First for Business July 2017

JULY 2017 www.ffb-online.co.uk @ffbmagRMC

The invisible enemy Guarding against cyber crime

THE BUSINESS OF SPORT Premier League status can boost Sheffield City Region economy

Boom town Barnsley is on the up THE MONTHLY INDEPENDENT VOICE OF BUSINESS IN THE SHEFFIELD CITY REGION

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Recently installed at our Sheffield headquarters 11 meter height of lift 12,500 KG capacity with 27 meter span

CONTENTS

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CONTENTS 40 JULY 2017 AGENDA 6 People living in the Sheffield City Region have a voracious appetite for sport. As well as being good for health and the soul, it creates millions for the economy

ASK THE EXPERTS 13 When it comes to heating your business (or home) or getting the best financial advice, it’s important to speak to those who know

NEW ERA DEVELOPMENT 20 A New Era for Sheffield’s Chinatown quarter

MOVING ON 23

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Sheffield City Region’s plans to improve transport links are designed to bring major economic benefits

UNDER ATTACK 26 Cyber-space can be a dangerous place to do business. FFB finds out why… and what you can do to protect yourself

TRAVEL 32 Chris Wilson enjoys a bracing break in Stavanger, capital of Norway’s oil boom

WINNERS PARTY 34 My Fathers Heart threw a lavish party for the winners of this year’s Westside Restaurant of the Year awards

34 Editor Chris Wilson chris.wilson@rmcmedia.co.uk Consultant Editor Andy Waple Chief Feature Writer Clare Parkin

ON THE UP! 40 Barnsley is heading back to the big time with multi-million pound regeneration projects leading the way

RMC BOOKS 43 There is much to learn from successful Sheffield businessman Sir Hugh Sykes, who reveals all in a new book

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Chief Sub Editor Richard Abbey Sub Editor Richard Smith Operations Director Jillion Wood Publishing Manager Mandy Ogle mandy.ogle@rmcmedia.co.uk Studio Manager Chris Brierley Design Dan Wray, Steve Levers

GENERAL ELECTION 2017 44

RMC Media 6 Broadfield Court Broadfield Business Park Sheffield, S8 OXF Tel: 0114 250 6300

Business leaders from across the Sheffield City Region air their views on the General Election, which ended with the Conservatives needing the support of the ten DUP MPs in order to govern

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

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SOUTH YORKSHIRE GIGABIT NETWORK IS NOW LIVE The UK’s leading alternative infrastructure provider, CityFibre, has connected the first businesses to its full-fibre Gigabit City networks in South Yorkshire.

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usinesses in Sheffield, Doncaster and Rotherham are gearing up for faster internet speeds and future growth, thanks to their new fullfibre networks which have connected their first customer via launch partner, Exa Networks.

The network build is being delivered by alternative infrastructure provider, CityFibre, as part of its ambition to revolutionise the UK’s digital infrastructure. Services are being provided in partnership with internet service provider Exa Networks, the telecommunications specialist also helping to deliver multi-gigabit speeds to Leeds and Bradford. Imperial Automotive and Credit Style are the first businesses in South Yorkshire to access one of the fastest fibre networks in the world.

Richard Wright, Chief Executive at Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, said: “Ultra-fast internet connectivity is an extremely useful commodity for the business community and something which is regularly discussed by our members.

“I am delighted to see a company coming into the city and investing in the local infrastructure to boost economic growth. This type of development further strengthens Sheffield’s extensive credentials as an innovation hub where businesses can thrive.”

Jason Petrou-Brown, City Development Manager at CityFibre commented: “It’s fantastic to see a local business like Imperial Automotive, being amongst the first to benefit from our world-class digital infrastructure. The Gigabit City

networks in South Yorkshire have the potential to catapult the region and the businesses operating there into the global digital arena and facilitate Sheffield, Doncaster and Rotherham in joining the likes of Leeds as key players in the Northern Powerhouse.

“We view building future-proof digital infrastructure and establishing Gigabit Cities as an important investment that will instil confidence in the UK’s economy by equipping businesses and public services with the tools they need to fully embrace the digital age. We look forward to connecting many more organisations to our network and seeing the region reap the benefits of greater productivity, efficiency and competitiveness” Mark Cowgill, Co-Founder, Exa Networks added: “Connecting our first businesses to the gigabit network is a momentous milestone in delivering world-class connectivity to the Sheffield City Region. We’re excited to see the continued gigabit transformation of South Yorkshire in the same way we’ve

seen with Leeds and Bradford - how they do business, attract and retain talent, harness new technologies and encourage investment in the wider Yorkshire region.”

The growing demand for fibre in South Yorkshire comes as no surprise with this year’s Tech Nation Report estimating the region’s digitisation will generate an additional £339 million GVA for the region’s economy. CityFibre’s digital investment should see the region continue to flourish; providing the necessary infrastructure to support the rising numbers of high growth digital firms, accommodate the needs of tech start-ups and entice inward investment.

Businesses interested in connecting to Sheffield, Doncaster and Rotherham’s Gigabit City networks can register their interest at cityfibre.com/connect To find out more about the gigabit city movement in Sheffield visit: cityfibre.com/sheffield

PREVIEW

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PREVIEW hen Sheffield Wednesday missed out on qualifying for the Championship play-off final by losing 4-3 to Huddersfield Town at Hillsborough back in May, they didn’t just lose the chance to play in the Premier League…they blew a £170million jackpot.

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Playing in the big league brings big money to the clubs concerned, and that is just one reason why Wednesday and their cross-city rivals Sheffield United will be so desperate to make that allimportant leap into football’s top flight when the new Championship season commences in early August.

While football may be the glory game, and diehards from both sides will be eager to claim bragging rights when the Steel City derby matches are played (23 September at Hillsborough and 13 January at Bramall Lane), even non-football enthusiasts with the city of Sheffield at heart should be praying that both clubs can make a rapid return to the top division.

Research carried out by Sheffield Hallam University shows that football success does not just provide a financial windfall for the clubs, chairmen and players.

Cities and regions benefit as a whole, as football brings visitors to spend their hard-earned cash in hotels and bars and restaurants, putting the area under the spotlight for students, investors and skilled workers from all sectors.

This month in First For Business, consultant editor Andy Waple looks at the business of sport in Sheffield City Region and how a voracious appetite for sport, as well as being good for health and soul, creates millions for the local economy.

It’s not just football that is a key revenue booster to the area. Sheffield’s world renown as Snooker City, thanks to the fact that the sport’s world championships have been held at the Crucible every year since 1977, is another key factor.

Meanwhile beyond the big tournaments and star names, grass roots developments in football and tennis and the recent Outdoor City launch all add to the positive glow sport brings. Now it’s up to Wednesday and United to add the rocket fuel boost that having a couple of Premier League football clubs in the city would bring.

Elsewhere in First For Business, we meet a successful Sheffield businessman who knows what it takes to bring a deal to fruition, whether that means hardnosed business talk or impeccable hospitality. Sir Hugh Sykes has had an eventful business career that saw him take a small homespun business in the Derbyshire village of Bamford and build it into a serious international player which he later sold for a cool £72million.

CHRIS WILSON, EDITOR But he is best known for his role in the transformation of the city’s East End in his capacity as chairman of the Sheffield Development Corporation.

In a new book Lighting The Furnace, published by RMC Media, he has a great deal to say about the business world. It’s a fascinating insight into the Sheffield of the eighties and nineties.

Chief feature writer Clare Parkin seeks the views of local business leaders on the General Election, which saw the Conservative Party seeking a firm majority but ending up needing the support of Democratic Unionist Party MPs in order to govern.

We also look at the stories behind the regeneration of Barnsley and examine the way businesses of all sizes can protect themselves against the threat of cybercrime.

Along with our regular business news, that’s just a taste of what’s in First For Business this month. Let us know what you think by tweeting us @ffbmagRMC.

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IS SHEFFIELD ABOUT TO HIT THE JACKPOT? PEOPLE LIVING IN THE SHEFFIELD CITY REGION HAVE A VORACIOUS APPETITE FOR SPORT. AS WELL AS BEING GOOD FOR HEALTH AND THE SOUL, IT CREATES MILLIONS FOR THE LOCAL ECONOMY, WRITES ANDY WAPLE.

Having a Premier League team in the city could mean big business for Sheffield. Could this be Sheffield Wednesday’s year after coming so close previously?

AGENDA

issing out on promotion to the English Premier League last season denied Sheffield Wednesday and its chairman around £170million, it has been calculated.

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the research demonstrated that football provided Greater Manchester with the equivalent economic impact of an Olympic and Paralympic Games every four seasons.

And had the club managed to go up and stay up, another £120million would have poured into Hillsborough thanks to new broadcasting rights.

The study conducted by Hallam’s Sport Industry Research Centre and Cambridge Econometrics found that football contributed around £330million in gross value added (GVA) to Greater Manchester’s economy in 2010-11.

While the income itself would have benefited the chairman and the club, the city and region as a whole would have been much better off from having a local team in the Premier League.

Manchester proves the case, thanks to a study carried out by Sheffield Hallam University. Compiled just a few years ago,

In addition to that, it was estimated that the global profile that Manchester received from football, particularly its Premier League clubs, could be worth over £100million a year on an advertising-equivalency basis. >>>

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If Manchester teams continue to perform as well in the Premier League and Europe over the next 20 years this could be worth in excess of £2.5billion to the conurbation.

It also showed that football brought a considerable number of visitors to Manchester who spend their hard earned cash in hotels, bars and restaurants putting the city on the world stage under the gaze of students, investors and skilled workers from all sectors.

While Sheffield may have missed out on the potential cash bonanza from Premier League exposure – for now at least – it is widely recognised that Sport, Leisure & Tourism is a hugely important sector to the Sheffield City Region’s economy.

It is calculated that the sector employs over 50,000 people and generates an economic value of over £800million for the City Region.

generated 40,000 spectator admissions each year, which has boosted Sheffield’s economy by more than £100million over the period.

Spectators from outside Sheffield have spent £1.8million in the city on accommodation, food and drink, shopping, local travel and other entertainment.

Visitor spending coupled with that of the players, the media, officials and the costs of running the championship generates an annual economic impact of £2.6million.

The research, conducted again by Hallam University’s Sport Industry Research Centre, shows that over the 40 years, there have been some 1.2million paid spectator admissions, with around three

The World Snooker Championship is a great example of how sport can do so much to boost a city’s economy and its international profile.

The annual championship has been held at the Crucible Theatre for 40 years and

It’s not just football drawing in the sporting crowds. Snooker, cycling, swimming, climbing festivals and events all add to Sheffield’s sporting appeal

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

quarters of these by people visiting from outside Sheffield specifically to attend the snooker.

Every year the event generates more than 21,000 commercial bed-nights – in hotels, B&Bs and home rentals – from visiting spectators, players, the media, and officials. Players have been known to purchase property in the city over the years; whilst some fans stay in Sheffield for the duration of the event.

The Crucible first hosted the event in 1977 with 16 players competing over 13 days for a modest top prize of £6,000.

This year, the event took place over 17 days for a top prize of £375,000.

Now, according to researchers, Sheffield is well established as the home of snooker, and is regularly named ‘Snooker City‘.

AGENDA

The city also receives significant broadcast exposure, with more than 100 hours of coverage on the BBC and Eurosport – which generates an estimated place marketing value of £3.2million for the city each year.

One of the new football hubs

Peak audiences for the final in recent years have been five to six million viewers in the UK; whilst globally it is broadcast in more than 80 countries by 23 broadcasters to an audience of 330 million.

Richard Coleman, principal researcher at Hallam University’s Sport Industry Research Centre, said: “As we have demonstrated in our findings, the World Snooker Championship brings a significant annual boost to the Sheffield economy and has also been a great marketing vehicle for the city around the world; not least in economies such as

heffield was selected to pilot two innovatory sports scheme that has brought in millions of pounds of investment.

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The city is one of ten pilot schemes launched by the Lawn Tennis Association aimed to attract greater grassroots participation in the game.

A total of £250million has been put aside by the sport’s governing body for improvements to facilities nationwide.

Asia with whom the city is looking to forge links.

“Such benefits will be enhanced even further as this prestigious event remains at The Crucible until 2027 and its 50th anniversary in Sheffield.”

The Local Enterprise Partnership is well aware of the potential to grow the sector further. An objective of the Sport, Leisure and Tourism sub group is to further develop the region’s reputation as a world-class destination for sports and leisure, whilst growing the tourism economy to create jobs, wealth and a global platform for marketing the area.

It also recognises the sector’s importance in inspiring young people and provide basic skills facilitating flexible entry into the labour market with clear progression routes.

The region also does very well in the outdoor recreational market, which is worth £1.4billion nationally. Sheffield takes a good share of this thanks to its fantastic location and the city has the highest household spend on outdoor equipment in the country, supporting more than 200 outdoor equipment businesses.

The Sheffield schemes, with a £1.5millon investment across six park venues – has delivered a 54 per cent increase in participation since 2015.

In rolling out the scheme nationwide, the LTA is aiming to deliver 750 newlycovered indoor courts, more than 4,000 newly-floodlit courts and nearly 3,000 court entry systems across the country over the next decade.

Meanwhile, the Football Association’s “Parklife” initiative – with two artificial pitch football hub-sites up and running at Graves Park and Thorncliffe, High Green, with a third hub-site being built at the site of the former Westfield School near Mosborough.

The scheme has brought an inward investment of well over £10million.

The sites aim to generate cash that in the longer term will be used to ensure that regular grass pitches can be properly maintained – and that the proposed cuts affecting Sheffield City Council’s “discretionary spend” will not impact on grass pitch maintenance.

In addition it is hoped that more of the junior game can be played on the artificial pitches around Sheffield on

the basis that this will ensure a quality experience for younger children playing the game for the first time. It also means matches can be played during the winter when many grass pitches are either waterlogged or unplayable.

The Parklife Football Hub Programme pilot in Sheffield is funded by The FA, Sheffield City Council and the Department for Culture Media and Sport in partnership with Sport England. The Premier League has committed funding to support the roll out of future hubs.

“Make no mistake, these hubs are the start of something big,” said Martin Glenn, The FA’s chief executive.

“The Sheffield centres mark the beginning of the end of a story all-toofamiliar to the grassroots footballer of poor pitches, woefully inadequate changing facilities and a battle against the elements to get fixtures completed each winter.

“The FA, alongside the DCMS, the Premier League and local partners, will be investing £200million to replicate this model across the country with momentum already starting to grow.”

Similar venues in Middlesex and Liverpool, where four new football hubs are set to be created, are in the pipeline. Each will have three floodlit artificial grass pitches together with grass pitches, changing facilities and extensive car parking.

Martin Glenn said: “After the success of our inaugural site in Sheffield, this is another positive step in helping football communities across the country.”

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First For Business

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Business Recruitment Managers, Karen Wheatley,Tim Watmough and Deborah Williams.

RECRUITING WITH THE SOURCE APPOINTING AN APPRENTICE IS SIMPLE WITH HELP FROM THE EXPERTS.

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ou’ve made the decision to recruit an apprentice – Great!

But what happens now?

The Source offers a free comprehensive recruitment service and our professional, efficient and quality service ensures you only interview the best candidates for your role.

You will have a dedicated Business Recruitment Manager who will ensure the smooth running of the recruitment process and find you your ideal apprentice.

There are five key steps to our recruitment process:

1 Job Description – We will guide you to create a full job description of your vacancy.

This will include skills, duties and person specification.

2 Advertisement – We’ll advertise your vacancy on our website and other job sites so you don’t have to.

3 Screening – Your Business Recruitment Manager will screen and pre-interview all of the applicants for your post, this makes sure you only meet the best candidates and saves you time.

4 Meet your candidates – Once your Business Recruitment Manager has created a shortlist of candidates, they will invite the candidates to attend an interview with you at your site.

5 Your future apprentice! – When the interviews have taken place and you’ve chosen your apprentice, the recruitment team will confirm your decision and agree an official start and apprenticeship enrolment date.

Our tecruitment team works out of our central Sheffield office, 2 SURREY PLACE, SHEFFIELD, S1 2LP, but also across our Meadowhall and Rotherham sites. If you’d like to find out more or to start your own recruitment process, contact the team on 0114 263 6654 or email APPRENTICESHIPS@THESOURCEACADEMY.CO.UK 10 First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk

FEATURE

APPRENTICES IN ACTION KNOWHOW Knowhow was recently named ‘South Yorkshire and North Midlands Large Apprenticeship Employer of the Year 2017’ - recognising the company’s commitment to employing bright young talent.

The services brand of Dixons Retail, which has a contact centre based in Sheffield, partners with The Source to run its apprenticeship programme and last year boosted its intake from 30 apprentices to 70.

Knowhow has been investing in apprentices since 2010, and continues to recognise the value by offering more roles across the business in sales, customer services, delivery and care plan divisions as well as technical apprenticeships diagnosing IT issues.

Matt Sadler, Knowhow Training Manager, said: “Our apprentices come to us with

EXCLUSIVE MIRRORS Small family run business, Exclusive Mirrors knows only too well the benefits an apprentice can make to a company.

very rewarding.”

The 12-month programme with Knowhow and The Source sees apprentices take on a mixed learning approach. As well as learning on Knowhow the job they also apprentices visit The Source’s at work offices to achieve Functional Skills Qualifications in English and Knowhow Training Mathematics as part of their Manager Matt apprenticeship. There is also a visit once Sadler receiving a a month by an assessor.

Source Committed to People Development from British Land's David Tudor Morgan

long term aspirations, they are dedicated and want a career with the company. They are potentially our future.

“My remit is learning and development, I have eight trainers and they all want to work with the apprentices because of the energy, enthusiasm and excitement they bring to their role. Training them is

Furthermore, since the recruitment of apprentices, Exclusive Mirrors has doubled its staff and more impressively tripled its turnover in just three years.

Now operating as JS Mirrors the firm owns and runs four websites.

“The Source had such a high calibre of applicants and has been fabulous,” added Matt. We have high expectations at Knowhow and they have delivered.

They bend over backwards for us and are always at the end of the phone.

The Exclusive Mirrors team (from left): directors Stuart Morgan and Joanna Betts, Jake Keeton, Sarah Driver, Peter Barthorpe and Sophie Beard

fundamentals behind the reason we do it. They have grown with us.”

Sarah Diver, now 25, was Exclusive Mirror’s first apprentice. She is now a full time customer service and sales assistant along with second apprentice Sophie Beard, 22.

The firm, which was launched in 2008

by Director Stuart Morgan and is now one of the largest and most respected online mirror stores in the UK, took on its first apprentice in 2014 and hasn’t looked back.

Since then it has employed a further three apprentices in both warehouse and customer service and sales roles.

Three of those employees now have full time roles and the fourth apprentice is doing well on their 12-month training programme.

Knowhow has also introduced initiatives like Lion’s Lair, a Dragon’s Den type event to further engage with its apprentices in a fun and exciting way.

The Source has supported and helped deliver it.

“We said from day one we wanted people who were looking for a job at the end of the apprenticeship,” said Director, Joanna Betts. “We wanted them to learn the role inside out and be able to mould them to the job.

“Our apprentices have been able to learn the concept of what we do and why we do it. The programme gives them an understanding of the

Jake Keeton, 23, joined as an apprentice warehouse operative in 2015 and is full time while current apprentice Luke Westrop, 20, is learning the ropes.

“The Source has been amazing, they take care of everything for us,” added Joanna. “They have always found suitable apprentices and helped to identify opportunities for grants. I’m a big advocate for apprenticeships.”

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DEVELOP YOUR WORKFORCE, GROW YOUR BUSINESS, EMPLOY AN APPRENTICE www.thesourceacademy.co.uk

An apprentice brings an invaluable level of dedication and GPVJWUKCUO VQ [QWT DWUKPGUU RTQXKFKPI NQPI VGTO DGPGÆ’VU VQ JGNR [QW grow and develop. We offer apprenticeships in a range of subjects such as business admin, marketing, management and retail.

%CNN WU VQ Æ’PF QWV YJCV CP CRRTGPVKEGUJKR ECP FQ HQT [QWT DWUKPGUU T 0114 263 6654 E apprenticeships@thesourceacademy.co.uk

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ASK THE EXPERT

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ASK THE EXPERTS

WHEN IT COMES TO HEATING YOUR BUSINESS (OR HOME) OR GETTING THE BEST FINANCIAL ADVICE, IT’S IMPORTANT TO SPEAK TO THOSE WHO KNOW. ometimes in business only the best advice will do.

Here in the Sheffield City Region we are fortunate enough to have awardwinning and leading companies in a variety of sectors employing highlyskilled and knowledgeable staff.

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The First for Business Ask the Expert feature puts the spotlight on some of those personalities from our regional business world to offer insight and give advice on matters in their field.

This month we feature Airmaster Air

Conditioning’s Ian Fisher. The Business Development Manager discusses his passion for air conditioning and tells us why fitting air con in homes and businesses can provide cheap heat and save pounds.

Ian was so confident in the benefits he fitted air conditioning throughout his own home and has collated some fascinating results.

There’s also some wise words from Robert Hanney, Director of Corporate Finance at chartered accountancy firm

Knowles Warwick.

Robert offers advice on the best way for businesses to find a suitable lender or investor when looking for funding.

He explains how Knowles Warwick can support business owners looking to grow, buy or sell a firm.

If you would like to feature in Ask the Expert and share some of your knowledge with our readers then contact Mandy Ogle, Publishing Manager at First For Business on 07702 176988.

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Tel: 0114 321 6150

St Leger Week

Race Day DONCASTER Wednesday 13 September 2017

For the 16th year David Heugh will be organising and hosting the super St Leger Week Race Day. Come along and join us in the same exclusive Winning Post Marquee for one of the most important social and racing events on the sporting calendar.

It’s the perfect opportunity for private or corporate entertaining and we can assure you of good food and wine, sparkling company and a great day’s racing.

ONLY Plus, the usual Free Bar, all day!

145

£

PP plus VAT

For further information please contact David Heugh on 07785 243605 or email davidheugh@yahoo.co.uk Sponsored by Solutions 4 Cleaning and First for Business Magazine with the charity raffle in aid of the amazing Sheffield based charity Support Dogs

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

The special package in our private marquee by The Winning Post includes: I Morning Coffee and Biscuits I Super 3 Course Lunch I Full Afternoon Tea I Tipster I Free Parking PLUS!! A FREE BAR ALL DAY – UNLIMITED WINE, BEER, SOFT DRINKS

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COOL IDEA

WE TALK AIR CONDITIONING WITH EXPERT IAN FISHER OF AIRMASTER.

Who? Ian Fisher, Business Development Manager (BDM) at Airmaster Air Conditioning Ltd. What?

There’s never a dull moment as BDM as it covers the entire business from sales, meeting new customers, retaining existing customers, completing framework tenders, technical support, working procedures and, oh yeah, let’s not forget… (ahem) being told to attend swanky events wearing a tux and drinking prosecco!

How? I keep myself up to date with all things new and I’m constantly learning, plus I’m passionate about air conditioning; anyone who has met me will vouch for that and

I genuinely care about my customers, be it a small business or a multi-millionpound customer I do my upmost to give them a good customer experience.

Talent can get you in the room but good character is needed to keep you there.

Why? One of my passions has been to rid the idea that air conditioning is an expensive to run, dirty technology, so much so that in 2014 I practised what I preached and installed A/C at home instead of central heating and monitored energy use.

What next?

I knew it was going to be good, but even I was astonished with the results and so is everyone who has seen the costs. In 2015 I spent only £208 keeping my house at the temperature I wanted when I wanted, and

last year I only spent £196. Air conditioning is the future for city living, it’s fast, cheap and churns out around £4 worth of heat for every £1 spent on electricity.

Consider that my house could be a doctors, a dentist, an office, a shop or anything else. If you’re looking to replace your heating system for something that gives you cheap heat then give strong consideration to air-conditioning, it saves me money, it will save you too.

Read Ian’s blog about the air-conditioned house here: https://www.linkedin.com/ pulse/did-some-body-say-cheap-heat-ianfisher-dipacea-m-inst-r

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 16 First For Business | www.firstforbusinessmagazine.co.uk

ASK THE EXPERT

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VITAL LIFELINE

WE TALK CORPORATE FINANCE WITH EXPERT ROBERT HANNEY OF KNOWLES WARWICK.

Who? Robert Hanney, Director of Corporate Finance at Knowles Warwick Chartered Accountants.

What?

I work with clients who are seeking funding, either for a new venture or to grow their current business. I coach business owners through the process of applying for loans with the traditional banks and building societies and alternative lenders. I also advise on business sales, management buy-outs, mergers and acquisitions. In addition to this, I’m responsible for business development, helping our clients with profitability, cash flow and growth.

How? When looking for funding, businesses

need to find a lender or investor who has a basic knowledge of their industry.

An advisor can put you in touch with the right people, as they will have a number of contacts who could help. Not only will this increase your chances of a successful application, it could also provide you with an invaluable business connection.

Why? Having been a part of Knowles Warwick since the early days, I understand what businesses go through at every stage of the business lifecycle, and what they need from a lender or investor. Over the past three decades, I’ve worked with clients in a variety of sectors and industries, and have built relationships with most of the lenders in South Yorkshire, both traditional and alternative.

What next?

Corporate Finance is a vital lifeline for businesses, and we aim to assist as many as possible in securing the necessary funding they need to ensure healthy business growth. We’re currently taking on new clients and welcome any enquiries from business owners looking to grow, buy or sell a business.

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FINANCE

JULY 2017

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AVOIDING BAD DEBTS WILSON FIELD’S PHIL MEEKIN DISCUSSES THE IMPORTANCE OF MANAGING YOUR FINANCES. bad debt hits your business in three ways – it deprives it of cash, it reduces your profit but what is often overlooked is that also you have just lost a customer. If that customer was significant in size it could mean that your business can no longer operate profitably unless you are able to quickly replace the lost turnover or scale down – by possibly cutting overheads and reducing surplus capacity; easier said than done.

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Tips to help you avoid bad debts: Bad debts are a fact of life but you can take steps to avoid them: Credit insurance – you can insure against bad debts. Obviously there is a premium to pay but that is money well spent.

A robust credit control system – is essential for any business offering credit.

It doesn’t need to be heavy-handed as

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

you don’t want to alienate customers but you do need to: 0 ' ( & ( ! (' #& )'(#! &' " review them regularly 0 & ! "( + ( ( #"' (( " progressively tougher 0 ,#) & "#( ## ( & ( #"(&# or are too busy, outsource it Warning signs that suggest you may need to review a customer’s credit limit (or remove it): 0 ( $ ,! "( " ( & & ' "' that this is gradually deteriorating 0 '! & !#& & %) "( #& &' suggesting “living hand-to-mouth�

0 )'(#! & *# " ,#)& ' 0 * ' ( ( $& ! ' ' / * '(# * ' been run down?

0 '( ")! &' & & ) " 0 $ ,! "(' " #& &' '(#$ / ,#)& customer is shopping where more credit can be obtained

0 #)"(, #)&( ) ! "(' ' registered against your customer 0 . #)" 1 %) ' 0 +#& #" ( '(& ( / &)!#)&' amongst tradespeople may be malicious gossip but are worth investigating If a business has cash flow problems you may see a combination of the above.

Don’t avoid addressing the problem – discuss it with your customer and take what action you think appropriate – agree terms, place the account on “stop� or reduce/remove the credit limit.

Remember, losing a customer is better than suffering a bad debt AND losing a customer.

If despite your best efforts you do suffer a bad debt and it badly affects your cash flow, take professional advice without delay.

For further information, please contact Phil Meekin on 0114 235 6780 or email p.meekin@wilsonfield.co.uk

PIONEERS IN SERVICE SINCE 1870

Your worldwide freight and logistics partner

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

From an envelope to a factory, normal to abnormal Special Projects Whatever the size and scale of your project our experienced teams can advise and deliver to you professional solutions.

From factory moves to abnormal loads, we arrange shipments worldwide and also cater for your domestic needs.

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

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

T: 01709 529709

www.daviesturner.co.uk

LOGISTICS

First For Business

JULY 2017

www.ffb-online.co.uk

FREIGHT COMPANY, DAVIES TURNER, REPORTS GROWING TRADE DESPITE STERLING VOLATILITY.

EASTERN PROMISE espite the pound being volatile, leading British freight forwarder Davies Turner is reporting growing trade volumes on its UK and Turkey services.

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The UK firm, which has one of its 20 offices in Rotherham, said Turkey was expanding both as a market for British products and a major supplier to the UK and seemed to have been unaffected by uncertainties brought about by current developments and future changes in the UK’s trade relations with the wider world.

However, the company’s chairman, Philip Stephenson, said while overall volumes of traffic continue to increase, the gap between northbound imports from Turkey into the UK and southbound exports from the UK to Turkey continue to widen – despite recent sterling weakness against the Euro which may yet boost exports in the medium term.

In response Davies Turner has redoubled its efforts to develop cross-trade connections between other European countries and the wider world with Turkey to keep trailers filled and costs to shippers down.

Mr Stephenson added: “Certainly, exchange rate volatility since the Brexit referendum has impacted on our costs

but as a company we have absorbed these where possible and continued to honour our freight agreements or contracts with clients despite some unavoidable cost pressures, which we continue to review.”

Mr Stephenson said he believed Turkey would remain a major supplier to the UK market through the next few years of the re-negotiation process.

Davies Turner has, together with its Turkish partner Ekol Logistics, developed multimodal services between the UK and Turkey utilising ferry, rail and road services. As well as being a major logistics operator, Ekol operates its own ferry links from Istanbul and Izmir to Trieste and Marseille.

Door-to-door overland, express, airfreight and direct sea containers are all available, opening up a wide range of choices for Davies Turner customers – and flexibility to switch rapidly from one type of service to another as circumstances dictate.

Meanwhile in the UK, Davies Turner is about to complete a construction project more than doubling capacity at its main Scottish hub, as well as building a 145,000 sq ft logistics warehouse at Bristol.

Ekol is developing its own ferry port and customs facility near the Bosphorus in Turkey, coupled with customs-controlled warehousing. Mr Stephenson said he believed this would “change the face of logistics and international transport within the Istanbul region and beyond, taking countless trailers off the congested road network, and hopefully speeding up local transit times.”

Turkey also functions as a major hub for neighbouring countries including Iran where Davies Turner has long had business. There are hopes that trade will take off in the region. Davies Turner has kept open its office in Tehran for nearly 50 years and in addition to its direct services from the UK and Ireland, offers a daily full load and groupage service to Tehran via Istanbul.

“Having our own representation with one of our most experienced managers in Tehran as well as our own delegates based in Istanbul enables us to keep abreast of developments there,” said Mr Stephenson.

Davies Turner can also route traffic via Turkey to Northern Iraq and has plans to further develop services to Kazakhstan following improvements to rail links in Central Asia connecting with both China and Europe.

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

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LOGISTICS & TRANSPORT

First For Business

JULY 2017

www.ffb-online.co.uk Smart motorways are vital to the freight and logistics sector, says the Sheffield City Region

MOVING ON SHEFFIELD CITY REGION’S PLANS TO IMPROVE TRANSPORT LINKS ARE DESIGNED TO BRING MAJOR ECONOMIC BENEFITS.

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he Sheffield City Region (SCR) has unveiled its vision to improve transport and connectivity and maximise economic growth.

As a driving force at the heart of the Northern Powerhouse economic agenda, we have seized the opportunity to transform our economic fortune.

resilience of our transport network, and to support our freight and logistics sector, which is a key part of our economy.”

In June SCR published the Transport Prospectus, which outlines the region’s intention to make the most of national programmes such as HS2 and investment by Transport for the North (TfN).

“Our ambition is to become . . . a catalyst for change across the region attracting global innovation and partnerships with world leaders in technology.”

Doncaster Sheffield Airport is also named as a priority growth area. The airport is one of the fastest growing UK airports for passengers, and is set to become a key freight-shipping airport in future years. This will provide a further route to market for manufactured goods from the region, and is aims to build on the strength of the logistics sector including the nearby iPort freight centre.

Sir Nigel Knowles, Chair of the SCR’s Local Enterprise Partnership said: “We need an effective, integrated and sustainable transport network that offers excellent connectivity. Moving people around the city region from major transport hubs quickly, and as efficiently as possible, is critical to our future economic success. Which is why proposals for a fully integrated mass transit system for the region are included in the prospectus.”

He pledged to deliver a network that will improve the region’s connections to other parts of the UK and globally, opening up new markets for business and wider job opportunities for workers.

He said: “In this way we will drive increased productivity, up-skill our workforce, and create higher wage jobs.

The prospectus outline three geographical priorities – national, PanNorthern, and the Sheffield City Region.

National schemes are motorways or national rail developed by bodies such as Highways England and Network Rail; Pan-Northern are those to be developed by TfN and regional or local schemes, which will be developed by local promoters with the SCR. Upgrades to the region’s transport networks should be a major boost to the logistics and freight sector.

Smart motorway, a technology-driven approach tackling the most congested parts of the motorway network by controlling the flow and speed of traffic and providing driver information on overhead signs, is one area covered by the prospectus.

It describes them as: “Vital for the

Across the region there have already been some major improvements to transport links including: the second stage of the key Doncaster Sheffield Airport link road; work at Junction 36 of the M1 to open areas of the Dearne Valley corridor for commercial development and housing; a new link road from the M1 into the Markham Vale business and commercial park and the ‘Bus Rapid Transit (North)’ scheme, a link between Sheffield and Rotherham to relieve congestion.

These, and a range of other improvements across the region, are set to create thousands of jobs.

Your worldwide freight and logistics partner PIONEERS IN SERVICE SINCE 1870

T: 01709 529709

www.daviesturner.co.uk

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

First For Business

JULY 2017

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ON THE RISE

A NEW ERA FOR SHEFFIELD’S CHINATOWN QUARTER.

eralded as ‘Sheffield’s Chinatown’ and ‘Sheffield’s own version of New York’s Times Square’, the £65million New Era Square development has the city waiting with bated breath to see the finished first phase of the scheme, due to be open less than a year from now.

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The biggest source of anticipation is the whopping 21-storey tower, the lift-shaft of which now plays the leading role in many a Sheffield-skyline photo on social media.

The first phase alone will boast the new home of the 40-year-old KH Oriental Supermarket and 13 prime shop and restaurant units. Retailers can now bid for one of the much-sought-after units in the development, which have attracted interest from Chinese restaurateurs, cafés, a live seafood store and a national fish and chip chain. New Era Development, the multi-million-pound property development company that is responsible for the Square, has chosen local firm Campbell and Co. www.campbell-co.co.uk to manage all commercial lettings for the scheme.

The smaller units will house Oriental, 24 First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk

city-style kiosks selling lunch to take away. There’ll be everything from steamed pork buns called ‘bao’, to bubble tea and noodles in the style of the hip, modern street food vendors of international cities like Beijing or Shanghai.

If you’re lucky you might get your hands on one of the 12 exclusive private apartments atop the tower. The one, two and three-bed private apartments will sit above several hundred luxury student

studios, the first of which are already being let to students moving in this September.

If that’s not enough to stir your curiosity, by 2019 the second phase will add more shops and restaurants, student accommodation, an underground car park, offices and conference suite for a China-UK Business Incubator (read more opposite), all surrounding a pedestrianised public square for the world to enjoy.

CONSTRUCTION

NEW ERA DEVELOPMENT REVEAL PLANS FOR A CHINA-UK BUSINESS INCUBATOR. ew Era Development, the company responsible for the ‘Sheffield Chinatown’ near Bramall Lane have announced plans for a China-UK Business Incubator (CUBI) at the development.

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The announcement came from Jerry Cheung, managing director at New Era Development and Professor Bradley Barnes from Sheffield Business School, during a conference hosted by New Era and Sheffield Business School at Hallam University which was attended by more than 84 companies.

New Era Square has been named Sheffield’s Chinatown and aims to be symbolic of Chinese heritage and culture, whilst representing China firmly in the 21st century, with a contemporary architectural design and a high-end finish.

The aim of the Square is to bring the multi-cultural community of Sheffield together in a cosmopolitan space, to be filled with the hustle and bustle of student living, thriving businesses, shops, restaurants and street food kiosks.

The CUBI will be perhaps the most innovative and pioneering element of the New Era Square project, which will help to build new trade links between UK and China. The building is set to open in late 2019, when phase two of the Chinatown development is due to be finished The CUBI will offer a whole host of services to Incubator residents, including office premises, virtual office and reception services, business contacts, advice and community links, a knowledge-sharing network and access to many services from marketing and translation to accountancy and legal support. CUBI will also play host to a restaurant and banqueting suite and high spec conference and meeting facilities.

Jerry Cheung said: “I’m very grateful that my investor, my shareholders, let me deliver this dream of mine, this Incubator.

A lot of people would think that ‘there’s

Professor Bradley Barnes (left) with Jerry Cheung

no business case for this’.

“There’s a massive business case for the city, to connect business, generate jobs, and there’s a case for the Chinese community as well, because I have a passion of helping the Chinese community to integrate into the society.”

Although the Chinatown development and CUBI are yet to open, they are already making a significant contribution to forging links between Sheffield and China.

Renaissance International Railway Service Ltd, an international railway network that connects Europe and the UK to cities across China with freight transport that is faster than sea and cheaper than air freight, opened a Sheffield office in January 2017. Future plans between New Era Development and Renaissance International Railway Service include bringing direct rail networks to the UK via London, Sheffield and Doncaster.

There are also plans to create a distribution centrein the Sheffield City

Region for Chinese e-commerce businesses and manufacturers, for their distribution into Europe.

New Era Development hopes to help business break into the market of exporting goods to China, and take advantage of the opportunities brought about by the new developments.

Jinping Xie, project manager for the China-UK Business Incubator said: “I believe the contributions to Sheffield’s economy that the CUBI can bring are very real and now is the time for local businesses to get involved. If Sheffield businesses want to start building links with China, they won’t need to wait until the building is finished because the key principles of the Incubator are already there and we are ready to get our hands stuck in.”

For further information about the ChinaUK Business Incubator and updates about the New Era Square project visit www.neduk.com. If you want to get involved with the China – UK Business Incubator, contact info@ned-uk.com or call 0114 272 9904.

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

First For Business

JULY 2017

www.ffb-online.co.uk

UNDER ATTACK CYBER-SPACE CAN BE A DANGEROUS PLACE TO DO BUSINESS. FIRST FOR BUSINESS FINDS OUT WHY… AND WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PROTECT YOURSELF. 26 First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk

yber crime is one of the biggest threats facing businesses. High profile attacks on the NHS and Tesco have highlighted how vulnerable organisations can be.

C

loss of files, a fifth had software or systems corrupted, one in ten lost access to third party systems they rely on, and one in ten had their website taken down or slowed.

But it’s not just big businesses – recent studies have shown how it is also a major threat for SMEs and even micro firms.

While small businesses can also be hit particularly hard by attacks, with nearly one in five taking a day or more to recover.

A Government survey found nearly half of all UK businesses have suffered a cyber breach or attack in the past 12 months.

The survey also demonstrated businesses holding electronic personal data on customers were much more likely to suffer cyber breaches than those that do not (51 per cent compared to 37 per cent).

The survey also revealed of the businesses which identified a breach or attack, almost a quarter had a temporary

Fraudulent emails – like coaxing staff into

CYBER-CRIME

revealing passwords or financial information, or opening dangerous attachments - followed by viruses and malware, such as people impersonating the organisation online and ransomware were found to be the most common breaches or attacks.

Businesses also said these common breaches were their single most disruptive breach, and most could have been prevented using the Governmentbacked, industry supported Cyber Essentials scheme, a source of expert guidance showing how to protect against these threats.

Michelle Bailey, Managing Director of Active Response Security Services Limited based in Barnsley said: “The great difficulty with cyber crime is that most of us don’t really understand it. We have recently held two cyber events with high interest. In every case those attending admit to being far more versed and ready to give better attention to risks.�

She said cyber crime could include theft, computer hacking, images of child abuse, harassment, hate crime, fraud and blackmail. And some of the most common cyber attacks she had seen included: social engineering – tricking people to reveal their details; denial of service attacks – flooding a server with data to overwhelm it; phishing emails, which trick recipients into revealing personal data; trojan horses, which is malware disguised as legitimate software and water-holing, or setting up fake websites or compromising a legitimate site to exploit visiting users.

Michelle said there were more than 1,000 cyber attacks per hour, and she urged firms, especially smaller ones to register on the Cyber Security Information Sharing Partnership (CiSP) website www.ncsc.gov.uk/cisp CiSP is a joint industry and government initiative set up to exchange cyber threat information in real time, in a secure, confidential and dynamic environment, increasing situational awareness and reducing the impact on UK business. “The risks involved in staff errors using data or visitors coming on site should never be underestimated,� she said. “Use a qualified security company to assess and train staff in procedures to increase competency and reduce vulnerabilities. “One recent poll reported that 82 per cent of companies believed they were

for wanting to spend money on cyber security measures.

‘The great difficulty with cyber crime is that most of us don’t really understand it.’ Michelle Bailey, Active Response Security Services

too small for a cyber-crime attack. In truth, they are the most vulnerable. “The cost to the UK economy is over ÂŁ27billion per annum. 65 per cent of SMEs have suffered cyber attacks. 81 per cent of large companies reported a breach. Seek advice. It’s affordable and cost effective.â€?

The Government has committed to investing ÂŁ1.9 billion to protect the nation from cyber attacks to help make the UK the safest place to live and do business online.

All businesses which hold personal data will have to make sure they are compliant with the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) legislation from May 2018. This will strengthen the right to data protection, which is a fundamental right, and allow individuals to have trust when they give their personal data.

The survey is part of the Government’s five-year National Cyber Security Strategy to transform this country’s cyber security and to protect the UK online. As part of the strategy, the Government recently opened the new National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), a part of GCHQ. The NCSC aims to increase the UK’s cyberspace resilience by working with and providing expert advice tailored to organisations and businesses in every sector of the UK economy and society.

Ciaran Martin, CEO of the National Cyber Security Centre, said: “UK businesses must treat cyber security as a top priority if they want to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the UK’s vibrant digital economy.

It also offers free advice, online training and cyber essentials and cyber-aware schemes.

“The majority of successful cyber attacks are not that sophisticated but can cause serious commercial damage. By getting the basic defences right, businesses of every size can protect their reputation, finances and operating capabilities.�

The Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2017, which surveyed more than 1,500 UK businesses, also found firms are increasingly concerned about data protection, with the need to protect customer data given as the main reason

“Cyber Essentials, technical advice on CiSP and regularly updated guidance on the NCSC website offers companies, big and small, simple steps that can significantly reduce the risk of a successful attack.�

THE CYBER SECURITY BREACHES SURVEY FAST FACTS: The Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2017 measured how well UK businesses approach cyber security, and the level, nature, and impact of cyber-attacks on businesses. Some of its findings include: F %-617: 5)6)/-:; 16 8-: +-6< 7. 51+:7 ;5)44 *=;16-;;-; ;)1, +A*-: ;-+=:1<A was a high priority.

F 8-: +-6< 7. )44 51+:7 ;5)44 *=;16-;;-; 1,-6<1.1-, ) +A*-: ;-+=:1<A *:-)+0 7: attack in the last year.

F 1+:7 ;5)44 *=;16-;;-; ):- 4-;; 413-4A <0)6 5-,1=5 4):/- .1:5; <7 0)>- +A*-: ;-+=:1<A 5-);=:-; 16 84)+- ;=+0 ); .7:5)4 8741+1-; 8-: +-6< > 8-: +-6< F 1+:7 ;5)44 *=;16-;;-; ):- 4-;; 413-4A <0)6 5-,1=5 4):/- .1:5; <7 0)>- +A*-: ;-+=:1<A <:)1616/ .7: ;<)..

8-: +-6< > 8-: +-6< )6, ):- )4;7 4-;; 413-4A <7 have sought any information, advice or guidance on the topic than medium/large firms (57per cent v 77 per cent).

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

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www.ffb-online.co.uk Pulpit Rock, a steep cliff which rises 604 metres above the Lysefjorden

NORWEGIAN GOOD CHRIS WILSON ENJOYS A BRACING BREAK IN STAVANGER, CAPITAL OF NORWAY’S OIL BOOM. ention that you have just been to Norway, and the odds are you will be asked about the cost of a round of drinks. Never mind the Vikings, mountain trolls or mystical beasts reputed to lurk in the depths of the fjords, it’s the legend of the pricey pint that seems to linger in the British consciousness.

Head for the narrow, winding streets away from the waterfront and you’ll find many more dining and drinking opportunities, along with plenty of designer shops. There is also a large oil terminal further along the bay, a solid symbol of the reasons for those signs of prosperity.

So, to answer your question, around £8 for a ‘large beer’ that I reckon was just short of a pint, and the same for a glass of wine. Pricey enough to deter the stag and hen crowd, but not quite enough to demand total abstinence. Just go careful… and don’t get involved in any big rounds.

On 23 December, 1969 Norway struck an offshore oil field rich enough to guarantee the nation’s wealth for generations to come. From that day onwards, Stavanger was slowly transformed from a dying community where sardine canning was the main form of employment, to the boom town of today.

We were staying in Stavanger, a large, bustling port just over an hour’s flight from Newcastle Airport on BMI Regional. The harbour is the heart of the town with navy boats and cruise ships jostling for position while the water’s edge is busy with bars (where those prices certainly don’t seem to act as a deterrent) and fancy seafood restaurants.

With so much to see and all of it within close proximity, Stavanger is an ideal weekend break location. A city stroll to get your bearings is a sensible first step, and this will inevitably lead you to Old Stavanger, a truly lovely area of steep cobbled streets, perfect wooden houses gleaming with white and pastel shades, immaculate gardens and hanging baskets.

M

The oil terminal

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

TRAVEL

This is also where you will find the sardine canning museum. OK, so reading that sentence didn’t make your pulse quicken, but trust me, this place is a gem.Take a guided tour courtesy of museum manager Piers Crocker, an Englishman who married a local girl and never left, and lose yourself for an hour in his fishy tale of the local industry that reflects the town’s fluctuating pre-oil fortunes… and don’t forget to pick up a tin of chocolate sardines from the gift shop on your way out.

There are other ways to see the sights. A Segway tour of street art, which seems to be embraced locally rather than dismissed as cultural vandalism, saw me tackling an unlikely form of transport.

Thankfully our guide Rami stashed his machines in an underground car park, which was deserted and therefore the perfect place to find your balance before taking to the streets. Those gentle practice runs did not quite prepare us for the more demanding task of going uphill on wet, leaf-strewn cobbles, but even the most ungainly member of our group (i.e. me) quickly got the hang of it and lived to tell the tale.

All this activity, and the bracing sea air, will work up a healthy appetite. For seafood lovers Fisketorget, which has a dominant position at the top of the harbour, is a combined restaurant and fish market where I ate tremendous creamy fish soup with crunchy croutons

and pan-fried hake with baked root vegetables, spinach, celeriac purée and shellfish sauce.

mountains dominate the landscape and even on a short stay it’s essential to get a taste of the true Norwegian wilderness.

Over the course of our weekend we also enjoyed local venison at Hall Toll, another harbour-side restaurant in the old customs building, and char-grilled squid and steak at Renaa Maltbaren, the informal, contemporary sister bistro of a rather more sedate Michelin-starred venue next door.

A 30-minute coach trip to the outskirts of the neighbouring town of Sandnes took us to the starting point for an exhilarating afternoon hike that took us to the top of the Dalsnuten mountain.

The last section was suitably strenuous but the rewards came with breath-taking views of the Jaeren region, with distant mountain ranges, lakes and fjords seemingly stretching to infinity, and looking back towards the sea, an equally dazzling view of Stavanger glistening in the late afternoon sun. We’d already packed for all weathers, of course, and this particular afternoon stroll definitely required hiking boots.

After dark the bars are packed, and with canopies, heaters and blankets as standard, sitting outdoors with a cold beer is a year-long pastime. Dress accordingly, of course, this is northern Europe so fleeces, hats, gloves and waterproofs are always travel essentials.

We stayed at the Victoria Hotel, in the heart of the town on the harbour edge and pleasingly traditional. The rooms were modern and pristine, but the best thing about the hotel was the staggeringly good buffet breakfasts.

Forget your wormy bacon and fried eggs turning to bullets under heat lamps, we were offered vegetable juice shots and fruit smoothies, inventive salads of spinach, watermelon and pinenuts, smoked salmon, beetroot, pickled cucumbers and the local black bread. It was healthy, invigorating and a positively life-enhancing way to start the day.

Away from the busy town, fjords and

Our final morning left one thing to be ticked off our ‘must do’ list and that was the fjord cruise from Stavanger to Pulpit Rock, a steep cliff which rises 604 metres above the Lysefjorden.

The view from the top of the rock is the shot you’ll see in all the guide books, and it’s one of Norway’s most popular tourist destinations for those with the energy to tackle a full day’s walk with a strenuous climb at the end. I must admit, floating in the bay looking up at the sheer rock face, I suddenly wished I was one of those hikers on top of the rock looking down. Maybe next time.

FACTBOX: One-way flights from Newcastle to Stavanger start from £80. As with all bmi fares the price includes 23kg of hold luggage, allocated seating, complimentary in-flight drinks and snacks and speedy 30-minute check-ins. www.bmiregional.com. www.newcastleairport.com www.regionstavanger-ryfylke.com

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

First For Business

JULY 2017

www.ffb-online.co.uk

Su Sutton, Harriet Coulthard and Jonathan Coulthard from My Fathers Heart

WINNERS PARTY

MY FATHERS HEART THREW A LAVISH PARTY FOR THE WINNERS OF THIS YEAR’S WESTSIDE RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR AWARDS. PHOEBE SEYMOUR REPORTS.

t was a party to remember... and the luxury kitchen showroom of My Fathers Heart proved to be the perfect setting when the winners of the 2017 Westside Restaurant Awards were invited to come together for a celebration of culinary excellence.

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With fabulous fizz and a selection of wonderful wines and beers provided by Robinsons Brewery, this was a chance for the chefs and owners of the region’s finest eating establishments to come together and reflect on their successes over the last 12 months.

My Fathers Heart had sponsored the Westside Restaurant Awards, staged at Baldwins Omega, with Robinsons adding 34 First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk

to the fun as drinks sponsors.

After all the tensions of waiting to see who would be crowned as the best of the best, this was a much more relaxed affair. Our winners were able to take a break from their own kitchens and enjoy food created on the spot by Bora demonstration chefs, using My Fathers Heart’s stunning and fully-functioning display kitchens.

Also present to congratulate the winners were RMC Media’s joint managing directors John Murphy and Martin Edwards, managing editor Chris Wilson and our awards compere, Great British Bake-Off contestant Howard Middleton.

The Samuel Fox Country Inn were this

year’s ultimate winners, having scooped both Best Contemporary and the Restaurant of the Year award.

Co-owner and chef patron, James Duckett said: “I enjoyed the award winners’ party. I spoke to the other restaurateurs and had a mingle – it was a lovely night.

“We were competing against a lot of good restaurants and it’s been a tough year – for all the restaurant industry I think – so winning was unexpected.

“But I think what makes us special is we bring the element of surprise. We look like an ordinary working Derbyshire pub, but then you step inside and see it’s very smart. We do traditional food, but it’s

RESTAURANT AWARDS 2017

presented in a modern way.

I’ve been there 14 of these.

We’ve got a lot of loyal customers. There’s always been a lot of competition when it comes to Italian restaurants in Sheffield and some have come and gone.

Touch wood, Rossi’s is a constant on the restaurant scene.”

Sponsored by

“We plan to keep building on what we’ve achieved so far. Our aim is to create a positive environment and make both our team and our customers happy. Thanks for Westside’s support.”

Owner Chris Mapp and the team from The Tickled Trout were also celebrating a double win having taken the Best Pub and Young Chef of the Year. Dave Cockerill beat three other contestants to win the title of Young Chef of the Year, after a MasterChef style cook-off, using the working kitchens at the My Fathers Heart showroom.

Dave said: “I didn’t expect to win, but I’m really proud that I did it. Everyone from The Tickled Trout team have been really supportive – they were quite loud at the awards! Chris Mapp is wanting to put [my signature dish] on the menu.”

Other winners enjoying the party included Brocco on the Park, which won Best Hotel Restaurant, Rossi’s (Best Italian), The Hyde Park Inn (Best Family Friendly) and The Front Room (Best Newcomer).

Tiina Carr, owner of Brocco on the Park,

Drinks sponsor

Jonathan Coulthard, owner of My Fathers Heart added: “We’ve got the winners of all the different categories of the Westside Restaurant of the Year Awards drinking wine and eating good food. said: “I don’t think we see ourselves as being ‘hotel food’ really. We have Brocco Kitchen, then we have the hotel separate.

We want to get ourselves established as an independent destination and for people to know who we are and what we do.”

Tom O’Reilly, co-owner of The Hyde Park Inn said: “It’s good to get recognised and to know what we are doing is working. It’s just a matter of time before more and more people know what we have to offer. It’s a good place for an allround family event.”

Vito Restaino, owner of Rossi’s, said: “We’ve been open 30 years now, and

“They are in a beautiful showroom we are very proud of. It always amuses me that we have five kitchens downstairs – the perfect party venue since everyone ends up in the kitchen at parties.

“It’s been a lot of fun working with RMC Media on the Westside Restaurant Awards and we will definitely be collaborating on more events in the future – absolutely.”

To find out what happened at the Westside Restaurant of the Year Awards and to view more photos from the night, visit the events page on the RMC Media website at www.rmcmedia.co.uk.

Howard Middleton and husband Peter with one of the Bora demo chefs

Owner Chris Mapp (left), Dave Cockerill (middle) and the team from The Tickled Trout Guests sample wines by Robinsons Brewery

James Duckett and partner Leigh Brown from The Samuel Fox Country Inn

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First For Business

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AFFORDABLE LUXURY WITH A NEW MENU AND A NEW LOOK, OISOI ORIENTAL RESTAURANT & FOOD MARKET SHOULD BE TOP OF YOUR LIST OF PLACES TO VISIT. heffield has always had a strong multicultural dining scene, but one is calling itself “the visionary” of the Oriental dining scene…

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Originally opened as a premium artisan Oriental food market in September 2015, OISOI in St Paul’s Place Sheffield city centre is revolutionising the way we view and enjoy Oriental cooking.

Affordable luxury is the OISOI motto.

STORE DESIGN

OISOI GRAND BAR

The surroundings, designed by Italian company Schweitzer Projects, are so impressive that OISOI was nominated as the Best Interior at the Retail Week Interiors Awards in 2016. Simple yet stylish, the interior was created by the same company who designed shop fittings for the likes of Harrods and Waitrose’s flagship store at Canary Wharf in London.

When it comes to drinks, OISOI has a very different approach to creating their own standards. OISOI’s grand Oriental cocktail bar do not follow standard commercial recipes. They require their bartenders to understand and appreciate the flavours of each spirit that OISOI uses for their own creations of Oriental themed cocktails.

It’s not just the modern lighting and upholstered chairs that make the restaurant stylish, even the crockery has been carefully selected and patented by OISOI as to the OISOI dining experience and standards.

It is vitally important to understand how to balance flavours to deliver a sophisticated and exotic cocktail with only fresh ingredients and garnishes.

They also stock a wide range of purposely selected wines, champagnes and proseccos to match their high standard of food, that won’t break the bank.

Open every day from 11.30am, you can relax and have a mid-morning spot of tea or opt for something stronger with a hearty and healthy lunch.

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OISOI is quickly building a strong reputation in Sheffield and Mr Wang has ambitious plans for the future of the company.

“Sheffield is a great city and has recently embraced a lot of change,” he says.

“OISOI is one of the single largest investments to be carried out in the history of the city for a restaurant.

“There are so many franchises in Sheffield, I’m proud to have an independent business. We are planning to open two more branches with completely different offerings in Sheffield before expanding to other cities.”

Look out for the launch of OISOI’s brand new menu, as well as their gorgeous new crockery, this July. As their core value and vision, OISOI never stops and strives to provide a truly unique and unforgettable dining experience that is beyond your expectations.

FOOD & DRINK

OISOI ORIENTAL CUISINE Moving onto the food, fresh ingredients and a comprehensive range of choices are key. In OISOI, you will be able to eat and taste the most original style of Oriental cuisine with thoughtfully selected ingredients. If you are a seafood lover, you won’t be disappointed. Their signature dishes include lobster curry and lobster noodles.

“We emphasise the importance of fresh ingredients,” says owner and founder Mr Wang. “All our ingredients are air shipped from Korea to Sheffield weekly by the award-winning artisan Kimchee maker, Mrs Park Kwang Hee. “We call her The Kimchee Mama. She’s been awarded by UNESCO the Intangible Cultural Heritage Award. Meanwhile, our South East Asian curries are all prepared and handmade in-house by our head chef Mr Wayson Ang. He grew up in Malaysia and has brought his most authentic flavours to Sheffield with his interpretation.

“It is also important that we fully train our staff so they are knowledgeable and able to appreciate the dedication that goes in and the story of our food.”

OISOI TEA & PATISSERIES OISOI has its own approach when it comes to tea and patisseries. Just like how we usually our afternoon tea with small bites and English breakfast tea, or Japanese style with matcha tea and wagashi caskets, OISOI has an in-house patisserie and their desserts are every bit as delectable.

Every cake and dessert is handmade instore and created from premium flours and chocolates – and unbelievably, they are all purposely designed and created with reduced sugar content, in combination with their thoughtfully sourced premium artisan yoshan oolong tea from Taiwan.

Yoshan tea has been an artisan family tea grower and maker in Taiwan since 1868.

They are now in their sixth generation of producing only hand-picked and fermented oolong tea leaves. Many types and flavours of the loose tea can be found in OISOI – and this is the only place you will be able to find this premium oolong tea in the UK.

CONTACT: OISOI Restaurant & Food Market 2 St Paul’s Place, Sheffield, S1 2FJ Tel: 0114 275 6566 www.oisoi.co.uk

Unit 2, No. 2, St PaulÊs Place, 121 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 2FJ

@OisoiFood

0114 275 6566 oisoi.co.uk First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk 37

First For Business

MOTORING

JULY 2017

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BLACK IS BACK The Black Edition was always a firm favourite of many A4 buyers, so much so that for this new A4 model the Black Edition trim has returned.

Available on all A4 engines, the Black Edition guarantees stand-out appeal through 19-inch five-arm rotor alloy wheels in a matt titanium finish (or the nocost option of 18-inch 10 Y-spoke gloss black alloys), complemented by a titanium black styling pack which extends to the mirror housings, singleframe grille and window surrounds, side skirts, rear spoiler (fitted to the saloon) and air intakes.

SPECIAL EDITIONS ARE A GREAT SALES-BOOSTER, WRITES JORDAN CUTFORTH.

Black roof rails also complement these accents in Avant models, and in both body styles privacy glass is added for the rear windows.

Prices start from £32,350 (1.4 TSI Saloon) to £44,350 (3.0-litre V6 TDI Quattro).

SPECIAL SUMMIT

PERFORMANCE INCREASE When the updated Golf GTI was introduced at the start of this year, it had a power increase that brought it in line with the previous Golf GTI Performance. Now the updated Golf GTI Performance model has itself become a more potent proposition thanks to its new output of 242hp.

With an increase of 15hp compared to the previous model, today’s GTI Performance model is now the most potent Golf GTI currently available.

Standstill to 62 mph is reached in just 6.2 seconds, and those figures apply to the six-speed manual as well as the newly developed sevenspeed DSG automatic gearbox. The GTI’s top speed is 155mph in manual form, and 154mph when equipped with the DSG gearbox.

Prices start from £29,280.

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Dacia has launched a new special edition range – the SE Summit – on the Duster, new Sandero Stepway and new Logan MCV Stepway, based on the top-level trim for each vehicle. Revealed at the Geneva International Motor Show in March, the distinctive and affordable Summit Special Editions will be available in the UK from June priced from £10,995.

Inspired by the great outdoors, the SE Summit range bring an exclusive and unique look to the range and provide extra equipment over and above the existing top-ofrange versions.

The SE Summit range adds an additional colour to the Dacia range – named Nordic Grey – and it incorporates Burnt Orange stitching and carious accents into the interior on top of all the standard equipment which is already available.

ELECTRIC MINI Say hello to MINI’s first ever plug-in hybrid. It’s called the Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 and it’ll receive it’s UK debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

The MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 hybrid system is made up of a three-cylinder petrol engine with MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology and a synchronous electric motor. Together they generate a system output of 224hp enabling the car to sprint from standing to 62mph in 6.8 seconds. Not bad for a car which achieves 134.5mpg on the combined cycle and emits just 49g/km of CO2. As the name suggests, the Countryman is all-wheel drive too.

Standard equipment includes Satellite Navigation, Bluetooth, Cruise Control, Emergency E-call and Active Guard. Prices start from £31,585.

First For Business

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ON THE UP! BARNSLEY IS HEADING BACK TO THE BIG TIME WITH MULTI-MILLION POUND REGENERATION PROJECTS LEADING THE WAY.

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he face of Barnsley is changing. Once a booming industrial town, powered by its pits, Barnsley, like so many others, was hit hard by the closures of the coal mines.

But fast-forward three decades and the town has seen a resurgence and is once again starting to shine.

In its end-of-year performance report, published last month, Barnsley Council reported an impressive £28million of business investment into the town.

council has supported a further 196 businesses to expand.

In addition, 43 businesses have relocated to Barnsley since April last year and the

The £120 million Glass Works, which will be located on a 3.8 hectare site around Cheapside and will offer shops, restaurants, cinema and bowling, will also be the home to Barnsley’s historic markets. In fact, it has been designed for the markets to be at the heart of it all.

It has managed to attract some major organisations like the global distribution centre of leading online fashion retailer ASOS, Aldi’s regional distribution centre, and international automotive manufacturers, including German owned KOSTAL and Japanese owned Koyo Bearings.

And there are number of exciting developments under way, including new business parks to deliver employment opportunities and a £120 million retail and leisure scheme in the town centre.

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David Shepherd

But despite the huge changes Barnsley hasn’t forgotten its identity.

The council’s director for economic regeneration, David Shepherd, said it was the intention to have the best markets in Yorkshire, during and after the development.Two temporary markets have been opened while work is underway.

“We get seven million visitors a year and a lot of them come for the markets,” he said.

FEATURE

Sheffield City Region Enterprise Zone.

The area, a formerly disused business park has been cleared and developers secured full planning permission late last year for four buildings totalling just over 300,000 square feet. The new-build units are suitable for industrial or warehousing use.

Enterprise 36 sits with Wentworth Park Industrial Estate at Tankersley in Barnsley, which is already home to businesses such as Mercedes Benz, Volvo, Distinction Doors, ITAB, AECOM, HSBC and Pilkington Glass.

Work has also commenced on a £17million scheme to improve access and allow for increased commercial traffic around the M1 junction 36 roundabout, funded through the Sheffield City Region Investment Fund.

75,000 square feet has been let at the site and its hoped that once fully occupied, the development in total could create 520 new jobs.

A second, Dodworth Capitol Park, is set to be a 12.63 acre development for general industrial use plus storage and distribution facilities at Capitol Close, just off junction 37.

“There are 240 businesses within it, they act as our department store.”

As well as the traditional favourites, the Glass Works will be complemented by new names coming to the town.

Cineworld has agreed a 20 year lease for a 13 screen multiplex cinema on the site and Superbowl UK has taken 18,000 sq ft also on a 20 year lease. In addition to bowling, Superbowl UK will bring laser quest and crazy club soft play.

David said interest in the scheme has been good with a quarter of the space already now let and council bosses are expected to announce the names of the first retailers and restaurants in the next one to two months.

There’s more good news at Barnsley’s Digital Media Centre, an award winning creative and digital hub on County Way, which has recently recorded its highest ever occupancy rate at 96 per cent.

Enterprising Barnsley, the economic development arm of Barnsley Council, has worked hard to encourage new businesses to the area while helping current ones develop and expand to generate economic growth and create jobs. It is making the most of the town’s location with good transport networks as a selling point to prospective companies looking to move.

“We make it an easy place to relocate to,” said David. “We also have a fast planning service and we help businesses access

support which might be available through Sheffield City Region (SCR) and Europe.

“We lock down any funding and we tailor an approach to their needs.

“Geographically we are a good place to relocate to. North of Sheffield. We are equidistance between Edinburgh and London which is great for logistics companies. Plus we have relatively low land values compared to Northamptonshire (another town popular for logistics companies).

“We have also done the infrastructure at junction 36. It’s not just a process of if you build it they will come, we have to think about which market we are working with, know how to attract them and how to create an environment which they will succeed in.”

One company that has made the most of what Barnsley can offer is Universal Components. It has opened a new 165,000 sq ft premises at Ashroyd Business Park, just off junction 36 of the M1, to become the company’s advanced logistics facility, encompassing its head office, call centre and distribution warehouse.

Enterprising Barnsley was credited as being a fundamental part of why the company wanted to build the new facility in Barnsley. Chief executive of Universal Components David Kernahan praised the organisation’s proactive approach.

ASOS is another example. The company moved to the town five years ago – expanded and increased.

It is hoped it will be a similar story for the other new businesses which will soon be making Barnsley their new home.

“Half of all inward investment in the Sheffield City Region (in the last financial year) is from Barnsley,” added David.

“We are pleased with that position. We are going in the right direction.”

The entire scheme is scheduled for completion in spring 2020.

As well as the new development, there are also plans to increase the amount of residential living in the town centre which could see about 160 homes being built.

A few miles outside the town centre, next to junction 36 of the M1 is Enterprise 36 – a new business park, which is part of the First For Business | www.ffb-online.co.uk 41

UKBullion

Dealers in quality watches & diamonds

339-341 Ecclesall Rd, Sheffield S11 8PF

Tel: 0114 2664040

Behind every great chef... ...is a great publisher!

Ask about our successful book publishing and what we can do for you

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

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RMC BOOKS

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TELLING IT AS IT WAS THERE IS MUCH TO LEARN FROM SUCCESSFUL SHEFFIELD BUSINESSMAN SIR HUGH SYKES, WHO REVEALS ALL IN A NEW BOOK FROM RMC MEDIA.

he deal was, to say the least, a big one. At stake was the chance to become a world leader in the market.

All that was standing in the way was one shareholder.

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In it, he recalls a business career which saw him take a small homespun business in the Derbyshire village of Bamford and build it into a serious international player which he later sold for a cool £72million.

space to special quick-reference sections aimed at providing basic advice for those who would seek to emulate his achievements. As such, it is required reading for the would-be entrepreneur.

Trouble was, the shareholder was American. And he was not about to sell to an English buyer. End of story.

Yet this is not just another dry business biography. Sir Hugh devotes significant

Endorsements come in the shape of a warm reception from the likes of former Prime Minister Sir John Major, who welcomed the book with the comment “There is much to learn from him”.

Not quite. Because the buyer in question was Hugh Sykes and he wasn’t about to be put off by the repeated rebuffs.

The Sykes name, of course, has a special resonance in Sheffield. Even those unaware of his business achievements will forever associate him with the transformation of the city’s East End in his role as Chairman of the Sheffield Development Corporation, which oversaw radical and permanent changes to the previously run-down area of the Lower Don Valley.

Where hardnosed business talk had failed, charm succeeded. The resourceful Mr Sykes located an English stately home where the aristocratic owner would, for a fee, entertain guests to dinner and an overnight stay. So it was that the two men and their wives dined in state, enjoying impeccable service from the butler and his staff, plus a tour of the place with the Lord of the Manor himself.

The efforts of the SDC changed the face of the city forever. But it was not all plain sailing. A chapter dealing with the story of the regeneration has the ominous title Mutiny and Chaos.

The American couple were bowled over by this display of English hospitality, and all resistance to the big deal melted.

The tale says a lot about Sir Hugh Sykes, and he in turn says a great deal about the business world in his new book Lighting the Furnace – the story of a burning ambition (RMC Media, £16.95).

Lighting the Furnace (ISBN: 978-1-907998-30-0) is available via amazon.co.uk or through bookshops. Proceeds of sale will go to St Luke’s Hospice.

Sir Hugh does not shy away from telling it as it was, with opposition both internal and political. As such, it’s a fascinating insight into the Sheffield of the eighties and nineties.

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ELECTION 2017: THE VERDICT

BUSINESS LEADERS FROM ACROSS THE SHEFFIELD CITY REGION AIR THEIR VIEWS ON THE GENERAL ELECTION, WHICH ENDED WITH THE TORY PARTY NEEDING THE SUPPORT OF THE TEN DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY MPS IN ORDER TO GOVERN.

RICHARD WRIGHT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SHEFFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

HAYLEY WARDLE, DIRECTOR OF QUALITY AND PATIENT CARE, ASHGATE HOSPICECARE

DANIEL KOSEOGLU, MD OF TECHNOLOGY RECRUITMENT FIRM AFFECTO

“The election means we’re entering Brexit negotiations and the ongoing economic policy environment in a weaker position than before. The Government’s rhetoric on Brexit was effectively a negotiating position. That means compromise, so we needed to enter negotiations with a hard line but a free hand.

“Following some independent research commissioned by Ashgate Hospicecare earlier this year, we know that thousands of people across the region - and indeed the UK - are missing out on the expert and compassionate support they need to gain hospice and home care.

“Working within a sector such as technology, which is so reliant on international relations, having such an amount of political unrest or uncertainty – as we’ve experienced over the last 12 months – isn’t particularly helpful within our arena of work.

“We are now looking to a potentially softer Brexit deal and a softened austerity agenda. It certainly might feel better in the short-term but what of the longer term? This country operates at a massive deficit that is steadily building national debt – that has to come home to roost sometime.

“A Brexit deal that doesn't allow us to develop better trade deals around the world – which is tied up within the Customs Union – may well be a bad deal in the longer term.

“Levels of personal debt and rising inflation may also throw a spanner in the works. Both will stop people spending which might yet have much bigger shortterm effects than Brexit or a weak government.”

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“The Quality Health Report, which was published following the research, has indicated a lack of knowledge about the availability and range of hospice services, as well as limited understanding of how to access hospice care in North Derbyshire.

“Now, more than ever, given the current political uncertainties; forthcoming changes to the NHS and significant social and economic factors at play, we need to work together as charities, politicians, the medical profession, businesses and consumers alike to help raise awareness and indeed the necessary funding to help shine a light on the full health care services available for those that need.”

“National government needs to ensure that they are driving this agenda and in turn helping to support the regional and local landscapes.”

“However, as the fallout from Brexit has shown, the tech sector is incredibly resilient and, surprisingly, the UK received more applications for visas to work in the technology and digital arenas for the months which followed the EU Referendum than they had up until that date.

“Recently, tech firms are continuing to drive demand for highly-skilled candidates from across the UK and companies – particularly in Yorkshire – are increasingly on the up, with expansion, recruitment and new premise all on the agenda.

“As for Affecto, we have quadrupled our headcount since moving to our new premises in Kelham Island, and are looking towards yet more aggressive growth to keep up with the demand in the sector, which includes plans to double our consultant base again in the coming months.”

POLITICS

Political upheaval:Theresa May’s Government has been left weakened by the result of the general election

CHRIS SELLARS, BANNER JONES SOLICTORS “Amidst all of the political upheaval over the last year or so – from snap elections to Brexit - many businesses are left wondering what the long term implications are going to be on them as employers, on their employees and their sector as a whole; and understandably so.

“Whilst much remains uncertain at this stage, as a law firm which has a specialist business legal services division we have found that many of our clients are keen to tighten up their systems and processes to ensure that they are able to adapt quickly and efficiently to any changes in legislation that come about as a result of the ever-evolving political landscape no matter what. Key areas for concern include the way they capture and manage data, employee rights and employee benefits.”

VICKI GROVE, MARKETING MANAGER, RA INFORMATION SYSTEMS “We operate within the IT and telecommunications industry locally, across the UK and Europe. Time will tell whether the recent election result will have a particular impact on our business whether positive or negative.

“We hope that SMEs, such as ourselves, will fare well going forward as Theresa May continues her term as Prime Minister. The uncertainty of how the Government will negotiate the terms of Brexit via a ‘soft’ or ‘hard’ deal is, in our opinion, the key factor in determining any impact on our business and all businesses within the UK. “We set up RA in 1988 and since doing so, we have survived through many periods of political and financial instability. Whilst we’re confident that we’ll continue to thrive, we’ll be ‘watching that space’ when it comes to leaving the EU. We also hope that the redevelopment of Chesterfield continues as successfully as it has irrespective of Brexit or the election!”

ANDREW McDAID, PARTNER, MITCHELLS CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS AND BUSINESS ADVISERS “People are becoming tired of the austerity measures as there doesn’t seem to be any end to them and they don’t appear to be leading to any longer term improvement. The Grenfell Tower fire has been a stark realisation to the government of what can happen when you try to save a few quid.

“Businesses need certainty and stability.

They need to know the long term view on things like tax rates, interest rates, inflation, etc., to decide on whether they want to invest in the UK, or whether it is the right time to commit to buying new machines and new premises and taking on new employees. Businesses need to see the economy grow to give them the confidence to invest for the future.

“Our business, as accountants and business advisers, largely depends on the economy. We want business who have growth ambitions as their success feeds into our success as they require more of our services.”

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Hydra employees celebrate the award win (L-R) Amy Dixon, Gemma Daniels and Jemma Birks

NATIONAL AWARD WIN FOR DIGITAL AGENCY Sheffield agency, Hydra Creative, has been awarded the Value for Money (under 40 staff) award in this year’s Recommended Agency Register Digital Awards.

The awards, which were held at the Sheraton Grand Hotel Ballroom in London in June, celebrated the best in British digital and design agencies. Hydra Creative was amongst eight other agencies from all over the UK who were also shortlisted for the prestigious award. Hydra Creative scooped the same award two years ago.

NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE FOR TRAINING CENTRE Training provider, NLT Training Services, has appointed a new chief executive.

The firm, which has offices in Chesterfield and Scunthorpe, has appointed Simon Marsden to the role.

The awards are unlike any other within the industry. Rather than agencies being able to nominate themselves, finalists are selected by the awards committee based on the independent ratings that clients leave for the work done.

Simon has been involved with NLT since 2014 as the vice chairman of the training organisation’s board. He has since resigned the position to take up the role of chief executive.

Gemma Daniels, creative director at Hydra Creative, commented: “We are absolutely delighted to have been shortlisted, let alone to be the overall winners for the second time. We work closely with our clients to ensure that each project exceeds expectations, reflected in the fact that we have won the Value for Money award twice.

We couldn’t be happier with our staff who work so hard to make all this possible.”

Simon comes from a chemical engineering background and has had managing director roles with Oilgear in Leeds, KM Furniture in Chesterfield and, most recently, DarenthMJS in Sheffield.

WORK AND PLAY

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

MULTIPLE AWARDS FOR UNIVERSITY PROJECT The University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) has been presented with a national award from BAE Systems.

The award is to recognise the impact of a project that matured into a full production system and is on track to help the company achieve its affordability targets over the coming years.

The project ‘Robotic Countersinking, The Future Today’, involved the development and implementation of an automated production system enabling robotic countersinking technology to accurately machine holes in composite aircraft components.

The project was awarded a BAE Systems ‘Business Leader Award’ in 2016 and thanks to its success, has now also been presented with an ‘Executive Committee Award’; a national award under the BAE Systems Chairman’s Awards Scheme.

Austin Cook from BAE Systems presents Ben Morgan with a commemorative plaque celebrating the BAE Systems Executive Committee Award

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The AMRC’s Integrated Manufacturing Group (IMG) developed the robotic countersinking prototype cell at its reconfigurable digital assembly and component manufacturing facility, Factory 2050.

Head of IMG, Ben Morgan, said: “The system is installed at BAE Systems in the UK, where it is being used to process a wide range of composite components for military aircraft, saving the company millions of pounds in capital and operational costs over the coming years.

WORK & PLAY

OCCUPIERS DRIVE SHEFFIELD OFFICE TAKE UP TO 170,000 SQ FT

Brisk lettings at Meadowhall Business Park

Office take up in Sheffield for the first quarter of 2017 has totalled 170,000 sq ft – just 30,000 sq ft less than for the whole of 2016.

Thirty-five companies relocated or moved into Sheffield between January and March this year with office space being snapped up in locations from newly-built St Paul’s Place in the city centre to multi-million-pound refurbished project Meadowhall Business Park, according to a report compiled by Creative Sheffield with the city’s main commercial property agents.

Property agent Knight Frank was responsible for the biggest percentage of deals in the quarter, the most notable being 16,000 sq ft to marketing agency Jaywing at Albert Works on Sydney Street; 9,100 sq ft at Players House in Attercliffe sold to manufacturer Gripple and 6,000 sq ft to employment and training provider People Plus.

ARBA Group’s Meadowhall Business Park, close to the new Ikea development and Meadowhall Shopping Centre, saw 12,950 sq ft of space occupied by companies including NG Bailey, Chique Photography and Auburn Ainsley.

Handelsbanken moved into 3,500 sq ft at 3 St Paul’s Place, while 3D design specialists Lightwork Design expanded into 5,800 sq ft at Hillsborough Barracks.

FURNITURE APPRENTICE HONOURED WITH TOP AWARD A 23-year-old apprentice joiner has been awarded ‘Construction Apprentice of the Year’ by Sheffield City Council for going above and beyond the call of duty.

Brady Hall receiving his apprenticeship award with employer Alistair Johnson

Brady Hall, from Fox Hill, has been working for small family-run furniture company Freebird Fitted Furniture since April 2015.

His role includes making and installing alcove shelving, cupboards and fitted bedrooms.

When the son of co-directors, Alastair and Alison Johnson, was born 12 weeks premature with a severe brain haemorrhage he needed intensive and special care in hospital for four months. Brady carried on the manufacturing in the workshop single-handedly and worked alongside a new temporary fitter to prevent the business, the family’s only source of income, from failing.

Alastair said: “As a business owner, if you can find a young person with potential and really invest in them it will pay dividends to you both.”

Sheffield City Council works with more than 250 apprentices across the city to support them through their studies and find them placements at local businesses.

In a ceremony held at the town hall, 12 of these apprentices, including Brady, were recognised for their exceptional work.

DONCASTER BUSINESSES FORM NEW CHARITABLE TRUST A group of prominent Doncaster-based business leaders have come together to form a new business-led charity.

Doncaster Business For The Community (DB4C) is a unique and groundbreaking charity that works exclusively to raise much-needed funds for Doncaster based charities and the local community, which is administered and led by members of the town’s business community.

DB4C will build on the success of the original Doncaster Business Cup (an annual football match held at the Keepmoat Stadium) founded by David Plant and Andrew Isaacs in 2010 and who will also serve as directors of the new Trust.

The new charity has already set to work on devising new and innovative ways in which Doncaster’s business people can be actively involved and has been working closely with the Council and sports clubs.

As a result there will now be Business Community trophies for cricket, rugby, golf and 5-a-side football in addition to a host of fundraising social events.

The Chairman of DB4C is Tim Shaw, a former equity partner of Nabarro’s, one of the UK’s largest law practices and is now a non-executive director at the Rotherham, Doncaster & South Humber NHS Foundation Trust. He is joined on the board by Martin Wilmott (Hawsons Chartered Accountants), Craig Dowie (The Crown Hotel), Nigel Tomlinson and Andrew Isaacs (AI Law). Trustees include Anthony Temperton (KAT Communications) and David Plant (Moirae Creative Agency).

Pictured above (L-R): Gary Rogers, Martin Wilmott, Anthony Temperton, Tim Shaw, Nick Johnson, Jamie Waugh, Nigel Tomlinson, Craig Dowie, David Plant, Andrew Isaacs

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RISE OF CLOUD TECHNOLOGY DOUBLES SALES FOR IT FIRM A shift to cloud technology in the workplace has seen a Sheffield-based IT firm more than double sales in less than a year.

S4C PREPARE NEW RAIL COLLEGE FOR OPENING

Millgate Computer Systems Limited saw Microsoft Office 365 subscription sales of 2,124 in 2016 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but in 2017 sales to date have already more than doubled at 5,289.

Solutions 4 Cleaning secured the contract for national builders Wilmot Dixon to ensure that a newly built college for high speed rail meets its first intake of students in showroom condition.

With more businesses making the switch to cloud technology in â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;evolvingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; workplaces and spaces, the company is on course to increase sales six-fold by the end of the year compared with 2016.

NEW APPOINTMENT FOR FINANCE FIRM

S4Câ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s highly experienced team worked for ten days on the interior and exterior of the building and the roof top to complete works for handover to the client.

Chris Calvert, managing director of Millgate, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Firms looking to benefit from remote working, better communication and increased online collaboration are increasingly choosing Microsoft Office 365.â&#x20AC;?

Chesterfield-based Start Financial Planning is to further strengthen its team with the appointment of respected local financial expert Peter Brant.

Now based at Vantage Drive, Sheffield, Millgate opened its first office in Rotherham in 1996 providing IT and communication solutions for Yorkshire businesses.

Peter boasts more than 20 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience in the financial advice industry having C;>710 @4>;A34;A@ @41 ' for a number of leading firms as well as locally.

Located on Lakeside, Doncaster, the National College for High Speed Rail will comprise circa 76,000 sq. ft. of teaching and workshop space, including specialist rail equipment such as 150m of external track and catenary. Along with Birmingham, it will train thousands of engineers to meet HS2â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future needs, as well as those in the wider rail sector, by providing a real workplace environment to prepare students for work on highspeed rail infrastructure.

The ÂŁ25million state-of-the-art college will be opening its doors to a first intake of industry professionals and apprentices in September, with courses for over 1,000 students aged 18+ starting the following academic year.

Doncaster has always led the way in terms of cutting edge rail engineering and with its relationship with an established and significant rail industry.

The vision for the college is that it will: J A580 @41 45348E ?758810 C;>72;>/1 needed to deliver HS2 and meet the needs of the wider railway industry.

J '?1 -: 5:0A?@>E 810 /A>>5/A8A9 @; ensure that graduates will have the best possible employment prospects across the supply chain.

J /@ -? - 28-3?45< 2;> @41 >-58C-E workforce in terms of equality, diversity and inclusion.

J #8-/1 534 %<110 $-58 -@ @41 /A@@5:3 1031 of innovation in science and technology.

Doncaster will specialise in: Traction, Rolling Stock and Advanced Manufacturing.

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

A specialist in Inheritance Tax Planning and Corporate Protection, he joins as a financial planner where he will work alongside directors Steve Taylor and Michael Heath to deliver independent financial advice and solutions for clients.

INTERNATIONAL ATTRACTION

Sheffield is catching the eye of major international cities as top-level investors and government officials from overseas visit to experience best practice examples of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Olympic Legacy in actionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

The Olympic Legacy Park Sheffieldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (OLP) vision has triggered visits by delegates from Kawasaki City, the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Chinese Olympic Committee and the China Institute of Sport Science.

Representatives from Kawasaki City, a host city for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games and home to Team GBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2020 pre-games training camp, visited with a vision to create a lasting Olympic Legacy following the 2020 Games.

All were impressed by the world-class facilities including the English Institute of Sport Sheffield (EISS), which supports world champions such as Anthony Joshua and Olympic and Paralympic athletes like Will Bayley.

A further delegation of 20 top-level Chinese investors and government officials included the Mayor and Vice-Mayor of Xuzhou, a former industrial city in the Jiangsu province of China.

WORK & PLAY

GET INVOLVED WITH MADE IN CHESTERFIELD Destination Chesterfield is calling on engineering and manufacturing businesses across North East Derbyshire to get involved with this year’s Made in Chesterfield Festival.

Companies operating in the manufacturing and engineering sector are being sought by event organisers Destination Chesterfield and Derbyshire Education Business Partnership to welcome young people from the area’s schools into their premises throughout November.

According to reports, Britain needs to produce 69,000 more engineers than it is now to meet the demand in the industry.

Companies wanting to get involved with Made in Chesterfield, should contact Dominic Stevens on 01246 207207 or email dom.stevens@chesterfield.co.uk.

SHEFFIELD DIGITAL SECTOR ‘ON CUSP OF SOMETHING BIG’ A new report highlighting the strength of Sheffield’s creative and digital sector has been published, as Sheffield sets out to bring Channel 4 to the city.

The report, jointly commissioned by the University of Sheffield and Creative Sheffield, has consulted dozens of companies across the Sheffield City Region working in areas of digital design, video games, digital art and culture, digital media and content, and digital making.

In doing so, it shows that more than 21,000 people are employed in digital industries across the city region. The top 25 tech companies in Sheffield City Region alone employ more than 12,000 people and bring in more than £2billion a year.

In addition, the report found that digital companies in Sheffield are experiencing fast growth, with turnover increasing at 47 per cent. It states that Sheffield has the talent potential to continue to grow its digital capabilities and is “on the cusp of something big”, with the vast majority of companies expecting to recruit more workers over the next year.

FURTHER EXPANSION FOR SHEFFIELD TECHNOLOGY RECRUITER A Yorkshire-based recruitment firm that specialises in tech and digital roles has further expanded its team.

Affecto Recruitment has appointed Dom Johnson to work within Network, Infrastructure and Support, alongside experienced administrator and customer service expert Stevie Woodrup – quadrupling its headcount since moving to its new headquarters at Kelham Island’s Neepsend Business Centre last year.

Affecto MD and founder, Daniel Koseoglu, said the expansion of the business had been fuelled by the ‘rapid and exciting growth of the industry that it operates within’ – most recently announcing that it had been appointed by telematics firm The Floow on a recruitment processing outsourcing basis to help double its workforce by the end of the year following a £13million equity investment.

He said: “Our experience is that there are plenty of highlyskilled individuals already situated within comfortable commuting distance of Sheffield, as well as huge interest from individuals who are prepared to move to take advantage of everything that the City Region has to offer.

“Sometimes it’s as much about ‘selling’ Sheffield to a candidate as it is about introducing a candidate to a company, and that’s something we are very passionate about here at Affecto.”

TECH START-UP GOES GLOBAL IN-PART, a Yorkshire-based tech start-up that establishes commercial collaborations between researchers and industry professionals, has expanded overseas after securing £300,000 investment from Mercia Technologies.

The firm has launched into the US market – with more than 20 university teams now using its system, including Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford, Cornell and Columbia University.

Founded by entrepreneurs Patrick Speedie and Dr Robin Knight in 2014, IN-PART operates out of the Sheffield Innovation Centre – a city centre facility which is owned by Tata Steel subsidiary UK Steel Enterprise.

Allan Wood of UK Steel Enterprise with IN-PART’s Patrick Speedie

Patrick Speedie, IN-PART founder and Sheffield University graduate, said: “IN-PART is a platform that enables universities to distribute creative and potentially ground-breaking early-stage ideas and technologies directly to relevant industry contacts who have the ability, funds and resources, to collaborate and build upon them.”

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

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