Business Lancashire May 2019 by The Samuel James Group

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Blackburn Cathedral Appeal to hold exclusive motoring luncheon P32 Barton Grange Hotels appoints four new managers as part of its new vision

p4 May 2019

Six outstanding Lancashire businesses honoured by Her Majesty The Queen UNIVERSAL Smart Cards from Accrington and Kirkham based Language Insight, are amongst 201 businesses, who have been recognised as proud winners of 2019 prestigious Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, to mark Her Majesty The Queen’s 93rd birthday. Other Lancashire based companies recognised were Firesafe Fire Rated Ductwork from Haslingden, Metstok from Clitheroe, Whyte and Ivory from Nelson and Preston based Recycling Lives. Five of the winners were in the International Trade category, where previous winners have seen a 73% boost to their international sales and worldwide recognition. The other winner was Recycling Lives in the Promoting Opportunity category, for their work with offenders. Business Secretary Greg Clark said:” These prestigious awards, now in its 53rd year help shine a light on all that is great about UK business today. I am extremely impressed to see such a wealth of talent and innovation from

across the UK being recognised by Her Majesty The Queen. “Many of these winners are small businesses - the backbone of our economy – and we are backing them to grow, increase their productivity and create more jobs and opportunity across the UK through our modern Industrial Strategy.” Universal Smart Cards has been recognised by receiving the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade. Established in 2001 by directors, Michael Smith and Chris Allen, Universal Smart Cards is a market leader in the manufacture and supply of smart products and solutions. Having shipped over 136 million smart products worldwide, USC has a vast amount of knowledge and experience. This has allowed them to offer a wide variety of smart cards, card readers and accessories, alongside several smart solutions, such as location and condition monitoring services. For many years, USC has sold to

customers throughout Europe and the Middle East, but has recently added important contracts in South America and Australia. Another key element of their proactive export strategy was the expansion into USA, with an office in San Diego, California. Ultimately, this has led to them increasing their international trade tenfold. Universal’s Sales and Marketing Director, Paul May, commented: "We are all absolutely delighted to have received this award, for all the hard work and commitment that the team have put into developing our international trade strategy and relationships with customers. I'd like to thank every member of the team. It's great to see that our export strategy is bearing fruit.” Language Insight, founded by Managing Director, Donna Twose, in 2009, is a leading UK language services provider, based near Preston and is particularly proud to win a prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade, in the run up to

their 10th anniversary later on this year. The company has demonstrated outstanding year-on-year overseas growth to become one of the UK’s most trusted language service partners. They provide transcription, translation and interpreting for a wide range of sectors and industries, with a special focus on market research translation. Over the last three years, their overseas sales have grown by 230%. In 2018, company revenues grew 33.4% globally and international trade now makes up over 49% of Language Insight’s turnover. The company has expanded from its UK operations and now employs staff all around the globe, including New York, Germany and plans to open additional offices in 2019. Donna added: “It is a huge honour for Language Insight to have won The Queen’s Award for Enterprise as it recognises our successes here in the UK and overseas.”

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Monza in Italy is also known for its unique and historic track. Almost 100 years old, the fastest circuit in Formula 1 is the place to really feel the speed and fury of these magnificent machines. Closer to home you can discover the history of the sport at the brand new Silverstone experience which is due to open in time for the British Grand Prix in July 2019. As new races have sprung up across the world the entertainment that surrounds the race has been ramped up. This year, the entertainment at the Singapore Grand Prix wouldn’t look out of place at a major international music festival, with Muse, Fatboy Slim, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Swedish House Mafia leading the line-up. In Abu Dhabi you can enjoy four days of world-class entertainment on and off the track, with ticket options including admission to Ferrari World, located on Yas Island which hosts the race. You’ll round off the entire F1 season with an after race show that has featured the likes of Guns ‘n’ Roses and Kendrick Lamar over the last two years. All packages include return flights or coach travel, a choice of accommodation, race entry, entertainment and transfers. Many other inclusions and optional extras are available by tour.

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Business Manchester/Lancashire.indd 2

15/04/2019 13:08

WELCOME

CONTENTS MANUFACTURING THOUGHT LEADERSHIP GROWTH STORIES EDUCATION AWARDS BUSINESS SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL ACQUISITIONS NAA TRANSPORT CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY APPOINTMENTS PROPERTY EVENTS LISTINGS ENERGY

...to the May 2019 edition of Business Lancashire. In this issue, we learn about our 2019 Queen's Award for Enterprise winners. We also highlight how Barton Grange is welcoming new faces as part of managing director, Joseph Henry’s long-term vision. You can also read about how Lucky 6 Marketing is celebrating a hard earned eight years in business and the launch of our partnership with the Northern Automotive Alliance. PAGE 23

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Al n’tBoost it comes to digital, ort is Lancashire’s the Retail help busin is do pp en Wo in to ek ice s wh ur by the UK Government.” Andrew Leeming, tech and creative sectors in Boost business e We ess Yo ert adv Schem eing in e Business uncil Busin business exp w To Us and Wellb Anne Williamson, MD at ProgrammeBu Manager, attended Lancaster. growth hub, led rbybuthe Lancashire esses, and rnley Co port.” These are well paid, highly ou sin Design, Ho of supskilled organised Your Catarina King, co-founder grow. jobs and the number is growing Customer Love Ltd, added: “There LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership) Secured By r Data to Growalongside t package ek 2018 is team. t of tha e, Burnleyand Lancashirepar me Business We cil, in partnership were many similarities between the of Preston-based space year on year. It is not hard to see why County Council cer ck Cartledg Your Custo more. 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18 May 20 INSIDE:

www.businesslancashire.co.uk/subscription y e l n r Bu s supportses Lancashire firms’ mission If you would like to be involved with BUSINESS LANCASHIRE, s busine & CONTACTS CONTRIBUTORS please get in touch with the below: h to Number 10 to help t n e with sevs small businesses grow es n i s u B Group Editor: Andy Mann Design: Robert Leach This publication is produced by The Samuel James Group Ltd, Week Unit 6/7 Eastway Business Village, Fulwood, Preston PR2 9WT. 07951 731722 01772 364150 / 07930 962609 andy@thesamueljamesgroup.com

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Published by The Samuel James Group

May 2019

Barton Grange Hotel appoints four new managers as part of its new vision BARTON Grange Hotel has welcomed three new managers and promoted another as part of its new vision to improve its service offering across the hotel. Matthew Schenker joins the four-star hotel as Front of House Manager, following a similar role at The Nadler Hotel in Liverpool, whilst Laura Burgess returns to the hotel as Restaurant Manager, after an absence of four years. Also joining the Barton Grange team is Eric Keary as Night Manager, from the Peckforton Castle, Cheshire, Eric will be responsible for the safe and smooth running of the hotel after hours. Finally, Leigh Walker

has been appointed as Sales and Revenue Manager, a promotion from her previous role of Conference and Events Sales Manager. In addition to the new appointments, Barton Grange has also rejuvenated its restaurant menu, as well as its wine menu, thanks to a partnership with local wine supplier, EWGA Wines from Warton. The changes at the hotel were initiated as a result of new General Manager, Joseph Henry, implementing his long-term vision. Commented Joseph: “It’s a pleasure to welcome the new managers to the Barton Grange Hotel team, as well as promoting Leigh. These appointments will

give the hotel a firm footing as we strengthen our offering to our guests and local community. “As part of this new vision, the hotel is going to host a range of special events throughout 2019, including ‘Comedy Nights’ and a ‘Murder

Mystery’ in the Barton Suite. We have also updated our Lounge and invite local people and businesses to take advantage of the tea, coffee and free WiFi, in a contemporary and professional environment.”

MANUFACTURING

Lyndhurst purchases innovative machine as part of long-term growth vision Chorley-based, Lyndhurst Precision Engineering has added a state-of-the-art machine to its facility, as part of its commitment to being at the fore front of precision engineering. The HAAS VF2 CNC milling machining centre will allow Lyndhurst to enhance the quality and standard of its final products, which are utilised in defence, medical and automotive

projects around the world. Two days of intensive training were undertaken by Lyndhurst’s team of skilled engineers, ensuring they can use this latest technology to its full potential. One of those engineers, was award-winning apprentice, Stuart Haydock, who said: “I’m excited to begin working with this state-of-the-

art milling machining centre. It will help me enormously to improve my skillset and experience, whilst working towards my degree.” Mark Marriner, managing director, Lyndhurst Precision Engineering, added: “This innovative machine will allow Lyndhurst to continue our efforts to design and produce the very best products and solutions for our

global clients. “Adding the HAAS CNC milling machining centre to our offering is part of our long-term growth vision. By investing in the latest technology, we maintain and enhance our excellent reputation for the delivery of projects, on time and to the highest of standards.”

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6 THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

An essential conference checklist from Caroline Richardson of the Imperial Hotel, Blackpool ORGANISING a conference or event can often feel like riding a rollercoaster. Chances are you’ll be hanging on to your event brief for dear life, whilst managing building costs and responsibilities, all set to tip you off course at any point. Although event and conference planning may not be as scary, it can however be a bumpy ride, with plenty of ups and downs. Because of this, we have put together some guidelines to ensure you are prepared for any event! Smooth preparation at the early stage is key. There are some significant questions that need answering: 1. What is the objective of your conference/event? This is the WHY you are holding it 2. What are your KPIs? How will you measure your success 3. What is your budget? If it's not your responsibility, get this clarified now! Once you have answered these questions, you should consider who else is involved in the planning.

Be that a committee, group of colleagues or just you. • Start to assign who is responsible for what and then put a time line on it! Surrounding yourself with a good team will help you carry out the different tasks more efficiently without being overwhelmed. It will also allow you to focus on the main aim of the occasion. • Time lines are great, having a date to work towards keeps everyone on track. • Next consider your venue. The aim of your event, may determine the location and venue. Maximise the delegate attendance for your conference or event by choosing a venue with ease of access. Within an hour of a major airport, close to or on a main line rail route and easily accessible by road. For the later, ample car parking is always a selling point, especially if it’s free for attendees! • Conference and event rooms are available in a variety of sizes. You need to go for the right size, not too small to cause discomfort or too big to make it look like half the delegates failed to turn up. For you to make the right choice, confirm

the number of delegates expected to attend and the types of equipment to be used. A good venue event manager will be able to place you in the correct meeting room. • Look for a venue that reflects some element of either you, your company profile or the objective of the occasion. Do your research, look on social media, since often venues post about other events and customers comment on events, this will give you a good idea of what that venue is about. • If the event is going to run for a couple of days or overnight, consider getting comfortable accommodation for your delegates. You don’t necessarily have to cover the costs of this for every attendee, but hosting your occasion in a hotel, with an abundance of rooms available, will make life easier for those attending. Using a conference hotel has many benefits including experienced support staff. The Imperial Hotel, Blackpool has so much to offer that will make planning your conference or event seamless.

GROWTH STORIES

In association with Boost Business Lancashire

Lytham finance and business advisory firm boosts jobs and doubles turnover

A LYTHAM-based finance and business advisory firm has created five new jobs after receiving growth mentoring through Boost – Lancashire’s business growth hub. Suzie Brooks set up Brooks Accountants in 2013 with the aim of providing more than just a standard accountancy service. Her aim was to also to support clients in successfully managing and growing their businesses. She discovered very quickly the challenge to convince clients that her business could really deliver this wider service. Not wishing to give up on her ambition, Suzie sought

assistance from Boost’s Growth Mentoring service. Boost is Lancashire's Business Growth Hub and is led by the Lancashire LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership) and Lancashire County Council and supported by funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The Growth Mentoring service aims to help business owners facing growth challenges in areas including business planning, finance, sales, marketing and human resource management. Through the mentoring service, Suzie developed a new business plan covering

sales, marketing and people development. The new plan has reaped rewards with Suzie relocating to offices in central Lytham, taking on five new members of staff, while doubling turnover. Over the next 12 months, she aims to double turnover again and take on additional staff to fill accounting and administrative roles. Suzie also plans to grow her online finance and business mentoring programmes. Andrew Leeming, Boost Programme Manager, Lancashire County Council, said: “Suzie had the perfect credentials for receiving growth mentoring through

Boost. She had great insight into the objectives for her business but knew it was not moving in the right direction. She needed a ‘USP’ – a unique angle for her business, to make it stand out.” Andrew introduced Suzie to Community Business Partners, who assigned mentor Paul Bury to help her to devise a pricing and marketing strategy and look at brand development. She also received digital marketing and website support. Guided by Paul’s advice Suzie rebranded her business to Brooks, dropping the word ‘accountants’ in order to reach

more businesses. Paul also encouraged her to review her pricing structure and professional fees. Suzie said: “I’ve got new branding, a new office, a new website and I’ve pushed my ideas further that I expected. Re-addressing my pricing structure has also significantly contributed to an increase in turnover. “Paul Bury has been so supportive and always went above and beyond to help me. He encouraged me to act on ideas I'd been procrastinating over and gave me the courage to move the business forward. The only way is up from here.”

GROWTH STORIES

www.boostbusinesslancashire.co.uk

Stress-busting business mentor gets a Boost A LANCASHIRE-based business mentor who helps companies look after their staff is set to expand her business after receiving support through Boost. Michelle Bondesio, originally from South Africa, established Bondesio Communications & Consulting in December 2017, to help businesses adopt a healthier working culture for their employees. She set up the business after receiving support through Boost’s Growth Support Programme and now reaches a wide network of business clients across the county. Her Growth Sessions workshops help businesses to look after wellbeing and reduce stress in the workplace. Michelle has worked with UCLan, Society One, and Boost via the Lancashire Forum Creative, and has a keen focus on the creative and digital sector. Over the next 12 months, Michelle’s growth plans include launching a range of online training programmes and making her first hire. She also has aspirations to work with UCLan and Lancaster University to provide similar wellbeing and mentoring services to students experiencing stress and pressure during their studies. Boost’s fully-funded Growth Support Programme is designed to support individuals and SMEs in

Lancashire to achieve their growth aspirations, and be better equipped to deal with challenges in sales, marketing, finance, business planning and recruitment. Michelle said: "I’d worked for 20 years in communications and project management. From my own experiences working in this high stress environment, I saw a growing need for employers to provide wellbeing support to employees. I had a vision for my business, but needed guidance to approach it as a

consultant.” Rona McFall, head of entrepreneurial solutions at Winning Pitch said: “We worked closely with Michelle to create a business model and allow for better pricing of her advice.” Michelle said: “The masterclasses and coaching I received through Boost helped me gain the confidence I needed to get started. They have certainly made me think on a much bigger scale for my business than I expected.

“I am now working with Boost’s Growth Support Programme to develop and deliver my Growth Sessions for the next generation of entrepreneurs. I believe digital health and wellbeing is important in every working environment. It should be the responsibility of every employer to adopt a healthy working culture for employees and reduce workrelated stress. My motto, backed by research and science, is ‘better selves is better for business’.”

A Boost for your business FOR startups and young businesses, every day is a new learning curve. From developing your vision and strategy, to raising funding and preparing to employ people for the first time you need to develop a whole new set of skills fast. Boost is here to help you with this exciting and challenging time. As part of our Growth Support Programme, we offer a series of masterclasses designed to help new Lancashire businesses succeed. Our masterclasses in June include:

• Making yourself irresistible to customers – June 4, 9:00am – 3:30pm at Society1, Preston • Business planning. tools and techniques – June 6, 9:00am – 3:30pm at Daisyfield Business Centre, Blackburn • Know Your Numbers: What every start-up must know – June 11, 9:00am – 3:30pm at Turf Moor, Burnley • Creating your sales model – June 13, 9:00am – 3:30pm at Daisyfield Business Centre, Blackburn • How to find, win and keep your customers – June 18, 9:00am – 3:30pm at Cotton Court, Preston To book your place at any of these events or for more information on how Boost can help your business succeed, please e-mail the Growth Support Programme team at gspadmin@winning-pitch.co.uk or visit the Boost website: www.boostbusinesslancashire.co.uk

10 education

Lancashire universities partner in £3.3m business support project A BUSINESS support project that has created 56 new jobs and helped almost 200 Lancashire businesses in the last three years, has secured £1.77m of extra funding. Lancashire Forum, a collaboration between Lancaster University and the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), helps ambitious Small and Mediumsized Enterprises (SMEs) in the region to grow with the aid of a supportive peer network and a programme of interactive workshops and masterclasses delivered by high-profile speakers. The initial three-year funding for the project

was due to end this year, but the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) have provided a further £1.77m to enable it to continue until 2022, as part of a total project value of £3.3m. The partnership project is delivered across Lancashire as part of Boost, Lancashire’s business growth hub. It offers a safe place for business leaders to step away from their working environment to develop themselves and their organisations with the help of the latest research and world-class academics from Lancaster University Management School (LUMS) and UCLan, along with

benefiting from the practical experience of peers. Since its launch in 2016, this project has supported 192 businesses across 20 towns and cities in Lancashire, helping to create 56 new jobs. Twentythree new products, processes or services have also been brought to market. Lancashire Forum has helped local business leaders like Ben Blackburn, Managing Director of Blackburn Distributions, manufacturers and suppliers of sports supplements and healthcare products. He said: “As a result of the Lancashire Forum, I have a better skillset in some

important areas like business strategy and I use different management tools that help me better analyse the business. Lancashire Forum helped me identify different markets and, as a result, we are now looking to expand our products into Africa. Since participating in the Lancashire Forum, we have moved to state-of-the-art facilities and have quadrupled our production capacity. Our sales are growing 20 per cent year-on-year, and we have grown to employ 11 staff.” Matt Hutchinson, Lancashire Forum Project Manager at Lancaster University Management School, said: “Ben’s

organisation is just one example of a local business going from strength to strength in the region, and one that has seen really tangible growth after participating in Lancashire Forum. “It’s often extremely hard for SME leaders to take time away from their businesses, so it’s vital this designated time is worthwhile. The Forum is a blend of peer learning and inspirational masterclasses, with leadership, finance and innovation sessions, which encourage personal and business development, leading to stronger, more ambitious Lancashire companies.”

education

Bigtank welcomes second apprentice LANCASHIRE-based video production specialists, Bigtank, has welcomed on board its second apprentice, Laurence Gray, following their first apprentice, Josh Parker, taking on a full-time role at the company. Laurence, from Blackburn, will work with Bigtank, whilst undertaking his Digital Marketing Degree Apprenticeship at UCLAN. He previously studied at Blackburn College, an institution Bigtank has a strong partnership with, since they welcome numerous students on work experience from the college. Previous Bigtank apprentice, Josh Parker, impressed the team so much, that he was offered a fulltime role following completion of his apprenticeship. Rob Hallam, Managing Director of Bigtank, said: “Welcoming another apprentice to the Bigtank team signifies our commitment to the local community and confidence in the

apprenticeship scheme. I’m sure Laurence will excel with us, as well as in his studies at UCLAN. Laurence, added: “I’m really excited to be doing an apprenticeship with Bigtank. The work they do is varied and extremely relevant and this is a fantastic opportunity for me to begin my career in the media industry, learning on the job, whilst earning money.” Rob continued: “At Bigtank, we create a wide range of engaging videos for our clients including Stephensons Solicitors, MK Illumination, Frank Recruitment Group and Totally Wicked. The video content may be case studies, animated videos, brand stories or a corporate videos but key for us is that the content not only looks great, it’s commercially effective. This exciting industry and our fun and effective way of working offers a fantastic learning environment for our apprentices.”

12 AWARDS

Region’s top business talent named at 2019 IoD Director of the Year awards THE North West’s top business talent was celebrated at the annual Institute of Directors (IoD) Director of the Year awards. Embodying the IoD’s objectives in the North West by bringing the best leaders in the region to the fore, the event celebrated the diverse achievements of entrepreneurial and inspiring business leaders. Awards ranged from ‘Young Director of the Year’ to ‘Director of the Year Award – Corporate Social Responsibility’. Hundreds of business people, influencers and luminaries attended the awards ceremony, which was held at Hilton Manchester Deansgate. The awards have gained a coveted reputation for highlighting the success of North West directors – from young businesses leading a small but driven team, to large corporations based regionally, but overseeing operations throughout the world. Double award winner of the evening was Stockport-based Donald Moore of Rowlinson Knitwear who scooped both the

Corporate Social Responsibility and Small-Medium Business Director of the Year awards. James Timpson OBE of Timpson Group, based in Wythenshawe, was congratulated as he was awarded with the Family Business Director of the Year Award, followed by Debbie Francis of Crewe based Direct Rail Services Ltd, who stepped up to receive her Inclusivity Director of the Year award. The evening’s celebrations continued with the Innovation Director of the Year award being deservedly received by Dr Maurizio Bragagni MBA of Tratos Ltd in Knowsley, and the coveted International Director of the Year title was awarded to Marnie Millard OBE of Newton-le-Willows based Nichols PLC – famed for numerous beverages including Manchester’s own Vimto. Neil McArthur of the Hamilton Davies Trust based in Cadishead, Manchester, was honoured with the Chairman’s Award for Excellence in Director and Board Practice.

Other winners included; Matthew White of The University Caterers Organisation, who picked up the Non-Executive Director of the Year, Steve Park of Warrington & Co as Public Sector Director of the Year, Paul Kerruish from the Fynoderee Distillery was awarded the Start-Up Director of the Year, Maura Jackson of BACKUP North West as Third Sector Director of the Year and concluding with Andrew Avanessian of Avecto who scooped the Young Director of the Year award. The IOD Director of the Year awards recognises achievements in a whole host of sectors including healthcare, hospitality, construction and marketing showing the rich,

varied and thriving economy in the North West. Claire Ebrey Regional Director for the North West and Isle of Man, said: “We offer our warmest congratulations to everyone who has won an award, as well as to all of those who were shortlisted. The IoD is proud to work closely with directors and their teams here in the North West – something that the organisation has been doing since 1903. “The awards embody the IoD’s philosophy of encouraging entrepreneurial activity and promoting responsible business practice for the benefit of the business community and society as a whole. The achievements of the above business leaders are a real celebration of this.”

Awards

Happy to sponsor leading women in business awards HAPPY Creative has announced it will be partnering with the Enterprise Vision Awards (EVAs), which celebrates the achievements of women in business across the North West, for a second year. The Blackpool-based marketing and creative agency has been named

this year’s EVAs creative partner and will also be sponsoring the Creative Industry Award. In this category, ladies will be recognised for their inspiration and creative flair, as well as their successes, passion and future business plans. The 2019 awards, which take place on Friday 27

September, at the Empress Ballroom, in the Winter Gardens, Blackpool. Karen Lambert, Chief Happy, said: “The EVAs are the largest awards dedicated to female entrepreneurs outside London. We are delighted to be a creative partner again this year, and to sponsor the creative

industry category.” Coral Horn, founder of the EVA awards, added: “It’s great to have Happy on board again this year. They are a fellow Blackpool business who we’ve worked with across a number of creative projects for over a decade. I’m always really impressed by their creativity and service”.

Lancaster University EMBA tops world rankings for career outcomes LANCASTER University Management School’s Executive MBA course has been ranked the joint-best in the world for its students’ career outcomes. The two-year programme – which runs focused sessions on a parttime basis shaped around professional commitments – received top marks in the QS Global EMBA Rankings for both salary increases and promotions obtained by participants within 12 months of the course concluding. On average, Lancaster’s EMBA cohort received a pay increase of 62% in the 12 months after the conclusion of the course – well above the global average of 38.9%. There were also promotions for 71.4% of the graduates in that same timespan. Lancaster University Management School Dean, Angus Laing,

said: “At Lancaster, we pride ourselves on being able to provide the professionals who

take part in our EMBA course with a first-class programme that gives both them and their

businesses valuable experience. “These rankings show that the skills

and knowledge our graduates develop have an immediate impact when they return to

their full-time roles, allowing them to progress in their career trajectories.”

14 Business Support

Bespoke website builder launches in Preston PRESTON-based Swift Website Builder launches to help SME’s across the UK. The user-friendly online website builder is designed to encourage more businesses to have an internet presence, with the focus specifically on helping small and medium-sized enterprises. The platform will allow SME’s to create their own websites who may not have the means to work with professional agencies, whilst helping their business to exceed online. The dedicated Swift team will focus on customer service and provide assistance to those building their own website, creating a platform for SME’s with access

to a resource hub containing advice, templates and a transparent pricing structure. Luke Gardner, Marketing Manager, Swift Website Builder, said: “Swift Website Builder is built with simplicity in mind, as we aim to put the power in the hands of the smaller business who cannot always afford the services of agencies. “Customer service is at the heart of the Swift Website Builder, with a dedicated Lancashire-based team offering advice to SME’s across the UK. We are also partnering up with other start-up business enablers, which will further help those on our platform.”

Pitching secrets to be revealed at upcoming event BUDDING and established entrepreneurs from across Lancashire are invited to learn about creating the perfect pitch. NatWest will be holding a pitching-based taster session for its Pre-Accelerator programme at Cotton Court Business Centre, Preston. The session will coincide with the Cotton Court Start Up Competition which sees entrepreneurs from across the Red Rose County pitching for a chance to win everything they need to start, build and expand their

business. Heather Waters, Enterprise Manager at NatWest, said: “During our Pre-Accelerator taster session, we will teach participants our award winning pitch structure which enables entrepreneurs to confidently and effectively present their business in any given situation. Pitching is an absolutely vital skill any new business and having the confidence to deliver a good pitch can make or break a business opportunity.” Robert Binns, Director of Cotton Court

Business Centre, said: “Being able to shout about your business and tell your story is invaluable to any business person and this course will give people the opportunity to learn first hand how to accomplish this.” Later this summer NatWest will be bringing its full Pre-Accelerator workshop to Cotton Court. The session is designed for early stage businesses looking at ways to grow and enhance their business ideas. The programme is part of NatWest’s threestage business accelerator scheme which is delivered across the UK. The pitching event is on Tuesday, 6 May at the Cotton Court Business Centre from 10am to 11.30am.

Business Support

Avon Electrical puts the spark into new manufacturing facility BURNLEY-based, Avon Electrical, has helped Fuse Contract Furniture relocate to its new Blackburn facility, with a full electrical overhaul. Managed by Lead Electrician, Lewis Stephen, the project required Avon Electrical to design and install a new electrical system, including; fire alarms, lighting and all the wiring at Fuse’s new Blackburn facility. Fuse Contract Furniture manufactures handcrafted furniture for the hotel and leisure hotel chains; Mercure, Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza Hotels & industry. The firm’s Resorts. clients include major

Lewis said: “This project called to adapt the new facility to upon Avon Electricals’ diverse accommodate Fuse’s 20 different skill set, since we were required manufacturing machines. I’m

delighted with the end product, as I’m sure Fuse is.” Gareth Read, MD, Avon Electrical, added: “This was the first major project Lewis had led since he joined us over a year ago. He has really impressed everybody at Avon Electrical and he has a bright future as an electrician. “The high quality of work conducted by Lewis and the team has ensured that Fuse’s relocation was a smooth one, on time, to cost and their downtime was kept to an absolute minimum.”

Links Signs and Graphics wraps up new Blackpool Zoo party room BLACKPOOL-based Links Signs and Graphics has put the finishing touches, with bespoke vinyls, to Blackpool Zoo’s new children’s party room. After liaising with Sias Delport, Communications Manager at Blackpool Zoo, Links was tasked with creating and installing floor to ceiling graphics, large walls graphics and hardwearing vinyl graphics, to counter tops and drawers. The finished product gives young visitors a sense of Africa’s Serengeti and will be used to particularly teach children about some of the Zoo’s

smaller animals. The signage specialists also enhanced Blackpool Zoo’s gift shop, designing and applying two large vinyl graphics as well as smaller graphics at the cash desk. Carl Bennett, managing director, Links Signs and Graphics, said: “The partnership we have with Blackpool Zoo is one of our strongest. We’ve worked across the Zoo on numerous projects, designing and installing signage, with each project receiving excellent feedback from the Zoo and their visitors.

“This latest project started with an initial consultation with Sias, where we discussed potential images and designs to best engage visiting children, as well

as ensuring the finished product was durable enough to stand up to children’s parties." Sias added: “The Links Signs and Graphics team is a pleasure to work with

and always delivers beyond our expectations. Blackpool Zoo is very pleased with the look of the new party room and we have had so much positive feedback from visitors already.”

Business Support

May 2019

Preston’s San Marco Group invests seven-figure sum in expanding flagship restaurant A PRESTON-based Italian restaurant group is set to boost turnover at its flagship restaurant by 20 per cent after expanding for the third time, with the support of a seven-figure funding package from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking. The expansion of The Italian Orchard, located in Broughton, Preston, was unveiled following six months of construction work and forms part of a sustained period of growth across the San Marco Group’s property portfolio. The 500 sq m extension, which features a newly-built bar area and retractable glass roof, will see the popular family restaurant boost

capacity by 50 covers a night. As a result, the group is set to hire 10 new members of staff in the coming months. Part of the tailored funding package from Lloyds Bank has also been used to revamp the previously unused top floor of Stratos, a Preston city centre restaurant owned by the San Marco Group. The space has been converted into 17 self-contained apartments, which will be used for staff accommodation. Carlo Bragagnini, director at San Marco Group, said: “Over the last four decades, San Marco has grown from one small, family-run restaurant into an established and highly regarded

chain of bars and restaurants. “When the chance to expand the existing premises at The Italian Orchard arose, we immediately recognised the potential to not only satisfy increasing demand but also to implement plans for future growth. “The move gives us the financial strength to accelerate future planned projects, which include creating a new manufacturing facility that will begin supplying fresh pasta to our restaurants later this year. “The team at Lloyds Bank has been by our side throughout the process, providing the guidance we needed to plan and deliver these ambitious projects simultaneously.”

Garry Birchall, relationship director at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “The San Marco Group is an example of a dynamic business that refuses to stand still. “Thanks to the ambition and drive of the Bragagnini family and its management team, the restaurant has cultivated a popular brand that will ensure it continues to prosper with each new venture. “We’re proud to provide the tailored funding that firms like the San Marco Group need as part of our plan to Help Britain Prosper, which is why we’ve pledged to provide £1.3billion to businesses in the North West this year.”

Forbes sponsors East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce’s International Trade Club FORBES Solicitors has agreed a threeyear deal to become joint sponsors of East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce’s International Trade Club. The partnership, which also involves Baldwin’s Accountants, will allow International Trade Club members access to Forbes’ expertise and advice in manufacturing and other sectors. The deal builds on Forbes existing close relationship with the International Trade Club, with Associate solicitor John Pickervance

already involved with the club. John previously presented at breakfast meetings and delivers training on a regular basis for the East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce. The sponsorship commitment recognizes the mutually compatible services and expertise from the sponsors and the Club which can be brought to businesses in Lancashire. John, Head of Forbes’ Manufacturing & Engineering Group, said: “Our sponsorship of the International Trade Club sits well with

our manufacturing sector specialism and we are looking forward to building on our excellent relationship with the International Trade Club over the next three years.” The sponsorship deal includes a series of breakfast meetings and the International Trade Awards and luncheon ceremony, giving Chamber members the chance to meet and discuss issues with the Forbes team. Mandy Lockett, International Business Director at East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, added: “This

is a great opportunity for our members to work closely with the experts at Forbes to grow their businesses in such a key area. “We are very grateful to John and all the team at Forbes for their ongoing support.”

Business Support

Studio Sphere launches studio subscription service for local photographers NELSON-based Studio Sphere has launched a subscription service for its state-of-the-art studios for local photographers and videographers. The subscription service is a manageable, convenient and cost-effective way for local photographers, who don’t have access to their own space, to shoot in a professional and flexible studio. Based in Bridge Mill, Nelson, Studio Sphere has

three state-of-the-art studios ranging from 11.75m x 5m to 5m x 2.9m. Subscriptions start from £75 a month, including 8 hours of studio time, lighting, modifiers, 5gb of server storage and free parking; to the most inclusive plan at £300 a month, featuring; 32 hours of studio time, lighting, modifiers, 20gb of server storage and free parking. Michael Sewell, managing director, Studio

Sphere, said: “Through using our subscription service, photographers and videographers have a costeffective and easy solution, avoiding the expensive costs and commitments related to having their own studio. “As well as offering advice, networking, free parking, server space and equipment, we also offer storage space, meaning users can make Studio Sphere a genuine base for their operations.”

Business Support

May 2019

MHA Moore and Smalley rebrand will support clients’ growth aspirations NORTH West accountancy and business advisory firm MHA Moore and Smalley has unveiled a new brand identity to closer align itself with its national and international networks. The move brings the firm’s branding in line with MHA, the association of eight independent UK accountancy and business advisory firms, and the Baker Tilly International network of which it is also a member. The new identity features Baker Tilly International’s ‘Now, for tomorrow’ ethos which focuses on great relationships, adaptability to clients’ needs, and providing more forward-

looking advice and support. Graham Gordon, managing partner of MHA Moore and Smalley, said: “This is another positive step forward for the firm and our clients. “Whether they operate on a local, national or international basis, we’re committed to helping all the businesses, organisations and individuals we advise to grow and plan for the future. “As an independent firm, but part of the MHA and Baker Tilly International networks, we have the national and global reach to help us create new opportunities for our clients.”

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Business Support

Lucardo Rawtenstall hosts engaging team building event LUCARDO Rawtenstall has held an engaging team building event for the North West Skills Academy. The event, organised by Cube HR, saw representatives from the leading provider of Government funded construction NVQ qualifications, split into three groups of five to six to undertake team building exercises at the Escape Room experience. The teams took part in all three

games at the venue; Dragon’s Heart, Corruption and Gem Runner, before sitting down with Cube HR Managing Director, Lisa Sourbutts, for a reflective HR strategy and team building day.. Lucardo Rawtenstall is the first franchise from the well-known Manchester venue and is already a success, with over 1,100 teams trying to escape, involving over 4,500

participants. Simon Milnes, Co-Owner, Lucardo Rawtenstall, said: “The North-West Skills Academy team building event was a fantastic success and a great showcase for how Lucardo Rawtenstall’s facilities can be utilised by a variety of businesses for team building events. “I encourage organisations to get in touch with us, so that we can help them

create bespoke team building exercises in a fun, exciting and memorable way.” Lisa Sourbutts, added: “Lucardo Rawtenstall was the perfect venue to hold an engaging and memorable team building event for the North-West Skills Academy. The facilities allowed us to hold HR strategy sessions as well as a workshop, reinforcing the highlights from an excellent team building event.”

Business Support

May 2019

Successful Darwen entrepreneur highlights his secrets for success IMRAN Hakim, CEO of the Hakim Group, whose headquarters is in Darwen, gave a fascinating insight into the mind of a successful entrepreneur at the latest TiE (the Entrpreneur’s Organisation) Lancashire meeting. The event was held at Blackburn Cathedral in support of their Crypt 100 Club fundraising appeal. Imran, who is an entrepreneur, inventor, innovator and mentor, is most famous for his appearance in 2007 on Dragon’s Den, when his iTeddy invention was backed by Peter Jones and Theo Paphitis. Since then, the product (voted the best toy invention of the year) has been exported to over 45 countries. He started his entrepreneurial career at 15 whilst at school, buying and selling computers and continued

doing this whilst at university, where he qualified as an Optician. He founded his first opticians in Bolton in 2004 and within 15 years, the Hakim Group now has over 110 optician practices, adding a new practice every week. It is the fastest growing group of independent optician’s in the UK and Ireland. Each practice thrives on their independence, with Imran and his team focusing on the numbers, digital marketing and a consistent back office infrastructure for key Group support functions, such as HR, IT and digital marketing. During his 30-minute talk, Imran shared some of his drivers for success and some key lessons learnt. Said Imran: “It is important to recognise what drives you and makes you get up

in a morning – your WHY. Dream big but also understand the potential risks. ‘What if ’ are two of my most powerful strategic words! “It is also crucial to know when to step away and if necessary, if a business has to fail, make sure it fails fast and cheaply. Learn your lessons and adapt to change. To be able to scale a business as quickly as we have, you have to have a clear and consistent business model. “However, the number one ingredient for success is your people, who you must enable and develop to ensure they flourish. I am extremely proud of the fact that since we started, over 15 years ago, not a single employee has left and in 2018, we were recognised as the Times 100 Best Small Company of the Year.

“Finally, the other magic ingredients are your values, goals and associated culture. We have five: honesty, ambition, kindness, industrious and meticulous. All these values are encased in our entrepreneurial circle and our ten-year plan, which we annually update at our managers’ conference. “Our BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goals) must be inspiring, possible, fit for purpose, support the company strategy and consistent. “If you follow these guidelines, you will enjoy your career as an entrepreneur. I certainly have, otherwise I would have done something else, since you must enjoy what you do.”

Rugby League World Cup 2021 announces first round of small grants for CreatedBy capital grants programme RLWC2021 InspirationALL ambassador Jodie Cunningham returned to her former school, Cardinal Newman Catholic High School in Warrington, to present one of the first seven CreatedBy RLWC2021 Capital Grants projects, which range from kit and equipment for weekly touch rugby league sessions at Castleford Tigers Women to a clubhouse refresh for Wigan St Judes ARLFC. The seven chosen small grant schemes, part of the tournament’s wider InspirationALL legacy initiative, are the first to receive funding for the provision of capital items, kit and equipment or to refurbish and improve existing facilities. Applications for grants have been open since October 2018, with a total of £10 million available for local clubs and community projects to create a positive impact. £9 million will be allocated to large-scale requests

costing more than £15,000, with the remaining £1 million being granted to smaller-scale projects. The government investment, delivered in partnership with the RFL and Sport England, is part of RLWC2021’s ambitious plan to leave a lasting legacy. The grants have been awarded to the following: • Aspatria Hornets RLFC – The club has been granted cash to purchase a professional lawn mower for their new home pitch and some rugby equipment for their juniors • Cardinal Newman Catholic High School in Warrington – Funds will go towards the school’s aim to increase female engagement in the region with new equipment and goal posts allowing the school to develop its training, competition and guidance offering to potential new players • Castleford Tigers Women – The club will use the funds to establish

•

a weekly touch rugby club for girls with a variety of rugby equipment Drighlington Amateur Rugby League Club – CreatedBy will replace their old rusty posts, with new ones and will supply new post protectors to go with them Golborne High School in Wigan– The school has been awarded new rugby equipment, kit and post protectors South Leeds Spartans ARLFC – The club has been awarded with new kit and equipment to grow the number of girls teams it can provide. The new under-8s and under-10s sides will join the already established under-12s, under-14s and under-16s groups Wigan St Judes ARLFC – The club aims to complete a refurbishment of their existing clubhouse by replacing doors and windows, modernising the bar facilities, replacing flooring and improving sanitary areas

Jon Dutton, Chief Executive of the Rugby League World Cup 2021, said: “It’s incredibly exciting to announce the first round of funding, which has been made available to help these seven worthy projects. Our CreatedBy Capital grants will make an immediate impact more than two years before our tournament begins and we look forward to seeing more projects get underway very soon.” Ralph Rimmer, Chief Executive of the Rugby Football League, added: “There are so many reasons for the game to be excited about RLWC2021, and the CreatedBy Capital Grants Programme is right up there. These seven awards are the first of many over the next couple of years and give a hint of the range of clubs and other organisations that are going to benefit. Congratulations to the seven successful bidders, and I know they’ll put the investment to good use for the development of Rugby League.”

Business Support

Sapphire wins major contracts with United Utilities SAPPHIRE Utility Solutions (SUS) has announced that United Utilities (UU) has awarded the firm three contracts at five-year each, with five further annual extensions available, as part of the Asset Management Plan (AMP) 7 period. The contracts, which are worth £17m per year are for Lot 3 – core repair and maintenance wastewater works in the North region, Lot 6 – wastewater minor civils works across the region and Lot 9 – wastewater major civils works across the region. “We are delighted to be awarded these contracts,” said Colin Kelly, SUS Managing Director, “We have worked with UU for a number of years now as a tier 2 supplier, but these represent our first major contracts working directly with the water company.” “This success is a reflection of the investments we have made in the latest technologies and in a workforce that is passionate about delivering outstanding service. We are looking forward to

working in collaboration with UU to provide a first-time resolution to customers, to the highest standards of quality and health & safety.” The new contracts aim to bring efficiencies through innovative ways of working, whilst improving the customer experience by proactively identifying and resolving issues on the network, before they impact customers. The works will

involve jetting, CCTV investigations, sewer lining, civils activities and the provision of Sapphire’s state of the art recycler units, including those equipped with mainline CCTV cameras and the Urban Recycler, a compact ‘first-time resolution’ recycler, with the ability for full recycling. Kevin Fowlie, United Utilities’ network delivery director, said: “Our new network maintenance services partners will help us improve customer experience, achieve the highest standards of health and safety and provide an end-to-end view of all the maintenance activities in progress. Working with multiple suppliers gives us greater flexibility and this new structure will also provide us with the opportunity to work more effectively together and collectively raise the bar on standards and customer experience. These contracts have been won by companies with the North West as their heartland and with skilled workforces, working alongside our own teams, supporting the economic wellbeing of our region and delivering best value for our customers.”

Studio Retail completes rebrand from Express Gifts OSWALDTWISTLE-based Studio Retail, the online value retailer has completed a rebranding project, which sees the end of the Express Gifts brand. The move comes with a refreshed visual identity for the entire business, including the trading brand, Studio. co.uk, which marks the start of an ambitious communications relaunch. The rebranding project sees the retailer commit to its mission of becoming the nation’s leading multirange digital value retailer and is the result of 12 months of research and planning. The bold new visual identity which has been introduced across corporate and customer-facing media, content and services, features a highlighted cherry ‘o’, a nod to the retailer’s value positioning and ‘We Do Wow’ brand strategy. The new brand will be supported by an ambitious multi-channel campaign throughout the year,

including the sponsorship of the fashion segment on ITV’s This Morning, as well as doubling its TV ad spend. This will see new fashion ads featuring capsule ranges and broader multi-category ads. True to its digital ambitions Studio is also re-skinning its website and expanding its online marketing channels with significant increased investment in areas such as video content, programmatic, social media and influencer marketing. The move comes after continuous record sales for the retailer, revenue for Q3 increased by 13.7%, with online sales increasing by 25%. Paul Kendrick, Managing Director of Studio Retail, said: “2018 was a big year for us, seeing record performance for our Studio.co.uk offering. We have come a long way from our traditional catalogue heritage, with a bright future ahead and our new brand recognises not only what we have become, but what we want to be.”

Chris Chalmers, Marketing Director of Studio Retail, added: “Our new brand draws more attention to what we have become famous for – bringing our customers amazing products at fantastic value. Thousands

of customers shop with Studio every day and in an age where customers want more for their money, our new brand language, tone of voice and styling brings much more clarity and focus to what we are about. Value.”

Business Support

May 2019

Opportunity to attend Preston’s First TEDx Event TWO young individuals from Preston, Dominick Horton, 22 and Oliwia Poddana, 19 are to host and organise Preston’s first ever TEDx event, on Tuesday, 7 May 2019 from 18:00 at The Greats Room, Preston North End. TEDx is a non-profit organisation devoted to spreading ideas in the form of short, powerful talks. Today, the TEDx platform has created leverage for over a thousand talks with over 60 million monthly unique views. The theme of the event is ‘Dedicated to Development’ and during the four-hour event, there will be seven speakers showcasing their knowledge, wisdom and expertise in their particular fields.

Commented Dominick: “This is Lancashire’s second ever TEDx event and all the speakers will be focusing their talks around growth and development. All the talks will be relevant and applicable to business leadership and how local business leaders can implement new techniques and strategies to further improve themselves and their businesses as well as gaining personal development for individuals. “The intention of this event is to create an eco-system for growth by developing a community for leaders in the North West to learn and grow together and to hold space for new and innovative ideas to help improve our local businesses and individuals."

Love2move secures funding to spearhead future growth LANCASHIRE BASED HYBRID estate agency network love2move has secured funding to further its national expansion. With a substantial cash injection from angel investor Gary Dewhurst, the company is now seeking like-minded, forward thinking estate agents who want to increase their profitability and add an additional revenue stream to their business. Founded in February 2017 by traditional estate agent owners Georgina Cox and Mark Worrall, love2move seeks to protect the values of a traditional agency whilst appealing to today’s generation and satisfying the requirements of those who prefer to do business online. It is a complementary offering, operating alongside the traditional agency and providing vendors with the best of both worlds if they choose to sell their property online. Love2move had looked for financial investment via Crowdcube to accelerate national expansion and strengthen the existing network of 21 offices but withdrew from the campaign following an approach from entrepreneur Gary Dewhurst. Gary launched Gap Personnel Group in 1997 and grew it to one of the top five

independent recruitment agencies, before selling 75% of his shareholding to Japanese company TrustTech for £20 million. He now invests in a range of entrepreneurial companies, with love2move being his first foray into the property market. Said Gary: “This is an exciting new sector for me to be involved in. I was alerted to this opportunity via a respected property professional and was impressed by the rationale and growth potential of love2move.” Gary’s business associate Kourosh Mehrabani, a former corporate finance advisory partner at Deloitte, will also join the love2move board. “With his extensive experience of assisting private businesses to enhance their value and market share I am sure that Kourosh’s presence on the love2move board will add tremendous value in helping the team achieve their ambitious growth plans.” CEO Georgina Cox added: “Love2move has been created by agents for agents and we’re really excited to have secured this funding from such a respected entrepreneur. We are looking forward to working closely with Gary and Kourosh as we drive the business forward.”

Business Support

Award winning firm celebrates 20-year anniversary

ONE of Lancashire’s top tech specialists is celebrating a record quarter and its 20-year anniversary this week. Magma Digital, an awardwinning software and consultancy firm, based in Buckshaw Village, employs some of the country’s top specialists in bespoke software development and IT strategy and works with some of the UK’s biggest blue-chip firms. The company was founded in 1999 by Jeremy and Priscilla Coates and has grown from a start-up operation to employing more than 20 staff.

In the last year, the company has seen record growth, with turnover for the previous quarter up 201% and turnover expected to hit £1.3m by the end of the year. Co-Founder, Jeremy Coates said: “We are absolutely delighted to say that this is our 20th year as a firm, we’ve gone from a small, entrepreneur start-up to one of the country’s tech leaders in co-creation of software. “The icing on the cake is we’ve had an incredible quarter for our 20th year as well, with sales up by 201%. In fact, the 20th year as a whole looks set to be our best yet.”

New BNI Brunch Chapter on track for over £2 million in business in first year RIBBLE Valley-based BNI Brunch Chapter is on track to achieve over £2m in business referrals in its first year. The new chapter, which launched at the end of February, achieved a record amount of business passed, with members receiving over £46,600 of referrals. Daniel Fisher, managing director of Preston-based web design and app development agency, Tienda Digital, was named ‘Notable Networker’ of the week, bringing over £14,000 of business to the chapter. Based at Tiggis on the A59, the Friday meetings are timed to appeal to business people unable to make

traditional early breakfast networking sessions. Starting at 9.30am, the rapidly growing group comprises a wide range of industries, including IT, marketing, energy, trades and legal and financial services. BNI Brunch Chapter President, Mark Fallon, said: “We’re immensely proud of the success of the chapter to date. It’s flourishing thanks to the positive energy the members bring each week. The BNI philosophy of givers gain is working for our members who are committed to seeking out business opportunities for everyone around the table.”

LANCASHIRE BUSINESS AWARDS 2019 Thursday 20th June 2019 at 6:30 pm - 11:30 pm Stanley House Further Ln Mellor, Lancashire BB2 7NP United Kingdom Downtown in Business celebrated the very best of the Red Rose county at the 10th annual Lancashire Business Awards sponsored by Liverpool John Lennon Airport on Thursday 21st June 2018.The spectacular gala dinner will return in 2019 to celebrate the best of the Lancashire Business community. FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT CHRIS MCKENNA AT: chris.mckenna@downtowninbusiness.com

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Business Support

May 2019

Flooring prize fitted at Penwortham Girls’ High School PENWORTHAM Girls’ High School recently won a joint competition run by Karndean Design Flooring and Gainsborough Flooring. The school won 60m2 of stunning Karndean

Flooring for their school, plus a full consultation and fitting service from Gainsborough Flooring. The school, which prides itself on its unique status as the only nonselective, non-fee paying girls’ school in Lancashire

and welcomes girls of all abilities, interests and aptitudes, decided they would fit out their extensive reception and waiting area. Gainsborough Flooring, has worked with many schools across

the region and took full charge of stripping, preparing and laying 100m2 of luxury vinyl tile flooring and managed to complete the whole project within four days. Andrea Barnes, Business Manager from

Penwortham Girls’ High School, commented: “We were delighted to win the Karndean Flooring and were very impressed with the service Gainsborough Flooring provided. They advised us on our choice

of flooring to cope with the throughput of traffic whilst looking professional and welcoming, and managed the whole installation process in a very timely manner without any disruption to the school.”

Lancaster and District Chamber Spring lunch is a sell-out LANCASTER and District Chamber of Commerce held its annual Spring business lunch recently at the Morecambe Football Club, a member of the Chamber. The lunch had a record attendance of over 200 people who came along to hear from guest speakers, Si Bellamy from the Eden Project, and Daragh Carville, author of The Bay, the hit ITV series. In his opening poem, Alistair Eagles, the Chamber President, praised the local area by noting it was changing for the better and that we should all promote the area as one, work together with a positive outlook, and celebrate business by working in new ways and bringing the community together. It was now our time to stand out uniquely and as a great example to the rest of the UK – the future is ours to create. Daragh Carville, in a short Question and Answer session, said 7.4 million people had viewed the first episode of The Bay. It was filmed

in Morecambe because Morecambe Bay has never had a series filmed about it, and the producer had fond memories of time spent in Morecambe when she was younger. The producer immediately jumped at the idea. Research has shown that TV series filmed in an area can lead to a short to medium term increase in tourism. With Eden looming ever closer, it’s a

fantastic opportunity to showcase all our beautiful natural assets. Si Bellamy then presented to the packed room the vision for Eden North Morecambe. Costing approximately £84 million, the team hope to have plans in by early 2020, with an estimated starting date of late 2020, and a two-year build schedule. As per Eden’s ethos, they want to

have approximately an 80% local supply chain, but it must be of the best quality. The Morecambe site will be unique and all based around the old Morecambe slogan “Health Abounds and Beauty Surrounds”, in conjunction with the natural beauty of the bay and the fact it is a RAMSAR site, the international Convention on Wetlands, which is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. Also, the bay is an SSSI – a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Vicky Lofthouse, Chief Executive of the Chamber, said: “Our growing membership is testament to the faith that people in the local business community are showing for the area. In the last few years, our membership has been showing an impressive yearon-year growth, and events like these help to showcase our District.

Business Support

Lucky 6 Marketing celebrates eight years in business PRESTON-based Lucky 6 Marketing is celebrating eight years in business. The marketing agency was founded in 2011 by Lee Giacopazzi and Terri Juniper, with a Lancashire focused ethos. As it approaches its anniversary, the

agency has a portfolio of more than 20 clients, including Gainsborough Flooring, Whitehead and Aldrich Accountants and PNG Digital. The agency specialises in social media management as well as training, video

production, advertising and digital marketing workshops. Commented founder, Lee Giacopazzi: “Lucky 6 Marketing offers a unique, tailored and personal approach to online marketing. We aim to give our clients

a strong social media presence, raising their profile and adding value to their businesses. “We predominantly work with Lancashire businesses, many of whom are decades old, but who had never previously used social

media. Once we have explained the benefits and they are aware of how cost effective the channels are, we work with them to increase awareness of their business and products/ services, enhance their reputation and help

generate inbound leads. “As we continue to grow over the coming years, Lucky 6 Marketing will continue to deliver an excellent social media service, as well as introduce more content and campaign orientated marketing services.”

26 INTERNATIONAL

Beta Group MD visits key supplier in India THE Managing Director of Bacup based Beta Group, Martin Lewis, has recently visited three factories in Kochi and Kollam, both in the Kerala province of Southern India. The reason was to meet a key supplier of raw materials, who is part of the firm’s international supply chain, to ensure Beta Group’s customers are getting the most cost-effectively priced and highest quality materials. Beta Group imports raw materials, so that they can be utilised at its Bacup base to manufacture their own air filters. Founded in 1987, Beta Group specialises in air filtration, spray

booths and building services. Employing over 60 people at its base in Bacup, as well as engineers located across the UK, the firm services and maintains spray booths for the surface coating industry, as well as supplying associated accessories and parts. Martin said: “India is a major part of our international supply chain, as we look globally to ensure our customers are getting the very best products from us, at the best price. Making regular visits to the facilities in our international supply chain is important to us, so that we can solidify our international relationships with

suppliers and be assured that the highest level of quality control and production is being achieved. “The purpose of this recent visit was to once again meet Santhosh Kumar and his family. Santhosh is the owner and MD of Clairon and Filtrowin, our main Indian supplier, who also has access to supplies from China. We are looking forward to a reciprocal visit from them to our factory in Bacup in late April. “The visit was extremely successful, since as well as building relationships and refining prices on the supply of existing products, we also negotiated

becoming the UK agent and distributor for their Clairon and Filtrowin brands of HVAC and spray booth air filters. As a result, we will be growing the already existing import of several containers per month to our Bacup facility. “The continual evolution and development of our supply chain, will ensure that Beta Group continues to provide exceptional customer service, as well as reliable and efficient products, since we offer our services on both a contract and no contract basis, giving our customers absolute flexibility.”

IoD Lancashire event is an exporting success THE IoD Lancashire recently held an insightful exporting masterclass in the Ribble Valley. The event focused on how Lancashire businesses can make a success of exporting, both in Europe and beyond. The focal point of the evening was a talk from Playdale’s Managing Director, Barry Leahey MBE, who explained how Playdale has made a success of exporting around the world to countries such as South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Australia and Russia. The venue for the event was the historic Browsholme Hall, sitting in 600 acres of farmland and forest, the 512-year-old hall hosts 72 weddings a year, as well as numerous other private functions, including business events and receptions. At the event, Barry said: “We manufacture everything in the UK, but we don’t assume this is

automatically a sign of quality, so it’s imperative that our products are genuinely good quality, hard wearing and well designed. “It’s also important that, as an export company, you review your own culture, understand other countries’ cultures and think globally. We specifically invest time in ensuring our staff are comfortable and capable of fielding international enquires and if necessary, are prepared to visit clients around the world. “Central to our exporting achievement at Playdale, is our systems and process, as well as ensuring we do our research before entering a new market. As part of this research strategy, I would definitely recommend purchasing the UK Department of International Trade’s OMIS report

on the country you are targeting. “At Playdale, we export to 49 countries, a great achievement, but I always say: ‘If we can, you can’. That’s why I am delighted to be an Export Ambassador in the North West, where I try to help companies on their export journey.” The evening also saw questions taken from a panel, featuring Mandy Lockett, International Business Director at East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Matthew Easter, MD of Trutex and Barry. The panel shared their experiences of travelling internationally on business, as well as some great tips for avoiding some of the challenges and bureaucratic issues.

ACQUISITIONS

Kaman Tooling acquired from US corporation to create East Lancashire aerospace toolmaker group KAMAN Tooling is operating under new ownership (KTL Tooling) following a recent acquisition deal that saw it break away from American aerospace group, Kaman Corporation. The specialist tooling manufacturer now forms part of an enlarged toolmaker group, which includes Accrington based G Parker Aero Tooling Solutions. Both businesses are spearheaded and wholly-owned by Michael Parker, who is joined at KTL Tooling by new non-executive chairman, Dave Roberts, who brings significant industry experience to the role, to create an experienced and commercially-focused executive team that underpin both organisations and lays the foundation to deliver growth. KTL Tooling operates from a purpose-built manufacturing facility on Burnley’s Innovation

Drive, a global centre of excellence for aerospace and automotive engineering. It employs more than 60 highly skilled technical engineers and support staff, who service a growing international roster of industry leaders that includes BAE Systems, Rolls Royce, GKN Aerospace, Astrium and Thales Underwater Systems. Under its new ownership, KTL Tooling’s mission is to become the goto supplier for composite mould tools in the UK and Europe, by leveraging the enlarged group’s engineering expertise and complementary tooling specialisms. Worldwide, the composite tooling market is expected to reach $US551.8m by 2021 at an annual growth rate of c.10%. This is largely from the demand for tooling to manufacture composite engineering

components for the aerospace, defence and automotive industries due to the increasing requirement for lightweight and high performance materials. Managing director of KTL Tooling, Michael Parker, commented: “A history of innovation binds KTL Tooling and G Parker Aero Tooling Solutions, which was a key driver behind the takeover. Creating a single group brings a significant breadth of technical ability that sets us apart from our competitors, ultimately supporting both business’s growth plans and the evolving needs of our customers.” During its almost 60-year history, KTL Tooling has developed a range of specialist tools for the manufacture of complex aircraft parts, for the A350, F-35, Typhoon, A320, Learjet,

C-Series, A330, Hawk, A380, KC390, G280, Trent, AH-1Z, A10 and A340. Michael continued: “Tooling was one of the many specialisms under the Kaman banner and we are focused on enhancing KTL Tooling’s manufacturing capability with its relevant approvals. We still work closely with Kaman on a preferred supplier basis, whilst ensuring we maintain the same high levels of innovation, service and support for our entire client base. “East Lancashire is one of the world’s largest aerospace clusters and I am committed to strengthening the region’s outputs through this enlarged tooling group to ensure it remains a significant hub for advanced global manufacturing.”

AUTOMOTIVE STORIES IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE NAA

Northern Automotive Alliance partners with Business Lancashire THIS month marks the start of a new partnership between the Northern Automotive Alliance (NAA) and Business Lancashire, which aims to bring a new level of automotive expertise and sector awareness to our readers. The NAA is an independent, not-for-profit company, which provides a membership service, combined with a project management delivery function, to the automotive community. The NAA supports micro-companies through to our local global vehicle manufacturers, such as Jaguar Land Rover, Bentley, Vauxhall and Leyland Trucks, offering a diverse service using its established networks. This includes the provision of training, events (one per month), funding applications and strategic, business and technical advice. The majority of the NAA membership is Lancashire based, with extremely close links with Lancashire County Council and its Business Growth Hub, Boost. The NAA also covers a much larger region than just Lancashire, with members from across the North West, Yorkshire and Humber, communicating with over 2,000 automotive companies across the North of England on a regular basis. Observed Andy Mann, Group Editor, Business Lancashire: “The NAA is a strong believer in partnership and collaborative working with both industry and the public sector, as well as working closely with organisations such as BEIS, DIT, Universities, local Councils and LEPs. This exactly matches the aspirations and vision of Business

Lancashire, where we work with businesses to promote their good news stories and demonstrate that Lancashire is a great place to live, work, relocated and do business.” Commenting on recent developments, NAA’s Chief Executive, Rowan Egan added: “The NAA exists to support the UK automotive sector, but also works with many organisations and companies across numerous different sectors, such as aerospace, marine, chemical and software (to name but a few). “The automotive sector has changed more in recent years than ever before, and this trend is set to continue with the introduction of AFV (alternative fuelled vehicles) and CAV (connected autonomous vehicles). These vast changes bring new opportunities for companies who have not traditionally been in the automotive supply chain. “The push for electrification, in particular, brings significant opportunities for companies who have expertise in power electronics, electric motors and battery technology, but also for any company who can make contributions towards ‘light-weighting’, thereby making a car more efficient. “Often these contributions are made through unique designs and creative use of materials or composites – a particular strength of the North West, which goes back to its history of working with textiles and lightweight metals. Similarly, for CAV, it is believed that technology and software companies working in sectors such as gaming, will be critical in the development of autonomous vehicles and a whole new CAV supply chain.

“The UK government has recognised these significant changes in technology, and the need to support the automotive sector in the UK, by offering a range of grant funding and support to UK companies, who wish to take on new opportunities, such as those offered by APC (Advanced Propulsion Centre), Meridian (for CAV research) and the Faraday Challenge (Battery research). At the NAA, we can help a company identify these grant funding opportunities and support the application process. How to join The NAA would like to speak to any companies currently operating in, or with aspirations to work in, the automotive sector. Membership ranges from £360-£2,050, depending on the size of your company. To experience the benefits, the NAA is happy to offer any company interested in membership, a complimentary ticket to one of its monthly networking events. The NAA is extremely proud of its reputation as the best automotive networking platform in the North. This view is reflected by Sally Hepton, Director of Government Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility at Bentley Motors: “Promoting the North West and the wider North as a great place to invest is vitally important to the automotive sector. The NAA plays a fantastic role flying the flag for Northern automotive and supporting small, medium and large companies to prosper”.

For more information about the NAA and how to join, please visit the NAA website at http://northernautoalliance.com/about/become-a-member/

TRANSPORT

Lloyd BMW to offer new X7 and 8 Series Convertible LLOYD BMW, with dealerships in Blackpool, Colne and Grange-over-Sands, has revealed the latest models in the BMW line-up, the 8 Series Convertible and X7. The 8 Series convertible retains the elegance of BMW’s flagship coupe, with the added bonus of open-air driving. Sharing engines with its coupe counterpart, the 8 Series Convertible will be available with BMW’s all-wheel-drive system, xDrive, and two powerful diesel and petrol engines, with the range topping M850i, producing 523bhp from a 4.4-litre V8, propelling the luxury sports car from in 3.9 seconds. Joining the 8 Series Convertible is the new X7, BMW’s flagship SUV. The charismatically designed luxury car offers the best of BMW comfort and technology, with LED lights, panoramic roof and leather as standard.

New tech helps Fagan & Whalley deliver improved stock visibility

Powered by a range of petrol and diesel engines, from the diesel xDrive30d straight six producing 262bhp, to the petrol xDrive40i with 335bhp. The X7 is also offered with BMW’s innovative off-road package with driving modes tailored for gravel, sand, snow and rocky surfaces. Stephanie de Looze, Lloyd BMW Marketing Manager, said: “These latest additions to our incredible line-up showcases the very best of BMW. Both of these cars are at the very pinnacle of motoring luxury, with the 8 Series Convertible offering an open-air excitement to an already outstanding car. “The X7 SUV is a powerful, luxurious and refined 7-seater with 2,120 litres of load space, making it a perfect family car and off-roader. Ambient lighting, dual 12.3 inch displays and crystalline gear selector provide the best in luxury and elegance for BMWs flagship SUV.” ROAD haulage and warehousing specialist, Fagan & Whalley Ltd. (F&W) has unveiled details of a new partnership at its state-of-the-art 30,000 pallet capacity distribution centre in Burnley. Having opened the warehouse in August 2017, the family-run 3PL provider has now upgraded its warehouse management system (WMS) and is working with warehouse management software provider Access Group to improve visibility. A key warehousing and transport services supplier to manufacturers with ISO, BRC and Soil Association Organic accreditations, F&W has rolled out Access Delta. The integrated WMS is improving customer stock visibility and providing real-time data, enabling F&W to streamline operations within the warehouse. The move is already leading to reduced paper usage, and fewer manual processes, enabling an even higher quality of service for customers.

Commenting on the move, Graham Rawstrone, F&W’s System Manager, said: “Responding to the ever-increasing complexity of customer requirements, Fagan & Whalley has upgraded its WMS, implementing Access Delta WMS to give full visibility over every process. F&W has also taken the opportunity to increase the racking capacity of our semi-automated warehouse at Burnley Bridge by 50%." Robert Hodgson, WMS specialist at Access Group, said: “It is heartening to hear that, after researching the market, F&W chose Access Delta as their WMS partner. Working with such a wide range of goods, especially specialist and perishable ones, F&W need to see what’s happening at every stage in the supply chain, particularly since expanding their operations. “We’re pleased we were able to deliver what the business needs. It’s great to be working with such a forward-thinking firm which is leading the way with the introduction of a new streamlined approach.”

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Lloyd Motor Group a credit broker. ^Business users only. *Prices exclude VAT at 20%. Prices shown are for a 36-month Contract Hire agreement, with a contract mileage of 8,000 miles annually and an excess mileage charge of 7.97 pence per mile applicable to the BMW 218i SE Convertible & 13.46 pence per mile applicable to the BMW 530e M Sport iPerformance Saloon. Applies to new vehicles ordered between 1 January 2019 and 31 March 2019 and registered by 30 June 2019 (subject to availability). At the end of your agreement you must return the vehicle and vehicle condition, excess mileage and other charges may be payable. Available subject to status to UK residents aged 18 or over. Guarantees and indemnities may be required. The amount of VAT you can reclaim depends on your business VAT status. Terms and conditions apply. Offer may be varied, withdrawn or extended at any time. Hire provided by BMW Group Corporate Finance. BMW Group Corporate Finance is a trading style of Alphabet (GB) Limited, Alphabet House, Summit Avenue, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 0FB. We commonly introduce customers to BMW Group Corporate Finance. This introduction does not amount to independent financial advice. BMW (UK) Ltd, Summit ONE, Summit Avenue, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 0FB. Registered in England and Wales 1378137. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for credit broking activities. †Test drives subject to applicant and availability. Images for illustrative purposes only. E&OE.

32 CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Lloyd Blackpool wins Long Service Award for charity support LLOYD Blackpool has won The Long Service Award for its support of Cash for Kids, at the Time to Shine Awards 2019. The Blackpool based BMW & MINI dealership has been supporting Cash for Kids for the past six years. Stephanie de Looze, Lloyd BMW Marketing Manager said: “The relationship has become very special to us. Whether dressing as superheroes or zombies, holding Christmas markets or collecting vans full of Christmas gifts, we are proud to dedicate complete commitment and enthusiasm to this amazing charity. We truly believe in Cash for Kids and our Head of Business, Mark Powell, has sat on the Cash for Kids local executive board for the past four years.” Charity Manager for Cash for Kids, Nikki Thompson, added: “Mark and all the team at Lloyd

Blackpool are the loveliest of people and have become very dear friends.” “The sponsored car that we have from Lloyd means the world to us. It gives us a fabulous presence at events, great brand awareness and

visibility. It also helps us maintain such a high contribution level of nearly 90%. “The Lloyd team has taken part in so many of our events from cycling in Ride London, taking part in It’s a Knockout, attending our Charity Ball and even volunteering as elves at our Mission Christmas HQ. The MINI Halloween event is always such a great occasion and attended by so many families. “The support from Lloyd for the Mission Christmas appeal is second to none. They create a beautiful Christmas Market event each year and encourage their clients and other local companies to donate gifts and monetary contributions to the cause. For the last few years the staff have taken part in Christmas Jumper day to raise additional funds.”

Blackburn Cathedral Appeal to hold exclusive motoring luncheon THE Blackburn Cathedral Appeal, in partnership with Investec Wealth & Investment and the Parker Family, is to hold an exclusive motoring luncheon at the fantastic sixteenth century Browsholme Hall, to raise funds for the Blackburn Cathedral Appeal. The Blackburn Cathedral Crypt Appeal Salon Prive will take place on Friday 28 June at Browsholme Hall. The event will feature a selection of classic and modern day supercars, gathered in the gardens of the historic hall, with morning coffee, canapes, a two-course lunch as well as tours of the hall available.

PROUD TO SUPPORT AND PROMOTE:

The Blackburn Cathedral Appeals aims to protect, restore and interpret the little-known history of Blackburn through public exhibitions of the Cathedral’s historic collections within newly created spaces situated in the Cathedral’s Crypt. The project also aims to create a visitor attraction for the nation which furthers both economic regeneration and community cohesion within the town and wider region. Peter Howell-Jones, Dean of Blackburn Cathedral, said: “This event is a fantastic opportunity for leading business figures in Lancashire

to enjoy viewing some superb cars. I would encourage individuals to join us on what will be a memorable day and unique experience and to take advantage of the many opportunities to network with like-minded business leaders.” Richard France, Investment Director, Investec Wealth & Investment, said: “Investec Wealth & Investment is delighted to offer our ongoing support of the 2019 Salon Privé event in aid of the Blackburn Cathedral Appeal. Our continuing relationship with Blackburn Cathedral enables us to assist the committee

with their ambition to create a unique facility for the city and the wider community. Becoming a member of the Blackburn Cathedral 100 Club offers excellent networking opportunities and enables local businesses to come together with a common goal and we would encourage other local businesses to join us.” The Dean added: “Those wishing to attend can visit the website and complete the application form, or may contact Peter Whitman directly via peterwhitman@yahoo.com or 07774 694964.” AS PART OF OUR COMMITMENT TO BEING A GOOD CORPORATE CITIZEN

CSR

Tesco book sale raises cash for Burnley homelessness charity MORE than £1,300 has been raised on a book stall at Tesco Burnley in support of local homelessness charity Emmaus Burnley. The charity supports formerly homeless people by providing them with a stable home and meaningful work for

as long as they need it. Caroline O’Hanlon, Store Manager at Tesco Burnley, said: “It’s great to collaborate for a good cause. Our really generous Tesco customers and colleagues have enjoyed the variety of titles, many supplied by Emmaus, that they

picked up for a donation. The stall has raised a wonderful amount and it has generated a lot of enjoyment for people too.” Staff from Tesco Burnley have previously supported Emmaus with fundraisers and through donating items

at Christmas. All the money raised from the book sale will go towards supporting formerly homeless people who live and work at Emmaus Burnley. The charity operates two social enterprises in Burnley and Rochdale, providing work and

training opportunities to beneficiaries whilst generating an income to support Emmaus Burnley. Stephen Buchanan, Director of Emmaus Burnley, said: “We are extremely grateful to the team at Tesco Burnley for their

latest fundraising efforts in support of Emmaus Burnley. This partnership is a great way for Burnley residents to support a local charity that directly helps people who have experienced homelessness.”

Businesses invited to join Trinity Hospice £50 Challenge BUSINESSES are being encouraged to sign up for this year’s charity challenge for Trinity Hospice and Brian House Children’s Hospice. The charity has launched this year’s Fylde Coast £50 Challenge, where businesses are given a £50 starter fund, and given four months to turn into as much as possible to support Trinity or it’s dedicated children’s hospice, Brian House. In the last six years, the challenge has raised more than £203,000. Last year, Victrex PLC was crowned champion after raising more than £10,200 through a variety of

fundraising events, including a group of staff who completed the Benidorm or Bust driving rally. Corporate Fundraiser Janet Atkins, said: “This challenge really showcases the amazing ideas and talents we have here on the Fylde coast, and we’ve had some really exciting, imaginative and sometime crazy ideas to support local hospice care. “It’s always brilliant to see what a bit of healthy competition does to drive each organisation’s fundraising. This event really is tremendous fun, and is a really rewarding way of helping the hospice – previous participants say it’s the best team building

they have ever done. “Businesses come in all shapes and sizes, so whatever they raise above the £50 starter is absolutely incredible and means so much to us at Trinity and Brian House. “The starter fund is donated by one of our generous sponsors, so every penny raised by our participating companies goes directly to supporting our patients here on the Fylde coast. “We’ve already had an amazing take up for this year’s event, but there are still some starter funds left for other companies who want to join in the fun.”

CSR

May 2019

MJH Accountants raises vital funds for charity of choice PRESTON based MJH Accountants held an Easter-themed raffle for its 2019 charity of choice, The Space Centre. Staff at MJH as well as The Spar at Cadley Causeway and Sainsbury’s at Bamber Bridge, contributed an array of Easter eggs, chocolates, wines and cuddly toys to a hamper, which was then raffled, raising vital funds for The Space Centre. The Space Centre is a Preston based charity providing a stimulating and safe environment for both young people and adults with special needs. The Centre functions purely due to donations to help improve the quality of life of its visitors, giving them a versatile and multi-sensory

environment, not available to them elsewhere. In 2018, MJH Accountants raised more than £2,500 for the Foxton Centre, with a variety of initiatives throughout the year. Managing Director, Mark Hall, said: “This was our first fundraising activity for our 2019 charity of choice, The Space Centre. Everybody at MJH is delighted to once again be supporting a local charity with fundraising initiatives throughout 2019. “Last year, we celebrated raising a fantastic amount for the Foxton Centre and we hope to do the same this year for The Space Centre, which does fantastic work helping people in the North West experience a better quality of life.”

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Electricity North West staff collected Easter eggs for Preston food bank KIND-hearted colleagues at Electricity North West’s Preston depot have donated more than 100 Easter eggs to a food bank in the city. The collection takes place annually at the Hartington Road depot and organiser Deborah Marshall made the donation to The Salvation Army’s Preston Church and Community Centre. Over the years the region’s power network operator has donated more than 1,000 Easter eggs to food banks in the county. Deborah Marshall, streetworks compliance and co-ordination manager for Electricity North West, said: “I always think about the families and people who miss out over Easter.” “It’s about giving something back, Easter eggs are something we take for granted, but not everybody is able to receive one.

“The children and families will be overjoyed to receive the eggs, I’m delighted with the response

from everybody in the team, and these eggs will go a long way to making people smile over the Easter

holidays.” As well as a vast amount of Easter eggs, colleagues also donated items such as tinned food, biscuits cooking sauces, tea, coffee, UHT milk and jams. As well as the Preston depot, colleagues located at the Blackburn office have also taken part in the collection. A spokesperson for The Salvation Army added: “Our church and community centre help a lot of people within the Preston community and this generous donation, at such a special time in the Christian calendar, will go a long way in supporting families within the local area and allowing parents to give their children a treat. We are extremely grateful for all the support we receive.”

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36 APPOINTMENTS

CUBE HR welcomes new HR professional

20th May 2019

FAST growing Burnley-based HR specialist, CUBE HR, has welcomed a new HR professional to the team. Claire Thwaite has joined the business to support its continued growth plans. Claire will work alongside Managing Director, Lisa Sourbutts, as Head of HR Excellence, to provide support to CUBE HR’s portfolio of over 50 clients. Lisa, said: “Claire is an experienced and excellent HR professional and will fit right in here at CUBE HR. Working as a dedicated consultant for SMEs who don’t have their own HR departments, Claire will advise and deliver on specialist matters including; contracts, handbooks, employee engagement and HR strategy.”

CUBE HR is experiencing a period of sustained growth, having recently reach the 50 client milestone. The HR specialist works with organisations across the UK to cover the whole employee life cycle, as well as providing general HR advice and documentation on day to day HR issues such as disciplinary actions and grievances. Claire added: “I’m excited to be working with the range of SMEs that CUBE HR partner with. For my clients, I am their entire department and deal with everything from job offers to keeping them out of an Employment Tribunal. My clients will only deal with me, something many other HR providers can’t offer.”

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This event is designed for line managers, HR Advisors, owner managers and anyone else with people management responsibilities to develop conﬁdence in dealing with HR and employment law issues. Buy more than 1 delegate place and get a 20% discount for each additional place booked Venue Detail Dr Iven Suite, Burnley Football Club, Harry Potts Way BURNLEY, Lancashire BB10 4BX Arrival from 9:30am onwards for a 10am start. Finish 4pm

To book or for further details visit: www.cubehr.co.uk or call Lisa on 07701094380

APPOINTMENTS

BSRIA North appoints new Business Development Executive BSRIA North has appointed Richard Nash as the construction and building specialist’s Business Development Executive. Richard trained as an archaeologist before moving into the world of education and apprenticeships. For the past 12 years, he has been working at the interface of education and business, supporting a number of membership-based organisations across different sectors. June Davis, Business Manager, BSRIA North, said: “Richard brings

with him an array of memberbased experience and we see this appointment in a newly-created role as a crucial step in our continued development for the strategic direction BSRIA North is taking for 2018 and beyond. “With Richard’s diverse credentials and impressive, client relationship experience and transferrable skills, this will boost BSRIA North’s reputation as the go-to industry leader in delivering global sustainable building construction, solutions and research.

Richard will be focused on growing membership and strengthening existing relationships across industries.” Richard added: “I am excited at the opportunities that this role offers, especially in terms of enhancing BSRIA’s reputation across the North and encouraging more organisations to benefit from the opportunities afforded by being a member of BSRIA. “During times of economic and political change and flux, having access

to the latest information, market intelligence, technical expertise, resources and networking is crucial to business. “As well as reaching out to and seeking out potential new members, I will be supporting existing members to link with appropriate BSRIA services to realise the significant return on investment to be achieved from membership.”

Promotion and appointment at North West accounting and business advisory firm NORTH West accounting and business advisory firm, Baldwins, a CogitalGroup company, has strengthened its leadership team with a new tax director, and appointed a graduate. Jenny Pape has been promoted from her previous position of senior manager to tax director and will now be responsible for generating business and raising the profile of the firm’s Lancaster office across the North Lancashire and South Cumbria corporate community. Having worked with one of the big four accountancy firms, KPMG, Jenny has seven years’ experience advising SMEs and owner-managed businesses, as well as charitable organisations and international groups, on all aspects of corporation tax. Susanna Cassey, director at Baldwins, said: “Jenny joined the office 18 months ago and has quickly become a key figure in the Lancaster

business community. Her promotion to tax director recognises this and means the office’s senior team is now firmly in place for the future.” The remit of tax director will

include continuing to maintain the relationships that Jenny has built with existing clients, while also developing her team to ensure the future success of the business.

Jenny said: “I’ve had a thoroughly enjoyable start to my career at Baldwins and have been getting to know many businesses across the region. Lancashire and Cumbria are home to a wealth of businesses operating in a variety of sectors, and it’s great to be able to offer specialist tax advice to them from our base in Lancaster. “My promotion to tax director demonstrates the recognition and investment the firm has in its people, and we are keen to continue attracting talented professionals to push the office forward.” Baldwins has also added a graduate to its team, Andrew Chambers. A qualified teacher with a BSc in mathematics and a seven-year teaching career, Andrew will fulfil the role of audit and accounts assistant. He will act as a junior on audit and exempt assignments under the supervision of seniors. Susanna continued: “Andrew demonstrates our continued investment in graduate ACA trainees. He has a mature attitude, is enthusiastic and is keen to learn and develop.”

APPOINTMENTS

May 2019

Baines Wilson appoints Adam Turley as IP specialist BAINES Wilson has appointed Adam Turley as an intellectual property law specialist. Adam joins as Associate Solicitor from a specialist intellectual property law firm in Newcastle upon Tyne. Adam brings experience and expertise in all areas of intellectual property including copyright, trade marks, designs and patents. He has a strong track record in helping clients with the registration of trade mark and design rights, produces brand protection strategies and conducts intellectual property audits. Additionally, Adam advises on the commercial exploitation of intellectual property rights (licensing, assignments, technology transfers and joint ventures) as well as enforcement and litigation services in the specialist intellectual property courts. Adam’s appointment means that Cumbria and North Lancashire based businesses can now access trade mark and design registration services without travelling outside the region. Andrew Hill, Head of Corporate and Commercial and Partner at Baines Wilson said:

“Brexit uncertainty means businesses should be re-viewing their intellectual property strategy to ensure they have maximum protection moving forward. This can be invaluable, Baines Wilson LLP is a dynamic and highly experienced, especially for any business specialised corporate and commercial law firm based in looking to sell. We’re Lancaster and Carlisle. therefore delighted to have a specialist join our team who can help OUR CORE PRACTICE AREAS INCLUDE: clients with strategy · Agribusiness · Corporate review, strengthening · Aquisitions & Disposals · Employment the specialist intellectual property services we · Commercial Agreements · Employment Law Training already provide.” · Commercial Litigation · Intellectual Property Speaking of his · Commercial Property · Landlord & Tenant appointment Adam said: “The value of intellectual · Construction property has never been more important to the CONTACT British economy. In For more information please contact: law@baineswilson.co.uk this time of economic uncertainty businesses are looking at every possible angle to maximise revenue, 2 Merchants Drive Unit 3, Lancaster Business Park and intellectual property Carlisle, Cumbria CA3 0JW 10 Mannin Way, Caton Road, DX 741450 Carlisle10 Lancaster, LA1 3SW is a valuable and often www.baineswilson.co.uk T. 01228 552600 DX 319301, Lancaster 6 F. 01228 549560 T. 01524 548494 untapped resource in that regard. Clearly my role is to help them both protect and then tap this resource. reputation as a market leading commercial law firm. I’m therefore excited to be joining them and look forward to working with their existing clients and “Baines Wilson has supporting Cumbria and Lancashire’s business communities.” built up a formidable

THE TEAM TO HAVE ON YOUR SIDE

APPOINTMENTS

PM+M grows tax team Morecambe FC with new VAT manager announces new Commercial Manager BLACKBURN headquartered PM+M, the chartered accountancy, business advisory and wealth management group, has added to its tax team with the appointment of Alison Brown who has joined the business as a VAT manager. Alison will be advising the firm’s clients on a range of VAT matters and transactions including property and partial exemption. She will also be offering VAT health-checks to ensure clients are managing their VAT in line with current laws as well as assisting clients with handling HMRC compliance checks. Alison worked for HMRC as a VAT specialist for 29 years before joining PM+M Jane Parry, managing partner at PM+M, said: “Alison brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience around VAT that complements our wider tax offering so we are delighted that

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she is now part of the team.” Alison added: “I enjoyed working at HMRC but I was ready to move to a firm where I knew I could develop my career. PM+M really stood out and I’m now looking forward to working with my colleagues and helping to deliver great service to our clients.”

MORECAMBE Football Club has welcomed Martin Thomas as its latest signing. Martin, a regular spectator at the Globe Arena, has vast experience in sales and has worked in Lancashire over the past few years for Johnston Press. Co-Chairman, Rod Taylor,

commented: “We are delighted to have Martin on the team. "He is going to have a very busy summer in preparation for next season.’’ Martin commented: “This is a great football club and I am delighted to join the great staff already here. “With some amazingly loyal supporters and an excellent ground I can’t wait to get started. “The local area is going through some exciting times and we want to make the club part of this. Our fans are an integral part of our success and have some great ideas and I am looking forward to working closely with them.’’

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PROPERTY

Key Retirement Group expands into third building at Preston HQ PRESTON-based Key Retirement Group (part of KR Group) is celebrating its expansion into Turing House, its third building at Midgery Court at its headquarters in Fulwood, Preston. Over the past two decades, KR Group and its brands have evolved and grown enormously, united with the same goal of improving customers’ finances in retirement. The growth is a result of market demand, with the equity release market doubling in size over the past three years and the number of employees based in Preston currently at just over 400 people. Originally KR Group was situated at Harbour House at Preston Docklands. However, in 2013, the business decided to move to Baines House, Fulwood due to needing more space. In 2017, the company expanded into the neighbouring building, Fleming House and this week the third building on Midgery Court was acquired. The expansion into Turing House will be the epicentre for the company’s equity release advisory

firm Key, housing a customer engagement team, estate planning department, business quality control team and the businesses referral arm, Key Partnerships. Fleming House will be the home of more 2 life and Baines House will house the Group’s service functions. Simon Thompson, CEO at KR Group, said: “The Company has enjoyed a prolonged period of growth and fully capitalised on the progression within the equity release market. The move into Turing House will enable us to expand and recruit across all aspects of the Group, as we are looking to hire new colleagues at all levels and disciplines. It is a fantastic time to be a part of KR Group and we are looking forward to an exciting future.” Will Hale, CEO at Key, said: “This is an exciting time for us, as Turing House is dedicated to Key and its future growth and development. This will enable us to recruit more staff to meet the demands of the growing business, giving the company space to develop in line with the equity release market.”

PROPERTY

May 2019

W_RKSPACE’s Old Dock House facility celebrates 80% occupancy W_RKSPACE Old Dock House, Preston Dock, is celebrating the major milestone of 80% occupancy, as demand for the firm’s bespoke and flexible office space increases.

The century-old building was purchased by W_RKSPACE in April 2018, following an extensive six-month renovation and modernisation. The Old Dock House is now a contemporary and premium working space, with recent tenants including Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, Marketing Lancashire and

3manfactory utilising the building. W_RKSPACE has three other contemporary office spaces; The Watermark and Enterprise Centre, both in Preston, as well as Hamill House in Bolton. Rizwan Seth, Managing Director, W_RKSPACE, said: “We are delighted that our Old Dock House facility has achieved an 80% occupancy and this achievement is a testament to the fantastic and desirable spaces we at W_RKSPACE create for North West organisations.

“Our historic Preston building is perfect for either an established business or fledging start-up. Tenants also benefit from our community approach, with weekly coffee mornings, giving every business occupier the chance to network and form long-lasting relationships. Additionally, we’ve opened a new co-working lounge at Old Dock House, giving businesses a dedicated ‘pod’ with storage space.” “The remaining 20% of space at Old Dock House is perfect for

an organisation that’s looking for one large space or it can be broken up for smaller SMEs of up to 20 people, since we can offer a tailored solution, with both open and closed working spaces available, as well as offering the shared use of high-quality meeting rooms and a prestigious postal address.” “We can also offer businesses a virtual address at Old Dock House, giving them the credibility of one of the most prestigious addresses in Lancashire, for only £50 per month.”

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This half-day difficult conversations training will develop communication skills to turn difficult conversations into positive outcomes such as staff members taking responsibility of their areas for improvement, motivation and implementation of agreed actions, and engaging well with their job and colleagues.

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44 ENERGY

YOUR FREE Award-Winning Business Newspaper

Seven tips to reduce your organisation’s carbon footprint

May 2019

AS more and more organisations across the county become aware of the impact their carbon footprint has on both the environment and their bottom line, Business Lancashire has put together a list of initiatives and activities that can help to reduce a company’s carbon footprint. 1. Travel to work initiatives Reducing your carbon footprint can start before you even walk through the company’s door. A number of organisations use carpool schemes, cycle to work incentives and subsidised public transport costs, all contributing towards a green footprint. Working from home also means staff members don’t have to travel into the office at all, significantly lowering both their costs and their organisation’s carbon footprint 2. Keep the office airtight Investing in good office insulation and state-of-the-art climate technology can significantly reduce the energy costs of a business, in turn reducing its carbon footprint. Imposing a responsible culture and behaviours when it comes to using energy can also lead to lower bills. For example, ensuring doors are closed and radiators turned off by the last person to leave. 3. Minimise the use of plastics For larger companies with canteen facilities, phasing out singleuse plastics, including straw and cutlery, will help to lower their carbon footprint. Phasing out plastic cups at water coolers and asking team members to instead use reusable glasses or mugs will also greatly reduce an organisation’s plastic waste output. 4. Energy efficient technology Motion sensitive lights, coupled with efficient LEDs, can cut energy costs and usage dramatically, as well as enable offices to be dimmed to the desired level, ensuring the least amount of energy is being used. 5. Talk to your expert Ask the advice of your energy supplier regarding how you can lower your carbon footprint and energy bills. They could advise you if it is worth switching to a plan that takes more advantage of renewably sourced energy, or they could visit your office to give practical advice, tailored to your needs. 6. Manage your waste Waste management can be a headache for businesses. For most businesses, simply ensuring the right waste goes into the correct bin is an essential first step and correct labelling can help this. Making sure recyclable waste is disposed of properly also means less waste ends up in landfill, again reducing a business’s carbon footprint. 7. Change your culture Changing the way an organisation behaves is the most important step to lowering carbon footprint. Making your team members aware of what they can do to reduce energy consumption and the environmental impact of the organisation is key to reducing costs and carbon footprint.

ENERGY

Contact Editor@BusinessLancashire.co.uk

Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) preparing for change Emma Hird, Client Optimisation Manager at Inspired Energy looks at the new Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) scheme, highlighting what qualifying organisations now need to report going forward. The Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) recognised that the range of energy efficiency policies can create complexity and add administrative burdens to those that qualify. In response, the UK government announced reforms to improve the tax and reporting regime in 2016, this is now being rolled out. Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) is the new instrument for organisations to collect, measure and report on their carbon emissions. It replaces the reporting element of the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme for some organisations. Meanwhile, the tax element of the CRC has been transferred over to the Climate Change Levy (CCL), which is a chargeable element on business electricity usage, with rates for electricity and gas being significantly hiked from 1st April 2019. Organisations budgeting for their 2019/20 energy spend will need to factor in this rise. The main objective is to improve the incentive for organisations to save energy by improving energy efficiency in order to reduce energy bills and carbon emissions. SECR Framework Objectives: • Reduce the overall administrative burden on participants. • Improve incentives to save energy by improving energy efficiency. • Drive behaviour changes by raising awareness of energy efficiency with decision makers. • Boost the importance of energy efficiency in relation to organisational reputation. • Increase transparency for investors so that companies can be held account. Who needs to report under SECR? Over 11,900 organisations across the UK now need to comply with SECR. Large, unquoted companies are the main target of the Government’s new scheme, in addition to the UK quoted companies already reporting under Mandatory Greenhouse Gas (MGHG) regulations. In fact, SECR will see an additional 7,900 companies required to report on their emissions, some of whom may never have had to report on energy usage or emissions before.

QUALIFYING COMPANIES: Criteria 1 Quoted companies: i.e. those where equity share capital is listed on main market of LSE, officially listed in a European Economic Area, or admitted to dealing on either NYSE or NASDAQ. These companies are already reporting on greenhouse gas emissions in their Directors’ Report but will have some additional elements to include following the introduction of SECR from April 2019. Criteria 2 Large unquoted companies, and LLPs: i.e. those meeting 2 or more of the following criteria of large companies from Section 465-466 Companies Act 2006: • >=£36m turnover • >=£18m balance sheet total • >=250 employees in one year. This is to be re-evaluated on an annual basis, in order to account for changes in employee numbers and turnover, in accordance with other provisions made in the Companies Act 2006. What needs to be reported? For the qualifying reporting company, SECR mandates that all energy use in kWh and associated emissions are reported in the Directors’ Report. A commentary on energy efficiency actions taken in the year, and an intensity metric is also required. A new Energy and Carbon section of the Directors’ reports (for quoted and unquoted large companies), or (for large LLPs) inclusion of an ‘Energy and Carbon Report’ alongside the usual company accounts and reports is required to deliver this information. Are there penalties? As the information reported through this scheme is included in company reports submitted to Companies House, the Conduct Committee of the Financial Reporting Council will be responsible for monitoring compliance of the SECR information that will be included in company reports and accounts.

Should company reports not meet the reporting requirements, Companies House may reject the report submission, with a late filing penalty regime applying for non-compliance. The Conduct Committee also has authority to apply to the courts for an order requiring directors to prepare revised reporting / sets of accounts where it appears that the reporting requirements have not been met. How can Inspired Energy help with SECR? Inspired Energy can assist companies in complying with SECR legislation in a simple, and cost-effective way, while at the same time ensuring that the required energy components are reported in a consistent fashion to the financial elements of the Directors’ Report. Inspired Energy also have an extensive history of working on government compliance schemes such as CRC and ESOS, with 100% compliant external audits for both schemes by the Environment Agency. Feedback from these audits commend accuracy of reported data, and the steps taken in the reporting process for companies to ensure full compliance with legislative requirements. Inspired Energy works to provide a personalised service for each company, ensuring that the statutory requirements are reported in a format that meets their individual needs. What next? If you are unsure whether your organisation will be affected by SECR, we would strongly urge you to find out if you qualify for the scheme now. We anticipate a transitional period which will require organisations who qualify to review and make changes to how they collect data, report and demonstrate energy efficiency changes. Preparation in advance of the reporting deadline is now key. Qualifying organisations need to ensure that they have a methodology in place for collecting their energy data on a regular basis, as well as identifying and implementing energy efficiency actions throughout the reporting year. For more information on how Inspired Energy can assist you with your compliance needs call 01772 675 294 or email secr@inspiredenergy.co.uk www.inspired-secr.co.uk

ENERGY

Contact Editor@BusinessLancashire.co.uk

Engineering a low-carbon solution Lancashire engineering business Electropak is benefiting from a greener, lower-cost future thanks to the University of Central Lancashire’s (UCLan’s) Making Carbon Work (MaCaW) project. Preston-based Electropak worked with MaCaW’s expert advisers to identify ways to shrink its carbon footprint as well as its energy bills. The company is now applying for grant funding for 50 per cent of the cost of carbon-saving measures installed as a result of the scheme. Assessing Electropak’s business and energy needs Established April 1986, Electropak turns over £2.5m and employs nearly 30 staff to manufacture complete engineering projects. Its services include laser and waterjet cutting, milling and turning, and sheet metal fabrication as well as painting and powder coating. The business is based in Preston and owns a second major facility at Bushell Mill, which was used for the carbon assessment.

How the process delivers tangible rewards MaCaW project manager, Joshua Balmer, worked closely with the company to analyse data and carry out the audit. As a result, the business was able to evaluate its carbon footprint and identify ways to reduce energy usage and CO2 output. Measures introduced include behavioural and process changes, such as installing new energy efficient LED lighting, replacing insulation and introducing energy management systems and processes. Experts work collaboratively with businesses Electropak director Bill Lambert commented: “The expertise of the MaCaW team helped us to identify practices that we may not otherwise have found out about. Setting the carbon footprint baseline, as well as evidence that we have implemented strategies to reduce our energy use, will help us in future tendering processes. “The team at MaCaW worked with us in a way that kept us completely informed at all times, but didn’t

intrude unduly into our operational activity. We are delighted with the outcome, which has created significant commercial and social responsibility benefits.” Mark Nelson, business engagement officer at MaCaW, said: “We do the leg work, rather than the business, and then provide the findings in a clear, non-jargon format. We then help and support the business – and, in this case, their consultant Andrew Warner – to understand and implement the findings and recommendations. “Andrew introduced the company to the project and has been involved throughout. We work closely with consultants such as Andrew and would welcome working with any others who wish to refer their clients to the project for support.” MaCaW is a University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) project, an industry and academic collaboration funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and supported by Boost; Lancashire’s business growth hub.