to Reduit Beach. Whether you stay on the strip in South Beach, or at a child-friendly resort nearby, there are plenty of fantastic restaurants and a lively atmosphere in Miami. The Fontainebleau offers one of the most luxurious spas in town, an interactive children’s water-play area and a Kids Camp. Find your perfect winter sun holiday at www.lastminute.com.

“When it comes to the Canaries, Lanzarote is a good all-rounder, with plenty of family facilities in the Los Pocillos area, close to the popular Puerto del Carmen resort.” GREAT BRITISH HOLIDAYS

STAYCATIONS

Appreciate the beaches, forests and greenery all around us, by taking a trip to a popular UK holiday destination. Forest Holidays (www.forestholidays.co.uk) offer luxurious cabins in ten idyllic locations including nearby Sherwood Forest, Blackwood Forest in the south and Ardgarten Argyll in Scotland. Each cabin includes a hot tub and a range of activities from cycling and canoeing to Forest Ranger activities for kids. It may be too cold to paddle, but there is still plenty to do in the winter months at some of Britain’s favourite seaside towns. A trip to one of Whitby’s (www.visitwhitby.com) museums such as the Captain Cook Museum and a hot chocolate in one of the town’s many tearooms is sure to keep the troops happy. Book a holiday cottage off one of the winding streets.

Forest Holidays

Swanage, Dorset

Over in Blackpool, donkey rides may be off the table, but thrill seekers will be pleased to hear that the Blackpool Pleasure Beach (www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com) is open in February, along with Nickelodeon Land for younger children. In Dorset (www.visit-dorset.com), you will find two more traditional seaside towns – Swanage and Weymouth. Wrap up warm and go fossil hunting on Chesil Beach or enjoy an indoor activity such as the Sealife Centre in Weymouth if it’s a rainy day. In Cornwall (www.visitcornwall.com) now may not be the time to sunbathe on one of St Ives white beaches, but its narrow winding streets are lovely for a stroll, while indoor activities feature historic houses, castles, museums and World Heritage Sites.

Alternatively, why not stay home and take a few daytrips to the many amazing museums and galleries right on our doorstep? Our region has a wealth of attractions, from Yorkshire Wildlife Park (www.yorkshirewildlifepark.com) in Doncaster, to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park (www.ysp.org.uk) in Wakefield. York offers everything from a fantastic shopping experience with its famous Shamble Markets and quaint boutiques, to museums such as the Jorvik Viking Centre (www.jorvikvikingcentre.co.uk) and York’s Chocolate Story (www.yorkschocolatestory.com). Closer to home is the Kelham Island Museum, while Weston Park and the Millennium Gallery have a mix of permanent and temporary exhibitions.

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First For Business

FEBRUARY 2018

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SHEFFIELD THEATRES BOSS DAN SEEKING FAR EAST LINKS Sheffield Theatres has announced that chief executive, Dan Bates will take a short sabbatical to explore opportunities for the company in the Far East. The sabbatical, which has been partfunded by the Arts Council and British Council’s Artists’ International Development Fund, will provide an opportunity for Dan to explore international collaborations for the theatres, as well as meeting with industry leaders to share and gather best practice. Dan plans to forge new cultural links, developing creative partnerships and opportunities for international touring and transfers. His journey will begin in Singapore, where he will be based at The Esplanade, working alongside Benson Puah’s (CEO) team. He then continues on to Hong Kong, China, Taiwan and

Dan Bates Picture: Nigel Barker

South Korea, ending in Australia. He will be meeting with industry leaders at West Kowloon Cultural District in Hong Kong, Melbourne Arts Centre, the National Taichung Theatre in Taiwan and Seoul Arts Centre. Dan will take his leave from mid-February, returning to Sheffield Theatres at the beginning of June. During the interim, Claire Murray, currently communications and fundraising director, will assume the role of chief executive.

Dan commented: “After 30 years of producing theatre across Yorkshire and eight years leading Sheffield Theatres, this feels like the right time to take stock and look further afield for inspiration. We have enjoyed tremendous success as a company, and as Rob begins his second season as artistic director, I feel we are in an excellent position to pursue our international ambitions. “I spent a short time with one of my counterparts in Singapore last March and found their approach both fascinating and invigorating. It's vital that we, as a sector, seek to innovate and improve our practice, and I am excited by the shared learning that will result from this visit and how this can support our growth as an organisation. “I am so grateful to the board for supporting me in pursuing this venture and to Rob, Claire and the senior team who will be looking after these very special theatres in my absence.”

WORK AND PLAY

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

BANNER JONES BOLSTERS EMPLOYMENT LAW DIVISION Multi-disciplined law firm Banner Jones has expanded its employment law division with the appointment of Sara Ellison, a HR and employment law legal executive. A Legal 500 recommended lawyer recognised for her “straight-talking” approach, Sara joins the Sheffield-based employment law team with immediate effect, bringing with her more than 14years’ experience advising both individuals and private, public and third sector clients. Having studied at Sheffield Hallam University before joining Irwin Mitchell, and subsequently Watson Esam and Taylor Bracewell, Sara has particular expertise in discrimination and unfair dismissal cases, providing advice at all stages from internal disputes to full tribunal representation. The new appointment follows the recent

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

recognition of Banner Jones in the latest Legal 500, in which the firm appeared for the fifth consecutive year. Director and head of employment law at Banner Jones, Katie Ash, commented: “Sara is a welcome addition to our established team – bringing with her considerable expertise and experience, and further

bolstering our ability to meet increased demand. “Having previously worked with Sara at Watson Esam and Taylor Bracewell, I am delighted that she is joining the team in this period of growth as we continue to deliver high quality employment law services.”

WORK & PLAY

BREXIT DOESN’T MEAN BUST FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES AT QES BREAKFAST Statistics unveiled by David Littlewood at the Sheffield City Region Quarterly Economic Survey breakfast (QES) reveal that most local businesses are not feeling threatened by the prospect of Brexit. David, who is a professor of strategic management at the University of Sheffield’s Management School, reported that the final quarter of the year (Q4) reflected a business confidence from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the face of uncertain times. Of the companies surveyed, only 29 per cent of those in the service sector and 21 per cent of those in the manufacturing sector expressed marked concern about what the impending exit from the EU could mean for them. Over 90 businesses attended the morning meeting, which was hosted at The Source, Meadowhall, and organised by the Sheffield City Region’s four Chamber of Commerce. The event featured a panel debate about opportunities for businesses considering international trade with experts from four local businesses sharing their views. The panel included William Beckett (chair of the International Trade Forum), Edward Naylor (CEO of Barnsley based Naylor Industries), Chloe Watmore (general manager at Thermotex Engineering) and David Campbell-Molloy (senior programme manager for trade and investment at the Sheffield City Region) who shared their experiences of trading overseas and provided opportunities for local businesses to discuss overcoming barriers and accessing opportunities to trade overseas. The QES report revealed a positive outlook for the export market with both service and manufacturing sectors reporting increases of +15pts and +5pts respectively. Although export is down compared to Q4 in 2016, which was exceptionally high, it remains high despite ongoing national concerns about Brexit, suggesting opportunities may be growing within international markets. This positivity appears to have spread through to other areas such as optimising capacity, where an increase in the percentage of manufacturing firms report working at full capacity compared to Q4 of the previous year. The results from cash flow were also promising, as 79per cent of exporters in all businesses involved in the survey reported that over the past three months cash flow had either increased or remained the same. The next QES survey begins on 19 February and runs until 12 March.

UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD HONOUR FOR ONE HEALTH GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE A leading figure from the health and charity sector has been rewarded for her work by being awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Medicine from the University of Sheffield. Lucy Nickson, who is chief executive of Sheffield-based One Health Group, is a previous chief executive for two end-oflife support organisations, Ashgate Hospicecare in Chesterfield and Helen’s Trust in Bakewell. She has been credited for transforming the care of terminally ill people during her time at both organisations and her contributions to the field of nursing in general. Lucy, who joined One Health last year, said: “I feel truly proud and privileged to have received an honorary degree of

Doctor of Medicine. In my citation there was much mention of my nursing and health service career and I acknowledge my nursing background as key to my journey, and as key to my ability and enjoyment of leading people and organisations. “I am determined to use my skills and leadership experience in this sector so One Health Group can be seen as part of the solution to great healthcare, working together with NHS colleagues, as well as all other partners in healthcare.” Ray Shannon, Chairman of the One Health Group, said: “We’re absolutely delighted for Lucy. This honour is truly deserved and demonstrates her expertise, not only in this area but also her leadership skills.” First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk 47

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FEBRUARY 2018

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Pictured, from left: Brenda Jordan (Sheffield Chamber), Nick Patrick (SYITC) Peter Hoy (Macalloy), Katarzyna Paciorek (Macalloy), Chloe Blakemore (Macalloy) Jack Kimmins (Macalloy) Karen Yates (Macalloy) Steve Townsley (Fidelitas Training) John Hayward (president, Sheffield Chamber of Commerce)

ANOTHER GREAT ITOPS GROUP PRESENTATION The South Yorkshire International Trade Centre recently presented the latest International Trade Operations and Procedures (ITOPS) Course delegates with their certificates. John Hayward, president of the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce awarded the two certificates, one from the Chamber and the other from the British Chambers of Commerce, as the qualification achieved is an accredited BCC foundation award. Steve Townsley, who designed the comprehensive and practical ITOPS programme in conjunction with East Midlands Chamber, has been training exporting companies in the Sheffield City Region on behalf of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce for over 20 years. He said: “The calibre of the delegates from South Yorkshire companies is exceptional and the exporters from Macalloy Ltd are testament to that as they all achieved distinctions having worked long and hard.”

£1.2M GRANTS INJECTION TO BOOST SHEFFIELD CITY REGION PRODUCTIVITY Grants totalling more than £1.2m have been awarded in a bid to improve productivity across the Sheffield City Region. Five grants have been approved by the Combined Authority for education centres to purchase advanced equipment needed for learning in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM). The combined authority has agreed to give £500,000 to Sheffield Hallam University to increase space and equipment for 10,800 learners on digital degree apprenticeship courses over a decade, generating £50m for the economy and supporting the creation of an estimated 2,300 jobs. Students at the RNN Group, (which includes North Notts, Dearne Valley and Rotherham colleges), will soon be working ‘hands-on’ on the futuristic 48 First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk

technologies of hybrid and electric vehicles thanks to a £185,000 grant. Chesterfield College has received £243,000 to develop a Digital Skills Hub, which will teach software, games, networking and hardware development, and develop digital content for college programmes. The National Fluid Power Centre in Worksop won £132,500 for equipment which will help students receive more indepth technical training. Finally, The Sheffield College has been awarded £154,700 to purchase specialist equipment to answer the increased demand in the construction industry for higher level skills in estimating, design, quantity surveying, and site supervision, plus digital literacy. Nigel Brewster, vice chairman of the

Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, said: "This is a massive boost to productivity across the City Region. Our ethos is about creating jobs and economic growth, and these are just the sort of schemes that will continue putting our economy back on its feet. “They're practical, and they are in areas where they will produce results. We've worked closely with our partners to underpin their drive to make courses dynamic and fit for the future. We're providing the equipment for hands-on skills learning.”

WORK & PLAY

NEW SITE FOR TRAMLINES FESTIVAL’S 10TH ANNIVERSARY

£40M INSTITUTE OF CODING TO PLUG DIGITAL SKILLS SHORTAGE

Sheffield's Tramlines Festival is set to move to a new site for its 10th anniversary.

Companies, universities and organisations across the North will join forces with counterparts across the UK on the new £40m Institute of Coding, which it is hoped will plug the UK digital skills shortage.

The 2018 edition of the event will take place from 20-22 July at Hillsborough Park, which will be the first time that the festival has been held entirely on one site.

A consortium made up of more than 60 universities, national and international corporations, SMEs, industry groups, experts in nontraditional learning and professional bodies has been brought together to form a national initiative.

The new location provides greater capacity - licenced for up to 40,000 people - and the space to programme more entertainment. New additions will include a comedy stage, pop-up cinema, kids and family area, and a stage programmed by the Leadmill and local legend Jon McClure of Reverend and The Makers.

Industry partners include Sheffield Digital, BAE Systems, Sunderland Software City, Siemens, Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK and WANdisco.

Tramlines Festival director, Sarah Nulty said: "We really wanted to do something different for the 10th anniversary and moving to a bigger park means we can include lots of extra interesting elements and deliver more than just music although saying that, we're going bigger than we ever have before with the lineup.

University of Sheffield, Lancaster University, University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, Newcastle University, Northumbria University, University of Sunderland and University of York are also partners.

"It will be a more traditional green-field format, but still within the city. We're staying on the tram lines so that we can remain connected with the city centre our new site is 13 mins from the city centre and only five minutes away from last year's main stage. We always wanted to be a city-wide festival, and this just extends the footprint that little bit further."

The Institute is backed by £20m from the UK Government and £20m of match funding and it’s hoped it will develop and deliver innovative, industryfocused higher education across the UK.

TRANS-PENNINE ROUTE REACHES IMPORTANT MILESTONE Proposals for a £242m investment to improve the Manchester to Sheffield Trans-Pennine route have reached an important milestone with the launch of a statutory consultation. The A57 improvement on the Greater Manchester side, including new dual and single carriageways between the M67 and Woolley Bridge, is the centrepiece of the Trans-Pennine Upgrade programme and will require special planning permission. Safety and technology improvements will also be made either side of Woodhead Pass and an overhaul of Westwood roundabout in South Yorkshire where the A616 meets the A61 will be undertaken. The consultation will run between 12

February and 25 March with a programme of public events. Highways England Trans-Pennine Upgrade project manager Monica Corso Griffiths said: "We'd urge anyone with an interest in the improvements to let us know their views. “This is an important investment in one of the most important east-towest routes in the country. “The improvements form part of the current £15bn government investment in motorways and major A roads and are a vital element of Highways England's support for the Northern Powerhouse – unlocking the potential for new homes and jobs by tackling congestion.”

Dr Rachid Hourizi, director of the Institute of Coding, said: "The strength of the Institute of Coding lies in the fact that it brings together educators, employers and outreach groups to codevelop digital skills education at undergraduate and masters level for learners in universities, at work and in previously under-supported groups across the country. "Courses will be made available at undergraduate and masters levels, alongside short courses in areas of strategic importance including data science, artificial intelligence and cyber security. "In addition, we’ll work with our partners to implement a Widening Participation programme to target underrepresented talent through outreach activities, tailored and inclusive curricula, flexible delivery and removal of barriers to working in the industry."

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